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"Because he is my husband."
In Ning Shiyue's view, he has known Ning Yuxuan since the day he was born.
The two of them had grown up together for over twenty years, and he knew exactly which men had pursued Ning Yuxuan and who Ning Yuxuan had liked.
So, if Ning Yuxuan is dating or getting married, he should naturally be the first person to know.
Looking at the red certificate on the coffee table, Ning Shiyue could hardly believe his eyes.
Even if you've never eaten pork, you've seen pigs run. The document, about the size of a palm, is dark red with gold lettering, and there are two of them.
So, disregarding her embarrassment and awkwardness, she didn't greet anyone properly and rushed to the coffee table.
Upon closer inspection, it really did say "Marriage Certificate".
Ning Shiyue: "..."
Is he hallucinating because he's been too tired from filming for the past month?
Seeing this, Ning Yuxuan and her mother exchanged a glance, then looked at Xie Zhiyan beside her.
After thinking about it, he still didn't stop Ning Shiyue from doing what he was about to do.
Since they'll have to confess sooner or later anyway, they might as well do it now, so at least Ning Shiyue and Ning Fei will find out about it on the same day.
Otherwise, if the whole family keeps it from him, who knows how crazy Ning Shiyue will go when he finds out on his own.
Ning Shiyue paid no attention to the reactions of the people around him and picked up the two red books without thinking.
Opening one of the books, two bright red official seals proclaimed the document's legitimacy.
Turn to the next page, and you'll see a liver-colored photo background featuring the smiling faces of a man and a woman.
Ning Yuxuan's smile was as beautiful as ever, while Xie Zhiyan looked much gentler than usual, his usual sharpness softened, and the corners of his lips curved slightly upward.
What a perfect couple!
However, Ning Shiyue was not in the mood to appreciate it at the moment.
He stared intently, almost as if he were drilling a hole through the photograph.
My gaze shifted slightly to the side, and the certificate holder's name was clearly written as "Ning Yuxuan". Further down, I saw the basic information of Ning Yuxuan and Xie Zhiyan.
As for the other book in my hand, I know what it looks like without even looking at it.
Ning Shiyue paused for five seconds, then turned the page to the next page, looked at it for a few seconds, and then turned the page to the previous page.
The few thin pages were flipped through several times, as if one could discern something interesting from them.
But in reality, his mind was completely blank; he couldn't absorb a single word except for the two people's names.
Ning Yuxuan couldn't help but say, "What are you flipping through so many times? Be careful not to break it."
Ning Shiyue finally snapped out of his daze and slowly uttered a few words: "What is this?"
Ning Yuxuan coughed guiltily: "As you can see, the marriage certificate."
Ning Shiyue: "..."
He still couldn't believe it.
"Is it real... the kind of marriage certificate you get from the Civil Affairs Bureau?" Ning Shiyue asked repeatedly. "Not a prop? Not a prank? Not something you had someone forge?"
Ning Yuxuan was shocked by Ning Shiyue's wild idea, wanting to laugh but not daring to: "Ning Shiyue, forging documents is illegal."
Ning Shiyue: "...Oh."
Ning Yuxuan blinked and looked at Ning Shiyue.
Was the shock too great, and he was stunned?
Ning Shiyue glanced at the documents in his hand again, remained silent for a moment, and then asked, "So... is it because Brother Zhiyan's house is being demolished and you also want to get a share of the house?"
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
They even came up with this kind of reason for her, which shows how much Ning Shiyue couldn't accept this fact.
Ning Yuxuan: "No."
She cleared her throat and explained to Ning Shiyue, "There aren't so many complicated reasons. Xie Zhiyan and I are really married."
This time, Ning Shiyue lowered his eyes and remained silent for a full half minute.
Ning Yuxuan didn't say anything, giving him time to process this fact.
Finally, Ning Shiyue raised his eyes again and said, word by word, "So, you secretly got your marriage certificate while I wasn't in Beicheng, not only without discussing it with me beforehand, but you even planned to keep it a secret from me with everyone else afterward?"
Ning Fei: "Xiao Yue..."
Ning Shiyue interrupted his mother: "Mom, don't protect her, I want to hear what she has to say."
