I Became a Heartthrob After Marrying in My Sister's Place - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

The bright corridor fell instantly silent.

A faint pink flush rushed onto Ming Huaizhi’s porcelain-white cheeks. He lowered his eyelashes nervously, his fingers restlessly tugging at the hem of his shirt. “I have many paternal and maternal cousins; they’ve doted on me since I was little.”

The other’s nervous behavior struck Sang Yu as slightly odd. He stared at Ming Huaizhi leisurely for a moment before responding with a simple, “Mhm.”

“We have to get up early tomorrow. Goodnight.”

With a bang, the white bedroom door closed.

Sang Yu stood leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, deep in thought. He didn’t hear any footsteps coming from inside the room, which meant the other person was likely standing right behind the door, frozen. He stared at the door for a long time before finally returning to his own bedroom.

On the other side, Ming Huaizhi sat gently on the floor, clutching his racing heart. He told himself he could never be this reckless again if he let the truth slip, it would cause a mountain of trouble.

Just then, his phone rang with a call from his mother.

“Hello, Mom.” He trotted over to the window, his voice cautious and low.

Ming’s mother’s voice was trembling: “Xiao Zhi, your brother found a matching organ donor.”

“Really!?” Surprises burst in Ming Huaizhi’s eyes. “God must be watching over Brother.”

His mother wiped away tears. “The hospital will arrange the surgery in a few days. Baby, make sure you eat well while you’re in the country.”

In truth, the person Ming’s mother felt most guilty toward was her youngest son. Not only had he been frail and sickly since childhood, but he had mostly been raised by his grandmother abroad; she felt she had failed as a mother. Now that his health had finally improved enough to fly home for a family reunion, her innocent son had to take his brother’s place in that “man-eating” elite circle. Heaven knows how much grievance he must be suffering.

“I will, Mom!” Ming Huaizhi nagged her gently. “You have to take care of yourself too. Eat more meat so you have the strength to look after Brother.”

His mother’s voice choked. “Xiao Zhi, I heard from your father that Sang Yu stepped in to help him when he was being framed a couple of days ago. Is he… is he good to you?”

At the mention of Sang Yu, the corners of Ming Huaizhi’s lips curled up slightly. He buried his head in his pillow, his soft hair falling over his forehead, and his feet kicked up unconsciously. “He’s good to me; he hasn’t bullied me.”

His mother’s heart eased slightly. “That’s good then.”

“But—” Ming Huaizhi’s eyes drooped, filled with guilt. “It’s so wrong of us to lie to Sang Yu like this. If possible, when Brother returns home safely, let’s officially apologize to the Sang family and do everything we can to make it up to them, okay?”

According to the plan, once Ming Huaizhi finished the six-month contract, he could retreat safely, and no one would discover the identity swap.

His mother thought for a moment. “Okay. We’ll do it together.”

The mother and son talked for a full hour, and Ming Huaizhi slept soundly that night.

…

At eight o’clock the next morning, Ming Huaizhi carefully selected an outfit purchased for him by Chen Ruofu and walked to the second-floor railing to look down at the main hall.

The setting below was already prepared. From the variety of red wines to the texture of the candle holders, everything was exquisite. Shang Chen was standing in the center directing, while Sang Yu’s other close friends had arrived early and were chatting on the sofa.

He didn’t know what they were discussing, but Sang Yu seemed to be in a good mood, leaning back on the sofa with his legs crossed, looking relaxed. Every gesture exuded confidence and pride. Ming Huaizhi had observed him closely and realized that Sang Yu wasn’t actually “mean” ; it was just that the noble temperament he’d cultivated since childhood made him seem unapproachable.

Once he was sure his clothes were tidy, Ming Huaizhi slowly walked downstairs. Hearing footsteps, the group on the sofa looked over simultaneously. He paused, gave them a friendly smile, and waved with genuine sincerity.

Today he wore a loose-fitting blue and white striped shirt tucked into pure white casual trousers, making his already slender waistline look even more delicate. An earth-toned belt with a lake-blue gemstone buckle added a touch of tranquility to his fresh look.

Zhong Xian whispered, “No wonder everyone says he’s the top visual in the entertainment industry. How did his parents make him?”

Shang Chen, having sharp ears, leaned behind Sang Yu with a peculiar grin. “I heard he has a younger brother who was raised abroad. People say he’s an illegitimate child.”

Sang Yu gave him a cold look, and Shang Chen shut up immediately.

Ming Huaizhi reached the group. Seeing a space left on the sofa where Sang Yu was sitting, he assumed it was for him, so he sat down and carefully linked his arm through Sang Yu’s. In his mind, linking arms was the best way to show affection without touching any “sensitive” areas.

