Chapter 99 : The Matchmaker’s Approval
Chi Wang didn’t know what Xie Siheng was thinking and continued, “This whole internet thing depends on luck, and I’m pretty unlucky. Back then, I didn’t believe in superstitions. If suggestive dancing didn’t work, I thought maybe being a study blogger would. So I started a study account, live-streaming myself solving problems, but there was no traffic. It really didn’t take off, so I gave up completely.”
“But even though I gave up, I still learned quite a few dances. Occasionally, I could pick up some commercial performances. The pay wasn’t much, about two or three hundred yuan per show, but it was quite a decent income. However, such opportunities were rare. After all, the place wasn’t big, so how many commercial performances could there be?”
Chi Wang was now very willing to share his experiences with Xie Siheng. In the past, this would’ve been impossible.
He wanted Xie Siheng to understand him and also wanted Xie Siheng to like him even more.
Xie Siheng asked, “Do you want to manage such accounts now?”
Chi Wang said, “No.”
He knew what Xie Siheng was thinking and smiled, “I’m not aiming to become famous. Back then, I just wanted to make money. I heard that during live streams, people would send gifts, and you could earn thousands a day. I thought if I could earn tens or hundreds a day, over a month, that would be quite a lot. Plus, it would train my on-the-spot abilities, so I wanted to give it a try.”
He said a bit embarrassedly, “Of course, I didn’t reveal too much skin—I was a bit shy—but the moves were quite suggestive. I can say my suggestive content was definitely up to standard.”
His confidence came from his strong learning ability; he had completely mastered girl group dance moves, which were definitely up to par as suggestive dances.
Xie Siheng: “…”
Maybe if you covered your face, it might qualify.
Xie Siheng cleared his throat and said, “Dance for me when we get back.”
Chi Wang happily saluted, “Yes, sir!”
Xie Siheng: “…”
So cute.I want to kiss him.
Hold on, I’ll kiss him when we get back.
They wandered outside for a long time before returning home.
By this time, An An was already asleep. He was being held by the nanny and fed milk. He opened his big eyes, drinking while watching them.
Chi Wang asked the nanny to hand An An to him. He held An An in his arms, adjusted the bottle’s angle, and fed him.
An An didn’t have teeth yet, but his biting force was amazing. He loved to grind the nipple hard with his gums, so the nipples wore out quickly, often needing to be replaced every three or four days.
Chi Wang thought to himself, no wonder so many mothers complain; if silicone and latex nipples can be bitten through, wouldn’t flesh be even worse?
Fortunately, he didn’t have milk. No, even if he did, he didn’t plan to feed the baby. With just those few drops, he might as well taste it himself.
He found that he really didn’t have milk and felt a bit disappointed. But then he thought, it’s not that easy to have milk, so he quickly put it behind him.
The swelling in his chest did subside a bit. They said his hormone levels hadn’t dropped yet; once they did, his chest would return to normal.
After feeding An An, the baby grinned at him, milk bubbles forming at the corners of his mouth. Chi Wang reached out his fair finger and popped them. Hearing the slight pop as the bubble burst, Chi Wang burst into laughter.
An An didn’t know why he was laughing and just looked at him with big eyes.
Do all little ones have this charm? Just lying in his arms, doing nothing, just looking at him, and he could be so happy.
This is his little baby!
At night, after taking a bath and getting into bed, Xie Siheng reached out to stroke his back, a silent tease.
Chi Wang turned over and asked Xie Siheng, “Did you ask the doctor if we can do it after the confinement period?”
Xie Siheng’s voice sounded in the darkness, “I didn’t ask.”
After a pause, he said softly, “We shouldn’t.”
Chi Wang reached out and hugged Xie Siheng’s waist, leaning in to kiss his lips.
Chi Wang’s initiative made Xie Siheng feel joyful. He slightly lowered his head to make it easier for Chi Wang to kiss him.
