After Kane left Lani's house, he drove back to his mansion in the city center. Familiar with the route, he parked his car in the garage, entered his house, and collapsed onto the sofa, closing his eyes to rest.
Everything had happened so quickly today that Kane couldn't believe he had a wife in the blink of an eye. In his daze, the sound of his phone ringing slowly filled the room.
"Mom, what's up?"
Kane glanced at the flashing name on the screen and sighed before answering. A gentle female voice quickly reached his ear, filled with excitement.
"How did the date go, Kane? The dating app worked out well, didn't it? Did you like the actress?"
Maris had been urging Kane to get married for years, and now that he seemed happy going on a date, she was overjoyed. She had even prepared dates with beautiful actresses and models of the right age for Kane, ready to set them up in case he wasn't satisfied with today's girl.
"Mom, I and she got married."
Kane poured himself a glass of water, swirled it around like a glass of wine, and took a sip casually. On the other end, Maris seemed to be slow to react, lost in her own pace.
"It's okay, my dear son. I have a list of beautiful and gentle girls for you to choose from. I guarantee you'll find someone you like."
Kane placed the glass on the table, counted to three seconds, and now Maris had managed to process Kane's response.
"What, what are you saying? Did you marry the girl you met today?"
Maris's voice was particularly high-pitched, making Kane instinctively cover his ears and move the phone away, but he could still hear her excited tone.
"So I have a daughter-in-law now, haha. When can you bring her over for me to meet? I am looking forward to meeting her."
"Right, what does she like to eat so I can have someone help with the cooking? Also, what gifts does she like? Jewelry, clothes, cars, or houses? I'll give her a jewelry store, a luxury clothing shop, a Rolls Royce, and a downtown mansion. Is that enough?"
Kane had already anticipated this situation and wasn't surprised. He replied slowly after Maris had finished speaking.
"We can't meet right now. She's a famous actress and is currently filming, so she's very busy. Whenever she has some free time, I'll bring her to meet you."
Kane responded with a casual tone, not wanting his mother and Lani to meet, as it would reveal his fake, poor identity. Maris, however, didn't think much about it and happily agreed, wanting to send gifts to her new daughter-in-law.
"Do you have a picture of her? Even though we can't meet yet, I still want to know if my beautiful daughter-in-law looks like what?"
Kane comfortably sent Maris a selfie of him and Lani taken earlier. Maris couldn't stop praising how obedient and beautiful Lani looked, truly living up to her status as a famous actress.
After a while, Maris remembered something and asked, "Have you informed your father about this?"
At the mention of his father, Kane's gaze momentarily turned cold and filled with disdain. He raised his head to look at the white ceiling and replied casually, "Why should I inform him? He's happily living with my stepmother and their beloved son, not interested in my life at all."
Maris didn't comment on this matter and simply told Kane that if he had the time, he should bring Lani to meet her, and then hung up.
Kane's mood remained relatively good. After resting enough, he went to the shopping center to buy some ordinary and affordable clothes, shoes, and household items before driving back home. When he was in front of Lani, he needed to appear poor, and he didn't want to reveal his true identity too soon.
After completing his tasks, Kane stayed at his own home for a few more days before finally moving to Lani's house when she was about to return to the city. Over the past few days, he and Lani have been in regular contact. Most of the time, Lani would inform Kane about her schedule and instruct him on anything he didn't understand or know how to use.
Although Kane was familiar with high-tech gadgets at home, to play the role of a convincingly poor person, he pretended not to know how to use a vacuum robot, prompting Lani to video call him to teach him.
Finally, the day arrived when Lani returned. Compared to their last meeting, when she was unscathed, her left hand is now bandaged. Kane was taken aback by the sight, and Lani chuckled awkwardly upon seeing his surprised expression.
"Oh, I wasn't careful while filming and injured my hand. It's not dangerous."
Behind her, Aurora helped Lani bring her luggage inside and then gave Kane some instructions on taking care of Lani. Kane silently absorbed the information, and when Aurora left, the two of them sat in the living room, exchanging awkward smiles.
Kane was inherently reserved and not talkative, so Lani had to initiate the conversation.
"Have you gotten used to being here these past few days? Any problems?"
Kane shook his head. Honestly, Lani's apartment was well-equipped and cozy, and it was closer to his company than his own mansion. Lani let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this, thinking that Kane was comfortable.
Sitting face-to-face in the living room wasn't ideal for conversation, so Lani stood up slowly, pretending to be at ease.
"Well, you can continue resting. I'll go take a shower. After being outside all day, I'm covered in dust."
Her white dress fluttered past Kane as she walked by, and he also got up to tidy up the house. While he was busy cleaning under the kitchen counter, he heard Lani's soft voice echoing from upstairs.
