Chapter 7
Zhong Yuxiao sent the photo to his mother, and soon after, it appeared in the family group chat.
[Forever Princess: [marriage certificate.jpg]]
[Forever Princess: Our Xiaoyao got his certificate, he’s a married man now! Happy wedding!]
[Princess’s Knight: Happy wedding!]
[Princess’s Knight: Red envelope]
[Little Treasure: Thank you.]
Zhong Yuxiao accepted the red envelope and put away his phone.
Every time he saw his parents’ nicknames, he got goosebumps. “Darling,” “Honey,” even changing his and Zhong Zhili’s group nicknames to “Little Treasure” and “Big Treasure.” The old couple was quite trendy, and now they had switched to “Princess” and “Knight.”
So cheesy.
The old couple was also puzzled. How did they manage to raise two blocks of wood? The eldest was over thirty and hadn’t even found a partner, and the youngest had none of the vibrancy of youth, seeming completely unromantic.
Arriving at the furniture store, they went straight to the bed section.
Xi Shi took off his sunglasses and twirled them in his hand. “Do you nerds like to hold grudges because you have good memories?”
Other people went on romantic dates and enjoyed their honeymoon after getting their marriage certificate. He didn’t expect that from a sham marriage, but Zhong Yuxiao dragging him to buy a bed immediately after was a bit much.
“So, in your eyes, I’m a nerd.”
“Seven years of studying abroad, getting a master’s and a doctorate, you have the highest education among everyone I know. If that’s not a nerd, what is?”
Not to mention your attire also screams nerd.
Such a waste of a handsome face, Xi Shi glanced at his black-framed glasses, muttering silently.
Initially, he just went abroad to see the world, but he didn’t expect to stay for seven years. He had a personality that strived for the best in everything he did, and his academic qualifications gradually increased.
As for being passionate about studying, Zhong Yuxiao wasn’t really that kind of person.
“How about this bed?”
“You’re asking me?” Xi Shi examined it carefully and shook his head. “The style is good, but the color isn’t as good as the one next to it.”
The two beds were the same style but different colors. Zhong Yuxiao preferred the light natural wood color, while Xi Shi thought the walnut color was better.
Zhong Yuxiao was noncommittal. “I think this color is fine.”
The marital home was arranged by the Xi family. The old man wanted him and Xi Shi to interact more and develop feelings, so it was obvious they wouldn’t prepare two beds. The master bedroom and the wedding bed were for Xi Shi. He came here today to choose a bed for himself.
Zhong Yuxiao sat down and tried it out. “The mattress is also good, might as well buy it together.”
Hearing this, Xi Shi understood. “You’re buying a bed for yourself?”
“Otherwise? Buy one for you?”
“…”
Xi Shi was speechless.
“Are you interested in this one?” The salesperson said enthusiastically. “You have excellent taste, sir. This is our most popular model, and we have a promotion going on right now. Buy the bed and mattress, and get a silk duvet for free.”
Zhong Yuxiao gestured. “One moment, I need to take a call.”
It was Zhong Zhili.
As soon as he answered, he was bombarded with questions. “Zhong Yuxiao, you married Xi Shi?!”
Zhong Zhili had gone on a business trip two days ago, leaving in a hurry, without having time to discuss the follow-up to the blind date. He never dreamed that he and Xi Shi would register their marriage so readily.
“Explain yourself!”
Zhong Zhili almost choked.
The family group chat was lively. He clicked in, and his world almost crumbled.
[Big Treasure: Married???]
[Big Treasure: Why didn’t anyone tell me?]
Getting married was one thing, but not even telling him?
Zhong Zhili felt like a pitiful farmer who had painstakingly grown a cabbage, only to have it targeted by a dirty wild boar. The boar, while he was out earning money, seduced the cabbage and eloped.
Now, his hatred for the wild boar was secondary. What hurt him the most was the cabbage’s “betrayal.”
“We just got the certificate, just like you saw. Xi Shi and I are married.” Zhong Yuxiao walked a bit further away.
Xi Shi was chatting with the salesperson. The young master said something that made the salesperson giggle non-stop, her face flushed.
Tsk tsk, Young Master Xi’s charm was extraordinary, captivating both men and women.
Zhong Yuxiao held the phone away from his ear, waiting for Zhong Zhili to finish his rant before speaking. “Nothing to be dissatisfied with. The Xi family was pushing us, so we just registered. We have to get married sooner or later anyway.”
Most importantly, Xi Shi was amusing. Teasing him a little bit elicited more interesting reactions than cats or dogs.
It was addictive.
“Are you out of your mind or were you tricked by Xi Shi? He’s a wastrel. Being with him is like settling for a radish when you couldn’t get your favorite topping at the oden stall.”
