What If I Ended Up Marrying My Enemy? - Chapter 20
Chapter 21: Epiphany
#1
“A rival? Marriage? I’m a little confused here. OP, are you sure your rivalry is normal?”
#2 OP
“Totally normal! Like I said, it was a heat-of-the-moment thing! I’ve been really annoyed with him for over ten years, okay? A normal person could not fake that act for this long.”
#3
“OP… have you considered that if you really didn’t like someone, you wouldn’t marry them, not even on impulse? Like me, I’d only bring a knife if I were going to meet my enemy :)”
#4
“According to drama plotlines, this should be a long-term mutual pining situation, buried deep and never confessed, until one day a family marriage arrangement gives you the chance to love after marriage, hard and fast.”
#5 OP
“Can I be honest? That kinda made me want to puke.”
#6
“Judging from the main post, this was one satisfyingly bitter relationship. So what exactly do you need help with, OP? Some quick divorce hacks?”
#7
“Must be hard, OP, being married to someone you don’t like. Maybe treating it like mutual revenge will make it easier to bear.”
#8 OP
“I never said I don’t like him now.
#9
“？？？？？”
…
When Yu Wenxuan scrolled further, the next few pages were full of question marks—some interspersed with concerned netizens expressing sympathy.
#76
“I’ve been on this forum for years and OP totally played me today LOL. Wasn’t this supposed to be pure hate? How did it turn into love??”
#77
“Then what’s the point of being so emotionally conflicted, OP? You’re already in love with your rival husband. Just go enjoy your married life!”
#78 OP
“I never said I love him either!”
…
#106
“I’m seriously confused now. OP, do you like him or not? Do you want a divorce or not?”
#107 OP
“That’s exactly why I made this post—to ask you guys! Honestly, when I’m with him my heart races, but I can’t tell if it’s love or just the urge to punch him. And so, the ever-resourceful internet users began listing ways to identify feelings of love.”
“Eye contact. If your heart pounds when you look into their eyes, you’re in love.”
“If you always pay attention to any topic related to them and remember all the details—that’s probably it.”
“For me, it’s wanting to hug and cling to them like crazy.”
Yu Wenxuan tapped his fingers lightly on the table, taking in each one.
Eye contact?
When they looked into each other’s eyes, it was C whose heart visibly raced. And he never even realized it.
Caring too much?
That’s too vague.
If we ignore the reasons behind it, he had been very “aware” of V back in university. But there’s no way he had feelings for him all the way back then, right?
Clinging and cuddling.
With this body’s muscle memory and natural responses, a lot of their intimacy felt more like a habit.
By the end of it, Yu Wenxuan still didn’t reach any firm conclusion. He noticed the OP’s responses mirrored his own dilemma—each suggestion was met with denial.
#268
Mention heart fluttering, you say it’s adrenaline from wanting to throw hands.
Mention caring, you say it’s classic enemy surveillance.
Mention physical closeness, you say “does punching him count?”
OP, you’re beyond saving.
#269
“I’m out of ideas. I’m gonna grab a friend to help—someone needs to knock some sense into this dummy. These kinds of comments went on for dozens more posts. Until near the end of the thread, someone finally gave a serious response.”
#299
“After reading the entire thing, I think OP has known “him” for so long that they just can’t break out of their old ways of thinking. No matter what we suggest, OP finds a way to refute it.
But there is a method that gives a clear and definite answer—no second guessing. Though, if it’s come to this point, maybe it’s no longer just “liking.””
#300 OP
“What is it?”
Yu Wenxuan’s fingers twitched on the mouse and he clicked “next page.” And there it was, staring him right in the face—A question that hit like judgment, shaking his heart to its core.
#301
“Have you ever felt heartache for him?”
…
The rest of the post blurred before Yu Wenxuan’s eyes. His vision hazed over, but memories surged forward—clearer than ever.
Maybe he had already vaguely sensed it, just didn’t want to admit it.
Why was he so furious when skipped meals—furious enough to storm into his company?
Why didn’t he want him to be sad?
Why would he give in the moment he saw that lowered gaze?
Why…
Why did his hands tremble when he saw Yu Zhixue cry?
Everything he’d been avoiding and denying now rushed in to reinforce that question.
“Have you ever felt heartache for him?”
Gu Wenxuan finally had to ask himself in silence.
—Yes, I have. Many times.
In the past, Yu Wenxuan might’ve liked many things—toys, pets, landscapes, power. But the only person who had ever truly made his heart ache… was Yu Zhixue.
You might like someone.
But hurting for them—That usually means love.
So this is love.
Yu Wenxuan laughed out loud, finding all his past confusion and hesitation suddenly absurd.
Even the sharpest minds… fumble when it comes to love.
…
Yu Zhixue had just wrapped up a meeting and rushed home—not that he needed a reason. He just missed Yu Wenxuan.
