Chapter 20

No wonder Rong Qi seemed hesitant to speak earlier—perhaps he felt unsure how to respond.

Imagine this: a wife in a flash marriage suddenly confesses her feelings to him. Anyone would struggle to figure out how to reply in that situation.

Cheng Li bit her lip and decided it was best not to pursue the matter further.

A wise person knows when to stop.

However, while brushing her teeth and looking at herself in the mirror, she suddenly paused, biting down on her toothbrush. She rubbed her cheeks hard, filled with regret.

Drinking causes trouble!

Big trouble!!

After tidying up, Cheng Li headed to work. Midway, the driver called to ask if she needed a ride.

Cheng Li replied that she had already taken a cab to the office.

Upon arriving at work, she was called to the office by Ren Kuang.

“Sorry, Mr. Ren. I’m late today,” Cheng Li apologized.

Ren Kuang waved it off. “No need to apologize. I just got here myself. You know, as you get older, drinking really takes its toll. How about you? You drank quite a bit yesterday. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine now, fully recovered. It won’t affect my work,” Cheng Li assured him.

Ren Kuang chuckled. “Alright, alright. I may reluctantly count as a capitalist, but I’m no tyrant. You were out drinking for the company last night. If you’re feeling unwell, take the afternoon off to rest.”

“I’m fine,” Cheng Li shook her head.

At that, Ren Kuang seemed hesitant, as though something was on his mind. After a moment, he finally asked quietly, “Cheng Li, when did you get married?”

This whole thing was just too strange.

He remembered when Cheng Li broke up with Xu Jiheng—it had been just over a month.

Xu Jiheng had cheated and moved on early, clearly with someone lined up.

But where did Cheng Li’s husband come from?

More importantly, this mysterious husband seemed very impressive. A Maybach with a chauffeur didn’t come cheap.

“Senior, could you keep this a secret for now?” Cheng Li smiled.

She still remembered what happened outside the club.

When the driver arrived, Xu Jiheng had been there too, trying to act like he was coming to her rescue and offering to take her home.

That’s when Cheng Li had confidently said that her husband was so worried about her that he sent someone to pick her up—intentionally flaunting her situation.

After all, if it meant angering a scumbag, she didn’t mind being even more high-profile.

He cheated and clung to someone wealthy, yet all he had to show for it was a Benz.

She, on the other hand, had a Maybach at her service.

Just thinking about it still brought her immense satisfaction.

Ren Kuang was stunned when she didn’t deny it.

So she really was married.

“What does your husband do?” he asked curiously.

Cheng Li pursed her lips, unwilling to say too much. She replied awkwardly, “He’s pretty low-key. Even if I told you his name, you might not recognize him.”

Seeing her reluctance to elaborate, Ren Kuang nodded.

“What about the other two from last night?” Cheng Li asked quietly.

“Don’t worry,” Ren Kuang reassured her. “As soon as you left, I had a word with Xiaolin and the other one. They won’t spread this around the office.”

Although Cheng Li’s flash marriage was her personal choice, given the timing—so soon after a public breakup—it would inevitably spark gossip among colleagues.

Especially since Cheng Li had just been promoted, Ren Kuang didn’t want rumors affecting the office atmosphere. Work should come first.

Cheng Li felt relieved.

No wonder everyone at work today wasn’t giving her strange looks.

It turned out that Ren Kuang had nipped the rumors in the bud.

As Cheng Li left his office, she passed by Xiaolin’s desk and stopped.

In a low voice, she said, “Xiaolin, thank you.”

Xiaolin understood immediately and whispered back, “It’s nothing. Don’t worry—I’m Mr. Ren’s assistant. I know what should and shouldn’t be said.”

Cheng Li smiled. “Let me treat you to a meal next time.”

“By the way, last night was really satisfying to watch,” Xiaolin couldn’t help but gossip. It was hard to keep such explosive news to herself.

She glanced around to ensure no one was listening and leaned closer. “You wouldn’t believe how ridiculous Xu Jiheng was after you left. He kept asking us if your marriage was real. As if it’s any of his business after your breakup.”

