I Became a Heartthrob After Marrying in My Sister's Place - Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Ming Huaizhi was completely unaware that Sang Yu was staring at him. Hearing Ming Yantang speak this way, his brow furrowed slightly, and his tone was filled with hesitation: “Can you please rest well first? We can talk about this tomorrow.”

On the other end of the phone, Mother Ming’s voice could be heard.

“He’s right, the doctor said you need quiet rest. You just finished surgery; can we please leave this matter alone for now?”

Ming Yantang’s breathing was heavy, and he ignored his mother’s attempts to soothe him: “Why wait until tomorrow? Is it inconvenient for you now? Or is Sang Yu restricting your freedom?”

If this continued, the secret would surely be out. Ming Huaizhi stole a glance forward, only to meet Sang Yu’s dark, fathomless gaze. His whole body jolted, and his phone nearly slipped from his hand.

“I’m really fine. You rest first, we’ll talk tomorrow.”

Ming Huaizhi quickly hung up the phone.

Before Sang Yu could speak, Ming Huaizhi immediately explained: “It was a friend. He heard I was injured and was extremely worried.”

Sang Yu leaned against the cabinet, his tone meaningful: “Mhm. A friend calls you, and you get this nervous?”

Ming Huaizhi took off the Bluetooth earphone, looking down, completely undaring to look Sang Yu in the eye: “He said he wanted to come to the house to see me. I was afraid he’d find out about our relationship, so I didn’t dare let him come.”

This reason was indeed perfect. Even Sang Yu felt that if he hadn’t known the truth beforehand, he would have been fooled by Ming Huaizhi.

“Then it is indeed better not to let him come over.” Sang Yu let out a low chuckle, walked to the bed, and sat down: “Why aren’t you looking at me?”

Sweat broke out on Ming Huaizhi’s forehead. He hurriedly raised his startled eyes and timidly met Sang Yu’s gaze. Seeing that the younger man was scared to this extent, Sang Yu didn’t press the matter further. He unwrapped the gift on the floor and gave it to Ming Huaizhi.

“Their family’s latest model.”

“Thank you.” Ming Huaizhi hesitated as he opened the box, finding a simple and fashionable men’s diamond bracelet inside. He rarely wore accessories, but he remembered his brother seemed to have a pair from this brand.

Next to the bracelet was a matching key.

Sang Yu picked up the key and opened the bracelet: “Want to wear it?”

Ming Huaizhi liked the bracelet very much and gave a small nod: “I want to.”

Sang Yu looked into his eyes and helped him put it on, then handed the key over to Ming Huaizhi.

“In situations where you can’t wear it, remember to take it off. Besides using the key, the clasp at the end of the bracelet can also be opened at will.”

This bracelet was a couple’s set, one for each person. Sang Yu hadn’t shown his own to Ming Huaizhi yet.

The designer’s inspiration came from the legend of Cupid, believing that couples who believe in love can put them on each other, representing steadfast and unswerving love.

Ming Huaizhi moved his wrist, his attention still fixed on the bracelet. Suddenly, he noticed two letters “yz” engraved on the inside, so he asked Sang Yu: “Why are there two letters here?”

Sang Yu said leisurely: “Your name.”

Ming Huaizhi didn’t think much of it, and the corners of his mouth curled up secretly: “Is this my nickname? But there’s no ‘y’ in my nickname.”

Sang Yu looked at him: “Isn’t your name Ming Yantang? The ‘y’ represents ‘Yan,’ and the ‘z’ represents your nickname (Zhi).”

Ming Huaizhi smiled in realization, stroking the bracelet affectionately. He hadn’t expected Sang Yu to be so thoughtful.

“Thank you for the gift, I like it super much.”

Ming Huaizhi pursed his lips, his lively eyes filling with a smile: “Thank you for specifically going to the mall to get me a gift.”

Sang Yu raised an eyebrow slightly: “You’re thinking too much. I went to buy a watch and just picked it up for you along the way.”

“Regardless, I like it very much.” Facing the dusk, Ming Huaizhi raised his wrist again and shook it. The golden light of the setting sun spilled onto the bracelet, making it shine brilliantly.

At this moment, a stinging sense of guilt gradually rose. Sang Yu was so good to him, yet he was constantly lying to Sang Yu.

The sudden change in Ming Huaizhi’s mood made Sang Yu a bit curious. Withdrawing his gaze from the Bluetooth earphone, Sang Yu asked: “Why are you unhappy again?”

