Chapter 13

"I'd like to ask, handsome, about a height of two or three hundred meters." The coach was at a loss for words. "Are you doing 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. He finally managed to swim ten meters without a float ring, and the coach hurriedly praised him for his talent.

His already fair skin looked even paler beneath the clear water. As the pampered second young master who had always been adored by everyone, Tang Mingxi could be called exceptional in both looks and physique. His features were refined and his eyes and brows exquisite; otherwise, he would never have been assigned to become the male lead's first wife.

If he were a vase, he would be a priceless one-of-a-kind limited edition collectible.

Looking back on the more than twenty years of this Second Young Master Tang's life, he had either been racing cars and riding horses, or attending yacht parties, swiping his elder brother's card while sitting atop a glittering castle built from piles of jewels.

The only thing in his life that had ever gone wrong was marrying the male lead.

The swimming pool was temperature-controlled, giving Tang Mingxi the illusion that he was soaking in a hot spring.

If Tang Yun had not called him, Tang Mingxi, sitting by the pool, might even have believed that transmigrating into a novel had only been a dream.

On the phone, Tang Yun reminded him not to forget to pay New Year's respects to Old Madam Tang on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and that he absolutely had to bring Ye Heng.

Only then did Tang Mingxi remember that he still had a difficult old lady to deal with.

In the original novel, Tang Mingxi's parents had both died in a car accident caused by the struggles among wealthy families. On top of that, Old Master Tang had suddenly passed away half a year ago, leaving only his second uncle Tang Xuejin and the old madam Liang Ru among the direct elders of the family.

After Old Master Tang's death, Old Madam Tang's mental state had never been particularly stable, but she alone was fond of Ye Heng, the outsider who had married into the family.

Although Ye Heng hated the Tang Family, he held Old Master Tang and his wife in great respect.

This was also the main reason the original Tang Mingxi, no matter how much he humiliated Ye Heng, had been unable to drive him out of the Tang Family.

Not only that, whenever they visited the old madam, the original Tang Mingxi and Ye Heng had to put on a show of being a deeply loving couple, which thoroughly disgusted them both.

After hanging up, Tang Mingxi left the swimming center and went to a pharmacy. He also had Madam Wang notify Ye Heng.

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 eastern outskirts of Ningcheng. Perhaps because of what had happened last night, they were even quieter than usual.

Ye Heng's expression revealed none of his emotions as he stared ahead indifferently.

Or perhaps, after suffering too many humiliations, 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 last night.

Tang Mingxi glanced at the chilblains on Ye Heng's hand, then squeezed the chilblain ointment in his pocket.

Tang Mingxi actually felt a little guilty about the Huo Yiran matter, but he could not bring himself to talk to Ye Heng. After hesitating for a long time, he finally blurted out one word: "You..."

"Don't worry." Ye Heng's voice lay somewhere between that of a youth and a man, possessing a distinctly aloof charm. "I'll cooperate and put on a good act. I won't let the old madam notice."

Tang Mingxi: ...

Fine. Since the male lead had said so, what was he worried 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 good act."

From her room on the second floor, the old madam had heard the engine in the courtyard. She first called out, "Xiao Xi," then "Ah Heng," before having the maid help her downstairs.

Tang Mingxi was about to answer when he suddenly felt a scorching hand wrap around his waist. His unspoken reply thus became, "...Huh?"

His waist was slender enough for Ye Heng to encircle with one hand.

Despite being four years younger than him, Ye Heng was a whole head taller.

For the first time in his life, Tang Mingxi was striking such a delicate, dependent pose, nestled in another man's arms. Goosebumps erupted all over him, and his body went so stiff that he nearly walked with the same arm and leg forward.

When the old madam came out, Ye Heng flashed an exceptionally clean smile suited to his age. "Grandma, happy New Year. Xiao Xi and I came to pay you our respects."

Tang Mingxi: ...He was way too dedicated.

Chapter 10: Increase Allowance

"Grandma, happy New Year." Tang Mingxi forced himself to continue the act of being this loving couple with Ye Heng.