“And why should he get to marry into money while you can’t marry someone wealthy? You’re gorgeous, well-educated, and have a great personality. Dating him was basically charity.”

Cheng Li realized she had found another ally in Xiaolin, someone who could voice her thoughts perfectly.

She gave Xiaolin a thumbs-up. “Looks like I really owe you that meal.”

“You bet! I’m not going to hold back,” Xiaolin laughed.

Previously, Cheng Li and Xiaolin had only been casual acquaintances, but this incident had brought them closer.

*

Since that drunken night, Cheng Li had been keeping her distance, avoiding bothering Rong Qi.

She thought it was wise to give them some space—maybe by the time Rong Qi returned from his business trip, he’d forget about it entirely.

A few days later, Ren Kuang took Cheng Li to a car manufacturer’s showroom for research.

“Did the factory agree to collaborate with us?” Cheng Li asked, surprised.

It seemed all those drinks were worth it after all.

Ren Kuang shook his head. “Not yet, but I think there’s hope. I heard they’re planning to launch a new electric vehicle next year. Generally, these vehicles have the highest demand for intelligent systems.”

“And that Dong Xin’s attitude has changed. He used to be dismissive of us, but this time, he personally invited us to visit. I think we’re on the right track.”

Seeing his obvious excitement, Cheng Li couldn’t help but feel happy as well.

The global market for new energy vehicles was booming.

Every major manufacturer was scrambling to enter this space.

If OceanTech could secure a collaboration with a major automotive manufacturer, even as a Tier 2 supplier rather than Tier 1, it would still represent significant progress for the company.

After all, OceanTech currently has expertise but lacks substantial assets.

The group traveled for an hour and a half by car to reach the factory, which, like most automotive manufacturing facilities, was located in a suburban area.

This time, the same group from the dinner meeting accompanied them.

“Mr. Ren, welcome to the factory,” said Mr. Dong, the representative from the automaker, as he greeted them warmly.

Ren Kuang replied with a polite smile, “The honor is ours to have the opportunity to visit your esteemed factory.”

Although this wasn’t Cheng Li’s first time visiting an automotive factory, she paid extra attention during the tour, knowing how critical this collaboration could be.

After the tour, Mr. Dong escorted them to a reception room.

“Mr. Ren, about the collaboration you mentioned earlier, I’ve given it some thought. However, as you know, automakers like ours already have established supplier systems. Bringing in a new supplier is no easy task.”

His words hinted that while it would be difficult, it wasn’t entirely out of the question.

Both Ren Kuang and Cheng Li caught on to the implication. Though excited, they kept their emotions in check.

Ren Kuang responded, “Mr. Dong, as we enter the era of intelligent vehicles, the traditional supplier model is becoming somewhat outdated. Previously, suppliers simply delivered finished products to automakers. But now, we’re offering to involve you directly in the development of our autonomous driving software, providing tailored solutions that enhance your competitive differentiation.”

“You’re proposing co-development?” Mr. Dong asked, surprised.

For a company like OceanTech, its core algorithms were its greatest competitive asset.

Automakers, while wealthy, often lack the time and resources to independently develop every piece of technology. Attempting to do so would result in exorbitant time and financial costs.

Even Cheng Li hadn’t anticipated that Ren Kuang would propose such a bold and transformative approach.

This open and cooperative attitude made the meeting particularly productive.

Once the discussions concluded, Ren excused himself to use the restroom.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dong turned to Cheng Li with a smile and said, “Ms. Cheng, I heard you’re a graduate of J University, correct?”

“Yes, I am,” Cheng Li replied with a smile.

“Ah, what a coincidence! I graduated from J University’s MBA program. It seems we’re fellow alumni,” Mr. Dong said with a chuckle.

“In that case, I won’t hold back—senior alumnus,” Cheng Li playfully responded.

Mr. Dong’s unexpectedly friendly demeanor puzzled Cheng Li.

Not only had he initiated the factory tour, but he also seemed far more respectful compared to his slightly overbearing attitude at the dinner meeting.

Leaning in slightly, Mr. Dong lowered his voice and said, “I must say, junior, you’re impressively modest. With your background, it’s admirable that you’re working in a small startup like OceanTech.”

