Chapter 4: My First Experience with a Domineering "Boyfriend"
The day after signing the "Love Cooperation Agreement", Su Lingwan woke up with an extremely unreal feeling.
Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, casting mottled shadows on the polished floor. Lying on the bed, gazing at the exquisite crystal chandelier on the ceiling, she felt as if everything that had happened in Huo Linshen's study last night might have been just a bizarre dream.
It wasn't until she stood up and saw the copy of the document (which Huo Linshen had asked her to keep) that she casually placed on the bedside table that the cold paper and the clear terms silently reminded her that this was not a dream. She, Su Lingwan, was now nominally the girlfriend of Huo Linshen, the heir to Hong Kong's top wealthy family.
A sense of absurdity arises spontaneously.
She washed up, changed into comfortable home clothes, and was about to go to the design studio to continue wrestling with those clueless design drafts when her phone rang. The name that popped up on the screen made her breath catch - Huo Linshen.
Why would he call? The agreement didn't stipulate that we had to visit each other morning and evening.
She answered the phone hesitantly: "Hello?"
"Awake?" Huo Linshen's deep voice came from the other end of the line. Through the electric current, it was less cold and oppressive than when they were face to face, and more textured, but still no emotion could be heard. "I'll be downstairs in your building in half an hour."
"Ah?" Su Lingwan was stunned. "Come downstairs? What's the matter?" The agreement came into effect so quickly?
"I'll take you to the studio." Huo Linshen said matter-of-factly, "Now that we've started, we need to go through the basic procedures. Assistant Chen has already sent me the address of your studio."
Su Lingwan then remembered that the annex to the agreement did mention rent-free use of a studio in a prime office building in Central. She hadn't expected Huo Linshen to act so quickly, let alone come and deliver it in person.
"Don't bother, Mr. Huo, I can do it myself..." She subconsciously wanted to refuse this overly "intimate" contact.
"Ms. Su," Huo Linshen interrupted her, his voice undeniable. "Article 3, Paragraph 1 of the agreement states that we will act as a couple when necessary. Ensuring my 'girlfriend's' work travel is within my scope of responsibility. Also, I don't want this detail to arouse suspicion at the very beginning of our cooperation."
His reasons were plausible and impeccable.
Su Lingwan was speechless. Yes, a couple by agreement was still a couple. It didn't make sense for a boyfriend to let his girlfriend take a taxi to work, especially with their family background.
"...Okay." She compromised, "See you in half an hour."
After hanging up the phone, Su Lingwan looked at herself in the mirror and patted her cheeks. "Su Lingwan, cheer up! This is just work, a performance! Show your professionalism!"
She quickly put on some light makeup and chose a neatly cut light blue dress with a pair of simple high heels. She wanted to face this "contract boyfriend" with the professional attitude of a collaborator.
Half an hour later, Su Lingwan appeared at the villa door on time. The familiar black Rolls-Royce Phantom was already waiting there, its body gleaming with understated luxury in the sunlight.
Assistant Chen was standing by the car. When he saw her, he respectfully opened the back door.
Su Lingwan thanked him, bent down and sat down.
The car's spacious interior, air-conditioned at full blast, was filled with Huo Linshen's distinct, crisp, cedarwood scent. He sat on the other side, a slim laptop resting on his lap, his fingers rapidly tapping away on the keyboard, seemingly processing an email. He was wearing a dark blue, custom-made suit, tieless, and with one button casually undone at the collar of his shirt, he looked less serious and more relaxed and distinguished.
Hearing the sound of her getting into the car, he didn't look up, but just said lightly: "Good morning."
"Good morning, Mr. Huo." Su Lingwan also responded politely, her voice a little restrained.
The car drove out smoothly.
The car fell silent, broken only by the occasional soft tapping of his keyboard and the low hum of the air conditioner. Su Lingwan sat upright, gazing out the window at the rapidly receding street scene, feeling the air stagnate.
Is this a relationship agreement? It's even more awkward than I imagined.
To break the suffocating silence and get herself into the moment as quickly as possible, Su Lingwan cleared her throat and took the initiative to speak: "Um... Mr. Huo, regarding our... um, 'relationship', do we need to go over some details in advance? For example, how did we get together? Our interests and hobbies? To avoid any mistakes."
Huo Linshen paused typing on the keyboard, then finally turned his head and glanced at her. His gaze lingered on her carefully dressed face for a moment, as if he could see her nervousness and effort.
"No need." He looked away and back at the screen, his tone still calm. "Just let it be. Over-staging can easily lead to mistakes. If anyone asks, just say we've grown close over time and our personalities complement each other."
Love grows over time? Complementary personalities? Su Lingwan complained in her heart, they were clearly making money over time, their personalities were incompatible.
"Oh." She responded.
There was another silence.
After a while, Huo Linshen closed his computer and rubbed his brows, as if he had finished his work for the time being. He looked at Su Lingwan, his eyes fixed on her hands on her knees, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt.
"Nervous?" he asked.
Su Lingwan immediately let go of her hand and straightened her back: "No."
Huo Linshen didn't comment, and asked, "Have you had breakfast?"
"I drank a glass of milk."
"Remember to eat breakfast next time." His tone was filled with formal concern, sounding more like he was checking off a checklist. "Stomach problems are no small matter."
