After a Contract Marriage with a Cold and Older Person - Chapter 33

Chapter 33: The Argument

Song Tingyun raised his chin toward him, “Then what are you now?”

Ji Wenxu’s appearance was not very presentable. The mask covered half of his face, and the sunglasses covered the upper half.

Ji Wenxu then raised his hand, took off the sunglasses and mask, walked over to Song Tingyun, and said, “Then I can only say I unintentionally came here. You can’t say I was following you.”

At this moment, Ji Wenxu’s defense was relatively weak.

Fortunately, Song Tingyun had no intention of exposing him.

He put his hands in his trench coat pockets, turned, and continued to walk forward.

Ji Wenxu quickly followed him.

“Didn’t you go to see your friends?” Song Tingyun initiated the conversation.

Ji Wenxu walked slowly beside him. “Yeah, they all had things to do, so we didn’t chat for long.”

In Ji Wenxu’s memory, they had never quietly walked shoulder-to-shoulder like this.

The autumn wind knocked down the leaves. Oh, it was already early winter.

The fallen leaves were blown by the wind, spiraling down.

Song Tingyun’s fringe was lifted by the wind, fully revealing his refined face. Ji Wenxu turned his head to look at him.

“Would you like to have lunch outside together later?” Song Tingyun asked.

Ji Wenxu immediately pushed his luck, “After lunch, how about we go see a movie together?”

Song Tingyun raised an eyebrow, “What made you think of watching a movie?”

Ji Wenxu stammered, “We’ve been married for so long, and we’ve never seen a movie outside. Since we both have time today, let’s go.”

Song Tingyun adjusted his glasses, “No.”

“Why?!” Ji Wenxu didn’t expect Song Tingyun to refuse so directly.

Song Tingyun, “Haven’t I watched movies with you at home before?”

“Home is home, is it the same as a movie theater outside?” Ji Wenxu argued.

“I’m not going,” Song Tingyun still refused.

Ji Wenxu was annoyed. Like a troublemaker, he spread his arms and blocked Song Tingyun. “You have to go with me! Otherwise, I’ll carry you there like last time.”

Song Tingyun sighed deeply, feeling more helpless. He knew Ji Wenxu’s personality was relentless. As long as he wanted something, he would use any means to achieve it.

“What are we watching?” It seemed Song Tingyun had compromised.

Ji Wenxu looked triumphant but failed to notice Song Tingyun’s gradually cooling gaze.

“Anything is fine. Let me see what new movies are out,” Ji Wenxu took out his phone to check.

Song Tingyun walked slowly beside him.

The two had lunch at a nearby restaurant.

They arrived at the cinema around 3 PM.

Ji Wenxu chose the latest art-house romance film.

Song Tingyun didn’t particularly like this genre, and he knew Ji Wenxu didn’t like this genre either. But he could easily guess Ji Wenxu’s reason for bringing him to see this movie.

Song Tingyun had never been in love.

But he liked Ji Wenxu, so he could sense any slight change in Ji Wenxu’s attitude.

However, to Song Tingyun, Ji Wenxu still hadn’t matured enough.

…

It was the weekend, and the cinema was crowded. Most of the people watching that movie were couples in love.

The two sat in the back row.

Song Tingyun was clearly uninterested in this type of film, occasionally taking out his phone to check it.

Ji Wenxu reached out and clamped down on his phone. He said, “Watch the movie properly. This film already has a great rating online.”

“Look, everyone else is watching it properly,” Ji Wenxu said in a low voice.

Song Tingyun locked his phone screen and placed it face-down on his lap, saying, “They are lovers. What are we?”

Ji Wenxu was momentarily stunned. “We’re married.”

Song Tingyun corrected him, “It’s an agreement marriage.”

“Yes, we have an agreement marriage, but we’re still legally married, aren’t we?” After a pause, Ji Wenxu finally realized something was wrong.

Using the light from the movie screen, Ji Wenxu observed Song Tingyun’s expression.

His usually placid eyes now carried a faint chill of indifference, almost inhuman.

“What’s wrong?” Ji Wenxu asked.

Song Tingyun frowned slightly, his tone also cold, “Nothing.”

“Are you angry?” Ji Wenxu sensed the emotion hidden beneath Song Tingyun’s distant attitude.

But he didn’t know why Song Tingyun would be angry.

“I’m not,” Song Tingyun denied his current emotion.

It was impossible that he wasn’t.

Ji Wenxu might not be able to tell with others, but with Song Tingyun, Ji Wenxu could tell immediately.

“Why are you angry?” Ji Wenxu desperately wanted to know the reason. If he knew where he went wrong, he would be willing to proactively correct it.

Song Tingyun lost his patience and asked, “Are we still watching? If not, I’m going home.”

Ji Wenxu originally brought Song Tingyun here to have fun, but seeing Song Tingyun’s lack of interest, he naturally lost his own enthusiasm. “Let’s go, we won’t watch it then.”

Song Tingyun seemed to have been waiting for those words.

He immediately got up and left the screening room.

Ji Wenxu quickly followed him.

…

After leaving the cinema, neither of them spoke a word. Ji Wenxu could see Song Tingyun was in a bad mood, but he couldn’t find the reason for Song Tingyun’s anger.

It wasn’t until they got home that Ji Wenxu grabbed Song Tingyun’s wrist and said, “Why are you angry?”

Song Tingyun tried to pull his wrist free from his grip, but Ji Wenxu held him tightly. His strength was inferior, so he couldn’t break free. Song Tingyun frowned and said, “Let go of my hand.”

“Unless you tell me why you’re angry, I won’t let go!” Ji Wenxu took advantage of his superior strength.

