In the magnificent private room of a luxurious hotel, a large group of government officials dressed in black suits gradually exited the room, engaging in conversations in pairs or checking their phones as they left.
Eventually, only one tall man with a dignified countenance remained inside the room.
The man furrowed his brow, clearly in a displeased mood.
As he pushed open the door, the sound of footsteps gradually faded away. The man tightly pursed his thin lips and reprimanded, “Leave.”
However…
Xue Heng pulled out a chair, sat down, and his expression carried a sense of gravity. “Wei Ge, let’s get a divorce.”
Wei Zongjin remained indifferent, offering no response.
Unable to hold back, Xue Heng adjusted his short hair and earnestly said, “We didn’t have a wedding ceremony, so even if we get divorced, it won’t cause any waves. Ge, I’m serious. Let’s get a divorce.”
Just five days after obtaining their marriage certificate, their marriage was on the verge of ending. It wouldn’t be a pleasant situation for anyone.
Wei Zongjin was no exception.
Xue Heng couldn’t sit still after waiting for a long time without a reply. He didn’t have that much patience, so he couldn’t help but say, “Are you serious, Ge?”
“We’ve already obtained the certificate, so don’t think too much about it,” Wei Zongjin calmly stated.
Xue Heng commented, “Arranged marriages by elders are remnants of the old society.”
Therefore, when faced with remnants, they should be thoroughly eliminated.
Seeing that Wei Zongjin still didn’t react, Xue Heng stood up and straddled Wei Zongjin’s legs, bringing them face to face.
Wei Zongjin frowned, his handsome features filled with disagreement. Obviously, faced with a partner fifteen years younger than him, Wei Zongjin almost instinctively wanted to adopt an elder’s attitude to reprimand the inexperienced Xue Heng.
Xue Heng shrank back, feeling a little disheartened, and withdrew his actions.
Xue Heng thought to himself that even if Wei Zongjin didn’t scold him, he didn’t have the courage to challenge Wei Zongjin’s authority.
This is the oppressive presence that Wei Zongjin has accumulated in Xue Heng’s heart from childhood to adulthood.
Wei Zongjin’s expression softened as he stood up and looked down at Xue Heng. “Let’s go.”
Timidly, Xue Heng obediently stood up and took a couple of steps. Feeling a sudden inspiration, he blurted out without thinking, “Ge, I didn’t take a shower before coming.”
Wei Zongjin’s footsteps halted.
Xue Heng realized he had misspoken and trembled in fear. Involuntarily, he hiccuped, his mouth filled with the scent of alcohol. He had been drinking.
****************
Chapter 2
With a click, the door locked.
Xue Heng sat respectfully on the sofa, hands placed on his knees, portraying a well-behaved demeanor. “Ge.”
Wei Zongjin draped his coat on the sofa, then sat on a single-seater sofa, expressionless. “Since we’re married, move in tomorrow. Let Secretary Li know if you need anything.”
Implicit in his words was the indication that he didn’t intend to treat their marriage as a sham.
Xue Heng discerned the meaning behind his elder brother’s words and his heart trembled, but he maintained a calm expression. “Okay.”
Lowering his gaze, Wei Zongjin nodded in satisfaction, then stood up and patted Xue Heng’s shoulder, as if encouraging a highly ambitious younger brother, rather than discussing cohabitation with a newlywed spouse.
However, this mannerism helped Xue Heng regain his composure.
Wei Zongjin left the living room. “It’s getting late, rest early.”
After Wei Zongjin returned to his room, Xue Heng dejectedly lowered his head and rubbed his face. Once he regained his composure, he stood up and headed back to his room, but not to Wei Zongjin’s room. Instead, he walked towards the adjacent guest room.
This was not Wei Zongjin’s actual home; it was a suite provided by the hotel’s management. This spared Xue Heng from the awkward dilemma—he couldn’t possibly lie in the same bed with his elder brother, whom he had always respected, especially now that they were married.
He would have nightmares.
After waking up, Xue Heng pushed open the room door, assuming that Wei Zongjin would have already left. However, to his surprise, the man was still sitting on the sofa in his suit, reading the morning paper. Xue Heng paused for a moment and walked over. “Ge, good morning.”
