They Slept Together?!

Gu Yan was deeply shaken, but with his eldest brother having spoken, he had no choice but to obey.

This had to be an illusion. His brother must have stopped the conversation out of consideration for table manners!

Gu Yan viciously stuffed a piece of toast into his mouth, chewing with difficulty as he glared at the little temptress across from him, who was spouting bewitching nonsense.

Seeing his younger brother-in-law angrily wolfing down his food while everyone ignored him, Ji Mingzhu said gently, "Don't worry, little brother. I won't disturb your brother's rest. I know his work is really tiring and demanding. I went to sleep pretty early yesterday, so I don't know what time he went to bed, either. He didn't shake me awake. I'll pay more attention to him next time."

Gu Yan: "???!!"

The sheer amount of information in those words shocked the young man so badly that he choked.

Gu Mom jumped in alarm and hurriedly handed him some milk.

Gu Yan gulped it down in a fluster without even looking up. Only then did he catch his breath and glare furiously. "You-you slept with my brother?!"

What was going on? This wasn't what they'd agreed on!

The boy who had sat on his eldest brother's rock-hard abs the night before opened his lovely, almond-shaped eyes innocently.

Why did his younger brother-in-law seem unable to understand him? They were spouses. Wasn't it perfectly reasonable to sleep in the same bed? Didn't they have teachers here, like the matrons, who offered introductory lessons about... those things?

Otherwise, why would his younger brother-in-law be so surprised by what happened between a married couple?

They were married. What was the big deal about sharing a bed? Not only would they sleep together, they'd do much more in the future. That was perfectly normal.

The silver fork in Gu Shang's hand stopped, resting against the edge of his plate.

The fact that they'd inexplicably slept together last night had become public knowledge the very next morning. Ji Mingzhu had done this on purpose, hadn't he?

Sure enough, Ji Mingzhu wanted more than just his black card. His ambitions went far beyond that.

A faint heat crept behind his ears, and his short hair couldn't hide their reddening bases.

Last night had been an accident. If Ji Mingzhu hadn't cried yesterday, he would never have tolerated sharing a bed with him. He wouldn't give Ji Mingzhu another chance to show off like this.

He picked up his bone china cup and took a small sip of strong, bitter coffee. Frowning, he turned toward the boy. "Eat. Your breakfast is getting cold."

Ji Mingzhu obediently murmured an acknowledgment, picked up a piece of toast coated in condensed milk, and brought it to his mouth, his eyes narrowing in bliss.

He never noticed Gu Yan staring wide-eyed at him from across the table, his gaze filled with resentment.

Wait... why did his brother snap at him after just a couple of remarks and even threaten to stop him from eating, yet treat Ji Mingzhu so pleasantly and worry about whether his breakfast was getting cold?

...Was there no justice left in the world?!

This was outrageous. Given enough time, wouldn't this little temptress charm the whole family into handing over their bank card PINs?

Shen Yue Ru looked left and right. There wasn't a single person she could count on. This was the first time the whole family had gathered for such an awkward meal.

She couldn't help asking, "Shang, haven't you... talked to Mingzhu yet?"

This boy seemed unaware that this was a business marriage. Or did he know and only pretend not to?

Gu Shang picked up his napkin and wiped his mouth. "I haven't had the chance yet. I'll talk to him when I have time," he said evenly.

In fact, he had called Ji Mingzhu into the bedroom last night precisely to discuss their business marriage properly: going forward, all they needed to do was put on an act in public and use each other. But Ji Mingzhu's wheedling and sweet behavior had repeatedly derailed him.

He would find an opportunity to have a proper talk with Ji Mingzhu today.

Ji Mingzhu watched his husband and mother-in-law speak in riddles with curiosity, but obediently kept quiet.

"I'm full. I'm heading to the office." After wiping his mouth, Gu Shang folded the napkin into a triangle and set it beside his plate. Adjusting his watch strap, he rose briskly and nodded to everyone.

Ji Mingzhu looked up in a daze, then said a quick goodbye and hurried after him.

Father Gu and Gu Mom exchanged a look, at a loss for words.

Only after a long pause did Gu Yan give a disgruntled snort. "See? He's putting on an act again."

Gu Ze wasn't in a position to comment, so he dutifully held up his newspaper and pretended to be part of the furniture.

Mrs. Gu said hesitantly, "Actually, I think he seems quite well-behaved. His reputation wasn't very good before, but he was fairly sensible just now... Your brother married him to put on a convincing show in public in the first place. As long as he can do that, it's enough. Just get along peacefully instead of turning the house upside down. Your eldest brother is already busy with work. If he has to come home to more aggravation, that would be exhausting."

Gu Yan scoffed. "Just wait, Mom. One look at him tells you he's trouble. I'll expose his true colors for you! He's straight to begin with. Even if my brother has no feelings for him and is only putting on an act, sooner or later he'll use the Gu Family's resources to cheat on him! When that happens, the Gu Family can forget about saving face."

To keep his eldest brother from becoming a cuckold, Gu Yan vowed to fight that little temptress to the bitter end!

Ji Mingzhu chased after him, his soft-soled slippers pattering all the way, and finally caught up just before Gu Shang stepped out the front door.

When Gu Shang turned around, he saw the boy in a white shirt behind him, hands braced on his knees as he panted for breath.

"Did you need something?" Gu Shang asked.

Still panting, Ji Mingzhu raised a hand to loosen his collar, feeling heat rising from his face. His eyes were watery and even looked a little aggrieved, as though reproaching the man for not waiting for him.

Gu Shang, however, was cold. His eyes remained calm and unruffled, without the slightest sympathy for his other half.

Seeing that the boy wasn't answering and had his fluffy little head lowered, apparently lost in thought, Gu Shang said coolly, "Ji Mingzhu."

The boy answered with a little "Yes?" and lifted his head.

His pupils were round, his fair cheeks tinted a faint pink. Even the exposed stretch of his smooth, delicate collarbone wore a pink flush, making him look like a white-peach-flavored dumpling.

The sight made one want to give him a pinch and see whether it would leave a mark.

Gu Shang had intended to hurry him along, but when the words reached his lips, he awkwardly changed them to, "Straighten your clothes. Why were you running so fast?"

After all, he had no idea whether a pampered little thing as good at wheedling as Ji Mingzhu would blame him if he caught a cold.

After speaking, he raised his arm to check his watch, his tone somewhat impatient.