ARBRMW : Chapter 45

“Sir, the Lin family called, saying they can’t come but they’ve sent their gifts.”

Si Ye and the Lin family in the capital had business dealings. The Lin patriarch’s wife and his grandmother, Jiang Mei, had a good relationship. The Lin patriarch’s wife was from City A, but later married into the capital. After they each started their own families, they still kept in touch frequently. However, after the Lin patriarch’s wife passed away, the relationship between Jiang Mei and Si Ye’s father, Chen Yue, soured, and the two families gradually stopped contacting each other.

It wasn’t until Si Ye took over the Si family and the third son of the Lin patriarch went into business that the two sides, coincidentally with the young talents of both families, reestablished commercial relations. Although it was lukewarm, it was only proper to invite the Lin family to Si Ye’s wedding.

Shortly after, Si Ye received a call from Lin Yirun and personally apologized to him. It turned out that the Lin patriarch had suddenly fainted at home, causing all the grandchildren to rush to the hospital. The Lin patriarch was now eighty years old, and no one dared to take his condition lightly.

After inquiring about the Lin patriarch’s health, Si Ye exchanged a few words with Lin Yirun and ended the call.

The wedding was Western-style, and Si Ye had no intention of inviting his mother and Chen Xu’s parents to the stage to serve tea. Instead, they followed Western wedding customs.

“Now you may kiss your groom.”

As the emcee’s words fell, the guests who had been sitting solemnly suddenly became excited, cheering loudly.

Subconsciously, Chen Xu clenched his fist. He could clearly feel the coolness of the wedding ring on his ring finger. As his gaze met Si Ye’s, his heart pounded like a drum.

He licked his dry lips, his beautiful peach blossom eyes staring at Si Ye blankly. His long eyelashes trembled slightly, and as he saw the smile playing on Si Ye’s lips, he lowered his head.

Whether out of evasion or nervousness, Chen Xu closed his eyes. The kiss he had imagined from Si Ye broke through the realm of dreams and became a reality, landing on his lips.

The kiss was brief. When Chen Xu opened his eyes, they were misty, reflecting a seductive softness.

Si Ye couldn’t resist kissing him again, and the audience erupted into cheers once more.

This time, Si Ye didn’t act like a restrained gentleman but rather like a passionate and wild youth experiencing love for the first time.

When Si Ye released Chen Xu, his fair skin was flushed from his neck to his cheeks. His heart felt like it was about to leap out of his chest. Just as he was about to scold Si Ye, he lifted his eyes and met Si Ye’s shining gaze.

Chen Xu was instantly stunned. It was the first time he had seen such an expression on Si Ye’s face, the first time he had seen Si Ye so happy. It seemed like Si Ye’s happiness at this moment was greater than all his previous happiness combined, even surpassing them. Was Si Ye so happy to marry him?

No matter how stone-hearted Chen Xu was, seeing Si Ye’s genuine smile softened him. Not only did he not get angry, but he also felt incredibly tender-hearted.

Si Ye gazed at him, his eyes filled with smiles from his brows to his lips.

Then he gently pulled Chen Xu into his arms. Seeing Si Ye like this, no one could say that Chen Xu was just a plaything to him, to be discarded when he grew tired.

Nor could they say that Si Ye’s marriage was just a whim, swayed by Chen Xu.

The guests suddenly realized that Si Ye was genuinely happy today, as if he had been waiting for this day for a long, long time.

Afterward, Si Ye didn’t let Chen Xu come down to greet the guests with him.

At this moment, those who thought Si Ye was serious about Chen Xu began to speculate again.

How come he didn’t bring him down to introduce him to us? What does that mean? It means Si Ye thinks Chen Xu isn’t worthy of being presented, or perhaps, for Si Ye, Chen Xu isn’t important enough to introduce to us.

“Why didn’t Director Si bring Mr. Chen down to meet us old folks?” someone tentatively approached Si Ye with a toast.

Si Ye, whose face was usually as cold as ice, showed a rare smile. “He woke up early today, so I let him rest in the room. He’s still young, can’t tire him out.”

Those who had thought Chen Xu wasn’t favored: “…”

Was Si Ye really marrying a wife? It seems more like he’s raising a son!

Moreover, Chen Xu isn’t a girl who needs to wake up early to put on makeup. With cars to pick him up and drop him off throughout, Chen Xu probably hasn’t even touched the ground much. What’s there to tire him out?

“Ah… of course, of course, Mr. Chen is only eighteen, it’s understandable.” Someone immediately flattered.

Si Ye, who rarely cared about mundane matters, softened a bit when he heard this. How could these shrewd people not see that Si Ye liked to hear Chen Xu praised?

“I heard Mr. Chen was also the top scorer in the college entrance examination. Amazing.”

“Young and promising, truly worthy of being Director Si’s spouse, equally brilliant as Director Si!”

“The two of you are indeed a match made in heaven.”

…

“Uncle Si turns out to be so handsome.” Chen Yuqi had always heard that Si Ye was very terrifying, and she rarely dared to look at him whenever she saw him. Until today, when she came to attend Chen Xu and Si Ye’s wedding, she saw Si Ye’s appearance clearly for the first time.

