I Became a Heartthrob After Marrying in My Sister's Place - Chapter 18.2

Chapter 18.2

Sang Yu’s tone was polite but distant: “It’s what I should do. Today is just a gathering; there’s no need for that drinking culture.”

Gu Ci smiled secretly, not expecting Lu Zilin to be so unsophisticated.

It wasn’t a business drink, yet he was “drinking first as a toast.”

Lu Zilin awkwardly put down his glass: “Okay.”

Gu Ci then asked with a smile: “Mr. Sang, where did you go to university? I remember my school was very close to yours.”

He had seen it when searching for Sang Yu’s information that the man had graduated from a world-renowned university, located on the same block as his own alma mater.

Sang Yu raised an eyebrow slightly: “Since you know our schools are close, you should know the name of my alma mater.”

Gu Ci froze: “…I was afraid I’d remember it wrong.”

[Hahaha, interesting.]

[Sang Yu really likes roasting people hhh.]

[I’m actually speechless?]

[This CEO has an interesting soul!]

[Look, everyone is chatting, while only two foodies are focused on eating.]

Ming Huaizhi and Jing Lan were both quiet types. Faced with all sorts of delicacies, the two were already stuffed.

Jing Lan was a minor artist from a poor family. She hadn’t made much money since signing with an agency and had never eaten such fine Western food. She didn’t know how to handle the various complex and new things and was afraid of being mocked.

Fortunately, she was sitting across from Ming Huaizhi.

For every dish, Ming Huaizhi would quietly invite her to share, and he even helped her with the complicated crabs, calling it “gentlemanly behavior.”

When the sake was served with the white fish, Ming Huaizhi also helped her pour it.

In Jing Lan’s eyes, he was like an elegant prince.

Seeing Ming Huaizhi focused on eating with puffed-out cheeks, Sang Yu leaned in slightly and pointed to another plate without hesitation: “This kind of crab is delicious.”

Ming Huaizhi’s eyes lit up, and he gave Sang Yu a shy smile.

[I actually want to ship them!]

[Oh my god, so sweet. Sang Yu really seems different toward Ming Yantang.]

[Did you notice? Ming Yantang is peeling crab for Jing Lan! He’s so warm!]

[What kind of brainwashing was I under to think Ming Yantang was the “evil flower” of the entertainment industry?]

[Evil flower my foot; he’s clearly a polite and beautiful little angel.]

As dinner concluded, the day’s livestream ended on time.

Lu Zilin and Gu Ci were the first to leave, though before going, they lingered and hinted at exchanging contact info with Sang Yu.

Sang Yu pretended not to understand and ignored them.

Now, only Song Yi remained. He looked at Ming Huaizhi, seemingly having something to say.

“Yantang, I want to give you something.”

Song Yi took a wristwatch from his pocket: “I’m sorry I didn’t win that watch at the charity gala. It’s almost your seventh anniversary since debut; consider this my gift.”

Song Yi said this in front of Sang Yu without any reservation.

A car stopped in front of them at that moment. After the drivers got out, they waited respectfully for Sang Yu.

Ming Huaizhi shook his head at Song Yi: “Thank you, but I can’t take it.”

“Why—” Song Yi’s tone was a bit anxious, quite different from his usual gentle and refined image. “Didn’t you say I could still be your friend.”

Before he could finish the last few words, Sang Yu grabbed his arm. Using his advantage in height and strength, he instantly pulled him away from Ming Huaizhi.

“Get in the car first.”

Ming Huaizhi glanced at Sang Yu’s driver and, without hesitation, left immediately.

“Yantang—”

Song Yi wanted to follow, but Sang Yu blocked him.

“Can’t you see he doesn’t want to talk to you?” Sang Yu was in a good mood today, but Song Yi had ruined it. “Since you’re a friend, you should have the boundaries of a friend. Don’t force yourself on him; it makes you look very cheap.”

Song Yi’s gaze turned cold: “Our business is not for Mr. Sang to judge.”

Sang Yu gave a smirk: “How do you know it’s not? From now on, I’m the one looking after him.”

Song Yi’s eyes widened, and the suspicion he had during dinner became even more solid: “Are you Yantang’s boyfriend?”

“I’m his brother-in-law.”

Sang Yu unhurriedly adjusted his cuffs and walked away coolly.

Song Yi stood there for a long time before finally looking away.

…

Inside the car, Ming Huaizhi was like a little quail, looking at Sang Yu obediently: “Well? Did you say something?”

Sang Yu leisurely pressed a button in the back seat and opened a cup of coffee. When he turned to look at Ming Huaizhi, the other’s misty eyes were still focused on him.

For some reason, after a short day’s trip to Singapore, Sang Yu felt he hadn’t seen Ming Huaizhi for a long time.

