A whirlwind marriage with a high-ranking official: Lights out, don't force me to take the initi

Lu Weidong stroked her back gently, as if he were soothing a cat with its fur standing on end.

The kitten pouted and muttered sullenly, "Actually, I know... it's the environment, the mindset. But I just... I just feel bad. I have to pretend everything's fine when I'm out, I have to tell people I understand, that I'm okay. But inside..."

Lu Weidong patted her back gently, his voice low: "Yes, I know."

"Do you know how strong I have to act in public? I have to tell Sister Yunxia that everything is fine, I have to tell Jiahe that everything is fine, and I have to tell everyone that we should take a different path."

"But I just... I just want to be seen, even once."

Lu Weidong hugged her tighter, his large hand resting on the back of her head, gently rubbing it: "I know. They have no taste if they don't report on someone as outstanding as you, Comrade Ye."

"It's just..." Ye Wenxi sniffed, "...it just has no taste..."

"You won't find another place in the whole country that can do this to provide employment for military dependents. If they don't want you, it's their loss."

Ye Wenxi snuggled against him, wiping away her tears, and said in a muffled voice, "Stop trying to fool me!"

"I wasn't just trying to comfort you. I was stating the facts." Lu Weidong paused, "However..."

"But what?"

"But you look much cuter now than when you were all pompous."

Ye Wenxi was stunned for a moment, then raised her hand and punched him in the chest: "Lu Weidong!"

Lu Weidong smiled and pulled her closer to his chest, patting her gently as if to lull a child to sleep.

It was already completely dark outside the window.

The main lights weren't on; only a sliver of light from the floor lamp filtered in from the living room, casting a long shadow on the bedroom floor.

Ye Wenxi, exhausted from struggling, finally calmed down, her face pressed against his chest, her breathing gradually becoming steady.

"Wei Dong".

"Um?"

"I'm hungry..."

Lu Weidong chuckled softly and sat up. "Alright, go cook for our CEO Ye!"

Ye Wenxi wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist: "Take me with you."

Lu Weidong looked down at the person clinging to him: "How am I supposed to cook like this?"

"I don't care. That's it." Ye Wenxi said, binding her hands and feet even tighter.

Lu Weidong patted her back, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly: "If that's the case... I'll make something else first."

As he spoke, Lu Weidong suddenly flipped over and pinned Ye Wenxi down.

"Ah~!" Ye Wenxi exclaimed in surprise.

Ye Wenxi: "Stop fooling around."

Lu Weidong: "Weren't you begging? Well, here you go, I'll make you some..."

Ye Wenxi: "No, no!"

Lu Weidong: "Hmm? Not eating? Okay, then I'll do something else now..."

Ye Wenxi: "Oh my gosh~ Lu Weidong!!"

Ye Wenxi punched him lightly, and Lu Weidong laughed as he dodged, then leaned back and pulled her into his arms.

The dim light fell on the sheets as the two of them wrestled and played.

Ye Wenxi was tickled by him and laughed so hard she could hardly breathe. Her pillow was kicked to the foot of the bed and the blanket was scattered.

The sounds of laughter and playfulness mingled together, dispelling all the fatigue and grievances of the day.

The moonlight outside the window was clear and bright, and the summer evening breeze seeped in through the gaps in the gauze window, carrying a faint dampness.

On a street in Harbin, a black sedan slowly drove along the road.

Almost all the shops and stores on both sides of the street had their lights off, with only a few still lit by dim light bulbs.

The streetlights along the way were extremely dim, with one going dark every few blocks.

Lin Wanzhi sat in the back seat of the car, her elbows resting on the door, her chin propped up, looking out the window.

The streets were still backward, dilapidated, and desolate, like a faded old photograph.

But the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, and a fire was hidden in her eyes.

For someone like her, uncultivated land is the most valuable.

The more blank the space, the more it means she can fully express herself here.

"Linda," Amy, in the passenger seat, turned her head and spoke in fluent Cantonese, "the hotel we're staying at is already the best in the city. But you know how conditions are in the mainland."

Lin Wanzhi's gaze remained fixed on the window, staring for a few seconds at a closed tailor shop by the roadside before slowly speaking, "None of that matters. We didn't come here to enjoy ourselves."

"Amy," Lin Wanzhi finally turned her gaze away from the window, "I think you should refine the plan further."

"Sorry, Linda, I'll review it again when we get to the hotel," Amy said.

"What time are we meeting tomorrow?"

"Two o'clock in the afternoon."

"Give me another report tomorrow morning," Lin Wanzhi said, then looked out the window again and said nothing more.

"Okay, Linda."

The vehicle was parked in front of the International Hotel.

This is currently the best hotel in Harbin catering to foreign guests. A red carpet is laid on the cement at the entrance, and a red-painted sign hangs above the door. The lights shine on the sign, making it particularly eye-catching in the night.

Lin Wanzhi and her assistant Cai Shan got out of the car.

The doorman, dressed in a white shirt and black pants, jogged over and pulled several large suitcases out of the trunk.

The two people collected their identification documents and checked into their accommodation at the front desk.

Upon seeing the foreign nationality on the passport, the receptionist immediately became more respectful. She turned and called out to the inner room, then explained with a smile, "The foreign VIP building is on the third floor. The rooms are ready, and we accept both foreign exchange certificates and RMB."

Lin Wanzhi didn't speak, she just nodded.

While waiting, she casually glanced around and her gaze fell on several women coming and going in the hall, then her eyes suddenly stopped.

One of them wore a black square-neck dress with a clean cut and a touch of French Chanel style, and she walked with great elegance.

This outfit wouldn't look tacky at all if it appeared on the streets of Central, Hong Kong.

Two more women came over, wearing printed dresses. The fabric looked like it was a new print, and the craftsmanship was quite good.

Lin Wanzhi stared at the clothes, her eyebrows slightly raised.

Isn't it said that mainland China's clothing style is conservative and unfashionable? Who are these people? Why are they dressed so fashionably?

A series of questions suddenly popped into her mind.

This is not surprising. Most of the guests at the International Hotel are people traveling to Harbin on business, some of whom are from out of town and learned about Ye Wenxi's clothing company while shopping in Harbin.

Wenxi Garment Company has become a "specialty business card" of this city known as the "Oriental Paris".

High-ranking officials, celebrities, and government officials who come to Harbin on business usually buy one or two pieces of clothing from the clothing store to take back with them.

The people staying at this hotel are precisely the kind of people who gather here.

Lin Wanzhi watched as the elegantly dressed women disappeared around the corner of the stairs, her gaze lingering for a moment on the hems of their skirts.

The relaxed smile that had been playing on her lips slowly faded away.