A Day for Registration and Revelation

The day for their marriage registration arrived swiftly. That night, Jian Ye felt no trace of nervousness, sleeping soundly through until morning.

In the early morning, Yi Siyu sent a WeChat message.

[Yu]: Are you up? I’ll come pick you up.

Jian Ye saw the message just as he finished his morning routine.

[It’s Ye Not Zhui]: Didn’t we already send the exact time yesterday? I can go by myself.

The reply came almost instantly.

[Yu]: I changed my mind. I’d like to go together.

‘It’s not that I don’t want to hitch a ride with you,’ Jian Ye thought to himself, ‘but driving that car to the dorm building yesterday was simply too ostentatious.’

Ever since he returned to his room yesterday, people had been knocking on their dorm door every now and then, eager to catch a glimpse of the student who had stepped out of that limited-edition Maybach.

Jian Ye himself could only fabricate a story, claiming the car was rented by a friend through some unknown connections, and that he was merely hitching a ride, not knowing the owner at all.

Yet, even with this flimsy excuse, he was praised by students from other dorms, who declared that his friend’s ability to rent such a car was incredibly impressive!

Jian Ye currently had no desire to become the center of attention. Otherwise, news of his political marriage with the Yi family would quickly spread throughout the entire school.

How was he supposed to attend school peacefully after that?

[It’s Ye Not Zhui]: How about this, Siyu Ge, could you drive to the traffic light intersection about a hundred meters from our school? I’ll wait for you there.

At the Waterside Pavilion, the Yi family residence.

Upon seeing the words “Siyu Ge,” Yi Siyu felt a subtle, peculiar sensation, as if a puppy’s paw had gently scratched his heart. Others had called him that before, but none had evoked such a strange feeling.

Just seeing the words, his mind could vividly conjure the sound and expression of the young man saying the name, so obedient and soft.

He could guess Jian Ye’s intention; perhaps his high-profile arrival yesterday had made the boy shy.

In truth, that car had already been returned to Xie Fei. Yi Siyu had no intention of making their marriage registration a grand affair, so today he was driving a black Lexus.

As he was about to leave, he happened to run into his elder brother, Yi Sizhe, returning from a run.

“Xiaoyu, why are you up so early today? The company doesn’t seem to have anything urgent enough to warrant you getting up at the crack of dawn, does it?”

As the pillar of the group’s headquarters, Yi Sizhe bore a large portion of the burden. He was well aware of the workload at the company his younger brother currently managed; frankly, it was more of a ceremonial position. Still, his brother took it quite seriously.

Yi Siyu did not conceal anything, his voice devoid of emotion: “I’m not going to the company. I’m picking someone up.”

Yi Sizhe didn’t think much of it, assuming his brother had made plans with a friend. “Alright, drive safe.”

“Mm.” As Yi Siyu finished changing his shoes and pushed open the door, he added, “After I pick them up, I’ll go to the Civil Affairs Bureau. I won’t be back for dinner today; please tell Mom and Dad.”

Before his elder brother could question him, the door closed.

Inside, his elder brother remained frozen in place, eyes wide and head turned, utterly astonished.

What?! Going to the Civil Affairs Bureau?!!

The man, in high spirits, got into the car, driving himself this time without calling his driver, Little Dong.

The near-accident last time had left the driver somewhat traumatized, so Yi Siyu generously gave him a few days off to recover.

Everything went smoothly today. As promised, he drove to the designated traffic light intersection and picked up the person who made his heart flutter.

“Good morning, Siyu Ge,” the boy called out softly.

In that moment, Yi Siyu was certain he absolutely adored hearing the other person call him that in such a gentle tone.

A nearly imperceptible curve lifted at the corner of his lips. “Mm, have you had breakfast?”

“I just had some bread in the dorm. How about you?” Jian Ye replied obediently.

“I haven’t eaten. After we register, will you keep me company for a meal?” Yi Siyu initiated the topic, his objective unmistakably clear.

He simply wanted the boy to accompany him for a meal.

Jian Ye didn’t sense anything amiss and nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, he recalled the first street food he had tasted upon arriving in this world.

He eagerly recommended, “I know a good place, Siyu Ge! I’ll take you there!”

Jian Ye’s face flushed with excitement. From the driver’s seat, Yi Siyu could clearly see the boy’s rosy cheeks, his slightly curly hair bouncing on his head.

The image of a puppy whose eyes suddenly lit up after receiving a bone—that was precisely it.

Jian Ye and Yi Siyu were among the first to arrive.

The Civil Affairs Bureau had just opened, and there were only a few couples ahead of them.

The crowd was sparse, yet their entrance still drew all eyes.

The reason was simple: their extraordinary looks. One was tall and slender with a cool expression but elegant demeanor, while the other was smaller in stature with delicate features but well-proportioned. Both were individuals who could easily become visual leads in the entertainment industry, yet here they were, entering the Civil Affairs Bureau together.

Around them, several girls were already struggling to contain their quiet gasps.

Oh my goodness! Both the Gong and the Shou are so handsome! One is dashing, the other exquisite—this pairing is simply too perfect to ship!

Could they be male models from some company, secretly getting married? How adorable!

Jian Ye had experienced similar attention due to his appearance in his previous world, so he seemed accustomed to being observed. Neither he nor Yi Siyu paid much mind to the gazes of those around them.

