Chapter 14: Bending Over Backwards for His Wife

Gu Qichen's words silenced the hall.

"Wife?" The reporters exchanged bewildered glances. The women at the door, especially Lin Yuanyuan from the Secretariat Department, wore expressions of disbelief. Xia Yangyang, standing near the entrance, was equally stunned.

A reporter immediately asked, "President Gu, did you just say Miss Xia Yangyang is your wife?"

Gu Qichen's voice was cold and detached: "Yangyang and I are legally married. We kept it private because of her age and to avoid the impact on her life and studies. However, we must now make it public. Xia Yangyang is my wife. From now on, I expect no negative reports about us. Our private life is our own business."

His words clearly addressed the recent "kissing scandal." The slightly provocative statement, delivered so seriously, was surprisingly blush-inducing. Despite his cold demeanor, he possessed an undeniable charisma, his reserved nature fueling fantasies. Yesterday's newspaper photos—the heart-stopping wall-pinning, the princess-like carry—had fueled those fantasies even further. No one suspected this seemingly celestial man possessed such a passionate side, a side reserved solely for Xia Yangyang.

Xia Yangyang remained stunned. She hadn't anticipated this public announcement. Was it for his own reputation? Shengyuan's? Or what about Shen Manbing?

A reporter voiced Xia Yangyang's unspoken question: "President Gu, what is your relationship with Shen Manbing? It was rumored she proposed to you recently, and that you were close to marrying."

Gu Qichen remained impassive. "That was a misunderstanding," he stated simply, offering no further explanation. His attitude, however, was clear: he publicly confirmed his relationship with Xia Yangyang and dismissed the rumors about Shen.

The day's news was unbelievable. No one expected the head of the Gu family, one of the south city's four wealthiest families, to marry a relatively unknown newcomer.

"President Gu," a reporter asked, "why wasn't Miss Xia here today?"

"Who says she wasn't?" Gu Qichen replied lightly, already walking toward the door. The reporters parted to let him pass, flashbulbs flashing wildly.

Reaching Xia Yangyang, he took her hand before everyone, kissing it softly. The casual intimacy sparked envy and jealousy among the women present. Then, holding Xia Yangyang's hand, he resumed his position. "My wife is new to the industry; please be kind to her," he said politely.

His use of "wife," and his indulgent actions, were unmistakable. While cold and indifferent in his earlier statements to the reporters, he showed remarkable politeness when asking for their consideration of Xia Yangyang. It was astonishing to see such a powerful man humble himself for his wife.