The old madam was clearly pleased with the young couple's relationship. Completely unaware of Ye Heng's hardships in the Tang Family, she took Tang Mingxi inside and told the two of them to sit down for a meal.

Tang Nuo had already arrived. He stood and nodded to Tang Mingxi, then sat back down after receiving a response.

Beside him sat a gentle, handsome man in a wheelchair, smiling faintly. He was Tang Mingxi's second uncle, Tang Xuejin.

Tang Xuejin had been sickly since childhood. He had been blind for years and disabled in both legs. With no interest in fighting for the family fortune, he had always lived a secluded life and rarely appeared in public.

"Happy New Year, Second Uncle," Tang Mingxi said obediently.

Tang Xuejin had the servants prepare red envelopes for Tang Mingxi and Ye Heng, then smiled. "Your mouth is so sweet, I'd be embarrassed not to give you red envelopes."

After receiving it, Tang Mingxi could not help feeling its thickness. He felt thoroughly pleased. It's so thick! As expected of one of Ningcheng's ten great wealthy families.

Hearing the sound, Tang Xuejin saw that Tang Mingxi was just like when he was little—looking like a cat that had stolen cream whenever he got money. Smiling, he could not help but shake his head.

After putting away the red envelope, Tang Mingxi was soon drawn in by the fragrant dishes on the table. Since transmigrating, he had been on edge the entire time and had not enjoyed a proper meal.

Now, faced with a table full of home-cooked dishes, Tang Mingxi's appetite was immediately whetted.

Ye Heng sat quietly. The old madam occasionally asked him a few questions, and he answered them flawlessly, as though he and Tang Mingxi truly were a couple.

That was until the old madam asked when they planned to have children. Tang Mingxi, who had been eating with his head lowered, began coughing earth-shatteringly.

Ye Heng's acting was convincing. He gently patted Tang Mingxi's back, his tone indescribably mild. "Eat slowly."

Tang Mingxi felt his scalp go numb, as if a cold, venomous snake had coiled around his neck.

"Grandma, what are you talking about? How can two men like us have a child?" Tang Mingxi forced himself to remain calm, caught between laughter and tears.

A trace of confusion surfaced in the old madam's eyes. Ever since Old Master Tang had passed, her mind had been unwell. Overcome by grief, she had become muddled from illness. "Xiao Xi can give birth."

Give birth to what, Nezha?

Or undergo mitosis and cell-wall separation to produce a daughter?

Just as he was about to reply, Ye Heng calmly answered the old madam first. "It's not time yet. Xiao Xi is in poor health, so we're planning to wait another year before having a child."

At that moment, Tang Mingxi had no choice but to admire Ye Heng's actor-level professionalism. As the male lead of a male-oriented webnovel, he could actually speak so calmly about the explosive topic of two men having children.

Do you have an account somewhere, kid?

The old madam nodded. "That's true, that's true. Having a child can't rely on Xiao Xi's efforts alone. Both of you need to work hard."

Tang Mingxi gave a professional fake smile. "Heh heh heh... We will, we will."

Ye Heng gave his stomach a meaningful look, a trace of mockery flashing through his eyes.

After the meal, Tang Xuejin, feeling unwell, was taken back upstairs by Tang Nuo to rest.

As the sky gradually darkened, Uncle Wang the butler arranged their rooms. This presented 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 door of the room, caught in an indescribably awkward silence.

Logically speaking, Tang Mingxi should have kicked him by now, then thrown a young-master tantrum, saying, "You think you're worthy of sharing a room with me?" Then he should have slammed the door and shut Ye Heng outside.

But when he turned his head, Old Madam Tang was looking at him expectantly, and she even cast a loving glance at his stomach.

Even if you stare at it a hundred times, I still can't give birth, Tang Mingxi thought as he stiffened himself and expressionlessly pushed open the door.

Ye Heng stood behind him without moving, but Tang Mingxi did not close the door either.