Month: February 2025 (Page 3 of 4)

Chapter 92

       Pei Qing obviously didn’t expect to see Pei Jingrong at this time, and he subconsciously called out, “Dad?”

       Pei Jingrong’s eyes first fell on Zhan Weiyang’s face beside him and then looked at their hands that were still clasped together.

       The elevator door opened and was about to close. Pei Jingrong quickly stretched out his hand to open the door and walked out. He stood in front of the two people with his tall body and asked, “Why is Yangyang here? Where are you going so early in the morning?”

       Zhan Weiyang stared at him blankly and didn’t even remember what to say.

       Pei Qing, on the other hand, asked, “Why are you here?”

       Pei Jingrong looked unhappy and said in a low voice, “I came to see you.” Seeing that Pei Qing was still looking at him, he added, “I arrived last night. I had a meeting this morning, and I came here specially while it was still early.”

       Some time ago, Zhan Yingfei contacted Pei Qing to ask for his current address, and Pei Qing knew to tell Zhan Yingfei. Zhan Yingfei said that she would come to see Pei Qing when she was free the next time, but unexpectedly, Pei Jingrong came first.

       Pei Jingrong asked again, “Where are you going so early?”

       Pei Qing said, “I’m taking Yangyang home.”

       Pei Jingrong looked at their hands, “Did Yangyang sleep here last night?”

       Pei Qing replied, “Yes.”

       Pei Jingrong was much more sensitive than Zhan Pengcheng, and he had always had some thoughts about the fact that Pei Qing was popular with girls but had never been in a relationship until he graduated from college. He was somewhat suspicious at this time. Regardless of whether Zhan Weiyang intelligence was normal or not, he was a beautiful boy of 17 or 18 years old after all. Pei Qing holding hands with him outside was inappropriate in Pei Jingrong’s opinion.

       He then asked Zhan Weiyang, “Does Yangyang often stay overnight here?”

       Although Pei Jingrong’s tone was gentle, Zhan Weiyang always felt that something was not quite right, and instead of answering, he looked to Pei Qing for help.

       Pei Qing said to Pei Jingrong, “You can ask me anything you want to ask; don’t test Yangyang.”

       Pei Jingrong’s face darkened when he heard his words, “What do you mean by testing? What do you think I am testing?”

       Zhan Weiyang held Pei Qing’s hand tightly with some fear.

       Pei Qing said, “Dad, don’t be angry, you scared Yangyang.”

       Pei Jingrong took a deep breath and suppressed his anger.

       Pei Qing said, “I will send Yangyang back now. Do you want to go with us?”

       Pei Jingrong said, “I have a meeting later.”

       Pei Qing reached out and pressed the elevator, “Then, after you finish the meeting, if you are still interested, you can contact me.”

       The elevator door opened again, and Pei Qing took Zhan Weiyang’s hand and went in.

       Zhan Weiyang carefully hid behind Pei Qing, looking at Pei Jingrong over Pei Qing’s shoulder.

       Pei Jingrong also came into the elevator. As the elevator descended, he said, “Pei Qing, you are already an adult. You know what’s going on with Zhan Weiyang.”

       At this time, Zhan Weiyang couldn’t help but whisper, “I am also an adult.”

       As soon as he finished speaking, Pei Jingrong looked at him. He felt that Pei Jingrong was particularly fierce. He was a little scared but insisted, “I am not an idiot either.”

       Pei Qing suddenly turned his head to look at Zhan Weiyang. He raised his hand to hug Zhan Weiyang, patted him on the back, and said, “Of course you are not.”

       When the elevator door opened, Pei Jingrong walked out. He turned around and said to Pei Qing, “I will come to see you in the afternoon.”

       Pei Qing nodded calmly.

       They arrived at the Zhan family quite early. Zhan Pengcheng had just gotten up and didn’t want to wake up Zhan Weiyang. He went downstairs alone to eat breakfast and then arranged the flowers and plants on the balcony on the second floor.

       When Pei Qing and Zhan Weiyang returned, Zhan Pengcheng saw them from a distance. He was stunned at first, but when he realised that the person was Zhan Weiyang, he could not suppress his anger.

       When Pei Qing rang the doorbell, Auntie Luo came out of the kitchen in a hurry to open the door, but Zhan Pengcheng had already run down from the second floor.

       He opened the door and punched Pei Qing in the face.

       “Oh my!” Auntie Luo, who was following Zhan Pengcheng, screamed in fear and raised her hand to cover her mouth.

       Zhan Weiyang also pulled Pei Qing away in panic and stood in front of him, shouting, “Dad is crazy!”

       Zhan Pengcheng said angrily, “Dad is not crazy!  It’s this bastard boy that I’m beating that’s crazy!”

       Pei Qing’s cheek soon became red and swollen. He opened his mouth, blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, and he also spit out a bloody tooth.

       Zhan Pengcheng’s punch was merciless and directly knocked out one of Pei Qing’s teeth.

       “When did you take Yangyang out?” Zhan Pengcheng asked angrily.

       Pei Qing opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

       Zhan Weiyang said loudly, “I ran away secretly! I ran away alone!”

       At this time, Grandma was startled, and she walked out tremblingly from inside, holding the wall, looking around and asked, “What’s the matter?” After asking, she saw the blood at the corner of Pei Qing’s mouth and the teeth on the ground, and said in panic, “What’s wrong with xiao Qing?”

       Pei Qing comforted her in an unclear voice, “It’s okay, grandma.”

       Zhan Weiyang squatted down, picked up Pei Qing’s bloody teeth on the ground with his hands, and stood up sadly to look at Pei Qing.

       Pei Qing touched his head and said, “It’s nothing, don’t be afraid.”

       Zhan Pengcheng’s anger finally subsided a little at this time. He also looked at the tooth in Zhan Weiyang’s hand, then Pei Qing’s red and swollen face, and said, “Let’s go to the hospital first.”

       Pei Qing said, “It doesn’t matter. It’s already fallen out anyway. There’s no rush.”

       Zhan Pengcheng stretched out his hand to Zhan Weiyang, “Yangyang, come back.”

       Zhan Weiyang stepped back and stood behind Pei Qing, lowering his eyes and not looking at Zhan Pengcheng.

       Pei Qing asked Zhan Pengcheng, “Can we talk, Uncle?”

       Zhan Pengcheng didn’t answer. He was looking at Pei Qing, but his eyes suddenly looked over Pei Qing’s shoulder and into the distance.

       Pei Qing and Zhan Weiyang turned their heads at the same time and saw Pei Jingrong, who was dressed in a suit and leather shoes, walking towards them.

       No one knew why Pei Jingrong, who should have been in a meeting, suddenly appeared here.

       Zhan Weiyang felt even more nervous and looked up at Pei Qing. Pei Qing leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Don’t be afraid; gege is here.”

       Zhan Weiguang was awakened by the noise downstairs early in the morning. He pulled the quilt over his head and didn’t want to get up, but he heard Zhan Weiyang shouting. He couldn’t help but get out of bed. He first leaned over to the window and took a look. He didn’t see anyone, so he changed his clothes and went down from the third floor.

       When he walked to the first floor, he saw that the sofa in the living room was full of people. In addition to Zhan Pengcheng and Grandma, Pei Qing and Zhan Weiyang were also there, and there was a tall man. Zhan Weiguang saw the back at first and couldn’t recognise who it was until he walked to the side and found that it was Pei Jingrong.

       When did Pei Jingrong come?

       Zhan Weiguang was startled and subconsciously looked at Pei Qing and Zhan Weiyang.

       The atmosphere in the living room was very solemn. No one spoke. Zhan Weiguang came down late and didn’t know what they had talked before.

       At this time, Pei Jingrong stood up, walked to Pei Qing, and asked, “Is what your uncle said just now true?”

       Pei Qing looked up at him, “It’s true.”

       Pei Jingrong saw his red and swollen cheek and asked, “Did your uncle hit you?”

       Pei Qing nodded.

       Hearing this, Pei Jingrong suddenly raised his fist and hit Pei Qing hard on the other cheek, then said, “That was an excellent punch!”


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Chapter 63 – My little bridge is back! (Part 2) 

Chapter 63 – My little bridge is back! (Part 2) 

When Zhao Qi turned around, Xiao Shiqing had already sat up. Perhaps because he still had a slight fever, his eyes seemed misty, his face slightly flushed, adding a touch of charm to his nobility.

 

Relieved, Zhao Qi cried out, “Ah, brother is finally awake. I couldn’t hold on much longer…”

 

Xiao Shiqing looked at him softly, “How long have I been asleep?”

 

“An entire day.”

 

Xiao Shiqing was somewhat speechless, “… Just one day and you’ve worn yourself out like this? Come here.”

 

Zhao Qi obediently sat down beside the bed, “Brother, are you hungry? Should I have someone bring you a bowl of noodles?”

 

“Didn’t you just eat noodles?”

 

“Uh, how did you know?”

 

“I could smell it.” Xiao Shiqing casually touched Zhao Qi’s abdomen, “Looks like you ate quite a bit, hmm?”

 

Feeling guilty, Zhao Qi tugged at his outer robe, covering his stomach, “If you’re not hungry, shall we look at these memorial books first?”

 

Xiao Shiqing looked up and saw the mountain of memorial books on the table, narrowing his eyes.

 

“Half of these I’ve reviewed myself, and the other half I’m not sure how to handle. Brother, you…”

 

Before Zhao Qi could finish his sentence, Xiao Shiqing had already pulled him close and onto the bed, and the two fell into a warm and fragrant embrace.

 

Cheng Boyan tactfully withdrew, leaving only Zhao Qi and Xiao Shiqing in the room.

 

Xiao Shiqing pressed Zhao Qi gently, avoiding his stomach, and said with a hint of restraint, “You cried beside my bed for so long just to wake me up early and help you review these memorials?”

 

“… What else could it be? Wait, Xiao Shiqing, you heard all that?”

 

Zhao Qi’s face changed, cautiously probing, “Brother, what did you hear?”

 

Xiao Shiqing countered, “What do you think I heard?”

 

With his long hair cascading onto Zhao Qi’s face, tickling him slightly, Zhao Qi twisted his fingers nervously, “It was all nonsense. Please don’t take it to heart.”

 

Xiao Shiqing’s eyes were deep, noncommittal.

 

Seizing the opportunity to change the subject, Zhao Qi said, “Prime Minister Brother, the flood situation in Jiangxia, the allocation of disaster relief funds, and the appointment and dismissal of two third-ranking officials in the capital are all waiting for your decision.”

 

Xiao Shiqing couldn’t help but smile.

 

Unaware, Zhao Qi continued, “Most importantly, Prince Huai’s forgery of customs clearance documents and unauthorized departure from the capital.”

 

Xiao Shiqing fell silent for a moment, lying on his side, “Noted.”

 

“Noted? Is that all?”

 

“Brother, shouldn’t we send someone to bring him back?”

 

“No need,” Xiao Shiqing said casually, “he should return on his own. If he doesn’t, there may be trouble in the northern border.”

 

Confused, Zhao Qi asked, “If we were going to let him go back eventually, why did we detain him in the first place?”

 

Xiao Shiqing explained, “To undermine his army’s morale, buy time, and find an excuse for future military expeditions.”

 

Though Zhao Qi only partially understood, if Xiao Shiqing said so, he had nothing more to worry about. A heavy burden was lifted from his heart.

 

Suddenly, Xiao Shiqing said, “You still haven’t answered my question.”

 

“What question?”

 

“Who are you trying to bring here?” The two lay face to face, Xiao Shiqing staring into Zhao Qi’s eyes, his voice slow and deliberate, “The Japanese divine doctor?”

 

Zhao Qi’s mind raced, quickly concocting a seamless excuse on the spot, “I was worried that the imperial physician couldn’t heal you well. I heard that the doctors from Japan are highly skilled, so I thought of inviting one to take a look at you…”

 

Xiao Shiqing watched the little emperor lie without batting an eye, his emotions complex. He then smiled faintly and said, “Funny thing is, noticing Your Majesty’s prolonged illness, I’ve invited a renowned physician from Dongying. He’ll arrive in Jiangxia soon. When he does, let him examine Your Majesty. Surely he’ll find out the reasons behind Your Majesty’s recent loss of appetite and excessive sleepiness.”

 

Zhao Qi’s face turned pale upon hearing this. He forced a smile and said, “My illness is already cured, Brother. Look, now I can eat a lot at every meal.”

 

“No harm,” Xiao Shiqing replied calmly. “Since the physician is already on his way, it’s better to have him check, to prevent… any relapse of old ailments.”

 

Zhao Qi gasped, “No! There’s no way I’ll relapse!”

 

Xiao Shiqing toyed with Zhao Qi’s hair with his fingertips, smiling lightly. “Are you so sure about that?”

 

Zhao Qi’s mind raced. If indeed another physician from Dongying came to diagnose him, his secret about the dragon egg would be exposed, unless he could get rid of it before then.

 

Life or death, it depended on whether Zhao Qiao’s physician or Xiao Shiqing’s physician arrived first.

 

Xiao Shiqing observed every subtle reaction from Zhao Qi and asked softly, “What are you thinking?”

 

Zhao Qi’s thoughts were chaotic. He blurted out, “I’m… wondering why Brother wants to discuss these matters in bed with me.”

 

Xiao Shiqing chuckled, “Is it inappropriate to talk about state affairs in bed?”

