After The Beautiful Drama Queen’s Marriage To The Wealthy Tycoon - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Will Falling in Love with You Be the End of Me

After work, Qi Hanchuan and Jiang He grabbed dinner. Jiang He insisted on wandering around, so Qi Hanchuan followed along. As they passed a milk tea shop running a promotion, Jiang He practically dragged him inside.

Intrigued, Jiang He leaned in to check out the counter. The shop assistant was momentarily stunned by his looks before explaining warmly, “Hello! We’re having a special event: couples who complete a small game get a buy-one-get-one-free deal, plus two small gifts.”

Jiang He locked eyes with Qi Hanchuan and said excitedly, “We’re married! Does that count for buy-one-get-one-free?”

The assistant glanced at their hands but didn’t see any rings. “Do you have any proof?” she asked politely. “I’m sorry, the event is so popular that many people pretend to be couples. we have to verify.”

Jiang He looked blank. “Proof?”

Did he and Qi Hanchuan not look married?

“Since neither of you is wearing a ring,” the assistant added gently, “a photo of your marriage certificate would work.”

“I have that!” Jiang He whipped out his phone and showed her his WeChat Moments background—a photo of their certificates. He grumbled offhandedly, “I really am married to him. He just didn’t buy me a ring.”

Qi Hanchuan knit his brows slightly. It was an oversight on his part.

The assistant smiled, handed the phone back to Jiang He, and pointed to the game rules. “These are the riddles. Let me know when you’re ready.”

Jiang He didn’t dwell on the ring comment; he was too busy dragging Qi Hanchuan toward the riddles. They were simple word puzzles. Qi Hanchuan solved the ones Jiang He couldn’t, and within minutes, they walked away with two milk teas and their gifts. Qi Hanchuan’s cup was technically the free one.

Jiang He took a sip of his own, then looked longingly at Qi Hanchuan’s cup. “Let me taste yours.”

Qi Hanchuan didn’t drink sweet things, so he just handed it over. Jiang He took a sip through his own straw and decided Qi Hanchuan’s was better.

“I want this one. Let’s trade,” he declared, shoving his cup into Qi Hanchuan’s hand without leaving room for negotiation.

A flicker of amusement crossed Qi Hanchuan’s eyes. “Both are yours. I don’t like these drinks.”

“Wow, Hubby, you’re so good to me!” Jiang He winked playfully. “Love ya!”

Qi Hanchuan had grown immune to these casual declarations of love. His mind was elsewhere—thinking about the ring. Meanwhile, Jiang He was completely absorbed in his two drinks, oblivious to Qi Hanchuan’s distraction.

Back in the car, Jiang He eagerly tore open the gifts. They were two “can badges” featuring the shop’s mascots with cute cat ears. There were also two coupons and two water bottles.

Admiring the bottles, Jiang He had a sudden inspiration. “What if I did a promotion like this at my cafe?”

Qi Hanchuan pulled himself out of his thoughts to offer serious advice. “Your business is already good. An event will be busy, but it’s great for publicity. Think of it as marketing.”

Jiang He’s chin tilted up toward the sky. “Are there any holidays coming up in the next few months?”

“National Day,” Qi Hanchuan replied.

Jiang He thought about it and decided it was feasible. He leaned back against the seat, feet swinging. “Alright, a National Day event it is. I’ll have my brother send some people to help, or I’ll literally die of exhaustion.”

“Okay,” Qi Hanchuan replied absently.

Jiang He finally noticed something was off. He stared at the man for a moment before leaning in. “What’s wrong? You’ve been spacing out since the shop.”

Caught off guard by those vivid, soulful eyes, Qi Hanchuan blinked and shook his head. “Nothing.”

Jiang He tilted his head. “Then what were you thinking about?”

Qi Hanchuan’s eyes were actually quite beautiful—deep, mysterious, and inviting. Qi Hanchuan looked away, telling a rare lie: “Work stuff.”

Jiang He sat back, throwing his hands up. “Fine, I guess I can’t help you with your ‘worries’ then.”

Qi Hanchuan smiled. “Just being well-behaved is help enough.”

Jiang He gave a “tsk” and nudged him with his elbow. “Hey, don’t say it like I’m a constant burden.” When Qi Hanchuan didn’t reply immediately, Jiang He pushed further. “Do you think I’m a troublemaker?”

“I don’t,” Qi Hanchuan denied.

“Are you happy being married to me?” Jiang He asked.

He was so close that Qi Hanchuan could smell the sweetness—a mix of milk tea and Jiang He’s personal scent. Qi Hanchuan stared at him for a heartbeat, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Mhm.”

Jiang He burst out laughing, wiping a mock tear from his eye. “You’re really doomed. You’re going to fall in love with me.”

Qi Hanchuan looked at him and asked sincerely, “Why would falling in love with you be ‘the end’?”

“Huh?” Jiang He was stumped. He hadn’t expected a counter-question. He was the type of person who acted bold but retreated quickly when someone took the offensive.

Qi Hanchuan, seemingly catching the “contagion” of Jiang He’s persistence, repeated: “Why would falling in love with you be the end of me?”

Jiang He scratched his head, stole a glance at Qi Hanchuan, and mumbled, “How should I know?”

Qi Hanchuan chuckled. “If you don’t know, why do you keep saying it?”

He seemed to have found the way to handle Jiang He. The boy talked a big game, but a direct strike sent him into a panic.

Jiang He racked his brain and finally asked, “This is a business marriage. Is it even right for you to fall in love with me?”

