26: Planning

Looking at Sheng Xufeng's brilliant smile, Yan Zhuohua felt goosebumps rising all over his body.

“Zhuohua, how was your honeymoon? I heard you guys stayed on an island for half a month. Was your world for two very happy?”

Yan Zhuohua knew nothing good would ever come out of his mouth.

“Want to know? Go try it for yourself if you want to know.”

Sheng Xufeng leaned against Li Wu. “We're not going to try it. We haven't even reached the legal marriage age yet. We're having a great time, free and unsupervised every day. It's so blissful. Who would get married at such a young age like you? To throw yourself into the cage of marriage so early—you probably even have to report in just to come out and hang with us, right?”

“You say that as if Mother Sheng and your brother don't make you report in when you come out to play,” Yan Zhuohua shot back. “It's all reporting in, what's the difference!”

“The difference is huge.” Sheng Xufeng raised an eyebrow. “When we come out, we just give a heads-up. But if you were to go out alone, wouldn't that man of yours investigate the ancestors of everyone you're with for eighteen generations?”

Li Wu happily added, “Exactly! I bet if he makes an appointment today to go out tomorrow, he won't finish being interrogated and get permission until the day after.”

Sheng Xufeng: “Right, and he probably has to pay some kind of special price before that man is willing to give him a chance!”

Li Wu and Sheng Xufeng looked at each other and laughed with exceptionally lewd expressions. “Oh my, how truly pitiful!”

“Both of you shut up!” Listening to them tease him in tandem, Yan Zhuohua finally couldn't hold back and rushed forward to scuffle with them.

Sheng Xufeng and Li Wu struggled violently under Yan Zhuohua's hands, but they didn't forget to keep provoking him whenever they found a gap.

“Someone's getting angry out of embarrassment!”

“You dare touch me! You're so lacking in male virtue, you'll definitely be taught a lesson when you go back tonight...”

The intense scene here was noticed by the main table, and everyone turned around to investigate.

Yan Zhuohua was currently covering the mouths of those two. Suddenly being watched by a group of people was somewhat awkward. Driven by necessity, he could only give them a threatening look. He only let go after the two of them sensibly nodded repeatedly in guarantee.

“It's nothing, we're just messing around. You guys continue, continue.”

The people over there tactfully looked away, but Xiang Du really couldn't suppress his curiosity and slipped over from the main table.

“What are you guys up to? Hurry up and say it so I can be happy too.” It was rare to see a scene where Yan Zhuohua was being riled up by Sheng Xufeng; Xiang Du couldn't let it go no matter what.

Li Wu answered directly, “Talking about some matters of male virtue.”

Xiang Du was utterly shocked, Sheng Xufeng laughed so hard he nearly convulsed, and Yan Zhuohua covered his face, feeling that coming out today was a mistake.

“Xiang Du! Why aren't you over there discussing business with them? Aren't you afraid your dad will beat you when you get home?” Yan Zhuohua attempted to stop Xiang Du from joining the team besieging him.

Xiang Du was determined not to leave. “How can that side be as fun as chatting about strange topics here? If I get a beating, I get a beating; I've long since gotten used to it.”

Yan Zhuohua was unwilling to accept their persecution any longer and chose to directly suppress them with force. The three-man squad finally disbanded.

Sheng Xufeng turned the topic to something serious. “Seriously though, how is he treating you? Do you need your brothers to help you escape A-City?”

“It's quite good, nothing's wrong.”

Li Wu also spoke up, “Then what are your plans for the future? Just stay at home and be a house husband?”

Yan Zhuohua rolled his eyes at him. “That's obviously impossible. I'm going back to school next week, and then I'll join the company.”

“He's letting you join the company?” Sheng Xufeng pushed away Xiang Du, who was still trying to get him to continue the strange topic, and looked at Yan Zhuohua with some surprise.

“Why wouldn't he? We're not like the Zhao Family, planning power struggles every single day.”

“That's true. In our circle, only the Zhao Family fights generation after generation. I don't know how they can still be ranked among the Four Great Families with all that internal friction; it's really strange.” Xiang Du finally gave up on his previous grand endeavor and joined the new group chat.

