Chapter 23: Marriage Part 2

After taking their ugly-but-funny wedding photos, Yan Xinfeng refused to go straight home. He insisted Hu Yao drive to a quaint little villa in the suburbs.

Wei Tingxia was still reeling from the “marriage” shock, numb to the world, mechanically flipping the red booklet over and over, finding the whole thing absurdly unreal.

“I got married.” He murmured to 0188. “I actually got my certificate with him.”

0188’s tone was calm: [Yes, I noticed.]

“You’re just going to react like that?” Wei Tingxia frowned, feeling inexplicably annoyed.

[Theoretically, I don’t recommend the host establishing too solid a binding relationship with the mission target.] System 0188 paused, then pulled up a streamlined data chart. [But take a look—]

On the chart, the Collapse Index plummeted in a straight line from the moment they got their Marriage Certificate, dropping by more than 30%. The state of the entire world rapidly stabilized.

[For this,] System 0188’s voice carried a strange, almost transcendent calm, [I can tolerate anything.]

Wei Tingxia mentally flipped it the middle finger.

Hu Yao stopped at the side entrance of the small Western-style building and got out of the car. From the corner of his eye, Wei Tingxia saw Yan Xinfeng carefully put the Marriage Certificate into the car’s safe, as if he were afraid someone would steal it.

“Is that necessary?” He leaned against the car door. “Who would steal a Marriage Certificate?”

“You never know.”

Yan Xinfeng looked up, his gaze meaningfully scanning Wei Tingxia from head to toe before extending his hand. “Give me yours too.”

Wei Tingxia pursed his lips and tossed his copy over. Only after Yan Xinfeng personally locked the safe did he get out of the car.

Service staff greeted them at the entrance of the Western-style building. Once inside, Wei Tingxia realized it was a private custom jewelry salon.

As soon as they entered, Yan Xinfeng got straight to the point with the person in charge. “Please bring out the two rubies I stored here before.”

He had stored things here?

Wei Tingxia looked over in surprise and noticed Yan Xinfeng’s expression was tense—he was nervous.

The person in charge immediately replied, “Right away, Mr. Yan. Please wait a moment. I’ll have the designer bring the gems over.”

Yan Xinfeng nodded faintly, pulled Wei Tingxia to the other side, and casually explained, “Their flower tea is pretty good.”

So you come here not to custom-make wedding rings, but to drink flower tea.

Wei Tingxia didn’t even bother to retort. He let Yan Xinfeng drag him to sit in the resting lounge, where he watched a meticulously dressed designer arrive with the red gems and sit across from them.

“Mr. Yan, these are the two large-carat, unheated top-grade Pigeon Blood Red Gems you stored here six years ago.” The designer smiled broadly as he pushed the transparent container holding the two gems forward. “Please confirm.”

Yan Xinfeng glanced at them casually, keeping most of his attention on Wei Tingxia. “Yes, those are them.”

Both gems were over 5 carats, already at a collectible grade of exceptional value. Wei Tingxia pulled them closer and held them up to the light. System 0188 judged that these two rubies could buy his current house outright.

The designer asked, “So what are your requirements?”

His gaze darted between Yan Xinfeng and Wei Tingxia, seemingly trying to figure out their real relationship—curious, but not intrusive.

“I have a design sketch,” Yan Xinfeng said concisely. “Turn it into a pair of rings for me.”

“What specific occasion is this for?”

“Wedding rings.”

Wei Tingxia’s eyebrows twitched. He glanced sideways at Yan Xinfeng, who sat there steady as a rock, and realized he wasn’t just calm—he was downright smug.

He told the designer, “I got married.”

“Wow.”

The designer became the third person to learn of their marriage, completely caught off guard. His expression froze for an instant. “Congratulations, then.”

Yan Xinfeng politely thanked him. “Thank you.”

The designer left to retrieve the sketch. The lounge was left with just the two of them. Wei Tingxia picked up a gem and examined it for a moment before he couldn’t resist trying it on his finger.

“No way,” he frowned. “These are way too big.”

Not to mention they weren’t set yet—the finished product would only be heavier and more inconvenient to wear.

“What’s wrong with big?” Yan Xinfeng’s tone was casual. “They need to be big so that when someone else wants to hold your hand, they can tell at a glance that you’re married.”

Wei Tingxia narrowed his eyes, keenly catching that his words weren’t entirely a joke.

“You’re still holding a grudge?” He reached out to tug Yan Xinfeng’s hair. “I just sat there for a bit without even making eye contact. What kind of jealousy are you eating? Totally baseless!”

Yan Xinfeng spread his hands. “I didn’t say anything. You admitted it yourself.”

“Get lost.” Wei Tingxia let go and sat back in his chair. “Thanks to you, I still crack up thinking about their faces back then.”

They had thought Wei Tingxia was some plaything they could toy with at will, only to find out the place they were eating was his turf. The huge gap left the whole room unable to swallow their food—it had turned into quite the show for Wei Tingxia.

Yan Xinfeng chuckled, his fingers unconsciously twirling his lover’s hair. “Do you like them?”

“I love them to death.” Wei Tingxia drawled, his gaze returning to the gems.

He couldn’t help imagining how a wedding ring would feel on his finger—whether it would be different from an ordinary one. His fingers unconsciously curled, his thoughts drifting far away as he recalled a silver ring quietly lying in a small black box.

