I Woke Up and Got Married Chapter 40

Chapter 40

After breakfast, Chi Suinian scrolled through his WeChat. A few days ago, Chi Yu had already sent him the details of the birthday party, even including a guest list to ease his mind.

The list was full of young people Chi Yu usually hung out with, and the location was a bar that Chi Suinian used to frequent.

The day he agreed to attend, Chi Suinian ordered a gift online for Chi Yu—a pair of shoes that were almost impossible to get in the country. They happened to arrive today.

He unwrapped the package, revealing a specially-made gift box.

The box was high quality, so he didn’t need to repackage it. He simply asked Uncle Zhang to find someone to deliver it to the party venue.

Lu Zhiyue, watching from the side, said, “You treat Chi Yu pretty well.”

Chi Suinian sensed a mocking undertone. “What are you trying to say?”

“His attitude toward you changed a bit too fast, don’t you think?” Lu Zhiyue said. “Doesn’t that strike you as odd?”

“What’s so odd about it?”

Chi Suinian didn’t show it on his face, but deep down, he was always on alert. Chi Mingyao had been making moves lately, and it was clear that he was the target. If he deliberately had his son approach him, it wouldn’t be surprising.

But with Chi Yu’s intelligence, he wasn’t a real threat. In fact, Chi Suinian could use this chance to test Chi Mingyao’s intentions—a win-win situation. Why not?

“Chi Mingyao’s been restless lately. Be cautious when dealing with Chi Yu,” Lu Zhiyue frowned. “And don’t drive for now. Let Lin Qi take you.”

Chi Suinian frowned. “Why? Regretting it already?”

Lu Zhiyue looked confused. “Regret what?”

Chi Suinian opened his mouth, then thought better of it. Fine, no driving then—he had more than enough cars in his garage.

He didn’t need to rely on Lu Zhiyue’s one or two vehicles.

He tossed the car key over. “Here. Take it back.”

Lu Zhiyue let out a helpless laugh. “That’s not what I meant.”

The car was bought under Chi Suinian’s name to begin with—there was no way he’d try to take it back.

But Chi Suinian didn’t care to argue. “Just keep it. I’ve got cars.”

“That way, you’re at a loss,” Lu Zhiyue said.

Chi Suinian paused, realizing something.

This car was the bet Lu Zhiyue made when he tricked him into kissing him—the bet was for a month.

And he had only driven it for less than two weeks.

Chi Suinian snatched the keys back and turned his head. “I said I’m not driving it. Take it.”

Lu Zhiyue thought for a second. “You’re still mad? Because I kissed you last night?”

Chi Suinian flared up instantly. He glanced toward the kitchen and dining room, then hissed, “Shut up!”

“Who the hell even remembers that?!”

“Then what did I do?” Lu Zhiyue asked. Refusing a favorite car just like that?

Changed his mind so fast?

Chi Suinian ignored him, got up, and went to the bedroom. He changed his clothes and left the house.

Lu Zhiyue sighed. For the first time, he felt like the road to winning his love was going to be long and rocky. No wonder Xu Lingtao teased him yesterday for being too impatient.

It was almost 9 AM. Lu Zhiyue glanced out the window. Lin Qi had already pulled the car up to the door. Time to go to work.

Just as he got up, his phone started buzzing with a flood of WeChat notifications.

[Sorry, cutie! I was super busy the past two days. Just finished editing the photos and sent you the high-res ones. Thanks again for letting us post them for promo! Wishing you and your handsome boyfriend a long and happy life together ❤️]

Lu Zhiyue’s eyes paused on the last few words.

[Thanks.]

[Aww, no need to thank me! We already posted the photo set—everyone’s saying you two are super hot together!]

Lu Zhiyue raised an eyebrow, suddenly intrigued.

[Mind sharing it with me?]

Two seconds later, a Weibo link landed in his messages.

[@ZhizhiStillSwooningToday: Caught sight of two top-tier hotties at the summer resort! I hereby declare—Longting Resort is my happy place this year! ❤️]

There were lots of photos. In the ten-plus pictures, half were of Chi Suinian.

Lu Zhiyue: ?

None of me?

He frowned and scrolled through them again.

Still no sign of himself.

The retouched photos looked quite different from the originals. Other than the people, the colors and backgrounds had been heavily enhanced.

Which made Chi Suinian look absurdly good—unreasonably handsome.

“……”

Lu Zhiyue was about to open WeChat to ask what was going on when his finger froze. His gaze dropped to the comment section.