 

“Well, discussing state affairs doesn’t seem quite appropriate…”

 

“I think it’s rather nice,” Xiao Shiqing half-joked, half-seriously. “From now on, let’s discuss matters in bed, Your Majesty.”

 

“Oh,” Zhao Qi replied, “shall I bring the memorials to bed for you to review?”

 

Xiao Shiqing smirked, “You are indeed diligent in state affairs. Lie down, I’ll fetch them.”

 

Despite still recovering, Xiao Shiqing reluctantly reviewed the memorials. He lay on the outer side, shielding Zhao Qi from the light, allowing him to sleep peacefully on the inner side.

 

After thoroughly reviewing all the memorials, including those already endorsed by Zhao Qi, it was almost dawn.

 

He lay down again, his hand resting gently on Zhao Qi’s abdomen, and whispered, “Any movement?”

 

The little dragon egg seemed to respond, kicking gently under his father’s skin.

 

Xiao Shiqing smiled faintly, almost sighing as he murmured softly, “Good.”

 

As Cheng Boyan had predicted, Xiao Shiqing’s young and strong constitution responded well to the medicines. After a night’s rest, most of his illness had receded. When he got up, Zhao Qi was still asleep. Xiao Shiqing specifically instructed Jiang Dehai not to wake the emperor, letting him sleep as much as he needed.

 

Cheng Boyan brought medicinal soup and cautioned, “Prime Minister, your illness is not fully healed yet. Please finish the soup before you leave.”

 

Xiao Shiqing took the bowl and asked, “Cheng Boyan.”

 

“Here.”

 

“What exactly is His Majesty’s illness?”

 

Cheng Boyan bowed his head, “Your Majesty is suffering from discomfort due to differences in climate and environment, which have affected his health.”

 

Xiao Shiqing glanced at him and drank the soup in one go.

 

It was rare to find someone so loyal and fearless even in the presence of the emperor. For now, he decided to keep Cheng Boyan around.

 

Zhao Qi woke naturally from his sleep, finding the pillow beside him empty. Yawning, he asked, “Where’s the Prime Minister?”

 

“The Prime Minister has gone to attend to matters,” Jiang Dehai replied. “Before leaving, he instructed us to be quiet and not disturb Your Majesty.”

 

Zhao Qi settled back into bed contentedly. “Then I’ll lie down for a bit longer.”

 

Thus, what was the point of being an all-powerful emperor when one was exhausted like a dog, having no time to enjoy even the grandest luxuries? It was better to delegate some power to trusted individuals. Life was short, and seizing the moment for joy was the wisest choice.

 

For example, right now, no one could drag him out of bed—absolutely no one!

 

Just as Zhao Qi was self-soothing, a eunuch rushed in anxiously, “Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

 

Keeping his eyes closed, Zhao Qi asked, “What’s the matter?”

 

“They’re here, they’re here! Young Master Zhao Si has returned with the physician from Dongying!”

 

Zhao Qi sat up abruptly, exclaiming, “Quick, spread the word!”


T/N: There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

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How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

 

Chapter 40

       In the end, nothing happened that night.

       Ever since Chu Yunhan witnessed the terrifying episodes with his own eyes, he was particularly afraid of Chu Yichenoverworking himself. The two kissed and hugged each other and finally fell asleep hugging each other on the same bed. When he woke up, he found himself clinging to Chu Yichen like a stubborn adhesive plaster, practically pushing the man to the edge of the bed. Yet, the man had let him hold on like that, lying sideways precariously at the bed’s edge.

       He let go of his hand and shrank to the side in embarrassment, saying, “Have you been awake for a while?”

       “Just woke up.”

       “I have this habit of holding onto something when I sleep…” It was a habit formed after his father passed away. Life had suddenly become lonely, cold, and devoid of a sense of security. If he slept alone, he would hug a pillow; if he shared a bed with someone, he would cling to them. Knowing that Chu Yichen was used to sleeping alone, he hesitated for a moment before offering, “If you’re not comfortable with it, I can go back to my room…”

       “I’ll get used to it. We have plenty of time to get used to each other.”

       You and I, a lifetime.

       Chu Yunhan suddenly remembered the confessions he had made. His face turned red, and he quickly changed the subject, “What time is it? Shouldn’t we be heading to work?”

       “Seven-thirty,” Chu Yichen said, “What’s on your schedule today?”

       “I’m going to see Zhang Fei in the morning to discuss that Blue Ocean acquisition case he mentioned last time. I’m quite interested and want to see if we can get a share of it. At noon, I’m having lunch with Tang Shaochen. The logistics costs are too high, and I want to negotiate a price reduction. In the afternoon, I will be playing golf with Lu Yao and Zhou Hua. They said they want to introduce me to the China regional president of AL Group. Nothing planned for the evening so far.”

       “Okay, I’ll be back early tonight.”

       Chu Yunhan was stunned for a moment and suddenly understood the meaning of these words. His face immediately flushed a deeper red, and he murmured a soft ‘Oh’.

       “Try not to drink alcohol at noon.”

       “En.”

       “Don’t get too close to him.” This ‘him’ obviously referred to Tang Shaochen. Chu Yichen was well aware that back when Chu Yunhan had hidden his identity to work as a waiter at Lihao, Tang Shaochen had relentlessly pursued him.

       He laughed and joked, “If I get along with him, what will you do?”

       “I wouldn’t be able to do anything. Tying you down would only make you resent me, and killing him would make you upset. I have no way to deal with you.” SComing from Chu Yichen, those words seemed to carry both helpless resignation and indulgent affection, spoken with a quiet, tender sincerity.

       Chu Yunhan felt that he had absolutely no resistance left against this man. A simple sentence was enough to soften his heart into a puddle. Blushing, he whispered, “I’ll… come back early tonight too.”

 

       Although their styles differ, in essence, the two brothers of the Chu family are both workaholics. The difference lay in how they came to be: Chu Yichen was molded into one through training, while Chu Yunhan’s diligence came entirely from within. After learning about Chu Yichen’s health issues, Chu Yunhan always felt the need to shoulder more responsibilities for him. He learned as he worked, growing rapidly and transitioning from a manager’s role to that of a decision-maker. Making decisions was akin to playing chess: every move must be calculated to avoid regrets. Sometimes, an insignificant-seeming move could have profound long-term implications, and a single mistake could lead to total failure. In these moments, he gained a deeper appreciation for Chu Yichen’s burdens.

       After a long day of hard work, all Chu Yunhan wanted was to spend an enjoyable, peaceful time with Chu Yichen—to let go of everything and entrust himself completely to the person he trusted most.

       That evening, both of them came home early. They had dinner together, took a short walk, and then Chu Yunhan prepared himself by performing an enema. After showering, he pushed open the heavy basement door.

       Chu Yichen stood in the center of the room, dressed in a tailored black military uniform. The high collar revealed a white shirt and a badge-adorned cravat, while his feet were clad in polished black riding boots. The precise fit of the uniform’s collar and cuffs exuded a restrained and austere allure, while the golden epaulettes, cufflinks, and dangling tassels added a subtle touch of opulence. The ornately designed hard belt around his waist highlighted his slender yet resilient frame, lending a hint of seduction. He held a riding crop with his gloved hand, a suggestive symbol of dominance and desire.

       The ensemble amplified Chu Yichen’s naturally cold and brooding temperament, making it even more striking. His black eyes radiated a sharp, dangerous energy, like a blade gleaming in the moonlight—lethal yet irresistibly beautiful, drawing people to reach out and touch.

       Chu Yunhan froze, staring dumbstruck, until the man’s voice broke his trance, “Slave, come here.” Startled back to his senses, Chu Yunhan quickly shed his outer robe and walked over to kneel before him.

       “Master.” He straightened his back, put his hands behind his back, and maintained a standard kneeling posture. His bare body, exposed to the cool air, should have felt chilled from the loss of warmth, but the presence of the man before him ignited a restless desire, leaving him flushed and overheated.

       Chu Yichen picked up something from the small table and threw it in front of him and said, “Put it on.”

       Chu Yunhan picked up the items and shook them out, immediately feeling his face heat up. He glanced awkwardly at Chu Yichen before lowering his head to put them on.

       The outfit was simple—two pieces, one for the upper body and one for the lower. The top was a tight-fitting vest, cropped just below the ribs, barely covering his chest. The bottom was a black thong with a waistband as thin as a pinky finger and a narrower strip running between his thighs. The spoon-shaped front barely contained his genitals, stretched taut against the material. The fabric was a peculiar blend—not too soft, not too stiff—and had a faint golden sheen. Once on, it clung snugly to his skin, stimulating him subtly with every movement. During the friction, he could feel that his nipples had become hard, and your lower body also felt strange. Wearing it made him feel more ashamed than not wearing it.

       When he knelt down again, Chu Yichen fastened a gold collar around his neck, from which hung a badge matching the one on his uniform. The man’s gloved hand lifted his chin, his black eyes gleaming with an enigmatic, almost amused light. His deep voice carried an irresistible allure.

       “You look beautiful tonight, my slave.”

       When love arises between two people, all attraction and desire become two-way interactions. Chu Yunhan gazed at the man before him, feeling a heat rise within him. His throat dry, his mind blank, he blurted out, “You look beautiful too, my Master.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he realised his mistake and immediately felt a pang of guilt.

       Chu Yichen was usually indulgent, letting him do as he pleased. But once they stepped into their BDSM dynamic and assumed their roles, there was no room for him to challenge his Master’s authority. Punishments were real and uncompromising. At this moment, speaking without permission—and so brazenly, no less—was undoubtedly grounds for discipline.

       Chu Yichen raised an eyebrow, lightly stroking the riding crop in his hand, “It seems you haven’t been punished in a while. Getting itchy, are we?”

       Just the sight of the crop made Chu Yunhan’s back tingle in anticipation. He quickly lowered his head and earnestly admitted his mistake. “I was wrong, Master.”

       “Get down on the sofa.” He said in a commanding tone.

       Chu Yunhan lay down obediently, waiting for punishment without saying a word. It was obviously a pain that he should hated, but for some reason, he felt an inexplicable excitement. Perhaps it was because the one administering the punishment was Chu Yichen. Imagining the man in his military uniform raising the whip against him, Chu Yunhan felt a restless yearning rise unbidden.

       When did he become completely immersed in this relationship and unable to extricate himself?

       Just when he was distracted, he received a heavy blow on his butt, which made him gasp in pain. The man’s displeased voice came over, “Lift your buttocks and count.”

       He bit his lip, lowered his waist lower, and raised his butt like a puppy stretching to facilitate the whipping. When the whip came down, he trembled slightly and began to count aloud, “One. Master, I was wrong. Two. Master, I was wrong…”

       It took ten strokes in total before it stopped. Five strokes on the left and five on the right, fair and reasonable. Both buttocks were numb with pain, and none was left untouched. The light red whip marks left on the fair skin were symmetrical and perfect. Just when he thought the punishment was over and breathed a sigh of relief, he suddenly received another slap on the butt. This time, just when his whole body was relaxing, it hit the left buttock that had just been reddened. It was particularly painful. He groaned in pain and called out sorrowfully, “Master…”

       “Do you know why you were punished?”

       He racked his brains for a while and couldn’t find the answer, so he had to answer, “I don’t know.”

       “Because I want to.” Chu Yichen’s voice had a playful tone. “Keep in mind that you are my property and everything about you is at my disposal. I can treat you any way I like.” His fingers probed into her hips through a thin layer of gloves, slowly running between the cracks, intentionally or unintentionally skimming over by the secret hole hidden in it, tugging at the exposed underwear, rubbing against the small opening of the hole. After this period of time, that place had long been conditioned to be exceptionally sensitive. Chu Yunhan’s body tensed up at this kind of caress, and his legs trembled slightly as he opened his mouth, “I remember, Master. “

       As a slave, he was showing submission to his master. Just like a downed wolf, it spreads its body on its back, exposing its most vulnerable neck and abdomen to the stronger leader to show submission. As soon as he finished speaking, he felt something pressing against the small hole, pressing it tightly and loosely as if he was looking for a suitable time to invade, but it seemed like it was just a playful tease. Chu Yunhan didn’t dare to move at all. He raised his buttocks high and allowed the other party to ravage him in the most secret place.

       “Want me to go in?” the man asked.

       “This body belongs to you…as long as you are happy…you can do whatever you want…” He said intermittently, his face turned red, and he even closed his eyes in shame.

       “Very good.” The man behind seemed to chuckle and said, “Expose your little hole so I can see clearly.”

       Chu Yunhan buried his face on the sofa in a panic, and moved his hands back to spread his buttocks from the sides, revealing the tender red back hole that was half-hidden under the thong.

       Chu Yichen used his fingers to press the tight hole lightly and heavily and said, “Don’t let go without my order.”

       “…Yes, Master.” He responded resignedly, and the force on his hand became heavier. The punished buttocks were now being gripped hard again; pain and numbness were all wrapped up in one place, stinging as if they were being stabbed with tiny needles. The humiliating position he held and the erotic suggestions he received constantly stimulated his brain, making his entire body flush with lust.

       Then, the fingers that had been lingering outside finally reached in. The gloves were removed, and the hot tunnel quickly warmed the lubricant covering the fingers. The invasion was forceful, but also gentle, opening up the tight corridor bit by bit, and entering deeper into the tight hole. The feeling of being penetrated was so clear that Chu Yunhan’s tight legs couldn’t help but tremble, and his hole instinctively contracted to repel foreign objects.

