Marriage Agreement - Chapter 2

Three days later, in the very same tea house booth, a handsome man in his early thirties and a clean-cut teenager sat across from one another.

“It’s been years. You’ve grown quite a bit.” Han Cheng poured more tea for Xia Tian with the effortless grace of a gentleman. “There’s no need to be nervous.”

Xia Tian bit his lip. “Uncle Han… I mean, Mr.”

Han Cheng smiled, cutting him off gently. “You can forget the childhood titles. After today, we are peers. Just call me Han Cheng.”

Xia Tian took a stiff sip of hot tea, coughing slightly as he lowered his voice. “Are you… are you really okay with this?”

“Would you like to see the prospectus for the joint project our families are launching next year?” Han Cheng replied calmly. “Entering this marriage right now provides me with significant strategic leverage.”

Xia Tian nodded slowly. “I… I understand.”

Han Cheng arched an eyebrow. “You do?”

“My mom told me everything.” Xia Tian wasn’t one for secrets; he laid his cards on the table. “She told me how Grandmother originally wanted me to marry your cousin, how marrying you would secure my university placement, and how Grandmother wants to partner with you. She didn’t leave anything out.”

Han Cheng looked slightly surprised. “I assumed she would only mention the school enrollment.”

Xia Tian shook his head. “No, Mom explained it all in detail. She told me the choice was mine.”

“I didn’t realize Auntie Zhou was so democratic.” Han Cheng smiled, a flicker of genuine interest crossing his face. “To be honest, I thought I’d need to come prepared with some sweet-talk. You’re more mature than I expected.”

“My mom was willing to give up everything just to protect me,” Xia Tian said quietly. “I don’t want her to lose out for my sake.”

Han Cheng studied the boy, adding the keyword “filial” to his mental profile of his future husband.

It had been years since Han Cheng had seen Xia Tian, and his memory was a blank slate. He only knew what his mother had told him: the boy’s age, his looks, and the fact that they shared a similar past growing up without a father. He also knew Xia Tian’s grades were abysmal and that he was facing an academic dead end.

Han Cheng had expected to marry a rebellious, impulsive brat for the sake of the family business. This was much better.

Xia Tian knew exactly what he was getting into.

Satisfied with the progress, Han Cheng moved to define the boundaries of their arrangement. “The cooperation between our families is already a settled matter between me and your grandmother. As for us… I won’t bore you with prenuptial asset disclosures. This marriage is a tactical necessity, a fact both our mothers understand. We are each getting what we need, but that is the extent of it. As long as we don’t tip off the media, we will not interfere in each other’s private lives. And when I say ‘not interfere,’ that includes, but is not limited to, romantic interests.”

Xia Tian blinked, looking a bit lost. “Includes but is… not limited to?”

Han Cheng smiled. “It means as long as we don’t get caught by the paparazzi, we are both free to stray emotionally or physically.”

Xia Tian’s face instantly flushed a deep crimson. He nodded awkwardly.

Having spent years navigating the city’s social circles, Han Cheng was far thicker-skinned. He continued, “After the wedding, you’ll need to move into my place. Is that acceptable?”

Xia Tian nodded. He had been living alone for two years to be closer to school; he could handle himself. Moving into the Han estate wouldn’t be an issue.

“Occasionally, I’ll need you to accompany me to certain functions,” Han Cheng added. “I’ll try to keep it to a minimum, but when I can’t decline, I’ll need your cooperation.”

“Okay,” Xia Tian agreed.

“Finally, this marriage must last at least three years: one for your degree and one for my business. After three years, the contract is dissolved, though either of us has the right to call it off at any time after that point. Your mother said the final decision was yours. Any issues?”

Xia Tian looked puzzled. “Why make it so complicated? Wouldn’t it be easier if it just ended automatically after three years?”

Han Cheng gave a reserved smile. “My mother is very fond of you. She’s hoping this marriage might last a little longer than that.”

