Chapter 4

Xi Shi lingered in bed for a while longer before pushing his aching body up and heading to the bathroom. His legs trembled as he showered, and he couldn’t help but silently curse the man’s lack of restraint.

He had first gone to the bank to cash a ten-million check into his own account. Seeing the long string of zeros added to his balance brought him immense comfort. As expected, everything else was fleeting; only money was trustworthy.

He didn’t feel any shame accepting the ten million. After all, news of his broken engagement had spread, making him a laughingstock and the subject of gossip for a long time to come. The mental damage was immeasurable. What was wrong with accepting some compensation?

If he wanted, he could have found an influential blogger to expose the matter, bought a trending topic, and let netizens unleash a storm of abuse on Shao Xun for days on end. Even Shao Corporation’s stocks would have plummeted. That he hadn’t done this already was mercy.

At noon, his uncle, Xi Jinnian, called, asking him to come back home—probably to discuss the broken engagement.

Xi Shi drove back to his uncle’s house. Since starting university, he had moved out and only occasionally returned. Aunt Li, the housekeeper who had watched him grow up, greeted him with a warm smile at the door.

“Xiao Shi is back,” she said quietly, leaning in to whisper, “Shao Xun and that sharp-eyed Mrs. Shao are here too.”

“Is my cousin home?” Xi Shi asked. By cousin, he meant Xi Hui, his uncle’s son, who was older than him because his father had married late.

“The eldest is on a business trip for the next few days,” Aunt Li replied.

That was a pity.

His uncle treated him fairly well, though business always came first, but his cousin was different—he’d definitely give that fool Shao Xun a good thrashing.

Xi Shi stepped into the villa’s living room and saw his uncle, aunt, Mrs. Shao, and Shao Xun sitting opposite each other.

But what caught his attention most was Shao Xun’s face—it looked much better than usual. On closer inspection, he realized Shao Xun had put on foundation.

As Xi Shi approached, he couldn’t help but look more closely and noticed something odd—a faint pattern of finger marks on Shao Xun’s left cheek, which was also slightly swollen, as if he’d been slapped.

The video from last night, which had been shared in the “Wearing Couture and Eating Watermelon” group—a notorious circle of troublemakers—had quickly gone viral, spreading across Weibo and even hitting the trending topics. If not for the Shao family’s financial power to suppress it, the whole country would have known that Shao Xun had been involved with a muscular effeminate man.

Rumors in the group said that the patriarch of the Shao family, Shao’s father, had flown into a rage and slapped Shao Xun hard.

So it was true.

Haha, serves the bastard right.

Xi Shi hid the schadenfreude in his eyes and greeted politely, “Uncle, Aunt, Aunt Lin.”

“Xiao Shi is back, come sit,” his aunt invited warmly.

Xi Shi sat next to his uncle.

Shao Xun noticed that Xi Shi ignored him when greeting and snorted disdainfully.

Don’t think he didn’t notice—Xi Shi’s eyes had been glued to him the moment he entered.

Shao Xun was just using this petty tactic to get his attention.

He knew Xi Shi adored him, which was why he had come today.

It was a small form of amends.

After sitting, Shao Xun glanced at him coldly but froze when his eyes landed on Xi Shi’s face.

He always knew Xi Shi was handsome, even envied for his looks, with people secretly calling him a “silk embroidered pillow” behind his back.

He had seen many beautiful faces before and thought they were just that—skin deep.

But for some unknown reason, Xi Shi looked exceptionally striking today, a refined charm that hadn’t been there before. Like a rose blooming with fresh dew, he seemed radiant and alive.

This transformation reminded him of when Xi Shi had first tasted forbidden fruit with his college sweetheart—he had seen that glow in him then.

But that was impossible. Xi Shi had always been prudent and devoted to him after their engagement. There was no way he had been with another man overnight.

Impossible. Absolutely impossible.

Mrs. Shao, with her usual noble and aloof demeanor, spoke calmly, “I’m here today for the sake of our children’s marriage.”

When Xi Shi had called his uncle earlier, he had already briefed him on Shao Xun’s proposal to break off the engagement. As the beneficiary of this union, Xi Jinnian certainly wasn’t keen on canceling it.

He forced a smile, “The invitations have been sent out, and our families have business ties. Canceling now would be inappropriate.”

“Exactly. What about our Xiao Shi’s face? Where would that leave him?” Aunt chimed in, “And I don’t believe Shao Xun has no feelings for Xiao Shi. Can you bear to see him become the laughingstock of the entire Yan Capital’s elite circle?”

Shao Xun replied coldly, “Our marriage was purely a business alliance. There are no feelings involved.”

Xi Shi curled his lips in a mocking smile—no feelings at all, huh?

