Comments poured in below:
“Help, this is getting even more surreal! I’m still stuck on Ye Yufan impersonating Ye Mingxuan for the painting!”
“Does anyone have inside info to explain this madness?!”
“So Ye Mingxuan is Tan Sizhe’s wife? Then why is Ye Yufan targeting him? Is he looking for trouble?”
“Aren’t they the fake and real young masters? Ye Mingxuan was the fake one who ended up marrying into nobility, so Ye Yufan’s been targeting him all along!”
“No wonder? That makes perfect sense!”
“Wait, wait! They’re actually half-brothers from the same father! Ye Mingxuan is the illegitimate son with no official status, yet he ended up marrying Tan Sizhe!”
“That makes a lot of sense too!”
Just as everyone was letting their imaginations run wild with speculation, someone dropped another bombshell: “Holy crap! My friend used to hang out with Ye Yufan for a while, and Ye Yufan said Ye Mingxuan was a servant in his family!”
The moment those words hit the forum, it exploded again.
“Holy crap, that explains everything! Ye Mingxuan was Ye Yufan’s family servant. Because he ‘rose from rags to riches,’ Ye Yufan felt unfairly treated and has been targeting him ever since!”
“I agree with the poster above!”
“Me too!”
“Me too!”
“So how did Ye Mingxuan even meet Tan Sizhe? So jealous!”
“It’d be easy for someone like him to meet Tan Sizhe, right? He’s handsome, a rising artist with some fame. Hook up with Qi Lin, then use Qi Lin to meet Tan Sizhe—done deal!”
“But I heard Tan Sizhe got married a year ago. Ye Mingxuan wasn’t famous back then, right?”
“No, no, wait—they say they’ve been married for three years!”
“Hold up, three years ago Ye Mingxuan wasn’t even an adult. Who would marry him?”
“So maybe he deliberately got close to Tan Sizhe? Married him first, then everything else followed?”
“That explanation kinda makes sense. Ye Mingxuan wasn’t content being a servant in the Ye family. He worked hard to get close to Tan Sizhe, climbed the social ladder, then used Tan Sizhe to get everything he wanted. Finally, he took down the villainous Ye family!”
“Holy crap! That’s so inspiring, I’m bowing down!”
“It feels like one of those male leads from Qidian novels staging a comeback for revenge.”
People were buzzing with all sorts of theories, but the real truth would forever remain unknown to them.
As the conversation drifted, the topic shifted elsewhere.
“Does anyone care about Tan Sizhe? He confessed to Ye Mingxuan in front of the media just to make you all jealous, but you’re all talking about revenge!”
“Here we go. Setting everything else aside, these two are seriously gorgeous!”
“Aaaah, I’m seriously jealous! So handsome and so devoted—who can give me a husband like that?!”
“Not me. I envy Tan Sizhe for marrying Ye Mingxuan. I bumped into him in the cafeteria once—his face is so small and delicate, like a melancholy prince straight out of a fairy tale!”
Ye Mingxuan had just finished showering when he got bombarded with messages from Lin Jiale. Seeing the trending topics and online discussions, his mind went blank.
He’d never received this much attention before.
“Sir, did you do this?” Ye Mingxuan asked Tan Sizhe, who was lying on the bed.
Tan Sizhe: “Mm.” ” He patted the spot beside him, and Ye Mingxuan slid over.
“I think it’s time we went public,” Tan Size said. “I want everyone to know you’re my husband.”
Ye Mingxuan’s cheeks flushed. Resting his head on Tan Size’s lap, he looked up at him with wide eyes. “Actually, I want that too.”
“Want what?”
“I want everyone to know that you’re my husband.”
Tan Sizhe’s eyes flickered for a moment before he lowered his head to kiss him. His tongue pried open Ye Mingxuan’s lips and teeth, sweeping inside. Ye Mingxuan’s cheeks flushed crimson as he extended his tongue to entwine with Tan Sizhe’s.
“At the very beginning, you didn’t even know how to kiss. Tan Sizhe pressed his nose against Ye Mingxuan’s, rubbing gently.
To prove he’d learned, Ye Mingxuan opened his mouth willingly, offering his tender little tongue. Tan Sizhe caught it between his lips and sucked hard.
As they kissed, Ye Mingxuan felt something hard pressing against the back of his head.
“… ” Ye Mingxuan awkwardly tried to get up and escape, but Tan Sizhe pulled him back. “Sir!”
Tan Sizze lifted him onto his lap, holding his hands. “Help me.”…
The next morning, Ye Mingxuan woke up with his arms aching and swollen. Tan Sizze had already left for work.
He rose, stretched lazily, and touched his nearly nine-month-old belly to feel the baby move. The little one had woken up too, greeting him.
“Good morning,” Ye Mingxuan smiled.
The baby kicked him twice. Ye Mingxuan grabbed his phone from the nightstand and opened it to find a string of messages from Yu Sen.
“Mingxuan, is what’s online true?”
“Did you and Tan Sizhe really get married?”
