Contractual Love: Mistaken for True

Xia Chen returned home on the fifth day of the National Day holiday. He had originally come back to collect a document, but when he opened the door, he saw Xu Xiaoyou busy in the kitchen. Thinking back to how he had seen her text stating she was home, he wondered why she returned so soon without calling to inform him.

“Ah Xia, you’re back!” Xu Xiaoyou ran out and hugged his waist.

“When did you come back? You didn’t even call me to pick you up,” Xia Chen asked, brushing his fingers through Xu Xiaoyou’s hair.

“I didn’t come home. I changed my mind at the last minute,” Xu Xiaoyou looked up and said, “Ah Xia, you’ve lost weight. Is the company facing serious issues? You haven’t been home for several days.”

Xia Chen nodded and pulled Xu Xiaoyou to sit on the sofa.

“But why haven’t I heard any news about Tianchen having any problems?” Xu Xiaoyou watched the news regularly these days and even read entertainment tabloids, yet she hadn’t heard about anything unusual occurring with Tianchen.

Xia Chen looked at Xu Xiaoyou. All this time, he hadn’t shared the issues of the Xia Family with her, partly because he didn’t want her to feel burdened by the family’s complicated matters, and partly because he felt she wouldn’t be able to handle it as a girl. But now she was asking, and if he didn’t tell her the truth, she might find out later and they would end up fighting.

“Xiaoyou, actually, this time it’s not about Tianchen.”

“If it’s not about Tianchen, then what’s going on that’s making you so anxious?” Xu Xiaoyou asked, confused.

“It’s a family matter concerning the Xia Group.” Xia Chen spoke with difficulty; the Xia Group was renowned in City S and even across the country, and Xiaoyou couldn’t possibly be unaware.

“The Xia Group?” Xu Xiaoyou exclaimed in disbelief. “Ah Xia, are you saying the Xia Group is our family’s?”

“Yeah.”

“But you said you didn’t know about our family’s matters!” Xu Xiaoyou stood up, her tone not pleasant. She had previously asked Xia Chen about their family business, and he claimed he didn’t know the specifics. Now he was telling her that the Xia Group belonged to his family-this was shocking.

Everyone in City S knew about the scale of the Xia Group’s real estate ventures. She knew the Xia Family was wealthy but had always assumed it was due to Tianchen and Moding. Now she realized it was because the family was itself powerful. Oh my God, what kind of man had she married? What kind of influence did he have behind him? Xu Xiaoyou began to regret not asking Xia Chen more questions earlier.

“Xiaoyou, please don’t be angry,” Xia Chen said, seeing the frustration on Xu Xiaoyou’s face. “I didn’t tell you because I was worried you wouldn’t handle it well. Besides, you asked me before if you would be okay with the family business. I was just concerned that knowing this would add pressure on you.”

“But now that you’ve told me, I feel pressured too,” Xu Xiaoyou said, sitting down. Knowing the Xia Family’s background, she started worrying if she could adapt to this family.

“Don’t feel pressured. It’s a big deal, but you’ve got your husband to support you,” Xia Chen comforted her.

“By the way, what happened with the Xia Group?” Since she was a part of the Xia Family, she felt she should know what was going on.

Xia Chen then explained the situation to her. In the end, he told Xu Xiaoyou, “Actually, it’s not a big issue. For the Xia Family, it’s not really much at all. It’s just that the land is something my father has always wanted. He hopes to build a resort there.”

Xu Xiaoyou wasn’t sure what to say. She didn’t understand business matters. Although Xia Chen said it was nothing to worry about, seeing his furrowed brow made it hard for her to believe him entirely.

Then, Yilin called, asking why Xia Chen hadn’t come to the office yet. She also worried whether Xia Chen was in trouble. Xia Chen told him he wouldn’t be going to the office and that Yilin should just call if anything urgent came up before hanging up.

“Ah Xia, why aren’t you at the office? Isn’t this a critical time?” Xu Xiaoyou asked, confused.

“Having my wife at home is the top priority. No matter how big the issue is, it can wait. Plus, I already have a plan in mind. Whether I go to the office or not is the same. These past few days have felt empty without you at home, which is why I’ve been staying at the office,” Xia Chen said, holding Xu Xiaoyou close. “I’m so tired; let me take a nap.”

He then rested his head on her lap. Xu Xiaoyou stroked his hair gently, yet she couldn’t shake her feelings of worry inside.

After the seven-day National Day holiday, Xu Xiaoyou returned to work. Xiaoyu was puzzled. Didn’t she say she was going to Tibet for half a month? Why was she back so soon?

Xu Xiaoyou replied listlessly, “I didn’t go.”

“Why not? Did Xia Chen suddenly abandon you?” Xiaoyu was curious and needed to get the scoop.

“You’re really sharp,” Xu Xiaoyou admitted. It was true; everyone knew that Xia Chen was a busy person, and being stood up by him was likely the only explanation.

“What a pity,” Xiaoyu shook her head and then asked quietly, “Have you heard? The editor-in-chief is getting married.”

“Yeah, I got the invitation. It’s on the fifteenth of next month,” Xu Xiaoyou said, realizing why Xiaoyu was whispering.

“I can’t believe it’s true! I thought he was joking when he came in early, saying he’s getting married and asking us to prepare red envelopes. I never saw him go out on dates, so how is he already getting married?” Xiaoyu couldn’t understand.

“That’s what happens when someone has a secret relationship finally brought to light. You wouldn’t have seen anything,” Xu Xiaoyou explained.

