Declaring sovereignty
Lin Tingyue tightened her grip on the chopsticks.
Chi Zhuo's words were so blunt that she didn't know how to respond.
Just like him, sometimes he's as cold as an ice cube, and other times he's frighteningly direct.
She continued eating in silence, mumbling a vague "hmm".
Chi Zhuo didn't continue the topic. His gaze swept around the studio, which was filled with things, before finally settling on her face. "We're opening next week. Do you need any help?"
"No need." Lin Tingyue immediately shook her head, swallowing the food in her mouth. "Everything is almost arranged."
She didn't want to rely on him for everything, making herself seem like an appendage who couldn't do without him.
Chi Zhuo seemed to see through her stubbornness and didn't say anything more, only nodding slightly.
"Call me if you need anything."
After he left, Lin Tingyue looked at the exquisite insulated bag on the table, feeling a mix of emotions.
The studio opened as scheduled. Lin Tingyue didn't make a big fuss about it; she only invited a few friends in the industry and potential partners to a simple small cocktail party.
To her surprise, Chi Zhuo arrived.
He didn't come alone; he was accompanied by several people who clearly had extraordinary backgrounds.
Although he didn't specifically introduce her, those people were all quite polite to Lin Tingyue, clearly because of Chi Zhuo.
Chi Zhuo himself only made a brief appearance, said "Congratulations" to Lin Tingyue, presented a decent but not overly expensive flower basket, and left after less than half an hour.
But his arrival had an immediate effect.
Some partners who were initially hesitant have become noticeably more enthusiastic.
Xia Xiaoran sidled up to Lin Tingyue, winking and saying, "See? President Chi standing here is more effective than any publicity stunt. That's what you call real power."
Lin Tingyue understood in her heart that this was reality.
She picked up her wine glass, put on a polite smile, and continued to mingle with the guests.
During a break from her busy schedule, she received a text message from an unknown number.
[Successful opening.]
It was just four simple words, and there was no signature.
But Lin Tingyue's intuition told her it was Chi Zhuo.
He probably didn't even have her number saved; he was using an unfamiliar phone.
She stared at those four words for a few seconds, moved her finger, and replied with "Thank you."
Then I put my phone away.
At times like these, there's no need to overthink things.
After the business opened, Lin Tingyue was extremely busy.
The joint promotion with "Yang" has begun, and the results are even better than expected.
Her designs are indeed inspired, and with Jiang Yan's mature operations and channels, the first batch of ready-made clothes sold very well and received positive reviews.
More and more collaborations came knocking on her door. Some were because of "Yang's" reputation, some were because they saw the market response, and of course, some were because they had vaguely heard about her relationship with Chi Zhuo.
Lin Tingyue learned to distinguish and filter.
She kept Chi Zhuo's words in mind, and while maintaining her core design principles, she also listened to the opinions of the market and buyers and made adjustments to the details.
This process is not easy; it often requires repeated communication, revisions, and even compromises.
But she could sense that she was growing up, stumbling and struggling, on this realistic path.
Her relationship with Chi Zhuo has also entered a strange balance.
He remains very busy, frequently traveling for work, and rarely seen.
The two met only a handful of times.
But occasionally, like last time, he would come home late at night and bring her some food.
The reason is always that it's on the way.
Lin Tingyue went from initially thanking him to gradually getting used to it.
Sometimes when she stays up late drawing, she will even subconsciously pay attention to the movements at the door.
They rarely communicate.
He didn't inquire about the specifics of her studio, and she never asked about his work.
Living under the same roof, yet like strangers sharing an apartment, maintaining a tacit understanding of not disturbing each other.
One evening, Lin Tingyue received a phone call.
It was her mother calling, her tone filled with a mixture of cautious probing and joy.
"Yueyue, the funding issue for your dad's previous project has been resolved! They suddenly softened their stance and even said they could cooperate long-term... Is it... is it with Mr. Chi...?"
Lin Tingyue's heart sank.
Holding her phone, she walked to the window, looked at the dark night outside, and said softly, "Mom, I don't know."
"No matter what, things are better at home, so you can relax a bit over there..." the mother continued to ramble on.
Lin Tingyue couldn't hear a single word.
After hanging up the phone, she stood by the window for a long time.
The night breeze felt a little chilly on my skin.
