I Became a Heartthrob After Marrying in My Sister's Place - Chapter 26

Chapter 26

The bathroom was filled with damp mist.

Sang Yu had just turned off the shower when he heard a significant thud behind him.

Water droplets slid down his wheat-colored skin. He turned around abruptly and froze when he saw the person at his feet.

“Why did you come in?”

The floor was wet and slippery. When Ming Huaizhi first entered, he tried hard to close his eyes and lost his balance, resulting in him falling onto his knees at Sang Yu’s feet with a “plop.”

Although he closed his eyes early, he had still seen everything of Sang Yu clearly.

Thinking of this, his whole body burned with intense shame. He lay half-prostrate on the tiles, covering his eyes tightly, too embarrassed to stand up.

“I… I… I didn’t do it on purpose.”

Sang Yu stared at his posture: “You certainly picked a good angle. Lying on the ground to look—is the view pretty good?”

“I really didn’t want to peep at you.”

Ming Huaizhi wanted to stand up, but unfortunately, both his hands were covering his eyes. Without a point of support on the wet tile floor, he couldn’t get up no matter how hard he tried.

For a moment, he looked like a little loach.

Sang Yu reached out to grab a bath towel and draped it over his waist, then slowly squatted down: “I say, Student Xiao Zhi, even if you really wanted to peek at me showering, you should find a proper excuse, right? The bathroom door was shut tight; who would believe you didn’t do it on purpose?”

Ming Huaizhi buried his head tightly: “I was pushed in by someone.”

Sang Yu looked around for a moment: “Pushed in by whom? A ghost?”

Ming Huaizhi had a bitterness he couldn’t voice, feeling so aggrieved he almost wanted to melt into the floor.

Sang Yu curled his lips: “Get up, the floor is cold.”

Ming Huaizhi shook his head: “You go out and put on clothes first, then I’ll get up.”

Sang Yu let out a hiss: “I’m not going out; I’ll let you look. I’m wearing nothing right now, you can look at your fill.”

Ming Huaizhi’s eyelashes trembled uncontrollably, his voice carrying a hint of a sob: “Sang Yu, I really don’t want to look.”

“Really don’t want to look?” Sang Yu raised an eyebrow, thinking he had long ago seen through everything about Ming Huaizhi. “Fine, I’m going out.”

Sang Yu walked to the door and intentionally knocked: “I say, how can you all be so inconsiderate? Making certain people burst into the bathroom to watch me shower. I’ll find time to tear you down.”

After hearing the other’s mockery, Ming Huaizhi wanted to cry but had no tears. He waited until Sang Yu had completely left before he stood up. The bathroom was soaking wet and his clothes were drenched; he could only go look for a set of clean clothes.

While dawdling his way to the bedroom to get his luggage, he peered around the doorframe to peek at Sang Yu. Seeing the other was blow-drying his hair, he stealthily ran to the suitcase, randomly pulled out a set of clothes, and ran off.

Sang Yu, who was drying his hair: “…”

After stalling for half an hour, the two finally went out to eat.

On the way from there to the guest courtyard, Ming Huaizhi secretly kept his distance from Sang Yu. Whenever Sang Yu looked at him, he pretended to be nonchalant and looked around.

Sang Yu watched him leisurely, seeing through it but not calling it out.

When Shang Chen saw them enter the room, he observed them for a few seconds: “I was wondering why you two were so slow. Turns out… you both changed your clothes.”

Sang Yu said lazily: “Picking fruit for a certain someone, I was covered in dirt. Of course I had to take a shower.”

Ming Huaizhi kept his eyes down, sitting upright next to Sang Yu. Regarding this topic, he didn’t want to speak.

At this time, Wen Zhi lightly touched him with his leg under the table, resting his chin on his hand with a normal expression, as if asking him how the effect was.

Ming Huaizhi looked at Wen Zhi gloomily, then turned his head away without responding.

The reaction made Wen Zhi feel a bit uncertain.

He touched Ming Huaizhi again and mouthed: “Is there a problem?”

Ming Huaizhi frowned and moved his position further away from Wen Zhi.

Wen Zhi made a “tsk” sound and looked Sang Yu up and down.

