The Disliked Shou and the Charming Gong : Chapter 9: He Ning, Let’s Get Married

He Ning said take me home.

Wen Junhe didn’t listen at all, or rather he heard it but brushed it off like a breeze past his ear. The neon lights outside the window swept across his profile, flickering on and off, making his features look sharp.

When He Ning spoke again, he suddenly leaned forward, one hand braced on the seat beside He Ning. The sense of pressure instantly closed in, their breaths almost intertwining.

“Are you sure there’s no danger if you go back?” Wen Junhe asked, his voice low, each word clear, like a near interrogation filled with certainty.

He Ning lowered his eyes. The car stopped. Wen Junhe paid cleanly and efficiently, pushed open the door and got out, his movements smooth and decisive, leaving He Ning no room for hesitation. The night breeze was slightly cool. He Ning had just steadied himself when Wen Junhe’s palm clamped down on his shoulder, the pressure neither light nor heavy, but carrying a meaning of no escape.

They walked forward to the elevator.

Wen Junhe’s apartment wasn’t on a very high floor. When the lock clicked open with a soft sound, He Ning stood at the doorway without moving, his gaze lingering briefly at the entrance for a few seconds, as if assessing something. His eyes swept over the living room without making a show of it. No extra slippers. No unfamiliar scents. Even the cup on the coffee table was only one. Fortunately there were no traces of anyone else having been here. He let out a barely perceptible breath of relief, his taut shoulder line relaxing slightly.

Wen Junhe didn’t rush him. In the end, He Ning still stepped inside.

Both of He Ning’s hands were bandaged, so he couldn’t wash up at all.

He Ning looked at Wen Junhe, then looked at his own hands, and finally asked, “Can I not wash my face today? I’ll just sleep on your sofa for the night.”

“No.” He answered crisply, not leaving any room for negotiation.

He Ning knew this neat freak Wen Junhe wouldn’t agree.

Wen Junhe took out a set of his own pajamas and placed them before He Ning.

He Ning had just wanted to reach for them with his injured hand when Wen Junhe looked him over. “Can you change by yourself?”

He Ning said I’ll take it slow. But the next moment Wen Junhe’s movements were already efficient as he shook out the pajamas.

“Raise your arms.”

He Ning watched as Wen Junhe took off his top, then pulled the pajamas over him.

When changing into the pajama pants, He Ning visibly stiffened. Wen Junhe directly reached for his waistband.

The two of them looked at each other for a few seconds. He Ning pressed his lips together and gave in.

When the pants slid down to his ankles, his whole body was taut as a bowstring. But Wen Junhe deliberately slowed his movements. The feeling of fabric inching across his skin was so clear it made his scalp tingle.

In the mirror not far away, He Ning’s reflection appeared. He was wearing a lake blue silk pajama top, the collar hanging crookedly open, revealing a clear stretch of collarbone that looked especially prominent beneath the thin fabric.

He Ning’s skin tone was very fair, the kind of cold pale that comes from never seeing sunlight, making his black hair seem blacker and his brows and eyes deeper. The contours of his whole face exuded a kind of beauty. His looks didn’t take after He Hongxing. Instead he resembled his mother who had passed away early, that kind of delicate coldness.

He Ning stared at himself in the mirror for two seconds, unconsciously tugging at the oversized collar. The pajamas were Wen Junhe’s, clearly the wrong size, the cuffs hanging a section too long, loosely bunched at his wrists.

Wen Junhe looked at the watch on his wrist and asked if he wanted to take it off.

He Ning shook his head.

He Ning had observed just now. Wen Junhe’s gaze on his body was so pure, it was as if all the times they had rolled around in bed together were just nouns.

He Ning had once read a book that explored sex and love. The book said love was a scarce commodity, exclusive by nature, while sex was nothing but cheap consumables, easily replaced at any time. Wen Junhe didn’t even have consuming emotions for him, let alone love.

Although He Ning had long since accepted this, he still couldn’t help feeling a trace of defeat. He really held zero attraction for Wen Junhe.

