After the Arranged Marriage, I Was Pampered by the Powerful Tycoon - Chapter 5

As the wedding festivities drew to a close, Cheng Ruan sat lazily on the sofa, legs crossed, clutching a game controller as he played online with Wu Zhou.

Wu Zhou asked, “Xiao Ruan, have you been living in that downtown apartment ever since the wedding?”

“Aren’t you going to take your new husband back to visit your parental home?”

With a sharp clack, Cheng Ruan maneuvered his controller to knock Wu Zhou’s character to the ground. He retorted in annoyance, “Bro, I’m the groom! Only brides talk about ‘returning to the parental home,’ okay?”

Wu Zhou manipulated his character to scramble up, turning the in-game camera left and right. “But to me, you look more like the bride.”

Cheng Ruan’s eyes widened. “Are you looking for another beating? I’m the one who married him. If anyone’s ‘returning,’ it’s Luo Mingzhi.”

Seeing that Cheng Ruan wasn’t quite up to speed on the situation, Wu Zhou filled him in: “Where would Luo Mingzhi even go back to? His parents were murdered years ago. He’s been an orphan since he was a kid and is used to being a loner. Aside from Luo Zhen, I’ve never seen him close to anyone else.”

Cheng Ruan hadn’t expected that the seemingly haughty and noble Luo Mingzhi had such a background. He tried to cover his tracks, saying, “My marriage to him is just a formality for show; it’s not real. Those traditions don’t matter.”

After finishing the game with Wu Zhou, Cheng Ruan couldn’t help but dwell on what Wu Zhou had just said.

Luo Mingzhi… is an orphan?

Despite being from a prominent family himself, Cheng Ruan rarely paid attention to so-called “elite scandals.” Besides, at that level of status, whose family didn’t have some skeletons in the closet?

What surprised him was that, in his eyes, Luo Mingzhi seemed like the product of a silver-spoon, elite upbringing—someone who was refined on the surface but cold-blooded underneath, driven entirely by profit. He lacked the “street-smart ruthlessness” of someone who had clawed their way to the top.

He was simply too detached and indifferent.

As his mind wandered, a phone call from Lu Ling interrupted his thoughts. She mentioned that the daughter of Mr. Cui, the head of the investing firm Cui Group, was getting engaged tonight and asked if he wanted to attend the engagement banquet.

Cheng Ruan caught the hesitation in Lu Ling’s voice and countered, “I’ll go. Why wouldn’t I?”

Since they had “graciously invited” him, he certainly couldn’t refuse to give them face.

Cheng Ruan accepted the invitation, and only after hanging up did he realize what he had been thinking about earlier.

Why am I actually feeling sorry for Luo Mingzhi?

Although he had always maintained a “playboy” image for the public, Cheng Ruan didn’t actually enjoy lingering at various parties or banquets. However, his recent wedding had clearly reinforced his reputation for being “arrogant and wild”; everywhere he went at the banquet, people stole glances at him.

Especially since the protagonist of tonight’s engagement was none other than Cheng Jin, whom he had publicly mocked not long ago. The security guards on the side watched Cheng Ruan nervously, fearing he might cause another scene.

Cheng Ruan sat down with an air of indifference, only to unexpectedly see Luo Mingzhi already seated nearby.

His gaze flickered to the ring on Luo Mingzhi’s ring finger. Only then did Cheng Ruan remember they were married; it was only natural for them to be seated at the same table.

Cheng Ruan forced himself to sit beside Luo Mingzhi, feigning familiarity as he asked, “How have you been lately, Mr. Luo?”

Luo Mingzhi glanced at Cheng Ruan’s left hand. “Very well.”

Following Luo Mingzhi’s gaze downward, Cheng Ruan realized his left hand was completely bare. It seemed he hadn’t worn his ring once since the wedding ended.

Sure enough, Luo Mingzhi caught his mistake again, remarking leisurely, “If Mr. Cheng wants to put on a show, he should do a thorough job.”

Cheng Ruan grumbled inwardly about Luo Mingzhi and offered a weak defense: “I forgot to put it back on after washing my hands. I’ll wear it next time.”

