He An’s Marriage Exposed

Ring…ring…

Right after his conversation with Song Jiahao, He An suddenly received a call from an unknown number. He had his phone number changed right after entering this body, and he liked to keep his personal life separate from business, so not many people had this number. Perhaps this was someone who knew him? He was hesitant for a while before finally picking up the call.

"Xiao An! It's me, Ding Shu. You finally picked up." The woman's voice sounded muffled from the other side.

He An vaguely remembered giving her his number during their night out. He responded with a low hum and asked, "Is something wrong?"

"I wanted to ask… are you free?" Ding Shu sounded shy and He An could hear a slight tremor in her voice.

"Why?" He had a feeling that he knew what she was going to ask, but he was still courteous and allowed her to directly say it before refusing her offer.

"I wanted to invite you for lunch," Ding Shu paused, and as if she knew what he was thinking, she quickly added, "Don't worry. Jin Huan will be there too. You can treat this as another group gathering again!"

Seeing that it wouldn't be just the two of them, He An thought he had no reason to refuse since she was said to be close to the original owner anyways, so he agreed at last and set up a date for their meeting at a bar nearby. Ding Shu seemed excited and happily said goodbye as she hung up.

Six popped up out of nowhere and flickered by his side, scorning him. It had no facial expressions, but He An could see it was looking at him with judging eyes.

[Host is so bad! It hasn't even been that long, yet you're already finding a new wife! =_=]

He An reached out to grab the tiny spirit and squeezed it in his palms. With a dark smile, he said, "It seems you really have gotten bolder during the years we were separated."

[W-Wahhh!!! So scary! You're so mean! TvT]

After complaining about him, it disappeared from his palms and did not return for a while. He An felt a bit guilty for bullying it too much, but he truly was sensitive about the topic of Qi Xiu. Recently, he's been feeling more anxious.

He still hasn't gotten used to waking up in bed—alone, with no one laying beside him.

The only thing distracting him from his thoughts was the ultimate mission to finish his tasks, and the ring sitting on his finger. The tiny object was the reminder for the marks Qi Xiu left behind on him, proving he was real.

He sighed before eyeing the tall stack of papers on his desk. This CEO role was truly too stressful.

*

A month later.

Coincidentally, the date of Song Jiahao's audition was also the same as Ding Shu's invitation to lunch.

They originally wanted to go out sooner, but He An found himself being held up with work every time. He was so busy fixing problems within the company, and also taking care of the many idols and actors working under the company, he had completely forgotten about the gathering.

Ding Shu only laughed it off when he told her. "It's fine, Jin Huan also said the same. You two sure are busy people!"

It wasn't until today that he finally cleared his schedule.

He An was currently driving to the bar. As he looked at the location, he noticed how close it was to Wen hotel.

[Maybe host will see that bad mouth there! ^u^]

By "bad mouth," He An knew it was referring to Song Jiaohao. The nickname suited the reckless little actor. He found it a bit funny and smiled.

When He An arrived at the bar, he had just walked inside when he noticed Ding Shu and Jin Huan. They were seated at the farthest table, and he watched as Jin Huan leaned in towards Ding Shu, and she pushed him away. He couldn't see clearly, but Jin Huan had a pained expression on his face.

He was approaching them when he noticed how weird the mood was. At his arrival, Ding Shu quickly put on a smiling face and Jin Huan sat silently.

"Did something happen?" He An questioned.

"Ah, no! I had something in my eye… and he tried to help me." It was clear Ding Shu was flustered. She hasn't made eye contact with Jin Huan at all.

"Ha." Jin Huan sneered. He An knew since the previous night, but the hostility Jin Huan had was was directed towards him. He wondered if there was bad blood between the original owner and him.

[Six, is there some backstory between the owner and Jin Huan?]

[No clue~ ^_^]

"Uhm, anyways… I already ordered for all three of us. I really wanted you two to try out the food here, it's great!" Ding Shu clapped her hands together and exclaimed. The mood was lightening up.

As their food came, they conversed about many things. It was mainly He An and Ding Shu. Jin Huan spoke up a few times, but the awkward air between him and Ding Shu was very noticeable.

He An found himself being swept away and talking more than usual. It seemed he and Ding Shu really had a lot in common, and she was a friendly person, which He An could appreciate. While they talked, the bar door opened and a familiar figure walked in.

"Oh? Isn't that your little actor friend?" Jin Huan was the first to point out. "What was his name… Song Hao?"

