After Marrying The Wrong Person, I Can’t Leave

Chapter 56

Song Linchu chuckled awkwardly and said, “I meant, the sun is so intense today that it almost sent me to the hospital, hahaha.”

Li Chang looked at the gloomy sky and covered his face.

Song Linchu’s tendency to babble nonsense when he’s nervous…

Tan Yue had not heard their entire conversation, but caught Song Linchu’s last sentence.

The older man didn’t initially understand the meaning but combined with Song Linchu’s nervous and awkward expression, he suddenly understood.

The amusement in his eyes deepened as he said, “Ah, the second time was also too intense. I’ll be more careful in the future.”

Song Linchu: ?!?

Li Chang: “…”

Li Chang was initially worried about the possibility of the Tan family having hereditary diseases. After all, Song Linchu hadn’t been intimate with Tan Mingqing either, so who knew if he was also affected? When it came to matters concerning a lifetime commitment, one mustn’t be careless.

As a result, what did he hear!

Seeing that Song Linchu was already so embarrassed that he wished to escape the Earth, Li Chang cleared his throat and said, “My girlfriend is waiting for me to pick her up. I’ll leave first. See you tomorrow.”

Song Linchu nodded vaguely.

He didn’t want to see him again.

If possible, he wished to silence both Li Chang and Tan Yue!

Li Chang sensed his killing intent and swiftly disappeared with a “whoosh.” As the former star player of the basketball team, his running speed was top-notch.

Tan Yue lowered his gaze, looking at the youth whose face was redder than blood.

He let out a soft chuckle and suggested, “Shall we get in the car first?”

Although this road had fewer people, occasional passersby still appeared. If Song Linchu didn’t want to expose their relationship, they couldn’t converse here.

Song Linchu reluctantly followed him into the car.

“Shall we go eat?” Tan Yue asked.

“Oh.”

Song Linchu was still immersed in embarrassment, unable to extricate himself. He didn’t even dare to look Tan Yue in the eye.

Seeing Song Linchu’s flushed ears, Tan Yue pondered on a way to prevent the other person from becoming too withdrawn, “Would you like to play a game?”

Song Linchu had no desire to play a game with him.

He simply wanted to transform into a groundhog and bury himself in a hole.

However, when someone like Tan Yue, who typically appeared uninterested in games, suggested playing one, it became quite appealing.

Curiosity killed the cat, and Song Linchu suppressed his curiosity, but ultimately couldn’t resist. He asked in a soft voice, “What kind of game?”

Seeing that the fish had taken the bait, Tan Yue reached into a small compartment beside the car and pulled out a coin, handing it to Song Linchu.

Song Linchu hesitated for a moment before accepting it. “What’s this for?”

“This is a wish coin. You can use it to make a wish to me, like…” Tan Yue paused, noticing Song Linchu’s curious gaze, and continued, “Wish for me to erase the memory of this past hour.”

Song Linchu: “…”

Song Linchu glared at him. “Do I look like a three-year-old child to you?”

“Not exactly, more like a three-and-a-half-year-old,” Tan Yue replied with a hint of a smile, finding great amusement in teasing him.

Song Linchu knocked his head against the man’s arm with anger, but still felt unsatisfied. He opened his mouth and, separated by Tan Yue’s expensive suit, bit down on his arm and then punched him twice.

“Bastard!” Song Linchu muttered in a muffled voice.

The sight of him acting so childishly softened the older man’s heart.

He ruffled the young man’s fluffy head and remarked, “You really love biting people.”

Especially when they were engaged in certain activities, he loved biting him.

Last time, Tan Yue over did it and Song Linchu had shown no mercy with his bites, leaving clear imprints that could still be seen the next day.

However, if Song Linchu were more sensible, he would definitely regret it because he would realize that the more he bit, the more excited the man became.

Song Linchu lifted his head and wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. He snorted and said, “I’m just hungry.”

He wanted to eat him when he was hungry?

Well, that could work too.

Tan Yue turned his face to the side, looking at Song Linchu. His face slowly approached, and Song Linchu realized what Tan Yue intended to do. His body stiffened, but he only lowered his gaze without evading.

Tan Yue’s lips drew closer and landed on the soft lips of the youth.

Because Tan Yue was here to give a speech today and didn’t need to hide his identity, they were seated in his car with a distinctive license plate, driving along the tree-lined avenue on campus where people were coming and going. Many onlookers turned their heads and even took out their phones to take photos.

However, no camera could capture the atmosphere of the two in the space separated by the thin window glass, where their breaths mingled.

Song Linchu’s fingertips clutched his the corner of Tan Yue’s clothes, and he involuntarily tilted his face upward, enduring the man’s fiery kiss.