Modest?

Cheng Li was momentarily stunned, confused by his statement.

Then Mr. Dong added, “That day, the car and driver who picked you up? Pure coincidence, but I’d seen them before during a conference. They belong to Mr. Rong of Qiyu Technology, don’t they?”

Cheng Li felt as though a bolt of lightning had struck her.

It was as if her most closely guarded secret had been laid bare under the glaring light of day.

After the initial shock, she found it somewhat amusing.

After all, only three people knew about her marriage to Rong Qi—herself, Rong Qi, and the driver who took them to the registry office.

Who would have thought that a completely unrelated individual would end up being the fourth?

At that moment, Cheng Li understood why Mr. Dong’s attitude had undergone such a drastic change.

It wasn’t because he was suddenly impressed by OceanTech’s technology.

It was because of the powerful figure standing behind her.

Unfortunately for him, he was sorely mistaken—her relationship with Rong Qi had absolutely no connection to her work.

Cheng Li considered explaining this but quickly thought better of it. Her marriage to Rong Qi was a fact.

OceanTech was at a critical juncture; securing a contract with a top-tier automaker could significantly boost their chances of getting funding.

Recently, Xu Jiheng had been applying relentless pressure, continually driving down OceanTech’s valuation.

If they failed to secure additional funding soon, OceanTech might face a serious cash flow crisis.

And technically, she wasn’t doing anything wrong—just borrowing Rong Qi’s name for a bit.

“Senior, I’ll have to trouble you to keep this confidential,” Cheng Li said leisurely, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Rong Qi is a very private person; I’m sure you’ve heard of his preference to keep his personal life out of the spotlight.”

She spoke his name naturally and intimately, though her heart pounded like a drum, as if she’d just committed a forbidden act.

Mr. Dong grinned widely. “I understand. You can count on me.”

When Mr. Ren returned, he noticed Mr. Dong’s cheerful demeanor and asked, “What were you two chatting about so enthusiastically?”

“Ms. Cheng is remarkable,” Mr. Dong said, full of praise. “Despite her youth, she has profound insights into the future of autonomous driving. Mr. Ren, having someone as capable as Ms. Cheng by your side is truly a blessing.”

Ren Kuang chuckled, playing along.

As the tour concluded and night began to fall, Ren Kuang arranged for a driver to take them all back.

Sitting in the car, Cheng Li stared at her phone, repeatedly opening and closing her WeChat app.

Since his business trip, Rong Qi had yet to return to Shanghai.

During this time, Cheng Li had visited Grandma Xiang, who was recovering well according to the doctor.

Grandpa Rong, though living alone, had the company of a housekeeper and was regularly driven to the hospital to accompany Grandma Xiang.

Everything seemed fine—except for the fact that Rong Qi wasn’t there.

As the car passed by the garden villa, Cheng Li asked the driver to stop.

As she passed by, she glanced at the quiet little villa inside.

She couldn’t resist.

She unlocked her phone: [When are you coming back to Shanghai? Grandma Xiang keeps asking about you and says she misses you.]

But there was no reply.

Cheng Li could only go home. As she arrived at her front door, unlocked it, and pushed it open—

She heard a polite yet somewhat exaggerated laugh from inside. “Oh, I’ve always said that Rong Qi is destined to be more successful than others. Look at him now—exactly as I predicted.”

Rong Qi?

Cheng Li thought she must have misheard.

“Cheng Li is back,” Ms. Ling said cheerfully, hearing the commotion at the door. “Come and see who’s here!”

Cheng Li looked toward the man sitting upright on the living room sofa. Her heart skipped a beat.

It’s over.

Did her secret get exposed?

At that moment, Rong Qi was sitting on her family’s sofa with a gentle smile. The light from the chandelier above seemed to cast a filter, making his refined features even more distinguished and elegant.

“Why are you here?” Cheng Li’s face turned slightly pale in an instant.

Ms. Ling immediately frowned. “What kind of tone is that? Rong Qi came here specifically to thank you.”

“I told Aunt Ling that when Grandma had her heart attack, you were the one who quickly called for help and stayed with her at the hospital all night. I’ve always wanted to come personally to express my gratitude, but work kept me too busy,” Rong Qi said with sincerity.

