Chu Lai’s line about a group message was so spot-on that it made Cen Wei pause. For a moment, all he could think of were those impersonal group messages from clients during the holidays. Smiling, Cen Wei shook his head and said, “No way.”

As he spoke, he unbuckled his seatbelt and went around to open the door for Chu Lai, explaining, “That night, the thought just popped into my head. I guess I shouldn’t make decisions in the middle of the night.”

“I feel like if it had been someone else, they would’ve cursed me out. Your response really surprised me.”

Chu Lai got out of the car, his eyes landing on the grand mansion before him. It far exceeded what he was used to. Although he usually didn’t pay much attention to things like real estate or stocks, he had grown up in S City, so he wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with these things.

During university, Chu Lai had worked part-time during summer and winter breaks, and he’d even delivered food a few times. If it wasn’t for the fact that he had trouble showing enthusiasm, he might have considered a sales job.

This area was one of the hidden wealthy neighborhoods in S City. He had passed by it before, and during their junior year, Shen Quanzhang had worked part-time as a tutor in this area on weekends.

In his third year, Chu Lai had a couple of internships, and sometimes, after work, he’d wait for Shen Quanzhang here. Back then, Shen Quanzhang would talk about how powerful and influential the people living here were, his tone filled with undisguised admiration and ambition.

Shen Quanzhang came from a modest family in a small city. On his own, buying a house in S City seemed almost impossible, but during that time, he had made a promise—a young, ambitious dream to live in a place like this someday.

But people change. Looking back now, those grand ambitions from a specific time felt almost laughable.

When Shen Quanzhang had brought it up, Chu Lai had always just smiled, and Shen Quanzhang assumed he was being mocked. At that time, they had only been dating for a short while, and unlike other couples who were always glued to each other, Chu Lai didn’t seem too interested in kissing. He preferred holding hands and hugging. Shen Quanzhang could accept that, but in moments like those, he couldn’t help but ask, “Do you look down on me?”

As they passed by one of the gardens, a big dog was happily chasing a ball across the lawn. It was twilight, and in the fading light, all the dreams Shen Quanzhang had built about living in a mansion with Chu Lai felt like a distant fantasy.

But Chu Lai had never indulged in such fantasies, and even imagining them seemed pointless. He knew better than to burst the bubble of someone’s dreams during a moment like that.

He had shaken his head back then, watching the dog run to the fence to look at them, before turning to Shen Quanzhang with a touch of unfamiliar expectation in his voice. “Well, work hard. I’d love to live in a house like this and have a cute dog.”

Three years later, Shen Quanzhang was just starting his career, while Chu Lai had already achieved his initial goals—renting a one-bedroom apartment, owning a dog, and living a stable, quiet life. The only thing missing was the person who had once dreamed up that future with him, the one who had betrayed him.

Unexpectedly, just a few weeks later, in a twist of fate, Chu Lai found himself much closer to that youthful, absurd dream—but in a completely different form.

Cen Wei noticed that Chu Lai was lost in thought.

As the sun set, birds flew across the sky, and the sound of children playing with a dog on the lawn next door filled the air. The young man beside him lowered his eyes slightly, his slightly long hair tousled but not messy, and the fluffy bangs made him look even younger.

Today, when Cen Wei announced his marriage on WeChat Moments, it shocked many of his friends and classmates who hadn’t kept in touch.

Cen Wei had always been seen as someone who had everything going for him—born into a wealthy family, good-looking, studied abroad, and destined to inherit the family business. It was no surprise to anyone.

What did surprise people was that when everyone thought he would take over the family’s traditional business, he instead chose to blaze a new trail, like taking a side quest in a game. What they didn’t know was that the company he was taking over was in the midst of an internal struggle between tradition and innovation, and though the decline wasn’t obvious yet, it was inevitable.

The older generation’s mindset, which had once led them to great success, was now holding them back. Even though his grandfather didn’t place any particular demands on him, Cen Wei still felt the immense pressure and responsibility.

What he didn’t agree with was his grandfather’s insistence on using marriage as a way to consolidate resources. Marriage couldn’t be the answer to the family’s business problems, but his grandfather was getting older and more set in his ways. He refused surgery, opting for conservative treatment, not wanting to suffer through any pain. His final wish? To see his grandson get married.

Cen Wei had come out to his family years ago, and they hadn’t been too harsh about it, thinking it might have something to do with his father’s influence.

But even after same-sex marriage was legalized, Cen Wei couldn’t escape the pressure to settle down.

His more open-minded relatives even suggested that a marriage alliance with a man was still possible, leaving Cen Wei speechless.

