Qin Lan felt like the ground was about to open up beneath her feet. Her boss, Mr. Wang, stood at her doorway with the most confused expression, while Zhao Chen, the very man who had made her life a living nightmare, had the audacity to flash his brightest smile and claim to be her husband.
Mr. Wang cleared his throat. "Well, this is... quite unexpected." He looked between them, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "You didn't mention anything about getting married."
"That's because it's... recent," Qin Lan said through gritted teeth, feeling Zhao Chen's arm still wrapped loosely around her shoulders.
"Oh, very recent," Zhao Chen chimed in, giving her a playful nudge. "We're still in that newlywed phase, right, honey?"
Qin Lan turned her head just enough to glare at him, her face a mix of panic and anger. You're digging your own grave, she thought, but outwardly she forced a smile. "Yes... very new."
Mr. Wang nodded slowly, still visibly confused, but he didn't press the matter further. "Well, congratulations, I suppose. I just came to drop off some additional documents for the Zhang case. I'll need you to review them before tomorrow's meeting."
He handed her the folder, and she accepted it quickly, eager to close the door and end the painfully awkward encounter. "Thank you, Mr. Wang. I'll make sure to go over them tonight."
"Good." He gave her a polite nod before glancing once more at Zhao Chen, who was still standing there with an amused grin. "Nice meeting you, Mr. Zhao."
"The pleasure's all mine," Zhao Chen replied, sounding as if this whole situation was some kind of game to him.
Qin Lan held back the urge to shove him out of the way as she closed the door behind Mr. Wang. As soon as it clicked shut, she whirled around to face Zhao Chen, her eyes blazing with fury.
"Are you insane?" she hissed, dropping the polite act entirely. "Why on earth would you tell him we're married?!"
Zhao Chen shrugged casually, strolling back toward the couch as if nothing had happened. "What was I supposed to say? 'Oh, we accidentally got married but don't worry, it's only for three months'? That would've been worse."
Qin Lan threw her hands in the air. "You could've said nothing! You didn't have to say anything at all!"
"But where's the fun in that?" Zhao Chen teased, plopping down on the couch. "Besides, you were already flustered. I just helped smooth things over."
"Smooth things over?!" Qin Lan was livid. "Now my boss thinks we're happily married! This is a disaster!"
Zhao Chen leaned back, resting his arms on the back of the couch. "Relax, Qin Lan. It's not like you'll lose your job over this. If anything, he'll think better of you for being 'responsible' and 'settling down.' You lawyers love that kind of image, don't you?"
Qin Lan stared at him, her chest heaving with frustration. "This is not a joke, Zhao Chen. My career is on the line. I have worked my entire life to get where I am, and now I'm tangled up in this ridiculous situation with you."
Zhao Chen's expression softened slightly, though the playful glint in his eyes remained. "Look, I get it. You're upset. But seriously, what's the worst that could happen? We'll get divorced in three months, and your boss will move on to worrying about something else. It's not the end of the world."
Qin Lan crossed her arms, pacing in front of the couch. "You don't understand. My reputation matters. If word gets out that my so-called 'marriage' was a mistake"
"No one has to know it's a mistake," Zhao Chen interrupted, sitting up. "As far as anyone else is concerned, we're just another couple going through the motions. We'll keep up the act, and in three months, we'll go our separate ways. Easy."
Qin Lan stopped pacing and stared at him. "You really think this is going to be easy?"
"Well," Zhao Chen said with a grin, "maybe not easy. But it'll be interesting."
She threw him a withering look. "I don't want 'interesting.' I want normal."
"Too late for that," he said, standing up and stretching. "But don't worry, Qin Lan. I'll make sure this whole thing doesn't blow up in your face."
Qin Lan rolled her eyes. "Why do I have a hard time believing you?"
"Because you're too used to controlling everything in your life," Zhao Chen replied, walking past her and heading toward the kitchen. "Let go a little. Who knows? You might actually enjoy it."
Qin Lan opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, Zhao Chen turned around with a sly smile. "Oh, and by the way... don't think I didn't notice how red you got when I called you 'honey.' Maybe this fake marriage is already getting to you."
Her face flushed instantly, and she pointed a finger at him. "Don't push your luck, Zhao Chen."
He laughed, waving her off as he disappeared into the kitchen. "Whatever you say, dear."
Qin Lan groaned and collapsed onto the couch, her mind racing. She couldn't believe this was her life now fake married to a carefree trav who seemed to enjoy pushing all her buttons. And yet, as much as she hated to admit it, there was something about Zhao Chen's laid-back attitude that unsettled her. He was the exact opposite of everything she valued, and yet he made it all seem so... trivial.
Three months, she reminded herself. Just get through these three months.
Two days into their forced cohabitation, Qin Lan was already regretting every life decision that led her to this point. Zhao Chen's presence was as disruptive as she'd feared and worse, he didn't seem to care.
