PMWAIAAPM Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Is he an idiot?

Xing Yang did not realize that in the dimly lit corridor, he saw a beam of light slipping in through the window, dust floating and swirling in the air.

He gazed at Tan Zhiyu’s cascading curls, the green of his eyes akin to emeralds hidden in crystal, captivating enough to suck one into a whirlpool.

When Tan Zhiyu raised his eyes to meet him for a second, Xing Yang saw him instinctively turn and flee in panic.

He chuckled lightly, “If you want to look, then look. It’s not illegal.”

“Um…” Xing Yang smiled faintly.

“I’m leaving. I still have to practice before filming starts,” Tan Zhiyu shrugged, handing over some disinfectant. “Here, it’s dirty after use; you handle it.”

Xing Yang seemed to understand his sharp tongue. He smiled gently, took it, and then grasped Tan Zhiyu’s wrist. “I apologize.”

“What for?”

Tan Zhiyu frowned and turned away, seemingly not understanding what he was saying.

“I’m a bit slow on the uptake, especially when it comes to feelings, or rather, our marriage. I hope we can have a pleasant time in this brief marriage. If there are any misunderstandings between us, I apologize, Mr. Tan. I don’t want to argue with you.”

He spoke straightforwardly, even wrapping it in the formalities of the business world.

The marriage they signed was meant to be only three years long.

The term ‘brief marriage’ sounded harsh and displeasing to Tan Zhiyu. He couldn’t distinguish whether he disliked Xing Yang or his business-like tone. To him, he felt no different from a commodity. He patiently consoled himself, simply to be more devoted as a comforter during his heat.

Xing Yang was using tenderness to present him with meat, but Tan Zhiyu was not a dog.

Tan Zhiyu straightened his posture, just lowering his head slightly, stepping closer to Xing Yang, asking knowingly, “Are we arguing?”

The displeasure evident in the man’s eyes grew worse. Xing Yang felt uneasy, but he had no idea where he went wrong.

He had already noticed Tan Zhiyu’s little temper; he liked to speak in contradictions. Just like now, he was already mulling over what grievances he had suffered and planning how long to give him the cold shoulder, but he wouldn’t admit it.

Xing Yang knew he was waiting for himself to guess.

“I’m really sorry if I misunderstood Mr. Tan’s meaning. That was my mistake. However, it seems we really don’t need to argue.” The smile at the corner of Xing Yang’s lips remained unbroken.

In the staircase, Xing Yang was cornered by his tall figure. At this moment, the Alpha probably wanted to release his aggressive pheromones to express his dissatisfaction, but just a door away was the studio. If Alpha’s pheromones leaked, it would be a problem; he still possessed this much restraint.

“Is this okay then?”

Xing Yang narrowed his eyes, shimmering with mirth, and this time did not step back. Instead, he moved forward slightly, tilting his head to meet Tan Zhiyu’s lips.

A gentle brush, like a seagull skimming across the water, stirred up ripples.

Tan Zhiyu’s body stiffened for a moment, his pupils dilating, quickly retreating a step. “What are you doing?”

To know, they had almost never kissed without the influence of pheromones because Tan Zhiyu found him repugnant.

“Mr. Tan hates me kissing you, and you’re angry. After three hours, once work ends, I’ll find a way to make it up to you, okay?” He raised his hand, glanced at his watch, a blatant provocation.

Tan Zhiyu had said before not to let him approach casually or show any affectionate gestures; he had crossed the line.

This was the way of a businessman—creating contradictions when there were none, seeking advantageous paths for himself.

Tan Zhiyu sulked, claiming he felt fine. Xing Yang had no idea why he was angry; it formed a deadlock. But now it was different. He was sufficiently hated by Tan Zhiyu, and getting kissed would surely make him angrier, allowing Xing Yang justifiable grounds to soothe him, without needing to sneak around.

“You, Xing Yang!”

Scheming businessman!

It almost made him forget that Jiang Cheng didn’t provide him with a little cake.

“In three hours, we’ll have a date at home, okay?” Xing Yang pursed his lips, shallow dimples appearing.

He stepped down wearing his brand new leather shoes, a broad back, his suit tucked under one arm, lazy yet utterly upright.

Tan Zhiyu took a deep breath, the light scent of agarwood lingering near his nose—it was truly special.

