The restaurant Ji Ling had chosen was a well-known, high-end spot in the city—one that wasn’t easy to book. No one knew how Ji Ling managed to secure a reservation.
After placing the order, Ji Ling smiled at the waiter. Yan Yixuan watched him, calm and composed, and found himself lost in thought.
It was the same last time they ate together—Ji Ling seemed oddly familiar with these upscale restaurants, like he frequented places like this all the time.
Yan Yixuan remembered the first time he had seen Ji Ling.
He had been lying there, broken and lifeless, like a discarded doll.
Back then, Yan Yixuan never would have imagined that once Ji Ling woke up, he’d look like this—so put together, so at ease.
Yan Yixuan had done some digging into Ji Ling’s past.
The man had practically nothing—dirt poor, no family to rely on. He’d been out in the world struggling on his own, nearly going astray.
By all appearances, Ji Ling seemed like someone from the lower rungs of society. But now, watching the way he handled himself at the table, Yan Yixuan could tell Ji Ling had some serious class. His speech and mannerisms didn’t match the image of someone tossed around by life, someone left to fend for himself.
And then there was how he interacted with people. Yan Yixuan recalled the handful of intimate moments they’d shared—Ji Ling’s reactions weren’t inexperienced at all.
If anything, he was… skilled.
That thought lingered as Yan Yixuan shot Ji Ling a glance.
Sensing the stare, Ji Ling blinked in confusion. “What’s up? Food not to your taste?”
Yan Yixuan didn’t answer.
If anything, it was too much to his taste—and that’s what made it so strange. For someone who couldn’t even afford a decent car, Ji Ling’s restaurant choice and his spot-on menu selections were suspiciously perfect for Yan Yixuan’s picky preferences.
Sometimes, Yan Yixuan couldn’t help but wonder—just who exactly was Ji Ling?
After they finished eating, Yan Yixuan lazily watched Ji Ling settle the bill. Ji Ling seemed to sense something, glanced up, and couldn’t help but laugh at the teasing look in Yan Yixuan’s eyes.
“You’re still worried I’ll skip out on the bill?” Ji Ling chuckled. “Alright, let’s go. Time to get to the main event.”
Knowing Yan Yixuan liked everything to be done with style, Ji Ling took him to the top floor of the city’s upscale shopping plaza — a fancy cinema.
Still, Yan Yixuan couldn’t resist nitpicking. “Our family’s theater shows movies too, you know.”
Ji Ling winked at him. “Yeah, but ‘this’ place meets my requirements.”
“What requirements?” Yan Yixuan asked.
Ji Ling didn’t answer.
They walked into the ticket hall, where people bustled about. A giant poster for ‘Confession’ was displayed front and center, impossible to miss.
So that’s what they were here for.
Yan Yixuan wasn’t exactly thrilled. Ji Ling, sensing his reluctance, smiled and said, “Think of it as market research. Honestly, I don’t even know why it’s doing so well at the box office.”
Ji Ling glanced over. “Want some popcorn and soda?”
“…”
Standing there in his sharp suit, Yan Yixuan already stuck out like a sore thumb among the crowd of trendy young people. The last thing he wanted was to make himself look even more out of place by holding popcorn.
Yan Yixuan had expected they’d just buy their tickets and head inside, but instead, Ji Ling walked over to the counter and had a brief chat with the staff. Moments later, someone arrived to escort them.
Ji Ling turned back with a grin. “This way, Young Master Yan.”
Yan Yixuan shot him a look but followed as they were led into the theater.
The moment Yan Yixuan stepped inside, he finally understood what Ji Ling had meant by ‘requirements.’
The massive screening room was completely empty. Rows and rows of seats stretched out beneath the screen, the open space giving the place an almost cavernous feel.
Yan Yixuan turned his head and stared at Ji Ling.
The attendant had already left when Ji Ling turned to Yan Yixuan with a smile. “Thanks for honoring me with your presence today, Young Master Yan. I figured I might as well book the whole place while I was at it.”
Today had been quite an unusual day for Yan Yixuan.
Someone had picked him up, treated him to dinner, booked an entire theater just for him, and now they were watching a romance movie together.
Normally, Yan Yixuan was the one in control — the one calling the shots and giving generously when he felt like it. But today, someone had wrapped all these gestures up like a gift and handed them to him instead.
