Chapter 400: Qi Chenglin is Really My Husband
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Ruan Danchen hinted at the receptionist, who shook her head immediately. “I’m sorry. You can’t.”
Chang Jingqiu had a feeling that Ruan Danchen was lying. When she went to Qilin with Chang Zhiyuan the day before, they did not register themselves. Nonetheless, she had not been to Qilin for an interview so she was left in a state of doubt.
After contemplating the situation, Chang Jingqiu pulled Ruan Danchen aside and said softly, “Danchen, actually… Can you please do me a favor?”
“How do you want me to help?” Ruan Danchen’s lashes fluttered as she looked at Chang Jingqiu. She could vaguely guess Chang Jingqiu’s intention and almost chuckled in amusement.
“It’s like this. Do you remember yesterday afternoon when we met at Qiaopin?” Chang Jingqiu asked. Her face burned up gradually.
“Yes, I do.” Despite Ruan Danchen’s impassive reply, deep in her heart, she pouted her lips and felt disturbed at Chang Jingqiu’s expression.
“I remember telling you that I was there with my uncle. My uncle was, in fact, trying to introduce me to a boyfriend. However, he was worried that a blind date might cause unnecessary pressure to both sides. So, he took the opportunity of that business discussion for us to meet. We can always explore the possibility of getting together if we show interest in each other. Even if we don’t, it was less awkward that way,” Chang Jingqiu explained softly. Her face flushed a beautiful red from embarrassment.
The more Ruan Danchen listened to Chang Jingqiu, the more disturbed she became. She did not want to listen to other women professing their admiration and interest in her husband.
However, as soon as that thought came up, her train of thought begun to deviate from the situation.
Her husband…
Her husband…
He was her husband!
Why was she overwhelmed by such possessiveness and pride?
Ruan Danchen suddenly realized that after registering their marriage, they had not just officially become husband and wife. As his legal wife, she had every right to stop other women such as Chang Jingqiu from pestering her husband. She could tell them confidently, ‘This is my man, my husband. You have missed the chance to be with him. So, please like someone else instead.”
Thinking that she could then rightfully guard Qi Chenglin under her wings and thank her opponents for liking her husband, the weight in her heart was suddenly lifted and she broke into a sweet, content smile.
The smile had led Chang Jingqiu to believe that Ruan Danchen was supportive of her relationship and would like to dig up more gossip from a woman’s perspective.
Chang Jingqiu felt full of herself as her lips curled into a smirk and she said, “By the way, I didn’t get the chance to tell you that the man my uncle introduced me to is Qi Chenglin, your general manager.”
“So?” Ruan Danchen lifted a brow.
Chang Jingqiu did not expect Ruan Danchen to react nonchalantly. She instinctively felt that Ruan Danchen’s reaction was slightly hostile.
Nonetheless, she still needed Ruan Danchen’s help so she responded passionately, “Can you bring me into your company? The receptionist refuses to allow me in.”
Ruan Danchen studied Chang Jingqiu’s face until she almost shuddered by that intensive stare. Only then did Ruan Danchen said calmly, “Since you’re here to meet the general manager, why don’t you just contact him directly?”
Chang Jingqiu’s expression darkened. The smile on her face stiffened and she did not utter a word.
Ruan Danchen was pleased to know that Qi Chenglin had distanced himself from his pursuer. She gave him a thumb up in her heart.
“Could it be that you like the general manager but he has no interest in you? Didn’t he ignore you when you tried to contact him?” said Ruan Danchen as she lifted her brow.
Chang Jingqiu turned mad from embarrassment. She felt as if being ridiculed by Ruan Danchen and so she responded stubbornly, “No, he has a good impression of me and wants to keep in touch with me. I’m here now just to give him a surprise. That’s why I ask for your help to bring me into the company. Are you helping me out or not?”
“It can’t be!” Ruan Danchen’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Our general manager is already a married man. Do you intend to break apart his marriage? How little self-respect you have for yourself!”
Chang Jingqiu was compelled to swing her arms and slapped Ruan Danchen but had managed to hold herself together. Nonetheless, infuriation was clearly shown on her face.
She let go of her grip on Ruan Danchen’s arm and said, “Impossible! Ruan Danchen, did I rub you in the wrong way? You refuse to help me because you’re jealous, right? I’ve sought help from the wrong person!”
Ruan Danchen had almost laughed at her absurdity. “What are you thinking about? Our general manager is really married. He wasn’t in the office this morning because he had applied for a half-day off to get his marriage certificate. Ask her if you don’t believe me.”
