I Truly Never Intended to Have a Contract Marriage with a Big Shot - Chapter 4

“—I’ve decided to respect the elderly and cherish the young now, is that a problem?”

It had been two days since Lu Jiayan returned to the country, yet Sheng Mingzhi was still mimicking that sentence with pitch-perfect, passive-aggressive sarcasm.

Shen Ling, wrapped in a bathrobe and holding a glass of juice, almost cracked her face mask from laughing so hard.

The private club, a member-only establishment closed to the public, was elegant, refined, and usually quiet. Now, it was filled entirely with Shen Ling’s demonic laughter. Fortunately, the VIP room was well-soundproofed, though the two massage therapists were still visibly startled.

“Is he sick?” Sheng Mingzhi wasn’t finished venting. He sneered, “Does he have to be so sarcastic every time he speaks? He even intentionally mistook Sheng Xue for me. A chicken’s gizzard has more room than his narrow mind.”

Once he started complaining, Sheng Mingzhi began digging up old grievances.

He couldn’t help but think of Lu Jiayan’s track record—leaving for abroad three years ago without a single word. Doing something so wicked right after getting married was basically throwing Sheng Mingzhi’s dignity on the ground and stomping on it.

Should he just get him featured on the Evening News to tell the whole country that he, Sheng Mingzhi, was worthless in the Lu family?

Seeing Sheng Mingzhi’s temper flare higher and higher, the words “Wasn’t it you who mistook your husband first?” died in Shen Ling’s throat.

The Eldest Young Master Sheng was hard to deal with, and a furious Young Master Sheng was even more impossible. Those who follow him prosper, and those who oppose him perish—that was the golden rule.

Shen Ling peeled off her mask and patted her cheeks. “Alright, don’t be angry. Didn’t you say it yourself? Anger causes wrinkles. If it’s not worth getting mad at internet trolls, is it worth getting mad at your cheap husband?”

These words finally brought back Sheng Mingzhi’s reason. His expression softened slightly, and he forced his gaze onto the wall-mounted TV to distract himself.

As luck would have it, the TV happened to be playing the movie Qiao Yan won an award for.

Sheng Mingzhi clicked his tongue and irritably changed the channel only to land on the web drama he had filmed with Huo Yuzhe six months ago.

…

Did this damn TV have a personal vendetta against him?

“Hey, look at Huo Yuzhe,” Shen Ling suddenly sat upright.

“I see him. I’m not blind.” Sheng Mingzhi frowned and forcefully turned off the TV. “Out of sight, out of mind.”

“No.” Shen Ling nudged his arm and lifted her chin slightly. “Look outside. Is that Huo Yuzhe coming in?”

Sheng Mingzhi froze. Following Shen Ling’s gaze past the carved rosewood screen, he could faintly see two people walking down the hallway.

A man and a woman. The tall man was indeed Huo Yuzhe. The woman with him looked to be in her forties, slightly plump but with a mature, sophisticated aura. She was clinging to Huo Yuzhe’s arm in an intimate posture.

Both Sheng Mingzhi and Shen Ling recognized this middle-aged woman; she had been on the trending searches recently. She was a high-level executive at Tianyang Entertainment and the director of Starlight Shines. The hit variety show Huo Yuzhe was currently participating in.

Shen Ling’s expression instantly became lively.

Wealthy second-generation heirs like them might be good for nothing, but their ability to identify “green tea” b*tches, mistresses, and cheating scandals was top-tier.

She immediately handed Sheng Mingzhi his glasses.

Sheng Mingzhi: “?”

“We’re catching a cheater!” Shen Ling looked excited. “How can you see clearly without your glasses?”

Sheng Mingzhi: “…”

“Holy sh*t.” Shen Ling’s “Socialite Rules” were tossed out the window as she marveled. “I was wondering why Huo Yuzhe’s career has been skyrocketing lately with such good resources. Turns out he has someone ‘above’ him.”

When she said “above,” Shen Ling gave an ambiguous wink.

Sheng Mingzhi let out a cold laugh, seemingly unsurprised. He had worked with Huo Yuzhe and knew long ago that this man couldn’t handle loneliness. If he could have an underground affair with Qiao Yan while sending flirtatious texts to Sheng Mingzhi, he was certainly capable of cheating for the sake of his career.

The man had no moral compass. In the entertainment industry, these filthy, complicated affairs happened every second of the day.

