Bonus chapter 4/5
At the meeting, Shen Ci was uncharacteristically forceful. He gave almost no ground, his words grim and severe, making the major shareholders look on in surprise.
The two groups competed and cooperated, with many joint investment projects. Shen Ci came prepared, and Xie Yuanhai suffered many hidden losses, practically grinding his teeth in frustration. As soon as the shareholders left the hall, he slammed his teacup onto the floor.
The sky-blue teacup shattered into pieces, leaving fragments scattered everywhere. Xie Yuanhai’s gaze was gloomy: “This is too much!”
Shen Ci had no time to worry about it.
He told his secretaries to go home first, then went around to the parking lot. At the corner, he meticulously adjusted his appearance, smoothing out every wrinkle on his suit, before finally coming to the Santana and knocking on the car window.
Xie Yu had been waiting for a long time and was playing Candy Crush. Seeing Shen Ci, he opened the door and let him in. He paused slightly as his gaze swept over Shen Ci’s attire: “Aren’t you cold?” Wearing a suit at the banquet was proper etiquette, but most people would have their assistants bring them coats to put on when they went outside.
There was no air conditioning in the parking lot. Xie Yu tilted his head slightly: “Where’s your trench coat? Why aren’t you wearing it?”
Shen Ci paused slightly: “Not cold.”
Xie Yu watched him, amused. His fingers and cheeks were slightly red, yet he insisted he wasn’t cold.
He pulled a blanket from the trunk and tossed it over: “Use this to keep warm. I’ll give you one of my down jackets when we get home.”
Shen Ci reached out and gathered the blanket: “Aren’t you going to ask about the final result of the stocks?”
It seemed like he wanted to be praised.
Xie Yu didn’t care about stocks. As someone from another world, stocks were less important to him than his steamed fish tonight.
But since Shen Ci mentioned it, Xie Yu still asked, “How are the stocks?”
Shen Ci: “The amount is substantial. It’s a satisfactory outcome.”
Xie Yu hummed indifferently, “Thanks.”
He turned the key, and the old Santana creaked. The engine rattled three times before it finally started.
Shen Ci subtly surveyed the car’s interior. The leather was old and peeling, with many parts revealing the foam padding—a car like this, Young Master Xie wouldn’t have even sat in it before, let alone driven it.
Shen Ci casually mentioned, “Rolls-Royce has a new model out.”
Just as he was turning a corner, Xie Yu tilted his head to look in the rearview mirror and responded, “Oh, really?”
His tone was flat, a perfunctory social response, showing no particular interest.
Shen Ci: “Bentley also released one…”
Xie Yu finally turned the steering wheel and drove onto the main road. This Santana was quite old; the steering wheel was heavy and stiff to turn, requiring some effort.
Shen Ci mentioned cars twice, and Xie Yu finally caught on. He shook his head, “I don’t really need one.”
Xie Yu’s material desires were faint; he didn’t care much about such things.
Shen Ci unconsciously pursed his lips.
Xie Yu not accepting gifts made him uneasy.
Xie Yu had to say, “I’ll tell you when I need one, okay?”
Shen Ci nodded.
As night fell, the narrow streets of the old district were empty and quiet, devoid of pedestrians. Under the cover of darkness, they drove into Xingfu Community.
Xie Yu found a long down jacket in his house and handed it to Shen Ci: “Put it on.”
The heating in the old residential area wasn’t great.
Xie Yu was tall, so the clothes were a bit oversized. Once Shen Ci put it on, it truly enveloped him.
After five years of experience abroad, Xie Yu was quite skilled at cooking, from heating the pan to stir-frying, all in one smooth motion. Shen Ci didn’t sit but just stood by, like a door god in the kitchen. Xie Yu then handed him a kitchen knife: “Help me chop the vegetables.”
The kitchen was an old-fashioned one in a resettlement complex, barely large enough for one person to move around. With both of them squeezed in, accidental brushes were inevitable. One’s hand might graze the other’s waist, or their hips and legs might inadvertently bump together. In the freezing weather, Shen Ci felt increasingly warm in his down jacket. When the vegetables were finally chopped, he simply splashed cold water on his face.