When it was their turn for the registration process, even the staff members were visibly stunned by their faces.

The photographer waved frantically, urging the two to move closer.

It was all for show, Jian Ye understood.

He leaned directly against the man, their arms pressing tightly together. Jian Ye didn’t notice the one-second stiffness in the person beside him.

The camera captured this scene from the early morning.

The young man smiled radiantly, while the man, though not smiling broadly, had a subtle warmth in the curve of his lips that even he hadn’t noticed.

Against the red background, their looks were even more striking, and the photograph exuded a festive atmosphere.

Two photos were affixed to two red booklets, fresh and beautiful.

Unbeknownst to Jian Ye, Yi Siyu later asked the photographer for extra negatives and printed copies of the photos.

One of the additional prints was tucked into his wallet.

Stepping out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, clutching the red booklet, Jian Ye couldn’t help but feel a strange sensation.

Even though this was a world within a book, and everything was artificial, marrying and being legally bound to someone was a first-time experience for him.

“Siyu Ge, that shop I mentioned isn’t far from here. I’ll just walk you there.”

“Mm.”

Noticing the boy’s unusual excitement, Yi Siyu’s mood improved even further than it had been that morning.

When he was led to the shop’s entrance, Yi Siyu paused, momentarily stunned.

The familiar street scene and storefront instantly transported him back to the very first time he had met Jian Ye.

The image of a pitiful “stray dog” squatting at the shop entrance, ravenously devouring food, flashed through his mind.

“Auntie, I’ve brought someone to patronize your business!” Jian Ye’s clear voice drifted into the shop.

The proprietress immediately recognized Jian Ye.

The child was incredibly handsome, and that day, in the rain, he had looked so wronged and bullied, making it hard for anyone to forget him.

“Oh my, you’ve brought a friend? Come in, quickly, have a seat! Auntie will make you two servings of fully loaded rice noodle rolls!”

“Siyu Ge, this rice noodle roll shop has a really good flavor. I’m not sure if you’ll be used to it,” Jian Ye said. He figured a young master like Yi Siyu wouldn’t eat street food, so this was a good chance for him to experience their local delicacies.

Yi Siyu let out a soft chuckle. “Mm, I know.”

Jian Ye: “?”

‘What do you know? What do you know about it?’

Yi Siyu seemed to discern the meaning in his expression: “I know the taste is very good.”

Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been that scene that day, where he ate so heartily.

Even he, who never ate street food, had found himself swallowing his own saliva then.

Jian Ye’s eyes curved into crescents. “Has Siyu Ge eaten here before too?”

Yi Siyu: “No.”

Jian Ye: “?”

Yi Siyu: “I trust your taste.”

Soon, two steaming plates of rice noodle rolls were brought to the table, drizzled with rich sauce, their aroma fully unleashed.

Even the system in Jian Ye’s mind couldn’t help but let out a “Wow.”

[System 748]: Host, please enjoy quickly.

[Jian Ye]: Hehe, if I don’t eat, you can’t share the taste.

[System 748]: Host, you’re so mean~.

[Jian Ye]: Don’t be cutesy, no falsetto!

The proprietress smiled, saying, “If you want more sauce later, just give me a shout.”

Yi Siyu nodded politely. “Thank you for your hard work.”

Taking a glance at Jian Ye, who had already started eating his rice noodle rolls, the proprietress addressed Yi Siyu, “Oh, it’s no trouble at all. This child was squatting alone outside our shop last time, looking so pitiful.”

“Now that he’s brought a friend, I’m very happy to treat you both well.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Yi Siyu earnestly corrected her: “I am not his friend.”

The proprietress froze, fearing she had said something wrong, and stood there, flustered.

The man, completely unconcerned, pulled out the red booklet they had just received, spread it open on the table, and his voice softened slightly. “I am his legal partner.”

“Pfft—” Jian Ye nearly spat a mouthful of rice noodle rolls all over the table, quickly covering his mouth.

The man remained perfectly calm, pulling out a clean tissue and offering it, then openly flipping through the red booklet.

Seeing that Yi Siyu didn’t mind, the proprietress, both surprised and bold, leaned in to look at their marriage certificate.

The two in the wedding photo were strikingly handsome, radiating joyful smiles.

The proprietress felt a strange sense of emotion as she looked at them.

How wonderful… this child has found a home. He shouldn’t be bullied anymore, should he?

This world allowed same-s*x marriage, and people were quite accepting. The proprietress offered Jian Ye her heartfelt blessings.

Jian Ye repeatedly thanked her, caught completely off guard by Yi Siyu’s move.

This time, the proprietress thoroughly learned Jian Ye’s name, and also met Jian Ye’s “legal partner.”

Jian Ye: “…”

All the way until they left the shop, Jian Ye was complaining to the system.

[Jian Ye]: Why did he do that?

[System 748]: Probably to show off ╮(╯▽╰)╭

[Jian Ye]: Bullshit. He doesn’t even like me, why would he show off?

[System 748]: Well, I don’t know. Why don’t you ask him?

[Jian Ye]: Ask him for what?! Maybe the Protagonist Gong’s male chauvinism is acting up. Even if it’s a fake relationship, he wants the world to know about it before it’s dissolved. Is he really that committed to the act? Then I can’t lose either.

The system noted that its host was truly competitive, even when no one was competing with him.

Thinking this, the system pulled out its little notebook and began recording its host’s daily life.