“By the way, did you guys know? Old Master Zhao has been quietly looking for marriage alliance partners for Zhao Zijing lately. Even my cousin was included.” Xiang Du suddenly lowered his voice.

Xiang Du's cousin, Xiang Kai, was the heir to the Xiang Family and was currently sitting at the main table.

“That's interesting. It seems the Zhao Family also knows that the other three families aren't willing to form alliances with them, so they just skipped us directly?” Although Sheng Xufeng's words sounded like a joke, everyone understood the underlying meaning.

The Zhao Family had always liked to shove people into the other three families. For them to directly give up this time was somewhat strange.

Yan Zhuohua didn't quite understand Old Master Zhao's maneuver either. In the Zhao Family, Old Master Zhao could be considered someone with some ability, though many of his methods were dishonorable.

However, because the Yan Family practiced freedom of marriage, they had never had alliances with the Zhao Family, so Yan Zhuohua paid little attention to the matter.

Everyone just listened and let it pass. After all, as long as someone from a family obsessed with marriage alliances didn't enter their own home, it was fine whichever family they went to.

They stopped discussing the Zhao Family, and the topic returned to Yan Zhuohua.

“It'll be your and your husband's birthdays in a while. Haven't you prepared a gift for him?” Since Xiang Du couldn't continue participating in the male virtue topic, he began to be self-reliant. “If not, then I suggest you buy some 'interesting' clothes. He'll definitely like them.”

Yan Zhuohua didn't understand Xiang Du's meaning at first, until he saw the excited look in Sheng Xufeng's eyes again. Only then did he realize what the so-called 'interesting clothes' referred to.

He felt these people were better suited for producing photography works rather than being rich second-generation heirs.

“Don't you all have girlfriends? Why don't you send those 'good things' to your own precious girlfriends instead of wasting them on me!” Yan Zhuohua was already exhausted.

“You don't understand. The joy of shipping a CP is far greater than the joy of experiencing it yourself. And if the CP can get a bit 'spicy,' then it's even more joyful.” Sheng Xufeng's smile was somewhat familiar; Yan Zhuohua seemed to have seen it on his fans before.

Instinct told him that continuing this CP topic might lead to bad things. Yan Zhuohua decisively changed the subject: “I've already decided on what gift to prepare, so I won't trouble you all.”

Once he released this news, their attention was indeed immediately diverted. They began to press Yan Zhuohua on what the gift actually was.

Seeing that Yan Zhuohua was about to lose the three-on-one battle, Yan Qinghe's voice saved him.

“Zhuohua, come over and eat something more. There's the sweet soup you like.”

Ignoring the voices behind him calling him 'husband-whipped' and 'little trophy wife,' Yan Zhuohua headed straight for the main table. He was unwilling to stay any longer with those three leather-bound gossip-disks turned spirits; it would lead to misfortune.

Yan Qinghe placed a bowl of sweet soup in front of Yan Zhuohua and lowered his head to listen seriously to his complaints about his poor choice of friends.

Their intimate appearance fell into the eyes of Zhao Zijing, who had been ignored all night. Grandpa was preparing to find a marriage alliance for Zhao Zijing. Thinking of their plan, the jealousy and hatred in Zhao Zijing's eyes slowly subsided a bit. Such pampering and the position of the Yan Family's mistress would fall into her hands sooner or later. Once their plan succeeded, she would see what confidence Su Mo and her two children would have left to stay in the Zhao Family. This humiliation—she and Zhao Zichuo would return it sooner or later.

She just didn't notice that Zhao Zijing, who was next to her, also looked at her with a gaze full of intrigue.

Because many unplanned 'outsiders' had come, the things that were originally meant to be communicated at this dinner were tacitly put aside for the time being. They only exchanged superficial matters. Even if some information wasn't communicated, it was better than it falling into the hands of irrelevant people. Besides, everyone's parents weren't just for show. It wouldn't be a problem to have the elders gather later to admire flowers and drink tea.

