Yan Chen’s face turned cold, and he felt extremely uncomfortable inside.

It wasn’t because An Yi mentioned money, but because he had never thought An Yi would really be willing to leave him. Just thinking about what would have happened last night if he hadn’t checked the credit card records, made him feel like his heart was being torn apart. In his subconscious mind, no matter how excessive he was, An Yi would always be obediently waiting for him.

An Yi loved him so much, how could he possibly leave him?

He thought that everything before was just An Yi bluffing, acting out.

But at this moment, An Yi’s eyes were too determined, his tone too indifferent, Yan Chen couldn’t quite grasp it.

If this psychological game was a gamble, Yan Chen absurdly thought, then An Yi would definitely win big next.

“Not speaking, because you think I’m asking for too much?” An Yi sarcastically laughed. “Mr. Yan isn’t that stingy, is he?”

“…Don’t even think about it,” Yan Chen said sternly. “Hurry up and come back with me.”

As he said this, he reached out to pull An Yi.

“Yi, you’re getting on my nerves,” An Yi shook off Yan Chen’s grip forcefully. “We’re done, so stay out of my business.”

“I fucking will not! You want to dump me and still use my money to play with other men? You’re drunk!” Yan Chen’s eyes were red, and he tried to forcibly drag An Yi away.

An Yi resisted fiercely, continuously growling at him to get lost. Yan Chen held onto him tightly, enduring numerous blows to his face and body.

Amidst the commotion, Yan Chen suddenly seemed to make a decision. He shouted loudly, “I’m going to take care of you, An Yi! You want a commitment from me, don’t you?! I’ll give it to you!”

An Yi fell silent, his eyes red as he looked at Yan Chen.

“I won’t see anyone else from now on,” Yan Chen held onto his waist tightly. “You’ll still be with me like before, okay?”

An Yi thought he misheard. Hearing such words from Yan Chen was simply unbelievable.

Seeing An Yi’s lack of response, Yan Chen tightened his grip even more. “You like me, don’t you? You keep liking me, and we’ll be together.”

“What do you mean,” An Yi was dazed for a moment before finding his voice again, “is this pity or playing games with me?”

“I’m not joking,” Yan Chen looked deeply into his eyes, his heartbeat uncontrollably quickening. “I haven’t been with anyone else for a long time, and it doesn’t feel right. Let’s be in a relationship. From now on, it’s just you for me, and you must only have me. I’ll be your man.”

This unexpected promise was something An Yi had imagined many times, but hearing it from Yan Chen’s mouth didn’t stir his heart as much as he had imagined.

“What’s with that expression,” Yan Chen pinched his cheek, his other arm wrapped around his waist. “I said we are in a relationship. Can’t you show some enthusiasm?”

“…Show what,” An Yi said softly, “You’re just impulsive. How long can you keep it up?”

“I’m serious! Who do you think you’re looking down on?” Yan Chen glared at him, then his expression softened. “Come back with me. These past few days have been tough because of your sulking. Last night, you even drained me of my energy. Do you want to tire your man to death?”

An Yi tried to push him away. “You’re hurting me.”

Yan Chen didn’t let go. “Promise me you’ll come back with me first.”

Their intense gazes locked onto each other, and An Yi stared at him for a long time before suddenly asking, “Are you serious?”

“Of course,” Yan Chen frowned. “I’ve been talking for so long, did you not hear a word?”

An Yi took a deep breath silently and said, “I just don’t believe you can be devoted to a relationship.”

“…Whether you believe it or not, you have to. Anyway, you have to come back with me today,” Yan Chen’s attitude was very firm. “You can only have me as your man.”

The two of them walked out of the room, and they bumped into Qin Muye, who was about to call An Yi for breakfast.

Qin Muye wasn’t surprised by Yan Chen’s appearance, but he still didn’t have a good expression towards him. “Didn’t you see Yi Ge is not willing to go with you? Do you understand the concept of respecting people?”

“He’s not your Ge, now move,” Yan Chen retorted, wrapping his arms around An Yi and entering the elevator.

An Yi looked down at his toes, feeling conflicted yet strangely calm.

Because of An Ya’s matter, he still harbored some unresolved resentment towards Yan Chen. But after waiting for five years, the love he longed for was finally reciprocated. If he just gave up like this, An Yi felt unwilling.

What should he do?

With Yan Chen’s so-called love, could he be happy?

But without even this tiny bit of pathetic affection, what else was there to hold onto in his desolate world?

If he wanted to linger on, he needed a reason.

For now, he would pretend it was a lifeline.

An Yi followed Yan Chen back, and Yan Chen indeed kept his word, trying to cultivate a seemingly gentle and sweet romantic relationship with him.

He came home on time after work, avoided social events whenever possible, and if he couldn’t avoid them, he would have Jiang Hai inform them not to wait for him., and if he didn’t go to work, he would spend time with him at home watching movies or going out to relax… Everything was almost the same as An Yi had imagined before, but everything was also so different.

An Yi wasn’t happy at all.

He knew that a guillotine was hanging over his head, and Yan Chen’s uncertainty could decapitate him at any moment.