“From the way you’re talking, it sounds like you know something,” Xiaoyu pressed Xu Xiaoyou, who, of course, wouldn’t say anything. The matter hadn’t even been reported in the newspaper, so how could she possibly reveal it? If that got messed up, Wang Jie would surely scold her for it.

Seeing that Xu Xiaoyou wouldn’t speak, Xiaoyu kept pressing her for answers. Xu Xiaoyou took the opportunity to excuse herself to the restroom to escape Xiaoyu.

When she came out, she ran into Jingjing. Xu Xiaoyou was about to ask her about the baby, but seeing Jingjing’s unhappy expression, she decided to hold back. Had she and Shen Mobai had a fight? Otherwise, why would she look so upset?

Throughout the day, Xu Xiaoyou kept noticing something was off with Jingjing, even worse than the situation on Valentine’s Day earlier this year. At least back then, she had shown some signs of life. Now, she just sat there in a daze. Taking advantage of the quieter lunch hour, Xu Xiaoyou pulled Jingjing into the break room and quietly asked, “What’s wrong? You’ve seemed out of it all morning.”

“Xu Xiaoyou, what should I do?” Jingjing said, tears brimming in her eyes.

“What’s going on?” Xu Xiaoyou sensed something serious was troubling Jingjing.

“Shen Mobai’s mother doesn’t approve of us being together. She even said she wouldn’t recognize the baby,” Jingjing cried, tears spilling over. If it weren’t for the baby, she would have cut ties with Shen Mobai long ago. But she didn’t want her child to be born without a father.

“Madam Shen is just that kind of person, Jingjing. You need to figure out a way to handle her,” Xu Xiaoyou comforted her. To be honest, she didn’t know what to do about Madam Shen either; she had faced similar situations herself.

“But… but she actually dragged me to the hospital for an abortion while Shen Mobai wasn’t home. Do you think we can ever get along after this?” Jingjing had always thought that Madam Shen just looked down on her background. But the baby was a part of the Shen family; how could she be so heartless?

“Then… is the baby still there?” Xu Xiaoyou couldn’t believe that Madam Shen would actually do such a thing.

“I ran out before the doctor could do anything, but now I’m scared to go home. I’m afraid she’ll take me back to the hospital,” Jingjing said in despair.

“What about Shen Mobai? Where is he?” With such a big issue at hand, how could Shen Mobai still be absent?

“He’s on a flight back now, but I don’t want to see him,” she replied, her voice shaking.

“Why not?” Xu Xiaoyou was confused. Once Shen Mobai returned, he could protect her, and Madam Shen would think twice about making a move against her.

“Xu Xiaoyou, the truth is, I want to leave Shen Mobai,” Jingjing finally confessed her inner thoughts. “In his heart, there’s only you. I’m just a stand-in. I don’t want to keep living like this, and now I’m pregnant. I don’t know what to do. I can’t bear to terminate the pregnancy; it’s a life. But if I don’t, what will happen later? What will I say when he asks about his father?”

Xu Xiaoyou found herself at a loss for how to comfort Jingjing. How could Shen Mobai still have room for her in his heart? It was clear to anyone that he treasured Jingjing; she must be overthinking things.

“Jingjing, that can’t be true. In his heart, there’s only you, I promise.”

“No… no… you don’t have to lie to me. He said it to my face that he only has you in his heart. He told me I’m just a stand-in and that I could never be his true love…” Jingjing held onto Xu Xiaoyou, her tears flowing once again.

Shen Mobai, what kind of nonsense is this? How could he say such things? Doesn’t he realize how much Jingjing cares for him? Isn’t he just trying to create a rift between the two of us?

Just then, Shen Mobai’s call came in. Jingjing ignored it, but Xu Xiaoyou felt the urge to answer it. She needed to get some clarity. Before Shen Mobai had a chance to speak, Xu Xiaoyou had already started to berate him.

“Shen Mobai, what do you mean by leaving Jingjing all alone? What kind of man are you to say such things…”

Shen Mobai quickly moved the phone away from his ear, unable to handle the intensity of her anger. After she had shouted for a while, he finally managed to ask, “Is Jingjing with you? Is she okay?”

Xu Xiaoyou didn’t see how Shen Mobai could still have feelings for her. The very fact that he was calling after getting off the plane and only asking about Jingjing confirmed that something might be wrong. But surely, Jingjing wouldn’t lie to herself.

“Shen Mobai, tell me honestly-do you still have any feelings for me?” Xu Xiaoyou switched the phone to speaker mode. If he said he did, she would hang up and march over to confront him with Jingjing.

Shen Mobai couldn’t help but laugh. What kind of question was that? No girl normally asks like this. Still, to prove that his heart belonged solely to Jingjing, he replied seriously, “Xu Xiaoyou, I’m sorry. While we had something in the past, right now, my heart is only for Jingjing. If you’re hoping to rekindle things between us, I’m afraid that’s impossible.”

Xu Xiaoyou felt speechless at his words, but at least he had made his feelings clear. “So, did you hear that? He only has eyes for you.”

Jingjing had been listening closely to everything Shen Mobai said. Hearing him declare his feelings like that made her heart flutter, but she wondered if he was just saying it for effect.

Xu Xiaoyou was about to ask another question when Jingjing suddenly snatched the phone from her hands and hung up. Xu Xiaoyou was confused. What was Jingjing doing? Shouldn’t she be happy that she heard Shen Mobai say he only loved her? Why was she still looking so melancholic? Seeing her like that, Xu Xiaoyou decided it was best to wait until they met Shen Mobai in person to discuss this further.