84: formal dress

The week passed with everyone working while feasting on the juicy gossip about the wealthy families.

Yan Muxuan was the biggest gossip hound of all, frequently slipping into Yan Zhuohua's office under the pretext of sharing the latest rumors to interrupt his work. Although Yan Zhuohua was also quite eager to hear them.

The Zhao Family truly put on three dramas a day this week. The day before yesterday, Zhao Zichuo brought his mother, who was Zhao Zhongkai's mistress, to the company to make a scene, demanding a bunch of impossible conditions, wishing the entire Zhao Family would fall into his hands the next moment. Yesterday, it was Zhao Minghong causing a huge uproar in the ancestral hall, dissatisfied with Zhao Zixing's adoption, insisting on driving him out before he would stop. Today's news was even fresher—some unknown shell company dared to take advantage of the Zhao Group's turmoil to come pick a fight...

"It seems the Zhao Family is probably finished," Yan Muxuan sighed.

"Not necessarily. Although Zhao Zixing can't compare to the heirs of our other three families, he's better than most and still has some ability. Plus, with Su Mo, the Su Family, and Qiao Rongjing, and Zhao Mingting giving him everything he could to pave the way for him, while they certainly can't maintain the strength of the Four Great Families anymore, it looks like they'll be more than sufficient to remain a second-tier aristocratic family."

Yan Zhuohua, busy with the documents in his hands, still found time to analyze the gossip.

"That's true," Yan Muxuan sighed again. "It's just that seeing an old friend who was on good terms with your grandfather end up behind bars, and a great family that stood alongside us for so many years finally about to fall, still feels a bit surreal."

"Since when has Uncle become so sentimental?" Yan Zhuohua joked, trying to cheer him up. "You're not even retired yet, are you getting old already?"

"Are you looking for a scolding?" Yan Muxuan, interrupted from his melancholy, turned and scolded him with a laugh.

"Please don't, Uncle. I'm already dizzy looking at these documents; I can't take any more scolding."

Yan Muxuan let him off and instead asked about the annual gala next Saturday.

"Who from the family is coming to the annual gala this year?"

"Just Second Brother and Older Female Cousin. Everyone else can't be bothered to come."

"Is the formal attire all prepared? Don't repeat last year's fiasco where, except for your Older Female Cousin the big star who still cares about face, everyone else looked like they wanted to show up in army surplus coats." Yan Muxuan's tone was full of disdain. "We're truly the most 'plain' in the entire elite social circle of City A, and we've become quite famous for it."

Yan Zhuohua smiled. "It won't happen. This year, I'm picking out their clothes one by one."

"That's true. With you as the Head of the Yan Family's spouse now, such matters naturally aren't a problem anymore." Yan Muxuan looked at him with full teasing.

What Yan Muxuan said wasn't wrong. Yan Zhuohua was not only the Head of the Yan Family's spouse now, but for over a week, he had obediently played the role of the 'dutiful spouse' in front of Yan Qinghe, attentively serving him in every aspect, practically letting Yan Qinghe experience the treatment of an ancient emperor—utter physical and mental comfort.

That weekend, Yan Zhuohua and Yan Qinghe returned to the Main Residence as his mother requested.

Since they had notified in advance, the gathering was quite complete.

On Friday evening, everyone first had a belated "New Years Day reunion dinner," then began a three-sided inquisition targeting Yan Zhuohua.

Under Yan Qinghe's guarantee and protection, Yan Zhuohua managed, with much persuasion, to avoid a round of family rules. He only had to provide a detailed account of all the specifics of his investigation into those matters, listened to admonishments from everyone top to bottom except Yan Qinghe, and was then released back to the bedroom.

Having received Yan Qinghe's strong protection, Yan Zhuohua became even more obedient and sensible, reciprocating the favor by very dutifully serving him for a long time in bed.

The next morning, Yan Zhuohua even forced himself to get up to help the other dress, truly embodying the term 'dutiful spouse' to its fullest.

In the afternoon, the Yan Family's dedicated styling team, arranged by Yan Zhuohua, brought over the formal attire for the annual gala for fittings.

Yan Zhuoyan was the first to complain.

"I don't want to try them on. I'm willing to attend the gala at all, that's good enough. Just pick any outfit for me."

Yan Zhuohua didn't answer him. Instead, he tattled to Jiang Fuyue in the distance: "Mom, look, Second Brother doesn't want to dress up. How is he supposed to find a good ma—mmph! Mmm—"

Yan Zhuoyan rushed over to cover his mouth. "Ancestor! You're my ancestor! I'll try them on, okay? I'll try them on!"

Indeed, once you have leverage over someone, you're invincible.

"What's going on?" Jiang Fuyue, not hearing clearly, inquired.

"Nothing! Zhuohua and I are just fooling around!" Yan ZhuoyanFirst answered.

