"I wanted to ask, handsome, about a height of two or three hundred meters." Coach was at a loss for words. "Are you platform diving or committing suicide by diving? The Guinness Record for high diving is only sixty-one meters, and that guy broke his spine when he hit the water."
Tang Mingxi said confidently, "It's fine. I have conviction. Just teach me."
Tang Mingxi spent the entire morning soaking in the swimming pool and finally managed to swim ten meters without a float ring. Seeing this, Coach hurriedly praised him for his talent.
His already fair skin looked even paler beneath the clear water. As a pampered Second Young Master who had always been surrounded by admirers, Tang Mingxi was top-tier in both looks and figure. His features were refined, his brows and eyes exquisite. Otherwise, he would not have been arranged to become the male lead's wife in the first place.
If he were a decorative vase, then he would be a precious, one-of-a-kind limited edition collectible in the world.
Looking back on Second Young Master Tang's more than twenty years of life, he had either been racing cars and riding horses, attending yacht parties, swiping his older brother's card, or sitting atop a glittering castle built from piles of gemstones.
The only thing in his life that had ever displeased him was marrying the male lead.
The swimming pool was heated, giving Tang Mingxi the illusion that he was soaking in a hot spring.
If Tang Yun had not called, Tang Mingxi, sitting by the pool, might even have thought that transmigrating into a novel had only been a dream.
Tang Yun told him over the phone not to forget to pay Madam Tang a New Year visit on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and that he absolutely had to bring Ye Heng along.
Only then did Tang Mingxi remember that he still had to deal with a difficult old lady.
In the original novel, Tang Mingxi's parents had both died in a car accident caused by infighting among wealthy families. Then, Old Master Tang had suddenly passed away half a year ago, leaving only his second uncle Tang Xuejin and Madam Tang among the direct elders of the family.
After Old Master Tang's death, Madam Tang's mental state had never been very good, but she alone was fond of Ye Heng, the outsider who had married into the family.
Although Ye Heng hated the Tang Family, he greatly respected Old Master Tang and Madam Tang.
That was also the main reason why, no matter how much the original owner humiliated Ye Heng, he had been unable to drive him out of the Tang Family.
What was more, every time they visited Madam Tang, the original owner had no choice but to put on an affectionate married-couple act with Ye Heng, thoroughly disgusting them both.
After hanging up, Tang Mingxi left the swimming center, stopped by a pharmacy, and had Wang Ma notify Ye Heng as well.
Half an hour later, Tang Mingxi and Ye Heng sat in the same car as it headed toward a small French-style villa in the Ningcheng Eastern Suburbs. Perhaps because of what had happened the previous night, the silence between them was even heavier than usual.
There was no telling what Ye Heng was feeling from his face as he stared ahead indifferently.
Or perhaps, after suffering too much humiliation, he had already grown used to facing Tang Mingxi the next day as though nothing had happened.
That left Tang Mingxi as the only one who was somewhat bothered by what had happened the previous night.
Tang Mingxi glanced at the chilblains on Ye Heng's hand, then squeezed the chilblain cream in his pocket.
Tang Mingxi actually felt a little guilty about what had happened with Huo Yiran, but he could not bring himself to speak to Ye Heng. After working himself up for a long time, he finally managed one word: "You..."
"Don't worry." Ye Heng's voice lay somewhere between that of a youth and a man, carrying a uniquely cool charm. "I'll cooperate and put on a convincing act. Madam Tang won't find out."
Tang Mingxi: ...
Fine, if the male lead said so, what was there for him to worry about?
It was only after getting out of the car that Tang Mingxi understood what Ye Heng meant by "I'll cooperate and put on a convincing act."
Madam Tang had heard the engine in the courtyard from her room on the second floor. She first called out, "Little Xi," then, "Aheng," before having the housekeeper help her downstairs.
Tang Mingxi was just about to answer when he suddenly felt a scorching hand wrap tightly around his waist, turning the reply he had been about to call out into, "...Huh?"
His waist was so slim that Ye Heng could encircle it with one hand.
Though Ye Heng was four years younger, he was a whole head taller.
For the first time in his life, Tang Mingxi struck such a delicate, birdlike pose, leaning against another man's chest. Goosebumps instantly rose all over his body, and he stiffened so badly that he nearly walked with the same hand and foot forward.
