Chapter 9

Chapter 9

My father called to tell me to come back to the Wen Family home for dinner.

He said it was dinner. In reality, it was a coup.

The Nan’an Project had only just resumed progress, and the board of directors was already demanding that I submit “proof of marital stability.”

It sounded absurd.

But in their eyes, a woman’s marital status apparently really could determine the safety of a project.

When I returned to the Wen Family home, Zhou Yubai came with me.

I hadn’t wanted him to come.

He said, “I should be there.”

For some reason, I suddenly hated how natural he made it sound.

At the dinner table, my father made his words sound perfectly dignified.

“The Nan’an Project involves too much. You and Yubai married in a hurry, and there has been a great deal of talk outside. The board hopes Yubai can issue a written commitment proving that the Zhou Family will not interfere with the project.”

I set down my chopsticks.

“The project belongs to Wen Corporation. Why does it need a commitment from the Zhou Family?”

My stepmother said gently, “After all, you’ve married into the Zhou Family now.”

“So?”

I looked at her.

“I’ve had the surname Wen for twenty-seven years. After one month of marriage, I’ve become an accessory of the Zhou Family?”

The atmosphere turned cold in an instant.

My father’s voice sank. “Wen Yi, don’t be willful.”

I was just about to speak when Zhou Yubai suddenly took my hand.

His palm was very warm.

“Chairman Wen.”

His voice was steady.

“I can issue a non-interference commitment. But I have one condition as well.”

I turned to look at him.

He continued, “Wen Yi’s leading authority over the Nan’an Project must be written into a board resolution. No one may replace her on the grounds of marriage, family, or personal relationships.”

My father’s expression darkened.

“That is an internal matter of Wen Corporation.”

“Weren’t you just asking me to prove that the Zhou Family won’t interfere?”

Zhou Yubai lifted his eyes.

“Since you want to bring marriage into corporate governance, then write the rules out clearly.”

For the first time at the Wen Family dinner table, I saw my father rendered speechless.

I should have felt satisfied.

But more than that, I felt panicked.

Because I realized that I was actually relying on Zhou Yubai.

Not on his resources.

But on the feeling that when he stood beside me, I didn’t have to hold up the entire room alone.

On the way back, I didn’t speak the whole time.

Zhou Yubai asked, “Are you unhappy?”

“No.”

“Then why aren’t you talking?”

I looked out the window.

“I was thinking that this is very dangerous.”

“What’s dangerous?”

I turned to look at him.

“I’m starting to get used to you speaking for me.”

Zhou Yubai’s grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly.

After a long while, he said, “You don’t have to get used to it.”

I smiled faintly.

“Easy for you to say.”

He didn’t speak again.

When the car pulled into the underground garage, I unbuckled my seat belt.

Zhou Yubai suddenly called out to me.

“Wen Yi.”

I looked back.

He looked at me, his Adam’s apple shifting.

“You don’t have to treat every form of dependence as danger.”

My chest tightened with a sudden ache.

“What about you?”

He froze.

I asked, “Do you think that way too?”

That night, Zhou Yubai did not answer.