“A master of time management,” Shen Ling summarized, remembering the lovey-dovey Weibo post she had seen earlier that morning from Huo Yuzhe and Qiao Yan.

________________________________________

The Huo Yuzhe episode passed quickly. Given his status, he wasn’t worth the Young Master’s time. After leaving the spa, the two went to a private kitchen for dinner.

Shen Ling had a birthday party to attend that night for a wealthy heir in the Yunjing circle. Sheng Mingzhi didn’t know him well and, naturally, didn’t feel like “lowering himself” to attend.

Invitations for parties and galas for Sheng Mingzhi were lined up until next year—did people think he was just anyone they could invite? He was chasing his dreams in the entertainment industry, thank you very much. He was busy building his career.

After parting ways with Shen Ling, Sheng Mingzhi got into his private car.

He originally planned to go to the office, but “professionalism” and “work ethic” were clearly not part of his persona. Besides, as an 18th-tier flop, he had zero appointments to rush to. Pretending to be busy was useless.

The Bentley turned around and headed toward Xishan No. 1.

Inside the car, Sheng Mingzhi idly scrolled through Weibo’s trending searches. Number six was: #Huo Yuzhe Sweely Celebrates Qiao Yan’s Birthday#.

Looks like he really did snag a “Sugar Mommy”; he was buying trending searches like they were free. Sheng Mingzhi mocked them internally. He clicked in and found that the actual discussion count wasn’t even at 100, an embarrassing purchase.

The young master gloated, almost hitting the ‘like’ button on several posts mocking the “dog couple,” but then he remembered his assistant Xiao Wang’s thinning hair. In a rare act of kindness, he abandoned the idea.

Celebrate with Qiao Yan in the morning, go to bed with a sugar mommy in the afternoon?

For a moment, Shen Ling’s evaluation popped into his head: A true master of time management.

The moment that phrase appeared, Sheng Mingzhi’s hand paused.

Huo Yuzhe was nothing. Lu Jiayan was the real master of time management.

In his memory, Lu Jiayan was a perverted workaholic who functioned 24/7 without a single second of private time. The engagement and wedding were rushed; Sheng Mingzhi even had to do the suit fittings alone. It had made him doubt his own charm—he wasn’t that unattractive, was he?

Lu Jiayan was the one who proposed the alliance. If a man chooses to marry another man, he can’t be entirely uninterested in the gender.

The same applied to this return. Aside from that one meeting at the family banquet, Sheng Mingzhi hadn’t seen a hair of him for the past two days.

They were a couple, but their relationship was so “plastic” that even though they lived in the same villa, they slept in separate rooms. Not to mention the mess Lu Jiayan had to face upon his return. Although he had taken the position of Vice President at Shengjia, Lu Xiao was no pushover. While Lu Jiayan was developing overseas for three years, Lu Xiao’s domestic roots weren’t so easily shaken.

The brothers were in for a bitter struggle.

Of course, that had nothing to do with Sheng Mingzhi. Whether Lu Jiayan was CEO or VP, it didn’t matter as long as Sheng Mingzhi could keep swiping Lu Jiayan’s card and buying whatever he wanted. His daily dilemma should be whether to go see the ocean in Norway or go diving in the Maldives.

The meager salary he earned from “chasing his dreams” in the industry for a month wasn’t even enough to buy him a cup of tea.

Worst-case scenario, if Lu Jiayan went bankrupt, Sheng Mingzhi still had his older brother—Sheng Xue, the current Executive Chairman of Mingchen Bank. His family’s money was enough to last him a lifetime.

Anyway, Sheng Mingzhi muttered to himself. This young master cannot suffer a single grievance or endure a single bit of hardship.

________________________________________

When Sheng Mingzhi returned home, the Xishan No. 1 villa was as silent as a painting. The night was gentle, and the full moon hung high, reflecting in the deep blue lake with calm ripples.

However, Sheng Mingzhi soon shattered the peace.

Seeing no one home, he habitually grabbed the remote to turn on the million-dollar sound system in the living room and poured himself a glass of champagne. Rock music instantly filled the villa. Sheng Mingzhi immersed himself in it, as if trying to throw all his unpleasantness behind him.

This was his way of releasing stress.

After a glass of champagne, his spirits rose. He twisted open a bottle of mineral water to wash away the faint sweet-and-sour taste in his mouth. Then, the water bottle was officially appointed as his microphone, pointed at his reflection in the mirror.

