WRA CH23

Chapter 23: Aren’t You an S?

Zhou Sicheng parked the car and checked his wife’s Moments.

Xiang Zhen obediently handed over his phone—his husband was welcome to inspect it anytime.

Zhou Sicheng opened WeChat Moments. The very first post was their official announcement made on May 20th. Below it was a comment from Yu Yueyue calling him a cheapskate, along with a “like” from Feng Chujun.

“…”

Staring at the decimal point sitting between the 52 and the 00, Zhou Sicheng stubbornly pulled up his transfer records to cross-check. The decimal point was undeniably there.

Zhou Sicheng only remembered typing a whole string of zeroes and then deleting several. His ultimate goal had been to land on 5,200. But in a rush to prevent Secretary Gao from seeing the specialized learning content on his computer screen, he had hit send without double-checking.

At Zhoufu, missing one zero was a grave accident. Missing two zeroes was a catastrophic failure capable of bankrupting a family.

Whether it would bankrupt him remained to be seen, but it could cost him his wife.

Zhou Sicheng had never made such a glaring mistake in his entire life.

Yet the mistake was also trivially small—financially, there was no difference to him between 52 and 5,200.

Zhou Sicheng scrolled down to see if Xiang Zhen had ever posted anything else about him before. For instance, buying him cakes, driving him to and from work, cooking for him, or his eight-pack abs.

Unfortunately, there was nothing. Because Zhou Sicheng had previously dug his own grave by forbidding Xiang Zhen from posting his photos, this single screenshot was the very first piece of content about him.

Xiang Zhen’s Moments consisted entirely of standalone photos of exquisite desserts.

Synthesized together, the image portrayed: an elegant afternoon tea beauty and his stingy husband.

Anyone looking at it would remark on how wildly jarring it was.

No wonder his romantic rivals had suddenly multiplied.

Before Xiang Zhen made the official announcement, the lifestyle displayed on his feed was sweet and bourgeois—the cakes always looked remarkably expensive.

Seeing such a refined beauty with high taste who pursued culinary delicacies, everyone naturally assumed his standards were lofty and detached from mortal dust. The mysterious husband he occasionally mentioned was presumed to be handsome, wealthy, and lavishly generous.

Xiang Zhen had stripped away his husband’s mystery with a single screenshot.

More than that—he had practically stripped him down to his underwear.

The moment potential suitors saw that Xiang Zhen wasn’t picky at all and that his husband was such a deadbeat, this kind of marriage seemed practically begging to be broken up.

No wonder Feng Chujun had put on such airs in front of him.

Zhou Sicheng offered a weak defense: “I actually intended to send you 5,200, but a minor accident happened—”

Xiang Zhen asked with genuine concern, “Was it because your balance wasn’t enough? Hubby, it’s the thought that counts.”

Zhou Sicheng: “…”

Did he really have to claim either being poor or being a cheapskate?

Zhou Sicheng said, “So, could we… perhaps… delete this post—”

Fan Hao couldn’t hold it in any longer from the backseat: “Everyone who was supposed to see it already saw it. Deleting it now is useless.”

Zhou Sicheng replied expressionlessly, “Demoted one rank.”

Fan Hao: “…”

Zhou Sicheng continued, “This announcement has a tiny flaw. Can we post a new one?”

Xiang Zhen looked at his high-achieving scholar husband. “Where is the flaw? No wonder nobody liked my post. Hubby, how should I change it?”

Before Zhou Sicheng could speak, a lightbulb went off in Xiang Zhen’s head. “Is it because we don’t have matching couple avatars?”

Zhou Sicheng’s profile picture was a cool-toned forest, while Xiang Zhen’s was a sunflower.

“Hubby, can you switch to a sun avatar?”

Zhou Sicheng: “Sure.”

Xiang Zhen searched online for a radiant image of the sun and sent it over.

It took Zhou Sicheng barely two seconds to swap it out. At the same time, he sent Xiang Zhen a supplementary red packet of 52,000 yuan and personally tapped the button on Xiang Zhen’s phone to accept the transfer.

Xiang Zhen gasped in surprise: “Hubby, where did you get so much money? Did you withdraw it from a credit card cash advance?”

Zhou Sicheng: “No, I earned it.”

