Chapter 122: Acting is My Profession (Word Count Adjusted)

An Ling had just taken out her phone when she suddenly heard this sentence. Her typing came to a halt.

She lifted her head slightly.

The brim of her baseball cap obscured most of her vision, but she could see the man dressed in an expensive, custom-made dark suit.

His arms hung by his sides, just revealing a luxury watch on his wrist. Between his long, slender fingers with well-defined knuckles, he held a cigarette. Smoke swirled around him, and the silver ring on his ring finger made him look both noble and elegant.

An Ling's eyelids twitched.

Wait a minute...?

The next second, a familiar, deep voice rang out.

"Are you Shen Fuyuan's manager?"

The man's voice was flat, his speaking pace unhurried. It was a tone she had never heard him use before.

An Ling froze, slowly tilting her head up to look.

Under the night sky, the man stood beside a luxury car. The stray hairs on his forehead were meticulously styled. He had deep-set features, a high bridge of the nose, and thin lips. His brow and eyes exuded a cool nobility, and his pitch-black eyes held very little emotion.

This handsome, outstanding face unmistakably belonged to her husband.

She blinked. Just as she was about to speak, a woman's voice abruptly interrupted.

"Big Brother, since the manager is here, let the manager take Shen Fuyuan back. I happen to have something I want to talk to you about."

An Ling's expression paused slightly. She turned to look at the woman speaking, her gaze lingering on the other's face for a fraction of a second.

Zhou Wen?

It seemed that only Zhou Wen would call Shen Linyan "Big Brother."

She pulled up her mask. Before she could speak, she heard Shen Linyan say, "Take Shen Fuyuan back."

An Ling was momentarily stunned and stood rooted to the spot.

Whether he noticed her gaze or just hadn't heard a reply, the man suddenly glanced over.

An Ling instinctively lowered her head, using the brim of her hat to dodge his eyes.

Without drawing attention, she slipped off her wedding ring, stuffed it into her pocket, and softly replied, "Okay."

At this moment, Shen Fuyuan, who was beside them, slowly opened her eyes.

Her head was splitting, and she frowned in discomfort.

Realizing she was being held up by people, her eyes instantly widened, and she began to struggle. "Damn it, who are you guys?! Let me go!"

"Shen Fuyuan."

The man's faint three syllables instantly sobered Shen Fuyuan up.

She stared in astonishment and stammered, "...B-Big Brother? Why are you here? Where is Sister-in-law?"

Shen Linyan paused, put out his cigarette, and frowned. "You expect your sister-in-law to pick you up when you're drunk?"

"No."

Remembering what had just happened in the private room, Shen Fuyuan instinctively turned her head to look around. "Did Sister-in-law leave? Wasn't she going to bring Huihui..."

When she met the calm, almond-shaped eyes under the brim of the girl's hat next to her, Shen Fuyuan's voice abruptly stopped.

An Ling stepped forward and said to the two bodyguards, "I'll support her. She is quite sensitive to pain, so you can let go now. I'll take her back."

The two men instantly let go.

Shen Fuyuan pretended to have a headache and leaned against her, secretly shooting her a look: Big Brother didn't recognize you?

An Ling closed her eyes and gave an imperceptible nod: Yes.

Shen Fuyuan: "..."

An Ling patted her back and whispered, "Stall for a bit."

Shen Fuyuan instantly understood.

When it came to acting, she was a professional.

She closed her eyes, opened her mouth, and unleashed the acting skills of a lifetime, playing the drunk to the extreme.

"Ah, I feel so sick, I want to throw up. I don't want to get in the car. I'm not leaving."

Saying that, she crouched on the ground, pulling at her mask as if she were about to vomit.

An Ling crouched down to pat her back and soothe her, then looked up at the bodyguard nearby. "Could you help buy a bottle of water?"

The bodyguard froze and hesitantly looked at his boss.

Shen Linyan glanced at Shen Fuyuan on the ground and nodded in agreement.

When the water was brought over, Shen Fuyuan braced herself and slowly sipped it under the gaze of several pairs of eyes.

Shen Linyan looked down at the time and placed his hand on the car door.

Seeing this, Zhou Wen hurriedly spoke up, "Big Brother, are you leaving already? We haven't seen each other for so long, shouldn't we chat for a bit?"

Hearing this, the man glanced at her, then withdrew his gaze and continued to open the car door.

Zhou Wen gritted her teeth and took a step forward, raising her hand to grab the car door. She kept her tone as soft and pitiful as possible. "Big Brother, then I'll just say it straight. You know I just got divorced and have been out of touch with society for too long. It's hard to find a job right now. I just wanted to ask... can I go back to being your assistant? Like before, as your lifestyle assistant."

As soon as the words were spoken, the few people on the scene instantly fell silent.

Shen Fuyuan, who was crouching on the ground, carefully lifted her eyes and secretly peeked at An Ling.

No emotion could be seen on the girl's face.

Shen Linyan's movements stopped.

He glanced at Zhou Wen. "I don't need one."

"Is it that you don't need one, or is it that An Ling won't allow it?"

