"Alright, I just mentioned it casually, you don't have to be . Just work wholeheartedly for the group in the future, that's all."
Su Chen understood Lin Ruoxue's intention quite well, it was nothing more than to make the two feel grateful and indebted to him.
His wife really lived up to being a powerful woman, she had quite the knack for manipulating people.
"Working hard for the group is a given," Meng Shan slapped his chest and assured, "But expressing our gratitude to you, Brother Su, is also a must. Liu Yuan and I would like to invite you to dinner tonight, you can't refuse!"
"Yeah, Su Chen, you definitely have to give us this face!" Liu Yuan echoed on the side.
Faced with their heartfelt invitations, Su Chen found it hard to decline and could only agree.
After work, Su Chen went to pick up little Ruohan from school as usual, and then drove to the destination—the Shiwetian Restaurant.
The name was down-to-earth, but the prices here were anything but, with an average spend of over a thousand per person.
Guided by the waiter, Su Chen entered the private room Meng Shan had reserved, where Meng Shan and Liu Yuan were already waiting.
"You two, why choose this place? The food looks good but doesn't taste it, and it's insanely expensive. Wouldn't it be so much better to go to a food stall? It's relaxed and unrestrained."
As soon as Su Chen entered, he started to reproach them.
Meng Shan and Liu Yuan knew that Su Chen was trying to save them money, which warmed their hearts.
"Once in a while, it's ok," Meng Shan led Su Chen to the head of the table, smiling, "Brother Su, you recommended me for a promotion, and the extra salary is worth more than this meal. So shouldn't I treat you to a nice dinner?"
"Just this once, not as a precedent, next time we get together, let's hit up a food stall."
"Alright, as Brother Su wishes, we'll go to a food stall from now on!"
Meng Shan stood up with his glass in hand,
"Brother Su, I toast to you!"
Su Chen also stood up, clinked glasses with him, and both men downed their drinks in one gulp.
Then Liu Yuan did the same, and downed a glass with Su Chen as well.
It was then that the group sat down to eat, casually chatting about this and that, and their camaraderie quickly heated up...
Within an hour, the three of them had already drunk more than two bottles of white liquor, with Meng Shan and Liu Yuan slightly tipsy.
Lowering his guard, Su Chen, too, became a bit muddled after a few rounds of drinks.
"Brother Su, I've always wanted to ask, what exactly is your relationship with Director Lin? How come she listens to you?"
Suddenly, Meng Shan hooked his arm around Su Chen's neck, their heads so close they could smell the strong scent of alcohol on each other.
Hearing Meng Shan's question made Liu Yuan's ears perk up; he was also curious about the same thing.
"My relationship with Director Lin? You might not believe it if I told you."
Su Chen glanced at them both, answering with an air of mystery.
"Come on, tell us! We won't know if we believe it or not until you say it!" Meng Shan urged.
"Actually..." Su Chen paused, then lowered his voice, "Director Lin is my wife!"
Su Chen was expecting to see shock on their faces, but instead, they looked at him with disdain.
"Brother Su, you've already made that joke before, it's not funny at all,"
Meng Shan rolled his eyes, utterly disbelieving Su Chen's drunken words.
"Su Chen, I know you fancy Director Lin, there's nothing wrong with that. After all, which man wouldn't like someone as stunning as Director Lin?"
Liu Yuan sighed and shook his head,
"But we have to be realistic about our own worth. Someone like her is out of our league. Just getting to see her often is already a huge blessing."
"None of you believe it?"
Su Chen didn't expect that his rare moment of honesty would be met with such a response.
Meng Shan and Liu Yuan ignored Su Chen's "delirious" words and continued to eat their food, occasionally looking at Su Chen with sympathetic eyes.
The alcohol started to get to Su Chen, and he inexplicably felt his pride had been wounded.
"I'll prove it to you all!"
Su Chen took out his mobile phone and slapped it onto the table with a "snap".
Meng Shan and Liu Yuan were both baffled by Su Chen and stared at him blankly, wondering what he was up to.
Su Chen gave them a secretive smile, dialed a number, then pressed the speakerphone button, and the "du-du" sound of the ringing echoed.
The call was quickly answered, and Lin Ruoxue's characteristically indifferent voice came through.
Upon hearing Lin Ruoxue's voice, Meng Shan and Liu Yuan hastily stopped what they were doing and quieted down.
What Su Chen said next nearly scared them into dropping their chopsticks on the floor. All they heard was Su Chen coyly ingratiating himself:
"Wife, I'm eating at the 'Food is the God' restaurant. The large yellow croaker here is quite well prepared. Should I pack a portion to bring back to you?"
"No need! Is this why you called?"
Lin Ruoxue's voice remained terse and cool.
"Yes, as your husband, I should always keep my wife in mind!"
Su Chen continued to flatter in a servile manner.
"There's no need. I've already had dinner. Finish up and come home early."
Lin Ruoxue's tone had softened slightly, and after she finished speaking, she hung up the phone.
At this point, Meng Shan and Liu Yuan both looked at Su Chen in shock, speechless for quite some time.
They never imagined that Lin, the favored daughter of heaven, was actually Su Chen's wife!
That was Lin, after all—the unanimously recognized number one beauty in Jiangnan!
A coveted businesswoman CEO chased by numerous wealthy heirs!
To say that men crossed rivers just to see her was no exaggeration! Yet such a woman, no, a goddess, turned out to be the wife of a driver!
Who would believe it if it were told?
They figured claiming to have won ten million in the lottery would seem more credible!
"What do you think? Do you believe it now?"
Su Chen shook his mobile phone in his hand, sporting a somewhat "triumphant" smile.
Meng Shan and Liu Yuan both gave Su Chen a thumbs-up, their amazement still echoing in their hearts!
"Shush!" Su Chen whispered, "You guys better not spread this around; Lin doesn't want others to know."
"Understood, understood."
The two of them simultaneously covered their mouths, keeping this enormous secret tightly locked in their hearts!
Looking at Su Chen, they now seemed to understand why he didn't take up the minister position himself!
With Lin Ruoxue as a wife, did it really matter whether he was a minister or not?
As long as he took good care of such a celestial-like wife, what else wasn't his for the taking?
"Bro Su, from now on, you are my real brother! My admiration for you can't be expressed in words!"
Meng Shan stood up, poured himself a full glass of alcohol, and downed it in one go.
"Su Chen, I'm not good with words either, it's all in the drink," Liu Yuan followed suit and drank it down in one gulp.
Both were shrewd men; why wouldn't they cling to such a thick thigh as the CEO's husband when given the chance?
It wasn't that they were particularly opportunistic; it just underscored the importance of connections in Huaxia today!