The Sweetest Marriage Ch.225

Chapter 225 – Love You So Much

It was a summer afternoon, a little past three o’clock. The sun was still blazing, causing the trees on both sides of the road to droop and look listless from the intense sunlight. Wei Hua, Cookie, and Little Biscuit walked through the campus of Q University. The lush trees on the avenue blocked the sunlight, creating a sharp contrast between the shaded path and the world bathed in the glaring sun.

“Dad, why is Uncle Chen Li’s birthday party held at the school today?” Little Biscuit, holding the gift prepared for Chen Li, looked up and asked Cookie.

He usually celebrated his birthday at home, so he didn’t quite understand why Uncle Wei Chen chose to hold Uncle Chen Li’s birthday party at the school.

“Because many people wanted to celebrate Uncle Chen Li’s birthday and contribute to his party, just like you, Little Biscuit,” Cookie explained.

“Oh,” Little Biscuit nodded softly and said, “Uncle Chen Li must be really great at school!” Otherwise, why would so many people want to celebrate his birthday?

Wei Hua heard this and nodded. “Yes, Uncle Chen Li is very impressive.”

However, just after Wei Hua said this, the corner of his eye caught a familiar figure up ahead. He squinted and, after confirming the person’s identity, said to Cookie, “Cookie, take Little Biscuit and go ahead. I see someone I know. I’ll go say hello.”

Cookie trusted him and picked up Little Biscuit, heading towards the location where the party was being held today.

Wei Hua walked towards the somewhat familiar person he had just seen. When he reached the person, he asked, “Chen Qing, what are you doing here?”

Yes, the person who seemed familiar to Wei Hua was Chen Qing, who had come to Q University after leaving Wei Chen’s place.

Chen Qing stared at Wei Hua for a long time before remembering who this person was. Isn’t he the Wei family’s tag-along, Wei Hua? Had he come back from abroad?

It’s not surprising that Chen Qing was unfamiliar with Wei Hua. The two of them had little interaction to begin with, and they only knew each other because of Wei Chen. Even though they were both in the same city, they had hardly met.

Moreover, the two didn’t have a favorable opinion of each other. Chen Qing felt Wei Hua was too unrestrained and slick, not his kind of person.

Wei Hua, too, didn’t think much of Chen Qing. He could see that Chen Qing was taking advantage of Wei Chen’s kindness. However, due to Wei Chen, he didn’t show his dislike towards Chen Qing.

Sometimes Wei Hua didn’t understand why Wei Chen had been so good to Chen Qing before. Was he blind? Couldn’t he see that Chen Qing had ulterior motives?

But ultimately, it was Wei Chen’s own matter, and Wei Hua couldn’t interfere.

Fortunately, Wei Chen’s eyes had recovered now, and he was gradually distancing himself from Chen Qing. Otherwise, Wei Hua dared to boldly predict that if Wei Chen had continued to be close to Chen Qing, he would have been betrayed by Chen Qing to the point of no return.

At this moment, Wei Hua saw Chen Qing and inexplicably felt that he seemed a bit sneaky. He wanted to come over and take a look since Chen Qing had a nominal brotherly relationship with Chen Li. Although he didn’t know what the relationship was like between these two brothers, he could infer from Chen Li’s extremely withdrawn state during Wei Chen and Chen Li’s wedding that Chen Li’s life in the Chen family was likely very painful.

Considering all this, Wei Hua felt that he couldn’t let Chen Qing see Chen Li today.

“I came to take a look.” Chen Qing didn’t expect to meet Wei Hua at Q University. He remained composed on the surface. He admitted that at the moment he got into the taxi and heard the destination was Q University, he did feel an impulse—an impulse to make Chen Li disappear from this world.

But upon arriving at Q University, that impulse faded away. Chen Qing had always been a person driven by reason over emotion. He knew that if Chen Li were to disappear at this moment, it would serve no purpose other than venting his frustration. In fact, it could have many adverse effects. Calming down and weighing the pros and cons, the thought of killing Chen Li gradually subsided.

However, Chen Qing didn’t want to come here for nothing. Recalling Chen Li’s state the last time they met, Chen Qing believed that even if he couldn’t make Chen Li disappear now, he should at least discomfort him during his birthday celebration.

Wei Hua had a high emotional intelligence, which was reflected in his ability to sensitively perceive changes in others’ emotions and adapt the conversation accordingly. At this moment, Wei Hua keenly sensed Chen Qing’s malicious emotions, and he knew deep down that Chen Qing’s appearance here would not bode well.

“Why are you here again?” Just as Wei Hua was thinking of how to get Chen Qing to leave Q University and not disturb Chen Li, a loud voice rang out. A tall young man ran over, looking angrily at Chen Qing.

This young man was none other than the class monitor in Chen Li’s class. He had helped when Chen Li was intercepted by Chen Qing the last time, and he remembered Chen Qing vividly.

Chen Qing didn’t recognize the class monitor and didn’t appreciate being addressed in such a manner. He furrowed his brow and said, “Who are you? Do we know each other?”

“We don’t know each other!” the class monitor replied. “But Q University doesn’t welcome you. If you don’t leave, I’ll have people throw you out!”

“Is this the quality of Q University students?” Chen Qing sneered at the class monitor’s attitude.

“Q University naturally welcomes sincere and virtuous individuals committed to learning. But people like you… didn’t you get enough last time at the police station?” The class monitor naturally didn’t back down. “We don’t welcome people like you who come to our Q University to cause trouble.”

