Yan Chong led Su Xingyan in through the side door of the banquet hall.
The banquet hall was already packed with guests. With a quick glance, Su Xingyan saw that almost every prominent figure from Ronggang was in attendance for Tang Songzhi to elope at a time like this was practically stamping the Yan family’s honor into the dirt. What’s more, it was being held together with Old Madam Yan’s birthday banquet.
Su Xingyan clenched his fists, thinking to himself that even if the sky were to fall today, this wedding banquet had to go on, no matter what.
Turning back to look at Yan Chong, Su Xingyan saw that Yan Chong didn’t seem flustered in the slightest. He followed behind calmly and composed, even curling his thin lips into a smile when their eyes met. Su Xingyan felt a chill run down his spine at that smile. Avoiding his gaze slightly, he whispered, “…How do you plan to wrap up today’s wedding banquet?”
“I told you already. As things stand, we can only have you step in as the wife.”
With one hand in his pocket, Yan Chong smiled with a rogue charm. The moment the words left his mouth, he came to a stop in front of an open door. Su Xingyan looked up, only to realize that Yan Chong had brought him step by step into the dressing room, he was actually going to make him step in! He actually dared to!
Su Xingyan turned, wanting to run, but Yan Chong grabbed him around the waist with one hand and forcibly dragged him into the dressing room. Just as Su Xingyan was about to struggle, a loud thump echoed. Yan Chong slammed him directly against the wall and pressed his body against him. His sturdy chest pressed tightly against Su Xingyan’s, and his long legs forcefully wedged between Su Xingyan’s thighs.
Almost by instinct, Su Xingyan slapped Yan Chong across the face. Yan Chong didn’t dodge. Right after taking the hit, he grabbed Su Xingyan’s wrist and pinned it tightly above his head. “Tang Chao, get the makeup artist over here. Put… makeup on the wife.”
Yan Chong leaned in and whispered in his ear, “President Su, don’t wear a suit anymore. Better wear a wedding dress.”
Yan Chong’s voice was low and raspy, carrying his usual unquestionable tone. Stared down by eyes that resembled a wolf’s or a tiger’s, and hearing Tang Chao’s footsteps fade away as he carried out the order, Su Xingyan’s beautiful eyes flushed with a layer of watery rage, his chest rising and falling uncontrollably: “…Yan Chong, you bastard!”
“Mm, I am.” Yan Chong admitted without hesitation. His eyes amusement filled as they swept over the deep red of Su Xingyan’s earlobes. He deliberately leaned forward, pressing down even harder, he could feel Su Xingyan trembling against his chest.
He was afraid.
Yan Chong’s dark eyes deepened slightly. Leaning close to his ear, he continued to tease him, “Call me that a few more times. This bastard loves hearing it.”
Su Xingyan closed his eyes in humiliation. He wasn’t sure what this madman was capable of doing.
Everything that had happened during this period floated back into his mind. Su Xingyan clenched his hands, took a soft breath, and spoke again. “Back at the Wei house, you said Wei Chengran used his position to enforce unspoken rules on Tang Songzhi… You cleared Tang Songzhi’s name, but you clearly knew they were mutually in love.”
Yan Chong gave a contemptuous laugh, completely unfazed. “So what if they’re mutually in love? Weren’t you and Wei Chengran mutually in love before, too?”
Su Xingyan snapped his eyes open, his bright, clear eyes trembling slightly.
Yan Chong gave a cruel smile. “In the end, wasn’t it still a beautiful beginning ending in a bitter mess?”
Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Su Xingyan glared at Yan Chong with resentment: “Yan Chong, what do you know? What do you think you know?!”
“What do I know…” Yan Chong narrowed his eyes, saying each word deliberately. “I know you’re feeling extremely unwilling right now. I guess that after finding out about Wei Chengran’s infidelity, you secretly investigated Tang Songzhi. I guess you must be thinking about why you were outmatched by someone like him.”
“Where are you inferior to him? You’re prettier than him, more outstanding, refined and gracious, and your family background is countless times better than his, on what grounds was he able to snatch away what belonged to you?”
Su Xingyan’s body trembled violently, and in an instant, his eyes grew sore and bloodshot. Taking it all in, Yan Chong pressed on relentlessly.
“I guess you didn’t tell anyone about this either. You feel ashamed. Ashamed of being betrayed by your husband, ashamed of admitting a failed marriage, and being defeated by a mistress who is entirely inferior to you is an utter humiliation.”
Only at this moment did Su Xingyan clearly notice Yan Chong’s eyes, jet-black, profound, bottomless, yet bone chillingly cold. Su Xingyan saw his own reflection in those eyes. “…Su Xingyan, you want to win. I bet if that idiot Wei Chengran came back right now, you would…”
Yan Chong narrowed his eyes, his cold gaze seemingly trying to see right through Su Xingyan. He was about to keep talking when his harsh words came to a abrupt stop.
