Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Even before making rounds to toast at the tables, Ying Zhiyu was already getting cold feet.

Li Xi gave him a look that spoke volumes but ended up genuinely "looking out" for Ying Zhiyu throughout the entire banquet.

The wedding reception served Salon Champagne.

The alcohol content of champagne isn’t particularly high, similar to the Château d'Yquem noble rot dessert wine Ying Zhiyu had ordered earlier at the Peninsula Hotel.

However, as the wine served at the wedding of the Li family’s Omega Third Young Master—

this Salon Champagne was a more exclusive selection, a set of vertical vintages.

At each guest’s place setting were three crystal flute champagne glasses, allowing them to slowly savor three different vintages of Salon Champagne, each with its distinct character, in sequence.

When toasting, Li Xi only let Ying Zhiyu pick a glass of the oldest vintage Salon Champagne for show.

Champagne isn’t meant to be downed in one go anyway, so Ying Zhiyu merely took a small sip after raising his glass.

Li Xi glanced at the sommelier standing nearby and signaled for the spittoon to be brought over.

"Spit it out," he said flatly.

Ying Zhiyu paused.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t handle a sip.

But to play the role of an "obedient and sensible" Alpha, Ying Zhiyu didn’t protest and dutifully spat the small sip of wine into the spittoon.

This is a common practice at high-end tastings in upper-class society, nothing unusual.

However, the guests at the main VIP table, seeing how protective Li Xi was of Ying Zhiyu, kept straight faces but the look in their eyes changed instantly when looking at Ying Zhiyu.

Having been a live-in son-in-law in a wealthy family for eleven years in his previous life, Ying Zhiyu was long accustomed to these scrutinizing gazes.

He didn't react, simply standing relaxed and quiet by Li Xi’s side.

The marriage of the Li family’s Omega Third Young Master was the biggest news recently in the capital’s upper-class circles.

The Li family is considered one of the world’s top super-rich families.

And Li Xi is the only Omega descendant of the current head of the Li family, Li Songqian.

Before Li Xi’s marriage, countless Alphas from major families, celebrities, and powerful figures—anyone who could barely qualify—had vied for the chance to become the Li family’s son-in-law.

But now, the dust has settled.

Although Li Xi intended to keep Ying Zhiyu’s background confidential, those in the circle with enough determination could still dig up some information about him.

His Alpha was neither a young master from a prestigious family nor a person of high status.

Ying Zhiyu—a phoenix man whose family of four squeezed into a two-bedroom apartment and even had to rent a tiny Baozi shop—what right did he have?!

"Third Young Master’s Alpha doesn’t seem to hold his liquor well?"

An Alpha roughly the same height as Ying Zhiyu patted him on the shoulder and raised his glass.

"Today is Third Young Master’s joyous occasion. I wish Third Young Master a happy marriage. Third Young Master is so outstanding, you must treat him well. I’ll finish this, you take it easy."

The most sophisticated way to pressure someone to drink is never through crude, awkward tactics like "you’re disrespecting me," but rather with "I’ll finish this, you take it easy."

The other person downed his drink in one go, implicitly putting pressure on Ying Zhiyu.

If Ying Zhiyu didn’t drink, it would mean he didn’t want a "happy marriage" or to "treat Li Xi well"!

Ying Zhiyu glanced calmly at this Alpha.

He found it somewhat amusing.

In his previous life, Ying Zhiyu had been forced into marriage and refused to speak much with Li Xi before the wedding, so there was no scene of Li Xi "looking out" for him and stopping him from drinking.

Without Li Xi’s special attention, this "jealous" Alpha also didn’t appear at the banquet in his previous life.

After the Alpha finished his drink, he saw that Ying Zhiyu hadn’t even lifted his glass, remaining completely still.

He even gave him an inexplicable smile.

The Alpha: ?

Someone who had lived a second life couldn’t be easily provoked by a few words. Ying Zhiyu didn’t respond, just kept smiling at the other person.

The man: "You..."

"You finished yours," Ying Zhiyu shrugged, speaking slowly. "I’ll take it easy."

As he spoke, he even maintained a "friendly" smile.

The other person: "..."

In fact, just as that Alpha finished his champagne, Li Xi had been ready to step in and decline on Ying Zhiyu’s behalf.

But Ying Zhiyu suddenly pulled this move, catching everyone else at the VIP table who had been eager to stir trouble off guard.

Later, when toasting at other main tables, a few more impulsive young masters deliberately tried to provoke him.

However, Li Xi seemed determined to protect his Alpha.

Even when faced with those who disregarded decorum and insisted on targeting Ying Zhiyu, Li Xi stepped directly in front of his Alpha and decisively drank the wine on Ying Zhiyu’s behalf.

Looking at Third Prince Li’s icy expression, it made those former suitors who had failed to climb the social ladder seem like ridiculous clowns.

After this happened once or twice, no one dared to target Ying Zhiyu anymore.

-

Finally, the newlyweds’ toasting session concluded.

The remaining time became a social arena for the upper-class elites to exchange resources, power, and money.

