Chapter 6: The Perfect Husband (Not)
Xie Shibai had assumed that sharing a living space with someone would be highly maladaptive for him. However, after Lu Ciheng’s little stunt, his mood was surprisingly calm for the first time in a long while.
It turns out that when a person is truly rendered speechless, they actually feel like laughing.
He had the distinct feeling that if he kept fussing over it, he would end up with brain problems too.
Surely this symptom wasn’t contagious?
Lu Ciheng stared at the picture frame, pondering for a few seconds. “Teacher Xie, where do you think we should hang this to best highlight our unbreakable bond?”
Xie Shibai thought to himself, No matter where you put it, it will only highlight that both of us are abnormal.
Lu Ciheng took the frame and placed it in various spots, searching for the most suitable location.
Watching the frame land on the coffee table, Xie Shibai paused for a few seconds, considering the feasibility of a request. “Can I invite a lawyer here?”
Lu Ciheng finished positioning the frame and turned to look at Xie Shibai, the corner of his lips lifting slightly. “Honey, that won’t do.”
Xie Shibai looked puzzled.
Lu Ciheng spoke unhurriedly. “You tell me to strictly follow the contract, yet you treat yourself like an outsider. It’s your home; naturally, you can invite whoever you want.”
Then, his tone shifted. “Of course, no ex-boyfriends, no ambiguous flings, and definitely no suitors.”
Xie Shibai pressed his brow. “I have no ex-boyfriends, nor do I have the ambiguous flings or suitors you mentioned.”
The corners of Lu Ciheng’s lips curled up, his mood index skyrocketing. “I don’t either, and I won’t in the future.”
Although Xie Shibai had never heard any rumors about Lu Ciheng, some things needed to be stated in advance. He spoke up, “After the agreement ends, you can do whatever you want. But during the agreement period, I hope you can control yourself. Don’t get photographed doing things you shouldn’t.”
Lu Ciheng raised an eyebrow and stepped closer, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far from Xie Shibai. His black eyes stared as he spoke slowly. “Things I shouldn’t? Teacher Xie, those words are hurtful. I am such a clean-living and self-disciplined person; the only time I’ve ever married in this life is with you.”
“But what about you, Teacher Xie? The agreement is mutual. You will only have me too, right?”
Xie Shibai wasn’t used to being in such close proximity to people. Although Lu Ciheng maintained a subtle distance that didn’t make him uncomfortable, his tall figure still loomed like a mountain range. Xie Shibai took a half-step back, skeptical of Lu Ciheng’s self-description, and said calmly, “I have basic contractual spirit.”
Lu Ciheng’s lips hooked into a smile. Although he hoped the date on this contract would be “forever,” the paranoia in his bones was at work; he would never be satisfied with just a contractual relationship.
The final location decided for the marriage certificate was the coffee table, the most conspicuous spot upon entering the house, directly facing the door. The bright red photo and the steel seal were exceptionally prominent—to the extent that no one could possibly ignore them.
Xie Shibai took a deep breath, as if mentally preparing himself for the embarrassment to come.
He turned to leave, heading to the second floor to retrieve the necessary documents. When he came back down, he found Lu Ciheng standing at the top of the stairs.
The width of the staircase could easily accommodate two adults. As Xie Shibai was about to brush past Lu Ciheng, a long arm suddenly barred his way.
The palm pressed against the wall, the broad chest and the flat wall forming a tight, enclosed space. The sudden movement brought a rush of heat to his face. Caught off guard, Xie Shibai stopped in his tracks. The distance between them closed; although there was no contact, the proximity was already starting to trigger a vague sense of discomfort.
His brows furrowed tightly as he glared at Lu Ciheng with cold eyes. “What are you doing?”
Lu Ciheng kept his arm against the wall. He remembered that Xie Shibai disliked physical contact, so he controlled the distance, not getting too close. He tilted his head slightly, asking with a smile, “Honey, do you need me to help treat your wounds?”
Xie Shibai: “No need.”
Lu Ciheng didn’t move. He leaned forward slightly, his tone laced with a smile, unhurried. “Teacher Xie, it’s inconvenient for you to do it yourself, right? You have wounds on both hands. If your new husband lets you treat your own wounds at a time like this, he’d be a real jerk.”
Xie Shibai was standing one step higher than Lu Ciheng, which slightly compensated for their height difference. Looking at Lu Ciheng’s face, he could clearly see the man was teasing. Suddenly, he just wanted to make Lu Ciheng eat humble pie, perhaps as revenge for the earlier physical contact.