This Sang Yu usually looked like a refined gentleman; could it be that he left the little cutie unsatisfied?

He picked up his chopsticks and touched Ming Huaizhi again. This time Ming Huaizhi tried to dodge, but the movement was too large, and he accidentally bumped into Sang Yu’s leg.

Sang Yu abruptly put down his chopsticks, his gaze landing on Ming Huaizhi’s face.

Ming Huaizhi instantly turned red from his neck to the tips of his ears, and even his fingers were shaking.

Sang Yu couldn’t quite figure out Ming Huaizhi’s thoughts. Just as he was about to ask him what was wrong, Ming Huaizhi whispered: “Sang Yu, I want to eat spare ribs. Can you help me pick one up?”

Almost everyone at the table froze.

The coquettish undertone of this sentence was beyond obvious.

Shang Chen imitated Ming Huaizhi’s soft, thin voice and said to Zhong Xian: “Zhong Xian, I want to eat big shrimp.”

Sang Yu smiled faintly: “Bastard.” After helping Ming Huaizhi pick up two pieces of ribs, he leaned down to the other’s ear and said: “What else do you want to eat? I’ll help you.”

Ming Huaizhi’s ears were burning intensely: “Okay.”

Seeing such a scene, Wen Zhi showed an “Auntie smile.” His contribution was simply too great; he must make Ming Yantang send a grand gift later.

Si Mingchen, witnessing everything, had a hint of doubt in his eyes, which persisted until they finished dinner.

In the courtyard, Wen Zhi secretly pulled Ming Huaizhi’s hand: “Did anything happen after you went into the bathroom?”

Ming Huaizhi was a bit embarrassed and also a bit angry: “No matter how I explain, Sang Yu refuses to believe I didn’t barge in on purpose.”

Seeing the focus was skewed, Wen Zhi asked anxiously: “And then? Did he bully you?”

Ming Huaizhi shook his head: “He didn’t bully me. I kept my eyes closed, and he went out to change.”

Wen Zhi frowned: “You kept your eyes closed? It wasn’t easy to get in there; why didn’t you open your eyes?”

Ming Huaizhi said haltingly: “Isn’t keeping your eyes open being a hooligan?”

Wen Zhi sighed helplessly.

It seemed his future road was long and the task was heavy.

On the way back, Si Mingchen asked Wen Zhi: “Wen Wen, are you hiding something from me?”

Wen Zhi tilted his head strangely: “No.”

Si Mingchen: “Why do I feel like Ming Yantang’s personality is so different from before? And you seem to be playing matchmaker for him and Sang Yu.”

Wen Zhi felt a bit guilty: “The two lovers are just a layer of window paper apart. I’m just being a matchmaker.”

Si Mingchen’s gaze was very sharp. He slowly took his hand: “The reason you don’t want me to know is because of the business between you two, and you’re also hiding it from Sang Yu, aren’t you?”

Wen Zhi hurriedly pulled his hand back in a panic: “Don’t overthink it. We aren’t hiding anything.”

Si Mingchen didn’t press further, but he already had plans in his heart.

…

On the other side, Ming Huaizhi and Sang Yu returned to their small cottage. Ming Huaizhi stared at the sofa set and dazed out.

This sofa was a two-seater, only 1.4m long, not nearly enough for him to sleep on alone.

What’s more, he would need to sleep here for four nights.

Sang Yu had already changed into pajamas and walked in. Pretending not to notice his stare at the sofa, he lay down on the bed.

“Xiao Zhi, sleep.”

Ming Huaizhi sat on the edge of the bed: “Sang Yu, there’s only one quilt. Do you know where there are more?”

“Shang Chen only prepared one for us. There probably aren’t any more.”

Ming Huaizhi nodded and sluggishly lay down beside Sang Yu.

Normally, sleeping with Sang Yu for two nights wouldn’t be a big deal; after all, they slept like this on the day of the camping trip. But it just so happened that this embarrassing thing occurred today, and he had seen Sang Yu’s entire body. Continuing to sleep together made him feel strange.

“Can’t sleep?” Sang Yu suddenly asked, causing Ming Huaizhi to jolt.

