I MARRIED MY SOON-TO-BE GROOM

CHAPTER 8

Meanwhile, as Luna and Woodz stepped outside, Luna's father's bodyguards were still there. "These pests are still here" Luna muttered.

"Zhan, you really want to die, don't you? That was Yibo's first kiss" Woodz said.

"It was my first time too" Zhan replied, still eyeing the bodyguards outside.

"Liar" Woodz looked at him.

"Yeah, I change partners every day, but that's it. I have rules. No touching, but I'll buy you anything you want. Just agree to break up when I say so" Zhan explained.

"What kind of rules are those? Why do you need to be in a relationship then?" Zhan draped an arm over Woodz's shoulders. "I don't get into relationships for love. I have bigger reasons for doing it" he said.

Woodz frowned. "That's your assignment—figure out why. Right now, my problem is how to get some money. What if we steal from my house? There's a lot of expensive stuff there" Zhan suggested.

Woodz shrugged off Zhan's arm. "You might as well have asked me to hit myself with a rock. Do you know that's the governor's house? No way, I'm not joining you this time." He turned to go back inside, but Zhan grabbed him.

"Hold on, no backing out. It's my house too. We'll find a way. I can't survive without money" luna said, glancing at his watch and smiling meaningfully.

"I don't like that smile" Woodz said.

"We're not going to steal, but we'll sell my watch. It's a limited edition, and I only wore it yesterday for my wedding. Even if we don't get the original price" he said, showing his Paul Newman Rolex Daytona. Woodz's eyes widened.

"If I knew you had this, I would have kidnapped you yesterday" Woodz joked. "Wait, I need to make a call."

....

An hour later, Zhan and Woodz returned to the bar. As soon as Zhan walked in, he looked like he owned the place, dressed in expensive clothes and wearing sunglasses. "XIAO ZHAN!! YOU REALLY MADE ME CARRY ALL YOUR PAPER SHOPPING BAGS!" Woodz shouted from behind, lugging various branded paper bags.

As they entered, Grumpy saw them and hid under the counter. Little did he know, Zhan had already spotted him and grinned meaningfully. "We're friends, right?" Zhan said to Woodz.

"Yeah. But I've been friends with Yibo for years and he's never done this to me," Woodz complained, which Zhan ignored.

Zhan walked straight to the counter. "Is my husband here?" he asked, pretending not to have seen Yibo hide before they got close. The clueless person at the counter asked Yibo. "Mr. Wang, what are you doing down there?" Yibo glared at him before slowly standing up.

To avoid embarrassment, Yibo made an excuse. "I was looking for something down here. Now leave" he snapped, turning his attention to Zhan.

"Grumpy husband, I bought this for you" Zhan said, placing a small paper bag on the counter.

"What am I supposed to do with that?" Yibo asked curtly.

"Eat it" Zhan replied sarcastically, earning another glare from Yibo. "Just kidding, it's hand cream" he added with a smile, but Yibo ignored him and looked at Woodz instead.

"Where did you get the money?" Yibo asked Woodz, but before he could answer, Zhan spoke up. "We stole it. Just kidding, I sold my watch" luna said proudly.

"If you're not the one being asked, don't speak" Grumpy snapped.

"And who said you were the one I was talking to?" Zhan retorted. Yibo sighed and was about to head inside, but Zhan stopped him and handed over the cream. "At least take this."

"If it'll shut you up and keep you from bothering me, I'll take it" Yibo said. Zhan mimed zipping his mouth, and Yibo snatched the paper bag and went inside. "I'm worried about that grin of yours" Woodz said.

Meanwhile, inside, Grumpy wanted to scream but held himself back. He had never been this annoyed in his life and didn't know when it would end.

He looked at the gift Zhan had given him and was about to throw it in the trash, but changed his mind that he would just look at it, after all, he had nothing to lose if he looked at it, but he regretted not throwing it. It wasn't cream inside but a pack of c@ndom. "XIAO ZHAN!!!L@NATIC!!!!" he screamed, loud enough for Zhan to hear over the music. Zhan pretended to hold his chin.

"Did I give the wrong thing?" he asked himself, his thoughts interrupted as a small box nearly hit his head. "You're shameless! Don't you have any dignity left?" Yibo yelled angrily. "I knew nothing good would come from that grin" Woodz thought.

"What did I do?" Zhan asked innocently.

"Don't pretend!" Yibo shouted, dumping the contents of the box. Woodz's eyes widened. "Oh, I must have given the wrong thing" Zhan said, picking up the scattered items one by one while watching Grumpy. Fortunately for Yibo, it was dark enough that Zhan couldn't see his reddening ears.

After that incident, Yibo completely ignored Zhan, no matter how hard he tried to get his attention. Eventually, Yibo's shift ended.

As Yibo walked home, Zhan followed, carrying his paper bags. "Grumpy husband, I'm sorry. I'll be good now. Can you help me? These bags are heavy, and my feet hurt" Zhan pleaded, but Yibo kept walking. "Hubby, please talk to me. I promise I won't bother you anymore."

"Where is he going now? Please, just an hour of peace" Yibo thought, continuing to walk. He was surprised when he no longer heard Zhan's voice. "Thank goodness, he's finally gone. Maybe he realized..." He hadn't even finished his thought when he heard Zhan's voice calling for help, but he ignored it.

"You won't fool me anymore" Yibo muttered.

"Husband, help me, please!!" Zhan shouted, and this time, Yibo heard other voices. "Take his stuff" ordered a voice unfamiliar to Yibo. When he looked, he saw Zhan on the ground, surrounded by five men.

Yibo suddenly remembered what the bodyguards were talking about earlier. Even with Zhan's hand over his ears, Yibo could hear their conversation. He immediately ran towards Zhan, and before he could reach him, the men fled. "Grumpy husband, you saved me" Zhan said, sounding terrified.

"Are you hurt?" Yibo asked worriedly.

"Yudiie, he's worried about me" Zhan said with a smile. "If you don't shut up, I'll leave you here" Yibo threatened, Zhan immediately fell silent, pointing to his foot.

"Where does it hurt?" Yibo asked again, but instead of speaking, Zhan just pointed to his foot. "Don't you have a mouth?" Zhan glared at him. "I'd be long dead if I didn't have a mouth. You told me to shut it, so I did."

"You’re such a smart aleck. If you don't stop, I'll really leave you here" Yibo threatened, and it worked. Zhan, now obedient as a puppy, followed Yibo's instructions. "Get on my back," Yibo said, turning around. Zhan beamed and gave a thumbs-up to someone in the distance.