Ming Huaizhi quickly shook his head: “I’m not unhappy.”

Sang Yu couldn’t see through Ming Huaizhi’s thoughts, but he still had to push forward with his own.

“During this time, has living here been comfortable?”

Ming Huaizhi didn’t know why Sang Yu was suddenly asking this, but he nodded seriously: “Very comfortable.”

Sang Yu watched him: “That’s good.”

Ming Huaizhi pressed further: “Why do you ask?”

Sang Yu stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window to overlook the entire estate: “Periodic research. Caring for a partner’s emotions. What if one day you’re unhappy and run away? Where would I go to find you?”

These words made Ming Huaizhi feel very guilty.

He hurriedly said: “How could I run away? Since I promised to help you, I won’t run.”

Sang Yu chuckled, leaning leisurely against the window with his arms crossed: “Really?”

Ming Huaizhi’s gaze was extremely serious, and he raised his right hand: “I swear, I won’t run.”

Sang Yu walked over and leaned down slowly: “I’ll believe you for now.”

The distance between the two was very, very close.

Having gained his trust, Ming Huaizhi smiled sweetly and took the opportunity to raise his arms and give Sang Yu a hug: “Thank you for the gift.”

The jasmine scent seemed to linger for only a few seconds. Sang Yu’s eyes moved slightly, masking his lingering attachment: “Mhm.”

…

 

At the same time, in a distant hospital abroad, Ming Yantang leaned against his pillow, his face weak and pale.

Mother Ming was still trying to persuade him: “Xiao Zhi is in no danger for the time being. He’s told me more than once that Sang Yu is quite good to him.”

“That’s all an illusion!” Indignation swirled in his beautiful, exquisite eyes. Though Ming Yantang was physically weak, his aura was not: “You haven’t interacted with Sang Yu, and you don’t know what the people in Bian City say about him. With Baby’s personality, how could he take my place in an alliance marriage with him? He might get sold and turn around to give the person money.”

Mother Ming didn’t want to provoke his anger at this time: “I’ll discuss this with your father first. You rest well.”

Ming Yantang: “As soon as possible.”

Mother Ming gave him another look and went out to call Father Ming.

Just then, a doctor walked into the ward.

The doctor had very fair skin, wore gold-rimmed glasses, and had a cold expression.

“How are you feeling today?”

Ming Yantang was in a bad mood and closed his eyes lazily: “Fine.”

The doctor recorded the medical history, his somewhat cold phoenix eyes watching Ming Yantang’s every move: “To ensure your health, please keep your emotions stable recently.”

Only then did Ming Yantang slowly open his eyes.

The doctor in front of him was quite good-looking.

He propped himself up, his left leg and right leg crossing leisurely. His wide trouser leg slid down slowly, revealing a section of fair calf that hooked slightly.

“Mr. Doctor, if you want me to be in a good mood, that’s fine. Can I be discharged?”

The doctor met his gaze: “Since you’ve come to our hospital, I must be responsible for you. It’s impossible to be discharged within two months.”

Ming Yantang’s brow raised: “Then I’m afraid my mood won’t be very good.”

The doctor didn’t speak again, just looked into the other’s eyes…

…

 

After dinner, Ming Huaizhi played chess with Sang Yu, then they each returned to their rooms to sleep.

Since he hadn’t woken up until noon today, he wasn’t sleepy. He sat by a bay window, resting his diary on his knees to write.

Just then, Father Ming called: “Xiao Zhi, how have you been lately?”

Ming Huaizhi: “Very good. And you?”

Father Ming: “I’m also very good. It’s just… your mother called me just now and said Xiao Tang wants you to come home now.”

Ming Huaizhi immediately frowned: “I’ll explain to Brother tomorrow. I can’t go back; I still need to help Sang Yu reconcile with Grandma Sang.”

Father Ming sighed slightly: “Is Sang Yu really good to you? From what Xiao Tang says, Sang Yu’s character seems a bit questionable. It’s my lack of ability that led me to think of this way to send you to the Sang family. Otherwise, I’ll go over personally tomorrow to apologize to Sang Yu and take you home.”

Ming Huaizhi grew a bit anxious upon hearing this: “It was wrong of us to lie to Sang Yu in the first place. I’m already very content to be able to help him. Why take me away now? I’m not someone who can’t tell good from bad; he really is a very good person.”