       ‘Pats’

       Chu Yunhan received another slap on the butt, and the man said in a deep voice, “Relax.”

       He pursed his lips and forced himself to adapt. Normally, he would be a little nervous when having sex between the two of them, but today, it was even worse. Whenever he thought about what would happen later, his whole body would be on fire. He was nervous and excited at the same time, and he couldn’t calm down at all. The front part of the c0ck also tilted up unconsciously.


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Chapter 70 – Side Story Four

Chapter 70: Side Story Four

 

Su Muluo brought back a small black dragon.

 

He pinched the dragon’s horn, its long, slender body flailing in the air, squealing and twisting, trying to hook its phoenix’s wrist with its tail.

 

Su Muluo ignored it, one hand holding the little dragon and the other tapping on his phone to check the call records.

 

—— There was nothing on the call record; maybe his dragon had deleted them.

 

Su Muluo raised an eyebrow and turned to the small black dragon, saying, “What were you up to just now?”

 

Small black dragon: “Roar!”

 

Nothing!

 

The phoenix bullied me!

 

It stubbornly refused to admit it, and Su Muluo clicked his tongue, shaking it like a small fish, saying, “Were you trying to flirt with someone else in front of me?”

 

Small black dragon: “Squeak!”

 

I would never flirt with anyone else!

 

No one looks as good as the phoenix, so I wouldn’t even bother with them!

 

Stubborn as it was, it still sweet-talked its phoenix. Su Muluo fell for it and stopped shaking it, letting the little dragon crawl onto his palm and affectionately hug his finger.

 

“Squeak.”

 

The phoenix is the best.

 

“I’m not good,” Su Muluo said with a frown. “You were up to something behind my back and didn’t tell me.”

 

The small black dragon remained silent, its soft horns rubbing against Su Muluo’s fingers, its tail clinging to his wrist, trying to change the subject with affection.

 

Su Muluo stared at the dragon for a while, feeling mischievous and full of strange thoughts, so he poked it.

 

But he didn’t press further because he believed his dragon would tell him sooner or later.

 

—— Although he didn’t press further, whether out of guilt or fear of his phoenix’s inquiries, Long Ling didn’t transform back into human form afterward but stuck to his phoenix in the form of a small black dragon… until bedtime, when it grew larger and wrapped its phoenix in its arms.

 

Su Muluo shifted it around until it found a comfortable position, saying, “Your scales are cool.”

 

The black dragon roared and took the blanket, covering its phoenix.

 

Su Muluo yawned lazily, feeling drowsy, and fell asleep leaning against his dragon.

 

They planned to depart for Songcheng the next morning at ten o’clock. At half-past eight, the alarm went off, and Su Muluo opened his eyes.

 

His dragon wasn’t beside him when he woke up. Su Muluo looked around and found the door open, Long Ling standing at the doorway, just finishing a call.

 

Perhaps having learned from their last hotel experience, this time Long Ling didn’t stray far while Su Muluo slept but stood at the door, visible to his phoenix when he woke up.

 

Seeing his phoenix sit up in bed, Long Ling walked over quickly, holding him affectionately and asking, “Phoenix, what do you want for breakfast?”

 

Su Muluo leaned his head on Long Ling’s shoulder, still a bit sleepy, and rubbed against him, saying, “Anything.” Then he asked, “What were you doing just now?”

 

Long Ling replied, “There were some issues at the company, but they’ve been resolved.”

 

Su Muluo just nodded, thinking to himself, he didn’t believe it at all.

 

After the incident at the hotel last time, if it really was company business, his dragon would definitely have hung up first, waited for him to wake up, and then called back—instead of leaving while he was asleep and taking the call at the door.

 

So, that call must have been about something more important, and it must concern his dragon… It’s very likely related to what Long Ling hid from him yesterday.

 

Thinking about this, Su Muluo squinted slightly, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he planned to pretend not to know and see how long his dragon could keep it from him.

 

Later, the two of them went to the bathroom to freshen up, changed their clothes, and set off for Song City.

 

Song City was several hours’ drive from Lin City, but with the speed of Long and Fenghuang, that was another matter altogether—before long, they arrived here.

 

The city was picturesque, known for its hot springs and delicious food. Long Ling had booked a hot spring inn, and their room was a traditional-style duplex building with exquisite wooden lattice windows overlooking a bamboo forest hot spring.

 

Su Muluo couldn’t take his eyes off the hot spring and really wanted to take a dip—but Long Ling hugged his waist and pulled him back.

 

“Fenghuang left, let’s go play outside first,” Long Ling seemed to have his own plans, saying, “We can come back and soak later.”

 

Su Muluo looked longingly at the hot spring and said, “This hot spring is so beautiful, and there’s bamboo too.” It was much prettier than the lush green spring he often soaked in the mountains!

 

Long Ling thought for a moment and said, “When spring comes, we’ll go back to Muyuan. We’ll plant flowers there, and then we’ll dig a pond and a hot spring for Fenghuang—by then, the hot spring will look beautiful, and Fenghuang can soak in it however he likes.”

 

Su Muluo imagined that scene, his eyes and brows softened, and then he finally agreed to go with his dragon.

 

The rest of the day, they first climbed the famous mountain in Song City and bought a lover’s lock at a lover’s bridge on the mountain, engraved with their names, firmly hanging between the bridge rails—Su Muluo even cast a spell on it, ensuring that no matter how many years passed or how harsh the weather, the lock would neither rust nor deteriorate.

 

After coming down from the mountain, Long Ling took his Fenghuang to a bustling food street. Su Muluo held his dragon’s hand, trying this and tasting that—before they knew it, they had strolled from dawn to dusk.

 

They returned to the inn and enjoyed a relaxing hot spring, then went to the most famous restaurant in Song City for dinner. By the time they returned to the inn again, the starry sky adorned the night, and the cozy little building was lit with orange lights at the doorstep.

 

Su Muluo had a very happy day today, unwilling to let go of his dragon’s hand. Just before opening the door, Long Ling casually asked him, “Does Fenghuang want cake?”

 

Without hesitation, Su Muluo replied, “No.”

 

He was already full from dinner and didn’t feel like having dessert.

 

Long Ling paused for a second, then repeated, “Does Fenghuang want cake?”

 

Su Muluo looked at him and asked, “What’s wrong? Do you want cake?”

 

Long Ling met his gaze but didn’t say anything.

 

Su Muluo felt something was off with this dragon. After a few seconds, he said, “Is there a cake in the room?”

 

Long Ling immediately nodded.

 

Su Muluo smiled and said, “Okay then, I’ll have some.”

 

Although he didn’t know why his dragon suddenly bought cake, since it was prepared by his dragon for him, he was willing to have some.

 

Long Ling happily opened the door, and they walked in. In the living room, a small lamp was on, its light focused in one corner where a beautifully crafted three-tiered cake stood.

 

“A three-tiered cake.”

 

Su Muluo: “…”

 

Su Muluo: “Do you think we can finish it?”

 

This is too big!

 

It’s almost half the height of a person!

 

Long Ling gently shook the hand they held together, saying, “Even if we can’t finish it, it’s okay. Phoenix, taste it first. If you like it, I’ll order from this bakery next time.”

 

Su Muluo felt Long Ling’s strange intentions and said, “But if it’s just for tasting, there’s no need to order such a big cake.”

 

Long Ling insisted, “No, it won’t feel ceremonial if it’s not big.”

 

Su Muluo asked, “Ceremonial?”

 

He sensed something from this and asked, “What do you mean by ‘ceremonial’?”

 

Long Ling immediately fell silent.

 

Su Muluo looked at him, then at his own Phoenix, and after a while, casually picked up the cake knife and fork as if nothing had happened, saying, “Phoenix, come and cut a piece to taste.”

 

“…”

 

Su Muluo felt Long Ling was even stranger now, but under Long Ling’s expectant gaze, he still took the knife and fork to cut a small piece from the bottom.

 

However, Long Ling said, “Cut here, not there.”

 

He gestured for Su Muluo to cut the topmost piece, specifically pointing it out. Su Muluo said nothing, picked up the knife and fork, and cut there—

 

He hit something hard.

 

Su Muluo: “?”

 

At that moment, he seemed to realize something, looked at Long Ling again, and found Long Ling also looking at him with bright golden eyes, clearly very eager for him to discover what it was.

 

So Su Muluo used the knife and fork to uncover that piece of cake and found a small hidden compartment inside, separated by cream and containing an exquisite velvet box.

 

Su Muluo: “!”

 

Long Ling took out the velvet box, cleared his throat as if he had practiced many times, and opened it in front of Su Muluo, saying, “This is a gift for Phoenix.”

 

Inside the box was a shiny diamond ring.

 

Su Muluo didn’t speak. Long Ling continued, “As I promised, when I earn enough money, I’ll give Phoenix a beautiful diamond ring.”

 

He seemed a little proud as he said, “And according to human customs, accepting the ring is like accepting a marriage proposal—so this way, I can marry Phoenix!”

 

“…”

 

Su Muluo didn’t speak for a while, just looked at Long Ling, and suddenly asked, “Where did you learn this method?”

 

Long Ling showed him his phone and said, “I looked it up online.”

 

Su Muluo looked at the screen, where there was a headline saying: “The Most Classic Marriage Proposal Methods. How to Get Your Girlfriend Moved to Tears.”

 

—The accompanying picture was of a girl covering her face and crying.

 

Su Muluo: “…”

 

At this moment, Long Ling leaned over again, lightly touching Su Muluo’s forehead, smiling as he said, “So, Phoenix, do you want to marry me?”

 

Su Muluo remained silent.

 

Long Ling continued, “Phoenix—Phoenix—I want to marry Phoenix and take her home as my wife. Phoenix, please say yes—”

 

His tone lingered slightly, and he affectionately nudged Su Muluo, seeming determined not to stop until he got a response.

 

Listening to his dragon’s coquettish words, Su Muluo looked into those golden eyes filled with laughter and deep love, couldn’t help but smile softly.

 

“Okay,” his brows and eyes curved, the ink-colored eyes reflecting the lights, like reflecting a sky full of dazzling stars, “I agree.”

 

Long Ling’s eyes lit up, immediately hugged his Phoenix tightly, happily kissed his face.

 

And kissed again.

 

Another kiss.

 

He still continued kissing.

 

Su Muluo: “…”

 

Su Muluo covered Long Ling’s mouth and said, “I won’t let you kiss me so much.”

 

Long Ling responded with an “Oh,” a suppressed smile appearing on his face. He whispered near Su Muluo’s ear, “Then I’ll kiss you more when we go to sleep.”

 

Su Muluo remained silent.

 

Long Ling understood his consent and couldn’t help but happily kiss him once more. Then, with great care, he took Su Muluo’s hand, placing a diamond ring on his slender fingers.

 

Su Muluo remarked, “The diamond is quite large, it’s quite shiny.”

 

Long Ling replied, “But it looks good, it suits the Phoenix.”

 

A smile spread across Su Muluo’s eyes as he said, “Then I want to give you a gift too.”

 

Long Ling eagerly asked, “What does the Phoenix want to give me?”

 

Su Muluo pondered for a moment and said, “I’m not sure.” Glancing at the time, he realized it was getting late. “Shall we go back to bed first?”

 

Long Ling was even happier hearing this and followed Su Muluo back to the room, lying down on the bed—

 

Only to watch his Phoenix take out his phone and start searching for “gifts for boyfriends.”

 

Long Ling: “…”

 

Long Ling asked, “What is my Phoenix doing?”

 

“Choosing a gift for you,” Su Muluo replied. “Didn’t I just say that?”

 

Long Ling: “… Then why did the Phoenix say let’s go back to bed first?”

 

Su Muluo looked at him, blinked, and said, “Because it’s late, so we should go back to bed.”

 

Long Ling: “…………”

 

He looked at his Phoenix with a resentful expression, and Su Muluo couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction.

 

“Alright,” Su Muluo put down his phone. “We can search again tomorrow.”

 

Long Ling remained silent, so Su Muluo leaned over, softly rubbing his cheek against Long Ling’s, and quickly kissed the corner of his mouth.

 

Long Ling’s eyes flickered slightly. He heard his Phoenix softly ask, “So… are we going to sleep?”

 

Long Ling naturally understood the meaning behind these words, his lips curling up slightly as he tenderly embraced his Phoenix, returning the kiss.

 

— The night was long, with plenty of time until dawn.


T/N: Hello hello! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

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Chapter 91

       Zhan Weiyang lay motionless on the bed. He didn’t fall asleep, but he just didn’t want to move. After a long time, he heard no movement outside. Maybe even Zhan Pengcheng had gone back to his room to sleep. He slowly raised his head, moved his body, stuck his head out of the bed, and took a look at the cake on the floor.

       The cake was not big; it was placed in a box, tied with a ribbon outside, and tied with a knot on the top.

       Zhan Weiyang looked at the time. It was precisely eleven at night, and only one hour was left before his eighteenth birthday.

       Thinking of the last hour, Zhan Weiyang suddenly became emotional. He got up from the bed, changed his clothes and put on socks in a hurry, put his keys and mobile phone in his trouser pockets, picked up the cake on the floor, and walked out stealthily.

       He turned off the lights in his room, closed the door very gently, and didn’t turn on the lights in the corridor. He touched the wall and went downstairs timidly.

       After sneaking out of the house, Zhan Weiyang carried the cake and walked out of the neighbourhood while calling a taxi with his mobile phone.