Addicted to the teasing, Qi Hanchuan watched Jiang He’s uneasy eyes and smiled. “Why wouldn’t it be? Love after marriage.”

Flustered, Jiang He moved away to his side of the car, stealing glances from the corner of his eye. No way… is my charm really that powerful?

But this wasn’t right. He still hadn’t told Qi Hanchuan his real motive for getting that marriage certificate. Come to think of it, he hadn’t even seen Qi Xu much since the wedding—he was losing out on his revenge!

Seeing his look of unease, Qi Hanchuan couldn’t help but reach out and ruffle Jiang He’s hair.

Jiang He reacted sharply. “What are you doing?”

Qi Hanchuan suppressed a laugh. “We’re married. I can’t even pat your head?”

Seeing the smile on the man’s face, Jiang He realized he’d been teased. He swatted Qi Hanchuan’s hand away and huffed. “You! You did that on purpose to scare me.”

Qi Hanchuan’s smile didn’t fade as he watched Jiang He with his chin propped on his hand.

“Um…” Jiang He wanted to bring up Qi Xu, but the words wouldn’t come out. “I’m going to sleep. Wake me when we get home.”

“Mhm.” Qi Hanchuan draped a blanket over him, then opened his phone to start looking at ring designs.

Jiang He didn’t actually sleep on the way back; he was too busy debating whether to confess. He finally built up the courage, but as soon as they got home, Qi Hanchuan disappeared into his study and didn’t come out until Jiang He was half-asleep.

In his daze, Jiang He heard the door open. He mumbled “Hubby” in his sleep, and only drifted off completely after hearing Qi Hanchuan’s soft “Mhm.”

Qi Hanchuan sat by the bed, watching Jiang He sleep with a tenderness he hadn’t even noticed in himself. Once the boy was sound asleep, he used a piece of cotton thread to secretly measure his ring finger.

The little interlude didn’t change Jiang He’s personality. He continued to be his usual “troublesome” self, but Qi Hanchuan stopped letting him have his way all the time, occasionally striking back and leaving Jiang He at a loss.

Between his cafe event and the cooling weather, Jiang He grew exhausted. Even with Qi Hanchuan helping him draft the event plans, he was worn out. By the end of the holiday, the cafe’s revenue had quadrupled, but Jiang He had developed a slight cough.

As he walked out of the shop one evening, draped in Qi Hanchuan’s jacket, he sighed. “I don’t want to walk. Carry me.”

Seeing his exhaustion, Qi Hanchuan obediently bent down. Jiang He didn’t hesitate, climbing onto his back and wrapping his arms around the man’s neck. “Hubby,” he murmured.

“Mhm?” Qi Hanchuan said, standing up with him.

Jiang He rubbed his face against his back listlessly. “I’m so tired.”

“Sleep for a bit,” Qi Hanchuan said, his voice softening.

Jiang He hummed, then suddenly perked up. “I think I hear a cat.”

Qi Hanchuan heard nothing. “You’re imagining it.”

“No, I really hear it.” Jiang He pointed toward some bushes. “Over there.”

Qi Hanchuan carried him over and set him down to check the greenery. Sure enough, there was a soaking wet kitten, looking like it was on death’s door. Without a second thought, Jiang He took off Qi Hanchuan’s high-end suit jacket, wrapped the kitten in it, and looked up with a serious expression. “We have to get it to a hospital.”

Qi Hanchuan rarely saw such a look on Jiang He’s face. He didn’t hesitate, getting them into the car and ordering the driver to find the nearest emergency vet.

Throughout the ride, Jiang He clutched the dirty kitten, his face pale with tension. Qi Hanchuan comforted him, “We’re almost there.”

At the vet, they learned the kitten had feline distemper. Given its age, survival was uncertain. Jiang He pleaded, “Save it. Cost doesn’t matter.”

Jiang He was shaking. Qi Hanchuan had another set of clothes brought from the car for him, but the boy continued to tremble. Qi Hanchuan eventually pulled him into an embrace. “It’s okay. It will make it.”

“I’m just a little nervous,” Jiang He insisted stubbornly.

After half an hour, the vet told them to go home and wait for news. Jiang He barely slept. The following night at 8 PM, the call came.

The kitten didn’t make it.

Jiang He and Qi Hanchuan went back to the hospital. He placed the kitten’s small body in a cardboard box and walked out, carrying it in both hands. Qi Hanchuan expected him to cry, but Jiang He was eerily quiet. He only asked to be taken to the southern outskirts.

It was late, but Qi Hanchuan didn’t ask questions. They drove to a desolate hill that looked more like a private graveyard. Together, they dug a small grave. Jiang He laid out cat treats and named the kitten “Ping’an” Peace.

Qi Hanchuan had seen many sides of Jiang He, but this quiet composure was new—and it made his heart ache.

“I’ve been through this many times,” Jiang He said to the grave. “I’ve been rescuing strays since I was sixteen. My brother bought this hill for me.” He trailed off. “So many animals are buried here… the ones we couldn’t save.”

Qi Hanchuan didn’t know what to say. It had rained all day and the air was damp and cold. Jiang He stood there for a long time until Qi Hanchuan wrapped a blanket around him.

“Ping’an,” Jiang He whispered calmly. “In your next life, be born into my family. I’ll take good care of you.”

“Let’s go home,” Qi Hanchuan said softly.

Jiang He turned and buried his face in his chest. “Carry me.”

Qi Hanchuan didn’t refuse. He bent down, picked him up, and carried him back to the car with a heavy heart.