Formal definition
That night, she got home around 10 p.m. and found the living room light was on.
Chi Zhuo sat on the sofa with a laptop on his lap, seemingly working.
He looked up when he heard her enter.
"I'm back."
"Hmm." Lin Tingyue changed her shoes, hesitated for a moment, and instead of going straight back to her room, she went to the open kitchen to pour herself a glass of water.
She noticed a familiar insulated bag on the coffee table.
Chi Zhuo followed her gaze, closed his laptop, and said casually, "I had dinner with some suppliers tonight. The soup at that restaurant was pretty good, so I brought some back."
This time it wasn't just a coincidence, nor was it superfluous; the source was directly stated.
Lin Tingyue tightened her grip on the water glass, and that strange feeling in her heart resurfaced.
She whispered, "Thank you."
She walked over, picked up the insulated bag, and found it was still warm to the touch.
She opened it, and inside was an exquisite soup bowl, exuding a rich aroma.
"Would you like to drink it now?" Chi Zhuo asked.
“…Okay.” Lin Tingyue sat down at the table and sipped her drink.
The soup was indeed very good; the warmth flowed from my throat all the way to my stomach, dispelling the chill and fatigue of returning home late at night.
However, she couldn't fathom Chi Zhuo's thoughts.
Chi Zhuo stopped looking at the computer and just sat opposite her watching her drink.
His gaze was so intense that Lin Tingyue felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze, and her ears began to burn.
"Was the exchange meeting successful?" he suddenly asked.
Lin Tingyue was taken aback. Was this something he would care about? She nodded: "It went quite smoothly. I met a few good fabric suppliers."
"Yes." Chi Zhuo nodded. "Jiang Yan called me this morning."
Lin Tingyue instantly became alert, her spoon frozen in mid-air: "What did she say..."
Seeing her tense expression instantly, a faint smile seemed to flash across Chi Zhuo's eyes, so fleeting as to be almost imperceptible.
She said that the revised contract terms you insisted on last time helped them avoid a potential risk. She praised you for being meticulous and having a good business sense.
Lin Tingyue's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down, followed by an indescribable joy.
She finally earned the recognition of industry professionals like Jiang Yan through her own abilities.
She couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth slightly, and her tone became lighter: "I just think that's fairer."
"Well done." Chi Zhuo looked at the little bit of pride on her face, his tone was flat, but his eyes were a little softer than usual.
That simple affirmation made Lin Tingyue feel a little sweet inside.
She lowered her head and continued drinking her soup, trying to hide her slightly flushed cheeks.
At that moment, the only sounds in the living room were the soft slurping of her soup and his steady breathing.
The lights were warm, and the atmosphere was more cozy than ever before.
"Are you free next Saturday night?" Chi Zhuo suddenly asked, breaking the silence.
Lin Tingyue's spoon struck the side of the bowl with a crisp sound. "No plans for now. What's wrong?"
“There’s a charity gala and we need female companions.” He spoke calmly, as if stating a job offer. “If it’s convenient for you.”
This wasn't the first time he'd needed a female companion for an event, but in the past, he'd usually informed her on short notice or through his assistant. This was the first time he'd formally asked her like this.
Lin Tingyue felt that strange feeling resurfaced. She nodded, "Okay, I understand. Do I need to try on the dress beforehand?"
"Yes, I'll have the brand send over the dress and jewelry for you to choose from," Chi Zhuo said, his gaze sweeping over her nearly empty soup bowl. "Want more?"
"No need, it's delicious, but I'm really full." Lin Tingyue put down her spoon, the porcelain spoon clinking softly.
She got up to clear the table, but Chi Zhuo beat her to it, naturally picking up the soup bowl and spoon: "I'll do it, you go and rest."
Lin Tingyue watched his tall figure walk towards the kitchen sink, skillfully rinsing the dishes, and was momentarily stunned.
This is not like the Chi Zhuo she knew.
She didn't go back to her room immediately, but leaned against the kitchen wall, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "You... seem a little different today."
Chi Zhuo turned off the tap, dried his hands with a clean, soft cloth, and turned to face her.
"What's different?"
