Chapter 232

Shen Yi looked out at the numerous buildings below the twenty-seventh floor of their office building. He was in his only break for the day, and as usual, his mind drifted back to the woman who had turned his world upside down in a span of four months.
He was fortunate that she didn’t throw a fit when she found the report Qiao He made for him just before they got married. If she’d been another woman, she would’ve made a big deal out of it and demanded an explanation from him; but Lu Xinyi was different. He was glad that he married someone so level-headed.
Lu Xinyi understood him better than the rest. It was funny how everyone tried to understand him but failed while Lu Xinyi could easily decrypt his every glare and every swing of his mood. He wished she wouldn’t change her mind about him, that she wouldn’t feel betrayed that he knew who she was betrothed to without informing her.
Did it really matter if Lu Xinyi knew that she was betrothed to his ex-girlfriend’s brother, Li Yuren? What would she think about him? About Li Yuren if she knew?
Shen Yi chastised himself. Why was he hesitating now? Doubting his own wife wouldn’t bring anything good in their relationship. Just thinking about Lu Xinyi being hurt or having a change of heart towards him was enough to make drive him insane. It hurt deeper than he could have foreseen.
He only thought that their marriage life would consist of companionship and some intimacy. What he felt for her the first time wasn’t love. He knew that. He cared for her, and that feeling turned into something else. Something he never thought he could learn: loving her.
He sighed. President Shen had come to love his beautiful and naughty wife. Sometimes, he wondered if he had made a mistake allowing her to attend Silver Leaf. Many times he wondered if Lu Xinyi would forget about him and choose to pursue her dream alone—if she would be a target of other men, which he prayed wouldn’t happen while he wasn’t around.
When he had proposed to her, he didn’t expect to have the kind of relationship he did with Lu Xinyi. He expected some intimacy, for there was an attraction between them. He expected her to use his money and flaunt her status as his wife, but that never happened.
He didn’t expect that she would have such an effect not only to him but also to those around him. He didn’t anticipate the hurt and pain he would encounter when he thought she might be leaving him.
Shen Yi stopped mid-thought when he heard a knock. Qiao He was waiting for him for the next meeting they had to attend.
“Boss Yi, the meeting will start in five minutes.” Qiao He informed him. He was about to respond when someone pushed Qiao He aside and stormed inside the room. The man was taller and slightly muscular than Qiao He and Shen Yi. His wavy black hair was tied in a low ponytail behind him.
“Shen Yi! How could you?! Why didn’t you inform me that you’re already married?” Kang Wei cried dramatically. He’d only found out about his friend’s marriage from his wife, Zhao Xi.
“If Zhao Xi didn’t tell in our group chat that you have a cute little wife, you will really leave me in the dark? Some friend you are, President Shen!” He then turned his attention to Shen Yi’s assistant. “And you didn’t even bother to tell us? Why?”
Qiao He sweatdropped and held up a hand in defense. Kang Wei tended to go overboard when he’s really excited.
“I’m in no position to reveal Boss Yi’s personal businesses, Kang Wei. You know that.”
“But still! You could have told us! Say, is she pretty? When can we meet ‘Madam Shen’? Zhao Quan and Lin Feng also want to know what she’d seen in our Shen Yi to make her agree to marry him.” Kang Wei demanded to Qiao He. Once he realized what he’d said, he let out a gasp.
“Shen Yi! You didn’t blackmail her to marry you, right?”
Shen Yi closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. He wondered how was he able to stay sane when he has friends like Kang Wei around him.
“Didn’t Zhao Xi tell you about the party tonight? My wife called her this morning to invite the two of you.”
Kang Wei blinked. He had no idea what Shen Yi was talking about. “What party?”
“A celebration party for my wife. She recently passed Silver Leaf’s exam, and she invited Zhao Xi this morning.” Shen Yi shrugged. His friend’s eyes widened before leaving the room, taking out his phone to call his wife. His voice could be heard from Shen Yi’s office.
“Zhao Xi! You witch! Why didn’t you tell me we’re going to meet her tonight?” he roared on his phone. Shen Yi and Qiao He could imagine Zhao Xi laughing at the other end of the line.
Ah, what a usual banter between Kang Wei and Zhao Xi. Too bad Kang Wei would always find himself at the losing side. He could never say no to his wife. Not that Shen Yi couldn’t relate. It wasn’t surprising that Lu Xinyi and Zhao Xi get along well.
He nodded and strode to leave his office, eager to finish his appointment so he could make it in time to his wife’s celebration party.