Ning Fei silently shut her mouth and glanced at Xie Zhiyan beside her daughter.
It was like a scene from a movie.
Just now, when Xie Zhiyan wanted to speak, she stopped him in the same way.
Ning Fei sighed almost imperceptibly: "I'll go upstairs and change my clothes first."
After her mother went upstairs, Ning Yuxuan glanced at Xie Zhiyan and said, "Go and get us a glass of water."
Clearly, Ning Shiyue wanted to get the answer from her alone. Xie Zhiyan's presence would not only be of no help, but might even have the opposite effect.
Once only the two of them were left in the living room, Ning Yuxuan spoke up: "Ning Shiyue, don't rush, let me explain first."
"Who said I'm in a hurry?" Ning Shiyue glared at her. "Why should I be in a hurry? It's your wedding, not mine. It has nothing to do with me. What do I care about? What's the rush?"
Ning Yuxuan: "...So, are you still going to listen to my explanation?"
Ning Shiyue almost choked on his breath.
Listen to what kind of talk this is!
Didn't she realize he was just saying it out of anger? He said he didn't care, so she really didn't explain anymore?
Ning Shiyue became even angrier: "If you don't want to talk, then forget it, I—"
"I'll talk, I'll talk!" Seeing that the sibling relationship was on the verge of collapse, Ning Yuxuan hurriedly tried to salvage it. "It's not as serious as you think. First of all, I didn't secretly get the marriage certificate while you were away from Beicheng."
Ning Shiyue: "...What do you mean?"
Ning Yuxuan: "Isn't the marriage certificate in your hands? Look for yourself. The registration date was in June, before you even joined the film crew."
Ning Shiyue paused for a moment, then looked down at the marriage certificate; the registration date was indeed June.
His mind raced for a few seconds, and after realizing something, his eyes were filled with even more disbelief.
"So..." Ning Shiyue glared at Ning Yuxuan, "you two have been married for over a month and you weren't planning to tell me?"
So incredulous was he that his tone of voice changed, and he almost cracked his voice on the last word.
Ning Yuxuan cleared her throat: "This brings us to the second point I need to clarify. I didn't tell you right away, but I didn't keep it from you alone. I also kept it from Mom. She only found the marriage certificate by chance today when she was looking for something in the study. She knew about it a few hours earlier than you at most."
Ning Shiyue: "..."
Although even he himself found it outrageous, Ning Shiyue had to admit it.
After hearing Ning Yuxuan say that, he actually felt strangely a little better.
However, it was only a little bit, and he couldn't forgive her so easily.
"So what?" Ning Shiyue asked rudely. "So what?"
Ning Yuxuan caught a hint of softening in Ning Shiyue's fierce tone.
So she continued gently, "So it was my fault. I shouldn't have kept the marriage a secret from all of you. But there's a backstory to this. Do you want to hear it?"
Ning Shiyue: "...You go first."
Ning Yuxuan: "It's like this..."
He explained the matter to Ning Shiyue again, just as he had explained it to Ning Fei.
Ironically, since she had just recounted the whole story to her mother, Ning Yuxuan spoke much more fluently this time than before, and quickly explained the whole matter clearly.
After listening, Ning Shiyue stared blankly at Ning Yuxuan: "So, you married yourself off just to open a new store?"
Ning Yuxuan corrected him: "It's not one store, it's four. And it's not that I married myself off, it's that I used marriage as a condition to cooperate with Xie Zhiyan."
Although they have now turned their fake relationship into a real one and become husband and wife, Ning Yuxuan has never truly considered herself as having married into the Xie family.
Ning Shiyue muttered, "I don't see much difference, and besides..."
He still couldn't understand: "Are those newly opened stores really that important? If you really feel you don't have enough money, you can tell me. Is it really necessary to get married because of this?"
Ning Yuxuan's brow twitched slightly: "Tell you?"
Ning Shiyue cleared his throat forcefully: "I didn't mean I'm willing to support you! What I mean is, our family isn't short of money, and my job earns me a good amount every year. Do you really need to be so eager to increase our family's income?"
Judging from Ning Shiyue's expression and tone, Ning Yuxuan knew that he had almost calmed down.