Chi Wang was now very skilled at kissing. His technique might not be the best, but his oral skills were pretty good. Indeed, when God closes a door, He opens a window (lol). [1]
Soon, Xie Siheng took the lead, holding Chi Wang atop himself and kissing him.
They hadn’t been intimate for a long time. They didn’t do it in the later stages of pregnancy, but they had many suggestive behaviors.
During the confinement period, they were almost not intimate at all—not even kissing.
So this was their first closeness after giving birth.
After kissing for a while, Chi Wang felt a bit sleepy.
But he still pulled himself together, lifting his leg for Xie Siheng to help him remove his pants.
Classmate Xie Siheng squeezed between his legs. Chi Wang suppressed a yawn and asked softly, “Not going to do it?”
Xie Siheng: “Mm.”
His movements were very gentle, occasionally accompanied by pecking kisses.
Chi Wang felt an indescribable happiness. He lay in Xie Siheng’s broad, warm embrace, reaching out to touch him all over.
He loved the feeling of skin-to-skin contact; it gave him a sense of peace.
It was like a drifting boat finding an anchor point, his whole heart settling down.
Shattering his sleepiness, Chi Wang leaned in to kiss Xie Siheng’s Adam’s apple. As he kissed, he couldn’t help but lightly bite it. Xie Siheng’s movements paused momentarily, then resumed with greater intensity.
Chi Wang laughed and went to kiss Xie Siheng’s lips, only to be held by Xie Siheng, who deepened the kiss.
I really like Sheng Sheng.
But, as he said, only elementary school kids say “I like you.”
Adults show it through actions.
So Chi Wang didn’t say it but responded to the warm kiss.
After they finished, Chi Wang got up to take a shower, and Xie Siheng followed him in.
The scar on Chi Wang’s abdomen had healed. Because they used the best medicines, there was no hypertrophy—just a light pink line that might disappear completely after some time.
His abdomen had become firm again. Chi Wang planned to start exercising once his internal wounds were fully healed.
Right now, all his flesh felt soft; pressing with a finger would make it sink in. His strength seemed to have diminished.
Chi Wang didn’t like this and was determined to exercise properly.
He turned his head and saw Xie Siheng’s beautiful abs, feeling envy, jealousy, and resentment. “I used to have abs too!”
Xie Siheng said, “When your body recovers more, you can train them back.”
Chi Wang thought of something, his eyes flashing with a mischievous light. He said, “I once posted a picture of my abs on my Moments; did you see it?” [2]
Xie Siheng: “…”
He lowered his eyes and said calmly, “I saw it.”
Chi Wang said, “You even liked it back then. I was so startled when I saw it that I quickly deleted it.”
Xie Siheng: “…”
The sound of water splashing; they just rinsed briefly and came out.
After coming out, Chi Wang continued to ask, “What were you thinking when you liked it?”
Chi Wang deliberately said, “Did you think of something you shouldn’t have?”
He coughed, a bit embarrassed, “Like some, you know, adult stuff.”
He wasn’t narcissistic to that extent, but when teasing Xie Siheng, he couldn’t be thin-skinned.
Xie Siheng said, “No.”
He paused and said calmly, “At the time, I just thought it was a very beautiful set of abs—thickness just right, and very powerful. One more point, and it would be like David; one less point, and it’d be a skinny monkey. It was very powerful, so I looked at it a few more times.”
Chi Wang: “…”
You’re really good at praising!
Chi Wang was a bit embarrassed by his words, coughed a few times, and said, “Thank you for the compliment.”
Xie Siheng said, “But when I wanted to save it, you’d already deleted it.”
Chi Wang: “…”
Who would save someone else’s abs!
Chi Wang blushed and didn’t say anything.
Could it be that Xie Siheng had feelings for him back then?
As if knowing what Chi Wang was thinking, Xie Siheng said slowly, “That time we slept together was my first time.”
Chi Wang said, “It was my first time too.”
Xie Siheng nodded, “It was the first time for both of us, so I care about you.”
Chi Wang: “…”
He was rather indifferent; he didn’t care much about Xie Siheng.
