Free Web NovelChapter 45: Chapter 27: Misunderstanding Bro, Nail Art Sis
「Nebula Cafe.」
The man looked utterly incredulous. "Wait, you really married Jiang Li?"
Shen Yanzhi lifted the coffee cup in front of him and took a light sip. "Yeah. We got married a few days ago."
The man sprayed a mouthful of coffee. "Holy shit! You bastard! You went and married your crush without a peep and didn’t even think to give your boy a heads-up."
Shen Yanzhi let out a heavy sigh. "It’s not that I didn’t want to tell you. It all just happened so suddenly."
The man raised his coffee cup in a toast to Shen Yanzhi, and their cups clinked together. "Well, after all these years, you finally got your wish. Guess the long wait wasn’t for nothing."
As one of Shen Yanzhi’s few close friends, Lu Zhi’an had been a firsthand witness to the entire history of Shen Yanzhi’s secret love.
At one point, he had even tried to get Shen Yanzhi to give up, but Shen Yanzhi was a stubborn mule. "As long as she isn’t married," he’d said, "I still have a chance."
No wonder they say fortune favors the prepared. And look at him now—he’d lucked into a wife, and the exact one he’d always wanted, no less.
Shen Yanzhi’s expression sobered. "But I don’t know if she feels the same way."
Lu Zhi’an waved a dismissive hand. "What’s so hard about that? Just ask her."
’Of course I want to just ask,’ Shen Yanzhi thought. ’But we lost touch for five years. Our relationship isn’t what it used to be.’
’If she does like me, then great. Everyone’s happy.’
’But if she doesn’t... how am I supposed to face Jiang Li then?’
’If Zhao Sinian hadn’t suddenly raised his demands, I never would have gotten this chance in the first place.’
’And now Zhao Sinian is still chasing after her relentlessly.’
Seeing Shen Yanzhi fall silent, Lu Zhi’an spoke up again. "You two are a married couple now. Don’t tell me you’re too embarrassed to ask something like that?"
’Never thought I’d see the day,’ Lu Zhi’an mused. ’The fearless Shen Yanzhi, actually afraid to ask a simple question.’
’But everyone handles matters of the heart differently. Even the strongest people lose their confidence when it comes to love. It’s no use for an outsider to get worked up over it.’
Shen Yanzhi immediately changed the subject. "Didn’t you say you had your eye on someone? What’s she like?"
The moment his own crush was mentioned, Lu Zhi’an’s demeanor changed, and he began to chatter endlessly. "She’s a streamer who supports agricultural communities. Really cute, and not like those other streamers where you can just buy their contact info by becoming their top gifter."
He’d once spent millions just to claw his way to the top of her gifter rankings, all to get her private contact info.
And what did he get for his trouble? A simple thank-you during her livestream.
Forget getting her number; he didn’t even get a single private message.
So now, the only way he could talk to her was by chatting in her public livestream.
Shen Yanzhi warned him, "Don’t get in too deep."
Lu Zhi’an rolled his eyes. "You’ve got some nerve lecturing me, Mr. I’ve-Been-Pining-For-Years. I think those words are better suited for you."
He couldn’t resist twisting the knife. "And to put it bluntly, if her ex plays his cards right, you’ll go from the current husband to the former one real quick."
Shen Yanzhi gritted his teeth. "All right, that’s enough."
’If that day really comes,’ he thought, ’I’d have no choice but to let her go.’
’As much as I want to keep Jiang Li by my side, to love someone is to love what they love, to grieve what they grieve, and to rejoice in what brings them joy.’
’Love is about wanting the best for them. It’s about letting go.’
’I could never be the type to force love on someone. It only ends up hurting everyone involved.’
Lu Zhi’an clicked his tongue. "See? You’re getting worked up again."
Recalling a video he’d seen on his social media feed, Lu Zhi’an asked, "But seriously, you’re not going to go pick up your wife? Her ex is pestering her right now! Aren’t you afraid he’s going to steal her right out from under you?"
Shen Yanzhi’s grip on his coffee cup tightened. After a long moment, he finally squeezed out, "You talk too much."
Lu Zhi’an said with an air of profound wisdom, "What’s meant to be will be. You can’t force fate."
Shen Yanzhi fought the urge to roll his eyes. "Fine. If that’s all, I’m heading back. I still have to buy groceries and cook for Jiang Li. Something a single guy like you wouldn’t understand."
Lu Zhi’an facepalmed. He couldn’t even look. ’What’s there to be so proud about, just going home to cook a meal?’ he thought.
It was only later, when Lu Zhi’an found himself in a relationship, that he understood. Forget cooking—he would come to feel that even getting his partner a glass of water was an incomparable blessing.
But of course, that was a story for another time.
He downed the last of his coffee, then stood up and headed for the counter.
Seeing that Shen Yanzhi was actually leaving, Lu Zhi’an’s mouth twitched. ’This guy really can’t take a joke,’ he thought.
He quickly gulped down the rest of his coffee, strode over to Shen Yanzhi’s side, and slung an arm around his neck. "Hey, what’s the hurry! It’s not like I wasn’t going to let you leave!"
Seeing this, the cashier got an expression on her face like she was watching her favorite ship become canon, smiling so wide her gums were practically showing.