But for now, he needed to numb himself with this tiny semblance of love and just get by.

Spring came a little late that year, and the cherry blossom trees in the yard didn’t start blooming until the end of April.

An Yi wore a thin T-shirt and stood in the kitchen staring blankly out the window, he only noticed that the soup he was boiling had boiled over when it overflowed.

He turned off the stove, poured the soup into a bowl, and placed it on the dining table.

The TV in the dining room was playing entertainment news, which involved an actor that was being heavily promoted by a company under Yan Chen’s management. Yan Chen looked very angry when he saw it. He first called Jiang Hai, then scolded the person directly involved over the phone.

An Yi sat silently eating his meal, until Yan Chen’s name appeared on the screen.

The rolling headline of the news was: “Match Made in Heaven! Xichuan’s richest son Yan Chen proposes to real estate tycoon’s only daughter Zhou Qianyu.”

The scene was very sweet, with a romantic backdrop. Yan Chen, amidst many friends and relatives, placed a ring on the finger of a beautiful woman with long black curly hair.

The flashes were frequent, capturing the perfect smiles of the two protagonists. They truly looked like a very well-matched couple.

An Yi’s eyes stung a little, so he lowered his head and continued drinking his soup.

At this moment, Yan Chen also noticed the news. His brows furrowed even tighter, and he angrily hung up the phone before coming over to turn off the TV as well.

The spacious dining room suddenly became quiet.

Yan Chen glanced at An Yi a few times, but the latter remained indifferent.

Putting down his phone, Yan Chen sat down next to him. An Yi wiped the corners of his mouth with a tissue, his gaze fixed on Yan Chen’s face.

“The news just now, aren’t you going to explain?” An Yi asked.

“What’s there to explain,” Yan Chen said, “It’s a business marriage, an exchange of interests. After marriage, she’ll be herself, and I’ll still be myself.”

An Yi squeezed the tissue in his palm. “So, you’re really getting married.”

Seeing An Yi’s expression turn sour, Yan Chen pinched his cheek with a smile. “Feeling jealous? Don’t worry, after we’re married, we’ll still live our lives the same way. I made it clear to Zhou Qianyu that it’s just a formality between us.”

An Yi found it absurd. “How is it just a formality? Miss Zhou knows you’re gay and still wants to marry you? Then what am I to you?”

Yan Chen clicked his tongue. “I won’t marry anyone, let alone you. Why bother about this? Besides, marriage is just like that. Look at my parents, the news says they have such a good relationship, but in reality, they’re just keeping up appearances and doing their own things.”

He leaned in and pecked An Yi’s lips, then smiled. “Of course, even if I can’t marry you, I’ll still be good to you. Nothing will change from now.”

An Yi felt nothing but calmness in his heart, even a bit of a desire to laugh.

He was daydreaming.

This man ultimately had no heart.

“Forget about it, let’s continue eating,” Yan Chen ruffled An Yi’s hair. When he wanted to drink the soup, An Yi reached out and took his bowl away, pouring it out.

Yan Chen was puzzled. “Why?”

An Yi said in a low voice, “It’s overcooked, doesn’t taste good.”

“…Then let’s go out to eat.”

An Yi had already turned and gone upstairs, locking himself in his room for the whole day.

An Yi searched online for a lot of information about Miss Zhou, the most impressive of which was her beauty and talent.

Her opening dance at the university graduation ball was dazzling and unforgettable, stealing the spotlight with elegance.

However, when they sat face to face, An Yi found that the beauty and grace captured by the camera were not even half as striking as seeing her in person.

Zhou Qianyu was also sizing him up.

Her gaze wasn’t sharp, but it carried a hint of judgment.

She smiled and took a sip of coffee. “So, you’re Teacher An. Yan Chen often mentions you.”

An Yi didn’t think Yan Chen would mention him to her, but that didn’t matter. “Miss Zhou, just say what you want.”

Zhou Qianyu was somewhat surprised. “You know me?”

An Yi replied, “The news of your engagement was everywhere. It’s hard not to know.”

Zhou Qianyu nodded knowingly and asked, “And what did Yan Chen say about me to you?”

“Business marriage, exchange of interests,” An Yi truthfully recounted Yan Chen’s words.

Zhou Qianyu smiled. “That’s true. Because of this… I feel that what I’m about to discuss with you today might be a bit unreasonable and a bit cliché.”

An Yi looked at her steadily.

Zhou Qianyu seemed to find what she was about to say amusing. “Although it is indeed a business marriage, and Yan Chen and I indeed have no emotional foundation between us, but I feel that if my husband messes around outside, especially with another man, if it’s known and spreads, it would damage my reputation. So, I’ll be blunt and ask, if I give you a sum of money to leave him, would you accept it?”

After saying this, she added, “You can name your price.”

She was prepared for An Yi to react with hostility.

However, unexpectedly, An Yi didn’t hesitate at all and gave her an answer.

“Okay, five million, paid in full.”

^[1]Author’s Note:

Teacher An is leaving, waving his sleeves, not taking away a single cloud.