“It’s just…” Lin Tingyue carefully chose her words, “It seems… she’s getting emotional…”
After she finished speaking, she continued to observe Chi Zhuo's reaction.
Chi Zhuo took two steps closer to her, with a step between them. She could smell a faint lingering aroma of the soup he had just eaten on him.
“Lin Tingyue,” he called her by her full name, his voice low but carrying a focused strength, “Although we have a marriage of convenience, we are now husband and wife, and also business partners. Checking on a business partner's work progress and sharing some good food shouldn't be considered normal, right?”
His argument was clear and irrefutable.
But Lin Tingyue felt that things weren't that simple.
She looked up, meeting his gaze, trying to discern something from that deep pool. "Is that all?"
Chi Zhuo did not answer immediately; his gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds.
Then, he chuckled very softly.
"Otherwise what?"
His tone carried a hint of something unreadable, "Go and get some rest, it's late."
He walked past her, picked up his laptop from the sofa again, and headed to the study, leaving Lin Tingyue alone in the warm light of the living room, her mind even more chaotic than before.
However, Lin Tingyue felt that Chi Zhuo had indeed changed.
He no longer only appeared with her at necessary family gatherings or business occasions.
On Friday afternoon, her assistant brought over several haute couture gowns and matching jewelry for her to choose from, along with a note in Chi Zhuo's neat handwriting: "Choose what you like."
Lin Tingyue looked at the gorgeous dresses in the dressing room, her fingers brushing against the delicate fabric, her heart filled with turbulent emotions.
She chose a long, ice-blue dress that wasn't the most formal, but had a great design, took a picture, and sent it to Chi Zhuo.
He quickly replied, "It suits you perfectly."
On Saturday evening, Chi Zhuo returned home half an hour earlier than scheduled.
When he entered the bedroom, Lin Tingyue had just finished her hair and makeup and was making final adjustments to her earrings.
She saw him in the mirror, wearing a perfectly tailored dark gray suit, exuding an air of nobility, quietly watching her.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"It'll be ready soon." Lin Tingyue turned around.
Chi Zhuo's gaze lingered on her for a moment, from her meticulously styled long hair to her exquisitely made-up face, and then to the ice-blue dress that perfectly accentuated her figure.
His eyes held a clear, undisguised appreciation.
“It’s beautiful.” He stepped forward and took out the diamond necklace that matched his dress from the velvet jewelry box. “I’ll take it.”
Lin Tingyue was slightly taken aback, then obediently turned around and faced away from him.
The cool diamond was pressed against the empty collarbone, and his warm fingers occasionally brushed against the skin on the back of her neck, causing a slight tremor.
His movements weren't particularly skillful, but he was very focused, his breath gently brushing against her hair.
After fastening the buckle, his hand did not immediately leave, but gently rested on her shoulder.
The two looked at each other in the mirror, their eyes meeting on the smooth surface, a silent emotion flowing in the quiet air.
“Let’s go, Mrs. Chi,” he said softly, his arm slightly bent.
Lin Tingyue took a deep breath and gently placed her hand in the crook of his arm.
This time, it felt different from any other time they had played the role of a loving couple.
-
At the charity gala, Chi Zhuo was as at ease as ever.
He led Lin Tingyue to exchange pleasantries with various people.
When talking to people, he can also subtly take care of her, guiding her when she might be unfamiliar with the topic, and even cleverly steer the conversation back to her when she feels neglected.
When someone compliments Lin Tingyue on how radiant she looks tonight, he will glance at her sideways and then calmly reply, "It's my honor."
His protection and approval were done naturally and without being deliberate, making the strange feeling in Lin Tingyue's heart become clearer and clearer.
Midway through, Lin Tingyue went to the restroom to touch up her makeup.
She had just come out of the restroom and was about to walk back to the banquet hall when a voice she thought had been buried deep in her memory suddenly rang out behind her.
"Listen to it?"
Her body stiffened, she stopped in her tracks, and slowly turned around.
Jiang Shaoyang stood a few steps away, his face showing undisguised surprise and a look that made her extremely uncomfortable.
His gaze swept over her ice-blue haute couture gown and the dazzling diamond necklace around her neck, his expression complex.