Yan Chong’s eyes widened in disbelief. Su Xingyan’s cold, trembling lips had already pressed against his. His hands were still firmly pinned above his head by Yan Chong, and though he was trying his hardest to endure, his eyes were completely red, looking as if he might burst into tears at any second.
Su Xingyan slowly raised his eyes, using those flushed eyes to look at Yan Chong with contempt. Then, the corners of his lips curved up slightly into a sudden smile right under Yan Chong’s gaze. “You sound so full of high-sounding arguments… What kind of good person do you think you are?”
“Others are hypocrites wearing masks, but what about you? Yan Chong, you’re a shameless, blatant villain.” Su Xingyan didn’t back away. His beautiful eyes were bone chillingly cold right now. As he cursed Yan Chong, his warm breath lightly fanned across Yan Chong’s thin lips. Yan Chong’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he unconsciously raised his chin. “…Yan Chong, you didn’t come to the Wei house to find Tang Songzhi at all.”
He must have known all along that Tang Songzhi had run away with Wei Chengran.
Su Xingyan looked up at him, word by word, “You came to find me.”
Yan Chong lowered his gaze, looking at Su Xingyan with a faint smile and appreciation. His thin lips moved, wanting to say something, but he saw that Su Xingyan had already closed his eyes and leaned in to kiss him again. “Yan Chong, you want me, don’t you?”
Su Xingyan’s voice trembled, his lips brushing against Yan Chong’s as he continued to provoke him: “Come on, then.”
Yan Chong’s Adam’s apple rolled. Almost the instant the words fell, he released Su Xingyan’s wrists, cupped the back of his head, and kissed him back fiercely. Su Xingyan collapsed weakly against him, as if all his strength had been drained, feeling Yan Chong tightly gripping his waist in a near frenzied plunder.
Su Xingyan’s eyelashes trembled, and the long suppressed tears finally spilled over the corners of his eyes.
Yan Chong thought later that if he had acted like a decent human being at that moment, he wouldn’t have taken advantage of his vulnerability. How could he take him at a time like this? But he thought, he was a beast to begin with. He wanted him.
He insisted on having him.
The banquet hall was already packed with guests. As people toasted and exchanged drinks, they gradually realized that the auspicious hour was approaching, yet the two hosts of the wedding banquet were nowhere to be seen.
Elder Master Yan put down his wine glass and let out a heavy sigh. Raising his hand to look at his expensive wristwatch, he furrows his brows in displeasure. Yan Chong had always been wild and unbridled in his actions, but no matter what, he would never make a mockery of the Yan family’s reputation.
After calmly exchanging a few pleasantries with the guests about traffic jams on the way, Elder Master Yan walked to the side and instructed Yan Youwei in a low voice. “Did you call your brother? Where is he right now?!”
“I’ll give him fifteen more minutes! If he doesn’t show up by then, call off this wedding!”
Yan Hongfang was furious, clutching his walking stick and thumping it heavily onto the carpet. Yan Youwei stood silently in front of his father, waiting for his father’s anger to vent before sneaking a couple of glances up.
Him, go call Yan Chong? Wouldn’t that be seeking death! However, his men had just reported to him that Yan Chong had already returned, bringing along Su Xingyan from the Wei family…
Yan Youwei’s eyes darted around as he suddenly remembered some interesting things he had recently uncovered.
While the banquet hall was in utter chaos, inside the closed dressing room, Su Xingyan’s clothes were disheveled. He was pressed against the door panel by Yan Chong, kissed to the point of almost suffocating.
Su Xingyan’s lips were originally pale, but now they had turned bright red and trembling from Yan Chong’s almost violent kiss. Su Xingyan didn’t dare open his eyes at all. He shivered inexplicably. He felt cold, so cold. Yet in the next moment, Yan Chong’s burning body pressed up against him again, pinning him tightly without a single gap.
Su Xingyan trembled uncontrollably, and his tightly closed eyes grew even sorer. He had originally intended to endure it, but the moment Yan Chong kissed his neck, his tears burst through the dam.
Su Xingyan bit his lower lip and suddenly began to cry hard. He felt ashamed, wronged.
The closed dressing room fell quiet for a moment. Yan Chong’s ragged and burning breath still echoed in Su Xingyan’s ear, but his movements had stopped.
Yan Chong looked down at Su Xingyan. Su Xingyan’s delicate brows were tightly knitted, and tears rolled down his snow-white cheeks like pearls, one by one. Su Xingyan cried soundlessly, yet inexplicably, it tugged at one’s heartstrings.
Yan Chong stared at Su Xingyan quietly. He suddenly missed the way Su Xingyan had bristled, hitting and cursing at him earlier. Su Xingyan was proud; he shouldn’t be like this.