His genuine and earnest demeanor almost made Cheng Li believe he was simply here to express his thanks.

Ms. Ling, feeling a bit awkward, added, “When she didn’t come home that night, I even scolded her. I had no idea she was at the hospital with Grandma Xiang. If I’d known, we would’ve visited her earlier. After all, distant relatives aren’t as good as close neighbors.”

Distant relatives?

Cheng Li muttered inwardly. Ms. Ling, you probably don’t realize the man in front of you is your future son-in-law.

But she didn’t dare say it out loud.

Rong Qi continued, “Indeed, I was out of town on business recently, and Cheng Li even helped visit Grandma. I’ve always been very grateful.”

Ms. Ling, flattered by his words, quickly said, “Oh, it’s nothing, it’s nothing.”

“My grandma keeps praising Cheng Li, saying her character and personality must be the result of your excellent upbringing, Ms. Ling. She said you’re truly a remarkable educator,” Rong Qi added with a calm smile.

“Oh my, not at all,” Ms. Ling replied, her laughter more joyous than Cheng Li had ever seen.

For the first time, Cheng Li truly admired Rong Qi’s skill with words.

Not only did he praise her, but he also complimented Ms. Ling’s role as an educator, something Ms. Ling took the most pride in.

In just a few sentences, he had Ms. Ling beaming with joy.

Ms. Ling glanced at Cheng Li, her smile so bright it couldn’t be hidden. “Actually, I was always busy with work before. Cheng Li mostly relied on her own self-discipline.”

Cheng Li almost burst out laughing. She’d never seen Ms. Ling so humble before.

After chatting for a while, Rong Qi excused himself, saying he had to leave.

Ms. Ling pointed to the pile of items he had brought. “We really can’t accept all this. You should take them back.”

It was only then that Cheng Li noticed the stack of items on the floor and table.

“Did you go on a business trip or open a store?” she muttered in shock.

Rong Qi tilted his head slightly and met her gaze.

Only then did Cheng Li realize her thoughts had somehow slipped out aloud.

“These aren’t anything expensive,” Rong Qi said. “They’re just some tokens of appreciation from my grandma. If you don’t accept them, she might feel uncomfortable even staying at the hospital.”

Hearing him bring up Grandma Xiang, Ms. Ling shot Cheng Li a look. “These are for you.”

Clearly, Ms. Ling wanted Cheng Li to refuse them herself.

“Thank you,” Cheng Li replied directly, not wanting to appear too distant.

Ms. Ling: “…”

Helpless, Ms. Ling could only insist that Rong Qi stay for a meal, but Rong Qi politely declined, saying, “Grandpa is home alone today, so I need to return and keep him company.”

“That’s understandable. Since your grandma is in the hospital, your grandpa must be lonely,” Ms. Ling agreed and didn’t press further.

“I’ll see him downstairs,” Cheng Li offered.

Ms. Ling smiled approvingly as she watched them leave.

In the elevator, neither spoke until they reached the ground floor. Cheng Li finally let out a deep breath and turned to Rong Qi. “Why did you come back suddenly without telling me?”

Rong Qi smiled faintly. “Next time, I’ll be sure to inform you.”

Huh?

Cheng Li realized he had misunderstood her meaning.

But seeing his smiling expression, she suspected this repeat offender might have done it on purpose.

In a low voice, she said, “You showing up at my house all of a sudden caught me off guard.”

“Cheng Li.”

His familiar tone softly called her name.

“How long do you think we can keep our marriage a secret?” Rong Qi’s gaze was unwavering.

His eyes left her with no room to dodge.

Right.

How long could something like this be hidden?

And the longer it was kept a secret, the harder it would be to resolve in the end.

“I was thinking,” Rong Qi said, “if we start appearing in front of each other’s families, wouldn’t that help them accept it later?”

Cheng Li understood what he meant and nodded. “I get it—boiling the frog slowly.”

In other words, gradually building goodwill with their families.

She grasped the logic.

Hearing this, Rong Qi seemed amused, his lips curving into a barely noticeable smile. Slowly, he said, “How could it be a frog?”

