Chapter 6

Chapter 6

After the entire wedding ceremony concluded, it was time for the guests to mingle freely.

On the wide, flat lawn, people clinked glasses, chatted, and made new acquaintances.

Whether out of awkwardness or fear of tempting fate, very few people actually approached Li Yanchuan and Song Nian to offer their congratulations.

And yet, they were the stars of the day.

Instead, quite a few people with fake smiles flocked to the Li and Song families, offering hollow congratulations.

Both families were busy entertaining, and neither side spared a moment of attention for the newlyweds.

Which was just fine with them.

That lively bustle had nothing to do with them. Seeing that Li Yanchuan showed no intention of joining in, Song Nian was happy to stay by his side, following him like a little shadow.

Having been pushed into this arranged marriage by his aunt like a piece of merchandise, he understood that his relationship with the Song family was over—no more debts or obligations.

From now on, they might as well be strangers.

Speaking of which, he recalled from the original story that Li Yanchuan didn't get along with his own family either.

Li Yanchuan's biological mother, Zhuang Yan, was originally from an elite family. Despite her family's objections, she resolutely married beneath her to Li Yanchuan's father.

Later, the Zhuang family emigrated abroad, cutting off all ties.

At first, the couple lived a bittersweet yet happy life. But after they started from scratch and built a successful business, Li Yanchuan's father—a typical social climber—showed his true colors and started cheating.

When Zhuang Yan died from childbirth complications, Li Yanchuan's father remarried within a few months—to the woman who would become Li Wenguang's mother.

Then Li Wenguang was born and was doted on by both. Li Yanchuan's position in the family became more and more awkward. He was the eldest son of the Li family, yet he felt like an outsider.

Growing up in such an environment, as the neglected child in the family, Li Yanchuan never got his father's love, while Li Wenguang and his mother viewed him as a thorn in their side.

Fortunately, he was talented and outshone Li Wenguang in every way. Using the shares left by his mother, he got a position in the Li Group and, through his own ability, climbed to the top as the decision-maker.

Otherwise, with his biased father and the mistress who loved to whisper poison in his ear, he would have long been pushed out of the Li Group and left with nothing.

Glancing at Li Yanchuan's father and the others busy socializing, Song Nian felt disgusted and couldn't help rolling his eyes.

Then, remembering something, he turned to look at Li Yanchuan beside him. His eyes sparkled, he blinked, and his thick lashes fluttered.

"What is it?"

Sensing his gaze, Li Yanchuan asked in a low voice.

Remembering Song Nian's actions on stage earlier—how he hadn't deliberately embarrassed him but had instead actively helped him out of a tight spot—his attitude softened noticeably.

"Hehe."

Song Nian grinned, his eyes curving into crescents. He clasped his hands behind his back and suddenly leaned in a little closer.

"Speaking of which, we're married now, right?"

"Mm."

"So—"

He paused, brought his fist to his lips, and cleared his throat in a rather serious manner, as if about to say something important.

Seeing this, Li Yanchuan looked up and waited quietly for what he would say next.

Was he going to use this chance to make a demand, or did he have some other agenda?

If it wasn't too much, he could just agree.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, wondering to himself.

To his surprise, what Song Nian said next was:

"Then does that mean… I can call you 'hubby'?"

His tone shot up, like a bright note in a song's climax. Song Nian looked at him expectantly.

—He remembered that back in the lounge, Li Yanchuan had said they weren't married yet and shouldn't call him that.

Now that they were married, it should be okay to call him that.

"Hubby—"

"Hubby, do you want to eat something? Should I get you something?"

"Hubby, how about we go to a shady spot for a while? I can push you over."

Each "hubby" came gushing out like a broken dam, surging and enveloping him.

Hubby this, hubby that.

One "hubby" after another, using "hubby" like a comma.

His tone was either playful or drawn out, as if he was unconsciously being cute.

It was like having two loudspeakers circling 360 degrees around his ears, endlessly playing the word "hubby."

Even though he was the one calling someone else "hubby," Song Nian somehow made it sound like he was taking advantage.

Li Yanchuan, nearly brainwashed by those two syllables: …

He suddenly wanted to take back the goodwill he'd shown earlier.

"Yan Chuan, I've been looking for you. You're here."

Suddenly, Qi Ze's voice came from behind, cutting off Song Nian's incessant "hubby" calling.

Qi Ze strode over to Li Yanchuan, clearly having something to say, his eyes glancing meaningfully at Song Nian.

Catching the hint, Song Nian understood they had things to discuss that weren't for his ears.

He tactfully excused himself to give them some privacy.

"I'm going over there to grab some food. You guys talk, hubby."

He knew from the novel that Qi Ze was Li Yanchuan's best friend, always on his side, and would even help him get revenge later—totally trustworthy.

So Song Nian left without a worry.