[Is this even a face a normal person can have??]

[I’ve been to this resort before. Step aside, everyone—he’s mine!]

[That guy on horseback… I can work with that. Someone bring him to me in a palanquin!]

[SMOKIN’. I love this type!]

[He’s probably a hidden gem about to debut, right? Wouldn’t be surprised to see him on some show soon.]

[Hold on—my boyfriend’s in danger.]

[My little cheesecake…]

[Just saw this, and I’m already talking about it. Let me introduce my husband.]

“……”

Lu Zhiyue scowled.

Are netizens nowadays always this unhinged?

Just randomly claiming someone else’s man as their husband?30

 

“My little cheese…”

“Saw it, claimed it — meet my husband.”

“……”

Lu Zhiyue frowned hard. Are netizens this shameless these days?

Just randomly claiming someone else’s partner as their husband?

Feeling annoyed, Lu Zhiyue went back to WeChat and sent a question mark.

[Zhizhi: What’s wrong?]

Lu Zhiyue typed plainly: [Why are all the photos solo shots?]

[Oh, about that — if we publicly post CP (couple) content, we risk getting our account banned. So we posted your boyfriend’s photos first. We’ll post yours in a second batch!]

“……”

The post had just gone up and already had over ten thousand likes and comments. If they wait to post the rest, his image will be green with jealousy (i.e., he’ll be “cheated on” by fans).

[Lu Zhiyue: Take his photos down. Just post mine.]

[?]

[Why? The response has been great! That post alone is nearing 100K shares. Thank you both for the content — your contribution has revived our studio! Much gratitude!]

[…]

Lu Zhiyue didn’t really want this kind of gratitude.

···

In the city center, on an overpass, Chi Suinian was stuck in a traffic jam high above the ground.

“When did you get so close with Chi Yu? That little brat even invited you to his birthday party.” Tang Jin stared at his phone, clicking his tongue in surprise. “Aren’t you worried it’s a trap?”

Chi Suinian leaned on the car window, casually replying, “What’s there to be afraid of? Has Chi Mingyao used few underhanded tricks against me all these years?”

And yet he’s still here, perfectly fine.

Besides…

Even if there’s some plan, Chi Mingyao wouldn’t let Chi Yu be the one to carry it out.

As much of a bastard as Chi Mingyao is, he’s still very protective of his biological son.

“That’s true. Chi Mingyao’s the kind of scumbag who bullies the weak and fears the strong.” Tang Jin crossed one leg over the other and said, “Too bad Lu Heng got dragged off to a blind date by his dad today. Otherwise, he’d be here backing you up.”

Chi Suinian glanced at his swinging leg. “This is a small matter. I can handle it. Aren’t you still injured? You sure you’re good to walk?”

“Eh, the injury wasn’t that bad to begin with.” Tang Jin grinned sheepishly. “But I found that a lot of girls are more willing to help me when they see me in a wheelchair, so… I couldn’t resist and stayed in it a couple extra days.”

“……”

Twenty minutes later, the traffic cleared, and the office crowd began moving toward the city center.

Chi Suinian and Tang Jin used to be regulars at this place and tipped well, so many valet staff recognized his car. As soon as they spotted the familiar license plate, one of them rushed to greet them at the door.

“Young Master Chi, welcome.”

The valet tactfully opened the door and accepted the keys with both hands.

Chi Suinian pulled out a wad of cash from the glove compartment and handed it over.

“Someone will bring something here for me later. Help me bring it inside.”

“Of course, Young Master Chi. You can count on me.”

Tang Jin glanced at the “Private Event” sign at the entrance and chuckled meaningfully.

“Quite the setup. You think Chi Mingyao’s in there?”

Chi Suinian looked toward the door.

“This is a party for young people.”

If Chi Mingyao showed up here, he’d just look out of place. He wouldn’t be able to enjoy himself, and the party would lose its meaning.

Tang Jin seemed to realize that too.

“So you’re saying Chi Yu might actually be sincere? His past birthday parties were all at his house — huge events with people of all ages.”

Chi Suinian remained noncommittal.

He and Chi Yu weren’t particularly close, not enough to say he liked or disliked him. But whatever grudges he had with Chi Mingyao had nothing to do with Chi Yu.

Since the boy called him “brother,” as long as he didn’t cross any lines, having one more little brother around wasn’t a bad thing.

