[ABO] The Despised One Becomes an Internet Sensation After Marriage - Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Xu Zhimian’s heart trembled, and the side of his body pressed against Fu Shiyan felt a wave of numbness. Fu Shiyan withdrew his hand and lifted the curtain for him.

The sight inside the house was even more breathtaking. Xu Zhimian froze on the spot, his gaze falling upon a massive freehand landscape painting, several meters long, mounted in a frame on the central wall of the hall.

Rolling mountains rose and fell, shrouded in thin mist. The image was rhythmic and layered, executed with a technique that was both exquisite and hauntingly familiar.

Xu Zhimian felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck him, rendering him motionless. The composition and brushwork were so familiar it hurt, yet in that moment of recognition, they felt strangely distant. His eyes drifted to the signature at the end: Fu Shuhan.

“A-Xi, where did those girls go off to play now?” A spirited female voice drifted from the inner room. A woman lifted the curtain and walked out at a leisurely pace.

She wore a sea-green qipao, her jet-black hair pinned back with a simple hairpin. She looked to be in her late forties or early fifties. She greeted the young girls, who swarmed around her chattering in Miao, pointing frequently at Fu Shiyan.

Xu Zhimian looked at the face he had only ever seen in Baidu Encyclopedia entries. He was awestruck and utterly bewildered.

Fu Shuhan smilingly took the newspaper from the girls, but her smile froze the moment she saw the writing. Seeming unsure, she raised her eyes and locked gazes with Fu Shiyan. After the girls finished explaining, they stood aside obediently, waiting for her to speak.

The cameraman’s lens happened to be perfectly focused on Fu Shuhan’s face. She furrowed her brows slightly. The atmosphere was momentarily frozen.

Just as Xu Zhimian was about to find his voice to greet the senior artist, Fu Shiyan spoke up decisively: “Long time no see, Great-Aunt.”

Xu Zhimian’s eyes widened. Great-Aunt?

Fu Shiyan squeezed his palm, reminding him: “Greet her.”

Xu Zhimian: “…Great-Aunt.”

Xu Zhimian had entered the Academy of Fine Arts through the art entrance exam in high school and studied traditional Chinese painting for years in university. The artist he had imitated most frequently was Senior Fu Shuhan. However, after entering the entertainment industry, he had lost the heart to pick up the brush, and the skill had nearly withered away.

As for Lin Xi, she was Fu Shuhan’s direct disciple and held quite a reputation within the art circle, though she rarely appeared in the media.

Fu Shuhan didn’t particularly care for cameras. With a huff, she shooed the cameraman outside. Xu Zhimian followed him out, leaving Fu Shiyan and Fu Shuhan alone inside to catch up.

“It’s only been ten years, and you’ve grown so much,” Fu Shuhan remarked, curling her lip. “Your temperament hasn’t changed a bit, though.”

Fu Shiyan raised an eyebrow. “Neither has Great-Aunt. Still fond of painting on door curtains.”

Fu Shuhan sat down formally and took a sip of tea. “…A-Xi painted this curtain. At my age, I’m no longer interested in such childish whims.”

Fu Shiyan: “…”

Outside, Lin Xi brought a stool for them. She poured a cup of water for the cameraman and said apologetically, “My Master doesn’t like being exposed to the media lens. Please bear with us.”

Xu Zhimian was stunned. He never imagined that the great master Fu Shuhan was Fu Shiyan’s great-aunt. If that were the case, wouldn’t Fu Shiyan’s grandfather be… the legendary calligrapher Fu Zhengyu?

He took a sip of water to calm his nerves, thinking back to Fu Shiyan’s earlier words: “Grandfather practiced for fun and took me along to train.” No… you can’t call that “practicing for fun.”

Lin Xi grabbed a hoe and headed to the fields. Xu Zhimian sat by the door, bored, waiting for Fu Shiyan. Soon, the voices of Fu Shuhan and Fu Shiyan drifted out:

“A-Xi said you were busking at the temple gates. What, did the Fu family go bankrupt again?”

Xu Zhimian: “…” Fu Shiyan coughed twice. “It’s for the show’s effect, Great-Aunt.”

“Oh.” Fu Shuhan didn’t seem convinced. She sized him up and sighed. “Instead of being a proper CEO, you’re out here flaunting your face. People will think the Fu family is so poor that the heir has to break into showbiz.”

Fu Shiyan fell silent.

When they reached the door, Fu Shuhan glanced at Xu Zhimian. She gave a non-committal “Heh” and said dryly, “I’ll stop here. Watch your step on the way out.”

…Senior Fu Shuhan seems a bit sharp-tongued, Xu Zhimian thought.

As Fu Shiyan lifted the curtain, Lin Xi appeared carrying large bags of vegetables, which she set at Xu Zhimian’s feet. Wiping sweat from her brow, she said, “I saw that live stream. These vegetables are for you. If you run out in the coming days, come find me!”

Xu Zhimian was overwhelmed. “How can we accept this?”

“Take it as payment,” Fu Shuhan’s voice drifted out. She peered through the curtain at Fu Shiyan. “…Remember what you promised me.”

…

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the group was exhausted from their afternoon under the sun. Ye Ming was like a wilted eggplant, leaning listlessly in front of a fan. “…For the first time, I realize how hard it is to earn money.”

Zhou Yan laughed. “It gets harder than this.”

Because Xu Zhimian and Fu Shiyan had brought back vegetables, the group didn’t need to make a trip to the market. The live stream was switched back on.