With the class monitor’s reminder, Chen Qing immediately remembered who this person was—one of those who surrounded him last time when he came to Q University, shouting to the police to arrest him.

In an instant, Chen Qing’s face turned dark. The incident from last time had shattered his pride. Somehow, the incident had reached B University, and although he wasn’t detained by the police due to connections, his good reputation was ruined once it reached B University. Even now, some classmates would still discuss him.

Under pressure from public opinion, the school teachers had revoked the awards and honors that were initially intended for him.

It wasn’t that he cared much about the awards; it was more about his upbringing and family values. In any group, he had to stand out as the most outstanding individual, and being recognized with awards was a validation of that. The cancellation of these awards frustrated Chen Qing for a long time, leaving him extremely unwilling.

Now, coming face-to-face with one of the culprits who had caused his fall from grace, Chen Qing was naturally furious, but this was Q University, their home turf. Even if he was angry, he couldn’t do anything against them.

“Are you leaving or not? If not, I’ll call security!” The class monitor, seeing Chen Qing still there, raised his voice and glared at him.

When Chen Qing saw the class monitor take out his phone, he had no choice but to leave. If he stayed and the security escorted him out of Q University, it would be a humiliation to both his face and reputation.

Chen Qing had no way to deal with the class monitor’s tactics, so he left in frustration. However, the class monitor wasn’t at ease. He took out his phone and, when Chen Qing wasn’t paying attention, took a very clear frontal picture. Only then did he let Chen Qing go.

Wei Hua didn’t understand why the class monitor took a picture, so he asked, “Why did you take his photo?”

The class monitor rubbed the back of his head and chuckled, “I added him to our school’s security group and uploaded the photo. Let the security uncles have a look. We can’t guard all the time, so let the security uncles help us. He won’t even be able to enter Q University’s gates. Let’s see how he’ll dare to b*lly our classmate, Chen Li!”

“He specifically came in to b*lly your classmate?” Wei Hua asked pretending to be surprised.

When this topic came up, the class monitor was indignant and immediately opened up about the incident that day, embellishing the details to Wei Hua.

Listening to the class monitor, Wei Hua thought to himself, as expected, Chen Li’s previous state was indeed related to the Chen family!

After casually asking the class monitor a few more questions, Wei Hua suddenly realized. No wonder Wei Chen planned to have Chen Li’s birthday party at the school. With such a lovely group of people by Chen Li’s side, they couldn’t miss celebrating this day for Chen Li.

*

After opening the door to the studio, Chen Li was startled by the confetti cannons. Before he could recover, a wave of sincere and well-wishing voices echoed in his ears, hitting him deeply at the softest spot in his heart, making him feel a tingling sensation all over.

He looked at the warmly decorated studio and all the people in front of him—his classmates, his teachers, Wei Hua’s family of three, Lan Xiping, and Jiang Ye—they were all looking at him with genuine, clean eyes, making him feel the fullness of their blessings.

He had never imagined that behind this door, there would be such a carefully prepared surprise by so many people.

“Li Li, happy birthday.”

A deep voice resonated in his ears, unmistakably Wei Chen’s voice. Chen Li wouldn’t mistake it for anyone else.

Chen Li looked around in astonishment, but Wei Chen was not in the studio. The voice had been pre-recorded and played through the speakers.

Where was Wei Chen? Chen Li looked around in confusion, but the voice from the speakers continued.

“Li Li, do you remember that today is your birthday?” Even though he hadn’t seen the person in the flesh, he could hear the overflowing doting in the deep voice. “You probably don’t remember. I don’t know if this is your first birthday party, but it’s the first birthday I’ve spent with you.
In the years to come, I’ll always be by your side. Every year on this day, we’ll wake up to the morning light. I hope that, from now on, the first thing you hear on this day each year won’t be ‘good morning,’ but ‘happy birthday,’ spoken by me.”

“Li Li, happy birthday.”

The last sentence wasn’t played through the speakers. Instead, behind Chen Li, he heard these words. He was still in the midst of surprise and confusion. Upon hearing this last sentence, his face froze. But instinctively, he turned around to look for Wei Chen.

Behind Chen Li, Wei Chen stood backlit, pushing a cake trolley towards Chen Li.

The cake was custom-made and shaped like marbles, and on top, two little figures were drawn with chocolate, squatting on the ground and playing marbles.

No one present knew why the cake was made in this shape. It was a memory between Wei Chen and Chen Li, a special meaning for both of them, from the time when their relationship started.

At this moment, Chen Li’s mind went blank, and he couldn’t think of anything. He could only stare at Wei Chen walking towards him, step by step, with unwavering determination.

Suddenly, Chen Li’s eyebrows curved upward, and he smiled while looking at Wei Chen. When Wei Chen reached him, Chen Li threw himself into Wei Chen’s arms.

“Big Brother Achen.” Chen Li couldn’t help but say this address that had been buried deep in his heart.

Wei Chen trembled, reaching out to hug Chen Li who had thrown himself into his arms. Once again, he said by Chen Li’s ear, “Li Li, happy birthday.”

“Thank you.” Chen Li couldn’t express what he felt at this moment. He only knew that he couldn’t control the corners of his mouth, which seemed to keep arching upwards. His heart was full, beating violently. There was something he couldn’t put into words, surging and welling up in his throat, as if it could break free from its restraints and gush out at any moment.

“Achen, I love you, love you so much.” In the end, when all the emotions found their way out, it turned into the most sincere confession.

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