Becoming the Caged Canary of a Forced Love - Chapter 20

After a brief moment of chaotic scrambling, Xiao Yuan successfully snatched the book from Gu Nian’s hands and tossed it carelessly back onto the stack on the desk. They proceeded to take their seats in the dining room, where the housekeeper served the pre-prepared dishes.

Throughout the meal, Xiao Yuan constantly placed food into Jiang Wensu’s bowl, occasionally propping his chin up to stare at him with a silly grin.

Pei Jichuan followed the strict discipline of “silence while eating and silence while sleeping.” He merely reached out to quietly serve Gu Nian the dishes that were out of his reach; whenever he noticed something Gu Nian liked, he would serve it several times over.

“Oh, right. He Lao’er—the second He brother—is back. I heard he was out handling some business for you? Are you going to Elder He’s birthday banquet next week? On the surface, it’s a birthday party, but in reality, they’re scouting for talented young men for his granddaughter’s arranged marriage.”

Xiao Yuan reached out to wipe a smudge of sauce from the corner of Jiang Wensu’s mouth.

Gu Nian noticed that when Xiao Yuan reached out, the hand Jiang Wensu held his chopsticks with gave a sudden, violent tremble, as if he were afraid.

“The old man of that family holds quite a bit of weight in the political world. I expect many families will be trying to climb their way into favor at this banquet. After all, once you’re connected to the He family, any official process becomes much easier to handle.”

Pei Jichuan picked up his napkin and wiped his mouth. He asked steadily, “Is He Yunfeng back?”

Xiao Yuan paused. “The eldest He brother? I heard he’s been away working on some criminal case. I don’t know if he’s coming back. You know, he really is something—giving up all those great family resources just to run off and do criminal investigation, running around everywhere every day.”

Xiao Yuan waved his hand dismissively, his tone laced with a touch of helplessness.

“And his younger brother is a useless ‘Adou’ who can’t be propped up—all he knows is drag racing and clubbing. These two brothers are really…”

Xiao Yuan suddenly fell silent. He stole a cautious glance at Pei Jichuan and Gu Nian. He only let out a sigh of relief when he saw that Gu Nian had no particular reaction.

Pei Jichuan’s indifferent gaze swept over Xiao Yuan. Xiao Yuan clearly read several points of warning in that look.

The abrupt interruption of the conversation sparked Gu Nian’s curiosity. He looked up, but before his eyes could meet Xiao Yuan’s, Pei Jichuan intervened. Pei Jichuan firmly turned Gu Nian’s face toward him and gently wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin.

Xiao Yuan swallowed hard. He had almost gotten carried away; he still needed to be careful.

“I will be attending the banquet. Lin Nuo is coming with me,” Pei Jichuan stated abruptly and decisively.

Xiao Yuan was somewhat shocked. He calmed his mind and rephrased his thoughts: “You intend to introduce Lin Nuo to the entire high-society circle of power and wealth? You should think this through. Can your old man accept it? And your grandfather? Once this banquet is over, no one in all of A-City will be left in the dark.”

A flicker of worry crossed Xiao Yuan’s brow.

Gu Nian remained motionless in the position Pei Jichuan held him in. Hearing this, he looked up and stared straight at Pei Jichuan.

Pei Jichuan stroked his face reassuringly.

“Grandfather already knows; he doesn’t object. As for my father’s side…” A hint of disdain flashed in the depths of Pei Jichuan’s eyes. “His opinion is not important.”

Xiao Yuan raised an eyebrow in surprise. “You really are swift and decisive, resolving that bunch of family troubles so quickly.”

“Sigh, it’s good to hold real power,” Xiao Yuan chuckled.

Inside, Gu Nian’s heart was in turmoil, but he didn’t let it show on his face. He continued to sit quietly and obediently, the warmth of Pei Jichuan’s comforting fingers pressing against his cheek.

He understood perfectly well what this decision meant. From now on, the wealthy and powerful would likely gossip about him behind his back, and members of the family might even use this as an excuse to try and shake Pei Jichuan’s position as the successor.

