I Became a Heartthrob After Marrying in My Sister's Place - Chapter 9

Chapter 9

In the following meeting, Sang Yu was somewhat distracted. His fingertips slowly rubbed the chocolate wrapping paper; his expression was complex, and a hint of inscrutability faintly hung between his brows, causing the General Manager who was currently reporting to break out in a cold sweat.

When the report concluded, a flash of surprise finally flickered in Sang Yu’s cold eyes. Looking at the inquisitive and nervous gazes of the crowd, he straightened up slightly: “Give me another copy of the data from the report. The meeting was adjourned for today.”

The General Manager of the subsidiary wiped the sweat from his forehead: “You haven’t had lunch yet; why not have a quick meal here? I’ve already had it arranged.”

Sang Yu: “Fine.”

While eating, Sang Yu thought of Ming Huaizhi again. He asked the General Manager: “Are those celebrities filming a program here?”

The General Manager replied hurriedly: “Yes, our company is collaborating with the production team to jointly promote our new app. If the results are good, it will save a lot of promotion expenses.”

Sang Yu said indifferently: “Mhm.”

“The production team also invited you to record a promotional video.”

“I’m not very interested. You can appear on camera instead.”

In the afternoon, Sang Yu returned to the head office to continue working. During this time, he received WeChat messages from Shang Chen and the others.

At this time of year, the red wine from his French manor had just been brewed. Usually, he would invite friends to his home to taste the wine together, which was a rare time the house became lively.

Yesterday, that batch of red wine had just arrived home by air.

“His nose is quite sharp.”

Tomorrow happened to be the weekend, so Sang Yu sent out invitations to his friends, preparing for a small gathering.

Shang Chen was someone who couldn’t stand loneliness and proposed holding a wine-tasting party tomorrow, making it a grander affair. Sang Yu didn’t have the heart to manage it and left the responsibility to Shang Chen.

Before finishing work, Assistant Chen helped Sang Yu tidy his desk and was quite surprised to see those two pieces of chocolate. This was a popular “Internet celebrity” chocolate on the market; the slogan “Me and you, one heart and one mind” had captured the hearts of countless couples recently, causing sales to soar.

He hadn’t expected that their boss would actually believe in this kind of marketing tactic.

Seeing the assistant dazed, Sang Yu asked: “What’s wrong?”

The assistant started: “Nothing, this ‘couple’s chocolate’ tastes pretty good.”

“Couples?” Sang Yu’s gaze became even more intriguing. “Did… your girlfriend buy it for you?”

Assistant Chen nodded: “Yes.”

Sang Yu frowned and leaned back in his chair: “Tell me, if someone eagerly brings me this chocolate, what does it represent?”

“Someone?” Assistant Chen suddenly understood. “This person should have a secret crush on you.”

Sang Yu said thoughtfully: “Mhm, I think so too.”

Assistant Chen quietly suppressed a laugh: “You are so charming; it’s normal for someone to pursue you.”

Actually, Assistant Chen wasn’t saying this entirely to flatter him. He had worked with Sang Yu for six years and had seen countless people pursuing him. However, Sang Yu had a sharp eye and was quite proud; he had never taken a liking to anyone.

…

Meanwhile, the first day of the live broadcast for Return to the Workplace Season was also drawing to a close. Throughout the afternoon, the five guests still hadn’t reached a conclusion regarding who would serve as the lead for the first promotional video.

[I feel the undercurrents surging.]

[As a passerby, I think Lu Zilin’s temperament is more suitable.]

[Zilin fans pretending to be passersby are really smooth.]

[Lu Zilin really knows how to make things happen, he’s been chatting in the Director’s office the whole time.]

[This kind of person is the most popular in the workplace, but I thought I would hate Ming Yantang the most in this variety show; I didn’t expect it to be Lu Zilin.]

Just as the bullet comments were discussing heatedly, Director Cheng Shian came to everyone’s workstation: “Has the division of labor been decided?”

