I Became a Heartthrob After Marrying in My Sister's Place - Chapter 27

Chapter 27

At this moment, Sang Yu’s emotions were beyond words.

Best friend?

He, Sang Yu, wasn’t exactly lacking in good friends. In fact, he had spent his whole life surrounded by them.

Keeping his word, as the rain let up slightly, Sang Yu pulled at Ming Huaizhi’s arms, preparing to leave the cave. But Ming Huaizhi wouldn’t let go. Like a piece of sticky rice cake, he tilted his slender, beautiful neck back and clung to him tightly.

“Sang Yu, stop messing around,” Ming Huaizhi called out, his voice like a kitten’s.

Outside, the rain began to pour harder again. The two remained pressed together, inseparable.

With a dark expression, Sang Yu grumbled, “I didn’t realize you were so good at handing out ‘friend-zone’ cards. I have no interest in being your ‘best friend’.”

Ming Huaizhi didn’t quite understand. “Why?”

“Why?” Sang Yu looked down lazily, secretly despising this behavior of “playing dumb.”

But he could understand it. Ming Huaizhi was likely trying to bait him into speaking his true feelings. Thus, Sang Yu decided to take the brave step forward himself.

“If you want to show that I’m special, why be friends? Since when are friends more important than family?”

Ming Huaizhi blinked, catching Sang Yu’s drift. Sang Yu wanted to be family.

“Family works too.” He thought of a great idea, his eyes curving into crescents. “On behalf of my younger brother, I’ll become sworn brothers with you. From now on, you’ll be the big brother to both of us.”

“Big brother?”

Sang Yu was furious. He tapped Ming Huaizhi on the head.

“You’ve got quite a calculation going, haven’t you? Not only are you swearing brotherhood with me, but you’re dragging your brother into it too? So I’m stuck with two ‘baggage,’ and when you two get married in the future, do I have to provide the dowry as your big brother?”

Ming Huaizhi thought for a moment. “No need for a dowry, just a blessing will do.”

Expressionless, Sang Yu broke free from Ming Huaizhi’s grip around his waist. He turned his back toward the mouth of the cave, preferring to be drenched by the rain rather than acknowledge Ming Huaizhi.

Ming Huaizhi realized he had been upsetting Sang Yu a lot lately, yet he never knew why.

His voice turned muffled. “Sang Yu, you want to be family, but you don’t want to be my brother. I really don’t know what it is you want.”

“I want to be your brother-in-law,” Sang Yu suddenly turned around, staring at him.

Ming Huaizhi’s pupils constricted, clearly startled by the serious tone. “You… you really want to be with my brother?”

He was caught off guard; he hadn’t expected Sang Yu’s past jokes to be so sincere.

Sang Yu was nearly soaked through. Raindrops dripped from the tips of his black hair, sliding down his handsome, deep-set jawline.

“Do you think I’m not good enough for him?”

Sang Yu hadn’t intended to lay it out so clearly, but Ming Huaizhi’s repeated “cluelessness” finally made him snap.

“Of course not,” Ming Huaizhi explained earnestly. “You’ve never even seen a photo of my brother, and you don’t know his personality. Are you really going to commit to someone just based on their identity?”

Sang Yu gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Yeah, I’m an idiot. I don’t even know your brother, yet I want to date him.”

Ming Huaizhi paused, unsure of what to say. The atmosphere in the cave dropped to freezing point.

Sang Yu whispered, “The rain isn’t going to stop today. Stay here; I’ll go get the car.”

With that, he left in a hurry. Ming Huaizhi watched his receding back, feeling an indescribable heaviness.

…

It took an hour for Sang Yu to return with the car. The rain was torrential, and the mountain paths were slick and treacherous.

Sang Yu walked to his side with an umbrella. Unlike before, he didn’t hold Ming Huaizhi; he simply held the umbrella over him as they walked.

Seeing how soaked Sang Yu was, Ming Huaizhi wanted to get to the car quickly so Sang Yu could go home, but the muddy road was difficult. He nearly slipped. He reached out to steady himself on Sang Yu’s arm, but ultimately let his hands fall to his sides.

The ride back was silent.

A dry blanket was sitting on Ming Huaizhi’s seat, likely part of the camping gear. He handed it to Sang Yu. “You should use this so you don’t get sick.”

Sang Yu kept his hands on the wheel. “I have one.”

Ming Huaizhi pulled his arm back and slowly draped the blanket over his own shoulders.

