Marrying the Male Lead’s Disabled Uncle – Chapter 07

Chapter 7 Exercise just to become a big man

Pei Lang had thought Yan Han would take the chance to humiliate him or make things difficult, but surprisingly, he hadn’t. If anything, Yan Han seemed indifferent to him. Still, Pei Lang knew he needed to find a way to support himself.

In his past life, he had studied at a prestigious music college and started his career as a singer before transitioning into acting. His rise had been meteoric, becoming the youngest Film Emperor. But apart from acting and singing, he didn’t have any real job experience. What else could he do? Become a martial arts coach?

That thought made him pause.

His mother had died in childbirth, and he had been raised by his father. Fearing that his son would be bullied for coming from a single-parent home, his father had forced him to learn martial arts from a young age. That solid foundation had helped him later in life when he transitioned into action roles in the entertainment industry. Now, though his current body wasn’t bad, it was far from his former peak condition.

Since he had free food and a place to stay for now, it made sense to focus on getting his body back in shape before looking for a stable job. Once his fitness level was where he wanted it to be, he would figure out his next step in re-entering the entertainment industry.

Over the next few days, Yan Han often saw Pei Lang jogging outside the villa. Dressed in a loose but well-fitted sports outfit, Pei Lang ran along the beautifully maintained green paths. The morning sunlight cast a warm glow over him, highlighting his toned figure, and his smooth, steady movements made him impossible to look away from.

Yan Han, watching from the window, frowned slightly. Su Jia entered, holding a folder.

“What is he doing?” Yan Han asked.

“Exercise,” Su Jia replied.

Yan Han raised an eyebrow. “Exercise?”

It was odd. Pei Lang, who had once been obsessed with seducing Yan Xiuyuan and dressing in an over-the-top manner, was now jogging in the early mornings?

“Yes,” Su Jia said, his tone filled with disdain. “Mr. Pei said that in this world full of gays, if he ever turned gay one day, at least he’d want to be strong enough to be the top. That’s why he’s working out—to become a big, strong man.”

Yan Han’s expression darkened instantly.

“Did he really say that?”

“Yes.”

Yan Han’s fingers curled slightly, his mood suddenly dropping. Was Pei Lang trying to pressure Yan Xiuyuan?

An unpleasant image flashed through his mind—Pei Lang pinning Yan Xiuyuan down, a smirk on his lips, forcing the other man into submission. The thought was so revolting that Yan Han suddenly felt a wave of nausea.

Without another word, he turned his wheelchair around. “We’re going to the company.”

Su Jia blinked and hurried after him. “Boss, you haven’t had breakfast yet!”

“Nausea. No appetite.”

Su Jia immediately panicked. “Boss, are you feeling unwell? Should I call Dr. Liu—”

“No need.”

Pei Lang had no idea that his casual words had nearly given Yan Han a psychological breakdown.

After finishing his morning workout, Pei Lang cooled down, took a shower, and changed into fresh clothes. While browsing online for job listings, he came across an article about depression. It was posted on a well-known mental health website, a platform dedicated to supporting people with mental health issues.

He had only clicked in out of curiosity, but at the bottom of the page, he noticed a job listing. The website was recruiting singers and illustrators to create soothing, therapeutic content. The work would be published on the site, and earnings would be based on viewership and engagement.

Pei Lang couldn’t draw, but he could sing.

The best part? He could remain anonymous.

He had no interest in becoming a full-time singer. His goal was still to return to acting, but this opportunity was perfect—it allowed him to make money without revealing his identity. No one would know he was that Pei Lang, the disgraced celebrity ridiculed by the entire internet.

It was the most suitable option available.

The only issue was that he didn’t have any official music certificates. He submitted a basic self-introduction, but since there were likely many applicants, he wasn’t expecting a response anytime soon.

Finding a job required patience.

After lunch, he received a text message.

The platform had invited him to join a group chat for an online interview. He would need to sing live, and only those who met the vocal requirements would be accepted.

After joining, he quickly realized that most of the other applicants were unknown singers or college students. The job had a low barrier to entry, making it accessible to those without professional credentials.