Li Xi left early with Ying Zhiyu.

Entering the elevator of the manor’s main residence, perhaps feeling a bit hot in his multi-layered banquet attire, Li Xi loosened his bow tie slightly.

Ying Zhiyu glanced down at it.

After exiting the elevator, Li Xi walked straight into the bridal suite, took off his jacket, and seemed ready to take a shower.

Ying Zhiyu reached out from behind and stopped him: "It’s not good to shower right after drinking."

Li Xi turned around: "...My alcohol tolerance isn't that bad."

Saying this under the current circumstances almost felt like sarcastically mocking a certain Alpha who had barely touched a drop of alcohol all evening.

But Ying Zhiyu didn’t mind. Good-naturedly, he played along: "Yes, President Li’s alcohol tolerance is exceptional."

He then followed Li Xi into the walk-in closet between the bedroom’s sleeping area and the bathroom, bent down to easily found a clean bathrobe.

"Don’t soak in the bath after drinking. I’ll wait for you outside."

Ying Zhiyu handed the bathrobe to Li Xi, quietly advised him.

"..."

Li Xi stared at the clean bathrobe in his arms for a moment, seemingly lost in thought, before suddenly looking up and asking: "Marrying a total stranger—aren’t you resistant at all?"

Although the young Alpha acted as though he were all about the money,

given Ying Zhiyu’s capabilities, he was already earning millions annually while still in school. At just twenty-one years old, his future prospects were limitless.

An Alpha like him could only be naturally proud.

Did he really need to sell his self-respect to enter this marriage, binding himself to a completely unfamiliar Omega in a union with no freedom?

Ying Zhiyu met Li Xi’s gaze.

Li Xi’s eyes seemed capable of seeing right through anything.

In front of someone this perceptive, faking it was pointless.

After a moment’s thought, Ying Zhiyu answered with dead seriousness: "Actually, I’ve traveled back from the future. In time, our relationship becomes stable, in sync, and we even have two children together."

As he spoke, the Alpha held up three—no, two fingers to indicate the number.

If Li Xi wasn’t mistaken, Ying Zhiyu had initially meant to show "three," but his mouth had moved faster than his brain, saying "two children," forcing his hand to quickly switch to a "two."

Li Xi: "..."

If it weren’t for Third Prince Li’s impeccable composure, Ying Zhiyu had no doubt that Li Xi would have rolled his eyes right then and there.

He had thought it through clearly—since he couldn’t deceive someone so sharp, it was better to tell the "truth" instead.

After all, whether it was the genuine "rebirth after death" or the creative version "return to the past," to a perceptive listener, it would only sound like nonsense.

Sure enough, after hearing him out, Li Xi turned and walked into the bathroom.

Clearly, he was too irritated by Ying Zhiyu’s "flippant" attitude to bother with him any further.

When Li Xi finished his shower and stepped out, the Alpha who had promised to wait for him was nowhere to be seen.

But before Li Xi could go looking for him, the bedroom door made a sound the very next moment.

Li Xi turned his head to see Ying Zhiyu standing at the doorway, wearing a bathrobe identical to his, his hair still slightly damp and only half-dried.

So he had gone to another room to clean up.

Perhaps it was the steam from the bathroom, but a faint blush unusually flushed Li Xi’s typically stern face.

After all, during the banquet, Li Xi had consistently been "looking out for" Ying Zhiyu. Even if champagne wasn’t particularly strong, Li Xi had still consumed quite a bit.

He narrowed his eyes, watching as Ying Zhiyu entered the room.

After returning to the bedroom, Ying Zhiyu casually draped the towel he’d used to dry his hair over the armrest of the sofa, then made his way to the small dining area in the bedroom’s living space and brought out a tray.

"The butler brought this up earlier."

On the tray were a specially prepared hangover cocktail and a serving of white truffle steamed egg.

Both were carefully prepared by the kitchen to be suitable for consumption after drinking, helping to alleviate any discomfort.

However, after a glance at the tray, Li Xi, having already brushed his teeth, didn’t feel like eating.

Still, he walked over, frowned at the tray, and asked: "Where’s yours? Didn’t they prepare any for you?"

Under the soft, dimmed evening lighting in the bedroom, Ying Zhiyu quietly watched the slight furrow in Li Xi’s brow and slowly replied: "I’ve already finished mine. I was a bit hungry, so I ate first."

The newlyweds had little time to eat—there was simply too much to manage and attend to during the wedding.

Hearing this, Li Xi paused and said: "If you’re hungry, have the kitchen send up more food. If you’re not sure what to eat, ask the nutritionist to prepare something for you."

Ying Zhiyu responded with an "okay," then shook his head: "I’m full now."

Seeing that Li Xi showed no intention of touching the hangover snacks, Ying Zhiyu returned the tray to the small dining area.

When he came back, Li Xi was sitting on the bed, drying his hair.

Ying Zhiyu stood still for a brief moment before walking over and politely asking: "Do you need a temporary mark? It seems like you’re approaching your heat."