Why Does First Love Feel This Sweet? - Chapter 3

Chapter: The Grand Performance

When they emerged from the Civil Affairs Bureau, only an hour remained before the engagement banquet was set to begin.

Inside the car, Rong Yu buckled Sheng Yi’s seatbelt and made a call through the Bluetooth speakers. The recipient was his original betrothed. From the conversation, Sheng Yi realized that Rong Yu had long since reached an agreement with her to break off the engagement.

Their fathers were comrades who had once entrusted their lives to one another; having failed to become biological brothers, they dreamt of becoming in-laws. Since the engagement couldn’t be dissolved through simple negotiation with the elders, Rong Yu had chosen this direct, scorched-earth method.

The girl on the other end seemed to have found her own “boyfriend” to play along, and was already on her way to the hotel.

…

The car pulled up in front of the city’s most high-end hotel. Rong Yu stepped out first.

Sheng Yi looked out the window in a daze. A manager in a crisp suit, followed by a line of staff, was already waiting at the entrance. Manager Wang stepped forward and bowed respectfully. “Young Master, the Madam and the others are waiting for you in the rooftop ballroom.”

Rong Yu handed the car keys to the valet. “Take the items from the trunk, prepare a room, and place them there.”

What a spectacle, Sheng Yi thought, startled. He knew Rong Yu’s family was wealthy, but he hadn’t realized they were this wealthy. The hotel likely belonged to the Rong family. Sheng Yi felt a sudden thrill, as if he were a runaway eloping with a young noble.

Rong Yu opened the car door for him. Seeing Sheng Yi’s dazed expression, he reached out to lead him out. Sheng Yi’s hair had been mussed by his hat; Rong Yu gently smoothed it down with his hand.

“Tired?” Rong Yu asked, noticing how Sheng Yi’s lashes fluttered weakly.

“Not tired,” Sheng Yi smiled at him.

In front of Rong Yu, Sheng Yi’s disguises were transparent. Rong Yu didn’t call him out; he simply rested his large hand on Sheng Yi’s hat, his gaze softening. “It won’t take long. What do you want to eat? I’ll take you out afterward.”

“Is this a reward?” Sheng Yi felt that after this grand performance, he might not have the strength to eat out. He said unceremoniously, “Then go home and cook for me.”

Ever since tasting Rong Yu’s cooking that morning, Sheng Yi had been obsessed, wondering when he could snag another meal.

“Alright,” Rong Yu replied. He gripped Sheng Yi’s cold hand and, under the astonished stares of the staff, led him into the hotel.

…

Inside a luxurious suite, Sheng Yi sat on the large bed, checking the price tags on the clothes in the paper bags. Rong Yu had prepared an outfit for him to “meet the parents.” The cheapest shirt cost tens of thousands, and combined with a multi-million dollar watch, the whole ensemble was worth a sports car.

Sheng Yi calculated the millions in medical bills he owed, plus the priceless Harvard diploma Rong Yu had sacrificed… he felt as if he had woken up to a debt of hundreds of millions. He closed his eyes in despair. Having a friend who was excessively outstanding and gave everything without reservation was its own kind of pressure.

With a wry smile, Sheng Yi took off Rong Yu’s hoodie and slipped on the dress shirt.

Rong Yu knocked on the door. “Need help?”

Sheng Yi was currently at war with a tie. He had tried several times following a video tutorial, nearly wrinkling the silk fabric. Now that he was recovered, he didn’t want to be a “useless burden” who needed Rong Yu for everything. Rong Yu spoiled him too much—feeding him and wiping him down in the hospital, cooking and bathing him at home. He was a step away from helping him in the bathroom.

How am I supposed to live without him later at this rate? Sheng Yi resolved to be independent and strong.

Five seconds later: “Xiao Yu, come here for a second.”

Rong Yu, dressed in a classic black suit, pushed open the door. He paused at the sight of the person by the bed. Sheng Yi stood in the natural light, dressed in a warm-toned suit. His hair and skin were fair, his eyes bright. He looked like a child born of light, someone meant to be pampered and loved.

“Was I always this useless?” Sheng Yi sighed, holding up the mangled tie. “I even forgot how to tie this.”

“You didn’t forget,” Rong Yu walked over, lifting Sheng Yi’s collar and draping the tie he had personally selected. “This isn’t something you were meant to know.”

Sheng Yi believed him. For some reason, hearing Rong Yu tell him he used to be “useless” felt strangely credible. He gave up struggling and lowered his gaze.

The man’s clean, slender fingers moved through the smooth silk. Pale fingertips, masculine joints. The tedious process became a work of art in those hands. Sheng Yi found himself mesmerized. In his eyes, every part of Rong Yu was perfect.