Yan Xinfeng had one too, though he didn’t know if it still existed. Wei Tingxia absentmindedly tapped his knee—given his personality, he probably still had it and wouldn’t have thrown it away in a fit of anger.

As he thought about it, the designer returned with the sketch, his smile even more genuine and enthusiastic than before.

“Next, I’ll design the wedding rings for you two based on this sketch. The production timeline will be about a month.” The designer bowed slightly, beaming. “First, congratulations on your marriage and may you be united forever!”

…

Lu Zhao was the fourth person to learn they had gotten married. At the time, Yan Xinfeng was preparing for the Press Conference, while Lu Zhao was surfing at the beach.

They said that when he saw Yan Xinfeng’s message, he tumbled headfirst into the water, nearly drinking his fill.

The second he crawled out, he called.

“What does this mean?” he demanded.

Yan Xinfeng signed two documents and replied, “I wrote it very clearly.”

Yes, clearly—too clearly. It was just four words, but that wasn’t what Lu Zhao was asking!

He asked, “You got married? To who?”

“You can’t just say that,” Yan Xinfeng said calmly. “Who else could I marry?”

“Wei Tingxia?”

“Correct. Should I clap for you? I’m a bit tied up right now.”

Lu Zhao sneered. “No need. Weren’t you two throwing pots and smashing pans the day before yesterday? You even smashed your phone. How did it escalate to marriage?”

“A spur-of-the-moment thing.” Yan Xinfeng didn’t want to explain too much—he couldn’t even sort it out himself. “Anyway, we’re married now.”

“Is there a property agreement?”

“No.”

“Prenup?”

“Nope. I’m holding a Press Conference soon. Half of everything is his.”

Lu Zhao sucked in a sharp breath.

About seven years ago, he had discussed with Yan Xinfeng whether he was going too far and advised him to call it quits, not to keep tangling with Wei Tingxia.

Lu Zhao had thought that was Yan Xinfeng’s limit—that he was fated to spend his life throwing money at his nemesis. He hadn’t expected him to stay silent and then shock everyone, setting a new record that left people in awe.

“So…” He faltered, not knowing what to say. “So… best wishes for a happy marriage?”

“First,” Yan Xinfeng stood up, his gaze falling on the back of his newlywed husband by the balcony railing, “don’t make it a question.”

“Second, thanks.” His tone was serious.

Lu Zhao: “You’re welcome. Are you planning to bring him home?”

“Only if he wants to,” Yan Xinfeng refused outright. “Otherwise, no.”

His mother didn’t like Wei Tingxia—or rather, she rejected anyone who couldn’t give her a grandson. And Wei Tingxia had that hair-trigger temper. If those two met, conflict was inevitable.

Besides, whether Wei Tingxia exploded on the spot or held it in, Yan Xinfeng would come out on the losing end either way. Worse, if it pushed him too far and led to another divorce, that would be real trouble.

So it was best they didn’t meet—for everyone’s sake.

Lu Zhao said, “Then you’re in for the center of the storm.”

They weren’t an ordinary family. At their level of wealth, any stable relationship would draw scrutiny and judgment from the outside world. Yan Xinfeng couldn’t keep it hidden, and from the looks of it, he wanted to proclaim it to the world with gongs and drums, letting everyone know Wei Tingxia belonged to him.

Who knew how Mrs. Yan would react.

But whatever the outcome, Yan Xinfeng had clearly anticipated it. He gazed at Wei Tingxia’s back, and at that moment, the man seemed to sense the stare from behind and turned his head.

In their distant gaze, Yan Xinfeng’s tone was exceptionally calm. “If this is the price of binding my life to his, then I’m very willing to pay it.”

The sound was blocked by the glass and certainly couldn’t reach outside, but as the evening breeze blew gently, Wei Tingxia on the balcony seemed to hear Yan Xinfeng’s murmur from inside. The wind ruffled his clothes as he bathed in the molten-gold sunset, turning back to flash Yan Xinfeng a lazy smile.

Yan Xinfeng silently hung up the phone.

They were married.

He told himself for the 167th time. He and Wei Tingxia were married.

A hasty wedding, a hasty ceremony—this marriage had basically come from a fit of pique during one of their arguments. Neither wanted to yield, neither wanted to admit defeat, so they gritted their teeth and got the certificate in one go.

Yan Xinfeng admitted he had ulterior motives.

The words he said that night weren’t a joke. It was great if Wei Tingxia loved him, but if not, Yan Xinfeng still wouldn’t let him go.

Marriage was a good safeguard. If one day they died, he’d have reason to mix their ashes together.

At least they wouldn’t be parted forever.

Downstairs, Yao Ling was preparing dinner. She was the ninth person to learn of Yan Xinfeng and Wei Tingxia’s marriage, so tonight’s meal would be exceptionally lavish.

Yan Xinfeng casually straightened the papers and pens on his desk. When he looked up again, he saw Wei Tingxia making a heart shape with his arms, smiling beautifully.

Once more, Yan Xinfeng felt like he could endure anything.

Only one thing loomed over him like a dark cloud—how much more was Wei Tingxia hiding from him?

…

A few days later, at a grand business Press Conference, after answering the last professional question as the main speaker, Yan Xinfeng swept his gaze over the audience and suddenly spoke, his tone flat but resounding. “On this occasion, I’d like to announce a personal matter: I got married.”