The wedding would be in four days, which meant everyone in Jingjiang would only find out that Xia Shule and Yan Zhiyi were together four days from now.
He worked out the timing. There was still enough time, and besides, preparing a wedding really did take a while.
His birthday was in five days, and the day he drowned was in seven. There were still three days between the wedding and the drowning. Plenty of time!
"Okay! It's settled, then." Xia Shule couldn't help smiling. All of this had been so much easier than he had imagined.
"I'll pick you up from the Xia Family tomorrow."
Xia Shule studied Yan Zhiyi's face. He seemed a little different from when they first met. Back then, he had looked completely unapproachable.
But today...
He didn't know whether all the things Yan Zhiyi had given him were making the man look especially appealing, or whether Yan Zhiyi really had changed. Either way, he kept sensing little traces of tenderness from him.
Xia Shule blinked his big eyes. "Yan Zhiyi~ You won't regret giving me all this, will you? You're... making me feel a little embarrassed~ If you need anything from me after we're married, I'll be there whenever you call!"
He looked like a greedy little money lover.
Although Xia Shule's family was wealthy and had never let him want for anything, that didn't stop him from loving money.
Who would ever complain about having too much money? The more, the better, of course~
If someone treated him badly, he would slap them into oblivion. If someone treated him well, he had to treat them well too!
Yan Zhiyi looked into Xia Shule's bright eyes and felt as though those dark whirlpools would suck him in at any moment.
Watching his little money-loving, ingratiating expression, Yan Zhiyi said, "I won't regret it. It's all yours. My mother finally has a daughter-in-law, so she'll probably be pestering you a lot. Thanks in advance for putting up with her."
Money had already gone straight to Xia Shule's head. "It's fine~~ I wouldn't mind spending twenty-four hours a day with your mom!"
That won't do, Yan Zhiyi thought.
But he didn't say it aloud. He simply watched Xia Shule quietly as he fawned over his treasures.
"Ah~ Now I won't have to live off my parents anymore." Something suddenly occurred to Xia Shule. "Wait! What if I don't know how to manage a company? Isn't handing it to me basically asking for it to go under?"
Xia Shule had absolutely no talent for managing a company. Back in high school, he had once accompanied his father to a meeting and fallen fast asleep within ten minutes, even enjoying several lovely dreams.
After that, his father had said he might as well work a little harder for the next few years and make more money so Xia Shule could live off him for the rest of his life.
He had been fully prepared to live off his parents forever, too, since he knew exactly what he was like.
Now such a huge company was suddenly in his hands... It was terrifying.
Xia Shule made no attempt to hide the panic he felt. With despair written all over his face, he said, "This Shengshi of yours is pretty much doomed..."
"Pfft." Yan Zhiyi laughed at his little expression of grim resignation. "Don't worry. The entire senior management team is yours too. All that's changed is the boss collecting the money. If any major decisions come up, you can come to me."
Yan Zhiyi wasn't worried at all. Shengshi rarely encountered major decisions that required his intervention. He had personally trained its current CEO, who was perfectly capable of handling things independently.
"Wow~" Xia Shule's eyes sparkled. "You've thought of everything~ You're totally the daddy type!"
Wasn't this just handing him money? He was getting more than a kept lover would, with more independence too. Wasn't Yan Zhiyi practically putting him on a pedestal and worshipping him?
"What?" Yan Zhiyi didn't understand what "the daddy type" meant. There was... still a generation gap.
"Nothing. I'm just saying you're handsome and charming, and I'm starting to fall hopelessly in love with you. I absolutely adore the smell of money! Just look at you, so tall and imposing, with such distinguished good looks. When it comes to business brains in Jingjiang, if you claimed second place, who would dare claim first? Your personal charm is off the charts, buddy. I'm so lucky to be marrying you."
"Even when I thought you were a gardener, I could tell you were destined for great things and would definitely climb the ladder and make a fortune. Turns out you really have accomplished great things. My judgment never misses!"
The whole speech rolled off Xia Shule's tongue like a rhyme, praising Yan Zhiyi until he could barely keep the corners of his mouth from turning up.
Yan Zhiyi restrained his smile. Big Eyes really did have a sweet tongue. No wonder his old man liked him. "After we finish the paperwork tomorrow, will you move in here?"
"Sure."
Wait, do Mom and Dad know about this? Hiss... I was so busy winning him over that I seem to have forgotten to tell them.