He even felt a strong sense of longing.

Looking at the face that had kept him awake at night, his voice was deep: “He asked me what right I had to interfere in your business.”

“What did you say?” Ming Huaizhi followed up.

“I said, I’m your brother-in-law.”

Ming Huaizhi froze, his eyes filled with surprise: “You… you really said that to him?”

“Yeah.” Sang Yu showed no shame and even leaned closer to Ming Huaizhi: “By the way, your brother doesn’t have a partner, right?”

Ming Huaizhi didn’t react for a moment and nodded blankly: “No.”

Sang Yu: “If he doesn’t, how about you introduce him to me to be my boyfriend?”

“Be your boyfriend?” A flash of shyness crossed Ming Huaizhi’s normally clear eyes. “How… How could he be your boyfriend.”

Unlike the seriousness during dinner, Sang Yu now had the air of a carefree playboy: “You said your brother isn’t as good-looking as you, but I don’t believe it. I think your brother must have a very obedient and gentle personality.”

Although Sang Yu was praising Ming Huaizhi, the latter’s mind was in a mess. He felt Sang Yu must be joking; otherwise, why would he want to date him?

“My brother doesn’t want to date for now.”

Ming Huaizhi curled up by the car door, his bright eyes holding an unprecedented worry.

If Sang Yu really wanted to date the “brother,” their identities would be exposed before his brother could even return from abroad.

The air in the car was fresh, but that faint jasmine scent was becoming thinner. Sang Yu leaned back, observing Ming Huaizhi’s back. Though he couldn’t see the other’s expression, he could guess the other must be worried about being found out.

Half an hour later, the car drove into the manor.

Sang Yu noticed that Ming Huaizhi was leaning listlessly in the corner between the window and the seat, like a wilted kitten.

“What’s wrong?” Sang Yu hurried over.

Ming Huaizhi murmured: “The dancing was too tiring today. My legs feel weak now.”

Sang Yu teased him: “What? Want me to carry you?”

Ming Huaizhi laughed openly: “That’s not what I meant. You’ve been flying for so long; you must be tired too.”

Sang Yu wanted to say more, but he said nothing.

Ming Huaizhi’s gaze was very gentle.

…

After putting down his luggage, Sang Yu took out the Ragdoll cat plushie and knocked on the other’s bedroom door.

Ming Huaizhi was about to take a shower and ran over barefoot.

As soon as the door opened, Sang Yu saw Ming Huaizhi’s bare feet, and his brow instantly furrowed: “Why aren’t you wearing shoes?”

Ming Huaizhi looked at his toes and replied slowly: “I forgot; I didn’t want to make you wait too long.”

Sang Yu’s expression softened. He immediately reached out his right arm to scoop up Ming Huaizhi by the waist and carried him to the bed.

Ming Huaizhi felt like a little piglet.

“Remember to wear shoes next time.” Sang Yu stood before him and handed him the plushie: “Given on the plane do you want it?”

“Yes!”

The Ragdoll cat plushie was beautiful and delicate. To think an airline would give away such a nice toy.

Ming Huaizhi leaned it against his face, rubbing it gently.

Seeing how much he liked it, Sang Yu was also satisfied: “By the way, didn’t you say you wanted to go camping? I have time this weekend; do you want to go?”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Ming Huaizhi was so happy he could fly. Kneeling on the bed, he looked up: “Do I need to prepare anything? Should I make bento?”

“No, you don’t need to prepare anything.”

Sang Yu’s mood brightened along with Ming Huaizhi’s: “Go to sleep early. Goodnight.”

Ming Huaizhi held the toy on his lap and made a grateful little heart shape with his arms toward Sang Yu: “Thank you.”

Seeing the hand heart, Sang Yu’s gaze darkened slightly.

It seems the little dummy really loves me.

…

Finally, the weekend arrived. In the morning, Ming Huaizhi boarded an RV with Sang Yu, his small backpack on. He found that a few of Sang Yu’s friends were also coming along.

He knew Shang Chen and Zhong Xian, and he had seen two others at the bar, but one refined-looking young man was a new face.

“Chen Nan’s family bought land in the suburbs and created an outdoor camping spot; we’re going to check it out today.”

Ming Huaizhi nodded and sat beside Sang Yu.

He was dressed very casually today in a white outdoor tracksuit that was light and comfortable, making his aura look even cleaner and more tranquil.

When Shang Chen turned back, he caught Ming Huaizhi’s smile.

He scratched his head awkwardly and looked at Ming Huaizhi a few more times.

With a thud, Shang Chen’s seat was kicked.

Sang Yu had his legs crossed: “What are you looking at?”

Shang Chen complained: “Looking at the big star, what else? You?”

The young man beside Shang Chen smiled at that.

