Is marriage a good idea?
Chen Chi gripped his phone tightly, his fingers clenching firmly.
He struggled to control his emotions, his exposed skin bulging with veins, panic growing wildly as if embedded in his flesh. He unsteadily pulled out the medicine from the box, broke it open, and put it in his mouth.
A strong bitter taste burst in his mouth, but Chen Chi seemed oblivious, chewing and swallowing it bit by bit.
The fear of clinging to the bones did not disappear; it slowly began to erode his body. Beneath his expensive suit, his muscles were taut as iron, and the veins extending from the exquisite cuffs emitted a chilling aura in the sunlight.
Chen Chi put down his phone and turned on his computer, veins bulging on his neck as he forced himself to handle company affairs.
Meanwhile, Chu Sinian, who had some free time in the lab, gave an instruction to the person next to him and took out his phone to send a message to Chen Chi.
Chu Sinian: [How are you feeling? I'm working on the integration. The previous theory had some discrepancies, so I've remodeled it. After integration, I need to check it again and compare the data.]
He waited a few minutes, and when there was no reply, he sent another message: [How are you feeling? Did you have a panic attack?]
Chu Sinian frowned and glanced at the time. Chen Chi should be working indoors at this hour, and logically, he shouldn't have missed the message on his phone with it right next to him.
Moreover, having escaped his control, Chen Chi was now more reliant on electronic devices than anyone else.
"You guys go ahead with your work, I'm going out for a bit." Chu Sinian said, then strode out the door and started a video call.
The system ringtone on the phone in the quiet corridor was jarring. Chu Sinian pursed his lips, feeling an indescribable anxiety. Just as he was about to turn off the video and call Chen Chi's assistant, the video call was suddenly answered.
The image on the screen was shaky, gradually becoming clearer, revealing a sharp jawline that slowly rose to reveal a pair of cold and composed eyes.
Chen Chi had sweat on his forehead and stared silently at Chu Sinian without saying a word.
Chu Sinian's voice was unsteady, "What's wrong? Are you having an attack?"
Chen Chi gave a low hum, his voice hoarse.
Seeing the other person's tired face due to extreme depression, Chu Sinian's heart immediately softened, and his usually calm expression became somewhat uneasy. "Are you feeling very unwell?"
Chu Sinian couldn't see Chen Chi's illness. When they were together, they built the safest barrier in the world, and all external interference was firmly blocked out by the fortress built by love.
Chen Chi never revealed any of his difficulties, so Chu Sinian could only learn about the illness from the doctor's few words.
He knew that Chen Chi's bones were made of steel, and he would never reveal his true condition unless he was terminally ill.
Chu Sinian gritted his teeth slightly, "I'll reinstall the surveillance cameras."
Chen Chi's silent gaze flickered for a moment. "Are you willing?"
Chu Sinian nodded with difficulty, "Anyway, you've been monitoring me for so long, I... I don't care anymore, a few days or a few months make no difference."
Chen Chi asked, "Are you really willing?"
Chu Sinian said firmly, "I am willing."
Chen Chi suddenly smiled, the curve of his lips spreading out in a very gentle way.
"I will cooperate with the doctor's treatment, and from now on, I will never let you shed a single tear again."
“Every year, I give in.”
When Chu Sinian returned to the lab clutching his phone after the video call was disconnected, he was still somewhat dazed. It wasn't until the scholar called his name that he snapped back to reality.
He drove home with his laptop, his mind still replaying his somber words of concession.
Chu Sinian knew exactly how many steps it took to go from being adversaries to becoming lovers.
Their first encounter, by a twist of fate, sowed the seeds of their entanglement. Even without that accident, he and Chen Chi might not have been able to get along peacefully.
As if it were destined, their naturally antagonistic personalities meant that even if they became lovers, they would inevitably take many detours and go through many steps.