Xia Shule's expression stiffened. "Um... I forgot to tell my parents. I... need to go home and let them know. Moving in tomorrow is too soon."
"The day after, then."
Xia Shule sucked in a breath. What on earth are you in such a hurry for, you old man? Fine, fine. You've given me so much. I might as well spoil you a little.
He planted his legs wide apart like an overbearing CEO. "You shall have your way!"
"..." Yan Zhiyi was speechless.
So cheesy, but I kind of like it.
Holding an armful of things, Xia Shule couldn't stop grinning. His teeth were practically catching a cold from being exposed for so long. "If there's nothing else, I'll get going. Thanks for everything!"
Xia Shule didn't fawn over men or women. He fawned exclusively over money. He would have to cuddle all these things to sleep tonight.
"I'll take you home."
"Oh, how could I put you to the trouble? I drove here, so I can just head back myself."
Since he had driven here, there really was no reason to take him home. "All right. Drive safely."
Sitting in his car, Xia Shule looked at the weighty pile of wealth in the passenger seat and felt as though even his wrist had stopped hurting. Ha!
They would register their marriage tomorrow, hold the wedding in four days, and celebrate his birthday banquet in five. Seven days from now was supposed to have been the day he died, but looking at things now, life was giving him more and more to look forward to.
After Xia Shule left, Yan Zhiyi stood on the front veranda and watched until his car had completely disappeared before turning back.
The moment he turned around, he found the Yan Family Old Master standing silently in the doorway like a ghost, staring at him.
"Dad." The Yan Family Old Master's appearance was well within Yan Zhiyi's plans.
Once his father saw them, he would naturally find out that he was going to marry Xia Shule.
Otherwise, he could have simply given Xia Shule the property transfer certificates and household registration booklet tomorrow. He had made him come over specifically so his old man could see him. His father was quite fond of Xia Shule, so he would probably accept it.
"Was it Lele?"
"Yes."
Who would have expected his father to swing a hand down at him? Yan Zhiyi could tell his old man wasn't using any real force, so he didn't dodge and took the slap.
"You!" The Yan Family Old Master pointed at Yan Zhiyi. "How old are you? And how old is Lele? You really are an old cow munching tender grass! Tell me, did you threaten or bribe Lele into this?"
"That Zheng Yuqing waited so long for you last time, and the age gap wasn't that big either. Yet you just had to go rooting around for someone's tender young flower?"
Yan Zhiyi sighed. His father really did get along with Xia Shule. One thought he was going to sell him off to Northern Myanmar, and the other thought he had used threats and bribes.
"It was love at first sight, and the feeling is mutual. Aren't you very fond of him? You were the one who invited Miss Zheng, not me."
With his thoughts exposed, the Yan Family Old Master's gaze wandered. He really was very fond of Xia Shule, and seeing the two of them together just now, he had indeed thought they made a good match.
But the age gap was just too big. Ah... "I'm only worried because there's such a big age difference. What if his family doesn't approve?"
"They will."
Yan Zhiyi sounded certain, because he knew that even if they really disapproved, Xia Shule would do everything he could to persuade his parents in order to achieve his goal.
The Yan Family Old Master shot Yan Zhiyi a discreet glare. Thinking of that soft little ball of sweetness, he said no more. He pretended to accept it reluctantly, though he was already bursting with joy. "I won't interfere too much in your affairs. Finding someone who likes you back is rare. As long as you're happy. But I still have to say this: Lele is young. You're not allowed to bully him!"
The Yan Family Old Master put on a stern, upright expression, as though he were taking a principled stand, but inside, he was already ecstatic.
He had nearly resigned himself to his son growing old alone. He wasn't interested in men or women, yet he had finally found someone he liked-and it was a young man his father adored too.
If he hadn't been desperately controlling his smile, the corners of his mouth would have soared into the sky. No one was happier than he was to see his aging bachelor of a son find true love.
He really couldn't have been fonder of Lele. It was the best of both worlds.
"I wouldn't bully him even if you didn't tell me." Yan Zhiyi thought of those big eyes, like a star-filled sky. Who could bear to bully him?
He couldn't hold back his smile any longer. The Yan Family Old Master had to find an excuse to leave. "All right, you should get to bed early too. I need to tell your mother about this."
Yan Zhiyi watched the corners of the Yan Family Old Master's mouth tremble slightly despite his desperate efforts to control them. "Mm."
In the family's private hospital room...
"Darling, guess what!!!! Hehehe~"