ARBRMW : Chapter 88

The entire classroom suddenly fell silent. Tang Zhen suddenly realized his voice had been too loud. Given that Chen Xu had already been at the center of public opinion lately, shouting like that would only make things worse.

“I…” His face turned pale as he realized he didn’t know how to salvage the situation.

Chen Xu nonchalantly said, “No, we got married a while ago.”

This response shocked everyone present. What did they just hear? Chen Xu was already married?!

Who was the man in the rumors then? Chen Xu’s husband or someone he was cheating with?

The amount of information was too much for anyone to process.

On the way back to the dormitory, Tang Zhen and Zhu Yaoyuan were still in a state of shock.

“Are you really married?” Zhu Yaoyuan felt an intense sense of disbelief.

“Yes,” Chen Xu calmly nodded.

“To that Mr. Si?” Zhu Yaoyuan asked nervously.

Chen Xu glanced at him, “Who else?”

Zhu Yaoyuan gasped in admiration. He was impressed that Chen Xu dared to get married just after becoming an adult. At the same time, he felt that Mr. Si might have been a bit unscrupulous. After all, Chen Xu had been raised in their household, and Mr. Si had taken advantage of the situation to marry Chen Xu at eighteen.

But love is unpredictable. Since it was mutual, no one else had any right to interfere.

“Damn! You really got married! You’re really someone’s husband!” Tang Zhen exclaimed, looking at Chen Xu with envy.

Chen Xu: “…”

“But you kept it so well hidden, you never told us.” Tang Zhen looked at Chen Xu with a mix of accusation and admiration.

“Uncle Si said I was too young and still in school, so it was better to keep a low profile.” Chen Xu didn’t like making his private matters public. Today, he wore his wedding ring to school to clear up rumors and because he felt his relationship with Si Ye was stable enough to be open about it. They had a legitimate marriage certificate and wedding, so there was no need to hide it like a clandestine affair.

“Tsk, tsk, how sweet,” Tang Zhen said, hooking his arm around Chen Xu’s and moving closer. He suddenly stared teasingly at Chen Xu’s neck. “Last night must have been intense, huh?”

Chen Xu was taken aback and covered the side of his neck. Last night, Si Ye had indeed kissed there, likely leaving a mark.

His ears turned slightly red, and both Tang Zhen and Zhu Yaoyuan looked at him in surprise. Chen Xu, usually so cool and collected, was actually blushing!

Zhu Yaoyuan looked enviously at the ring on Chen Xu’s ring finger. He and Qin Yuzhen had only kissed, while Chen Xu was already married.

The three returned to the dormitory to put away their books and then went out for lunch together. Qin Yuzhen greeted Chen Xu warmly, not mentioning the unpleasant topics from the forum.

Meanwhile, the university forum was in an uproar.

27L: Whoa! It’s true! I just saw Chen Xu in the cafeteria, and he was wearing a ring on his ring finger!

28L: Oh my God, what a plot twist!

29L: I don’t believe it. Chen Xu wasn’t kept by anyone, and he’s not married!

30L: Chen Xu himself admitted he has been married for a long time. Everyone disperse, there’s no sugar daddy involved.

31L: So what if he’s married? He probably sold himself to an old man for wealth.

32L: Yeah, the rich boss must be quite old to be interested in someone young and pretty.

33L: Such a morally corrupt person shouldn’t be in our school. He should have been expelled long ago.

After lunch, Chen Xu and Tang Zhen returned to the dormitory while Zhu Yaoyuan and Qin Yuzhen went for a couple’s walk.

“I’m so mad! Even after explaining, people are still spreading rumors.” Tang Zhen was fuming as he looked at the malicious comments on the forum.

Chen Xu glanced at the forum on his phone and decided to have the posts deleted. He had already explained everything. What others chose to believe was beyond his control.

“Did these posts appear suddenly?” Chen Xu was more concerned about who started the rumors than the malicious comments.

“Yes, and they included a lot of your photos.” Tang Zhen showed Chen Xu the evidence he had saved.

