On the upper floor of the manor, Yu Baihan had already changed into a high-end suit matching Lu Huan’s style. The surrounding stylists assisted with the final adjustments to their attire before discreetly withdrawing.
Lu Huan, with confident strides, approached Yu Baihan. His eyes focused on the clean and radiant face before him, exuding an unrestrained vitality after a touch of care, making it impossible to look away.
Lu Huan gazed at the man for a moment, then lowered his head to take Yu Baihan’s hand, gently running his fingertips over the silver ring.
Raising his head, Yu Baihan interlocked his fingers with Lu Huan’s. “Has the play begun?”
Admiring those captivated eyes~
“……”
Lu Huan lifted his eyelids, gazing at him. Softly, he inquired, “Are we entering a play?”
Yu Baihan’s heart skipped a beat, and he shyly pursed his lower lip. “Ah, the truth is revealed.”
While the two conversed, a knock echoed at the door.
Uncle Feng stood there, “Sir, young master, it’s time.”
“Got it.” Lu Huan responded, taking Yu Baihan’s hand. “Let’s go.”
…
On the first-floor hall of the villa.
Most of the guests had already gathered, engaging in small discussions across the banquet hall.
“Why haven’t we seen Mr. Lu?”
“Yeah, and the young master of the Si family is missing too.”
“Do you think the Si family won’t show up? The Lu family has recently dealt a blow to the Si family, and I heard they’re announcing their divorce today. It would be awkward for them to appear at such a time.”
“That’s true. Many people have taken the empty seat next to Mr. Lu today. It would be inconvenient if the Si family shows up and the two sides run into each other.”
…
In one of the banquet halls.
The hardware wholesalers stood together, listening to the surrounding murmurs.
Yang Xinyuan glared indignantly at those nearby, tempted to argue, but Qi Jue stopped her. “Forget it, let Brother Lu deal with them himself!”
Wen Lou sneered, “Hmph~ I bet they don’t even know what a water bed is; it collapses at twenty—”
Beside him, Qi Jue was on high alert. “…Shhh!”
As Wen Lou spoke, the noisy banquet hall suddenly fell silent.
All eyes turned toward the source of the hush.
“Mr. Lu,” the legend of the business world during this period, stood at the stairs on the second floor.
The dignified and cold face exuded breathtaking beauty, and the commanding angle displayed a sense of superiority.
Yet, it wasn’t Lu Huan alone who captivated everyone’s attention.
Beside him stood another figure—both in matching suits, fingers interlocked, silver wedding rings catching the eye.
Yu Baihan’s delicate features, though subtle, radiated a brightness and vividness that were in stark contrast to Lu Huan’s. It arrested people’s gazes effortlessly.
This unexpected scene rendered the vast gathering into an immediate silence, akin to a piece of ice jade dropped into boiling water.
Under the hushed attention, Lu Huan wrapped his arms around Yu Baihan’s waist, leading them down to the front of the banquet hall with a solemn demeanor.
“Apologies for the delay.”
Lu Huan nodded to the assembled guests, then turned to Yu Baihan. Lowering his eyes, the cold, profiled face softened. “When you’re engrossed, time tends to slip away.”
The guests still seemed to be in a state of bewilderment.
Yu Baihan’s face warmed slightly. Lu Huan was indeed quite adept at addressing a crowd.
Clearing his throat, Yu Baihan, in coordination with Lu Huan, looked back and pretended to scold, “Look at you~ It’s not good to keep everyone waiting for so long. You can’t do this next time.” He apologized on Lu Huan’s behalf, “I’m sorry, he’s always like this.”
Everyone: … huh???
Why does this situation seem different from what they had imagined?
Wasn’t this supposed to be a sham marriage?
Aren’t they going to announce their divorce?
Why does the Si family’s young master look more like the head of the family than Lu Huan?
While the guests were still in a daze, the guards around them raised their chins proudly.
Are you daft, ha~
Lu Huan met Yu Baihan’s gaze, and the corners of his lips curved. “There won’t be a next time.”
After his words, he addressed all the guests, saying, “The banquet has officially commenced. Please enjoy the festivities.”
Only then did the frozen crowd begin to move.