As the heir to an old family business, the Cen family had its traditions, but there were still some stubborn ideas that stuck around. “Thirty and established” was one such rule, meaning that by thirty, you should have your life and career in order. In modern terms, it had become “whether you like men or women, you can’t escape the need to settle down.”

Over the years, Cen Wei had attended numerous weddings, both straight and gay, and every time, people would comment on how he had never dated during school. They’d tell him it was such a waste.

His relationship with Shen Ke was something many people only knew about through Shen Ke’s social media. Cen Wei’s own WeChat Moments were almost entirely work-related.

Today, his phone was buzzing non-stop with messages in response to his wedding announcement.

[Did I see this right?!]

[I had to double-check, but it’s really you, huh?]

[Congrats! When’s the wedding?]

Not many people knew that Cen Wei had an ex-boyfriend, but today’s post showing his marriage certificate, with a picture of him standing next to a fair-skinned, scholarly-looking man in glasses, surprised everyone. The new guy was completely different from Shen Ke.

The comments revealed that most people had no idea Cen Wei had been in a previous relationship. He wasn’t the type to flaunt his love life, and his Moments were nothing like those of high-profile couples.

Those who were aware of his past relationship and knew the details of the breakup couldn’t help but feel conflicted. Most of them assumed Cen Wei’s sudden marriage was a reaction to being cheated on.

Back in school, Cen Wei had never been interested in dating. He could participate in social events, but if someone wanted to get closer to him, they found it nearly impossible. Some people were just like that—on the surface, they seemed approachable, but in reality, they were distant, like walking on thin ice, always afraid of falling into the depths.

Shen Ke had put in a lot of effort to pursue Cen Wei, but in the end, he realized that dating him was like dating a ghost—someone who was there but also not.

Cen Wei was considerate but always weighed down by his responsibilities. Even on dates, he seemed preoccupied with work. At first, Shen Ke didn’t notice, but over time, he realized their relationship was one-sided.

Shen Ke’s pursuit had been flashy, but he soon found that he couldn’t make Cen Wei truly care. Their goals were too different—Cen Wei wanted a stable life, work during the day, and rest at night. Shen Ke craved excitement, late-night flights, glamorous fashion shows, and a partner who could worship him like a fan.

Cen Wei was the opposite of passionate. If there ever came a day when Cen Wei showed real passion, it wouldn’t be because he’d found true love—it would mean he’d gone mad.

When they broke up in that bar, Shen Ke had emphasized how unromantic Cen Wei was. Later, they talked on the phone again, and Shen Ke explained where that comment came from.

“Your romance feels like it’s straight out of a textbook, like something taken from a guide on how to date. Even though I know you wouldn’t use a guide,” Shen Ke said. “But Cen Wei, I’ve realized something. The root of the problem is that you don’t love me.”

Shen Ke, with his impeccable taste in fashion, had always dated men who looked like models, men within the same circle. Cen Wei was his one exception, and it wasn’t until he had pursued and “captured” him that he realized Cen Wei didn’t care about being caught.

When Shen Ke called to apologize for cheating, the conversation went as expected. Calm and collected, Cen Wei accepted his apology, offering no anger or surprise.

“I shouldn’t have started a new relationship before ending ours,” Shen Ke said, his voice laced with sincerity. He paused, as if waiting for something, but before he could continue, Cen Wei simply said, “It’s okay.”

Shen Ke laughed bitterly, “See? You say ‘it’s okay’ because you just don’t care.”

“You just don’t love me,” Shen Ke sighed, then asked, “Cen Wei, have you ever actually loved anyone?”

Cen Wei considered the question for several seconds before responding, “I tried to make it work with you.”

He remembered the way Shen Ke had pursued him and the five times he had rejected him at first. “I told you before, I’m…”

Shen Ke cut in, “Asexual?”

With a soft sigh, he added, “Well, thanks anyway. You added an interesting chapter to my love life—three months of abstinence. It was incredibly frustrating.”

“Honestly, as unethical as it was, I feel like your lack of passion was partly to blame for my cheating.”

Cen Wei had no rebuttal, offering another quiet apology.

There was a long pause before Shen Ke spoke again, his tone filled with concern, “Cen Wei, have you ever thought about seeing a therapist?”

He had probably learned about Cen Wei’s family situation through their mutual friend, Yuan Chen, the person Shen Ke had cheated with. There was genuine care in his voice when he added, “I feel like your focus on work is just a way to avoid something.”

Cen Wei agreed softly, “I have seen one.”