The storm had ruined their camping plans. Wen Zhi and the others were also drenched and had headed back early. The road grew harder to navigate, and Ming Huaizhi’s mood was a far cry from when they first arrived.

He truly couldn’t understand why Sang Yu wanted to be with “his” brother.

…

When they finally returned to the courtyard house, Shang Chen was waiting at the door. “You guys are finally back! I was worried something would happen after the orange rain warning.”

Sang Yu glanced at Shang Chen and walked straight past him.

Shang Chen looked at Ming Huaizhi, sensing the tension. He asked uneasily, “Xiao Tang, you two didn’t get into an argument because of me, did you?”

Ming Huaizhi: “No.”

Shang Chen handed him an umbrella. “So you did argue?”

Ming Huaizhi’s expression was complex. “Yes.”

Shang Chen made a face. “As long as it wasn’t me. Sang Yu has the temperament of a dog, but we can all see how much he dotes on you. Don’t take it to heart.”

Ming Huaizhi smiled faintly. “Okay.”

Inside, Sang Yu didn’t go to shower. Instead, he sat on the sofa typing on his laptop.

Ming Huaizhi said softly, “Go take a shower first. Don’t catch a cold after being in the rain so long.”

Sang Yu: “You go first. I have a file to process.”

“Okay.” Ming Huaizhi checked the time and decided to be quick so Sang Yu could have his turn.

By the time they both changed into dry clothes, it was noon. Shang Chen’s butler delivered food under an umbrella. “Mr. Sang, the warning lasts until after midnight. For safety, it’s best not to go out.”

Sang Yu thanked him and set the food on the table. “Ming Yantang, you eat first. I’ll be busy for a bit.”

Ming Huaizhi sat by the bed and said warmly, “I’ll wait for you. Let’s eat together.”

Sang Yu didn’t look up. “It’ll be a while, and I’m not hungry.”

This time, Ming Huaizhi didn’t argue and walked to the table. Hearing the sound of chopsticks hitting the bowl, Sang Yu looked up briefly before looking back down.

He realized something today. It seemed Ming Huaizhi didn’t like him. Or, that “liking” was strictly platonic. Or perhaps Ming Huaizhi believed Ming Yantang’s words and thought he was a bad person.

Sang Yu suddenly felt his past actions were pathetic. He tapped the keyboard irritably, unable to focus on a single word.

Ming Huaizhi, being sensitive, noticed Sang Yu’s terrible mood. He gripped his chopsticks tighter, as if reaching a decision.

“Sang Yu.”

Ming Huaizhi walked over to him, his gaze hesitant yet gentle. “My brother will return to the country in a few months. If you’re willing, I can introduce you to him.”

“What?” Sang Yu tossed the laptop aside. “You’re going to introduce your brother to me?”

“If you’re still willing when he returns.” Ming Huaizhi wasn’t sure how angry Sang Yu would be once their carefully crafted lie was exposed, but seeing Sang Yu so miserable made him feel awful too. He figured the main reason Sang Yu was upset was because he wouldn’t introduce “the brother.”

A subtle shift appeared in Sang Yu’s eyes. “You weren’t willing just now. Why the change of heart?”

Ming Huaizhi looked at him steadily. “Because I think you’re sad. My brother isn’t some precious treasure; I’m not trying to hide him. If you really like him, you two can meet.”

Sang Yu’s throat felt dry. “And after we meet?”

Ming Huaizhi smiled at him. “If you hit it off, you can keep seeing each other.”

Now it was Sang Yu’s turn to be speechless. Ming Huaizhi was truly hard to read.

“Then… I’ll wait,” Sang Yu hesitated before getting the words out. “Don’t you forget it.”

“I won’t.”

Ming Huaizhi relaxed and bumped his shoulder against Sang Yu’s. “Hungry now?”

Sang Yu avoided his gaze and picked up the laptop again. “I’m not done. You go ahead.”

Ming Huaizhi refused to leave. “I’ll stay with you. Do you need any help?”

Sang Yu cleared his throat. “It’s fine.”

For the next while, Ming Huaizhi stayed quietly by Sang Yu’s side. His warm pajamas made him feel like a little furnace; sitting so close made Sang Yu’s neck turn red.

“Fine, you win.” Sang Yu closed the laptop. “Let’s eat. I’ll finish this in the afternoon.”

Ming Huaizhi: “I’ll go heat the food!”

