While Bo Xiangzhou wasn’t paying attention, An Xun quickly snapped a picture of their marriage certificate.

He didn’t send it right away, waiting for Tao Nian to respond first.

[Nian Nian]: What, did you go cash in a prize today? Hurry up and tell me, how much did you win?

[Gululu]: Didn’t win, but it’s something like winning. Maybe even more surreal than winning.

[Nian Nian]: ??

An Xun took a deep breath and sent the photo.

[Gululu]: I’m sorry, Nian Nian, I’ve betrayed you in this lifetime. I can’t be by your side forever.

Tao Nian zoomed in and out on the photo, inspecting it multiple times but finding no signs of tampering. As An Xun said, the idea of marrying Bo Xiangzhou was so surreal that he assumed An Xun was joking.

[Nian Nian]: Where did you get this photoshopped marriage certificate? It looks way too real.

An Xun’s next message was like dropping a bomb on him.

[Gululu]: I’m not joking. I really got married, and the marriage certificate is still warm.

[Gululu]: To be precise, it’s a flash marriage. More precisely, a business marriage. To be completely honest, my family basically sold me to Bo Xiangzhou.

Tao Nian shot up from his desk, causing several colleagues to turn and look at him. He quickly sat down with an awkward smile. “Sorry, didn’t mean to disturb you guys.”

[Nian Nian]: ???

[Gululu]: Bo Xiangzhou and I discussed it. We’ll still have a wedding, but it won’t be public. The banquet will be held at Four Seasons Cloud Top, next month on the 25th. Make sure to dress up nicely, and don’t blow my cover.

Tao Nian was utterly stunned.

[Nian Nian]: Do you even hear yourself right now? You’re delusional. I told you, no drinking while at work!

Seeing that Tao Nian didn’t believe him, An Xun didn’t explain further. He just casually chatted with him. But when they arrived at the estate, An Xun got Bo Xiangzhou’s permission to lower the volume on his phone and video call Tao Nian. When the call connected, An Xun flipped the camera to give Tao Nian a ten-second tour of the place.

In the last few seconds, he deliberately pointed the camera at Bo Xiangzhou’s face.

Bo Xiangzhou didn’t scold him for the sneaky filming. Instead, he walked toward them as Tao Nian’s eyes widened in disbelief, clearly asking, “What’s going on?”

Tao Nian’s brain short-circuited.

It took him a few minutes to process that his best friend had really married Bo Xiangzhou.

Bo Xiangzhou was a renowned figure in Jiang City, the sole heir of the Bo family, with a vast family business spanning even overseas. As the only successor, he had been managing the company from a young age, known for his sharp and decisive business acumen, dominating the industry.

It’s not that Tao Nian looked down on An Xun, but the gap between him and Bo Xiangzhou was just too wide. He couldn’t fathom how the two of them had ended up together.

An Xun understood Tao Nian’s shock because he himself had re-read the contract multiple times that night, unable to believe it.

No choice—Bo Xiangzhou must have poor taste, liking someone like him.

Standing obediently behind Bo Xiangzhou, An Xun tried to memorize the names of all the estate staff, but his brows furrowed as he kept forgetting one after another.

Seeing his distressed face, Bo Xiangzhou turned around and said, “It’s just a simple introduction. You don’t have to remember everything. If you need anything, just go to Uncle Lin.”

Despite this, An Xun mentally noted down the names of the maids.

Bo Xiangzhou then said to the butler, “Uncle Lin, show him around.”

An Xun, new to this place, was cautious and walked slowly, afraid of violating any of Bo Xiangzhou’s rules.

Uncle Lin said kindly, “Madam, you’re also a master of the estate now, so there’s no need to be so cautious. Except for the study, which requires Mr. Bo’s permission, you’re free to go anywhere. Even if you’re curious and want to enter the study, I doubt Mr. Bo would mind.”

“Mr. Bo mentioned that since you two have just met, it’s not suitable to sleep together right away, so you’ll have to make do with the guest bedroom for now,” Uncle Lin added, stopping in front of a guest room on the third floor. “The master bedroom is next door. If you need anything at night, you can knock on Mr. Bo’s door.”

He even reassured him, “Mr. Bo has a good temper, no morning grumpiness. You can rest easy.”

An Xun’s eyes darted around. Was Uncle Lin hinting that he should make the first move?

Matching Uncle Lin’s encouraging gaze, An Xun confirmed it. Yes, that’s exactly what he meant.

Remembering the persona he needed to maintain, An Xun lowered his head, staring at his shoes.

In Uncle Lin’s eyes, this looked like shyness.

Uncle Lin chuckled and opened the guest room door, growing more satisfied with An Xun.

The room was a sea of pink—pink curtains, pink bedding. An Xun’s smile froze. What was this? His room?

Uncle Lin saw nothing wrong with it. “Do you like it, Madam?”

“…I like it.” The words came out stiffly.

An Xun’s mind worked quickly, and within seconds, he figured out why. The day they met, he had been wearing all pink, so Bo Xiangzhou must have assumed he liked the color.

Glancing down at his blue-and-pink hoodie, An Xun fell silent.

Honestly, there was no need to go this far.

The guest room was spacious, and as soon as his luggage arrived, the servants began unpacking everything meticulously, arranging his belongings neatly, with clothes sorted by color and season.

Not only that, but Bo Xiangzhou had also bought him several luxury outfits.

