An eerie silence filled the room.
Sang Li tilted his head and eyed Jiang Zhi with the utmost vigilance for a good long while before sitting up straight and declaring, “I admit your experience in scamming people is very rich, but I am a very clever person.”
Jiang Zhi was stunned, and then grew anxious. “I really love you, Sang Li! I am genuinely willing to take you away!”
Sang Li became anxious too. “You wouldn’t be trying to swindle my hubby’s money, would you? That’s impossible, let me tell you! All of my hubby’s money is mine!”
Jiang Zhi: “What is this?”
Jiang Zhi sat down in a daze, staring blankly at Sang Li.
Sang Li felt as though he had seen through the sole truth of the universe, triumphantly folding his arms across his chest with a haughty air. “I knew it, you just want to seduce my hubby through me. Let me tell you, there’s no way in hell, so you better give up right now! That is my precious hubby!”
Jiang Zhi: “What?”
Looking at that pretty, radiant face, Jiang Zhi was driven completely out of his mind with frustration.
He took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and unable to hold back his youthful impulsiveness any longer, blurted out, “Sang Li, you, am I out of my mind to have the hots for him? My equipment might even be bigger than his! What on earth could I possibly see in him?”
Sang Li was completely struck dumb by this statement.
Jiang Zhi raged on, “I bet you have no idea that men just get smaller and more useless the moment they pass twenty-five, yet you still treat him like some precious treasure!”
Sang Li: “Oh.”
Sang Li’s eyes went wide and dazed: o_0.
Even though he knew perfectly well that Jiang Zhi was just provoking him, trying to stir up trouble, and talking nonsense, the thought that it might concern his own sexual, no, his marital happiness made Sang Li care deeply.
Still, he felt pretty sure that hubby was doing just fine in that department.
However, he’d better measure things with a ruler again tonight just to be completely at ease.
Making up his mind, Sang Li pulled a grumpy little cat face and let out an indignant huff. “I can tell you’re just jealous that I have such a huge hubby.”
Jiang Zhi: “What?”
At that exact moment.
Jiang Zhi felt that his beloved was completely beyond saving, having already been thoroughly molded into Jiang Xiucheng’s shape.
Sang Li was still pointing fingers and lecturing. “You are really hopeless. My hubby even invited you to our house for a grand dinner, and yet you still spout such crude remarks. There is something wrong with you.”
A piece of Jiang Zhi’s heart shattered into a thousand fragments in the wind.
He let out a cold laugh and said to Sang Li, “Right, there is something wrong with me. There is something terribly wrong with my eyes.”
Unaware of why he was receiving such a chilly glare, Sang Li stealthily glanced back toward the direction where Jiang Xiucheng and Jiang Yun had exited like a petty thief, then darted his gaze back, poking his head out slightly toward Jiang Zhi to whisper, “Then promise me one thing, and I won’t tell anyone that you like Jiang Xiucheng.”
With a numb and lifeless expression, Jiang Zhi replied, “Sang Li, did you actually graduate from high school citizenship class?”
“No, I didn’t.”
Sang Li answered with total honesty. “Jiang Xiucheng bought my graduation certificate for me, and he picked out my university too.”
Jiang Zhi closed his eyes in silent resignation.
Sang Li refused to give up. “How about this? I won’t hold it against you for trying to steal my hubby. When are you taking me out to play next time?”
He looked up with eager anticipation. “I still want to go play escape rooms, or hitting up a bar again works too.”
This person, was so stupidly oblivious to social nuances that after bluntly rejecting someone, he could still shamelessly and persistently make demands for favors.
Jiang Zhi looked straight into Sang Li’s eyes.
Those eyes were a standard hazel brown, clear and bright, and when they looked at someone, they resembled a gentle, innocent little fawn, making their owner seem pure and harmless.
Yet in reality, it was nothing like that at all.
His owner was greedy, vain, materialistic, and kept locked away at home by a man trapped within a cage of gold. He resembled some gorgeous, gaudy flower of the underworld, feeding on the flesh and blood of a man to sustain his beauty and continuously grow.