It had only been a few days since they last saw each other, yet their longing for each other had grown like wild grass, stretching the timeline and making a single day without seeing each other feel like an eternity.

Perhaps due to the speech, the man’s lips were slightly dry, intensifying the friction. The subtle electric current traveled from their lips, which seemed almost glued together, to every corner of Song Linchu’s body.

The hand that was initially gripping the clothes unconsciously changed to clutching the man’s sleeve, and due to the force, his fingertips turned slightly white.

It was as if he needed this to prevent himself from sinking into the abyss called Tan Yue.

It wasn’t until the man’s tongue licked his lips, attempting to pry open his teeth, that Song Linchu snapped out of the dazed state induced by the kiss and he forcefully pushed Tan Yue away.

When Tan Yue gaze him a puzzled look, he glanced at the direction of the driver and mouthed, “Calm down!”

Although, this corner probably couldn’t be seen from the driver’s rearview mirror, the space was narrow so he must have felt it.

Otherwise, why would his earlobes turn red?!

Damn it! Why are your earlobes turning red? We just kissed!

The chauffeurs of big shots in TV dramas are indifferent!

Knowing that Song Linchu was thin skinned, Tan Yue reached out and caressed his moist lips with his thumb, calming him down.

However, Tan Yue’s first emotional crisis in life smoothly came to an end.

This time, Tan Yue ordered Western cuisine, freshly air-flown steak from Australia. Song Linchu had heard that a medium-rare texture was the best, so he also ordered it medium-rare, just like Tan Yue.

The exterior of the top-grade steak was seared to a golden brown, but when cut open, it revealed pink, juicy meat with red juices still lingering.

As a relatively traditional Chinese person, Song Linchu had some difficulty accepting this seemingly vibrant cooking style. Tan Yue noticed that he only ate the side dishes and left the steak largely untouched, so he asked, “Can’t get used to it?”

“Not exactly,” Song Linchu said somewhat embarrassedly, “It’s just… I can’t get past the mental hurdle. It still feels undercooked to me.”

Tan Yue nodded and pressed the service button. The waitress immediately walked in, and Tan Yue said to her, “Bring another steak, please…”

Tan Yue paused, then turned to Song Linchu. “Do you want it well-done or medium-well? Medium-well will have a hint of pink.”

“No need to go through the trouble. Just take mine for further processing, if possible,” Song Linchu winked at him.

“Recooking affects the texture,” Tan Yue nitpicked.

“It’s alright, my taste buds are dull. I won’t be able to tell,” Song Linchu said nonchalantly and turned to the waitress. “Well-done, please. Thank you.”

The waitress’s expression was a bit peculiar. People who understand high-end steaks like theirs would know that medium-rare offers the best texture, and occasionally, those who can’t adapt might choose medium-well.

However, well-done is a choice typically made by those who have just come into the rich class.

These individuals are often mockingly referred to as “country bumpkins,” and it was rare to meet them.

Little did she expect to encounter one today, and he was even a handsome little brother.

It was evident that he lacked refinement, but because of his good looks, he caught the attention of this boss, allowing him to rise like a phoenix on a branch.

Maintaining her professional demeanor, she quickly composed herself and smiled, saying, “Sir, if it’s well-done, it will affect the texture and make it quite dry to eat. Are you certain about your choice?”

Song Linchu was completely unaware that he had been categorized as a country bumpkin. In the past, he had only gone to eat steak with his roommates for around 50 yuan per person, and they always ordered it well-done without anyone finding it strange.

Most who frequent places of such caliber are ordinary and it was common to order well-done steaks. Some even ate them with chopsticks, and no one mocked anyone for it.

However, he could sense the strange expression on the waitress’s face. After hesitating for a moment, he nodded and said, “I’ll have it well-done.”

The waitress carried his steak and promptly left.

“Is my request unusual?” Song Linchu asked Tan Yue with confusion.

“Not at all,” Tan Yue replied expressionlessly, “It’s just that the service attitude in this establishment is poor.”

Tan Yue’s serious expression made Song Linchu, and he propped his chin and said, “So, do you want them to be king of Tianliang?”

Although Tan Yue didn’t understand what “Tianliang Wang Po” meant, he could understand the literal meaning of the phrase.

After thinking for a moment, he replied, “If you want, I can think of a way.”

“No, no, no,” Song Linchu quickly said, “I’m just kidding.”

Just then, Song Linchu’s phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and saw that it was his cousin.

Without avoiding Tan Yue, Song Linchu answered the call directly.

“Cousin, I’ll arrive at the Haikou Railway Station tomorrow at 5:30 pm. Can you send me the address of the house you found for me? I’ll go there directly.”

