Marry
The two walked out of the courtyard of "Leji Delivery" one after the other, crossed the street, and entered the teahouse across the street.
The teahouse was bustling with people, filled with a faint aroma of tea.
You Jiale picked up his teacup, but had no interest in tasting it. His gaze was fixed on Zhang Xiande sitting opposite him, and he asked bluntly, "What did Chi Ye mean when he said that Pei Zhiyuan 'has ended up in his current state'?"
Zhang Xiande raised his hand and gently stroked the rim of the teacup, his deep gaze falling on the bustling street scene outside the window, as if he were considering how to answer.
“There are some things I didn’t want you to know too clearly,” Zhang Xiande said, his voice tinged with hesitation.
"Don't you want me to know?" You Jiale's voice rose a few decibels, tinged with disbelief. "How could I not need to know about Pei Zhiyuan's affairs? Chi Ye so confidently said that it was because of me that he... that he did that?"
Zhang Xiande looked up at You Jiale, a complex light in his eyes. "You just need to know that he will never appear in front of you again, never."
"He won't appear?" You Jiale was even more confused. "What do you mean? Where did he go? Did you... what did you do to him?" His voice was full of doubt.
Zhang Xiande's tone was cold: "He brought it upon himself."
You Jiale looked at Zhang Xiande, his tone carrying a hint of disbelief and certainty, his eyes fixed on Zhang's face, trying to catch any subtle change in expression. He leaned closer to Zhang Xiande, his voice low and urgent, asking, "You know? What did you do to him?"
Zhang Xiande did not answer directly, but simply picked up his teacup, took a small sip of tea, and his eyes were dark and unfathomable.
Looking at Zhang Xiande's reaction, You Jiale's guess was almost confirmed.
That night, he hit Pei Zhiyuan. Although Chi Ye's words were sarcastic, the implication that he was referring to Zhang Xiande was extremely clear. Could it be… that Zhang Xiande really did something behind the scenes? For him?
This thought stirred within him a strange feeling that he himself was unwilling to acknowledge...
You Jiale's voice softened slightly, tinged with a hint of probing, "Why...why did you do this?"
Zhang Xiande put down his teacup, looked up at You Jiale, and said, "I've said it before, it's not safe for you to live alone in your current situation. Some people always like to do dirty tricks behind people's backs. Since that's the case, let them pay the price."
"You mean Pei Zhiyuan? You... what did you do to him for my sake?" He paused, recalling the anonymous report against "Leji Delivery," and his suspicions deepened. "Since you've taken action against him this time, didn't you know he was behind the report against 'Leji' last time? You knew perfectly well, so why didn't you tell me? Haven't you always been protecting him? Then why did you go to such lengths this time?" His voice carried a hint of confusion and grievance; he simply couldn't understand Zhang Xiande's contradictory behavior.
Zhang Xiande's gaze paused slightly, as if touched by You Jiale's words. After a moment, he asked in return, "How do you know that he was the one who reported me last time? And how do you know that I know?" His tone was calm, but with a hint of inquiry.
You Jiale's heart skipped a beat; he hadn't expected Zhang Xiande to be so perceptive in his question. His eyes flickered, then he said frankly, "I heard it. I didn't tell you because I already understood your attitude." He chuckled self-deprecatingly, his tone carrying a hint of detachment: "'Leji' is nothing more than a passing fancy to you, insignificant. But Pei Zhiyuan… he's the one you cherish most. Isn't it normal that you don't want him to suffer any harm?" He looked at Zhang Xiande, "But why have you turned against me this time?"
Zhang Xiande looked at You Jiale, his tone carrying a hint of seriousness he himself was unaware of: "I'm not telling you because there's no need to." He paused, then continued, "Pei Zhiyuan's actions are nothing more than petty tricks that can't be brought to the table. I can handle them anytime. As long as they don't affect your entrepreneurial enthusiasm or distract you, I feel there's no need to tell you." His voice was deep and magnetic, as if it really was something insignificant.
He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sharpening as he fixed his gaze on You Jiale's face: "And this time..." His voice deepened, carrying a hint of danger: "If I hadn't been secretly protecting you all along, I wouldn't have known about your date with He Mingzhou in time. If I hadn't rushed over that night..." His voice trailed off, his eyes gleaming with an almost maniacal possessiveness and lingering fear: "That night would have been the most regrettable night of my life!" His voice trembled slightly, and his fingers, gripping the teacup tightly, turned slightly white.
