Chapter 1: My Arranged Marriage Partner Has Two Faces
Written by Shan He Bu Juan
Orange-red lights, accompanied by blasting music, enveloped the scene, reflecting a lascivious glow on exposed flesh. Zhong Yuxiao tilted his head, his lenses blocking most of the harsh glare from the crystal chandelier.
“Night! You finally came!”
Foreign bars were wilder. Tonight wasn’t as chaotic as usual; it seemed the place had been booked.
Zhong Yuxiao glanced at the man waving from the crowd and nodded. The next second, the man abandoned the busty beauties he had been with and rushed over. “I know you don’t like it too loud, so I booked the whole place. How about it, am I a good enough bro?”
“My flight is tomorrow morning.” Zhong Yuxiao checked his watch. It was 9 pm. “I’ll stay for forty minutes.”
He brushed off the arm draped over his shoulder, his expression indifferent, a stark contrast to the others indulging in the revelry.
“Fuck! Why book such an early flight?” Xu Linfeng cursed, pushing him towards a booth.
Zhong Yuxiao was a playboy, but he had principles. If he had to wake up early the next day, he would definitely rest before 10 pm the night before.
Xu Linfeng always felt his abnormal self-control had the potential of an ascetic monk.
Actually, Zhong Yuxiao looked quite serious, especially when he wore glasses. He exuded a scholarly air. What was that phrase? A refined scoundrel. It was simply tailor-made for Zhong Yuxiao.
“My family booked the ticket.”
He and Xu Linfeng had met a few years ago. They had encountered each other in the upper-class social circles. Being in a foreign country and attending the same school, they gradually became close friends.
Zhong Yuxiao took the offered glass. The brown liquor emitted a pungent aroma, indicating a high alcohol content.
He didn’t drink it, placing it back on the table.
Xu Linfeng gestured, and the music in the bar immediately lowered, cooling the boisterous atmosphere. The intertwined dancing figures separated, and countless gazes fell on the booth.
Most of the stares were focused on Zhong Yuxiao, fervent and infatuated. If looks could kill, Zhong Yuxiao’s clothes would have been ripped off.
Xu Linfeng pushed away the approaching companion and threw himself onto the sofa, putting his feet up on the table. With a screech, the table tilted, and bottles of expensive liquor clinked and crashed to the floor.
“Ahhh, you’re leaving, and I’ll be left alone in this foreign land. What am I going to do?”
Xu Linfeng wailed, burying his head in a woman’s ample bosom.
The sight of swaying breasts was dizzying. Zhong Yuxiao looked away, playing with the glasses he had just removed. “My brother arranged it. Why don’t you go talk to him and ask him to book you a ticket?”
He and Xu Linfeng had different sexual orientations. He was gay, while Xu Linfeng preferred busty women. If they were back home, they definitely wouldn’t hang out together.
Xu Linfeng shuddered, immediately stopping his fake crying and waving his hands repeatedly. “No way, I can’t afford to offend your brother.”
Zhong Yuxiao chuckled. “He’s not a monster.”
Of course, he wasn’t a monster. Zhong Zhili, the eldest Zhong son, was a great devil that even demons and gods wouldn’t dare provoke.
Xu Linfeng secretly clicked his tongue. If he went to Zhong Zhili to argue, his father would hang him up and beat him until his skin was torn and bloody, then roll him up in a straw mat and dump him at the Zhong family’s doorstep to apologize.
In the wealthy circles, Zhong Zhili was a living anomaly. Compared to the two Zhong brothers, Zhong Yuxiao was practically amiable.
“Why are you suddenly going back?”
Zhong Yuxiao had been abroad longer than him, staying for six or seven years, ostensibly for writing, studying, and further education, but in reality, for carefree fun.
Handsome, with a good figure, even disregarding his family background, countless people wanted to climb into his bed. Zhong Yuxiao never refused anyone, a sought-after prize in their circles. In short – he was a very open gay man.
