Chapter 56

Ye Yufan returned to the private room, his chest heaving with rage. Yu Sen and other friends were chatting nearby. Seeing his state, Yu Sen asked, “Yufan, what’s wrong?”

Ye Yufan snapped back to reality at the sight of Yu Sen. “Nothing!”

Oh no, I forgot Yu Sen was here too! He absolutely couldn’t see Ye Mingxuan! If Yu Sen spotted Ye Mingxuan and Tan Sizhe here, the whole substitute marriage scheme would be exposed. That would spell disaster for the Ye family!

Yu Sen pushed a glass of lemon water toward him. “Have some water.”

“Thanks, Brother Yu Sen.”

“I asked you to apologize to Mingxuan earlier. Did you do it?”

Yu Sen smiled upon hearing this. “Mingxuan has always been so sensible. I knew he’d forgive you. Since that’s settled, you two should get along well from now on. No more fighting.”

Mingxuan, Mingxuan, Mingxuan—it’s Ye Mingxuan again!

Ye Yufan suppressed his venomous glare and put on a docile expression. “Mm-hmm.”

…

“So you came here with the Tan family?” Lin Jiale took a sip of apple-carrot juice. “What about Ye Yufan?”

Ye Mingxuan: “We ran into him. I didn’t know he was here too.”

Lin Jiale: “Oh, what a coincidence! Never thought we’d run into each other here. Did you soak in the hot springs?”

Ye Mingxuan replied: “For a little while.”

The waiter brought over the pastries, placing them in the center of the table. Lin Jiale grabbed a cookie and took a bite: “These are pretty tasty. Try one, Mingxuan.”

Ye Mingxuan nodded. “Thanks for earlier.”

“What are you thanking me for? I just can’t stand Ye Yufan’s attitude. He bullied you at the alumni gathering, and now we run into him again. The only reason I didn’t slap him was because I have self-control.”

Ye Mingxuan smiled wryly. When Lin Jiale asked, “How are things going with Mr. Tan?”

“…,” Ye Mingxuan recalled the morning incident in bed, his gaze drifting. “It’s… okay.”

Lin Jiale noticed the look and remarked meaningfully, “Judging by your expression, it’s not just okay—it’s pretty great, right?”

Ye Mingxuan’s face and neck flushed crimson, his ears burning.

Lin Jiale propped her chin on her hand. “Honestly, Tan Sizhe is both handsome and wealthy. You’re not losing out at all in this marriage—in fact, you’re not just not losing out, you’re hitting the jackpot!”

“I remember your friend, Yu Sen. He’s handsome too, but he still can’t hold a candle to Tan Sizhe.”

“At the alumni gathering last time, I saw Ye Yufan clinging to him constantly. Does Ye Yufan have a crush on him?”

Ye Mingxuan paused stirring his spoon, uttering a vague hum.

“No wonder. It was obvious. His feelings were way too transparent.”

“With Ye Yufan’s temper, if Yu Sen actually got together with him, he’d be in for a rough ride.”

Listening to Lin Jiale’s endless gossip about Ye Yufan and Yu Sen, Ye Mingxuan placed a hand over his chest.

It felt strange. In the past, this would have made him uncomfortable, but now, he felt nothing of the sort. His heartbeat remained as calm as ever, and his emotions showed no sign of disturbance.

Seeing Ye Mingxuan’s dazed expression, Lin Jiale called out, “What’s wrong?”

Ye Mingxuan snapped back to reality. “Nothing. Nothing’s wrong.”

Lin Jiale suggested, “Then let’s go explore outside. The scenery here is pretty nice.”

Ye Mingxuan smiled with relief. “Sure.”

They tidied up and headed downstairs. The hotel was lavishly decorated. As they passed through a corridor, Ye Yufan spotted them. He turned and tugged at Yu Sen: “Yu Sen brother, let’s go take a look by the pond.”

Yu Sen: “Didn’t you want to go to the restroom?”

Ye Yufan: “I don’t need to go anymore.”

Ye Yufan was impulsive, and Yu Sen had almost grown accustomed to it. He sighed helplessly but couldn’t refuse: “Alright.”

Yu Sen was led by Ye Yufan to the pond, where numerous golden koi swam. Ye Yufan grabbed some fish food and began feeding them.

Evening had fallen, and darkness descended swiftly. The hotel’s climate control system kicked in, keeping the interior warm despite the chill outside. Dozens of hot spring pools dotted the grounds, their misty vapors transforming the estate into a scene straight out of a fairy tale.

