Only after Gu Shang stopped moving did Ji Mingzhu clutch the hem of his robe and slowly slide off him, then wriggle his way under the covers.
Throughout the whole process, Gu Shang kept his face rigid and did not turn to look at him once.
Once the young man had burrowed into bed, hiding every inch of that dazzlingly pale skin beneath the dark bedding, Gu Shang switched off the bedside lamp with a somewhat hurried movement.
The room sank into darkness.
President Gu, who had never shared a bed with anyone before, lay wide-eyed in the dark. He felt as though the young man's soft touch still lingered faintly against his lower abdomen.
He shook his head. He could not keep thinking about it.
He was the man in charge of the mighty Gu Group. If a straight man's clumsy techniques could seduce him, he would lose all face if word got out.
Still, Ji Mingzhu certainly had nerve. A straight man, going this far for personal gain.
But judging from the young man's bashful reaction at the end, he probably had not been ready either. After all, physical reactions could not lie. If he did not like men, no amount of acting could make it convincing.
The young man probably would not recklessly try to tease him again anytime soon. For some reason, Gu Shang felt an inexplicable twinge of regret.
That was the only thought left in Gu Shang's mind before he fell asleep.
The next day, daylight filtered through a gap in the intricately patterned, floor-length curtains, and Gu Shang's regular sleep schedule woke him right on time.
He narrowed his eyes, a low, muffled grunt escaping his throat.
Gu Shang reached for his phone to check the time, but the moment he moved his shoulder, the unfamiliar weight in the crook of his neck made him freeze.
The lingering drowsiness in Gu Shang's eyes vanished instantly. He slowly turned his head. The young man he had thought would not be teasing him again anytime soon was now sleeping peacefully and comfortably against his neck.
Gu Shang: "..."
When he moved, the young man lying against him slowly opened his eyes as well.
Their eyes met, and another suffocating silence followed.
Ji Mingzhu, however, was not embarrassed at all. He blinked his clear, glistening eyes, his cheeks glowing with the healthy color of a good night's rest. With a sweet smile, he tilted his head slightly and planted a kiss on Gu Shang's jaw. "Good morning, hubby."
Gu Shang frowned. "You were already awake?"
There was not a trace of sleepiness in those beautiful, clear eyes. He had obviously been awake for some time, deliberately staying curled up in Gu Shang's arms and pretending to sleep instead of getting out of bed.
Gu Shang had been embarrassed by their position, worried that the young man would make something of it when he woke. Now that he thought about it, the young man had probably snuggled in there himself.
Yet, miraculously, light sleeper though he was, Gu Shang had not been disturbed and had slept straight through until morning.
Ji Mingzhu did not make anything of their intimate position, however. He merely smiled shyly. "Yes. I've always woken up early."
His manner was open and his expression natural, as though he had not taken anything that happened last night to heart.
Gu Shang suddenly felt a subtle flicker of irritation. His face soured. "Then why didn't you get up?"
He was also a little surprised. This was not the young man he had imagined. According to the rumors, Ji Mingzhu was supposed to be lazy, gluttonous, and fond of luxury. That would have fit his reputation. Yet he had woken even earlier than Gu Shang. Was he trying to make a good impression?
Gu Shang did not realize that he had already begun instinctively trying to decipher this baffling young man's thoughts. This faint interest was nothing like the urgent curiosity one felt about a game's ending or what would happen next in a novel. It was more like encountering a difficult, profound problem that stayed on his mind, prompting him to try different approaches and draw a few more auxiliary lines in the hope of solving it.
It was not intense, but it returned in fits and starts, making him involuntarily revisit the problem while walking, eating, showering, or lying in bed before sleep.
Right now, for instance, Gu Shang was considering what the young man might say.
Would he say-
"I keep a regular schedule, so I'm used to getting up early," trying to present himself as disciplined?
Or would he continue last night's seduction and say something sickeningly sweet like:
"I wanted to stay in bed with you and go downstairs together."
But Ji Mingzhu simply sat up first, looking perfectly obedient and natural. "I was afraid I'd wake you. I wanted to let you sleep a little longer."
His husband had been so busy with work last night. He must work very hard every day, so of course Ji Mingzhu could not disturb him.
Gu Shang paused, then turned his face away. "Get up and wash. My parents should be here by now. We'll have breakfast together."
Although they did not usually live here, this was the second day of their son's marriage. The family ought to get together for a meal, at least.
"Okay," Ji Mingzhu answered quickly, scrambling out of bed.
Suddenly feeling pressed for time, the young man hurried back to his own room to wash and change.
They had fooled around too late last night, and Ji Mingzhu had fallen asleep in his bathrobe without getting the chance to give his husband the matching nightclothes he had made himself. He pursed his lips. He would give them to him tonight instead. He wondered whether Gu Shang would like them.
His cheeks flushed slightly. He got ready as quickly as he could, then returned to Gu Shang's bedroom.
Ji Mingzhu still did not know that his in-laws did not actually welcome him. Intent on observing every courtesy, he could not help urging Gu Shang, who was still leisurely tying his tie, "Hurry up, hubby."
Whatever the reason, keeping their elders waiting was not proper.
Gu Shang froze, his expression turning a little unnatural.
What did he mean, hurry up? Why did he have to make a perfectly ordinary sentence sound so strange?
He was already somewhat sensitive in the morning, and those words immediately made matters worse.
With a headache brewing, Gu Shang thought he ought to find an opportunity to tell Ji Mingzhu why he had agreed to their marriage alliance.
That would also make it easier to establish clear boundaries between them.
Gu Shang did not want a repeat of last night's reaction, which had felt almost like losing control.
Ji Mingzhu remained completely oblivious, occupied with his own plans.
They could do without anything else, but they absolutely had to drink with their arms linked. Only then would their marriage last forever.
They could do it tonight when he gave his husband the gift. He would surprise him.
The screen of the phone charging in the corner suddenly lit up. Ji Mingzhu did not notice; he was still thinking about how to arrange tonight's surprise.
After finishing his tie, Gu Shang suddenly remembered something. He took a black card from his wallet and handed it to the young man. "If you have nothing to do, you can go shopping. Use this card. I've forgotten how much money is on it. If it isn't enough, give them my name and have them send the bill to the company."
Gu Shang clearly still remembered their first conversation, when Ji Mingzhu had been publicly humiliated over two outfits.
Even before the wedding, Gu Shang had remembered to tell Shan Ziyu to pay for him. Now that they were married, he was even less likely to shortchange Ji Mingzhu financially. He was willing to give him this little bit of money. It was a benefit he was willing to offer him in his capacity as his wife.
And money was all there would be.
Apart from money, he would not give him anything at all.
Ji Mingzhu paused, then happily accepted it.
They were already married now. Why should he feel embarrassed about accepting spending money from his husband?
"All right, let's go downstairs," Gu Shang said.
Ji Mingzhu left quickly, so he did not see the new message light up the phone he had left behind.
[Ji Yonglin: Tomorrow is your post-wedding visit home. Remember to come back. President Gu has countless responsibilities and is very busy with work, so don't ask him to come with you. Take a taxi back yourself. Also, remember to wear the wedding ring President Gu gave you. Xiao An said he wanted to see it. Make yourself look presentable. Don't embarrass the Ji Family.]
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