Ye Mingxuan froze. It was time to explain to Yu Sen. He arranged a meeting place.
“Brother Yu Sen, I’m sorry!” Ye Mingxuan apologized. “I didn’t mean to deceive you…”
Yusen sat across from him. He’d lost weight since they last met, his eyes looking haggard. Hearing Ye Mingxuan’s admission, he realized, “So you two were already married? Then I…”
He’d actually gone to Tan Sizhe and said some foolish things.
Yusen lowered his head, feeling mortified. ” Is what they say online true? Did Uncle Ye and Aunt Ye really do those things?”
Ye Mingxuan pressed his lips together, taking a sip of water in tacit acknowledgment.
The air fell silent. Yu Sen’s mind was a tangled mess. He simply couldn’t comprehend how Ye Xiangkai and the others, who had always been so polite whenever he saw them, could have done so many things.
What was real? What was fake?
Ye Mingxuan finished his water, knowing Yu Sen would need time to process this. Setting down the cup, he said, “Brother Yu Sen, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back.”
Yu Sen looked up to see Ye Mingxuan smiling at him—a gentle, composed smile, his gaze no longer evasive.
It was clear Mingxuan had been well taken care of.
After saying goodbye, Ye Mingxuan walked out. Through the clean glass window, Yu Sen saw a black Rolls-Royce parked at the entrance. Tan Sizhe leaned against the doorframe, his phoenix-like eyes smiling as he watched Ye Mingxuan approach.
“Sir, have you been waiting long?”
“Not long. Just arrived. Finished talking?”
“Finished.”
“Let’s go. Time for dinner.”
“Mm!”
Tan Sizhe opened the passenger door, letting Ye Mingxuan slip inside before circling around to the driver’s seat. Not once did he glance toward the window.
Once seated, he ruffled Ye Mingxuan’s hair. “Grandfather said he hired a new chef today. He wants us to go back and try the food.”
Ye Mingxuan’s eyes lit up. “Really? Then let’s hurry back!”
Tan Sizhe raised an eyebrow and started the car.
The sun sank toward the western mountains, its orange glow stretching endlessly across the highway. The car grew smaller and smaller until it was just a tiny black dot in the distance.
Yu Sen withdrew his gaze, set his empty water cup on the table, and stood up to leave.
–
Time flew by, and June arrived.
Ye Mingxuan’s belly had grown a bit larger.
Tan Jing and Uncle Tan had both returned to their own homes. Ye Mingxuan, Tan Sizhe, and the Tan Yinghui couple still lived in the old mansion.
Ye Mingxuan spent most days painting in his room. When he grew tired, he’d go shopping with Liu Junxin. In the evenings, after Tan Sizhe returned, they’d curl up in the home theater to watch movies.
On June 23rd, Liu Junxin took Ye Mingxuan to a concert. She deliberately kept Ye Mingxuan out playing until late, returning home just before dinner.
Upon returning to the old house, Ye Mingxuan sensed something different the moment he entered.
The living room and dining area were adorned with colorful balloons, and a giant “Happy Birthday” display was affixed to the wallpaper.
“Auntie, what’s this?”
“A birthday surprise for you.”
No sooner had Liu Junxin finished speaking than confetti cannons exploded on both sides, showering the room with delicate, sparkling decorations.
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!” Xiaoli led the servants in singing the birthday song.
Ye Mingxuan’s heart skipped a beat as he saw Tan Sizhe pushing a cake out, followed by Liu Yan, Old Master Tan, Uncle Ma, and Tan Yinghui.
“Mom?!” Ye Mingxuan walked over to ask Liu Yan, utterly surprised. “How did you get here?”
Liu Yan patted his hand. ” Mr. Tan brought me over. He said everyone should celebrate your birthday together.”
Ye Mingxuan looked up, his eyes reddening, meeting Tan Sizhe’s gaze. “Sir…”
Nineteen candles flickered on the cake, their bright flames dancing across the man’s face. Tan Sizhe smiled at him. “Come make a wish.”
Ye Mingxuan walked over blankly, surrounded by a crowd of people who loved him.
Make a wish? He had no wish to make, for everything he desired had already come true.
Then… may the one I love stay safe and healthy.
Ye Mingxuan closed his eyes, silently making this wish in his heart before blowing out the candles.
Everyone clapped. Tan Yinghui urged Ye Mingxuan to cut the cake. Blushing under their teasing, Ye Mingxuan walked over and cut the largest slice for Tan Sizhe.
After finishing the cake, everyone chattered excitedly as they headed to dinner. For Ye Mingxuan’s birthday, the Tan family’s chef had outdone himself, preparing a lavish spread.
Sitting beside Tan Sizhe, Ye Mingxuan gazed at the gathered faces before him, his expression dazed. “It feels like a dream.”
“A dream?” Tan Sizhe chuckled, placing a large chicken drumstick into Ye Mingxuan’s bowl. “Then take a bite and see if it really is a dream.”