At that time, he was simply afraid that Xie Siheng would cause him trouble.
He even maliciously speculated about Xie Siheng and went to the hospital to buy emergency blocking medication.
Xie Siheng said, “I wanted to get closer to you but didn’t have the opportunity.”
He paused and confessed, “I borrowed Xiaomi at first.”
Chi Wang laughed, “I knew that long ago.”
Xie Siheng paused, “You knew?”
Chi Wang said, “Zuo Qianxing told me. He also said you originally planned to go abroad but didn’t in the end. Was it because of me?”
Xie Siheng: “…”
Zuo Qianxing, that blabbermouth.
Xie Siheng said, “Going abroad was the plan, but you got pregnant, and plans couldn’t keep up with changes. I wanted to start a family.”
Chi Wang wondered, “If I hadn’t gotten pregnant, you would have gone abroad?”
Xie Siheng: “…”
He lowered his eyes and said calmly, “After all, there was no interaction between us.”
He could have created opportunities to interact, but there was another issue—Chi Wang was clearly straight.
Xie Siheng wasn’t gay, but he knew what it was like to be gay; there were gays in their circle.
Actually, he thought it was somewhat absurd that he was attracted to Chi Wang at first sight. He always believed that love at first sight was a frivolous thing.
Frivolous matters didn’t need to have outcomes.
And that one-night stand was the same. Forcing a result would only hurt both parties.
So Xie Siheng hadn’t planned to take that step.
But Chi Wang became pregnant.
No one knew how joyful he was when he returned from the café that day. That night’s insomnia became exceptionally sweet.
Chi Wang scratched his head, “Indeed, there wasn’t much interaction between us. You were in your senior year, always away from school, and I was working part-time every day. It was hard to have any interaction.”
So, An An became the matchmaker.
Chi Wang laughed, thinking it was quite wonderful.
His sleepiness quietly disappeared. Chi Wang hugged Xie Siheng’s waist and started chatting with him.
Their relationship was somewhat chaotic. Without understanding each other, they had already slept in the same bed. Without confirming their relationship, he became pregnant. They only had a superficial understanding of each other, without delving deeper.
Now that the child was born, Chi Wang’s defenses were completely down, and he was willing to share more with Xie Siheng.
Instead, it was at this time that they began to truly understand each other.
The sequence was all messed up, but the flowers bloomed beautifully (lol). [3]
*
The next day, Chi Wang received a call from Xiao Fu, learning that he had told the Yang family about his situation, and that his maternal grandparents wanted to see him.
Xiao Fu said to him, “If you don’t want to meet them, I’ll decline on your behalf. If you want to meet them, I’ll go with you.”
Chi Wang said, “Sure, I’ll meet them.”
Xiao Fu felt a bit disappointed. He actually didn’t really want Chi Wang to reconnect with the Yang family. This was his brother. Once he reconnected, Chi Wang would become the grandson of their grandparents, the nephew of his uncles.
His own sense of existence would be infinitely diluted.
He shelved his momentary melancholy and quickly moved on.
The next day, Xiao Fu paid a visit, bringing Chi Wang to fly to the Yang family’s home. Xie Siheng wanted to accompany them, but Chi Wang stopped him with a few words.
It was better to avoid having the two of them together.
Chi Wang wasn’t very formal; he wore a T-shirt and shorts, exuding a strong student vibe.
Xiao Fu had a somewhat serious expression as he spoke to Chi Wang, “Grandfather has a terrible temper. He likes to be harsh and angry at people. Grandmother, on the other hand, is quite nice, but she always listens to Grandfather. As for Uncle…”
He continued a bit irritated, “He’s just like that.”
Chi Wang looked at his expression and felt it wasn’t necessary to acknowledge him formally; having a brother was enough.
But since they were already there, he decided to go inside and meet him.
The two elderly members of the Yang family lived in an old-fashioned manor, exuding a traditional charm. Upon entering, one could see artificial mountains and ponds, winding water corridors, and floors laid with jujube wood, all adding to the elegant ambiance.
