Chapter 135 Day 26 of Transmigrating into a Vintage CEO Novel (Extra 2)

Chapter 135: Twenty-Sixth Day of Transmigrating into a Cliché CEO Novel (Extra Chapter 2)

"You ungrateful brat! You ungrateful brat!!!" Gu Chengzai's roar and Zhao Manyin's cry of shock were left far behind.

Gu Mingzhi burst out of the main house and saw An Yi standing under the old locust tree in the courtyard, as if waiting for him.

The golden glow of the setting sun fell on him, making him look almost unreal.

Gu Mingzhi dashed over and wrapped his arms around him.

An Yi also wrapped his arms around him. The debt he owed the Gu family for raising his original self was settled with money. From now on, An Yi owed the Gu family nothing.

An Yi paused, knowing what Gu Mingzhi was thinking, and his tone softened: "Between you and me, that's our own matter. It has nothing to do with the Gu family."

Gu Mingzhi stared at him blankly, then suddenly understood the real intention behind An Yi's actions.

He was using the most decisive method to sever all moral blackmail and public pressure from the Gu family, isolating the relationship between the two of them, leaving only what mattered between each other.

A huge warmth tinged with bitterness surged through Gu Mingzhi, shattering all his defenses. He could no longer hold back; he pulled An Yi tightly into his arms, burying his face in the crook of his neck, his voice choked with emotion: "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... you've been through so much because of me..."

An Yi remained still in his embrace for a moment, then raised a hand to gently pat his back: "It's nothing worth crying over. Let's go."

Where to? Gu Mingzhi didn't ask.

He only knew that from now on, wherever An Yi went, he would follow.

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Several months later.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, dazzling city lights abroad lit up the night. Inside, An Yi was propping up an easel, sketching a vase of freshly cut sunflowers.

Gu Mingzhi sat on the sofa nearby, answering emails, but his gaze frequently drifted from the screen to An Yi's focused profile.

Some time had passed since the day they left the Gu family. Initially, the Gu family was, of course, furious, threatening to cut ties, freeze resources, and the like, with threats coming in a steady stream.

But Gu Mingzhi was stubborn and firm, and An Yi had gone completely off the grid, making it clear he wanted nothing more to do with them.

As time went on, seeing that the two were determined and that Gu Mingzhi's home base was already overseas—his business not only unaffected but even growing due to his greater focus—and with Gu Chengsi being a hopeless good-for-nothing, Gu Chengzai, who was no longer young and couldn't take constant turmoil, eventually had to swallow his pride and grudgingly accept this "scandal," turning a blind eye, rarely mentioning them again.

Life seemed to have returned to calm, even more comfortable and carefree than before.

"What are you looking at?" An Yi didn't turn around but accurately caught his gaze.

Gu Mingzhi put down the tablet, walked up behind him, and naturally wrapped his arms around his waist, resting his chin on his thin shoulder, looking at the vibrant yellow on the canvas: "Looking at you."

He paused, his voice deepening: "You're better looking than that flower."

An Yi chuckled lightly, his brush not stopping: "Smooth talker."

"Only for you." Gu Mingzhi rubbed his cheek against An Yi's neck, breathing in his clean scent, which brought him immense peace of mind.

An Yi reached back and stroked the underside of Gu Mingzhi's chin: "There's a good boy."

Gu Mingzhi nuzzled against his palm: "Woof!"

An Yi laughed again and pinched his ear.

Gu Mingzhi watched An Yi's slender fingers grip the brush steadily, spreading paint across the canvas, when a thought struck him: "Oh, by the way... Tomorrow... how about we go to the church?"

An Yi paused in his movements: "Church?"

"Mm-hmm." Gu Mingzhi's voice held a barely noticeable tension and anticipation: "To register our marriage."

"Let's get married. Married, okay?"

An Yi was silent for a few seconds. He put down the brush, turned around, and looked at Gu Mingzhi. Gu Mingzhi's eyes were bright, filled with hopeful caution.

An Yi reached out, his fingertips gently brushing over his slightly furrowed brow: "Okay."

He withdrew his hand, turned back, and continued mixing colors: "Did you remember to book an appointment?"

Gu Mingzhi froze for a second, then his heart burst into bloom!

He lunged forward, wrapping An Yi in his arms from behind, his arms tightening with barely contained excitement: "Already booked! Booked it long ago! Tomorrow at ten in the morning!"

An Yi's brush tip trembled from the force of the hug, and he patted Gu Mingzhi's arm helplessly: "Ease up a little."

Gu Mingzhi relaxed his hold slightly but still refused to let go, clinging to him, watching him mix colors, watching him paint, and every now and then leaning in to kiss his earlobe or cheek, like a big dog that couldn't stop kissing him.

An Yi let him act clingy, a tiny, gentle smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

The next day.

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The formalities were simpler than expected.

With the warm blessings and witness of the staff, they signed the documents, exchanged simple vows, and finally received the two thin certificates embossed with gold seals.

Walking out of the church, the sunlight was perfect, spilling onto the ancient cobblestone path. Gu Mingzhi held An Yi's hand tightly. On his ring finger, a simple, elegant plain band shimmered with a warm luster in the sunlight—the ring he'd had custom-made ages ago.

He looked again and again at the certificate in his hand, then at the matching rings on their clasped hands. The smile at the corner of his mouth was impossible to suppress; his cold demeanor vanished, and he looked like a lovestruck fool.

An Yi, amused by his expression, asked, "That happy, huh?"

"Happy!" Gu Mingzhi stated decisively. He stopped, turned, and looked at An Yi with deep seriousness, his eyes deep and earnest: "An Yi, starting now, we are legally recognized spouses."

"Mm," An Yi nodded.

But Gu Mingzhi pressed, cupping An Yi's face, touching his forehead to An Yi's, and whispered, "What about you? How do you feel?"

An Yi looked into his eyes, so close, full of expectation. Then, he lifted his head slightly and placed a very light, yet clear kiss on his lips, slightly pursed from tension.

A fleeting touch.

"I feel..." An Yi watched Gu Mingzhi's eyes widen instantly and said slowly, "...like I can finally have your braised beef tonight."

Gu Mingzhi was stunned for a moment, then broke into a laugh. The soft sea in his heart seemed to be swept by a spring breeze, rippling with warmth and happiness.

"Alright." He nodded firmly, taking An Yi's hand tightly, fingers interlaced, the rings touching: "I'll make it for you when we get home. For the rest of our lives."

An Yi gave a wry smile: "Maybe not. Eating beef all the time gets boring. We need to change the menu now and then."

Gu Mingzhi squeezed An Yi's fingers: "Can't you be a little romantic?"

An Yi thought for another second: "To be honest, your cooking is just okay. Let's just hire a chef."

Gu Mingzhi: ............

He froze in his tracks: "If you don't make it up to me, I'm not moving from this spot."

Seeing that An Yi was walking on ahead without waiting for him, Gu Mingzhi sighed, "An Yi... do you even like me at all..."

An Yi turned back to look at him, an inscrutable smile on his face. "I do like you."

Gu Mingzhi was delighted. "How much do you like me?"

An Yi chose to be honest. "It's quite fitting that you're in my life for a while. Not particularly much, just a little bit."

Gu Mingzhi...

The smile on his face slowly faded, but soon came back.

It was okay. He had known it all along.

The sunlight stretched their shadows long, blending them together.