Ye Mingxuan took a bite of the large chicken drumstick. The aroma of pepper filled his senses as the crispy exterior gave way to tender meat inside. So delicious it made his eyes sparkle: “This isn’t a dream!”
Tan Sizhe ruffled his hair, then turned to clink glasses with Tan Yinghui.
Ye Mingxuan lifted his gaze, staring at Tan Sizhe for a moment. When he lowered his eyes, a single tear fell onto the table. He pressed his lips together, took another bite of the drumstick, and when he looked up again, his face was lit with a smile of pure happiness and contentment.
After dinner, Ye Mingxuan chatted with Liu Yan for a while. Tan Sizhe suggested Liu Yan stay at the Tan residence for a period.
Deeply grateful, Liu Yan’s complexion improved significantly without the burden of work and with stable housing. Ye Mingxuan used the money earned from selling paintings to buy her numerous clothes and jewelry. After putting them on, she seemed like a completely different person. When she went out, people addressed her as “Madam.”
Ye Mingxuan then brought out new outfits for his mother to try on. Liu Yan praised them endlessly, giving him a thumbs-up. “My son has really made something of himself.”
After a moment, her eyes flickered with sadness. “Ah, if only your father were still here. He’d be so happy wearing clothes you bought him.”
Ye Mingxuan paused before comforting his mother. “I’ll have some altered for him another day. He’ll definitely be able to wear them.”
Tan Sizhe sat beside them, silent.
Sparse stars hung among the branches, the moon veiled by dark clouds. Warm yellow light spilled from the third-floor balcony.
Ye Mingxuan rocked gently on the swing. Behind him, the door opened. Tan Sizhe emerged, holding a glass of water.
“Sir?”
“Would you like some water?”
“Mm.”
Ye Mingxuan took the cup, bit down on the straw, and shifted his hips to make room for Tan Sizhe beside him.
Tan Sizhe sat down next to him, the evening breeze ruffling his bangs. “Thinking about Uncle Ye?”
Ye Mingxuan’s lashes fluttered as he swallowed the water. “Mm.”
“I dreamed about him a few nights ago. We talked.”
“What did you say?”
“I told him about you, Sir.” Ye Mingxuan smiled faintly. “I said you’ve been very good to me, and he shouldn’t worry.”
Tan Sizhe curved his lips slightly. “Uncle Ye must have been a truly good man.”
“A good man.” Ye Mingxuan drew a deep breath. “Yes. My dad works on construction sites. Everyone says he’s honest and a good person.”
“But I don’t understand,” Ye Mingxuan choked out. “Aren’t good people supposed to live a hundred years? Why did he leave so soon?”
Tan Sizhe froze, looking at Ye Mingxuan.
“My dad did heavy physical labor every day. At first, he was okay, but then it got worse and worse. He’d often get winded just going up and down stairs. We lived in the same dormitory. In the middle of the night, I’d see him turn on the desk lamp, sit up, and breathe.”
“The medicine bottles on his desk kept piling up—I didn’t recognize any of them.” Ye Mingxuan sank into a long reverie. “Back then, I often heard his friends urge him to stop working, but he’d insist it was fine.”
“Sir, you don’t know—my father had a gift for design. When he was healthy, he’d sit at his little table drawing blueprints, telling me they were for the house he was designing for me and Mom.”
“Then his health declined, and he never picked up a pencil again.”
“One night, I watched him burn all the blueprints and tell me, ‘I’m sorry, Mingxuan. Maybe Daddy won’t be able to build a house for you and Mom after all.’”
Little Mingxuan threw himself into his father’s arms, crying, “As long as Daddy gets well, I don’t mind not living in a big house.”
Ye Zhengqing stroked Mingxuan’s head. “Don’t worry, Dad will get better soon. Once I’m healthy again, I’ll send Mingxuan to art classes.”
“He still went to the construction site every day to carry cement, bringing home his meager wages and saving them in an iron lunchbox as a piggy bank,” Ye Mingxuan said, tears streaming down his face. “He said even though he couldn’t afford a big house, he still wanted to send me to art classes.”
“One day later, he walked me to school and told me to wait for him after class.”
“Then he never came back.” Ye Mingxuan sobbed. “He collapsed at the construction site, still weighed down by cement bags on his back.”
Tan Sizhe felt a sharp pang in his heart. He embraced Ye Mingxuan, gently patting his head. “Cry if you need to.”
Ye Mingxuan grabbed Tan Sizhe’s collar, tears blurring his lashes. “Why…” he choked out, filled with resentment. “Why did he have to leave…?”
“Who can tell me why?!”
“I’ll help you live in a big house, help you learn to paint. Is that okay?”
Ye Mingxuan lifted his head, tears still clinging to his lashes, clear and sparkling. Tan Sizhe cupped his face, gently wiping them away with his fingers. “Let’s make Uncle Ye happy by showing him all this from heaven, okay?”
“Sir.” Ye Mingxuan sniffled twice, his tear-filled eyes blurring as he threw himself into his arms. “Okay.”
