WHIF- Chapter 5

Ch. 05 Reliable Mr. Teddy Bear

    Yang Chaosheng had reserved a small private room at Manjing Pavilion. The spot he chose had an excellent view—right outside the floor-to-ceiling windows stood the landmark buildings of Jintai District in downtown Tongcheng, dazzling against the night sky, lit up in a thousand brilliant lights.

    Ji Xiang had only been to Manjing Pavilion once before—for the company’s annual celebration last year, which, according to the Finance department, had cost a small fortune. He still remembered his insane streak of luck at the prize draw that night—he actually won a projector. Considering that in past years, the best he’d ever gotten was a fifty-yuan cash prize, this win had made Shen Siru green with envy.

    Ever since, every time Shen Siru visited his place and saw that projector collecting dust in a corner, he’d shake his head and mutter, “Such waste of a good tech.”

    As Yang Chaosheng pulled out a chair for Ji Xiang and handed him the menu, he heard the story and, learning from past mistakes, played along enthusiastically. “So, you’re just not into movies and stuff?”

    “Not really that,” Ji Xiang replied, accepting the menu and murmuring a soft “thanks.” “It’s just… my apartment’s really small. Using the projector means having to clear space and haul it out every time—it’s just too much hassle. I only bring it out when a friend visits and wants to watch something.”

    “There was a period during middle and high school when I was actually really into films. I think everyone has a phase like that, dreaming of becoming a star. I was pretty obsessed back then.”

    “It’s not entirely out of the question,” Yang Chaosheng said.

    “What isn’t?”

    “You being a star,” Yang Chaoshen said frankly. “You’re really good-looking. With your looks, you’d definitely attract a lot of fans.”

    Ji Xiang laughed, amused. “I’ll take that as a compliment. What about you? You strike me as one of those model students back in school—you know, the teacher’s favorite, top of the class, always well-behaved.”

    He opened his hands and made a gesture as if holding up a jewel in the palm of his hand. “Bet you never dreamed of stardom, huh?”

    Yang Chaosheng was briefly caught off guard. “No… I guess not. I’m just ordinary.”

    Ji Xiang studied his features and felt that the statement was pretty watered down. “This might be the first time I’ve had trouble believing a lawyer’s words. No one had a crush on you back in school? You must’ve gotten at least a few love letters, right? Don’t tell me they said you were ‘ordinary’ in those.”

    “I generally didn’t accept love letters,” Yang Chaosheng said in an inexplicably firm tone.

    “…Okay then.”

    Ji Xiang let the conversation drop, somewhat awkwardly, and started flipping through the menu in earnest silence.

    “The braised eel and pork tripe hotpot here is pretty good,” Yang Chaosheng offered, noticing Ji Xiang pausing on a certain page.

    “Oh… sure, sounds good.”

    Ji Xiang wasn’t picky tonight. He didn’t have a craving for anything in particular, so Yang Chaosheng guided the ordering process while Ji Xiang just nodded or shook his head.

    Truthfully, Ji Xiang preferred the down-to-earth vibe of street stalls and hidden alley diners to formal restaurants like this. But food was food, and he wasn’t about to complain—especially at a place like Manjing Pavilion, where you had to book well in advance just to get in. Tonight’s meal was entirely thanks to Yang Chaoshen.

    He could be a bit blunt or wooden at times, but Ji Xiang had to admit—he seemed like a genuinely earnest person.

    Once the order was placed, Yang Chaosheng handed the menu back to the server. Just as the waiter was about to leave, he added, “Please remove the cilantro from any dishes that include it.”

    Ji Xiang was stunned. His mouth moved faster than his brain: “Wait, you don’t eat cilantro?”

    As a diehard cilantro lover, he would be devastated if his future partner hated it.

    Yang Chaosheng noticed Ji Xiang’s shocked expression and his heart skipped a beat. “I thought you didn’t eat it.”

    Ji Xiang tried to remember if he had ever mentioned that. After running through his memory, he replied innocently, “I don’t think I ever said that.”

    “…Sorry, I must’ve misunderstood,” Yang Chaosheng explained. “I saw your username—‘CilantroKiller’—and just assumed.”

    Hearing his online alias out loud made Ji Xiang cringe. He tugged at the tablecloth, his voice shrinking. “What I meant was, I want to be the kind of killer who devours all of the world’s cilantro.”

    Yang Chaosheng nodded, pretending to stay calm. “Ah. That’s… a cute name.”

    “You’re pretty observant, Lawyer Yang,” Ji Xiang chuckled dryly, scratching the back of his neck and fiddling with his earlobe. Then, trying to change the subject, he added, “We’ve still got some time before the food comes. How about we go over the prenuptial agreement?”

    “The stuff I said at the café to that alpha—don’t take it to heart. Since this is a cooperative arrangement, I’m not interested in cars or houses or anything like that. What’s yours stays yours.” He paused. “As for the betrothal gift, we’ll still go through the motions for my parents’ sake. Just give a token amount. Afterwards, I’ll return it to you. How does that sound?”

    Yang Chaosheng’s fingers tapped lightly on the table. Ji Xiang was waiting for his response. He had no choice but to nod. “…Alright.”

    Even though what he really wanted to say was that those material things were all for Ji Xiang, he knew it would come off too strange, too intense, from someone he’d only just met.

    Ji Xiang was still cautious. Best not to come on too strong.

