ARBRMW : Chapter 54

Xiang Xiuhe smiled slightly and said, “I didn’t expect you to know each other. Is this your child?”

Si Ye wrapped his arm around Chen Xu’s waist and introduced, “This is my spouse.”

This answer caused Xiang Xiuhe’s eyelashes to tremble rapidly, and a fleeting look of stiffness crossed his face. He quickly regained his composure and smiled politely. “You’re married? I’m sorry, I’m just really surprised.”

“Yes, we got married during National Day. I heard from Mo Hang that you were busy filming on set, so I didn’t invite you,” Si Ye explained, his gaze occasionally dropping to Chen Xu, his eyes filled with tenderness.

“That’s alright. I was indeed in the middle of a closed-set shoot at the time,” Xiang Xiuhe said, his lips curving into a smile as he turned to Chen Xu. “I didn’t expect such a coincidence. You’re actually Si Ye’s spouse. Let me reintroduce myself. I’m Xiang Xiuhe, Si Ye’s old classmate.”

His eyes curved into a smile, making him even more likable. “Si Ye was very popular back in school. Girls from neighboring schools would wait for him after class.”

Chen Xu blinked, looking innocent and curious, and turned to Si Ye. “Really?”

Si Ye ruffled Chen Xu’s black hair and said, “It wasn’t that exaggerated.”

“Don’t be modest. Back then, your desk was always filled with love letters. We male classmates were so jealous of you,” Xiang Xiuhe said, his tone light and teasing, though there was no real jealousy in his expression. Instead, there was a hint of familiarity.

Chen Xu took out his phone and said to Xiang Xiuhe, “I’m Chen Xu. Let’s add each other on WeChat.”

He paused and looked up at Xiang Xiuhe. “Are celebrities not allowed to add people on WeChat casually? If it’s inconvenient, it’s fine.”

“It’s not inconvenient at all. Since you’re Si Ye’s spouse, you’re my friend too,” Xiang Xiuhe said, taking out his phone. “Shall I scan your QR code?”

Chen Xu nodded. “Sure.”

After adding each other on WeChat, Chen Xu put his phone away and looked up at Si Ye. “Uncle Si, you have a big celebrity friend, and you didn’t even tell me.”

He blinked his big eyes, his tone less of a complaint and more of a coquettish whine. Combined with his princely attire today, Si Ye’s heart softened, and he reached out to gently pinch Chen Xu’s soft earlobe, his gaze intense. “I also have a friend who runs an entertainment company. I’ll introduce you to him next time and have him take you on a tour of his company.”

“Okay,” Chen Xu said with a grin, revealing his pearly white teeth.

Si Ye held Chen Xu’s hand and bid farewell to Xiang Xiuhe. After they got into the car, Xiang Xiuhe remained standing in place. He took out his phone and called Mo Hang.

“Xiuhe, what’s up? Why are you calling me?” Mo Hang’s cheerful voice came through the phone.

Xiang Xiuhe lowered his eyelids and walked into a dimly lit area, his smile fading. “Why didn’t you tell me Si Ye got married?”

Mo Hang was silent for a few seconds before awkwardly replying, “You found out?”

“I ran into his spouse today. Is he even of age?” Xiang Xiuhe lit a cigarette and leaned against the wall, his expression cold.

“Of course he’s of age. He’s eighteen,” Mo Hang defended Si Ye, only to realize that Xiang Xiuhe wasn’t actually asking if Chen Xu was of age—there was no way they could have gotten married if he wasn’t.

Xiang Xiuhe was simply expressing that Chen Xu looked like a kid.

“Xiuhe… I didn’t tell you on purpose. I just thought…” Mo Hang paused, then said, “You might not want to know about it.”

Xiang Xiuhe took a deep drag of his cigarette, inhaling the smoke before exhaling through his nose. “Did you think I wouldn’t want to know, or were you guarding against me, afraid I’d cause a scene at Si Ye’s wedding?”

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line. Xiang Xiuhe glanced in the direction where Si Ye and Chen Xu had left, his eyes clouded with gloom. “Mo Hang, do you really think you were looking out for me?”

“You have no idea how much it hurt when Si Ye told me that kid was his spouse. I felt like I was going to die right there in front of him. Why wasn’t it me? I was there first…”

Xiang Xiuhe clutched his hair in agony, his voice hoarse. Mo Hang’s heart ached as he listened. “Xiuhe, I’m sorry… I admit I had my own selfish reasons. You’ve always been focused on Si Ye, but he only sees you as a friend. I didn’t want you to keep falling deeper.”

“Can’t you turn around and look at me instead?” Mo Hang asked, his voice almost pleading.

The ash from the cigarette fell to the ground, and rain began to patter against the window. After a moment of heavy silence, Xiang Xiuhe spoke in a low voice. “I’m sorry… Mo Hang, you’re very important to me. If it weren’t for Si Ye, I would definitely choose you… But some things just can’t be perfect.”

“I understand…” Mo Hang took a deep breath. “Are you almost done? I’ll come pick you up.”

“No need. I still have to meet a few investors later. It might go on for a while,” Xiang Xiuhe said. As a celebrity, he often attended such events to network with potential investors. His contract was about to expire, and he was considering starting his own studio. Building connections with wealthy people was always beneficial.

Mo Hang frowned upon hearing this. “I told you, if you need money, just ask me. You don’t have to lower yourself to beg others.”