Yan Yixuan’s eyes curved slightly with amusement as he looked at Ji Ling. “You’ve really gone all out, huh? If it were me, I’d have just booked the whole theater chain.”
Ji Ling playfully tapped his nose, grinning. “Come on, Young Master Yan, at least let me save a little face.” He gestured toward the empty rows of seats. “So, where do you want to sit?”
Yan Yixuan headed straight for the back row.
“Every time I watch a movie, it’s at some premiere, always stuck right in the front. It’s loud as hell, and I can’t stand it,” Yan Yixuan drawled lazily.
Ji Ling, amused, followed him and took the seat beside him. As soon as they settled in, the lights dimmed.
On screen, ‘Confession’ — the film Ji Ling had been heavily promoting — began to play.
Two men in suits, sitting stiffly in an empty theater, watching a cheesy romance comedy… the whole thing felt a little bizarre.
The theater was dark, the only sounds coming from the speakers — cheerful dialogue and upbeat music. On screen, the characters flirted and laughed. Meanwhile, the two men off-screen sat upright and silent, creating a strange, almost surreal contrast.
They stayed like that for about half an hour until Yan Yixuan suddenly broke the awkward silence.
“Don’t you think this is kind of weird?”
Ji Ling finally burst out laughing, resting his chin on his hand as he chuckled uncontrollably. “God, I can’t believe this movie made ‘billions’ at the box office.”
Yan Yixuan smirked. “Are you just complimenting yourself?” He glanced back at the screen, where the male lead was now clumsily chasing the female lead down the street. “Maybe girls like this kind of thing.”
Ji Ling’s laughter softened into a smile. “Honestly, business can be funny sometimes. It’s weird how the simplest things can end up making the most money.”
“Looks like Boss Ji’s been making some big moves lately,” Yan Yixuan said, deciding to stop paying attention to whatever was happening on screen and instead turned to Ji Ling.
Ji Ling assumed he was talking about the movie and shrugged. “Just a bit of luck, that’s all.”
But Yan Yixuan wasn’t talking about that. “Didn’t you meet with Ye Wenxin?”
Ji Ling’s expression didn’t change. “You even know about that?”
Ye Wenxin was a well-known name in the business world — a financial powerhouse who specialized in investment consulting. People often referred to her as the ‘Nanny of Capital.’
If Ji Ling wanted access to bigger investments, the fastest route was through her.
Yet Ji Ling had kept that meeting under wraps — even Mo Yulan didn’t know. Somehow, Yan Yixuan still managed to find out.
Yan Yixuan glanced at Ji Ling from the corner of his eye. “I know everything. So, what’s the money for this time?”
Ji Ling chuckled, shifting slightly in his seat and leaning just a little closer toward Yan Yixuan. “Young Master Yan, are you sure this is the right time to talk about this?” He grinned and motioned toward the big screen. “They’re over there dying for love, and here we are talking about money, money, money… doesn’t that seem a little tacky?”
Yan Yixuan was in a good mood, so he let Ji Ling dodge the topic. Turning his gaze back to the movie, he scoffed, “This guy’s been chasing that girl forever, and he’s still empty-handed. Guy’s got no game.”
Ji Ling laughed. “Of course — no one can compare to Young Master Yan.”
Yan Yixuan turned his head, eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at Ji Ling.
The only light in the theater came from the faint floor lamps along the aisles and the flickering glow of the screen. Shadows danced across Ji Ling’s face, softening his features and making his expression hard to read.
Yan Yixuan thought back on everything that had happened today — every move Ji Ling had made, every detail carefully orchestrated. Everything Ji Ling had done put him in control, playing the role of the one guiding the situation.
With a hint of amusement, Yan Yixuan said, “Looks like you’re not exactly holding back either. Should I take this whole setup as you trying to impress me?”
Ji Ling met his gaze, smile lingering. “What do you think?”
Yan Yixuan reached out, fingers catching Ji Ling’s chin. His eyes narrowed slightly as he said in a low voice, “Flirting with your sponsor… you know that’s risky, right?”
Ji Ling moved too, gripping Yan Yixuan’s wrist in return. He smirked. “In a dark theater, watching a romance movie… don’t you know what’s supposed to happen next, Young Master Yan?”
