The Sweetest Marriage Ch.224

Chapter 224 – Chen Li’s Birthday

During the night, a thunderstorm swept through. When Wei Chen woke up and walked to the balcony in the morning, he could feel the morning breeze carrying a slight dampness and the earthy smell of mud.

Perhaps the rain had stopped around midnight, but the moisture brought by the rain hadn’t dissipated from the air. Looking down, the road was still wet. Looking into the distance, the distant mountains were vast, and a belt of white clouds circled around them.

The air had been washed by last night’s rain, becoming fresher. Wei Chen took a deep breath, appreciating the rare fresh air of the capital. The effects of the nightmare from last night had completely disappeared.

As the morning light shone down, Wei Chen was enveloped in the warm morning glow.

Everything was so beautiful, and he was grateful for the blessings from above, allowing him to live again and fulfill the regrets from his past life and reconcile the remorse in his heart.

There was a potted plant on the balcony. After the rain, the entire plant looked lush and green. Under the warm morning sun, it seemed to form a rainbow, full of vitality.

After Wei Chen had calmed his complicated emotions, he turned and went back to the room. Chen Li hadn’t woken up yet and was sleeping haphazardly, wrapped in the blanket.

Wei Chen walked over and covered Chen Li’s exposed abdomen with the blanket. Even though the air conditioning was turned off, the room was still slightly cool to prevent Chen Li from catching a cold.

Later, Wei Chen went into the bathroom to freshen up and then made breakfast.

Repeating these activities every day, Wei Chen never felt bored. Even in his previous life, Wei Chen had never thought he would be content with such an ordinary life. Yet, this simplicity made him feel that life was so real.

A few minutes later, Chen Li woke up. After getting ready and coming out of the room, Wei Chen had already prepared breakfast.

Wei Chen placed the breakfast on the table and hugged Chen Li, exchanging a fiery morning kiss. After the kiss, they sat down to eat breakfast.

During the meal, they didn’t talk about the nightmare Wei Chen had experienced in the early morning, and neither of them brought it up.

…

Time flew, and it was already noon, the time when Changfeng Group took its lunch break. Wei Chen received a call from Chen Qing.

Wei Chen answered the phone, and before he could speak, he heard Chen Qing’s somewhat cold voice from the phone.

“Achen, I’m downstairs at your company. Shall we meet?”

“Alright,” Wei Chen said. “But I’m busy at the moment and can’t leave. I’ll notify the reception, and you can come up.”

Chen Qing glanced at his friend lurking in the shadows and provoked, “Aren’t you brave enough to come down and see me, Wei Chen? When did you become so timid?”

Wei Chen didn’t fall for it and said coldly, “If you don’t come up, so be it.”

Only then did Chen Qing realize that he couldn’t coax Wei Chen to come down. He waved to signal his lurking companion to step back and said, “Fine, I’ll come up.”

Chen Qing entered Changfeng Group and, after announcing his name, the receptionist received Wei Chen’s call, instructing Chen Qing to go to the logistics department to find Wei Chen. Wei Chen was busy with logistics work at the moment.

Chen Qing was puzzled. He knew Wei Chen was now the deputy general manager of Changfeng Group. Why would a deputy general manager be working in the logistics department?

Though he had doubts, Chen Qing still followed the receptionist’s instructions and went to the logistics department to find Wei Chen.

Wei Chen met Chen Qing in the logistics department’s lounge. As soon as Chen Qing entered the lounge, his doubts were immediately resolved.

The lounge in the Changfeng Group logistics department was open, with people coming and going at any time. Meeting here was completely public, and there was no opportunity for idle gossip.

Wei Chen indeed didn’t give anyone a chance to misunderstand. Chen Qing thought frustratingly but angrily.

Chen Qing sat on the sofa in the lounge for about ten minutes. Wei Chen arrived late and sat across from him, expressionless with cold eyes.

Chen Qing knew his plan for the day was no longer feasible, but he still pushed the prepared gift to Wei Chen and said, “I remember today is Chen Li’s birthday. Help me wish him a happy birthday.”

In fact, Chen Qing didn’t remember Chen Li’s birthday at all. If it weren’t for a call from his grandfather in Shanghai reminding him to care about Chen Li, he wouldn’t have known when Chen Li’s birthday was.

Chen Qing couldn’t understand why his grandfather’s attitude towards Chen Li had changed so quickly. He even had plans to officially recognize Chen Li as part of the family. If he had known, although Chen Li had been in the Chen family for so many years, he had never been included in the family tree. But recently, his grandfather unexpectedly wanted to list Chen Li in the family tree and make him an official member of the Chen family!

Why? Chen Li, a fool and a bastard, why should he be included in the Chen family’s genealogy?

Chen Qing was resentful, but he couldn’t change Chen Shihuai’s decision.

However, what made Chen Qing even angrier was Wei Chen’s attitude. Clearly, before Wei Chen and Chen Li got married, Wei Chen liked him, but now…

Chen Qing looked at Wei Chen, devoid of any emotion in his eyes. He even pushed the gift he had handed over back to him. He was furious.

He barely suppressed the anger within him and looked at Wei Chen with a furrowed brow. “Wei Chen, what do you mean?” His tone betrayed the anger in his heart.

“The Chen family’s gift, Li Li can’t bear it,” Wei Chen’s tone still didn’t carry any emotion, but it was full of disdain. “If Mr. Chen has nothing else, please leave. I have work to do.”

“Wei Chen!” Chen Qing felt something wanted to burst out of his heart. He stood up, glaring at Wei Chen fiercely. “Is this really what you want? Just because I didn’t reciprocate your affection? Because I didn’t stop you from marrying Chen Li?”

