Chapter 62 I Have No Intention of Living Apart

Most of the videos of Wen Jinhuai visible on the internet are recordings of him attending various events or handling business affairs.

What people usually see is his cold and sharp demeanor in the corporate world—decisive, sharp-eyed, and swift in his actions.

Furthermore, he is utterly merciless.

What do business people value above all else? Profit comes first. In that regard, he is undoubtedly a successful businessman.

Ever since he assumed the position of the head of the Wen family, he has never made a single wrong decision.

Naturally, this is also inseparable from the countless pairs of eyes lurking in the shadows, waiting for him to slip up.

One must realize that the Wen family is not short of talented descendants, yet Wen Jinhuai is the only one outstanding enough to sit beside Elder Wen.

At the elder's birthday banquet previously, the people seated at the second table were essentially the ones who could rank as second-in-command.

Though they submit to Wen Jinhuai's current management of the Wen Corporation, it does not mean they harbor no ambitions to climb higher; they are simply waiting for a mistake.

How did that rumor about the Wen family go again?

It seemed to say that as long as Elder Wen is still alive, the position of the head of the Wen family remains subject to change.

After all, Elder Wen holds the ultimate authority.

The staff members quickly brought the paperwork in, and the two of them lowered their heads to fill in their information.

The man who had escorted them in glanced at Jiang Mian several times, though in the end, he merely lowered his gaze in silence.

He knew very well what the Wen family represented in the capital, and he had a clear sense of what should and should not be done.

A moment later, the staff led them over to have their photographs taken.

"The bride should smile, please," the photographer reminded them gently.

Jiang Mian froze for a second, then immediately curved her lips into a smile. For just a split second, she tilted her head slightly toward Wen Jinhuai.

At the very least, she hoped their marriage certificate would look somewhat happy, even if it was merely a way to comfort herself.

She did not look at the photo until the marriage certificate was embossed with the official seal and placed in her hands, whereupon she opened it to take a look.

Against the red background, the two figures in white shirts had shoulders pressed almost flush against each other. What surprised her even more was that Wen Jinhuai's head was also tilted slightly toward her side.

She felt a trace of perplexity. This marriage was clearly nothing more than an agreement; initially, she even thought Wen Jinhuai was simply weary of dealing with Elder Wen's demands.

And she happened to be someone with no backing whatsoever—easy to manipulate and posing virtually no threat to him.

To be frank, in most business marriages, both families are expected to offer mutual support within their respective fields, allowing the two households to grow stronger together as a form of alliance.

Marrying her, however, completely bypassed those steps, especially since she had nothing left behind her.

Yet judging by appearances, Wen Jinhuai did not seem to find marrying her repulsive at all?

Before the red booklets in her hands had even grown warm, they were effortlessly drawn away from her grasp.

Taken aback, she instinctively reached out to take them back: "President Wen?"

"Hmm?" The man turned his head slightly, his gaze somewhat dark and deep.

Remembering what was said before the meal, her tongue felt tied in a knot. She paused for a moment before trying again: "Wen Jinhuai? What are you taking them for?"

His gaze softened once more as he shook the two red booklets in his hand: "I'll keep them safe."

"Oh." Though she didn't quite understand, she figured it was better to listen to him. Besides, keeping the booklets in her own hands wouldn't change anything anyway.

The two of them walked out together, and the man accompanied them all the way out as a farewell.

Once inside the car, she started the engine and drove off: "Where should I drop you off?"

Wen Jinhuai raised his eyes, glancing at Jiang Mian through the rearview mirror. She had completely omitted any formal address this time—was she afraid he would lecture her about it again?

"To your place, to pack your things."

"Huh?" She nearly slammed on the brakes once more, casting a swift, sideways glance at Wen Jinhuai.

If not for his impeccably gentlemanly demeanor, she would have started suspecting he had some sinister intentions in mind for her home.

Yet the man beside her remained entirely composed: "Mrs. Wen, we just got married; I have no intention of living apart."

"Besides, Grandfather will ask."

He offered a rather good-natured explanation: "I certainly don't want to be scolded by Grandfather for not knowing how to take care of my own wife."

Blushing fiercely, she was left momentarily speechless.

How did Wen Jinhuai manage to adapt to his new identity so quickly, uttering terms like "Mrs. Wen" and "my wife" with such absolute naturalness?

Jiang Mian pressed her lips together, her palms growing slick with sweat against the steering wheel.

She used to consider herself a rather composed person, but in front of Wen Jinhuai, she felt like an utter novice.

She was always left so stunned by his casual remarks that she didn't even know what to say, and could only nod in silence to show she had taken his words in.

When they arrived at the underground parking garage of her apartment complex, an unjustified sense of apology welled up within her.

After all, Wen Jinhuai could not possibly be accustomed to parking structures like this; the sprawling courtyard of his own estate was so brightly lit and spacious, with cars housed in private garages, entirely unlike this place.

When she first purchased this flat, the neighborhood was hardly a gathering place for the ultra-wealthy.

Still, the security measures were exceptionally good, which was why she had chosen it.

Wen Jinhuai said nothing as he followed her toward the elevator. Once inside, an awkward silence settled between them.

Upon reaching her floor, she stepped out first, unlocked the door, went inside, and placed a brand-new pair of slippers on the floor, turning to him: "Wear these."

"Packing my things might take a little while?" She didn't even know what she ought to pack.

He nodded, changing his shoes at the entryway. Noticing her wandering around in a slightly flustered state, he raised his head to remind her:

"A change of clothes and your usual skincare products will be enough. Anything else can be bought new."

"Oh, right!" She nodded and hurriedly bolted into her bedroom.

Wen Jinhuai had actually noticed—the bright crimson tips of her ears as her hair tossed back.

Her skin was naturally cool and fair, making the flushed red of her ears impossible to miss.

A silent smile curved the corners of his lips. He had originally thought she was the aloof and detached type, but it turned out she still possessed the endearing behaviors of a young woman.

It seemed Elder Wen's suggestion wasn't bad after all.

Rather than entering a traditional arranged marriage with someone he utterly detested, being with someone who aroused his curiosity was far better—at the very least, it provided physical and mental gratification.

He walked over, sat down on the sofa, and quietly surveyed Jiang Mian's apartment.

The entire room was decorated in soft pink and white tones, exuding a deep sense of warmth that contrasted somewhat with her public persona.

If outdoors she was an independent, gentle yet distant figure, then at home, she was likely the kind of young woman who would curl up on the sofa hugging a cute plush pillow while binge-watching dramas.

Perhaps, during an exciting plot twist, she would even cover her mouth and shriek with suppressed delight.

His dark, deep eyes slowly lowered as he listened to the rustling sounds of packing coming from the bedroom.

Abruptly, it filled him with a novel realization: so this is what home feels like.