Married to the Scumbag’s Uncle - Chapter 1

Ever since Fang Jinshi left the sanatorium, a lingering doubt had been gnawing at him.

Why hasn’t Li Jin come to see me?

Does he even know I’ve been discharged?

One day passed, then two, then three. Fang Jinshi kept these questions to himself.

On the fourth day, his best friend, Ren Minghui, came to visit. Finally, Fang Jinshi asked the question he had been holding back: What exactly has his long-lost boyfriend been so busy with?

The expression on Ren Minghui’s face turned peculiar, as if he didn’t know how to answer.

Fang Jinshi speculated: Was it because of the harsh words I said during our last meeting six months ago? Is Li Jin still angry with me?

If that were the case, it would still be a story of two people—one with room for reconciliation. But what Fang Jinshi heard from Ren Minghui was a story of three: a tale of a “stand-in” who had successfully usurped the position of the true love.

The other protagonist of this story had a name that was unfamiliar to him, yet strangely recognizable: Lin Nuo.

This story began two years ago.

Two years ago, Fang Jinshi was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia. His life hung by a thread amidst repeated internal hemorrhaging, and he was rushed to the Fix Sanatorium in California for treatment.

At that time, Li Jin had just taken over his family’s business. With the support of his uncle, Gu Tuo, he was slowly wresting power from a pack of “old foxes.” Despite the crushing workload, Li Jin always managed to squeeze out time to fly to California to visit Fang Jinshi.

The two were childhood sweethearts who had known each other for a decade and been lovers for two. Just as they were stepping over the threshold into adulthood together, they were met with the ultimate test of life and death. Anyone aware of their relationship sighed at the cruelty of fate.

The image of the two lovers leaning on each other in the face of death gradually became a beautiful legend within their social circle.

That legend originally had nothing to do with Lin Nuo.

Back then, Lin Nuo was merely an obscure actor, a speck of dust in the vast expanse of Eastern Emperor Entertainment. However, this insignificant starlet happened to possess a profile that was seventy percent similar to Fang Jinshi’s.

The story between Li Jin and Lin Nuo began with that first, startling glimpse.

Under the guise of intentional or unintentional concern, Li Jin watched Lin Nuo suffer setback after setback in the entertainment industry. He looked pathetic—yet, for some reason, his fragile appearance overlapped with the image of Fang Jinshi on his sickbed.

In the end, Li Jin reached out to help. From then on, he saved Lin Nuo from one crisis after another.

Transferred affection made him the light of Lin Nuo’s life.

Misunderstandings allowed Lin Nuo to fall into the sweetness of romance.

A year flew by. Lin Nuo eventually discovered he was nothing more than Fang Jinshi’s substitute. He and Li Jin broke up, reconciled, and quarreled. His heart died a thousand times, yet sparkled with hope just as often, until finally in a fit of despair, he attempted suicide.

It was only then that Li Jin experienced a sudden “epiphany.” He realized he had fallen for Lin Nuo; he couldn’t lose him.

Lin Nuo took a walk through the gates of hell, and when he woke up, his dawn had finally arrived. He finally tasted a love that belonged solely to him.

After Ren Minghui finished recounting this “heart-wrenching” saga of star-crossed lovers, he couldn’t help but spit out: “Utterly disgusting!”

He stole a glance at Fang Jinshi, wanting to see his reaction.

Fang Jinshi’s parents had hidden the truth, fearing it would break his heart. But how long could such a thing be kept secret? Ren Minghui felt it was better to tell him sooner rather than later. If Fang Jinshi wanted to make trouble for Li Jin, Ren Minghui was ready to roll up his sleeves and help!

Under Ren Minghui’s gaze, Fang Jinshi let out a soft laugh.

His complexion bore the pallor of a long illness, but his smile was radiant. However, that laughter contained a hint of mockery—an indescribable, subtle nuance.

If Lin Nuo’s love was “waiting for the clouds to part to see the moonlight,” and Li Jin’s love was “the return of the prodigal son,” then what was he, Fang Jinshi?

Fang Jinshi thought for a moment and said, “Minghui, take me to see Li Jin. I want to meet him.”

His voice was lazy, carrying a trace of lingering illness.

Seeing his lowered eyelids and dejected appearance, Ren Minghui felt a pang of heartache. His intention wasn’t to make Fang Jinshi sad, but to stand up for him.

He stammered out a few words of comfort before turning his spear back toward Li Jin. “A-Shi, that dog of a man isn’t worth your tears! But I agree, don’t just swallow your anger. You should demand an explanation!”