Fan Hao burst into laughter. Who could understand the hilarity of watching Zhou Sicheng, a thirty-year-old titan of industry, play house like this?

Hearing him laugh, Xiang Zhen suddenly recalled that this passenger had hailed the ride from outside the Zhoufu Bank building. He asked, “Do you work at Zhoufu Bank?”

Fan Hao: “That’s right, I’m an employee.” And your husband is the boss.

Xiang Zhen rummaged through the glove compartment, pulled out the credit card Zhou Sicheng had given him, and asked Fan Hao, “What is the credit limit on this type of card?”

Seeing the Golden Sunflower card face, Fan Hao froze. He had wondered why Zhou Sicheng hadn’t swiped this card recently; it turned out he had given it to his wife. This poor CEO’s spouse didn’t even know how to swipe it.

Fan Hao: “Unli—”

Xiang Zhen: “Fifty thousand?”

So his husband really had taken a 50,000-yuan cash advance from the credit card, combined it with his remaining 2,000-yuan balance, and cobbled together 52,000 yuan.

“Hubby, you should pay off the credit card first.”

Zhou Sicheng: “Post on Moments first.”

Xiang Zhen: “Okay.”

His husband had gone through the trouble of cashing out just to give him face on social media; he definitely had to post it.

To ensure his colleagues realized this was a brand-new announcement rather than the previous one, and to draw attention to the fact that the transfer amount had multiplied by 1,000, Xiang Zhen specifically added a disclaimer to the caption: [A new one.]

Thirty seconds after posting, Yu Yueyue viewed it.

[Yu Yueyue: You got a new husband? I didn’t even want to mention your previous one.]

Zhou Sicheng fell silent after reading it.

Xiang Zhen let out a soft “ah.” A misunderstanding! He hurriedly typed: It’s not a new husband, my husband just changed to a new profile picture.

Zhou Sicheng locked the phone screen. “Forget it, no need to explain. The innocent remain clean.”

Fan Hao roared with laughter: “Others turn over a new leaf, but you literally turn over a new face!”

Zhou Sicheng: “Demoted two ranks.”

Fan Hao: “…” He really couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Where on earth did Zhou Sicheng find such an innocent, naive sweetpea of a wife?

After finishing the post, Xiang Zhen wanted to refund the money so Zhou Sicheng could pay off the credit card before interest accrued.

Zhou Sicheng said, “This is a bonus from my business trip. I sold a software program to a foreign client for five million and received a commission.”

Xiang Zhen immediately remembered his own commission from the nut gift boxes. No wonder Yueyue said wage labor was a dead end—the whole world was just one giant sales floor.

“Hubby, you can sell things to foreigners? Do you speak foreign languages?”

It wasn’t written on his blind date resume.

Zhou Sicheng: “I studied abroad. I speak several.”

Fan Hao added, “We met while studying abroad.”

Xiang Zhen learned a little more about his husband. Zhou Sicheng must have been a state-sponsored elite student. Eager to chat with Fan Hao, he asked, “You work at a bank? Did my husband work at a bank before he became unemployed?”

Fan Hao: “He didn’t tell you?”

Xiang Zhen: “No.”

Fan Hao: “Yes, he did.”

Xiang Zhen turned slightly, gazing at Zhou Sicheng with utter admiration. When he had first taken human form, he didn’t know how to use a smartphone. Auntie Guihua had taken him to the bank a few times to withdraw cash so he could buy snacks.

The very first people Xiang Zhen had ever seen wearing suits were bank employees—they looked so classy, sophisticated, and dignified, and watching them count bills left him utterly mesmerized.

No wonder his husband carried himself with such presence and looked so handsome in a suit; it turned out Zhou Sicheng had worked at a bank too.

Fan Hao had no idea what he had said to trigger such radiant devotion in Xiang Zhen’s eyes.

“You’re his very first partner. I honestly thought he’d die alone.”

Xiang Zhen: “It was love at first sight for us.”

Zhou Sicheng drove the entire way. The moment they arrived at the Tianxing Hotel, he didn’t want this third wheel lingering a single second longer. “Get out.”

Fan Hao was reluctant to leave: “What time are you heading back? How about taking another ride order?”