"Kane, could you help me with something?"
Kane washed his hands and went upstairs to find Lani standing in her room, biting her lip, and looking a bit embarrassed. After seeing Kane, she helplessly pointed to her dress and blinked her eyes.
"I didn't mean to do anything bad, but could you help me unzip my dress? I can't raise my arm."
Lani finished speaking and continued to pursed her lips, her petite face blushing with shyness. She was wearing a white dress adorned with sparkling pearls, and initially, Aurora had helped her zip it up, so she hadn't anticipated this situation.
Kane silently nodded and approached, gently helping Lani unzip her dress, revealing her fair skin. His warm hand brushed against her soft skin, making her tremble slightly. In such close proximity, Lani could faintly smell the subtle scent of mint emanating from Kane's body.
Kane remained courteous, tilting his head slightly in another direction, and asked in a matter-of-fact tone if Lani needed any further assistance before leaving the room.
The background music that had been playing earlier came to an end. After Kane had finished tidying up the room, he proceeded to cook dinner. Lani, still feeling a bit embarrassed about the earlier incident, didn't dare to go to the kitchen. Kane called her down only after he had finished cooking.
For dinner, Kane had prepared spaghetti and beefsteak. Knowing that Lani's hand wasn't in the best condition, he cut the steak into bite-sized pieces for her. The two of them sat across from each other, savoring their meal. Lani took a bite, and the explosion of flavors delighted her taste buds, causing her eyes to light up with praise.
"Wow, I didn't expect you to cook so deliciously. I'll get to enjoy restaurant-quality food every day from now on."
Lani's eyes sparkled with a pure, innocent glow as she curved her lips into a smile. Kane tilted his head to look at her and responded in a soft, reserved manner.
"If you like it, that's good. In the future, just tell me what you want to eat, and I'll cook it for you."
Lani nodded enthusiastically, quickly finishing the beefsteak on her plate and moving on to the spaghetti. Each time she enjoyed a delicious bite, her head would gently sway in appreciation, showing her happiness. Kane observed her and couldn't help but find her adorable.
During the next few days, Kane's life at Lani's place seemed just as dull as when he was at his own home. However, when Lani returned, everything became remarkably special.
After they finished eating, Kane cleared the table and placed the dishes in the dishwasher. Then, he and Lani went to the living room to watch a movie. Perhaps getting used to Kane's presence, Lani felt comfortable enough to let him sit beside her. They watched a recent film in which she had starred.
Lani had a habit of rewatching her previous films to observe her acting skills and identify areas for improvement. Kane, who didn't have any particular preferences, quietly watched with her. The evening passed peacefully and serenely for the two of them.
"Do you want some apples and strawberries? Let me get them for you."Halfway through watching the movie, Kane quietly asked, and Lani nodded slowly. He left for a moment and returned with a plate of fruit, each piece neatly cut into small portions, which he offered to Lani.Once again, they sat close to each other, engrossed in watching the movie. Lani took a bite of a strawberry and fixed her gaze on the screen without blinking. Whenever she was focused on something, she tended to become so absorbed that she paid no attention to her surroundings, and this time was no exception.The fruit plate was eventually emptied by Kane alone, and he chuckled helplessly before using a fork to pick up a strawberry and holding it to Lani's lips."Have a bit more; the strawberries are really sweet today."Lani didn't pay much attention, obediently accepting the fruit, her lips slightly puckering as she savored the sweet strawberry. Kane watched her and felt a touch of embarrassment. He absentmindedl
Lani, with both her feet and hand injured, had to move more gently. She obediently leaned on the sofa, watching a popular game show that had recently aired. Kane was still busy in the kitchen preparing breakfast, occasionally bringing Lani some snacks."Kane, that's the male actor who co-starred with me in the movie we watched yesterday," Lani said excitedly, pointing at the introduction on the screen. Kane only responded with a cold snort and no further reaction. This actor had kissed Lani in the movie, a scene that Kane undoubtedly remembered.Lani didn't understand the hostility in Kane's eyes but shrugged it off and continued munching on her snacks. Once breakfast was ready, Kane carefully carried Lani and placed her in her seat. The proximity between them was so close that Lani only needed to lean forward slightly to kiss Kane on the cheek.Lani knew this and felt a bit embarrassed. Kane helped her sit down at the breakfast table, and they ate in relative silence, with a calm atm