       When he came out of the neighbourhood gate, he saw that the taxi had stopped by the roadside. He hurried over, opened the door, got in the car, and told the driver Pei Qing’s address.

       Pei Qing sent a WeChat message to Zhan Weiyang more than an hour ago, asking him if he was okay now, but Zhan Weiyang did not answer. At that time, Pei Qing hesitated whether to call Zhan Weiyang but was afraid that Zhan Pengcheng would be watching Zhan Weiyang, so he looked at the phone number but still did not dial it.

       He usually slept at this time, but today, his mood was really complicated. Pei Qing took a shower and lay on the bed, and he couldn’t fall asleep at all.

       Zhan Pengcheng’s reaction was actually better than he had anticipated. He had expected more intense blame or even to be hit, but none of that happened. Perhaps Zhan Pengcheng was mindful of the fact that they were in a public place.

       Now that it had begun, it became easier to continue. Pei Qing thought to himself that he must make time to go to Zhan’s house again tomorrow.

       Even if Zhan Pengcheng didn’t want to see him, he had to go see Zhan Weiyang so that Zhan Weiyang wouldn’t have wild thoughts at home.

       With the weak light shining into the room from the window, Pei Qing looked at the outline of the room, thinking idly that he would still have to buy a house in a few years. It didn’t need to be too big; after all, he and Zhan Weiyang would live together, but the inside definitely had to be comfortable.

       Just at this time, Pei Qing heard a knock on the door.

       At first, he thought he had heard it wrong, so he looked at the time on his mobile phone. It was already half past eleven.

       But the knock on the door sounded again, and he reached out to turn on the table lamp on the bedside table, got out of bed and walked outside.

       As soon as he opened the door, Zhan Weiyang stood at the door and threw himself into his arms.

       Pei Qing quickly reached out and hugged Zhan Weiyang, asking, “Why are you here so late?”

       The cake box in Zhan Weiyang’s hand shook, and he hurried in and said, “I’m afraid I can’t make it to twelve o’clock to eat cake with you.”

       Pei Qing picked him up, turned him half a circle, and put him on the ground, saying, “Happy birthday, my baby.”

       They put the cake on the dining table.

       Pei Qing unpacked it, put in the candles, and found the lighter at home. He lit the candles first, then turned off the lights in the room. He then sat down face to face with Zhan Weiyang and sang a birthday song for Zhan Weiyang.

       The orange-red light of the candles was reflected in Zhan Weiyang’s eyes, which kept jumping as if they were stars. He kept looking at Pei Qing and waited until the whole song was finished, holding his hands, closing his eyes and making a wish for himself.

       He thought silently: I hope Dad stop getting angry, Grandma’s health will get better soon, Zhan Weiguang can be more sensible, and Qing ge will always be with me.

       Then he blew out the candles in one breath.

       Pei Qing turned on a small spotlight above his head and handed the knife to Zhan Weiyang to cut the cake.

       Zhan Weiyang looked very focused, wanting to cut the piece of cake with a big cherry in the middle for Pei Qing to eat.

       Because it was late at night, it was very quiet around, Pei Qing spoke softly and asked him, “Did you sneak out?”

       Zhan Weiyang asked curiously: “How did you know?” He carefully cut the piece of cake with the cherry and gave it to Pei Qing.

       Pei Qing took the small plate and said with a smile, “Thank you.”

       Zhan Weiyang said, “Eat it quickly, eat it quickly.”

       Pei Qing thought it was too late, and it was not convenient to send Zhan Weiyang back now. So he should get up early tomorrow morning to send him there and find an opportunity to chat with Zhan Pengcheng as well.

       The whole cake was too much for two people to finish, so Pei Qing put the rest in the refrigerator.

       It was past twelve o’clock at that time. Zhan Weiyang was a little melancholy. He stood in front of the sofa in the living room and said, “My eighteenth birthday is over.”

       Pei Qing came over, hugged him from behind, and whispered in his ear, “How come? From now until this day next year, you are eighteen years old.”

       Zhan Weiyang raised his head to look at him.

       Pei Qing kissed his lips and said, “It tastes sweet like cream.”

       Zhan Weiyang smiled and said, “You have it too.”

       When lying on the bed, Zhan Weiyang got into Pei Qing’s arms, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, “It’s the second day of my eighteenth birthday.”

       Pei Qing couldn’t help laughing and said, “And?”

       Zhan Weiyang bumped him with his elbow.

       Pei Qing looked at him quietly for a while in the dim environment with a smile on his lips and then kissed Zhan Weiyang’s lips.

       Zhan Weiyang thought it was just a sweet kiss, but he didn’t expect Pei Qing’s kiss to leave his lips, slide across his neck, and go all the way down. Zhan Weiyang covered his lips, opened his eyes wide and looked down, panicked and scared, but did not reach out to pull Pei Qing away.

       Later, Pei Qing hugged him and said, “Are you asleep?”

       Zhan Weiyang was still panting slightly and felt something was wrong, so he said, “What about you?”

       Pei Qing rubbed his face with the tip of his nose. “I’m very happy, too. Everything that belongs to Yangyang is mine.”

       Zhan Weiyang felt tired at this time and yawned.

       Pei Qing whispered, “Count down to three, two, one, and see who falls asleep first.”

       When Zhan Weiyang heard the countdown, he got nervous and said, “Immediately, immediately!” He immediately straightened his body and closed his eyes. When Pei Qing really counted down to ‘one’, Zhan Weiyang seemed hypnotised, and his consciousness became blurred.

       Zhan Weiyang slept very deeply this time, but he didn’t sleep too long. Pei Qing woke him up early the next morning.

       He opened his eyes halfway with difficulty and said hoarsely, “Hmm?”

       Pei Qing said, “Get up. If you go back late, your father will look for you.”

       Zhan Weiyang raised his hand to rub his eyes and asked, “What time is it?”

       Pei Qing told him, “It’s already eight o’clock.” In fact, it was only seven o’clock.

       Zhan Weiyang told Pei Qing in a sticky voice, “But I still want to sleep.”

       Pei Qing said, “Can you sleep after you go back? You have to get up now, or should I leave first?”

       When Zhan Weiyang heard Pei Qing say he was leaving, he opened his eyes quickly and said, “I’m up.”

       Pei Qing urged him to wash his face and brush his teeth and then took his hand and went out.

       Zhan Weiyang was still yawning as he walked. He thought about going home and said, “My father is going to lose his temper again.”

       Pei Qing said, “Your father is right to lose his temper; don’t blame him.”

       They stood at the elevator door, waiting for the elevator to come up from the first floor. After more than ten seconds, the elevator had arrived. The elevator door slowly opened, and Pei Qing saw an unexpected figure appear in the elevator.

       Pei Jingrong was standing in the elevator wearing a suit and tie. When he saw them, he frowned slightly.


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Chapter 30

       Jiang Tongyan had experienced many joyful moments in his life. Or rather, apart from those unsuccessful love stories, he was like a fish in water in every other aspect.

       Though it might sound shameful to say, he had grown up in a wealthy and loving family, where family members cherished one another. With such a background, there was hardly anything that could suffocate him with worry—happiness, on the other hand, was plentiful.

       Especially for Jiang Tongyan. His grandfather had taught him from a young age to be grateful, to respect and appreciate everything. With that mindset, he had lived most of his life quite well.

       But if he were to name his ‘happiest’ moment…

       Nowadays, advertisements weren’t even allowed to use the word ‘most’. People, especially cautious businessmen like Jiang Tongyan, avoided using those words whenever possible, lest they left themselves open to criticism.

       He wouldn’t casually label anything or anyone as ‘the most’ either—making absolute statements so easily was a foolish thing to do.

       However, the moment Qian Xiaoke asked him to recall the happiest time of his life, his rationality was immediately shattered by a flood of memories. The scene that popped into his mind was that day when he and Qian Xiaoke had been tangled up naked in bed.

       Well—only the first half. Because the second half was one of the most painful memories of his life.

       After thinking carefully for so long, this ‘most’ was the conclusion he came to.

       Jiang Tongyan subconsciously recalled that afternoon when Qian Xiaoke was lying naked on the bed, completely at his mercy. 

       At that time, he hadn’t yet known that Qian Xiaoke’s name was Qian Xiaoke, nor did he know that this guy was Cheng Sen’s employee. And he definitely hadn’t known that, not long after, they would experience something utterly suffocating.

       At that time, he just thought that this guy was soft and seductive—if only his mouth could be sewn shut.  

       As Qian Xiaoke continued his ‘treatment’, he was muttering, “Relax, relax. The more nervous you are about this kind of thing, the greater the psychological pressure, and the greater the psychological pressure—” 

       Qian Xiaoke stopped.

       His voice and movements stopped together.

       Jiang Tongyan was still lost in his memories. The first encounter was always beautiful. Back then, Qian Xiaoke didn’t seem as annoying as he was now. 

       “Jiang Tongyan.”

       Jiang Tongyan didn’t respond. He was busy blushing.

       “Jiang Tongyan!”

       Still no response—he was too busy savouring the Qian Xiaoke in his memory. 

       “Jiang Tongyan, for god’s sake!” Qian Xiaoke’s sudden sharp cry finally yanked Jiang Tongyan’s soul back into his body.

       “Look!” Qian Xiaoke excitedly grabbed Jiang Tongyan’s arm and shook it. “There’s a reaction! Holy shit, Big bro, you’re finally working again!”

       Jiang Tongyan looked down and saw that his ‘brother’, who had been in a state of depression, seemed to have straightened up slightly. At the same time, he heard Qian Xiaoke beside him wiping away non-existent tears and saying, “Look at it; it opened its eyes happily.”

       Jiang Tongyan had never been to school in China and had never studied Chinese well, so naturally, he didn’t know what the ‘opened his eyes happily1comes from the famous Chinese essay Spring (春) by Zhu Ziqing. In the original text, it describes the way the earth and nature wake up joyfully as spring arrives’ was.

       He only knew that he seemed to have really reacted.

       “Go on!” Jiang Tongyan was excited, “Hurry up, strike while the iron is hot!”

       Qian Xiaoke felt that he was right, and this kind of thing must be done while the iron was hot!

       He reached out his hand again, but the other party stopped again.

       “…Why is this?” Qian Xiaoke frowned.

       The surge of male confidence Jiang Tongyan had just felt was instantly shattered into dust. The moment Qian Xiaoke spoke, it was like a breeze blowing out a flickering candle.

       Jiang Tongyan looked down, his face full of sadness and disappointment.

       This was like someone giving him a piece of candy—just as he took a bite, they snatched it away and smacked him across the face.

       Honestly, it would have been better if they hadn’t given him the candy in the first place.

       The room, which had just been filled with excitement, now fell into heavy silence again.

       Qian Xiaoke felt this was not okay, so he said, “No worries, this is a good sign. The fact that it lifted a little proves there’s hope!”

       Jiang Tongyan frowned slightly, feeling heavy-hearted.

       “Come on, we got this!” Qian Xiaoke was full of energy, leaving Jiang Tongyan speechless.

       “Hey, don’t make that face!” Qian Xiaoke really couldn’t stand Jiang Tongyan like this. He was used to them constantly bickering, used to Jiang Tongyan strutting around with his arrogant attitude, nitpicking everything. This dejected version of him was unfamiliar and unsettling.

       “Don’t be like this, don’t be like this.” Qian Xiaoke helped tie his bathrobe back up and coaxed him like a child. “Don’t be sad. These things take time, you know?”

       “…Qian Xiaoke.” Jiang Tongyan looked at him with a pitiful expression. “Do you think maybe that was just a last flicker before death?”

       “…Hey!” Qian Xiaoke slapped Jiang Tongyan on the back, “What nonsense are you talking about? Pah pah pah!” Seeing him like this, Jiang Tongyan suddenly laughed.

       “Why are you so confident?” Jiang Tongyan still felt depressed, and he felt that his future was hopeless.

       “Do you not have confidence in yourself?” Qian Xiaoke wiggled his fingers at him. “Look, the situation isn’t great, but it’s not completely useless either!”

       Qian Xiaoke smiled, “I just realised—my hands really are magical.”

       Jiang Tongyan shot him a sidelong glance. “Saying all that, you were just praising yourself, huh?”

       Qian Xiaoke let out a goofy laugh, then smacked him hard on the back again. “Friend, stop being so gloomy. If there’s a problem, we solve it. And if we can’t, there’s always a doctor.”

       Jiang Tongyan really didn’t want to see a doctor.

       That would be humiliating.

       If he went, people would ask: Handsome guy, what’s wrong with you?

       He replied: Doctor, I can’t get hard anymore.

       It was so embarrassing. If words got out—Jiang Tongyan might as well just disappear from the world.

       “I just think that no matter how bad things are, they always get better eventually,” Qian Xiaoke said. “Everyone has hurdles in life. You just have to get past them.”

       Jiang Tongyan wasn’t sure why, but something about what this guy said actually comforted him.

       “Qian Xiaoke, I just realised…”

       “Ah? What?” Qian Xiaoke blinked at him with a completely innocent face.  

       Jiang Tongyan chuckled, reached out, and ruffled his hair. “Nothing.”

       Qian Xiaoke pouted, “Crazy.”

       It’s true, wasn’t this a mental illness?

       Jiang Tongyan thought to himself—he was definitely sick in the head.

