ARBRMW : Chapter 34

As soon as Si Ye finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent.

 

“Si Ye, this is against the rules,” Si Wanping was the first to speak, trying to stop Si Ye from his absurd action.

 

“There’s nothing against the rules,” Si Ye ignored her, his gaze fixed on Chen Xu.

 

Chen Xu suddenly became the focus of everyone’s attention. Everyone thought that this child wouldn’t dare to sit next to Si Ye, but they were wrong. Chen Xu calmly stood up and walked over to Si Ye, pulled out the chair, and sat down next to him.

 

Si Yichen couldn’t believe it and slammed the table, “Father! He can’t sit there.”

 

Sitting next to Si Ye meant having enough weight, enough qualifications, and a significant position in the Si family. Chen Xu, an outsider and junior, had no such weight unless Si Ye intended to make him the next head of the Si family or marry him, making Chen Xu another master of the Si family.

 

In Si Yichen’s mind, the latter was obviously impossible, so the answer could only be the former—his position was about to be usurped by Chen Xu.

 

Si Ye’s cold eyes swept over Si Yichen, “What? Does he need your permission to sit here?”

 

Si Yichen shivered, his hands and feet turning cold, stammering, “No… that’s not what I meant.”

 

“I… I just think Chen Xu has ulterior motives and is unworthy of that seat.”

 

“Ulterior motives?” Si Ye questioned Si Yichen with his eyes, and cold sweat broke out on Si Yichen’s forehead.

 

He took a deep breath, telling himself it was okay. If his father knew Chen Xu’s thoughts, he would surely detest Chen Xu and drive him out of the Si family. Then, the Si family would still be his domain.

 

“Yes!” Si Yichen quickly stepped forward, took out his phone, and showed some photos to Si Ye. “Father, look at this. You treat him so well, but he does such shameless things behind your back…”

 

Si Ye looked down and saw several sketches—one of him sitting by the pool with a towel draped over his shoulders, one of him reading on the terrace in a shirt, and one of his back with only trousers on. All were signed by Chen Xu.

 

Standing nearby, Si Wanping also saw the pictures on Si Yichen’s phone. Her brows furrowed tighter and tighter. To be honest, these drawings were not overly explicit, but it was indeed a bit unethical for a junior to secretly draw such pictures of an elder.

 

Si Yichen added fuel to the fire, “Father, look at Chen Xu’s dirty thoughts. He doesn’t deserve your kindness.”

 

At this moment, Si Yichen was immersed in his imaginary success, completely unaware of Tao Minzhi’s disapproving glance at him.

 

All eyes were on Chen Xu and Si Ye. After flipping through the pictures Si Yichen had secretly taken, Si Ye did not immediately speak.

 

Si Xuezhou was terrified, his face pale. He clenched his fists and suddenly stood up, “No… it’s not like that. I saw Chen Xu’s drawings earlier. He openly showed them to me. If he really had such thoughts about Third Brother, why would he show them to me?”

 

Si Yichen’s face darkened, his gaze turning sinister as he glared at Si Xuezhou. He hadn’t expected Si Xuezhou to defend Chen Xu at this critical moment.

 

Luo Yi pulled Si Xuezhou down to sit and scolded, “What’s your business? Don’t meddle.”

 

After being scolded by his mother, Si Xuezhou dared not speak again, sitting silently with his head down, his hands tightly clasped.

 

“Our Si family can’t have such scandals. Chen Xu, did you draw these pictures?” Si Wanping questioned with a cold face.

 

Under Si Ye’s attentive gaze, Chen Xu nodded, “I drew them.”

 

Hearing his determined answer, Si Wanping’s expression became even more unpleasant, “Why did you draw Si Ye?”

 

Chen Xu looked at Si Wanping with clear eyes, seemingly puzzled by her question, “I wanted to draw, so I drew. Do I need a reason to draw?”

 

His nonchalant attitude made Si Wanping a bit embarrassed and angry. Just as she was about to scold him, Si Ye interrupted her.

 

“The drawings are very good, but I would prefer to see the originals,” Si Ye said, not expecting Chen Xu to secretly draw him. Did this mean he was special to Chen Xu?

 

Chen Xu was not at all flustered about the Si family discovering he had drawn Si Ye, but he felt a bit embarrassed about Si Ye knowing.

 

“Alright.” Chen Xu could not refuse Si Ye in front of everyone and had to agree reluctantly.

 

Si Ye’s reaction was beyond everyone’s expectations, especially Si Yichen. He looked at Si Ye in disbelief, “Father… Chen Xu, he…”

 

Before he could finish, Si Ye interrupted him, “Since everyone is here, I have something important to announce.”

 

As soon as Si Ye mentioned something important, everyone put down their chopsticks, sat up straight, and looked at him intently.

