I Became a Heartthrob After Marrying in My Sister's Place - Chapter 25

Chapter 25

The fingers that had been leisurely swaying on Sang Yu’s knee paused slightly. Being stared at so openly by Ming Huaizhi, a flicker of something unusual flashed in his eyes: “Why ask so suddenly?”

Ming Huaizhi said simply: “Because you asked me for exclusive perks. Usually, when someone is interested in another person but is too shy to say it out loud, they say things in a roundabout way like that.”

Sang Yu raised an eyebrow slightly: “Shy to say it? I’m supporting your business and boosting your sales; how does asking for a perk translate to being interested in you?”

Ming Huaizhi let out an “oh”: “Then I understand. You don’t like me.”

“I” Sang Yu turned his face away, opened the car window, and irritably tugged at his collar: “You ask me so suddenly, yet you haven’t made a corresponding commitment. If I were to say I like you, what do you plan to do?”

Ming Huaizhi was stunned.

He thought for a moment and said seriously: “Thank you for your liking.”

Sang Yu grew slightly anxious: “That’s it?”

Ming Huaizhi said blankly: “Mm-hmm.”

With a complex look in his dark eyes, Sang Yu crossed his legs and stopped looking at him, opening the car window fully to let the wind pour into the car.

The stray hair on top of Ming Huaizhi’s head was blown into a mess. He covered his head with both hands, silently watching Sang Yu. Sang Yu seemed angry, but he didn’t know why.

Along the way, Sang Yu didn’t speak to Ming Huaizhi again. After returning to the house, he slammed his door with quite the flair of a rebellious teenage boy.

While Ming Huaizhi stood before Sang Yu’s door, hesitating and conflicted, his phone rang. The caller was Ming Yantang.

“Brother!” Ming Huaizhi ran back to his room, holding the phone excitedly.

Ming Yantang’s voice was clear and pleasant, with a hint of laziness: “I heard from Sister Chen that you sold 250 million worth of jewelry today?”

Ming Huaizhi curled his lips: “Yes! But it was all bought by Sang Yu and the friends he brought.”

Ming Yantang’s tone lifted noticeably: “Baby, let me ask you, why didn’t you come home when Dad wanted to bring you back?”

Ming Huaizhi: “Because I want to help Sang Yu ease the relationship between him and his grandmother. I’ll leave only after I finish the task.”

This time, Ming Yantang paused for two seconds: “So that’s how it is. I thought it was because you were reluctant to leave Sang Yu.”

Ming Huaizhi thought seriously for a moment: “If the day comes to part, I would indeed be reluctant to leave Sang Yu. Because he is really good to me. It would be great if the two of us could continue being friends.”

Ming Yantang crossed his legs and thought slowly: “Baby, I know Sang Yu’s character better than you do. For a person like him, it’s better to stay away. I will return to the country as soon as possible, and I will fulfill the rest of the contract.”

Ming Huaizhi frowned: “You should recover first. You can only leave when the doctor says so.”

Ming Yantang smiled and did not respond.

After chatting for a few more minutes, the two hung up.

Only then did Ming Yantang notice the doctor standing by his bed, seriously recording the medical history.

This doctor was not his primary physician, but during this period of hospitalization, he came over almost every day.

His gaze lingered on the doctor’s fair and slender fingertips, and he gave a meaningful smile: “Mr. Doctor, are you my attending physician?”

The doctor wasn’t wearing glasses today but wore a mask. Those brown peach-blossom eyes were somewhat cold; he didn’t look like someone who enjoyed talking.

“No.”

Ming Yantang rested his arms behind his head and continued to study the other party: “You must be Chinese too, right?”

The doctor put on his stethoscope, gently lifted Ming Yantang’s hospital gown, and leaned down: “Privacy issue, I decline to answer.”

The two were very close; Ming Yantang could even smell the scent of detergent on the other’s clothes.

He smiled faintly, looking at the person right in front of him, his beautiful lips parting and closing: “Then how should I address you? You can at least tell me that, right?”

Doctor: “My surname is Ye.”

Ming Yantang smiled: “Doctor Ye, is my heart beating fast?”

The doctor slowly met his gaze: “You need proper rest. If you sneak out again, you will bear the consequences yourself.”