Zhou Wen furrowed her brows. "Big Brother, you weren't like this before. In the past, whenever I needed help, you would always come to help me. I did a great job when I was your assistant before, and I never caused any trouble..."

Shen Linyan raised a hand to stop her, casually turned his head, and looked at Secretary Chen beside him.

Secretary Chen instantly understood.

He cleared his throat and spoke fluently in one breath.

"Miss Zhou, from the time you joined the company until you left, you entered the wrong numbers on reports three times, causing massive financial losses. You scheduled two important meetings at the same time twice, causing chaotic situations. You missed sending out emergency instructions three times, leading to delays in work progress. You once accidentally sent a proposal email to an unrelated group, nearly leaking trade secrets, and even when making coffee for clients on several occasions, you almost spilled it on them."

Zhou Wen: "..."

As Secretary Chen's voice fell, a very soft sound of stifled laughter came from the side.

Zhou Wen's face looked awful as she turned to glare at the two people nearby. "What are you laughing at?!"

After saying that, she suddenly remembered her persona and hurriedly restored her original expression, forcing a smile as she looked at Shen Linyan.

"No, Big Brother, I was just starting out back then and wasn't very skilled. I will definitely get better and better, and besides, you helped me handle all those things before..."

"If I didn't help you, you wouldn't have been able to marry into the Shen family."

Shen Linyan let out a chuckle and interrupted her. He looked down and slowly adjusted his sleeves, his tone unhurried. "You were so stupid, I was afraid Lu Jingshen wouldn't like you anymore."

Caught off guard by this sentence, Zhou Wen's face froze. "...What do you mean?"

Shen Linyan's tone was indifferent: "Zhou Wen, I heard you went looking for An Ling several times, and it seems you were the one who posted certain remarks online."

Zhou Wen's face stiffened. She saw the man slowly lift his eyes. Those pitch-black eyes that usually held a hint of a smile were completely devoid of emotion right now. Every word he spoke was wrapped in an oppressive and alienating aura that warned strangers to stay away.

"If I catch you looking for An Ling again, I will make your life even worse than it was before."

Zhou Wen's face suddenly turned pale.

She looked at the man in front of her, her eyes full of shock and fear, her lips slightly parted but unable to speak.

Noticing the gazes cast upon her from around, her face flushed with embarrassment, and she turned away, her retreating figure looking rather pathetic.

Once the woman left, Shen Linyan looked down at his phone. Seeing no new messages, his gaze paused slightly, and his fingertips began typing on the screen.

An Ling felt the phone in her pocket vibrate. She took it out and saw the message Shen Linyan had just sent her.

Shen Linyan: [Has my wife eaten dinner yet?]

At the same time, the man's indifferent voice came from behind.

"Shen Fuyuan, have you seen enough?"

Shen Fuyuan, who was pretending to drink water: "..."

She coughed a few times, trying to pretend to be drunk to gloss over it. "My head hurts so..."

When she met the man's emotionless eyes, her voice trailed off. Looking guilty, she turned her face away.

"I didn't mean to. Zhou Wen said she had something to talk to me about. As we drank, I accidentally had too much. I didn't know she used my phone to contact you..."

After reading the message, An Ling put her phone away and turned to look at the man.

Sensing her gaze, Shen Linyan glanced over.

But when he met the girl's eyes under the brim of her hat, his originally indifferent gaze suddenly froze, his expression turning blank.

"...Wife?"

Seeing that she had been discovered, An Ling took off her mask.

"You go back first. I'll take Shen Fuyuan home."

"I'll have someone else take her back..." Shen Linyan took a few steps forward, wanting to reach out and hold her.

But when the girl looked up, his movements instantly stopped.

Shen Linyan pursed his lips. Then, he looked up and cast an unreadable glance at Shen Fuyuan.

Shen Fuyuan: "!"

Fuck, fuck, fuck! Fine, fine, fine! She was the soft target here!

She blurted out, "Sister-in-law, there's no need! I'll drive myself back... Bah! Let someone else take me back!"

Saying that, she laughed out loud and patted the two bodyguards beside her. "With you two big bros protecting me, I feel so incredibly safe."

An Ling: "..."

She looked at the man beside her and ultimately said nothing, just giving a soft "Mm" and "Okay."

After sending Shen Fuyuan back, An Ling and Shen Linyan returned home.

From beginning to end, the expression on the girl's face didn't change much, looking exactly as usual, yet she was much quieter than before.

Shen Linyan followed behind her, his fingertips curling slightly.

It wasn't until they entered the door that he asked softly, "Have you eaten dinner, wife?"

An Ling turned to look at him and blinked.

She took off her hat and tidied her hair. "I ate at the company."

Then she turned and walked into the bedroom. "I'm going to take a shower first."

She didn't mention a single word about what had just happened at the bar, as if deliberately avoiding it.

Shen Linyan stood frozen in place. Lowering his eyes, he walked over to the sofa and sat down.

An Ling returned to the bedroom. There was a gift bag on the dressing table, with the sticky note from this morning still attached to it.