“Good morning.”
Wei Zongjin furrowed his brow, seemingly ready to scold Xue Heng for his habit of sleeping and waking up late, just like before. However, upon reaching the words, he likely remembered that their current relationship was no longer that of ordinary siblings from an esteemed family. So, he saved face for Xue Heng and remained silent.
After finishing his meal, Xue Heng wiped his mouth and asked, “Ge, don’t you have to go to work today?”
Wei Zongjin paused while flipping through the newspaper, then looked at him. “Today is the weekend.”
Government officials typically had control over their own schedules on weekends.
Xue Heng placed his water glass down, his words rolling around in his mouth for several rounds before finally speaking, “I’ll go back and pack my things.”
Wei Zongjin nodded, and when Xue Heng was ready to leave, he stood up as well. Then, in the face of Xue Heng’s terrified gaze, he said, “I’ll accompany you.”
Xue Heng hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded.
Xue Heng didn’t live in the villa area with his father. After he came of age, he borrowed money and found a house to live in, becoming self-reliant. The houses in the old city area were affordable, and he didn’t spend much money to buy a whole set.
Of course, that was based on prices from seven or eight years ago.
Wei Zongjin stood at the entrance of the residential area, looking at the simple yet somewhat rundown appearance of the neighborhood, feeling a slight headache. “Back then, why didn’t you buy a place in the city instead?”
“Ge, were you very wealthy back then?” Xue Heng instinctively retorted.
Wei Zongjin looked at Xue Heng thoughtfully. “I had enough money to buy you a place in the city.”
Xue Heng fell silent.
The money he used to buy the house back then was borrowed, and the lender was Wei Zongjin.
Xue Heng lived on the third floor, and since the old building had no elevator, they had to walk up.
However, the cheerful atmosphere abruptly ceased when they reached the third floor.
A man wearing a long coat leaned against the door, with a gloomy expression. The moment he saw Xue Heng with Wei Zongjin, his expression changed drastically, and his gaze towards Wei Zongjin was filled with hostility.
Xue Heng curled his lips, as if someone unaware would think he was having an affair.
How ridiculous.
The three of them stood in a standoff for a moment before Xue Heng spoke, “Why are you here?”
“I’ve been waiting for you.” The man looked directly at Xue Heng, and upon closer inspection, bloodshot eyes could be seen, a sign of a sleepless night.
Xue Heng said, “I booked a hotel room last night.”
After leaving behind an ambiguous statement, Xue Heng didn’t bother to look at the expressions between the man and Wei Zongjin. He walked past them and opened the door with his key.
The man didn’t enter, or rather, Xue Heng didn’t let him in.
Wei Zongjin left them alone to have a private conversation. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t hold them accountable later.
Xue Heng stood at the door, calmly looking at the man, and said, “Go back and marry her.”
“I came to deliver the wedding invitation.” The man’s initial anger was now mixed with complex emotions. “Three days from now.”
Saying that, the man took out a wedding invitation and handed it to Xue Heng.
Xue Heng accepted it with a sneer. They broke up half a month ago, and now, half a month later, he received his ex-boyfriend’s wedding invitation. It seemed that he had been cheated on.
The man sensed Xue Heng’s mockery but knew that he was the one who had done wrong. After a long pause, he asked, “Will you come?”
“What do you think?” Xue Heng countered.
Avoiding Xue Heng’s gaze, the man said, “Su Yin suspects something between us. Come and clarify things, so she won’t misunderstand.”
Misunderstanding?
Without waiting for Xue Heng’s response, the man lowered his gaze, swiftly left the narrow building, and hurriedly descended the stairs.
With a loud bang, Xue Heng forcefully closed the door.
He took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down. But as he turned around, he saw Wei Zongjin standing expressionless behind him. Xue Heng’s heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively apologized, “I’m sorry, Wei Ge.”
This apology was sincere.
It wasn’t because they were now married but because he was entangled with his ex, causing him to apologize to Wei Zongjin out of embarrassment.
Wei Zongjin remained silent.
********
Translator’s note: Obviously, they’re not blood brothers, so don’t fret.
**********
Index |
The Return of Cambrian Period
Tragic Pregnancy In The Interstellar
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