"Is it really you?" Jiang Shaoyang stepped forward, a half-smile playing on his lips. "I almost didn't recognize you just now. The change... is quite significant."
Lin Tingyue gripped the bag tightly in her hand, her fingertips slightly cold.
The man before her had once made her watch like a fool as he kissed another woman on the streets of a foreign land, and had also caused her countless nights of self-doubt and heartbreak.
She even had a period of deep self-doubt and almost became depressed.
Seeing it again now, my heart felt like it was being squeezed by a cold hand, not out of nostalgia, but because of the physical discomfort brought on by that unbearable past.
"Mr. Jiang." She nodded distantly, her tone calm and unreadable. "Long time no see."
"Mr. Jiang?" Jiang Shaoyang seemed stung by the form of address, then chuckled, "Listen to this, no need to be so formal, is there?"
His gaze swept over her again, this time with a more obvious inquiry. "Married? Who... has such good taste?"
The flippancy and implied doubt in those words ignited Lin Tingyue's anger.
What right did he have to judge her life in that tone, as if she were destined for poverty and unworthy of a better future without him?
Just as she was about to speak, a deep, possessive voice sounded from her side, carrying an undeniable force:
"How she is doing is none of our concern."
The next second, Chi Zhuo was already standing next to her, his arm naturally around her waist, pulling her closer to him.
Lin Tingyue turned her head to look at him. The hand around her waist was warm and strong, instantly dispelling the chill in her heart.
When Jiang Shaoyang saw Chi Zhuo, his expression changed instantly. His feigned composure and frivolity vanished completely, leaving only astonishment and a barely perceptible sense of fear.
"Mr. Chi...Mr. Chi?"
He clearly recognized Chi Zhuo, his voice stammering, "You...you and Tingting..."
“This is my wife, Lin Tingyue.” Chi Zhuo interrupted him, his tone calm but carrying a condescending and imposing air.
He didn't even glance at Jiang Shaoyang's female companion, his gaze fixed solely on Lin Tingyue, instantly softening. "Does your foot still hurt? Would you like to sit over there for a bit?" He made up an incredibly natural excuse.
"It's alright." Lin Tingyue instantly understood his intention and leaned slightly towards him in cooperation.
Jiang Shaoyang's face turned red and then white as he watched this scene unfold, a truly fascinating sight.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the face of Chi Zhuo's silent yet powerful aura, he swallowed all his words and could only awkwardly force a smile: "Well... congratulations, congratulations to both of you."
Chi Zhuo then glanced at him indifferently, nodded slightly, and didn't even bother to give a complete response. "Excuse me."
After he finished speaking, he put his arm around Lin Tingyue, turned around and left calmly, leaving Jiang Shaoyang and his equally embarrassed female companion completely behind.
After walking a few steps, Chi Zhuo's arm was still firmly supporting her.
"Why did you come here?" Lin Tingyue asked softly, her voice carrying a dependence she herself was unaware of.
"I've seen you out for a while," Chi Zhuo replied succinctly. He looked down at her, his gaze deep. "Have you run into trouble?"
Lin Tingyue shook her head. The anger that had been building up inside her suddenly dissipated the moment Chi Zhuo appeared.
“No.” She looked up at him, giving him the most relaxed smile she had shown all evening. “I just ran into an… insignificant old friend. It’s alright now.”
Yes, it's alright.
The person who once caused her unbearable pain, the person who represented all her past failures and humiliations, has now truly become an insignificant memory in her eyes.
Chi Zhuo gazed at her smile and saw the relieved ease in her eyes. He tightened his grip on her arm slightly and asked no more questions.
"Shall we go home?" he whispered.
"Okay." Lin Tingyue nodded.
On the way back, Lin Tingyue watched the dazzling lights rushing past the window, feeling completely at peace.
She suddenly realized that true letting go is not about forgetting, but about finding that when that person reappears, he can no longer stir any emotion in your heart.
She quietly turned her head and found that Chi Zhuo was not resting with his eyes closed, but was looking at her.
"Thank you for tonight," she said softly.
Chi Zhuo reached out and gently took her hand, which was resting on her knee, across the distance between them.
"From now on, I will never let you face any hardship alone again."
His voice wasn't loud, but it sounded like a solemn promise.
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