Taking ride orders was Zhou Sicheng’s absolute sore spot: “Scram.”

Xiang Zhen, however, was extremely enthusiastic. He smoothly unbuckled his seatbelt before Zhou Sicheng could stop him, got out, retrieved a bottle of water from the trunk, and handed it to Fan Hao.

They had talked a lot in the car. Fan Hao had shared many stories about their student days—details Zhou Sicheng was otherwise tight-lipped about, never even mentioning his family background.

Xiang Zhen: “You must be thirsty. It was great meeting you today! What time are you heading back tonight? We can pick you up if it’s on the way.”

Fan Hao would never dare get in that car again. Once was a coincidence; twice was deliberately ambushing his superior. “I’m staying at the hotel tonight. Not going back.”

Xiang Zhen: “Oh, then have fun!”

Fan Hao wasn’t here to have fun; he was here on business. Looking at the innocent Xiang Zhen, he couldn’t resist dropping a hint: “Have you ever considered that your husband might not be as poor as he appears on the surface?”

The corners of Xiang Zhen’s mouth dropped. “You’re not really my husband’s friend, are you?”

Did this guy think he couldn’t recognize someone trying to drive a wedge between them?

After the cheating misunderstanding incident, Xiang Zhen had resolved to trust his husband 100%. Everything his husband said was the absolute truth.

Fan Hao: “…”

He twisted open the water bottle and watched the BYD speed away. Pulling out his phone, an internal penalty notification from the bank popped up on his screen.

Personally signed by Zhou Sicheng: a deduction of 1,000,000 yuan from Risk Management General Manager Fan’s performance bonus.

Reason: Inadequate risk control.

Fk, talking to your wife is bloody expensive!

He truly had failed at risk control.

Back in their two-person world, Zhou Sicheng’s mood returned to the blissful euphoria of their very first date. Their plan for today was a picnic in the park.

Parking the BYD in the lot, Zhou Sicheng unloaded a picnic mat, folding table and chairs, fruit, snacks, and a pop-up tent from the trunk.

Xiang Zhen: “Hubby, when did you buy a tent and folding chairs?”

Zhou Sicheng: “Borrowed them from the residential community.”

Xiang Zhen: “Oh, oh, let me help you.”

Zhou Sicheng: “Just carry the snacks.”

Tianxing Bay had a one-acre water lily pond. Late May was peak bloom season. Xiang Zhen had picked this spot after seeing how breathtaking the scenery was online.

Arriving at the park entrance, Xiang Zhen politely asked the security guard, “Uncle, which way to the water lily pond?”

The guard pointed to the right: “You’re only arriving now? The water lilies have already gone to sleep.”

Xiang Zhen froze. The sun hadn’t even set yet—how could water lilies be so different from sunflowers?

The guard added, “You have to come at noon to see water lilies. By this hour, the petals close up.”

Zhou Sicheng: “It’s fine, we mainly came for a picnic anyway.”

Xiang Zhen bit his lower lip. He hadn’t done his research properly, causing his husband to miss out on the flowers.

Zhou Sicheng had driven three hours round-trip; he couldn’t let him make the trip for nothing.

“It’s so hot out, maybe some of the flowers forgot to go to sleep!” Xiang Zhen broke into a jog. “Hubby, I’ll go look first!”

“Slow down.” Weighed down by bags and gear, Zhou Sicheng couldn’t catch up and could only call out from behind.

Xiang Zhen dashed to the edge of the pond. Sure enough, the water lilies across the entire pond had tightly shut their petals, reverting into pointed buds, some even sinking halfway beneath the water.

“Please open for just a little longer,” Xiang Zhen pleaded softly. “My husband hasn’t seen you yet.”

Naturally, none of the water lilies paid him any mind.

Xiang Zhen closed his eyes and opened his palm. The sunlight power accumulated year after year by the sunflower Yao flowed from his fingertips. Dancing flickers of light drifted into the pond, touching the pointed tips of the petals.

Summoned by the sunlight, the pink and red maidens unfurled their petals once more in the dusk.

Xiang Zhen withdrew his hand, hid it behind his back, and saw Zhou Sicheng emerging from the shade of the trees. Smiling brightly, he looped his arm through Zhou Sicheng’s: “Hubby, we’re in luck! The water lilies haven’t gone to sleep today.”