Pei Jichuan was taking on immense pressure just to give Lin Nuo an official status. This was undoubtedly a decision that offered him no tangible benefits.

Arranged marriages for the sake of corporate interest were the fate of almost every scion of a wealthy family. At the very least, a match had to be between families of equal status. Zhou Yi, who managed the Tianyu Group, had been advised by Gu Nian to marry a girl from another conglomerate in Country F for the sake of mutual cooperation, but Zhou Yi had refused.

Zhou Yi only said that he already had someone he loved and was willing to give his life for them. That was the first time Gu Nian had seen Zhou Yi refuse a request so resolutely.

But Pei Jichuan… Gu Nian looked at his profile. He truly seemed to love Lin Nuo.

After lunch, they returned to the living room. While Xiao Yuan and Pei Jichuan discussed the specific details of the banquet, Jiang Wensu sat at the piano once more to perform for everyone.

Gu Nian played a small game on his phone out of boredom. It wasn’t until the little character in his phone died for the 19th time that he looked up at Jiang Wensu, distracted. He suddenly realized where the sense of dissonance was coming from.

They didn’t look like lovers; they looked like a collector and his artwork.

When guests visited, the most precious piece of art naturally had to be displayed to show its value.

Gu Nian noticed that Jiang Wensu’s hands were already trembling slightly and unnaturally.

Meanwhile, in the gaps of his conversation with Pei Jichuan, Xiao Yuan would frequently glance over at Jiang Wensu. That burning gaze seemed as if it would scorch the man’s back.

After chatting for a short while longer, they prepared to depart. Only then did Jiang Wensu stop playing, hurriedly wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Xiao Yuan saw Pei Jichuan and Gu Nian off at the entrance of the manor. As he watched the car disappear into the distance, he suddenly took Jiang Wensu’s hand, just as Pei Jichuan had done with Lin Nuo.

Jiang Wensu’s arm jerked, his entire body going stiff.

He didn’t dare resist. He could only follow Xiao Yuan back into the living room. The surrounding servants, possessing keen situational awareness, dispersed and closed the heavy main doors.

He was pulled directly to the piano in the corner of the living room.

Jiang Wensu thought Xiao Yuan wanted to hear more. Just as he was about to speak, he was hoisted up by Xiao Yuan’s sudden force and seated directly on top of the piano.

His panicked hands instinctively reached out to steady himself, but they happened to strike the keys. A few discordant notes rang out through the empty living room.

Jiang Wensu gasped for breath. Before he could react, a hot breath brushed against his ear.

“Darling, the way you look when you play the piano is so seductive. It’s not like how you are in bed at all.”

Xiao Yuan’s feverish gaze swept up and down. His burning palm pressed against Jiang Wensu’s waist, carrying a searing heat.

“Xiao… A—A-Yuan…” Jiang Wensu called out in a soft, uneasy voice.

“Mhm, I’m here, darling.” The scalding breath moved slowly downward. His body was pinned, unable to move.

Jiang Wensu lacked the courage to resist, but the familiar scent still made him tremble uncontrollably.

He didn’t dare look at him, yet he didn’t dare close his eyes either. Compared to this man, a world of darkness terrified him even more.

The chill of the room nipped at his skin, only to be pressed against a warm heat source.

As time passed, Xiao Yuan finally regained a shred of his sanity. He looked down at him, the love in his eyes so intense it seemed ready to overflow.

This was a treasure he had spent a great deal of effort to obtain. He had kept it firmly hidden, never letting anyone find it. But Pei Jichuan’s decision today had sparked a different thought in his mind.

They were a legally married couple; they ought to be even more arrogant than Pei Jichuan.

At that thought, his canine teeth poked out uncontrollably. Upon feeling the sharp tooth, Jiang Wensu flinched violently.

The sensation of pain followed like a shadow.

Xiao Yuan stroked his forehead affectionately.

“Darling, call me ‘Husband’ and let me hear it.”

After a long silence, Jiang Wensu finally found his voice.

His eyes were half-lowered as he cowered.

“Husband…”