To prepare, Pei Lang decided to head out and buy proper recording equipment.

At that same moment, across town, inside an upscale entertainment club in Nanfeng, a sharply dressed man sat on a leather sofa. His posture was casual, but his expression was cold and unreadable. His narrowed eyes and tense jaw hinted at the barely restrained fury simmering beneath the surface.

This was Yan Xiuyuan, the male lead and Pei Ziqing’s official partner.

“Is everything ready?” he asked in a low voice.

“Yes, everything is in place,” a subordinate replied.

Beside Yan Xiuyuan sat Pei Ziqing, his usually gentle face now marred by a fresh scratch. It wasn’t deep, but a thin line of blood marked his skin. As an actor, any injury to the face was serious, and Pei Ziqing had always taken great care of his appearance.

Yan Xiuyuan’s fingers clenched slightly.

The wound wasn’t life-threatening.

But that didn’t matter.

Because it was Pei Ziqing, and any harm that came to him was unacceptable.

Even the slightest injury was enough to make Yan Xiuyuan’s fury boil over.

Someone was going to pay.

Pei Ziqing looked up at Yan Xiuyuan with red-rimmed eyes, his delicate features twisted in sorrow. His soft, peach-blossom eyes shimmered with unshed tears, his pale lips trembling slightly, making him look heartbreakingly pitiful.

“Xiuyuan, what are you going to do?” His voice was sweet, fragile—enough to make anyone’s heart ache. “Brother has always been like this. Sometimes he can’t control his emotions. I don’t think he really meant it. Xiuyuan, I only have this one brother. You can’t hurt him. Mom and Dad would be so sad… Even though he often doesn’t listen to Dad, we’re still family.”

Pei Ziqing’s voice was filled with concern, but beneath the gentle façade, his heart seethed with venomous hatred.

That day, Pei Lang’s words had cut him so deeply that all he wanted was to see him dead.

Only if Pei Lang disappeared would his world finally be whole.

Only then would the fact that he was an illegitimate child no longer be a stain on his existence.

Pei Lang was living proof of his shame. His very presence was a reminder that no matter how talented, how beloved he was, he was still a bastard. And he hated him for it.

So, he had carefully scratched his own face and deliberately avoided Yan Xiuyuan for a while. Then, at the perfect moment, he made his entrance, fully covered up, just enough to make Yan Xiuyuan notice his “wound.” Once the man’s attention was secured, Pei Ziqing had simply cried, played the victim, and subtly shifted all the blame onto Pei Lang.

As expected, Yan Xiuyuan had immediately pulled him into his arms, his face full of distress.

“Ziqing, you’re too kind,” Yan Xiuyuan murmured, stroking his back gently. “Some people will never change. If a person refuses to take care of himself, then even the heavens won’t protect him. And yet, after everything he’s done, you’re the only one who still calls him brother.”

Pei Ziqing trembled, biting his lip. “But… I only have this one brother…”

Tears spilled down his cheeks, dampening Yan Xiuyuan’s expensive suit.

Yan Xiuyuan cupped his face, his lips brushing away the stray tears. “Okay, okay, don’t cry, my baby. I promised I wouldn’t go too far, but he does need to learn a lesson. A mere half-month detention wasn’t enough for him to change. To think that the first thing he did after getting out was attack you…” His voice lowered dangerously. “Do you know how angry that makes me?”

Pei Ziqing sniffled.

Yan Xiuyuan continued, “Everything is ready—cameras, medicine, men. I won’t go too far, just enough to ruin him completely. I’ll make sure he’s so ashamed that he’ll never be able to show his face again. That’s already merciful compared to what I could do.” His fingers trailed through Pei Ziqing’s soft hair. “So don’t beg for him anymore, okay?”

Pei Ziqing looked at him, his lashes fluttering. “Xiuyuan… you’re so good to me. I don’t even know how to repay you.”

Yan Xiuyuan smiled indulgently. “I’m your future husband. It’s only natural that I treat you well.”