Yan Yixuan raised an eyebrow.
It was hard to tell who made the first move, but somehow their lips met naturally, locked in a heated tangle where neither seemed willing to back down.
The movie kept playing in the background, yet the sound of their ragged breaths and the faint, wet noises between them seemed deafening, filling their minds.
Yan Yixuan had started with his hand gripping Ji Ling’s chin, but before he knew it, Ji Ling had caught his wrist and pinned it down beside him. Ji Ling took advantage of the shift, pressing forward and trapping Yan Yixuan between his body and the armrest.
“Hey,” Yan Yixuan muttered, a warning ringing in his head. He turned his face to the side, irritated.
But Ji Ling ignored him, his lips trailing along the corner of Yan Yixuan’s mouth, brushing over his cheek and creeping dangerously close to his neck.
Yan Yixuan’s hand was still locked in Ji Ling’s grip, and for some reason, Ji Ling’s strength felt… stronger than usual.
“Ji Ling,” Yan Yixuan growled, his voice dipping to a low, warning tone.
Finally, Ji Ling lifted his head. In the dim, flickering light of the screen, there was a flicker of something wild in his eyes — something reckless.
“I’m always expected to follow your lead,” Ji Ling muttered, voice low and uneven. “But have you ever thought… I’m a man too?”
Yan Yixuan didn’t say a word. He just stared at him.
The silence stretched between them, eyes locked in an unspoken standoff. Slowly, the haze in Ji Ling’s eyes faded, clearing into something calmer and more composed. He finally let go of Yan Yixuan’s wrist, leaned back, and settled into his own seat.
The movie had reached its climax — the male lead’s heartfelt confession playing out on screen. Ji Ling murmured softly, “Let’s at least see how it ends.”
By the time the credits rolled and the lights came up, Yan Yixuan squinted, momentarily blinded. Ji Ling, on the other hand, stretched lazily as if nothing had happened.
The light felt like some kind of magic trick — quietly hiding whatever couldn’t be spoken of in the dark. Ji Ling stood up with a carefree smile and said, “So, Young Master Yan, thoughts on the movie?”
For once, Yan Yixuan played along. “Might be better suited for a nap.”
Ji Ling laughed again, but this time there was something softer, almost gentle, in his smile.
As they walked out together, Ji Ling once again opened the car door for Yan Yixuan. “Heading back?” he asked casually.
Yan Yixuan heard the unspoken suggestion behind his words. He raised an eyebrow and countered, “Do ‘you’ have somewhere else in mind?”
Ji Ling chuckled. “Shouldn’t Young Master Yan be heading out for a drink or something?”
Yan Yixuan replied coolly, “Drinking leads to trouble.”
“That doesn’t sound like something you’d say,” Ji Ling teased. “So… are you heading back to the same apartment as last time?”
Yan Yixuan gave a simple nod.
Ji Ling drove him to the entrance of the complex but didn’t pull in. Yan Yixuan got out, and Ji Ling followed, stepping out from the driver’s seat.
“You’re not gonna invite me in?” Ji Ling’s eagerness tonight felt almost unsettling.
Standing on the sidewalk, Yan Yixuan didn’t bother sugarcoating it. “If I invite you in, will you actually let me in?”
Ji Ling just smiled without answering.
Yan Yixuan gave a dry laugh. “Thanks for the dinner and movie, Boss Ji.”
Ji Ling knew that was Yan Yixuan’s way of ending the night, but instead of leaving, he suddenly said, “I can pay you back now.”
Yan Yixuan froze, caught off guard by the unexpected shift.
“You remember, don’t you? When I borrowed that money to save my company, I said if I couldn’t pay it back, I’d bring my head to you.” Ji Ling paused, then added, “Honestly, I could’ve paid you back a long time ago.”
The truth was, his company’s cash flow had stabilized for a while now. But Ji Ling wanted to repay Yan Yixuan with money he’d earned himself — no shortcuts, no compromises. That was why he hadn’t bought a car, hadn’t gotten a better place — he’d held off on anything that might blur the lines.
Ji Ling had always been someone who looked at the big picture, yet when it came to Yan Yixuan, he insisted on drawing a clear boundary.
He didn’t want to owe Yan Yixuan anything — not in money, not in favors.