Ruan Danchen dragged Chang Jingqiu towards the receptionist and asked in a smile, “Can you please let Ms Chang know if Qi Chenglin is already married?”
Ruan Danchen used Qi Chenglin’s name instead of addressing him as the general manager since she had no intention to conceal her identity from Chang Jingqiu.
Why did she need to hide her identity when she was his legal wife?
Chang Jingqiu was seething at Ruan Danchen’s action that she did not notice the different forms of address. Then, she saw the receptionist nodding her head in confirmation. “Yes, the general manager had gone to register his marriage this morning. Everyone in the company knows about this because General Manager Qi’s wife shared their marriage on her WeChat.”
“It can’t be! Why don’t I know that he’s already married? He told me yesterday that he only has a fiancee!” Chang Jingqiu pressed on.
Ruan Danchen was affronted by Chang Jingqiu’s statement and said, “Why are you still pursuing him when you know that he already had a fiancee? Do you intend to be the other woman?”
“Ruan Danchen! How can you say that? As long as he is still unmarried, I have the right to fight to be with him. How can I be the other woman then?”
“But he’s already married,” said Ruan Danchen as she pointed to herself, “to me. Didn’t I share our marriage in WeChat Moments this morning? You even congratulated me.”
“Ruan Danchen, this is not funny. You’re so bold that you made a joke about your general manager. I understand that Young Master Lin is such an outstanding man and many women in your company may dream of being with him. Despite that, you’re being a little too over.” Chang Jingqiu’s expression darkened in distaste as if another woman was interested in her man. “Besides, saying this in front of your colleague. Aren’t you the least bit ashamed of yourself?”
Ruan Danchen stared at Chang Jingqiu in disbelief. Was that woman alright? How could she act so confidently in assumption?
“Qi Chenglin is really my husband,” Ruan Danchen reiterated weakly.
What could she do if Chang Jingqiu refused to believe the truth?
Chang Jingqiu, who had become irritated by Ruan Danchen’s joke, pointed at Ruan Danchen’s face as she said, “Ruan Danchen, what’s wrong with you? Why are you still so shameless even after these years. Aren’t you aware of your own condition? You don’t have the right to even dream about it. Wanting to be with Young Master Lin when you already have a child that big? What a joke!”
“…” Ruan Danchen was stunned speechless. Did she have to call Qi Chenglin down for such petty matters?
“That child was mine and Chenglin’s,” Ruan Danchen explained. She felt that she had been rather good-tempered with Chang Jingqiu.
She was slightly hurt that Chang Jingqiu had refused to believe the truth.
“You…” Chang Jingqiu felt sick at Ruan Danchen’s insistence. How could she not be ashamed of herself?
“Are you joking with me? Everyone knows that Young Master Lin has a son. His son has been with him since young. How can his son be yours? How old were you when his son was born? Your lie is so illogical!”
With Qi Chenglin’s status, he would get himself any young lady from a respectable family. That Ruan Danchen did not even look at herself in the mirror when she lied!
Ruan Danchen sighed helplessly, “Didn’t I say that my son is already seven during our last gathering?”
Chang Jingqiu answered in annoyance, “It’s only a coincidence.”
She looked at Ruan Danchen in disdain. How could this woman be so sick? Spouting all those nonsense in front of her colleague. Did she think that her lie would not travel into Qi Chenglin’s ears? Was that the reason for her to be so insistence?
The receptionist beside them could not bear to listen any further to their argument. Thus, she told Chang Jingqiu politely, “Ms Chang, Ms Ruan is indeed our general manager’s wife.”
“Who do you think you are?” Chang Jingqiu rebutted.
Chang Jingqiu knew that Ruan Danchen was saying the truth with the receptionist’s affirmation. However, she was reluctant to accept the truth.
Ruan Danchen was left with nothing else to say. The receptionist, on the other hand, was contemplating to call Special Assistant Jiang so he could help to clarify Ruan Danchen’s identity for Chang Jingqiu.
General Manager Qi’s wife had clearly met an unreasonable person.
Just as the receptionist picked up the handset to dial Jiang Yuan’s number, a voice called out to Ruan Danchen.
Ruan Danchen turned around to find Song Yu walking towards her. She said something to Qi Chengzhi, who smiled and nodded at Ruan Danchen before striding towards the elevator.
When Song Yu stopped in front of her, Ruan Danchen asked, “Didn’t you go back earlier? Why are you here?”
“When we almost reached home, the engineering department manager gave me a call. I’m here because he wants to discuss that project in the north district with me,” explained Song Yu. Then, she noticed Chang Jingqiu who stood beside Ruan Danchen.