 

The usually stern Si Ye smiled slightly, took Chen Xu’s hand on the table, looked at him, and then at the others, “Xiao Xu and I are married.”

 

His words were like a bombshell, catching everyone off guard, except Tao Minzhi, who already knew.

 

Before Si Yichen could digest this news, Si Ye, holding Chen Xu’s hand, said to him, “From now on, you should call Xiao Xu ‘Dad.'”

 

This sentence hit Si Yichen even harder than the previous one.

 

He stared blankly at Si Ye and then at Chen Xu, who was looking at him with a faint smile, mouthing the words, “Good boy.”

 

Instantly, Si Yichen was furious, almost on the verge of collapsing.

 

The Chen Xu he had despised since childhood, whom he wanted to kill, had become his stepfather?

 

He had guarded against Chen Xu taking his heir position, but Chen Xu had directly upgraded to his elder?

 

Si Yichen’s mind was in chaos, unable to make sense of anything.

 

Tong Jiaxi was so shocked he dropped his bowl, unable to believe Chen Xu could marry Si Ye. Didn’t Si Ye have someone he liked?

 

His commotion brought everyone back to their senses.

 

Si Wanping looked disapproving, “What nonsense! If this gets out, people will think our Si family raised a child bridegroom. They’ll laugh at us.”

 

Hearing the term “child bridegroom,” Si Ye smiled meaningfully. Chen Xu was indeed his child bridegroom.

 

“Yes, Si Ye, marriage is not a small matter. Don’t be impulsive,” Si Yaowei also began to persuade. Si Ye’s marriage wasn’t just his own business. It meant another person would share the Si family’s wealth.

 

Si Ye didn’t care, “We’re already married.”

 

“What?! You’ve already registered at the Civil Affairs Bureau?!” Si Wanping stood up in shock.

 

“Aunt, why are you so excited? Isn’t my marriage a good thing? Do you expect me to stay single forever?” Si Ye’s eyes darkened, increasing the pressure on Si Wanping.

 

She awkwardly smiled, “Of course your marriage is a good thing, but you can’t be so hasty. Chen Xu is not only a boy but also unsuitable. He’s only eighteen, still a child. What does he know about marriage?”

 

Before Si Ye could speak, Chen Xu rebutted, “You make some valid points, but it’s Uncle Si and I who are living together. Whether it’s suitable or not should be decided by us. Moreover, even if I don’t understand, Uncle Si can teach me.”

 

Si Wanping glared coldly at Chen Xu, “For someone so young, you sure have a sharp tongue. You know Si Ye is your uncle, yet you’re not ashamed to be involved with him.”

 

Chen Xu remained unfazed, chuckling, “How strange. We’re not related by blood, he’s unmarried, and I’m single. Why can’t we be together? It’s a natural thing.”

 

The more eloquent Chen Xu was, the less Si Wanping liked him. She was about to sharply criticize him, but Si Ye protected him, “I’m just informing you, not asking for your opinions.”

 

“Our wedding is set for National Day. Make sure to be there.”

 

Si Ye’s final word left no room for argument, and Chen Xu was shocked. Si Ye hadn’t mentioned a wedding before.

 

He wanted to ask, but Si Ye gave him a look, whispering, “We’ll talk later.”

 

No one except Chen Xu and Si Ye enjoyed the meal.

 

After dinner, Si Wanping caught up with Si Ye to talk, and Si Ye led her to his study.

 

“Sister-in-law, did you know about this?” Si Yaowei noticed Tao Minzhi’s unusual behavior and approached her.

 

Tao Minzhi elegantly sipped her tea, her expression indifferent, “Yes.”

 

“And you don’t oppose it? You and Big Brother always opposed Si Ye being with boys.” Si Yaowei remembered the uproar when Si Ye’s homosexuality was revealed. As an artist, he was more accepting, but he knew Big Brother and Sister-in-law had strongly opposed it, even considering sending Si Ye to a hospital. Only Si Jinwen stopped them, sparing Si Ye.

 

“Getting old, I don’t want to meddle. Children and grandchildren will have their fortunes,” Tao Minzhi replied blandly, giving no clue if she meant it.

 

Si Yaowei left awkwardly, and Tao Minzhi also got up and left.

 

Wei Shifeng, who was playing with his son on the sofa, patted his clothes and told his father-in-law, Zheng Hongqiao, “Dad, I’m going out for a smoke.”

 

“Go ahead,” Zheng Hongqiao waved dismissively, glad to get rid of him.

 

Wei Shifeng leisurely followed Tao Minzhi’s route, catching a glimpse of Si Jing on the balcony, happily chatting on the phone, probably with some pretty boy.

 

They had long gone their separate ways, knowing each other’s business, as long as they didn’t bring people home or cause trouble, it was fine.

