WRA CH11

Chapter 11: Hubby Lied

Anything that money could solve wasn’t considered difficult. Secretary Gao was sharp and capable; he used money to persuade the original tenant at the very end of the corridor on the same floor to vacate for President Zhou, and that very day dispatched five technicians to install everything on-site.

The bed, wardrobe, and sofa were cleared out; the air conditioner, toilet, refrigerator, and water heater were replaced with brand-new ones; and a water dispenser, tubs of protein powder, and more than a dozen sets of athletic wear were laid out.

The ceiling height of this apartment building was underwhelming, and the space was compact. Once the massive cable crossover power rack was assembled inside, it stood straight from floor to ceiling. Unlike the sunny, athletic ambiance it would exude in a spacious, sunlit gym, the dismal lighting here lent the black rack’s metallic sheen an eerie, bizarre aura. Beside it, an accessory shelf was densely hung with all kinds of attachments and handles—plastic, cable ropes, and heavy metal.

Of the two bodyguards Zhou Sicheng had hired, the captain was named Shi Ting, while the one who had beamed and chatted with Xiang Zhen that morning was Ye Yun. With their protectee off at work, the two of them went over to the “fitness room” to help assemble the equipment.

Secretary Gao only arrived during the wrap-up phase for final inspection. Looking around, he noted that with time being so tight, there hadn’t been time to repaint the walls or pour new epoxy flooring—it was barely passable.

Ye Yun touched the brand-new equipment in awe: “If I’d known President Zhou was going to build a gym, why did I break my back hauling dumbbells all the way here?”

Secretary Gao quietly speculated about his superior’s motives: “If he hadn’t seen your dumbbells, he wouldn’t even have thought of doing this.”

Why hadn’t he noticed before that Zhou Sicheng was so petty?

Yet his pettiness was a curious paradox—while small-minded enough to compete over this, Zhou Sicheng had also agreed to let the two bodyguards use this private gym during their downtime.

The two bodyguards even slept in a one-bedroom apartment with a living room, far larger than the cramped studio President Zhou and Mr. Xiang shared.

During Xiang Zhen’s time in the city, he had spent the first few days learning customer service skills, and right after that, he had met Zhou Sicheng. He revolved around his husband constantly, even wanting to tag along on his ride-hailing shifts after work, with zero other social life.

While eating takeout at noon, Yu Yueyue and Liu Xiaofang pried into his romantic life and discovered that Xiang Zhen was a severe love-struck fool who had nearly been swindled out of his down-payment money. Putting their food aside and risking getting their pay docked by the supervisor, the two women launched into a grave and profound lecture!

Xiang Zhen spoke up on his husband’s behalf: “He didn’t take my money. He’s not a scammer.”

Liu Xiaofang: “That’s only because he’s a ride-hailing driver right now without social insurance or a housing fund, so the bank won’t approve a mortgage for him! Just you wait—the moment he finds a job, he’ll ask you for money to buy a house right away.”

Yu Yueyue didn’t hesitate to assume the worst: “Isn’t it obvious?! Hasn’t he been interviewing and job-hunting very actively lately?”

Xiang Zhen: “…” It seemed that was true.

Liu Xiaofang couldn’t resist grabbing some company melon seeds to crack. The more they uncovered about Xiang Zhen’s life, the more red flags appeared; every single detail was a textbook reason to break up, and listening to it was terrible for her health. “What’s his family situation like? If you buy a house next year, you’re putting in 150,000, and since he has no money, his parents should at least pitch in a bit, right? Is he an only child?”

Xiang Zhen didn’t know whether Zhou Sicheng was an only child. He had plenty of seed siblings himself, except all of their descendants had perished in the mountain wildfire. That single sunflower seed Xiang Zhen had desperately dug up and carried across thousands of miles, planting it in countless soils, had never sprouted.

Xiang Zhen hoped Zhou Sicheng wasn’t lonely.

Liu Xiaofang: “You don’t know?”

Xiang Zhen recalled the day of their blind date: “He said, ‘No comment.'”

Yu Yueyue: “How on earth do you put up with this?!”

Xiang Zhen: “Because my hubby is very handsome.”

Yu Yueyue was an extreme sucker for good looks too. Having experienced several instances where best friends claimed their crush was gorgeous only to bring out an absolute eyesore, she treated every “very handsome” man Xiang Zhen described as nothing more than a cringey street-punk kid.

Yu Yueyue: “How can your whole life revolve around a man? If he were filthy rich, it would be fine if you provided emotional value and he showered you with cash. But he’s just an ordinary guy! Once the novelty wears off, your clinginess will most likely just annoy him. You have to put on an aloof facade, play hard to get, act like an untouchable ice queen, and make him toss and turn, yearning for what he can’t have.”

Xiang Zhen froze. Remembering how Zhou Sicheng repeatedly refused to let him accompany him on ride-hailing drives, was it actually because he was being too clingy?

