Marry by Relying on Favor: Chapter 35 - President Wen might not even be able to keep his coffin lid in the future—he’ll die with no place to be buried
Chapter 35: President Wen might not even be able to keep his coffin lid in the future—he’ll die with no place to be buried.
9:30 PM, Inside the Hotel.
Wen Shuchen had already called He Qingchi three times tonight, but none were answered. He sat on the sofa with his head slightly lowered, the lines of his handsome profile appearing a bit cold. He held his phone in one hand as it attempted to redial, the furrow between his brows deepening.
The bodyguards had gone to the film set but couldn’t find her. Her phone also went unanswered.
Even Song Chao, watching from the side, felt nervous and suggested cautiously, “President Wen, how about I call Director Guo and ask?”
Wen Shuchen didn’t stop him, which meant tacit approval.
Another assistant stepped forward with a cup of coffee and handed it to him.
He placed the phone—now automatically disconnected—on the coffee table and slowly picked up the coffee with his long, pale hand. His movements were calm, but his expression betrayed the unease he was feeling.
The elite team nearby also felt the tense atmosphere and exchanged glances, whispering among themselves: “Tsk tsk, I told you marriage is a man’s grave. Back in the day, President Wen could hop on a plane out of the country in the middle of the night, and no one dared question it. Now he’s married to a newlywed wife—if he doesn’t coax her properly, the coffin lid won’t even stay shut. He’ll die with no place to be buried.”
“That's sexist,” another man in a black suit joked, clearly enjoying the drama.
Wen Shuchen silently finished half his coffee, seemingly unfazed by the teasing of his long-time subordinates.
On the open balcony, Song Chao finally finished his call and strode inside, his voice coming through before he did: “President Wen, Director Guo said that Ms. Shu invited Madam over to her place. Neither of them returned to the hotel with the crew tonight—they probably stayed the night elsewhere.”
This sentence instantly silenced the teasing and made Wen Shuchen choke on his own breath.
The men around him immediately rushed over. “President Wen, are you alright?”
After coughing for a moment, he took the offered handkerchief and quickly regained his composure. He lifted his gaze and looked directly at Song Chao: “She’s staying at Shu Tongyi’s place tonight?”
Song Chao wanted to get closer but saw that the rest had already surrounded President Wen like vultures. He had to stand back and report: “Director Guo said maybe Madam and Ms. Shu hit it off and decided to have a little girl time tonight. It’s normal…”
Normal to outsiders, perhaps—but to Song Chao, it was a disaster in the making.
After a pause, he added with concern: “Last night, Shu Tongyi was also with Dr. Meng. What if she told Madam everything?”
Wen Shuchen’s eyes narrowed, his voice even and slow: “When did they get close?”
“Women connect just like men fall in love at first sight—it doesn’t take time, just chemistry,” Song Chao explained like an expert in female dynamics, clearly nervous.
“President Wen… it’s very likely that after a whole night together, Madam now knows everything.”
Wen Shuchen stood up decisively with his phone in hand. “Tell the bodyguards to prep the car.”
Meanwhile, at Shu Tongyi’s apartment, He Qingchi had no plans to share a room. She was tired and rummaging the house for a charging cable. Sitting by the TV cabinet, she opened every drawer.
“There’s no charger in the house? Don’t you use your phone?”
To Shu Tongyi, the phone served little purpose beyond contacting her assistant or agent.
She didn’t play games or use social media. When it needed charging, her assistant handled it—she never cared.
Facing He Qingchi’s disbelief, Shu Tongyi softly replied, “I’ll give you money. You can go downstairs to the convenience store.”
He Qingchi gave her a fake smile. “Do I look like I need money?”
She tossed her phone onto the coffee table—right beside Shu Tongyi’s dead one.
Side by side, both were now useless.
After a moment of silence, Shu Tongyi bit her lip and stood with some difficulty, still struggling with her leg.
He Qingchi noticed her holding money and asked with a frown, “You’re going out?”
“You said you needed a charger.”
Shu Tongyi said and walked to the door.
He Qingchi got up and reached to close the door again, her face serious. “Outside…”
“The security already drove him off,” Shu Tongyi replied, still holding the doorknob.
Meeting her cold, stubborn gaze, He Qingchi said, “Your uncle showed up less than ten minutes after you came home. That means he’s been closely watching the area. Sure, the security chased him off—for now—but once you’re outside the complex, tomorrow’s headlines might be: ‘Movie Queen Beaten on the Street’.”
“Is your sense of self-protection always this bad?”
Even someone as aloof as Shu Tongyi was momentarily stunned by the bluntness.
He Qingchi casually brushed her bangs aside. “It’s normal for girls to be cautious.”
Unconvinced, Shu Tongyi insisted on opening the door—
And was met immediately by a blinding camera flash.