Wen Junhe tossed the dirty clothes to one side.

He Ning’s injured hand couldn’t exert any strength. Wen Junhe stood behind him, one hand supporting his shoulder, the other helping him move the toothbrush around inside his mouth. Minty foam overflowed, running down He Ning’s chin, then was wiped away by Wen Junhe’s thumb.

The towel was soaked in hot water. Wen Junhe wrung it half dry before wiping He Ning’s face. The pressure was neither light nor heavy, covering from forehead to chin, not even missing that patch of skin behind the ear that was easy to overlook. He Ning felt his face burning hot, unsure whether it was the towel being too hot or something else.

Back then he definitely would have taken this chance to act spoiled, making Wen Junhe wait on him for the full treatment. Now he only felt tired, too lazy to even speak, letting Wen Junhe handle him as he pleased.

Only after finally getting clean was He Ning allowed to sleep on Wen Junhe’s sofa.

After the whole ordeal of washing up, He Ning was finally allowed to curl up on Wen Junhe’s sofa to rest. He was exhausted enough that he pretty much fell into a deep sleep the moment he touched the cushion, not even having time to adjust his position, just falling asleep half curled up on his side.

Wen Junhe stood before the sofa looking down at him.

The pajamas on He Ning’s body had already been rubbed into a complete mess, the hem riding up to the small of his back, revealing a stretch of pale waistline, the edge of light-colored underwear faintly visible. His skin was already fair, one uniform color all over his body, even more dazzling under the warm living room light. His arm was haphazardly draped across his face to block the light, his shoulder to collarbone area fully exposed, rising and falling slightly with his breathing.

Wen Junhe stared for a few seconds, then turned and went to the bedroom to grab a blanket. He moved quickly, shaking out the blanket and draping it over He Ning’s body, wrapping him up tight, not even letting his ankles show.

After doing all this, he stood in place without moving, just staring at He Ning, his eyes heavy, not knowing what he was thinking.

In his sleep, He Ning unconsciously rolled over, his whole body slowly curling up, arching his back like a shrimp. The blanket slid halfway off with his movement, bunching messily at the edge of the sofa, about to fall to the floor. Wen Junhe bent down and scooped it up.

Suddenly He Ning turned again, slowly curling into a ball, his expression aggrieved as he hugged half the blanket, the other half hanging down to the ground. Wen Junhe bent down and picked it up.

This sleeping posture was all too familiar to Wen Junhe.

He Ning was never still in bed, always needing to hug onto something to fall asleep, or else tossing and turning restlessly.

When they had first started living together, Wen Junhe had gotten annoyed by it too. Once he directly pinned the whole person down, his arm across He Ning’s chest, his leg holding his knees in place. He Ning actually didn’t struggle much, just let him press down like that, breathing evenly as he fell asleep.

Later somehow, this habit had really been forcibly corrected by Wen Junhe.

So when he slept alone he was still like this.

Wen Junhe recalled when He Ning was pursuing him, puffing out his chest and proudly telling him that if he was with him, he would treat him very very well.

Wen Junhe had once been certain he could never change this overbearing nature that had been soaked in money and power, so he chose not to respond.

He Ning thus became increasingly anxious in front of him.

The first time Wen Junhe saw He Ning, he really did look like an angel, his skin dazzlingly fair, his eyelashes thick and long. Even knowing what kind of person lay beneath this surface, at least at first glance, he hadn’t felt any aversion.

Back then the two of them had spent several years adjusting to each other, with physical contact too many times to count. Wen Junhe was intimately familiar with every inch of He Ning’s skin.

Now he bent down, adjusting He Ning’s posture, pulling his hand out. Due to the change in position, Wen Junhe was able to see a small patch of skin on the back of He Ning’s head where there was no hair, covered by the surrounding hair so normally it was completely invisible.

Wen Junhe’s brow unconsciously tightened, his index finger pressing against that patch of skin and gently rubbing. He Ning seemed to sense something, his whole body shrinking deeper into the sofa, burying his face deeper into the pillow.

How could there be a scar.