 

Tao Minzhi entered the bathroom, and Wei Shifeng followed, hugging her from behind and taking a deep breath at her neck, “Missed me, baby?”

 

“Let go,” Tao Minzhi was angry with Wei Shifeng. If they hadn’t been caught by Si Ye, she wouldn’t be in this passive situation.

 

“What’s wrong? Who upset my sweetheart?” Wei Shifeng didn’t let go, instead moving closer. Knowing Tao Minzhi liked it, she verbally protested but leaned into him.

 

As they cuddled in the bathroom, Chen Xu, passing by, covered his mouth in shock and quickly left. He hadn’t expected such a relationship between Tao Minzhi and Wei Shifeng.

 

Hardly anyone came here, and Chen Xu was planning to pick some fresh flowers for his vase but stumbled upon this secret.

 

In shock, he wondered if Si Ye knew about this.

 

His mother was having an affair with her nephew-in-law.

 

Si Ye’s father had passed long ago. If Tao Minzhi wanted to remarry, no one would object, but with her nephew-in-law?

 

Wei Shifeng was only in his thirties, while Tao Minzhi was sixty-three, old enough to be his mother. Chen Xu knew Wei Shifeng liked to play around but didn’t expect this. If discovered, both would be ruined.

 

Chen Xu wandered back, lost in thought, when a voice called out.

 

“Chen Xu, stop!”

 

It was Tong Jiaxi, and Chen Xu, now annoyed by him, wanted to drag him aside and beat him. Tong Jiaxi buzzed around like a pesky fly.

 

Chen Xu ignored him and walked past, but Tong Jiaxi grabbed his wrist, stopping him.

 

“Let go,” Chen Xu’s face turned cold, his voice icy.

 

Tong Jiaxi shivered, his grip loosening, allowing Chen Xu to break free.

 

“Don’t touch me,” Chen Xu warned, turning sideways.

 

Tong Jiaxi pressed his lips into a thin line, looking up at Chen Xu with stubborn, gloomy eyes under the corridor lights, making people uncomfortable.

 

“You don’t deserve Uncle Si!” Tong Jiaxi said, clenching his fists.

 

Chen Xu’s eyes showed contempt, “I don’t deserve him? Who does? You?”

 

His disdainful and arrogant attitude made Tong Jiaxi’s chest tighten, almost suffocating. His delicate face turned pale, “You can only be arrogant in front of me. Don’t you know Uncle Si has someone in his heart? You’re just a replaceable stand-in. It seems you’re clueless, yet so smug. Chen Xu, you’re pathetic.”

 

Tong Jiaxi’s words were lofty and sarcastic, hoping to see Chen Xu’s panic. But Chen Xu remained calm, “Did you come to tell me this? Do you think I’d believe you?”

 

“Chen Xu, you think I’m lying? When Uncle Si met that person, you were nowhere. You can’t compare to him. What do you have to compete with him? Uncle Si will abandon you sooner or later,” Tong Jiaxi said confidently.

 

Chen Xu smiled, “So what? I’m the one married to Uncle Si now. If you want me to step aside, it won’t be that easy.”

 

Tong Jiaxi was stunned, expecting Chen Xu to be hurt and upset. Instead, Chen Xu remained rational, making Tong Jiaxi doubt if Chen Xu even loved Si Ye.

 

“You don’t love Uncle Si. You have ulterior motives!”

 

Chen Xu walked up to Tong Jiaxi and harshly said, “None of your business!”

 

Tong Jiaxi was shocked by Chen Xu’s harshness. He wanted to say more, but Chen Xu had already walked back to his room, leaving him alone in the corridor, shocked, trying to understand how Chen Xu had changed so much. Chen Xu used to be silent and passive, never resisting, even when mocked by Si Yichen.

 

Everything seemed to change after Si Yichen and Chen Xu’s eighteenth birthday party. What happened that night?

 

Back in his room, Chen Xu was not as calm as Tong Jiaxi thought.

 

He had heard rumors about someone in Si Ye’s heart but always found them unreliable.

 

Si Ye, being who he was, wouldn’t just watch if he liked someone. In the previous life, Si Ye was thirty-two and hadn’t dated or married, suggesting the so-called person in his heart wasn’t that important.

 

Chen Xu took his clothes and entered the bathroom, letting the water flow over him, thinking about Si Ye having a person in his heart.

 

Did Si Ye really have a white moonlight?

 

Someone more important than him?

 

The thought made Chen Xu irritable. He turned off the water and lay in the bathtub.

 

Too many things happened tonight. Si Ye hadn’t mentioned a wedding before, suddenly announcing it would be on National Day, not far away.

 

Then there was Tao Minzhi and Wei Shifeng’s affair, and finally, Si Ye’s supposed white moonlight.

 

Chen Xu splashed water on his face, trying to clear his mind.