Gu Zhou: “Sang Yu, long time no see. You still like bullying him.”

Sang Yu raised his eyes slightly: “Long time no see.”

Gu Zhou was a college classmate of Sang Yu and Shang Chen. They were close, but he had gone abroad for further study last year and hadn’t met for a year.

Gu Zhou took the initiative to greet Ming Huaizhi: “Can I call you Xiao Tang? I’m Gu Zhou, Sang Yu’s classmate.”

Ming Huaizhi replied politely: “Hello, Brother Gu.”

The RV moved slowly along the highway.

Gu Zhou and Shang Chen were chatting happily about things from university. Ming Huaizhi found it interesting to listen to. He took a bag of nuts from his backpack and began to crack and peel them.

Gu Zhou would glance at Sang Yu from time to time, but Sang Yu was always looking down at his phone. Hiding his complicated emotions, Gu Zhou continued to chat and laugh.

“You’re eating so much; aren’t you afraid of getting ‘internal heat’?”

The sound by his ear was so crisp that Sang Yu felt like there was a little squirrel constantly eating while he was trying to nap.

This comment made everyone across from them look over.

Ming Huaizhi continued to peel seriously: “I’m not eating that much.”

Sang Yu looked at the nearly empty bag: “Not that many?”

Dimples appeared on Ming Huaizhi’s fair face. He pulled a handful of shelled nuts from his pocket: “I saved these for you. I wanted to wait until you weren’t busy.”

Ming Huaizhi’s hands were very small, making a stark contrast in Sang Yu’s palm. As the nuts fell into his hand, Sang Yu ate one and suddenly raised an eyebrow: “You’re using both your mouth and hands; there won’t be any of your spit in here, right?”

Ming Huaizhi shook his head slightly: “No.”

Sang Yu pressed: “Why not?”

Ming Huaizhi: “The ones that are hard to peel, I eat them myself. The easy ones go in my pocket.”

Sang Yu deliberately nitpicked: “What if you mixed them up?”

This question stumped Ming Huaizhi.

“I’m not sure.” He lowered his eyelashes and said cautiously, “Then maybe you shouldn’t eat them.”

Seeing him take it seriously, Sang Yu stopped teasing: “Forget it, I’ll eat them all.”

In a few bites, he finished all the nuts.

Zhong Xian, being observant, signaled to the others: “Sang Yu is so childish; the more he likes someone, the more he bullies them.”

Gu Zhou looked at Zhong Xian: “Didn’t they say… Sang Yu and the Ming family’s son have a marriage of convenience?”

Zhong Xian stopped talking and looked forward meaningfully.

…

The camping site was a distance from the RV parking area. Everyone had to carry pots, tents, food, and other resources on foot.

Shang Chen and Sang Yu got out early to organize the supplies.

“The tents and daily necessities for you and Ming Yantang are ready.”

Sang Yu felt the weight: “This heavy?”

“Two tents, of course it’s heavy,” Shang Chen grumbled.

“Two tents?” Sang Yu was clearly dissatisfied.

“Duh, you’re in a marriage of convenience. Did you want to crawl into the same sleeping bag tonight?”

Sang Yu was amused and annoyed: “Mind your own business.”

Shang Chen saw something was up: “You haven’t actually fallen for him, have you? You said just a few days ago you weren’t interested.”

Sang Yu said as he packed: “I don’t like him, but he likes me too much, so I’ve decided to give him a chance to pursue me.”

Shang Chen looked speechless, clearly not believing it.

Before long, everyone got off and started carrying things.

Ming Huaizhi was the first to run to Sang Yu’s side, opening his arms ready to receive something. However, after Sang Yu had distributed everything to the others, Ming Huaizhi’s arms were still empty.

The last item was the heaviest, and Sang Yu picked it up himself.

“Sang Yu, I don’t have anything.”

Ming Huaizhi tried to take Sang Yu’s items, but Sang Yu dodged: “It’s a two-kilometer walk. With your thin arms and legs, if you get hurt, you’ll definitely blame me.”

“I won’t.” Ming Huaizhi frowned slightly, still wanting to help. “I want to help too.”

Seeing his serious expression, Sang Yu finally handed a shiny pot to Ming Huaizhi and, at his strong insistence, added five pounds of mutton.

Once Ming Huaizhi had the pot, he held it in his arms with a great sense of accomplishment. Sang Yu teased him: “Don’t sneakily eat the mutton on the way.”

Ming Huaizhi let out a laugh: “Are you silly?”

Sang Yu: “…?”

Ming Huaizhi: “How can I eat it raw?”

Sang Yu, who had been called silly for the first time: “…”

By the time they reached the campsite, it was already afternoon.

The bathrooms and showers were within a kilometer, which was quite convenient.

