Chapter Text
1
It was known that Fang Minghua was married, one of the few in the league that tied the knot with their loved one.
Most of his teammates in Samsara was happy for him, but just how happy could they be being single dogs?! Each day, Fang Minghua would tell them about his wife, his wife’s habits, cuteness and even how lovable his wife was. Somewhere along the lines they became numb to it. If they didn't, the team would’ve drowned under such circumstances. Constant bombardments of “the cutest thing I'm so lucky in marrying" were tiring.
Even still, Fang Minghua refused to bring his little wife to meet them. It was both disappointing and satisfying.
“Haha, are you afraid our handsome captain will steal her away?”
“His face is good, but his heart is also good. He won't do that.” Someone patted his shoulder.
“You never showed a picture, come on we aren't bad people!”
“Oh no, my wife just doesn't like travelling.”
There were far too little times where Fang Minghua revealed things about his private life as a married man.
“Huh, just how far?”
“H City.”
2
Someone managed to catch a quick glance at the pictures on Fang Minghua’s phone. They realized something weird.
“Hey, why do you only have pictures of hands?”
“Aren't they beautiful?”
“...Your wife’s?”
“Yes!”
“Why just hands? Not the face? Body?”
“That's incriminating.”
“It's your wife. Your legally bound spouse.”
Fang Minghua only took back his phone and smiled.
Was he trying to pull Zhou Zekai’s way of interviewing? Such short answers weren't filling!
3
Under a locked file on his device was where his more intimate photos were. He wasn't the type to share delicate images of his wife in bed, falling apart and opening soft white thighs just for him, with his friends after all.
4
“I love you too!” the unsurpassed joy in his voice gave everyone mixed feelings. How could he be like this, making them eat a pot of vinegar, while he had conversations with his lover? Though there weren't many instances of this, usually once every two weeks, he would stay on the call for hours. Luckily it never caught up with his training.
It took awhile for him to get away from his phone. Everyone felt bullied.
After he ended the call, Fang Minghua was surrounded by grieving single males.
“Don’t you love us as well? Why do you feed us that so early in the morning?”
“My heart is bleeding and I have a toothache with all the fluff you gave us.”
5
On the other hand, it was an almost unknown fact that Ye Xiu was a married man. He had no ring on his finger to even indicate that, so others would assume he was single.
6
“Hello gorgeous,” a persistent man in his late twenties, cocky and arrogant of his looks, kept bothering Ye Xiu.
“I alloted your time. It's in Area A.”
“Not near you?” His hands had a strong grip on his palm.
“The cafe is full.” If one would consider half-empty, full.
“I’d like a computer near you,” the low, suggestive way that the man leaned into his person made him grimace.
“Sorry, I’ve been married for over 5 years.”
Nearby, one of his co-workers couldn't help but shake his head at Ye Xiu’s blunt shamelessness. How could he lie with such a straight face, he didn't know.
He also didn't know that Ye Xiu’s words were all true.
7
Ye Xiu had never concealed his marriage.
It's just that no one ever asked about it.
Until of course he was outed by his own husband on the second day of the All-Star Tournament.
“Is that a hickey?” the loudness that was Chen Guo caught the attention of several people headed inside Samsara’s stadium.
Ye Xiu brought his hand up to his neck, feeling the bruise that was spotted, even underneath his jacket that covered it.
“Boss, do you make it a hobby of staring at my neck?” he didn't bother denying or accepting what was asked of him. It was obvious what it was, there’s no need to explain it in public.
8
Fang Minghua was happy. More than ever.
“What got you into such a mood?”
“My wife is visiting!”
“Really? We can finally meet your elusive little lover!”
One of his teammates joked, “I’ll go get a paper bag to hide captain’s face. We won't take any chances.”
Zhou Zekai heard this in passing and thought he was going to get bullied.
“Sorry captain, I didn't mean it like that. Your face is very pretty. Ah no, please don't go and tell our vice-"
9
“Bullshit."
Absolute bullshit.
“Meet my wife!”
“...God Ye?!”