       “By the way, I have something to tell you.” Jiang Tongyan said, “I suggested to your Chairman Cheng that they should arrange for you to move into a company-provided dorm soon.”

       “Huh?” Qian Xiaoke was shocked.

       “Don’t huh me,” Jiang Tongyan said, “Go home and pack your things. It should be in the next few days.”

       After he finished speaking, he stood up and straightened his twisted robe, “Just go, go. Do what you need to do; don’t disturb my sleep.”

       “Huh? Why didn’t I know about this?”

       Jiang Tongyan stuffed Qian Xiaoke’s small backpack into his arms. “There are plenty of things you don’t know. Now go, go, go home!”

       Qian Xiaoke was practically shoved out of the hotel by Jiang Tongyan. Standing at the door, he clutched his small backpack with both hands, looking utterly bewildered. To passing strangers, he probably seemed quite pitiful.

       However, Qian Xiaoke was only dazed for a brief moment before snapping out of it, then nearly cheered as he ran out of the hotel.

       Since Qian Xiaoke left, Jiang Tongyan had been leaning against the door, peering through the peephole to watch him. He observed Qian Xiaoke’s changing expressions and saw the guy flitting away like a little swallow. He couldn’t hold back a laugh.

       He walked to the window and soon saw Qian Xiaoke running out of the hotel and running towards his home.

       Qian Xiaoke was truly a fascinating person. When he was happy, it had a contagious effect—just watching him could make others happy, too. This was what Jiang Tongyan thought at this moment.

       Seeing Qian Xiaoke leave so joyfully, all his previous gloom vanished. He felt like he was floating on a cloud of color.

       He picked up the phone and called Cheng Sen.

       “Calling me this late, what do you want?”

       “What are you up to?” Jiang Tongyan asked, “Do you have time now?”

       “I’m having dinner with my Baby,” Cheng Sen said, “I’m busy.”

       “…Do me a favour,” Jiang Tongyan said, “Help me find two apartments next to each other.”

       Cheng Sen burst into laughter, “Got it.”

       “I haven’t explained it yet. What do you get?”

       Cheng Sen laughed, “Your intention is written on your face.”

       He said, “I thought Qian Xiaoke was not your type.”

       “…Cheng Sen! What’s wrong with you?!” Jiang Tongyan roared, “Who said that? What does this have to do with Qian Xiaoke? Stop talking nonsense!”

       Cheng Sen laughed so hard he nearly fell out of his chair. Zhou Mo came over and muttered in disgust, “Who is that on the phone? Sounds like they’re on drugs or something.”

       “Jiang Tongyan,” Cheng Sen said, He’s fallen for Qian Xiaoke but won’t admit it.”

       Zhou Mo let out a surprised, “Ouch”. He leaned over to the microphone and asked, “Old Jiang, you are not pursuing Suo Yang anymore?”

       Suo Yang?

       Who is Suo Yang?

       Jiang Tongyan was in a trance for a moment, and then he remembered that Suo Yang was his ideal blind date partner!

       “I’m too busy recently,” Jiang Tongyan lied, “I haven’t had time to make an appointment with him.”

       “I don’t think you need to make an appointment,” Zhou Mo said, “He’s busy too and has no time to deal with you.”

       Jiang Tongyan pouted, deciding he didn’t want to waste any more words on this couple.

       “Cheng Sen, please arrange the rental for me as soon as possible, preferably in the next two days, fully furnished and ready to move in.”

       “So urgent?” Cheng Sen said, “Even if you’re coming, it won’t be until the end of the year, right?”

       “It’s just… ugh, don’t ask so many questions. I’ll pay. Just help me out.”

       Cheng Sen, who had seen through everything, agreed, and after hanging up the phone, he contacted a familiar real estate agent.

       Jiang Tongyan stood by the window, contemplating for a long while before lighting a cigarette.

       He found that he hadn’t been smoking much lately—because he hadn’t been feeling stressed.

       Although rich people were much happier, they occasionally had ‘little melancholy moments’—like when someone else snatched their crush away. Usually, at times like that, Jiang Tongyan would smoke.

       But since he met Qian Xiaoke, he almost quit smoking.

       It was good, amazing even.

       Qian Xiaoke was really an amazing person.

       Jiang Tongyan chuckled with the cigarette between his lips. Ash fell onto the windowsill, and he casually blew it to the ground.

       This time, he wasn’t smoking because he was upset. As for why?

       That’s a secret.

       He wasn’t about to let anyone know what he was thinking.


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Chapter 39

       Early in the morning, the atmosphere in the conference room on the 12th floor of Golden Eagle Group’s headquarters was already tense. This time, the new project was a cross-industry investment in the animation and gaming sector. The directors from the Network Technology Department, Planning Department, Finance Department, and Operations Department each stuck to their own opinions, arguing back and forth in a heated debate, making it difficult to reach any conclusion.

       Chu Yunhan, seated at the head of the table, fiddled with the pen in his hand while watching the lively discussion with interest. It wasn’t until the directors had nearly exhausted their energy that he gave a light cough.

       The conference room immediately quieted down, and all eyes turned toward him.

       These individuals were the backbone of the company, each an expert in their respective fields, and normally quite proud and difficult to impress. When Chu Yunhan had first arrived and taken the position of vice president, many assumed he had relied on connections to get there and were thoroughly unconvinced, treating him with little regard. Chu Yunhan understood that to gain a foothold, he needed to demonstrate real capability. Over the course of just two months, he worked tirelessly, leveraging nearly all his connections, and successfully secured two major government tender projects. This transformed his reputation from ‘useless rich kid’ to ‘someone who knows what they’re doing’. He was decisive in his actions, innovative, and adept at utilising his network. His management style emphasised results, with a principle of ‘get the work done, and I won’t interfere with the rest’, and he was generous with bonuses. As a result, he was quite popular among employees, especially the female staff.

       These directors, having dealt with him for some time, had come to understand his way of working. While he appeared approachable, he had his own ideas and was someone who ‘ignored minor issues but made the big decisions’. So, despite their earlier quarrels, they now quieted down to hear his perspective.

       Chu Yunhan was sitting upright, looking dignified and energetic in a dark blue suit. He put down the pen he’d been fiddling with, swept his gaze calmly over everyone, and began speaking, “I’ve reviewed all your proposals. They’re thorough, well-reasoned, and highly informative. It’s clear that each of you has put considerable effort into researching the market and technical aspects.”

       He raised his eyebrows slightly and shifted his tone, “However, focusing solely on the difficulties will obscure the hope for success. This investment carries risks and challenges, but breaking the ice always comes at a cost. Once we tap into the second-dimension market, the returns will be substantial. We need to proceed cautiously but also boldly. Rather than just listing risks and challenges, I want to see suggestions on how to break through and methods to mitigate risks. I’ll give you three days to prepare. In three days, I hope to hear more constructive opinions. That’s all for today.”

       After efficiently wrapping up the morning meeting and returning to his office, the secretary, Irene, walked in holding a bouquet of flowers and said, “Chairman Chu, these flowers are for you. Today, it’s red roses.”

       Chu Yunhan glanced at it and said, “Help me find a vase to put it in.”

       “Understood.” Irene replaced the sunflowers in the vase with the red roses. As she arranged them, she commented, “Chairman Chu, your girlfriend is really thoughtful, sending flowers at the same time every day.”

       He smiled and said nothing.

       After changing the water in the vase, Irene placed it in its usual spot on the desk and left the room.

       Chu Yunhan gazed at the bouquet of red roses, encircled with baby’s breath, and felt a surge of emotion. Flowers, gifts, candlelight dinners… The tricks he once used to woo girls were now used to court him. Chu Yichen, as always, was relentless in his approach. For two straight months, he sent one bouquet every day without any duplicates.

       It felt a bit awkward to constantly receive gifts without reciprocating. Perhaps he should give something in return? But what? A trinket like a tie clip, wallet, or watch? Or something practical, like a razor, shoes, or a mug?

       Thinking of a mug, Chu Yunhan recalled last night. Feeling thirsty, he had casually grabbed Chu Yichen’s cup to drink water, only to realise it was the same one he’d given him in high school, now well-worn. After he finished drinking, Chu Yichen grasped his wrist and took two sips directly from the spot Chu Yunhan had drunk from, pressing his lips to the rim. The image of Chu Yichen’s elegant neck, slightly tilted jawline to form a beautiful angle, and the motion of his Adam’s apple as he swallowed.

       His body felt hot again for no apparent reason.

       He took a deep breath and looked down at the report. After looking at the case, he grabbed a few forms and went out. He greeted the staff in the elevator with a serious expression. He walked into the president’s office with a face that he had to discuss important business and then sat down. He got on the sofa and said, “Don’t send flowers in the future.”

       “What’s wrong?” The man behind the large desk looked at him and asked.

       “It’s interfering with my work.” He said uncomfortably, “Whenever I look up, I see them, and when I see them, I get lost in thought, and when I get lost in thought… I think of you.”

       Chu Yichen curled his lips, “When you think of me, I am also thinking of you.”

       Chu Yunhan’s face turned red. He couldn’t bear it and made a motion of vomiting. He said, “You can say such cringy things without changing your face. I’m impressed.”

       The man smiled and sat down next to him and said, “You don’t like the flowers today?”

       He glanced at the closed door, leaned down, found a comfortable position, stretched out his legs, put his head on the other person’s lap, and said, “Red rose… I thought you wouldn’t give such an explicit flower.”

       “Today is the anniversary.” Chu Yichen said, “The day I first met you.”

       Chu Yunhan was stunned and said, “Today?”

       “En.”

       “You remember things from so long ago.” He was stunned. “It’s not possible that you fell in love with me at first sight back then, right? Though I was pretty cute as a kid, you were way too precocious! Do you know that kind of thing counts as paedophilia? Oh, right, you were a kid too… Wait, were you already… like that back then?”

       Chu Yichen let him talk nonsense and played with the ends of his soft hair and then his round earlobes with his long fingers. Chu Yunhan was ticklish, so he reached over, grabbed his waist and pressed it on his waist. “Your hands are so free; why not massage the waist for me.” Then he muttered in a low voice, “Last time I was tied up like that, it wasn’t comfortable at all, and my waist is still sore after two days…”

       “Uncomfortable?” The man teased while massaging his waist, “You screamed in ecstasy that night, and you ejaculated so fast.”

       His face was completely red now, and he reached out to block Chu Yichen’s mouth while saying, “Shut up…”. However, the other party caught his hand and kissed him lightly on the palm of his hand. This gentle gesture made Chu Yunhan’s heart feel numb and itchy, and he felt inexplicably moved. He rolled over and sat up, then hooked his arms around the man’s neck and brought his lips together.

       Since the two’s hearts were already connected, Chu Yunhan was more proactive, and Chu Yichen was less restrained. The kiss between the two was direct and rough, which was unique to men, biting, licking, and sucking like two beasts fighting to the death. It was like they wanted to swallow each other alive.

       After finally separating, Chu Yunhan gasped and stretched his legs to kneel on Chu Yichen’s body. The two faced each other and kissed again. While he was kissing him, he was touching him naughtily. The man was also aroused by his teasing and gave him a heavy slap on his buttocks. He then said in a low and hoarse voice, “Get off.”

       Chu Yunhan just pretended not to hear, lowered his head and kissed Chu Yichen’s neck like a puppy, which made people feel itchy. Helpless and amused, the man untied his belt, took it out and tied the two troublemaking hands behind his back. Then he pulled down his underwear and released his already erect c0ck. Chu Yunhan’s c0ck was of moderate length and thickness, light in colour, and clean and delicate.

       “You are so brave, not afraid of being seen by the people coming in?” Chu Yichen took hold of his c0ck and stroked it slowly.

       “Bai Xiao is outside…”

       Bai Xiao was well aware of the true relationship between the two of them and would certainly block anyone from coming in, which was why this guy felt so confident. The man curved his lips into a smile, lightly grazing his fingertips over the rim of Chu Yunhan’s collar, and softly said, “Slave, spread your legs a bit wider.”

       When Chu Yunhan heard the word ‘slave’, his body uncontrollably became more aroused. He spread his legs further, sitting completely on the man’s lap. He opened his legs wide and allowed the other man to torment the arousal between his legs. Chu Yichen’s hand left him unable to resist, and the movements of the stroke became faster and faster, and his breathing became more and more rapid. The moans he suppressed came out in small pieces, and a thin layer of sweat spread on his back along with his toes that curled up uncomfortably. However, a feeling of emptiness welled up in his back hole, as if he were a hungry and thirsty vagabond longing to be filled.

       “Hmm… Master…” Chu Yunhan’s eyelashes were misted with water, and his vision was a little blurry, and he said intermittently, “Hold me…please…”

       This is not the first time he has asked for sex. During this period of mutual love, the two of them had done it many times, but Chu Yichen had not once physically entered him, nor had he ever used any means other than those stipulated in the agreement. This stubborn man was still sticking to that damn contract.

       It was the same at this moment. Chu Yunhan could feel the man’s erection close to him, but Chu Yichen still couldn’t bear to do anything. He felt depressed, and his interest suddenly waned. He gritted his teeth and said, “Resign.”

       It was the safe word. He used it for the first time.

       The man’s movements stopped and he looked at him in dismay.

       “Untie me.” He turned away.

       Chu Yichen said nothing and loosened his belt for him.

       Chu Yunhan pulled on his trousers and headed out the door but stopped when he reached the door. After a moment of silence, he said softly, “If you are not interested in me, go find another sub. One-to-many… I have no objection.” After saying that, he quickly left the room.