——
As the Lunar New Year approached, Chu Sinian declined Professor Isabella's research trip and stayed in Dong'an to wait for Chen Chi to return so they could celebrate the New Year together.
He was always worried about Chen Chi, and whenever he had free time, he would fly over to spend a morning, a noon, or a night with him before rushing back to Dong'an to work for the professor.
Ms. Isabella agreed to his application to join the team early on, and after he completed his university courses, he was able to join the team directly and officially participate in scientific research.
He estimated that he would be just as busy as Chen Chi by then.
Chu Sinian smiled helplessly and prepared to make dinner.
Chen Chi's week-long business trip finally came to an end, with all projects finalized perfectly, and he reserved about half a month of annual leave for himself.
Chen Chi will land in Dong'an tonight.
Chu Sinian decided to cook him his recently best dish, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, plus cola chicken wings.
This was his first time trying cola chicken wings. He rarely cooks meat dishes and felt that meat dishes were much more difficult than vegetarian dishes.
He made several cuts on the washed chicken wings, put them in a pot of cold water, and marinated them with scallions, ginger, and cooking wine as instructed.
When pouring the cooking wine, Chu Sinian took a whiff of it and couldn't resist pouring a little too much.
Since Chen Chi took over his life, he's been very strict about everything, from alcohol to food. He can't touch anything that's unhealthy or bad for his stomach.
Even the wine cabinet was locked, the wine in the refrigerator was emptied, and the refrigerator, which used to be full of drinks and alcohol, is now full of meat. Even vegetables are delivered on time, so he no longer needs to go to the supermarket to buy things.
Chu Sinian heated the pan and put the marinated chicken wings into it, instantly sizzling hot oil. He skillfully stepped back a little, frowning in disgust as he flipped the chicken wings over.
A few drops of hot oil still splattered on the back of Chu Sinian's hand as he held the spatula, but he shook his hand off and continued cooking.
The sizzling sounds from the kitchen masked the clicking sounds coming from the doorway. Slightly quick but steady footsteps landed in the hall. Chu Sinian was pouring cola with a frown, completely unaware of what was happening.
Until a large hand covered his wrist, slowly moving up against his skin to grasp the bottle opening, Chu Sinian turned his head slightly and found himself leaning on the man's shoulder.
Chen Chi held the person tightly in his arms, his coat still on, still dusty from his journey, exuding a chilly aura.
He rested his chin on Chu Sinian's neck, his cold tone softening, "I miss you."
Chu Sinian moved aside somewhat helplessly, but was tightly circled. "I just saw you two days ago."
Chen Chi put down the half-empty can of cola, then wrapped his arms around her slender waist. "You've lost weight."
Chu Sinian didn't know how he measured it, "I haven't lost weight. I've been eating normally for all three meals recently."
Chen Chi buried his face in his shoulder, inhaling the familiar fragrance deeply. "You eat less when I'm not watching you."
"It's not that exaggerated," Chu Sinian said, freeing his hand to flip the chicken wing over. "Smell it, my cooking skills have improved."
Chen Chi straightened up, looked down at the hand holding the spatula, suddenly frowned and took the spatula, then grabbed his wrist with his other hand, carefully examining the back of his hand as he flipped the spatula over.
"You got burned?" Chen Chi didn't wait for his answer, quickly flipped the chicken wings, and went to get the first-aid kit in the living room. "Don't make this anymore. I'll make whatever you want to eat. I won't have the chef come when I'm not around."
Chu Sinian had long since shed his spoiled and arrogant air. He shrugged and said nonchalantly, "I do it occasionally. I didn't get burned, just a little red."
Afraid that he would flip the chicken wings again, Chen Chi quickly took out burn ointment and applied it little by little to the reddened area. "If you want to make it, I'll go with you tomorrow."
After saying that, he settled Chu Sinian in a chair, took off his coat to reveal a suit underneath, and slowly took over the unfinished cola chicken wings.
He looked at Chu Sinian by the island counter, his features softening under the bright kitchen lights. "Does the back of your hand hurt?"