Chen Xu flipped through the photos and suddenly saw one that looked familiar. It was taken at a restaurant he had been to with Si Ye.

He frowned. Could it be Pan Qizhi?

“I’ll make a call.” Chen Xu handed the phone back to Tang Zhen and went to ask someone to investigate.

If it really was Pan Qizhi, what was his motive? Revealing his relationship with Si Ye would naturally clear up the rumors.

As he thought about it, he remembered when Pan Qizhi had been sent back to the Pan family.

Pan Qizhi was now working in a restaurant, which meant he had been abandoned by the Pan family and had no way to connect with high society. He probably didn’t know that Chen Xu and Si Ye were already married.

Another self-righteous fool.

Chen Xu’s expression turned cold. If Pan Qizhi wanted to dig his own grave, Chen Xu wouldn’t hesitate to help him.

Because of the uproar surrounding Chen Xu, the principal called him in to express concern.

“Sorry for causing trouble for the school, but the rumors on the forum are false.” Chen Xu pointed to the man in the photo with him and said, “This is my husband. We’ve been married for a while.”

He raised his hand to show the luxurious ring on his ring finger to everyone in the office.

“As for the claims of me being unfilial, I was sent away by my parents to be raised by others when I was twelve. It’s hard to have any deep familial bond under those circumstances.”

After Chen Xu left, the teachers in the principal’s office were filled with sympathy.

“Such a good kid, and he has such a tragic backstory. It’s a disgrace for his parents to have abandoned him like that.”

“Yes, it’s despicable to slander such an outstanding student.”

“I knew Chen Xu was a good kid. There was no way he could be like the rumors suggested.”

That day, the school issued a statement clarifying that the rumors on the forum were false and had been spread to tarnish the reputation of their student. They asked everyone not to believe them.

Despite the school’s statement, some still believed it was due to Chen Xu’s sugar daddy’s influence and didn’t trust the clarification. They even speculated that Chen Xu had taken a long leave because his sugar daddy had played him into the hospital.

But that night, a trending topic on Weibo revealed why Chen Xu had taken leave, putting all the wild guesses to rest.

The design competition Chen Xu had participated in made the news that day. It was a highly professional event that few outside the field paid attention to, but industry veterans praised Chen Xu’s work, calling him a genius with exceptional talent, and expressed high expectations for his future creations.

Simultaneously, the news about Zhuo Ruibo plagiarizing Zhuo Shunan’s designs and committing arson to destroy his competition’s work surfaced. Zhuo Ruibo was scolded severely, and his career in fashion design was completely ruined. The gravity of plagiarism and arson meant no leniency, with many industry veterans writing critical essays about Zhuo Ruibo’s actions.

These events didn’t make Chen Xu trend on social media, but his appearance did.

When Zhuo Shunan, a long-retired legend in the fashion industry, appeared after many years, it naturally drew a lot of attention. Many were overjoyed, asking the competition officials if their goddess was making a comeback.

The officials couldn’t give an answer because they wanted to know too.

To appease the fans, the officials posted a group photo.

[OMG! After so many years, our goddess is still just as beautiful!]

[Oh my God! I never thought I’d see her again. Crying tears of joy!]

[Time has been so kind to her. She’s still stunning!]

[She’s so beautiful, but who’s that handsome guy next to her?]

[Finally, someone asked the question I’ve been dying to ask! That guy is so good-looking! He looks a bit like our goddess. Beautiful people must have some connection.]

[Umm… look at the trophy in his hand.]

[Whoa! This handsome guy is the champion! And he seems to be the youngest…]

[I’m really jealous. A godly face, godly talent, and so young!]

And so, Chen Xu trended on social media. At first, people thought he was a new celebrity. When they clicked in, they left in awe.

Netizens quickly dug up everything about Chen Xu, discovering he was a top scorer in the college entrance exam.

[I’m truly impressed. He’s so good-looking, won a design competition, was the top scorer, and he’s only 19!]