       As soon as he stepped out, his face fell, dark and gloomy, looking quite intimidating. This immediately led the secretaries to speculate whether Vice President Yun had been scolded by the Chairman due to some work-related mistake.

       Chu Yunhan didn’t even return to his office. Instead, he immediately ordered Bai Yang to drive him home. The moment he entered, he headed straight to Chu Yichen’s room and started rummaging through everything. Du Chuan, noticing the chaotic scene and Chu Yunhan’s apparent determination to turn the room upside down, turned pale. Trembling, he tried to dissuade him, saying, “Young Master Yun, Young Master doesn’t allow anyone to touch his things in this room… Young Master Yun, this is going to be impossible to clean up if you keep doing this… Oh, that box cannot be touched—”

       The green paper box on the top of the cabinet was knocked over, and the contents were scattered all over the floor.

       There were childhood toys.

       There were origami frogs and birds.

       There were messy notes.

       There was a collection of badges.

       There were also a bunch of various trinkets.

       They were all given by him.

       These fragmentary objects related to the two of them were well preserved by Chu Yichen.

        Chu Yunhan was momentarily stunned. It felt like biting into a green apple—sour and astringent. He sat on the carpet, picking up and examining each item before placing it back, muttering to himself as he worked, “Why would he keep all this junk…”

       His effort finally bore fruit. Just when he had nearly torn apart the entire room, he finally found what he wanted—the contract—in the mezzanine of a copy of “Finance and Economics” on the shelf.

       What kind of lunatic hides something like this in a book like this… He cursed secretly in his heart and returned to his room, leaving a teary-eyed Du Chuan with a mess on the floor.

       Chu Yichen had a busy schedule today. He had social activities outside in the evening, and it was midnight when he returned. He stood by Chu Yunhan’s room door. After a moment of hesitation, he decided not to knock. But just as he was about to leave, the door opened. Chu Yunhan stood there, glaring at him. 

       “Still not asleep?” Chu Yichen asked.

       “Come in.” He dropped the two words and headed back inside. He walked to the table and picked up two pieces of paper. He waved them at Chu Yichen, who followed him and said, “Both contracts are here.” One was his own copy, while the other was the one he’d found in Chu Yichen’s room earlier that afternoon.

       When he returned, the man had already heard Du Chuan talk about this matter, and now he just looked at him quietly.

       Chu Yunhan used his hands hard, tore the contract into pieces with three strokes, five divided by two, and said, “It’s void now.”

       Tearing up the contract was equivalent to ending the relationship.

       There was some suppressed sadness in Chu Yichen’s eyes, and he asked, “Don’t you even want to hear an explanation?”

       “I don’t want to hear it.” He picked up two more pieces of paper and handed them over, saying, “Sign it.”

       Chu Yichen took the papers and, after glancing at them, looked up in astonishment, “You…”

       “What? Are you going to sign or not?” Chu Yunhan pretended to be impatient and cut off Chu Yichen’s words. His face slightly flushed as he averted his gaze, “This is my only request. If you don’t agree, forget it.”

       On the paper, the table of options was completely blank, except for the section labeled ‘Acceptable Relationship’, where only ‘One-on-One’ was checked. At the bottom, there was a bold, flamboyant signature.

       CChu Yichen lowered his gaze and smiled. Walking to the table, he leaned over and signed his name. “Didn’t you say this morning that you didn’t mind me finding other subs?”

       “I regretted it, can’t I?” He said gloomily, “Put it in the same place. Otherwise, if I want to regret it again one day, it will be very inconvenient to find it.”

       “Okay.”

       “What’s your explanation?”

       “Didn’t you just say you didn’t want to hear it?”

       “Now I want to.”

       “I was afraid it would remind you of those… unpleasant memories.”

       Hearing this, Chu Yunhan’s heart sank with a twinge of sourness. This man, who feared nothing and no one, was actually afraid of something.

       This man was afraid he would remember being forced into things. Afraid of making him feel panic. Afraid of scaring him. And so, he endured. All of his hesitation, his caution, his concerns, and his self-restraint had been for him.

       Chu Yunhan walked over, tilted his head, and gave him a light kiss on his thin lips. In a soft voice, he said, “From this moment on, everything about me belongs to you, Master.”

       My body is yours to command, my gaze yours to lead, my heart yours to hold. Everything about me is given to you.

       From this moment and for eternity.


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Chapter 62 – My stomach can't wait any longer!

Chapter 62 – My stomach can’t wait any longer!

 

Not mentioning the dragon egg was fine, but as soon as Zhao Qi mentioned it, he wanted to immediately expose Li Chisu’s egg. “If you don’t move aside, I’ll call someone.”

 

Zhao Qi’s threat didn’t have any effect. Li Chisu wasn’t afraid at all. “If Your Majesty calls someone, then what?”

 

Zhao Qi said fiercely, “Then I’ll throw you into the Huai River to feed the fish.”

 

Li Chisu pretended to be surprised. “So when our child asks how his father died, will Your Majesty tell the truth?”

 

Zhao Qi sneered, “Do you really think I would let this child be born?”

 

Li Chisu was even more surprised. “But this is royal blood, maybe the future heir to Your Majesty’s throne. Of course, we should have the child.”

 

“I have other royal blood; you don’t need to worry about this.” Zhao Qi walked past Li Chisu and continued forward.

 

Li Chisu followed closely behind. “Your Majesty, no one can predict the future. Pregnancy and childbirth are matters of fate. They say ‘more children, more blessings.’ If this is true for commoners, it is even more so for royalty. Please consider the state and the people, and think carefully before deciding.”

 

Zhao Qi suddenly stopped and turned to look at Li Chisu. “You make sense, but I can also tell you, I will never allow this child to be born.”

 

“Why?” Li Chisu asked without hesitation.

 

Zhao Qi replied coldly, “Because it’s your child.”

 

Li Chisu was stunned.

 

“I won’t let someone like you father my child.”

 

“Someone like me…” Li Chisu smiled wryly. “What kind of person am I?”

 

Zhao Qi cursed bluntly, “You don’t even have a legitimate queen. There are already many women in the palace, yet you’re still not satisfied. You flirt outside at every opportunity, claiming to be romantic but actually just promiscuous. You treat sex like a meal, without love, only lust. You’re superficial—someone like you doesn’t deserve to be the father of my child.”

 

Li Chisu fell silent, his peach blossom eyes dim and hurt. “Is that how Your Majesty sees me?”

 

“I may have been harsh, but isn’t everything I said true?”

 

Li Chisu smiled self-deprecatingly. “Yes, everything Your Majesty said is true. But those are all in the past. Since I met Your Majesty, I haven’t been with anyone else.”

 

Zhao Qi rolled his eyes dramatically. “You’re quite proud of that. Should I be moved by you now?”

 

Li Chisu felt suffocated, unable to handle the situation as smoothly as before. “Does Your Majesty have to keep dwelling on the past? As long as Your Majesty is willing to give me a chance, I will not disappoint you.”

 

“No chance,” Zhao Qi said without hesitation.

 

Li Chisu sighed. “But I really love Your Majesty, and we already have a child.”

 

Zhao Qi glanced at him sideways. “Did you say the same to your exes?”

 

Li Chisu choked for a moment. “Th-this is different. I never had children with them.”

 

By this time, Zhao Qi had already reached the outer hall, where Sikong, in charge of water affairs in Jiangxia, had been waiting for some time.

 

“I’ve said all I need to. Pack up and return to your fiefdom,” Zhao Qi said.

 

Li Chisu was left standing there, experiencing heartache for the first time. He returned to his room in frustration. Xiaoyu saw his expression and knew immediately that he had hit a wall. She pitied and taunted him, “What did Xiaoyu say? My lord, the Emperor is after all the Emperor. You should just give up.”

 

Before Li Chisu could respond, Suhua spoke up, “My lord rarely meets someone he likes so much. He probably won’t give up easily.”

 

Li Chisu smiled bitterly. “Ah, I’ve been despised.”

 

Suhua asked, “Does my lord regret it?”

 

Li Chisu nodded, reflecting seriously. “Regret.”

 

Xiaoyu gloated, “When my lord was frolicking in the flowers and sleeping around, why didn’t he think of today? In Xiaoyu’s opinion, we should tidy up and return to Nanzhou as soon as possible.”

 

Li Chisu thought for a moment and said slowly, “No rush. I still have a way.”

 

First, Zhao Qi discussed flood control plans with Sikong Jiangxia, but after a long discussion, they still couldn’t come up with a perfect solution. Then he immersed himself in urgent memorials sent from the capital. Each one presented a dilemma that required him to provide the best solution in a short time, taxing his brain cells with every document.

 

One of the memorials reported that Prince Zhao Tong had somehow obtained customs documents stamped with the imperial seal, and had left the capital five days ago, heading north.

 

Zhao Qi vaguely felt something suspicious but was unsure whether he should pursue him. Helpless, with Xiao Shiqing still unconscious, he brought up the matter during the council session, but the ministers held differing opinions and bickered incessantly in his ear, giving him a headache. Ultimately, it was of no use.

 

After the meeting dispersed and the other ministers left, only He Changzhou remained, looking at him with concern. “Is Your Majesty very tired?”

 

“Exhausted,” Zhao Qi said, covering his face with his hand. “Why are there so many problems… why!”

 

He had been managing court affairs for a while now, but after just one day in sole control, he was already struggling to cope.

 

No wonder many emperors in history had short reigns. Day in and day out, waking earlier than the rooster and sleeping later than the dog, with the nation as the field and him as the ox, plowing tirelessly. It would be strange if they lived long.

 

“Now I understand the kind of days Prime Minister lives,” Zhao Qi sighed bitterly. “He still manages to spend so much time with me. How does he do it?”

 

He Changzhou said, “The Prime Minister is busy, but I’m not. So Your Majesty should stick less to him and more to me.”

 

“I won’t,” Zhao Qi said firmly.

 

He Changzhou looked dejected. “Oh.”

 

“By the way, why didn’t you voice your opinion when we discussed Prince Zhao leaving the capital earlier? Do you think I should pursue him or let him return to his fiefdom?” Zhao Qi asked. “He Changzhou said, “Prime Minister has always been decisive and never listens to others.”

 

Zhao Qi sighed softly. “He’s like that with everything.”

 

“Yes, that’s why he’s not a good person. The Emperor should keep his distance from him.”

 

“Let’s talk business!”

 

“… My suggestion is to wait until the Prime Minister wakes up. It’s possible this is his scheme.”

 

Zhao Qi couldn’t think of a better way, so this was all he could do for now.

 

By the time he finally finished dealing with the day’s urgent political matters, it was late at night. Jiang Dehai brought him a late-night snack. “Your Majesty, you’ve hardly eaten all day. Quickly eat this bowl of noodles to fill your stomach.”

 

Zhao Qi wearily picked up his chopsticks and asked, “How is the Prime Minister’s brother doing?”

 

“The Prime Minister has taken his medicine and slept all day. His high fever has turned into a low fever.”

 

“I’ll go see him.”

 

With bowl in hand, Zhao Qi walked and ate until he reached Xiao Shiqing’s bedside, with only half a bowl left.

 

He took a sip of soup, looked at Xiao Shiqing lying in bed, burped, and called out softly, “Prime Minister Brother…”

 

Xiao Shiqing was deeply asleep, his breath warm.

 

Zhao Qi rambled on, “I’ve been busy all day today, didn’t even have time for a proper meal.”

 

“…”

 

“Zhao Tong somehow got hold of my imperial seal and has already left the capital for the northern border. Brother, what should I do?”

 

“…”

 

Zhao Qi patted Xiao Shiqing’s straight nose, “Ah, please get better soon and share my worries.”

 

“…”

 

With a troubled expression, Zhao Qi muttered quietly, “If Zhao Tong and the original plan are the same, marching from the northern border to the capital, driving me off the throne, I might as well jump into the river now. One death for two lives, and no need to fight anymore.”

 

Xiao Shiqing seemed to sense something, his fingertips twitching slightly.

 

Finishing the remaining noodles while looking at Xiao Shiqing’s face, Zhao Qi said, “I’m going back to rest. Brother, you must wake up tomorrow.”

 

Zhao Qi was about to get up when he suddenly froze, maintaining a posture of uncertainty, looking perplexed.

 

Cheng Boyan asked, “Your Majesty, what’s wrong?”

 

Zhao Qi looked down at his own stomach, his expression gradually turning fearful, “I-I felt a movement in my stomach just now.”

 

Cheng Boyan suddenly realized and smiled, “Your Majesty, that’s the baby moving.”

 

Zhao Qi was stunned, flustered, “Does this mean… it’s already formed?”

 

“You could say that,” Cheng Boyan replied, “as the months go by, the movements will become more frequent. It’s a normal phenomenon, Your Majesty, no need to worry.”

 

Zhao Qi nearly choked on his food, “Why hasn’t Zhao Qiao found the Japanese divine doctor yet? If this continues, I’m going to be a grandfather!”

 

Xiao Shiqing slowly woke up and heard Zhao Qi’s words, smiling knowingly, “Who are you trying to bring here?”


T/N: There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

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I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

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Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

 

Chapter 90

       The surroundings suddenly became quiet.

       Zhan Pengcheng looked at Pei Qing for a while and asked him, “What?” He felt that he did not understand what Pei Qing meant.