Gu Ci tilted his head: “No.”

Cheng Shian: “In that case, is it alright if I assign roles based on my understanding of everyone this morning?”

Xie Jingsheng and Jing Lan nodded simultaneously.

“Lu Zilin will serve as the lead for the promotional video, Ming Yantang will be responsible for costumes, Xie Jingsheng for planning, while music and logistics will be handled by Gu Ci and Jing Lan respectively.”

“Does anyone have any objections?”

[Good heavens, chatting with the Director really works.]

[I really hate Lu Zilin.]

[As expected of a Marketing Director, his eyes are sharp; Lu Zilin’s temperament was originally the most suitable.]

[Look! Ming Yantang is actually staring at the company’s cafeteria menu! Shouldn’t he stand up and object at a time like this?]

[What’s wrong with Ming Yantang today? Or is he actually quite ‘daimeng’ (clumsily cute) in private?]

“Since no one has objections, let’s work hard starting next Monday.”

“Have a nice weekend.”

Ending the day’s filming, Ming Huaizhi took his notebook and prepared to go home.

If he was responsible for costumes, he needed to do some homework so he could be prepared when he started work next Monday.

Upon leaving, he was stopped by Gu Ci, who also called over Xie Jingsheng and Jing Lan, and began discussing the work distribution issue from today behind Lu Zilin’s back.

“Once the promotional video is out, all the credit will be monopolized by him. In my opinion, the final spokesperson will also be him,” Gu Ci said indignantly. “We are all just suckers.”

Although Ming Huaizhi didn’t like Lu Zilin, he disliked this way of discussing people behind their backs even more.

“We just need to finish our own tasks.” Ming Huaizhi lifted his wrist to check the time. “I’m going home first; my family is waiting for me to eat.”

After speaking, he turned and left.

Gu Ci watched his back and couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

In the car, Chen Ruofu discussed today’s live broadcast situation with him and gave a high level of affirmation to his performance.

He couldn’t see the content of the bullet comments himself, so Xiao Xia had organized them in advance. Most of them were complaining about Lu Zilin; there were very few criticizing him, and many people even praised him for being cute.

Hearing this, Ming Huaizhi’s mood became cheerful.

During his time here, his greatest goal was not to bring shame to his brother.

When passing by a bakery, he looked at the beautiful and exquisite “Internet celebrity” strawberry towers inside and felt a bit of a craving. So, he bought two, intending to go home and share them with Sang Yu.

It was already seven o’clock when he reached home, and the butler was waiting at the door. Hearing that Sang Yu had also just returned, he ran into the living room holding the strawberry towers: “Sang Yu! I brought dessert home.”

Sang Yu, sitting on the sofa, turned his head slightly. Seeing those beautiful strawberry towers, he gave an “mm”: “Since you’re back, let’s eat.”

Ming Huaizhi walked up to Sang Yu: “One for you.”

Looking at the gadget that only little girls usually liked, Sang Yu couldn’t help but tease: “You like these kinds of flashy things?”

Ming Huaizhi explained seriously: “It’s called a strawberry tower. You haven’t eaten one before, have you?”

Sang Yu raised an eyebrow slightly: “No.”

And he took the dessert.

After dinner, Sang Yu told Ming Huaizhi about the news of his friends coming over for a gathering tomorrow.

Ming Huaizhi was drinking fruit juice: “I’m also off tomorrow. Do I need to hide away?”

Sang Yu glanced at him: “What are you hiding for? We just got married to the outside world; it’s precisely the time when we are newlyweds and ‘you-and-I’ are inseparable.”

“Oh.” Ming Huaizhi tasted a strawberry: “Do I need to do anything? Should I act very clingy?”

Sang Yu stood up at this moment: “If you don’t want the outside world to spread rumors that our marriage is disharmonious, then you need to”

Just as he finished speaking, his waist was encircled by a pair of soft and slender arms, and then the faint scent of jasmine once again enveloped his surroundings.

