Chapter 8
Despite her worldly career, Yang Yue held traditional views on relationships. Premarital sex was a no-no, and if a man slept with someone, he had to take responsibility. She had assumed the kiss she witnessed was as far as things had gone between Liang Xusheng and Lu Xun. Learning they had already slept together shocked her. In that moment, she forgot Liang Xusheng was also a man. Her son had slept with someone; he had to take responsibility. Marriage was now a top priority.
She paced back and forth, then turned to Lu Xun, scolding him. “You too! Xusheng was drunk! He doesn’t have a job with all those social events. He can’t handle alcohol. And you got drunk too? We’re a respectable family! How could this happen before marriage? Didn’t I teach you better? Don’t you have any sense of responsibility?” She then declared firmly, “You’re getting married. That’s final.”
Sitting back down, her tone became serious. “Get the apartment ready immediately. Ask Xusheng how he wants it decorated. Listen to him. I’ll talk to Auntie Fu Shu and Uncle Liang Jing and finalize the wedding arrangements.”
Lu Xun, accustomed to their formal, almost business-like interactions, would normally have bristled at her dictatorial tone. But today, her words aligned perfectly with his and Liang Xusheng’s plan. He nodded in agreement.
Yang Yue stood up, muttering to herself as she walked to her room. “I shouldn’t have put that money in a trust. We need it now.”
“Mom, I have money,” Lu Xun said.
“That’s yours,” Yang Yue replied without turning back. “I’m still contributing to your wedding.”
Lu Xun sent a message to Liang Xusheng: [Situation change.]
Liang Xusheng: [?][Are you okay?][Need me to come rescue you?]
Lu Xun: [Getting married.]
Liang Xusheng stared at the message, confused. Getting married? Who’s getting married? Who’s marrying whom?
Just then, Fu Shu, fresh from removing her face mask, received a call from Yang Yue. “What?! They slept together?!” she shrieked. She stared at Liang Xusheng, who gulped nervously.
Situation change indeed.
He watched as Fu Shu listened to the call, then quickly messaged Lu Xun: [Did you tell your mom we slept together?]
Lu Xun: [Yes.]
Fu Shu hung up and rushed to her room.
Liang Xusheng: “Mom?” Is she getting the belt?
“Where’s the deed to your apartment?!” Fu Shu called out.
Liang Xusheng: Huh?
A minute later, Fu Shu emerged, handing him the deed with a solemn expression. “I’ve finally waited for this day. Take this. Live a good life with Lu Xun.”
Liang Xusheng: ???
“Auntie Yang Yue just called,” Fu Shu explained. “She said you and Lu Xun slept together, and their family will take responsibility. We feel the same way. You’re a man too; you have to take responsibility for Lu Xun.”
Liang Xusheng: “…” This was not how he had envisioned things playing out. But it wasn’t bad news. It was their original goal, after all.
After leaving his house, he called Lu Xun. “We should have just shown them the marriage certificate! Why did we bother with the kissing scene? I thought our moms would freak out!”
“I thought so too,” Lu Xun admitted. “But it makes sense. They both like each other so much. Of course, they’d be happy.”
“We overthought it.”
“My mom gave me the deed to the apartment,” Lu Xun said.
Liang Xusheng laughed. “What a coincidence! My mom gave me mine too.”
“She wants to have dinner with your parents this weekend to discuss the wedding,” Lu Xun said.
“Everything’s going smoothly!” Liang Xusheng cheered. “No more blind dates!” He added, “Congratulations, Mr. CEO.”
Lu Xun chuckled. “Congratulations to you too.”
That Sunday, the two families met at a private dining room. The atmosphere was joyous and familiar. Yang Yue and Fu Shu, dressed impeccably, exchanged gifts. While the parents chatted, Liang Xusheng and Lu Xun, two tall, handsome men, stood together browsing the menu on a tablet. The parents, who had once seen them as best friends, now saw them as a perfect couple.
“I adore Xusheng,” Yang Yue declared. “If I had known it would be him, I wouldn’t have bothered with all those other introductions.”
“I was thrilled when I heard about you and Xusheng,” Lu Zhang added.
