Chapter 3: You're Both Moving into My Place

Lin Chen went rigid.

Every nerve in his body tightened. What was Liu Shuang planning?

Had she found out that he and Su Ya were only pretending?

Countless possibilities rushed through his mind, but he kept his expression steady. “Mrs. Zhao, Su Ya is busy at the moment.”

“May I ask what you need her for?”

Zhao Qiang looked at Liu Shuang too, his stomach churning.

Ignoring his look, she said with a smile, “As I understand it, your girlfriend Su Ya is discussing a business deal with our company.”

“I’d like to speak with her in person.”

Zhao Qiang panicked.

He had approved the deal with Su Ya behind his wife’s back.

If Liu Shuang got involved, there would be no hiding what he’d done.

Su Ya’s company simply wasn’t large enough to work with theirs.

“Honey, it’s only a small order,” he said guiltily. “You don’t need to trouble yourself.”

“A small order?”

Liu Shuang gave him a meaningful look. “Zhao Qiang, I hear you approved this deal yourself.”

“If the big boss took a personal interest in a project, I’d like to see what he saw in it.”

Now he was truly frightened.

“Yes, I negotiated the deal,” he hurried to explain. “But it was all for Lin Chen.”

“He’s been with me for two years. I’ve always treated him like a brother. Su Ya is his girlfriend. Surely there’s nothing wrong with helping her out?”

Lin Chen quickly joined in. “Mrs. Zhao, he’s telling the truth. He only did it to help me.”

“If you don’t think it’s appropriate, we can cancel the deal. Please don’t get upset with Mr. Zhao over it.”

Liu Shuang looked at him and gave a cold snort. “Well. Aren’t you loyal.”

“Relax, Lin Chen. I don’t bite. I only want to talk to your girlfriend.”

“Unless you’ve got something to feel guilty about?”

His expression stiffened for an instant. “I haven’t done anything wrong. Why would I feel guilty?”

“Then why do I get the feeling you’re hiding something?”

Her scrutiny bore down on him, and he struggled under the pressure.

Just as he ran out of things to say, someone knocked.

Three sharp taps.

“Come in.”

The door opened. Su Ya walked in wearing business clothes, a set of documents in her arms.

At the sight of her, Zhao Qiang grew even more anxious.

Lin Chen wished he could disappear.

Su Ya visibly faltered. She hadn’t expected Liu Shuang to be here, and her expression immediately became strained.

Liu Shuang smiled. “Lin Chen, didn’t you just say your girlfriend was busy?”

He had no answer.

Su Ya’s scalp prickled.

“What brings you here, Su Ya?”

She forced herself to speak. “Ms. Liu, I discussed a project with Mr. Zhao yesterday.”

“I’m here today to sign the contract.”

Liu Shuang was far too shrewd for Su Ya to risk playing games in front of her.

Better to lay it out openly than arouse suspicion.

She held the contract out to Zhao Qiang.

“Mr. Zhao, here’s the contract. Please take a look.”

He accepted it but didn’t dare sign.

“Honey, would you like to see it?”

“Of course.”

Liu Shuang said, “Su Ya is so beautiful. What if she dazzles you into signing without reading?”

“What are you talking about?”

Zhao Qiang put on an offended look. “Don’t say things like that. Su Ya is Lin Chen’s girlfriend.”

“How do you think that makes him feel? If you cause a misunderstanding and damage their relationship, that would be terrible.”

“I’m sorry. That was thoughtless of me.”

Liu Shuang turned to him. “You have my apologies, Lin Chen.”

He grew flustered. “No need, Mrs. Zhao. Really, it’s fine.”

She leafed through the contract. There was nothing wrong with its contents, but she knew perfectly well that something was going on between Su Ya and Zhao Qiang.

Lin Chen was merely their cover.

Without hard evidence, though, she could only keep that knowledge to herself.

“Lin Chen, do you own a place?” she asked suddenly.

“No.”

He had once owned a small home, but after his adoptive parents died, he had sold it to pay for his sister’s treatment.

“Where are you living, then?”

“I rent a room in Nangou.”

Nangou was Linjiang’s most chaotic old district, a warren of narrow streets and alleys that went dark at night. All sorts of people lived there.

Liu Shuang frowned. “Making your girlfriend live in a place like Nangou? She deserves better.”

“Su Ya, can you stand it?”

Unable to work out what she was getting at, Su Ya said, “Ms. Liu, Lin Chen and I haven’t moved in together.”

“We live separately.”

“You’re a couple. Why would you live apart?”

Liu Shuang continued, “Here’s what we’ll do. I have an empty apartment in Jinlan Bay. You and Lin Chen can move in.”

“I won’t charge you rent.”

Su Ya had no desire to live under the same roof as him. She hurried to decline. “Ms. Liu, we couldn’t possibly.”

“Neither of us is anyone important. It really wouldn’t be appropriate for us to live in your apartment.”

“Let’s forget about it.”

But Liu Shuang had made up her mind. Her tone hardened. “If I say you’re moving in, you’re moving in.”

“Lin Chen, that’s an order. You and Su Ya will move in tonight.”

“Isn’t this a little sudden, Mrs. Zhao?” he asked awkwardly.

Living with Su Ya? Was she trying to kill him?

Everything about that woman got under his skin. Having her so close, when he couldn’t touch her, would drive him mad.

“Not at all.”

Liu Shuang smiled. “As the boss’s wife, I ought to look after our employees.”

“Take today off. Go home, pack, and move.”

Lin Chen had nothing to say. He had no way to refuse.

Su Ya was deeply uneasy. She couldn’t figure out what Liu Shuang was up to.

After hesitating, she said, “Thank you for your kindness, Ms. Liu.”

“But Lin Chen is only a driver here. We really couldn’t put you to so much trouble.”

“How about this? I was already planning to ask him to move in with me. We won’t need your apartment. He can come to my place.”

“No.”

Liu Shuang became abruptly forceful. “Are you defying me, Su Ya?”

“I can’t stand people arguing with me. I said move into my apartment. Did you hear me?”

“Refuse, and the deal is cancelled today.”

That threat left Su Ya no room to manoeuvre.

“Understood. Thank you, Ms. Liu.”

Zhao Qiang thought it over and suddenly realised the situation could work in his favour.

With Lin Chen living with Su Ya, he would have ready-made cover for his own visits to her. Liu Shuang would be even less likely to suspect anything.

He smiled. “Honey, you’re so good to our employees.”

“Su Ya, Lin Chen, make sure you remember my wife’s kindness.”

Liu Shuang signed the contract with a brisk stroke. “All right. Go and pack for the move.”

“Lin Chen, drive me home to get the keys.”

Zhao Qiang stayed at the office.

Lin Chen took the wheel for Liu Shuang. The car had barely passed through the company gates when she spoke from the back seat.

“You and Su Ya aren’t dating at all, are you, Lin Chen?”

“You were covering for Zhao Qiang last night. Do you really think I’m that easy to fool?”