After Marrying Bigshot Vegetable Boss - Chapter 36

The moment Chu Wang first touched the other’s hands, he even distractedly glanced at himself lying on the advanced treatment bed.

 

He had never had any faith, yet he still hoped someone could forgive his base thoughts just now.

 

Because he found that after the actual touch, most of the guilt he had just felt had dissipated, replaced instead by an indescribable sense of relief and surprise.

 

Almost displaying his instincts and desires, Chu Wang firmly grasped Yu Lan’s hands, unwilling to even release the gaps between their fingers.

 

Even he himself didn’t know how he restrained other inappropriate thoughts.

 

Or perhaps, for him now, having such contact was already an unexpected surprise.

 

For a period of time, the Chu Wang who claimed to teach people how to tie a tie almost forgot how to tie a half-Windsor knot.

 

After what felt like a long time—at least Chu Wang thought it was a long time—while Yu Lan was still dazed, he finally regained his senses. Taking advantage of the other’s unawareness of his distraction, Chu Wang casually tightened his grip on him again and said, “Watch closely.”

 

Fortunately, Yu Lan hadn’t completely looked away from the mirror at first.

 

He was too busy staring at his dazed reflection in the mirror, watching his fingers being passively guided through the soft fabric, weaving, bending, and stretching.

 

He didn’t know why his breathing had become rapid, yet he was afraid that being too nervous would make Chu Wang feel his breath through his hands.

 

Strange, Yu Lan thought.

 

Clearly Chu Wang’s hands were cold and devoid of warmth, yet his fingertips were uncontrollably warming up bit by bit.

 

Could cinnabar also generate heat?

 

He wondered for no reason.

 

Chu Wang watched the mirror—he couldn’t see himself in it, but he could sense Yu Lan’s expression.

 

It seemed to give him an opportunity to take advantage of his previously unscrupulous thoughts. Chu Wang held his hand as if a dying traveler in a snowstorm wanted to grasp the only piece of firewood, stubbornly unwilling to let go even though he knew he would be burned.

 

It wasn’t until Chu Wang demonstrated for the third time that Yu Lan suddenly came back to his senses, lowering his head to look.

 

He was a bit clumsy in this regard to begin with, and now his mind was dizzy. After watching for a long time, he nodded slowly and said sluggishly, “It’s a bit difficult.”

 

But even though he said so, he mentally reassured himself that it wasn’t a big deal, then really watched the other’s movements.

 

To say “watch” was more like “feel.”

 

The mirror couldn’t reveal Chu Wang’s appearance, yet he could still see his flying fingers when he lowered his head.

 

Yu Lan considered himself not easily distracted, yet in just a few minutes, he thought of many irrelevant things, deliberately guiding himself to ignore some other feelings.

 

“Would you like to try it yourself?” He heard Chu Wang’s voice as if in a trance.

 

Yu Lan reluctantly agreed, then tried to imitate Chu Wang’s movements clumsily with his fingers, awkwardly connecting them to form a shape.

 

Crooked and twisted, he found it hard to even look at his own handiwork.

 

However, Chu Wang, like a master of encouraging education, whose stern face seemed to say unrelated words, “Hmm, not bad at all.”

 

Yu Lan: “……”

 

Where exactly did you see that it’s not bad?

 

And whether it was his imagination or not, Chu Wang seemed to be persistently holding his hand, sticking close to him through the only medium that allowed them to touch, as if afraid that he would disappear in the next moment.

 

Yu Lan practiced a dozen times and finally became proficient, tying a half-Windsor knot that actually looked presentable.

 

He proudly showed it off to Chu Wang, “Mr. Chu, look!”

 

“Is this one good now?”

 

Chu Wang nodded.

 

“Then…”

 

It was only then that Yu Lan realized Chu Wang was still holding his hand.

 

Perhaps holding it for too long, his index finger moved unconsciously, prompting Chu Wang to seem to wake up from a dream, realizing that the “lesson” seemed to have come to a temporary end.

 

He didn’t lose composure, calmly releasing Yu Lan and saying, “Good.”

 

However, beneath his composed expression, Chu Wang couldn’t completely clarify what was hidden.

 

After Yu Lan became proficient and looked around the bedroom—

 

Other areas were fine, but this particular spot in front of the mirror was almost eerily like stumbling into a supernatural scene.

 

There were scattered fine red powder all around, scattered on the floor like freshly dried bloodstains. Not far away lay a tie with numerous marks, wrinkled inside and out, with traces of cinnabar still stuck in the seams.

