A loud crash jolted Qin Lan from her sleep. She groaned, pulling the covers over her head, desperate to block out the unwelcome chaos that had shattered the quiet of early morning.
They had barely made it through the night after awkwardly settling into their temporary living arrangement Zhao Chen on the couch, her in the bed. But apparently, things were already spiraling.
"Damn it!" Zhao Chen's muffled voice carried through the room.
Curiosity won over her desire for sleep. She peeked out from under the blanket to see Zhao Chen hopping on one foot, rubbing his toe, and glaring at the coffee table like it was his mortal enemy.
"Are you okay?" she asked, more out of politeness than genuine concern. Honestly, she was still too tired to care much.
"I'm fine," Zhao Chen muttered, though his pained grimace told a different story. "This couch is cursed."
Suppressing a laugh, Qin Lan pushed herself up and glanced at the small, sagging sofa. With his tall frame sprawled awkwardly over it, Zhao Chen had looked like a giant folded into a toy bed, tossing and turning all night, trying to find an elusive comfortable position.
"You could've asked for more pillows," she said flatly, running a hand through her disheveled hair.
"Pillows wouldn't help. That thing is basically made of stone." He snorted, his tone laced with exaggerated suffering.
Qin Lan raised an eyebrow, amusement sparking as she fought to keep a straight face. "Well, that's what you get for trying to be a gentleman. You could've taken the bed."
Zhao Chen straightened, his familiar smirk slipping back into place. "Oh, I wouldn't want to deprive you of your beauty sleep. You need it more than I do."
Qin Lan's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"
He held up his hands in mock surrender. "I'm just saying, you look a little... ruffled this morning. Maybe the honeymoon suite isn't as magical as they claim."
She picked up a pillow and lobbed it at him. Zhao Chen caught it mid-air, chuckling, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Kidding, kidding. You look lovely, Mrs. Zhao."
"Stop calling me that," she grumbled for the millionth time, sliding out of bed and heading for the bathroom. "I need a shower."
As she shut the door behind her, Qin Lan caught her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was a mess, her eyes puffy from a rough night of sleep, and a pillow crease marked one side of her face.
"Perfect," she muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Today was off to a fantastic start.
The shower's hot water was a welcome relief, letting her mind drift. This whole situation was insane. She should have been preparing for her wedding to Li Jun, not getting wrapped up in this bizarre, temporary "marriage" with Zhao Chen. What kind of cosmic joke was this?
Li Jun's face floated to the surface of her thoughts, his warm smile and steady demeanor. But there was only a mild pang, and she frowned at how distant he seemed now. Shouldn't she feel more than this? Guilt? Sadness? Instead, she felt oddly... neutral. Her engagement to him seemed like a vague commitment against the whirlwind of recent events.
And Zhao Chen why did he have to be so infuriatingly charming? His easygoing nature and quick humor tugged at her, forcing her to laugh at times she wanted to stay serious.
"Focus, Qin Lan," she muttered, scrubbing her scalp as though it would erase her thoughts. "This mess will be over soon, and then everything can go back to normal."
But as she said it, a part of her didn't quite believe it.
When she finally stepped out, towel wrapped around her, she found Zhao Chen sprawled across the bed, flipping through channels on the TV.
"Excuse me, what are you doing on the bed?" she demanded, pointing at the couch. "I thought we agreed you'd stay there."
Zhao Chen looked up, feigning innocence. "Relax. I'll move back to my lovely stone slab when it's time to sleep. Just giving my back a break for now."
She glared at him, trying to muster irritation. But deep down, she did feel a twinge of sympathy. The couch truly did look uncomfortable, especially for someone his size. Still, she wasn't about to let him off the hook that easily.
"Fine," she huffed, rummaging through her suitcase for her clothes. "But only for a little while. And don't get any ideas."
Zhao Chen's lips quirked into a grin, eyes gleaming. "Ideas? Me? Never."
Rolling her eyes, she turned her back to him and stepped back into the bathroom to change. She heard the sound of the TV flipping through channels again, followed by Zhao Chen's lighthearted laughter. Her own mouth twitched as she shook her head.
Back outside, Zhao Chen stretched out, as relaxed as if he were on vacation. He was clearly amused by this whole situation, and somehow, his good mood was infectious. In some strange way, Qin Lan realized she didn't mind it.
Qin Lan had never been so focused on her phone in her life. As she sat on the bed, scrolling through her emails and pretending to be engrossed in work, she could feel Zhao Chen's presence across the room. He was sprawled out on the couch again, this time scrolling through his own phone, occasionally chuckling at something.
She couldn't believe she was in this position. Sharing a room with a total stranger who is technically my husband for the next two days. It sounded like the beginning of some cheesy rom-com plot, but here she was living it.
