In the name of a husband

Wu Jiangyuan pushed him away without a change in expression. "Isn't this what you're supposed to do under your contract?"

He looked unruffled, but his heart was inexplicably racing.

Pei Jinghe's words sounded a little strange.

He couldn't quite describe the feeling.

"It's different," Pei Jinghe said evenly. "What I told you that day was that I'd use Tangsheng's resources to make you famous."

"This time, I'm doing it in a personal capacity."

Wu Jiangyuan stared into his eyes. "What do you mean, a personal capacity?"

The corners of Pei Jinghe's lips curved slightly. "If you insist on an answer, then I'm doing it as your husband."

Wu Jiangyuan: "..."

He ought to have argued with Pei Jinghe.

But now it was as though he'd lost his entire vocabulary. He couldn't get a single objection out.

Because there was nothing wrong with what Pei Jinghe had said.

Now that they were married, wasn't he his husband?

Wu Jiangyuan averted his gaze. "You'd better keep your word."

"Don't worry. My word is more credible than yours."

Pei Jinghe was alluding to something.

Wu Jiangyuan immediately turned to him with a frown. "When has my word ever been unreliable?"

Pei Jinghe gave a cold laugh. "Looks like you don't remember a thing."

Wu Jiangyuan: "?"

Had he ever made Pei Jinghe a promise he hadn't kept?

Why was this guy acting as if he were some faithless scoundrel?

Wu Jiangyuan practically tore his brain apart searching, but he couldn't recall anything of the sort.

In the end, he asked tentatively, "Did I ever promise you something?"

Pei Jinghe straightened up expressionlessly, tossed out a cold reply, and turned to leave.

"Think about it yourself."

He left Wu Jiangyuan racking his brains behind him, still unable to recall anything of the sort.

Logically speaking, given his relationship with Pei Jinghe, how could they possibly have made any promises?

He gave up thinking about it. The more he thought, the more his head hurt.

Wu Jiangyuan stood up and stretched his neck.

It was rather remarkable. The unpleasantness of his conversation with Wu Qi had vanished in an instant.

He returned to the old family home.

Wu Qi and Pei Fu were already nowhere to be seen.

Jia Xin'an was talking to Pei Jinghe. Seeing Wu Jiangyuan, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"You little brat, I was worried you'd just leave."

Wu Jiangyuan went over and hugged her before speaking.

"I'm sorry I disappointed you."

Jia Xin'an said, "Disappointed? Your dad was the one being unreasonable. I've already told him off."

"I'm nothing but happy for you. I support you pursuing a career you love."

Wu Jiangyuan nuzzled against her as he hugged her. "Mom, you're the best. Don't worry, I definitely won't disappoint you again this time."

Jia Xin'an smiled helplessly. "As long as you're safe and happy, that's enough for me."

She took Wu Jiangyuan's hand, then Pei Jinghe's, and placed their hands together.

"Nothing matters more than you two having a good life together."

Wu Jiangyuan looked oddly at their joined hands. "..."

He shifted his fingers awkwardly, wanting to pull his hand back but not daring to.

Once Jia Xin'an started fussing, she couldn't stop talking. "Oh, I originally asked you to come over so you could pick a marital home you liked..."

"Mom, Pei Jinghe and I have something to do in a bit. We need to get going, so we can't stay and chat."

Knowing full well that his mother wouldn't stop once she got started, Wu Jiangyuan hurriedly interrupted.

"Ah... all right, then. Be careful on the road."

Jia Xin'an could only swallow the rest of her words, though she still asked, "Yuanyuan, are you two going on a date?"

Wu Jiangyuan laughed stiffly. "Yeah..."

"Get some rest, Mom. Good night~"

As soon as he finished speaking, he closed his hand around Pei Jinghe's and hurriedly dragged him away.

Watching them leave, Jia Xin'an felt immensely satisfied.

Just then, Wu Qi came out of the tea room carrying tea.

