NANSO Chapter 28

Bonus chapter 3/5

Midway through the dinner, Shen Ci indeed arrived.

He seemed to have just left work, dressed impeccably in a suit and tie. As he walked into the venue, he casually handed his coat to a waiter, then scanned the room, his gaze briefly falling on Xie Yu before quickly moving away.

The system was quite curious: “If it weren’t for his frequent ‘visits,’ I’d really think he didn’t recognize you.”

Shen Ci always appeared reserved in front of outsiders, with a cold demeanor and tone. Xie Yu enjoyed observing him for a while. Someone then sat beside him and chuckled, “Young Master Xie?”

Xie Yu turned his head. It was a young master he didn’t recognize, whom he’d briefly seen at the reception, walking with Xie Yi.

Xie Yu nodded politely, “Can I help you?”

The person said, “You’ve been looking at President Shen. Do you know him?”

It was no secret in Jiangcheng that Shen Ci had followed Xie Yu when he was down and out. This time when Xie Yu returned, many people were waiting to laugh at him, hoping to see the pampered Young Master Xie get into trouble. This person’s words were clearly a provocation.

Xie Yu showed no expression. “Yes, I know him. What about it?”

The person scoffed, “Aren’t you going to go over and toast him, say hello?”

He deliberately wanted to mock Xie Yu and stir up trouble for the current Young Master Xie, but Xie Yu just glanced at him, then turned his head away, as if looking at a clown.

The person, finding himself ignored, picked up his drink and left.

However, Xie Yu did indeed want to talk to Shen Ci.

He wasn’t sure what to talk about; it was just that the mission was complete, yet there was a lingering regret, so he wanted to have a proper face-to-face conversation.

Shen Ci was seated in the center of the banquet, surrounded by a triple layer of people. Xie Yu, now an unknown figure, couldn’t push his way through. He circled the periphery with his drink twice but couldn’t find an opening.

Everyone at the banquet was busy socializing, and indeed, no one had time to bother with him. Xie Yu was too lazy to squeeze in, so he simply sat down on the outer edge, staring blankly at the round table.

He didn’t care, but unfortunately, some people cared a great deal. The Xie family’s young master was accustomed to arrogance, and there were many who wanted to see him fall from grace; the harder the fall, the more satisfying. Xie Yu vaguely heard a few snippets of conversation, likely mocking his cheap clothing, all street vendor goods, and how he couldn’t afford his usual brands. Some even mentioned him driving a Santana, two or three classes below a Bentley.

Xie Yu didn’t care; in his own world, he couldn’t even afford a Santana.

These voices weren’t quiet; some were even deliberately discussing things for Shen Ci to hear. The bustling chatter went on, but then, it suddenly went silent.

Shen Ci raised his hand and clapped, making a gesture to quiet them. “Alright, let’s get back to discussing investments.”

After all, gossip about Young Master Xie was just a sideshow; investments were the crucial matter. The conversation returned to its proper course. However, twenty minutes later, a waiter leaned over to Xie Yu and whispered, “Mr. Xie, could you please come to a private room? Mr. Shen would like to meet you.”

Xie Yu looked up. Shen Ci was still in the middle of the crowd, explaining something with his head tilted, not even glancing in his direction.

Xie Yu nodded to the waiter, “Of course.”

Banquet halls typically had private rooms for private discussions. There was no shortage of food and drink in the room. Xie Yu took a few sips of wine, and then Shen Ci arrived.

His gaze swept over Xie Yu, taking in his cheap clothes, and his eyelids lowered slightly, whether in mockery or something else. “You really have fallen on hard times.”

Xie Yu’s hand, holding the wine glass, paused.

Shen Ci knew his current state best. For him to specifically say this in front of Xie Yu was a bit strange.

Xie Yu wasn’t angry and simply said, “Mm.”

Shen Ci sat down opposite him. “Are you really planning to just hand over the Xie family shares?”

“Xie Yuanhai has been working behind the scenes. The price they’re offering you is far below market value. Plus, with inheritance tax and other issues, what you’ll actually receive won’t exceed this amount.”

Xie Yu tilted his head to look. Shen Ci had written a string of numbers on a blank piece of paper. He didn’t count how many zeros there were, but the amount was enough for most people to live comfortably for a lifetime. However, for the spending habits of rich second-generation heirs, it would be a bit tight.

