Chapter 8 — Kissing the CEO by Mistake, Winning the Ideal Husband

I gazed at him in stunned silence. This was the very first time anyone had ever told me that none of this was my fault. From the time I was a little girl, everyone had insisted that because I was the older sister, I had to give in, to concede, to sacrifice everything for the sake of the family. Only he, out of everyone in the world, stood firmly on my side.

They will never let go, I said, a bitter, self-deprecating smile touching my lips.

I know, he replied simply. Leave this matter to me. I will handle it.

You?

I told you before, for the duration of our contract, every single trouble that comes your way is mine to resolve.

It was that word again: contract. Yet this time, from those two cold syllables, I sensed only a profound warmth. The very next day, Shen Mo assumed the identity of my fiance and requested a meeting with my parents and my younger brother. The venue was a private suite in a five-star hotel belonging to his corporate empire. I did not go. That had been Shen Mo’s explicit demand; he said he refused to let me ever lay eyes upon those repulsive faces again. I never learned what exactly he said to them. I only knew that from that day onward, my world grew utterly peaceful. My mother stopped calling. My father stopped texting me venomous curses. They seemed to vanish entirely from the fabric of my life.

Much later, I heard the full account of that negotiation from Su Qing. Her husband, acting in his capacity as Shen Mo’s special assistant, had been present in the room. According to her, Shen Mo had maintained an overwhelming, oppressive aura from beginning to end, delivering precisely three statements. First, he told my parents: Lam Van is my woman, and from now on, her affairs are my affairs. If you want money, fine, but you will not take a single cent from her—you will come to me to borrow it. Second, he addressed my younger brother: I will give you enough money to buy an apartment and fund your wedding. But this is not a handout; it is an investment. You will write a promissory note, sign a repayment contract, and pay me back every last penny, principal and interest. If you fail, or if you allow your parents to harass Lam Van ever again, I will ensure you learn what it truly means to wish you were dead. Third, he placed a bank card upon the table and addressed them all: This sum represents the final thread of sentimentality between you and Lam Van. Once you accept it, from this moment forward, you and she shall have no connection whatsoever.

My family, utterly crushed by his overwhelming presence and merciless tactics, took the money and quietly slinked away. As I listened to Su Qing recount the tale, I remained entirely still for a long time, utterly unable to calm my racing heart. I had never imagined Shen Mo would employ such a method to untangle the heaviest burden of my life. He did not preach empty forgiveness like some ethereal saint, nor did he attempt to placate that bottomless abyss with endless cash. Instead, he used the most direct, the most efficient, and the most resolute means possible to sever every single tether binding me to that blood-sucking family. He gave me a brand-new life.

That evening, Shen Mo came to pick me up from work. Sitting in the passenger seat of his car, watching the neon lights of the sprawling city blur past, my chest was a tumult of colliding emotions.

Why did you help me? I finally asked.

Because you are my girlfriend, he answered with absolute, natural ease.

Is that truly the only reason?

What other reason could there possibly be? he countered, raising an eyebrow.

I fell silent. I desperately wanted to remind him that we were merely bound by a con—

Lam Van, he called out softly, his voice suddenly turning grave. Look at me.

I turned my head, meeting the unfathomable depths of his dark eyes.

From now on, forget about that contract. I am not helping you because of some paper, nor because of any business arrangement. I am doing this because I like you. From the very moment you threw caution to the wind and kissed me at that wedding, I have been falling for you.

My mind went completely blank. He said he liked me? That he had felt this way from the very beginning?

But… what about Bach Tuyet?

There has never been anything between her and me; that was merely an arrangement forced upon me by my parents, he interrupted firmly. The only person I have ever waited for, from first to last, has been you.

I looked at him, searching the genuine sincerity and unwavering resolve shining in his gaze. I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that this was no longer an act. Every single word he spoke was the absolute truth. It felt as though a heavy stone had been cast into the tranquil lake of my heart, sending endless ripples spreading outward. I could no longer deceive myself. I liked him. Not because he had rescued me from my parasitic family, not because he had pulled me through my professional crisis, but simply because he was Shen Mo. The man who had draped his coat over my shoulders at my absolute lowest point; the man who had clumsily attempted to cook me a pot of culinary disaster; the man who always stood resolutely by my side against the judgment of the world.

Looking at him, I suddenly burst into laughter, even as warm tears cascaded uncontrollably down my cheeks. This time, they were tears of pure, unadulterated happiness. At last, I no longer needed to rely on a cold, calculated contract to justify our relationship. At last, I could stand proudly by his side, as his true equal.

Three months of the contract were drawing to a close before I even realized it. In the past, I had prayed for this day to arrive in a flash so I could finally regain my freedom. But now, I found myself wishing time would slow down—just a little bit slower, dragging on endlessly into eternity. The relationship between Shen Mo and me was no longer a secret. We acted just like any ordinary couple. We went on dates, watched movies together, traveled to distant cities. He took me to eat at humble street-food stalls, and I accompanied him to extravagant banquets. We stepped into each other’s worlds, and deeply into each other’s hearts.

Bach Tuyet still wore her haughty, arrogant expression every time she crossed my path in the office. Yet within the depths of her gaze now lingered a tangled web of complex emotions I could not quite decipher. She seemed to be plotting something in the shadows. But I no longer cared. For I knew that no matter what she attempted, Shen Mo would always stand unwavering by my side.

On the very eve of the contract's expiration, Bach Tuyet summoned me to the rooftop terrace.

Lam Van, tomorrow is the day you finally pack your things and get lost, isn't it? she said, crossing her arms over her chest with a triumphant, malicious sneer. How did you enjoy playing your little role for these past three months?

I froze in place. How on earth did she know about the contract?

Catching the shock rippling across my features, Bach Tuyet laughed with even greater satisfaction. Did you really think you could keep it hidden from everyone? I’ve already investigated the whole thing. You and Ah Mo were never anything more than a simple transaction. He provided the money, and you served as his shield. Now that the play is over, it’s time for you to drop the curtain and leave the stage.