The rain clattered against the roof tiles as the temperature dropped, but inside, it felt like spring, filled with the aroma of food. Sang Yu ate distractedly, his mind entirely on Ming Huaizhi. By the time he snapped out of it, the food in his bowl was piled high.

His mood today was a total roller coaster.

…

After lunch, Ming Huaizhi lounged on the bed reading, while Sang Yu continued working on the sofa—though he secretly wanted to join Ming Huaizhi on the bed.

Ming Huaizhi was wearing his pajamas: white long sleeves, shorts, and a pair of pure white calf-high socks.

Just as Sang Yu was staring, Ming Huaizhi looked up. “Sang Yu, is something wrong?”

In just ten minutes, Ming Huaizhi had noticed Sang Yu looking at him at least five or six times.

Sang Yu looked down quickly. “Nothing.”

Ming Huaizhi propped his chin on his hands. “Is work busy? You kept looking at me, I thought you needed help.”

“I wasn’t looking at you, I was checking the clock,” Sang Yu lied. “And how do you know I was looking? Were you secretly watching me?”

Ming Huaizhi laughed. “Why would I watch you secretly? If I want to look at you, I’ll do it openly.”

Sang Yu: “So, you were looking at me?”

Ming Huaizhi got caught in the logic. “Yes.”

Sang Yu pressed on, “And why were you looking at me?”

Ming Huaizhi: “I—”

Just then, a call from Shang Chen saved him. “Sang Yu, we can’t go anywhere in this rain. Why don’t we all get together for some fun?”

Sang Yu: “What kind of fun?”

Shang Chen: “Bring Xiao Tang over and you’ll see.”

…

As Sang Yu and Ming Huaizhi headed to the back courtyard, Shang Chen was plotting with Wen Zhi.

Wen Zhi had learned about the argument and pinned the blame entirely on Shang Chen, making him feel guilty enough to help play matchmaker.

When Sang Yu and Ming Huaizhi entered, the group was already gathered around a table with alcohol and dice.

While Ming Huaizhi went to wash his hands, Sang Yu looked at the setup with disdain. “This is the ‘fun’ you prepared? How tacky.”

Shang Chen retorted, “As long as it’s fun.”

Sang Yu glanced at Si Mingchen. “And you’re okay with this ‘tacky’ game?”

Si Mingchen: “Zhizhi wants to play, so I’m playing.”

Sang Yu wasn’t interested. “I stopped playing these games when I was thirteen.”

Just then, Ming Huaizhi came out. “What are we doing?”

Shang Chen: “A fun game. Want to play?”

Ming Huaizhi was intrigued. “Yes.”

Shang Chen squinted at Sang Yu, who was sitting there like a lord. “President Sang, are you playing?”

Sang Yu instantly changed his tune. “Yeah.”

Wen Zhi explained the rules: “Roll the dice. The highest roller gets to punish any other player. We draw the punishment from my phone. Some are solo, some need a partner. If you can’t do it, you drink a shot.”

Ming Huaizhi was fine with the rules, but mentioned, “Can I have a different penalty? I’m taking Chinese medicine, so I can’t drink.”

Wen Zhi: “Then Sang Yu can drink for you.”

Ming Huaizhi gasped. “Is that okay? What if I keep losing?”

Wen Zhi gave a mysterious smile. “Then Sang Yu might not be walking out of this room today.”

Sang Yu chimed in, “I don’t mind.”

Wen Zhi smirked. “Alright, let’s begin.”

After the first roll, Ming Huaizhi had the highest score: 16.

Shang Chen messaged Wen Zhi: Can you rig the dice? Wen Zhi: I can rig the punishments, not the dice or.

Sang Yu was in a good mood. “Decided who to punish?”

Ming Huaizhi scratched his head. “Shang Chen, then.”

Shang Chen looked aggrieved. “Xiao Tang, what did I ever do to you?”

“Sorry!” Ming Huaizhi drew the task: 50 push-ups. Shang Chen barely finished, sweating buckets.

In the following rounds, Ming Huaizhi’s luck was explosive. He won again and again, punishing Si Mingchen and Zhong Xian. By the fifth round, he won again and felt a bit embarrassed.

Sang Yu leaned back, draping an arm over Ming Huaizhi’s chair. “Let’s see, who’s it going to be this time?”

Shang Chen, tired of being the target, cried out, “This is too much! Sang Yu, why aren’t you being punished?”