After the sweet afternoon kiss, the two of them had grown closer. At least in the evening, Lani could lean on Kane to watch TV and enjoy some fruit snacks. They continued to watch the TV series they had started the day before, their eyes fixed on the large screen.Lani's phone rang, shattering the harmony around them. She glanced at the caller ID and felt a wave of weariness. These days, she had been constantly bothered by Hebe, Amory, and Derek, and it was giving her a major headache.Lani icily silenced her phone, but Hebe, apparently with a lot of free time on her hands, kept calling, so Lani reluctantly answered. Kane sat beside her, pausing the movie to allow Lani to hear the conversation clearly."What's the matter, my dear sister? Haven't seen you for a few days, and you don't even want to answer my calls?" Hebe's voice was dripping with sarcasm.Since Lani couldn't use her injured leg comfortably, she sat next to Kane and raised an eyebrow. She had grown tired of Hebe, and aft
After a night of bliss, Lani awoke in the comforting embrace of Kane, feeling a level of contentment she had never experienced before. Perhaps it was the early bedtime, or Kane held her all night, but she slept soundly and woke up incredibly refreshed.Yawning, Lani stretched and lazily adjusted herself, finding Kane beside her, already awake. His gaze was gentle yet carried a hint of a smile as he carefully helped Lani tidy her slightly tousled hair."Awake, huh? Hungry yet? I'll whip up some breakfast for you."Still, in a half-asleep state, Lani dreamily nodded, prompting Kane to laugh gently before heading to the bathroom to brush his teeth and then gracefully descending the stairs.Lani took a moment to stretch herself before slowly getting up, absentmindedly brushing her teeth, and making her way downstairs.In the kitchen, Kane stood, his broad back confidently engaged in preparing food. He was busy assembling sandwiches and smoothly placing them in the oven, his movements seam
He watched the curved corners of Lani's mouth and the sparkling eyes as she entered a nearby jewelry store. The words "Or should we go back and store the things first?" were silently withdrawn.As for Lani, once inside the jewelry store, she quickly succumbed to the allure of the dazzling pieces, her eyes gleaming with excitement. She swiftly selected a beautiful swan-shaped necklace from a renowned local brand. Just as she was about to ask the staff for assistance with the payment, her attention was captivated by a nearby bracelet.It was a delicate bracelet adorned with a few small round stones in a light blue hue. Under the warm light in the store, it emitted a sparkling glow, surpassing all the other bracelets placed around it. Lani didn't know what gemstones those light blue stones were made of, but based on their exquisite craftsmanship and perfect color, she could tell they were so expensive."Can I try on that light blue bracelet?" she asked.The salesgirl, a young and enthusi
Director Lee stands at the pinnacle of the entertainment industry today, with each of his films garnering prestigious awards, both nationally and internationally. Consequently, the actors featured in his projects are top-tier celebrities nationwide."The Wind Whispers Beside Us, You Come to Me" is Director Lee's most ambitious undertaking this year, boasting substantial investments in both its script and the director's cinematic prowess. Casting sessions have been ongoing since the beginning of the year. However, she knew that many famous female actors in the country did not pass the casting round, so the film crew continued to search for the female lead.Lani, a relatively unknown actress, never dared to dream of landing a role as the lead in such a film and opted not to participate in the casting process.Unexpectedly, the film crew contacts Aurora directly to offer her an opportunity."What's up, Lani? Are you on cloud nine now, haha? The path to becoming the top actress seems wide
Director Zhang's film project is about to start shooting, and finding new investors to compensate for the withdrawn funds is no simple matter. Moreover, Aurora just messaged that the previous investors pulled out a million dollars of the initial capital. Currently, the remaining budget for the film is insufficient to invest in costumes for the main actors."It's quite fortunate. If Hebe hadn't snatched the lead role, I would be panicking now. Furthermore, Director Lee's film started shooting just a month later. If Hebe hadn't stolen the main role before, I would have missed a great opportunity.""Now I can't guess, what Director Zhang did to anger the investors to the point of pulling out funds. Isn't it because he unilaterally changed the lead actor? The investors couldn't tolerate Hebe's pretentious and insincere acting? Anyway, Hebe's acting can be described as downright terrible. Her previous roles were all bought with my father's money."Lani spoke more passionately, seeming to t
Daniel took a sip of his coffee, nearly choking on it. He widened his eyes, staring at Kane, whose mouth was wide open enough to fit an entire egg."Are you kidding me? When did you tie the knot?""And here I thought we were best buds! You get married and don't even bother inviting me to the wedding, and now not even a heads-up?" Daniel exclaimed with a mix of shock and irritation. Regardless of their long-standing friendship since kindergarten, Kane had managed to keep his marriage under wraps, making Daniel feel somewhat dismissed.Seemingly unfazed by Daniel's reaction, Kane justified himself, "If I had known, I wouldn't have bothered following your advice to pull out of the film. I should've let you invest in the movie and let your wife take the lead role."Daniel muttered under his breath, expressing his discontent, "Should've just let it be and not listened to you, withdrawn my funds from this film. I would let you invest in another film and choose your wife starring in it."Kan