As Rong Yu pushed the silk knot upward, Sheng Yi felt a slight constriction. He tilted his chin up, meeting the gaze of the man leaning over him. From just centimeters away, those ink-black eyes had been waiting, watching him for who knows how long. Sheng Yi felt like a prey that had walked straight into a net.

“It’s okay,” Rong Yu’s palm brushed over Sheng Yi’s chest to flatten the tie. He smirked slightly. “It’s enough that I know how.”

…

Despite it being a “fake” marriage, the prospect of meeting the parents made Sheng Yi nervous. In the elevator to the ballroom, Rong Yu noticed his silence. “Scared?”

“Do your parents know me?” Sheng Yi worried. If they knew him, his lies would have to be very careful.

“They do. They are very familiar with you,” Rong Yu said, his voice low. “They also know I’ve been taking care of you these past few years.”

“Then will they believe we’re actually married?” Sheng Yi frowned. “Will they see through us?”

“They’ll likely be shocked,” Rong Yu said calmly. He smirked. “As for whether they’ll see through it… I’m not sure.”

Sheng Yi thought to himself: Truly excellent people are calm at all times. “Do they know about my amnesia?”

“I haven’t told them yet.” Rong Yu gazed at him reassuringly. “Don’t be nervous. Just stay by my side.”

Rong Yu’s comfort made Sheng Yi feel like they really were secret lovers getting hitched behind their parents’ backs. He forced himself to relax and took Rong Yu’s hand. “Fine. I’ll play it by ear. The marriage certificate isn’t fake anyway—from now on, let’s act like we’re really married.”

Rong Yu looked at the fingers Sheng Yi was holding, then up into Sheng Yi’s eyes, dazzled by that pure, untainted smile.

The elevator doors opened. At the end of the long corridor was a floor-to-ceiling window showcasing a clear blue sky. Sheng Yi thought: What a great day to do something big.

…

The elegant ballroom was filled with socialites and elites. As Rong Yu and Sheng Yi appeared at the entrance, the low hum of conversation stopped instantly. Every eye turned toward them.

The cold, arrogant prodigy was holding hands with a beautiful, noble youth. Together, they looked like the moon and sun appearing at once—a summer breeze meeting a moonlit forest. Their contrasting auras blended perfectly, stealing all the light in the room.

Rong Yu was the most anticipated heir in their circle; everyone knew him. Soon, people began to recognize Sheng Yi as well.

“That boy looks familiar. Is he the son of the third Sheng brother?” “Yes, that’s him. I saw him years ago.” “Who would have thought… after what happened to the Sheng family…” “Fate is fickle…”

The whispers were too muddled for Sheng Yi to hear clearly, but the scale of this “performance” made his palms sweat. Rong Yu squeezed his hand back comfortingly.

“Xiao Yi? You’re awake?” Tang Yun, Rong Yu’s mother, stood up from the main table in disbelief.

Under the collective gaze, Rong Yu led Sheng Yi to the table. “Sorry we’re late.”

Tang Yun’s eyes were rimmed with red. She stepped forward to take Sheng Yi’s hand, her beautiful eyes filled with concern. “This is wonderful… truly wonderful. It’s a blessing that you’ve woken up. Do you feel unwell anywhere?”

“I’m fine, thank you for your concern, Auntie.” Sheng Yi felt the warmth of her hand and knew she truly cared for him. He felt a pang of guilt for the blow he was about to deliver.

The parents of the bride-to-be, Chu Siya, looked at each other in confusion. Just as Chu’s mother was about to call her daughter, another couple entered: Chu Siya herself, arm-in-arm with the youngest son of the Cheng family.

Chu Siya had planned this with Rong Yu. She had no interest in an arranged marriage. She was a high achiever who refused to be anyone’s “lapdog,” even if the man was as charming as Rong Yu. She had brought her own “actor” to cause a scene so the engagement could never be salvaged.

However, she hadn’t expected Rong Yu to go this far—bringing a male “spouse.” She stifled a laugh. This ‘God’ of a man certainly knows how to piss off his parents.

“What is the meaning of this?” Rong Yu’s father, Rong Qinghe, stood up, his voice booming. “When did Xiao Yi wake up? Why wasn’t I told? This is your engagement banquet—what do you mean by handing your fiancée to someone else?”

Rong Yu remained unmoved. “I’ve said it before. I will not get engaged to Chu Siya.”

“Dad, Mom, I won’t get engaged to Rong Yu either,” Chu Siya added, stepping forward with her companion.

The ballroom fell into a stunned silence. Then, Rong Yu delivered the killing blow.

“I have already married Sheng Yi.”

The room collectively gasped. The heir to the Rong family—the giant of the financial industry—had married a man. In their world, where bloodlines and wealth consolidation were paramount, this was unthinkable.

