SDVPP Chapter 86

Chi Han tossed and turned that night, unable to sleep. Once memory opened a single valve, the rest surged in like a tide.

He had poured all his energy this past year into Rong Xu. Over time, he had almost forgotten he was living inside the world of a book.

Sometimes when he recalled his past life, it felt like a dream from another world, so distant it left him dazed.

Everything had been going so smoothly lately, but the sudden appearance of Xu Ting, the scumbag gong’s white moonlight, left Chi Han feeling unexpectedly anxious.

He remembered how, in the book, Xu Ting returned and deliberately used Rong Xu to test whether Fang Jingluo truly had feelings for him. He feigned kindness toward Rong Xu, who at that time had no hope of standing again. He accompanied him to meals and hospital visits, all just to let Fang Jingluo “accidentally” catch them.

The memory made Chi Han grind his teeth in frustration.

He turned over and, by the dim light outside, quietly studied the sleeping Rong Xu. The more he looked, the more aggrieved he felt.

Such a good person, and they had been blind fools. Just thinking about how, in the second half of the book, Rong Xu was deceived by Xu Ting, merely to provoke Fang Jingluo. How, after getting together, the two of them even bankrupted Rong Xu, made Chi Han want to grab his keys and flatten both their families that very instant.

But what he feared most now was that everything would unfold exactly as it had in the original ending.

Chi Han’s gaze instinctively drifted to Rong Xu’s slender neck, and his heart gave a violent jolt.

At the end of the second-to-last chapter in the original novel:

Rong Xu’s dim eyes were like withered roses, devoid of any light. He drove everyone out of the room and pulled the curtains shut.

The sharp blade was swift. There was no pain.

Crimson liquid gushed from the gash in his neck, becoming the room’s only splash of red.

Rong Xu died, without leaving a single word behind.

That scene had left too deep an impression on him. So vivid, he still remembered every word.

Chi Han couldn’t bear to imagine what it would look like for Rong Xu to have a hideous scar on his neck. The moment the thought crossed his mind, a dull ache pulled at his chest.

No. Absolutely not.

A flicker of menace flashed through Chi Han’s eyes.

He would never let that happen.

White moonlight? Scumbag gong? Let them dare try to touch Rong Xu. He’d beat them until they were picking their teeth off the ground.

Chi Han clenched his fists coldly and thought, if every one of Xu Ting’s teeth were knocked out, then maybe—just maybe—the chances of Rong Xu being attracted to him would drop to zero.

He was starting to seriously consider it.

…

After a night of running through every possible future development, Chi Han woke up at six in the morning, instantly slipping into battle mode.

Rong Xu lay on his side, propping up his head with one hand, watching the unusually energetic Chi Han bounce around so early in the day. He fell into deep thought.

Had he not tried hard enough last night?

“Are you going to the office today? Can I come with you?” Chi Han asked casually, hopping back onto the bed after washing up.

Rong Xu: “?”

He thought Chi Han was supposed to return to school to gather materials. “Weren’t you going back to get documents for your counselor?”

Chi Han was unshaken. “It’s fine, I can work on your office computer.”

Chi Han never clung to him this much before. Something must have happened.

Rong Xu studied Chi Han’s expression without revealing anything. All he could see was blazing resolve. Though a bit confused, Rong Xu figured keeping him close would make it easier to protect him, so he readily agreed.

Duo Fu had been going wild ever since they got back, dragging its mat around and tossing its head like it was at a rave. Even after an hour of chaos, it didn’t calm down. Rong Xu, face like ice, finally kicked the little beast back into its box last night.

From the sound of it, it probably kept partying in there well into the night.

When the two of them left in the morning, Duo Fu was still snoring in the box, sleeping like, well, a dog.

It was Chi Han’s first time visiting Rong Xu’s company. Standing on the fully transparent glass walkway, he felt a bit of vertigo.

He glanced sideways at Rong Xu, who looked entirely unbothered, and asked with heartfelt sincerity, “Do all domineering CEOs like the feeling of looking down from these chilly heights?”

The moment the words left his mouth, Chi Han realized he’d gone too far. He quickly clapped a hand over his mouth.

Rong Xu stopped, the corners of his eyes lifting ever so slightly. “Domineering CEO?”

“Nothing! Nothing! You must’ve misheard!” Chi Han practically wanted to rewind time and swallow those words. What if he corrupted the innocent?!

Thankfully, Rong Xu didn’t press the matter. He simply glanced at Chi Han, then continued walking. “The interior was left from before. If you don’t like it, I’ll get someone to change it tomorrow.”

Chi Han nearly tripped. He gave a sheepish laugh. “No need, I was just saying…”

Rong Xu smiled and pulled him into the office.

It was Chi Han’s first time seeing Rong Xu in work mode. That cold, restrained expression had his knees going a little weak. He glanced up, and unbidden, a memory of Rong Xu in bed from the night before flashed through his mind.

He immediately looked down at the computer screen, shaking the suggestive thoughts out of his head.

Rong Xu was working seriously, and here he was thinking indecent things at a time like this!

Rong Xu rejected a document with a click, rubbed his brow, then turned slightly to look at Chi Han beside him and asked with a soft laugh, “What do you think, bored yet?”