Her footsteps paused slightly. She picked up the sticky note, stayed silent for a moment, and put the bag aside.

After coming out of the shower, she picked up her phone from the table and found that Shen Fuyuan had sent her some messages.

Shen Fuyuan: [Will my older brother silence me?!]

Shen Fuyuan: [Ahhhh I'm doomed, I'm doomed. Sister-in-law, please put in a good word for me! If I die, your show won't be able to air!]

An Ling found it a bit funny: [If you die, our show will become your final work. The ratings would probably skyrocket.]

Shen Fuyuan: [...? How can you profit off my tragedy?]

An Ling: [Don't worry, you won't die.]

She put down her phone and sat on the bed, hearing the bedroom door open.

After the two exchanged a glance, An Ling spoke, "Go take your shower."

Shen Linyan nodded and turned to the wardrobe to grab his clothes.

When he came out of the bathroom again, the girl was already lying in bed.

Shen Linyan's footsteps halted. He stood quietly watching her for a moment before turning off the lights and lying down as well.

This time, the bedroom was even quieter than usual.

Shen Linyan closed his eyes. He didn't dare to embrace his wife in front of him; he didn't even dare to touch her with his fingertips.

He was terrified of the outcome—

That An Ling would reject him out of fear.

The fear of seeing his true colors, a fear that couldn't be changed.

If An Ling had previously only been afraid that he might make a move against the An family, or that he might have been lying to her all along, those were all unknown variables that could be changed.

But what happened today was something he had personally admitted to doing. If An Ling was afraid of this...

He couldn't even defend himself.

He could no longer change his image in his wife's heart.

"Honey, please don't be afraid of me, okay?" The man's voice was hoarse, a slight tremble hidden at the end of his words.

Hearing this, An Ling's back stiffened slightly.

She opened her eyes, remained silent for a few seconds, and then slowly closed them again.

"Did you always smoke?" she suddenly asked.

Hearing this question, Shen Linyan was slightly taken aback. He opened his eyes and gave a soft "Mm." "But I rarely smoke. Only occasionally."

An Ling turned around, the fabric of her clothes rustling—a sound that felt somewhat intimate in the dim room. She said softly, "Don't smoke next time."

Shen Linyan pulled her into his arms. Lowering his head, his nose brushed against her face. "Okay."

His scalding body temperature transferred through the thin layer of fabric. His thin lips gently brushed against the corner of her mouth. "Honey, can I kiss you?"

His burning breath fell on her skin, wrapped in a warm scent of cedar, sending a tingling shiver through her.

An Ling's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she pursed her lips.

Counting the days, they had rarely been intimate before due to work, and coupled with the conflicts over the past few days, it really had been a long time since they had such close contact.

She gripped the hem of the man's shirt and gave a tiny, subtle nod.

The next second, her lips were gently captured. The man parted his lips and sucked softly, time and time again, cherishing and adoring her. Then he rained dense kisses upon her, his eager movements laced with gentle restraint.

The wet, passionate atmosphere spread throughout the confined space.

"Honey." Shen Linyan's Adam's apple bobbed agonizingly. He cupped her face. Her soft lips gave off a sweet fragrance, and the moment he kissed and tasted her, a rush of pleasure shot straight to his head, making him unable to hold back a sigh.

Their breathing had long since grown ragged. The newlywed couple had already experienced the ultimate depths of love; a tiny bit of friction sparked an electric fire like dry wood meeting a blazing flame.

The simple kiss had long since evolved, and the air instantly combusted.

Their tongues intertwined, exchanging saliva too fast to swallow. Under the cover of night, heavy panting mingled with the intimate sounds of wetness.

Like the rising tide, it washed over the dry beach again and again.

The blanket bulged high, the woman's soft moans rising and falling from time to time, while the man's hoarse coaxing echoed in her ears.

Clatter—

The nightstand drawer was pulled open. The man's arm was strong and sexy, with a few veins slightly bulging, as his well-defined fingers grabbed a few foil packets.

Under the light, the ring on the man's ring finger gleamed with a crystalline sheen.

Outside the window, the night grew thicker, while the temperature inside the room soared.

In this moment, all suspicions were temporarily cast aside, leaving only the deepest love driving their primal instincts.

...

The next day.

An Ling sat at her desk, her entire body aching. She massaged her waist and legs, thinking that if she could travel back to yesterday, she would definitely reject Shen Linyan.

The phone on her desk lit up.

Shen Linyan: [Is my wife still feeling uncomfortable?]

An Ling: [(⩌-⩌)]

Shen Linyan: [(⑉••⑉) Shall we have dinner together tonight?]

An Ling: [I'm going back to my parents' place tonight.]

Looking at the chat history, An Ling's gaze landed on the emoticon the man had sent, looking thoughtful.

"What a huge contrast..."

For such a cold person to use this kind of emoticon made it really hard to associate him with the Shen Linyan from the bar.

An Ling: [Is sending these emoticons also part of your disguise?]

Shen Linyan: [I learned it from you, wife.]

Shen Linyan: [つ♡⊂ This way, you won't be afraid of me.]