“Yeah, not sleepy.”

Sang Yu: “Then do you want to watch a movie?”

Ming Huaizhi became interested: “Can we?”

“Why not?” Sang Yu turned on the projector, connected his phone, and screened for a movie: “Come over and pick what you want to watch.”

Ming Huaizhi knelt beside Sang Yu, seriously scrolling with his finger, and found that almost all the titles were eerie and the posters were quite terrifying.

After choosing back and forth, he picked a foreign movie with a title that didn’t sound too scary: The Eye.

Sang Yu curled his lips and leaned against the headboard with Ming Huaizhi to start watching.

This movie was claimed to be the top horror film of last year. The suspenseful investigative plot was both addictive and made people afraid to open their eyes.

That was exactly how Ming Huaizhi was while watching.

By roughly one-third of the film, Ming Huaizhi was already huddled next to Sang Yu, too scared to breathe loudly. Yet the plot was very exciting; he insisted on finishing it even if he had to cover his eyes and leave only a tiny slit.

Sang Yu intended to go to the bathroom at this time, and his arm was immediately grabbed by Ming Huaizhi: “Where are you going?”

Sang Yu turned his head to look at him: “The bathroom.”

Ming Huaizhi still didn’t let go of Sang Yu: “Can I go with you?”

Sang Yu gave a roguish smile: “No problem. You can even join me for ‘convenience’.”

Ming Huaizhi followed Sang Yu step by step, fearing that a pair of red eyes would suddenly pop out from somewhere to look at him.

Sang Yu took the opportunity to clasp his hand and led him to the bathroom.

Before going in, he intentionally asked: “Is it okay for you to stand there alone? Do you want to come in and accompany me?”

Ming Huaizhi shook his head quickly: “I’ll pass.”

Sang Yu specifically left the bathroom door ajar: “Call me if anything happens. I’ll come out even without pulling up my pants.”

Ming Huaizhi was amused by him, feeling both scared and serious: “That won’t do. You still have to pull up your pants.”

By the time the two returned to the bedroom, it was already 11:00 PM.

Sang Yu asked him: “Still watching?”

Ming Huaizhi hadn’t figured out who the killer was yet and nodded: “I want to watch.”

Sang Yu continued to play the film. By the time they finished the movie, it was already early morning.

It had to be said that the last ten minutes of the film were the essence; Ming Huaizhi was so scared his face turned pale and his hands and feet were cold.

When the very last second of the film ended, the bedroom became even darker.

Sang Yu lifted the thin summer quilt and gave half to Ming Huaizhi: “Go to sleep. There are fun things to do tomorrow.”

Ming Huaizhi nodded, clutching the corner of the quilt in a daze.

Tonight was a bit cloudy, and the moonlight wasn’t bright, casting a rather desolate and lonely atmosphere over the courtyard outside.

Ming Huaizhi slowly moved closer to Sang Yu, but didn’t dare to overdo it, curling himself into a tiny ball, fearing that eye would suddenly pop out from under the covers.

He tried to calm his breathing, but his mind was like a slideshow, recalling the most terrifying scenes from the movie page by page.

The more he recalled, the more scared he became.

Ming Huaizhi swore he would never watch horror movies again.

“Are you shaking?”

Sang Yu, across from him, suddenly turned toward him.

Ming Huaizhi’s voice was faint: “Am I affecting you?”

Sang Yu followed his words: “Yeah, we’re sharing the same thin quilt. I can feel it when you shake.”

Ming Huaizhi quietly pulled the quilt away and gave it all to Sang Yu: “Then you use it. I’ll go find a jacket.”

He said that, but Ming Huaizhi didn’t dare move at all.

A chuckle suddenly rose in the dark room.

“Are you scared?”

Ming Huaizhi replied like a kitten: “Very scared.”

At this time, Sang Yu lifted a corner of the quilt and opened his arms: “I’m a few years older than you anyway, consider me half a brother. I’ll give you a chance; I’ll lend you my arm.”

Ming Huaizhi looked at Sang Yu hesitantly: “But like this, your arm will go numb.”

Sang Yu ignored him: “Coming or not?”