As much as she tried to ignore him, her attention kept drifting back to Zhao Chen. He seemed so relaxed, so comfortable in the absurdity of their situation. Didn't he care at all that they were supposed to be in the middle of a bureaucratic nightmare?
Qin Lan cleared her throat, trying to sound casual. "Aren't you worried about your girlfriend? You know, the one you were supposed to be marrying?"
Zhao Chen looked up from his phone, raising an eyebrow. "Girlfriend? Oh, you mean the girl my mom picked out for me."
Qin Lan blinked. "Wait. So... she wasn't your girlfriend?"
He shrugged, tossing his phone aside and leaning back against the armrest. "Nope. Never met her. It was one of those arranged marriage situations. My mom promised a very wealthy family marriage after they had helped us in the past and now I have to fulfill her promise just because the family's daughter has a crush on me ."
Qin Lan stared at him, speechless. "So you just... went along with the whole marriage registration thing? Even though you weren't serious?"
Zhao Chen grinned. "Well, I figured I'd show up, go through the motions, and then find some way to back out before it became official. But thanks to that little mix-up at the office, I got a free pass out of it." He paused, eyes twinkling. "And now, I'm accidentally married to you instead."
Qin Lan's face flushed. "Don't say it like that! This is just a temporary mistake. In two days, we'll both be single again, and you can go back to... whatever it is you do."
"Online influencing," Zhao Chen said, pointing at himself. "I'm an influencer."
Qin Lan snorted. "Oh, of course you are."
Zhao Chen raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
She rolled her eyes. "It means you don't seem like the type to stay in one place for too long. You probably hop from one city to the next, snapping pictures of sunsets and writing about how profound it all is."
Zhao Chen laughed, clearly not offended by her stereotype. "Wow, you've really got me all figured out, don't you?"
"Am I wrong?" Qin Lan challenged, folding her arms.
Zhao Chen thought for a moment before grinning. "Not entirely. I do like sunsets. But there's a bit more to me than that."
"Right," Qin Lan said, unconvinced. She wasn't about to start peeling back layers of this man's personality. They were stuck together for a couple more days, and then she would be free to go back to her carefully planned, responsible life.
Still, there was something about his carefree attitude that annoyed her. He seemed so... unbothered by everything. Here she was, trying to keep her life from unraveling, and he was just casually lounging on a couch like they were on vacation.
Zhao Chen leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "So, what's your story, Ms. Qin Lan? Why are you so eager to get married to a guy who can't even be bothered to show up for his own wedding?"
Qin Lan stiffened, her fingers gripping her phone a little tighter. "Li Jun is busy with work. He's a lawyer, and he has a lot of important cases to deal with. Our wedding isn't his top priority right now, but we've been together for years. We'll reschedule when the time is right."
Zhao Chen tilted his head, watching her carefully. "Sounds like you're making excuses for him."
"I'm not making excuses," Qin Lan snapped, her voice sharper than she intended. "He's dedicated to his career, and I respect that."
Zhao Chen raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. No need to get defensive."
Qin Lan huffed, standing up from the bed and pacing the room. Why did she feel the need to defend Li Jun? He wasn't here to explain himself, and honestly, Zhao Chen didn't deserve an explanation. What did he know about real relationships, anyway? He was a wandering free spirit, not someone who understood the value of commitment and stability.
"Maybe," Zhao Chen said, his tone softer now, "you deserve someone who puts you first, you know? Someone who makes you feel like you're important enough to show up for."
Qin Lan froze, her back to him. His words hung in the air, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond.
"I'm not saying Li Jun's a bad guy," Zhao Chen continued, standing up and walking toward her. "But... maybe you've settled for something that doesn't really make you happy. Have you ever thought about that?"
Qin Lan clenched her jaw, refusing to turn around. "It's not that simple. You wouldn't understand."
"Try me," Zhao Chen said, his voice gentle but persistent.
Qin Lan squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the frustration bubbling up inside her. Why was she even entertaining this conversation? She didn't owe Zhao Chen anything. He was just a stranger, someone she would forget about in a few days.
And yet... his words had struck a nerve.
After a long silence, she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't need someone to put me first. I'm fine with the way things are."
"Are you?" Zhao Chen asked softly.
Qin Lan swallowed, her throat tight. "Yes."
Zhao Chen didn't push any further. He simply nodded, taking a step back and letting the silence settle between them.
"Well," he said after a moment, flashing her a lopsided grin, "you're a tough one to crack, Qin Lan. But I'm not giving up yet. We've still got two days, and who knows? Maybe by the end of it, you'll realize I'm not such a bad accidental husband after all."
Qin Lan scoffed, finally turning around to face him. "Don't get your hopes up."
But as Zhao Chen chuckled and settled back on the couch, Qin Lan couldn't help but wonder why his words had gotten under her skin.