The cicadas were loud around them. The dense forest and meadows were fresh and pleasant. Ming Huaizhi looked into the distance and closed his eyes in enjoyment, feeling the freedom of the outdoors.

Without Sang Yu, it would have probably taken a long time for him to realize these wishes.

“I’ll do the BBQ. Sang Yu, you guys go fishing.”

“Alright.”

Hearing that Sang Yu was going fishing, Ming Huaizhi naturally wanted to follow. Gu Zhou joined them as well. At the riverbank, Sang Yu set up the fishing rods. Ming Huaizhi, having never done it before, watched obediently.

“What do fish eat?”

Sang Yu: “Rotten meat attracts them most.”

Ming Huaizhi nodded: “Oh.”

Sang Yu: “But they also like ones as clean and fair as you.”

Ming Huaizhi said seriously: “But you can’t hang me on the hook.”

Sang Yu loved teasing him: “We could try.”

As the two bantered, Gu Zhou was left standing alone. Once fishing began, Ming Huaizhi sat on a small stool while the other two sat on the ground.

Sang Yu had brought the stool, but he only brought one.

Ming Huaizhi’s mind wandered as he looked at Sang Yu from the side, unaware that Sang Yu was noticing his every move.

Sang Yu was fishing.

It seems his profile looks good too.

Half an hour passed. Sang Yu and Gu Zhou’s baskets were almost full, while there was no movement on Ming Huaizhi’s end.

Sang Yu glanced at Ming Huaizhi’s basket. Ming Huaizhi immediately moved the empty basket to the side where Sang Yu couldn’t see.

He lowered his head, his face burning with embarrassment.

Sang Yu asked deliberately: “How many have you caught?”

Ming Huaizhi stammered and said nothing.

Gu Zhou looked over at him then: “Tangtang hasn’t fished before; it’s normal not to catch anything.”

“Thank you, Brother Gu.” Ming Huaizhi gripped the fishing rod tightly with his right hand, but the more nervous he got, the quieter it became on his end.

After a long while, Sang Yu asked: “Need me to teach you?”

Ming Huaizhi’s beautiful, nervous eyes looked at Sang Yu: “Okay.”

Sang Yu put down his rod and walked straight to him.

“Your shadow is right over the water here. If you move, the fish will naturally be wary.”

Sang Yu took him to a new spot and half-knelt beside him: “Next, shall I teach you how to cast?”

Ming Huaizhi: “Okay.”

Casting was hard to teach from the side; he needed to hold Ming Huaizhi’s arm and help him find the rhythm.

Standing behind Ming Huaizhi, Sang Yu bent his knees slightly, easily encircling Ming Huaizhi’s small frame in his broad chest.

He kept an eye on Ming Huaizhi, but there was no unusual reaction.

Ming Huaizhi was so small, tucked into the curve of Sang Yu’s arm. Fearing he would distract Sang Yu, he didn’t dare move at all.

This embrace wasn’t unfamiliar. He remembered that the night he fell while dancing, it was also Sang Yu who caught him.

“This is called ‘twitching the rod.'”

Sang Yu’s arm rested over Ming Huaizhi’s, leading him through the movements again and again.

Just as Ming Huaizhi was about to speak, Sang Yu suddenly said: “Shh, a fish is coming.”

Sang Yu looked serious. His handsome profile was sharp and well-defined, with a high bridge of the nose and deep-set eyes, looking like a fashion model.

This was the first time Ming Huaizhi had smelled Sang Yu’s scent. It was a very pleasant lime and mint fragrance.

At that moment, a fish took the bait. Sang Yu quickly raised the rod, and a fat fish weighing about four or five pounds was pulled up by them.

“Sang Yu, you’re so amazing!”

Ming Huaizhi didn’t dare let go, gripping the rod tightly.

He didn’t notice that Sang Yu’s hand was also firmly over his fingers.

Ming Huaizhi turned to look at Sang Yu and was suddenly stunned.

Sang Yu was looking at him, only ten centimeters apart.

“Sang Yu.”

“Mm.”

Ming Huaizhi’s clear, gentle eyes were right in front of him.

Sang Yu wondered if the other was mesmerized by him.

“There’s a mosquito on your head sucking your blood.”

Sang Yu: “…”

Their laughter caught Gu Zhou’s attention. He looked at them calmly and began packing up his fishing gear alone.

On the way back, Ming Huaizhi carried his fish like a treasure. Seeing that Gu Zhou’s basket was very full, he proactively went over: “Brother Gu, let me carry half for you.”

Gu Zhou politely refused: “No need, it’s not heavy.”

Ming Huaizhi glanced at his basket and didn’t ask further.

He felt that Gu Zhou had some subtle emotions toward him, though not as strong as Lu Zilin and the others.