His cousin had just graduated from a vocational school, and the school required him to go on an internship. Tan Yue helped him find a job in Haikou, and he readily agreed.

He asked Song Linchu to help him find a place to live, and Tan Yue heard about it. He happened to have an apartment nearby the new workplace, so he asked Song Linchu to let his cousin stay there.

When Auntie and Uncle heard that they could stay for free, they felt guilty and insisted on paying rent. No matter how much Song Linchu persuaded them, they refused, so they agreed on rent of 800 yuan a month, which made his cousin feel at ease living there.

“How many people are you?” Song Linchu asked.

“Just me,” his cousin replied nonchalantly, “My dad wanted to come with me, but I refused. I’m not a kid anymore, and besides, didn’t you come to Haikou alone when you were my age?”

Song Linchu smiled and said, “Okay, I’ll pick you up at the station tomorrow.”

“No need, you can just send me the address, I can go there myself and won’t delay your classes!”

“I don’t have classes tomorrow afternoon, so it’s settled. Otherwise, I won’t send you the address and see how you’ll manage.”

His cousin: “…”

After talking to his cousin for a few more minutes, Song Linchu hung up the phone.

Tan Yue asked, “Your cousin?”

“Yeah, he’ll arrive tomorrow at 5 pm.”

“Take a car and pick him up. Also, invite him to our house for dinner.”

“There’s no need for dinner. It’s a long journey, and he’ll be tired. I’ll take him somewhere to eat, and then we can invite him over after we move in the day after tomorrow.”

Tan Yue nodded, not objecting to Song Linchu’s arrangement.

At that moment, Song Linchu’s steak was served. Although it was slightly overcooked, it was still fragrant and suited his taste. He finished his portion and left the restaurant with Tan Yue.

As they walked towards the door, Song Linchu saw a sign at the entrance of the restaurant that advertised another feature: a wishing fountain.

He immediately looked at Tan Yue with sparkling eyes and said, “Gege, let’s make a wish and use the coin you gave me.”

Tan Yue was a typical straight steel man, uninterested in such things, but he reluctantly followed Song Linchu to the wishing fountain.

However, it seemed that whenever he was with Song Linchu, things that used to go unnoticed suddenly became interesting.

“Okay.”

As they went out, he heard a bustling sound from outside. The direction of the wishing fountain was also in that direction. After declining a waiter’s offer to guide them, he pulled Tan Yue and headed in that direction.

It turned out that Song Linchu had overestimated his ability to navigate. As they walked, he realized he didn’t know where he was going.

Just as he was about to find a waiter to ask for directions, he suddenly heard voices conversing around the corner.

“Eating well done steak, I’ve never encountered that before. Is it for real?”

Song Linchu’s footsteps halted.

“It’s true. I’ve never seen it before either. And he’s a very handsome little brother. When he made that request, it nearly shocked my whole family.”

“…” Why don’t you just give me your ID card?

Why is eating well done steak shocking? It’s infuriating!

Tan Yue narrowed his eyes.

“Is he the son of some wealthy tycoon?”

“No, I think he’s a kept man. The gentleman he came with is our black gold VIP customer. You know what I mean.”

“I see. Some people, no matter how glamorous their attire, deep down, they are still have the blood of country bumpkins.”

“And what kind of blood do you have?” As the two chatted animatedly, a cold voice suddenly came from behind them, startling them both.

They turned around and the waitress recognized the Tan Yue and Song Linchu she had just served. The color drained from her face.

“I-I… How did you two end up here?”

This was their employee rest area, where customers were not allowed to enter. They had no idea how these two managed to get in.

Tan Yue ignored her and stared at them with icy eyes.

At that moment, the manager, who was resting inside, heard the commotion and rushed out. He clearly recognized Tan Yue, their VIP customer, and sensing the tense atmosphere, he hurriedly approached, nodding and bowing.

“Mr. Tan, I apologize for any inconvenience. What happened? Did our staff offend you?”

Tan Yue paid no attention to him and simply continued to gaze at the two individuals.

“Tell me, which steak do you two eat to be so noble?”

“…”

The two of them looked at each other, unsure of how to respond.

The manager was furious and scolded in a low voice, “Mr. Tan asked you a question, speak up.”

The two waitresses lowered their heads. One of them was a bit more daring and she murmured, “It’s true that we’re not noble, but nobody said we couldn’t talk about the affairs of noble people like you. Besides, everything we said is factual, we didn’t fabricate anything. Why so angry?”

Tan Yue’s hand clenched tightly at his side. If the person in front of him wasn’t a woman, he might have thrown a punch by now.