Before calling out to Ruan Danchen, Song Yu saw from afar that she seemed to have a dispute with Chang Jingqiu.
However, when she went near them, Chang Jingqiu had schooled her expression and was looking at Song Yu with respect.
Chang Jingqiu knew that Song Yu was Qi Chengzhi’s wife. It was unmistaken for she had appeared in the company with Qi Chengzhi earlier.
“Your friend?” Song Yu smiled politely, regarding Chang Jingqiu as Ruan Danchen’s friend.
Chang Jingqiu felt slightly awkward because she had not expected Ruan Danchen and Song Yu to be so close to each other.
Nevertheless, Song Yu could be her future sister-in-law. So, she brought out her sweetest smile as she greeted, “Mrs Qi.”
Song Yu nodded and looked at Ruan Danchen.
Ruan Danchen pouted helplessly before introducing, “This is my senior high classmate, Chang Jingqiu. She said that she was introduced to Chenglin yesterday by her uncle and they have a mutual interest in each other. She’s here today to meet Chenglin and give him a surprise. So, she asked me to bring her into the company.”
Chang Jingqiu frowned at the side. She was feeling uneasy when she caught Ruan Danchen addressing Qi Chenglin so intimately in front of Song Yu.
Refusing to accept the truth, Chang Jingqiu deluded herself into believing that Ruan Danchen’s intimate address was due to her close relationship with Song Yu.
Song Yu glanced at Chang Jingqiu in confusion, “Mutual interest?”
Chang Jingqiu blushed lightly at her question. The receptionist, who stood beside them, nodded her head earnestly in response to her query.
“How can that be? Chenglin has never looked at anyone else aside from you. How can he have an interest in another woman? I even wonder if he can remember other women’s faces?” Song Yu exclaimed in surprise. “Didn’t you tell her that you are married to Chenglin?”
“I did but she doesn’t believe me.” Ruan Danchen was nice enough to not bring up Chang Jingqiu’s disbelieving speech word by word.
She could not press on too closely when Chang Jingqiu was already ashamed of herself.
Ruan Danchen merely hoped that Chang Jingqiu could withdraw her advances after accepting the truth.
Chang Jingqiu dropped her polite demeanor. She glared at Ruan Danchen even in the presence of Song Yu. “You… Didn’t you say that you have a son?”
“Yes, he’s mine and Qi Chenglin’s son. As I said, we broke up due to some misunderstandings. Now, we are back together again,” explained Ruan Danchen patiently. “Qi Chenglin and I are married. He is now a man who has a wife. I appreciate your feelings towards Chenglin. You have a keen eye for men. He is an outstanding man and it is normal for him to attract women’s attention. Even being married to him, I know that I cannot stop other women from liking him. Besides, we did not intentionally broadcast our relationship to the public. So, it is understandable that you may not know of it. I’m sorry that it has caused a misunderstanding for you.”
Chang Jingqiu’s face reddened. She felt as though there were numerous stares on her from the surrounding, wanting to see her embarrassing herself.
She clenched her hands tight. Her mind was overwhelmed by fury towards Ruan Danchen who caused her to embarrass herself in public. She felt that Ruan Danchen seemed to enjoy her misfortune as she bragged about her relationship with Qi Chenglin.
Ruan Danchen did not appear to be wealthy even after being together with Qi Chenglin.
Chang Jingqiu had forgotten that it was only their own assumption. When Qi Chenglin picked her up with his Mercedes-Benz, they had even ridiculed about where she got the car from.
When Ruan Danchen brought Qi Youxuan to their high school reunion in Shengyue, she had assumed that Ruan Danchen was so poor she could not even hire a nanny for her child.
Chang Jingqiu had only herself to blame for looking down at others. She kept on assuming the worst out of Ruan Danchen.
“Indeed, I was unaware of it.” Chang Jingqiu could not bring herself to apologize to Ruan Danchen. She was also unwilling to leave just like that.
She stole a glance at Ruan Danchen and then pouted her lips in disdain. “In that case, Qi Chenglin must have pulled some strings for you to be employed by Qilin.”
“Oh, yes.” Ruan Danchen nodded frankly. She did not refute Chang Jingqiu’s accusation. “Perhaps he was afraid that I could not pass the interview. He even became the interviewer to make sure that I was hired.”
Ruan Danchen felt that there was no need to cover up the truth.
In fact, the whole company must have thought that she was hired through the relationship. Well, since Qi Chenglin was her man, she was not sorry that she was given a bit of special treatment.
