Ch81 - (II). Goodbye…wife~

Yan Chen sat at his workstation, holding a small red booklet and staring at it for a long time. His department was usually very laid-back, most days were spent raising fish and idling, so he had plenty of time to examine the booklet carefully.

Printed on its cover were the words: Marriage Certificate.

As planned, he had taken Rong Jun to the municipal registration office during his lunch break. The process went smoothly, he had rushed through every step, afraid that the person he had finally managed to claim might suddenly change his mind.

The moment Rong Jun said “I do,” the official stamped their application with a loud bang. Just like that, they received two marriage certificates bearing their names.

Seeing the excitement on Yan Chen’s face as he held the booklet, Rong Jun couldn’t help but laugh. He felt just as thrilled, though he kept it to himself. Still, his eyes never left Yan Chen, and the smile on his lips was entirely because of him.

“It feels a bit unreal. Just yesterday, I was still worrying about how to propose to you…” Rong Jun’s cheeks flushed slightly, a hint of shyness in his expression. After a pause, he added, “And now we’re already married.”

“If you didn’t have to go back to work, I would’ve taken things a step further.”

“Hm? Is there something we haven’t done yet?” Rong Jun asked, puzzled.

Leaning in, Yan Chen whispered into his ear, using the marriage certificate to shield his lips.

“Make a baby.”

He was immediately kicked.

“I’m heading back to work. I’ll come pick you up after I get off,” Rong Jun said, pulling his car keys from his pocket. Without turning back, he waved the hand holding the marriage certificate as he bid goodbye.

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…

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A week later, his handover was complete. That afternoon, he packed up his belongings, finished the formalities, and left the parliament building. But as he reached the outdoor parking lot, he saw a man in a gray suit and silver-rimmed glasses standing beside his car.

Still holding a box, Rong Jun approached, only for the man to step in front of the driver’s seat.

“Excuse me, could you move aside?”

“Pardon me, are you Mr. Rong Jun?” the man asked politely, his smile gentle.

After studying his face for a few seconds, Rong Jun recognized him.

“Secretary-General Wu. I’ve long heard of you.”

A faint unease rose in his chest. Why was the Crown Prince’s chief administrator here, waiting by his car? Could it be related to his marriage with Yan Chen?

Seeing that he had been recognized, Wu Lin got straight to the point. “Would it be convenient to speak somewhere private?”

“Of course.”

With Rong Jun’s consent, Wu Lin invited him into the car and drove him to a century-old villa in the suburbs. The road inside was smooth but winding, and after seven or eight minutes, they arrived at an elegant courtyard.

Rong Jun removed his shoes at the entrance and underwent another inspection before being allowed inside.

From the setup alone, he could already guess who he was about to meet. He had assumed that person would simply send a message through Wu Lin but he hadn’t expected them to come in person.

The room he entered felt strangely empty. It was spacious yet almost barren, like a long-abandoned residence. And yet, everything was meticulously maintained. The courtyard outside was especially beautiful, forming a stark contrast with the austere interior. Lattice doors surrounded the room perfect for opening in summer to enjoy the view.

But now, even the last open door was shut.

Inside, there was only a low table, two cushions, and a man sitting cross-legged in the center which was none other than the Crown Prince.

Despite the bleak atmosphere, the room was unexpectedly warm. The floor beneath his feet was not cold and hard, but comfortably heated.

His anxiety eased slightly because of this.

He walked forward, stopping about a meter from the table, and bowed respectfully to Yan Hong.

“Sit,” Yan Hong said with a gentle smile, though Rong Jun still felt tense.

Much of his nervousness stemmed from one fact, this man was Yan Chen’s brother. It was his first time meeting someone from the Yan family. Logically, he should have visited them before marrying Yan Chen. Instead, he had married him first, almost like he had spirited him away. So he couldn’t blame Yan Hong for wanting to meet him.

He sat somewhat stiffly on the cushion, glancing briefly at the cup of hot coffee on the table, strangely out of place in such surroundings, but he didn’t touch it. Folding his hands neatly on his lap, he waited for the other man to speak.

“Don’t be so nervous,” Yan Hong said, glancing at the coffee. “It’s cold outside. Have something warm.”

“Thank you.” Unable to refuse, Rong Jun picked up the cup and took a sip, only to realize it was exactly to his taste.

A chill ran down his spine.

The feeling of having his preferences known so precisely by a stranger was unsettling eerily familiar.

Noticing his reaction, Yan Hong casually changed the subject. “Yan Chen used to come here often to escape the summer heat when he was young. But he doesn’t seem to like it anymore.”

At the mention of Yan Chen, Rong Jun instinctively looked up, finally meeting Yan Hong’s gaze. The two brothers felt entirely different. Yan Hong carried himself with calm refinement, every movement spoke of his status as Crown Prince. Aside from their golden eyes, they barely resembled each other.

“He’s been very busy with work lately,” Rong Jun replied. “He doesn’t have much time to come to places like this anymore.”

Yan Hong chuckled softly. “He is hardworking. The fish he raises are all thriving.”

“…” Rong Jun fell silent, then let out an awkward laugh. “Ha… ha…”