Yesterday, Ming Yantang was bored in the ward and quietly went to the courtyard in his wheelchair to soak up the sun. After being discovered by Mother Ming, he was nagged at length, and the medical team responsible for him almost locked the room. It took a lot of talking for him to put the matter to rest.

Ming Yantang’s eyes were innocent: “Doctor Ye, but I’m very bored.”

Doctor Ye’s voice was cold: “Then find something for yourself to do.”

Watching him leave, Ming Yantang slowly turned on the TV: “This person is quite interesting.”

…

The night was very deep, and Sang Yu was tossing and turning in his large bed.

What exactly did Ming Huaizhi mean?

What does “Thank you for your liking” mean?

Isn’t that a way to reject someone?

Or is it that during this period, Ming Huaizhi felt he couldn’t catch up to him, so he planned to give up?

But the meaning of the bracelet he gave was beyond obvious. If Ming Huaizhi just searched for the meaning of bracelets online and pondered the homophone of the letters “yz,” he would know his heart, right?

Sang Yu sat up, his head throbbing.

In the middle of the night, Si Mingchen’s phone vibrated incessantly. Seeing it was Sang Yu, Si Mingchen frowned: “Did something happen?”

Sang Yu knew Si Mingchen’s wife wasn’t home recently and wouldn’t be disturbing the two of them this late, so he called.

“Mingchen, I want to ask you a question.”

Si Mingchen squinted and turned on the desk lamp: “What question?”

Sang Yu: “If someone has been secretly in love with me, but when I ask him what he plans to do if I confess to him, and he answers ‘Thank you for your liking,’ what does that mean?”

Si Mingchen sighed: “You called at 2 AM just to ask me this?”

Sang Yu: “…Yes.”

Si Mingchen: “Either the secret crush you imagined doesn’t exist at all, or he doesn’t like you anymore.”

Sang Yu fell into silence.

Si Mingchen frowned: “What happened between you and Ming Yantang?”

Sang Yu hung up the phone: “Nothing, go back to sleep.”

This time, lying on the bed, Sang Yu was completely sleepless.

He was 95% certain that Ming Huaizhi was retreating and that the secret crush on him was fading away.

He didn’t know if it had anything to do with the phone call from Ming Yantang, but he couldn’t sit still and wait for death.

He wanted to reignite Ming Huaizhi’s love for him.

That night, Sang Yu had his assistant order a pair of proposal diamond rings from a French diamond brand, preparing to find a suitable opportunity to give them to Ming Huaizhi.

…

The next morning, Sang Yu, carrying heavy exhaustion and weariness, had just finished a meeting when he received a gossipy call from Shang Chen.

It turned out that Shang Chen had found out about him calling Si Mingchen last night and came specifically to inquire about him and Ming Huaizhi.

“Aren’t you gossipy?” Sang Yu said crossly.

Shang Chen chuckled: “Don’t be in a hurry, we’re brothers. I came to give you some advice.”

Sang Yu leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed to rest: “Speak your mind.”

Shang Chen: “Don’t I have a house in the suburbs of Haicheng? The ten thousand acres of forest behind the house were bought by our company and many fun things were built. Ghost house exploration, forest survival… There are many projects suitable for couples. If you want to go, I’ll arrange to clear the place now.”

Sang Yu: “Are the accommodation conditions good? I’m worried he might get sick given his health.”

“Tsk tsk tsk, look at how pathetic you are.” Shang Chen couldn’t help but be sarcastic: “I wonder who said they didn’t want to pursue him.”

Sang Yu’s face went cold: “Hanging up.”

“Wait—” Shang Chen said with a smile: “I’m just joking with you. Let’s go together. We’ll stay at my courtyard then; I’ll reserve the rooms with the best conditions for you two in advance.”

Sang Yu noticed a detail: “Fine, I’ll ask about his schedule and let you know then.”

Shang Chen: “OK.”

In the evening, at the Sang family dining room.

“So many fun things? I want to go!” Ming Huaizhi laughed so hard his eyes almost disappeared. “That reality show has five episodes left before it ends. The production team said it will be done over two weeks, and the remaining time is for us to come up with a promotion plan.”

Sang Yu: “Fine, then we’ll go stay for a few days.”