…
The banquet hall’s bright and pristine marble floor tiles reflected the radiant crystal lights suspended above, while opulent floral arrangements adorned the venue, seemingly without regard for expenses.
The harmonious melody of piano and violin resonated in the air, intermingling with the clinking of toasts, all of which underscored the considerable financial prowess of the Lu family.
Among the various clans invited:
Some came merely to observe and enjoy the spectacle; some approached with sycophantic intentions; and others harbored jealousy and reluctance, seeking opportunities to instigate trouble.
Yu Baihan accompanied Lu Huan throughout the event.
In the scrutinizing gaze of onlookers, he gracefully greeted those who approached with various intentions.
After seeing off the last guest, a man in his forties approached with a wine glass and said, “Mr. Lu.”
Yu Baihan squinted slightly, realizing the man’s demeanor and tone resembled a flattery-laden dog. There seemed to be a slight problem…
Lu Huan responded calmly, “Mr. Shi.”
Shi Quan initially smiled but then shifted his attention to Yu Baihan. He raised his goblet, “Is this the young master of the Si family? It’s been a while since you appeared. I’ve never had the chance to meet Mr. Come out and say hello.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Ct, atf mtjiifcufg tjv lcvffv jgglnfv.
Dfobgf tf mbeiv obgweijaf j gfrqbcrf, Oe Lejc fcnfibqfv tlw klat jc jgw jgbecv tlr rtbeivfg, vlrqijslcu joofmalbc. Qlat jc fzqgfrrlbc bo vffq ibnf, Oe Lejc jvvgfrrfv Vtl Hejc jwlvra atf ijaafg’r rilutais glulv vfwfjcbg, “Lf tjr tlr bkc joojlgr, jcv P’w jogjlv la wluta yf alglcu obg tlw.”
After a pause, Lu Huan added, amidst Shi Quan’s subtly uncomfortable expression, “Certainly, Baihan was present at my birthday celebration.”
Implicitly conveying the message: But I didn’t extend an invitation to you.
“……”
In public, he openly slapped Shi Quan’s face without any regard, leaving him at a loss for words. Whatever he intended to say was obstructed by Lu Huan’s current stance. Finally, he forced a chuckle, “Haha, that’s right.”
After his statement, he self-deprecatingly stepped aside.
The nearby young women, sensing the brewing tension, exchanged glances, covered their mouths, and whispered:
“This is too obvious…”
“Who said it was just a sham marriage before, and now they’re holding a banquet to announce a divorce?”
“Yes, but why—”
Just as they were conversing, a figure suddenly appeared in front of them, startling them all!
Qi Jue turned around, exuding an air of pride, as if Cupid himself had struck his heart. “Of course, it’s because he’s enchanted! Love to the highest degree~”
The group fell silent, “…”
—
A lavish spread of buffet meals adorned the banquet hall.
As Yu Baihan strolled alongside Lu Huan, captivated by the aromatic scents wafting from every direction, his attention was momentarily diverted.
While his gaze wandered, he noticed Lu Huan, who had paused in conversation with someone nearby, locking eyes with him. Yu Baihan raised an inquisitive brow.
Lu Huan caught on, “Hungry?”
“……”
Yu Baihan shyly pursed his lips and asked, “What are you talking about?” Playful~
Lu Huan chuckled softly. “Go ahead.”
Without hesitation, Yu Baihan turned on his heels and happily headed towards the array of food, exclaiming, “Oh~”
Shortly after his departure,.
Not far from Lu Huan, the patriarch of the Dai family shot him a conflicted glance and then signaled to his daughter.
With the Dai family facing a decline in recent years, this occasion presented a rare opportunity. Despite the apparent closeness between Lu Huan and his daughter, lingering rumors continued to disturb the patriarch’s mind, fueling a desire to address these speculations.
He gestured to his daughter, and they approached Lu Huan.
“Mr. Lu, I haven’t had the chance to extend my congratulations for the future. I’ve heard that Mr. Lu is a rising star in our city C. Today, seeing you in person, it’s clear you’re a talented individual.”
Lu Huan turned to acknowledge the Dai family patriarch and daughter, expressing gratitude, “Mr. Dai is known for his commendable reputation.”
