OSTF - 64

It was already the second day—how could they still trend?

Chi Suisui recalled the people she had encountered at the civil affairs bureau that day. She remembered mentioning to He Xingwang that someone had been watching them.

She never expected her words would come true.

Her guess wasn’t far off.

After the girl who had seen them at the bureau snapped out of her daze, she immediately posted on her social media: [I think I saw He Xingwang at the civil affairs bureau.]

The comment section instantly erupted with “???”.

Even colleagues who weren’t particularly friendly at work started private messaging her, asking if she had made a mistake.

The girl became increasingly certain that she hadn’t been wrong.

From his features to his height, everything matched. The woman beside him, however, had concealed herself well—she didn’t recognize her and assumed she wasn’t a celebrity.

As for whether her friends believed her post or not, that was none of her concern.

Although this was shared on her personal feed, many people often reposted screenshots from others’ feeds. This time was no different.

By evening, the screenshot of her post had spread.

At first, it appeared on Weibo via a blogger who had received the submission. Unsure of its authenticity, the blogger captioned it with, “Is this real?!”

Later, it spread to forums.

[What? Getting married during the New Year?]

[Just one picture—who knows if it’s real? Don’t spread rumors.]

[Getting married is normal. She was already his fiancée before, and He Shen’s age is just right. I heard he wanted to get married earlier.]

[Straight to marriage—quick move.]

[I thought they might break up, but turns out I was wrong.]

[So no one knows who the wife is?!]

[We really dropped the ball this time—didn’t know a thing.]

[Ask He Xingwang. Knowing his personality, he might just tell us if he’s happy about the marriage.]

Once the forums began discussing it, marketing accounts took notice.

After a few hours of fermentation, the news exploded across the internet. By morning, it had climbed to the top of the trending topics.

Its ranking skyrocketed directly to number one.

The last time He Xingwang garnered nationwide attention was during the trial. Now, suddenly exposed as married, many netizens were paying attention.

However, the authenticity of the news was still uncertain.

By the time Su Mian saw it, it had already been trending for a while. She immediately messaged Chi Suisui, but there was no reply.

When Chi Suisui finally saw it, an hour had passed.

“You were really recognized,” Chi Suisui showed him her phone screen. “You said back then that you were looking at me.”

“I was making a reasonable assumption,” He Xingwang replied.

“Turns out your assumption was wrong.” Chi Suisui said nonchalantly, then teased, “So what now? What do you suggest?”

“No way around it,” He Xingwang remained calm, speaking indifferently. “She saw the truth—I can’t stop her from talking.”

“...”

Chi Suisui found his response utterly adorable.

Of course, he was telling the truth. What could be done? People saw it with their own eyes—you couldn’t claim they were mistaken.

But hearing this answer, Chi Suisui immediately thought of his previous response. She smiled, her gaze shifting playfully.

They spent the entire morning at the shooting sports center, ate dumplings with everyone for lunch, and left in the afternoon.

Since neither party had officially responded online, discussions were still ongoing.

Chi Suisui had stayed up late the previous night and had risen early to head to the shooting center. After eating, sleepiness overtook her.

In the car, she yawned incessantly, nearly dozing off on He Xingwang’s shoulder.

“Aren’t you tired?” Chi Suisui asked.

“No.” He Xingwang glanced down at her. Her eyelids drooped, and her half-closed eyes exuded a lazy charm, a different kind of allure.

Chi Suisui hummed softly, lost in thought.

Upon arriving at Bai’an Mansion, she went straight upstairs, lay down, and fell asleep without doing anything else. As for He Xingwang, she left him to his own devices.

He had enjoyed himself last night; now it was her turn to rest.

Forgetting about the chaos on Weibo, most netizens assumed the matter would end there.

Since He Xingwang wasn’t a celebrity, he had no obligation to share his personal life or manage his social media presence. His Weibo account only had a handful of posts over the years.

However, any new post from him would be easily noticed. So when netizens clicked on the top trending topic, they discovered the hottest tweet had changed.

It was a new post by He Xingwang.

[He Xingwang: #Image]

No text, just a picture—two marriage certificates.

This was his response to today’s online buzz. Rather than letting speculation continue, he chose to confirm the truth indirectly.

[AHHHHH, THEY REALLY GOT MARRIED?!]

[Damn it! Can’t you post a photo of the couple together??]

[Don’t think I don’t know you’re subtly showing off. He Shen has changed—he’s not the same cold and distant He Shen anymore!]

[I want to flip open the marriage certificate, thank you.]

[What does the wife look like? Just post a childhood photo and we’ll figure it out!]

[Someone said your wife was cute as a kid but grew up ugly. He Shen, come out and prove them wrong!]