Seeing his persistence, Father Ming didn’t continue to persuade him: “Alright. I remember the contract isn’t a full half-year. If you can complete the task early, the contract can end immediately.”

Ming Huaizhi spoke a few more words with his father. After hanging up, he immediately brought the contract over and read it carefully.

He found that there were many terms in the notes.

One of them was that if Ming Huaizhi could complete the task early, the agreement period could end.

In other words, he wouldn’t have to wait that long.

…

 

On the other side, Sang Yu’s bedroom door was always open, and he was paying attention to the movement on Ming Huaizhi’s side.

Sitting on the sofa, he thought back and forth and decided to assign a few more bodyguards to Ming Huaizhi. Firstly, with the incident with Chairman Bai, the protection for Ming Huaizhi indeed needed to be strengthened. Secondly… if Ming Huaizhi ran away, he would know immediately.

The phone “beeped” and “beeped.”

The butler answered the landline: “Mr. Sang, is there anything you need?”

Sang Yu: “In the coming days, as soon as Ming Huaizhi goes out, report to me immediately, especially if he is carrying luggage.”

Butler: “Understood.”

That night, Sang Yu didn’t sleep much, and even his bedroom door was slightly ajar.

He mocked himself for being obsessed; even if Ming Huaizhi were to run, it certainly wouldn’t be today.

Pouring himself a glass of wine, he leafed through a book out of boredom. Thinking of what was said in Ming Yantang’s phone call, a flare of nameless anger rose.

His judgment was sharp; Ming Yantang was indeed annoying, not forgetting to sabotage his happiness even from a hospital far away.

He and Ming Huaizhi were mutually in love; whose business was it?

How did he become a “businessman who eats people without leaving bones”?

If it weren’t for Ming Huaizhi’s sake, he definitely wouldn’t let Ming Yantang off. In the future, Ming Yantang would surely say more bad things about him in Ming Huaizhi’s ear.

The more Sang Yu thought, the angrier he got.

The clock on the wall already pointed to two in the morning.

Sang Yu set down his wine glass, preparing to sleep.

Just as he took one last look at the door opposite, he noticed a sliver of light slipping through the crack of the door.

He remembered Ming Huaizhi had already fallen asleep. Why would the light suddenly be on?

Enduring his curiosity, he ultimately knocked on the door.

A minute later, Ming Huaizhi ran over: “Sang Yu? You’re not asleep yet?”

Seeing that he wasn’t wearing pajamas, the suspicion in Sang Yu’s heart grew deeper: “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

Ming Huaizhi: “Oh, I just finished watching a movie and couldn’t sleep.”

Sang Yu clearly didn’t believe it, but he still reminded him: “Go to sleep early.”

Ming Huaizhi: “Mm-hmm, goodnight.”

Returning to his own room, Sang Yu’s sleepiness completely vanished. He stared at the crack of the other’s door suspiciously, waiting until the light turned off before finally going to sleep with peace of mind.

…

 

At the board meeting the next day, the directors looked at his dark circles and kindly reminded him: “President Sang manages ten thousand matters a day, but you still need to pay more attention to your health.”

Sang Yu pressed his temples tiredly: “It is my honor to work overtime for the company.”

The directors all cast admiring glances and advised him that if there wasn’t much work today, he should go home early to rest.

Sang Yu said flatly: “Thank you all for your understanding. I’ll go back early today.”

Assistant: “??? When did President Sang ever listen to the board like this?”

In the afternoon, Sang Yu was exceptionally prepared to get off work.

It wasn’t because he was tired, but because he wanted to hurry home to see Ming Huaizhi.

After the disturbance of that phone call yesterday, he had a sense of gain-and-loss anxiety.

He always felt like Ming Huaizhi would leave him the next second.

Furthermore, Ming Huaizhi didn’t sleep until four in the morning yesterday, which was very suspicious.

Just then, the assistant handed him a document: “Chairman Bai has already been taught a lesson over there, but he also left some harsh words, saying he’ll make us pay when he returns to Nanan City.”

Sang Yu was indifferent: “Don’t I know his worth? If he has the ability, let him come.”

Assistant: “That’s not the most important thing. The important thing is that Chairman Bai and Young Master Lin have close cooperation. Because we taught Chairman Bai a lesson, the trade export business managed by Young Master Lin is facing a withdrawal of investment. Young Master Lin… is very angry.”

Sang Yu frowned: “Did he tell Grandma?”