Xia Tian felt his face heat up again. “Alright. I… I’m fine with all of it.”

His cooperation put Han Cheng in a pleasant mood. “And what about you? Do you have any requirements? As long as they don’t conflict with our agreement, I’ll do my best to meet them.”

Xia Tian thought seriously for a moment, then shook his head. “Nothing else.”

“Good. One more thing: absolute secrecy. No one outside of our mothers can know this is a sham. When necessary, we need to act the part of a devoted couple.”

Xia Tian suddenly remembered Yan Lihua’s original plan to marry him off to the illegitimate third son, Han Ming. He hesitated. “But what about Han Ming…?”

“Oh, don’t worry about him,” Han Cheng said with a smooth smile. “It may have been mentioned before, but now that I want to marry you, he won’t dare say a word.”

Xia Tian sighed inwardly. His mother had told him Han Cheng ran the show now; even his own uncle was at his beck and call. It clearly wasn’t an exaggeration.

“Since we’re on the subject,” Han Cheng added, “I’m sure your mother told you about my family dynamic.”

“My side is simple. My father is gone; I have no siblings, just my mother. My uncle’s side is… crowded. My aunt and uncle, two cousins, the second son, Han Xuan, and the third, Han Ming, who is illegitimate but lives with them now.”

Han Cheng stood up, buttoning his suit jacket. “It’s a bit messy, but I live alone. Aside from family gatherings, you’ll never have to see them.”

Xia Tian breathed a quiet sigh of relief and mimicked Han Cheng’s introduction. “Same here. Just me and Mom. My father and grandparents have passed. The woman I call Grandmother is my grandfather’s second wife. She has a daughter, my aunt.”

“I’ve heard,” Han Cheng said knowingly. “Chairwoman Yan is famously protective of her only daughter.”

Protective enough to try and kick Zhou Yun and Xia Tian out of the family less than a year after the old man died, Han Cheng thought.

“Well then, everything is clear.” Han Cheng extended his right hand, a professional smile on his face. “I look forward to a successful partnership.”

Xia Tian blinked, then scrambled to his feet to shake Han Cheng’s hand. Because he was nervous, his fingertips were cold. Han Cheng paused for a heartbeat, then gave the boy’s hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze.

“Don’t overthink it,” Han Cheng said softly. “Once we’re married, I’ll take good care of you.”

****

The Xia Corporation – Office of the Chairwoman:

Xia Sisi stared at Zhou Yun in utter disbelief, letting out a sharp, mocking laugh. “Han… Han Cheng? Are you sure you didn’t mix up the names of the First and Third Young Masters?”

“Ruan Sihe’s only son, the head of the Han family, Han Cheng,” Zhou Yun replied with perfect composure. “I’m quite certain I have the name right.”

“That’s impossible! You must be crazy.”

“Sisi!” Yan Lihua’s voice cut through her daughter’s outburst like a blade. “Control yourself! Where are your manners?”

Sisi gnashed her teeth and turned away, fuming in silence.

Yan Lihua forced a tight, artificial smile. “I must hand it to you, Zhou Yun. It’s only been a few days, yet you’ve managed to charm Ruan Sihe into swapping the grooms. Impressive.”

Zhou Yun looked down, the script Ruan Sihe had coached her on fresh in her mind. She took a slow sip of tea. “The Chairwoman gives me too much credit. I didn’t persuade anyone. It just so happened that I took Xia Tian out for tea, and we ran into Ruan Sihe and Han Cheng. It had been years since Han Cheng had seen the boy, and… it was love at first sight.”

Xia Sisi gripped her porcelain cup so hard it nearly shattered.

Zhou Yun wasn’t a natural liar, but once she started, the story Ruan Sihe had concocted flowed easily. She smiled warmly. “I was hesitant at first, but Han Cheng was quite smitten. He couldn’t take his eyes off Xia Tian. Afterward, he had Ruan Sihe reach out to me, asking if he could see Xia Tian privately. It was such a sincere request, I couldn’t refuse.”