[He’s from my school and he’s studying economics.]

[What?! He’s not even a fashion design major?!]

[Why can someone be so amazing at 19? It makes me feel like I’m just here to fill a spot. Crying.]

“You took leave to participate in a design competition?” Tang Zhen almost popped his eyes out at the trending topic.

Chen Xu nodded calmly. “Yes.”

“And you won the championship?!” Tang Zhen looked at Chen Xu like he was a monster. “Are you even human? Give us ordinary people a chance!”

Zhu Yaoyuan was also shocked. “Is there anything you can’t do?”

Chen Xu casually replied, “Have children.”

Zhu Yaoyuan: “…”

Tang Zhen: “…”

“Well, none of us can do that.”

The next day, the school was covered in banners celebrating Chen Xu’s victory in the design competition.

Those who had slandered Chen Xu fell silent. They had claimed he took leave to serve his sugar daddy, but he had returned with a cross-discipline championship.

“Chen Xu, we’re sorry. We believed the rumors and misunderstood you,” said a few classmates who had spoken ill of him, approaching Chen Xu to apologize as soon as he entered the classroom.

Chen Xu glanced at them coldly and indifferently responded, “Okay.”

Then he found a seat and sat down. The apologizing students were left wondering if he had forgiven them.

“I don’t know, but I think he has forgiven us,” one of them said.

Tang Zhen, seeing their dejected expressions, covered his mouth, shoulders shaking with laughter.

Far away in his office, Si Ye was dealing with work when Secretary Jiang entered. “Director Si, the Lin family is investigating Chen Xu.”

“The Lin family?” Si Ye frowned. What were they investigating Chen Xu for?

“We also found out it was the Sun family who leaked the information to Mrs. Tao.” Secretary Jiang noticed Si Ye’s expression darken instantly.

He should have thought it was the Sun family. Sun Pangfei wasn’t just playing with Si Lin. He was brainwashing him to distance himself from Si Ye and get closer to the Sun family.

The Sun family was Si Lin’s maternal family. Si Ye had no reason to prevent their contact, so he had let Si Lin play with Sun Pangfei. But he hadn’t expected the Sun family’s ambitions to be so big.

They weren’t afraid of choking on their greed.

Handing information about Si Lin’s whereabouts to Tao Minzhi would cause her to demand Si Ye fulfill his promise to return the company to Si Lin once he was found.

Compared to him, Si Lin was much easier to control. Just give him some sweeteners, and the Si family’s assets would be theirs.

The Sun family was playing a good game.

“Greedy beyond measure,” Si Ye tapped his fingers on the table. “Terminate our cooperation with the Sun family once the current agreements expire and withdraw any ongoing support.”

Secretary Jiang understood that Si Ye was ready to move against the Sun family. If they had stayed within their limits, Si Ye would have continued to support them out of respect for his sister-in-law’s family.

“Understood.”

After the office returned to silence, Si Ye pondered the Lin family’s intentions. Ultimately, he decided to wait and see.

The Lin family didn’t keep him waiting long. Half a month later, Lin Penghan and his son Lin Yirun flew to A City to visit him.

…

As Chen Xu had suspected, Pan Qizhi was indeed the one spreading the rumors.

When the police arrested him, he was in a shady internet café, continuously posting defamatory comments about Chen Xu amid the smell of instant noodles and sweat.

He insisted he wasn’t spreading rumors and that everything he said was true. Chen Xu promptly took him to court.

In court, Pan Qizhi learned that Chen Xu wasn’t Si Ye’s plaything but his lawful spouse. They had been married for a long time.

He stared in disbelief at Chen Xu’s lawyer. “Impossible! How could Uncle Si marry him!”

Pan Qizhi was convinced Si Ye would never marry Chen Xu, maybe just play with him. But the reality was they had a legal marriage certificate.

No wonder Si Yichen couldn’t beat Chen Xu. Chen Xu had been with Si Ye all along, whispering sweet nothings into his ear.