She sat at the dining table, surrounded by stacks of legal documents, trying to concentrate on her work. But the sounds of Zhao Chen laughing at something on his phone echoed from the living room. He was sprawled out on the couch, feet up on the coffee table, completely oblivious to the fact that she was trying to get through the Zhang case files.
"Can you keep it down?" she called out, her patience wearing thin.
Zhao Chen looked over at her, one eyebrow raised. "I'm not even that loud."
"You are when I'm trying to work," Qin Lan snapped, scribbling furiously in her notebook. "Don't you have anything else to do besides sit around all day?"
Zhao Chen grinned and put his phone down. "Actually, yes. I was thinking of going out for a bit. Maybe explore the city. Want to come?"
Qin Lan let out a short laugh. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm busy. Some of us have real jobs, Zhao Chen."
"Wow, I'm wounded," he said, clutching his chest dramatically. "Just because I'm an infucencer doesn't mean I don't work. I'm just... efficient about it."
"Efficient?" Qin Lan scoffed. "You call lounging around the apartment 'efficient'?"
"Hey, I'm waiting for inspiration to strike. That's how creativity works," he said, getting up from the couch and walking over to her. "You should try it sometime. It might help loosen you up."
Qin Lan shot him a glare. "I don't need to be loosened up. I need peace and quiet so I can finish these documents."
Zhao Chen leaned on the back of her chair, peering down at her work. "Looks thrilling. Can't imagine why you're so stressed."
"I'm not stressed," Qin Lan said through gritted teeth. "I'm just focused."
"Focused, huh?" Zhao Chen smirked. "Looks more like you're about to burst a blood vessel."
Qin Lan turned around in her chair, glaring up at him. "Why are you like this? Do you enjoy making everything more difficult?"
Zhao Chen chuckled, stepping back. "I'm just trying to help you see that there's more to life than work, Qin Lan. You're so tense all the time, it's like you don't even know how to relax."
"I know how to relax just fine," she said, her tone icy. "I just have different priorities than you."
"Sure, sure," Zhao Chen said, clearly not convinced. He grabbed his jacket from the couch and slung it over his shoulder. "Alright, I'll leave you to your... priorities. I'm heading out for a bit."
"Good," Qin Lan muttered, not looking up from her work.
Zhao Chen paused at the door, grinning at her one last time. "Try not to miss me too much."
Qin Lan threw a pen at him, and he ducked out of the way, laughing as he left the apartment.
The moment Zhao Chen was gone, Qin Lan let out a long breath, sinking back into her chair. The apartment was finally quiet. She could focus again. But as she tried to dive back into her work, she found herself distracted. Her mind kept wandering back to Zhao Chen, to the ridiculous situation they were in, and to the way he always seemed so unbothered by everything.
How could someone live like that? Without a plan, without structure? It baffled her. And yet, there was a tiny part of her that envied it. Not that she'd ever admit that, of course.
Shaking her head, she forced herself to concentrate. Three months, she reminded herself. Just three months, and this would all be over. She'd go back to her quiet, orderly life, and Zhao Chen would go back to... wherever it was he came from.
But for now, she just had to survive this chaotic mess.Hours later, the sound of the front door opening startled her out of her thoughts. She looked up from her laptop to see Zhao Chen walking in, a bag slung over his shoulder and a satisfied look on his face.
"Back already?" she asked, glancing at the clock. It wasn't even 6 p.m.
"Yep," Zhao Chen said cheerfully, dropping the bag on the table. "I picked up dinner."
Qin Lan blinked in surprise. "You... bought dinner?"
"Well, I figured you're working so hard, the least I can do is make sure you eat," he said with a grin, pulling out takeout containers from the bag.
Qin Lan raised an eyebrow. "What's the catch?"
"No catch," Zhao Chen said, feigning innocence. "Just trying to be a considerate roommate."
Qin Lan eyed him suspiciously but didn't argue as he set out the food. "Thanks, I guess."
They sat down to eat, the silence between them surprisingly comfortable for once. Zhao Chen seemed content, and for a brief moment, Qin Lan found herself almost... relaxing.
"So," Zhao Chen said between bites, "any progress on those rules of yours?"
Qin Lan sighed. "They're still in place, if that's what you're asking."
"Right, right. But you know..." He leaned back, flashing her that playful grin again. "Maybe you should add one more rule."
"Oh really?" Qin Lan said, raising an eyebrow. "And what would that be?"
"No working after dinner," Zhao Chen said, pointing his chopsticks at her. "You need to unwind, Qin Lan. Trust me, you'll burn out if you keep going like this."
Qin Lan hesitated. She hated to admit it, but he wasn't entirely wrong. She had been working nonstop, barely taking any breaks. But that didn't mean she was ready to take advice from Zhao Chen, of all people.
"I'll... think about it," she said reluctantly.
Zhao Chen grinned. "That's a start."