The Dai family patriarch then introduced, “This is my daughter, twenty-three years old. She recently returned from studying in country F, and I believe she shares many interests with Mr. Lu.”
Implicit urgency colored his words.
Lu Huan’s expression subtly changed.
Faced with the two expectant gazes before him, Lu Huan remained silent for a moment. He then glanced sideways and furrowed his brows, saying casually, “Excuse me.”
Without further explanation, he passed by the Dai family and headed straight for Yu Baihan.
At the far end of the extended dining table, Yu Baihan was engrossed in a conversation with a hardware wholesaler while gleefully showing off a plate of ice cream.
Just as he was enthusiastically sharing, a hand unexpectedly reached from the side and snatched the plate from his grasp:?
Where did these troublemakers come from!
Yu Baihan turned his head, only to find Lu Huan standing before him, eyes downcast, stealing his plate.
Lu Huan commented, “Sneaking in so many cold treats again.”
Yu Baihan: …Gulp.
What’s going on? Isn’t Little Deer Lu busy socializing?
Muttering, “I ate them to cool down,”
The eyes around them had already shifted to Lu Huan’s actions, seemingly captivated.
Ignoring the surrounding gazes, Lu Huan focused solely on Yu Baihan, remarking, “Really.”
Before Yu Baihan could come up with any words of justification.
Lu Huan suddenly lifted his chin, lowered his eyelashes, and leaned in to kiss him. Parting his lips, the tip of his tongue brushed against Yu Baihan’s.
“Hmm…” Yu Bai shivered, his hand instinctively grabbing Lu Huan’s arm as his heart raced.
A hushed murmur spread through the banquet hall, where previously audible sounds were now as quiet as a pin drop, and all eyes converged——
Among them, the close-range observers’ gazes were particularly intense, with the four golden flowers flushed with excitement: oh oh oh oh! ! !
Ah… lips and tongues entwined.
After Lu Huan’s tongue swept around, he pulled away.
Looking at the face in front of him, flushed from the deep kiss, Lu Huan possessively drew him even closer, obstructing the view from onlookers.
Lu Huan used his fingertips to wipe Yu Baihan’s moist lips and commented, “Still cold.”
“……”
Yu Baihan snapped back to reality after the emotional moment:?
Following Lu Huan’s statement, he observed the curious onlookers and reassured them, “Everyone is free to continue. No need to worry.”
Only then did the crowd quickly avert their gazes.
Not far away, the patriarch of the Dai family felt embarrassed and swiftly led his daughter away discreetly.
As everyone shifted their attention, Qi Jue and the others in front couldn’t contain their excitement, exclaiming, “Alright! Brother Lu! A real man, very A!!”
“Did you see that? The people over there were stunned!”
Lu Huan casually responded, “Yes.”
Yu Baihan noticed Lu Huan’s earlobes subtly turning red again, but his expression remained composed, not revealing the blushing and shy demeanor of the past.
Understandingly, he said, “Your cuffs got wet earlier. Come with me to change them.”
Lu Huan looked down at his dry cuffs and agreed, “Yes.”
The two turned and headed toward the stairs.
Behind them, Wen Lou chuckled mischievously, “Time to gather some firewood~”
In the next moment, his mouth was collectively covered, and someone hushed, “Shh!”
Yu Baihan and Lu Huan exchanged bemused glances: …
In the somewhat obscured view, the two ascended to the second floor.
Entering the second-floor corridor, Lu Huan’s face flushed red, as he was now out of everyone’s attention.
Observing this, Yu Baihan, with a surprised expression, gently lifted Lu Huan’s flushed handsome face, “Can you still control this? Is there anything you can’t control?”
Blushing is also infectious, so everything is contagious.
It’s truly a realm of mischievous little deers.
Lu Huan lowered his head, admitting with a warm face, “I can’t maintain it for too long.”
Seduced by his adorable demeanor, Yu Baihan pulled him down and planted a kiss on him: so cute! >3
After the kiss, he lifted his head contentedly, only to hear Lu Huan ask, “Are you feeling at ease?”
Yu Baihan blinked: Huh?
Oh~ He suddenly understood why the typically reserved little Lu was so bold today, so he was pondering this.