Shen Ci continued, “As far as I know, you still have millions in debt with He Zhiyuan and others, correct?”

His tone was cold, and his voice was cold, as if devoid of any emotion. Xie Yu recalled, “Yes.”

The two of them used to spend money together, both top figures in Jiangcheng, neither caring about a million or so here or there. Later, He Zhiyuan fell on hard times, and the two had a falling out. If it really went to court, Xie Yu indeed owed several million.

Shen Ci said indifferently, “To pay back that money, you’d probably have to work for twenty or thirty years.”

Xie Yu: “…”

He still had several million on his card, so he wasn’t actually short of money. Besides, the mission was complete, and he was leaving soon.

But Xie Yu looked Shen Ci over and saw his fingertips gripping the table, unconsciously exerting force, as if he were nervous. Xie Yu couldn’t bring himself to say those words.

He asked good-naturedly, “Then what should I do?”

Shen Ci didn’t look at him. After a long while, he said, “Given your current situation, I’m afraid you’re stretched to the limit, right?”

His tone was cold and stiff, somewhat blustering and trying to cover something up.

Xie Yu ignored the balance on his card and echoed, “Uh, yes?”

Shen Ci: “I can help you get back the shares you deserve.”

Xie Yu didn’t respond, vaguely guessing what Shen Ci intended to do.

Honestly, he didn’t need the shares, but the Shen Ci in front of him looked a little worn out, with faint dark circles under his eyes, a result of his recent rushing between the company and the mental hospital. Those beautiful eyes were also downcast… Shen Ci was clearly a top figure in Jiangcheng, but now, he even looked a bit down-and-out.

Xie Yu saw it all, and his chest felt a little tight, so he couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

When he was hospitalized as a child, no one ever came to visit him, not once.

Xie Yu asked, “Then what should I do?”

Shen Ci calmly replied, “Sign a contract with me, just like you did five years ago.”

When he said this, he had no expression and didn’t look at Xie Yu, as if he wasn’t looking for a lover but discussing a valuable business deal. There was none of the carefree extravagance of a wealthy young master caught up in lavish pleasures. His thumb pressed against the tabletop, veins subtly visible on the back of his hand, looking slightly anxious.

…Anxious about what?

Clearly, Xie Yu was the one holding out for a price, but it was Shen Ci who was anxious.

Xie Yu could even imagine how dejected Shen Ci would be if he refused. His meticulously styled hair would probably droop, and those clear, cold eyes would lose their sparkle… All of this made it impossible for him to express his refusal.

Even during those six months, he had never made Shen Ci so sad.

He couldn’t bear to see Shen Ci so sad.

The system was already shocked by the deviation from the plot. It spun around Xie Yu, even more anxious than Xie Yu himself, muttering, “What act is this? Huh? Was this part of the plot? But the mission is complete; Host, you can leave soon. Host? Why aren’t you saying anything? Host?!”

Its voice abruptly stopped.

Then, Xie Yu chuckled softly, “Alright.”

He agreed cleanly and swiftly, without any hesitation, and his tone was calm and gentle, as if he weren’t signing a contract involving personal freedom but merely asking what to eat for dinner.

System: “?!”

It couldn’t believe it: “Host, don’t you want to go home?”

Xie Yu was a slacker who didn’t care about anything, but he was a man of his word. Once he signed the contract, he would definitely not leave, at least within the agreed timeframe.

But wasn’t the initial contract made for the purpose of going home?

The system was confused.

Xie Yu waved it off: “Not going back yet.”

Anyway, there was no one at home.

Xie Yu had always had weak family ties, both in this life and his previous one. His mother died young, and as for his father, Xie Yu considered him dead. As a result, when he closed his eyes before dying, he had no one to miss. Later, he agreed to the system mainly because he didn’t want to die too suddenly. As for being nostalgic about his previous life, he really wasn’t.

But certain people in this world made him a little nostalgic.

Shen Ci let out an almost inaudible sigh of relief and pushed a contract across the table, maintaining a businesslike demeanor: “Xie Yuanhai is quite ambitious and dictatorial. In recent months, he’s swallowed up a large portion of the market, significantly impacting our company’s overseas share. Supporting you to take the lead will be beneficial for us; it’s a win-win situation.”

