#38 - Chapter 38 Have you and Lin Chen got your marriage certificate?

Shen Qing said, "It's always wise to be cautious. Have you mentioned this to Lin Chen? If something happens, he should be mentally prepared."

Xu Mengyao nodded slightly.

"I'll talk to Lin Chen about it."

Shen Qing said with a smile, "Mengyao, I think it's better to discuss this face-to-face. Whenever you go, I'm free anyway, so I'll accompany you."

"No need to thank me."

Xu Mengyao glared at Shen Qing good-naturedly.

"You just want to come along for a free meal, right?"

Shen Qing said matter-of-factly, "Yes, I just want a free meal, so what? I've taken care of your daughter so many times; can't I get a free meal?"

"I'm busy these next few days," Xu Mengyao said.

Shen Qing immediately drooped like a wilted eggplant.

She muttered, "Lin Chen's cooking is addictive. Ever since I ate at his place a couple of times, I can barely eat anything else. I've even lost weight recently."

"Mengyao, my future happiness depends on you."

Xu Mengyao: "Depends on me? Do you want me to introduce you? You don't need me to; you already know each other."

Shen Qing: "…"

She said unhappily, "I mean, you guys should get together quickly so I can have free meals more often."

"How much more together can we get?" Xu Mengyao said softly.

Shen Qing blinked and said, "Get your marriage certificate, live together. Then I can visit you often."

"We got it," Xu Mengyao said.

"What?" Shen Qing asked in surprise.

Xu Mengyao said, "The last time I asked you over, Lin Chen and I went out and got our marriage certificate."

Shen Qing stared at Xu Mengyao in shock.

Xu Mengyao said calmly, "Don't look at me like that. We just got a certificate, nothing else changes. We even had it notarized in advance; our pre-marital and post-marital assets belong to each of of us."

"Then why did you get the certificate?" Shen Qing asked, puzzled.

Xu Mengyao: "Although Qianqian is young, she's quite smart. She might have sensed that something is wrong with our relationship."

"Having a marriage certificate can fool Qianqian."

Shen Qing looked at Xu Mengyao strangely: "Mengyao, I think you've been fooled by Lin Chen, haven't you?"

Xu Mengyao: "How so?"

Shen Qing said, "Does fooling Qianqian with a marriage certificate require a real one? Can't you just make a fake one yourselves?"

Xu Mengyao was stunned.

She really hadn't thought that much about it at the time.

"Lin Chen deliberately tricked me into getting a marriage certificate?" Xu Mengyao asked.

Shen Qing nodded: "What else? Isn't it obvious? You, a big CEO, were actually tricked like that."

"It seems you need me, the strategist, in matters of love."

Xu Mengyao: "…"

"I'll call Lin Chen!"

Shen Qing quickly said, "What are you calling for? You've already got the certificate; are you going to get a divorce now? I think things are pretty good the way they are."

"What's so good about it?"

Shen Qing said, "You're a big ice mountain. If he didn't have feelings for you, could you have walked together? He tricked you into getting a certificate, which means he has feelings for you."

"Looks like you guys have a chance."

Xu Mengyao: "I was tricked, and you seem quite happy about it."

Shen Qing giggled, "You were able to get the certificate with him, which means you're not really that opposed to Lin Chen, right?"

"You've been tricked, so you've been tricked, no big deal."

Xu Mengyao rolled her beautiful eyes at Shen Qing.

"Mengyao, I think Lin Chen is not bad. He's much, much better than what your dad found out before."

"And that cooking… just thinking about it makes my mouth water," Shen Qing said.

Xu Mengyao muttered to herself, Lin Chen is more than just a good cook.

"Shen Qing, what do you think I should do?" Xu Mengyao asked.

Shen Qing asked, puzzled, "Mengyao, what do you mean?"

Xu Mengyao said blankly, "I don't dislike Lin Chen, but I don't know how to love someone. Sometimes I still have nightmares about what happened back then."

Shen Qing took Xu Mengyao's hand.

"Mengyao, you can change your way of thinking. Perhaps you being drugged back then was fate giving you and Lin Chen a chance."

"It's because little angel Qianqian wanted to come to your side."

Xu Mengyao smiled when she thought of Lin Xiaoqian's face.

"Mengyao, it's been three years; it's time for you to move on," Shen Qing said with some heartache.

Xu Mengyao nodded slightly: "What should I do?"

Shen Qing smiled and said, "Go more, interact more. It's best to bring me, the strategist, along; I can provide you with help."

"Do you have feelings for Lin Chen?" Xu Mengyao asked, her face slightly red: "I… I don't know."

Shen Qing nodded: "If you say you don't know, then you do. Otherwise, your answer would definitely be no."

Xu Mengyao: "…"

"Shen Qing, Lin Chen doesn't seem very enthusiastic towards me. Except for the Qianqian video, he hasn't sent me any WeChat messages."

Shen Qing thought for a moment and said, "He has concerns. Your family is so rich; if he acts too enthusiastically, wouldn't you suspect he's after your family's money?"

"No, I wouldn't," Xu Mengyao shook her head.

Zhao Yanming wanted to buy Lin Chen's painting for eight hundred thousand, but Lin Chen didn't sell it. Lin Chen's painting skills, calligraphy, and cooking are all top-notch.

As long as Lin Chen wants, he will never be short of money.

"That's what you think, but he doesn't know that. He'll definitely worry that being too enthusiastic will backfire."

"I estimate his plan is like this: now that you've got the certificate anyway, slowly cultivate your feelings for each other," Shen Qing said.

"Is that so?" Xu Mengyao asked.

Shen Qing laughed: "It must be like this; you have to believe in this great strategist. This great strategist has read many love guides."

"A single dog who has read many love guides?" Xu Mengyao said.

Shen Qing: "…"

"Shen Qing, our company is going to hold a basketball tournament between departments, and family members can also participate. Do you think I should let Lin Chen participate in the basketball tournament?" Xu Mengyao asked.

Shen Qing looked at Xu Mengyao in surprise: "Let him participate? Wouldn't that be exposing it directly? Isn't that a bit fast?"

Xu Mengyao said, "Isn't that a good thing? Exposing it like this will prevent others from pursuing me anymore."

"I'm already married, but I haven't said it yet. If it's exposed later, others might gossip."

Shen Qing thought for a moment and said, "You have to first determine if Lin Chen can play basketball, or it might backfire."

"Okay," Xu Mengyao nodded.

She took out her phone and dialed Lin Chen's number.

"You're asking now?" Shen Qing asked in surprise.

"Otherwise? Take you over to ask in person?" Xu Mengyao said, amused.

Soon Lin Chen answered the phone, and his voice came through: "Mengyao, do you want to know if Xiaoqian is better? Xiaoqian's cold is almost gone."

"Xiaoqian, it's Mommy's phone."

"Mommy, I miss you so much," Lin Xiaoqian's sweet voice rang out.

Xu Mengyao: "Mommy misses you too. Lin Chen, our company is going to hold a basketball tournament, and family members can also participate. Do… do you want to participate in the basketball tournament?"

Lin Chen was surprised.

"Mengyao, I'm participating in the basketball tournament?"

Xu Mengyao's face was slightly red: "What's your level like? If you can't play basketball, then pretend I didn't say anything."

Lin Xiaoqian's eyes lit up: "Mommy, Daddy can play basketball."

Lin Chen smiled and said, "Mengyao, I know a little about basketball. If I'm going to play, I'll practice hard then."

"Okay," Xu Mengyao said softly, "I'll sign you up."