【I am dying of curiosity about what Xu Zhimian and President Fu did this afternoon and who those people were. Will the main episode show it?】 【Wait, the ones cooking in the kitchen are actually Dr. Ji and Lu Ze!】

Jiang Xiaocheng stood up to help prep vegetables in the kitchen. Whether intentional or not, he bumped into Fu Shiyan, releasing a thick scent of perfume that made one’s stomach churn. He apologized frantically, but Fu Shiyan only gave him a cold, distant look before brushing past him.

Xu Zhimian’s head felt heavy and dizzy. While setting the table, he turned around and nearly slammed his head into Fu Shiyan. Fu Shiyan reached out to steady him by the waist with one hand while placing the dish down with the other.

“Careful.”

Xu Zhimian leaned his forehead against Fu Shiyan’s chest, deeply inhaling the scent of Fu Shiyan’s Brandy pheromones. His clouded mind cleared instantly. “…It smells so good. Let me lean on you for a bit.”

Fu Shiyan raised an eyebrow.

“Tsk tsk,” Zhou Yan turned and wrapped his arms around Ji Yan with a cheeky grin. “Dr. Ji, I want a hug too.”

Ji Yan pushed him away subtly. “…I’m holding a dish.” Zhou Yan grumbled under his breath.

During dinner, Xu Zhimian could only take two bites before losing his appetite. The perfume on Jiang Xiaocheng was suffocating. He rubbed his temples, unable to understand why a Beta like Jiang Xiaocheng would love wearing such heavy perfume.

Dr. Ji, also bothered, put down his chopsticks and asked gently, “Xiaocheng, are you very fond of strong perfumes?”

Jiang Xiaocheng was startled. After a moment, he shoved a few bites of rice into his mouth and gave a dry laugh. “…Sometimes.”

Seeing the unpleasant expressions of everyone at the table, Jiang Xiaocheng realized the issue and made an excuse to head upstairs shortly after.

However, Xu Zhimian’s discomfort didn’t fade with Jiang Xiaocheng’s departure. The mixed Alpha pheromones at the table made his glands feel like they were burning. He frowned and rubbed his temples.

Fu Shiyan put down his chopsticks. “Are you feeling unwell?” Xu Zhimian leaned his head against Fu Shiyan’s arm and gave a muffled “Mm.”

A moment later, after Fu Shiyan spoke with the others, his Alpha pheromones suddenly enveloped Xu Zhimian. “Let’s go. I’ll take you upstairs.”

The Brandy pheromones acted like a dense, airtight web, firmly blocking out all other Alpha scents. Xu Zhimian gripped Fu Shiyan’s collar and muttered something softly. The voice was tiny and drawn out, the words unclear, but the tone was pure coquetry.

“What did you say?”

Xu Zhimian opened his eyes and glared at him before forcing himself up to the second floor.

In the room, the cameras were off. To be safe, Xu Zhimian had covered them with a black cloth. He touched his burning face, a suspicion forming in his mind—his heat had arrived.

But his cycle wasn’t due yet. Why was it early again?

He scrambled through his luggage for suppressants, but his limbs soon went weak and powerless. A wave of heat surged through him all at once.

Fu Shiyan followed him in and was immediately hit by a dense floral scent. He saw the suitcase flung open with clothes scattered everywhere; Xu Zhimian was kneeling amidst the mess, looking dazed.

How could the suppressants be gone? He clearly remembered bringing them. Where did they go?

He looked at Fu Shiyan blankly. “The suppressants are gone. What do I do, Sir?”

“…” Excellent. Still thinking about suppressants at a time like this? Do you think I’m just furniture?

Fu Shiyan walked toward him unhurriedly and looked at him with interest. “So, what do you want to do?”

Xu Zhimian’s body was scorching. Fu Shiyan’s faint pheromones became irresistibly attractive. He couldn’t help but tilt his head up toward him. “Help me, Sir.”

“…Beg me.”

Fu Shiyan’s voice was flat, as if he were saying something completely insignificant.

Xu Zhimian’s eyes clouded with mist. “H-how do I beg?”

Fu Shiyan knelt down and hooked a finger under his chin, his lips curling into a smirk. “Use your methods to please me.”

However, all Xu Zhimian saw was those thin, red lips. He swallowed hard, pulled the back of Fu Shiyan’s head down, and tilted his head up to kiss him.

Xu Zhimian’s temperature was scalding. His kiss was clingy and damp, his tongue tracing Fu Shiyan’s lips repeatedly. When Fu Shiyan didn’t open his mouth to let him in, Xu Zhimian grew frustrated and bit down hard on Fu Shiyan’s lower lip, muttering hungrily, “Open up!”

Fu Shiyan let out a “hiss” and pulled back with a light laugh. “…Are you a puppy?”

“I’m not!” Xu Zhimian tried to chase after the kiss, but Fu Shiyan covered his mouth. Their noses touched. “Please me, and I’ll give it to you.”

Xu Zhimian let out a muffled whine, his wet eyes full of longing. Combined with their posture, it was…

Fu Shiyan felt his blood surge instantly, heat rushing to a certain point. Xu Zhimian stared at him unblinkingly, his tongue repeatedly brushing against Fu Shiyan’s palm as he whined.

Fu Shiyan stood up and took a step back. Xu Zhimian was relentless; he lunged forward and threw himself into Fu Shiyan’s arms. Caught off guard, Fu Shiyan lost his footing, and they both tumbled onto the bed.

Xu Zhimian was like a little furnace. He sat astride Fu Shiyan’s waist, gripping Fu Shiyan’s tie, his tone sounding a bit fierce: “How do I please you?”