Chapter 21: Don’t go getting yourself caught up in it

Xu Lin had only spoken what was in his heart. But in the second after his last syllable faded under his tongue, looking up, he caught sight of Ji Jixuan’s eyes frozen mid-blink.

Ji Jixuan looked down at him slightly, silently, staring for a long time without speaking. His thick lashes seemed to hold an invisible dragonfly perched there that if it moved, it would fly away.

Xu Lin was bewildered by the gaze, and belatedly felt a little embarrassed. “What’s wrong? Was what I said too cheesy?”

Only then did Ji Jixuan blink, and the invisible dragonfly on his lashes was gone. He parted his lips as if to say something. At that moment, the roar of a car engine came from outside, a noise like a thousand troops charging through the mountains, then stopping abruptly at its destination.

The sound stopped in the open space outside the church.

It was a black sports car that looked expensive just from its shape.

Ji Jixuan’s brows furrowed slightly when he saw it, as if displeased.

He’d said there would be no guests. But it seemed someone had come uninvited.

A man got out of the sports car. He was dressed formally, relaxed, and raised his hand in a casual greeting. “Yo. I’m not too late, am I?”

He was an Alpha. Xu Lin could see the wristband on him.

Ji Jixuan asked coldly, “Why are you here?”

“I came to join the fun. Is that not allowed?” The man walked toward them step by step. From the way he talked to Ji Jixuan, they seemed quite familiar.

When he reached them, he gave Xu Lin, who was standing beside Ji Jixuan, a meaningful look, his smile widening. “How could I miss my best friend’s wedding?”

Best friend?

Xu Lin studied his face carefully and suddenly recognized him as the person who had been walking with Ji Jixuan outside the school auditorium that time.

He extended his hand to Xu Lin. “Hello, first time meeting. I’m Ji Jixuan’s childhood friend and best friend—his only one. My name is Zong Xi.”

Xu Lin glanced at Ji Jixuan’s expression. Other than looking more stern than before, he didn’t seem to have any strong objections, nor did he seem to be chasing Zong Xi away.

Although Xu Lin didn’t know why Zong Xi had emphasized “only one,” he still reached out and shook his hand. “Hello, I’m Xu Lin.”

“Ah, I know you.” Zong Xi pointed a finger at Xu Lin’s left cheek from a distance. “Injured like that, it must be tough on you. You’re very brave.”

He knew about Xu Lin shielding Ji Jixuan from the explosion, and he knew that today was his and Ji Jixuan’s wedding. Ji Jixuan had said the fewer people who knew about this, the better. Since Zong Xi knew, it could only mean that Ji Jixuan had told him. Those two must really be close.

Xu Lin didn’t know how to respond, so he just smiled.

Zong Xi entered the church, hands clasped behind his back, and walked around inside. He looked over the small church from all angles. At some point, he let out a scoff. Whatever he saw must have amused him.

He turned and asked Ji Jixuan, “Hey, what are you standing around for? Isn’t the wedding starting? Or are there more guests besides me?”

Ji Jixuan ignored him and turned to Xu Lin. “Do you mind? If you do, I’ll kick him out.”

He hadn’t lowered his voice, and Zong Xi heard him, calling out an indignant “Hey!”

Xu Lin quickly said, “No, no, it’s fine.”

In the church, row after row of wooden pews sat empty. Zong Xi chose a seat in the front row, crossed his legs, rested his arm on the back of the pew, and watched them with a smile.

On the altar, Ji Jixuan and Xu Lin stood facing each other, listening to the priest recite the vows. Behind them was the enormous stained glass window. Xu Lin glanced back. Both he and Ji Jixuan were covered in countless fragments of rainbow light, shimmering. He thought of it as heaven’s own confetti celebrating their marriage.

“In the presence of God, do you accept this person as your lifelong partner, to love and cherish him, to be faithful to him, through poverty and wealth, through health and sickness, until death do you part?”

Xu Lin said, “I do.”

He gazed at Ji Jixuan’s face. Ji Jixuan’s eyes were veiled by the refracted light from the stained glass, making them even paler than usual.

He heard Ji Jixuan’s low voice, “I do.”

Xu Lin’s heart pounded. His hands trembled as he took the ring from the box, carefully sliding it onto Ji Jixuan’s finger. When it was fully on, he still couldn’t resist giving it another little push, as if trying to embed it into his skin.

After putting it on Ji Jixuan, it was his turn. Head bowed, he watched as Ji Jixuan took his left hand and slipped the other ring onto his ring finger.

The women’s ring that didn’t quite fit him now looked much more pleasing to his eyes.

It had become beautiful.

Xu Lin stared at his finger, dazed.

Then he suddenly remembered what came after exchanging rings, and his heart leapt back into his throat.

Was the next step…

Xu Lin looked up blankly. Ji Jixuan had obviously thought of it too. With no audience, it wouldn’t have mattered, but with Zong Xi there, Xu Lin suddenly felt shy.

He had no idea that the way he looked at Ji Jixuan was full of eager expectation.

