Chapter 24: Lion Part 2

Wei Tingxia was not the muscular type, nor was he skinny. Just seeing him kick someone into the river showed that his muscles were long and taut, with strong explosive power. Dressed, he stood evenly proportioned all over, but Yan Xinfeng, having been to bed with him, knew that aside from Wei Tingxia’s perky buttocks, his thighs were especially soft—like a cake soaked in cream, carrying enticing plumpness.

His hand paused motionless. Wei Tingxia played on by himself for a while, and Yan Xinfeng watched as a flush spread to his chest before continuing his movements.

The gaming phone was tossed to the floor with a muffled thud. Wei Tingxia hooked his arm around Yan Xinfeng’s neck, forcing him down, his calf stickily rubbing against his side waist before being gripped and pressed upward.

“…What’s going on?”

Yan Xinfeng asked, his palm sliding up along Wei Tingxia’s side waist to finally cup his side face, covering the flush baked by desire. “Hm? Being so generous?”

He was not actively seeking it, but everything he did meant exactly that—Yan Xinfeng had noticed.

“Pamper you,” Wei Tingxia said softly. “Mainly also afraid you’ll work yourself to death.”

Yan Xinfeng chuckled, casually lowering his head to kiss the scar on Wei Tingxia’s brow before unhesitatingly biting down.

“Hiss…”

Wei Tingxia tried to dodge, but his whole body was pinned in place, like a white fish forced onto the cutting board. He struggled a few times to no avail, his eyelashes trembling with teary light.

It was just an eyebrow. Why was he always so sensitive, as if his heart had been seized.

“Alright, alright,” he rarely showed weakness. “Don’t bite.”

In truth, Yan Xinfeng had not bitten hard, only leaving a tooth mark, but Wei Tingxia shuddered intensely, as if his vital point had been gripped.

Yan Xinfeng instead left dense kisses on the reddened spot, like consolation, but Wei Tingxia did not appreciate it and struggled to kick him. However, their current position was inconvenient for attacks, so it only went deeper.

Wei Tingxia reaped what he sowed, shuddering even harder, looking pitiful.

“Happy newlyweds.” Yan Xinfeng whispered in his ear.

They had been married for several days, but to Yan Xinfeng, every day was their wedding night.

He rubbed Wei Tingxia’s tightly clenched fingers, sliding along the base of his palm to interlace their ten fingers together. His fingertip unobtrusively brushed over the base of Wei Tingxia’s ring finger, and an image of an old, cheap silver ring surfaced before his eyes.

He had not yet awakened from this beautiful dream. He hoped he would never have to.

……

Five days later, the partners finally arrived in A City.

That morning at six o’clock, Wei Tingxia felt the person beside him leave the bed. The bedding was tugged lightly, then carefully tucked back in. The footsteps were very soft, and the room was still dimly lit, creating an atmosphere perfect for sleeping.

In a daze, Wei Tingxia sensed Yan Xinfeng half-kneeling by his bedside, then planting a kiss on the ring on his ring finger.

The wedding ring was designed in the shape of a flower. A circle of white diamonds mimicked the form of a lily to frame and set off the ruby at the center. Because the main stone was dazzling enough, the overall design leaned simple, mainly to highlight the ruby itself. On the inner side of the band was Yan Xinfeng’s name initials.

Wei Tingxia had never seen the original design blueprint, but this ring felt familiar to him, as if he had seen it somewhere before.

“I might not make it back tonight,” Yan Xinfeng said in a low voice. “Eat on your own, okay?”

Wei Tingxia barely opened his eyes. “Don’t say it like I can’t eat without you.”

Yan Xinfeng smiled and leaned in to kiss his forehead. “See you tonight.”

He left.

And the second after Yan Xinfeng closed the door and went downstairs, Wei Tingxia sat up. There was no trace of sleepiness in his eyes; he was clear-headed and aloof.

System 0188 reported in his mind: [The ship has docked.]

……

……

The entire negotiation process went very smoothly.

Anders’s assistant had not been wrong. Anders spoke fluent Chinese and had a deep understanding of East Asian culture. Apart from a few details that revealed he had never been to A City before, Yan Xinfeng saw no other flaws.

After the meeting ended, Anders extended his hand to Yan Xinfeng again.

“That was business just now. Now it’s personal time,” he said. “My family has mentioned you to me. I feel very honored to meet you today.”

Family?

Yan Xinfeng raised an eyebrow and shook hands with Anders. “I’m also honored to have reached this cooperation with Eisenhoth.”

Anders smiled. His pair of variegated green eyes curved up, evoking the spruce forests of Northern Europe at dawn. He was very tall, with an elegance cultivated from childhood in his speech and mannerisms. When the corners of his eyes lifted, he resembled a fox.

“Eisenhoth’s success comes from over a hundred years of accumulation and trial-and-error among family branches—a replicable success,” Anders said. “You’re different.”

This was clearly alluding to the incident five years ago. Yan Xinfeng was not surprised that someone knew about it. But from the moment they met, the faint oppressive feeling from Anders—as if he had insight into things Yan Xinfeng did not know—had made him slightly uncomfortable.

So he smiled it off, not intending to say more. “Mr. Eisenhoth, since it’s your first time in A City, why not stay a few more days—”

“—Mr. Yan, you’re married?”

Anders interrupted him, his gaze lingering on the ring on Yan Xinfeng’s ring finger.

This should have been rude, but since the conversation touched on Wei Tingxia, Yan Xinfeng unconsciously curved his lips into a slight smile.

