ARBRMW : Chapter 44

Chen Xu, feeling panicked, tightly shut his eyes. Suddenly, he heard a short laugh that sent a tingling sensation through his ears.

He felt a hand ruffle his hair and then heard Si Ye say, “Just teasing you, you can open your eyes now.”

Chen Xu, still doubtful, cautiously lifted his eyelids a bit and saw that Si Ye was now wearing a white bathrobe. Confirming that Si Ye was indeed clothed, Chen Xu breathed a sigh of relief and fully opened his eyes. His ears were burning, still red and conspicuous.

Realizing he had been teased again by Si Ye, Chen Xu instinctively puffed his cheeks and glared at Si Ye. Seeing Chen Xu’s puffed cheeks and wide eyes, Si Ye’s heart was filled with affection. His little one was just too adorable.

“Uncle Si, did you say I have to move in here?” Chen Xu recalled what Si Ye had mentioned earlier and asked in surprise.

“Yes, newlyweds shouldn’t sleep in separate rooms,” Si Ye responded matter-of-factly.

Chen Xu understood the logic behind it, but the problem was that their marriage was only a facade. Moreover, this was the main house, and no outsiders would come here. Who would know if they slept in separate rooms?

Seeing Chen Xu’s thoughts, Si Ye wrapped an arm around his waist and led him to the sofa, pouring him a glass of juice.

“There are too many people with loose tongues in the Si family, and the company employees aren’t easy to deal with. If they find out our marriage is fake, everything we’ve done will be in vain, and my father’s lawyer could revoke the inheritance rights,” Si Ye patiently explained.

Chen Xu nodded in understanding. So that’s how it was.

“If you don’t want to, I can sleep in the study,” Si Ye said, pointing to the door leading to the study. Chen Xu knew that when he used to sleep here, Si Ye would make do in the study.

This was Si Ye’s room. How could Chen Xu drive him to the study while he took over the main room? Moreover, Si Ye worked so hard every day. How could he rest well in the study?

“I’m not unwilling,” Chen Xu said, shaking his head as he looked up at Si Ye.

Hearing this, Si Ye’s lips curved up slightly, his eyes deepening. “So, does that mean you’re willing to share a bed with me?”

The last four words made Chen Xu’s already flushed face turn an even deeper shade of red. Although that was the implication, why did it sound so strange and heart-throbbing when Si Ye said it?

He lowered his head, his fair and slender neck tinged with a light pink hue. Because of his lean frame, a bone protruded at the back of his neck, making Si Ye itch to plant a kiss there.

“I’ve prepared a guest list for the wedding. Do you want to take a look?” Si Ye intentionally brought up the wedding to divert Chen Xu’s attention. If he continued to tease him, he might run away.

“I don’t really have anyone to invite,” Chen Xu said, pausing in thought.

Since it was just a wedding for show, Si Ye’s guests would likely be business associates. As a student, who could Chen Xu possibly invite?

Si Ye looked at Chen Xu. “Aren’t you inviting your parents?”

His eyes were deep and abyssal, causing Chen Xu to momentarily lose himself in them, his thoughts wandering. He inexplicably recalled the dream where Si Ye was shrouded in frost and snow, his gaze like an unfathomable deep pool, devoid of any ripples.

After a brief daze, Chen Xu tightened his grip on the cup. “No, they wouldn’t sincerely bless us anyway.”

Although this wasn’t his real wedding, Chen Xu was very aware that none of the four members of the Chen family would sincerely bless them. They would just cling to him like leeches. After all, in his past life, they had cursed him for choosing to study in another province instead of staying by Si Ye’s side to foster a good relationship. They had become increasingly estranged from him.

This time, he had fulfilled their wishes, but Chen Xu was no longer the child who longed for familial affection. He had no expectations from them and didn’t want them to use him to extort anything from Si Ye. So, it was better to sever ties.

Si Ye, feeling heartache, pulled him into his arms and kissed the top of his head. “If you don’t want to, then we won’t invite them.”

Leaning against Si Ye, Chen Xu listened to his steady heartbeat. “Uncle Si, you’re being too indulgent. If my parents don’t attend our wedding, people will gossip about you.”

“I don’t care what others think. I only care about whether you’re happy,” Si Ye said softly.

Hearing his gentle words, Chen Xu’s heart felt full. There probably wasn’t anyone in this world who treated him better than Uncle Si. But why?

He looked up, his eyes pure and innocent like a fawn’s, filled with confusion. “Uncle Si, why are you so good to me?”

Si Ye gazed at him, his fingers brushing across his cheek. The light touch made Chen Xu nuzzle against his hand, a subconscious act of dependence. Si Ye’s eyes flickered as he said, “Because Uncle loves you.”

Chen Xu looked at him with straightforward and pure eyes, tilting his head slightly as a radiant smile spread across his face. He reached out with his slender arms, wrapping them around Si Ye’s neck and pressing his cheek against Si Ye’s. “I love you too.”

Si Ye held his slender waist, a helpless smile on his face. Chen Xu didn’t understand that his love was different from Chen Xu’s. His love was tainted with dirty desires, growing like wild grass, destined to be consumed by a blazing fire.

