With the morning and afternoon classes scheduled so close together, Xuan Congnan hadn’t eaten a proper lunch, and whatever was in his stomach had long since digested.
The hungrier he got, the more he craved the food Gu Shi cooked at home, and that craving only made him hungrier.
By the time he rushed back home at seven in the evening, Xuan Congnan had only one thing on his mind: devouring a massive meal.
“Ah, who the hell are you?! Why are you hitting people?! I’m telling you, my nephew lives right here, and if you keep hitting me, believe me, I’ll call the police! Help—help me, I’m going to be beaten to death!”
A crowd had formed along the roadside of the residential complex. Xuan Congnan wasn’t one to meddle in external affairs, but the wailing, banshee-like voice sounded oddly familiar.
He wasn’t entirely sure if he had misheard.
If he hadn’t misheard, though, he wouldn’t mind stopping to watch.
“Call the police? What a coincidence, I was just about to drag you to the police station myself! I just withdrew that cash from the bank and put it in my briefcase, and the second you came up, you tried to rob me. I’d be failing in my duty if I didn’t beat the living daylights out of you!” A man in his thirties pinned Xuan Ye to the ground, using his right palm to slap Xuan Ye’s left cheek and the back of his right hand to slap Xuan Ye’s right cheek. “There are so many people here, everyone’s watching, are you going to admit you tried to steal my money first, or not?!”
“That’s right, it really was that old man who tried to steal the money first,” someone in the crowd chimed in.
Xuan Ye was only in his forties, hardly old enough to be called an “old man,” but the beating had left him completely unrecognizable. His face was swollen into a grotesque pig’s head, bruised blue and purple in patches like a chaotic painter’s palette.
“Who tried to steal your money? I didn’t! I was just picking it up! I was clearly just picking it up!” Xuan Ye lacked any ability to fight back, raising his arms to shield his face as he wailed.
Hearing this, the assailant struck with even greater vigor, grabbing Xuan Ye by the collar and slamming him against the ground. “That fell right out of my hands, and you picked it up even though you knew full well it belonged to me. Are you out of your mind?!”
The moment Xuan Ye was hurled into the air, the surrounding crowd instinctively scattered to avoid his trajectory. Xuan Congnan had just quietly edged closer and hadn’t yet figured out what was happening when several people abruptly stepped aside, and Xuan Ye came crashing down right at his feet with a resounding thud.
Lowering his gaze, he locked eyes with Xuan Ye’s tear-blurred, terrified eyes.
“Oh, Xiao Nan! Save your uncle, someone’s trying to murder me! Help me, tell him I’m a good person, I really am a good person! I didn’t mean to steal his money! His money just fell on the ground by itself, and I was just picking it up, it has nothing to do with me!” Two blood-stained hands stretched out desperately, trying to grab the hem of Xuan Congnan’s trousers.
Xuan Congnan leaped backward like a startled rabbit, spun around, and bolted. He didn’t know Xuan Ye at all.
“Xiao Nan!”
“Calling him Xiao Bei wouldn’t work either! Why are you dragging a kid into this? Do you even know if he actually recognizes you? Trying to intentionally deflect the blame, are you?” Hu Yue hauled Xuan Ye back up by his collar, spitting out an insult. “Get your ass to the police station with me!”
He raised his head and shot a deep, lingering gaze at Xuan Congnan’s retreating back, muttering inwardly: That kid Gu Shi really scored, how did he manage to bag someone this good-looking?
Xuan Congnan felt like he had fire-wheels strapped to his feet, yet still felt he wasn’t running fast enough. The elevator was in use, and unable to wait, he sprinted all the way up to the sixth floor and unlocked the front door using his fingerprint.
“I’m back,” he said, slightly out of breath.
Gu Shi had just finished cooking and still wore his apron. Hearing the unusual tone in Xuan Congnan’s voice, he walked over to take his backpack. “What’s wrong?”
“Some people were fighting downstairs,” Xuan Congnan said, a faint gleam in his dark eyes. “It was pretty entertaining.”
“Oh?” Gu Shi prompted gently, “Care to share?”
Xuan Congnan rubbed his stomach. “I’m starving. Let’s eat first.”
For as long as they had known each other, this was the first time Xuan Congnan had expressed his desires to Gu Shi in such a straightforward manner. Even if it was just about food.
Gu Shi paused, then immediately said, “Alright. Go sit at the dining table, I’ll have it ready in a second.”
“I can help,” Xuan Congnan said, following him into the kitchen.
At the dinner table, Gu Shi spooned food into Xuan Congnan’s bowl. “What happened down there?”
Xuan Congnan replied in a light, breezy tone, “My uncle got beaten up.”
Since Xuan Ye had managed to track down this location, it definitely wasn’t by coincidence. He was undoubtedly here looking for him, Xuan Congnan could figure that much out easily enough.