Wen Zhi added, “Exactly! You can’t play favorites just because he’s your husband!”

Ming Huaizhi was shy, so Sang Yu spoke for him. “Rules are rules. He punishes whoever he wants.”

Wen Zhi protested, “I don’t care! Be fair!”

Ming Huaizhi yielded. “Okay, Sang Yu will take the punishment this round.”

Sang Yu was cooperative. “Fine by me.”

Wen Zhi seized the chance and picked: Nibble on any player’s ear for one minute.

Ming Huaizhi froze. Looking around, there was no one more “appropriate” to help Sang Yu than him, his nominal partner.

Sang Yu raised an eyebrow and simply drained a glass of alcohol. “I choose not to do it.”

Shang Chen clapped. “Great tolerance. Next!”

The luck finally turned. In the next rounds, Zhong Xian and Si Mingchen won, and both chose Sang Yu for punishment.

Sang Yu’s tasks were: A three-minute dirty dance with any player (he chose to drink) and 50 squats while holding another player. For the second one, Ming Huaizhi volunteered to help so Sang Yu wouldn’t have to drink more.

Sang Yu prepared to give him a bridal carry, but Wen Zhi jumped in. “The instructions show a specific pose. No bridal carry.”

Sang Yu frowned. “Then how?”

Wen Zhi’s face turned red. “Xiao Tang faces you, and you hold him up by his butt.”

The pose was undeniably suggestive.

But Ming Huaizhi didn’t notice. He walked over, wrapped his arms around Sang Yu’s neck, and hopped up. Sang Yu caught him, one hand on his waist and the other firmly under his bottom.

Shang Chen teased, “Sang Yu’s got a solid base. His legs aren’t shaking. Not weak at all.”

Sang Yu glared. “Shut up.”

“Ready?” Sang Yu asked.

Wen Zhi, grinning, started recording. “Go!”

It was a test of core and leg strength. Doing 50 squats while holding a person is no small feat. Ming Huaizhi, worried Sang Yu would lose strength, wrapped his legs tightly around Sang Yu’s waist to help balance the weight.

Sang Yu, a regular at the gym, found the physical part easy, but having Ming Huaizhi in his arms feeling those soft, clear eyes on him made him feel incredibly restless. Especially since his hand was resting right on the boy’s backside.

It felt… quite nice.

He tried to ignore it, but Ming Huaizhi kept staring at him anxiously, worried he would lose the challenge.

“Sang Yu, let me wipe your sweat.” Ming Huaizhi couldn’t find a tissue, so he used his sleeve to gently dab Sang Yu’s forehead.

Wen Zhi caught it all on camera.

Five minutes later, Sang Yu finished. Ming Huaizhi hopped down and raised Sang Yu’s arm in victory.

But the “main event” was still coming. Wen Zhi called out the next punishment for Ming Huaizhi: Sit on any player’s lap and maintain eye contact for one minute.

Ming Huaizhi looked at Sang Yu, hesitating. If he didn’t do it, Sang Yu would have to drink again. He didn’t want Sang Yu to suffer, and eye contact wasn’t as “bad” as kissing.

He whispered, “Is it okay?”

Sang Yu tried to sound cool. “Yeah.”

Ming Huaizhi stood up and, under everyone’s gaze, slowly sat on Sang Yu’s lap. Sang Yu spread his legs slightly to make him comfortable, and Ming Huaizhi sank into his embrace.

“Deep eye contact! Do you know what that means?” Shang Chen hovered nearby. “The distance between your eyes can’t be more than the width of an orange!”

Ming Huaizhi slowly leaned closer. Sang Yu leaned down to meet him. They were inches apart.

Looking into Sang Yu’s deep, dark eyes, Ming Huaizhi’s heart hammered against his ribs.

Amidst the cheering, Wen Zhi excitedly sent the clips to Ming Yantang: “Xiao Ming, look at these highlights! I’m a genius matchmaker, right?”

Wen Zhi waited proudly for a response.

Meanwhile, a sleeping Ming Yantang was jolted awake by his phone. He rubbed his eyes and opened the video.

In an instant, the blood rushed to his head. He felt like his phone was about to shatter in his grip. In the video, his innocent little brother was being totally taken advantage of by that “dog” Sang Yu.

He sucked in a breath and let out a roar: “Wen Zhi! You total traitor! This is how you ‘keep an eye’ on Sang Yu for me?! I’m going to kill you!”