Water lilies weren’t anything special to Zhou Sicheng, but Xiang Zhen’s words made him feel as though good fortune had genuinely graced them: “They’re beautiful. Let me take a photo of you.”

This way, his phone would finally have an official photo of his wife.

Xiang Zhen sat on a stone bench beside the lilies, posing straight-on and from the side, while Zhou Sicheng snapped away endlessly like a professional photographer.

The water lilies were lovely. Unlike tall, upright lotuses, they were small, dainty, and delicate, floating on the surface in complete reliance on the water.

Zhou Sicheng had no mind to admire the scenery, because his wife was far more delicate. He was willing to be the water, willing to be the leaves, protecting this flower for a lifetime.

Putting away his phone, he noticed Xiang Zhen was sweating from the heat: “Let’s go sit in the shade.”

The corners of Xiang Zhen’s mouth curled up. Since Zhou Sicheng had taken so many photos, the background must truly be gorgeous—his sunlight power hadn’t gone to waste: “I’m not afraid of the heat.”

Regarding Xiang Zhen’s resistance to heat, Zhou Sicheng had already experienced it firsthand, given that their home had yet to turn on the air conditioner once.

Once the sun dipped below the horizon at Tianxing Bay Park, the temperature dropped rapidly, making it much more refreshing than their rental apartment. That was why Zhou Sicheng had brought the tent, intending to head home a bit later tonight.

With inadequate security in the park, he wouldn’t actually stay overnight outside.

Xiang Zhen, however, assumed Zhou Sicheng wanted to camp out. It had been so long since he’d basked in the moonlight outdoors!

Xiang Zhen: “Hubby, hurry inside! The mosquitoes will get in and bite you tonight.”

Zhou Sicheng: “They’ll bite you too.”

Xiang Zhen shook his head: “No, you sleep inside, and I’ll sleep outside. I’ll keep watch for you.”

Zhou Sicheng: ?

A wife sleeping outside the tent was completely unheard of.

Zhou Sicheng: “Out of the question.”

Xiang Zhen: “Just let me sleep outside.”

Zhou Sicheng pulled him inside and zipped up the entrance: “Don’t even think about it. I’ll tie you up in here if I have to, so don’t plan on sneaking out while I’m asleep.”

Catching the sensitive Sadist-related vocabulary, Xiang Zhen asked with wide eyes, “Did you bring ropes too?”

Zhou Sicheng sneered coldly, unbuckled his leather belt, folded it in half, and held it firmly in his hand: “Isn’t this right here?”

Xiang Zhen was terrified: “Are we doing SM tonight?!”

“B-but I haven’t figured out how to block my pain receptors yet!”

“Do you humans have anesthetics?”

“You brought the tent on purpose, didn’t you? Because the soundproofing at home is bad!”

The sunflower Yao was so nervous his mouth was running away with him, completely missing how bizarre Zhou Sicheng’s expression was becoming.

Zhou Sicheng pinched his chin: “What nonsense are you babbling about SM?”

Where on earth had he picked up such garbage?

Xiang Zhen blinked. Could it be that Zhou Sicheng was just an amateur who hadn’t systematically studied the terminology—or, as the novels put it, hadn’t officially entered the scene yet?

He gave his husband a blunt explanation: “It means your instinct is that you like beating your wife.”

Zhou Sicheng: “I like beating my wife? Who told you that?”

Before Xiang Zhen could answer, Zhou Sicheng’s face darkened: “Did Xiao Kui Bao analyze this for you again?”

Zhou Sicheng summoned Xiao Kui Bao, furious enough to leave his body: “Aren’t you in Minor Mode?! You artificial idiot!”

Xiao Kui Bao: “Haha, sorry, I am an artificial idiot.”

Xiang Zhen: “It has nothing to do with Xiao Kui Bao! I analyzed it myself.”

Zhou Sicheng: “You yourself—”

Seeing that his husband’s expression had shifted from not wanting to hit someone to genuinely contemplating domestic violence, Xiang Zhen immediately dropped to his knees in a slide, mirroring Xiao Kui Bao’s surrender:

“Haha, hubby, I’m sorry! I’m a wild-grown idiot!”