       Pei Qing said, “It means that.” After saying that, he thought about it and added, “Actually, Yangyang is still young now, and I understand that Uncle is more nervous about him than other parents, so I think I should let you know first.”

       Zhan Pengcheng sensed that something was off, and his hand shook. He accidentally knocked over the empty beer bottle on the table and made a sound.

       Zhan Weiguang was startled, thinking that Zhan Pengcheng was going to make a move, and quickly reached out to hold Zhan Pengcheng’s wrist and said, “Dad!”

       Zhan Pengcheng was not in the mood to pay attention to Zhan Weiguang, so he pushed Zhan Weiguang’s hand away and looked straight at Pei Qing, “What do you mean?”

       This time, before Pei Qing answered, Zhan Weiyang couldn’t help but say first, “Dad, Qing ge and I are dating!”

       Even though he had guessed it in his heart, Zhan Pengcheng was still filled with anger at the word ‘dating’. He stood up suddenly and pointed his finger at Pei Qing.

       The waiter standing in the distance looked in their direction nervously.

       Zhan Weiguang couldn’t help but persuade him, “Dad, sit down first.”

       Zhan Pengcheng asked, “What dating? Who are you dating? Do you know how old Yangyang is? And, and Yangyang is a boy. Do you know what you are doing?”

       Pei Qing answered him, “Of course I know. Uncle, can you listen to me first?”

       “What do I need to listen to?!” Zhan Pengcheng was obviously very angry, “What nonsense are you talking about? What dating? Aren’t you just toying with a child who is ignorant?”

       He spoke so loudly that even the guests at the next table were alarmed.

       The waiter came over and asked carefully, “Is there anything I can help you with?”

       Zhan Pengcheng didn’t want to argue about Zhan Weiyang in front of strangers. He just shouted angrily at the frightened Zhan Weiyang, “Yangyang, go back now!”

       Zhan Weiyang looked at Pei Qing in panic, grabbed Pei Qing’s hand, and said, “I won’t go back.”

       Zhan Pengcheng said to Zhan Weiguang, “Take your brother back!”

       Zhan Weiguang couldn’t help but said, “Dad, don’t be so emotional.”

       Zhan Pengcheng said, “I’m not emotional. If I were, I would hit him to death with a bottle!”

       Pei Qing knew that Zhan Pengcheng was angry now and would not listen to anything he said. He wanted to wait until he calmed down before everyone sat down and talked slowly. Besides, this was not a place suitable for quarrels, so he comforted Zhan Weiyang and said, “Go home with your dad first.”

       Zhan Weiyang was very sad and said, “Can I not?”

       Zhan Pengcheng had left his seat and walked around, stretched out his hand to pull Zhan Weiyang’s arm, “Go with Dad!”

       Pei Qing was afraid that Zhan Pengcheng would get angry and hurt Zhan Weiyang. He pulled Zhan Weiyang’s hand away and said to him, “Go back first. I will come to see you soon. Don’t be afraid.”

       Zhan Weiyang was pulled up by Zhan Pengcheng.

       Zhan Pengcheng pulled him outside and said to Zhan Weiguang, “Let’s go.”

       Zhan Weiyang stumbled and kept looking back at Pei Qing.

       Zhan Weiguang had no choice but to get up and leave. Before he left, he said to Pei Qing, “Now isn’t the right time.”

       Pei Qing replied, “I know, but there is no real right time.”

       Maybe in a few years, when Zhan Weiyang was in his twenties, or even almost thirty, Zhan Pengcheng might not be so nervous.

       However, that timing was only suitable for Zhan Pengcheng, not him and Zhan Weiyang.

       Zhan Weiguang said, “I will persuade my father.”

       But until he returned home, Zhan Weiguang did not find a suitable time to persuade Zhan Pengcheng.

       Zhan Pengcheng was furious, and almost the entire way, he kept cursing Pei Qing. It wasn’t baseless insults, though; he was saying that Pei Qing had bad intentions, taking advantage of Zhan Weiyang’s naivety and coaxing the young boy into a relationship with him. His reaction was quite similar to Zhan Weiguang’s when he first found out about the situation.

       Because Zhan Pengcheng was drunk, Zhan Weiguang was driving on the way back.

       Zhan Weiguang listened to his father all the way and couldn’t help but say, “Qing ge is not like this. Have you ever considered that he is serious about Zhan Weiyang?”

       Zhan Pengcheng said angrily, “That’s homosexual! That’s not okay! I don’t care whether he is or not. Anyway, my Yangyang is not! He is not allowed to lead Yangyang astray!”

       Zhan Weiyang kept his head down and didn’t say a word.

       When they returned home, both Grandma and Auntie Luo had already gone back to their rooms to watch TV, leaving the living room empty and quiet.

       Zhan Pengcheng grabbed Zhan Weiyang’s hand and said, “Come here; Dad has something to tell you.”

       Zhan Weiyang still kept his head down and didn’t say a word.

       Zhan Pengcheng said, “Listen, you are still immature, but there are some things that Dad must tell you. Although Pei Qing is your older cousin, he is already an adult man. You cannot allow any adult man or adult woman to do anything intimate with you, understand? It is even more unacceptable if they say they want to date you. They are not little girls in school. They have bad intentions!”

       Zhan Weiyang finally raised his head and roared, “I am also already eighteen years old, and I am also an adult man.”

       At this time, Zhan Weiguang went to park the car and walked in with the car keys in his hand. He just heard Zhan Weiyang’s words and could not help but pause.

       Zhan Pengcheng was stunned by his yelling and said, “Your situation is different.”

       Zhan Weiyang was very angry and said to his father, “I’m not an idiot! I know who treats me well and who doesn’t! I can date the person I like! Even if you are my father, you are not allowed to say such a thing!”

       Zhan Pengcheng was a little anxious. He grabbed Zhan Weiyang’s wrist and said, “Of course you are not an idiot. You are my father’s little baby. There are many bad people in society. You don’t understand because you have never been in contact with them. Dad will slowly teach you in the future.”

       Zhan Weiyang shook off his hand and turned to run upstairs, saying as he ran, “I’m not going to listen! I hate Dad the most!”

       Zhan Weiguang couldn’t help but look at Zhan Pengcheng’s face when he heard it. He froze in place and his face seemed to be a little pale.

       After a while, Zhan Pengcheng turned around and asked Zhan Weiguang, “What should we do?”

       Zhan Weiguang avoided his gaze and walked inside, saying, “How should I know.”

       A little later, Zhan Pengcheng felt that Zhan Weiyang had probably calmed down. He carried a box of birthday cake and walked to the door of Zhan Weiyang’s room. He knocked on the door first, then gently opened the door and walked in while singing the birthday song.

       Zhan Weiyang was lying firmly on the bed, with his head, face, hands and feet all pressed against the bed without any gap. At this time, he finally raised his head and looked at Zhan Pengcheng.

       Zhan Pengcheng thought he had cried, but when he saw that Zhan Weiyang’s face was still clean, he was relieved. He walked to the bedside, picked up the cake in his hand and showed it to Zhan Weiyang, saying, “Yangyang, shall we eat the cake?”

       Zhan Weiyang said weakly, “I don’t want to eat it.”

       Zhan Pengcheng put the cake aside, sat down on the bedside, reached out to touch his head, and said to him, “Today is your birthday. We have to celebrate it happily. Wait until today is over, and Dad will explain other things to you slowly, okay?”

       Zhan Weiyang didn’t say anything.

       Zhan Pengcheng continued, “People are complicated. I’m not saying Pei Qing is a bad person, but no one is absolutely good or absolutely bad. Dad also likes Pei Qing and thinks he is a good person, but he did something wrong in this matter. Do you understand?”

       Zhan Weiyang said, “I don’t understand.”

       Zhan Pengcheng said, “It’s okay, Dad will tell you, and then you will understand. Do you want to get up and eat the cake now?”

       Zhan Weiyang said, “But I don’t want to see Dad.”

       Zhan Pengcheng looked at him silently for a while and said, “Then Dad will go out. You didn’t eat much for dinner. If you are hungry later, remember to eat the cake.”

       After that, Zhan Pengcheng sighed, got up and left.


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Chapter 28 – Gu Lizhou curled the corner of his lips. "Call me Daddy."

80% of Gu Lizhou’s social circle consisted of grown men, most of them over 30. Even if someone had a birthday and gathered everyone together, it was nothing more than drinking, eating, and singing a few songs. Forget gifts—even a cake was a rarity.

Something like asking for a gift had never happened before.

The kid wants a gift.

What should he buy?

Clothes? Pants? Would that be too plain and boring? The clothes he gave last time hadn’t even been worn.

A whole box of Weilong spicy strips?

Pfft.

Just the thought of it made him laugh.

Gu Lizhou couldn’t come up with a good idea, so he called Cao Zhiheng. “Figured out what you’re getting for your father-in-law yet?”

“Buy red wine ah. Why? You got a better idea?”

“No, just asking. Make sure you pick something with a bit of class. Don’t end up buying a fake bottle and chugging it down—getting drunk on counterfeit booze isn’t a good look.”

Cao Zhiheng cursed at him. “You bastard, can’t you wish me well for once?”

Gu Lizhou laughed out loud “Ai, did that little lunatic in 301 tell you tomorrow’s his birthday?”

“He mentioned it, but I’m not sure if I’ll be free tomorrow night. Why? He didn’t invite you? Jealous that I’m more well liked?” Cao Zhiheng said.

Gu Lizhou couldn’t hold back a curse, laughing so hard his eyes nearly squinted shut. “He asked me ages ago. He probably just mentioned it to you out of politeness. I mean, we live together—he wouldn’t want me telling you about it later and making it awkward for you.”

“Cut the crap. I’ve known him for ages. Just recently, I even got him a role as the chief eunuch in a production. He’s probably inviting me to thank me. You, on the other hand, are just the ‘bonus gift’ in a buy-one-get-one deal,” Cao Zhiheng boasted shamelessly.

Gu Lizhou laughed heartily but still insisted on arguing, “Then did he invite you to his birthday in the past few years?”

Cao Zhiheng had no idea what’s up with him today that he had to compare this with him, but he genuinely felt that his relationship with Zhong Weishi had taken a qualitative leap forward thanks to that chief eunuch role.

“We weren’t that close the past four years. We just got familiar this year. You know, brotherhood like ours takes time to cultivate.”

“Have some shame.” Gu Lizhou pulled the conversation back on track. “So what are you planning to give him?”

“Give him what? Just send a WeChat red envelope to show some goodwill.” Cao Zhiheng responded without hesitation.

Gu Lizhou was momentarily stunned. “He didn’t ask you for a gift?”

“A gift? What gift? A red envelope is practical—what’s wrong with that?” Cao Zhiheng said. “Besides, who the hell would go around actively asking for gifts ah!”

Gu Lizhou: “…it’s that good brother of yours, ah.”

Human psychology was truly strange. He was clearly being chased for a gift, yet realizing he was singled out as someone special somehow put him in a good mood.

Even after hanging up the call, the smile on his lips refused to fade.

He clicked on a certain treasure1Taobao. Whereas 某宝 meant certain “宝” or bao which can also mean treasure. website and had just typed in “gift for guys” when an automatic suggestion popped up.

—Gifts for Boyfriend

As if possessed, he clicked on it.

Watches, gaming consoles, razors, engraved lighters, couple T-shirts, custom ceramic mugs… The average price was under 150.

Almost every product’s main image had captions like ‘A gift no boyfriend can resist!’ ‘Guys will tear up instantly!’ ‘Give this, and he’ll love you even more!’ and so on.

The visuals were overwhelming, but internally, he felt nothing—if anything, he wanted to laugh.

He flipped through several pages, but everything felt like the kind of gifts only seventeen or eighteen-year-old kids in their awkward, innocent phase would give.

The second time, he changed the keywords: gifts for grown men.

Surprisingly, it was the same stuff…

He must be searching the wrong way.

Alright, let’s try again.

The third time’s keyword: gifts for little kids

…fvck. How the fvck is it still those!

It’s not working!

Gu Lizhou nearly flipped his laptop over in frustration.

Switching to a certain hu 2This is another website: Zhihu.for answers, the suggested gifts had a bit more class.

Noise-canceling headphones, men’s perfume, notebooks, handcrafted leather wallets, mechanical keyboards, sneakers, speakers…

But none of them gave him that immediate “Ah, that little bastard would like this” feeling.

Gu Lizhou kept refreshing the page, feeling like an old father painstakingly researching university majors and future career paths for his kid.

I’m so exhausted, I’m going bald.

It was even more brain-consuming than codewords.

Was this how Zhong Weishi felt when he helped him find a job back then?

Gu Lizhou clicked into Zhong Weishi’s WeChat Moments, hoping to find some clues. Instead, he scrolled through a bunch of short videos.

Most were clips from the set—Zhong Weishi jumping off a shipping container, landing face-first in the dirt, then getting up and grinning stupidly at the camera.

Qiangzi performed his signature trick of swallowing a whole dragon fruit in one go. The deep red juice dribbled down his neck as he spoke, “Xin-jie’s fruit store—imported straight from Hainan! Sweet and juicy, guaranteed! Order a box now and get two extra for free! Local customers from Yucheng can have it delivered at their door!”

Another video featured him devouring a watermelon. He stood in a solid horse stance, holding the melon with both hands. At the sound of a whistle, he jerked his head forward—and in an instant, the watermelon flesh was gone. Meanwhile, the person next to him was still struggling to take their first few bites.