Yan Chong closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh. Then, using one hand, he cupped Su Xingyan’s face and gently kissed away his tears one by one. Su Xingyan’s eyelashes fluttered as he slowly opened his eyes, catching Yan Chong opening his as well, a pair of dark eyes that were deep and intense as ever, yet no longer as cold as before.
“Why are you crying again… I’m a bastard. You should beat me and curse at me, why are you crying?” Yan Chong said with a hint of a smile in his tone. He was teasing him, but also coaxing him.
Su Xingyan didn’t speak, staring at him with red eyes. He wanted to glare at him, but he didn’t have the strength left. His body was still trembling slightly.
Yan Chong chuckled helplessly, his thumb gently rubbing across Su Xingyan’s cheek. Suddenly thinking of something, Yan Chong said softly, “Don’t cry anymore. I won’t touch you… I’ll make you feel comfortable, okay?”
Su Xingyan’s eyes quivered. Realizing what he meant, he widened his eyes, wanting to say “no,” but he was kissed into silence once again…
Unable to hold up any longer, Su Xingyan finally collapsed limply against Yan Chong’s shoulder.
Su Xingyan seemed to have fallen asleep. Yan Chong gently stroked his head, only then realizing that Su Xingyan was burning hot to the touch.
The hour of the Snake had passed. The sudden spring rain had long since stopped, replaced by bright sunshine and clear skies. After waiting round after round, the guests vaguely sensed that something was amiss.
Yan Hongfang’s face was dark. Just as he was about to say something, out of the corner of his eye he noticed Old Madam Yan’s unshakeable, calm demeanor, causing the words to sink back down his throat.
Old Madam Yan rolled her Buddhist prayer beads, not even casting a glance at Yan Hongfang. “What’s the rush? If this wedding banquet falls through, is the sky over Ronggang going to collapse?” Old Madam Yan let out a sigh, glancing at her son’s slightly weathered face. “After all these years, you still haven’t learned to stay calm.”
Admonished, Yan Hongfang exhaled heavily. He wiped away the cold sweat dripping down his face with a handkerchief while silently grumbling that this concerned the Yan family’s honor, how could it be as simple as the old lady made it out to be? However, before he could speak, an uproar broke out across the hall.
Everyone saw Yan Chong dressed in a black custom made tailcoat, stepping out with a cold and composed expression. He was carrying a man clad in a white suit in a princess carry, walking step by step from the other end of the red carpet. The guests craned their necks to look, but they could only see that the man Yan Chong was holding was tall, his face covered by a suit jacket, leaning quietly against Yan Chong’s chest as if he were fast asleep.
The crowd looked at one another, their faces filled with disbelief. “Who is that Yan Chong is holding? Tang Songzhi? That’s impossible! If it’s Tang Songzhi, why cover his face?” “And this is their wedding banquet! What does Yan Chong mean by this? Is the wedding banquet canceled? Then all these people who came today…”
Yan Hongfang’s face had already turned green with rage amidst the crowd’s chatter. Seeing that brat Yan Chong actually intending to carry the person out of the banquet hall, Yan Hongfang gripped his walking stick and rushed forward in a few quick steps, blocking his way. “Stop right there! Do you have any idea what day it is today? What do you think you are doing right now!”
Yan Hongfang narrowed his eyes and looked toward the person in Yan Chong’s arms.
Yan Chong subtly pulled the person tighter into his embrace. His sharp eyebrows furrowed slightly as he raised his eyelids, his gaze cold and stern as he looked at his father. “Move.”
Yan Hongfang froze. Once he reacted, he flew into a bigger rage. “Yan Chong, are you rebelling against heaven?! How dare you speak to me like that! Are you going to take the Yan family’s honor today and…”
“He told you to move.”
Before Yan Hongfang’s fury could be fully vented, he saw Old Madam Yan walking forward step by step with her walking stick. Old Madam Yan cast a meaningful glance at Yan Chong. After a long silence, she shifted her gaze back to the person in his arms and repeated, “Let him go.”
Yan Hongfang looked at Old Madam Yan in utter disbelief. Yet the knot between Yan Chong’s brows remained unrelaxed. After taking a deep look at his grandmother, he stepped forward and carried Su Xingyan out.
The guests were already abuzz with discussion. Paparazzi in the shadows, after exchanging a look with Yan Youwei, nimbly pulled out their cameras and took several pictures of Yan Chong’s retreating figure…
Only after watching Yan Chong walk out of the banquet hall did Old Madam Yan leisurely turn back around. What kind of stormy waves had Old Madam Yan not seen in her lifetime? Yan Chong was raised by her own hands, since he acted this way right now, he definitely had a reason why he had to do so. Old Madam Yan let out a soft sigh, then smiled calmly at the bewildered guests. “What is everyone talking about? Today is this old woman’s big birthday, everyone has traveled far and worked hard to be here.”
With a final word, Old Madam Yan defined this chaotic wedding banquet into a single person’s birthday banquet.
“The birthday banquet has begun. Everyone, please take your seats.”