Bathed in the glow of the streetlights, Yan Yixuan stared at Ji Ling, his sharp, handsome face utterly still.
“So that’s why you pulled all this tonight,” Yan Yixuan said at last. He paused, voice low as he continued, “Once you pay me back, we’re done?”
There was a flicker of something darker in his eyes — irritation simmering just beneath the surface. “Are you trying to run away from me again?”
Ji Ling was stunned.
In Yan Yixuan’s world, was everything really just about giving and taking, chasing and fleeing? Was there nothing in between — no other kind of connection except that of a sponsor and a kept man?
He thought paying the money back would mean they were even?
“That’s not it,” Ji Ling said quietly. “Once I pay you back, we can still be…”
His voice trailed off. Even he wasn’t sure how to finish the sentence.
What exactly ‘were’ they?
Yan Yixuan sneered. “Still what? Friends?”
He tilted his chin slightly, that mocking smile curling at the corner of his lips as he stepped forward, closing the distance between them. “You want to be friends with me?”
Ji Ling’s face darkened.
He knew exactly what Yan Yixuan meant — ‘he wasn’t good enough’.
That same air of arrogance… Ji Ling had seen it before, not long ago. The same look Yan Yixuan’s brother, Yan Yili, had worn.
It was the natural pride of someone born to power.
Yan Yixuan took another step closer, reached out, and patted Ji Ling’s collar — slow and deliberate, almost teasing. “Do friends kiss each other?”
Then, without warning, Yan Yixuan grabbed Ji Ling’s collar and yanked him forward. Their eyes locked, sharp and intense. “I’m not short on friends,” Yan Yixuan said coldly.
Then he shoved Ji Ling back, hard enough that Ji Ling staggered a few steps before regaining his balance.
“Tell Mo Yulan to contact my finance assistant tomorrow,” Yan Yixuan said flatly before turning and walking into his building without another glance.
Even repaying the debt had to go through someone else.
Ji Ling sighed, shaking his head helplessly as he climbed into his car and drove away.
He’d been trying so hard to break free from this invisible web — this unspoken dynamic where one side gave and the other took, where their connection was constantly shadowed by the notion of a ‘sponsor’ and a ‘lover.’
Even though, technically, nothing had ever really happened between them.
But Yan Yixuan was the complete opposite. Every time, he seemed determined to reinforce that dynamic between them.
In his world, without the bond of money, there would be ‘nothing’ between them.
That thought left Ji Ling feeling unsettled.
Without the money — without that transactional link — ‘what’ exactly would they be to each other?
Or maybe the real question was: ‘What did Ji Ling want them to become?’
Ji Ling had arranged to meet Yan Yixuan that day partly to test the waters — to see how far he could push Yan Yixuan’s limits.
How much indulgence would Yan Yixuan allow him?
Ji Ling thought back to that kiss in the movie theater.
It had gone further than he expected — much further.
That sleeper hit of a movie had since wrapped up its run, raking in an impressive profit. Ji Ling had already received his cut of the earnings, and the success had skyrocketed his team into the spotlight. Suddenly, big-budget productions were seeking him out for partnerships.
Streaming platforms even approached him, offering to sign exclusive monthly contracts where Ji Ling’s company would be responsible for handling promotional campaigns.
From a business perspective, Ji Ling had gained enough leverage to recruit top-tier talent. After all, success gives you the power to poach from other people’s teams.
Ji Ling had already split his staff into several groups, encouraging them to handle projects independently and push their creative boundaries.
Meanwhile, Ji Ling had his eye on something bigger.
Just as Yan Yixuan had guessed, Ji Ling was actively working with Ye Wenxin, hoping to secure her backing and access to larger capital.
As for Yan Yixuan… Ji Ling really did pay him back the next day, through Mo Yulan. Every last cent of the money he’d borrowed to buy the company was returned.
And after that, they hadn’t spoken again.
Ji Ling knew he had pissed off Yan Yixuan. He could practically feel the simmering tension through the silence. But for now, Yan Yixuan probably hadn’t figured out how to retaliate.
Because someone like Yan Yixuan — ‘Young Master Yan’ — needed a legitimate reason to strike back.
It was almost as if, without the label of ‘sponsor,’ Yan Yixuan wouldn’t even know how to approach him anymore.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
Then I reached for the next button and realised there was no next button 😭😭