The system was dumbfounded: “Is that true? How do I remember that in the original text, the Xie Group was beaten so badly it couldn’t find its way? And in two months, it would face a stock crisis and be on the verge of delisting. With all that, can it still seize market share?”

It sighed, “As expected, a centipede dies but never falls. Xie Yuanhai is quite cunning after all.”

“…I told you not to misuse idioms.”

Xie Yu pressed down on the chattering system, nodded to Shen Ci, and echoed, “Indeed.”

With the contract signed, Shen Ci visibly relaxed. “I’ve clearly outlined the terms. If you want to buy a car, a watch, or any daily expenses, you can use my account.”

The contract was a thick document. Xie Yu quickly flipped through it and found it was much better than the one he had given Shen Ci. There were no outrageous demands, like the BD*M or sleeping together.

Each received two copies of the contract and put them away. With one matter resolved, Shen Ci stood up: “I’ll go back to the banquet first. Wait for me after it ends, and we’ll leave together.”

Shen Ci was one of the central figures at the banquet, so he couldn’t stay away for too long.

Xie Yu opened the door for him, a very gentlemanly gesture: “Please.” The small private room became quiet for a moment.

Xie Yu pulled out his phone. The system spun around him, looking suspicious: “Are you really not leaving?”

Xie Yu casually turned a page on his phone: “Is it getting in the way of your next mission?”

“Not really,” the system muttered. “I guess I’m on vacation too. Next time I look for a host, I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled. I definitely can’t find someone like you again.”

60 points! Heaven knows how much it had given for the host, only to get a 60!

Xie Yu ignored it, engrossed in his phone. The system floated over curiously and saw a colorful screen filled with fish and meat, also featuring potatoes and scallions. Next to them were detailed instructions for the ratio of ginger, garlic, and scallions; how to blanch; and how to remove fishy smells.

Xie Yu was actually looking at recipes.

System: “? What are you doing?”

Xie Yu didn’t even look up: “Learning the self-cultivation of a kept man.”

“…?”

Xie Yu continued to flip through: “The contract is signed. This is within my duties.”

The system was surprised: “You can break this contract anytime. Are you really going to abide by it?”

As long as Xie Yu spoke, he could return immediately.

Xie Yu: “I’m willing to.”

Xie Yu wasn’t a fool; he had somewhat sensed Shen Ci’s feelings. But at that time, he only considered himself an otherworldly traveler and didn’t plan to stay long, so he deliberately kept his distance. However, when it was truly time to leave, he found himself conflicted and hesitant.

If he went back, no one would be waiting by his hospital bed anymore.

To put this secret thought into words, he just couldn’t bear to leave. Xie Yu asked himself, he was reluctant to leave all the indulgence and care, and even more reluctant to… make the great beauty sad.

Fortunately, he had always been a carefree person. Since he had the thought of staying, he might as well do it well.

The system was speechless: “…Alright, fine.”

Xie Yu remembered Shen Ci’s preferences. He preferred light flavors and liked shrimp and fish prepared by steaming or blanching. When they used to go out to eat, these two dishes were always the ones he ate the most.

It was late, and fresh fish and shrimp were hard to buy. Xie Yu pinpointed a nearby seafood market and sent Shen Ci a text message: “I’m going out for a bit.”

He typed while pulling open the private room door and walking out. In the center of the banquet hall, Shen Ci casually glanced at his phone, then froze for a moment, and his brow furrowed.

They hadn’t added each other as friends, but it was easy for Shen Ci to get Xie Yu’s number. The moment the message popped up, he knew who it was from.

Shen Ci quietly excused himself and opened the chat window in a secluded spot. His finger hovered over the screen, the anxiety he had just suppressed now returning in full force.

He wanted to remind Xie Yu that they had signed a contract, to remind Xie Yu that the stock transfer hadn’t been completed and his rightful share hadn’t been received yet, and he also wanted to remind him that he had just agreed to leave with him…

But before he could finish typing in the input box, Xie Yu slowly sent another message: “The food at the banquet today was a bit unappetizing. The beef was tough. Shall we have a late-night snack?”

Shen Ci was stunned.

Xie Yu continued slowly, “Actually, I can cook. Do you want to try my cooking?”

After sending that, Xie Yu remembered how picky Shen Ci was with food. The first time they met at the hotel, Shen Ci even interrupted him ordering food. He was very hard to please, so Xie Yu added, “My cooking is pretty good, not much worse than a restaurant.”

