Chapter 38 "Then let him fall in love with me first."
Very lightly, something like a seed fell, leaving no time for perception, and then it was silently buried in the heart, just waiting to break through the soil and sprout one day.
His heartbeat miraculously calmed down under this invasion. Jiang Yao looked at Duan Zhuxian, and it seemed like a century had passed.
Until the MC's voice sounded again: "What does the other groom want to say to his beloved?"
Jiang Yao opened his mouth and found his voice: "He said it was good. I don't have anything else to say. Everyone, enjoy your food, drinks and fun."
The MC laughed, "It seems our other groom is so excited that he can't express it in words."
After the ceremony, the newlyweds walked from the backstage to the banquet to toast.
Jiang Yaozhui was silent for a long time behind Duan Zhuxian, then said, "I almost believed what you just said."
The volume was not loud, like a test, with repeated consideration, concealing an urgent mood.
Just as they reached an empty corner, Duan Zhuxian stopped, turned around, and forced Jiang Yao to stop face to face.
The two people were facing each other with less than half a meter of air between them, as if they were standing at the two ends of a suspended steel cable. If they were not careful, they would fall down, and the other person would be doomed along with them.
In the end, Duan Zhuxian took the first step.
"Are you moved?"
Duan Zhuxian asked.
"No."
Jiang Yao spoke decisively and answered a little too quickly.
Duan Zhuxian paused for a moment and said calmly, "Who told you not to be proactive today?"
Jiang Yao was stunned for a moment, and the corner of his lips raised an arc that was not quite a smile: "Okay."
Just admit that it was an act...
Jiang Yao thought to himself, and a strange emotion unconsciously surged in his chest, all stuck in his throat.
He swallowed several times, felt the choking discomfort, and savored it for a while.
It seems like... lost.
Damn, how could he be lost!
Jiang Yao woke up as if from a dream and was horrified.
Did he still expect that after Duan Zhuxian slept with him a few times, she would stop looking down on him and fall in love with him across the Mariana Trench?
No, why should he expect Duan Zhuxian to fall in love with him?
Jiang Yao's head was buzzing and he wanted to punch himself.
He must have been possessed by a ghost, and a hypocritical one at that!
The two continued walking forward.
Jiang Yao said in a gruff voice, "Didn't they mention this step when we were discussing the process?"
Duan Zhuxian said frankly: "I added it before I went on stage."
The boy he had liked for a long time, now wearing a white suit and surrounded by the blessings of all the guests, became his wife.
Ten years of emotions came flooding back at that moment, and he needed an outlet.
He had already prepared himself to be hunted down by Jiang Yao, but surprisingly, Jiang Yao was not angry. Instead, he followed him and questioned him in a low voice. No matter how much he tried to cover up, he could not hide the hesitation in his words.
Duan Zhuxian narrowed his eyes, and suddenly another unprecedented idea came to his mind.
"It took you a long time to write the lines, Mr. Duan." Jiang Yao chuckled, "I know you want to create some show effects, but there's really no need to be so exaggerated. You can even say things like I've been in love with you for a long time."
To be in love for a long time is itself an impossible thing.
Duan Zhuxian had always had someone he liked before.
He only realized this now.
From across the wall came the sound of footsteps and guests' conversations.
"Mr. Duan is so courageous. He was able to make the business marriage so flawless. He is worthy of being a man who holds great power in Huayan at such a young age."
"Yeah, I think the other people in the Duan family are still waiting to find fault with him."
…
Jiang Yao pinched his eyebrows as he walked.
Even the audience knew it was acting, but he, an actor, almost took it seriously.
He said, "Take it easy from now on."
Duan Zhuxian said, "If you can do it, go ahead."
"How can a man say no?" Jiang Yao raised his chin proudly. "From now on, you just take a break and watch me."
Before entering the banquet area, he took Duan Zhuxian's hand, clasped his fingers together, and the moment he stepped into the hustle and bustle, he tilted his head slightly and put his ear to Duan Zhuxian's.
He was just a little bit away from hearing the man's erratic heartbeat.
*
After a round of toasts, Duan Zhuxian went to the lounge on the second floor to answer a phone call.
Jiang Yao first chatted with Chen Yiqi, Chen Tang and others for a while, then turned around and met a smiling man.
He looks a little familiar, as if he was a classmate of Duan Zhuxian in high school. I have the impression that he had a good relationship with Duan Zhuxian.
Through Duan Zhuxian, he quickly remembered that the man was called Wei Zhihan.
Before his senior year of high school, he and Wei Zhihan were just nodding acquaintances. After he broke up with Duan Zhuxian, Wei Zhihan began to appear in his sight frequently. They played ball together several times and attended several parties together. They had no contact after graduation.
Jiang Yao tacitly assumed that Wei Zhihan was invited by Duan Zhuxian.
Wei Zhihan handed him a card: "This is my business card."
Jiang Yao took it and took a look. He found that the other party was a construction engineer who had his own companies both at home and abroad, and had a considerable background.
His eyes lit up and he immediately became interested.
After Duan Zhuxian finished the call and walked out of the lounge on the second floor, he saw Jiang Yao talking to a man not far away on the first floor. The two were talking and laughing, and they were very close to each other, as if they were looking at the same mobile phone screen.
When Duan Zhuxian came, Jiang Yao was asking Wei Zhihan some professional questions.