She rarely spoke to Ning Shiyue with such good temper and patience, but it was indeed her mistake to get the marriage certificate without his knowledge.
Ning Yuxuan said gently, "You're right, I didn't think things through. But the final outcome was good, wasn't it?"
“What’s so good about it…” Ning Shiyue murmured, “You got married just like that, and I haven’t even had a proper talk with Brother Zhiyan as your brother yet.”
During this period, Ning Shiyue has been filming on set.
In his spare time, he thought more than once that after returning to Beicheng, he would have a proper conversation with Xie Zhiyan as "Ning Yuxuan's younger brother".
Ning Shiyue even had a line in mind: "Brother Zhiyan, although I have always supported you two being together and hoped that you would achieve your goal, if you treat my sister badly, I will definitely stand firmly on her side."
Before they even had a chance to speak, the die was cast for both of them.
Thinking of this, Ning Shiyue's anger, which had almost subsided, began to rise again.
Ning Shiyue glanced at Ning Yuxuan: "Don't think I'm so easy to fool. I haven't fully accepted it yet."
Ning Yuxuan curved her lips into a smile: "Then what else do you want? Let me hear it."
Ning Shiyue: "I want to have a conversation between men with your boyfriend... and your husband!"
Ning Yuxuan almost burst out laughing.
However, she still gave Ning Shiyue face and said seriously, "Alright, when do you plan to have this conversation?"
Ning Shiyue: "In the next two days!"
Ning Yuxuan nodded: "Then how about now?"
Ning Shiyue: "What—"
Before he could finish speaking, footsteps stopped beside him.
"Shi Yue." Xie Zhiyan stopped beside Ning Shi Yue, his tone steady, "Would you like some water?"
Ning Shiyue subconsciously took the cup: "Thank you."
Ning Yuxuan raised her eyebrows and looked at Ning Shiyue with a teasing expression.
Ning Shiyue: "..."
Being too polite can also be a problem; it can make you seem less assertive.
"Ahem." Ning Shiyue held his water glass but didn't drink. "Brother Zhiyan, I have something I want to tell you."
Xie Zhiyan's eyes flickered slightly: "Okay."
Ning Yuxuan's gaze swept between the two of them: "Then shall I excuse myself?"
She suppressed a laugh and said, "After all, it's a conversation between men."
Xie Zhiyan, unaware of what the two had just discussed, raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this.
Ning Shiyue glared at Ning Yuxuan.
He's serious, so what does she mean by that tone?
Ning Shiyue put on a serious expression: "Then you should leave."
Ning Yuxuan nodded seriously: "Okay, then you two chat."
After all, she didn't discuss her marriage with Ning Shiyue at all, so giving him a chance to have a proper talk with Xie Zhiyan wouldn't be a bad idea.
Anyway, she wasn't worried about Xie Zhiyan at all. If he couldn't even handle Ning Shiyue, wouldn't he have been all talk and no action in the business world all these years?
Liu Ningshiyue and Xie Zhiyan were in the living room, while Ning Yuxuan found her mother in the dining room.
When Ning Fei saw her daughter coming over, she asked with concern, "Have you explained things to Xiao Yue?"
Ning Yuxuan nodded.
Ning Fei: "Xiao Yue isn't angry anymore?"
Ning Yuxuan hummed in agreement: "I explained it to him. Although he was quite unhappy at first, he eventually accepted it and should be over it now."
Ning Fei was relieved: "That's good."
She thought that if Ning Shiyue was still angry, she, as his mother, had to find a way to persuade him and prevent a rift from forming between her son and daughter.
Ning Fei: "What about Xiao Yue now?"
Ning Yuxuan laughed: "He insisted on having a conversation between men with Xie Zhiyan, so I let them talk in the living room."
Ning Fei also laughed.
Ning Yuxuan: "Mom, do you think Ning Shiyue is very immature? He has never even been in a relationship, yet he tries to act like an experienced person when talking to others."
Ning Fei smiled and said, "Xiao Yue meant well."
"Oh, right," Ning Fei said, "I asked Aunt Xu to cook a few more dishes so the four of us can have dinner together later?"
Ning Yuxuan: "Okay."
