Wife, who?

Xu Wei spent the next few days doing what he did best—avoiding problems.

Or at least, he tried to.

But avoiding Liang Zhihao was nearly impossible when they lived under the same roof, ate at the same table, and somehow, without Xu Wei realizing it, had developed a routine that involved them actually spending time together.

And now, everything felt different.

The problem wasn't that Zhihao was suddenly acting strange. No, that would have been easier to deal with. The real problem was that he wasn't acting different at all.

He still worked late. Still drank his tea in silence every morning. Still responded to Xu Wei's ridiculous antics with that same exasperated patience.

And yet—

Every glance felt heavier. Every silence felt charged.

Or maybe Xu Wei was just imagining things.

(He wasn't.)

One night, he found himself in the kitchen again, staring blankly at the fridge.

He wasn't hungry. He wasn't even sure why he was here.

He just needed something to do.

Something that wasn't thinking about Zhihao.

Footsteps behind him made him tense.

He didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

"You're up late," Zhihao's voice was calm, as always.

Xu Wei forced a smirk. "Could say the same to you."

"I was finishing some work."

Of course he was.

Xu Wei finally grabbed a bottle of water, twisting the cap open with unnecessary force.

Zhihao stepped beside him, reaching for his own drink, and Xu Wei immediately stepped back.

Too fast. Too obvious.

Zhihao stilled, eyes flicking to him.

Xu Wei knew what he was thinking.

Knew he had noticed.

And he hated that.

Hated that he was acting like some nervous teenager.

So, before Zhihao could say anything, he leaned casually against the counter, forcing himself to relax.

"Hey, serious question," he said, tilting his head. "If I started sleepwalking and accidentally punched you in the face, do you think I could get away with it?"

Zhihao sighed, rubbing his temples. "I'm not answering that."

"Avoiding the question? Suspicious."

Zhihao gave him a flat look. "Go to sleep, Xu Wei."

"Yes, sir." Xu Wei mock-saluted before strolling out of the kitchen, forcing himself not to walk too fast.

That was close.

Too close.

He couldn't keep doing this.

He couldn't keep pretending like nothing was changing.

Like every glance didn't linger a second too long.

Like every silence between them didn't feel like something waiting to be broken.

Like he wasn't starting to see Zhihao in a way he never should.

Because he knew himself.

He knew how dangerous it was to get attached.

And he knew—deep down—this could only end badly.

But knowing and stopping were two very different things.

The final straw came a week later.

They had been at a company event, something Xu Wei had no business attending but somehow got dragged into.

Zhihao, as usual, was the perfect CEO. Charismatic. Composed. Untouchable.

Xu Wei, on the other hand, was mostly there for the free food.

At least, that was the plan—until a random investor made a passing remark.

"Your wife has changed a lot," the man said, chuckling over his glass of wine. "Much more agreeable now. Quite the transformation, isn't it?"

Zhihao's expression didn't change.

But his grip on his glass tightened.

Xu Wei expected him to brush it off, maybe nod in polite agreement.

Instead, he said, voice calm but sharp, "Xu Wei isn't a transformation. He's exactly who he's supposed to be."

Silence.

Xu Wei blinked.

The investor gave an awkward laugh and quickly changed the topic.

But Xu Wei didn't hear the rest of the conversation.

Because something inside him had lurched.

Something he had been trying desperately to ignore.

And later that night, as they sat in the car on the way home, that something finally snapped.

"You didn't have to do that," Xu Wei said quietly.

Zhihao turned to him, expression unreadable. "Do what?"

"Defend me. In front of them."

"I only told the truth."

Xu Wei exhaled a short laugh, shaking his head. "You're impossible."

Zhihao didn't argue.

Didn't deny it.

Just kept looking at him.

And this time, Xu Wei didn't look away.

That night, Xu Wei lay in bed staring at the ceiling.

He was in trouble.

Because the truth was undeniable now.

Because the way Zhihao looked at him made his chest feel too tight.

Because the way he looked at Zhihao felt terrifyingly natural.

Because this wasn't just about fixing a broken family anymore.

Because somehow, without meaning to—

He had let Liang Zhihao become important.

And there was no running from that.

The end