The manager broke into a cold sweat. “Xiaoxiao, what nonsense are you spouting! Mr. Tan, I apologize, I apologize. She didn’t mean it that way. I will make her apologize to you.”

Song Linchu wasn’t as angry. The other party was right. He was, indeed, a country bumpkin by birth. It was his background, and he couldn’t change it, nor was he ashamed of it.

He smiled faintly and said, “No need for apologies. This country bumpkin with the blood of a pheasant can’t bear it. However, Miss, the bracelet on your hand seems to be cherished, it’s actually a replica of one of my works. It seems that the imitation lacks sincerity. Being as noble as you are, don’t let such a replica diminish your status.”

The waitress’s face froze, followed by a range of colors, a captivating sight indeed.

Those words struck deep, as if slapping her in the face in front of everyone.

Song Linchu had already turned around and held Tan Yue’s hand. “Let’s go, husband.”

The two waitresses showed a shocked expression upon hearing “husband.”

Aren’t these two were just in a patronage relationship?

Tan Yue was initially still angry, but being called “husband” in that instant drained away his anger. He whispered, “Alright.”

No matter what the manager said, he didn’t even spare a glance at those people, and he left with Song Linchu.

It wasn’t until they left the restaurant that Tan Yue asked, “Don’t you want them to apologize?”

“I don’t want to hear it. It’s meaningless.”

Tan Yue tightened his grip on Song Linchu’s hand and whispered, “I will make them pay.”

“No need. After all, they’ve lost such a significant client like you. They’ll surely feel regretful.”

Tan Yue didn’t say anything, but as a protective husband, he certainly wouldn’t let it go at that.

When they returned home, Song Linchu, whi hadn’t been back for some time, felt like the house was unfamiliar, somewhat empty.

Butler Liu immediately explained that some delicate and valuable items had been moved over to the house first.

Song Linchu was a bit tired and wanted to go upstairs to rest.

Tan Yue followed him upstairs, feeling a tinge of melancholy as he watched him head towards his own room.

It wasn’t easy to coax him back. Patience, he needed to be patient.

“Gege.” Just as Tan Yue was about to open his bedroom door, Song Linchu suddenly called out to him.

“Hmm?” Tan Yue turned his head. “What is it?”

“Do I… sometimes… embarrass you?”

After all, he was just an ordinary college student who had never been in high society circles. Going to those upscale places with Tan Yue felt like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden.

*Grandma Liu is a character from the classic Chinese novel “A Dream of Red Mansions” (also known as “The Story of the Stone”). She is an elderly lady who visits the Grand View Garden, a luxurious mansion, and finds herself overwhelmed by the opulence and extravagance of the place.

For example, when they went out to eat for the first time, he felt insecure in that glass-walled restaurant that resembled a palace in the sky. He had a fear of heights, so Tan Yue had the waiter close the curtains. Deep down, the waiter must have wondered how someone like him could be such a bumpkin.

Without hesitation, Tan Yue said, “No.”

“You don’t have to comfort me. I can handle it! Compared to being laughed at, I’m more afraid of embarrassing you without even realizing it.”

Tan Yue: “Whatever you do, you won’t embarrass me.”

“…” Wait, this stinky straight guy actually spoke human language?”

And damn, it sounded so captivating.

Song Linchu smiled unconsciously. “I want to learn and change for you.”

Tan Yue walked over, stood in front of him, and looked at him. “In this world, there is no hierarchy in personal preferences. If you like well-done steak, it’s what you are familiar with. You don’t need to change anything for me.”

His tone was serious, as if he were educating a child.

Song Linchu looked up and saw that Tan Yue’s expression matched his seriousness. He blinked.

Tan Yue raised his hand and placed it gently over Song Linchu’s perpetually innocent eyes, maintaining his serious tone. “And you don’t need to impose any restrictions on yourself because of your my partner. Just be yourself, understand?”

Song Linchu blinked again. “I understand, Professor Tan.”

The youth’s long brushed lightly against Tan Yue’s palm, like feathers.

Tan Yue’s heart felt a slight jolt. He withdrew his hand, and once again, the innocent eyes of the young man with a smile appeared before him.

Neither of them said a word.

The night was dark, and the warm yellow light from the courtyard’s lampposts spilled through the windows at the end of the corridor, only to be obstructed by the doors and refracted into irregular geometric shapes.

Butler Liu’s low voice instructing the servants came from downstairs, rising and falling, seeming both real and illusory.

Only this corner had peace and intensity.

In the tranquil air, one could almost hear the sound of their hearts beating, each beat faster than the last.

“Gege.” Song Linchu was the first to break the silence.

“Hmm.” The man’s voice seemed to emanate from his chest, low and deep.

Song Linchu looked up at him. “I want to kiss you.”