It was just a matter of whether to let the Zhao Family know this news that everyone needed to consider further. They had no issue with Zhao Zixing, Zhao Zijing, and Madam Su, but those other two were different. They might sell the information just for vanity or profit. Moreover, although Old Master Zhao currently stood on Madam Su's side, profit came first. Coupled with Zhao Zhongkai stirring the pot, it wasn't certain if the news would be passed to the two illegitimate children and then sold off.

After thinking for a long time, Yan Qinghe, Sheng Xulin, and the others finally sent out a solution in a large wechat group.

If the Old Master couldn't keep a secret, it would be good to have the various Madams come out for beauty treatments or shopping. None of the women who sat in the position of a great family's matriarch were simple. Furthermore, in that case, that Madam Su would surely only inform those who should be informed; she would only stand on the side of her biological children.

Everyone hoped the original wife would have the last laugh.

With the matter mostly resolved, everyone could be said to have gained something.

By the time the dinner ended, it was already late. Most of them had to work, so they all had to go back and rest early.

Yan Zhuohua drove on the way back; he hadn't drunk. Yan Qinghe sat obediently in the passenger seat, only occasionally blurting out: “Zhuohua, what jokes did they make about you? I really want to know...”

Yan Zhuohua ignored him. He clearly wasn't drunk, yet he insisted on acting spoiled using the alcohol as an excuse. Fortunately, Yan Qinghe still knew not to touch someone who was driving, otherwise, he would have been handsy long ago.

As soon as they got home, Yan Zhuohua couldn't wait to chase Yan Qinghe into the bathroom to shower. He really didn't want to smell that scent of alcohol anymore.

By the time he finished making a hangover soup and brought it to the third floor, Yan Qinghe had already come out of the bathroom. Yan Qinghe hadn't drunk much, but Yan Zhuohua was worried he would feel unwell at work the next day, so he specifically brewed the hangover soup.

Yan Qinghe finished the soup in a few gulps and held onto Yan Zhuohua's hand, refusing to let go.

“What are you doing? Let go first, okay? I need to take the bowl down.” Yan Zhuohua struggled incessantly.

“No, you haven't told me what jokes they made about you yet. I want to hear.”

Yan Zhuohua now deeply regretted why he had complained to Yan Qinghe about his trouble-making friends. Now look—this man was forcing him to say exactly what jokes they had made.

Taking advantage of Yan Zhuohua's distraction, Yan Qinghe pinned him onto the bed, prepared for a 'forced confession,' not forgetting to set the bowl aside amidst the chaos.

“Qinghe... Qinghe, I haven't showered yet!” Yan Zhuohua was kissed until he was breathless.

“It's okay. After you've confessed, I'll help you wash.” Yan Qinghe had been feeling dissatisfied all evening watching them chat happily together; how could he let him go now?

Yan Zhuohua wanted to cry but had no tears. Struggling, he said, “I have to go to the company tomorrow. Let me off, okay?”

Yan Qinghe turned a deaf ear and continued his grand endeavor. He was now going to use the name of 'forced confession' to carry out the act of 'retaliation.'

Yan Qinghe's progress was truly a bit fast. Seeing that the situation was about to become uncontrollable, Yan Zhuohua could only yield under Yan Qinghe's tyrannical pressure.

“I'll talk, I'll talk!” Yan Zhuohua gave up resistance. He really didn't want to lie in bed all day.

“Hmm? Talking already?” Yan Qinghe felt it was a bit of a pity. “Tell me, what jokes did they make about you?”

“They said... that when I go out, I have to seek your review and report in, that I have to observe male virtue, and maybe...”

Yan Qinghe raised an eyebrow. “Maybe what?”

“Just...” Yan Zhuohua hesitated, still unable to say it.

Seeing this, Yan Qinghe didn't rush him, but simply continued his previous work.

Sure enough, Yan Zhuohua immediately surrendered completely.

“Just... just that I have to pay some kind of price before I can go out...” Although Yan Zhuohua didn't say it explicitly, the message was already very clear.

Yan Qinghe didn't want to hold back anymore either. “Then right now, you can pay the price for going out today first!”

Yan Zhuohua still wanted to say something to save the situation, but his voice was drowned out by Yan Qinghe's movements.