Ruan Danchen strongly believed that having good connections also reflected a part of a person’s capability. She was lucky her man had happened to be Qi Chenglin. That was just it, regardless of whether it was fair or not. It was already obvious that Qi Chenglin had helped her into the company. If she had insisted to be hired through her own capability in spite of his effort, it would have been too pretentious.
Chang Jingqiu did not expect Ruan Danchen to affirm her accusation directly. How could she be so bold?
Chang Jingqiu was fuming and refused to speak with Ruan Danchen any longer. She left after muttering a cold ‘Goodbye’ to them.
Ruan Danchen and Song Yu were not in the least bothered by Chang Jingqiu. They did not even consider her a threat enough to affect their good mood. Therefore, both of them chattered and laughed as they went on their way into the office.
Seeing that, the receptionist was left behind in awe. Both Director Qi and General Manager Qi’s wives were unbelievingly tolerant!
…
Chang Jingqiu did not feel like returning to the newspaper office. Instead, she drove herself to Grandmother Chang’s house.
She shouted, “Grandma!” as soon as she entered the house. Then, she pounced into Grandmother Chang’s embrace in tears.
“Yo, what’s the matter? Who made you cry? Tell Grandma. I have your back,” Grandmother Chang coaxed as she patted Chang Jingqiu’s head softly.
“Grandma, Qi Chenglin is already married. He went to register his marriage this morning,” sobbed Chang Jingqiu.
“What? Didn’t he tell you that he’s getting married?” asked Grandmother Chang in disbelief. She had heard of Qi Chenglin’s good character. Rumors were indeed unreliable.
“Sob… Sob… Grandma, he did mention yesterday that he was already engaged, but I wasn’t sure if he was sincere about it or if he was merely using that as an excuse to dodge me. Nonetheless, I still truly like him. I had already heard many great things about him before meeting him in person. When I saw him for the first time in the university, I have begun to admire him. You can say that it was love at first sight. I still remember that it was during my first year at university. He came to our faculty to deliver a speech,” said Chang Jingqiu as she sniffled. She sounded especially miserable.
“However, I was still young. I was afraid that my feelings were immature, only pure admiration of a young girl. So, I didn’t dare to let you know or asked for your help to introduce us. I didn’t expect myself to still have him in my mind. I cannot help myself to follow every news on him. Even seeing him in the magazine would be satisfying. Time has passed unknowingly like this. I realized that my feelings for him did not dissipate. They have grown stronger and occupied me so much so I cannot imagine myself being together with any other man. I know that feelings were real, it wasn’t immature like I had thought.”
“That’s why as long as he’s still unmarried, I can try to get him for myself even when I was told that he had a fiancee. I can’t just give up without trying. I just didn’t expect…” Chang Jingqiu lifted her head to look at Grandmother Chang with watery eyes. “Grandma, he’s already married because I’m one step slower. Grandma, I regret it so much.”
“Silly child.” Grandmother Chang’s heart ached as she comforted Chang Jingqiu by brushing her hair. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? What can we do now? He’s already a married man.”
Grandmother Chang sighed internally. Since her granddaughter was young, she was not given much aside from more favorable conditions. She was not even allowed into the Chang family’s company.
Although Chang Jingqiu was the one who gave up her rights, Grandmother Chang knew why she did that. Grandmother Chang had agreed to not let her into their family business.
Grandmother Chang felt that she had owed Chang Jingqiu for that and had been trying to compensate her in any other way.
“Child, let us put him aside. There are so many good men out there who are more outstanding than him. We also have many excellent men among the Great Eight Families. Yan Beicheng and Han Zhuoli are also equally outstanding. Grandma will introduce better men to you. This time we have to grab him and not let him go.”
“Grandma, I understand. It’s just painful to know that Qi Chenglin’s wife is no notable woman. If she is outstanding enough to match him, I can still accept my defeat,” said Chang Jingqiu as she gritted her teeth.
“What do you mean? Have you met her before?” Grandmother Chang asked in shock.
Chang Jingqiu straightened her back and wiped away her tears. “She’s my senior high classmate, Ruan Danchen. Not only that she isn’t from any notable family, but her family background is even worse than any normal family. Her mother is Liu Ronghua. Grandma, do you know that Liu Ronghua is a mistress in the Shen family. She is not given a legitimate status even after seven years.”
“What does Qi Chenglin see in this woman? Regardless of your classmate’s character, he cannot marry her if she has such a mother!” Grandmother Chang’s face had turned solemn when she heard of Liu Ronghua.
She was unhappy that Qi Chenglin had chosen someone with a messy family background as his wife.