“I wish I could… kill him.” Zhang Xiande’s voice was low and hoarse.
He looked up, his gaze fixed intently on You Jiale, his eyes filled with complex emotions—love, anger, and jealousy intertwined, creating a suffocating sense of oppression: "But I didn't. I made him... suffer more than death." His tone calmed, as if he were narrating something unrelated to himself, but this calmness only sent a chill down one's spine.
You Jiale was so shocked by Zhang Xiande's words that he was speechless. His eyes widened as he stared at the man in front of him in disbelief. He had never seen Zhang Xiande show such strong emotions before, which made him feel a chill run down his spine.
He asked weakly, his voice trembling slightly, "Then... tell me the truth, what exactly do you want?" He felt his heart pounding so hard it was almost jumping out of his chest, and an unprecedented sense of unease and confusion enveloped him.
Looking at You Jiale's face, filled with fear and unease, Zhang Xiande felt a surge of possessiveness growing wildly within him, like weeds sprouting from the earth. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions, and gazed at him tenderly, his tone more serious and direct than ever before: "I don't want anything." His voice was deep and magnetic, carrying a hint of gentle seduction: "I want to be your man."
"Huh?" You Jiale's voice was dry, like sandpaper rubbing.
"You want to be my man? Are you out of your mind? Forget everything that happened that night! Don't remember a single thing!" His voice suddenly rose, tinged with exasperation.
"I'm going to get married someday! A beautiful young woman, fair-skinned, with long legs, would she want to be with a grown man like you? What are you dreaming about!" His cheeks flushed an unnatural red with excitement.
He couldn't help but blurt out, "And weren't you deeply in love with Pei Zhiyuan before? How come men change their minds so quickly? You were making vows of eternal love yesterday, and you've already fallen for someone else today?" His tone was clearly accusatory.
Zhang Xiande looked at You Jiale, who was like a ruffled little animal, a hint of a smile flashing deep in his eyes. He slowly put down his teacup, his movements elegant and calm, a stark contrast to You Jiale's agitation. "Which eye of yours saw that I was deeply in love with Pei Zhiyuan?" His voice carried a hint of sarcasm.
"Rumors stop with the wise, and clearly, you are not that wise person." He paused, his sharp gaze landing on You Jiale's face with a hint of scrutiny. "What you see may just be your own imagination."
You Jiale was so stunned by his words that he almost choked. His eyes widened, and his chest heaved violently. "My imagination? Everyone knows that."
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, but his tone was still angry: "I'll say it again! I'm going to get married! Don't you fucking think about me! I'm not gay! Do you understand? No! Gay!" He emphasized each word as if to imprint this fact deeply into Zhang Xiande's mind.
Zhang Xiande raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly intrigued by the term "gay," his gaze remaining tender as he looked at You Jiale. "What is 'gay'?" he asked calmly, as if inquiring about the weather, his face showing no annoyance at rejection, but rather a hint of curiosity.
"Get married?" He repeated the three words softly, a resolute glint in his eyes. "I'm sorry, if you can't accept me now, I'll give you time. I'll prove my sincerity to you with my actions." His voice carried a reassuring power, as if everything he said would become a reality.
"When you say 'marry a wife,' if I understand correctly, you mean 'marry a wife,' right? You can forget about it for the rest of your life." Although his tone was gentle, the domineering and unquestionable tone made You Jiale feel suffocated.
Yu Jiale's temples throbbed with anger at his words; he felt the blood rushing to his head, threatening to burst. "So you're going to force me if I disagree?" he asked through gritted teeth, his tone filled with wariness and rage. He stared intently at Zhang Xiande, trying to find a hint of threat or coercion in his face.
Zhang Xiande met You Jiale's angry gaze, his eyes still gentle and profound. "I hope you are doing this willingly." His voice was as soft as a feather brushing against her ear, yet it carried confidence and an air of certainty.
Looking at Zhang Xiande's confident expression, You Jiale felt a surge of intense impulse. His fingers clenched involuntarily, and the veins on the back of his hands were faintly visible. He felt a burning sensation in his palm, and an uncontrollable desire grew within him—he suddenly wanted to slap this self-righteous man hard across the face and shatter his absurd confidence.
After the unpleasant parting, You Jiale did not return to "Leji" but went straight home. He was so shocked that he just wanted to bury himself under the covers.
If the night he was drugged was a huge shock, then Zhang Xiande's devilish whispers today left him feeling lost and alienated. This was a turn of events he had never imagined.
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