Chapter 5
“He definitely wants to marry you, latch onto your family, and then fight with his brother for the inheritance.”
“No way.”
Xi Shi looked skeptical. “They’re blood brothers.”
“Aren’t you and Shi Chengze blood brothers too?”
Xi Shi kicked him. “You Jiayu, are you looking for a beating?! He’s not my brother, my mother only gave birth to me.”
“My bad, my bad, I misspoke.” You Jiayu shrank his neck, remembering that Young Master Xi and his half-brother didn’t get along. “Everyone in the circle knows that the Zhong brothers don’t have a good relationship. It’s said that Zhong Er stayed abroad for so many years because Zhong Da was obstructing him, preventing him from coming back.”
Zhong Yuxiao had been abroad for almost seven years, but wasn’t that for studying?
Xi Shi was half-convinced. “Zhong Da doesn’t seem like that kind of person.”
He had met Zhong Zhili. The other party was the typical “child from another family.” He was high-spirited in his youth, and after taking over the company, he took it to new heights. Xi Chongyang often talked about him, wishing he had such a grandson.
“You can’t judge a book by its cover. He looks decent, but who knows what he’s thinking inside.”
Xi Shi thought of Shi Fengsheng. Who would have thought that a gentle and refined gentleman would secretly collude with his wife’s cousin to force his wife to death? “But Zhong Yuxiao is back now.”
And he was going to marry him.
If it were really as he said, Zhong Zhili wouldn’t have let him return.
You Jiayu slapped his thigh. “That’s the point! If it weren’t for latching onto you, could Zhong Er have come back? He clearly wants to rely on you to overthrow Zhong Da, otherwise why would he marry you? Could it be that he’s taken a fancy to you?”
“…”
The young master was unconvinced. “Why couldn’t it be that he’s taken a fancy to me?”
What was wrong with him?
He was the renowned number one top in Lincheng, the dream lover of countless bottoms. It was perfectly normal for Zhong Er to take a fancy to him.
“Bro, I’m not saying you’re bad, but with your reputation, Young Master Xi, tsk tsk tsk.” You Jiayu trailed off.
Silence was sometimes more powerful than words, leaving more room for imagination.
Xi Shi sneered, reaching for the wine bottle on the table. “Is my reputation that bad?”
The young master had fair skin. When he smiled, he revealed two tiger teeth. Under the light, he looked like a vampire awakening in a castle, about to begin his hunt.
“You don’t know if your reputation is bad or not? Honestly, why don’t you have any self-awareness, you…” Seeing what he was holding, You Jiayu shuddered. “Hey, hey hey, what are you doing with the bottle? Don’t tell me you’re so embarrassed that you’re going to crack my skull open? Xi Shi, we’re brothers, it’s not worth it, really.”
The wine bottle smashed against the coffee table, shards scattering. Xi Shi shook his hand, his eyes full of warning. “So Zhong Er couldn’t possibly have taken a fancy to me?”
The young master’s self-perception was truly unclear, You Jiayu thought silently, not daring to provoke him further. “He could, why not? But you two haven’t even met, do you think it’s likely that he’s taken a fancy to you?”
“Likely.” Xi Shi said firmly. “Maybe he saw my picture, heard about how well-endowed and skilled I am, and fell in love at first sight.”
“…”
Do you even believe that yourself?
You Jiayu rolled his eyes inwardly. He had never seen such a shameless person. “Didn’t you say Zhong Er is a nerd, a goody-two-shoes? Would he like a…rebellious man like you?”
“Are you insulting me?”
“No, I’m praising you, praising you for still being youthful even at almost thirty.”
“I’m only 29, not yet 30.” Xi Shi frowned, correcting him.
The difference between 29 and 30 was like the difference between 179cm and 180cm, a tiny difference, but a huge gap.
The eternally youthful young master looked cold and aloof. You Jiayu, with strong survival instincts, swallowed the words “it’s only a year’s difference.” “Fine, fine, Zhong Er likes you, alright? He fell in love with you at first sight, traveled thousands of miles from abroad to marry you. He likes your looks, your endowment, and your skills.”
