WMAW Chapter 13

Zhong Ji stood with his hands on his hips in front of the main entrance, waiting for his beloved younger brother to come home for dinner. This was a strategy ingeniously devised by his astute wife. It was always best to strategize on home turf, a familiar setting that not only offers a sense of security but also lends a strategic advantage.

Zhong Ji heartily agreed.

Zhuang Yi parked his car in the courtyard’s garage, and after getting out, he quickly ran to the passenger side to open the door, carefully helping Zhong Lin out. Zhong Ji, watching from the steps, had his grand declarations stuck in his throat, his face turning an unnatural shade as he welcomed them inside.

Zhong Ji lived with his wife in a four-story detached villa, expansive and conveniently located in a prime area. Zhuang Yi, who had never been here before, thought to himself as he walked into the villa that his own more modest high-rise apartment seemed rather shabby in comparison. His wife had taken a significant step down in living standards by marrying him, which wasn’t good at all. Plus, she never used his credit card, and he had never let Zhong Lin rely on him, not with money, not with living arrangements, and not with work. Zhuang Yi felt that he wasn’t indispensable to Zhong Lin.

Feeling a strong sense of crisis, Zhuang Yi gripped Zhong Lin’s hand tighter. As everyone sat in the living room waiting for dinner, Zhuang Yi sat silently, listening to Zhong Lin and his brother talking, not letting go of the hand.

“Father’s much better now, he’s vacationing abroad with dad and hasn’t returned yet. Why don’t you talk in the family group, and why aren’t you picking up the phone? You’re making dad worry, and he’s even asking me about it,” Zhong Ji, with his arms crossed, his tone had softened quite a bit as he looked at the two holding hands across from him.

It seemed his unfortunate younger brother was finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It appeared as though the roles had reversed between the two, with the colder one now being his brother. What did that mean? Was this some sort of lovers’ quirk?

“I got it, brother. My phone was broken, I’ll send a message to dad right now,” said Zhong Lin, somewhat dejectedly trying to withdraw his hand to grab his phone, but Zhuang Yi, lost in his thoughts, held on so tight that Zhong Lin’s palm was sweaty.

“Mr. Zhuang, your hand,” Zhong Lin finally spoke up.

Zhuang Yi, momentarily out of sorts, stared blankly at Zhong Lin. It was then he realized that since coming back from the villa, Zhong Lin hadn’t called him ‘husband’ again.

“Wife,” Zhuang Yi called out meekly, receiving no response. He quietly pinched his own hand, watching Zhong Lin intently as he focused on his phone, feeling as if he had missed something crucial.

“Ugh,” Zhong Ji couldn’t stand it anymore, getting up to find his wife. Pei Jue had lifted weights in the afternoon and had just taken a shower, slipping into pants. Zhong Ji shamelessly leaned against the door, admiring his wife’s smoothly muscled upper body, marked with seven deep “strawberries” resembling the Big Dipper constellation from a distance.

Zhong Ji closed the door and walked over to embrace him. No help for it, they had agreed to try for a baby, and the responsibility weighed heavily on him. Despite months of effort, there had been no signs of success. It was difficult for betas to conceive, and Zhong Ji wasn’t really keen on having children, but the excuse allowed him to lavish more attention on his wife, and only a fool would refuse that.

Once dinner started, everyone sat at the round table. Zhong Ji, with the demeanor of a man who had everything under control, would occasionally reach over to pinch his wife, then offer some food to his brother, while Zhuang Yi looked completely out of sorts, deeply troubled.

It seemed that human joys and sorrows really did not resonate together.

Zhong Lin really liked his sister-in-law, blushing and chatting with Pei Jue throughout the meal. After they finished, Zhong Lin followed Pei Jue around like a little shadow, and before anyone noticed, the two had disappeared. The vast living room was left with only Zhong Ji and Zhuang Yi sitting across from each other, looking perplexed.

“Big brother,” Zhuang Yi finally broke the silence, sitting upright as he sought advice from Zhong Ji, “Brother, could you tell me what Lin Lin likes to eat, what he enjoys doing?”

Zhong Ji raised an eyebrow, mimicking his wife’s posture with crossed legs and a hand running through his hair. Finally feeling vindicated, Zhong Ji didn’t hold back his words, “Back when Lin Lin was desperate to marry you, I really didn’t agree. Now, it seems, hmm.”

“If I remember correctly, you two have been living together for nearly two years, and Mr. Zhuang still doesn’t know what Lin Lin likes to eat.”

“That’s my fault,” Zhuang Yi admitted, barely ever having meals at the same table as Zhong Lin, just watching Zhong Ji serve food to Pei Jue and Zhong Lin at the table, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

“Last time you went to the old house for dinner, Lin Lin had spoken to the housekeeper several times in advance, mentioning you like seafood and dislike fried foods. I overheard it all and nearly rolled my eyes. That ungrateful little thing probably still doesn’t know what his older brother likes.”