She paused for a moment, then added, "Let's make a couple more dishes that Ning Shiyue likes, to make it up to him. Oh, and your favorite dishes too, Mom."
Ning Fei smiled and said, "Okay, I'll talk to Aunt Xu."
Seeing her mother turn to go to the kitchen, Ning Yuxuan called out to her, "Mom!"
Ning Fei turned around: "What's wrong, Xuanxuan?"
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
"Are you really not angry with me anymore?" she asked.
After explaining things to Ning Shiyue for a long time, Ning Yuxuan realized once again just how quickly her mother forgave her.
Because she cried, he comforted her instead.
Ning Fei's gaze softened: "Mom said she's not angry."
Her greatest wish is for her daughter to be happy and content.
Although her daughter and Xie Zhiyan initially married for other reasons, Ning Fei has seen how happy her daughter has been since they started dating recently.
She knows her daughter well and knows that none of this can be faked.
How could I possibly get angry with my daughter over this?
Her mother's tone was so gentle that Ning Yuxuan's eyes began to sting again: "Mom..."
Ning Fei chuckled and went over to hug her daughter.
"Silly girl," Ning Fei said softly, "Don't cry, Mommy doesn't want to go and change her clothes again."
Ning Yuxuan stopped crying and smiled, nodding vigorously: "Mm."
...
It's 5:30 pm and dinner isn't ready yet.
Ning Yuxuan drank some water, went to her bedroom to change her clothes, and replied to a few work messages.
Back on the first floor, Ning Shiyue and Xie Zhiyan were still sitting on the sofa in the living room.
Unable to contain her curiosity, Ning Yuxuan walked up to the two of them.
When she came over, they both looked over.
Ning Yuxuan spoke up: "You two, aren't you finished talking yet?"
Ning Shiyue coughed seriously: "Soon."
Ning Yuxuan glanced at him, then at Xie Zhiyan.
Xie Zhiyan's expression was calm, even leisurely, and he didn't seem to be in a difficult position at all.
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
She knew that Ning Shiyue was a paper tiger.
She had secretly hoped that Ning Shiyue might actually cause Xie Zhiyan some trouble.
"What did you all talk about?" Ning Yuxuan asked. "Was there anything I could overhear?"
Ning Shiyue immediately replied, "No."
Ning Yuxuan rolled her eyes, thinking that at worst she could ask Xie Zhiyan later.
Ning Shiyue: "What are you doing here?"
Ning Yuxuan said irritably, "Mom told me to tell you that dinner won't be ready for a while, so you and Xie Zhiyan can rest a little longer."
"Oh, right," she added, "I haven't asked you yet, weren't you filming on set? Why did you suddenly come back?"
As she spoke, Ning Yuxuan sat down on the sofa.
Since she was asking Ning Shiyue a question, she naturally sat down in a seat closer to him.
Ning Shiyue caught a glimpse of Ning Yuxuan's actions, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, but he quickly suppressed it.
Sure enough, even after she got married, he was still the one who had known Ning Yuxuan longer.
"The crew gave me four and a half days off," Ning Shiyue replied. "From noon today until Sunday, I'll rush back on Monday to continue filming."
Ning Yuxuan recalled the arrangements for the variety show recording: "You're going to record 'Mom' with us?"
Ning Shiyue nodded: "Yes, the production team assigned me the task of promotion. They'll be filming other people's scenes first these few days, and I'll be participating in the live broadcast."
Ning Yuxuan: "Oh."
Ning Shiyue frowned: "We haven't seen each other for so long. I finally get to spend a few days with you all, why aren't you welcoming me at all?"
Ning Yuxuan remained unfazed: "Welcome or not, you're here too, aren't you?"
Ning Shiyue: "..."
He felt something was off.
Today, he discovered that she had secretly married, and only then did he stand on the moral high ground for a short while, enjoying a half-hour "gentle version of Ning Yuxuan" experience.
The trial card has already expired?
Ning Shiyue was furious: "Ning Yuxuan, it's one thing to kick someone when they've served their purpose, but this is too fast! Let me tell you, I'm not completely over it yet! If you don't behave yourself—"
Halfway through his speech, Ning Shiyue realized that Xie Zhiyan was still sitting on the sofa next to him.