“Newlywed.” He said.

“I saw the news,” Anders said. “Mr. Yan turned a near-bankrupt company around in just five years to its current prosperity. That speaks to exceptional ability. I’m just curious—what kind of person could win your true heart?”

A bastard who didn’t seem to have much sense.

“Someone very passionate,” Yan Xinfeng answered. “Like summer.”

At those words, Anders’s smile deepened.

He brought up the interrupted topic again. “To be honest, I shouldn’t have come to A City. My family doesn’t want me here. If he finds out, he won’t be happy.”

Anders had mentioned that family member twice now.

Yan Xinfeng went along with it. “What, are there conflicts in the Eisenhoth family too?”

“Something like that.”

Anders nodded and turned his head slightly to look out the window. His distinctly Northern European profile carried a rugged quality different from East Asians. But in the instant Anders lowered his gaze, a flicker of familiarity flashed through Yan Xinfeng’s mind. He suddenly felt that Anders from that angle bore some resemblance to Wei Tingxia.

It must be that he was soaked in the joy of newlywed bliss, he thought. He was seeing Wei Tingxia in everyone.

He did not voice this observation, thinking it was time to leave. But at that moment, Anders spoke again. “This ‘family member’… I’m referring to my younger brother.”

Younger brother?

A trace of doubt crossed Yan Xinfeng’s mind. He had no recollection of Anders’s mother having a second son. Neither official records nor his private investigations indicated anyone else in the Eisenhoth family this generation—only Anders.

If Anders insisted on having a younger brother, it could only be an illegitimate child.

This was hardly a topic for casual discussion. But since Anders brought it up himself, he must have a purpose.

Sure enough, Anders continued. “He’s an illegitimate child. To be frank, my blood father wasn’t steady in his youth. He chased money and beauty alike, made plenty of mistakes. My brother… was one of them.”

“Before I turned twenty-eight, I didn’t even know I had such a brother. He came to find me on his own.”

“Mr. Eisenhoth,” Yan Xinfeng interrupted his lengthy preamble, his tone slightly cold. “What exactly are you trying to say?”

“Mr. Yan is straightforward,” Anders smoothly picked up, no longer beating around the bush. “My brother has feelings for you. I want to know if he has a chance.”

As the words fell, not only did Yan Xinfeng fall silent, but even Hu Yao, standing nearby, froze on the spot. He never imagined that just tagging along with Mr. Yan for work would let him hear words that could disrupt family harmony.

Hu Yao instinctively felt that today’s events must never reach Mr. Wei’s ears. Otherwise, Mr. Yan might really give away half his fortune and end up alone and miserable.

On the other side, seeing Yan Xinfeng not respond for a long time, Anders tried to up the ante. “My brother is extremely beautiful, second to none. And he’s fiercely independent, like a lion. He’s absolutely worthy of you.”

At those words, Yan Xinfeng’s expression turned completely cold, his tone resolute. “Mr. Eisenhoth, I don’t know your customs or laws, but I’m married. I’ve pledged my loyalty to my husband. I won’t betray that.”

“Really?” Anders seemed unwilling to give up and pressed. “Five years ago, the first time he came to me, it was for you. Doesn’t that sentiment move you at all?”

Yan Xinfeng badly wanted to say why should I be moved by someone I don’t even know, but he suppressed it. His eyes held only icy chill. “I think our conversation should stick to business. If there’s nothing else, excuse me. My husband doesn’t like waiting at home too long.”

Anders’s gaze flickered, highly sensitive to the word “husband.” “Mr. Yan’s husband…”

He still wouldn’t let it go.

“His husband is me.”

A voice came from the other end of the corridor. Yan Xinfeng and Anders turned toward it in unison. Wei Tingxia stood there, his gaze cold. Ice had formed over his usually flamboyantly gorgeous face.

He walked quickly to Yan Xinfeng’s side. The ring, always complained about as too big and heavy, was firmly on his ring finger, clearly declaring their status as newlywed husbands.

“Mr. Eisenhoth.”

Wei Tingxia glanced Anders up and down coolly and emphasized, “He’s said it multiple times already. He’s married. No need for you to play matchmaker. Don’t you understand?”

One could only say he lived up to being the man who had nearly sent Yan Xinfeng to the hospital with anger several times. Wei Tingxia gave Anders no face at all. His tone was direct and left no room for maneuver.

Faced with such blunt rejection, Anders was not annoyed. Instead, the smile in his eyes deepened.

“You’re married.” He said it like a confirmation, his gaze sweeping over Wei Tingxia’s ring.

Wei Tingxia raised his hand. The ruby gleamed under the light. “Evidently.”

He had no desire to deal with Anders anymore. He took Yan Xinfeng’s hand. “We have things to do. We’ll be leaving first. Do as you please.”

With that, he turned to leave. Yan Xinfeng followed without objection. Hu Yao inwardly rejoiced that Wei Tingxia hadn’t actually kicked anyone, or this deal would surely fall through.

But just as they took a step, Anders’s voice came again, laced with laughter. “Mr. Yan, your husband… is also a lion.”

Yan Xinfeng’s steps halted. He slowly turned his head back.

“To tame a lion, you have to accept all the scars he leaves behind.” Anders spoke meaningfully, his gaze roaming between Wei Tingxia and Yan Xinfeng. “But at the same time, to become the partner of a lion is an honor in itself.”

Looking at the smug expression on his face, Wei Tingxia really wanted to hold Anders down and drown him in the sea.