I Became a Heartthrob After Marrying in My Sister's Place - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Upon hearing those words, Ming Huaizhi’s bright eyes visibly froze for a few seconds. He hurriedly turned around, and upon seeing the familiar face standing before him, he became incredibly nervous, the color draining from his face instantly.

This man’s name was Xiang Yi, his private math tutor.

Because Huaizhi had been in poor health during elementary school, his family had hired private tutors to teach him at home. Since Xiang Yi had also studied psychology in university, Huaizhi’s grandmother worried that a lack of social interaction would lead to psychological barriers and often had Xiang Yi play with him. The two had a very good relationship.

Sang Yu moved his dark gaze away from the man. When he looked back at Ming Huaizhi, he noticed his tense and uneasy expression.

Hidden inside his sleeves, Ming Huaizhi’s fingertips were trembling.

Sang Yu’s brows are knitted together. He guessed this man might be one of the “108 exes,” but seeing Ming Huaizhi scared to this extent, he also found it a bit amusing. It seemed these two had a deep history.

“Should I leave first and let you two chat?” Sang Yu looked at Ming Huaizhi, his tone quite generous.

Ming Huaizhi looked as if he had found a savior; a smile instantly rushed into his round eyes. “Okay!”

Sang Yu stared at his face, his expression gradually hardening.

Soon, heavy footsteps echoed in the corridor. At the corner, that tall, slender figure suddenly stopped. Sang Yu looked back leisurely at the two people conversing, a question rising in his mind.

What did that “108” just call Ming Yantang?

Xiao Zhi?

Spying was a behavior lacking in grace, and Sang Yu disdained it. Soon, he left the area and returned to the private booth.

Seeing Sang Yu return with a murderous aura and without Ming Huaizhi, Shang Chen asked in confusion, “Where’s your wife?”

Sang Yu crossed his long legs casually and downed a mouthful of alcohol. “Ran away.”

Shang Chen: “???”

Sang Yu swept a lazy glance around the room and noticed only three or four people remained; the Xie brothers were no longer there. “Where are those two things?”

Shang Chen understood: “They ran into an acquaintance just now and went to go network.”

“Pfft.” Sang Yu didn’t bother with it further and poured himself a glass of whiskey.

If he hadn’t been worried that Ming Yantang would get bullied if he ran into the Xie brothers again after their six-month split, he wouldn’t have drunk that glass of wine. No matter how arrogant the Xie family was, if he didn’t want to give them face, he wouldn’t.

…

“Teacher, I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

“Yes, Xiao Zhi has grown quite a bit taller.” Xiang Yi leaned against the railing, resting his chin on his hand as he looked at Ming Huaizhi. “You seem a bit chubbier than before, and even better looking.”

From the first time he saw Ming Huaizhi, he could predict how beautiful this student would become. At fifteen, Ming Huaizhi was like an elf. But he had underestimated God’s craftsmanship; the current Ming Huaizhi was far more beautiful than he had imagined.

Ming Huaizhi gave a shy smile, his eyes blooming with gentleness when he looked up. “I have gotten chubbier lately; the food has been exceptionally good.”

“Being a bit chubby is good,” Xiang Yi said warmly. “Are you going away again?”

Ming Huaizhi shook his head. “No.”

Xiang Yi nodded. “Me neither. A college classmate of mine opened a psychological counseling firm domestically and invited me to be a partner.”

Ming Huaizhi praised him sincerely, “That’s amazing.”

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Xiang Yi walked Ming Huaizhi back to the booth. Midway, he asked, “Was that gentleman just now your friend?”

Ming Huaizhi’s expression was conflicted. “My brother’s husband.”

“So that’s how it is.” Xiang Yi teased, “I thought you had a boyfriend. By the way, does Xiao Zhi like boys or girls?”

Ming Huaizhi answered seriously, “Probably boys.”

Xiang Yi smiled quietly. “Goodbye.”

…

Returning to the booth, Ming Huaizhi found Sang Yu chatting with Shang Chen and the others about company operations. The annoying Xie brothers were gone.

There was dinner and fruit on the coffee table. He scanned the spread and set his sights on a piece of eel sushi, preparing to strike. Just as his small hand was about to touch the sushi, Sang Yu snatched it away first and slowly put it in his mouth. Throughout the process, his eyes didn’t move; he continued chatting.

Ming Huaizhi stared blankly at his empty right hand. He aimed for a new target: a serving of cherry foie gras. But just as his hand reached it, Sang Yu was one step faster again, taking the plate and eating them one by one.

Ming Huaizhi sat upright, his eyes continuing to search for food he liked. However, the milky green grapes he wanted were quickly taken by Sang Yu as well.

He simply couldn’t win against Sang Yu. Ming Huaizhi lowered his gaze, stopped picking food, and sat quietly.

Shang Chen saw the subtle tension between the two and, recalling Sang Yu’s words from earlier, smirked. He realized for the first time that his buddy could be so childish. So, he ordered more cherry foie gras.

The waiter knocked and placed the foie gras in front of Ming Huaizhi. Sang Yu glanced at Ming Huaizhi out of the corner of his eye, not planning to take it this time. As expected, Ming Huaizhi had learned his lesson and was the first to pick up the small plate.

However, the plate was unexpectedly handed to Sang Yu.

Sang Yu turned his head. Ming Huaizhi lifted his beautiful eyes, his tone obedient and gentle: “You like eating this, right? Here.”

Sang Yu’s heart felt as if a feather had suddenly drifted into it. Even Shang Chen couldn’t help but let out a “Holy crap.”

Since when did Ming Yantang become such a sweet little angel? He suddenly felt a bit envious of Sang Yu.