Zhong Yuxiao was amused. Zhong Zhili was quite talented at coming up with insults. “He’s more expensive than an ordinary radish.”
Raised in a golden nest, Young Master Xi was at least a precious, jeweled radish.
“Zhong Yuxiao, be serious, I’m talking about serious business!”
“I am serious.”
Xi Shi looked over.
“I got married voluntarily, no one forced me. I’ll talk to you later, I have something to do.” Zhong Yuxiao hung up and walked over.
Who was he talking to, smiling so happily?
The corners of Xi Shi’s mouth turned downwards.
“Did you negotiate a discount?”
“What?”
Zhong Yuxiao tossed his phone and smiled. “Seeing you chatting so happily, did they give you a discount for your pretty face?”
Was that a compliment or an insult?
If someone else said that, he would definitely think they were jealous, but coming from Zhong Yuxiao, it was hard to tell.
“I just asked for you. The color you want is only available in the 1.5m x 2m size, too small, uncomfortable to sleep on. It’ll take a week to order. But other colors are in stock. Why don’t you consider changing the color?”
Xi Shi paused for two seconds and continued, “As for the discount, don’t even think about it. The store is giving away a silk duvet, I can generously offer you a pillow.”
“No discount, it seems Young Master Xi’s face failed him.”
“…”
Young Master Xi, who had always swiped his card, not his face, was speechless.
Zhong Yuxiao looked at the walnut-colored bed. Both colors were quite nice. He had said he wanted the lighter color earlier, partly to oppose Xi Shi.
Although he didn’t know why he wanted to oppose Xi Shi.
Zhong Yuxiao always acted on impulse, doing what he thought of without thinking too much about the reason. “No change, I want the 1.5m wide one.”
It was enough for him to sleep alone anyway.
Zhong Yuxiao swiped his card, left his contact information and address, and bought the bed and mattress. Along with the free silk duvet, the store would deliver everything to his door.
Xi Shi suddenly asked, “Who were you talking to just now? Let me make it clear, I’m not trying to pry into your privacy, nor do I want to interfere with your private life, but we are married now, even if it’s a sham marriage. You can play around in private, but you can’t openly cheat on me.”
He cared about his reputation.
“With that hair, you still need me to cheat on you?”
“…”
Zhong Yuxiao said sincerely, “Don’t misunderstand, I’m complimenting you, the hair color is very handsome.”
That was the truth. Anyone else definitely couldn’t pull off that unique color.
One didn’t hit a smiling person. Since he had already said that, it would seem petty to dwell on it. Xi Shi felt frustrated and said sullenly, “Let’s go buy a pillow.”
Zhong Yuxiao was taken aback for a moment before realizing, joking, “Is Young Master Xi planning to try swiping his face again?”
Leaving everything else aside, Xi Shi’s face was truly beautiful. Although not his type, humans were visual creatures. Young Master Xi was so pleasing to the eye that he could be kept at home just to admire.
If Chenxi International went bankrupt, Xi Shi could still make a fortune by relying on his looks.
“Gege has money, no need to swipe my face.” Xi Shi waved the black card in his hand, looking like a wealthy man.
If Xi Shi usually had 80% charm, then Xi Shi spending money like water had an additional charm bonus. Countless bottoms commented: Young Master Xi holding a bank card was like a human wrench, capable of bending 99% of the world’s population.
The remaining 1% were those who were wealthy and not interested in sex.
He didn’t bother choosing a pillow, directly buying the most expensive one. Xi Shi took the pillow and stuffed it into Zhong Yuxiao’s arms. “I remember you’re two years younger than me.”
Zhong Yuxiao immediately knew what he was getting at. “I only have one brother, his name is Zhong Zhili. The call just now was from him.”
The implication was, there’s no way I’m calling you “gege.”
That call was from Zhong Zhili?
Xi Shi felt pleased. “Asking you to call me ‘gege’ isn’t asking for your life. I’m older than you, so you should call me ‘gege.'”
If Zhong Yuxiao had obediently complied, he might have lost interest, but Zhong Yuxiao’s unwillingness immediately sparked his competitive spirit.
“Call me ‘gege,’ and I’ll reimburse you for everything we just spent.”
He was itching to hear Zhong Yuxiao call him “gege.”
Zhong Yuxiao was unmoved. He was one of the 1% who were immune.
“We’re married now, so logically, you should call me ‘husband.’ Why don’t you try calling me that first?”
“…”
“You call me that, and I’ll call you ‘gege.'”
Zhong Yuxiao tried to imagine Xi Shi calling him “husband.” He couldn’t picture it, it felt strange, but he wanted to hear it.
He was willing to trade it for being called “gege.”
“Forget it then.” Xi Shi reluctantly gave up.