Xi Shi choked.
Why did that sound so unpleasant?
“I don’t want him to like me.”
Because of Miao Yuan, he now had a phobia of students. If Zhong Er really liked him, he wouldn’t be able to shake him off.
Unbelievable.
You Jiayu was utterly speechless. “You don’t want him to like you, but you insist that he fell in love with you at first sight. What do you want?”
He suspected Xi Shi was messing with him.
Xi Shi’s arm rested on the sofa, his long legs stretched out, his floral shirt riding up slightly, revealing a section of his lean waist. Even in a relaxed state, the outline of his abs was clearly visible.
“I don’t want anything. I can’t stop him if he wants to like me, after all, I’m so handsome.” He swung his leg, exuding a carefree air. “I’m just stating that I won’t like him.”
A playboy raised in luxury, having experienced the love scene, tinged with a worldly air, not bad to the core, but rather charmingly roguish. Even his self-praise was full of sex appeal.
You Jiayu was momentarily dazed. It was a good thing he wasn’t gay, otherwise he would definitely be swayed by Xi Shi.
“You don’t like him, but you can’t change your grandfather’s mind. Could it be that this marriage will be like it never happened?”
“Why not?”
After his reply, Zhong Yuxiao didn’t send any more messages.
Xi Shi was a little surprised. He thought Zhong Er had something to discuss with him. He waited for a while, but the conversation ended with a single “Oh.”
The nerd was indeed easy to deal with.
A marriage that was like it never happened – wasn’t that a sham marriage?
Inspiration struck Xi Shi. He crossed his legs and opened his notepad to start drafting.
Party A: Xi Shi
Party B: Zhong Yuxiao
Specific terms of the agreement are as follows:
-
This is a marriage of convenience, without feelings, so there is no need to be responsible for each other, no need to fulfill husbandly duties.
-
Both parties shall not interfere with each other’s private lives and maintain superficial harmony.
-
Divorce amicably after one year, giving each other the right to pursue true love.
Remembering that Zhong Er liked to tattle, Xi Shi thought for a moment and added a supplementary clause.
P.S.: Three rules, a gentleman’s agreement, an adult’s agreement. Only childish, stupid, despicable, shameless, and irresponsible children tattle to their families. Whoever tattles is a dog!!!
There it was.
When they met, he would coax, threaten, and use all his tricks to get Zhong Er to sign the agreement. He didn’t care whether Zhong Er liked him or wanted to use him to fight for the family fortune. They could each go their own way.
Xi Shi was confident about handling Zhong Yuxiao, saying smugly, “I’m a genius.”
You Jiayu: “?”
What bad idea was the young master cooking up now?
On the day of the arranged meeting, Zhong Yuxiao received two bodyguards sent by Zhong Zhili, along with a message: “Xi Shi has violent tendencies. Take these people with you, don’t suffer any losses if a fight breaks out.”
Zhong Yuxiao was amused. He was going on a blind date, not to a gang fight.
“They are retired veterans, trustworthy. It’s best if nothing happens, but they can help if something does.”
The time Zhong Yuxiao was almost kidnapped, Zhong Zhili had taken him out to play. They were momentarily careless, and someone took advantage of the opportunity. Fortunately, Xi Yue saw it and saved him.
Since then, the Zhong family had been very concerned about his safety. Zhong Yuxiao had bodyguards with him when he went abroad. Later, as he grew up, the bodyguards were gradually withdrawn, but Zhong Zhili was still very vigilant about his safety.
Zhong Yuxiao knew his brother was stubborn and didn’t argue. He knew how to handle the bodyguards anyway.
The meeting was scheduled at a cafe. Zhong Yuxiao asked the bodyguards to wait across the street. There happened to be a Shaxian Delicacies restaurant there. The two tall and strong men sat opposite each other, the table filled with food Zhong Yuxiao had ordered.