Xie Yu placed the fish on the steamer and set the timer. “Alright, let’s go wait outside.”
They sat down in the living room. Shen Ci looked around; the old house was over twenty years old. The original owner grew up here before being taken home by Xie Yuanshan. There were still traces of the original owner’s scribbles on the walls.
Shen Ci looked at those messy black lines and surprisingly found them quite endearing.
He reached out and touched them. “Did you draw these?”
“Uh…” Xie Yu hesitated for a moment before admitting, “No.”
He and the original owner weren’t the same person. Since he had chosen to stay, he would have to explain things sooner or later.
However, if he said it rashly, Shen Ci would probably think that his mental illness had relapsed and he had delusions. He would panic and look for Xu Qingshan, then drive him to the mental hospital.
…And if he had to secretly stay by his hospital bedside for another month, Shen Ci’s dark circles would turn into panda eyes, right?
Xie Yu’s mind wandered aimlessly, thinking of the serious Assistant Shen from A University and the aloof Executive Shen from Jiangcheng with dark circles under their eyes. He found it amusing, and without realizing it, he chuckled aloud.
Shen Ci looked at him, puzzled. “Why are you suddenly laughing?”
Xie Yu stood up to cover his tracks. “Nothing—my fish is steamed.”
He placed the fish on the dining table. The tender yellow fish meat, sprinkled with vibrant green scallions, looked incredibly appetizing.
After they both finished the fish, feeling quite satisfied, Xie Yu raised his hand to check his watch. It was past midnight. He asked Shen Ci, “Staying the night?”
Driving back in that old Santana late at night would be quite a hassle.
Shen Ci raised his hand upon hearing this, not speaking, his amber eyes fixed on him.
Xie Yu chuckled. “Are you staying or not?”
“Mm.” Shen Ci took another bite of fish. “…Staying.”
Xie Yu went to wash up first, then pulled out two sets of pajamas. They were both his, slightly larger than Shen Ci’s size, but pajamas didn’t really need to be precise.
Shen Ci watched his back for a while, then put down his bowl and chopsticks. Suddenly, he slowly asked, “Did you read the contract carefully?”
“Hm?” Xie Yu answered casually, “I guess I did…”
He hadn’t read it at all; he figured Shen Ci wouldn’t harm him.
Shen Ci withdrew his gaze and said nothing.
After Xie Yu finished washing up, he changed into his old-fashioned pajamas and lay in bed, playing a game on his side to pass the time. This time he was playing “Jump Jump,” holding down the screen and then releasing. But in the middle of one round, his phone vibrated several times with messages. The small square wobbled precariously but still landed.
He switched back to the messages and found they were all from the study abroad group.
Many of his classmates were graduating today and were sharing group photos in the chat.
At Xie Yu’s school, you could graduate once you accumulated enough credits. Exams were held biannually in winter and summer. Those graduating this time were the ones who passed the winter exam.
Xie Yu scrolled through and saw several familiar faces in the group, all regulars who used to come over for meals and parties.
Sure enough, within two minutes, their small party group also became active. First, they showed off their diplomas, then their return flight tickets looking for travel companions, and finally, they took turns @-ing Xie Yu.
“Yu-ge, waaaah, we’re coming back to China! Are you doing well in Jiangcheng?”
“Yu-ge, can we have a party when we get back to China? We miss you QAQ.”
“Yu-ge, we brought you gifts from abroad. In return, we want to order food! We want braised potatoes with beef!!!”
Xie Yu couldn’t help but smile.
When he was in Jiangcheng, he had the reputation of being a rich second-generation, so people were either overly cautious or had ulterior motives, and his friendships were superficial. But these few freeloaders abroad didn’t know Xie Yu’s true background, and they had a genuinely close relationship.