Zhong Ji shook his head, no longer taunting Zhuang Yi, sinking back into the sofa with a softer expression, “My unlucky child is the opposite of you; he loves fried chicken and hates seafood. He’s not a breakfast person, detests porridge, doesn’t care for vegetables, might nibble on a few mushrooms, and I’m not sure if he’s changed his habits yet.”

“He likes shiny, pretty things. When he was a kid, we went on vacation to the beach, and he collected half a suitcase of shells and pebbles, all displayed in his room, spiders and all. After we moved, dad placed those shells in the pond in the yard as decorations,” Zhong Ji shared with a laugh.

“Lin Lin has always been a top student, ambitious, and well-behaved, but a bit inflexible, extremely stubborn,” Zhong Ji’s expression turned serious, “He’s superficially tough, but actually very sincere. Once he sets his heart on someone, he charges ahead without looking back, no idea who he takes after.”

Zhuang Yi’s expression darkened as he listened intently to Zhong Ji without interrupting.

Seeing Zhuang Yi’s submissive demeanor, Zhong Ji sighed, feeling compelled to speak his mind, “So I worry about him, and I hope Mr. Zhuang understands. As his brother, I hope the person he spends his life with loves and cherishes him, not someone who takes his love for granted and ignores him.”

“Emotions are tricky, it’s hard to keep score. Usually, one person gives more, the other less. I always see Lin Lin as the little crybaby from childhood, selfishly hoping he could be the one who gives less.”

“Deep feelings are often taken for granted, and in today’s society, being able to handle various relationships with ease is considered mature. Maybe Lin Lin isn’t mature, loving others more than himself, having been pampered from childhood, how did he end up like this, I’ve tried to talk him out of it several times to no avail.”

“But Mr. Zhuang, as his brother, even though he’s willing, I won’t just stand by and watch.” Saying this, Zhong Ji stood up, placing his hand on Zhuang Yi’s shoulder, leaning down to look at him, “I’m glad that you’ve finally come around to see my stubborn little brother.”

Zhuang Yi felt utterly ashamed; his previous cold and distant behavior was truly despicable. Looking up at Zhong Ji, Zhuang Yi solemnly promised, “I’ll do my best to treat Lin Lin well, I’ve messed up a lot in the past, and I’m very sorry for causing you worry, big brother.”

Zhuang Yi’s earnest demeanor greatly pleased Zhong Ji. On the business front, the two were partners and rivals, intertwined in both cooperation and conflict. Having secured Zhuang Yi’s promise, Zhong Ji quickly retreated. Joking aside, although Zhuang Yi was sitting down, his physique as a ninth-degree black belt and his top-tier alpha presence were still overwhelmingly intimidating. With his wife not around, the shrewd Zhong Ji wisely moved a bit further away, sitting on another part of the sofa, engrossed in researching positions less likely to result in conception on his phone.

As night deepened, Zhong Lin was finally sent back by his brother, still reluctant as he got into the car with Zhuang Yi to head home. He sat in the passenger seat, flipping through the tattoo stickers his sister-in-law had given him, liking them more the more he looked. Unable to decide between placing them on his collarbone or wrist, Zhong Lin took out his phone to snap a few photos, planning to consult Pei Jue.

Opening WeChat, he finally saw Pei Jue’s response.

Zhong Lin: “I can’t be a hopeless lover chasing after love, right? arrogant-tiger.jpg”

Pei Jue: “What are you thinking, you’re just a lovesick puppy. iron-not-turning-into-steel.jpg”

Zhong Lin was annoyed. He expressionlessly sent a few photos, pushing that conversation out of view.

Zhuang Yi drove carefully, lost in thought, not disturbing Zhong Lin. After a while, Zhong Lin felt dizzy and nauseated, leaning against the seat. Noticing his furrowed brow, Zhuang Yi quickly stopped the car and went to a convenience store to get some hot water.

“Thank you,” Zhong Lin said as he took a few sips, very politely.

“Wife, are you angry with me?” Zhuang Yi reached out to hold Zhong Lin’s hand, but it was deftly avoided. He awkwardly withdrew it, realizing his good days were over; Zhong Lin must have remembered.

“I’m not angry,” said Zhong Lin, feeling better in the stomach, looking down at the paper cup in his hand and then saying, “During dinner, I thought about how right after college I stuck to my brother, saying I’d marry no one but you, and how I pestered dad to go to your house to propose.”

“It just feels like, I was really thoughtless, making them worry.” After finishing his hot water, Zhong Lin set the cup down, not looking at Zhuang Yi, his tone even, “Let’s go.”

Zhuang Yi felt a chill run through him, his heart aching terribly, his voice tense as he asked, “Wife, do you regret marrying me?”

“It’s not regret,” Zhong Lin shook his head, unsure what else to say.

“I’m sorry,” Zhuang Yi apologized, not for the first time.

Zhong Lin shook his head again, “What have you done wrong? You just don’t like me, that’s all.”