"The brat left?"

Jia Xin'an gave him a reproachful look. "What else? Stay and put up with your attitude?"

Wu Qi calmly took a sip of tea. "My wife has spoken. I wouldn't dare."

Jia Xin'an said, "Don't go sneaking off to talk to Yuanyuan like last time."

Wu Qi said, "...How was I sneaking around? You're the one sneaking around."

Jia Xin'an's nose stung at that. "If I'd known, I would've just done it openly. Every time I see those people online insulting my son like that, it breaks my heart."

Wu Qi put an arm around her shoulders and comforted her. "All right. The kid has his reasons for not wanting you to know."

Even he found those comments upsetting, let alone Jia Xin'an.

No parent in the world wanted to see their son torn to shreds by other people's insults.

"All right, old Pei's still upstairs waiting for me to play chess."

Outside the villa-

The moment they came out, Wu Jiangyuan let go of Pei Jinghe's hand.

"Head home early."

He left those words behind and walked ahead without looking back.

Pei Jinghe glanced at his palm, a trace of desolation flashing through his eyes.

Only after the person ahead had gone some distance did he start walking.

When he reached the parking lot, Wu Jiangyuan didn't get into his car right away. Instead, he stood beside it on the phone.

"Where are you?"

"...My door code?"

"...Fine, I'll send it to you."

"Remember to bring something to show your appreciation."

Pei Jinghe didn't know who Wu Jiangyuan was talking to, but the smile on his face was genuine.

A chill surfaced in Pei Jinghe's eyes, and his lips tugged into a self-mocking smile.

He didn't linger any longer. He walked past Wu Jiangyuan and slammed his car door with a bang.

The loud slam made Wu Jiangyuan glance over, only to see the back of the car speeding away.

Confusion flickered in his eyes, and he muttered, "Driving that fast-who's the one rushing to their next life?"

"Hello? Wu Jiangyuan, what are you saying?"

The person on the other end asked in puzzlement.

Wu Jiangyuan rested his hand on the car door and bent down to get in. "Nothing. Dai Lan, did you hear what I just said?"

Dai Lan replied lazily, "I heard you. I'm almost at your door."

Wu Jiangyuan gave a snort of laughter. "Good. If I don't see what I want when I get there, I'm kicking you out."

Dai Lan said, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm just crashing at your place for one night. You want this, you want that-want my life too?"

Wu Jiangyuan said, "No. It's useless."

Dai Lan said, "Fuck, Wu Jiangyuan, I'm already dying of heartbreak. It's bad enough you won't comfort me, but you're ripping me off too. You're heartless!"

Wu Jiangyuan said, "Mm... Don't mess up my place, or I'll beat you to death."

With that, he hung up, ignoring the accusations on the other end.

Traffic held him up for a while on the way home, and it was already ten at night when he arrived.

Although he'd braced himself, a vein still bulged uncontrollably on Wu Jiangyuan's forehead the moment he opened the door.

Several liquor bottles lay scattered around the living room, and clothes were strewn here and there across the floor.

The air was thick with alcohol, mixed with the scent of Alpha pheromones.

"Dai. Lan!"

Wu Jiangyuan laughed through gritted teeth.

His gaze immediately locked onto the person lying on the couch.

The air conditioner was set to its lowest temperature. Wrapped in a blanket with only a small tuft of blond hair sticking out, the Alpha was curled up on the couch, sleeping soundly.

Wu Jiangyuan walked over, grabbed a corner of the blanket, and yanked it mercilessly.

Dai Lan rolled right off the couch onto the floor.

The blanket fell open, and that head of brilliant blond curls nearly blinded Wu Jiangyuan.

The Alpha had deep-set, sharply defined features that gave him a distinctly mixed-race look. Wearing only boxer briefs beneath the blanket, he lay sprawled on the floor.

"Wake up, mop-head."

Wu Jiangyuan kicked him in the butt.