Such comments actually existed.

Many people believed that those who were unattractive as children grew more beautiful as adults, and vice versa—those who were cute as kids might grow up to be plain-looking.

Thus, many began analyzing the photo He Xingwang had previously posted, even prompting some fortune-telling marketing accounts to appear.

Chi Suisui’s photo was dissected into a mini-essay.

By the time she woke up, it was already evening. The winter sky darkened early, and Chi Suisui sat up in bed.

“He Xingwang?”

She called out, but there was no response.

Had he returned to the shooting center again?

Chi Suisui pondered the possibility and got out of bed. The room was warm, and with carpet underfoot, she padded barefoot to the bathroom to remove her makeup.

Then she prepared to change clothes.

Chi Suisui picked out a winter pajama set from the walk-in closet, embroidered with intricate designs—it was something she had bought recently.

Suddenly, the phone rang.

Chi Suisui pressed the answer button while taking off her clothes.

“Sister Suisui, did you see my message? How could you not reply to me?” Su Mian whined. “He Shen even posted the marriage certificates.”

“I thought I replied,” Chi Suisui said helplessly.

“Replying with your mind doesn’t count!” Su Mian complained, then added, “Also, I noticed He Shen’s Weibo post used your picture.”

“...?”

Was this kind of operation even possible?

For a moment, Chi Suisui couldn’t find words to respond. She reached for the pajamas on the bedside when the door suddenly swung open.

A tall figure walked in.

Even though they were already married, the scene was still a bit awkward, especially since her pose just now had been rather unrestrained.

The curtains weren’t drawn, so the room was dimly lit. Against this backdrop, her fair skin stood out prominently, accentuating her slender and graceful figure.

He Xingwang’s gaze darkened as he paused where he stood.

Chi Suisui quickly covered herself with the pajamas. “Turn around.”

Though his expression didn’t change, He Xingwang obediently turned his back to her and calmly said, “We’ve already been husband and wife since yesterday.”

“So what?” Chi Suisui countered with a smirk. “Does that mean I can stare at you without blinking when you change clothes?”

She laughed at her own joke.

He Xingwang’s brow twitched slightly, and he chuckled softly. “Are you sure about that?”

Chi Suisui was momentarily speechless at his response. After slipping into her pajamas and tousling her hair, she finally spoke in a teasing tone, “You can turn back now.”

She tossed her clothes onto a nearby chair.

Only then did she notice the phone screen was still lit. The call had ended, but there were two new messages on WeChat—

Su Mian: [The call hasn’t ended yet!]

Su Mian: [I’m still a kid!]

“...”

Chi Suisui held up her phone and looked up at him. “It’s over, He Xingwang. Our conversation just now was heard by your little fan—they might unfollow you.”

Her bare feet rested on the dark carpet, her toes round, smooth, and white, painted with bright colors. Once uncovered from her sweater, the faint marks on her neck became impossible to hide.

But she remained oblivious.

He Xingwang stared at the faint traces, remaining silent for a moment before responding, “Then I can only feel regret.”

Chi Suisui burst out laughing. “Heartless.”

He Xingwang neither confirmed nor denied it, simply raising an eyebrow.

That evening’s dinner was prepared by him. As newlyweds, they had some time off. Years of cohabitation made their relationship feel like that of an old married couple.

During the day, Chi Suisui enjoyed He Xingwang’s attentiveness, but by night, she found herself under his clear and meticulous arrangements.

There was no way she could think of him as emotionally cold anymore.

Though He Xingwang appeared easygoing, his demeanor turned assertive once it cooled, his natural dominance strong. By the time Chi Suisui realized it, it was too late.

At the start of their marriage, things often spiraled out of control.

Chi Suisui’s bold personality meant she initially seized opportunities, even enticing him. But when passion surged, she melted into a puddle of weakness.

Her earlier teasing only fueled the loss of control.

By the time she was carried into the bathroom that night, Chi Suisui was utterly spent. For the first time in her life, she whimpered and moaned, all directed at him.

When she returned to bed, she still felt He Xingwang gently squeezing her arm, its texture soft and delicate. She glanced up, meeting his deep, unsatisfied gaze.

Still not satisfied even after all this?

Chi Suisui wanted to say something but succumbed to drowsiness.

When she woke up the next morning, Chi Suisui was fully awake.

She recalled fragments of the previous night and raised her arm, wondering if He Xingwang had been referring to her lack of strength.

She wasn’t a bodybuilder—what did she need strength for?

Nancheng’s socialites were known for being unable to lift a finger or carry anything heavy. Naturally, she was no exception; her family never allowed her to do manual labor.

The air still lingered with a hint of lingering intimacy.