“Same here,” Fu Shu said. “Lu Xun practically grew up with us. I couldn’t be happier for them.”
“Someone like Lu Xun is hard to find,” Liang Jing agreed.
As Liang Xusheng ordered, he muttered to Lu Xun, “We should have just shown them the certificate. Why did we bother with that kissing charade?”
Lu Xun knew he was still bothered by it. “It was just two kisses,” he said.
Just two kisses?, Liang Xusheng thought. I brushed my teeth six times that night! “I brushed my teeth six times when I got home!” he said aloud.
“Was kissing me that disgusting?” Lu Xun asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“It’s not you, it’s kissing a guy,” Liang Xusheng clarified.
“Your lips were quite soft,” Lu Xun teased.
Liang Xusheng punched him lightly. Stop it! Don’t make me relive that!
Lu Xun smiled.
To the parents, this looked like playful flirting.
See? They’re so in love, Yang Yue thought.
Exactly, Fu Shu agreed.
When the food arrived, Liang Xusheng and Lu Xun ate quietly while their parents discussed the wedding. Yang Yue proposed they set a date soon, and the other details could be worked out later. Fu Shu and Liang Jing agreed.
“Xusheng, what do you think?” Yang Yue asked.
Liang Xusheng, who was showing Lu Xun a new card design from a competitor, looked up. “Sure, whatever you decide is fine.”
“Don’t let us decide, or you’ll back out later,” Fu Shu warned.
“I won’t back out,” Lu Xun said.
“Yeah, we won’t back out,” Liang Xusheng echoed.
The parents laughed. The wedding was officially on.
“I’m still against torturing the main character,” Liang Xusheng continued his discussion with Lu Xun about the new card. “I don’t understand why your new planner insists on it. Trust me, you’ll get a lot of negative feedback.”
Lu Xun nodded, promising to reconsider. “Where did you find this planner anyway?” Liang Xusheng asked.
“He came with the new HR manager. They’re friends, apparently.”
“Is he any good?”
“He created the most popular character in Garden’s highest-grossing otome game.”
“Impressive,” Liang Xusheng admitted.
Yang Yue was discussing the living arrangements. “I know Xusheng has an apartment, but it’s far away and not renovated. Lu Xun’s is ready. They can move in as soon as they buy furniture. Why don’t they live there?”
“Sounds good,” Liang Jing said.
“Let them decide,” Fu Shu said. “I’ve already given Xusheng the deed to our apartment.”
Yang Yue then brought up the betrothal gifts. “How much do you think is appropriate? I had two amounts in mind, 188,000 and 88,000, depending on the family’s financial situation. But since it’s Xusheng, how about 188,000 plus 88,000, and I’ll add a bit more, making it 288,000? What do you think?”
Liang Xusheng nudged Lu Xun, teasing him. “Wow, you’re worth a lot.”
“Aren’t you?” Lu Xun replied calmly.
“Of course he is,” Fu Shu said. “I’ve prepared several savings certificates for Xusheng, 58,000, 68,000, 88,000.”
“You’re still getting more than me,” Liang Xusheng said to Lu Xun.
“It’s all yours anyway,” Yang Yue replied.
Everyone laughed.
“Why is it all mine?” Liang Xusheng asked, confused. “I’m the one giving the gifts, right?”
“You’re both men,” Yang Yue said, laughing. “I can’t keep the gifts for myself, can I? It’s all for you two.”
“Fine by me,” Liang Xusheng said cheerfully. “I’ll manage the finances. I’ll be the housekeeper. I don’t mind.” He winked at Lu Xun. “I’ll spend it all on you later.”
Everyone laughed again.
Lu Xun smiled faintly. He enjoyed this scene, the two families getting along harmoniously. It was exactly what he had envisioned when he thought about marriage. He knew they owed this happy atmosphere to the Liang family’s warmth and, more importantly, to Liang Xusheng. He didn’t care much about the fake marriage itself, but he was glad it was with Liang Xusheng. Because it was Liang Xusheng, everything felt so easy and right.
Smiling slightly, he picked up some food with his chopsticks and placed it on Liang Xusheng’s plate. Liang Xusheng looked at him, raised an eyebrow, and grinned.