 

Knowing about Tao Minzhi and Wei Shifeng made him feel for Si Ye. Despite their strained relationship, Tao Minzhi was still Si Ye’s mother, and Si Ye respected her.

 

Chen Xu wondered if he should tell Si Ye about this.

 

He didn’t want to hurt Si Ye but felt it was important, potentially a powerful leverage in the struggle with Tao Minzhi.

 

Weighing interests and emotions, Chen Xu couldn’t decide which was right.

 

He slid down, his chin and lips submerged in water, blowing bubbles like a goldfish.

 

While he worried for Si Ye, Si Ye supposedly had someone in his heart. This annoyed Chen Xu, making him think childishly, “If you don’t treat me as the best, I won’t treat you as the best either.”

 

Chen Xu thought he would have trouble sleeping but underestimated his biological clock. Soon, he was deeply asleep.

 

The next morning, Chen Xu didn’t see Si Yichen at the table. Si Xuezhou quietly told him Si Yichen was punished to kneel in the ancestral hall all night and was still there copying family rules.

 

Chen Xu nodded, thinking Si Yichen was foolish to openly show the photos targeting him. Si Ye wouldn’t let Si Yichen off easily.

 

“Chen Xu, can I come to your room to do homework later?” Si Xuezhou looked at Chen Xu expectantly.

 

Chen Xu nodded, “Sure, but I’m going out in the afternoon.”

 

“Are you going out to play? Can I come?” Si Xuezhou didn’t want to stay with the annoying Tong Jiaxi or talk to Sun Wei’ang and wanted to stick with Chen Xu.

 

Chen Xu thought for a moment, “You can, but my friends are ordinary people. We won’t go to fancy places.”

 

Si Xuezhou was even more interested, “I want to go!”

 

In the morning, Si Xuezhou did homework in Chen Xu’s room, asking him about the problems he couldn’t solve. Chen Xu easily explained them, impressing Si Xuezhou.

 

“This isn’t just a top student; it’s a top scholar!”

 

Chen Xu wrote the solution on a scratch paper, “It’s simple. Once you know the formula, you can solve it quickly. Try it.”

 

Following Chen Xu’s explanation, Si Xuezhou found the difficult problems easily solvable, “Wow! You’re amazing! I couldn’t understand when the teacher explained, but I get it when you do!”

 

“Have you ever been a tutor?”

 

Chen Xu had been a tutor once but was fired after hitting the student’s parent.

 

It was during a summer break in his sophomore year. Introduced by Lu Hai, he tutored a second-year student struggling with math. Lu Hai thought Chen Xu, good at math and needing money, would be a good tutor.

 

Things went well until the student’s father made advances on Chen Xu, thinking he was weak. Chen Xu hit him with a chair, breaking his head.

 

When Lu Hai found out, he angrily confronted the man, scaring him into hiding for days.

 

This was Chen Xu’s only tutoring experience, unpleasant and never pursued again.

 

“No, practice makes perfect,” Chen Xu answered calmly.

 

Si Xuezhou had never studied so long without feeling tired. He found Chen Xu’s explanations clear and easier to understand than his teacher’s, resolving many past difficulties.

 

In the afternoon, eager to go out with Chen Xu, Si Xuezhou followed him, while the adults, likely having played mahjong all night, only came down after they left.

 

Luo Yi, not seeing Si Xuezhou, frowned, “Uncle Zhong, where is Xuezhou?”

 

“Young Master Xuezhou went out with Young Master Xu.”

 

Hearing Si Xuezhou went out with Chen Xu, Luo Yi’s expression softened. Rarely, she didn’t scold Si Xuezhou, silently drinking her coffee.

 

“He only knows how to play. Chen Xu can excel while playing, but he can’t compare,” Si Yaowei said disapprovingly.

 

“Uncle, you’re too strict. He’s still young and playful,” Si Jing, in a pink silk robe, with tired eyes, said.

 

“Exactly why he needs discipline,” Si Yaowei said seriously, glancing at Luo Yi’s empty cup.

 

“Want more coffee?”

 

Luo Yi waved her hand, “No, thanks.”

 

Si Jing noticed Luo Yi’s new bracelet from C brand, her eyes twink

 

ling, “Aunt, H brand’s manager called about new arrivals today. Let’s go shopping. I heard there are beautiful bags.”

 

“I’m tired. You go with your mom,” Luo Yi declined, knowing Si Jing’s habit of making her pay.

 

Si Jing pouted, “What’s fun about shopping with my mom? Uncle, isn’t Aunt’s bag old? She should get a new one. You love her, right?”

 

Si Yaowei, persuaded, urged Luo Yi to go shopping, giving her a card for anything she liked. Si Jing, her plan successful, happily left with Luo Yi.

 

Unaware, her husband had just left her aunt’s bed.