Thankfully, Bo Xiangzhou knew that an omega’s wardrobe shouldn’t be all one color, and the clothes he’d picked were bright and refreshing—just An Xun’s style.

Rubbing his hands together, An Xun was tempted to try them on right away.

But no, he had to follow Bo Xiangzhou to the hospital later.

·

Jiang City’s Jiren Hospital.

An Xun followed Bo Xiangzhou quietly, inhaling the strong smell of disinfectant and sighing at the unpredictability of life. He didn’t consider himself a sentimental person, but seeing family members crying against the walls still made him feel a pang of sadness.

His phone buzzed continuously in his pocket, and he didn’t need to check to know it was the annoying boss.

[Dog Boss]: If you don’t come back, I’ll count this as three days of absenteeism.

[Dog Boss]: Is this how an employee should behave? Leaving without proper procedures, disappearing from your post. Meng Xiao says your attitude has been terrible, even acting like you want to replace me as the boss. An Xun, you think you can just do whatever you want?

An Xun lowered his head and replied, having expected this reaction from his boss. What he didn’t anticipate was his value at the company—despite everything, the boss still hadn’t fired him.

[Gululu]: I already asked for leave.

After sending that message, An Xun immediately switched his phone to Do Not Disturb and muted it. He had more important things to deal with—this dog boss was just a distraction from his mission to win over his wealthy husband.

Bo Xiangzhou suddenly stopped walking, and An Xun reacted quickly, nearly bumping into his back.

He regretted it the next second. He should have just bumped into him, twisted his ankle, and fallen into his arms.

Feeling a bit regretful, An Xun looked up and saw Bo Xiangzhou give him a look.

An Xun: “?” What does that mean?

Bo Xiangzhou sighed helplessly. “Come stand beside me.”

“Oh, right, we’re supposed to act like we’re close,” An Xun muttered as he stepped forward. “Should I link my arm with yours?”

“Up to you.”

An Xun felt conflicted. “Up to you”? What kind of vague answer was that? Should he link arms or not?

He decided to go for it. He had said he liked Bo Xiangzhou, and this kind of intimate gesture was a great opportunity to solidify his role.

Trembling, as if nervous, An Xun lightly held onto Bo Xiangzhou’s arm. “President Bo, what if I say something wrong later?”

Bo Xiangzhou looked down at his actions, puzzled. Was he really that intimidating?

But from the way An Xun acted, it didn’t seem like he was actually afraid.

There was something off about all this, but Bo Xiangzhou just couldn’t put his finger on it.

An Xun called softly, “President Bo?”

Bo Xiangzhou snapped out of his thoughts. “Just answer whatever they ask. It’s fine if you make a mistake.”

Then he added, “Did you remember what I told you in the car?”

“I remember.” An Xun nodded. “I promise I won’t slip up.”

Half-hiding behind Bo Xiangzhou, An Xun echoed whatever Bo Xiangzhou said.

.

Just as he’d expected, the Old Madam was a lovely person, her face kind and gentle. As soon as she saw him, she eagerly beckoned him over to the bedside.

An Xun glanced at Bo Xiangzhou.

Bo Xiangzhou gave a small nod, though this movement displeased the Old Madam.

Sitting up in bed, hooked to an IV drip, her face pale, she still radiated grace even in a simple hospital gown. She scolded, “Xiangzhou, it’s one thing to be cold to others, but how can you be so distant with your wife? Aren’t you afraid of scaring Xiao Xun?”

Bo Xiangzhou’s expression remained calm. “Grandma, I know I was wrong. I’ll do better next time.”

“You always say ‘next time, next time.’”

The Old Madam wasn’t satisfied, but she didn’t expose him, not with An Xun present. Instead, she held An Xun’s hand, admiring him as she looked him up and down. After a long while, she turned to her son and daughter-in-law, saying, “See? I told you Xiao Xun was a good choice. He’s so much better than the other omegas you picked. He’s young and full of life—perfect for someone like Xiangzhou, who’s so serious and dull.”

From the corner of his eye, An Xun glanced at Bo Xiangzhou’s two fathers. Neither of them seemed particularly emotional, as if it didn’t matter to them who Bo Xiangzhou married.

Both of them were elites in society, and their wedding had been such a big event back in the day that it had attracted many reporters. Even now, their love story still circulated online.

Now he understood why the Old Madam was in such a rush to find Bo Xiangzhou an omega. With the way his two fathers were, they wouldn’t pressure Bo Xiangzhou to marry unless absolutely necessary.

The Old Madam had no airs about her. She genuinely liked An Xun, and An Xun found himself genuinely liking her as well. So, for the next half-hour, An Xun answered every question she asked, speaking clearly and slowly. The Old Madam praised him endlessly, making An Xun feel a bit embarrassed.

Patting his hand, the Old Madam asked with a smile, “Xiao Xun, how has Xiangzhou treated you this past week? Have you two gotten along well?”

“President Bo treats me very well, and we get along just fine,” An Xun replied, sounding so sincere that even the Old Madam nearly believed him.

The Old Madam smiled. “Tell me more.”

Bo Xiangzhou hadn’t given him any stories, so An Xun had to make something up. “President Bo took me to Qingxiang Street for some Japanese food.”

The Old Madam’s expression froze for a moment. “Japanese food?”

“Yes.” An Xun blinked. “Is there a problem, Grandma?”

“No,” the Old Madam smiled again, glancing at Bo Xiangzhou with an expression that was hard to read.