Chi Han lay sprawled on the desk, turning his face toward Rong Xu with a grin. “With you, I’m never bored. Doesn’t this feel like back in school, when we used to sit next to each other?”

Rong Xu froze, a sudden softness overtaking his expression.

That had been the light at the end of his bleakest days.

He reached out, cradled the back of Chi Han’s head, and leaned in to kiss him.

Chi Han pulled back with a laugh. “Have some restraint, will you? What if someone walks in?”

With a teasing nip to Chi Han’s lower lip, Rong Xu murmured darkly, “Putting it on the tab for tonight.”

Chi Han licked his lower lip and couldn’t help grumbling inwardly.

Keeping a “tab” every day, how thick must that ledger be by now?

At noon, Rong Xu originally wanted his assistant to bring lunch upstairs, but Chi Han thought eating from takeout containers all the time wasn’t healthy, so he dragged Rong Xu down to the staff cafeteria.

Back when Rong Xu was in a wheelchair, he spent nearly the entire day in his office. If anyone needed to report something, they went to him.

It wasn’t until he walked in today that everyone realized, Wow, the boss is actually this tall!

And even more intimidating!

He had always given off a cold aura when seated, but now that he was walking around, it was like a portable snowstorm, chilling the air wherever he went.

The assistant, seeing everyone frozen in awkward panic, gave a subtle cough and announced, “Young President Rong is here for lunch today.”

As soon as the words dropped, the whole cafeteria snapped to attention like someone had rung a gong. All the scattered voices suddenly merged into one:

“Hello, Boss!”

Rong Xu: “…”

He cast a shadowy glance at his assistant.

Just then, Chi Han walked in from the restroom, and instantly, every pair of eyes zeroed in on him.

Chi Han froze mid-hand-drying, instinctively holding his breath.

Chi Han: “?”

The assistant pushed up his glasses. Until now, he’d been the only one who knew about Rong Xu and Chi Han’s relationship. But it was clearly going public, and he had to play his part as a loyal confidant. So he promptly declared, “This is Young President Rong’s partner.”

And just like that, another unified chorus rang out: “Hello, Boss’s wife!”

Rong Xu: “……”

Chi Han: “…………”

Wait a minute. He came here for lunch, right? Was he sure he hadn’t wandered onto some mob boss’s turf by mistake?

Rong Xu closed his eyes, and when he spoke, his voice sounded like it had just been pulled from an icebox—chilling and dangerous. “Li Qiming.”

That was the assistant’s full name.

A shiver ran down Li Qiming’s spine. He swallowed hard, then quickly addressed the crowd: “Alright, everyone, back to your meals, no more staring.”

Chi Han was speechless for a moment, then tugged at Rong Xu’s hand. “These are all your employees? That’s a lot of people!”

“Mm. Most of them were newly hired this year.”

Rong Xu gently turned his hand over to hold Chi Han’s, carrying his tray forward. The setup was buffet-style, and the food looked surprisingly appetizing.

Every dish Rong Xu picked out was one of Chi Han’s favorites. Chi Han felt a wave of warmth in his chest and tugged on Rong Xu’s sleeve with a smile. “Not bad. You’ll get a reward when we get home tonight.”

Rong Xu couldn’t help but chuckle. Setting the tray down, he reached over and pinched Chi Han’s cheek. “Good. I’ll be waiting.”

Everyone else in the cafeteria looked like they were eating, but their ears were absolutely on high alert.

Many people had commented that although their boss was young, the way he spoke and acted was nothing like someone his age. His personality was icy to the core. No one could imagine what kind of person he might one day fall for.

But now, several of the newly hired women couldn’t help but blush.

That gentle expression, who could possibly resist it?

So, it wasn’t that he didn’t know how to smile. He just didn’t smile at them.

Veteran employees shoveled dog food into their mouths along with their rice, swallowing with teary eyes.

Having a “taken” boss actually made him seem much more approachable than usual. The newcomers, who had initially been nervous around him, started to relax a little.

After all, someone who smiled that tenderly at his lover couldn’t possibly be that cold to his subordinates… right?

But time would later prove them wrong: their boss truly was a walking, talking block of ice!

Only when Chi Han was around did he melt into a pool of springtime warmth.

Without even knowing it, Chi Han had become the most eagerly anticipated “mascot” in the entire company.

That night, back at home, Chi Han sent the documents to his counselor. After receiving a reply, he shut his laptop and lay down on the sofa.

Rong Xu had gone to shower, leaving his phone on the table.

Suddenly remembering there was something in the materials he needed to look up, Chi Han casually grabbed Rong Xu’s phone, unlocked it, and opened the browser.

The browser paused for a second, then automatically reloaded the last page visited.

Chi Han glanced at the screen and nearly choked on his own spit.

Right there, in big, bold letters, was a headline so eye-searing he wanted to gouge out his eyes on the spot.

[He chases, he flees, and neither can escape their destiny!]

Below was an image of two stylized cartoon characters locked in an embrace, one gripping the other’s chin as they stared dramatically into the camera.

Chi Han: “…………”

He collapsed onto the sofa, covering his face in despair.

It was over. If Rong Xu’s domineering-CEO genes suddenly awakened… how on earth was he supposed to straighten him out again?

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