With the same smile in his voice, he said, “It didn’t help.”

Their conversation had ended with Cen Wei saying, “If nothing changes, I’ll probably be single for the rest of my life.”

But now, barely a few weeks later, he was married.

As his eyes rested on his young spouse, Cen Wei noticed the slight furrow in Chu Lai’s brow and the way his hand clutched the strap of his bag.

Though generally composed, Chu Lai was showing small signs of nervousness, making Cen Wei think back to the family information he had seen when they registered their marriage.

He also recalled the fleeting mention of Chu Lai’s father passing away and his mother remarrying, said so casually in the middle of the night, leaving heavy, indelible marks on him.

Even if Chu Lai hadn’t realized it himself, the calm, indifferent persona he projected was only a fragile façade. Beneath the surface, he was teetering on the edge, his need for stability reflected in small habits, like having a dog despite his busy schedule.

Lost in his own memories, Chu Lai hated how out of control they felt. He wished for something like a Pensieve from the Harry Potter books.

Then, in the next second, he heard someone call his name, followed by a tight embrace.

“Mr. Chu, I’m going to hug you now.”

Startled, Chu Lai found himself enveloped in warmth.

Cen Wei, despite his demanding job, never neglected the quality of his life. The first time they had sat down together to chat, the scent of him had left a strong impression on Chu Lai.

His father had been a carpenter, so the sounds of wood being worked and the smell of wood were familiar to him. It was a scent he had grown up with, something no commercially available perfume could replicate. He rarely thought about it unless he passed a department store and caught a whiff of something similar. It made him wonder, could he ever find something that would bring back those memories?

Cen Wei’s scent had an undeniable way of pulling at those memories. It brought with it a touch of nostalgia, and though it made him feel vulnerable, Chu Lai wasn’t ashamed of it. He had even accepted the way he had broken down and cried the other night.

Now, in this embrace, his expression showed surprise for just a second before he melted into it, savoring the satisfaction the warmth of Cen Wei’s body brought him.

His voice muffled, he asked, “Is this how you greet people?”

Cen Wei laughed, “Didn’t we already say hello this afternoon?”

He ruffled the young man’s hair with a smile, commenting, “Are you really twenty-five? You feel more like you just graduated high school.”

Holding tight, listening to Cen Wei’s heartbeat, Chu Lai’s voice was sleepy, “Then that would make our marriage illegal.”

In the golden glow of the setting sun, they embraced. Upstairs, an elderly lady stood on the balcony, asking the woman beside her, “Am I seeing things? That looks like A-Wei.”

The woman next to her, who bore a slight resemblance to Cen Wei, was surprised. Though she knew Cen Wei was bringing his spouse home today, she was still caught off guard.

“That should be the person he’s marrying,” Xuan Rongqing said. “He told me his name is Chu Lai.”

The old lady, with her kind smile and silver hair, adjusted her reading glasses. The two men below looked completely harmonious, not awkward at all. Maybe it was because their builds complemented each other so well, or maybe it was just the sweet, tender scene of them embracing, especially when she saw Cen Wei ruffle the younger man’s hair.

“I thought A-Wei was just saying that to make me happy. Rongqing, do you think A-Wei rented a boyfriend?” the old lady asked, clearly staying up to date with the times. “I’ve heard young people do that to placate their parents. It’s not right.”

Xuan Rongqing sighed, “I worried about that too, but seeing them now, it doesn’t seem like they’re faking it.”

She helped the elderly lady down the stairs. “Let’s go meet them.”

Even when they sat down for dinner, Cen Wei couldn’t stop glancing at Chu Lai, who could feel his face growing warm but couldn’t just tell Cen Wei to stop looking in front of his family. Instead, he kicked Cen Wei’s shoe under the table.

When that didn’t work, he gave Cen Wei’s waist a firm pinch.

Cen Wei winced and finally shifted his gaze, responding to his mother’s question, “Yes, this is my husband, Chu Lai.”

Xuan Rongqing knew about the family’s odd expectations, and while her father-in-law hadn’t come downstairs yet, she asked, “Don’t tell me you plan to divorce right after the new year?”

Chu Lai looked over at Cen Wei.

Cen Wei shook his head. “Not unless my baby wants to leave me.”

Chu Lai felt a little sick. Wasn’t that how Shen Quanzhang used to call him? He realized the nausea wasn’t directed at Cen Wei, though.

The man beside him held his hand tightly, their fingers interlocked, which brought a great deal of comfort to Chu Lai.

He thought, “If I had to rate him, I’d definitely give Mr. Cen five stars.”