She found herself not as happy as she had imagined.
With her family's predicament resolved, she naturally breathed a sigh of relief, but this was followed by a deeper sense of powerlessness.
She had worked so hard for so long, thinking that she could finally gain a foothold in the studio and prove herself.
But Chi Zhuo's action was so simple, it might not even be considered an order, just a hint, that it easily solved her family's biggest problem.
This disparity in strength made her feel that her previous efforts were a joke.
She took out her phone and, without any hesitation, dialed Chi Zhuo's number directly.
The phone rang a few times before being answered. There was some background noise on the other end, as if it were at a social gathering, but his voice was clear, "Hello?"
"Did you handle the things at my dad's company?" Lin Tingyue asked directly, her voice tense without her even realizing it.
There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, then the noise faded away; he seemed to have moved to a quiet place. "Mm."
really.
Lin Tingyue closed her eyes. "Why? You promised not to interfere in my family's affairs."
"This isn't interference," Chi Zhuo's voice came through the electricity, still calm. "This is problem-solving. Do you want to see your family stuck in that quagmire, constantly needing your attention?"
"I don't need you to help me this way!" Lin Tingyue's voice rose slightly, filled with suppressed anger. "I can rely on myself..."
“Lin Tingyue,” Chi Zhuo interrupted her, a hint of impatience in his voice, “How long are you going to dwell on this pointless pride? I’m helping you because you have value, and also because you’re my wife, at least in name. Resolving these concerns will allow you to focus more on your career, which won’t do me any harm.”
His words were like a cold knife, precisely dissecting reality.
Value, wife, nominally.
Every word brought her to her senses.
"So, in your eyes, everything I do is just to prove my worth?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Chi Zhuo paused for a moment on the other end, then spoke again, his tone softening, but the core message remained the same: "You can understand it this way. Accepting the existing resources and then maximizing their effectiveness is what a smart person does."
Lin Tingyue bit her lip hard to keep the sour feeling from rising.
"I understand." After saying those three words, she hung up the phone.
Her mind was in turmoil, and she felt somewhat tired.
After this less-than-pleasant phone call, the delicate balance between the two seemed to have been broken.
Chi Zhuo would still occasionally appear and bring things back, but Lin Tingyue's attitude was noticeably colder.
She didn't say anything more to him. After receiving the things and thanking him, she turned around and went back to her room or continued working.
Chi Zhuo clearly noticed her change, but he said nothing.
That day, Lin Tingyue was going to a neighboring city to attend an important industry exchange meeting. This was an opportunity that Jiang Yan had secured for her, which would allow her to access a lot of resources and media.
She arrived at the hotel where the exchange meeting was being held a day early, checked in, and had just put her luggage down when her phone rang.
It is a pond.
She looked at the name flashing on the screen, hesitated for a moment, and then answered.
"Where?" he asked, his voice as calm as ever.
"I'm going to a neighboring city to attend an exchange meeting," Lin Tingyue replied businesslike.
"Okay." Chi Zhuo responded, then said, "I'm also in a neighboring city. There's a banquet tonight, and I need a female companion. Could you come over?"
This isn't a discussion; it's a notification.
Lin Tingyue frowned. "I have to prepare my speech for tomorrow tonight, I don't have time."
"Cancel it." Chi Zhuo's tone left no room for argument. "I'll send you the address. The driver will pick you up downstairs at the hotel at seven o'clock." After saying that, he hung up the phone without waiting for her to refuse.
Lin Tingyue stared at the disconnected phone, a surge of anger rising within her. He was still the same, always so autocratic!
She was so angry she wanted to throw her phone, but a few minutes later, she received his address and time, along with the message: "The dress will be delivered to your room."
Lin Tingyue stared at the message and took several deep breaths.
"Fine, I'll go!" She wanted to see what kind of occasion he insisted she attend.
—
At 7 p.m., Lin Tingyue changed into the champagne-colored halter dress that had been delivered. The style was simple and elegant, and the size was just right.
She put on a presentable makeup look, tied her long hair up, and revealed her slender neck.
The driver was waiting downstairs on time and took her to the banquet hall of a top hotel in the city center.
Chi Zhuo was already waiting for her at the door.
He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, his posture upright, and he remained the most dazzling presence at the entrance of the glittering banquet hall.