Yu Sen bought a cup of hot coffee and walked to the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, taking a few sips. Suddenly, he caught sight of two familiar figures passing through the garden outside.

He froze, thinking he must be mistaken. But there they were—Ye Mingxuan was clearly walking toward Lin Jiale, smiling at her.

Ye Yufan finished feeding the fish and turned to look for Yu Sen, only to find him gone. He stood up and scanned the area.

Where is he?!

Perhaps because they’d soaked in the hot springs and walked for a while, their bodies were still warm. Even outside, they didn’t feel cold. After walking for a bit, Lin Jiale glanced at Ye Mingxuan’s belly. “Four months now, right? You just look a bit rounder, nothing too obvious.”

Ye Mingxuan replied, “The doctor keeps advising me to watch my diet.”

Lin Jiale: “Ah, so you can’t really indulge in a lot of things then.”

Ye Mingxuan: “Yeah.”

Lin Jiale: “It’s okay. Once you’ve had the baby, we’ll go eat all the delicious food together.”

Ye Mingxuan nodded with a smile: “Mm.”

“Mingxuan.” Yu Sen approached, surprised. “Is it really you?”

Ye Mingxuan froze for three seconds at Yu Sen’s sudden appearance: “Brother Yu Sen?”

Yu Sen greeted Ye Mingxuan and Lin Jiale: “I saw you inside earlier and thought I was seeing things. What a coincidence!”

Lin Jiale also greeted Yu Sen: “Yeah, never thought we’d run into each other here!”

Yu Sen didn’t question how Ye Mingxuan could afford this place, assuming Lin Jiale had invited him: “Perfect timing! I’m here with some friends. Since we’ve run into each other, why not join us?”

Lin Jiale grabbed Ye Mingxuan’s arm: “Great idea! Since we’re here, let’s stick together!”

Ye Mingxuan pressed his lips together, a persistent unease gnawing at his stomach. It wasn’t until he and Yu Sen reached the private room that he understood the source of that unease.

Ye Yufan heard Yu Sen return and stood up, only to see the last person he wanted to see: “Ye Mingxuan? What are you doing here?!”

“Damn, what a coincidence,” Lin Jiale leaned closer to Ye Mingxuan. “Seriously, why didn’t Yu Sen tell us Ye Yufan was here too? I wouldn’t have come if I’d known!”

Yu Sen replied, “I almost forgot to mention it. Yufan came with me.”

Ye Mingxuan and Lin Jiale: “…”

The three had just clashed, making the atmosphere extremely awkward. Yu Sen, however, seemed oblivious, assuming they had already made up. He gestured for Ye Mingxuan and Lin Jiale to sit down.

Yu Sen’s friend approached: “You’re Ye Mingxuan?”

Under the scrutiny of so many eyes, Ye Mingxuan felt a bit embarrassed. “Yeah.”

“Really? I’ve seen your piano videos—they’re even circulating at our school!”

“You look even better in person than on camera! And you’re actually Yu Sen’s friend? Yu Sen, you’re not worthy—you never told us!”

Yu Sen flushed uncharacteristically. “Alright, let’s play cards.”

Li Ang sensed something was off and deliberately bumped into him. Yu Sen bumped into Ye Mingxuan’s shoulder and asked if he was okay. Ye Mingxuan shook his head and said he was fine.

Ye Yufan bit his lower lip, desperate to rush over and pull Ye Mingxuan away. But he’d just told Yu Sen they’d reconciled—rushing over now would blow his cover. He didn’t want Yu Sen to think badly of him, so he gritted his teeth and endured it.

Nine people gathered to play UNO, with the first to run out of cards winning. Ye Mingxuan finished his hand in the first round, stepping aside to let others continue while he sat alone in the corner of the private room, staring at his phone.

He’d intended to casually scroll through short videos, but before he knew it, he’d opened Tan Sizhe’s chat window.

Sir should be off work by now, right? Wonder when Auntie and the others plan to head back.

Yu Sen approached with two drinks: “Mingxuan.”

Ye Mingxuan looked up and took the drinks. “Thanks, Brother Yu Sen.”

Yu Sen sat down beside him. “No need to be so formal. Oh, here, take this.”

He handed Ye Mingxuan a concert ticket. “You promised me you’d come next time. No backing out now.”

Ye Mingxuan held the elegant ticket, pursed his lips, and nodded. “Mm.”