Song Tingyun stared at the large hand on his wrist. After a few seconds of silence, he looked up at Ji Wenxu, wiggled his wrist, and said, “This is why.”

Song Tingyun took a few steps forward, pushing Ji Wenxu against the shoe cabinet. He tilted his head up slightly to look at Ji Wenxu and said, “Ji Wenxu, do you realize you’ve been very strange lately?”

Ji Wenxu stared at the suddenly magnified, divine face in front of him, swallowed hard, and looked away. “I know.”

“Then let me guess,” Song Tingyun spoke slowly, but very coldly. “Is it because you’ve fallen in love with me?”

His bluntness tore away the veil of ambiguity between them, exposing Ji Wenxu’s feelings to the light.

Faced with Song Tingyun’s definitively phrased question, Ji Wenxu hardened his heart and said, “Yes, I’ve fallen in love with you.”

“So you want me to fall in love with you too, and you’re using that as your goal, disregarding my feelings, just to achieve what you want.” Song Tingyun’s tone was instructive. “Whether it’s forcing me to watch a movie with you, carrying me upstairs against my will, or now, tightly grabbing my wrist, Ji Wenxu, have you ever respected my feelings?”

“I don’t deny your extraordinary business acumen, but you lack even the most basic respect for me.” As Song Tingyun spoke, his initially displeased mood gradually calmed down.

Ji Wenxu looked at Song Tingyun.

His eyes were filled with surprise.

He had never considered this perspective.

It was true. Because he liked Song Tingyun, he desperately wanted a response from him, and therefore he was using his own methods to make the two of them spend time alone together.

But these methods all had a fundamental flaw.

They all went against Song Tingyun’s wishes.

Because he had noticed Song Tingyun’s excessive tolerance towards him early on, Ji Wenxu had become increasingly demanding.

Now that Song Tingyun laid it out plainly.

Ji Wenxu realized that he had been wrong.

…

Upon realizing this, Ji Wenxu quickly released Song Tingyun’s hand.

The slender wrist was red from his grip. Song Tingyun rubbed his wrist and turned to leave.

Ji Wenxu immediately grabbed his sleeve, his tone frustrated, “I’m sorry, Song Tingyun. I didn’t do it on purpose. I didn’t know I was upsetting you.”

The two had been arguing in the entrance hall for a while.

Xiao Fu, who had been waiting for them at home, happily greeted them, only to see them arguing.

The puppy’s smile slowly faded. It watched the arguing pair with sadness in its eyes.

It slowly lay down by the table leg, whimpering softly.

Hearing Xiao Fu’s sound, Song Tingyun also reined in his temper.

“It’s good that you can recognize this point,” Song Tingyun smoothed away his hand and prepared to leave, but Ji Wenxu gripped his sleeve tightly. He desperately wanted Song Tingyun’s understanding.

Song Tingyun then said, “Do you know that this is also a lack of respect for my feelings?”

Reminded by Song Tingyun, Ji Wenxu quickly let go.

“Song Tingyun, this is the first time I’ve liked someone. I don’t know what the right thing to do is. I thought that’s how you pursue someone…” Ji Wenxu simply followed behind him, constantly trying to explain himself.

“Don’t be mad at me.” Seeing Song Tingyun about to walk back to his room, Ji Wenxu became anxious and subconsciously reached out to grab him, but Song Tingyun’s recent words were still in his mind, so he pulled his hand back and raised his voice instead.

Song Tingyun stopped walking. He turned and looked at the bewildered and helpless Ji Wenxu, finally sighing with a softening heart. “I’m not angry. I’m just teaching you these things.”

“Earlier, when I brought up the divorce, did you change the subject because you had already fallen in love with me?” Song Tingyun asked.

Ji Wenxu nodded. “I know the agreement said no, but feelings are something I can’t control.”

“Do you know how wonderful you are? You’re good-looking, capable, great with people, very kind to me, gentle and benevolent, and most importantly, you’re very tolerant of my temper…” Now, listing Song Tingyun’s good qualities, Ji Wenxu realized he couldn’t count them all.

“Even if it wasn’t me, it would only be a matter of time before anyone else fell in love with you, right?” Ji Wenxu even felt sadness creeping in as he spoke.

Song Tingyun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“You’re feeling sad?”

“Wouldn’t you be?” Ji Wenxu retorted.

Song Tingyun married Ji Wenxu for two reasons: one was to give Ji Wenxu the capability to become the company president, and the other was his private motive—he wanted to bury his feelings for Ji Wenxu and live under the same roof with him for a while.

He never intended for Ji Wenxu to fall in love with him.

The moment he realized Ji Wenxu had developed feelings for him, Song Tingyun couldn’t say whether he was happier or felt some other emotion more strongly.

“I’m sorry,” Ji Wenxu continued. “You’re right. I did the wrong thing. I don’t want to divorce. I want you to love me too, but I didn’t respect your feelings, nor did I care if you liked me.”

“And you even told me you liked someone else before.” As Ji Wenxu spoke, tears nearly fell.

Song Tingyun raised his hand and rubbed Ji Wenxu’s head, his voice gentle: “Then do you want to know who the person I like is?”

“Yes!” Of course Ji Wenxu wanted to know.

Song Tingyun: “The year I turned twenty, my parents both passed away. I took over the company from them, but because I hadn’t been involved in the family business, I couldn’t command respect. Those people made things difficult for me at my parents’ funeral, and there was one person who stood up and spoke for me then.”

“You like him?” Ji Wenxu asked in return.

Song Tingyun nodded.

Ji Wenxu: “Then who is he?”

Song Tingyun saw he was still utterly confused and finally said, “You can go ask your grandfather about this. He knows about it too.”