Pan Qizhi cursed Chen Xu as a slut, his rage making him lose his sanity. Why did Chen Xu get to marry Si Ye and live a carefree life while he ended up so miserably for crossing Chen Xu? If not for Chen Xu, he wouldn’t have fallen from a privileged young master to a humble dishwasher.

He hated Chen Xu to the core, never reflecting that his downfall was his own doing.

Due to his poor attitude, he was sentenced to a year in prison.

With the rumor-monger arrested and jailed, no one believed Chen Xu was kept by someone or unfilial to his parents. Instead, Chen Xu became a prominent figure at A University, excelling across disciplines and maintaining top grades in his major.

He was no longer just a top student but a god of studies.

Even seniors started praying to Chen Xu’s photo during exams.

However, all the commotion made everyone even more curious about Chen Xu’s mysterious spouse.

What kind of person could win over the school god?

They knew little about Chen Xu’s spouse, except that he was rich. But how rich, they weren’t sure.

On Friday afternoon, after class, Chen Xu returned to the dormitory to pack and head home.

“I won’t be staying in the dorm next semester,” Chen Xu told Tang Zhen and Zhu Yaoyuan in advance.

“Ah… Xu-ge, I’ll be so lonely without you,” Tang Zhen said dramatically, throwing him a flirty look. “But if I had a great husband like yours waiting at home, I wouldn’t want to stay in the dorm either.”

Zhu Yaoyuan drank a sip of water. “I figured as much. I just hope they don’t move in a weirdo.”

“I’m not giving up the dorm room. I can still come back for a nap during lunch,” Chen Xu said, making them breathe a sigh of relief. Having experienced Wu Bin before, they were a bit traumatized.

“Hope I find someone soon. Otherwise, if Lao Zhu tells me he’s moving in with Yuzhen, leaving me alone in the dorm, it’ll be so empty and cold,” Tang Zhen exaggerated, wiping away nonexistent tears.

Zhu Yao’s face turned red. “You… you talk nonsense. I wouldn’t move in with Yuzhen.”

“Hahaha, why not? When love reaches a certain depth, it happens naturally. We’re all adults. Look at Xu-ge. Even though he seemed indifferent, he’s now enjoying it,” Tang Zhen teased both of them.

Chen Xu’s ears burned. Recently, he indeed couldn’t resist being with Si Ye, losing all his rationality once they met.

The phone on the table vibrated a few times. Chen Xu picked it up and saw it was from Si Ye.

“Uncle Si.” Chen Xu’s voice lifted, showing his happiness.

Tang Zhen and Zhu Yaoyuan exchanged a knowing look and both watched Chen Xu with teasing expressions.

Si Ye had just finished some business nearby and, seeing the time, called to check if Chen Xu was done with class.

“Are you at the gate? I’ll be right out,” Chen Xu said, packing his books into his backpack and waving to Tang Zhen and Zhu Yaoyuan as he headed out.

“No rush, take your time. I’ll wait,” Si Ye’s calm voice made Chen Xu even more eager to see him.

“I want to see you sooner,” Chen Xu said, quickening his pace.

There was a brief silence on the other end before Si Ye’s amused voice came through. “Did you miss me?”

Chen Xu nodded, realizing Si Ye couldn’t see, and spoke up, “Yes.”

“I missed you too, sweetheart.”

Hearing Si Ye’s voice, Chen Xu’s heart felt even more aflame. He started running.

“Is that the school heartthrob? Is he rushing to catch a bus?”

“Don’t know. Maybe he’s eager to see his husband, haha…”

“Haha, that’d be great. We’d finally see that mysterious person.”

“Just saw a luxury car at the school gate. I’m not envious at all!”

“I secretly took a photo. I plan to print it out and keep it. Seeing it is like owning it.”

“Don’t say that. It’s a car I’ll never have in my life.”

“Hey? Is the heartthrob walking towards that car? No way, is it his?”

“I remember he had a different luxury car before.”

“With such a wealthy husband, can’t he drive different cars based on his mood?”