Ji Jixuan paused, then bent down and lowered his head. Xu Lin watched his face draw closer, and his breath seemed to stop. As their breath mingled, he squeezed his eyes shut.

The warm kiss didn’t land on his lips, but on his forehead.

Light as a feather.

Xu Lin opened his eyes.

So a kiss on the forehead counted too. He couldn’t tell whether he was happy or disappointed in that moment.

With that, the ceremony was over.

A faint round of applause echoed through the empty church.

“Congratulations.” Zong Xi clapped from below, smiling even more brightly than the two of them getting married. He lifted his chin and said to Ji Jixuan, “Happy wedding day, Second Young Master Ji.”

Ji Jixuan glanced at him coolly and didn’t respond.

After completing his task, the priest left alone.

Xu Lin stood by the stained glass window for a long time, tracing the irregular colored glass pieces with his fingers. The gleaming ring on his hand intertwined with the rainbow light.

Then what? What came next?

Oh, right. There was one more thing.

“Xuan-ge.” He rushed outside. Ji Jixuan and Zong Xi were standing together talking; both turned at his voice. “Can we take a photo together?”

They were still missing a wedding photo.

Worried Ji Jixuan might refuse, Xu Lin promised, “I won’t show it to anyone, okay?”

He didn’t notice the complicated look Zong Xi gave Ji Jixuan at those words.

A single photo didn’t seem too risky to Ji Jixuan, so he agreed.

Zong Xi volunteered to take it for them.

There was no camera handy, but Xu Lin had come prepared. He pulled out the old phone Pu Sha had given him before he left for school. “Use this to take it.”

Zong Xi took it and laughed. “Ji Jixuan, you’re way too stingy. Can’t even get him a new phone?”

Xu Lin quickly said, “No, no, I’m used to this old phone. I don’t want to change.”

He was clearly defending Ji Jixuan. Zong Xi found it amusing for a few seconds and let it go.

“Where should we take it?”

Xu Lin and Ji Jixuan stood in front of the stained glass window, facing the camera. Xu Lin smiled and linked his arm through Ji Jixuan’s. The muscles beneath his palm felt a bit stiff. He glanced at Ji Jixuan in confusion, but his expression was normal.

A second later, the shutter clicked.

Their wedding photo was born.

---

On the drive back, Xu Lin kept looking at the photo on his phone. He rarely saw himself; in this third-person view, he noticed for the first time how prominent the scar on his face was.

In the photo, both he and Ji Jixuan wore matching white suits, standing side by side with the beautiful stained glass window behind them. Xu Lin was grinning widely, showing a full row of teeth, his arm linked with Ji Jixuan’s, his head tilted slightly toward him. Ji Jixuan looked straight at the camera, his usual expressionless self.

It wasn’t quite the perfect picture.

Oh well. They could always retake it another time.

Xu Lin happily returned home. From afar, he spotted a small delivery truck in the yard. Several workers were going in and out carrying things.

“What’s that?”

“I’ve prepared some daily necessities for you.” Ji Jixuan parked the car and answered Xu Lin’s question.

Xu Lin nodded and hurried out of the car.

Everything else looked normal, except the kitchen. Yesterday it had been empty; now it was filled with all kinds of cookware and ingredients, plus several new refrigerators stocked full.

No more plain noodles.

As Xu Lin was planning what to cook for dinner, he suddenly realized the strawberries he’d left on the kitchen counter were gone.

He hadn’t been able to bring himself to eat the box Pu Sha had given him, planning to save it to celebrate with Ji Jixuan after the wedding.

But now, with all the new ingredients, the strawberries were nowhere to be found.

He searched every refrigerator, but they were gone.

He rushed to find Ji Jixuan. “My strawberries are gone. They were on the counter. Did you see them?”

Xu Lin was frantic, like a headless fly. Ji Jixuan turned and called over a worker outside. The man immediately came over. “Young Master.”

Before Ji Jixuan could speak, Xu Lin anxiously asked, “Did you see the strawberries I left on the kitchen counter?”

The man froze, as if turned to stone. After a few seconds, he cautiously asked, “You mean… the ones wrapped in plastic wrap?”

“Yes!”

“Well…” The man hesitated, his eyes darting away.

Five minutes later, Xu Lin stood in front of the trash bin at the back of the delivery truck, staring blankly at the strawberries inside. The plastic wrap was torn, the plump strawberries scattered among all kinds of dust and debris. Some had already been crushed into red juice, too ruined to eat.

“I thought those strawberries were already going bad. I figured they were meant to be thrown out and no one would eat them, so I… I’m so sorry.”

The worker kept bowing and apologizing, sweat dripping from his forehead. He was pale with fear, not daring to lift his head.

Xu Lin’s ears rang, muffling all sound. The crushed strawberries stung his eyes. He suddenly reached his hand toward the trash bin, but Ji Jixuan caught his wrist in time.

“What are you doing?” Ji Jixuan frowned.

Xu Lin blinked. “A few of them are still okay. I can wash them.”