The assistant lowered his voice: “I’m worried he’ll team up with those old fogeys to make trouble. If your grandmother also supports him and gives those ports to him as compensation…”

Sang Yu’s expression gradually darkened: “I understand.”

…

 

Returning home, Sang Yu walked around but didn’t see Ming Huaizhi, and his heartstrings couldn’t help but tighten. Especially when he walked to Ming Huaizhi’s room and saw those several large suitcases sitting out in the open, he instantly panicked.

After hurriedly asking the butler, the butler told him that Ming Huaizhi had been in the first-floor recreation room all day and hadn’t even eaten much.

Sang Yu frowned deeply upon hearing this. Striding to the door of the recreation room, he saw at a glance Ming Huaizhi sitting cross-legged on the carpet, head down, focused intently on manipulating some delicate parts.

Beside him sat several 1:1 scale replicas of luxury sports cars and sedans.

These cars looked familiar to Sang Yu; they were all his cars.

Ming Huaizhi seemed very invested. Wearing a loose white shirt paired with comfortable cotton shorts, he would sometimes lie on the carpet to test the car engines, and sometimes use tiny Lego pieces to piece together a steering wheel bit by bit.

These mechanical cars were made block by block, requiring extreme patience and skill. With a moment of carelessness, all effort would be wasted. Finished models like these were almost all limited editions and not for sale.

When Ming Huaizhi finished the last sports car, he lifted the model and stretched his body. a small section of slender waist was slowly revealed, his skin glowing white.

Seeing that the other hadn’t noticed him yet, Sang Yu knocked on the door.

Ming Huaizhi turned his head, instantly brightening with a radiant smile, his two dimples very deep: “Sang Yu, why are you back so early?”

Sang Yu walked over and half-squatted: “What are you playing with?”

Ming Huaizhi’s eyes held a trace of bashfulness. He gently gave the several sports cars their final posing and placed them on the track.

“They all say boys like cars. When I came over, I brought some Lego and mechanical parts, so I wanted to make a few mechanical Lego cars to give to you.”

Sang Yu looked at Ming Huaizhi’s eyes, which were red from staying up late, and suddenly realized something: “You didn’t stay up all night, did you?”

Ming Huaizhi hurriedly rubbed his eyes: “I didn’t. I worked on them for a while last night, but I went to sleep soon.”

With that, he pressed a switch in his hand to demonstrate the driving program of the mechanical cars.

The drive system inside contained a patent he had researched with his mentor. Usually, it was used for small robots, but it fit perfectly here.

“Why did you suddenly want to give me this?” Sang Yu looked at him, his voice deep. So yesterday the other hadn’t slept all night because he was preparing this.

“You… you don’t like it?” Ming Huaizhi’s bright eyes suddenly grew despondent, and his spirited look from just now gradually vanished: “I remembered there were car models like this in your room and thought you liked them.”

Actually, the main thing was that after he received Sang Yu’s gift yesterday, he had secretly checked the price. That bracelet was a high-end custom piece and very expensive. He wanted to return a gift of equal value to Sang Yu, but he didn’t have that much money at all.

“If you don’t like it, it’s okay. When I have money, I can take you to pick out a gift you like.”

As he reached the end, Ming Huaizhi’s voice grew smaller and smaller.

Looking at the other’s cautious appearance, Sang Yu’s mood was sour and complex. His chest felt as if it were blocked by something, so uncomfortable it was about to overflow.

“I like it very much. I was just curious why you would give me such a grand gift.”

Seeing that Sang Yu didn’t seem to be lying, Ming Huaizhi breathed a secret sigh of relief, and his fingers, which were reddened from the parts, relaxed gently: “Courtesy demands reciprocity. I also wanted to give you a gift you’d favor.”

“The tie from last time was quite good.”

“The tie?” Ming Huaizhi’s eyes crinkled in a smile: “A tie doesn’t count as a grand gift.”

Sang Yu noticed that the other’s hair, which was usually combed meticulously, was a bit messy today—likely because he was too hurried with the work in his hands to tidy up. His gaze fell, landing squarely on those reddened fingers. His heart felt as if it had been struck heavily.

“Working like this without sleep or rest… and with your poor health, if something happened, would you depend on me for the rest of your life?”

Ming Huaizhi replied good-naturedly: “I won’t. I won’t extort you.”

Sang Yu chuckled, unable to resist ruffling his hair: “That’s not for certain.”