Agarwood was already a rich woody scent, but Xing Yang’s gland was small, so small that it contrasted sharply with his 180 cm height. Hence, his pheromones diluted this rich aroma to a faint hint, resembling the freshness of greens mingled with tree bark, the base note sweet—a scent not belonging to his pheromones, but the bloody sweetness of his wounds.

Once Xing Yang had left, Tan Zhiyu stood dazed in place, fingers unconsciously touching his lips.

A hidden ember burned inside, without visible flames, yet fiercely hot.

He clearly understood that to detest someone, to hate someone, every touch from that person would feel like a nuisance.

Yet, Xing Yang’s fleeting kiss felt more like a bait cast, tightly ensnaring him for the next three hours, leaving him in anticipation.

Anticipating how Boss Xing would try to placate him.

Would he send him a little cake?

Or would he make Jiang Cheng leave the film crew?

He was uncertain, the only thing certain was that Xing Yang had captured his heart, drifting away like clouds in the sky.

“Tan Ge, what are you doing here? Director Zheng said they are ready to begin the trial shoot, let’s head over. The guidance teacher is also prepared,” assistant Xiao Qin pushed open the heavy iron door and said anxiously.

Tan Zhiyu followed in her steps back to the set but cast one last glance back at the stairwell.

–

On the film set, the scene was still charged with the previous boxing fervor.

Tan Zhiyu and Chi Yanchuan were barely acquaintances, just exchanging nods. “Why are you still acting? Don’t your parents mind?”

Chi Yanchuan walked over, tossing the boxing gloves to him.

“They never interfere with what I like, unlike you.”

Chi Yanchuan was once the young master of the Chi family, shouldering the burden of inheriting the entire Changyuan Group, but his relationship with his father was poor. While his father wanted him to inherit the family business, he insisted on entering the entertainment industry, almost giving his old man a heart attack.

In contrast, Tan Zhiyu was the only son of his parents, not needing to inherit a massive family business; they listened to him and indulged him in everything.

Chi Yanchuan nodded. “You have a point.”

“Did you see the one who just sparred with Jiang Ge?” Chi Yanchuan suddenly turned and asked him. “He’s the investor for this film; you’ve had a meal together, right?”

“Why?” Tan Zhiyu fastened the gloves on his wrists, ready to step onto the stage.

“He’s a tough one; he’s diving into the film industry and will inevitably deal with many connections. You’re proud; don’t offend him.” He kindly reminded.

Tan Zhiyu scoffed, containing a cold laugh filled with disbelief. “Him?”

In front of him, Xing Yang seemed like he was always looking down. In their three months of marriage, he had never witnessed any hint of an edge from him. Tan Zhiyu found it hard to imagine he was the CEO managing the largest real estate company in the capital.

“What are you laughing at? I don’t have a strong impression of him. I last worked with him seven or eight years ago, yet he still remembers Jiang Ge’s poor health, never offending anyone.”

“Ten years ago, he started from scratch, and it wasn’t easy. I heard he was laughed at and treated like a dog to close deals. Later, he monopolized the entire capital’s real estate. Those who offended him ended up deeply in debt or fled abroad; this guy is ruthless. After cooperating once, I never contacted him again, but later my brother Chi Yansheng took over the company and within half a month secured several projects for the Chi family.”

Chi Yansheng, that was Chi Yanchuan’s half-brother.

A typical profit-driven businessman.

Tan Zhiyu’s father worked in finance and had mentioned this person’s name during business dinners, a sly fox who wouldn’t spare any means for profit.

Working with someone like that, Xing Yang wouldn’t be any less.

“Just like the boxing just now. He used to just clap and bet while watching boxing matches. I didn’t even know he could box so well, deliberately letting me see that his collaboration with the Chi family is about to be renewed. I owe him a favor for ‘letting me win,’ and naturally, I need to make it up in the contract.”

Tan Zhiyu felt that his statement was somewhat disconnected from his own impression of the person. “Why are you telling me about him?”

Could it be they had been too close and already began resembling a couple??

Chi Yanchuan added, “When he got lost in the fight and glanced at you, just didn’t want you to be coerced under his overwhelming influence. At least you’re brothers.”

Tan Zhiyu found it extremely distasteful. “Who’s your brother?”

He wouldn’t want to be associated with a mentally deranged person who abused his wife.

However…

When it came to hidden rules, well, those had been overly crossed already.

He didn’t care what Xing Yang was like outside; he only wanted to know what their date in three hours would be like.