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Proofread by Yu Bing

The cheers and applause that echo in the hall still ring in Su Ni’s ears. For a moment, Su Ni feels like she is in a dream. She looks down at the ring on her hand as if reminding herself that just now Gu Zechen did kneel down in front of her and put on the ring for her. More importantly, there are so many witnesses around. At the thought of this, Su Ni can’t help but peer at Gu Zechen. The latter looks resolute and cold, his face not betraying too much of his emotions. She put all her bet on that it is not that easy for him to totally have no regard for her pleading and reject such a request in front of such a large audience. To make him propose in public is the desired effect she wants, even though she knows it doesn’t mean anything but a puppet show. “Is this what you want? Very well. As you wish! I warn you, don’t go beyond your bounds.” Gu Zechen’s words send a chill down her spine. After saying that, his stiff face relaxes now and he even fakes a tender smile, a smile of a loving husband, but his hands unnoticeably let go of hers. Not reconciling herself to failure so easily, Su Ni grasps Gu Zechen’s hand. The latter looks back at her, tender expression on his face gone. Su Ni suddenly realizes what a stupid decision she has made just now. But she immediately regains her composure and says calmly, “Since you know it is a public show, make it look real by escorting me back to the rest area.” Without saying anything, Gu Zechen walks hand in hand with her through the parting crowd. “Mrs. Gu is so blessed to have such a loving husband!”

“Just now I filmed the whole process. You never treated me like this.”, a wife complains to her husband who is standing by her side in a low voice. The husband looks abashed and begins to make bows repeatedly apparently in an attempt to make concessions to avoid trouble. Gu Zechen pushes open the door of the lounge, but has no intention of going in. Su Ni purses her lips, lowers her head and slows down her steps. Sensing that the man behind her is about to leave, she whips around and puts her arm around Gu Zechen from behind by summoning up all her courage. The latter’s body stiffens, but his tone is no longer that cold, “What’s the matter?” “I know you’re still mad at me. But do you know how thrilled I am when I hear those wives saying how blessed I am to have a loving husband like you? That moment gives me an illusion that I am indeed happily married.” Gu Zechen takes a deep breath and stands still rooted. He says faintly, “So what is your point?” “My point is even though I know you will be mad at me, I don’t regret doing so, at least ….. on one hand, our public image as a loving couple seems to be established, which is also helpful to your career, and on the other hand, I can derive some sense of happiness out of it.. Is there anything wrong with that?” Su Ni continues.

Gu Zechen’s brows gradually relax and are no longer knitting together. He slowly turns around and looks at Su Ni’s rosy cheek, his eyes filled with emotions hard to describe. “So that is why……it is the outcome of jealousy, right? So you’re jealous of Eshine.” He says. Su Ni is a little flustered at the beginning, but soon retains her composure after seeing that he is not angry. She boldly looks at Gu Zechen. She manages to affect the manner of a jealous wife by responding, ” I trust you, but I can’t bear that woman challenging me in such a way, so I am left with no other choices but to fight back.” Gu Zechen suddenly stretches out his hand and touches her face. There is a trace of desolation in his eyes. He doesn’t make any comments though. He just whispers, “You take a rest here. We’ll leave together later.” “Well.” Su Ni readily consents, but deep at the bottom of her heart she is very disappointed.

He probably doesn’t know that Eshine has revealed too much truths to her, that is why he has a relaxed expression. Gu Zechen is just on the point of leaving. Su Ni suddenly stands on tiptoe and tilts her face to kiss him quickly on the chin. The latter looks at her indifferently and coldly. Su Ni chuckles, “It’s nothing. Just a gesture of gratitude.” Gu Zechen nods without saying anything. When Gu Zechen’s back fades out of sight, Su Ni murmurs to herself: “I am still very grateful even though I know you did not do this for me.”Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

The banquet is still on, but Su Ni stays in the lounge all the time. She is like a fish in water in social gatherings, but she doesn’t like it, especially gossiping with a group of housewives and listening to their flattery. What Xu Qian said is true. Before Gu Zechen makes high-profile appearance, she is not this highly esteemed and respected. As the proverb says, “Every dog has its day”. These wives don’t feel embarrassed at all over being seen flattering her. Although they are still strangers, they chat with each other intimately like sisters who haven’t seen each other for years. Su Ni shakes her head with a smile, sips her champagne, and stands up to go to the bathroom. Passing through the corridor, Su Ni seems to hear a familiar voice and instinctively slows down her steps. It’s Gu Zechen! Su Ni is just about to enter the corridor when she hears another woman’s voice. “Gu Zechen, I really don’t expect that you can make such a concession. It seems that you have already forgotten Xu Wan’er. Do you still remember that you vowed solemnly to Xu Waner the other day saying that you would be a devoted husband? ” It’s Eshine’s voice. ” Cut it out.” Gu Zechen interrupts Eshine, then lowers his voice and says in a hoarse voice: “Mind your own business. Even if it’s you, you don’t have the right to intrude upon our privacy.” “I see your point. I feel sorry for Waner. I try again and again to dissuade her from believing you so much, but she just doesn’t listen and repeatedly asks me to take care of you on her deathbed. She knows you don’t need to be taken care of, but she still can’t stop worrying about you. But you, are you worthy of Wan’er’s love? “”I, Gu Zechen, always have a clear conscience, except for Waner’s death…” Gu Zechen suddenly lowers his voice and his words stop abruptly.

Su Ni’s breath stops, because she is afraid of being found, only to find her heart beating faster. “Do you know what you did today? On Waner’s death day, you proposed to another woman. Do you know what the woman said to me…?” Eshine is just about revealing everything that happened in the lounge. Su Ni covers her mouth nervously, wondering whether to go out or not to justify herself. But Gu Zechen already steps in and interrupts Eshine by saying: ” Leave it at that! Li Fangqing, bear that in mind that I’m just being polite to you for the sake of Wan’er. Don’t go too far. “”Same here. If today is not Xu Waner’s death day, and if you don’t ask me to make a dress for her, I won’t come here at all, then I will be saved from seeing that disgusting scene.” Eshine’s has begun to clench her teeth and she turns fierce in her voice. “Su Ni is my wife. You’d better show respect for her or at least make your language polite. Otherwise, don’t blame me for not reminding you”. Su Ni doesn’t expect to see Gu Zechen standing on her side. She takes a deep breath silently, and her heart finally calms down. She is just on the point of leaving when she hears Eshine shouting in defiance, “What about Xu Wan’er, who is she?”

Su Ni pauses for a while. In the heart she silently counts 321, then, she hears Zechen’s voice again, “I don’t care what reasons you have. Just remember Su Ni is my wife now. If you dare to find fault with her, you are inviting trouble to yourself!” Instead of answering Eshine’s questions, he reminds her directly.