With that, he took an unlimited credit card out of his leather wallet: “Last time when playing snooker, I promised in front of so many people to hand over my salary. In the future, if you go out and can’t afford this or that, people will say I’m stingy.”

Ming Huaizhi shook his head slowly: “Then I won’t go out with people anymore.”

Sang Yu placed it in his palm: “Use it. The contract says it; I was supposed to provide financial support for you anyway.”

Ming Huaizhi still shook his head: “I have money, just not a lot. Besides, I don’t have many places to spend money. I usually eat and wear things at home.”

The other’s persistence led Sang Yu to deliberately misinterpret: “Are you dissatisfied because it’s not a salary card?”

Ming Huaizhi hurriedly explained: “I didn’t mean that.”

Sang Yu took out his salary card: “Password 523674. My salary card.”

Ming Huaizhi frowned, looking up slightly: “Sang Yu, I really don’t want it.”

This time Sang Yu didn’t say much more, placing it directly into Ming Huaizhi’s pocket: “How about this? All these cars can move, right? Let’s race. Whoever wins, the other listens to them.”

Ming Huaizhi was drawn in by his words, slowly crawling over to the cars and starting to introduce his little inventions.

“Sang Yu, I’m not bragging, but if you have these cars, you’ll be like a god in the eyes of your friends who like collecting model cars.”

Sang Yu couldn’t help but smile: “I don’t quite believe that.”

Ming Huaizhi: “Then you pick. Let’s race.”

Sang Yu picked a Rolls-Royce: “All these cars were designed by you. You don’t have some secret program, do you?”

Ming Huaizhi sat up straight and said seriously: “In a competition, integrity comes first.”

Sang Yu picked up the remote: “Fine, integrity first.”

Five minutes later, the two each operated a car and began the race. The rules were simple: best out of three.

Just then, Father Ming arrived at the gates of the estate and walked in with the butler.

Father Ming had hesitated for a long time but still planned to come see Ming Huaizhi personally and talk with Sang Yu about the contract.

Today Ming Yantang had only been awake for a short while before falling back into a deep sleep. However, according to Mother Ming, Ming Yantang remained very resolute about having Ming Huaizhi return to the Ming family immediately.

The butler said with a smile: “President Sang is playing a game with Young Master Ming; the two of them are playing very happily.”

Father Ming’s eyes were full of surprise: “Really? President Sang likes playing games?”

The butler’s smile was kind: “President Sang doesn’t like playing games, but it depends on who the partner is.”

Father Ming was left bewildered by the butler’s words as he followed him past the Sang family fountain and into the hall.

Inside the recreation room, the two had already finished two rounds.

Each had won one round; they were tied.

The tense and exciting final round was currently underway.

Ming Huaizhi had been sitting here all day and was particularly tired. Right now he wanted to find a pillow to lean on for a bit, but after thinking for a while and finding no suitable place, he could only thump his lower back with his small fist and continue to sit up straight for the competition.

In the final round, he absolutely had to win against Sang Yu.

Sang Yu turned his head then, his voice lazy: “Tired?”

Ming Huaizhi frowned softly: “Mhm.”

Sang Yu raised his arm: “Lean on me.”

Ming Huaizhi hadn’t wanted to at first because it would affect Sang Yu’s performance in the competition. But thinking about that salary card, his own selfishness was at play—he wanted to win the race. So, with ulterior motives, he leaned over, resting his head completely in the crook of Sang Yu’s arm, and gave an affectionate rub, wanting to make the other feel itchy.

After doing it all, he buried his head in annoyance.

He was too wicked.

However, in Sang Yu’s eyes, his words and actions were the unspoken understanding of a secret crush.

It seemed Ming Huaizhi was using every means to get close to him, making his heart race.

Sang Yu swept away the gloom from today’s work, and his mood grew better and better.

The race began, and Ming Huaizhi quickly pressed the program, staring intently at his racing car.

Suddenly, with a bang.

Sang Yu’s racing car pinned him into a corner.

Ming Huaizhi instinctively huffed: “Sang Yu!”

The culprit Sang Yu was unhurried, racing leisurely to the finish line.

“I won.”

Sang Yu looked sideways at Ming Huaizhi on his shoulder: “It’s a deal then. My salary card is yours.”

Witnessing the whole scene, Father Ming stood outside the door, feeling somewhat dazed.

What was the situation between these two?

How was it that even a salary card had been handed over?