Marriage Agreement - Chapter 5

Han Cheng hadn’t been exaggerating; the room he had arranged for Xia Tian was indeed quite a distance from his own.

It wasn’t isolated, though. The room was spacious and led out to a private terrace. Even in the dead of night, the floor-to-ceiling windows taking up nearly half a wall suggested the room would be flooded with light during the day.

The space had clearly been renovated recently. The furniture was brand new, and the room was bathed in warm, inviting tones of blue.

Xia Tian had assumed he’d be tucked away in a generic guest room. Seeing the effort put into the space, he felt a wave of bashfulness. “You really got into a lot of trouble.”

“It wasn’t that much work, actually,” Han Cheng replied. “This room was originally intended to be a nursery for my future son. We just painted over the silly rainbows and clouds and put up some wallpaper. It looks much more normal now.”

Xia Tian: “…”

Having left his teenage years behind long ago, Han Cheng had no idea what kids these days liked. Recalling his mother’s instructions, he added, “If there’s anything you don’t like, just tell me. No need to be polite.”

“No, no, I love it,” Xia Tian said with a stiff laugh. “It’s great… even this scratching post by the window is… cute.”

Han Cheng nodded. “As long as you’re comfortable. There’s a small bathroom here, but if you want to soak in a tub, there’s a larger one downstairs.”

Xia Tian shook his head. “I prefer showers.”

After double-checking the appliances and ensuring the bedding was comfortable, Han Cheng prepared to leave. “It’s late. I’m taking you to your enrollment tomorrow, so get some sleep.”

Xia Tian’s eyes widened. “Tomorrow? Already? I mean… I can go by myself.”

“I have some business to handle in that area anyway.” Han Cheng reached out and ruffled Xia Tian’s hair, a small smile playing on his lips. “Don’t be so formal with me. Sleep well.”

Xia Tian smoothed down his ruffled hair, mesmerized for a heartbeat. “Okay… Goodnight.”

Once Han Cheng was gone, Xia Tian took a quick shower and flopped onto the bed. His cheeks felt unnaturally warm as he replayed the day’s events.

Since the moment they signed the marriage certificate, everything had spiraled beyond his expectations. He had thought acting “lovey-dovey” in public would be a simple chore; he’d even braced himself for a few hugs or kisses, but today, Han Cheng had barely said a word, and Xia Tian felt like he was already losing his footing.

He rubbed his face, letting out a long breath. The older ginger really is spicier, he thought. Han Cheng hadn’t even done anything today besides holding his hand, yet Xia Tian felt like he was being relentlessly flirted with. He sat up with a sigh. Uncle Han is just too powerful.

His “attack power” was clearly off the charts. He hadn’t just decimated Xia Sisi and that actor, Ya Xin; the shockwaves had hit Xia Tian too.

Thinking back, Xia Tian realized that Xia Sisi had probably been interested in Han Cheng as well. He felt a sudden stroke of luck that it was he who had entered the alliance and not her; otherwise, he and his mother would likely have been the ones facing humiliation today. Han Cheng’s talent for subtle, biting sarcasm was something Xia Tian hoped to never be on the receiving end of.

“Note to self: Never offend Uncle Han…”

As his mind drifted, the heat in his face finally faded. Xia Tian was the type to adapt quickly. He clicked off the light, hugged his pillow, and was fast asleep in minutes.

***

At the other end of the hall, Han Cheng was in the middle of a video call with his assistant, Liang Qingfeng.

“Verify that information. If it’s accurate, proceed with Plan B,” Han Cheng instructed, filing away documents as he spoke. “Also, clear a few hours for me tomorrow morning. I have some personal business to attend to.”

Liang Qingfeng nodded. He hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Word has already spread that you made an appearance at the birthday banquet tonight. Mr. Feng just contacted me… he wanted to know if you had time to stop by his place, since you’re back in town.”

Han Cheng looked at the screen with a dry smile. “Is this a post-work joke to help me relax?”

Liang felt a bead of sweat. “I told him you were busy, but Mr. Feng insisted I pass the message along.”

Only two weeks ago, Han Cheng and Mr. Feng had been on excellent terms. Han Cheng had seemed satisfied with the fling, even having Liang pick out expensive gifts for him. But in the span of a few days, Liang wasn’t sure if Mr. Feng had officially “fallen from grace.”

Han Cheng was famous for keeping his private and professional lives separate. He never let his bedmates influence his business, and he never took his frustrations out on his staff. Liang knew this, but Han Cheng’s recent behavior was so ambiguous it was hard to read the room.

It’s just a marriage of convenience on paper, Liang thought. Is it really necessary to go full monk mode?

“I’m not going,” Han Cheng said flatly. “I’m not accepting those kinds of invitations during my ‘honeymoon phase.’ Don’t make me repeat myself.”

“My apologies,” Liang said, nodding. “I’ll handle it.”

Han Cheng signaled the end of the call and disconnected. He rubbed the back of his neck, then stood and opened his door. Looking down the long, quiet corridor, he noticed no light was peeking out from under Xia Tian’s door. Confirmed that the boy was asleep, he finally relaxed and went back inside.

Once he had finished his nightly routine, he noticed two missed calls from his mother. He called her back immediately.

“Xia Tian’s mother is worried, but she’s too shy to call you herself, so I’m playing the meddling mother-in-law,” Ruan Sihe said, her voice muffled by a face mask. “How is Xia Tian settling in? Is he happy with the room?”

“Yes.” Han Cheng shed his robe, revealing a lean, athletic build. “He’s easy-going. Whatever I ask, he says it’s fine.”

“Just like his mother,” Ruan Sihe murmured. “No drama.”

“He isn’t much of a night owl either,” Han Cheng added, pulling on his silk pajamas. “He’s already asleep.”

“Oh?” Ruan Sihe chuckled. “And how would you know that?”

“I don’t know for sure. I just saw his lights were out. It’s a guess.”

Ruan Sihe gave a knowing laugh. “I see. I’ll call his mother and let her know he’s tucked in and doing fine. You should get some sleep too.”

Han Cheng was about to hang up when his mother added, “By the way, what exactly did you say to Xia Sisi tonight?”

Han Cheng frowned. “Nothing much. Why?”

“You left early, so you missed it,” Ruan Sihe said with a sigh. “She and Yan Lihua left looking like they’d been hit by a bus. Sisi’s eyes were as red as a rabbit’s. I heard she started crying the moment she walked away from you. Look… I don’t like her either, but we have started a partnership. Was it really necessary to pick a fight with a little girl?”

Han Cheng’s voice turned cold. “She was asking about my sex life with Xia Tian.”

There was a long, stunned silence on the other end of the line.

“…Get some sleep, son,” Ruan Sihe finally said.

Han Cheng smiled. “Goodnight, Mother.”

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