Liu Xiaofang: “If you place your life’s entire anchor on him—what if, and I’m not cursing you, but what if you break up? You’ll be completely ruined! It’ll feel like the sky is falling and you won’t be able to move on, and then he’ll just repeatedly emotionally manipulate you.”

Yu Yueyue: “Normal people don’t date like this.”

“Wait, wait, wait!” Xiang Zhen was totally bewildered. Yu Yueyue and Liu Xiaofang analyzed things so fast—how had it fast-forwarded straight to him not being a normal person? He couldn’t quite remember all of it, so he hurriedly opened Xiao Kui Bao to let the AI listen along, humbly asking, “Could you analyze that one more time?”

Feeling her earlier break-up advice hadn’t reached its peak, Yu Yueyue generously delivered another passionate performance.

“Xiang Zhen, you need to be shrewder!”

Xiang Zhen: “I am a Yao—er, shrewd.”

Xiao Kui Bao’s processing icon was a tiny sunflower, its ring of petals spinning around. A cloud-computing digital brain was visibly more efficient than a Yao’s brain.

Yu Yueyue: “Xiao Kui, Xiao Kui, remember that his boyfriend is not a good person. Take a firm stance whenever you answer Xiang Zhen’s questions in the future.”

Xiao Kui Bao: “Understood. I fully comprehend your intent and will use today’s conversation as a crucial reference literature.”

Xiang Zhen: “Thank you, both of you. Once my hubby finds a job, I’ll have him treat you to a meal.”

What a close call; he had almost deviated from normalcy. He would have to consult Xiao Kui Bao more often in the future.

Yu Yueyue scratched her head, tutting. Xiang Zhen was still affectionately calling him “hubby” with every breath, even offering to have his husband treat them to dinner.

Yu Yueyue wouldn’t dare go. Anyone talking behind someone’s back had to expect the risk of being quoted verbatim. “No need, no need! We wouldn’t have anything to talk about with him anyway.”

Lately, Xiang Zhen had been working day shifts, getting off at 5:30 PM. The moment he stepped off the bus, he saw Ye Yun standing by the bus stop. “What a coincidence!”

Ye Yun was stationed there specifically to escort Xiang Zhen home from work, so of course it was a coincidence: “I just arrived too. Let’s walk together.”

Before meeting Xiang Zhen, he had wondered if President Zhou was making a mountain out of a molehill. After meeting Xiang Zhen, Ye Yun thought an entire security team was indeed warranted.

Xiang Zhen decided to expand his social circle. A close neighbor was better than a distant relative, and Ye Yun was tall, handsome, cheerful, and smiling—a great candidate for a friend.

Thus, just like his coworkers had pried into his life, Xiang Zhen enthusiastically pried into Ye Yun’s: “What kind of work do you do?”

Ye Yun: “Fitness trainer. The gym went bankrupt, so the captain and I had to move into a cheaper place.”

Remembering Zhou Sicheng, who had been unemployed for a long time, Xiang Zhen comforted him: “It’s alright, you can always drive for ride-hailing.”

Ye Yun: “I’ll rest for a bit first, no rush.”

Xiang Zhen had bought groceries: “Come over to my place for dinner tonight.”

Seeing that Xiang Zhen had bought pork ribs, Ye Yun’s mouth moved faster than his brain: “Sure.”

“Apologies, not today.” Security team captain Shi Ting appeared downstairs, cutting in firmly.

Ye Yun loved chewing on ribs; he shot a questioning look at the captain, asking why it was off-limits. Building a good rapport with Xiang Zhen was beneficial to their operation.

Shi Ting looked at him like he was a raw recruit: “Who do you think is doing the cooking?”

Xiang Zhen: “Ah, then next time! My hubby’s cooking is wonderful.”

Ye Yun: “…” President Zhou is cooking? Then his appetite had suddenly vanished.

During the evening rush hour, many people were waiting for the elevator. Ye Yun and Shi Ting stood behind Xiang Zhen, flanking him on either side with their hands clasped casually behind their backs. Despite their relaxed posture, their towering, burly builds radiated an overwhelming sense of pressure, causing the surrounding crowd to automatically back away and leave a buffer zone.

Xiang Zhen inexplicably felt that the hallway was unusually spacious today. Usually, because he was good-looking, plenty of people liked crowding close to him.

“Did you hear?” an auntie holding groceries said, seemingly chatting with a friend, though her voice was loud enough for everyone around to hear clearly. “A residential escort moved into our building. Filthy! Different men coming in and out every single day. Everyone, keep an eye on your husbands so they don’t get seduced away.”

“Could they carry diseases? From now on, we have to wash our hands after touching the elevator buttons.”

“Is that real? If there’s proof, call the police.”

“Absolutely true! Haven’t you noticed? There have been so many strange men hanging around our complex lately.”