“Tired of playing?”
“My family wants me back. They say I’m not young anymore and it’s time to get married.”
Xu Linfeng was stunned. “Huh? Married?”
This word was too far removed from Zhong Yuxiao. A carefree, romantic wanderer stepping into the grave of marriage? This was more unbelievable than the sun rising from the west.
“You’re only 27, and they’re urging you to get married?”
Recalling the phone conversation with Zhong Zhili, Zhong Yuxiao also found it absurd. “My fiancé is eager to get married. My family wants me to go back and marry him.”
There were rumors about Zhong Yuxiao’s fiancé. Xu Linfeng didn’t know the specifics, only that at a private party more than a decade ago, a very young Zhong Yuxiao had been betrothed to the Xi family.
It was just a joke at a party; no one took it seriously.
Even the parties involved had long forgotten about it.
After hanging up the phone, Zhong Yuxiao started to recall, searching his memory for several hours before finding a few fragmented images. There was a blurry small figure in the picture.
He couldn’t even remember what the other person looked like, only that it was a silly little cripple with a fiery temper, who could still hit people with a crutch despite the leg injury.
“Aha, quite interesting.” Zhong Yuxiao casually took off his glasses and tilted his head, asking seriously, “Do you think my face can make someone yearn for me for over a decade?”
“…”
Xu Linfeng was puzzled by his focus, lifting his chin. A nearby eager young man immediately approached, kneeling in front of Zhong Yuxiao. “Here, why don’t you ask them yourself?”
Zhong Yuxiao lowered his head, meeting a pair of passionate eyes. The infatuation in them was as sticky and hot as the young man’s hand on his leg.
“Night, do you remember me?”
Zhong Yuxiao honestly shook his head. He had a slight prosopagnosia, but judging from the young man’s familiar tone, they had probably slept together.
“Scumbag!” Xu Linfeng exclaimed dramatically. Sleeping with someone and then forgetting them. This kind of heartless scumbag was actually still yearned for by so many people. He tsked, his tone sour. “It’s great to be handsome.”
The young man in front of him looked relatively pleasing to the eye, docile and gentle, the type he liked. Zhong Yuxiao didn’t kick him away, letting him kneel between his legs.
The lights in the entertainment venue were always dazzling. Alcohol fueled primal lust and hormones, and the musky scent was buried under the chaotic fragrance, resembling a paradise of drunken stupor.
For the past seven years, most of Zhong Yuxiao’s nights had been immersed in such a world.
“I don’t have time to play tonight.”
His arm rested on the sofa, his light golden eyes hiding an alluring danger in the light.
The words were directed at Xu Linfeng, but Zhong Yuxiao didn’t look up. He glanced at the young man nuzzling his crotch, his tone light, lazy, and tired.
“Then don’t go all the way.” Xu Linfeng nudged him, winking. “He misses you and came looking for you specifically.”
Zhong Yuxiao preferred docile and delicate young men, and most of his past bed partners were of this type.
No time, but interested. After all, they had been having fun together for a few years. Xu Linfeng knew Zhong Yuxiao’s character well and gave a look. The young man understood, leaning in and rubbing against Zhong Yuxiao’s crotch, his Adam’s apple bobbing excitedly.
“Night, I’ll make you satisfied.”
Zhong Yuxiao grabbed his hair, the pain of his scalp being pulled stopping the young man’s hand from reaching for his zipper.
“Zhong?”
The unfamiliar accent was anxious and panicked. Zhong Yuxiao hooked his lips at the young man’s frightened eyes, his voice gentle and low: “Use your mouth.”
There was no refusal.
He let go, picking up an unopened bottle of low-alcohol fruit wine.
Xu Linfeng breathed a sigh of relief, grinning. “No way, you’re getting married, and you’re not even drinking anymore?”
