Chapter 61: He Is My Lawful Husband

"Oh, I see... Wait, what? Marriage!" Ye Pianpian stared at Shen Chutang in disbelief. "You're getting married and didn't ask me to be your bridesmaid? Tangtang, am I not in your heart anymore?"

Zhao Xiangyu's eyes widened as well. "I haven't even given you a wedding gift! Has our relationship really become this distant?"

Shen Chutang couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, enough with the theatrics. I just got the marriage certificate, that's all."

Ye Pianpian's gossiping soul was ablaze. "What's his name? What does he do? Is he handsome? Does he treat you well?"

Shen Chutang laughed and gave her a gentle push. "He's very handsome, okay? But we're just married on paper, going about our own lives. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to explain things to my master."

Zhao Xiangyu patted her on the shoulder. "Our Tangtang has suffered. Come on, tonight we don't go home until we're drunk!"

Ye Pianpian said, "Just drinking is boring. How about we all play a game?"

Her suggestion was quickly accepted. The three of them played Truth or Dare, spinning a glass bottle. Whoever the bottle pointed at would have to accept the challenge.

At first, things went smoothly, with only Zhao Xiangyu and Ye Pianpian taking the penalties.

"Zhao Xiangyu, truth or dare?"

He steeled himself. "Dare!"

Ye Pianpian nodded. "Alright, when the third person walks past our table, you have to ask for their contact info!"

Shen Chutang started counting. "Here comes the first one!"

Everyone held their breath in anticipation. Zhao Xiangyu pressed his palms together, secretly praying that the third person would be a woman.

The first to pass by was a bar staff member. The second was a woman. Everyone watched the third person with a mix of excitement and nerves.

Then Shen Chutang saw a man walk by, sporting a thick gold chain, a floral shirt, and baggy shorts. Zhao Xiangyu immediately wanted to back out.

"Sister Shen, Sister Ye, I beg you, let me off this once."

Ye Pianpian snorted, clutching her bottle. "No way. A dare is a dare."

Shen Chutang patted Zhao Xiangyu's shoulder. "You have my moral support. Go, Pikachu!"

With a look of utter suffering, Zhao Xiangyu stood up, forcing a smile as he approached the man. "Hey, bro, uh... could I get your contact info?"

The man glanced at him and gave a meaningful smile. "Sure." He even took Zhao Xiangyu's phone and entered his number. "Handsome, I'll be waiting for your call~"

Covered in goosebumps, Zhao Xiangyu dashed back, downed an entire glass of alcohol, and finally felt slightly better.

"Alright, let's continue!"

He refused to believe his luck wouldn't turn.

Zhao Xiangyu spun the bottle again; this time, it pointed at Shen Chutang.

His excitement was obvious. "Truth or dare!"

Shen Chutang didn't mind. "Either's fine."

If she’d endured the rain, she might as well tear up someone else’s umbrella.

Zhao Xiangyu grinned. "Then dare it is!"

Ye Pianpian chimed in, "Take out your phone, open your recent contacts, call the first one, and tell them you miss them and you love them!"

The two looked crazed with anticipation, their eyes glued to Shen Chutang.

Left with no choice, she pulled out her phone, only to find that the first contact was Lu Beiqin.

Ye Pianpian, seeing the unfamiliar name, grew even more curious. "Hurry, hurry!"

Resigned, Shen Chutang pressed call, silently hoping Lu Beiqin wouldn’t pick up.

After three rings, the call connected.

"Hello?"

"It's me."

Though Lu Beiqin was always laconic and silent, and they got along well, Shen Chutang had never done anything so ambiguous before. Unconsciously, her cheeks flushed, but thankfully, the dim bar lighting hid it.

"Lu Beiqin."

Her voice was low and gentle, carrying a bashful allure—like maltose syrup entwined, sweet and lingering.

Lu Beiqin sat in his car, lowering the window, a cigarette between his fingers. He paused slightly at her words. "What is it?"

"I miss you... I love you."

Seeing her two friends grinning mischievously, Shen Chutang felt she’d lost all dignity.

She was about to explain when Lu Beiqin said, "You lost a game, didn’t you?"

Shen Chutang was stunned. "How did you know?"

"I could tell."

Through the phone, the rowdy sounds of the bar reached him. He hadn’t expected her to be in such a place—Shen Chutang always seemed so well-behaved. But hearing her say "I miss you, I love you," his heart skipped a couple of beats against logic.

"Sorry to disturb you at work," she said apologetically.

Lu Beiqin didn't mind. "Not at all. Where are you? I'll come pick you up when you're done."

Shen Chutang told him the name of the bar before hanging up.

Ye Pianpian narrowed her eyes at her. "Tangtang, you were acting weird just now. When have you ever spoken to someone so gently on the phone?"

Shen Chutang took a tactical sip of her drink. "Didn't I tell you? I just got married."

"So?"

"He's my legal husband."

"!!!"

Hearing that he was coming to pick her up, Ye Pianpian immediately decided—no matter what, she had to see what this man looked like!