Being part of that circle, Mo Hang knew how wild things could get. To secure investments, one often had to offer something in return.

“It’s not appropriate. Anyway, I’ve been out here for a while. I should head back in,” Xiang Xiuhe said, ending the call without further discussion.

He glanced at his phone, then stepped out of the shadows, his face once again adorned with a bright, dazzling smile—the image of a glamorous celebrity.

—

Meanwhile, Si Ye and Chen Xu were on their way home.

Chen Xu scrolled through Xiang Xiuhe’s WeChat moments. Just like the impression Xiang Xiuhe gave off in person, his posts were all positive, with no trace of darkness. However, it felt a bit artificial, as if he were following a carefully crafted template.

This was probably what people in the entertainment industry called a “persona.”

Chen Xu couldn’t shake the feeling that Xiang Xiuhe harbored some hostility toward him, though it was so subtle that he wondered if he was just imagining it.

“What are you thinking about so seriously?” Si Ye pinched Chen Xu’s nose and asked.

Chen Xu swatted his hand away, wrinkling his nose in mild annoyance. “Uncle Si, you really have admirers everywhere.”

“They’re only interested in my money and status. They don’t count as admirers,” Si Ye said, not entirely wrong. Most of the people who desperately wanted to marry him were after his wealth and influence. Genuine affection for Si Ye was rare.

Chen Xu, who had felt a twinge of jealousy earlier, now felt a pang of sympathy for Si Ye. Si Ye was such a good person, yet people only approached him for their own gain.

“Even if Uncle Si went bankrupt, I’d still love you. I could take care of you,” Chen Xu said earnestly, resting his head against Si Ye’s chest.

This was the first time someone had offered to take care of Si Ye. “You’re so adorable.”

A faint smile appeared on Si Ye’s lips as he kissed the top of Chen Xu’s head.

Chen Xu felt like Si Ye was treating him like a child. He straightened up and looked at Si Ye seriously. “I mean it. You’ll get tired someday, and I’ll grow up quickly to become a man you can rely on.”

This was perhaps the most touching “love confession” Si Ye had ever heard. Though it might not have been a traditional love confession, it still made his heart race.

“Okay,” Si Ye said, leaning down to kiss the corner of Chen Xu’s mouth.

Chen Xu’s eyelashes fluttered, and his body tensed as he stared at Si Ye in surprise.

Si Ye gently brushed his finger over Chen Xu’s lips. “Do you dislike it?”

Chen Xu clenched his fists, then slowly relaxed, shaking his head. His voice was slightly hoarse as he replied, “No, I don’t dislike it.”

“Good boy,” Si Ye said, tilting Chen Xu’s chin up and kissing him again.

Chen Xu trembled like a fawn learning to stand for the first time. His lips were tightly pressed together, but his eyes were no longer wide with shock.

He suddenly felt a warm, wet sensation on his lips and realized it was Si Ye’s tongue. The tickling sensation on his nose made him slowly open his eyes, and Si Ye’s smiling face came into view, imprinting itself on his heart in that instant. A surge of unknown emotions welled up in his chest—intense and overwhelming, like a tidal wave or a blazing fire. It was intoxicating and maddening.

Chen Xu wrapped his arms around Si Ye’s neck, meeting his scorching breath and the greedy, beast-like gaze. Like an offering, he presented his soft lips.

Si Ye nearly lost his rationality in the face of Chen Xu’s inexperienced enthusiasm. In that moment of ecstasy, Si Ye realized he was just an ordinary man, struggling and succumbing to desire.

The sound of the car braking briefly brought Si Ye back to his senses. He suddenly remembered they were still in the car, with the driver in the front seat. Even though there was a partition, it didn’t change the fact that he had lost control in the presence of others.

Chen Xu’s eyelashes were damp, his lips as red as ripe cherries, and his fair cheeks flushed like he’d had too much to drink. He whispered, “Uncle Si.”

Those three words made Si Ye break out in a sweat, his slacks now uncomfortably tight.

When Si Ye opened his eyes, Chen Xu’s beautiful, bright peach-blossom eyes were glistening with moisture, the corners tinged with a faint red, like petals wet with dew in the depths of a forest.

Si Ye noticed that he wasn’t the only one affected. He instructed the driver to park the car in the garage and leave.

The driver, sitting in the front, could hardly miss the commotion in the back. He quickly parked the car and hurried away, his face red with embarrassment. The master and his spouse really had a good relationship.

Si Ye kissed Chen Xu’s eyelids and said gently, “Let me help you.”

—

Zhu Yaoyuan: I checked in for you. You can take your time getting here.

Chen Xu: Okay, thanks.

Chen Xu, who was never late for class, had overslept today. The reason? The memory of what he and Si Ye had done in the car yesterday made his face burn with embarrassment.

Today, a different driver had brought him to school in a different car. The one from yesterday had apparently been sent for cleaning.

If he could previously use drunkenness as an excuse, last night’s events left Chen Xu with no explanation for his actions.

As he walked, Chen Xu rubbed his warm ears and muttered to himself, “I really do like him.”

There was no other explanation for why he had initiated the kiss with Si Ye or why he had eagerly offered to help Si Ye afterward.

He looked down at his pale palm, the lingering warmth still fresh in his memory.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Chen Xu decided there was no point in overthinking it. It had taken him two lifetimes to fall for someone, and that someone was Si Ye. He had no regrets.

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