 

Yu Lan himself wasn’t in a much better state, from his neck to his hands and shirt, he was quite stained. Plus, with him constantly handling the tie, his curly hair was also disheveled, unkempt.

 

If someone came in just now without knowing what had happened, Yu Lan sighed, they would definitely be shocked into silence.

 

“I… I’ll tidy up a bit,” he said, looking at the mess in front of him.

 

After all, if someone else had to clean up, it would be too terrifying.

 

Yu Lan first cleaned up the traces scattered on the ground, then felt a bit itchy on his body. Lowering his head to look, he found that a lot of powder had fallen into his collar.

 

This tie seemed unusable now, and this shirt needed washing, but thankfully it was just a shirt.

 

Back when he was in the orphanage, Yu Lan had been very diligent, so now he didn’t think too much, just wanting to clean up quickly and be done with it. Therefore, he didn’t avoid the fact that there was still someone else in the room. He grabbed the hem of his shirt with both hands and pulled it off.

 

Chu Wang, who had already used various methods to reassure himself (“It’s okay,” “I’m quite content,” “There will definitely be another chance next time”), tilted his head. “…”

 

He’s a bit too thin.

 

That was his initial reaction.

 

Yu Lan’s shoulders and back still had a youthful look, possibly due to his naturally small frame and the fact that he hadn’t had a good life. His figure had always been slender.

 

But his skin was very fair, almost sickly pale, even better than the vegetative state in the hospital.

 

Until Yu Lan turned his head unknowingly and saw him staring blankly, Chu Wang spoke hesitantly, “Mr. Chu?”

 

Only then did Chu Wang look away, “It’s nothing.”

 

His gaze was clear, yet there was still a hint of doubt.

 

Chu Wang had never felt his thoughts were so despicable as he did now.

 

He had used what seemed like noble reasons to touch the other person, who remained oblivious, trusting him completely. How could he…

 

Chu Wang thought he could conceal his emotions and remain rational.

 

He watched Yu Lan simply hand-wash and hang clothes, then return to the bathroom for a shower.

 

Listening to the sound of water nearby, Chu Wang lowered his head, looking at the now tidied-up floor as if none of those things had happened just now.

 

Leaning faintly against the window, he absentmindedly spread open his palm, his gaze unfocused.

 

That genuine touch…

 

Chu Wang curled his fingers without clear boundaries in mind.

 

He didn’t know when these emotions had started, perhaps from the first time their fingers touched—though more likely, it had begun earlier, maybe when he saw through Yu Lan yet still accepted everything, nodding along when Yu Lan spoke ill of Yu Ling with a cleverness, himself unnoticed.

 

Chu Wang had always walked smoothly in life; even facing challenges from the board of directors when he first took over, he didn’t see it as a setback.

 

He always planned each step meticulously, thoroughly examining work and preparing for every possible outcome, including how to handle failure. In life or anything else, he followed his own preferences.

 

But he had never liked anyone, didn’t know what the next step was after falling for someone.

 

And he knew, deeply, that he didn’t know if he was prepared for failure.

 

He didn’t even know what “failure” in this context meant—Chu Wang finally found a moment to ponder, what could it be?

 

Perhaps Yu Lan never speaking to him again.

 

Perhaps Yu Lan treating him as if he didn’t exist, no longer rushing to the bedside every day, touching his hand and addressing him with an affectionate tone he himself didn’t notice, “Mr. Chu, Mr. Chu.”

 

Or worst of all, not seeing Yu Lan suddenly, being trapped again in this chaos, aimlessly drifting.

 

Chu Wang realized he couldn’t accept returning to the way things were.

 

He wanted Yu Lan to talk to him every day, share everything—good or bad, happy or unhappy—with him.

 

He wanted Yu Lan to hug him, to touch his body like today.

 

He…

 

He always thought of Yu Lan’s figure, then more unrealizable, frightening thoughts.

 

When Chu Wang first realized this, he didn’t immediately confess his feelings to Yu Lan.

 

It was because of too many fears that he preferred to stay as things were, unwilling to disrupt the status quo.

 

But tonight was different, Chu Wang knew.

 

He began to make some pointless conjectures, imagining what if Yu Lan didn’t reject him, what if they could take a step further than now.

 

He was insatiable, hard to satisfy.

 

As moonlight streamed in and the bathroom noises ceased, Yu Lan emerged with a fresh mist on his body, rubbing his hair.

 

His hair was soft and naturally curly; usually, he didn’t bother to blow dry it, just used a towel to dry it and shook it out, like a little puppy.