The bar was reserved for the event, so there was no need to look for a specific spot. Tang Jin was quickly drawn to a girl on the dance floor and, despite his injury, went to dance. Chi Suinian just found a booth and sat down.

“Chi Suinian? You haven’t been here in ages.”

The place was full of familiar faces, and seeing Chi Suinian — who hadn’t shown up in a long time — sparked both surprise and delight. One of the guys who recognized him from their drinking days quickly called out.

Chi Suinian thought for a moment and remembered the guy’s name: Zhao Yunzhen. They’d met here a year ago, and though they didn’t start off friendly, they’d ended up on good terms.

“Come to my booth. A bunch of my bros are there too — they’ve been wanting to meet you. Don’t refuse. I still remember how you beat me that time last year. You’re not getting away tonight.” Zhao Yunzhen laughed.

Chi Suinian smirked.

“If you don’t want me calling a designated driver tonight, best not to provoke me.”

“Whoa, talking big now.”

Zhao Yunzhen was even more fired up.

“Come on, let’s go.”

Zhao Yunzhen’s booth was packed — some people didn’t even have seats and were standing around. Chi Suinian casually scanned the group and spotted a familiar face.

“Young Master Chi?”

Zhao Yunzhen was surprised.

“You two know each other?”

Ding Xuxing stood up with a cheerful smile.

“Yeah, he’s…”

He deliberately paused, then added flirtatiously,

“…an old friend.”

After saying that, he leaned in slightly and whispered,

“Chi Suinian, fancy seeing you again.”

Chi Suinian looked unimpressed.

“Who are you?”

Ding Xuxing: “……”

The atmosphere turned awkward. Ding Xuxing’s face turned a mix of red and blue as he joked,

“Come on, Chi Suinian, so many people are watching — give me some face. We’ve got a bit of history, don’t we?”

He purposely said it in a suggestive tone, drawing laughter and curious glances from others at the table. Chi Suinian’s brows furrowed deeply at the sound of it.

He leaned back on the sofa with a cold expression and turned to Zhao Yunzhen. “You know him?”

Zhao Yunzhen raised an eyebrow, looked at Ding Xuxing, then back at Chi Suinian. “Nope.”

Ding Xuxing’s expression froze, and his gaze turned sinister. He stared hard at Chi Suinian.

As shameless as Ding Xuxing was, being humiliated so publicly was still a blow. If word got out, he could kiss his reputation goodbye.

He clenched his fists, then released them again, his voice hoarse. “Chi Suinian, what are you so proud of? You really think you’re some kind of golden boy? Look at you now—didn’t you end up selling yourself to Lu Zhiyue because Chihao went bankrupt…”

The faces of those around instantly turned vivid with intrigue. Some bold ones had already started whispering.

“Huh? Chi Suinian… got kept?”

“Sounds like it. But I’ve never heard of Lu Zhiyue keeping anyone.”

“Stuff like that’s usually private anyway.”

“Tsk tsk, never would’ve guessed. The proud young master of the Chi family, willingly lying under someone for money…”

Zhao Yunzhen frowned again. He had arranged this gathering, and now it was turning into a mess. He was at a loss on how to fix it—when the young man beside him suddenly spoke with a sharp, clear voice:

“You done talking?”

Chi Suinian lifted his eyes. “Then get lost.”

Ding Xuxing: “…”

He glared, panting, and spat out, “You piece of trash, acting all high and mighty—what gives you the right to look down on me? Pah…”

Bang!

A wine bottle shattered at his feet.

Gasps erupted from the booth.

Ding Xuxing’s scalp went numb. He stared at the young man on the sofa in disbelief.

He actually dared?

“If you say one more word,” Chi Suinian casually tossed the bottle in his hand, “I won’t be aiming next time.”

Ding Xuxing: “…”

He stood there for a moment, weighing things. In the end, he had achieved his goal of humiliation, so with a furious expression, he turned and left.

But the booth remained steeped in awkward silence.

“Sorry, that guy’s not my friend. Probably came with someone else,” Zhao Yunzhen said, then swept his eyes over everyone. “What are you all looking at? Have you lost your ability to judge right from wrong? If Chihao were really going bankrupt, don’t you think we’d already know?”

“Yeah, true.”

“Damn, we really blanked out.”

“Chihao’s been doing great these past couple years, and the projects he handled made a lot of money. That Ding guy clearly came here just to smear him.”

“Exactly, exactly…”

Hearing all this, Chi Suinian felt a flicker of doubt.