Zhong Yuxiao ignored his teasing, took a sip of wine, and casually pulled a condom out of his pocket. Without needing instructions, the young man immediately put it on him with his mouth. Because of the previous incident, he served even more carefully.
Equally famous as his strange obsession with cleanliness was Zhong Yuxiao’s bad temper. This man could turn his face in a second while smiling.
Zhong Yuxiao was a pure top. Once, a muscular man wanted to top him and secretly drugged him, but ended up having one of his hands crippled. No one would have thought that the seemingly gentle man could be so ruthless when angered, easily taking down a muscular man bigger than himself.
Xu Linfeng lifted his head from the busty woman’s embrace, taking in the scene, speechless. “Does your family manufacture condoms?”
Zhong Yuxiao noncommittally replied: “Being clean and self-respecting, you wouldn’t understand.”
He really didn’t.
Sleeping with someone was one thing, but having to wear a condom even when giving a blowjob? He had only seen Zhong Yuxiao do that.
At 9:35, Zhong Yuxiao ignored Xu Linfeng’s pleas to stay, kicked away the person kneeling beneath him, and left the bar.
Without enough time, he hadn’t finished. Back at his apartment, Zhong Yuxiao took a cold shower and opened the file Zhong Zhili had sent him.
It was his fiancé’s information.
The first thing he saw was a high-definition photo. Affectionate peach blossom eyes were slightly upturned, a playful smile on his face, and flamboyant golden hair, quite different from the little cripple in his memory.
Better looking than he imagined, but not his type.
Zhong Yuxiao dried his hair and swiped on the iPad. The next page was biographical information, and the name that caught his eye made him pause for a moment: “Xi Shi?”
Xi Shi?
He uttered the two words softly, raising an eyebrow and pulling up the previous photo.
The name wasn’t entirely undeserved.
The surname Xi. Zhong Yuxiao understood why Zhong Zhili had notified him to return for the marriage.
Yes, it was an arranged marriage.
Strong alliances were common in high society, and marriage was a good way to solidify relationships, but Zhong Yuxiao never thought that one day his marriage would also be on the table for negotiation.
The Zhong family was an old-money family, with a solid foundation, and no longer needed marriage to consolidate their status.
Moreover, Zhong Yuxiao had an older brother. Zhong Zhili was a strong and capable man. Zhong Yuxiao only needed to be a playboy and squander money; his parents had no other expectations of him.
The Xi family had a stronger foundation and background than his. His mother and the deceased eldest daughter of the Xi family, Xi Yue, were best friends. Zhong Yuxiao didn’t know much about the previous generation’s affairs, but he had heard from his family that Xi Yue had saved his life.
[Zhong Zhili: Meet with Xi Shi after you return. If you really don’t want to, I’ll handle it.]
Judging by his brother’s tone, he didn’t seem to want him to marry Xi Shi either.
This marriage was most likely arranged by the Xi family head and his parents. Zhong Yuxiao had a plan in mind and wasn’t interested in continuing to read. He turned to dry his hair.
Zhong Yuxiao had dyed his hair gray, which wasn’t unusual abroad, but back home, this look would be considered unconventional and would definitely become a topic of gossip in their circles.
[Zhong Yuxiao: Postpone the meeting for two days. I need to adjust to the jet lag.]
[Zhong Zhili: Three days later?]
Zhong Yuxiao calculated the time; it was about enough. He replied with an “OK.”
Just then, a friend request popped up. Zhong Yuxiao glanced at it. The profile picture was a dog, a large dog. He didn’t know much about dogs and couldn’t tell the breed.
Too many people added him, and most of the time Zhong Yuxiao ignored them, out of sight, out of mind. Perhaps because of the upcoming troublesome matter, he was annoyed and directly clicked “reject.”
It seemed he would have to change his number after returning home, Zhong Yuxiao thought, throwing down his phone and packing his luggage.