His magnificent features remained calm. Staring down at Lu Ciheng, he leaned forward slightly. “You asked me earlier if I hate physical contact.”
Lu Ciheng’s throat bobbed, his gaze fixed on Xie Shibai’s cold, aloof face.
The corner of Xie Shibai’s lips hooked up slightly, but flattened out a few seconds later. He said indifferently, “I hate physical contact with you.”
Lu Ciheng didn’t miss the curled corner of Xie Shibai’s lips. He raised an eyebrow, feigning a pitiful tone. “Honey, that’s truly heartbreaking. What is our relationship right now?”
Xie Shibai raised his hand and patted Lu Ciheng’s face with the file folder—neither lightly nor heavily. His eyes betrayed no emotion as he asked back, “You tell me, stranger I’ve known for a day.”
Lu Ciheng’s eyes were dazed for a few seconds. The temperature of the file folder touching his face and the moderate force of the pat made his Adam’s apple roll.
Xie Shibai used the file folder to push away Lu Ciheng’s barring arm and went downstairs. At the same time, he thought about the wound on his face. He had originally grown accustomed to the appearance of such wounds, but considering the lawyer would see it, and that this was a critical moment for the trust fund…
Being seen like this might trigger new problems.
Thinking it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble, Xie Shibai decided to treat the wound.
In his contemplation, he didn’t notice the scorching gaze behind him.
Lu Ciheng pressed his tongue against his cheek, his black eyes fixed firmly on Xie Shibai, inevitably dyed with excitement.
Just as Xie Shibai was wondering if he had time to go downstairs to buy medicine, his gaze caught sight of a small medicine kit that had appeared on the coffee table, neatly arranged.
The medicines were laid out in order, and the cotton swabs were the integrated type where the iodine permeates after folding, convenient and hygienic.
It hadn’t been there before he went upstairs. It looked like it was prepared for him.
While he was getting the file folder, Lu Ciheng had set out everything needed to treat the wounds in advance.
Xie Shibai paused for a few seconds. He picked up a band-aid and found it had already been trimmed to fit the wound at the corner of his eye.
“Finally decided to treat the wound?” Lu Ciheng followed leisurely behind him and asked, “Do you need help from your new husband of one day?”
Xie Shibai glanced at him sideways. “No need.”
He treated the scratch on his face in front of the mirror. The wound was indeed a bit deep; it stung slightly when he applied the iodine.
He also casually applied a few band-aids to the wounds on his hands.
By the time he finished, Lu Ciheng had put away the small medicine kit on the coffee table. Immediately after, a message came from the butler.
The lawyer Xie Shibai invited was very punctual. After obtaining permission, the butler brought the person up.
Lu Ciheng had chosen a “Perfect Husband” persona for himself. To fit the perception, he even wore an apron. Standing at 1.93 meters next to the 1.8-meter Xie Shibai, he made the other man look much smaller. His broad, solid shoulders were originally clad in a fitted black shirt; with the apron on and sleeves rolled up, the solid, smooth lines of his muscles were revealed.
Xie Shibai stared for a few seconds. The apron was a very domestic type, the kind commonly found in supermarkets. He felt it was somewhat bizarre, but after noticing Lu Ciheng’s face, he didn’t say anything.
As long as he was happy.
Attorney Fang was an older woman who carried the ease and elegance of someone with years of experience in her profession. Walking out of the elevator, she initially thought she had the wrong door, only sighing in relief when she saw Xie Shibai.
“Long time no see, Mr. Xie.”
Xie Shibai nodded politely. “Come in, let’s talk.”
They didn’t stand on ceremony and went straight to the topic.
Lu Ciheng remembered his “Perfect Husband” persona, but also mindful that this might be a private matter for Xie Shibai, he didn’t follow them out of respect for privacy.
The trust matter wasn’t complicated. Xie Shibai provided the necessary documents.
Attorney Fang checked the documents and was about to ask Xie Shibai a few routine questions when she looked up and saw the framed marriage certificate on the coffee table.
The elegant lady visibly paused for a few seconds: …?
Attorney Fang had handled many such trusts, and at her age, she had seen everything. But this was the first time she had seen someone frame their marriage certificate and put it on display.
Normal people wouldn’t do this, right…?
She looked at Xie Shibai, the questions in her mouth hesitating to come out.