While Fang Jinshi was out of the country, he hadn’t seen how shamelessly Li Jin and Lin Nuo flaunted their affection. Li Jin’s “upfront” attitude hadn’t earned him any respect; instead, it turned their past “beautiful legend” into a laughingstock.

Every time Ren Minghui saw them, thought of them, or heard others gossip, he felt suffocated on Fang Jinshi’s behalf. As an outsider, he couldn’t intervene. He had suppressed his rage until he was a walking powder keg—and the moment he saw Fang Jinshi back, he was ready to explode.

Hearing this, Fang Jinshi shook his head. “I’m not going there for an explanation.”

Ren Minghui was incredulous. “No way. You don’t actually want to win him back, do you?”

Fang Jinshi shook his head again. He had no hobby of recycling trash from the bin. He didn’t want a garbage man like that anymore.

“I just have something to say to him.”

Fang Jinshi’s eyes flickered, looking exactly like autumn sunlight shimmering through swaying leaves—steady and dazzling.

Eastern Emperor Entertainment

Unable to talk him out of it, Ren Minghui brought him to the company.

Three years ago, Li Jin had taken the helm of Eastern Emperor, becoming its young captain. As the Li family’s business, it was a renowned “star factory.” The lobby was constantly filled with glamorous celebrities.

Because the clientele were public figures, the receptionist was particularly cautious. Since Fang Jinshi’s attempt to book an appointment had failed, Ren Minghui had to grit his teeth, pull Li Jin’s number out of his blacklist, and dial.

In the CEO’s office, Li Jin’s eyes flashed with surprise when he saw the caller ID.

Lin Nuo was leaning against his lap. Hearing the phone ring, he slowly raised his head. His gaze was vacant, like the white snow of winter. But when that “snow” fell upon Li Jin, it gained warmth—and a touch of nervousness.

“Husband, what is it? Who’s calling?”

Li Jin knew that the suicide attempt had drained Lin Nuo of all security and self-confidence. The boy was currently being kept alive solely by Li Jin’s affection; only his absolute honesty could set Lin Nuo at ease.

He gently stroked Lin Nuo’s cheek, coaxing him in a low voice: “Baby, don’t overthink it. It’s just an old friend.”

Lin Nuo gazed at him tenderly without speaking. His eyes, however, spoke volumes of his deep affection and dependence. They were like the pale arms of a forest sprite, clinging to one’s neck, pulling them into a lake, intending to drown them in devotion.

Li Jin realized he was falling more and more in love with Lin Nuo’s eyes.

The intrusive ringtone continued relentlessly, disturbing the tender atmosphere. Li Jin had no choice but to answer. Upon learning that Ren Minghui wanted to meet—and connecting it to the news he had been tracking regarding Fang Jinshi’s return—his heart stirred. He instructed the front desk to let them up.

Ren Minghui was a mutual friend of his and Fang Jinshi’s, though he had already unilaterally declared an end to their friendship. Li Jin wasn’t surprised; he knew perfectly well that regarding Fang Jinshi, he was in the wrong.

However, he didn’t feel things were beyond repair. He didn’t ask for things to go back to exactly how they were, but he sincerely wanted to make amends. He hoped there was a way to have it all—to fulfill his deep love for Lin Nuo without losing his old ties.

After hanging up, Li Jin looked at Lin Nuo.

From the first time they met, Ren Minghui had disliked Lin Nuo. In the past, to avoid conflict, Li Jin would have asked Lin Nuo to step aside. But now.

Li Jin let out a sigh—a sigh of “sweet burden.” He knew that current-day Lin Nuo couldn’t bear to let him out of his sight.

Fine. Ren Minghui was just harsh with his words. If Li Jin mediated carefully, surely there wouldn’t be an embarrassing scene.

While he was lost in thought, a knock came at the door.

“Come in,” Li Jin said, turning his gaze toward the entrance.

Ren Minghui walked in and stepped to the side, making way for another person.

The newcomer was thin, yet he stood as straight and tall as a stalk of emerald bamboo. As Li Jin watched, the man lifted his head, revealing a handsome face. Long, thick brows, clear and bright eyes, a high bridge of the nose, and soft facial contours—even if his lips were a bit pale, they couldn’t hide the radiant aura he carried.

Six months apart, and he remained unchanged. This was his former lover, a yellowed dream of the past.

“Jinshi.”

Li Jin whispered his name, his tone so familiar it was as if they had never been apart.

Li Jin’s voice was soft, but to Lin Nuo, it was a clap of thunder that shook his very soul, leaving his ears ringing and his mind unable to think.

Only one thought remained in Lin Nuo’s heart:

Fang Jinshi is back.

The happiness I worked so hard to steal, I have to give it back.