Luo Mingzhi didn’t call him out. He turned his head to look at the couple who were the focus of the entire banquet. Cheng Ruan followed his gaze and happened to lock eyes with the groom-to-be.

The man had clearly spotted Cheng Ruan first; a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, though a flash of mockery crossed his eyes.

Cheng Ruan clenched his fists, feeling an immense urge to leave.

Luo Mingzhi noticed his mood. “Do you know him?”

Cheng Ruan relaxed his grip and denied it. “I don’t.”

Luo Mingzhi said calmly, “If you’re uncomfortable, you can leave first.”

Cheng Ruan shook his head. “This is the engagement party for the investor’s daughter. It wouldn’t be good to be absent.”

Luo Mingzhi asked airily, “Isn’t it enough if one of us is here?”

Cheng Ruan froze for a moment, catching Luo Mingzhi’s meaning.

He was married to Luo Mingzhi now. If one of them was present, they could naturally represent the other.

Still, Cheng Ruan declined Luo Mingzhi’s gesture of goodwill. “Thanks, but I’m going to the restroom.”

On his way back to his seat, someone tapped Cheng Ruan’s shoulder with moderate force.

“Well, if it isn’t the newlywed Mr. Cheng?”

Cheng Ruan turned around to see Ren Han’s face.

Ren Han gestured with his eyes toward Luo Mingzhi in the distance, winking at Cheng Ruan. “I didn’t think you had it in you. The Luo family’s daughter runs away, so you tie her foster father to the wedding instead? Do you have any idea what people are saying about you outside?”

Cheng Ruan replied rudely, “Young Master Ren actually has to rely on rumors to learn about me? It seems a significant gap has opened up between us.”

Ren Han looked disgusted. “Give me a break. Your dad abandoned you to cheat, your mom abandoned you by committing suicide, and your fiancée abandoned you by running away. Luo Mingzhi only took pity on you for the sake of the Old Master. He’s just using you for profit. Did you really think you were some kind of rare treasure?”

“Look at Cheng Jin—he and his fiancée are a perfect match, blessed by friends and family. Then look at you—you had to snatch a groom yourself, and even after the wedding, the man won’t even look at you. Tsk tsk, I truly feel miserable for you.”

Cheng Ruan rubbed his chin, slowly rolled up his sleeves, and took off his bracelet.

Ren Han laughed brashly. “In broad daylight, you actually want to start something?”

“What, are you so arrogant that you won’t even give Mr. Cui any face?”

Cheng Ruan put the bracelet back on. “Young Master Ren, you’re overthinking. Unlike you, I don’t go around biting people.”

“I just suddenly remembered that Young Master Ren recently ‘poached’ from a certain elder’s territory. Unfortunately, those photos have been in my hands for the last few days. It’s about time I let everyone appreciate them.”

Ren Han’s face went pale. He grabbed Cheng Ruan’s collar. “What did you say? Where did you get photos!”

Cheng Ruan heartlessly pried Ren Han’s hand away. “That elder is a family friend, after all. I’ll send them to him first.”

“Cheng Ruan! Stand still!”

Cheng Ruan didn’t look back, throwing Ren Han’s own words back at him: “Is Young Master Ren so arrogant that he dares to cause a scene at Mr. Cui’s banquet?”

Ren Han finally went quiet but still followed him doggedly. “Cheng Ruan, you don’t really have those photos, do you… Don’t be impulsive. For the sake of us growing up together, name a price. I’ll buy them; I’ll pay whatever you want.”

“Just… don’t let my dad or that elder find out, or I’m dead!”

“Cheng Ruan, say something! I’m begging you!”

Cheng Ruan glanced at the deflated Young Master Ren, a cold smirk playing on his lips.

“Fine. Call me ‘Daddy,’ and I’ll keep your secret.”

“Cheng Ruan!” Ren Han stomped his foot. After agonizing for a moment, he closed his eyes, steeled his heart, and barked at Cheng Ruan, “Daddy!”

“Is that enough, Cheng Ruan? You have to promise me.”