This Mr. Xie was quite different from the rumors.
It seemed that asking about his marital status according to protocol was rather superfluous.
Finally, she gave a dry laugh. “You and your spouse must have a very good relationship, right?”
Before Xie Shibai could say anything, Lu Ciheng, in his Perfect Husband persona, placed a glass of water in front of Attorney Fang and said confidently, “He loves me very much.”
Attorney Fang: … I’m a bit superfluous here, aren’t I?
Xie Shibai: … Although it was embarrassing, he couldn’t refute anything at a time like this, so he could only remain silent.
After Lu Ciheng left, Attorney Fang coughed once, placed the contract in front of Xie Shibai, and spoke quickly. “This is the fund left by your mother back then. There is also a document, though I do not have the authority to open it; it is all here. If you’ve checked and there are no problems, please sign. Once signed, our commission ends successfully here.”
Xie Shibai paused for a few seconds, confused. “No audit needed?”
He had consulted lawyers in the industry before. According to the contract process, this information required verification to ensure accuracy, and due to the special nature of the trust, it would be exceptionally strict.
Attorney Fang glanced at the picture frame again and shook her head quickly. “Given the emotional state of you and your partner, it is completely unnecessary.”
Xie Shibai followed her gaze to the frame and instantly understood what was happening.
Although Xie Shibai had initially envisioned using this to visually demonstrate the couple’s harmony, this kind of public “social death” still plunged him into a bizarre silence.
After a few seconds, Xie Shibai felt he couldn’t let himself lose face like this. He spoke hesitantly, “My partner has some issues.”
Attorney Fang immediately realized something, her eyes filled with condolences. “That must be quite hard on you.”
So there were unspeakable difficulties.
Xie Shibai gave a straight-faced “En” and said, “It’s manageable.”
The pity in Attorney Fang’s eyes deepened.
As a lawyer, she had seen too many wealthy family feuds. She hadn’t expected someone as devoted as Mr. Xie to appear in such a family.
Attorney Fang stood up. “Then I won’t disturb you two. If there are any problems, you can contact me again. I wish you and your partner a blissful relationship and a happy marriage.”
Having saved his face, Xie Shibai breathed a sigh of relief without any burden. “I’ll see you out.”
Attorney Fang replied politely, “No need.”
Xie Shibai insisted on walking her to the door.
Before leaving, Attorney Fang cast a hesitant look at Lu Ciheng, who had come out to see the guest off as well.
Such a fine person, how is it that his brain has problems?
Lu Ciheng noticed Attorney Fang’s expression and raised an eyebrow slightly. After the elevator doors closed, his arm solidly blocked Xie Shibai’s path.
His pitch-black eyes stared at Xie Shibai. He leaned down slightly, his tone slow, low, and laced with a hint of a smile. “Honey, what did you say to Attorney Fang? She looked at me like she was looking at an idiot.”
Xie Shibai leaned back slightly, unaccustomed to this sudden closeness. His cool face remained rippled. “Your illusion. Move.”
Lu Ciheng didn’t believe it. His black eyes stared straight at Xie Shibai, his gaze landing on his brows and eyes, inevitably becoming somewhat distracted.
How can someone be this good-looking?
Xie Shibai didn’t stay in a deadlock with him in front of the elevator. He changed direction to step around him. The corner of his mouth hooked up slightly before smoothing out again as he said slowly, “Didn’t say much. It’s just that Attorney Fang is a normal person.”
Lu Ciheng could roughly guess what Xie Shibai had said. His gaze didn’t miss the slight upward turn of the other’s lips. It was like discovering another side beneath Xie Shibai’s indifferent face, and his mood became exceptionally pleasant.
Xie Shibai took the items left by Ming Yu back to his room.
Lu Ciheng didn’t disturb him at such a time. Rarely quiet, he went to the terrace to water the flowers. While watering, he pondered what Xie Shibai liked to eat, preparing to carry out the Perfect Husband persona to the end.
Xie Shibai looked through everything once. His emotions didn’t fluctuate much.
There weren’t many things left by Ming Yu. Aside from a fund, there was only a paper script and a copyright purchase contract.
After reading the last word of the script, he pressed the script on top of the fund contract.
His phone, which had been silent for a long time, suddenly vibrated.
The familiar frequency allowed him to guess instantly that it was Assistant Lin.
[Assistant Lin: Brother, look at this post! [Little Pea APP] Artist L suspected of getting married!]]
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