Disastrous marriage: we won't work.

Madam Zhi’s laughter floated warmly through the phone.

“Yes, he is on his way back,” she said, unable to hide the satisfaction in her voice.

“It’s about time,” Old Man Yu huffed from the other end. “I have been waiting for weeks.”

“Oh, calm down, old man.” Madam Zhi frowned, though amusement still danced in her tone. “I already told you he would be here soon.”

“Yes, yes, you did,” Old Man Yu replied, then gave a low chuckle. “Well, what are a few more hours? I suppose I can still wait.”

Madam Zhi smiled.

“Do not worry. He will be here,” she said confidently. “He can never refuse his dear old mother’s request.”

At that, they both burst into laughter, the kind shared between two people who already believed their plan had succeeded.

“Alright then,” Old Man Yu finally said, coughing lightly. “We will talk later.”

“Yes. See you soon,” Madam Zhi replied before ending the call. For a moment, she remained by the window, gazing outside with a bright smile spreading across her face.

“Wedding bells,” she murmured softly. “I can finally hear them.”

Just then, a maid stepped into the room and bowed slightly. “Madam Zhi, it is time to go.”

Madam Zhi turned, her smile growing even wider.

“Yes,” she said, gathering herself with visible excitement. “Let us go welcome my son.”

A young man in his early twenties stepped out of China International Airport, dressed in black baggy trousers and a black shirt that sat effortlessly on his tall, well-built frame. His hair was dyed pink and black, and a pair of sunglasses rested over his eyes, giving him the kind of effortless charm that made people look twice.

In one hand, he held a fashionable bag. With the other, he dragged his luggage behind him.

He was handsome, too handsome to pass by unnoticed.

Several passersby slowed down to admire him, and he returned their stares with a polite smile. When a young girl waved shyly at him, he waved back, making her squeal in excitement.

“Oh, that young man is fine.”

“I’m telling you, I’ve never seen a man that handsome before.”

“He looks familiar.”

“Does he? Wait… you’re right.”

“Isn’t he Actor Xuan from Yearning for Love?”

“Eh? He is Actor Xuan!”

The murmurs around him grew louder. Soon, people were no longer just stopping to admire him. Phones began to rise. Pictures were taken. More heads turned.

Zhi Xuan smiled to himself. He had not expected people to still recognise him so easily back home.

I guess I’m famous everywhere I go.

But the smile did not last long. More people began gathering, and the attention quickly shifted from flattering to uncomfortable.

He loved his fans, truly. But if this continued for another five minutes, the entire place might turn into a small riot. Worse, he had come without bodyguards.

Fuck. Mother, where are you? he cried inwardly.

Just then, a black BMW pulled up near the curb. A man stepped out first and opened the rear door. A middle-aged woman emerged gracefully from the car.

“A’Xuan!” Madam Zhi called.

Zhi Xuan’s face brightened immediately. He hurried toward her and stopped just in front of her.

Madam Zhi wasted no time pulling him into a tight hug.

“Oh, my son. My dear son,” she said, holding him, she had not seen him in years. Then she pulled back, still gripping his arms, and looked him over with a frown. “Look how lean you have become. Are they not feeding you over there?”

“Mother, it is nice to see you too,” Zhi Xuan replied, carefully ignoring her question.

But Madam Zhi was not done. She touched his face and frowned even harder. “Your cheeks have gone inside.”

She turned him around once, inspecting him from every angle, before facing him again. “Tsk.” She clicked her tongue in irritation.

“Mother,” Zhi Xuan said quietly, glancing behind him at the growing crowd, “can we do this later?”

Madam Zhi followed his gaze and immediately understood. “Fine then,” she said, regaining her composure. “Let us go. Everyone is waiting.”

The driver opened the car door for them. Madam Zhi entered first, and Zhi Xuan followed after her.

Within seconds, the black BMW pulled away from the airport, leaving the growing crowd and flashing phones behind.

Settled inside the car, Zhi Xuan turned to his mother with narrowed eyes.

“Everyone?” he repeated.

What did she mean by everyone was waiting?

Madam Zhi nodded as though it was the most natural thing in the world. “Yes, everyone. You have been away for a long time.” Her gaze swept over him again, and her expression tightened. “And look at you. You look like a shrimp. You could easily vanish. Do you not eat?”

Zhi Xuan felt the beginning of a headache.

His mother had not changed at all. “I eat well, Mother,” he said with a sigh.

Madam Zhi scoffed. “Hmph. I doubt that. Look at how visible your collarbones are. What will I tell my friends when they see you? They will think my son was starved abroad and not properly taken care of.”

“No one will think that,” Zhi Xuan replied helplessly. “Besides, this is a standard actor’s body.”

“Standard actor’s body, my foot,” Madam Zhi snapped. “It is disgusting, I tell you. All pale skin and bones.” She lifted his arm as if presenting evidence in court. “Is that not right, Mr Han?”

The driver, Mr Han, inhaled quietly and glanced at Zhi Xuan through the rear-view mirror. Their eyes met for a brief second.

Then Mr Han smiled faintly and wisely chose silence.

Madam Zhi waved her hand in dismissal.

“Whatever. It does not matter. You are back now, and you will put that career on hold. You are a married man now.”

Zhi Xuan’s expression immediately darkened. About that, he still had very serious objections. “Mother.... ”

“I know what you want to say,” Madam Zhi cut in, turning her face away from him, “and my answer is no. You will marry him, and that is final.”

Zhi Xuan leaned back against the seat, all strength had left his body.

His mother, Madam Zhi, had interrupted his acting career and dragged him back to China by force, all so he could be married off to someone he barely knew.

He had refused, of course.

But Madam Zhi had threatened him.

Over the years he had spent abroad, she had arranged countless meetings between him and women from prominent families. He had turned down every single one.

His reason? He simply wanted to focus on his acting career. He wanted to climb higher, become better, and reach the very top of the entertainment world.

For a while, Madam Zhi had stopped arranging those meetings, and Zhi Xuan had foolishly believed she had given up.

He had been very wrong.

Instead of giving up, his mother had drawn the worst possible conclusion.

She had assumed he was gay.

One day, she called him and calmly told him to pack up his life abroad and return home for marriage.

In her exact words:

“Over the years, you have refused to date anyone or bring home a girl. It can only mean one thing. You are gay. And it is fine. I love you no matter what. Since you cannot stand women, then marry your fellow man.”

Naturally, Zhi Xuan had laughed.

Who would not laugh if their mother suddenly called to announce they were being married off to another man?

Unfortunately, Madam Zhi had not been joking.

She cancelled most of his movie gigs. She even went as far as calling directors personally and warning them not to cast him.

Then came her ultimatum.

“Marry him for three years and do your best. If it does not work, I will let you go back abroad and do whatever you want.”

His mother was a terrifying woman.

Nice, yes. Loving, yes.

But terrifying all the same.

And Zhi Xuan knew she was serious this time. So, in the end, he had agreed.

But agreeing did not mean surrendering. Zhi Xuan looked out the window, his lips slowly curling into a dangerous smile.

If they thought he would quietly accept this marriage, they were all dreaming.

He was not going down without a fight.

Never.