Chi Suisui’s ears grew warm. Was it appropriate to indulge like this just after getting married? It felt a bit too unrestrained.

But she quickly consoled herself. What was wrong with it? Husband and wife engaging in activities to strengthen their bond was perfectly natural.

Thus, Chi Suisui reassured herself.

When she went downstairs, He Xingwang was in the kitchen. The island countertop was filled with food, the aroma wafting through the air.

Chi Suisui was won over again.

She leaned against the dining table, watching the man’s serious and profound features, suddenly recalling the first time she entered Bai’an Mansion.

They had indeed crossed paths frequently as children, but once He Xingwang began training at the shooting sports center, their interactions dwindled.

For the first month, they barely saw each other.

It had to be admitted—their parents’ idea was quite effective. At least Chi Suisui had grown accustomed to living with He Xingwang.

If she were to imagine marrying someone else, she couldn’t picture it. No matter how she compared them, no one measured up to He Xingwang.

“What are you looking at?” The man not far away glanced up.

“At you,” Chi Suisui blinked, nodding to herself and mentally giving him a perfect score.

As for last night’s pleas...

She had conveniently forgotten.

He Xingwang raised an eyebrow and said nothing more.

A new day began, and it was time to head to the news agency.

Chi Suisui’s own news outlet was on track, adhering to the principle of factual reporting. Su Mian had also started working there after the New Year.

Small news stories were frequent, but big stories required more caution.

At the end of the month, someone tipped them off about a problem with the ingredients in a certain food product, which higher-ups had concealed.

This food factory had nationwide sales, with its largest market being school cafeterias. Several students had already been hospitalized.

Chi Suisui asked, “Do you have evidence?”

The informant replied, “...Evidence? I don’t have any. They didn’t leave any behind. Can you expose them? If not, I can’t do anything either.”

It sounded challenging.

But such matters were no obstacle for reporters.

Chi Suisui squinted thoughtfully for a few minutes before deciding to conduct an undercover investigation. Obtaining evidence would make the exposure much more powerful than a baseless report.

Undercover work was an art in itself.

For this story, Chi Suisui spent these two days investigating the food factory, even bringing the materials back to Bai’an Mansion at night.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the night sky glittered with stars.

When He Xingwang returned, he saw Chi Suisui sitting on the carpet in the room, surrounded by scattered papers. Her slim figure was illuminated by the light, forming a picturesque scene.

Frowning, he said, “Get up.”

Chi Suisui looked up at him. When he approached, she tugged at his shirt hem. Looking down at her, he could see her radiant face without makeup.

She had bathed and was wearing thin pajamas that outlined her curvaceous figure. He Xingwang could faintly smell a subtle fragrance emanating from her.

“Why are you back today?” Chi Suisui asked.

She tried to stand up, but her legs had gone numb from sitting too long. She wobbled and was only steadied by He Xingwang, who caught her. Her calves trembled.

Realizing her legs were numb, he simply picked her up and sat her on the bed.

Chi Suisui hadn’t seen him for several days and momentarily missed the familiar scent of sandalwood on him. Breathing it in, she finally felt comforted.

“Why are you staring at me for so long?” He Xingwang lowered his gaze and softly asked.

“Research on a food factory,” Chi Suisui replied, her hand resting on his waist as she looked up at him. “I plan to go undercover—non-standard filming.”

Mentioning her work, she was full of enthusiasm.

He Xingwang was well aware of undercover investigations; many exposés were conducted this way by journalists. He became somewhat intrigued.

Chi Suisui earnestly explained her plan to him. “It’s not difficult—just infiltration. Once we gather evidence, we can retreat.”

He Xingwang listened intently.

Standing before her, his features softened under the light. His eyes were fixed solely on her face, unwavering, lips pursed.

The man’s gaze was impossible to ignore. Chi Suisui paused mid-sentence. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

He Xingwang leaned down. “I’m listening to you.”

“Do you have any suggestions?” Chi Suisui teased, deliberately rubbing her legs against him now that they had regained feeling.

“The plan is good,” He Xingwang said, gazing at her, but corrected himself the next moment. “However, there’s one major issue.”

“What issue?” Chi Suisui asked.

He Xingwang looked into her clear eyes and softly said, “If the person executing the plan is you, your mere presence might raise suspicion.”

“...?”

For a moment, Chi Suisui wondered if he was implying the plan was flawed or that she wasn’t suited for undercover work.

It sounded like a critique of her abilities, but He Xingwang wouldn’t imply such a thing.

Then it dawned on her.

Chi Suisui asked, “Are you subtly complimenting me on my looks?”

He Xingwang nodded solemnly. “Perhaps not very subtly.”