When he opened the door, the house was just as quiet as when he’d left. He changed shoes, assuming Yu Wenxuan was in the bedroom.
He cracked the door open and peeked inside.
Yu Wenxuan was sitting on the bed, texting. He heard the door and removed his glasses, placing them gently on the nightstand.
Then, he turned to glance at Yu Zhixue.
Yu Zhixue pushed the door open and looked at the desk. “Weren’t you going to check your emails?”
“Started a bit, lost motivation.” Yu Wenxuan smiled. “What, are you here to supervise me, Officer Xiao Yu?”
Another weird nickname.
Yu Zhixue mentally tried to count how many nicknames Yu Wenxuan had given him by now, but gave up—it was impossible.
At the same time, he noticed something off.
Yu Wenxuan’s smile looked the same, but there was a self-deprecating edge in his eyes that didn’t belong.
Worried, Yu Zhixue climbed onto the bed, knelt in front of him, and asked softly, “What’s wrong? Are you upset?”
Yu Wenxuan looked at the long hair draping before his eyes and said nothing.
Then, he felt the cool touch of Yu Zhixue’s fingers at the corner of his eye, his voice gentle:
“Talk to me. I’m here.”
“I just realized… I’ve been really dumb,” Yu Wenxuan murmured.
“Something so simple—yet it took me until today to see it.”
Yu Zhixue didn’t understand, leaning in closer to study his expression.
Gu Wenxuan chuckled at the serious face, but before he could react—his face was cupped in gentle hands.
It was usually Yu Wenxuan doing this. This was the first time Yu Zhixue took the initiative—completely unexpected.
“If you’re upset, just tell me. I’ll be here.” Yu Zhixue said.
All Yu Wenxuan could see were his eyes, so close. His thoughts lagged half a beat before he blurted out:
“That necklace… can you put it on me?”
Yu Zhixue blinked, confused by the sudden change of topic. “You looked at it already?”
Yu Wenxuan nodded. “It’s beautiful.”
“What a boring review.” Though he said that, Yu Zhixue smiled.
He put his shoes on and headed downstairs to retrieve the necklace from the table.
Yu Zhixue took it out of the box and held it in his palm. He left the box behind.
After the charity gala yesterday, Old Master Bai had stopped him on the way out.
“Why did you pick that necklace?”
To be fair, while it had great clarity and color, there were more valuable pieces at the event.
Yu Zhixue had replied, “It caught my eye.”
“It’s the meaning, isn’t it?” The old man chuckled kindly, his once-formidable edge softened with age.
Looking at the necklace, he said, “Peace and protection is a wonderful blessing. I hope you get what you’re hoping for.”
…
When Yu Zhixue returned, Yu Wenxuan was still sitting in the same posture. He sat beside him and unfastened the clasp.
Yu Wenxuan noticed and lowered his head, brushing hair aside from the back of his neck.
Yuzhi Xue barely had to lift his hand—his fingertips gently brushed the skin at the nape of his neck.
Muscles there were tense, as if unused to the gesture—but he didn’t move away.
The vulnerability of it made Yu Zhixue feel an odd sense of power.
As if this wasn’t just a necklace—but a collar marking something precious and binding.
He blamed Yu Wenxuan for this twisted thought.
And suddenly, the necklace in his hand felt almost too hot to hold.
If Yu Wenxuan knew what Yu Zhixue was thinking, he’d probably laugh.
To him, there was no difference between a necklace and a collar—so long as it came from Yu Zhixue.
He could feel the slight graze of fingers across his skin, and then the clasp clicked shut.
The pendant lay over his chest—right next to his heart.
He touched it lightly—still warm from Yu Zhixue’s palm.
And just like that, Yu Wenxuan understood how his future self had changed.
Because the younger version of him would never have imagined this day could come.
A quiet afternoon.
An impossible moment, made real.
He willingly lowered his head.
Willingly accepted.
Possession, symbolism, whatever it was—if it was from Yuzhi Xue, then it was fine.
Time rewound again to that old conversation.
His mother’s voice echoed in his memory—“What if it’s someone you do like?”
Young Yu Wenxuan had said:
“Even if I like them, I still wouldn’t accept.”
But now—
Yu Wenxuan calmly corrected:
“It’s not liking. This is the person I love.”
…
He wrapped his arms around Yu Zhixue’s waist and buried his face lower, resting against his stomach, nose pressing in close, clearly present.
Yu Zhixue tensed up—but didn’t move. He ran his hand through Yu Wenxuan’s hair and gently asked:
“Are you tired?”
Yu Wenxuan didn’t deny it.
With eyes closed, he murmured:
“Let me hold you a little longer… baby.”
Yu Zhixue fell silent.
He brushed Yu Wenxuan’s cheek with his fingers, then after a long pause, lowered his head—
And quietly, wordlessly—kissed the top of his hair.