Chu Sinian looked down at the back of his hand. His fair and delicate skin was flushed with a watery red, and the sticky ointment made him feel a little uncomfortable.
He wanted to wash it off, but shook his head and said, "It doesn't hurt anymore."
Chu Sinian rested his chin on his hand, looking at the man busy in the kitchen. His broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long, straight legs were all wrapped in a solemn and elegant suit, making him look like a noble lion.
Aren't you going to take your clothes off?
Chen Chi hummed in agreement, then took the time to take off his suit jacket, revealing a dark blue shirt underneath.
Chu Sinian, who had never seen one before, asked with some curiosity, "Where did you get a shirt of this color?"
Chen Chi's clothes are mostly handmade and custom-made. They are expensive and exquisite, but they are all the same, all in black, gray and brown, with no blue in sight.
Chen Chi was preparing to reduce the sauce for the cola chicken wings. "I told my assistant I wanted a few pieces in a color similar to your eyes, and they were delivered a couple of days ago."
Chu Sinian raised an eyebrow and said, "What do you mean by putting my eyes on your body?"
Chen Chi turned his head, his gaze gentle: "This way, it feels like you're by my side."
Chen Chi arrived earlier than expected, while Chu Sinian had only finished making one serving of scrambled eggs with tomatoes. After frying the chicken wings, Chen Chi quickly stir-fried a dish of dry-pot cauliflower, which Chu Sinian liked, and also made a soup.
Three dishes were served one after another. The rich aroma of the food caused a slight spasm in his stomach. Chu Sinian couldn't help but tease, "You're truly a woman who can grace a formal occasion and cook in the kitchen. If I were to marry you, would you agree?"
Chen Chi placed the soup on the table, wiped his hands with a wet wipe, and looked up at him when he heard this, "If I marry you, the bride price will be 52,000."
Chu Sinian chuckled, "Do we still need to give it to someone with our relationship?"
"Hmm, you don't cherish it if you marry into the family without any consequences."
Chu Sinian touched the end of his eyebrow and smiled, his eyes shining brightly. "Who did you learn that from?"
Chen Chi sat down and placed a chicken wing on Chu Sinian's plate. "That's what they said online."
Chu Sinian pretended to ponder, then nodded and said solemnly, "Fifty-two thousand isn't enough, how about fifty-two million?"
Chen Chi paused in his hand, which was holding a chopstick, "This should be all your savings."
Chu Sinian was no longer surprised that he knew about his financial situation, and said good-naturedly, "Marrying a wife should be a solemn affair."
Chen Chi put down his chopsticks, his calm gaze fixed on Chu Sinian. "Do you really want to marry me?"
Chu Sinian smiled, seemingly oblivious to the seriousness in his tone, and said decisively, "Marry."
Chen Chi agreed, saying, "Okay."
After dinner, the two snuggled up on the sofa to watch a recently released movie.
A family-friendly film, a comedy, and a romance movie.
Chu Sinian didn't like watching romance movies, so he chose a comedy, which made him laugh so hard he buried his face in Chen Chi's arms, making Chen Chi's heart flutter.
The living room was left with only a dim light. Chu Sinian leaned his entire upper body against Chen Chi's chest, holding a bag of dried fruit in his hands. He would feed Chen Chi a bite every now and then, and then eat a bite himself.
The changing colors of the film were reflected on Chu Sinian's face. Chen Chi stared fascinated at the curve of his eyes, silently and persistently trying to imitate it with his gaze.
He slowly tightened his arms around Chu Sinian's earlobe as if he couldn't help himself. All the unbearable emotions after the separation were released the moment he saw him. He was so satisfied and so happy.
He no longer needed to see Chu Sinian's tearful eyes and sorrowful expression; just seeing his smiling face was enough to comfort him after all the hardships he had endured.
Chen Chi spoke slowly and solemnly, "How about we get married?"
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