Ever since he promised to consider joining Lu Xuanshen's company with Duan Zhuxian, he has been keeping this matter in mind. After all, it was the first time that Duan Zhuxian asked him for help. In order to prevent Duan Zhuxian's investment from going to waste, he asked someone to investigate the Lu family, contacted many acquaintances in the industry, and made a thorough research report.
Thinking that Duan Zhuxian and Wei Zhihan were quite close, and probably had something to reminisce about, Jiang Yao said, "You two can chat. I'm going to go have a few drinks with my buddies."
After Jiang Yao left, Wei Zhihan withdrew his gaze from his back and smiled at Duan Zhuxian: "Long time no see."
Duan Zhuxian just said "hmm" without saying anything.
Jiang Yao is popular. When she was in high school, she was in the turbulent adolescence and had many admirers. Wei Zhihan was one of them.
But Jiang Yao was born without any sense in this regard, and he never doubted Wei Zhihan's intentions towards him from beginning to end.
Facing Duan Zhuxian's indifference, Wei Zhihan was not surprised. He shook his red wine and said, "I didn't expect you to use the marriage alliance trick. Is it fun to pretend?"
Duan Zhuxian said: "It has nothing to do with you."
Wei Zhihan raised an eyebrow. "If he knew the truth, what would he think of you, a deliberate liar? You know he's a straightforward person and can't stand being deceived or played around with."
Facing Wei Zhihan's sarcasm, Duan Zhuxian remained calm: "Then let him fall in love with me first."
Wei Zhihan was a little surprised. He didn't expect that Duan Zhuxian, who was so arrogant, cold and expressionless, would actually say such harsh words.
Seeing Duan Zhuxian about to leave, Wei Zhihan said to his back, "He was having his eighteenth birthday party, and I asked him why he didn't invite you. Guess what he said?"
Duan Zhuxian paused slightly.
Wei Zhihan curled the corners of his lips, his tone revealing a hint of amusement: "He was drunk at the time, and when he heard your name, his eyes suddenly turned red. He said that you never took him seriously and that you were the person he hated most in his life."
A few minutes later, Jiang Yao returned, oblivious to the tense atmosphere, and asked, "Have you two finished your conversation, old classmates?"
Wei Zhihan said, "We should have finished talking."
"Then I'll take this person away first." Jiang Yao said to Wei Zhihan, then turned to look at Duan Zhuxian, "My buddies want to toast Mr. Duan."
Duan Zhuxian nodded, the coldness in his eyes melted a little, and he let Jiang Yao hug his arm.
Wei Zhihan asked Jiang Yao: "How can I give you the information you want?"
"Add me as a friend and contact me later."
Jiang Yao took out his phone and clicked on the QR code as he spoke, not noticing Duan Zhuxian's sinking gaze behind him.
He had just drunk a lot of wine and felt a little dizzy. After walking a few steps, he hung stickyly on Duan Zhuxian's arm like a koala.
Jiang Yao's friends at the table were all amazed by the scene that was happening before them.
Someone couldn't help but say, "You two were pretending to be at odds so you could secretly date, right? Two college bullies are really good at covering up."
Someone else feigned surprise and said, "A few months ago, I heard our Young Master Jiang said he was getting married. Today I found out that his wife is Ms. Duan. Congratulations!"
Jiang Yao let them tease him, responded with "hmm" and "ahh", then bowed and said "congratulations, congratulations".
These were all Jiang Yao's cronies. They had followed Jiang Yao in disliking Duan Zhuxian, but they dared not speak out. After all, apart from Jiang Yao, none of them had the courage to go against Duan Zhuxian.
But now, Jiang Yao has already won over Duan Zhuxian, a prodigy, so they have nothing to fear. Coupled with the influence of alcohol, the group of people are getting more and more excited.
There were even some brave ones who, after drinking too much, directly called Duan Zhuxian "sister-in-law".
Amidst the commotion, Chen Yiqi leaned over to Jiang Yao and whispered, "Isn't it a bit of a stretch for Duan Zhuxian to marry you?"
"Impossible." Jiang Yao said with a frown.
This marriage was snatched away by someone, and he was the one who was forced.
"Really?" Chen Yiqi was a little skeptical, "But he doesn't look very happy."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yao immediately turned around to look at Duan Zhuxian who was standing diagonally behind him, and found that Duan Zhuxian's face was indeed a little dark, and the thin layer of foundation could not hide it at all.
He thought about it and didn't think anything unpleasant had happened, and Duan Zhuxian had just met an old friend.
Could it be that he was offended by the word "sister-in-law"?
Jiang Yao suppressed the secret joy in his heart and waved his hand, saying, "I guess it was just because of their nonsense."
"Nonsense?" Chen Yiqi smiled wickedly, "Could it be that you are my sister-in-law?"
Jiang Yao: "Get lost."
Duan Zhuxian only drank two glasses of wine with them at the beginning and didn't talk much the whole time. Everyone was used to it. After all, Duan Zhuxian has always been very cold and not the same kind of person as them.
However, Jiang Yao secretly observed Duan Zhuxian's expression several times in between drinking, chatting and boasting.
While no one was paying attention, he poked Duan Zhuxian's face with his finger.
Duan Zhuxian lowered his eyes and looked at him: "What are you doing?"
The voice is also deep.
It sounds like you're in a bad mood indeed.
"nothing."
Jiang Yao narrowed his eyes and inexplicably felt that Duan Zhuxian, who showed his emotions openly, was a little cute.
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