Ming Huaizhi pursed his lips, then rolled into Sang Yu’s quilt in one go, obediently pillowing his head on his arm.

At this moment, Sang Yu’s scent slowly enveloped him, and the previous fear and unease slowly vanished.

He turned on his side to face Sang Yu. The other’s chest was right in front of him; this kind of intimacy between lovers made his chest feel tight and his cheeks involuntarily heated up.

Sang Yu’s forearm lifted then, patting his shoulder as a matter of course: “Sleep.”

Ming Huaizhi quietly observed Sang Yu, and a different kind of emotion quietly took root in his heart.

“Goodnight, Sang Yu.”

After the sound of even, long breathing rose beside him, Sang Yu gently pulled him into his embrace.

His cheek rested on the other’s forehead, surrounded by the jasmine fragrance that put him at ease.

“Goodnight, Ming Huaizhi.”

…

The next morning, the six of them went to the wild adventure club on the back mountain, preparing for a real-life CS adventure. The weather wasn’t very good; the already hot weather was a bit muggy, a precursor to a storm. The six agreed that whoever won the championship could designate any group to do anything.

Ming Huaizhi was very excited while in the car. After touching the camouflage adventure suit, he couldn’t wait to put it on. He followed Zhong Xian’s example, putting it on piece by piece in an orderly fashion, but in the end, Sang Yu still laughed at his side: “You put the protective suit on backwards.”

Ming Huaizhi let out an “oh” and said sluggishly: “Then you teach me how to wear it.”

Sang Yu was adjusting his gun: “Say something nice.”

Ming Huaizhi was about to speak when he was interrupted by Shang Chen.

“Xiao Tang, I’ll teach you.” Shang Chen beckoned to him: “Ignore that fellow Sang Yu.”

Ming Huaizhi’s eyes curved into a smile: “Okay.”

After saying that, he walked toward Shang Chen.

A hint of displeasure immediately rose in Sang Yu’s brows. He raised his hand and shot at Shang Chen; yellow paint hit Shang Chen square in the back.

Shang Chen: “You bastard.”

Sang Yu said leisurely: “It misfired.”

Shang Chen intentionally annoyed him: “Xiao Tang, if there’s anything you don’t understand in the future, just come ask me.”

Ming Huaizhi’s whole heart was on his cool new clothes, and he nodded perfunctorily: “Sure.”

Sang Yu gave Shang Chen a “you just wait” look, then took Ming Huaizhi into the off-road vehicle and drove to the starting point.

Wen Zhi rolled his eyes at Shang Chen: “It’s the little couple’s flirtation; why do you have to butt in?”

Shang Chen felt a bit wronged: “I”

Wen Zhi: “I despise you.”

Si Mingchen patted Shang Chen: “First think about how to deal with Sang Yu.”

Zhong Xian added: “You just had to have a big mouth.”

Shang Chen: “…”

The camouflage off-road vehicle moved through the jungle, the wheels crushing the weed-overgrown grass, making squeaking sounds.

Ming Huaizhi raised his hand to touch the passing branches and asked Sang Yu with a smile: “Is our goal to defeat the other two groups?”

Sang Yu replied: “Yeah.”

Ming Huaizhi started fiddling with the gun he was carrying, appearing to be in a very good mood: “Sang Yu, I won’t hold you back. But you need to explain the rules to me.”

Sang Yu was sarcastic, imitating Shang Chen’s tone: “If there’s anything you don’t understand in the future, just come ask me.”

Ming Huaizhi tilted his head: “Huh?”

Sang Yu returned to his “poker face,” looking cold.

Ming Huaizhi didn’t know what was wrong with Sang Yu and didn’t speak further while holding his gun. After arriving at their camp, the two began selecting supplies. This was the only opportunity for replenishment; if the spare bullets ran out, they could only be “meat on the chopping block.” So, Ming Huaizhi packed as many bullets as possible into his pockets.

“Sang Yu, how should these bullets be loaded?”

Sang Yu walked over and demonstrated for him neatly.

After Ming Huaizhi learned, he said gratefully: “Thank you~”

Sang Yu again imitated Shang Chen’s sarcasm: “If there’s anything you don’t understand in the future, just come ask me.”