Chihao’s bankruptcy was a big deal. The court had issued official documents, and all his real estate had been frozen… and these people didn’t know?

“Who the hell is bullying my brother!?” Chi Yu stormed in with a fierce expression, holding two party poppers like weapons. “Get your ass out here! If I don’t beat the crap out of you today, I’m not a Chi!”

Chi Suinian snapped out of it, seeing his brother looking ready to fight. He stood up and said, “He’s already gone.”

“Bro, I’m sorry. He wasn’t my guest. I should’ve checked. Don’t worry, I’ll make this right.”

Chi Suinian looked at him. “It’s fine. You guys keep playing. I’m going to the restroom.”

He had just finished washing his hands and turned his head to see Tang Jin standing at the door, fuming.

“Fuck! What’s Ding Xuxing’s deal? You and Lu Zhiyue are legally married, and he’s spouting crap about you being kept? That idiot. I’m going back and ruining him.”

“No need,” Chi Suinian clicked his tongue. “I’ll handle it myself.”

“You sure?”

Chi Suinian nodded.

Ding Xuxing had the nerve to come and disgust him to his face—no reason to keep tolerating it. Otherwise, anyone would think they could poke him like this.

Troublesome.

“Wanna head back?” Tang Jin asked. “This place is boring. I’m not clicking with these people.”

Chi Suinian raised an eyebrow. “What about your destined beauty?”

“Forget it, forget it.” Tang Jin suddenly shivered. “Damn, I’ll never believe in love at first sight again. That girl looked so sweet and elegant, really pretty. We were about to… get better acquainted, and then that dog pulled it out—bigger than mine. Damn. My eyes!”

Chi Suinian: “…”

Back at the booth, the mood had calmed down. Each family had their own network—once they got home and asked around, the truth would come out.

And in just a few minutes, everyone had already dug up Ding Xuxing’s entire history. Given all the skeletons in his closet, Chi Suinian’s minor past antics looked completely harmless by comparison.

“Come on, let’s keep playing. Don’t let that Ding guy kill the mood.”

There was plenty of fun to be had in the bar. Before long, someone suggested something more exciting and pulled out a weird-looking dice.

“Just drinking is boring. Let’s spice it up a bit.”

“Lin Zhi, what dumb idea did you come up with this time?”

“Bullshit! Since when are my ideas dumb?” the young man named Lin Zhi explained, “It’s an old-school game—roll the dice, match the number to a card, kind of like truth or dare.”

“Pfft, that’s so overdone.”

“You don’t get it. That’s why it’s a classic. You in or out? If not, scram.”

“Alright, alright. Let’s see what kind of chaos you’re gonna cause.”

After one round, Chi Suinian could tell Lin Zhi was a pro. That multi-sided die was like putty in his hands—he could roll whatever number he wanted, every time.

“Thirty-six points! Quick, what is it?”

Someone shouted. Chi Suinian snapped back to focus as Lin Zhi pulled out a card.

[#36: Choose a male player present and kiss him.]

Lin Zhi: “Ah, I lost. Looks like I’ll have to sacrifice my first kiss.”

The group erupted in laughter, egging him on.

Chi Suinian frowned. He could’ve sworn Lin Zhi’s eyes were locked on him when he read the punishment.

“Alright, alright, let me see who’s most easygoing.”

Lin Zhi scanned the room, then finally looked at Chi Suinian. “Chi Shao, looks like you’re my only choice.”

Tang Jin: “?”

Chi Suinian didn’t budge. “Just drink.”

“Come on, help me out. Just a little peck. I seriously can’t drink anymore,” Lin Zhi said with a laugh, eyes gleaming strangely.

“Holy shit, check Weibo! The Lu Corporation’s official account is going wild!”

“Shut—” Chi Suinian didn’t even get a chance to retort before he heard the buzz of whispers and people pulling out their phones.

Hearing “Lu Corporation,” his brow twitched. He opened Weibo.

The homepage refreshed.

A brand-new post from just minutes ago appeared.

Not a business collab. Not a news update. Not even a fan interaction. Just a short, seven-word statement:

“Mine. Don’t go calling him husband.”

The attached photo? A picture of him and Lu Zhiyue. One of those cursed shots he remembered too well—where people eight feet apart somehow looked like they were kissing.

And it was a nine-photo grid.

At a glance, every single photo was damn bizarre.

“…………”

Chi Suinian nearly crushed his phone.