Perhaps due to being at home, Sang Li was wearing typical loungewear. With his crossed-arm posture at that moment, the collar parted slightly to the sides, exposing a patch of uncovered skin.
It was as soft and white as snow, seeming to refract a seductive, fleshy glow under the restaurant lights that made it completely impossible to tear one’s eyes away.
Jiang Zhi’s gaze paused on a particular spot near the edge of the collar.
Half-hidden from view, a faint, indistinct mark was tucked away there.
It looked like the tooth imprint left behind when some fierce beast gnawed at it, subsequently rubbed over and over again until it left behind a stubborn landmark that refused to fade away, its bluish-red hue contrasting sharply against the excessively pale flesh.
It was mouth-watering.
Suddenly, he felt a wave of thirst, as if he had regressed to the oral stage of a human infant, needing to bite down on something just to feel comfortable.
This sensation made Jiang Zhi restless.
Subconsciously lowering his gaze, he acutely noticed a sudden shift down below, abruptly averted his eyes, and with a stiff motion picked up his glass of water, gulping down a full cup in one go.
When he looked up again.
He met Sang Li’s shocked expression.
“You.”
Having failed to achieve his wish, Sang Li tried hard to salvage the situation, giving a thumbs-up. “You’re actually quite good at drinking water.”
Jiang Zhi ignored him.
As Sang Li moved, his clothes slipped down by another few centimeters, completely exposing the marks that had previously been limited to the collar edge.
Jiang Zhi licked the corner of his mouth with his tongue, suddenly feeling an unbearable heat, yet this was the wrong place for it.
This was the love nest shared by Jiang Xiucheng and Sang Li.
He had grown up following Jiang Xiucheng since childhood; that was the older brother he once admired and looked up to.
Jiang Zhi told Sang Li, “Your collar is slipping.”
With wide, startled eyes, Sang Li snatched his clothes back together with a yank, flashing eightfold alertness. “You are not allowed to be jealous that I have such an awesome hubby!”
Jiang Zhi: “Oh.”
Probably nothing in this world could be more despairing than searching earnestly for four years, only to discover that the person he had been waiting for was already married, and filled entirely with defense and suspicion.
Jiang Zhi suddenly found himself rather ridiculous. Knowing full well it was a trap, he had still come anyway.
He came, he saw the person, and the person he loved refused to elope with him.
Instead, it made him look like some shameless home-wrecker.
Standing up, Jiang Zhi looked at Sang Li and stated word for word, “Not. Taking. You.”
Sang Li: “What?”
Turning around to grab his cashmere coat, Jiang Zhi ruthlessly crushed Sang Li’s pitiful aspirations. “I won’t take you out ever again. Just honestly be Jiang Xiucheng’s pampered trophy wife.”
Sang Li was dumbfounded on the spot. Completely forgetting to adjust his clothes anymore, he lunged across the dining table to grab Jiang Zhi. “But you used to take me out to play all the time!”
His sleeve was caught by Sang Li.
This was the first time Sang Li had taken the initiative to grab him.
The hand that reached out was so white and slender, the knuckles tipped with a tender pink, looking so well-suited for intertwining together in the palm of one’s hand.
Yet none of it belonged to him.
Stepping forward, Jiang Zhi shook off Sang Li’s hand.
Looking back coldly, he replied, “I wanted to before, but I don’t want to now. Is that not allowed?”
Sang Li: “Oh.”
Heartbroken to the core, Sang Li felt as though he had been conned. “Are you a scumbag? Why do you have zero credibility?”
Halting his steps, Jiang Zhi let out a cold sneer. “Are you unhappy? If you’re unhappy, bite me then.”
“I.”
Sang Li was so angry he was practically on the verge of tears.
Just as he was about to unleash a torrent of abuse at Jiang Zhi, Jiang Xiucheng and Jiang Yun walked in through the doorway.
Carrying a tray in his hands, Jiang Yun stepped across the threshold and placed it carefully in front of Sang Li. “Daddy, this is something Father made himself, and it’s still hot. You should try it.”