Across the ocean, it was still midday in China. Xi Shi took off his sunglasses, staring at the words on his phone screen: “Your friend request has been rejected.”
Rejecting his friend request, huh?
Xi Shi laughed in anger. It was the first time he had been rejected. “Why do I have to marry that Zhong brat?”
“Brat? He’s only two years younger than you.” Xi Chongyang poked his leg with his cane. “Sit up straight!”
The young master had terrible posture, slumped on the sofa like he had no bones. Fortunately, he had a good-looking face, even making the flashy floral shirt look somewhat fashionable.
“Zhong Er is a good kid. He’s been studying abroad. You’re not young anymore. I, this old man, won’t be around for much longer. I have to plan for your future.”
Xi Shi frowned, quickly returning to his lazy demeanor. “There’s no need for you to play matchmaker. I’m not so bad that I can’t find a wife.”
“Are you looking for a ‘proper’ wife?!”
Xi Shi had come out a long time ago. In recent years, same-sex marriage had become legal in China, and understanding voices had gradually increased, but in the wealthy circles, two men getting married was still unconventional.
Xi Shi smiled without saying a word and sent another friend request. This time, it wasn’t rejected directly, but the other party didn’t accept it either.
He put down his phone and stretched. “Even if it’s not ‘proper,’ it’s still a legal wife.”
Frankly, he had no intention of getting married.
“With your notorious reputation, you’ll only find a wife in the trash!” Thinking of Xi Shi’s past escapades, Xi Chongyang had a headache, saying angrily, “The Zhong family is well-known to us. He’s the best choice.”
Xi Shi knew that Xi Chongyang meant well. The Xi family was complicated, and Xi Chongyang was afraid he would suffer in the future. But he and Zhong Er had never even met. A marriage arranged by their parents was no different from a blind marriage.
Xi Shi couldn’t help but laugh. “Why resort to personal attacks? No matter how good he is, it’s no use if I don’t like him.”
“Do you have someone you like?”
Xi Shi nodded. “Of course, I have a lot of people I like, too many to sleep with.”
“…”
Xi Chongyang swung his cane. Xi Shi quickly jumped up. The cane hit the coffee table, the glass instantly cracking into countless fine lines. Xi Shi patted his chest in relief. “Seriously, Grandpa, why are you so heavy-handed?”
The last time Xi Chongyang got angry was when he came out. Xi Shi had been playing around for years. Xi Chongyang didn’t approve, but he hadn’t lost his temper. Xi Shi felt something was wrong; his grandfather was probably serious this time.
“You’re always so irresponsible!”
Xi Shi didn’t dare retaliate, hopping around to avoid the cane. His phone fell to the ground in the chaos and was stepped on, shattering the screen.
“Break off all those messy relationships immediately! You’ve been playing around for so many years, it’s time to settle down after you get married. If you dare to cause any more trouble and mess around with those dubious people, I’ll break your legs even if it costs me this old life!”
“Sir, please be careful, don’t get angry.” The housekeeper was startled and hurried to stop him.
Xi Chongyang was so angry he was panting. The housekeeper secretly winked at Xi Shi. Xi Shi sighed and quickly apologized. “Grandpa, I was wrong, I was wrong. Please calm down.”
The cane ultimately didn’t land on him. Xi Chongyang was helped to sit down by the housekeeper, his face full of disappointment. “When you were little, you said you’d only marry Zhong Er, that you only liked him. Why aren’t you willing now?”
He didn’t know where things went wrong. Xi Shi had suddenly gone astray, fooling around outside all day, and had become a notorious scoundrel in their circles.
Xi Chongyang wondered for the umpteenth time if his educational methods were flawed.
Xi Shi pulled a long face. That was when he was a child, childish words. He also said he would kill his father when he was little, and his father was still alive and well.
“It’s not that I’m unwilling to marry him, it’s his problem. That brat, he…he didn’t even accept my friend request!”
The young master avoided the main point and started complaining.