The Yang family was also prosperous. Although there were only two uncles, each had several children living in the manor, making it lively and bustling with activity.
Chi Wang was greeted by his aunt, who was accompanied by a beautiful little girl. The aunt offered Chi Wang a few polite smiles but was cold and indifferent towards Xiao Fu, seemingly not very fond of him.
Xiao Fu, as if accustomed to it, didn’t argue with her and led Chi Wang inside with her.
Seeing this, Chi Wang was already reluctant to enter, but as he always said, since they were already there, he decided to follow his aunt into the manor.
He didn’t bother to admire the beautiful scenery in the courtyard. Led inside, he finally saw the grandparents Xiao Fu had mentioned.
Indeed, as Xiao Fu had said, Grandfather Yang Kaishu was a very stern-looking elderly man with large eyes that showed no sign of fatigue—he looked very spirited.
Although both uncles had gained a bit of weight, their facial features still indicated that they had been handsome in their youth.
In the entire family, except for the children who were laughing and playing, everyone else had very solemn expressions, carrying a hint of scrutiny.
Xiao Fu introduced, “Grandfather, this is my younger brother, Chi Wang.”
Grandfather Yang nodded, tugged at the corner of his mouth, and said, “Dinner is coming soon. Please sit and wait for a while.”
His aunt came over to pour Chi Wang a cup of tea. A fruit platter was brought out, generously filled with sunflower seeds, peanuts, and potato chips, before she went to attend to the mischievous little girl.
Chi Wang: “……”
He felt extremely embarrassed. He called out to Grandfather Yang, who only nodded in response without saying a word.
Both uncles remained silent. One quickly went to make a phone call, while the other silently peeled peanuts, piling them up on the table.
The atmosphere was too tense, so Xiao Fu took the initiative to speak, “Chi Wang is now studying at H University, majoring in Electrical Engineering.”
This statement made Grandfather Yang pay closer attention to Chi Wang. In their family, education and substance were highly valued. H University was one of the top schools, and Yang Qingdai had failed to get in by more than twenty points. He didn’t expect her son to pass, but here he was.
Grandfather Yang Qingdai asked Chi Wang a few questions, which Chi Wang answered one by one with substance. A smile appeared on Grandfather Yang Qingdai’s face, and he kept nodding appreciatively, saying, “Not bad, not bad.”
Finally showing some warmth towards Chi Wang, he stood up and went to a drawer to take out an expensive pen as a gift of encouragement.
Chi Wang grinned slightly, took the pen, and thanked him.
Aside from the initial introduction, Xiao Fu was now being ignored by everyone. He sat alone on a traditional Chinese chair, peeling a candy and placing it in his mouth.
Chi Wang suddenly felt quite bored.
He got up to use the restroom. Even for the restroom, he had to go outside, guided by the little girl who brought him in.
After finishing, as he walked to the door, he heard Grandfather Yang scolding Xiao Fu. In Chinese culture, educated people curse harshly, with each word piercing the heart, “…You have such a good younger brother. Stay away from him in the future, don’t spoil him. Your mother giving birth to you was a mistake; at your age, you’re not as good as a younger brother who appeared halfway through life. He could get into H University, while you didn’t even finish high school, lacking ambition and drive. If you hadn’t brought someone over, I wouldn’t even want to see you…”
Chi Wang: “…”
He hadn’t expected Xiao Fu to be treated so poorly at his grandfather’s house.
Moreover, someone with such a bad temper like Xiao Fu wasn’t silent now??
Xiao Fu could endure it, but Chi Wang couldn’t stand it anymore. He strode in, grabbed Xiao Fu, and said, “Brother, let’s go.”
Xiao Fu was stunned, and Grandfather Yang was also taken aback. He asked, “What are you doing?”
Chi Wang reached into his pocket and took out the expensive pen, placing it on the tea table. In a calm voice, he said, “Grandfather, I don’t deserve this pen. We won’t be coming back anymore.”