He was a top. He was always called “husband” by other bottoms. How could he call someone else “husband?”
If he had to call Zhong Yuxiao “wife,” he might consider it.
Shortly after they returned home, the furniture store delivered the items.
The marital home prepared by the Xi family was a villa near the Xi family’s old residence. Xi Shi didn’t want to live there, so after discussing it with Zhong Yuxiao, they changed their residence.
The new residence was a high-rise apartment with excellent location. It was opposite a park, with a wide view and large floor-to-ceiling windows, sunlight streaming into the living room.
Xi Shi poured half a glass of wine and sat in the rocking chair in the living room.
This apartment was one of his previous residences. After knowing they would live here after marriage, Xi Chongyang specifically had people clean it up. It didn’t have much of a lived-in feel, simple and clean, like a model home.
On the table was their newly obtained marriage certificate, a bright red booklet with a photo of him and Zhong Yuxiao.
Xi Shi took a sip of wine, his gaze lingering on the photo for a few seconds, his heart itching. He really wanted to fuck Zhong Yuxiao, pin him down on the bed and bully him, force him to call him “gege.”
He had that thought the first time he saw Zhong Yuxiao.
Fuck, why did this person have to be Zhong Er?!
The installers left after assembling the bed and mattress. Zhong Yuxiao tidied up the second bedroom and opened the windows for ventilation.
After unpacking, he grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the fridge and went to the living room.
The rocking chair was by the window, and the sunlight bathed Xi Shi in a golden glow, even his hair seemed to be tinged with gold, the green and gold blending perfectly, the ends of his hair shimmering with brilliant light.
It was a harmonious and pleasing composition.
Zhong Yuxiao’s fingers twitched. He studied art and had learned painting for a few years in his early days. This scene was perfect for capturing on canvas.
The green-haired head by the window suddenly turned and whistled at him. “Staring at gege, are you mesmerized?”
“…”
As soon as he spoke, the atmosphere was shattered.
Zhong Yuxiao took a sip of water, his heart suddenly calm. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re narcissistic?”
He thought Xi Shi would deny it, but unexpectedly, Xi Shi actually thought for a few seconds and nodded. “Yes.”
There was actually someone else in the world who could resist Xi Shi’s charm. Zhong Yuxiao raised his eyebrows and sat down on the sofa next to him. “Who else has such discerning eyes?”
“My grandfather.”
“…”
“The old man loves to tease me. In his mouth, narcissistic is considered a compliment.” Xi Shi stroked his chin. “He likes obedient nerds. You two would definitely get along.”
Xi Shi was raised by Xi Chongyang. Zhong Yuxiao had heard his mother mention it, and from Xi Shi’s words, he could tell that the grandfather and grandson had a good relationship.
“You’re saying this, you wouldn’t happen to want me to cover for you in front of your grandfather, would you?”
Xi Shi immediately sat up straight.
He suddenly remembered something. Xi Chongyang told him to bring Zhong Yuxiao back to the old residence for dinner after they got their certificate.
“What are you talking about? We’re…”
“Partners sharing a bed don’t have an obligation to help each other deal with their families.”
Zhong Yuxiao took out the folded contract from his wallet. “We signed an agreement, there’s no need to fulfill husbandly duties.”
“Husbandly duties don’t refer to having dinner with family!”
“Then what does it refer to?”
Sex – two simple words, something he had done countless times, but now he found it difficult to say.
As if saying it would corrupt the obedient nerd in front of him.
Xi Shi put down his glass. There was still some brown liquid left at the bottom, emitting a faint, pungent smell of alcohol. “It’s just a simple dinner, it doesn’t violate the terms of the contract.”
Zhong Yuxiao sniffed the air and immediately guessed what kind of alcohol it was. He had been obsessed with alcohol for a while, collecting all sorts of wines to try.
But he lost interest not long after.
He always had fleeting interests, and he didn’t know how long his interest in Xi Shi would last. A week? A month? It definitely wouldn’t be a year.
“But the contract also doesn’t stipulate that we must have this dinner. As your sham marriage partner, I have no obligation to cooperate with you.”
Zhong Yuxiao deliberately emphasized the words “sham marriage.”
“Are you going to tattle?” The young master frowned, remembering the supplementary clause in the contract. “Whoever tattles is a dog.”
That threat was really…imposing!
Zhong Yuxiao almost burst out laughing. He knew Xi Shi was designed to make him laugh. “Oh.”
What kind of answer was “Oh”?
Xi Shi couldn’t sit still any longer. “Zhong Er, what do you mean?”
“I mean—” A thought struck Zhong Yuxiao, and he took the opportunity to threaten him. “Call me ‘husband,’ and I’ll consider going home with you to deal with your family.”