There were exquisite tea snacks on the table. He was hungry since he hadn’t eaten breakfast, so he stood up to grab a small piece and then leaned back into the crook of Sang Yu’s arm, nibbling slowly like a little squirrel. The entire movement was natural and soft.

Shang Chen and the others froze. Their gazes were filled with confusion, but mostly shock.

Sang Yu felt a bit uneasy at this intimacy. Especially when Ming Huaizhi rested his head against his arm, that familiar jasmine scent faintly drifted around him again. It felt as if a small Ragdoll cat was leaning against his shoulder to be affectionate.

What baffled him most was that he didn’t dislike it; he even felt an uncontrollable urge to reach out and pet the “kitten.” A flicker of self-consciousness crossed Sang Yu’s face. He reminded himself that this was “Ming Yantang” acting out this kind of lover-like intimacy would be effortless for him.

Collecting his thoughts, Sang Yu turned his head toward Ming Huaizhi, intending to tease or shoot him down, but he met those amber eyes that looked like glass marbles. Ming Huaizhi, who was eating a green tea cake, paused and looked up at him as if asking what was wrong. Those eyes held only Sang Yu bright, clean, and filled with defenseless sincerity.

Sang Yu cleared his throat. “We need to go to the wine cellar.”

Ming Huaizhi let go of his arm. “Okay.”

Finally away from Ming Huaizhi, Sang Yu walked forward absent-mindedly, feeling more and more that their relationship was getting strange.

Shang Chen and Zhong Xian naturally wouldn’t let the opportunity pass. They chased after him as if they’d discovered a massive piece of gossip. “How is your relationship progressing like a rocket? Weren’t you two fighting last time we saw you?”

Sang Yu walked at the front and said indifferently, “Maybe I’m just that charming.”

“Look at you, being all smug,” Shang Chen said playfully. “We always thought yours was a marriage of convenience where you ignored each other.”

Zhong Xian smiled. “Who is our Brother Yu? He’s probably much better than all of Ming Yantang’s ex-boyfriends.”

“Don’t compare me to them.” The thought of those ex-boyfriends was like adding fuel to the fire; Sang Yu’s tone turned noticeably sour. “Take whichever bottle you like.”

Shang Chen raised an eyebrow. “Boss Sang is generous!”

…

Meanwhile, the friends invited by Shang Chen began to arrive one after another. Seeing that Sang Yu wasn’t there, Ming Huaizhi took on the task of welcoming the guests. He didn’t know Sang Yu’s friends, but everyone was quite friendly, treated him politely, and even brought wedding gifts.

Ming Huaizhi didn’t know if he should accept them, given the complex interests among friends. He had the servants store the gifts properly, waiting for Sang Yu to return and decide.

Sang Yu’s butler was clearly very experienced; his etiquette was elegant and beyond reproach. Within half an hour, a dozen sports cars were parked by the fountain, making the place very lively. Soon, the orange lights of the hall brightened, making the vintage European decor look even more regal. Deep red liquid swirled in thin, light wine glasses as everyone enjoyed tasting wine and chatting.

At this point, Ming Huaizhi saw a familiar face Sang Lin had arrived last with three friends.

“Good morning, Brother Tang.” Sang Lin flicked his car keys and scanned the hall with a smirk. “Where’s my brother?”

Ming Huaizhi: “He went to the wine cellar. He’ll be back soon.”

The friend next to Sang Lin laughed. “As expected of a celebrity, his temperament is different from ours. You can tell he’s from the industry just by looking at him.”

Sang Lin raised an eyebrow. “This is Young Master Chen, my brother’s childhood friend.”

Ming Huaizhi nodded. “Hello, everyone.”

Young Master Chen sized Ming Huaizhi up, his eyes clearly disdainful. “Let’s go, Xiao Lin. Let’s go find Brother Sang Yu.”

Sang Lin nodded to Ming Huaizhi and led Young Master Chen and the others away. Once they were out of Ming Huaizhi’s earshot, Young Master Chen’s tone turned nasty. “His face is barely passable. Why on earth did Brother Sang Yu marry him?”

Sang Lin took his hand. “My brother’s relationship with him is actually terrible. Six months ago, I saw them at each other’s throats with my own eyes. Their tempers are completely incompatible.”

Young Master Chen pouted, still unwilling to accept it. Almost all the socialites in Bian City knew he liked Sang Yu and that Sang Yu treated him well. Having grown up together, he never expected a “nobody” to get there first.