 

Yu Lan’s cheeks were flushed pink from the hot water, and after a day like today, he was tired. Squinting, he smiled at Chu Wang and said “goodnight,” then collapsed into bed.

 

His hair tips were still damp, and Chu Wang frowned slightly, about to ask him to dry his hair before sleeping, but Yu Lan had already wrapped himself in the blanket and closed his eyes.

 

Chu Wang didn’t say anything more.

 

He could only watch Yu Lan, unable even to dry his hair for him.

 

Yu Lan always fell asleep quickly, today even more so.

 

Chu Wang looked at the sleeping figure that seemed like it might never wake up again, his gaze unconsciously falling on Yu Lan’s face.

 

He felt a twinge of sadness.

 

It seemed like he was liking Yu Lan more and more.

 

But he also didn’t know what to do.

 

The charity banquet was finally set for next weekend. Although Yu Lan didn’t quite understand, he seemed to sense something from this week—

 

Because the Chu family usually didn’t receive many guests, but there had been quite a few visitors this week, some wanting to discuss cooperation subtly, others just wanting to get acquainted… The steward had turned away a large number, but there were still some distant relatives who found excuses to come over.

 

However, during this time, Chu Wang had practiced tying a half Windsor knot extensively, from clumsily making one that could barely be seen to mastering every step, fingers deftly maneuvering to produce a beautiful tie knot.

 

In response, his etiquette teacher had shown great approval: “Mr. Chu!”

 

For the fifth time, Yu Lan raised his chin, straightened his chest, and proudly displayed it to Chu Wang: “See! Perfect!”

 

Chu Wang seemed to laugh helplessly, nodding: “Hmm.”

 

He thought for a moment and said, “But if you want to learn something else, like a Windsor knot—”

 

“No need!” Yu Lan jumped up, waving his hands. “I think this looks good enough. Mastering this one is already quite difficult for me. Let me consolidate this first.”

 

Chu Wang’s remaining words, along with his somewhat inappropriate thoughts, were completely stifled in the cradle. “…Alright.”

 

But Yu Lan remained oblivious and considerately spoke on his behalf, “And besides, it would trouble you to teach me. Forget about it.”

 

…No trouble at all, not the slightest.

 

Chu Wang felt conflicted but couldn’t show it.

 

“Looks like there will be some unfamiliar people coming today,” Yu Lan walked to the window, glancing at the activity in the yard below, and casually remarked, “Are they all here to discuss cooperation?”

 

“Not necessarily,” Chu Wang also noticed. “But you don’t need to worry. Just treat it as an opportunity to have some fun when the time comes.”

 

Actually, Yu Lan had given him a guest list likely to attend, with most being unremarkable. However, there was one particularly notable guest, apparently a representative of a thriving overseas company in recent years.

 

But Chu Wang thought Yu Lan wouldn’t understand even if he explained. He relaxed and reiterated, “Just buy whatever you like when you’re there. Even if someone bids against you, don’t worry, just buy what you like.”

 

Yu Lan always found it hard to refuse such talk. After thinking for a moment, he added, “But if I see some precious little treasures, can I buy those too if they suit you?”

 

“Deal,” Chu Wang said decisively, even sounding a bit cheerful.

 

He didn’t see any problem with Yu Lan using his money to buy gifts for himself.

 

If Yu Lan was willing to pick them out for him, what more could he want?

 

They continued these easy days until Monday. Yu Lan continued attending school as usual, quietly inquiring whether Yu Ling had caused any trouble in the university city these days.

 

Unexpectedly, for someone like Yu Ling who usually maintained his image at least once or twice a week, this period seemed surprisingly quiet, as if he had toned down considerably.

 

He hadn’t come to cause trouble for Yu Lan again. As for Li Shu, Yu Lan had informed Zhang Yan and had his father find a new job as a driver at one of the group’s subsidiaries.

 

The three who had confronted Li Shu last time had also calmed down, as if they were afraid to stir up trouble again.

 

Although Yu Lan felt Yu Ling’s unusual calmness must conceal something sinister, he put it aside for now due to lack of clues.

 

Besides, as Chu Wang had instructed him to investigate, the situation at the Yu family’s company hadn’t improved in recent days. But neither Liang Zhiyu nor Yu Ling had contacted him, as if… they had found some new solution.

 

Yu Lan attended classes more frequently, and classmates in his class gradually got used to his presence. Occasionally, students from other departments who had heard of Yu Lan’s good looks and came to class to catch a glimpse would regretfully back off upon hearing he was “married.”

 

Yu Lan once again felt that claiming to be married was a very wise decision.

