Chapter 4 — My In-Game Husband is a CEO

How on earth does this person not know how to converse like a normal human being?

Well, you see... that is... I gritted my teeth and forced out the words. Could it be some kind of online dating scam?

He fell silent for two full seconds before replying, That was my younger sister account. I froze in utter disbelief.

What?

The previous account owner, he said. My sister.

My brain completely stalled once again. His sister? The seller who had casually dumped the account and fled immediately after the transaction was his actual flesh-and-blood sister?

You mean to tell me... I struggled desperately to piece my thoughts together, that the seller who was stringing along seven or eight different people at once, completely failing to keep track of conversations before selling the account and vanishing into thin air, is your own biological sister?

This time, his silence carried an eerie, unreadable weight. Did she really string along that many people? he asked. I was speechless. It seemed I had accidentally thrown his sister right under the bus.

Then why on earth did you not say anything beforehand?

You did not ask.

I had no counterargument. His logic was airtight.

What about that couple badge then?

She linked it back when she was still in elementary school, he explained. She insisted that the little heart icon in the intimate relationship tab looked the prettiest, and she kept pestering me until I agreed to link it. That was seven or eight years ago.

My mind raced back to that level fifteen badge. If it had been active for seven or eight years, the level actually seemed quite low. His sister was in elementary school back then, which meant that he must have been...

How old are you?

Twenty-nine.

I quietly did the math in my head. When his sister was still in elementary school, he must have been well into his twenties. A grown man in his twenties being nagged by a little schoolgirl to link a couple badge, and then keeping it active without removal for a staggering seven or eight years? Was this man simply indulging his sister to an absurd, pathological degree?

Then why did you never remove it?

I stopped playing games for a very long time, and I completely forgot about it.

I was utterly defeated. I took a deep breath, trying desperately to digest this chaotic mountain of information. So, I had spent three thousand yuan to buy an account from his sister, who then bolted, and somehow I ended up bound by a couple badge to him. We had played games together for half a month, only for me to discover that he was the high-ranking crown prince from the corporate headquarters, and now he was sitting right here in a meeting room casually calling me his wife. The sheer volume of information was overwhelming. I had no idea what to say next.

Ahem, regarding that, I pointed awkwardly toward the door. Director Chen, may I take my leave now?

He did not answer. Instead, he posed a question of his own.

Are we still playing tonight?

I stared at him. He was looking down at his phone, where the game interface was displayed, the glowing level fifteen couple badge shining brightly on the screen. For a moment, I was completely lost for words.

Let me think about it, I managed to say.

He gave a slight nod. With that, I practically fled the conference room.

12

For the entire afternoon, I could not absorb a single word of work. My mind was completely consumed by that single word, wife, echoing over and over, alongside his explanation about his sister account. So from the very beginning, that couple badge was nothing more than a childish leftover link meant for amusement? Then why on earth did he call me wife? Because the badge was originally linked by his sister, did he simply assume that anyone logging into that account must naturally be his wife? No, that could not be right—he had explicitly stated that he had not played in a long time and had completely forgotten about it. Then why did he invite me to play? Why did he carry me through matches until three in the morning? Why did he wish me sweet dreams? Why... I violently shook my head. What on earth are you thinking, Kieu Ha Van? Perhaps the man was merely bored and wanted a companion for gaming. You are just a gaming partner, nothing more. When the end of the workday finally arrived, I packed up my belongings and headed out. The moment I stepped outside the company building, I spotted a sleek black car parked quietly by the curb. The window rolled down smoothly, revealing a familiar, striking face.

Get in the car.

I stood frozen in my tracks. He looked at me with an expression as casual and serene as if he were merely commenting on the pleasant weather.

Director Chen, this really isn't...

We are getting dinner, he interrupted. And we can discuss the game along the way.

I stared at him for three solid seconds. Then, as if driven by some invisible, bewitching force, I reached out, pulled open the car door, and slid into the passenger seat.

13

The interior of the car was hushed and serene, carrying a faint, sophisticated scent of genuine leather. He drove in silence, offering no extra words. I could not resist stealing sideways glances at him. His profile was truly breathtaking—chiseled, cold lines, a sharply defined jawline, and long, elegant fingers resting effortlessly on the steering wheel.

What are you looking at?

I hastily jerked my gaze back straight ahead.

Nothing at all.

A soft, low chuckle escaped his lips. That familiar, deep resonance made the skin on my neck prickle, and my ears immediately began to burn.

Director Chen, I decided to break the heavy silence, why did you choose to play games with me in the first place?

He did not answer.

You do not usually play much, do you? Why did you suddenly decide to download the game again?

Still, he offered no reply. I kept my eyes fixed on his sharp profile, waiting patiently. After a very long time, he finally spoke.

Want to know?

Yes, I do.

He turned his head slightly to cast a glance at my way, then said quietly,

I will tell you next time.

I felt like pulling my hair out. Why must this man be so infuriatingly cryptic?

14

The restaurant he brought me to was an extremely private, discreet establishment serving customized private-kitchen cuisine. If he had not guided me here, I would never have guessed that such a secluded dining spot existed behind such an unassuming exterior. When the dishes were finally served, I froze in absolute astonishment. Pan-fried squid on an iron plate. Topped with an abundance of cilantro, but strictly no scallions. Would a high-end private dining establishment like this really serve rustic pan-fried squid? I lifted my gaze to look at him. He was quietly pouring a glass of water for me.

How did you know I liked this dish?

His movements paused for a split second. He murmured,

I guessed.

I stared at him intently for five full seconds.

Did you run a background check on me?

He raised his eyes to meet mine.

No.

Then how on earth did you...

You posted it on your moments.

I was stunned. My moments? I hurriedly pulled out my phone and scrolled back through my posts from a few days ago.