Before even starting the table-to-table toasts, the Alpha had already hesitated.
Li Xi’s gaze was unamused, yet throughout the banquet, he indeed kept a watchful eye over Ying Zhiyu.
The champagne served was Salon, with an alcohol content similar to the Sauternes they had at the Peninsula Hotel before.
But, for the wedding of Li Xi, the Omega third son, the selection was even more exquisite—a vertical tasting set of Salon champagne spanning multiple years.
At each VIP table, three crystal flute glasses were set before the guests, each containing a different vintage for them to savor in order.
During the toasts, Li Xi only let Ying Zhiyu lift the oldest vintage glass for show.
Champagne didn’t need to be downed in one go; Ying Zhiyu took just a sip.
Li Xi glanced at the sommelier standing by and signaled to bring the spittoon forward.
“I’ll spit it,” Ying Zhiyu said.
Li Xi paused.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t drink at all.
But to play the part of a “well-behaved, considerate” Alpha, Ying Zhiyu didn’t argue. He obediently took a small sip and spat it into the provided spittoon.
This was standard practice at high-society tastings—nothing unusual.
At the main table, the VIP guests watched Li Xi’s protective attention over Ying Zhiyu. Their expressions remained calm and composed, but the way they looked at Ying Zhiyu shifted in an instant.
Having spent eleven years as an involuntary son-in-law in a wealthy family, Ying Zhiyu was well accustomed to these probing gazes.
He remained unfazed, standing relaxed at Li Xi’s side.
The marriage of the Li family’s Omega third son had become the biggest news in the capital’s high society.
The Li family was one of the world’s most elite, ultra-wealthy dynasties.
Li Xi, as the only Omega heir of the current family head Li Songqian, was in line to inherit it all.
Before this wedding, countless Alphas from prominent families and powerful circles had fantasized about becoming the Li family’s “ideal son-in-law” if they could manage it.
But now, the matter was settled.
Although Li Xi had intended to keep Ying Zhiyu’s background secret, anyone curious could still dig up some details.
His Alpha wasn’t from a prominent family, nor did he hold any significant power or social standing.
Ying Zhiyu—born in a cramped two-bedroom apartment with his family of four, running a small rented bun shop—what claim did he have?!
“Third Master’s Alpha doesn’t seem much of a drinker?”
An Alpha about Ying Zhiyu’s height patted his shoulder, raising his glass.
“Today’s Third Master’s big day. Here’s to a happy marriage! Third Master is outstanding, so you better treat him well. I’ll finish mine—you do as you like.”
The highest form of toast in high society wasn’t a crude “take a drink or be embarrassed,” but this: “I’ll finish mine—you decide.”
By finishing it at once, the pressure subtly shifted onto Ying Zhiyu.
But he didn’t drink—he had no interest in “happy marriage” or “treating Li Xi well.”
He gave the other Alpha a calm, almost amused glance.
In his previous life, Ying Zhiyu had been forced into marriage and refused to speak to Li Xi before the ceremony. There had been no “protective” gestures, no shielding from alcohol.
Without Li Xi’s special care, the jealous Alpha at that past table hadn’t appeared either.
When that Alpha finished his drink and saw that Ying Zhiyu didn’t lift his glass, he simply stayed still—then even smiled at him inexplicably.
Alpha: ?
Someone who had lived life twice couldn’t be stirred by a few words. Ying Zhiyu just looked back, smiling.
“You…” the Alpha began.
“You finish yours,” Ying Zhiyu shrugged. “I’ll do as I please.”
He even kept a “friendly” smile on his face while saying it.
The Alpha froze.
Earlier, as that Alpha had just finished his champagne, Li Xi had prepared to decline on Ying Zhiyu’s behalf.
But Ying Zhiyu’s move caught everyone at the VIP table off guard.
Later, when other young hotshot sons of wealthy families tried to provoke him during the remaining toasts, Li Xi seemed determined to protect his Alpha.
Even when some insistently tried to corner Ying Zhiyu, Li Xi stepped directly in front, decisively taking the drink himself.
The icy expression of the Third Prince made those previously ambitious scions look like ridiculous clowns.
After one or two incidents like this, no one dared to target Ying Zhiyu again.
With the last toast concluded, the rest of the evening shifted to high-society networking—exchanging resources, power, and money.