That dignified figure, actually so gentle to Chen Xu, the affection in his eyes even moved Chen Yuqi, an outsider. She even envied Chen Xu. Why could Chen Xu, a man, have such a good marriage? So many people dream of marrying Si Ye, but can’t even see his face, and yet Chen Xu, at just eighteen, managed to get Si Ye.

In an instant, Chen Yuqi felt a sense of disgust towards Chen Xu. Just thinking about how Chen Xu looked aloof on the surface but secretly tried to seduce Si Ye behind the scenes, she felt disgusted.

“No wonder Mr. Si is so partial to Chen Xu. It turns out he’s been influenced by his pillow talk.” There was a hint of contempt in Chen Hao’s eyes.

Although he despised Chen Xu, he didn’t expect this idiot to be quite capable. Naturally, he had to make good use of Chen Xu as a resource to benefit himself.

Si Yichen had already convinced himself, but when he saw his father’s smile at Chen Xu just now, he couldn’t help but shiver. Was his father serious about Chen Xu?!

As Si Ye’s spouse, Chen Xu was actually more legitimate than his adopted son.

The feeling of standing on the edge of a cliff and teetering on the brink of collapse once again engulfed Si Yichen. What if his father was serious about Chen Xu?

No! Once his father knew about Chen Xu’s background, he would definitely despise him. A bastard of unknown origin, the Si family would never accept such an individual as the matriarch of the Si family.

Si Yichen steadied his mind and took out his phone to have someone help him investigate Chen Xu’s background. The words spoken by Chen Hao that day, vague and ambiguous, especially since they were based on memories from so long ago, might hide another truth. He needed to find out for sure.

But judging from the attitude of Chen Xu’s parents towards him, there was a good chance that Chen Xu was not the biological son of the couple.

“Si Ye is becoming more and more unreasonable. Isn’t he afraid of others saying that Chen Xu is his concubine, disgracing our Si family?” Si Wanping stood with her arms folded beside Tao Minzhi, her expression displeased.

Tao Minzhi, wearing black lace gloves and a dark green long dress, with delicate makeup and a dignified temperament, elegantly took a sip of wine and did not express any opinion.

Si Wanping glanced at her and said, “Sister-in-law, you’re indulging him too. Aren’t you afraid that my big brother won’t rest peacefully underground?”

“Si Ye isn’t a three-year-old child. Why would he listen to me?” Tao Minzhi’s expression was indifferent, even somewhat disdainful.

“He listens to you the most, doesn’t he?” Si Wanping didn’t quite believe her.

Tao Minzhi casually swirled the wine glass in her hand, her face showing a mocking expression. “Second sister, your memory is not good. When has he ever listened to me?”

Si Wanping seemed to think of something and fell silent for a moment before sighing, “If Wenwen were here, I wouldn’t need to worry so much.”

Mentioning her eldest son, Si Jinwen, Tao Minzhi’s gaze suddenly turned cold, and Si Wanping didn’t have any good intentions; she was just poking at Tao Minzhi’s sore spot. Since she was young, Si Wanping had always believed that she was more capable than her elder brother, but the Si family favored sons over daughters. Although Si Wanping wasn’t mistreated, the position of family head was passed down through males only.

She had always been very ambitious, thinking she could replace her elder brother. Even when her elder brother was still alive, she had always coveted the position of family head.

Tao Minzhi’s expression cooled a bit at the mention of her eldest son. “Nowadays, it’s the young people’s world. Why bother worrying so much? Shenyi will be going to primary school in a couple of years. When the time comes, there will be plenty for you to worry about, second sister.”

Si Wanping almost spilled the wine in her hand on Tao Minzhi’s face. “You’re right, sister-in-law. But Shenyi is no ordinary child. He’s very well-behaved. Sister-in-law may not understand the joy of doting on a grandson. Perhaps you don’t understand what it’s like to have a sweet relationship with him.”

Si Wanping kept poking at Tao Minzhi’s pain. Why hadn’t she ever experienced the joy of doting on a grandson? She still hadn’t given up on finding that child after all these years, her eldest son’s flesh and blood.

But year after year, Si Ye always told her there was no news, no trace. She had accused Si Ye of not wanting to find the child, of deliberately avoiding it. Every time Si Ye heard her say this, he would stare at her with deep eyes, making her feel guilty and not dare to mention it again.

Sixteen years had passed, and she dreamed of that child every night. She had always believed that the child was still alive and that one day he would return to her side, replacing Si Jinwen to accompany her.

“Why aren’t you happy?” a familiar voice pulled Tao Minzhi back from her memories.

She turned her head to see Wei Shifeng. After arguing with Si Wanping, he had unknowingly come over here to relax. Unexpectedly, he ran into her.

“What are you doing here?” Tao Minzhi’s coldness couldn’t drive him away. Instead, he put his hand on her shoulder and murmured in her ear, “Of course, I missed you. Don’t you miss me at all?”

Tao Minzhi looked at Wei Shifeng, her mind in a very bad state at the moment, and her brain was in turmoil. If it were an ordinary day, she would definitely not interact with Wei Shifeng again, but now she let her reason temporarily retreat to the side.

Wei Shifeng was not discouraged by her coldness but instead put his head down to kiss her.

A black shadow quickly disappeared into the corner. The night was cold, and there were only these two clandestine lovers here, and no one else noticed the figure that flashed by.