Yu Sen smiled, about to speak further, when Ye Mingxuan’s phone buzzed. A message flashed across the screen.

【Baby, when are you going to devour me like last time?】

The sudden message caught both Ye Mingxuan and Yu Sen off guard.

Ye Mingxuan: !!!

He frantically tucked his hands behind his back, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst from his chest. “Brother Yu Sen, I need to use the restroom!”

Yu Sen froze like a statue, watching Ye Mingxuan flee in panic.

Who sent that message just now?

Why did the sender call Mingxuan “Baby”?

What exactly happened last time?

Yu Sen’s pupils contracted as his mind flashed back to the crimson mark behind Ye Mingxuan’s ear that afternoon.

…

Ye Mingxuan ran to a secluded corner, gasping for breath. He pulled out his phone and opened the message—it was indeed from Tan Sizhe.

Why did the boss suddenly send him a message? And why was it so… suggestive?

Baby… The gentleman called him baby…

Ye Mingxuan clutched his phone, his chest pounding like a frightened deer. His body felt light as air, his mind barely functioning—he didn’t notice the private room door behind him swing open.

The next second, a hand yanked him inside.

Ye Mingxuan’s phone fell onto the plush carpet. His mouth was covered, muffling his protests to mere grunts. Just as he tried to kick the person behind him, Tan Sizhe’s voice came through: “Don’t move.”

Ye Mingxuan froze in his struggle. The hand behind him released him. He turned and saw Tan Sizhe’s face: “Sir?!”

The private room was bright as day, revealing Tan Sizhe’s handsome features. He curved his lips, trapping Ye Mingxuan between the door and himself with one hand as he leaned closer. “Did you come to devour me, baby?”

The man’s woody scent enveloped him, making Ye Mingxuan’s breath catch. He stammered, “No, no…”

Tan Sizhe: “No? Then why did you rush out so impatiently?”

Ye Mingxuan’s eyes widened: “Sir, you saw me?”

Tan Sizhe looked down at the sash of his bathrobe: “Of course.”

Ye Mingxuan caught the dangerous glint in the man’s eyes and clutched his bathrobe sash: Sir, I need to head back soon. They’re waiting for me to play cards…”

Tan Sizhe casually hooked an arm around him: “What’s the rush? You can sneak a little fun before going back.”

Sneak a little fun!! That description felt oddly… yet Ye Mingxuan unconsciously shifted, loosening his bathrobe slightly.

Tan Sizhe narrowed his eyes at the sight, pinching his chin. “Want some?”

Ye Mingxuan bit his lower lip. “Mmm…”

Just then, the phone on the floor lit up. Yu Sen was calling. Tan Sizhe glanced down, a smirk curling his lips as his fingers continued tracing Ye Mingxuan’s jawline.

Ye Mingxuan saw it too, but he had no time to answer the call now. His eyes reflected Tan Sizhe’s face, meticulously sculpted by God. The latter’s almond-shaped eyes were pitch black, smiling like a beautiful fox.

He, meanwhile, was like the soul-stolen King Zhou, his limbs moving involuntarily. Ye Mingxuan opened his mouth and licked Tan Sizhe’s fingertip….

Half an hour later, Ye Mingxuan, flushed like a boiled shrimp, tidied his bathrobe and slipped out of the private room.

Tan Sizhe sat on the sofa, fastening his belt, tilting his head back to savor the memory of the other’s moist mouth.

Only after the flush faded from his face did Tan Sizhe rise, buttoning his shirt to regain his aloof, aristocratic demeanor.

The private room door suddenly swung open. A guest stepped inside, froze upon seeing Tan Sizhe, and stammered, “Sorry, I got the wrong room.” He hurried out.

Ye Yufan emerged from the restroom just as Tan Sizhe followed another man out of the private room.

He froze, ducking to the side. Watching Tan Sizhe pass by him, the man’s pale neck bore several distinct love bites.

Ye Yufan seemed to have spotted something shocking.

He froze, ducking to the side as Tan Sizhe walked past him. Several distinct strawberry marks were visible on the man’s pale neck.

Ye Yufan felt like he’d uncovered some earth-shattering secret.

Tan Sizhe’s lover!! So Tan Sizhe had brought Ye Mingxuan here to meet his lover! He’d finally seen it!!

Hmph. Ye Mingxuan dared to act like a big shot, riding roughshod over him. Ye Yufan thought, this grudge—he would settle it sooner or later!