Ming Huaizhi was amused this time: “The way you imitate Shang Chen is a bit silly.”

Sang Yu didn’t pay him any attention and gave him a contemptuous look.

The broadcast inside the jungle sounded at this moment.

All players are ready, the game begins.

Ming Huaizhi put on his equipment and followed Sang Yu cautiously. To provide cover, he had pre-inserted many leaves into both of their backpacks to make it easier to blend into the bushes at any time.

At this time, a rustling sound came from ahead.

Ming Huaizhi quietly crouched down with Sang Yu to scout the enemy situation.

As time passed, this sound not only didn’t disappear but became heavier and heavier.

Sang Yu: “It’s raining.”

Ming Huaizhi nodded nervously: “And then?”

Looking at Ming Huaizhi’s alert appearance, Sang Yu couldn’t help but laugh: “Find a cave to take shelter from the rain.”

Ming Huaizhi said seriously: “Okay.”

The storm came too quickly. Before the two could find a suitable cave entrance, it was already pouring down.

Sang Yu pulled two large leaves and placed them over Ming Huaizhi’s head to block the rain. After searching for a long time, he finally spotted a narrow cave entrance. There was no time to be picky; if it continued like this, Ming Huaizhi would definitely catch a fever.

He directly scooped up Ming Huaizhi by the waist and ran toward the cave entrance. Ming Huaizhi’s feet suddenly lifted off the ground like a weak little chick.

A minute later, the two arrived at the cave entrance. Sang Yu put Ming Huaizhi inside, while most of his own body was exposed outside in the rain.

This was less a cave and more a natural indentation in the stone wall. It was more than enough for Ming Huaizhi inside, but adding another person was truly difficult.

“Sang Yu, come in.”

Ming Huaizhi squeezed inside as hard as he could, trying to let Sang Yu’s whole body get in.

“No need, I’ll go find something to block the rain ahead.” Sang Yu settled Ming Huaizhi inside and set his sights on a palm tree not far away.

“Don’t go.” Ming Huaizhi pulled his arm. “The rain is so heavy; you’ll definitely be soaked if you go. Come in and squeeze with me.”

Sang Yu looked at that tiny space and estimated that if the two squeezed together without leaving any gaps, they could manage. But Ming Huaizhi had delicate skin; pressing tightly against the uneven stone wall could easily cause injury.

“It’s too cramped in there. If I crush you, I’ll have to be responsible.”

Sang Yu let go of his hand: “I’ll be right back.”

“Sang Yu.” Ming Huaizhi grabbed his hand again: “Then I’ll go with you to help.”

Sang Yu picked him up and put him back in the cave again: “Didn’t you just leave me behind to let Shang Chen help? How did we become a ‘miserable pair of mandarin ducks’ now?”

Ming Huaizhi was sluggishly stunned, his expression solemn and serious.

“Sang Yu, are you jealous?”

A hint of abnormality flashed in Sang Yu’s expression: “Me, jealous? What’s there to be jealous of?”

Ming Huaizhi continued to look at him: “Don’t you want me to make more friends?”

Since the talk had reached this point, Sang Yu simply laid it out: “Even if you make more friends, shouldn’t I be different from the others?”

Seeing him distracted, Ming Huaizhi quietly pulled his hand toward him, and his arms unconsciously wrapped around his waist.

By the time Sang Yu regained his senses, he was already pressed seamlessly against Ming Huaizhi, and the rain could no longer reach him.

“You are of course different from the others.”

The narrow cave couldn’t withstand the two of them moving, so Ming Huaizhi could only lift his neck, his chin resting against Sang Yu’s chest.

Sang Yu met Ming Huaizhi’s gaze, his eyes avoiding.

“Then tell me, what’s different?”

A smile blossomed in Ming Huaizhi’s eyes: “You are my”

Sang Yu slowly lowered his head, the heat around him thickening, appearing to carry a bit of anticipation: “Hmm?”

“best friend in this life.”

Sang Yu’s gaze suddenly froze: “Maybe I should just go out and stand in the rain.”