Cheng Ruan couldn’t help but burst out laughing. He gave a meaningful nod and left Ren Han standing there to speculate.

Ren Han quickly realized what happened. “Cheng Ruan! You played me! You don’t have any photos at all!”

Cheng Ruan made an obnoxious face. “You guess.”

He wasn’t bored enough to hire someone to stalk Ren Han, but he had happened to see Ren Han acting intimate with a certain lady once and had simply bluffed the truth out of him.

Returning to the table, Luo Mingzhi was no longer in his seat. Instead, he was conversing effortlessly with Mr. Cui, champagne glass in hand.

Seeing Cheng Ruan return, Mr. Cui greeted him with a calculated air of friendliness, asking him to stay as he and Luo Mingzhi walked over.

“Mr. Cheng, congratulations. Although the outcome was a bit unexpected, everything turned out fine. You and Mr. Luo are truly a perfect match.”

Cheng Ruan caught the underlying resentment and scrutiny in Mr. Cui’s tone. He smiled and replied, “Thank you, Mr. Cui. I hope your future son-in-law satisfies you and Miss Cui just as well.”

Mr. Cui’s smile faltered slightly. He made an excuse and turned to leave. Although Cheng Ruan hadn’t lost ground in that first “skirmish,” he felt a strange sense of irritation. His eyes fixed on the wine rack, and as if possessed, he walked over and had a server hand him a drink.

Behind him, Luo Mingzhi’s eyebrows quirked upward.

Cheng Ruan downed the drink in almost one gulp. The spicy, icy liquid slid from his mouth down his throat. Perhaps because he wasn’t used to the sensation, he coughed awkwardly a few times, then licked his lips and eyed the next glass of champagne.

It wasn’t as mind-numbing as he had imagined.

After an unknown number of glasses, Cheng Ruan began to feel his consciousness slip. His head felt heavy and swollen. He struggled to lift his eyelids; Luo Mingzhi had disappeared from his line of sight at some point.

Cheng Ruan let out a small “Huh?” Just then, Lu Ling called. He swiped several times to answer and asked in a daze, “Secretary… Lu?”

Lu Ling immediately noticed something was wrong. “Mr. Cheng, have you been drinking?”

Cheng Ruan denied it flatly. “How could I? I never drink…”

Lu Ling asked worriedly, “Are you finished? Do you need me to send a driver in to get you?”

Cheng Ruan dismissed it carelessly. “No need. It’s not like I can’t walk out myself.”

His gaze suddenly drifted to Luo Mingzhi across the room. He was standing with Mr. Cui and his prized son-in-law, Cheng Jin, surrounded by a crowd of prominent figures. Even though it wasn’t his event, Luo Mingzhi moved through the crowd with grace, looking as though he were the true host of the banquet.

Cheng Ruan’s gaze drifted further, landing on Luo Mingzhi’s Adam’s apple. He let out a small wine-induced hiccup and said to Lu Ling, “Forget it, Secretary Lu. Why don’t you just send a few people over… and kidnap Luo Mingzhi back for me.”

“I really don’t like the look of him right now.”

Lu Ling was shocked. “You’re…”

Cheng Ruan continued, “Secretary Lu, help me out. Have someone take Luo Mingzhi back to my house.”

As if sensing the gaze, Luo Mingzhi turned his head slightly toward Cheng Ruan. The lights illuminated the deep contours of his profile. Cheng Ruan found himself reflexively holding his breath, forgetting to speak into the phone.

Lu Ling was still asking, “Mr. Cheng?”

Cheng Ruan reacted a beat late. “Forget it, you guys aren’t up to it.”

“I’ll do it myself.”

Cheng Ruan wobbled unsteadily toward Luo Mingzhi.

Luo Mingzhi was the first to notice his state. He raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?”

Cheng Ruan didn’t answer. Behind him, the Cheng family bodyguards arrived just in time.

Cheng Ruan looked back at them, then leaned in with a smile to whisper in Luo Mingzhi’s ear: “Ah, they’re here. Perfect.”

“Come home with me, my bride.”