Cheng Li looked up.

“At most,” Rong Qi drawled, his tone unhurried, “it’s boiling the mother-in-law slowly.”

Mother-in-law.

Those three words successfully rendered Cheng Li speechless.

A few seconds later, a blush crept across her cheeks like a spreading flame.

He said it so naturally, too.

“Alright, you should head back up,” Rong Qi said.

Cheng Li glanced at him uneasily. After some hesitation, she decided to come clean. “Actually, I did something today that wasn’t fair to you.”

“Something unfair to me?” Rong Qi raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

Cheng Li explained what had happened—how Dong Xin had recognized his car and driver, and how she hadn’t denied it, even going so far as to say those things on purpose. After recounting the incident, she lowered her voice and said, “This time, I used your name to bluff someone. That was wrong of me.”

“Bluff?” Rong Qi interrupted her softly. “Aren’t we married?”

Cheng Li blinked. “Huh?”

She was momentarily stunned by his response.

Rong Qi lowered his gaze slightly. Because they were standing so close, Cheng Li could see his long, thick eyelashes, a dense layer resting against his eyelids. No wonder his eyes always seemed so deep and captivating.

“Since we’re already married, what you said wasn’t bluffing. At most, it was just stating the truth.”

Seeing Rong Qi’s casual attitude, Cheng Li finally felt some relief from her guilt. She murmured, “Thank you.”

Rong Qi chuckled lightly, but after a moment, he said lazily, “Still, you can’t just throw my name around whenever you want.”

This man…

Cheng Li stared at him, shocked by how quickly he changed his tune.

“So, what do you want?” Cheng Li figured she ought to offer something as compensation since she had indeed benefited from his name.

“Can you cook?” Rong Qi asked directly.

Cheng Li was a bit dumbfounded but answered honestly, “A little.”

“I’ve been on business trips for so long, eating nothing but hotel food and takeout every day,” Rong Qi said, leaning in slightly to look at her. “I’ve really been craving some homemade dishes.”

Cheng Li understood immediately.

So this is what the troubles of the wealthy look like?

Still, she couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for him—always on the go, unable to enjoy a proper home-cooked meal.

“Alright, leave it to me,” Cheng Li promised enthusiastically, almost pounding her chest in assurance.

She added, “Just let me know whenever you feel like eating, and I’ll make it.”

Though Cheng Li agreed readily, deep down, she felt a twinge of anxiety. She’d need some time to secretly learn her dad’s cooking techniques.

When she returned upstairs, it wasn’t long before Cheng Dingbo came home.

Ms. Ling had already bought, washed, and prepped the ingredients, just waiting for him to come back and cook.

As soon as Cheng Dingbo swapped his shoes for slippers, he tied on an apron.

“Dad, how about I cook today?” Cheng Li offered.

“You? Cook?” Cheng Dingbo looked surprised, as if the sun had risen in the west that day.

But Cheng Li figured practice makes perfect, and better late than never.

The father-daughter duo busied themselves in the kitchen for a while. Luckily, Cheng Li wasn’t entirely clueless about cooking; she had at least some basic skills.

Seeing them hard at work, Ms. Ling joined them in the kitchen for a chat.

Naturally, the topic turned to Rong Qi’s earlier visit.

Cheng Dingbo asked, “This Rong Qi—he’s that billionaire high school classmate of Cheng Li’s, isn’t he?”

Cheng Li: “…”

That’s a pretty accurate description.

Ms. Ling, on the other hand, couldn’t stop praising Rong Qi. She gushed about his career success, his good looks, and most importantly, how even in his high position, he remained respectful to teachers and humble.

Suddenly, Cheng Li asked, “Mom, what do you think about him as a son-in-law?”

Clatter.

The spatula in Cheng Dingbo’s hand dropped to the floor.

Ms. Ling, who was standing by the kitchen door, gave Cheng Li a sidelong glance. “You really know how to dream big.”

Then, she leisurely added another jab.

“Even in my dreams, I wouldn’t dare dream that big.”

Cheng Li: “…”

Author’s note:

Rong Qi: Mother-in-law, you don’t need to dream.