Unwilling to let Jiang Xiucheng catch wind of the quarrel halfway through, Sang Li shot Jiang Zhi a ferocious glare and sat back down without uttering another word.
Taking in all of Sang Li’s forbearance and lingering resentment, Jiang Zhi averted his gaze with a gloomy expression.
Still feeling aggrieved after sitting in silence for a few seconds, Sang Li raised a finger to point forward. “Hubby, I never want to have a meal with this person ever again. There is something wrong with him!”
At that moment, Jiang Xiucheng seemed to just now notice Jiang Zhi, who was preparing to leave, and spoke in an even tone, “Ah Zhi, what’s wrong?”
Jiang Zhi replied with equal flatness, “We had a disagreement over a few things, and I probably upset your little sister-in-law.”
Jiang Xiucheng seemed to understand. “It’s nothing major. I’ve spoiled Lily into having a somewhat difficult temper, so bear with him.”
Jiang Zhi: “Naturally.”
Folding his coat over his arm, Jiang Zhi said, “Xiucheng-ge, I just got word of some unexpected situation at home, so I need to head over. I’ll take my leave.”
“In such a rush? Xiao Yun has been quite curious about internal hotel operations lately and wanted to ask your advice on a few things.”
Not pressing him further, Jiang Xiucheng added, “I’ll have the driver take you.”
“Thank you, Xiucheng-ge.”
As Jiang Xiucheng walked toward the exit alongside Jiang Zhi, Jiang Yun, possessing fine family upbringing, immediately rose to see the guest out.
Only Sang Li ignored Jiang Zhi entirely, paying no mind to Jiang Xiucheng either. Seated at the table, he clutched the phone he had fished out at some point and scrolled through short videos of cute cats.
Rude.
Lacking character.
Uncivilized.
He shouldn’t have fancied someone like this in the first place.
Withdrawing his gaze, Jiang Zhi reached out to pat Jiang Yun’s head, signaling Jiang Xiucheng that there was no need to walk him out further. “Xiucheng-ge, I understand why you invited me to dinner.”
Jiang Xiucheng’s brow narrowed slightly. “Oh?”
“Don’t worry, Xiucheng-ge. I was just young and ignorant before.”
Jiang Zhi said, “He isn’t worth my time.”
After a brief pause, Jiang Zhi added, “Besides, with your incredible background, Xiucheng-ge, he.”
“I like him.”
Interrupting with a smile, Jiang Xiucheng continued, “There’s no need to say any more. Ah Zhi, you’re still young.”
Nodding, Jiang Zhi replied, “Understood, Xiucheng-ge. See you another day.”
“See you.”
The heavy front door clicked shut, leaving the father and son still some distance away from Sang Li.
Frowning, Jiang Yun stood on tiptoe to tug at Jiang Xiucheng’s sleeve. “Father, I hate it when he talks about Daddy like that.”
“Don’t waste thoughts on someone who’s already out of the game.”
In high spirits, Jiang Xiucheng scooped Jiang Yun up into his arms. “From now on, your Daddy will be home all the time.”
“Yay!”
Like a little cannonball, Jiang Yun trotted straight into Sang Li’s arms. “Daddy, kisses!”
Having just finished the sweet soup Jiang Xiucheng made, his hubby was remarkably talented at making dessert soups, Sang Li lay across the table rubbing his belly and preemptively shifted the blame. “That Jiang Zhi is an absolute bad guy!”
Eyeballing Sang Li’s slightly rounded belly, Jiang Xiucheng hummed in acknowledgment.
Sang Li: “Hubby, no matter what he says to you from now on, you must never believe him!”
Jiang Xiucheng: “Okay.”
With his ears perked up high, Sang Li added, “I even heard him say I’m not good enough for you. He harbors malicious intentions!”
Jiang Xiucheng: “True.”
Cradling Jiang Yun, Sang Li pouted, “Hubby, my tummy is so full and bloated.”
Lifting both the big one and the little one into his arms at once, Jiang Xiucheng teased, “So round, the baby is going to give birth to a little baby.”