If he had been ambushed and hassled by Xuan Ye right outside the complex entrance the moment he got off work, his entire day’s good mood would have been ruined. But seeing as Xuan Ye had met a completely different fate instead, it felt quite satisfying.
“He definitely came looking for me, only he got beaten up before he even found me.”
Xuan Congnan shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth, speaking with absolute clarity: “Judging by their conversation, it looked like Xuan Ye tried to rob that guy’s money. Seeing cash and losing his mind, that’s totally something he would do.”
“Is that so?” Gu Shi echoed, his mood similarly upbeat. “Evil gets its just deserts.”
He double-checked to confirm, “That was your uncle?”
“Mhm,” Xuan Congnan said.
Gu Shi continued, “Do you know what he came here for today?”
“I can guess most of it,” Xuan Congnan said.
Gu Shi didn’t press further about what the reason was, smoothly shifting the topic: “Have you thought about it?”
“About what?” The two of them sat half a meter apart, their arms resting on the dining table as they enjoyed their meal with impeccable table manners. Xuan Congnan caught on. “Today’s only the first day of the three-day consideration period. What’s the rush?”
“I am rushing,” Gu Shi said, adding, “I’m really rushing.”
When matters lacked a definitive outcome, they inevitably harbored elements of uncertainty.
Humans naturally feared the unknown and uncertain.
“I recognize your uncle’s face now,” Gu Shi said. “If I see him downstairs in the future, I’ll make sure someone chases him off first so he doesn’t come over and bother you.”
Xuan Congnan’s heart fluttered slightly.
“I have houses, cars, and savings,” Gu Shi stated. “If we get our certificate, half of it is yours.”
Embarrassed, Xuan Congnan muttered softly, “I don’t have a house or a car, or money.”
“Mhm,” Gu Shi said. “Having you is enough.”
Gu Shi always said the strangest things, leaving Xuan Congnan unsure of how to respond. Still, he always spoke directly, which was very much his own style.
Xuan Congnan tightened his grip on his chopsticks and lit up his phone lying nearby to check the date.
“Tomorrow is the twenty-fifth day of the sixth lunar month.”
“Mhm,” Gu Shi acknowledged.
“I checked,” Xuan Congnan said, lifting his gaze. “It’s a good day for a joyous occasion like getting a marriage certificate.”
Having actually agreed to it, Xuan Congnan felt a slight tremor ripple through his chest—a faint, tingling sensation, though not quite panic.
He ended up unable to fall asleep half the night again.
Gu Shi was just as wide awake. He sent a text message on his phone: Thanks.
Hu Yue: Don’t mention it. Beating him up felt amazing today.
Gu Shi: Did he try to rob your money?
Hu Yue: Sigh. When I went over there, I deliberately carried a briefcase, deliberately withdrew two hundred thousand yuan, deliberately walked up right beside that deadbeat and accidentally dropped the briefcase, deliberately waited a beat before picking it up so I could accuse him of robbery. If I wanted to beat the guy up, I had to find a decent excuse, right?
Gu Shi: Mhm.
Hu Yue: I saw your girlfriend, by the way. Damn, you’re something else—she’s gorgeous. But is it really a good idea to be cohabiting with her right now? Why didn’t I realize before that you were such a scumbag kind of guy?
Gu Shi: He is male. Not my girlfriend.
Hu Yue, whose adrenaline had been surging from beating people up to the point where he couldn’t calm down in the middle of the night, bolted upright in bed and shoved the phone against his face to process this: “Huh?!”
He immediately attempted to call him, but Gu Shi hung up on him.
Gu Shi: He’s about to fall asleep.
Hu Yue: No, bro, he has long hair!
Hu Yue: Sorry, HE!
Hu Yue: You two sleep in the same bed? You just said he isn’t your boyfriend! Wait, you said earlier he’s your partner, but you aren’t even boyfriend and girlfriend yet how are you already acting like partners? How are you even sharing a bed like that?!
Hu Yue: When did you turn into such a scumbag?!
Gu Shi: We’re getting our marriage certificate tomorrow.
Gu Shi: Just giving you a heads-up so you can handle the PR if it accidentally leaks.
Hu Yue: ???
Hu Yue: !!!
Hu Yue: Dating is one thing, how can you go straight to getting married?! And how do you even dare leak it? You might not want a career in the industry anymore, but I still do! You better keep this tightly under wraps for me, you hear me?!!!
Gu Shi: He won’t let me make it public.
“Are you busy with work?” Remembering they were heading to the civil affairs bureau tomorrow, Xuan Congnan had zero drowsiness. The moment he blinked, he noticed the faint glow of Gu Shi chatting on his phone in his peripheral vision and asked.
Gu Shi switched off his phone. “No, just talking to my manager about some things. Told him to handle PR just in case of any surprises.”
“Oh,” Xuan Congnan murmured.
Gu Shi offered, “Should I tell you a bedtime story?”
“You know how to tell bedtime stories?” Xuan Congnan asked.
“I suppose so,” Gu Shi replied.