Yan Zhuoyue beside them almost died laughing.

"Laugh, laugh, all you know is how to laugh. Do your fans know you're like this? A big star? More like a comedian!" Temporarily not daring to oppose Yan Zhuohua further, Yan Zhuoyan turned hisspearhead toward Yan Zhuoyue, who had already picked her outfit and was watching them from the side.

"Yan Zhuoyan! How dare you speak to the goddess of thousands of fans like that? Do you believe I'll send you a lawyer's letter?"

"Do you still want that phone I customized for you that has built-in lighting for photos?" Yan Zhuoyan smiled cruelly.

"Oh, my dear Second Cousin, you truly have a sharp eye, seeing right through my essence."

This time, it was Yan Zhuohua's turn to nearly die laughing beside them.

After painstakingly selecting an outfit for Yan Zhuoyan and watching him flee the scene, Yan Zhuohua finally freed up his hands to dress up his husband.

Yan Qinghe was in the bedroom writing his literature review. If one doesn't work hard when young, one grieves on the weekend.

Yan Zhuohua brought people upstairs carrying several sets of matching formal attire.

When he entered, Yan Qinghe wasjust wrapping up his writing, only looking up to give him a smile before lowering his head to type again.

"You can go downstairs and wait first. We'll call you once we've chosen here." Yan Zhuohua first let the staff go downstairs to rest.

Since Yan Qinghe was still busy, he pulled a clothes rack from the walk-in closet inside, hung these clothes on it for easier selection later.

While arranging the clothes in his hands, Yan Zhuohua's waist was suddenly embraced from behind.

"My wife has been so virtuous these past few days."

Yan Zhuohua didn'trefute him.

"Let go first, don't mess up the clothes." Yan Zhuohua said softly. "Come look, I picked four suitable sets. The sizes fit too. Which one do you like?"

"Let's try the light gray one first. You help me put it on." Yan Qinghe's voice wasSticky.

Yan Zhuohua smiled helplessly, took down that set, and helped him put it on.

Watching the person before him carefully buttoning his shirt, Yan Qinghe felt a surge of emotion.

"Zhuohua, you're so focused. Are you trying tolure me?" Yan Qinghe began makingRandomly labeling people.

Yan Zhuohua fastened the last button and gave Yan Qinghe's chest a pat.

"Stop talking nonsense. How is thatlure?"

"How is it not..."

Yan Zhuohua ignored him, turned to rummage in the room's snack basket, pulled out a piece of fruitgummy candies, then turned back and pressed Yan Qinghe to sit on the edge of the bed.

"What's this for?" Yan Qinghe raised an eyebrow.

"To show you whatlure really is."

Yan Zhuohua tore open thePackage, took the thumb-sizedgummy candies in his mouth, then slowly leaned down toward Yan Qinghe until their lips met, filled with the sweet and sour taste of green apple.

Yan Qinghe's breathing hitched. One handhug his waist, flipping Yan Zhuohua over onto the softQuilt, then更用力地去抢那颗gummy candies.

The clothes rack beside them was knocked over by their inadvertent movements. Before Yan Zhuohua could even pay attention to the clothes scattered on the floor, he was kissed senseless.

Over an hour later, the two finally had time to pick up the formal attire from the floor.

Yan Zhuohua grumbled, "It's all your fault, in broad daylight. The clothes are all over the floor. See how you explain this later!"

Who was it that说要让人看看什么叫lure just now? Yan Qinghe smiledspoilly.

"These two pieces underneath are all wrinkled. Probably not good to let others see them now." Yan Zhuohua frowned, somewhat regretful.

"Let's go with the black one then; it looks fine. For the others, just tell them we're keeping them all, and have Auntie send them for cleaning another time." Yan Qinghe thought for a few seconds and offered a solution.

"Alright, that'll do for now." Yan Zhuohua held thesurvivor set against Yan Qinghe. "Pair it with that blacktie with gold patterns I just gave you."

"Okay."

By the time they finally came downstairs, Yan Zhuoyue had long grown impatient and gone to the garden to look at the plum blossoms.

"Why did it take so long to choose, and you picked this set? It's a bit too somber." Jiang Fuyue came over holding a plate of fruit.

Yan Zhuohua secretly glared at Yan Qinghe. Yan Qinghe rubbed his nose.

"This set looks moresteady. We've just fully taken over the family this year; it's better to choose something that carries more weight." Yan Zhuohua still spoke up torelief.

"That's fine too. This set does looksteady and grand upon closer inspection, very dignified." Jiang Fuyue nodded. My two sons are trulyA natural clothes hanger, looking good in anything.

After politely informing the styling team staff that they would keep the remaining pieces and arranging for their departure, Yan Zhuohua finallyCompletely put my mind at ease.