WMAW Chapter 5

After being injected with an inhibitor, Zhuang Yi gradually relaxed, his tie loosened, he slumped on the carpet drenched in sweat, looking quite pitiable. Zhong Lin hesitated for a moment, muttered a soft greeting, and stepped over the imposing obstacle on his way out.

Zhuang Yi’s worthless tears finally stopped. He called his assistant to cancel his meetings and appointments for the day. His sensitive period typically lasted four to five days, and he usually cleared his schedule for that time. This episode had come a bit early.

After hanging up the phone, Zhuang Yi sat still, lost in thought for a long time, his face a mixture of embarrassment and contemplation. It was so embarrassing to have cried like that. And now what? He had no experience or knowledge in the art of pursuing someone.

The scent of vanilla orchid in the air had thinned but still fatally enticed Zhuang Yi’s senses. After getting over the initial embarrassment and awkwardness, Zhuang Yi was filled with desperate thoughts, but the image of Zhong Lin leaving the house felt cruel. His eyes began to water again, and feeling aggrieved, he slowly stood up and headed to his study.

He needed to devise a brilliant plan.

A moment later, Zhuang Yi quietly rummaged through the dirty laundry basket, stole a hoodie of his wife’s, and picked up his own torn shirt from 1982 from the trash can, blushing as he returned to his study.

Zhong Lin wasn’t heartless; he was just swamped with classes he needed to catch up on, too pressured to worry about the romantic entanglements with his arranged spouse.

The new project he had taken on was with a very prestigious client in the industry. Zhong Lin was sweating over it, somewhat regretting his impulsive acceptance. He feared the quality of his work might noticeably drop since he’d lost several years of memories. Fortunately, the client loved the nostalgic campus theme he had cleverly chosen, and they treated him with much respect.

After finishing this project, Zhong Lin planned to take a break and wait for his memory to return. The day before, he had gone for a follow-up, and the doctor had done a brain CT scan, telling him the blood clot wasn’t severe and should dissolve in a couple of months.

That shouldn’t delay much.

Lately, Zhong Lin focused solely on work, ordering takeout daily. Occasionally, Pei Jue would bring him some restaurant food, which was pretty much the same as the takeout.

Pei Jue, not particularly diligent nor knowledgeable about basic affairs, was a fashion designer by profession and sometimes modeled for his own brand. His light blue hair had faded and had recently been dyed golden.

Today at noon, Pei Jue came to join Zhong Lin for takeout again. Zhong Lin hadn’t told his family about the car accident, feeling it was his responsibility to take extra care of Zhong Lin as the only one who knew.

“What’s that smell?” Pei Jue leaned close as he unpacked the food, puzzled. Zhong Lin didn’t wear perfume, but today there was a strange scent on him that made Pei Jue slightly uneasy.

Zhong Lin’s face reddened immediately as the chaotic memories of the morning flooded his mind. The handsome, crying alpha who kept calling him ‘wife’, accused him of heartlessness, and even declared his intent to pursue him again. Zhong Lin felt a bit embarrassed, “It’s camphor, no, sage.”

Pei Jue just nodded, not really paying much attention as he was more focused on convincing the amnesiac Zhong Lin to go dye their hair green. Before he could speak, the target of his plot preemptively brought it up, albeit distractedly, “Pei Jue, do you think there are handsome guys with blue hair?”

“Me,” Pei Jue didn’t see the point of the question. After all, wasn’t he the blue-haired handsome guy?

Zhong Lin glanced at his now golden hair and frowned. Just days ago, Pei Jue indeed had blue hair. Could it be that he and Pei Jue were childhood friends turned lovers? Is that why he agreed to an arranged marriage with Zhuang Yi, to cover up his unconventional sexual orientation?

It was too dramatic. Was he actually gay? Zhong Lin subtly moved away from Pei Jue, nibbling on a shrimp ball. Speaking of hair, Pei Jue got excited, touching the back of Zhong Lin’s head eagerly, “You promised me, once your hair grows back, we’re going to dye it together.”

The place where Zhong Lin’s head had been stitched was not large, but the doctor had shaved a small patch bald. He was quite self-conscious about it, feeling it affected his appearance, so he had been wearing a black hat these past few days.

Touched by Pei Jue, Zhong Lin stiffened and stuttered, “Okay, okay, we’ll talk about it later.” His mind was a battlefield of doubt. Pei Jue had mentioned this several times. Could it be that Pei Jue’s intent to dye their hair green together was a way to provoke and declare war on his legitimate alpha spouse?

Look, I’ve made you a cuckold!

Their meal was fraught with concerns for Zhong Lin. Just after seeing off a suspected extramarital affair partner, his phone rang.

It was frustrating that his new phone, set up with a password that wasn’t his usual QQ number, wouldn’t sync his contacts or chat history. Every incoming call was just a string of unfamiliar digits, a real inconvenience. Zhong Lin typically answered all calls without discrimination.

This time it wasn’t a bank or real estate call, but his brother, Zhong Da.

“Linlin.”

“Bro?” Zhong Lin was pleased; he and his brother had always been close, but that didn’t mean he would tell him about the accident. His brother was too naggy, a frightening thought.

Zhong Da’s mature and cold voice came through the handset, much more grown-up than Zhong Lin remembered, “Linlin, what was that selfie you posted in the family chat? I’ve been busy, only just saw the lively chat in our cheerful family group. That selfie has been pinned, and I was nearly livid.”

“It was an intimate selfie,” Zhong Lin replied nonchalantly, thinking of the pressures of family expectations that forced him to perform well. Thinking this, he tried to sound more convincing, “Bro, Zhuang Yi and I are deeply in love, sweet as honey, sharing everything…”

Before he could finish, the call was disconnected. Without a second thought, Zhong Lin redialed.

“What?” Zhong Da sounded furious.

“Brother, I have a question I hope you can answer,” Zhong Lin switched to his most charming tone.

“Speak,” Zhong Lin’s act softened his brother immediately.

“Bro, haven’t you been working these past years?” Zhong Lin phrased his question delicately, “Is the Zhong family really in such a dire situation that I needed to enter into an arranged marriage?”

“You little brat! Did a donkey kick your head?” Zhong Da felt like Zhong Lin was deliberately provoking him, but he couldn’t help worrying, asking anxiously, “Did Zhuang Yi bully you?”

“How could he possibly bully me?” Zhong Lin almost laughed, picturing the alpha, who he could knock out with one punch.

“Hmph, how could he not? Zhuang Yi is a ninth-degree black belt in Sanda. I can’t help worrying about you,” Zhong Da said helplessly, “If he really hits you, even I can’t beat him, which is why I was the first to disagree with your marriage to him.”

Zhong Lin was shocked, “Huh?”

“That’s crucial, alright. Listen to me, if he really hits you, just bear it for now. Resisting is futile, just pretend to submit, don’t be as defiant as me. But! Make sure to curse him out in your heart! Just hang in there, and wait for me to gather a few people to back you up…”

It was an unexpected piece of advice, leaving Zhong Lin mulling over his options. How should he handle this overly dramatic, supposed love triangle now?