He remained on the typing interface, so Shen Ci’s phone continuously showed that Xie Yu was typing. President Shen, who was usually the center of attention, stood in the corner’s shadow, staring at a beat-up phone, his palms slightly sweating.

He didn’t understand what Xie Yu was trying to do.

Just a few days ago, he was cold and distant, acting as if he didn’t recognize him. Had such a drastic change occurred because of a piece of paper?

Was Xie Yu truly this happy just because he promised to buy him cars and watches?

That’s good too. Shen Ci thought to himself. He had plenty of money now.

Xie Yu pulled his clothes straight and went downstairs, completely unaware of the twists and turns inside. Shen Ci hadn’t replied, so Xie Yu thought he hadn’t seen it and continued slowly, “What do you want to eat? I saw that daggerfish is in season. It’s quite fresh recently. Want to try some?”

Daggerfish are migratory fish, migrating from offshore waters to the Yangtze River every year, mostly seen in January and February. Eating them now was almost like catching the first fresh batch.

This stuff was expensive, with wild ones costing thousands of yuan per catty. Ordinary shops didn’t have them; you had to specially look for them. Xie Yu didn’t usually eat them much, but today was rare, and he wanted to buy some for Shen Ci to try.

Shen Ci quickly replied, “Okay.”

Actually, Xie Yu’s assumption that Shen Ci was hard to please was a complete misunderstanding. Shen Ci grew up roughly; he wasn’t picky about food or drink, and he didn’t even know what daggerfish was when Xie Yu mentioned it.

So Xie Yu shuffled to the seafood market in his sneakers, carefully picked out a plump and lively fish, had the owner stun it with a single cut and process it, and then brought it back in a red plastic bag. He didn’t really like the atmosphere of the banquet, so he simply went to the parking lot and sat cross-legged in the Santana.

Xie Yu took a picture of the plastic bag in his hand and sent it: “Got it. Over two pounds.”

A moment later, he typed again: “I’ll wait for you in the parking lot.”

Upstairs, the big shots of Jiangcheng were seated, arguing passionately and red-faced over shares. Shen Ci quietly lit up his phone to check Xie Yu’s message.

It was a casual photo, with unrefined composition and colors, showing half of Xie Yu’s body in casual clothes and the cheap plastic bag in his hand.

It was very ordinary and full of life’s mundane charm.

Xie Yu had lived in Xingfu Community for three days before, and Shen Ci stayed next door with him for three days. Every mealtime, the warm steam from cooking would rise from next door, the aroma of stir-fried scallions and ginger would waft out, and chicken or pork rib soup would gurgle in clay pots. Meanwhile, Shen Ci ate hotel meals, which were made with expensive ingredients and cost many times more than Xie Yu’s dishes. Yet, he really wanted to taste what Xie Yu was cooking.

He hadn’t expected such an opportunity to arise on the very first day after signing the contract.

Shen Ci pondered before speaking: “I’m staying at a hotel. There’s no stove, so you might not have a place to cook.”

The moment the message was sent, it showed Xie Yu typing.

He typed slowly; the car was warmly heated, and his fingers curled inside his coat, unwilling to come out. Xie Yu typed word by word, completely unaware of the anxiety on the other side of the screen.

It seemed like a moment had passed, but it also seemed like a long time had passed. Xie Yu said, “Can we go to my place? It’s an old house my mom bought, but the conditions are a bit poor. You might not be used to it.”

“…!”

Of course, Shen Ci wouldn’t mind. He waited for a moment to make his message seem less eager, appearing cool and reserved, before clicking send: “Okay.”

The negotiations on the floor continued. After a brief reply, Shen Ci had to refocus most of his attention, constantly checking his watch with a deepening frown.

Recalling those past years, Shen Ci always left late. In high school, he was the last to leave evening study sessions. In undergraduate and graduate school, he was the last to leave the lab. Later, when he joined the Luo Group, he was also the last to leave after working overtime. This was only because after his grandmother was hospitalized, their home became destitute, empty, and silent. In the dead of night, home was an empty tomb, devoid of any warmth. Rather than enduring the hardship at home, he preferred to stay longer at the company or school.

But now, remembering the rising steam in Xingful Community, he didn’t want to waste time with a bunch of old, fossil-like executives.

This was the day Shen Ci wanted to get off work the most in his entire life.