Wen Junhe pulled out his phone and dialed a number, his gaze still resting on He Ning curled up on the sofa. After the call connected, he was silent for a few seconds, his voice pressed very low. “Check all the details. No matter what methods you use, spend whatever it takes.”

The next day He Ning was woken by his own alarm.

His vision gradually focused. The unfamiliar ceiling made him blank out for two seconds before he reacted. This was Wen Junhe’s home.

Morning light leaked in through the curtain gap, casting a thin strip of light on the floor.

He touched his hair. Just then Wen Junhe came out of the bathroom. He was wearing a shirt, the collar snowy white and clean, his hair combed back neatly, revealing his forehead and brows. His bone structure had a somewhat classical, steady quality. Even back then it made people unable to look away. Now his temperament had grown even more steady, giving people a hint of pressure.

He Ning thought to himself, no wonder he’s known as the great campus heartthrob Wen.

Just as He Ning was spacing out, Wen Junhe spoke up.

Wen Junhe said, “Why do you have so many alarms? I just turned off three for you.”

He Ning nodded.

“I had someone approve a few days off for you. Just stay here for now.”

He Ning showed a puzzled expression. “…Huh? No need. I told Brother Zhou about what happened yesterday, and he said…”

Wen Junhe’s gaze imperceptibly chilled. “What can he do? If it really was his brother, do you think he would destroy his own family for you? The police said you shouldn’t go back for the next few days.”

He Ning also didn’t want to trouble Wen Junhe. “…I can stay at a hotel first. It’s not very convenient for me to stay here.”

Wen Junhe couldn’t think of what was inconvenient about it. “What? Afraid I’ll do something to you?”

He Ning wasn’t afraid Wen Junhe would do something to him. He was afraid he would do something to Wen Junhe.

“You care so much about Zhou Ji. Did he show any concern for you last night? He Ning, sometimes I really don’t understand you. What are you getting out of being with him? I’m not even as good as your ex boyfriend from eight hundred years ago. Did he show any concern for you last night? He’s probably mixed up with that brother of his right now, isn’t he?”

He Ning remained silent the whole time. After a long while, he spoke up and said, “He’s not as bad as you say. Forget it.”

“Not bad? Even if he’s messing around with his brother you don’t mind? He Ning, just how desperate for a man are you? You can’t live alone, is that it?”

Wen Junhe had always thought He Ning was excessively delicate. Before He Hongxing’s downfall, he was like a dodder vine clinging to his father for growth, unable to survive without support.

When his backing fell, that dependent nature completely transferred onto Wen Junhe. He became anxious about gains and losses. Back then, if he briefly couldn’t reach Wen Junhe, he would become neurotic.

He could only rely on him for everything, couldn’t make any decisions on his own, a fool who couldn’t even take care of himself.

After the breakup, he had been waiting for He Ning to mess up his life and come crawling back to him.

Crying and saying he was wrong, don’t abandon him.

He had even imagined how He Ning would cry. Definitely biting his lip hard at first, then starting to shed tears when he couldn’t hold it in anymore, his eyelashes clumping together wetly, speaking with a nasal voice, his fingers clutching at his shirt corner, saying Wen Junhe don’t leave me.

Wen Junhe had even prepared tissues for wiping tears in advance, just waiting for that day to arrive.

Wen Junhe never believed there could be a third person in this world who would accept He Ning’s ignorance, shallowness, and possessiveness.

Really annoying, wasn’t it?

But things just didn’t develop according to his expectations.

The facts were indeed so. His new boyfriend treated him poorly, didn’t provide him with the same abundant life as before, and even cheated. In the photos Wen Junhe had people investigate, scenes of that man hugging and cuddling with others were captured clearly. But He Ning was like he was possessed, still devotedly following that person.

But He Ning was like he was under a spell, unable to leave him.

Every time Wen Junhe thought about this he would sneer, thinking He Ning’s foolishness really was consistent over ten years, only now the object of his foolishness had changed.

He Ning: “…Two people together are still better than one person alone, right?”