“Let’s hear it then,” Xuan Congnan said.
Gu Shi thought for a moment and began, “Once upon a time there was a mountain, on the mountain there was a temple, and inside the temple a little monk was listening to an old monk tell a story. The story was about how once upon a time there was a mountain, on the mountain there was a temple, and inside the temple a little monk was listening to an old monk tell a story, which was about how once upon a time there was a mountain, on the mountain there was a temple, and inside the temple a little monk was listening to…”
Xuan Congnan burst out laughing. “You, you really are.”
Gu Shi was forced to stop. “What’s wrong? Isn’t it hypnotic enough?”
“It is,” Xuan Congnan said. “Keep going, I’ll be asleep in a minute.”
The next day at eight o’clock, Xuan Congnan and a fully disguised Gu Shi headed to the civil affairs bureau.
Since traveling was inconvenient for Gu Shi, he had arranged for someone to come pick them up and drive him and Xuan Congnan there beforehand.
“You scared me so badly I couldn’t sleep all night, and now at the crack of dawn I still have to chauffeur you two around. Hello, hello, I’m Hu Yue.” The rear car door opened, and as Xuan Congnan climbed in, Hu Yue immediately dropped his complaining tone to introduce himself.
Xuan Congnan offered a polite greeting. “Xuan Congnan.”
“I know, I know,” Hu Yue said with a bitter laugh. “I found out yesterday, and it scared the living daylights out of me.”
Before leaving, Gu Shi had consulted Xuan Congnan’s opinion; they needed someone to drive them, and his manager was trustworthy with a tight enough lip not to go spreading rumors around.
In the eyes of outsiders, their marriage was real, so Xuan Congnan said, “Sorry to trouble you.”
Gu Shi shielded Xuan Congnan’s head until he was safely settled inside before getting in himself, turning to the driver’s seat to say, “Thanks.”
“Hah, don’t mention it,” Hu Yue forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
He kept his gaze fixed straight ahead while his mind felt like it was about to detonate with a million lingering questions.
Who in the industry didn’t know Gu Shi was asexual? He avoided scandal, refused kissing scenes, and never dated. How on earth did he end up sharing a bed with someone and getting legally married in such a short span of time?
“I want to hold your hand,” Gu Shi suddenly spoke up, looking over at Xuan Congnan to ask softly, “Can I?”
Xuan Congnan glanced at Hu Yue, then back at Gu Shi, his expression clearly communicating: We’re literally going to get our marriage certificate today, and you’re acting this distant with me right in front of your manager of eight years?
“Are you guys actually close?” Hu Yue asked, bewildered.
Gu Shi said, “We’re about to get married, I’m nervous.”
Hu Yue didn’t buy it. “You? Nervous?”
“Go ahead,” Xuan Congnan raised his right hand and slipped it right into Gu Shi’s palm, playing his part to the hilt. “You don’t need to ask permission for trivial things like this.”
Gu Shi’s hand immediately clamped down, pressing firmly into the gaps between Xuan Congnan’s fingers as they locked hands tightly.
Xuan Congnan could tell he was genuinely nervous. Gu Shi’s hand was cool, and his thumb kept continuously stroking the bones of Xuan Congnan’s fingers.
Leaning in closer to ensure Hu Yue couldn’t overhear, Xuan Congnan asked, “It’s fake, why are you still so nervous?”
Judging by the angle in the rearview mirror, the two of them huddled together looked abnormally intimate. Hu Yue numbly wiped his face, thinking: Asking “are you guys actually close” just now was entirely redundant.
Gu Shi lowered his gaze, looking straight into Xuan Congnan’s upturned eyes before letting his gaze drift down to his lips. “Mhm.”
The civil affairs bureau wasn’t crowded, but they still had to wait in a brief queue. Their turn arrived a little past nine, and by nine-thirty, Xuan Congnan and Gu Shi walked out holding a red marriage certificate each.
Due to their special status, they entered and exited through the back door. With barely anyone on the opposite street, Gu Shi stared at the certificate in his hands, completely lost in thought for a long time.
Hu Yue had gone to fetch the car, leaving only Xuan Congnan and Gu Shi behind.
When a large hand reached out to intertwine their fingers once more, Xuan Congnan lowered his gaze in slight surprise, though he didn’t pull away.
“You said it yourself, I don’t need to ask permission for trivial things,” Gu Shi explained.
They had actually gotten the certificate, their relationship was different now.
A hundred million, the payout was generous.
Holding hands wasn’t going to cause him to lose any flesh, anyway.
“Mhm.” Xuan Congnan let him hold his hand tightly, tucking his marriage certificate into the side pocket of his backpack.
Gu Shi kept staring at the marriage certificate, its vibrant red color glowing vividly under the sunlight, looking striking enough to glue anyone’s gaze in place.
He said, “I want to post on Weibo.”
Looking over at Xuan Congnan beside him, Gu Shi asked, “Can we make it public?”