Compared to Sang Yu’s physique, Ming Huaizhi was very small. He hugged Sang Yu, comfortably resting his chin on Sang Yu’s chest, and looked up slightly: “Is it supposed to be clingy like this?”

Sang Yu froze. The touch at his waist was extremely unfamiliar; through the thin fabric of his clothes, the warmth belonging to Ming Huaizhi gradually came through.

He pulled a stern face and was about to speak, but the other’s obedient and soft eyes were inches away. Those gentle, clean eyes left him speechless.

At this moment, he felt that Ming Huaizhi really was like a clingy and well-behaved kitten with only him in its eyes.

The enchanting scent of jasmine was inhaled into his nose, reminding him of a memory from his youth.

Back then, he was still a high school student. The friends around him were all engaged in romances full of “taboo” feelings, yet he was the only one uninterested in the men and women who came forward to confess.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to fall in love; it was because he had never met someone who made his heart flutter.

But in his senior year, a friend who had returned from studying abroad held an art exhibition and invited him to attend. In the exhibition, one painting by a friend left a deep impression on him.

The boy in the painting had gentle features, especially those eyes which were so clean they didn’t hold a speck of impurity.

It wasn’t that he fell in love with that boy at first sight, but rather that the painting allowed him to reach a final conclusion about his sexual orientation; his “ideal type” had also begun to take shape.

The boy in the painting was just right.

However, at eighteen, he was already very mature and didn’t grab the painting to ask his friend about the boy’s origin, because he felt that dating the other party was not realistic after all, they were separated by tens of thousands of feet, not to mention he didn’t understand the other’s personality.

However, his friend actively told him that this boy was a freshman at a noble school, thin and small, and extremely beautiful.

The warm sensation stirred Sang Yu’s nerves. He came back to his senses; in his arms was Ming Huaizhi, waiting quietly for his answer.

“Have you hugged enough?”

Hearing this, Ming Huaizhi’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Sang Yu narrowed his eyes: “If you’re going to hug, hug tomorrow. Hugging now clearly shows you want to ‘eat my tofu’ (take advantage of me).”

“Eat your tofu?” Ming Huaizhi was a bit dazed. “I didn’t—”

At this point, Sang Yu pointed to the place where Ming Huaizhi’s chin was resting.

Unerringly, it was right on his pectoral muscle.

Ming Huaizhi’s cheeks flushed red instantly, his eyes panicked like a startled young quail.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t intentionally rub against your chest muscle.”

Sang Yu looked at him, hands in his pockets with a roguish smile: “Ming Yantang, I’m not a casual person.”

Ming Huaizhi said timidly: “I’m sorry.”

Regarding the matter of touching Sang Yu’s chest muscle, he really felt extremely apologetic.

Sang Yu wasn’t prepared to dwell on this matter anymore; if the other party was smart enough, he should be able to understand his meaning.

“Wake up early tomorrow.”

Ming Huaizhi’s eyes were full of guilt, looking like he had made a mistake: “Mhm, mhm.”

With that, the two walked out of the dining room and went upstairs together.

Sang Yu’s mood was actually quite good; at least regarding the matter of Ming Yantang liking him, it could be considered handled properly. However, if Ming Yantang continued to pursue him, he had no other way for the time being.

Inadvertently, he took a glance at the other; those watery eyes looked as if they had suffered a great grievance.

Sang Yu admired the other party; he could actually play the “good boy” role for so long without showing any flaws.

The one whose chest muscle was rubbed was him.

Walking to the bedroom door, a flush appeared on Ming Huaizhi’s face, and his lively eyes were slightly uneasy: “Sang Yu, I’m sorry. I’m just used to hugging my brother at home and didn’t mean to eat your tofu on purpose.”

Sang Yu leaned slightly against the doorframe, sizing him up: “Your brother? Doesn’t your family only have one younger brother?”