It had nothing to do with the wedding.
Li Xi escorted Ying Zhiyu out first.
Inside the main house’s elevator, the layers of formalwear made the evening outfit a little warm. Li Xi loosened his bowtie slightly.
Ying Zhiyu glanced down.
After exiting the elevator, Li Xi went straight into the bridal suite, taking off his jacket, seemingly intending to shower.
Ying Zhiyu reached out from behind and stopped him. “It’s not good to shower right after drinking.”
Li Xi glanced back. “…My tolerance isn’t that low.”
Saying that in this situation sounded almost like a jab at the Alpha who had barely touched any alcohol tonight.
Ying Zhiyu didn’t mind. With his usual good-natured tone, he replied, “Mm, your tolerance is impressive, Li Zong.”
He followed Li Xi into the walk-in closet between the sleeping area and the bathroom, bending down to fetch a clean bathrobe.
“Don’t soak in the bath after drinking. I’ll wait outside.”
He handed the bathrobe to Li Xi, speaking softly.
“…“
Li Xi stared at the bathrobe in his arms for two seconds, seemingly lost in thought, then looked up. “You really don’t mind marrying a stranger like this?”
Though this young Alpha appeared very money-minded, Ying Zhiyu was already earning millions while still a student at just twenty-one. His future was limitless.
An Alpha of his caliber would naturally be proud.
Did he really need to sacrifice his pride and enter a marriage with a completely unfamiliar Omega, in a union he couldn’t choose?
Ying Zhiyu met Li Xi’s eyes.
Li Xi’s gaze seemed to see through everything.
With someone so sharp, pretense was useless.
After a moment, Ying Zhiyu answered earnestly, “Actually, I came back from the future. Our relationship stabilizes, we live in harmony, and we even have two children.”
As he spoke, he held up three… no, two fingers to indicate the number.
If he hadn’t miscounted, he’d meant “three” at first, but his mouth outpaced his brain and said “two kids,” so his hand quickly corrected itself.
Li Xi: “…“
If not for his patience, Ying Zhiyu had no doubt Li Xi would have rolled his eyes on the spot.
He thought clearly: if he couldn’t fool someone this smart, he might as well tell the “truth.”
Whether it was actual time-travel from the future or a creatively fabricated story of going back, to a sharp mind, it would all sound like nonsense.
Sure enough, after hearing him out, Li Xi turned and entered the bathroom.
Apparently, he was too irritated by this “irreverent” attitude to respond.
After finishing his shower, the Alpha who was supposed to wait outside had disappeared.
Before Li Xi could look for him, the bedroom door opened.
Li Xi turned his head to see Ying Zhiyu at the doorway, wearing the same bathrobe as him, his hair half-wet and tousled.
He had gone to another room to wash up.
Perhaps because of the residual steam, a rare blush appeared on Li Xi’s usually stoic face.
After all, he had been “protecting” Ying Zhiyu during the evening toasts, drinking more champagne than one would expect.
Li Xi squinted, watching Ying Zhiyu walk in.
Once back in the bedroom, Ying Zhiyu draped the towel he had used to dry his hair over the sofa arm and fetched a tray from the small in-room dining area.
“The butler just brought this up.”
On the tray was a specially mixed hangover cocktail and a portion of white truffle steamed egg.
All carefully prepared by the kitchen to ease post-drinking discomfort.
Li Xi glanced at the tray, having already brushed his teeth, and wasn’t keen on eating.
Still, he walked over, frowning at the tray. “What about yours? Didn’t they prepare anything?”
Under the soft, warm lighting set for nighttime, Ying Zhiyu looked at Li Xi’s slight frown and replied slowly, “I already ate. I was a little hungry, so I ate first.”
Newlyweds rarely had time to eat; there were too many things to attend to on their wedding day.
Li Xi paused, then said, “If you’re hungry, I can have the kitchen send something else. If you don’t know what to eat, the nutritionist can put together a dish for you.”
Ying Zhiyu replied, “I’m full,” shaking his head.
Seeing Li Xi didn’t touch the hangover snack, he placed the tray back in the small dining area.
When he returned, Li Xi was sitting on the bed, drying his hair.
Ying Zhiyu lingered a moment, then approached and politely asked, “Do you need a temporary marker? It seems like your fever period is approaching.”