Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Lu Tingchao didn't want to answer.

He was afraid of being found out.

After all, he was still spending Zhuang Ji's money, living in Zhuang Ji's house, and essentially living off Zhuang Ji... He felt a bit timid.

So Lu Tingchao pressed his lips together and shook his head: "Let's not pick up... It's not anyone important."

The phone stopped ringing for the second time.

Zhuang Ji casually tossed the phone aside, wrapped his arms around Lu Tingchao from behind, pulling him completely into his embrace, then leaned down to kiss Lu Tingchao's ear: "Who is it?"

Lu Tingchao's breathing was unsteady. He paused before answering: "The new local officer from last time, the one who... checks residency records."

"Oh."

Zhuang Ji chuckled softly, "Seems like he knows we're on the same household registry now. Chao Chao, you've let slip a big secret."

Lu Tingchao: "I didn't—"

Zhuang Ji pinned his hand against the floor-to-ceiling window, his voice gentle: "Little ones who leak secrets need to be punished."

Lu Tingchao tried to push back but failed, suppressed right where he was. He let out a muffled groan: "I—"

The phone rang for the third time.

Lu Tingchao struggled to glance toward the carpet in the dim, hazy light—once again, he saw Mo Lingnan's name.

He felt like he was suffocating.

Maybe he was already dead.

Zhuang Ji held Lu Tingchao like a doll while reaching out with his long, slender arm to retrieve the phone.

This time, he didn’t even ask Lu Tingchao before answering the call directly.

Zhuang Ji's voice was still hoarse: "Hello."

Lu Tingchao: "!!!"

Just let me die!!

The two were extremely close.

Lu Tingchao could even hear Mo Lingnan on the other end pause for a few seconds before coldly saying: "Hello, I'm looking for Lu Tingchao."

"Looking for Chao Chao, huh."

Zhuang Ji laughed again, "Alright, one moment."

He placed the phone next to Lu Tingchao's ear.

Zhuang Ji casually tweaked Lu Tingchao's already flushed earlobe: "Baby, it's for you."

Lu Tingchao: "..."

If he had magic, he would choose to sink into the ground immediately.

But he didn’t.

So Chao Chao could only face the cruel reality QAQ.

Lu Tingchao was so breathless from Zhuang Ji's actions that he tried to reach for the phone, but Zhuang Ji refused to give it to him.

And his reason was spoken with righteous conviction: "Chao Chao is tired, let your husband hold it."

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Lu Tingchao had no choice but to grab Zhuang Ji's forearm, trying his best not to tremble too much: "This is Lu Tingchao... Didn’t you already register the household the day before yesterday? Is... is there more information you need?"

Mo Lingnan: "..."

Mo Lingnan fell silent.

Zhuang Ji rested his chin on Lu Tingchao's shoulder, planting kisses randomly here and there.

After a few seconds, he suddenly laughed.

He lowered his voice, whispering in Lu Tingchao's ear: "Baby, you're so tense... Does answering the phone... get you this worked up?"

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Ahhhhhhh!!!!

Lu Tingchao felt like a firework going off, his vision blurred. He didn’t even dare imagine whether Mo Lingnan on the other end had heard any of that.

He wanted to escape.

But he couldn’t QAQ.

"We need to confirm some information again."

Mo Lingnan's voice finally came through the phone.

His tone was still deep, serious and cold, as if he hadn’t heard any of the noises from Lu Tingchao's side, like a calm lake unaffected by any external interference.

Mo Lingnan said word by word: "Head of household Zhuang Ji, thirty-one years old. Cohabitant, Lu Tingchao, twenty-five years old. Is the above information correct and accurate?"

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Zhuang Ji playfully caressed Lu Tingchao's fingertips.

Lu Tingchao: "Acc... accurate."

Mo Lingnan: "According to building management, the head of household and spouse have been living separately for a long time. Same-sex marriages require special notation. Are the two of you experiencing marital issues?"

"No."

Zhuang Ji took the phone from Lu Tingchao's ear, "Be careful what you say. Don’t ask things you shouldn’t."

Mo Lingnan fell silent for a moment.

He hung up.

"Idiot."

Zhuang Ji, who had worked in both film and television and had sung many OSTs for TV dramas years ago, truly had a nice voice. Even when cursing, he sounded flirtatiously mischievous, "Where did this fake cop come from?"

Lu Tingchao, who had also overheard the conversation, held his breath—after all, that last thing definitely didn’t sound like something a real police officer would say.

What if Zhuang Ji asked about it… should he… just confess?

Might as well!

Just say he wants a divorce.

He couldn’t live like this for even one more day.

Lu Tingchao's breath hitched slightly as Zhuang Ji gripped his wrist and drew him back into an embrace.

They held each other close, not wanting to let go.

For a long while.

Zhuang Ji held the pliant Lu Tingchao like he was soothing a child: “Baby, delete that number later.”

Lu Tingchao: “…Okay.”

Zhuang Ji: “It was probably a paparazzo hired by some obsessive fan pretending to be a cop to trick you.”

Lu Tingchao: “!!!???”

Lu Tingchao swallowed back the words on the tip of his tongue. After a long pause, he whispered, “What about the household registration…”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Zhuang Ji straightened Lu Tingchao’s clothes. “Pretty much everyone in the industry knows I’m married; it’s just not public knowledge. Let them talk. Worst case, I’ll retire—acting’s gotten boring anyway.”

Lu Tingchao: “…”

Oh… is that how it is?

But Chao Chao still wanted to maintain a single image to join a dating show…

Lu Tingchao bit his lip, agonizing over it for a while before murmuring quietly, “Husband, if it doesn’t leak… let’s not announce it publicly for now, okay?”

Zhuang Ji’s expression sharpened, his voice cooling by several degrees: “You don’t want to go public?”

“It’s not that.”

Lu Tingchao’s gaze drifted around nervously before he chose to actively wrap his arms around Zhuang Ji’s waist.

Lu Tingchao: “I just don’t think it’s necessary… We’ve been married so many years, and I want to build my career on my own, not stand in your shadow. Is that okay?”

Zhuang Ji looked at Lu Tingchao.

It was different from when they’d first met and fallen in love as teenagers. Reuniting years later, Zhuang Ji’s gaze had grown more imposing, sharper, as if he could see through any hidden motives.

Lu Tingchao had no choice but to slip his arms around Zhuang Ji’s neck to avoid that penetrating stare: “Husband, help me out, please? I love you the most.”

Zhuang Ji: “…”

A few seconds passed.

Finally, Zhuang Ji softened. He gripped Lu Tingchao’s waist and pulled him close again: “Don’t try to sweet-talk me, or you’ll end up crying again later.”

Lu Tingchao had been tricked like that before. He gave a soft laugh and tried to make his escape by pushing off Zhuang Ji’s legs.

But the moment he stood up, he was yanked back and landed flat again.

Zhuang Ji asked: “Chao Chao did something bad, wasn’t paying attention earlier, and even leaked a secret. Aren’t you going to apologize?”

Lu Tingchao: “.”

Lu Tingchao blinked, his voice soft: “I’m sorry.”

“I forgive you.”

Zhuang Ji seemed to be holding back, but still pulled Lu Tingchao into a long, deep kiss. “You’re so well-behaved, baby. No matter what mistakes you make, your husband will always forgive you.”

Lu Tingchao’s eyes lit up: “Then I have a job next week. I have to go out of town to record.”

Zhuang Ji frowned: “What job?”

Lu Tingchao: “It’s a small variety show, just two episodes. You’ll say yes, right?”