He typed, “Come, I’ll cook you braised potatoes with beef. Want to order anything else? Gifts first, then food.”
The group burst into laughter.
There was a time difference between China and abroad. It was late night for Xie Yu but still daytime at the school. There would be graduation ceremonies and a dance, so the group was lively for a while before quieting down. Xie Yu was also getting sleepy. He put his phone aside, face down, and closed his eyes to rest.
The night was silent. The old house had poor soundproofing, so he could hear sounds from the bathroom.
The splashing of water was sporadic and continued for a long time. Xie Yu, with his eyes closed, estimated it wasn’t a normal duration, but he didn’t pay much attention, assuming Shen Ci was simply more particular about cleanliness now.
Finally, the water stopped.
The bathroom door and bedroom door opened one after another. The old door hinges creaked. Xie Yu spread open his old, large cotton quilt, exposing a corner, and patted the spot next to him. “Come on up.”
It was quite cold in winter; huddling together would be warmer.
A body slipped in.
Xie Yu instinctively wrapped his arms around him, wanting to pull him close, but he shivered when his hand touched his skin, then he opened his eyes in disbelief.
He had touched bare skin.
Shen Ci was wearing pajamas, but he didn’t button them. The clothes were big to begin with and hung loosely on his body. When Xie Yu’s hand went around him, it slipped through the gap.
It was a perfectly calculated move, allowing for advance or retreat. If Xie Yu was interested, things could proceed naturally. If not, he can just pretend that his clothes are not buttoned properly to avoid embarrassment.
In the moonlight from the window, Xie Yu looked down. The skin exposed by the person in his arms was truly as cold as white glaze. When his finger touched it, tiny goosebumps appeared. Shen Ci still had that dignified face, his eyes tightly closed, his expression solemn, as cold and arrogant as he would be at a negotiation table. Yet his body was exposed, as if anything could be done to him as long as Xie Yu wanted to.
Xie Yu paused, his hand moving faster than his brain. He instantly pulled the quilt, wrapping Shen Ci tightly, leaving only half of his face exposed.
The quilt was wrapped, but underneath, they were still embracing. The thin layers of pajamas couldn’t block the warmth of their skin. Xie Yu’s hand inadvertently brushed against a curve, perfectly fitting his palm. He paused, then quickly withdrew his hand.
Xie Yu gasped.
He was a normal man, not like Liu Xiahui[mfn]柳下惠 was a famous figure in ancient Chinese history, known for his moral integrity and self-restraint, particularly in matters of desire and temptation. The most famous story about him involves sitting with a woman in his lap all night without any improper behavior. [/mfn] who could resist temptation. With a beauty as stunning as porcelain practically pressing against him, like a pipa player half-hiding her face[mfn]This phrase originates from a line in Bai Juyi’s famous Tang Dynasty poem, “The Song of the Pipa Player.” In the poem, a pipa player is described as being shy and hesitant to perform, partially hiding her face with her instrument. So this phrase is used when describing someone who’s being shy, coy, or reluctant. [/mfn], it would be a lie to say he felt nothing.
Heaven help him, the original owner had been through countless battles, but Xie Yu had never experienced anything like this. He had no idea how to hold him there, so he simply reached out, bundled the quilt into a half-roll, and hugged Shen Ci through the roll, awkwardly saying, “Put your clothes on properly. Aren’t you cold?”
Shen Ci was trapped in the roll, unilaterally suppressed by Xie Yu. He struggled slightly, but Xie Yu’s grip grew stronger, making it impossible to break free.
“…”
He felt a slight embarrassment.
It had been like this for those six months too. Young Master Xie had set the agreement, they had hugged and even attended classes together, but there had never even been a kiss.
In the dead of night, Shen Ci repeatedly asked himself, was he the only one who had fallen for him back then?
Shen Ci lowered his gaze and pulled his hands in, buttoning his pajamas completely. The old pajamas enveloped his young body. He lay down flat, as if he had genuinely just forgotten to button them after washing.
Xie Yu sighed.
