After a wealthy woman went bankrupt, her live-in husband became her sugar daddy.

Chapter 376 Falling into the trap

"You're so stupid..." I punched his chest. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Because I wanted to see your expression right now." He lowered his head and kissed the top of my head. "If you're happy, then I feel it's all worth it."

I looked up and met his deep eyes. They were filled with tenderness, and a hint of weariness that was barely perceptible. These past few months, he had not only been handling the company's daily affairs, but also preparing all this for me. How tiring must it have been?

“Husband…” I called to him softly.

"Um?"

"I love you."

He paused for a moment, then smiled: "I love you too."

At that moment, I suddenly understood that love is not a grand vow, but every surprise he quietly prepares for me, the cup of hot milk beside him when he works late into the night, and the tenderness in his eyes when he looks at me.

I stood up and took his hand: "Come on, let's go to sleep."

"But the plan isn't ready yet..."

“We’ll do it tomorrow,” I interrupted him. “Right now, you need to rest.”

He smiled helplessly, letting me pull him towards the bedroom. Moonlight streamed in through the French windows, casting dappled shadows on the floor. Our shadows overlapped, just like our destinies, already inextricably linked.

Lying in bed, nestled in his arms, I listened to his steady heartbeat. At that moment, I felt like the happiest person in the world.

“Wife,” he suddenly said.

"Um?"

"Once the studio is built, I'll build you a glass conservatory on the top floor."

I looked up at him: "Why?"

“Because you said you wanted a place filled with roses,” his voice trembled with sleep, “I want you to wake up every day to a garden full of roses, just like… to see our love…”

His voice gradually lowered, and his breathing became steady. I gently kissed his chin and said in my heart: Silly boy, you are my most beautiful rose.

A few days later, Songyang Company held a voting meeting. The project was a collaboration between me and them. Several representatives came with us to discuss the collaboration, including Zhao Xing and Lin Qing.

The air in the conference room seemed to freeze. Lin Qing's legal team was refuting our cooperation proposal point by point, each word like a sharp scalpel, precisely dissecting our motion.

"Regarding the profit distribution ratio, we believe there is a clear unfairness..." The lawyer, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, pushed up his glasses and spoke aggressively.

I looked at Song Yang; his expression was normal, but I knew his knuckles were white from gripping the pen. Just then, his phone vibrated. He glanced at the caller ID, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

"Excuse me, I need to take this call." He got up and left the conference room.

I continued to answer the lawyers' questions, my hands clasped tightly under the table, trying to maintain a facade of composure. The opposing legal team was clearly well-prepared; every question hit the nail on the head, every word piercing to the heart.

"Regarding your proposed profit-sharing plan, we believe it is clearly unfair..." The lawyer, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, adjusted his frames, the lenses reflecting a cold light. "The Lin Group has invested far more resources than expected, yet it can only receive 35% of the profits. This is completely contrary to market principles."

I opened the document in my hand, preparing to explain the basis of our calculations, when I caught a glimpse of Lin Qing and Zhao Xing exchanging a meaningful glance. Lin Qing's lips curled up slightly, while Zhao Xing nodded gently. That tacit interaction made my heart tighten, like seeing a venomous snake flick its tongue.

“Regarding this,” I suppressed my unease, “our calculations are based on…”

Before I could finish speaking, the conference room door was pushed open, and Song Yang strode in. His face was even more grim than when he left, and the buttons of his suit jacket were all buttoned incorrectly. He leaned down and whispered in my ear, "Old Chen suffered a sudden heart attack and was hospitalized. He can no longer help us mediate."

My heart sank, and I almost dropped the document in my hand.

Old Chen was the key figure in these negotiations; without his mediation, the situation would have been even more difficult. I looked at Lin Qing and Zhao Xing across from me; they were leisurely flipping through documents, as if they had expected all of this.

Song Yang sat back down, and I could feel his body tense, like a fully drawn bow. He cleared his throat: "Regarding the issue of profit distribution, we can..."

“No need.” Zhao Xing suddenly interrupted him, closing the document in his hand. “We’ve received information that there are significant disagreements within the Song Group regarding this cooperation. We will not consider any cooperation until you resolve your internal issues.”

A deathly silence fell over the conference room. I looked at Song Yang; his jawline was taut, and his face was expressionless.

My heart sank. Old Chen was the key figure in these negotiations; without his mediation, the situation would have been even more difficult.

As expected, Lin Qing immediately retorted, "Since Elder Chen is not here, I think today's negotiations should end here. We cannot accept your proposal."

“Wait,” I stood up, “regarding the profit distribution, we can renegotiate…”

“No need,” Zhao Xing interrupted me. “We’ve received information that there are significant disagreements within the Song Group regarding this cooperation. We won’t consider any cooperation until you resolve your internal issues.”

I looked at Song Yang in shock. His face was ashen, and he had obviously just learned the news as well.

Back at the company, the board of directors was already in a heated argument. Song Yang's elder brother, Song Feng, was passionately arguing: "What right does a newly established studio have to participate in such a large project? This is playing with the group's interests!"

“This is no joke,” Song Yang said coldly. “Jiangda’s capabilities are evident to all, and this plan has undergone rigorous review.”

"Ability?" Song Feng sneered. "Based on her fancy design sketches? Do you know how tough the market is right now?"

The vote results were in: the "no" votes were in the majority. Song Yang slammed his fist on the table: "You'll regret this!"

As we left the room, Song Yang comforted me, "Don't worry, there's still a way."

I shook my head: "No, this is clearly aimed at us."

"If this plan doesn't work..."

“Let me think,” he took a deep breath, “there must be a way to break this deadlock.”

Just then, my phone rang. It was an unknown number.

"Miss Gu? I'm Mr. Chen's assistant. Mr. Chen wants to see you. He says... he has something to tell you."

I looked at Song Yang, and a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes: "I'll go with you."

In the hospital, Old Chen lay on the bed, his face pale but his eyes still sharp: "Children, you've fallen for their trap. Lin Qing and Zhao Xing had conspired together long ago; they had no intention of cooperating, they only wanted to bring down the Song family..."

I suddenly remembered the look they exchanged during the negotiations, and a chill ran down my spine.