When Madam Tang came out, Ye Heng flashed an exceptionally clean smile suited to his age. "Grandma, Happy New Year. Little Xi and I came to wish you a happy New Year."
Tang Mingxi: ...Was he really this dedicated?
"Grandma, Happy New Year." Tang Mingxi forced himself to continue the act with Ye Heng and play the part of this
loving couple.
Madam Tang was clearly delighted by the young couple's relationship. Completely unaware of Ye Heng's suffering in the Tang Family, she pulled Tang Mingxi inside and told the two of them to sit down for dinner.
Tang Nuo had arrived earlier. He stood and nodded to Tang Mingxi, then sat back down after receiving a response.
Beside him sat a refined and handsome man in a wheelchair, smiling gently. He was Tang Mingxi's second uncle, Tang Xuejin.
Tang Xuejin had been sickly since childhood, blind for many years, and disabled in both legs. With no interest in fighting for the family fortune, he had always kept a low profile and rarely appeared in public.
"Second Uncle, Happy New Year," Tang Mingxi said obediently.
Tang Xuejin had the servants prepare red envelopes for Tang Mingxi and Ye Heng, then smiled. "With such a sweet mouth, I'd be embarrassed not to give you red envelopes."
Once he received the red envelope, Tang Mingxi could not help feeling its thickness. He felt utterly pleased. So thick! As expected of one of Ningcheng's top ten wealthy families.
Hearing the sound, Tang Xuejin saw that Tang Mingxi was still the same as when he was little, looking like a cat that had stolen some cream whenever he got money. Smiling, he could not help shaking his head.
After putting away the red envelope, Tang Mingxi was quickly drawn in by the fragrant dishes on the table. Ever since transmigrating, he had been constantly on edge and had not enjoyed a proper meal.
Now, looking at the table full of home-cooked dishes, Tang Mingxi's appetite was instantly whetted.
Ye Heng sat quietly. Madam Tang occasionally asked him a few questions, and he answered each one flawlessly, as though he and Tang Mingxi really were a married couple.
That was until Madam Tang asked when the two of them planned to have children. Tang Mingxi, who had been focused on eating, began coughing earth-shatteringly.
Ye Heng's acting was so convincing that he gently patted Tang Mingxi's back, his tone indescribably tender. "Eat slowly."
Tang Mingxi only felt chills run down his spine, as though a cold, venomous snake had wrapped itself around his neck.
"Grandma, what are you talking about? How can two men have children?" Tang Mingxi forced himself to stay calm, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
A trace of confusion appeared in Madam Tang's eyes. Ever since Old Master Tang's passing, her mental state had remained poor. Overwhelmed by grief, she had become muddled by illness. "Little Xi can give birth."
Give birth to what, Nezha?
Or am I supposed to reproduce by mitosis and split off a daughter?
Just as he was about to reply, Ye Heng had already answered Madam Tang blandly, "Not yet. Little Xi isn't in good health, so we're planning to wait another year before having children."
At that moment, Tang Mingxi had no choice but to admire Ye Heng's movie-star-level professionalism. As the male lead of a Qidian novel, he could actually talk so calmly about such an explosive topic as two men having children.
Do you have an alternate account or something?
Madam Tang nodded. "That's right, that's right. Having children can't depend on Little Xi's efforts alone. Both of you need to work hard."
Tang Mingxi gave a professional fake smile. "Hehehe... We will, we will."
Ye Heng gave his stomach a meaningful glance, mockery flashing through his eyes.
After dinner, Tang Xuejin was unwell, so Tang Nuo escorted him back upstairs to rest.
As evening fell, Uncle Wang the butler had arranged the rooms, leaving Tang Mingxi with an epic problem: he had no choice but to sleep in the same room as Ye Heng.
The two stood at the bedroom door, caught in an indescribably awkward silence.
Logically speaking, Tang Mingxi should have kicked Ye Heng by now, thrown a fit like a spoiled young lady, said, "You think you're worthy of sharing a room with me?" and then slammed the door, leaving Ye Heng outside.
But when he turned around, Madam Tang was looking at him expectantly, her gaze also full of affection as it rested on his stomach.
You could stare at it a hundred times and I still can't give birth. Tang Mingxi forced himself to push open the door with a blank expression.
Ye Heng stood motionless behind him, but Tang Mingxi did not close the door either.