 

But Zhong Jiale remained the same.

 

After all, as the class monitor, he had more things to handle. It wasn’t until the break of the second class that Yu Lan saw Zhong Jiale panting as he returned from outside, rushing to his seat. “Yu Lan!”

 

His eyes gleamed with gossip. “I just went to the grade office and heard some news!”

 

“What news?” Yu Lan didn’t have much interaction with classmates at school, so whatever Zhong Jiale could share with him was probably related to himself. Curious, he asked.

 

“The guy from last time, the one who… asked for directions, remember?” Zhong Jiale lowered his voice and said, “I just found out, he’s not simple!”

 

Ignoring this would be fine, but mentioning it reminded Yu Lan of interrupting this incident. He frowned, “What’s so special about him?”

 

“He really isn’t a student. I heard he’s the representative of Linkage Group in China!” Zhong Jiale was afraid Yu Lan didn’t know and even added an explanation on the side, “It’s that big overseas conglomerate. And my mom mentioned they might be cooperating with your family?”

 

With that said, Yu Lan did recall Zhang Yan mentioning this, but he was unfamiliar with it and only retained the concept of “heard it once.” Therefore, he nodded without much reaction, “…Oh.”

 

He thought to himself, “But it doesn’t matter what kind of agent he is for the Chinese region, it has nothing to do with me.”

 

However, when Zhong Jiale mentioned him, Yu Lan remembered the tone of certainty and the slightly colder voice he had used when he mentioned this matter to Chu Wang, saying, “He must have some issues.”

 

Whether he had issues or not, it seemed to have no effect on him.

 

Even if there were future business dealings… Yu Lan thought, maybe he should mention it to Chu Wang when he returned.

 

The news from Zhong Jiale didn’t bring any waves to him. Instead, he remembered Li Shu. “By the way, is he doing okay now?”

 

Both were afraid that someone might cause trouble for him because of this. Zhong Jiale nodded, “It’s fine. I just asked a few days ago, and no one has bothered him since.”

 

“That’s good.” Yu Lan felt relieved. Hearing Zhong Jiale continue, “Are you in a hurry to go back after class?”

 

Seeing Yu Lan shake his head, Zhong Jiale continued, “My parents aren’t home tonight, but they’ve booked a restaurant for me. Do you want to come with me?”

 

As he mentioned this, Yu Lan remembered that Xiyun had been busy with company matters these days and often returned late. He didn’t want to bother the kitchen too much, so after a moment’s thought, he nodded, “Sure.”

 

“My parents have been to this restaurant before. They said the food is good and the ambiance is nice,” Zhong Jiale smiled when Yu Lan agreed, “I’ll go confirm the reservation.”

 

“Alright.”

 

He messaged the butler that he wouldn’t be coming back for dinner. At that moment, Yu Lan couldn’t help but think of the person trapped in the room.

 

Just an hour later…

 

Chu Wang shouldn’t mind, right?

 

The restaurant had a great location and wasn’t far from the school. They chatted all the way after class, arriving just on time for their reservation.

 

After Zhong Jiale provided the booking information to the reception, a waiter in a tuxedo led them to a window-side table.

 

Yu Lan raised an eyebrow, “…Did your parents not tell you this is a restaurant more suited for couples?”

 

The soft ambiance, intimate decor, and nearby violinist all conveyed its romantic setting to diners.

 

“Oh, they’re used to it. Every time they recommend a place for me, it’s one they’ve carefully chosen and enjoyed, and they want me to try it too…” Zhong Jiale opened the menu as he spoke, “I’m treating you to dinner, so take a look and see if there’s anything you…”

 

Before he could finish, their conversation was suddenly interrupted.

 

“Hello.”

 

“We met… last time at school, didn’t we?”

 

The person Zhong Jiale mentioned in the afternoon was now standing in front of them, dressed in refined but understated clothing, with a gentle and gentlemanly smile.

 

However, Zhong Jiale hadn’t mentioned his name, so Yu Lan furrowed his brow slightly, “We…”

 

Dude, who are you.

 

He was about to say they weren’t acquainted, but then he saw the man nod knowingly and tactfully spoke for him, “Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself last time.”

 

“My surname is Song, Song Sijue. Nice to meet you.”

 

Yu Lan nodded slightly, but in the blink of an eye, he hesitated…

 

Song Sijue?!

 

Wasn’t he the childhood friend of Yu Ling in the original book, the legitimate protagonist?

 

His expression became subtly complicated, but he didn’t show it too obviously. He didn’t shake hands with him either, just smiled and said, “Hello.”