Ming Huaizhi had already started searching for travel guides, even forgetting to eat. Sang Yu reminded him: “Eat first. You can only go if your health is good; if not, stay at home.”

This trick was indeed effective on Ming Huaizhi, and he immediately finished another bowl of white rice.

“By the way, Sang Yu.” Ming Huaizhi told him something important: “I went to play with Grandma today, and Sang Lin went too.”

Sang Yu’s expression turned serious: “And then?”

“He sent me away and whispered something to Grandma.”

“Did you hear it?”

“No, I didn’t dare eavesdrop.”

Sang Yu chuckled: “Fair enough.”

Ming Huaizhi: “But when Sang Lin left, I heard his conversation with the driver. The driver said that since the old lady is so angry this time, there certainly won’t be any ‘good fruit’ for you to eat.”

Sang Yu: “What was Grandma’s attitude?”

Ming Huaizhi: “Grandma’s expression was fine; she continued to discuss the TV series she’s been following lately with me.”

Sang Yu fell into thought: “I see.”

…

Soon, the travel time Ming Huaizhi had been looking forward to arriving. This time, Sang Yu drove personally; the trip was about five hours. To make it convenient for Ming Huaizhi to rest on the road, Sang Yu would take him out to get some fresh air at intervals.

When they were about halfway through the journey, Sang Yu stopped at the foot of a mountain with nice scenery. Ming Huaizhi walked along a stream with him and encountered a large patch of wild mountain fruits.

“Sang Yu, are those fruits edible?” Ming Huaizhi stood under the branches laden with red fruit, his eyes full of anticipation.

The sunlight was piercing; Sang Yu squinted and said: “They’re edible, they just taste a bit sour.”

Ming Huaizhi: “Then let’s try some.”

Sang Yu suddenly discovered that Ming Huaizhi had indeed become very familiar with him, as the way he ordered him around was exceptionally natural.

“Do you take me for Tarzan?” Sang Yu looked at the mountain wall, which was about three meters high. “It’s so high, how can I reach it?”

Ming Huaizhi thought of a way: “You hold me, and I’ll reach.”

This method was indeed feasible. But the redder wild fruits were at the top; the ones within reach in front of them were what remained after others had picked them.

“You really are a little troublemaker.” Sang Yu rolled up his pant legs and said slowly: “I’ll go pick them for you; the ones at the bottom aren’t sweet.”

Actually, Ming Huaizhi just wanted to taste a fruit that could be picked casually, but now Sang Yu planned to climb the mountain to pick them for him. He was absolutely unwilling for such a dangerous act to take place.

“Sang Yu, I’m not eating them anymore.” Ming Huaizhi took Sang Yu’s arm and said worriedly: “Let’s go.”

Sang Yu was already standing at the foot of the mountain, glancing at him: “It’s fine, my rock-climbing level is pretty good; this height is nothing.”

Ming Huaizhi tilted his head up: “But…” Before he could finish, Sang Yu had already easily climbed up several meters.

Looking at the other’s vigorous and agile figure, Ming Huaizhi said in surprise: “Sang Yu, you are so amazing.”

Receiving praise, Sang Yu looked down at Ming Huaizhi; the admiration and approval in the other’s eyes were very obvious.

He gauged the mountain’s shape and leaped powerfully, landing gracefully in front of the reddest wild fruit tree.

Ming Huaizhi clapped: “Sang Yu, you’re so cool.”

Sang Yu cleared his throat and gazed down at Ming Huaizhi: “It’s just average.”

Ming Huaizhi’s eyes were sparkling: “It’s definitely not average. Sang Yu, you are the bravest boy I’ve ever seen.”

Sang Yu seemed satisfied with this title and picked some red fruits for Ming Huaizhi: “Stop with the ‘rainbow farts’ (flattery); it’s just picking some fruit.”

Ming Huaizhi instructed: “Be careful when you come down.”

Just as Sang Yu was preparing to descend, he suddenly discovered there was a mountain path with man-made steps behind the mountain. After hesitating for only two seconds, he jumped back down to the ground along the same way he came in a few steps, then slowly patted the dust off his hands.

Ming Huaizhi had already run to his side: “Sang Yu, you were especially handsome when you were climbing.”

Sang Yu was lost in the series of praises.

