My Husband's Eyes Have Been Looking Different Lately After Our Marriage of Convenience - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Why is there a Giant Mirror Above the Bed?

On the other end of the line, Li Shang’s voice was practically peaking.

“Holy crap!! Ai-ge, can you really go??”

Song Ai frowned and pulled the phone away from his ear, saying impatiently, “This is the third time you’ve asked me. I know you’re shocked, but can you stop being just shocked for a second?”

“I’m just too excited,” Li Shang chuckled. “After the college entrance exams, we agreed to travel together, but you left the country without a word. Then, when you finally came back, the Lu family wouldn’t let you leave J City. You have no idea how hard it’s been waiting for this day, boo-hoo.”

The corners of Song Ai’s mouth lifted slightly. “Alright, enough. Lu Tingyun bought tickets for 10:00 AM tomorrow. When are you? Can we leave together?”

“Lu Tingyun is going too?”

“Yeah.” Song Ai rubbed his ear. “Otherwise, how do you think I’m able to go? He happens to be going to Haishi for a business trip, so he’s bringing me along.”

“Fair enough.” Li Shang stopped dwelling on the details. “Old Wang and I bought tickets for 3:00 PM. I’ll see if I can change them to 10:00. If not, I’ll just buy two new ones. If we can go together, we have to go together!!”

Song Ai had no objections and gave a casual “Mhm.”

They briefly discussed tomorrow’s travel arrangements before hanging up half an hour later. Even though it was late at night, he wasn’t sleepy at all, planning to pack his luggage early.

It was a rare chance to go out and play; he had to dress like the coolest guy there!

Song Ai got straight to work, pulling out the most flamboyant beach shorts from his closet and humming a little tune as he packed his clothes one by one. He was so immersed in the joy of folding clothes that he didn’t notice the dark shadow standing outside his door.

Lu Tingyun had just returned from the office, exhausted, his footsteps slightly unsteady. Taking two days off required arranging so much work that he had been busy until now.

But upon hearing his spouse’s lighthearted singing, the gloom on his face instantly vanished. Lu Tingyun leaned against the wall, listening quietly for a while. The song Song Ai was singing sounded familiar. Even though not a single note was on key, it didn’t stop him from thinking it sounded beautiful.

…

The Next Day

Song Ai set his alarm for 7:00 AM, washed up quickly, went downstairs for breakfast at 7:20, and was standing at the door by 8:00 sharp. His time management was stricter than during his senior year of high school.

He was fully prepared, but the “East Wind” (Lu Tingyun) had yet to appear.

He asked Butler Wu, who said, “The Master should still be on the phone with the Old Master in the study.”

Song Ai blinked. They wouldn’t be talking about me, would they?

If Lu Haichuan knew Lu Tingyun decided to take him on a business trip, he would definitely oppose it. And Lu Tingyun always followed his father’s arrangements; would he this time as well…?

Forget it. If he can’t go, he won’t go. No big deal. He could go in two years after the divorce.

Song Ai lowered his eyelashes, just as he managed to convince himself, he heard a voice ask, “Is the luggage all packed?”

He looked up to see Lu Tingyun, who had come downstairs unnoticed. Song Ai’s heart thudded twice, his voice slightly muffled: “Are you… done with the call with your dad?”

“Yes.”

“What did he say?”

Lu Tingyun smiled. “What did he say about what?”

“…” Song Ai saw through his expression, turned, and climbed into the car, saying crossly, “Say it or don’t.”

Seeing his spouse angry, Lu Tingyun stopped teasing and sat beside him. “I’m joking. Father said you played a big part in the deal with the Shens, so he didn’t oppose you coming to Haishi with me for a few days.”

Song Ai found it hard to believe Lu Haichuan would agree so easily. “Really?”

Lu Tingyun nodded slightly. “Mhm.”

Song Ai looked at him skeptically. He had seen this man’s ability to lie without a script before. But whether it was true or not didn’t matter, as long as he could go. He stopped dwelling on it.

It took just over half an hour from the manor to the nearest airport. To make it easier for Song Ai, Li Shang and Wang Ruijing had simply bought two new tickets for the same flight.

In the car, Song Ai was constantly typing on his phone, drawing Lu Tingyun’s side-glances several times. It wasn’t until they entered the airport and passed security that Lu Tingyun realized who he had been chatting with—and why Song Ai wanted to go to Haishi so badly.

“We’ve been waiting for you forever!” Li Shang was grinning, ready to sling an arm around his “Ai-ge,” but immediately pulled his hand back upon seeing Lu Tingyun’s icy face.

Song Ai, oblivious, turned to Lu Tingyun. He originally intended to make up an explanation, but seeing the other’s “I see through everything” gaze, the words died in his throat.

“…Fine, the truth is exactly what you see.”

He knew he was in the wrong and didn’t make excuses. But his desire to go to Haishi wasn’t just because his friends were going. It was because he had been stuck in a square house in a city where he knew every street far too long. He desperately needed fresh air.

He thought Lu Tingyun would be angry, or even stop him from going. After all, he’d be annoyed if the roles were reversed.

But Lu Tingyun just gave a cool, “Oh.”

This “Oh” gave a strange illusion that Lu Tingyun was easy to talk to. But who would have thought that the outside world usually described him as “swift, decisive, and showing no mercy”?

Before they could say more, an announcement echoed through the terminal. The assistant arrived after checking the luggage. Lu Tingyun gave everyone an out. “Let’s go.”