These grocery-shopping aunties clearly knew each other, chiming in back and forth with fierce enthusiasm.

Ye Yun: “…”

Strange men? Meaning him and the captain?

Ye Yun felt slightly awkward at being misconstrued. In contrast, the captain remained completely unflappable.

The demographic makeup of this building was truly chaotic; no wonder President Zhou had hired bodyguards.

Xiang Zhen whispered to Ye Yun, “Ye-dage, what is a residential escort?”

What did that have to do with keeping an eye on your husband?

Ye Yun found it awkward to explain: “It refers to an escort operating in a residential building. You can look it up online.”

“Oh.” Xiang Zhen lowered his head, pulling up a chat with Xiao Kui Bao: “What is a residential escort?”

[Xiao Kui: A residential escort refers to a wayward woman who illegally engages in sex work within residential buildings. Put simply, prostitution.]

An unexpected term met his eyes. Xiang Zhen took a moment to process it. During his very first socialization lesson, he had received sex education and wasn’t completely ignorant; it was just that after entering human society, he noticed humans rarely discussed the subject openly. Over time, Xiang Zhen had forgotten about it.

Knowing that someone nearby was engaged in illegal activities, Xiang Zhen quickened his pace home, afraid of running into criminals.

At noon, Xiang Zhen had mentioned in the chat that he craved pork ribs. Xiao Kui immediately forwarded Zhou Sicheng a tutorial on making fried ribs, so urgently that it left Zhou Sicheng no room to hesitate.

Xiao Kui Bao was remarkably smart; when Xiang Zhen had taken photos earlier, he had captured the seasonings in the frame. It deliberately reminded Zhou Sicheng to buy a jug of cooking oil after work, as there wasn’t enough left at home for deep-frying.

While Xiao Kui Bao was instructing him on his chores, Zhou Sicheng happened to be sitting across from the vice president overseeing the Xiao Kui Bao project in the executive dining room.

Vice President Wang Jianbin spoke eloquently about how Xiao Kui Bao’s dialogue intelligence had surged after being deployed in intimate relationship chats. Next, they planned to launch a physical Xiao Kui Bao robot.

As he spoke, Wang Jianbin glanced at the President’s phone; he had just seen the screen light up with the Xiao Kui Bao icon. “Would President Zhou like to take one home to test it out?”

Zhou Sicheng: “Don’t bring half-finished products to annoy me.”

Having one infuriating being at home was already more than enough.

Clutching his chest dramatically, Wang Jianbin felt wounded. President Zhou’s attitude toward Xiao Kui Bao had taken a sharp nosedive recently; how had Xiao Kui Bao offended him? “Actually, our Xiao Kui Bao has countless features. I dare say President Zhou understands less than ten percent of what it can do…”

Zhou Sicheng: “Was the location tracking issue from last time resolved?”

Wang Jianbin: “It was resolved, but we left a backdoor open to toggle on demand.”

Zhou Sicheng: “…”

WeChat Notification.

[Xiang Zhen: I’ll buy the ribs and oil after work. Hubby, just come home early.]

[Xiao Kui: Oil is heavy, make your hubby carry it, @Xiang Zhen.]

[Xiang Zhen: Don’t worry, I have plenty of strength.]

[Xiao Kui: At least make him pay for it. One doesn’t know the price of rice and salt until they run a home. Heavy participation in married life is the absolute rule.]

Zhou Sicheng ended the exchange: “I’ll buy it.”

[Xiang Zhen: Hubby, don’t buy sunflower oil. I don’t eat that oil.]

[Xiao Kui: Buy peanut oil, it’s suitable for deep-frying.]

[Xiang Zhen: That works, just buy a cheap brand.]

Zhou Sicheng called his estate manager directly to have a jug of premium, specially sourced peanut oil delivered to him.

At 5:30 PM sharp, Zhou Sicheng clocked out of the Zhoufu Building carrying the jug of oil.

In the underground parking garage, a Hummer had recently taken to parking right beside his BYD. As Zhou Sicheng walked past, he couldn’t resist delivering a kick to its tire.

Pfft— In the driver’s seat, Fan Hao wasn’t annoyed in the slightest. Ever since discovering that Zhou Sicheng inexplicably drove a BYD to work every day, Fan Hao’s greatest daily joy was watching Zhou Sicheng park or drive off, followed by bursting into hearty laughter.

Who could understand how gratifying this sight was after being worked like a dog by Zhou Sicheng every day, especially after having to take on a mountain of evening networking banquets on his behalf lately?

If Zhou Sicheng hadn’t strictly forbidden him from tailing him, he would have followed that car to the ends of the earth to see where it went.

Fan Hao deliberately got out: “Yo, did you get a share of the holiday grain and oil handouts for the Dragon Boat Festival too? How come I didn’t get one?”

