Chapter 11

Chapter 11

When he got home, Meng Shuxue and Xia Yucheng were both sitting in the living room. Xia Yinxi paused, then tiptoed over: "You two... out here watching TV, huh?"

Xia Yucheng harrumphed heavily, and Meng Shuxue patted him before asking, "Xiaoxi, is it because I asked about your love life last time that you got with him?"

"I'm not trying to rush you. You're just in your twenties. For something as big as marriage, shouldn't you think it over a bit more?"

Xia Yinxi's heart felt heavy. He'd never known what a mother's love felt like since childhood. His foster parents never pushed him to study or work; he just had to be a quiet organ bank.

If only Meng Shuxue were his real mom.

But the real young master would come back sooner or later. Right now, he should... start keeping his distance from other people's parents.

"Oh, Mom." Xia Yinxi smiled and sat down next to Meng Shuxue. "I really do like him. Don't worry."

Meng Shuxue ruffled his hair. "That's good to hear. Years ago, Grandpa Ji said Ji Yunzhuo's partner would get 5% of Ming Ji's shares. Just so you know."

Xia Yinxi's eyes widened. "That's a ton of money, right?"

Xia Yucheng snorted coldly. "It's a lot, sure, but our family doesn't need it."

Xia Yinxi gave a dry laugh. "Nothing wrong with having more money, right?"

I'm gonna lose it with you rich people!

The family chatted a bit more about the Ji family. Xia Yinxi pictured a huge family in his head, and shockingly, in such a huge rich dynasty, the only young person left in the "direct line" was Ji Yunzhuo.

That was because Grandpa Ji only had one son. Rumor has it he often regretted not having more kids.

The inner workings of such a wealthy family were always complicated. Though Ji Yunzhuo had no biological brothers, his uncles, aunts, and cousins were all gunning for his spot, scheming openly and behind his back.

But Xia Yinxi wasn't too concerned about that. Let the real young master deal with the family drama. He grumbled a bit about the old feudal stuff and went back to his room to rest.

He'd barely lain down when he got a message from Li Yili.

「LiLiLi」: Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap!

「LiLiLi」: Holy crap! My brother's getting married!

「LiLiLi」: I always thought he was asexual!

「Xiao Xiliu ya Xiao Xiliu」: ...Congrats?

「LiLiLi」: This ain't about congrats!

Probably finding typing too annoying, Li Yili called, yelling, "You know my brother's almost thirty! I've never heard of him liking anyone, never seen him date, and now he's getting married?!"

"Did Grandpa's marriage pressure finally work?! And it worked that well!"

Xia Yinxi pulled the phone away from his ear: "..."

My poor ears.

But come to think of it, didn't Ji Yunzhuo have a long-time crush? Hidden so deep even his cousin didn't know about it?

"Holy crap! Holy crap! What kind of goddess is my future sister-in-law?"

Xia Yinxi: "It's just a marriage, isn't it? He's almost thirty, not a teenager."

"You just don't get it!!" Li Yili howled. "Mainly because of my aunt and uncle's deal... Our family can't believe it, but no one dares to ask."

"I thought my brother would be traumatized for life."

Xia Yinxi caught the key phrase: "What's up with your brother's parents?"

"Pfft, a rich marriage where they each do their own thing. They ditched my brother when he was little." Li Yili gave a brief explanation. "This future sister-in-law is a real one. My brother finally set me free, hahaha!!"

Xia Yinxi: "..."

No wonder he flash-delivered an urn... He and his dad don't get along.

Xia Yinxi felt a twinge of guilt and messaged Ji Yunzhuo: Did you tell your family about the wedding?

After a while, the reply came: Yeah

「Xiao Xiliu ya Xiao Xiliu」: Anything I need to do?

「Baby」: Just wait to be married

「Xiao Xiliu ya Xiao Xiliu」: ...

Li Yili was still rambling in shock. Xia Yinxi let it go in one ear and out the other, occasionally grunting "mm" or "wow" in response, when he suddenly heard, "I wanted to ask the day we ate—why are you delivering food and livestreaming?"

Xia Yinxi crafted his script: "I want to earn my own money and surprise my parents."

"...Your way of making money is pretty rustic."

"..."

Xia Yinxi hung up with a click.

Not sure who was handling things on Ji Yunzhuo's end, but three days later, Xia Yinxi got a notice: go get the marriage certificate tomorrow, and the wedding is in two months.

Xia Yinxi sat on the bed and replied, "You're so eager," then asked the system: [By the way, when will his crush come back?]

"Can't pinpoint the exact time, only that they're returning from the US."

Xia Yinxi nodded. Being able to go abroad meant their family was at least well-off, no tragic story of being swapped and growing up in a slum getting beaten.

He opened Ji Yunzhuo's chat again: CEO Ji, do we really have to have a wedding?

After a long pause, Ji Yunzhuo replied: You don't want to?

Xia Yinxi answered: I'm a little socially anxious

Weddings are so expensive!

"Host, a wedding means collecting gift money!"

Xia Yinxi's conscience wavered. "But we're faking it. Isn't it a bit unethical to take people's gift money for a fake wedding?"

The system: "...Makes sense."

This time Ji Yunzhuo replied quickly, just a single "Okay."

Xia Yinxi could tell at a glance that his suggestion hit the mark. Ji Yunzhuo wasn't keen on a wedding either.

Perfect. Great minds think alike.

The next morning, Ji Yunzhuo's conspicuous luxury car was already parked outside Xia Yinxi's door. The other half of the marriage slept until nearly eleven, groggily coming downstairs to find food, only to come face to face with several people in the living room.

"?"

"Child, how can you be so careless about such a big thing as getting the marriage certificate?" Meng Shuxue gave him a light scolding, then asked with a smile, "Are you awake now?"

Xia Yinxi struggled to open his eyes: "I'm awake."

"Xiao Zhuo has been waiting for you for hours. After you eat, go change into some clothes. We're getting the marriage certificate photo, so dress up a bit."

Xia Yinxi glanced down at his plain black T-shirt, which he was wearing as pajamas: "This one's fine..."

It was just a formality anyway—what difference did it make what he wore? He couldn't even be bothered to wash his face, let alone change.

Ji Yunzhuo looked at him and said, "It's fine as long as Xiaoxi is comfortable. He looks good in anything."

Putting on a show, huh?

Xia Yinxi wasn't one to back down: "You look good in anything too."

Meng Shuxue: "..."

Something felt off to her.