Seeing Lin Tingyue approach, his gaze lingered on her for a few seconds, a faint hint of appreciation flashing in his deep eyes before returning to normal.
He reached out his arm to her.
Lin Tingyue hesitated for a moment, but still reached out and took his arm.
His arms were strong and powerful, and you could feel their warmth even through the fabric.
"Just follow me, don't be nervous," he said softly, leading her into the venue.
As soon as she entered, Lin Tingyue sensed the difference.
The banquet was clearly of a very high standard, and the people present were all wealthy and influential, many of whom were faces that one only sees in financial news.
People kept coming up to greet Chi Zhuo, and when their eyes fell on Lin Tingyue, they were all curious and polite.
"Mr. Chi, who is this gentleman?"
Chi Zhuo's answer was concise yet resounding: "My wife, Lin Tingyue."
He didn't use the terms "female companion" or "friend," but directly used the term "wife."
Lin Tingyue's heart skipped a beat. She could feel that the way many people looked at her immediately changed, from initial scrutiny to genuine respect and politeness.
She maintained her smile, standing beside Chi Zhuo, keeping pace with his rhythm, and dealing with all sorts of people.
He would occasionally whisper a few words to her about the other person's identity and background, so that she could better handle the situation.
She discovered that Chi Zhuo was very comfortable in this situation, controlling the rhythm of the whole event with ease and conversation.
He seemed to be intentionally or unintentionally drawing her into certain conversational circles, exposing her to resources and connections that she would never normally have access to.
It was only then that Lin Tingyue vaguely realized that his insistence on calling her over might not be simply because he needed a female companion.
Midway through the banquet, Lin Tingyue went to the restroom.
As she came out, she encountered a young woman in a pink dress in the corridor, who was looking her up and down with a hint of disdain and jealousy in her eyes.
"So you're Mr. Chi's designer wife?" the woman asked sourly. "You don't look like much. I heard your family was almost bankrupt before, and Mr. Chi saved you? That's quite a tactic."
Lin Tingyue paused and looked at the woman.
In the past, hearing such words might have made her feel embarrassed and angry. But now, looking at the other person's face filled with jealousy, she felt strangely calm.
She smiled slightly, her tone neither humble nor arrogant: "Miss, my family affairs seem to be none of your business. As for my methods," she paused, her gaze sweeping over the other woman, "at least, the person standing beside Chi Zhuo is me, isn't that right?"
After saying that, she stopped looking at the other person's face, which had turned red instantly, straightened her back, and calmly walked past her.
Back in the banquet hall, Chi Zhuo was talking to a middle-aged man. When he saw her return, he nodded slightly to her.
Lin Tingyue walked over and naturally took his arm again.
After the banquet, both of them remained silent on the way back in the car.
As they approached the hotel, Chi Zhuo suddenly spoke up: "You did a good job today."
Lin Tingyue looked at the neon lights rushing past the window without turning around. "Didn't you tell me to accept the resources and prove my worth? I'm just doing what you said."
Chi Zhuo glanced at her sideways, but in the dimly lit carriage, he couldn't see the expression on his face.
"That woman in the pink dress is the daughter of my competitor," he suddenly said out of the blue.
Lin Tingyue was stunned for a moment before realizing he was referring to the one by the bathroom door.
So he saw it?
She turned her head to look at his profile, hidden in the shadows. "So, you brought me here to deal with this situation? To assert your dominance?"
Chi Zhuo did not answer directly, but said, "In this circle, the identity of Mrs. Chi is a resource and a weapon in itself. There is no shame in learning to use it."
Lin Tingyue fell silent.
The car stopped in front of the hotel. Lin Tingyue unbuckled her seatbelt and prepared to get out.
"Lin Tingyue," Chi Zhuo called out to her.
She turned around.
He looked into her eyes, his voice unusually deep in the enclosed carriage: "You don't need to feel inferior in front of anyone, including me."
Lin Tingyue's heart skipped a beat.
He didn't look at her again, turned his head back, and said, "Good luck at the exchange meeting tomorrow."
Lin Tingyue got out of the car and watched the black sedan merge into the traffic and disappear.
She stood at the hotel entrance, the night wind blowing the hem of her dress, her mind a jumble of thoughts.
What did he mean by his last sentence?
She found that she understood Chi Zhuo less and less.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