…

On the other side, Sang Yu came out of the cellar and was discussing business with his friends on the second floor. Having finished welcoming the guests, Ming Huaizhi was still a bit hungry, but since he was allergic to alcohol, he couldn’t join the tasting. He decided to head to the second floor to see if there was anything he could help with.

This wine tasting was more like a private salon; the second floor served as a lounge for decanting wine and resting. There was less food on the second floor than the first, but it tasted good. Ming Huaizhi grabbed a few snacks while chatting with the servants and stood nearby, contently tasting them.

Suddenly, he heard his “brother’s” name and turned his head. Not far away, Sang Lin and his friends were leaning against the window, sipping wine and chatting.

“What kind of family lets their son enter the entertainment industry? Just because he has tens of millions of fans, he thinks he’s above everyone else. That arrogant look of his is a joke.”

Hearing his friend say this, Sang Lin held his glass and wore a thin smile.

“He’s slept with so many people. I really don’t understand what your brother sees in him doesn’t he think it’s dirty?”

“Sang Yu definitely doesn’t like him. I heard their relationship is awful; it’s probably all just for show.”

CRASH.

The sound of a porcelain plate shattering exploded near Ming Huaizhi. The noise startled the group across from him, and they looked around in panic.

Ming Huaizhi walked over slowly, his fingers trembling slightly and his lips pale. “You are guests in my home, yet you use the filthiest words to maliciously slander me. Is this your idea of politeness?”

The group hadn’t expected Ming Huaizhi to hear everything. For a moment, their expressions were awkward, but they showed no remorse.

Sang Lin smiled then. “Brother Tang, they were just joking. You should be more broad-minded. Besides… is this really your home?”

Ming Huaizhi looked him in the eye. “If it’s not my home, is it yours? A joke is only a joke if the person being joked about finds it funny.”

Sang Lin was about to say something when his gaze suddenly froze. He knew “Ming Yantang” reasonably well; if this blew up, Ming Yantang wouldn’t necessarily come out on top. First, the nasty things they said were things Ming Yantang would surely find too embarrassing to repeat to Sang Yu. Second, with so many high-profile guests today, if Ming Yantang’s famous temper flared up and he caused a scene, Sang Yu would definitely feel he had lost face.

Sang Lin looked at Ming Huaizhi and suddenly softened his tone. “Brother Tang, let me apologize to you then. I feel very uncomfortable that this happened, too.”

Just as Ming Huaizhi was about to speak, a voice appeared behind him: “What are you doing?”

He turned around immediately to find Sang Yu and his friends. Shang Chen looked at the shattered plate on the ground with a shocked expression, standing behind Sang Yu with Zhong Xian to observe the situation. Sang Yu’s face was clearly dark, his gaze toward the group filled with impatience.

Before Ming Huaizhi could speak, Sang Lin spoke first. “My friends were just joking and accidentally upset Brother Tang. He… he threw a plate at us.”

“I didn’t throw it at you,” Ming Huaizhi explained slowly. “I was just angry.”

Sang Lin stepped forward, affectionately grabbing Ming Huaizhi’s arm, looking like he was about to cry. “I’m sorry, this was our fault. I’ll apologize on their behalf. All of my brother’s friends are downstairs; let’s not make a scene, okay?”

Seeing this, Young Master Chen also looked at Sang Yu pitifully. “Brother Yu, I really was just joking. I didn’t expect Brother Tang to lose his temper suddenly.”

Sang Yu didn’t say anything; he just looked at Ming Huaizhi.

Ming Huaizhi wrenched his arm out of Sang Lin’s grasp, his fingers still shaking. “If you were truly a kind and upright person, you would have corrected your friends when they were insulting me, but you didn’t. Instead, you twisted the truth to say I threw a plate at you. I will not forgive someone as unreasonable as you.”

“Brother Tang— I—”

“What did they say about you?” Sang Yu’s eyes were dark, and the atmospheric pressure around him dropped significantly.

When Ming Huaizhi looked at Sang Yu, the rims of his eyes suddenly turned red, like a cat that had been deeply wronged. He walked to Sang Yu’s side, took his large hand in his small one, and slowly pulled him toward a nearby staircase landing.

Although confused, Sang Yu followed.

In front of everyone, Ming Huaizhi stood on his tiptoes and whispered everything they had said into Sang Yu’s ear, word for word.

Young Master Chen and the others waited anxiously, not knowing what he was saying.

After finishing, Ming Huaizhi looked up at Sang Yu with total trust in his eyes. In his heart, he was certain Sang Yu would believe him and stand up for him.

Sang Yu met his gaze, then turned to the others, his eyes becoming increasingly cold. “Are you looking for a death wish?”