Tang Yun staggered, clutching a chair to stay upright. She had thought Rong Yu was joking on the phone. She had always viewed Sheng Yi as a “son”—and now he was her “daughter-in-law”?

A sharp crack broke the silence. Rong Qinghe, a former military man, was too fast. Rong Yu didn’t dodge, only tilting his head slightly as a red handprint bloomed on his handsome face.

“Uncle, don’t blame him!” Sheng Yi didn’t even think; he lunged forward to shield Rong Yu. “It’s not Xiao Yu’s fault!”

Rong Qinghe’s hand froze in mid-air.

Sheng Yi took all the “blame” onto himself. “I was the one who forced the marriage! I liked him first! I seduced him!” He went full-character, shouting: “If love is a crime, I am the first to sin!”

The room: “…”

The sheer melodrama of Sheng Yi’s declaration broke the tension. Some guests actually started to chuckle. Rong Yu, standing behind Sheng Yi’s determined back, raised a hand to hide a smirk.

Seeing the “enemy” stunned, Sheng Yi played his “pity card.” He took a deep breath. “Uncle, you know Xiao Yu stayed by my side for three years. Without him, I would be dead. I realized that a person who can give up their future—give up Harvard and the best years of their youth—to watch over someone who might never wake up… that person is someone I can’t help but fall for.”

His eyes grew red with genuine emotion. “I know I have nothing now. I’ve lost three years and delayed Rong Yu’s future. I’m not worthy of him. But I also know I will never find someone who treats me this well ever again.”

He looked Rong Qinghe in the eye. “So I want to be selfish just once. I will do everything in my power to treat him well for the rest of my life. I value his life more than my own. I wouldn’t trust anyone else to take care of him.”

The ballroom was silent. Sheng Yi wondered if he should kneel or wait to be hit. He closed his eyes and shielded Rong Yu. “Dad, if you’re angry, hit me. Don’t hit Xiao Yu. It’s all my fault.”

The word “Dad” left Rong Qinghe speechless. He went to rub his face in frustration, only to be met with condemning glares from the guests.

“Old Rong!” Tang Yun grabbed his arm. “The child just got out of the hospital!”

“Mom, don’t stop him,” Sheng Yi said heroically. “Let Dad vent his anger. I can take it.”

Rong Yu closed his eyes behind him, biting his lip. Some guests began to applaud Sheng Yi’s “courage.”

“The boy has guts,” one business tycoon remarked. “He’s capable of great things.”

“Don’t be so rigid, Old Rong,” another said. “You can’t stop a fire like that.”

Rong Qinghe’s face turned from red to white. He just wanted to rub his face!

Sheng Yi heard a soft chuckle from Rong Yu behind him. His ears turned red—he had been quite thick-skinned with the “Dad and Mom” comments.

Rong Yu tried to pull him back, but Sheng Yi resisted. “Stay back, his hands are too fast!”

Rong Yu leaned in and whispered in his ear: “That’s enough. Give Dad some face. Be good.”

Rong Yu then stepped forward to face his parents. “The marriage was sudden, but it was a decision I made long ago. I will take full responsibility.”

Rong Qinghe knew his son; Rong Yu was never impulsive. He always had a plan. But this plan ruined everything. “Responsibility? My family line ends here! Who can take responsibility for that!” He stormed out of the ballroom.

Tang Yun looked at the two of them, sighed, and followed her husband. “I’ll come talk to you at your house in a few days.”

The guests eventually dispersed, chatting about the drama. As the adrenaline faded, Sheng Yi’s legs went weak. He slumped into a chair. “Did they… see through us?”

Rong Yu ruffled his hair like a reward. “You worked hard.” Even he had almost believed Sheng Yi’s speech.

“I’m so tired.” Sheng Yi looked up at Rong Yu, his hair messy. Suddenly remembering the man from earlier, he asked: “Xiao Yu, that person who called my name… do I know him?”

Rong Yu’s expression went flat. “A middle school classmate.”

“Is he a friend?” Sheng Yi was excited to find another connection.

Rong Yu didn’t answer immediately, his brow furrowing slightly. Sheng Yi figured he was just tired from the slap and decided to ask later. He reached out to touch the red mark on Rong Yu’s face. “Your dad hits hard. It’ll take days to fade… does it hurt?”

“It doesn’t.” Rong Yu tilted Sheng Yi’s chin up. “Scared?”

“Look closer,” Sheng Yi pouted like a pitiful puppy. “I’m so hungry I can’t even stand.” He grinned shamelessly. “Wife, can we go home and eat now?”

Home.

Rong Yu smirked and suddenly swept Sheng Yi up in a princess carry.

“Hey! What are you doing!” Sheng Yi struggled, embarrassed.

Rong Yu tightened his grip, his mood clearly improved. “Going home.”