His hand tilted Pei Ziqing’s chin slightly, his lips hovering just above his. It was a teasing, calculated move—not quite a kiss, but close enough to send a thrill down Pei Ziqing’s spine.

Sure enough, Pei Ziqing’s face turned bright red, and he stammered, “I—I just… I rejected you before because I felt like I wasn’t good enough. I come from an ordinary background… I just wanted to work hard so that I could stand beside you as an equal and gain everyone’s blessings.”

Yan Xiuyuan’s gaze softened. “I know, Ziqing. And you haven’t kept me waiting in vain.”

Their moment stretched, the tension thick between them, oblivious to the subordinates standing awkwardly nearby.

Meanwhile, across the city, Pei Lang had no idea that a carefully crafted trap was being laid out for him.

He had spent almost all his remaining savings on professional music equipment, fully committing to his plan. If he didn’t pass the interview, he had already decided to become an anonymous online singer. Regardless, he needed the equipment, so he figured he might as well invest in it now.

Once the delivery staff helped move everything into his room, Pei Lang set about installing the setup himself.

His new space in the villa was big enough and well-soundproofed, giving him the perfect environment to work. He was so engrossed in setting things up that he barely noticed when an unfamiliar number flashed across his phone screen.

Frowning, he hesitated before picking up. “Hello? Who’s this?”

A low, arrogant chuckle sounded on the other end. “Pei Lang, it’s me.”

The tone alone was enough to make Pei Lang frown. There was an unmistakable air of disdain in the voice.

Pei Lang thought for a moment, then calmly replied, “What do you want?”

“Heh. You’ve been chasing me for so long, and now you’re playing it cool?” The voice was laced with mockery. “Don’t you want to see me? Let’s meet at Lingyan Bar. Eight o’clock tonight.”

Pei Lang finally placed the voice.

Oh.

The male lead.

Hearing this, Pei Lang’s last doubts about Yan Xiuyuan’s character disappeared completely. This wasn’t the considerate, devoted protagonist from the novel. No, this was an arrogant, entitled rich boy.

The original Pei Lang had been so obsessed with him, yet he hadn’t even managed to get the man’s personal number. And now, after everything, he was calling him?

“We don’t have anything to talk about,” Pei Lang said flatly. “You’re afraid of me.”

Yan Xiuyuan clearly wasn’t expecting such a response.

Pei Lang smirked. “What, are you worried I’ll pester you again? Don’t worry, Yan Xiuyuan. I’ve given up. Someone like you was meant to be tied to Pei Ziqing forever.”

Pei Lang had no interest in getting involved in their drama. The two protagonists loved and trusted each other so much—let them be. He had better things to do.

Before Yan Xiuyuan could respond, Pei Lang simply hung up.

On the other end of the call, Yan Xiuyuan’s jaw clenched in fury, his temples throbbing.

Pei Ziqing, who had been listening closely, asked cautiously, “Xiuyuan, what did my brother say?”

“Heh.” Yan Xiuyuan sneered, gripping his phone so tightly his knuckles turned white. “He’s just playing hard to get. But he’ll come. I know he will.”

Pei Ziqing feigned worry. “Xiuyuan, can I… watch tonight? I’m afraid those men might be too rough with him…”

Yan Xiuyuan sighed, mistaking Pei Ziqing’s request for genuine kindness. “Alright. We’ll watch from the next room. If it gets too much for you, we won’t stay.”

Pei Ziqing smiled sweetly. “Xiuyuan is the best.”

But beneath that gentle expression, his heart was cold.

Pei Lang, after tonight, you’ll never stand up again.

The vicious gleam in his eyes flickered for only a moment before vanishing.

Back at the villa, Pei Lang tossed his phone aside, completely uninterested in the so-called trap being set for him.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the city lights flickered to life. The sky darkened into a deep indigo, the bustling nightlife awakening beneath it.

Pei Lang, after a long day, realized he was starving.

He strolled into the kitchen, just in time to see the housekeeper preparing dinner.

The woman barely spared him a glance.

She clearly still didn’t like him, but now that he had Yan Han’s approval, she didn’t dare show it outright.

At most, she just ignored him.