After saying that, he grabbed Xiao Fu and tried to leave. Grandfather Yang called him back, “Is this how you speak to your elders?”
The two uncles looked at him sternly.
The once playful little girl also fell silent, looking over.
Chi Wang firmly stated, “We are guests visiting, and there’s no reason for you to scold us. He’s not part of your family, so morally and ethically, you shouldn’t say such things about him. I originally thought I was here to meet a learned and virtuous grandfather, but it seems I was mistaken. Goodbye.”
After saying that, he grabbed Xiao Fu and left the house.
The Yang family members looked at each other in bewilderment.
Xiao Fu hadn’t expected Chi Wang to react like this. He felt touched inside and said from behind Chi Wang, “Grandfather has this kind of temperament; he can’t tolerate any shortcomings.”
It was normal for the Yang family not to favor him. Back then, they almost didn’t let him attend the funeral, but since they were grandparents, he wouldn’t argue with them. Such scoldings were common, and he just listened casually without taking it to heart. He didn’t expect Chi Wang to turn against his grandparents for his sake.
Chi Wang should need these relatives even more.
Without looking back, Chi Wang said, “Then they shouldn’t have scolded you. We are guests, not very close. We should just acknowledge each other as relatives and exchange greetings during festivals. Why did they have to say such things about you?”
Still stepping on Xiao Fu to praise him, just because of his education?
So superficial. Turns out that a scholarly family also discriminates based on education?
Chi Wang felt rather disappointed.
Xiao Fu sighed, “I really don’t strive for progress, don’t love studying, unlike your mother’s son. Your mother was a top student back then.”
He did want to study hard, but he wasn’t cut out for it. Moreover, the despicable Xiao Wenzhou had already taken men into the family establishment. Why bother studying? He should quickly seize power and eliminate Xiao Wenzhou instead.
He didn’t regret his choices, but lacking education was indeed a shortcoming. At least within the Yang family, he couldn’t make a living. Every visit was met with a cold face, and the extravagant gifts given during festivals were rudely thrown out the door. It wasn’t easy for someone as proud as him to endure all this.
Chi Wang didn’t think much of it and said, “No, you manage your company so well and earn so much money. Is that not striving for progress? Life’s paths aren’t just about studying. Does not studying mean you’re not human? You have many other strengths.”
Hearing how excellent he was in Chi Wang’s eyes, Xiao Fu couldn’t help but smile, his tone hopeful as he asked, “What strengths do I have?”
Chi Wang: “…”
He paused suspiciously, then quickly continued, “You’re handsome! Tall, rich, and handsome—those are your greatest strengths!”
Xiao Fu: “…”
Although that reasoning was correct, it still felt a bit strange.
Chi Wang hesitated briefly, then smoothly continued, “You’re also very attentive, great at caring for others, can admit and correct your mistakes, adaptable and resilient—these are your strengths.”
Xiao Fu was overjoyed by the praise, “Really?”
Chi Wang nodded emphatically, “Of course it’s true!”
They walked out of the Yang family’s gate. Xiao Fu looked back with a bit of complexity and said, “With you causing this scene, Grandfather’s temper is big. He definitely won’t attend your wedding banquet.”
Moreover, he hadn’t told the grandparents about Chi Wang’s pregnancy and their arranged marriage because of it.
It was beyond reason; he didn’t even dare to mention it.
Chi Wang nonchalantly said, “Then they won’t attend.”
Xiao Fu paused and asked, “Don’t you want your grandparents?”
Chi Wang replied, “I can live without them. At this point, none of that matters anymore. You are my most important family member.”
Xiao Fu was touched, but some things were always weighing on his heart. He had been holding it in for a long time and could no longer contain it. He said, “Actually, there’s something I’ve never told you.”
Chi Wang: “? What is it?”
He looked up at Xiao Fu’s expression, seeing a hint of guilt on his handsome yet slightly harsh face. His forehead tensed, and his emotions tightened.
Then he heard the scene of blatant feudal superstitions.
Chi Wang: “……”
He couldn’t believe it. His pupils dilated as he asked, “Do you think my misfortune life is because of your curse?”