Qiangzi wiped his mouth dramatically in front of the camera, wearing the calm, confident smile of a true champion.

Gu Lizhou watched the videos with a twisted expression, his stomach aching slightly. What kind of hardcore survival skills were these…

Just as he clicked on the next video, Zhong Weishi’s frantic screaming blasted from the speakers, startling Gu Lizhou so much that he hurried to lower the volume.

“AH AH AH AH AH AHAH—GU-ZI GU-ZI GU-ZI GU-ZI GU-ZI! SIGN THIS FOR ME AH—I—I—I—I’M YOUR FAN!—”3Apologies for the upper cases on this one if it hurts your eyes lol. Since he was screaming, I figured I’d use this here. Thanks!

It looked like the back hallway of a high-end hotel. The shaky, nausea-inducing camera work barely captured a glimpse of a handsome celebrity’s smiling face.

The Superstar Gu himself patiently took the pen and doodled a spiral potato skewer on Zhong Weishi’s shirt.

“Gu-zi, you radiate righteousness—even when you play villains, you look like an undercover agent! I’ve seen all your movies, super handsome!— You have to take good care of yourself ah!” Zhong Weishi’s voice trembled with excitement. At the end, he even added in Cantonese, “I I really like this one ah.”

Superstar Gu gave him a slight nod, flashing a dazzling yet impeccably polite smile before leaving.

Gu Lizhou: “…”

Did this guy even know what he was saying?

And… just how many people did he like?

The video was replayed twice.

Pursing his lips, Gu Lizhou exited WeChat. With that enthusiasm, that tremble in his voice, that sheer joy spilling through the screen—Gu Tianle was definitely his white moonlight!

Once that inexplicable sour feeling faded, a sudden flash of inspiration struck Gu Lizhou—autograph!

Right, right, right, autograph, autograph!

Wan Lizhou’s autograph!!!

It felt like he had just cracked a complex Olympiad math problem—his was instantly energized

With a swift motion, he dashed out the door.

At noon, the scorching sun blazed overhead, even making the taxi driver look drowsy from the heat.

Gu Lizhou paid the fare, got out of the car, and hurried into a large bookstore.

Luckily, even after all these years, Wan Lizhou’s books still occupied a prime spot in the bestsellers section.

The <Wraiths> a complete set of twelve volumes—just lifting them was a workout. Would this be too… hefty as a gift?

Gu Lizhou imagined Zhong Weishi, full from a meal, carrying this stack of books home like he was hauling a bundle of explosives. He couldn’t help but laugh.

There are too many.

Better to pick just one.

The autograph was secondary—the real goal was to bestow upon him the prestigious title of “personal acquaintance of the renowned bestselling author Wan Lizhou.”

Gu Lizhou had already started picturing hundreds of possible reactions from Zhong Weishi when he found out his true identity.

Maybe he’d want a hug, soak in his brilliance…

Will he scream at that time?

Definitely.

Then, blushing furiously, he’d cover his face, recalling the heartfelt confession he had once read aloud at night—probably embarrassed to the point of collapse.

Prepare to tremble, foolish Earthling.

Gu Lizhou, still lost in his fantasy of Zhong Weishi being moved to tears, grinned at the book cover’s wraparound band for a good while—until someone tapped him on the shoulder.

It was a young girl. She pointed to her throat and ears, then shook her hand before gesturing at the donation slip in her other hand.

On it was a fundraiser for a children’s welfare organization.

Gu Lizhou gave her all the cash in his wallet.

A simple red string bracelet could be exchanged for a twenty-yuan donation, but he had given several hundred all at once. The girl looked overwhelmed. She only had two bracelets left in her pocket—most of the remaining items were little bells.

The temperament of the man in front of her didn’t seem like someone who would wear bells.

She quickly pulled out a prepared notebook, writing: “Thank you for your kind donation. Wearing this will bring you good luck.”

“Is it blessed?” Gu Lizhou teased, twirling the red string between his fingers.

The girl squinted and smiled, nodding. She flipped to the next page and wrote: “Wishing you and your lover good health.”

“I don’t have a lover yet,” Gu Lizhou chuckled. “But thanks anyway.”

The girl lowered her head and wrote quickly, “It will help you find one!”

Even though he knew it was just a little trick to coax kids, he still accepted it with a smile.

At the checkout counter, he picked out a gold-embossed signature pen. After paying, he headed straight to the café next door.

What would be a good thing to write?

Gu Lizhou solemnly made a draft on his cell phone memo.

“To Xiao Weiwei…” No, no, no, way too mushy.

“To Zhong Weishi…” Does that sound too distant?

“To little bastard,” that worked.

After signing, Gu Lizhou blew lightly on the page for a long time, letting the ink dry.

But still, considering that he was Zhong Weishi’s ultimate white moonlight in the 2D world, just giving him a novel worth a few dozen yuan felt a little stingy.

So, he headed to a nearby shopping mall and picked out a mechanical watch. It had a sleek black dial, a leather strap, and a simple, versatile design.

From the moment he stepped in, the sales associate had been chattering non-stop. “This one looks really good on you, suits you perfectly—very classy and sophisticated.”

“It’s not for me, it’s a gift.”

“A gift still needs to be sophisticated ah.”

“…”

“This model is currently 20% off, and you’ll get a complimentary gift worth 199 yuan.”

“Just wrap it up nicely.”

“No problem, no problem! Would you like the gift to be wrapped separately?”

Just then, his phone rang—it was Cheng Hang. Gu Lizhou absentmindedly replied, “No need, just put everything together.”

“When will you be back?”

“In a couple days, I still have some things to do here.”

“Alright, no rush. The planning department is still recruiting new people. When you’re back, call me—I’ll take you to our company’s operations department so you can get a feel for the game’s concept and design requirements. Then you can decide if you want to write for it.”

“Good.”

The calm surface of the lake rippled.

Gu Lizhou lost sleep again that night.

His emotions were complicated, his mind a tangled mess of thoughts.

About the past, the present, the future. About dreams…

He thought about what he really loved.

He used to think that if he ever stopped writing, he would probably die. But he didn’t. Life went on.

That’s probably what life is all about.

Finding joy in monotony, creating something extraordinary out of the ordinary.

The next day was another hot sunny day.

Gu Lizhou slept until past three in the afternoon.

His head was groggy from the lack of sleep. After getting up and washing up, he caught sight of the small gift box on the table, finally remembering Zhong Weishi’s birthday.

While shaving, he mentally ran through the entire big reveal and gift-giving sequence.

First, he would hand over the novel and casually mention that it had Wan Lizhou’s personal autograph. When Zhong Weishi opened the cover and saw that one-of-a-kind, exclusive signature—the ultimate badge of honor—he would definitely go nuts, jumping around so wildly his head might explode from excitement.

Then, after confirming his identity with tears of joy, they would share a heartfelt embrace.

Maybe Zhong Weishi would blush, stammering as he showered him with rainbow farts. But as a calm and composed author, he had to stay steady—no laughing.

With a dignified wave of his hand, he would say, “Genius or not, I’m just an ordinary person. But from now on, live well ah! Never stop chasing your dreams! As long as you work hard, fate will be beneath your feet. Trust me!”

Zhong Weishi would be so overwhelmed he’d tremble all over. “You’ll always be my idol…”

That’s when he would present the watch as a souvenir for his fan.

Even the most ordinary gift would take on extraordinary meaning because of who it came from.

“Well? Isn’t it thrilling, seamless, and unforgettable?”

Cao Zhiheng scratched his cheeks, genuinely moved by the elaborate plan. “Man, that’s really thoughtful. If it were me, I would’ve been moved to tears! No matter what you give at a time like this, you’ll be moved to death!”

“Right? I thought so too.” Gu Lizhou was full of confidence.

Just then, his phone rang.

He had barely said “Hello” when Zhong Weishi’s panicked voice exploded through the receiver. “Come, quickly save me ah—”

Gu Lizhou was so scared that his liver trembled, “What happened?! Where are you?”

“I—I…” Zhong Weishi sounded pitiful. “I got taken to the police station.”

Gu Lizhou’s eyes widened. “How the hell did you end up there again?!”

—Two hours earlier.

After wrapping up Er’Gou’s case, Huangfu Qiang got lucky and landed a new job—an extramarital affair investigation.

A rich woman suspected her husband was keeping a mistress. If they could capture solid evidence, she could strip the man of everything in the divorce. The reward was a hefty 100,000 yuan.

Naturally, an opportunity like this had to be shared with his brothers in arms.

So the Xicheng District’s Express Debt Collection Team group was active again.

“Brothers brothers, the opportunity to get rich has arrived ah!”

Zhong Weishi was firm. “I’m not going, I’m not going. I’ve decided to live an honest life. Don’t drag me into any more get-rich-quick schemes.”

“No, bro, this time it’s different—love triangles, scandals… Damn ya, this rich lady is loaded. She directly dumped me a 10,000 yuan deposit.”

Zhong Weishi’s eyes flickered. “That much?”

Qiangzi held down the voice recording button and spitefully recounted the entire story in the group chat.

It was a continuous stream of ten or so 59-second voice messages, leaving everyone speechless.

“That rich woman said she saw the chat records—he’s been flirting with some woman constantly. It’s absolutely true. The only thing missing are pictures for evidence.”

After their previous overnight trip to the police station, Zhong Weishi remained rational this time. “The key is, how do we get a photo? Are you planning to storm into his house? Have you lost your mind? Did you forget what Old Li told us?”

“This time, we’re doing a good deed! It’s an affair! Breaking up a couple is breaking up a couple,” Qiangzi spent nearly half an hour analyzing his views on marriage and love from every possible angle. “In short, I think, from a moral standpoint, we have to help her.”

A’Wei: “Cheating? What kind of man is he? We have to kill him!”

Da Fei: “I agree.”

Zhong Weishi got straight to the point. “How much is she paying you?”

Qiangzi sent a string of numbers.

Zhong Weishi’s eyes widened so much that he felt like he didn’t need to use his hand to keep his eyeballs, they were about to pop to the ground.

After a long silence, the man who had just been chanting, “I’m not going, don’t drag me into any get-rich-quick schemes,” suddenly spoke in a deep voice: “That dog man’s behavior is outrageous. If I don’t get photographic evidence, I’ll spell my name backward!”

Qiangzi and A’Wei took turns following the dog man for several days before finally catching him wrapping his arm around a young woman and entering a high-end hotel.

Zhong Weishi, having watched too many TVB dramas,4*TVB drama produced by Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB), a Hong Kong-based television broadcasting company. teamed up with A’Wei to steal a hotel staff uniform and service cart before heading over to knock on the door.

When they entered under the guise of delivering desserts, the woman was already lying on the bed in a bathrobe.

Wealth is obtained from taking risks!

The opportunity was right in front of them!

The difference between TV dramas and reality was that, in dramas, the protagonist could stealthily place a hidden camera in a spot unnoticed by the villain. In reality, however, shaky hands led to immediate suspicion.

The moment the girl called out to him, Zhong Weishi trembled in fright, and the camera fell straight to the floor.

All in all it was quite a grueling battle.

It was so close to dying on the spot.

Now, clutching his swollen cheek from the slap he’d received, Zhong Weishi skipped over the brutal beating he had endured and barely held back tears as he explained, “Old Li—Old Li said that since he knows me, he’s going to keep me locked up a few extra days.”

Gu Lizhou really didn’t hold back and laughed so hard that his shoulders shook. “Hahahahahahahaha—”

“You’re laughing?!” Zhong Weishi roared. “Are you even my bro!”

Gu Lizhou made no effort to stop. “Well, guess you’ll be staying a few more days. Who told you to go around causing trouble?”

“I—I, I really know I was wrong. I still want to film… But they said I have to pay a fine before they’ll let me out.”

Realizing that his record might soon be marked with an unforgettable stain, Zhong Weishi grew anxious, his eyes reddening. His voice softened, “I don’t know who else to call. Just help me out this once, for the sake of our brotherhood. Come pay the fine for me—I’ll write you an IOU as soon as I get out. I swear I’ll pay you back!”

Money wasn’t an issue, but Gu Lizhou raised an eyebrow and asked, “What’s in it for me?”

“What do you want? Whatever I can give, I’ll give you.” Zhong Weishi pouted. “I’ll even wash your underwear if I have to. Please, just get over here. Qiangzi and the others were all picked up by their parents—only I’m left. The police uncles are about to get off work.”

It was a completely normal plea, but when it reached that old beast’s ears, for some reason, he couldn’t help but picture a little kid crouching at a kindergarten entrance, drawing circles on the ground.

“All the other kids were picked up by their parents… I’m the only one left.”

Gu Lizhou was amused by his own imagination and reassured him, “No rush, there are still officers on duty anyway.”

His voice carried a relaxed tone, his brows slightly raised in amusement. Transmitted through the wireless call, his words sounded more like he was gloating.

“If you don’t want to come, forget it. I’m hanging up.” Zhong Weishi let out a heavy snort.

“Don’t hang up.”

“What?” Zhong Weishi’s tone was icy, but deep down, he was smug—he knew Gu Lizhou wouldn’t have the heart to leave him stranded.

Gu Lizhou curled the corner of his lips. “Call me Daddy.”

“Huh?” Zhong Weishi was stunned.

Holding a cigarette between his fingers, Gu Lizhou grinned wickedly. “Call me Daddy, and I’ll come get you right now.”

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