Inside the booth, Sang Yu could feel his body temperature quietly rising. Seeing that he hadn’t reacted, Ming Huaizhi gave a silly smile. “Are you full?”

Sang Yu awkwardly withdrew his gaze and looked elsewhere. “Mhm.”

Seeing this, Ming Huaizhi brought the plate back and ate three pieces himself. There was still a lot of food on the table, but most was sashimi or raw food, which Ming Huaizhi generally couldn’t eat.

At this moment, Sang Yu could no longer hear what Shang Chen and the others were discussing; his mind was entirely filled with Ming Huaizhi’s recent gesture. He picked up his iPad and added a few more dishes.

A moment later, several waiters pushed a dining cart in. “The black truffle abalone braised pork and sea cucumber millet porridge you ordered have arrived. The staple is multi-grain rice.”

Everyone in the booth froze for a few seconds.

Shang Chen complained, “You got the wrong room. What kind of idiot orders this stuff while drinking?” The others followed with a burst of laughter.

“I ordered it,” Sang Yu said, his expression cold.

Shang Chen instantly stopped laughing. “Thanks, I’ll keep that in my heart.”

The aroma of the braised meat was rich. Ming Huaizhi didn’t actually understand why everyone was laughing; since the bar provided these dishes, it meant eating braised pork here was normal.

“Go eat,” Sang Yu told Ming Huaizhi. “They’re only drinking. All of that is yours.”

Ming Huaizhi quietly flashed a gentle smile. “Thank you.”

The sauce of the abalone braised pork was the essence; Ming Huaizhi mixed it with the rice and ate it heartily. When others talked, he didn’t interrupt, just listened quietly. Occasionally, when everyone laughed, he would laugh along if he understood.

Sang Yu noticed that the waiters coming to deliver dishes would often steal glances at Ming Huaizhi, their eyes more or less carrying a hint of shyness. He glared at the waiters, but unfortunately, they didn’t receive his signal.

…

By the time the gathering broke up, Ming Huaizhi was very full. Walking through the courtyard, he felt the cool breeze of late spring, and his stomach felt warm and comfortable.

Sang Yu glanced at him, finally unable to hold back the question: “Who was that man earlier?”

Ming Huaizhi: “My math teacher.”

“Math teacher?” Sang Yu looked at him. “University?”

Ming Huaizhi shook his head. “Middle school.”

Sang Yu continued, “Why did he call you Xiao Zhi? Your younger brother is named Ming Huaizhi, right?”

The thing Ming Huaizhi feared had happened. He gave the reason he had prepared in advance: “Because I was in poor health, Grandma found a fortune teller for me. He said I needed to use the ‘Zhi’ with the grass radical as a name, so ‘Xiao Zhi’ became my nickname.”

Ming Huaizhi never used to lie. Even though it was a pre-written excuse, he was still stumbling over his words.

Sang Yu didn’t suspect anything. “I see.”

Ming Huaizhi nodded repeatedly. “Yes.”

Because Sang Yu had been drinking, a driver took them home. Sitting in the back, Ming Huaizhi was extremely sleepy, swaying like a little penguin as the car turned.

“I thought he was your ex-boyfriend,” Sang Yu said suddenly.

Ming Huaizhi laughed at those words. “Not at all. I don’t like that type.”

Sang Yu raised his eyebrows slightly and didn’t press further. It went without saying what “type” the other person liked. Among those 108 ex-boyfriends, he should be considered top-tier in terms of looks, education, and ability. It was only natural for the other to like him.

Just then, the driver hit a sharp turn. Due to inertia, Ming Huaizhi leaned against Sang Yu’s shoulder. Without the interference of alcohol in the booth, the faint scent of jasmine was now particularly obvious.

Ming Huaizhi laughed to himself, “Beep beep, we’ve crashed.”

Sang Yu gave a low laugh. “Is your car a Mini?”

Ming Huaizhi went along with it: “Then what about you? A big truck?”

Sang Yu suddenly frowned. “A truck? Can’t you use a cooler SUV to describe me?”

Ming Huaizhi obediently pulled out his phone. “Then let me search for one.”

At this moment, Sang Yu sensitively caught the driver’s suppressed smile through the rearview mirror. He cursed “to hell with it” in his mind. He had actually fallen for the other’s trap and started discussing such a childish topic.

“Don’t search,” Sang Yu said with a hint of disdain, but his thoughts drifted back to the original question.

Even though Ming Huaizhi’s ideal type was him, he actually wanted to hear from Ming Huaizhi’s own mouth what kind of person he was. However, once this question was asked, would it count as poking a hole in the “window paper” between them?

Despite this, Sang Yu was still excited. He sometimes even thought that if Ming Yantang was willing to become devoted and faithful for him, would he soften his heart and give the other a chance? But real-world examples told him that Ming Yantang wouldn’t.

After a moment, Sang Yu cleared his throat. “Since your math teacher isn’t your ideal type, then what is your ideal type like?”

Ming Huaizhi pursed his lips, his expression very serious. Sang Yu stared at him, waiting for him to speak.

“I like boys who are gentle, about 180cm tall, have double eyelids, and have dimples.”

The reason he described it this way was that he had read a manga when he was eighteen. The male lead in it was both beautiful and upright; that was exactly how he was drawn.

After hearing what the other said, Sang Yu saw his own face clearly through the car window.

Single eyelids. No dimples. Height 189cm. Temperament… average.

Great. He didn’t meet a single one of those four points.

Seeing that he wasn’t speaking, Ming Huaizhi quietly leaned closer, his beautiful, clean eyes full of worry. “Is this kind of ‘Prince’ type boy very hard to find?”

Sang Yu looked at him meaningfully.

Pretending not to care about me, playing hard to get, are we?