He seemed to understand why Shen Ci was asking about the contract just now.
Xie Yu pulled Shen Ci back into his arms. The person in his embrace was someone he was used to holding, as docile as a large doll, warm and soft, and very comfortable to hold. “Now isn’t the time.”
Shen Ci looked up at him. “When is the time?”
Xie Yu vaguely said, “At least until the day I explain everything clearly.”
Shen Ci was feeling anxious and desperate, eager to confirm something, but Xie Yu was conservative at heart. Otherwise, with his conditions, he wouldn’t have been without a partner for so many years. In some ways, he had an unusual stubbornness; when it came to love, he wanted to connect emotionally first.
At the very least, he needed to explain his origins first and plan his destination.
—
The next morning, surprisingly, Xie Yu was the first to wake up.
Shen Ci hadn’t slept for half the night, and the dark circles under his eyes were even more pronounced. He seemed extremely restless, frowning even in his dreams, his beautiful brows furrowed, and his lips pressed into a thin line. Xie Yu watched him calmly for a moment, then suddenly reached out and touched his forehead.
He smoothed away the furrowed brow.
Xie Yu sighed slightly, feeling a subtle discomfort. “In those six months, I never made you frown like this.”
Although the angsty romance plot had been set, Xie Yu always kept things within limits, so Shen Ci truly hadn’t suffered much injustice while with him.
He thought, “I need to find an opportunity to explain things.”
Xie Yu had many similarities with the original owner but was fundamentally different. It was fine when he was just a mission target, but now that he had feelings, he didn’t want Shen Ci to confuse him with the original owner.
Today, when Shen Ci pointed at the original owner’s doodle and asked if he had drawn it, Xie Yu felt a strange pang. All those past messy affairs and violent outbursts couldn’t be attributed to him anymore.
No one thought of making breakfast that morning. Xie Yu pulled out his phone to order takeout. By the time Shen Ci slowly woke up, it was already quite late.
Xie Yu was still holding him. “Not going to work today?”
Shen Ci: “Took the day off.”
He had taken the day off, originally thinking that if they did “it,” he heard it would be painful the next day and he’d need a day to recover. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.
Xie Yu turned and got out of bed, opening the window. The damp, cold air instantly filled the bedroom. He looked out the window and saw people going to work or school, white steam billowing from the breakfast shop, and hot buns being handed out from the steamer. Everything seemed just right.
Shen Ci had already put on his coat. He hadn’t brought any clothes, so he was still wearing Xie Yu’s, with the collar pulled all the way up, like he was draped in a blanket.
Xie Yu: “If you’re not working, what are your plans for today?”
Shen Ci: “It’s rare to have free time during the day, so I plan to visit Grandma.”
Visits to the VIP ward required appointments. He pulled out his phone, opened the app, and was about to make the reservation when Xie Yu closed the window and turned around. “Can you make an appointment for me too? Given our relationship now, I should go see her as well.”
Shen Ci’s typing hand paused slightly, then he chuckled, a hint of self-mockery in his voice. “What kind of relationship do we have now?”
He had asked this question before, and Xie Yu had answered directly, without hesitation. Back then, he had said it was a contractual relationship, and now it was naturally the same.
Apart from that, there was nothing else.
But Xie Yu had already opened the door, reaching out to grab the takeout. He brought the porridge in and continued naturally, “A couple’s relationship?”
Shen Ci’s hand went slack, and his phone dropped, rolling onto the floor.
He didn’t bother to pick it up, his voice a little urgent, a little bitter. “Say that again. What’s our relationship?”
Xie Yu turned his head to look at him, chuckling silently. He dragged out the words, repeating them one by one, “A couple’s relationship.”
He placed the porridge on the dining table and shook his head slightly. “Come and eat breakfast quickly. Aren’t we going to the hospital soon?”
Saying this, Xie Yu raised his eyes, a smile melting in them. “Wouldn’t you agree, Assistant Shen?”
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Oh my, the nickname is back… lol.