He Ning had only worked up the courage to ask Zhou Ji if he wanted to eat together when he saw Wen Junhe post photos of eating with other people on social media.

He had actually wanted to bring his own lunch box for a long time, because the company cafeteria food was expensive and tasted bad. Bringing it alone to heat up in the cafeteria felt strange, but with two people it inexplicably gave a bit more courage.

So later the lie came out easily. When colleagues asked why he didn’t join group dinners, he smiled and said he was saving money to buy a house. When a client enthusiastically wanted to set him up on a date, he lowered his head and showed a shy expression, saying he already had a boyfriend.

Wen Junhe found his so-called theory of two people quite laughable.

“If one person doesn’t work, then why did you break up back then?”

He Ning looked up at him, as if saying.

Why are you still bringing this up.

Wen Junhe cursed. “Don’t go to the company today. Wait here for me.”

Wen Junhe left him and walked out. He Ning sat for a while, put his own clothes back on, and left Wen Junhe’s home. When he walked out of that residential complex, from afar he caught a glimpse of Han Qing walking this way.

He Ning hid himself.

Han Qing walked forward as if he knew the way by heart. He was definitely coming to Wen Junhe’s home. He Ning walked slowly along the green belt by himself. Suddenly when he reached a lakeside park.

Not far away, a newlywed couple was taking wedding photos at an intersection dappled with green shade. Sunlight shone down, a breeze brushed He Ning’s face.

He couldn’t figure out the meaning of Wen Junhe bringing him back. He found this kindness very troubling.

He was afraid he would misread it, thinking Wen Junhe still couldn’t forget him.

He had actually woken up last night when Wen Junhe was standing before him. When Wen Junhe’s palm touched his head, He Ning’s whole body had been taut.

Zhou Ji called him asking where he was. He Ning gave the address. Not long after, a car stopped before him. The window rolled down. Zhou Ji had his hand on the steering wheel, slightly turning his body. “How could you not notify me immediately after something like that happened?”

He Ning pulled open the door and got in. The car drove off. On the road, He Ning finally told him about the photos and Zhou Chong’s threats.

Zhou Ji’s voice was calm but carried a chill and helplessness. “If it really was him, I’ll make him apologize to you in person. He’s a lunatic! I’m his older brother. I really don’t know what he’s thinking.”

He Ning looked at the scenery outside the window. “Brother Ji, how about we… ‘break up.’ This isn’t a sustainable situation.”

Now people on both sides wanted to break them up.

Zhou Ji had nothing much to say about this proposal.

The wind blew He Ning’s hair into disarray. He spoke to himself, “Where exactly are us ‘star-crossed lovers’ supposed to go, Brother Ji.”

Zhou Ji was silent for a moment then said, “He Ning, we both have people we want to thoroughly get rid of, right? I have an idea that can thoroughly get rid of them. Let’s get married.”

He Ning: “…Huh, married? That’s too hasty.”

Zhou Ji said, “He Ning, my surname is Zhou. The Zhou of Zhou Group. I left home several years ago. Do you know why I left?”

He Ning shook his head.

Zhou Ji spoke up, “I came out to my family very early. My parents were already dissatisfied. At that time I was even dating a boyfriend. On the day Zhou Chong came of age, I got drunk. When I woke up, Zhou Chong was lying in my bed. That bastard made himself look especially miserable, and my parents walked in on us. My parents thought I had forced him. They beat me half to death at the time.”

He Ning: “And then you ran away from home?”

Zhou Ji shook his head, then continued, “I thought I had really done that kind of beastly thing. Although he and I aren’t related by blood, after all these years, my parents raised him as their own, and I always treated him as my real younger brother. Later I tried my hardest to make it up to him. Whatever he wanted I gave him. But one day I found out, that was a trap he set up, with the goal of making me give up my inheritance rights to him. I admitted defeat and didn’t want to compete with him, but he just wouldn’t let me go.”

Wen Junhe spent the entire day at the company, one meeting after another, even having his assistant casually buy some sandwiches for lunch.