Chen Xu’s closeness made Si Ye both happy and filled with more desire. He wanted this bright and clean child to ignite a wildfire for him.

Si Ye told himself not to rush, not to scare Chen Xu. But this child always used the most sincere eyes to say the most heart-stirring words.

As the morning sunlight shone on him, Chen Xu opened his eyes and didn’t see the familiar ceiling. He moved his neck and realized he had slept in Si Ye’s room again last night.

Feeling more accustomed now, he calmly turned over, rubbed his face into the pillow, and lay there for about five minutes before slowly getting up to go to the bathroom. At some point, Si Ye had prepared his toiletries in the room, as if ready to welcome another person to live there.

Chen Xu looked at the matching cups and toothbrushes on the sink. After a brief moment of distraction, he saw himself smiling in the mirror.

What’s there to be happy about? Chen Xu raised his hand to manually pull down his upturned lips.

Si Ye’s cup was black, and the one prepared for him was white, even the toothbrush was white.

So, instead of going back to his room to freshen up, Chen Xu decided to use everything Si Ye had prepared, feeling it would be a waste of Si Ye’s effort otherwise. He even took a special shower.

The body wash and shampoo were Si Ye’s. After washing, he could smell the faint, cool scent on himself, a bit cold and refreshing. Thinking that Si Ye also smelled like this, Chen Xu belatedly felt a bit shy and his ears secretly turned red.

…

Chen Xu originally thought the wedding would be a simple affair, but he never imagined that Si Ye had prepared such a grand event. Although no media were invited, the guests were all prominent figures, mostly recognizable from business news.

Although Chen Xu had told Si Ye not to invite his parents, thinking about Si Ye’s reputation, he eventually relented. Si Ye repeatedly insisted that if it made him unhappy, they wouldn’t invite them, and not to overthink it. Chen Xu, no longer truly eighteen and prone to childish tantrums, sensibly put the bigger picture first and assured Si Ye it was fine. After all, they had raised him; they would just minimize contact in the future.

Therefore, when Chen Yue and Zhao Qiang learned that Si Ye was marrying Chen Xu, they were completely stunned. Even as they arrived at the wedding venue, it still felt unreal to them.

How could this be possible?! Si Ye and Chen Xu?

What could Si Ye possibly see in Chen Xu? Chen Xu was only eighteen, still a boy, unable to give Si Ye children.

Oh, but Si Ye couldn’t have children anyway, so it didn’t matter if he married a man or a woman.

When they were led to Chen Xu’s dressing room and saw him in his wedding attire, they suddenly realized that Chen Xu was exceptionally good-looking. Even the popular young idols paled in comparison to him.

What could Si Ye see in Chen Xu? A lot—Chen Xu was young, beautiful, and a top student. He must be very charming; otherwise, how could he have convinced the iron-hearted Si Ye to marry him?

So, the couple’s gaze towards Chen Xu turned fervent. Chen Xu was their child, which meant they were now Si Ye’s in-laws. What did this mean? It meant they no longer had to rack their brains to get Chen Xu to please Si Ye and seek benefits from him. With their newfound status, they should be the ones to be flattered by Si Ye.

This sudden stroke of good fortune made Chen Yue and Zhao Qiang ecstatic.

“Xiao Xu, you look stunning,” Zhao Qiang said with a smile, reaching out to touch Chen Xu’s clothes. The outfit was obviously expensive, with understated, luxurious gemstones on the collar, making Chen Xu look especially exquisite, like a prince out of a fairy tale.

Chen Xu dodged to the side, coldly saying, “It will wrinkle.”

Feeling embarrassed, Zhao Qiang raised her hand and said, “Sorry, I just think this outfit looks really good on you, it suits you.”

Seeing Chen Xu’s reaction towards Zhao Qiang, Chen Yue subconsciously wanted to get angry but then remembered that Chen Xu was not just his son anymore; he was also Si Ye’s spouse. He couldn’t just reprimand him casually.

He coughed and, mustering up his fatherly authority, said to Chen Xu, “Ahem, today is your wedding day. From now on, you are part of the Si family. You must obediently listen to Mr. Si and take care of him well. Although you’re young, don’t be willful just because Mr. Si loves you.”

Chen Yue’s words made Chen Xu raise an eyebrow. Who was this ancient relic from?

Zhao Qiang also nodded in agreement, gently advising Chen Xu, “That’s right. Even though you’re both men, the principles of marriage are the same. You’ve married Mr. Si, so you should treat him as your top priority, taking care of him and the family. Only then can Mr. Si focus on his work outside.”

Hearing their words, Chen Xu had no intention of arguing with them. It was pointless and a waste of breath.

Seeing Chen Xu remain silent, Chen Yue and Zhao Qiang thought he had listened, so they continued, “Your wedding was rushed, but after the ceremony, we should find a time to invite Mr. Si home for dinner.”

“Although you’re now part of the Si family, you’re still our child. If Mr. Si dares to mistreat you, with Mom and Dad and your brother backing you up, don’t forget that you’re still a member of the Chen family.”

This was a veiled warning to Chen Xu not to forget his family after marrying Si Ye, reminding him to think of their benefits more often.

“Knock, knock, Master Xu, it’s almost time,” came a knock on the door, signaling it was time for Chen Xu to head to the hall.