Patting Lu Huan on the head, he reassured him, “I’ve never felt uneasy.”
“Yes.” Lu Huan seemed to have settled down, “If you’re tired, you can rest upstairs for a while. There’s no need to go downstairs.”
Eyes lighting up, Yu Baihan asked, “Gathering firewood?”
“…” Lu Huan said softly, “Turn off your little play; people will come to the rest area.”
Regretfully, Yu Baihan had no choice but to give up, saying, “Oh.”
…
This sense of regret lingered until the conclusion of the banquet.
While Lu Huan bid farewell to the guests inside the banquet hall, Yu Baihan, having enjoyed his fill of food and drink, made his way to the entrance to both cool off and see off the departing guests.
A contingent of guests, initially drawn by the prospect of indulging in some voyeuristic entertainment or harboring various whimsical notions, now exited with radiant expressions.
Yu Baihan observed as everyone said their farewells, bidding adieu to all concerns in a friendly manner.
Amid these greetings, he suddenly noticed a young woman in a light yellow dress leaving the venue arm in arm with her best friend. Both wore regretful expressions.
Yu Baihan: Huh?
The friend beside her sighed, “I told you it’s impossible to adopt a dozen children all at once.”
Ms. Xu lamented, “Oh… I was looking forward to going back and becoming the Emperor of Prophecy!”
Yu Baihan: …
So, the enthusiastic netizen turned out to be you.
As the two passed by him, Yu Baihan stopped Ms. Xu and cheerfully encouraged her, “Don’t be discouraged. I liked all of your posts.”
Ms. Xu:?
Her friend:? ?
After a brief two-second exchange of glances, Ms. Xu was instantly delighted, clapping her hands in admiration. “Master Si has taste! Mr. Lu has such a discerning eye!”
Yu Baihan, modest and bashful, replied, “The main reason is that luck was on my side.”
It all comes down to the thread of destiny.
“…” Ms. Xu pondered. “Well, that’s good too.”
Whether it was a boast or a humbling admission, Ms. Xu cast aside her regrets and departed contentedly with her friends.
—
After the banquet, the impact was quite remarkable.
While Yu Baihan perused the forum, he noticed that the posts were abuzz with discussions about various details of the couple’s appearance at the event:
[They’ve been holding hands since they took the stage, and the wedding ring on their fingers is so dazzling.]
[They even shared a public kiss; Mr. Lu took the initiative! Oh, you guys didn’t see it; it made me blush and my heart race! [Excitedly covering my mouth]]
[The young master of the Si family is not what I expected.]
[What’s he like? [Inquiring]]
[He’s that refreshing and good-looking type. If he hadn’t married Mr. Lu, he would probably be the ‘first love on campus’ type.]
[Wow…]
Well, that sounds pretty good~
Yu Baihan clicked the like button on each post and exited the forum feeling satisfied.
However, discussions about the two in upper-class circles lasted only a few days. Soon, He Yue angrily called Yu Baihan and instructed him to check the forum.
Yu Baihan: What’s wrong?
When he revisited the forum, he saw several posts emerging out of nowhere in the previously harmonious space:
[The acting is too fake, do you really believe it?]
[No one knows the private affairs of wealthy people; showing off at such events is nothing new. I attended the banquet, and I could tell at a glance that it was all for show.]
[Why? There’s no need for Mr. Lu to do this.]
[Of course, it’s for gaining a good reputation. Think about it—the Lu family wiped out the Si family. If they immediately kicked out the young master of the Si family, wouldn’t Lu Huan seem snobbish and cold-blooded?]
[But that’s Lu Huan… it doesn’t seem like he would take the initiative to kiss someone casually.]
[What’s for fame? The two must have reached an agreement in private long ago. Lu Huan raised Si Baihan, and Si Baihan put on a show for others. How about explaining that they suddenly showed their affection now, and there was no movement before?]
[That’s right, it was all negotiated after the downfall of the Si family. I saw it with my own eyes, and the two discussed it secretly in the middle of the banquet.]
“……”
Yu Baihan:???
What a real fabrication!
The story was so vividly narrated that if he wasn’t the person involved, he might almost believe it!
But not everyone was present at that banquet.