Staring at the person's retreating back, Qi Ze rubbed his chin and asked curiously:

"Actually, I came to ask about Song Nian. How come he seems different from the rumors?"

Based on the information gathered before, this young master Song was a person of extreme pride and self-esteem. Faced with a forced marriage like this, he would absolutely not cooperate.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Qi Ze wouldn't have believed that Song Nian would obediently go through the entire wedding process.

Including the most awkward kissing part.

And just now, he even heard him voluntarily call Li Yanchuan "hubby."

"Is he up to something? Is this all part of his plan?" Qi Ze pondered.

Hearing this, Li Yanchuan pressed his lips together and was silent for a long time before speaking: "Not sure yet."

"Ah, could it be... does he actually like you?"

Suddenly thinking of the most likely reason, Qi Ze slapped his forehead in realization.

Otherwise, why would he act so meek and docile?

"Impossible."

Suddenly recalling the encounter with Li Wenguang in the hallway yesterday, Li Yanchuan's expression stiffened, a layer of frost forming in his eyes as he denied coldly.

"No need to deny it so quickly. At least on the surface, it seems he really likes you."

"Eyes don't lie. I noticed the way he looks at you is different. If you two could give it a try, I think it wouldn't be a bad idea."

As his words fell, Song Nian's eyes immediately surfaced in Li Yanchuan's mind.

Those eyes were round, but the corners drooped slightly, adding an air of innocence and obedience. When they looked over gently and quietly, without a word, they could soften a person's heart.

The bright pupils always sparkled with light, accentuating the glossy sheen of his eyes, clear and translucent, as bright as a mirror.

If such a gaze stared directly at you, his entire eyes would reflect your image, full of nothing but you.

Gentle as jade, with no aggression at all—it was a face that easily made one drop their guard.

But once trust was placed in him, who could guarantee that claws wouldn't appear?

A heart accustomed to vigilance wouldn't relax its guard over small kindnesses. Li Yanchuan interrupted Qi Ze: "There'll never be anything between him and me."

With that, he glanced off to the side indifferently, implying something.

Following his gaze, Qi Ze's eyes widened as he saw the person and scene in the distant corner.

In a hidden corner of the banquet, Li Wenguang looked around cautiously. After making sure no one noticed him, he quietly walked over to Song Nian's side.

The two seemed to whisper something, their heads close together, looking unusually intimate.

Then, Li Wenguang suddenly grabbed Song Nian's wrist and pulled him toward another direction without waiting for an explanation.

Song Nian put up a token resistance, without any real struggle.

They slipped around a corner, disappearing from sight.

The scene was too ambiguous and crossed a line. Having witnessed the whole thing, Qi Ze wanted to say something but held back.

"He's a good liar."

Li Yanchuan slowly withdrew his gaze, making no comment on what he had seen, as if expecting it. He simply turned his wheelchair and changed direction.

"I'm tired. I need to go back first," he said in a low voice.

Even though it was his own wedding, given the current state of the banquet, there was no mandatory event requiring his presence, so he planned to leave early.

"Alright, take care on the way. Contact me if you need help later."

It was too obvious that his friend didn't want to talk about it. Qi Ze sighed and stopped pressing.

He knew that Li Yanchuan had always been alone all these years. As a friend, he had hoped someone would enter Li Yanchuan's heart, bring him happiness, take care of him, and accompany him.

But if Song Nian was so good at acting, then forget it; he might just end up hurting Li Yanchuan instead.

Qi Ze didn't leave in a hurry. He waited until the driver arrived and watched Li Yanchuan wheel himself up the ramp into the car before he felt relieved.

"I'm off too—"

As he was waving goodbye, before Qi Ze could finish his sentence and before Li Yanchuan could close the car door, a furtive figure suddenly darted past them at lightning speed and slipped into the car.

As fast and slippery as a loach, only a blur—like he was being chased by a ghost, he dashed in smoothly.

Qi Ze stood there utterly bewildered.

Inside the car, Li Yanchuan was also startled by the sudden commotion. After a brief pause, he quickly recovered.

He looked down and found himself staring into the eyes of the uninvited guest.

Huddled between his legs was that intruder who had squeezed in—none other than Song Nian.

Song Nian, his face full of panic, was huddled in front of him, just like when they first met.

"H-hubby, help me—"

Probably from running too fast, Song Nian was out of breath, speaking in short, broken sentences, his forehead covered in fine sweat.

"What happened?"

Li Yanchuan shot him a scrutinizing look, asking in a deep voice, but there was no concern in his tone.

"Bad news, I, I..."

Panting heavily, it took Song Nian a long time to get a simple sentence out.

"I hit your brother!"

As soon as he said that, not only Li Yanchuan but also Qi Ze outside the car was stunned.

Song Nian had beaten up Li Wenguang?

Both of them looked completely confused.