WMAW Chapter 1

Zhuang Yi stood behind the tinted glass on the 11th floor, looking down at the greenery in front of the company building. Soon, a red Ferrari turned out of the traffic and parked in the spot reserved for it below.

Hao You was also standing nearby and naturally noticed the red car that seemed to appear almost every noon. He said enviously with a hint of sarcasm, “Yo, sister-in-law is here to deliver lunch again, you guys really have a great relationship.”

Zhuang Yi was noncommittal, “He’s just on his way.”

His marriage to Zhong Lin was arranged, their families were well-matched, but they shared little in common. Zhuang Yi had followed the rules into the family business, taking over his father’s role, drowning daily in meetings, socializing, and signing projects—tedious and high-pressure work. Zhong Lin was a music arranger, with an older brother to inherit the family business, living a life free and easy. They had not met before their wedding, and although they lived together, their rooms were far apart, his was on one side and Zhong Lin’s on the other, never disturbing each other, barely speaking a few words in a day. Only at noon when Zhong Lin came to bring him lunch, if there were others around, they would chat amicably for a bit.

Nearly two years into their marriage, Zhuang Yi always relied on suppressants through his heat periods, and how Zhong Lin dealt with his special times, he really didn’t know. They had signed a contract before getting married, agreeing not to interfere in each other’s lives, maintaining mutual non-interference in all aspects.

Six months ago, both sets of parents checked in on their emotional state, and since then Zhong Lin had been making a high-profile daily lunch delivery. It truly was on his way, as Zhong Lin’s studio was just in the neighboring building. He slept late and woke up late; bringing food from home prepared by the housekeeper wasn’t much of a hassle.

Moreover, it appeased the elders.

Zhong Lin’s flashy red Ferrari was indeed eye-catching, and everyone in the building knew that the CEO’s wife was beautiful and gentle, sharing an enviable relationship with the CEO.

Just then, a knock on the door sounded. Hao You hurried to open it, and Zhong Lin walked in with a beaming smile.

Hao You and Zhong Lin warmly exchanged greetings. Zhuang Yi, standing aside, took the thermal bag with a frown, his tone not particularly polite as he rushed Hao You, “Hao You, don’t you have anything better to do?”

The criticized person rolled his eyes secretly; Zhuang Yi was really petty. Hao You shook hands with Zhong Lin in front of Zhuang Yi, then turned and left the office.

“President Zhuang, try the steamed crab today, it’s exceptionally meaty. Afraid it’d be inconvenient for you to eat, the meat has already been picked out. Eat it while it’s hot, it’s very sweet and tender,” Zhong Lin said with a smile, neatly laying out a tablecloth on the coffee table, and deliberately adding, “Auntie picked it.”

Who else but the auntie? Zhuang Yi took the chopsticks without a word. He was of a reserved nature, not given to much talking. The omega he married was truly charming and beautiful, always wearing a smile, treating him and every employee of his company with great politeness and respect.

“Crab is cold in nature, have some with ginger vinegar,” Zhong Lin said while opening the condiment box. Zhuang Yi frowned slightly; he disliked ginger and curtly refused, “No need.”

Zhong Lin paused, stopped what he was doing, and smiled again, “Then, I won’t disturb President Zhuang while you eat.” He nodded and stood up to leave. His tall figure disappeared at the door, leaving Zhuang Yi unreasonably upset, without knowing why he felt so irritable.

In the evening, they ate separately; Zhuang Yi had many engagements, rarely eating at home.

Zhong Lin stretched lazily and peered out from his computer. The studio assistant had ordered takeout for him. His fingertips were sore, chafed red from the hard crab shells. Zhong Lin carelessly scooped a few bites of rice and then put on his headphones.

It wasn’t fully dark yet, and the neon lights dazzled. Zhong Lin turned into a bar owned by a friend, where Pei Jue had promised him a night of heavy drinking. After handing in his music composition, needing a break, Zhong Lin slumped on the sofa, his head resting on the soft backrest, his slightly long hair spread out behind him, looking a bit like a carefree artist, though his eyes and brows hinted at loneliness.

Pei Jue, seeing Zhong Lin drinking silently, knew he was unhappy, probably due to his relationship with his alpha husband, who always seemed as if everyone owed him a fortune. He had seen Zhong Lin get married to his crush, from the initial excitement and sleepless nights to the later sinking into silence.

“You like him, why don’t you tell him,” Pei Jue downed a drink, frustrated by the sight of the normally carefree young master Zhong being so downcast.

“He said before he got married that he wouldn’t like someone like me. I was there, in the next booth, I heard him refuse his father’s marriage proposal. His tone was so matter-of-fact, I remember it to this day,” Zhong Lin stared at the swaying lights overhead, intertwining and parting, as if he had schemed to tie Zhuang Yi to his side, occupying the spot of a partner, yet still unable to get close.

“He doesn’t like me. I talk to his friends, greet his company’s employees, and he sees it, his face darkening, probably not wanting me to get involved with his social circle.”

“Sometimes I think, if I hadn’t insisted that my father propose the marriage, just kept admiring him from afar, it might not have been bad.”

“And, I’ve seen him reject people who liked him, you know, the youngest son of the Bai family, who became his assistant to chase after him, bustling around, got fired the day he confessed.”

“Unfortunately, I was there too. Zhuang Yi got so angry, he wouldn’t even eat the food I brought.”

Zhong Lin closed his eyes, shielding them from the glaring light above, even blocking the source, the impressions on his retina still unignorable, as if after all these years, his proud and haughty heart had wagered countless times to find a new man for fun, yet never truly letting go of Zhuang Yi.

Pei Jue shook his head, sighed, “He saved you once, gratitude is enough, why fall for such an unattainable man, though admittedly, President Zhuang is talented and being cold does look handsome.”

“Such people are better admired from a distance, liking them is too exhausting.”

“Yeah.” Zhong Lin stood up and ordered another drink, swaying it on the table, then lifting it to gulp down in one go, “I have to go back, it’s not good to return too late.”

“No way, A-Lin, back in college, how many all-nighters did we pull together? How come you’re in a marriage that’s barely real and still play the dutiful spouse?” Pei Jue scorned, “Didn’t you sign a pre-marriage agreement to do your own things? Why stick to this curfew, President Zhuang doesn’t care, nor would he mind.”

Zhong Lin stood up, patted Pei Jue’s head, and ruffled his messily dyed hair, chuckling, “I’ve turned good, fool.”

Isn’t it just warming a stone? He had patience and confidence. Zhong Lin sat in the passenger seat, perking up again.

The called driver had never driven such a flashy car, trembling and hesitant to step on the gas. As Zhong Lin signaled him to be bolder, before the car could pick up speed, a Mustang suddenly crossed their path, the screeching brakes piercing. Pei Jue, just out of the bar, went pale with fright.

The Ferrari’s engine hood smashed into a roadside tree, crumpling badly. Pei Jue’s hands trembled as he dialed for an ambulance. Zhong Lin had a bit of blood on his head and had passed out.

He had intended to contact Zhong Lin’s alpha husband, but Zhong Lin’s phone was also smashed. Pei Jue snorted coldly, climbed into the ambulance by himself, not waiting to contact Zhong Lin’s parents, when the person on the stretcher woke up.

They stared at each other, one with eyes red with pain, the other with a bewildered expression.

“I’m fine, don’t let my dad worry, he has a weak heart,” Zhong Lin smiled and reassured Pei Jue, before passing out again.