Just as Chen Xu was about to open the car door, it opened from the inside. Si Ye stepped out, dressed impeccably in a suit, holding a large bouquet of vibrant flowers. Flowers and beauty complemented each other, making them look like a scene from a perfect movie.

The crowd gasped, staring in awe, forgetting to even scream.

Looking at the flowers, Chen Xu was momentarily stunned. Si Ye bent down slightly and kissed his cheek. “Get in, let’s go home.”

“Oh, okay. Thank you for the flowers,” Chen Xu snapped out of it, tightening his grip on the bouquet.

After Chen Xu got into the car, Si Ye followed.

Even after the car drove away, the crowd remained in a daze.

“Chen Xu’s husband is so handsome!”

“Oh my God! I’m so jealous. I want both of them!”

“Whoever spread the rumor that his husband is a greasy middle-aged man is a liar. He’s a god!”

“Oh my God, they’re like a fairy tale. If they could have kids, the children would be so beautiful!”

That night, a CP (couple pairing) thread for Chen Xu and Si Ye appeared on the forum, and someone even wrote an ABO (alpha/beta/omega) story about them.

“Uncle Si knew about the forum?” Chen Xu realized upon seeing the flowers that Si Ye’s visit was no coincidence but an intentional show of support.

“Yes, why didn’t you tell me?” Si Ye caressed Chen Xu’s face.

“It was a small issue I could handle. If there’s ever something I can’t solve, I’ll come to you immediately.” Chen Xu didn’t want to trouble Si Ye with everything. He was capable himself, and Si Ye was already busy managing the company.

“Uncle Si, trust in my abilities,” Chen Xu said, kissing Si Ye’s hand.

Si Ye’s hand itched with the touch, and he smiled. “Okay.”

Youngsters need to grow up, and Si Ye couldn’t stop Chen Xu from maturing. He could only support him.

Chen Xu smiled and leaned in to kiss Si Ye on the lips. “Thank you.”

When they got home, Chen Xu didn’t hand the flowers to Uncle Zhong but carried them up to the third floor himself.

Before he could put the flowers in a vase, Si Ye hugged him from behind.

The thin summer clothing couldn’t hide the real reactions. Chen Xu’s pale, tender ears turned red, and Si Ye bit his ear gently, nibbling until it hurt but felt incredibly stimulating.

Chen Xu’s body went limp in Si Ye’s arms, trembling as he called out, “Uncle Si…”

“Yes,” Si Ye responded, his hands never stopping.

The sunset outside dyed the sky red, and cicadas chirped faintly.

The summer heat made both of them sweat in no time.

Chen Xu turned his head to kiss Si Ye, his kisses clumsy but passionate. Si Ye’s heart burned hotter, like a beast released from its cage, biting onto its prey’s neck and devouring it savagely.

His body lifted, Chen Xu’s back pressed against the cool wall, yet it couldn’t dissipate the heat within him. His eyes, always alluring, now glistened with tears, reflecting the glow of the distant sunset, like a burning fire.

His lips, kissed until they were red, took on a lush hue. He arched his neck, creating a fragile and beautiful line.

Si Ye bit down on it, harsh and relentless, until Chen Xu whimpered, then eased his assault, licking away the tears from Chen Xu’s eyes.

Chen Xu’s words were broken and fragmented, “Too… deep…”

“Don’t want it anymore?” Si Ye’s voice was hoarse as he asked.

Chen Xu shook his head after a moment, hugging Si Ye’s neck tighter, “I want it.”

“You say you don’t, then you say you do. Why are you so spoiled?” Si Ye kissed the small mole on his nose.

Chen Xu buried his head in Si Ye’s shoulder, biting him.

Like a cub gnawing to ease teething, it didn’t hurt but tickled.

The long night stretched on, and Si Ye didn’t spare any corner of the room.

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D-day10 !! ?o?.(??? ??)

You can also give me your suggestions for my next project (September). I’ll be happy to work on it ?