Qin Lan stood in the middle of her living room, watching Zhao Chen move around the apartment like he belonged there. He'd just finished setting the dining table for dinner, the smell of stir-fry still lingering in the air, and the absurdity of the situation hit her again. They were stuck together for three months. Three long, unpredictable months.
"Alright," she said, breaking the silence as she sat down on the couch, crossing her legs. "We need to set some ground rules."
Zhao Chen looked up from the kitchen counter, where he was wiping his hands on a dish towel. "Rules? We're really doing this?" His playful tone suggested he already knew the answer.
Qin Lan gave him a no-nonsense stare. "Yes. This arrangement is only going to work if we're clear about boundaries. We both have our own lives, and I don't want any unnecessary disruptions."
Zhao Chen tossed the towel aside and sauntered over to the couch, sitting down across from her with an amused grin. "Alright, Lan... I mean, Qin Lan. Let's hear your rules."
She narrowed her eyes, ignoring the way he almost slipped into that nickname again. "Rule one: You respect my space. That means no entering my bedroom, no messing with my things, and no loud alarms at 6 a.m."
"Fair enough," Zhao Chen said with a mock-serious nod. "But can I at least have my own space, too? I mean, the guest room is technically mine for the next three months."
"Yes," Qin Lan agreed. "You can have the guest room, but keep it clean. I don't want to see your dirty laundry everywhere."
Zhao Chen held up his hands. "Hey, I'm not a slob. You don't have to worry about that."
"Good." Qin Lan continued, her lawyerly persona taking over. "Rule two: No bringing people over unannounced. I have a demanding job, and I don't need any surprises."
Zhao Chen leaned back on the couch, crossing his arms over his chest. "You mean no parties?"
"Exactly," she said. "And that includes your friends. This isn't a hangout spot."
"Fine, no parties." He shrugged. "But what about you? No bringing over your... what was his name? Oh right, 'Perfect Lawyer Boyfriend'?"
Qin Lan's eyes flickered in irritation. "That's none of your business."
Zhao Chen smirked. "I'll take that as a yes. Moving on."
She clenched her jaw, determined not to let him sidetrack the conversation. "Rule three: We split the bills evenly. Since you're staying here, it's only fair."
Zhao Chen raised an eyebrow. "Whoa, wait a second. I'm just a guest here. Shouldn't I get some kind of discount?"
Qin Lan rolled her eyes. "This isn't a hotel, Zhao Chen. You're living here for three months, so you contribute."
"Alright, alright," he said, holding up his hands in surrender. "Half the bills it is."
"Good." She folded her arms, satisfied with her list of rules. "I think that covers the basics."
Zhao Chen gave her a long look, his grin fading as he considered her for a moment. "You know, for someone so intent on setting rules, you're not exactly the most flexible person, are you?"
"I don't need to be flexible," she said, straightening her posture. "I just need things to go smoothly."
He sighed, leaning forward. "Here's the thing, Qin Lan. Life doesn't always go according to plan. Sometimes, you've got to loosen up and go with the flow."
Qin Lan frowned. "Not everyone can afford to be carefree, Zhao Chen. Some of us have responsibilities."
"And some of us know how to have a little fun while handling those responsibilities." He leaned back again, looking far too relaxed for her liking.
"Fun isn't the priority here," she said firmly. "The priority is getting through these three months with as little chaos as possible."
Zhao Chen's lips twitched, like he was holding back a laugh. "You say that now, but I think deep down, you're dying for some chaos."
"I am not dying for chaos," Qin Lan snapped.
"Sure you are," Zhao Chen said with a smirk. "You've been living in this neat, orderly bubble for so long, I bet you don't even remember what it feels like to let loose."
Qin Lan's eyes narrowed. "I have no interest in 'letting loose.'"
"Really? Not even a little bit?" Zhao Chen's grin widened as he leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Come on, admit it. You must be bored to death with your 'perfect' life by now."
She felt her pulse quicken, a mix of frustration and something else stirring inside her. "Zhao Chen, if you think for one second that I'm going to"
Before she could finish, the doorbell rang, cutting her off. Both of them turned toward the door.
"Expecting someone?" Zhao Chen asked, his eyebrow raised.
Qin Lan stood up quickly, straightening her clothes. "No. Stay here."
She walked over to the door, opening it cautiously. Standing on the other side was her boss, Mr. Wang, holding a folder and wearing his usual stern expression.
"Qin Lan," he said curtly. "I need to discuss a few things about the Zhang case. May I come in?"
Qin Lan blinked in surprise. "Mr. Wang, I wasn't expecting you... right now."
Before she could say anything else, Zhao Chen appeared behind her, leaning casually against the doorframe with a mischievous grin.
"Hey there," he said, flashing his charming smile. "You must be Qin Lan's boss. Nice to meet you."
Mr. Wang looked between them, his eyes widening slightly as he processed the scene. "And... who are you?"
Qin Lan's cheeks burned as she struggled to come up with a reasonable explanation. "Uh, Mr. Wang, this is"
"I'm her husband," Zhao Chen said smoothly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
Qin Lan froze, her eyes going wide as she stared at him in disbelief. Did he just
"Husband?" Mr. Wang repeated, looking completely taken aback.
"Yep, we just got married recently," Zhao Chen continued, his voice full of amusement. "I'm Zhao Chen, by the way."
Qin Lan wanted to scream. This was not happening. Not in front of her boss. Not like this.
"Congratulations, Qin Lan," Mr. Wang said slowly, clearly bewildered. "I had no idea..."
"Neither did I," Qin Lan muttered under her breath.