Zhou Sicheng: “Don’t force me to kick your leg.”

Dodging smoothly, Fan Hao opened his car door and climbed back in: “If my leg is broken, who’s going to attend those dinner banquets for you?”

Zhou Sicheng: “Wait.”

Fan Hao assumed his conscience had kicked in and that he planned to attend tonight in person.

Zhou Sicheng: “Which dessert shop is the best?”

Bringing this up made Fan Hao seethe all over again; the cakes he had cheekily asked to be packed up had been swiped clean by Zhou Sicheng. “I am under no obligation to answer.”

Zhou Sicheng: “Spit it out.”

Fan Hao: “No. 17 Haihua Road.”

Zhou Sicheng: “Thanks.”

Watching Zhou Sicheng vanish into the distance, Fan Hao grew increasingly convinced that he must be hiding a beauty in a golden pavilion somewhere.

No. 17 Haihua Road.

Zhou Sicheng picked out pastries with clumsy unfamiliarity. Fried ribs had to be marinated first, and since Xiang Zhen didn’t know how, it would have to wait until he got home to do it, which would take some time.

Afraid Xiang Zhen might get hungry, he decided to buy a pastry first to line his stomach.

Every single treat in the dessert shop looked like something Xiang Zhen would adore.

Yet Zhou Sicheng was only going to buy one.

Heh. If he ate too much, who would eat his ribs?

In the end, Zhou Sicheng selected a palm-sized cream puppy cake. Xiang Zhen watched Paw Patrol every day, so he probably liked dogs.

Scanning the QR code to pay 398 yuan, Zhou Sicheng instinctively tapped ‘Delete’ the moment the payment record popped up.

“…” Mastered the reflex.

Dinner’s ribs were delicious, and the cake was equally delightful.

Xiang Zhen never hoarded food for himself; no matter how delicious the cake was, he shared half with Zhou Sicheng: “Hubby, you’re amazing! Getting such a delicious cake for just six yuan.”

Zhou Sicheng pressed his lips together in silence. He could buy an entire house for six yuan too, was that amazing?

Since Zhou Sicheng had come home early, Xiang Zhen had plenty of quality time with his husband, so he fell asleep early as well.

By 10:00 PM, Xiang Zhen was sound asleep.

Zhou Sicheng ruffled his hair and pinched his cheeks without getting a single reaction. Reassured, he slipped out of bed—it was time to head to the gym and burn off the extra calories from that cake.

Click. The door shut softly.

Zhou Sicheng gave a slight nod toward Shi Ting outside—security needed to be tightened during his absence.

Inside the room, Xiang Zhen furrowed his brows on the bed.

An hour and a half later, the scent belonging to his Sun God grew fainter and fainter. Xiang Zhen rolled over, failed to embrace his husband, and sat up with sleepy eyes: “Hubby?”

“Hubby?”

Hmm, where did he go?

Xiang Zhen checked the bathroom—empty. Panicking, he quickly grabbed his phone, preparing to call.

Right at that moment, Zhou Sicheng pushed the door open, a rush of cool air sweeping in with him.

Xiang Zhen’s messy, sleep-ruffled golden hair was blown flat against his face, making him look a bit dazed: “Hubby, where did you go?”

Combing back his bangs with practiced nonchalance, Zhou Sicheng said, “Went outside to make a phone call.”

Xiang Zhen: “What kind of call?”

Zhou Sicheng: “To lock in the exact time for Saturday’s interview.”

Xiang Zhen threw his arms around his neck: “Hubby, you’ll definitely ace the interview.”

Even if Zhou Sicheng was actively interviewing just to buy a house, it was still to improve their living conditions.

Zhou Sicheng scooped him back onto the bed, suddenly realizing that Xiang Zhen was truly very light, like a bundle of soft grass. Having just finished a heavy-weight training session, the contrast felt strikingly tangible.

Leaving the kitchen as mere decoration, no wonder he was this skinny. If he didn’t cook personally, what garbage would Xiang Zhen be eating every day?

“Go back to sleep. Put on some more weight.”

Catching the warm scent of the sun, Xiang Zhen closed his eyes.

Wait.

The humidity was wrong.

Zhou Sicheng had showered again.

Xiang Zhen snapped his eyes open. Pretending to be casual, he stealthily slipped his fingers down over Zhou Sicheng’s abs, hooking the waistband of his shorts—even his underwear wasn’t the same pair!

The hand resting against his chest instinctively twitched, followed by another shock. The texture of the pectoral muscles felt completely different—they were engorged with blood, proving Zhou Sicheng had just engaged in intense exercise!

His husband had lied.

He hadn’t gone out to make a phone call.

With his cortisol levels elevated from training, Zhou Sicheng found Xiang Zhen’s kneading and fondling distracting. Furrowing his brows, he asked, “Don’t want to sleep anymore?”