The Second Young Master Zhong ordered everything on the menu. “Haven’t had breakfast yet, right? Eat something.”
He hadn’t eaten since waking up, and Zhong Yuxiao wasn’t picky, eating the 7 yuan per basket steamed dumplings with relish.
The two bodyguards looked at each other, surprise flashing across their faces. The Zhong family was like ancient nobility. Zhong Yuxiao, dressed in an expensive suit, sitting in a Shaxian Delicacies restaurant with an average cost of less than 20 yuan, eating breakfast, looked completely out of place.
This young master was different from what they had imagined.
“Second Young Master, it’s almost nine o’clock.”
The meeting was scheduled for 9:00 sharp.
Zhong Yuxiao poured a dish of vinegar and added half a spoonful of chili oil. “No rush, I’ll finish eating first.”
He dipped the dumplings in the oil and vinegar, only ate two, and then stopped, carefully examining the other dishes on the table, as if trying to pick out the most delicious one.
The bodyguard hesitated for a moment and pushed forward a bowl of fragrant mixed noodles. “This one might taste better.”
But for a 5 yuan bowl of noodles, how good could it be? The bodyguard regretted saying it as soon as the words left his mouth. However, Zhong Yuxiao smiled and thanked him, took the noodles, tasted them, added some vinegar, and then quietly ate.
This time he ate more, finishing two-thirds of the bowl.
Zhong Yuxiao wiped his mouth. His phone buzzed. He glanced at it. It was 9:13. A familiar number sent a text message.
[When are you arriving?]
The young master was quite punctual, and his patience was better than he expected. He thought Xi Shi would send a message at 9:00 sharp, but he was actually a whole ten minutes late.
“You guys eat slowly. I’ll go across the street. Call me if anything happens.” Zhong Yuxiao paid the bill and packed the uneaten dumplings. “Remember to pack the leftovers, don’t waste food.”
Then, under the bodyguards’ indescribable gazes, he picked up the mostly cold dumplings and swaggered across the street to the cafe.
Bodyguard A hesitated to speak. “Second Young Master, he…”
Bodyguard B finished his sentence. “…is really down-to-earth.”
The down-to-earth Second Young Master Zhong was stopped when he entered the cafe. The waiter saw the big red words “Shaxian Delicacies” on the plastic bag, then looked at Zhong Yuxiao in his elite attire, his lips twitching. “Excuse me, sir, outside food is not allowed in our establishment.”
Finishing his meal at Shaxian Delicacies and then coming to their cafe with an average cost of several hundred yuan per person was like riding a shared bike to a bar. The point was to save where you could and spend where you should.
Zhong Yuxiao pushed his glasses up and scanned the cafe with his height advantage. “Then please call the gentleman by the window and tell him I’m waiting for him outside.”
There was an outdoor area outside the cafe, and the parasols were already up. Zhong Yuxiao chose a corner seat and ordered a cappuccino.
He didn’t like bitter things, literally bitter. Americano, the favorite of elites, was Zhong Yuxiao’s least favorite drink.
Xi Shi cursed inwardly. He had been dragged out of bed early in the morning by someone sent by Xi Chongyang, hadn’t even had time to eat, and arrived on time, only to find that Zhong Er dared to be late.
The young master was furious, hungry, and annoyed.
Only one table was occupied outside. The person was looking down, his face hidden by the greenery beside him, a silver-gray suit jacket draped over the back of the chair.
Xi Shi walked over with a stern face, suppressing his anger. His leather shoes made slightly heavier sounds than usual.
“Zhong Er?”
A shadow fell over him. Zhong Yuxiao subtly curled his lips and looked up, meeting a pair of disbelieving eyes as expected. Xi Shi looked stunned. “Why is it you?!”
Zhong Yuxiao leaned back slightly. “Good morning, Young Master Xi.”
His expression was indifferent, his tone light, but there seemed to be a hint of amusement hidden in his golden eyes.
“I’m Zhong Yuxiao.”