“It was alright.”

“Wait” Ming Huaizhi stopped Sang Yu and pulled a wet wipe from his pocket to help wipe the dust off Sang Yu’s clothes. When he gently patted Sang Yu’s waist, Sang Yu was visibly uneasy, his gaze moving along with Ming Huaizhi’s every move.

“Is there any on my face?” Sang Yu suddenly asked.

“Let me see.” Ming Huaizhi stood on his tiptoes, his lively eyes welling with a smile: “On the side of your face, just a little bit.”

“Then help me wipe it off.”

Ming Huaizhi nodded obediently, cupped Sang Yu’s cheek with his left hand, and helped him wipe away the dust with his right: “Clean now.”

“Are you sure there’s nothing on my body?”

“Positive.”

Sang Yu: “Then let’s go.”

On the way back, Ming Huaizhi was fiddling with his phone’s photo album.

Just now, while Sang Yu was climbing the mountain, he had leaned his phone against a rock to record the whole process. It wasn’t for anything else; he just wanted to keep this beautiful memory of him and Sang Yu.

In case Sang Yu didn’t forgive him by then, the two of them might never have such a time together again.

For a moment, Ming Huaizhi felt a bit sad.

He didn’t know if he would encounter someone else in the future who would ignore the danger to pick fruit for him from such a high place.

He sadly set a password for the photo album, his eyelashes slightly moist.

Sang Yu, who was next to him, also caught a glimpse of himself in Ming Huaizhi’s phone album.

Isn’t this the standard tactic of a high school student crushing on someone?

It seemed Ming Huaizhi still had lingering feelings for him.

Sang Yu’s mood was refreshed, and the fatigue from driving all morning completely vanished.

…

After eight hours, the two finally arrived at Shang Chen’s four-sided courtyard house in Haicheng.

After seeing them, Shang Chen pointed at the time on his phone: “Left at eight in the morning and only arrived at four in the afternoon. Did you two come by bicycle?”

Ming Huaizhi, holding a bag of wild mountain fruits, explained for Sang Yu: “Sang Yu went to pick fruits, so it took some time.”

Shang Chen: “Good heavens, so you two were out on a spring outing while coming here.”

At this time, a voice from inside the house interrupted Shang Chen’s words.

“Xiao Ming! I missed you so much! I told you to come on vacation with me, but you refused.”

Ming Huaizhi tilted his head slightly and was suddenly pulled into a full embrace by a young and beautiful man.

“I sent you WeChat messages, why didn’t you reply to me?” Wen Zhi clung to Ming Huaizhi like a koala, but after seeing his face clearly, his smile gradually froze.

Wen Zhi was Si Mingchen’s lover and also Ming Yantang’s best friend.

Ming Huaizhi was clearly flustered. His innocent and panicked look allowed even Shang Chen to detect that something was not quite right.

Sang Yu then took Ming Huaizhi’s hand and pulled him into his arms: “Where is our room? I’ll go change with Xiao Tang first.”

Shang Chen scoffed at the two’s loving appearance: “The room on the east side of the backyard.”

Sang Yu nodded gently and left with Ming Huaizhi in his arms.

Wen Zhi followed behind Sang Yu, looking at the two’s backs curiously.

Inside the room, the light of dusk filled the surroundings.

Ming Huaizhi sat on a chair, feeling restless. Even the snacks and juice Shang Chen had prepared for him remained untouched.

Sang Yu gave him clean clothes: “Go change first. If you don’t feel well, we can have dinner in the room.”

Ming Huaizhi regained his composure: “That wouldn’t be very good. How can we not show up for the first meal?”

Sang Yu: “Fine.”

Their room was a suite, with a study and a bedroom; the restroom and bathroom were next to the study. Since Sang Yu had gotten a lot of dust on him from climbing today, he went to the bathroom to shower first.

At this moment, Wen Zhi knocked on the door: “Xiao Ming, it’s me.”

Ming Huaizhi looked at the figure outside the door hesitantly and went over to open it: “Hello.”

Wen Zhi glanced at the adjacent bathroom: “Is Sang Yu showering?”

Ming Huaizhi nodded: “Yes.”

Wen Zhi chuckled, pulled Ming Huaizhi into the bedroom, and locked the door: “You are Xiao Ming’s younger brother, right?”