As the music played, Sheng Mingzhi stepped over the sofa with his long legs and said solemnly: “Teacher Little Sheng, as the youngest ‘Triple-Crown’ Best Actor in history at tonight’s awards ceremony, do you have an acceptance speech?”

“—First of all.”

Sheng Mingzhi switched roles in a second, transforming from the reporter interviewing himself into the “Triple-Crown Best Actor, Teacher Little Sheng.”

“I feel that I don’t need to thank anyone for this honor tonight. I only thank my own hard work, diligence, and dedication. And, of course, my talent.”

“Oh? It seems Teacher Little Sheng has a very high opinion of himself! But that’s only natural, after all, he is the young Best Actor with the best reputation and public image in the domestic industry for over a decade! He is also the only ‘Triple-Threat’ international superstar!”

“Oh, no, no, no… the title ‘Virtuous Artist’ is a bit much for me to carry…”

“Don’t be humble, Teacher Little Sheng! Ah? Isn’t that Qiao Yan, who hasn’t received a single job offer in a year? He seems to have something to say? What? He actually insulted Teacher Little Sheng for not being able to sing or dance? How hateful! Teacher Little Sheng, what do you think?”

The “Best Actor” Teacher Little Sheng said shamelessly: “In that case, Teacher Little Sheng will use his strength to prove it to everyone!”

Sheng Mingzhi got more and more into the act, the champagne probably playing its part. When he jumped off the sofa, he happened to step on the remote. The music changed, switching to a high-energy DJ remix of a certain superstar’s hit.

In an instant, the noise level in the villa jumped another notch. One person was creating the effect of a thousand.

Sheng Mingzhi bounced from the first-floor living room to the second floor. As he ran up the stairs, he waved his hands in all directions and even blew flying kisses. In his world, the red-carpet awards ceremony had transitioned into a ten-thousand-person concert. Logic was irrelevant.

Sheng Mingzhi went “thump-thump-thump” up the stairs, leaned over the second-floor railing, and sang along out of tune:

“I dried out the silence, regretted being so impulsive, wow!”

“Even if this is a mistake, I’m just afraid of missing—”

“OUT! Being together is called a—”

“DREAM! Being apart is called—”

“PAIN! WOW!”

“Can you give me… just one song’s worth of time! YEAH!”

The heavy rhythm of the DJ track grew louder. Sheng Mingzhi’s “chaotic demon” dance moves were a sight to behold—one could barely detect a rhythm.

“Friends in the back—!” Teacher Little Sheng sang with total abandon, shouting at the top of his lungs. As he raised his arms, a sliver of his delicate waist was revealed. “Raise your pianos so I can see them, okay?!”

He stumbled back a few steps. Under the intense volume of the music, the tiny sound of a door opening behind him was completely masked.

It wasn’t until he had no room left to retreat and bumped into a wall of a person that Sheng Mingzhi’s consciousness flew back from the heavens into his brain.

He turned his head and froze.

The door to the master bedroom on the second floor had opened at some point. Lu Jiayan stood there, looking like he had just been woken up. His collar was halfway open, his collarbones deep, looking like a demonic male fox-spirit. His skin was pale, and he was wearing a black silk shirt. He held his forehead and looked at Sheng Mingzhi with a slight frown.

His expression looked as if his wife had just died or maybe she hadn’t died yet, but he was about to kill her himself.

…

…

Teacher Little Sheng’s ten-thousand-person concert came to a screeching halt.

His body was frozen, his mind went blank, and his soul was on the verge of collapse. Half of it was shame, the other half was shock.

Lu Jiayan… why is he home?!

Is he a ghost?! He didn’t make a single sound while he was home?!

Lu Jiayan let out a “tsk.” He leaned over, took the remote from Sheng Mingzhi’s hand, and turned off the speakers.

The music stopped abruptly, and the silence in the villa became bone-chilling. After a long pause, Lu Jiayan finally exhaled slowly, breaking the silence.

Looking at Sheng Mingzhi’s terrified, dazed expression, most of the “wake-up rage” he had accumulated dissipated, but his tone remained as cool and biting as ever.

“This person here… the youngest Triple-Crown Best Actor, Triple-Threat International Superstar, Virtuous Artist, and Rising Star of the Entertainment Industry—Teacher Little Sheng.”

“Could I trouble you to give me ‘one song’s worth of time’ to sleep? I haven’t closed my eyes in twenty-four hours.”

Oh.

He didn’t give himself that many titles just now, did he?!

Is he mocking me?