Amidst the crowd, rumors about the two’s “temporary agreement for a show” became increasingly believable.
Yu Baihan wasn’t concerned about how the world unexpectedly viewed his relationship with Lu Huan. For him, as long as they loved each other, their life was sweet~
But these people accusing them of orchestrating a charade irked him.
When Lu Huan came home in the evening, Yu Baihan welcomed him with an air of determination, his eyes ablaze with fiery intensity, causing Lu Huan to halt in surprise.
Lu Huan hesitated, “…Did I inadvertently offend someone?”
“Not you.”
Yu Baihan extended his hand to scoop up Lu Huan, showing him the forum posts. He sighed dramatically, “Look at you~ you are being admired and envied.”
Lu Huan, “…”
After a few seconds of silence, he furrowed his brows and said calmly, “It must be the work of some business rivals. If they can’t shake the foundation of the Lu family, they’ll tarnish our reputation first.”
Yu Baihan said, “I suppose so.”
Of course, there were also those who, unwilling to witness the success of others, chose to become fans of baseless rumors.
A light pinch on the earlobe interrupted his thoughts.
Yu Baihan looked up to see Lu Huan rubbing his chin with a nonchalant expression. “Don’t worry. You’re about to retake the exam, and I’ll accompany you.”
With a composed demeanor, it seemed he had a plan.
Yu Baihan replied, “That sounds good~”
He left these messy matters to Lu Huan, and his lovely turtle would not get entangled in such filth. =u=
—
The retake of the postgraduate entrance examination was just a week away.
On the day of the retest, Lu Huan accompanied Yu Baihan to the school.
He walked Yu Baihan to the entrance of the Academy of Arts, where they bumped into Liu Jinci and a few acquaintances from the summer camp.
They exchanged greetings, “Baihan, Senior Lu!”
Liu Jinci playfully blinked, “Oh, Senior Lu personally escorts you here~ That’s the aura of the god of learning to accompany you all the way to success.”
Yu Baihan pointed and corrected, “It’s the aura of the god of love~”
A few people suddenly looked like they were seeking a dose of romantic sweetness: …
Lu Huan chuckled, telling Yu Baihan, “You go in, and give me a call when you’re finished.”
Yu Baihan waved to his partner, “Sure.”
After Lu Huan spoke, he turned and strolled in the direction of the business school.
Yu Baihan assumed he would go to watch “Missing His Mentor,” so without dwelling on it, he entered the Wenyuan building alongside Liu Jinci and others.
…
The retake went smoothly.
After completing the exam and exiting the Wenyuan building, Yu Baihan found Lu Huan waiting for him at the entrance.
Approaching him, Yu Baihan took Lu Huan’s hand, “Did you finish meeting Dean Chen?”
“Yes.” Lu Huan inquired, “How did the retest go?”
“Do you really need to ask? You should know your apprentice Baihan’s capabilities by now.”
“I stand corrected.” Lu Huan admitted his oversight.
Yu Baihan graciously strolled around the campus with Lu Huan for a while and returned home in the evening after having dinner.
Following Lu Huan’s advice to focus on exam preparation, Yu Baihan paid little attention to the forum after the banquet.
Two days had passed since the C major re-examination.
As external rumors escalated, a surprising video suddenly surfaced—making waves not only on forums but also on some financial gossip accounts.
This short ten-second video circulated widely in upper-class circles, making its way into social media platforms and WeChat groups.
The video featured Lu Huan, who is currently in the midst of various rumors and enjoying significant popularity: [Mr. Lu appears at C University, strongly defending his “husband”!]
The footage, shot in August of the previous year, was set in a classroom at C University’s College of Arts. Lu Huan, the influential figure from the Lu family, faced the classroom door with the voice of an unidentified student audible off-screen.
“They’re still being affectionate at school!”
“Mr. Lu… was privately affectionate with the college students attending the summer camp during his visit to the school.”
In the video, Lu Huan remained silent for a few moments before lifting his gaze.
The side-angle shot captured his broad, sturdy shoulders, emanating a sense of composure and strength.
He spoke clearly and deliberately, “We are both married; why should we be more polite?”
Thanks for the chapter 💖❤️💖❤️