Ming Huaizhi’s heart almost stopped from fright. He ran to the window and stammered: “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Wen Zhi sat on the sofa with his legs crossed: “Xiao Ming has a twin brother. I know about this.”

Ming Huaizhi gripped the hem of his clothes, his palms cold.

Sang Yu was right next door. If Sang Yu came out and discovered their conversation, it would surely arouse his suspicion.

Ming Huaizhi lowered his eyes, his behavior tense: “Then why do you think I am my brother?”

Wen Zhi: “I’ve been ‘plastic brothers’ (frenemies) with him for over ten years; how could I not see it?”

Ming Huaizhi was so anxious his voice trembled slightly: “But you don’t have evidence. No one will believe you.”

Wen Zhi was visibly stunned. It seemed the other party had mistaken him for a snitch.

“I won’t tell anyone. I’m one of the good guys.”

Ming Huaizhi’s eyes were already turning red, and he didn’t dare to speak. If this continued, Sang Yu would be coming out soon.

Although Wen Zhi was Ming Yantang’s friend, this was the first time Wen Zhi and Ming Huaizhi had met.

He didn’t expect the “precious baby” in Ming Yantang’s words to be so obedient.

He quickly stood up, walked over to comfort him: “I won’t tell on you. I just want to know where Xiao Ming went.”

Ming Huaizhi didn’t understand Wen Zhi’s character and still wasn’t comfortable telling him about it. If Wen Zhi could be trusted by his brother, his brother would have told the truth personally.

Just then, Wen Zhi’s phone rang.

The caller was Ming Yantang.

Wen Zhi turned on the speakerphone for Ming Huaizhi.

For a full minute, Ming Yantang told Wen Zhi everything about the Ming family. Wen Zhi said anxiously: “You were almost at death’s door, why didn’t you tell me? At least I could have had my husband help you look for a donor.”

Ming Yantang: “The matter was urgent, and I was unconscious and knew nothing.”

Hearing that his friend had suffered so much, Wen Zhi sniffled: “I’ll find time to visit you with a fruit basket.”

Ming Yantang: “You’re in the entertainment industry too. Help me take good care of my brother.”

Looking at the “golden beans” (tears) Ming Huaizhi was holding back in his eyes, Wen Zhi said guiltily: “Yes, I will.”

“Also, help me keep an eye on Sang Yu”

Before Ming Yantang could finish, Wen Zhi hung up. He took Ming Huaizhi’s hand and looked at him closely: “Little cutie, please don’t cry anymore, or your brother will beat me up.”

Ming Huaizhi also apologized to him: “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hide it from you just now.”

Wen Zhi didn’t care about such things and gave a mischievous smile: “It’s fine. By the way, I see that you and Sang Yu are on pretty good terms. Are you two in a relationship?”

It seemed Ming Yantang had just told him to keep an eye on Sang Yu and make Sang Yu love his precious brother properly.

And he saw that Sang Yu cared a lot about Ming Huaizhi, so he guessed there must be feelings between them.

Ming Huaizhi shook his head gently: “No.”

Wen Zhi understood instantly.

So these two were in an ambiguous stage and hadn’t reached the final stage yet. It seemed Ming Yantang wanted him to be a matchmaker and pull some strings.

“I understand. Leave it to me.” Wen Zhi took Ming Huaizhi’s hand and walked out of the bedroom. “I’m someone who’s been through it. I understand this kind of ‘marriage first, love later’ best.”

Ming Huaizhi was confused: “What love?”

Wen Zhi gave a mysterious smile: “Just watch me.”

At this time, the sound of water in the bathroom gradually stopped.

The two came outside the bathroom door.

The bathroom door here didn’t have a lock. Wen Zhi had arrived early in the morning and had tried it with Si Mingchen.

Ming Huaizhi had an innocent look in his eyes: “Sang Yu is inside. If you want to use the restroom, I’ll accompany you to the one outside.”

Wen Zhi made a “shh” sign and pointed at the crack in the door.

Ming Huaizhi’s elegant eyebrows furrowed as he slowly leaned in: “Huh?”

In just two seconds, the bathroom door was pulled open a crack, and Ming Huaizhi was pushed inside.