Contract marriage:Mother for rent, wife for free
Chapter 33: Rules before disaster

Chapter 33: Rules before disaster

"Whatever the trouble quotient you’ve measured for yourself, take it and multiply it by a million. If you think it’s bad, make it worse." That was the oh-so-great piece of knowledge that Bai yue had given.

"Make it make sense," Lin wei grumbled.

"Wei wei, you have an affinity for trouble. You’ll attract it no matter what you do. An unfortunate circumstance, considering you can’t even attract a normal guy," she sighed.

Lin wei smacked her head.

"It’s the truth!" She protested.

What could she say? It really was this truth. She glared balefully at the bags she’d finished packing not long ago. She really was doing this.

Plunging head first into the ice well. But it better be worth it.

"Remember what we talked about? Wednesday is the radiologist appointment_"

"Yes yes I know. I promise I’ll be there." She replied softly.

Lin wei worried for her mother and what was to be her fate. If Lin wei was doing this, she wasn’t sure if she’ll have the chance to visit her mother as often as she’d like.

She felt someone holding her close and hugging her firmly.

"I promise you’ll be fine. At the slightest inconvenience, pack your bags and come back here okay?" Bai yue patted her back.

Lin wei sighed and glanced at the clock, oh well, she’d better get ready.

Disaster or not, here she comes..

Dressed in a pink cashmere sweater and flared trousers, she stared in awe at the looming gate.

She thought this place had been exaggerated by her brain remembrance. Surely, a mansion couldn’t be gorgeous as she remembered.

Only her brain wasn’t lying. And her jaws were slacked from their hinges.

Thankfully, before the drool made their appearance, somebody else did first.

It was a frazzled looking man, whose glasses kept slipping past his nose.

His eyes were red rimmed and he looked like he’d never known a moment of peace since the day broke.

"Hi I’m_"

"Yes whoever you are. Come on in," he said dully.

Lin wei was confused and curious and even her pretence would have to bow to her curiousity.

"Who are you?" She finds herself asking.

"Nice question. I don’t know who I am. A stress ball? A dog? But oh, I’m the CEO’s secretary." was his stolid reply.

Lin wei managed to keep her bafflement...to minimum.

"Is your boss around?" Better get into the rich heiress act as soon as possible.

He stared straight at her and nodded negative. Lin wei breathed easy after that.

The mansion was still has gorgeous has it once been.

More, if her eyes could be trusted.

The dazzling chandelier lights and the addition of a painted mural made the place more breathtaking.

"Do you like them?" A voice spoke from behind her.

She gasped, startled and a bit embarrassed at the fact that she’s caught staring.

Rich heiress aren’t phased by display of wealth no matter if the cost of the mural is enough to feed them for a lifetime.

"I’ll take your bags inside." The secretary said and bowed dutifully.

"Thank you James." Lu Chen grinned.

"I had them paint it for you." He examined the wall, "how was your trip?"

"Quite stressful." Lin wei lied.

It was a lot more than stressful. It was host of parasitic worms, attacking her inside and twisting it into a knot.

The Uber driver had been tempted to drive her to a hospital.

But rich heiress don’t reveal stuffs like that.

"That’s good to hear. The twins aren’t at home right now. By some divine intervention, Zeke had decided to spend some time with them today." His mouth twisted with distaste. "Taking them to the damn library."

Who was that restarted person whose idea of fun involved library? Ezekiel fucking Wang that’s who.

"That’s..." concerning? Disgusting? She settled for, "nice. That’s nice. The children need to be guided the right way." And now she was blabbing.

She shook her head in self sympathy.

Lu Chen chuckled.

"At least he’s doing something. I hope you aren’t such a bore. But I know you’re not. Come," he said to her and she dutifully followed.

All these while trying not to stare too much. A hard endeavor, considering how everything was screaming wealth.

Ezekiel had taste, she had to give him that. And money. Never to be forgotten.

The long hallway had finally gotten to an end, and they stopped in front of a door.

"This is your room," he smiled gently at her.

Lin wei nodded, careful not to appear too pleased. She really couldn’t believe her luck was about to change.

Not only was lady luck smiling at her, Lu Chen certainly hadn’t put two and two together.

The disaster at the restaurant had been forgotten, never to be remembered again. Such a good man.

Unlike someone who can’t let go! Pfft.

"Do you understand?" He was asking.

Understand what? Lin wei wanted to ask. But instead settled for a raised brow.

Such a good actress she was.

"I said it’ll be good if you need an hour or two to freshen up. But it’ll be better if you get a hang of things soon. Which would you do?"

The choice had been made for her already. She needed every bit of information _weapon in her disposal.

"I’ll meet you downstairs in thirty minutes." She informed him.

Lin wei watched his retreating back, praying fervently she has the opportunity to stay here.

Opening the door tentatively, whatever she was expecting, it wasn’t this.

It looks like a unicorn vomited rainbow in this room. It was decorated with all shades of pink known and unknown to man kind.

She was fairly blinded from the brilliance.

"What in the godforsaken color is this?" She groaned into her palms.

No matter, she’ll get to that later. She finally calmed her nerves enough to observe the room_her room.

Apart from the glaring pinkness, it was bigger than her whole house combined.

"Wow," she muttered.

She entered the bathroom for a quick shower and wasn’t surprised by the sheer amount of skincare products laden out on the table.

Debating whether it was still too soon for a sweat shirt and pants, she gave up and jammed her head into a white tee and a short.

She had better make herself at home, hadn’t she?

She went downstairs and restrained herself from snooping into any of the room.

"Miss Veronica." Lu Chen gushed, a plate of popcorn and glass of orange juice in front of him.

He motioned for her to join him.

She stood awkwardly to a side and sat down on the plush sofa.

"Would you like some?" He inquired.

"Thank you but no."

"Oh well. I can’t help thinking you look familiar," he scratched his chin. "But I’ve seen a lot of er..girls you see."

Lin wei swallowed heavily against the constriction in her throat. He mustn’t remember her, no matter what.

She chuckled delicately, her heart pounding loudly inside her ears.

"I don’t think we’ve ever met. Save for the time I came in for the interview. You said there are some things I need to know?" She prompted, surreptitiously steering the conversation to work for her.

"I’ll leave now." James called.

"Sure James. Take care." Lu Chen waved him off.

"Right. The things you must know," his face had gone from playful and teasing to serious, and his eyes reserved a certain hardness that wasn’t very much unlike his cousin’s.

"There are tons of things you should know, but most you’ll figure out on your own. First off, Zeke isn’t to be trifled with,"

As if she needed to be told. As if she wasn’t already scared shitless of him.

"And I mean this in the most serious way I can, he’s not someone you can joke with. He’s accustomed to his words being law and he never never condole liars."

And a bead of sweat trickled down her spine. She swallowed nervously.

"The twins are sweet kids. Harry is much like me. Charming, intelligent and handsome," he winked playfully.

"Garry is much like his father. He’s not very good at socializing, and he can be difficult. Don’t try to become something you’re not."

His voice had gone hard and Lin wei flinched from the intensity of his gaze. Did she say he was better than his cousin? Only a tad.

"Make them feel loved. Wanted. Do to them what you would do to your own children if you had one. But never make the mistake of thinking you’re their mother. Oh and one more thing_"

Lin wei eyes widened. There was another thing?

"We don’t really speak about the boy’s mother. She’s dead a

nd Ezekiel would like the talk of her to be nonexistent. And the room adjacent of yours, is a room you mustn’t ever enter. Even if the house is burning."

"Heed this, and you’re welcome. Any breaking of the rules and I’ll show you hell." The threats were delivered with a smile.