Xiao Fu lowered his eyes, not daring to look at him, “Mm, I got injured, disfigured, and the Bazi Taoist priest also said it cursed our kinship.”
Chi Wang: “……”
Xiao Fu forced a bitter smile, “After all, you and Xie Siheng being able to be together is indirectly because of me.”
Chi Wang: “……”
He suddenly understood. No wonder when he dragged Xiao Fu to take the blame together, Xiao Fu had stopped causing trouble for Xie Siheng. There was another layer to it.
Chi Wang couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed, “…Don’t be so superstitious, alright? Normal people believe in good things. But you go against reason, insisting on believing in bad things? Me getting intimate with Xie Siheng is indeed your fault, but look at the results now—I’ve had a super beautiful baby and a super handsome partner. Doesn’t that prove anything? You harmed me? Nonsense! You’re clearly acting like a matchmaker from Yue Lao! You’re enhancing my luck, brother!” [4]
Xiao Fu: “……”
Although he was being comforted, he didn’t feel happy hearing it.
Chi Wang confidently said, “Cursing kinship is completely nonsense. Don’t believe it anymore. I’m the best example—you never cursed me, and yet you can recognize me in a crowd and bring me back. You’re so awesome! If you had truly cursed me, why didn’t you curse me completely? How could you still recognize me? Understand the sequence—clearly, you’re enhancing my luck, not cursing me. You even sent me so much money, which I could never spend up in several lifetimes. Is that cursing? This is clearly the God of Wealth! I bow to you, God of Wealth!”
Xiao Fu: “……”
Xiao Fu suddenly understood, “…Seems so.”
Chi Wang’s mouth felt dry. He licked his lips and said, “Exactly. So don’t think about all that nonsense. Instead of being consumed by self-pity, it’s better to work hard and create more and greater value.”
Xiao Fu, whose hunched back straightened up, his demeanor instantly refreshed, “You’re right.”
Chi Wang said, “If Grandmother and Grandfather don’t approve of you, don’t push it. I thought there was no deep-seated hatred, but being constantly belittled is so frustrating. Just treating each other as ordinary relatives, exchanging gifts during festivals, and maintaining a face is enough.”
“But if you two get married, we won’t have many relatives here, and it won’t look good,” Xiao Fu said.
Chi Wang: “It’s okay. None of that matters. Don’t take it too seriously. It doesn’t matter if we have them or not.”
Chi Wang stretched lazily, “Let’s go back.”
Xiao Fu laughed, “Mm.”
He saw that Chi Wang didn’t care about what he had said and couldn’t help but smirk. This was truly self-inflicted trouble.
With a clear mind, the world felt broader.
Chi Wang returned to H City, where Xie Siheng picked him up from the airport. Upon seeing him, Chi Wang, filled with joy, rushed to Xie Siheng in front of everyone. Without caring about the public eye, he stretched out his arms to hug Xie Siheng, expressing his excitement and joy over not having seen him for four hours and thirty-two minutes.
To others, it looked like they hadn’t seen each other for a long time, but only Xiao Fu showed a speechless expression.
Circling back, he was still acting like Yue Lao for four hours and thirty-two minutes.
But, oh well.
Xiao Fu walked over and hugged Xie Siheng and Chi Wang.
Xie Siheng: “…”
Chi Wang: “…”
Footnotes
[1] When God closes a door, He opens a window (x) : This is a humorous twist on a common saying, with the “(x)” indicating a playful or joking tone.
[2] Moments: A feature on WeChat (a popular Chinese messaging app) where users can post updates, similar to a social media feed.
[3] The flowers bloomed beautifully (x) : A playful way to say that even though the order was messed up, things still turned out well. The “(x)” indicates a joking tone.
[4] Yue Lao: The Chinese god of marriage, often referred to as a matchmaker. Here, it implies that Xiao Fu is acting as a matchmaker to bring Chi Wang and Xie Siheng together.
I really love Xiao Fu ?