Just now, he was having a serious conversation with Xie Zhiyan, doing his best to appear mature and composed.
If I were to argue with Ning Yuxuan in front of Xie Zhiyan, wouldn't I immediately lose my composure?
Thinking of this, Ning Shiyue swallowed the rest of his sentence.
After a few seconds of hesitation, she finally managed to say, "Ning Yuxuan, can't you be a little nicer to me...?"
The words, once spoken, sounded somewhat aggrieved.
Ning Yuxuan blinked her eyelashes.
Forget it, it was wrong of her to keep it from him, she should give him face.
Ning Yuxuan showed a sincere expression: "Filming must be tiring. Your mom and I miss you very much. You're welcome to come and record a show with us. Are you tired? Are you thirsty? Would you like me to get you some more water?"
Ning Shiyue: "..."
It just sounds so awkward.
"Forget it, forget it," Ning Shiyue said in despair. "You should just stay the same as before."
He muttered to himself, "I really owe you something."
After asking Ning Shiyue, Ning Yuxuan looked at Xie Zhiyan and asked, "What did you two talk about just now?"
Ning Shiyue: "?"
He's still sitting here, and Ning Yuxuan just ignored him and went to ask Xie Zhiyan?
Xie Zhiyan smiled faintly and said, "Shi Yue asked me to take good care of you and also told me about your preferences."
Ning Shiyue: "..."
He now understands what it means for husband and wife to be in cahoots.
He was betrayed the moment he finished talking to Xie Zhiyan.
Fortunately, at least Xie Zhiyan kept his promise and didn't reveal all the "profound" words he had painstakingly come up with to Ning Yuxuan.
Ning Yuxuan said "Oh": "My preferences? Ning Shiyue, do you really understand me?"
Ning Shiyue glared at Ning Yuxuan: "I'm your brother, I've known you for over twenty years, do you think I don't understand you?"
Ning Yuxuan: "So what do I like to eat?"
Ning Shiyue: "Are you serious? Every time we eat together over the years, Mom always asks the nanny to make dishes that only you like. Do you think I remember what you like to eat?"
“That’s true.” Ning Yuxuan nodded. “So what kinds of TV series and movies do I like to watch?”
Ning Shiyue: "...Have you forgotten how you used to drag me to watch your favorite movies when we were kids, and how you threatened to beat me up when I didn't want to?"
Ning Yuxuan thought for a moment and then suddenly realized: "Oh, right, I dragged you to watch a post-apocalyptic zombie movie, but you got scared and cried halfway through, and even said you were going to tell your mom."
Ning Shiyue: "Nonsense, I didn't cry at all!"
Ning Yuxuan remained unmoved: "She cried."
Ning Shiyue: "Brother Zhiyan, believe me, Ning Yuxuan is lying, I definitely didn't cry!"
Ning Yuxuan: "Zhiyan won't believe you, because he's my husband."
Ning Shiyue: "...So what? When we were kids, my relationship with Brother Zhiyan was much better than yours. He definitely knows me and knows that I could never be scared by something like that!"
...
At 10:50, Ning Fei came over and interrupted the siblings' "argument".
"Xiao Yue," Ning Fei said, "Dinner is almost ready. Come with me to get the bowls and chopsticks and serve the rice."
Over the years, life has gone from frugality to luxury, but Ning Fei is still not used to leaving all the housework to the housekeeper and will do some things within her ability.
Ning Shiyue stood up: "Okay."
Ning Fei: "Xuanxuan, Zhiyan, you two wash your hands and get ready to come to the restaurant for dinner."
The two agreed.
Ning Yuxuan stood up to wash her hands.
As soon as I entered the restroom, a man wrapped his arms around me from behind.
After doing the most intimate things, even the simplest skin-to-skin contact seems to feel different than before.
Ning Yuxuan's breathing hitched slightly, and she turned to look at Xie Zhiyan: "Washing my hands."
Xie Zhiyan: "Mm."
The man leaned down slightly, his warm breath brushing against her ear.
"Call me 'husband' again, okay?"
[Author's Note]
The countdown to the end of the main text has begun; approximately 5 chapters remain.
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