Around three in the afternoon, he called a restaurant near his home and had them deliver food. Twenty minutes later the restaurant manager called back personally, his tone respectful but carrying some difficulty. “Director Wen, there doesn’t seem to be anyone at your home? I rang the doorbell for ten minutes with no response.” Wen Junhe pressed the half-smoked cigarette hard into the ashtray. The embers struggled and flashed twice, then went out completely. He said leave it at the door, sorry for the trouble.

Wen Junhe stared at the darkened screen for a while, then picked up his phone and scrolled through. No missed calls. No new messages.

For the next two or three days, He Ning didn’t contact him again.

The day before he was supposed to return to work, He Ning was organizing his work when his phone suddenly vibrated.

The screen showed an unfamiliar number. He hesitated for two seconds before answering. On the other end there was only faint static, quiet enough to make one’s heart race. Just as he was preparing to hang up, Wen Junhe’s voice suddenly pierced his eardrum. “He Ning, do you remember what day yesterday was?”

It was Wen Junhe’s voice.

He Ning: “Huh? What day? Didn’t you say I could rest for a few days?”

The sound of something shattering came from the other end of the line. Wen Junhe’s breathing clearly grew heavier, an obvious sound of someone losing their composure. “He Ning, do I really mean so little to you that you don’t have any lingering attachment at all?”

The call was abruptly cut off, the busy tone beeping.

He Ning was still out of the loop. He flipped through the calendar, stared at it for a long time, frowned wondering what day it was. After a very long time his eyes suddenly widened as he remembered yesterday was Wen Junhe’s birthday.

He had truly forgotten.

He Ning used to always treat Wen Junhe’s birthday as a major event. He would start talking about it half a month in advance, counting down every day with all sorts of tricks, as if he was the one having the birthday. Wen Junhe found him annoying, and he would grin and say this was called a sense of ritual.

The most exaggerated time, He Ning had insisted on making up all the birthday gifts for Wen Junhe from age one to age twenty. He stuffed the trunk full. Though cheesy, it was full of heart. Each box had a small card attached, the handwriting neat and tidy. Wen Junhe had frowned at the time and said he was sick in the head. He Ning had laughed while lying in the pile of gifts, saying this was called “completing your life.”

Wen Junhe was flipping through the investigation report that had just been delivered, the paper making a slight rustling sound against his fingertips.

Regarding the scar on the back of He Ning’s head, the hospital records were written vaguely, but the investigators had clearly put in effort. “The surgery was apparently quite a big deal. At the time there was even an anesthesia accident. Mr. He sued the hospital. Later they settled privately, and the news was suppressed completely. If you hadn’t offered a high enough price, it really couldn’t have been dug up. There are shadows of the Meng family and Han family behind this matter.”

Wen Junhe’s gaze stopped on the timeline, his brow tightening more and more. “Han family? How did the injury happen? Who did it?”

Wen Junhe recalled that a few days ago Han Qing had come to find him, telling him many things about He Ning’s years in between, saying that back then they had wanted to help him, but he wouldn’t accept it.

“The medical records show Meng Xuan was the one who sent him to the hospital.” The other person paused. “Not just the back of the head. Multiple soft tissue contusions all over his body.”

Wen Junhe looked at that time, recalling that phone call he would never forget in this lifetime.

So at that time, He Ning was going through painful post-surgery recovery, and then brought up breaking up with him.

He had been so calm back then, as if he were a completely different person, not at all like that He Ning who would get aggrieved over the slightest injury.

“…Wen Junhe, let’s break up.”

Something indescribable was stuck in Wen Junhe’s chest like a blockage. He grabbed his phone and dialed He Ning’s number. The ringing tone had just sounded once when a news notification suddenly popped up on the computer before him.

Zhou Group’s eldest son Zhou Ji formally returns to the family, and announces he will soon hold a wedding ceremony with his same-sex partner.

At the same time as He Ning’s “Hello” came through on the other end of the line, Wen Junhe clicked open that news report. According to sources, the other groom-to-be is none other than the only son of the disgraced high official He Hongxing.