J City was quite far from Haishi. From boarding to landing, it took over five hours. By the time they reached the pre-booked hotel, Lu Tingyun realized Song Ai had even leaked which hotel they were staying at.

The romantic “trip for two” had instantly turned into a “group tour.”

Lu Tingyun didn’t even want to speak. He walked into the hotel with a stone face, nearly making the receptionist think a handsome man with facial paralysis had entered.

This hotel had a partnership with the Lu family, so they didn’t even need to check in. A suite was pre-reserved, and they went straight up the elevator. This move left Li Shang, who was fumbling for his ID, dumbfounded. “I knew the Lu family had power, but I didn’t know they had this much power!”

Wang Ruijing looked at the elevator doors with a dark gaze and said nothing.

Li Shang was the one who initially suggested Haishi—he went to university there and was visiting for a classmate’s wedding. Wang Ruijing hadn’t been interested until he heard Song Ai was going. But he hadn’t expected Lu Tingyun to come along. He had hoped to get closer to Song Ai, but with this man around, it would be difficult.

As Wang Ruijing was lost in thought, Li Shang chuckled. “Hey—what a coincidence! Old Wang, isn’t that the person you told me about? Lu Tingyun’s first love?”

Wang Ruijing looked up sharply. Sure enough, a young man was entering the hotel lobby. It was Lin Zhiyuan, the one who had been trying to get close to Lu Tingyun at the Shen engagement party.

Such a coincidence? Likely a calculated one. A plan quickly formed in Wang Ruijing’s mind.

…

Inside the Presidential Suite

Song Ai stared at the single, giant round bed and felt a bit numb.

Lu Tingyun, however, had a high level of acceptance. His expression even looked better than before as he coolly shifted the blame: “Zhang Ting arranged all of this.”

Zhang Ting was Lu Tingyun’s assistant. Because the decision was rushed, Lu Tingyun had left the entire itinerary to him.

Song Ai: “…”

Assistant Zhang didn’t know they were a marriage of convenience. Booking one room was understandable, as was the round bed, but…

Why was there a giant mirror directly above the bed?!

Lu Tingyun generously took a step back. “It’s fine. If you’re really unsatisfied, I can have Zhang Ting book another room and we can stay separately. Though, it might take some effort to explain that to him…”

Before he could finish, Song Ai “snapped” his luggage open.

Too tired to argue, the youth’s gaze was drawn to the ocean view outside. He threw himself onto the sofa by the window, his eyes filled with pure blue. The last time he had seen the sea this close was five or six years ago.

He was eager to go down and play in the water. Right then, Li Shang sent a WeChat message.

Li Shang: Ai-ge, we’ve dropped our bags. Waiting for you in the lobby~

Song Ai didn’t think twice and was about to head out, but he caught a glimpse of Lu Tingyun’s resentful face and paused.

Sigh. Lu Tingyun was the one who brought him here; leaving him alone in the room seemed a bit rude. Maybe a polite invite? Given Lu Tingyun’s style, he probably wouldn’t go anyway.

With that in mind, Song Ai asked: “Do you want to…”

Before he could finish, the other replied: “Sure.”

Song Ai: “…” I played myself!

Five minutes later, Song Ai led Lu Tingyun to stand before Li Shang and Wang Ruijing. Li Shang’s eyes nearly doubled in size. Because of Lu Tingyun’s presence, he didn’t dare speak until they walked out of the lobby, where he secretly nudged Song Ai.

“Can we even hang out with Lu Tingyun? Why did you bring him down?”

Song Ai covered his face. “Don’t even start.”

Next time he was this “polite,” he’d be an idiot.

The back exit of the hotel led to a private beach. It wasn’t crowded; compared to the public beaches, it was paradise. It was afternoon, and the sun felt wonderful. As soon as Song Ai’s bare feet stepped onto the warm sand, he felt like he could fly.

Li Shang felt the same. Like monkeys released back into the jungle, they started running wildly within two steps. Lu Tingyun followed behind. Seeing Song Ai this happy was a first, and he fell into a moment of reflection.

Wang Ruijing also felt a sense of nostalgia. Back in high school on Friday afternoons, Song Ai would run with the same reckless joy on the way to the internet cafe.

Because they were walking slowly, the two men—one in a suit, one in casual wear—gradually ended up side-by-side. To break the awkwardness, Wang Ruijing spoke: “Song Ai mentioned President Lu is here for business?”

But the others didn’t acknowledge him. The atmosphere grew even more awkward.

Whether from walking or the heat, a bit of sweat appeared on Wang Ruijing’s forehead. He wiped it away, only to hear the man beside him suddenly ask:

“You like Song Ai?”

Wang Ruijing’s footsteps faltered, his heart thudding violently. He turned to Lu Tingyun, but found the man’s face expressionless. To him, it seemed like an insignificant matter.

But from one perspective, they were love rivals! Also, how did Lu Tingyun see it? He thought he had hidden it well.

Wang Ruijing forced himself to stay calm. “Is President Lu joking? Ai-ge and I are friends. Besides, he’s already married to you…”

“Marriage can be ended by divorce.” The other’s tone remained flat, but his gaze was sharp and cold. “You stay by his side every day—aren’t you just waiting for that day?”

The flatter Lu Tingyun acted, the more ridiculous Wang Ruijing’s panic seemed. He stopped pretending and confessed, “Since President Lu has seen it, why bother testing me?”

To his surprise, Lu Tingyun gave a short, light laugh.

“Testing?” His expression seemed genuinely puzzled. “Is my warning not obvious enough?”