Su Lingwan was stunned for a moment, remembering last night's banquet when she heard he seemed to have a stomach ailment. Was he... concerned about her? Or was this just a routine matter based on their "boyfriend" status?
"Thank you, I'll keep an eye on it." She responded politely.
The car drove into Central and stopped in front of a skyscraper.
"We're here." Huo Linshen said.
Assistant Chen opened the car door for Su Lingwan again.
Su Lingwan thanked him and got out of the car, and Huo Linshen also got out of the car.
He walked around to her and naturally extended his hand to her.
Su Lingwan looked at his big hands with distinct joints and didn't react for a moment.
"Hands." Huo Linshen reminded, his tone calm, but his eyes carried a meaning of "this is a basic operation."
Su Lingwan suddenly realized that for couples, holding hands in public was a basic requirement. She took a deep breath and placed her slightly cold hand in his warm palm.
His palm was large, easily enveloping hers. His grip was neither light nor heavy, yet it carried an irresistible sense of control. The moment their skin touched, that subtle electric sensation hit her again, causing her heart to skip a beat.
Huo Linshen looked calm, holding her hand as if he were holding any of his belongings, and walked calmly towards the entrance of the building. His steps were steady, and Su Lingwan had to speed up a little to keep up.
The combination of handsome men and beautiful women, coupled with Huo Linshen's highly recognizable face and the eye-catching luxury car, immediately attracted a lot of attention from the surroundings. Whispers could be heard faintly.
"It's Mr. Huo!"
"Who's that girl next to him? She looks unfamiliar."
"My surname seems to be Su, and I'm from Southeast Asia..."
"Wow, Mr. Huo personally sent me to work? And they even held hands! They have a special relationship!"
Su Lingwan felt those gazes like needles piercing her back, making her feel uncomfortable. She subconsciously tried to pull her hand back, but Huo Linshen held it tighter.
"You'll get used to it." He lowered his head and spoke in her ear in a voice that only the two of them could hear. His warm breath brushed against her earlobe, bringing a tingling sensation.
His approach made her body stiffen and her ears turned red uncontrollably.
Huo Linshen looked at her earlobe which instantly turned crimson, and a very faint smile flashed across his eyes, which he himself did not even notice.
He took her hand and walked straight to the private elevator. Assistant Chen had already arranged everything, and the elevator door slid open silently.
Entering the elevator, they were the only two left in the enclosed space. Huo Linshen loosened her hand, as if the intimacy just now was just her illusion.
Su Lingwan quietly moved her stiff fingers, and her palms seemed to still retain his warmth and touch.
The elevator went straight to the floor Huo Linshen had indicated. The doors opened to a spacious, bright lobby decorated with a modern aesthetic. A sophisticated young woman in a business suit was already waiting there.
"Mr. Huo, Ms. Su." She came forward with a smile. "I'm Selina, and I'm temporarily responsible for assisting Ms. Su with the initial affairs of the studio. The studio has been preliminarily arranged according to your preferences. Please follow me."
Huo Linshen said to Su Lingwan, "Selina is very experienced and will help you with the chores. If you need anything else, just tell her or Chen Ming directly."
His arrangements were meticulous and impeccable.
Su Lingwan followed Selina into her studio. Large floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the bustling Central district, providing abundant natural light. The interior was divided into a design area, a reception area, and a material storage area. The equipment was brand new and professional, even including her favorite brand of painting supplies and paints. A vibrant pot of Phalaenopsis orchids sat on the table.
This was completely beyond her expectations. She originally thought that Huo Linshen only provided an empty room.
"This..." She looked at Huo Linshen in surprise.
"It's just the basic configuration." Huo Linshen said calmly, "I hope Miss Su can concentrate on her creation and produce her work as soon as possible. This is also part of the agreement."
His eyes swept across the entire studio and finally landed on her face: "I have a meeting, so I'm leaving first."
After saying this, he turned around and left without any regrets, his back still standing tall and lonely.
Su Lingwan stood there, watching his back disappear at the elevator entrance, with mixed feelings.
Like a top actor, he played the role of the "perfect boyfriend" perfectly, sending her to work, holding hands when they appeared together, and providing her with a top-notch studio. Everything was in line with the outside world's imagination of "Huo Linshen's girlfriend."
Yet, it was precisely this perfection that revealed an inherent detachment and formality. He was merely fulfilling a contract, and all his consideration and care seemed like a carefully calculated procedure, devoid of a trace of genuine warmth.
Selina introduced the various functions of the studio with a smile, but Su Lingwan was a little absent-minded.
She walked to the French window and looked down at the bustling traffic below, which looked like a toy model. Huo Linshen's car had already merged into the traffic and disappeared.
This first experience of "love" made her deeply aware of how unpredictable and manipulative she was facing. He used the most gentlemanly and considerate way to draw an invisible circle around her, bringing her into his orbit and running according to his script.
And she seemed to have no choice but to cooperate.
At this moment, her phone vibrated. It was a text message from an unfamiliar number (she guessed it was Huo Linshen), and the content was concise:
[At 7pm, at Lanting Pavilion, I'm having dinner with my elders.]
Su Lingwan looked at the words on the screen and sighed.
Look, the mission is here again.
The days of "acting" have officially begun. She must quickly adapt to this new role and, in this drama where truth and falsehood are hard to distinguish, guard her heart and her original dream.
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