Instantly delighted, Jiang Yun asked, “Daddy, are you going to give birth to a little sister?”
Looking expressionlessly at Jiang Yun, Sang Li replied, “Yes, your little sister will be red-bean-paste flavored.”
Hesitating for two seconds, Jiang Yun negotiated in a soft whisper, “Daddy, but I want a black-sesame-and-peanut-flavored little sister.”
Sang Li: “Oh.”
Chuckling, Jiang Xiucheng patted Jiang Yun’s back. “Go upstairs to wash up and study by yourself. Your Daddy and I are heading back to our room.”
Still lingering with deep reluctance over the black-sesame-flavored sister, Jiang Yun pestered Sang Li for a bit longer until Jiang Xiucheng wrapped him up in his arms and reluctantly agreed to let Daddy drop him off at school tomorrow before finally being shooed away.
The night grew deep.
Wafting the scent of alcohol and wrapped in his black cashmere coat, Jiang Zhi walked into the bar and settled into a booth, staring blankly for a moment before realizing this was the very same establishment he had previously visited with Sang Li.
The interior decor remained unchanged, complete with the bustling dances and dazzling lights.
The exorbitant bill from his last visit still kept the manager mindful of him. “Master Jiang, you’re here! Oh, is your companion today?”
“Get lost.”
Turning around with the intent to leave, Jiang Zhi for some reason decided to open a table and sat back down instead. “Bring out the drinks.”
“Right away! What would you like to have?”
Probing cautiously, the manager asked, “All the hostesses and hosts are in today, would you like to take a look at the catalog?”
With his expression obscured in the dim light, Jiang Zhi instructed, “Call your top draws.”
After a brief pause, he added, “The drinks, same as last time.”
Champagne foam bubbled and burst amidst the hedonistic crowd.
The manager summoned both male and female companions for Jiang Zhi, making the party too lively for anyone to entertain other thoughts.
Half-drunk and leaning back against the dark leather sofa, Jiang Zhi suddenly caught snippets of conversation coming from the adjacent booth.
“Did you really snatch her away? Isn’t her hubby super wealthy?”
“What good is just having money if he’s never home? At this age, how can she stay faithful?”
“She agreed the moment you made a move?”
“Become the other person first. Once she gets used to the perks and enjoys it, she’ll naturally get a proper title eventually. Look at me, I managed to weather through it all.”
“Awesome, bro! Cheers!”
The glittering light of the disco ball overhead tumbled into Jiang Zhi’s eyes, piecing themselves together into Sang Li’s face like a kaleidoscope.
Back then, Sang Li had still been wearing a Snow White costume from a college play. His hair hadn’t been styled yet, keeping the short cut of a male student: “Hey, hey, you classmate in front, wait up!”
Closing his eyes, Jiang Zhi looked back at his past self from years ago.
Limping slightly, Sang Li lifted that exquisitely made-up face, the cheap fake rhinestones pasted at the corners of his eyes glittering brightly: “Handsome, do you see that grand auditorium ahead? My foot got rubbed raw by these high heels. Here’s the deal, carry me over there, and I’ll treat you to free admission for my performance.”
Admission to that sort of performance was free to begin with.
Jiang Zhi had wanted to call him a swindler, but the person in his memories lowered their stance, speaking with impatience, “Why are you so dainty for a guy? Hop on.”
Later, he had wanted to head backstage to get contact info.
Only to be told by other students that Sang Li had already been picked up by his boyfriend.
Liar.
A single tear slipped from Jiang Zhi’s cheek, dropping into an unwitnessed corner.
Pulling out his phone, he located Sang Li’s WeChat chat from before.
The alcohol made Jiang Zhi’s hand shake violently.
Ignoring the sweet coaxing of the men and women around him trying to toast him, at 3:00 AM he finally hammered out a message: “Come out and sleep with me, and I’ll take you out to play anywhere you want.”
With a hazy blur in his eyes, Jiang Zhi couldn’t tell if it was the lights or his tears: “You don’t want Xiucheng-ge to know where you went with me last time, do you? Come keep me company right now, we’ll sneak around and keep it from him.”