She instinctively raised her hand to shield her face. Behind her, she heard He Qingchi’s cold voice: “What the hell are you filming?”
A reporter crouched in the hallway, holding a phone. He had been trying to take stealthy photos, but forgot to turn off the flash.
For a brief moment, he and He Qingchi locked eyes—then he bolted for the elevator.
He Qingchi, still stunned by the encounter, turned to Shu Tongyi, whose face had gone pale. “You’ve been photographed.”
There was no way a reporter was there for her—this was clearly aimed at the famous Shu Tongyi.
Shu Tongyi had been in the entertainment industry for many years and could already guess what was going on. She immediately made a judgment: "Go get security to stop him. Otherwise, even if there's no headline tomorrow saying the Movie Queen was beaten in the street, there will be one saying the Movie Queen and the female lead of Red Rouge came out of the closet."
“......”
Her voice turned heavy: “I don’t want to be caught in a scandal with you.”
The light from the lamp cast a difficult-to-describe expression on He Qingchi’s face. “You think I do?”
The paparazzi had already bolted, and He Qingchi turned back into the apartment to call the security office.
She didn’t foolishly try to chase him—because even if she caught him, what could she do?
How could one woman take down a grown man?
Shu Tongyi was still leaning against the doorway, seemingly unsteady, and shifted closer to the shoe cabinet.
“Are you sure your leg is fine just because you changed the prosthesis?” He Qingchi finished her call and turned to her, frowning.
It didn’t seem like she had applied any medicine either.
Shu Tongyi’s lips were pale, and her voice was weaker than before: “My agent scheduled a doctor’s appointment for tomorrow.”
If being dramatic were a disease, He Qingchi had finally found her match.
She was just about out of patience. “Shu Tongyi, I’m going downstairs to buy a charger cable. I’ll call your agent to take you to the doctor. After that, don’t come to me again.”
She turned to grab her wallet and phone from the living room.
Shu Tongyi’s eyelashes lowered, but her gaze stayed on He Qingchi for a long time.
Every emotional shift in He Qingchi was caught in her eyes—magnified, over and over.
With a poorly fitting prosthetic and the pain spreading relentlessly, Shu Tongyi leaned against the shoe cabinet, her whole body close to numb…
In truth, she was savoring the pain. Sometimes, self-inflicted suffering was a form of psychological comfort.
She slowly walked back into the apartment and slammed the door shut.
Meanwhile, He Qingchi had taken the elevator downstairs. Despite an overwhelming sense of danger, as if someone could jump out and scare her at any moment, she maintained her cool and beautiful composure, unshaken.
There was a convenience store near the complex—she had seen it when she drove in. She successfully bought a charger and a bottle of water, then returned along the same path. The coldness of the dark night crept in.
Just as she walked out of the store, someone approached her from the opposite direction.
He Qingchi, focused on unwrapping the charger, instinctively stepped aside.
Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed her wrist. Her high heel wobbled, and she lost balance, falling forward.
“Careful—”
A familiar, deep male voice rang clearly in her ear.
The scream that had almost escaped He Qingchi's lips was cut short.
She looked up in shock, her wide eyes landing on the familiar figure of Wen Shuchen.
His shadow fell over her as he stood tall and steady—an image of safety and reliability.
“Why are you here?”
She asked once she regained her composure.
She glanced around, briefly suspecting he’d come to visit Shu Tongyi. But then she dismissed the thought—
If that were true, wouldn’t he be avoiding her?
Why would he show up so openly?
Wen Shuchen still held her wrist. He picked up the charger she dropped and said with concern in his deep voice, “You didn’t answer my calls. I was worried something had happened. I contacted the production team and found out you were at Shu Tongyi’s place.”
Speaking of which—
He Qingchi pointed to the charger in his hand: “My phone died.”
Wen Shuchen had guessed as much when he saw her rushing into the convenience store. His tone softened: “That’s fine. I’m here now… Let’s head back to the hotel?”
Just then, He Qingchi remembered something important and said, “Shu Tongyi’s leg is in bad shape. I need to notify her agent. Did you bring anyone with you? Maybe just take her to the hospital directly.”
If they waited for her agent, Shu Tongyi might already be half-dead from the pain.
Wen Shuchen took her hand and led her toward the car, replying calmly: “I’ll have Song Chao take her to the hospital.”
He Qingchi nodded and was about to follow obediently, but then she glanced up at his handsome profile. A thought struck her, and she changed her mind. “You’re her friend too. Go up and check on her.”
Wen Shuchen paused and turned to look at her smiling face.
She held onto his arm and smiled with her eyes: “That way, she won’t think you’re heartless. Like, you got married and abandoned all your friends.”
“I don’t need to—”
“You do, you do!”
He Qingchi pulled him toward the apartment without a hint of jealousy.
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