This was Chen Qing’s explanation for Wei Chen’s sudden estrangement from him. After all, before marrying Chen Li, Wei Chen had clearly liked him. Everything changed after Wei Chen married Chen Li.

So Chen Qing thought that Wei Chen hated him, hated that he didn’t reciprocate Wei Chen’s feelings, didn’t stop this marriage.

But could he allow it? Marry a man? Not to mention his grandfather, even his parents would immediately object. Moreover, his grandfather’s decision was not something he could stop. He felt very helpless!

At this point, Chen Qing had already forgotten the excitement he felt when he first heard about Wei Chen and Chen Li’s upcoming wedding.

Chen Qing’s actions drew the attention of others. They all heard the conversation and turned their curious gazes toward the lounge. However, after a brief glance, they averted their eyes. After all, Wei Chen, the deputy general manager, was seated inside. But their ears were still stretched, eager to hear gossip.

Earlier, when Wei Chen came to work with his husband, almost the entire company knew that Wei Chen had a partner with autism. But now, it seemed there were many hidden factors between their Deputy General Manager Wei and his partner.

Wei Chen just glanced at Chen Qing indifferently and said, “Think whatever you want.” He didn’t want to argue with Chen Qing; Chen Qing wasn’t worth his time.

Perhaps when Wei Chen came back to this life, he wanted to get closer to the Chen family through Chen Qing and Wu Zikang. But now, Wei Chen didn’t want to do that anymore. Without a reason, he simply couldn’t maintain even a surface level of friendliness with these two. The disgust and aversion in his heart towards these two had exceeded his psychological tolerance limit.

So after saying those words, Wei Chen stood up and left.

If Wei Chen had reacted explosively because of Chen Qing’s words, the onlookers would have thought there was something between Wei Chen and Chen Qing. However, Wei Chen’s reaction was too calm and composed, indicating to everyone that there was really nothing between him and Chen Qing. Chen Qing was just saying whatever he wanted, it was all Chen Qing being overly impulsive.

In the reception room now, Chen Qing felt like he could sense the mocking gazes directed at him from others, full of ridicule, ridiculing him for overestimating himself, ridiculing him for being impulsive.

Chen Qing clenched his fists tightly under the table, looking at Wei Chen’s indifferent back as he left. It felt like a large piece of his heart had been dug out, causing a sharp pain. His breathing became incredibly difficult, as if a knife was stirring in his lung leaves with every breath.

Chen Qing didn’t even take the gift in the end. He turned and left, his gaze fixed straight ahead. He didn’t dare to blink; he was afraid that if he did, the tears welling up in his eyes would spill out.

Since when had Wei Chen left such a deep mark in his heart? He had never considered Wei Chen as anything other than his plaything, letting himself indulge in taking and having his way.

Chen Qing left Changfeng Tower, escaping the air-conditioned space, and the summer heat instantly hit him. Chen Qing felt dizzy for a moment. After pausing to catch his breath, he waved down a taxi. For some reason, Chen Qing instructed the driver to head to the address of Q University.

Deep inside, there was a strong desire urging him to go see Chen Li.

…

From waking up until now, everything was normal for Chen Li. He hadn’t even realized that today was his own birthday.

Like Wei Chen, Chen Li had never celebrated a birthday since he could remember. He didn’t even know when his own birthday was. If it weren’t for the date written on his ID card and household registration, he wouldn’t know what this date meant to him.

Of course, he had the concept of a birthday.

In the Chen family, whenever it was Chen Qing or Chen Yu’s birthdays, Du Lixun would always prepare a grand birthday party for them, inviting their friends and classmates to celebrate.

During these times, Chen Li would often be locked in the attic and unable to come out the entire day. The Chen family believed that his presence would tarnish the glamorous Chen family.

So, the word “birthday” was not a good one in Chen Li’s impression. It wasn’t until two months ago, on Wei Chen’s birthday, that he was truly immersed in a carefully prepared birthday party and truly felt the blessings conveyed by others, as well as the touching feeling from Wei Chen’s heart. That was when Chen Li started to view birthdays differently.

So, birthdays could also be this lively.

However, despite this, Chen Li still didn’t know when his own birthday was. Since he had never celebrated a birthday, he didn’t pay special attention to that number, which had no meaning for him in the first twenty-one years of his life.

From home to school, Chen Li had no expectations in his heart. He treated it as an ordinary day, just like any other.

In Chen Li’s eyes, there was nothing unusual about his classmates. Zhuge Yu, as usual, taught Chen Li some painting techniques, and then left due to an important meeting.

Chen Li thought this day would pass just like that, uneventful, until the evening when he was stopped by a classmate, Huang Zhenzhen.

Huang Zhenzhen was a bit distant from Chen Li, still not daring to get too close, fearing that her proximity would make Chen Li nervous.

“Classmate Chen Li, I encountered a problem while drawing today. Could you help me take a look?” Huang Zhenzhen said, mustering her courage.

Chen Li nodded without hesitation. Huang Zhenzhen and other classmates had helped him many times, so if they needed assistance, he would be willing to help.

Huang Zhenzhen was overjoyed and immediately said, “Classmate Chen Li, come with me. My drawing is in the studio.” The studio she referred to was a public art studio they used during classes.

After some hesitation, Chen Li followed Huang Zhenzhen to the art studio. As soon as the door opened, they heard a “pop!” and colorful ribbons rained down from above.

“Classmate Chen Li, happy birthday!”

After that, voices full of blessings rang in Chen Li’s ears.

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