“They spoke for quite a while. In the end… Xia Tian agreed. He says he likes Han Cheng very much.” Zhou Yun glanced at Sisi, then turned a placid gaze toward Yan Lihua. “Chairwoman, isn’t this for the best? You wanted an alliance with Hans, and surely the head of the house is a better match than the third son?”

“Of… Of course,” Yan Lihua nodded, though her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “But won’t Han Cheng care? If he finds out Xia Tian was nearly promised to his illegitimate cousin, surely he’d be offended…”

Sisi’s eyes lit up. “Exactly! Does he know about Xia Tian and that bastard? If he finds out, he’ll definitely.”

“Sisi!” Yan Lihua barked again.

Zhou Yun offered a faint, chilly smile. “Don’t worry. I told Han Cheng everything. If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to verify it with him yourself. However… Han Cheng did mention that he doesn’t want anyone bringing up Xia Tian’s ‘past’ associations ever again. I’d consider that a friendly warning.”

Yan Lihua’s smile strained. “Quite right… with a wedding on the horizon, there’s no need to dig up old, irrelevant history.”

Zhou Yun stood up. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

The moment the door clicked shut, Sisi exploded. “Mom! You said”

“Enough!”

The mask fell from Yan Lihua’s face, replaced by a weary irritation. “When will you learn to check that temper of yours?! Your sister-in-law is about to be the mother-in-law to the most powerful man in the city! What do you gain by antagonizing her now?”

“But… but…!” Sisi choked out, tears of frustration welling in her eyes. “You told me Han Cheng had no interest in marriage! You said he’d never look at me! So how can he want Xia Tian? ‘Love at first sight’? Did you see the look on Zhou Yun’s face? She’s gloating!”

“How should I know what his tastes are?” Yan Lihua’s brow was furrowed in thought. “I’d never heard he preferred men, but here we are. The die is cast. Han Cheng isn’t the type to play games with marriage. If he says he’s marrying the boy, it’s happening… and an alliance with the patriarch himself isn’t the worst outcome for us.”

“Not the worst?” Sisi cried. “You wouldn’t even try to suggest it to me, and now Xia Tian gets everything!”

Yan Lihua felt a headache coming on. Her daughter was hopelessly dense. “And what if I had suggested you? Do you think Ruan Sihe wouldn’t notice? She’s a hawk. She would have investigated you immediately, and who do you think she would have called first? Zhou Yun. Given how you treat her, do you think she would have had a single kind word to say about you? Once Ruan Sihe heard about your temperament, do you think she’d let you anywhere near her son?”

Sisi flinched, her tears finally falling. Yan Lihua sighed, her voice softening slightly. “Forget it. I told you, marrying into that house isn’t a prize. Ruan Sihe is a nightmare of a mother-in-law. You couldn’t handle her for a week.”

“You say she’s a nightmare,” Sisi hissed, wiping her eyes, “but from what Zhou Yun just said, she seems to absolutely adore Xia Tian!”

****

The Han Estate:

“I certainly do adore Xia Tian,” Ruan Sihe laughed, watching her son as he returned from his ‘date.’ “What about you? Now that you’ve actually seen him, what’s the verdict?”

Han Cheng handed his coat to a servant and loosened his tie. He nodded. “Much better than I anticipated.”

“Is that a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ on the ‘liking him’ front?”

Han Cheng offered a non-committal smile and headed upstairs. After a few steps, he paused and looked back. “I spoke to Liang Qingfeng today. I’m staying away from the clubs and lounges for the foreseeable future. If you have any invitations for those kinds of parties, please turn them down on my behalf.”

Ruan Sihe arched an eyebrow. “Oh? Why the sudden change?”

“In case the media snaps a photo,” Han Cheng said simply. “It would be… too embarrassing for him.”

Ruan Sihe’s eyes brightened with amusement. “How very considerate of you.”

Han Cheng just smiled and continued up the stairs.

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