"Song Jiahao." He An corrected. Just as he said this, he made eye contact with the man in question.

Song Jiaohao initially had an angry look on his face, but his expression turned to surprise when he noticed He An.

"Why don't we invite him over?" Ding Shu suggested. But she was quite late, Song Jiaohao was already making his way towards the three of them.

"CEO He~" He smirked. It was then that he noticed Ding Shu. There was a strange light in his eyes.

He An wanted to ask how his audition went, but couldn't find the right timing to do so. He felt uncomfortable from the scrutinizing look Song Jiaohao was giving him and Ding Shu.

"Is this your wife?" After a long minute, Song Jiaohao finally tilt his head and asked innocently.

"W…wife?" Ding Shu stuttered out.

"Yeah. Isn't that you?" Song Jiaohao asked again, then pointed to the ring on He An's finger. Ding Shu's face paled when she finally noticed he had been wearing that the whole time.

…

He An rubbed his temples. He hadn't told anyone else about his marriage, considering this wasn't his own body. He especially hadn't told Ding Shu or Jin Huan considering they were his "closest" friends and would immediately suspect something.

[This rascal loves to cause problems!] Six burst into laughter.

"Since when were you married, Xiao An?" Jin Huan's tone was mocking. His attractive face had a smirk, and he specifically used the nickname Ding Shu called He An.

"Ah! Could the CEO really have lied to me?" Song Jiaohao thought carefully. He then curled his lips into a smile, as if he just found something interesting.

"…No. What he said is true." He An coughed as he explained to his friends.

Song Jiaohao's face immediately looked disappointed and he frowned.

When he saw Ding Shu just now, he had actually thought she was the beloved wife He An told him about. Seeing her confused face, he knew his assumption was wrong. And after seeing He An's reaction, he knew the latter truly wanted to hide his married status.

But why?

He wanted to probe further to get an answer, but Ding Shu was first to say something.

"That can't be… Xiao An, when did you get married? To who?" Then her eyes widened and she gasped.

"Did Lai Meiying return to China?"

Upon hearing this name, Song Jiaohao's ears perked up, wanting to get in on the drama.

As for He An…

Who the hell is Lai Meiying???

At this point, He An was crying internally. This was exactly why he didn't want to reveal anything about being married. If he was to say he was married to someone else, they would be skeptical and want to meet them. And if he were to confirm it was Lai Meiying, he would be in trouble if the person really did show up and deny his claim.

In the end, he could only say one thing.

"Is it necessary to explain myself to you? I don't think the fact I'm married concerns any of you."

Song Jiaohao clicked his tongue. This was the same excuse that had been used on him.

Ding Shu fell quiet. On the other hand, Jin Huan rose from his seat angrily.

"Doesn't concern any of us? Really?! Do you have any idea how Ah-Shu feels about you?" He was shouting. This attracted the attention of several people in the bar.

"Jin Huan, shut up!" Ding Shu's face was red with embarrassment.

"While you were blindly chasing that cold hearted Meiying, Ah-Shu was the one supporting you… she was the one chasing you for an entire twelve years, yet you think it doesn't concern her?!"

[Ah??? It really doesn't, though? Σ（・□・;） It's not like the original owner liked her back, right, host!!!] Six puffed.

He An held back his laughter at seeing Six's comment.

"Am I responsible for everyone's feelings?" He An responded.

"You…!" Jin Huan was fuming now.

"What about you? If you knew she liked me for twelve years, couldn't you have said something to her? Especially when you knew I was chasing Meiying like a fool." He An wasn't the type to back down.

"This is why I've never liked you. You've always been so self centered, only thinking of yourself!" Jin Huan balled his hands into a fist. As He An braced himself, he heard a loud slap.

Ding Shu had slapped Jin Huan.

"The one who doesn't think of others is you!" Her eyes were tearing up. "It isn't Xiao An's fault that I like him. He's right. He's not obliged to like me back. It's me who was stupid to think he would one day forget Meiying and look at me."

She then turned to He An and smiled.

"I'm sorry you had to see such an embarrassing side of me. We'll leave first… bye."

He An nodded and watched as Ding Shu dragged Jin Huan out the bar.

It was just him and Song Jiahao left at the table.

Song Jiaohao nervously laughed. He thought Jin Huan would start a physical fight just now. Truthfully, he was slightly feeling guilty about this entire ordeal. It was him who got He An into this mess, so if He An was a petty person…

He shivered.