Ji Jixuan pulled his hand back with some force. “They’re not edible anymore, Xu Lin.”

He tried to pull Xu Lin back inside, but Xu Lin stubbornly refused to move, hanging his head and murmuring, “…They are.”

His eyes were red, his voice barely audible. “My teacher gave them to me. I haven’t even had one yet.”

Ji Jixuan was silent for a moment, then softened his tone. “Go inside and rest for a bit.”

Xu Lin didn’t move. Ji Jixuan placed his hands on his shoulders. “Be good.”

He kept his head down. After a long while, he silently shuffled back inside, step by step.

Once Xu Lin was out of sight, Ji Jixuan looked at the worker standing with his head bowed. His hands, properly held in front of him, trembled uncontrollably. He whispered, “I’m sorry, Young Master. I’ll never—”

Ji Jixuan cut him off coldly. “Take your pay and leave.”

Ji Jixuan went inside but couldn’t find Xu Lin anywhere.

He finally found him in the master bedroom. He didn’t enter. Through the half-open door, he saw Xu Lin sitting alone on the balcony with his back to him, gazing at the distant scenery.

He released the door handle he’d been gripping and stepped back, leaving.

It was two hours later when Xu Lin realized Ji Jixuan was gone.

The workers had all left. The delivery truck was gone. Even Ji Jixuan’s car had vanished.

He searched the whole house, room by room. No Ji Jixuan. Only then did he realize Ji Jixuan had left without saying a word.

He didn’t even know where Ji Jixuan had gone.

He wanted to contact him, but he didn’t even have his number.

They were supposed to be the closest people, yet he had no way to reach him.

The spacious, warm home now felt silent and still when he was alone, like a beautiful hell.

---

“Why are you suddenly asking for this?”

Zong Xi had just gotten home from the wedding when he received Ji Jixuan’s call. By the time he met him again with what Ji Jixuan had demanded over the phone, night had already fallen.

Ji Jixuan took the box Zong Xi handed him.

Zong Xi asked, “Aren’t you unable to taste things? Why do you want these?”

“It’s not for me.”

“Oh—” Zong Xi drew out the syllable, draping an arm over Ji Jixuan’s shoulder and wiggling his eyebrows. “For little Xu Lin, huh?”

Ji Jixuan brushed his hand off. “Shut up.”

He got in the car with the box and was about to leave. Zong Xi leaned on the window, one hand gripping the steering wheel to stop him.

Ji Jixuan was impatient. “Move.”

Zong Xi raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you say you’re only keeping him in Danshi to treat his face? Once the scars are gone, he leaves?”

Ji Jixuan countered, “Did I say otherwise now?”

“Then why are you giving him this?”

The box, printed with “Bijin Hime,” contained neatly arranged strawberries, beautifully packaged. Each strawberry cost four figures, and Zong Xi had made a special trip to deliver it. Would anyone do that for someone unimportant? Was repaying a favor supposed to go this far?

“You’re treating him differently,” Zong Xi said.

Ji Jixuan wanted to refute that. But the image of Xu Lin reaching for the strawberries in the trash flashed through his mind, and the words died in his throat. He gave up arguing. “Say what you want.”

Zong Xi asked abruptly, “When are you planning to let him leave?”

Ji Jixuan: “I said, when his face is healed.”

“You say you’re only doing this to not owe him. But from today’s wedding onward, you’ve already begun to owe him. That kid genuinely likes you. Can’t you see that?”

“…” Ji Jixuan had no comment on that.

Zong Xi: “You’re using a fake marriage to keep him tied down. Have you ever thought about what happens if the truth comes out one day?”

Ji Jixuan suppressed his irritation. Since Zong Xi seemed determined to have a heart-to-heart, he’d play along. “What happens?”

“You don’t feel the same way, so don’t do things that give him the wrong idea. The kinder you are to him, the more he’ll fall for you. When his scars heal and you’ve repaid your debt, you’ll use ‘divorce’ as an excuse to send him away. Do you think that will make you even? Have you considered what he’ll be left with when he’s already in too deep? His face might be healed, but what about him?”

Zong Xi answered his own question, “You’ll have repaid your favor. And he’ll have learned to hate you.

“What good does that do? In the end, you’ll still owe him. I told you before this won’t work. You got it wrong from the very start.”

The night wind blew into the car, making the two paper dragonflies hanging from the rearview mirror sway.

Ji Jixuan glanced at the swaying dragonflies. “What do you know?”

Zong Xi was taken aback, then scoffed. “Fine. You know everything. I know nothing.”

“He doesn’t like me.”

Zong Xi nearly laughed in frustration. “Not you… He’s done all this, and you still say he doesn’t like you?”

Ji Jixuan wasn’t sure if he was convincing himself or Zong Xi. “Even if he does, it won’t last. Your scenario won’t happen.”

“Fine.” Zong Xi gave up. He straightened up, arms crossed, looking down at Ji Jixuan from beside the car, and warned:

“Second Young Master Ji, just don’t go getting yourself caught up in it.”