    “Since we don’t have any emotional foundation, we should just live our own lives after the marriage,” Ji Xiang continued matter-of-factly. “And moving in together is a hassle anyway. What do you think?”

    “But don’t worry. As long as we’re legally bound by marriage, I won’t do anything inappropriate. I’m not planning on dating anyone, and I don’t have feelings for anyone right now. But if you ever meet someone you like, just let me know. I’ll cooperate with you to dissolve the marriage as soon as possible.”

    I won’t meet someone I like again, Yang Chaosheng thought silently.

    “Yang Chaosheng?”

    Ji Xiang noticed the sudden drop in Yang Chaosheng’s mood and gently called his name.

    “…Yeah, I’m listening.” Yang Chaosheng looked up. “Living separately… I’m fine with that. But if we do live apart after marriage, wouldn’t it be inconvenient?”

    “For example, during family gatherings, when our parents or relatives visit—would they come to your place or mine?”

    Ji Xiang touched his nose, thoughtful. “That’s a good point…”

    “Why don’t you live with me? It’s close to your office and I can drive you to work in the mornings.” Yang Chaosheng’s voice was gentle. “Don’t worry about moving—I’ll handle the troublesome parts.”

    The way he said it, so considerate, made Ji Xiang feel a little sheepish. Yang Chaosheng was genuinely putting effort into maintaining this sham marriage.

    So professional.

    “…Let’s talk about it later. No rush.” Ji Xiang blinked. “Oh right, alphas have rut periods… Mind if I ask how often yours come around? Anything I should watch out for?”

    Though he was a beta, Ji Xiang had taken AO biology seriously. He knew rut and heat cycles were deeply personal matters.

    He wasn’t asking out of curiosity, but out of responsibility as a spouse.

    Betas rarely lost control, but he’d seen how painful it was for Shen Siru when he first presented as an omega. He knew how hard heats could be. And ruts weren’t any easier.

    “If I’m stable, it’s about once every three months,” Yang Chaosheng reassured. “I won’t hurt you. We’re not in a real marriage, and I’d never force you. I’ll include this clause in the prenup.”

    To lighten the mood, he even joked, “I have a special little room at my place. When the time comes, just toss me and the suppressants in there and lock the door.”

    He said it so casually, as if enduring that kind of primal instinct was no big deal.

    But suppressants—used in place of a partner—were brutal. They were far harsher than a bond and grew less effective with age. Society no longer encourages long-term reliance on them.

    Even though AB and BO marriages were legal and encouraged in the name of equality, beta glands weren’t developed enough to truly soothe an alpha or omega.

    Even if they did help, it was barely a drop in the bucket. Not everyone understood that, or respected it. Most preferred AO or BB pairings to reduce strain and risk.

    Ji Xiang fell into silence, thinking again how marrying him was really a thankless job for Yang Chaoshen. He wanted to say something else, but just then, a knock came from the door. The food had arrived.

    “Let’s eat first, we can talk more later,” Yang Chaosheng said, ladling soup into Ji Xiang’s bowl.

    Ji Xiang nodded. The fish maw chicken soup was rich and fragrant—perfect to whet the appetite.

    He hadn’t felt particularly hungry before, but after one bite, something awakened in him. He started chewing like a hamster, utterly focused.

    Watching someone eat was a pleasure. Watching someone you liked eat? Even more so.

    Yang Chaosheng barely touched his own food, occasionally picking up bits and placing them in Ji Xiang’s bowl under the excuse of ‘having him try some’.

    Soon, he noticed that Ji Xiang hadn’t touched the eel and pork belly stew. Strictly speaking, he only picked up the green and red peppers in it.

    “Not to your taste?” Yang Chaosheng asked.

    If so, he wouldn’t order it the next time he came here with Ji Xiang.

    Busted for being a picky eater, Ji Xiang paused in the middle of taking a bite of a tender chicken foot. “Uh… I don’t eat organ meats.”

    “Why didn’t you say so?”

    “…I thought you liked it.”

    One mistook a username for a cilantro-hater, the other ordered food thinking the other person loved it.

    Ji Xiang added sheepishly, “I guess… in a way, we’re kind of in sync?”

    In truth, they both knew it wasn’t really ‘chemistry’—just too much politeness, too much distance. They were each thinking for the other, but too reserved to ask a few more questions.

    Yang Chaosheng chuckled, “Yeah. We’re pretty in sync.”

    After the meal, Ji Xiang said he needed to go to the restroom and told Yang Chaosheng to go get the car first.

    As soon as he left, Ji Xiang bolted into another elevator and pressed the button for the ground floor lobby.

    On the way here earlier, he had seen a boutique nearby that specialized in plush toys. He remembered seeing photos online of a teddy bear dressed in a suit and glasses, a professional look that really suited Yang Chaosheng’s vibe.

    Ji Xiang went in, described it to the clerk, and bought it on the spot. Then he rushed to the parking lot.

    Yang Chaosheng had already pulled the car over and was waiting at the roadside.

    Ji Xiang ran over, quickly smoothed his wind-blown hair, and knocked politely on the driver’s side window.

    Just as Yang Chaosheng was about to ask why he didn’t come in, Ji Xiang pulled out a plush bear from behind his back like a magic trick.

    “A gift for you—for our first date,” Ji Xiang said with a bright smile. “Nice to meet you. Right now, you’re like this little guy in my heart—a Reliable Mr. Teddy Bear.”