It seemed he should thank Wang Yang for coming back before the wedding; otherwise, having a cheating husband would have been truly nauseating.

Aunt was a little choked by Shao Xun’s words. Xi Jinnian patted Shao Xun’s hand reassuringly and looked to Mrs. Shao.

“So, you’ve come to negotiate the terms of the breakup?”

“Breaking off the engagement now is indeed inappropriate. I came in person to propose a mutually beneficial solution,” Mrs. Shao said.

Xi Jinnian’s eyes lit up as if a dead tree had come back to life.

“What solution?”

“My son Shao Xun has feelings for someone else. There’s no way around it. As the saying goes, a forced melon isn’t sweet. But to preserve our families’ business relationship and to save face for Xiao Shi, I propose the wedding proceed as planned—just a formal marriage without substance. After three to five years, we find a reason to divorce, and then both parties can move on without delay. What do you think, Mr. Xi?”

Xi Jinnian clapped his thigh in excitement.

“Not bad. Xiao Shi is only 21 this year. Even if you two stay together for three or five years, he’ll only be 26. It won’t affect his future.”

Aunt nodded vigorously.

Mrs. Shao had predicted they would agree without hesitation. After all, the Xi family was reaching up to the Shao family with this alliance and feared that breaking the engagement would mean losing this connection.

She lifted her chin, “Then it’s settled. I’ll have our lawyer draft a prenuptial agreement.”

“Good, good. Both parties’ assets will be notarized before marriage. We can’t take advantage of Shao Xun,” Xi Jinnian added quickly.

Aunt also said, “Yes, preparations for the wedding should continue.”

The three elders soon reached a consensus.

Suddenly, a stifled laugh came from the usually silent Xi Shi.

“What are you laughing at?” Shao Xun frowned.

“I just want to ask—if we agree to this sham marriage, wouldn’t your Wang Yang have any objections?” Xi Shi looked at Shao Xun.

Shao Xun answered arrogantly, “It’s just for show. I told him clearly; he won’t mind.”

“Then he must be very tolerant,” Xi Shi feigned admiration, then shifted tone, “I’m different. I have OCD. My man is only allowed to appear on my marriage certificate—and vice versa. So…”

He scanned the room and declared emphatically, “I do not agree.”

Actually, Mrs. Shao’s proposal was the best solution under the circumstances.

It preserved both dignity and appearances.

Especially for Xi Shi, who wouldn’t become a laughingstock. Even without real love, he could still ascend after marriage and become the enviable “Mrs. Shao.”

Few families in Yan Capital had higher status than the Shaos. Those who once looked down on him as a dependent heir would have to hold their noses and flatter him now. What a satisfying reversal.

No one expected Xi Shi to refuse.

Mrs. Shao took it as a childish outburst and sneered.

“Think carefully before you speak. Don’t be childish and waste this opportunity. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.”

“Yes, Xiao Shi,” Aunt also urged, “If the engagement is canceled, you’re the biggest loser. And from what you said earlier, it sounds like you still have feelings for Shao Xun. Maybe you’d develop feelings after marriage and wouldn’t need to divorce. Isn’t that right?”

Shao Xun gave a sarcastic chuckle.

“No. I’m talking about canceling the wedding,” Xi Shi said firmly.

Don’t think he was unaware of Mrs. Shao’s scheme.

She had always thought Xi Shi unworthy of her son but had no better option because her husband’s first wife’s stepsons were too powerful. Shao Xun was weak and needed the alliance to strengthen his position.

Besides Xi Shi, no family background was better.

She had to hold her nose and accept this match.

She didn’t even like Xi Shi; Wang Yang, who was inferior to Xi Shi, was even less acceptable.

So she came up with the idea of a contract marriage—to let Shao Xun gain the alliance benefits without worrying about him marrying Wang Yang for real.

In these three to five years, she’d have time to break them up and find a more suitable daughter-in-law.

Then she could discard Xi Shi like trash—perfect.

All the benefits to her, no concessions.

But Xi Shi was no pushover.

He had endured the alliance before because Shao Xun was a decent match among the second-generation heirs in Yan Capital, and he was willing to tolerate Mrs. Shao’s arrogance.

Now, if they tried to push him into this trap to be tormented by that old woman, there was only one answer—

No way.

Xi Jinnian frowned, “Xiao Shi, don’t be stubborn.”

“I’m not stubborn. I know exactly what I want,” Xi Shi said, standing and surveying everyone.

“As a member of the Song family, I’m willing to enter into a political marriage, but that person will never be Shao Xun.”

With that, he ignored their protests and left.

At the door, just as he reached to open it, he heard Shao Xun’s frustrated voice, “Xi Shi, don’t regret this!”

Oh, how confident he was.

Xi Shi didn’t even roll his eyes. He waved dismissively and left the Shao residence without looking back.