Chapter 23

By the time they finished eating and climbed down from the Ferris wheel, the sky had already dimmed to a dusky gray.

As a junior, there were no dormitory inspections at night, and Xi Shi had no intention of going back. They headed straight to a nearby hotel, and the moment they stepped inside, they fell into each other like dry wood meeting a raging fire.

Afterward, Xi Shi lay on the bed, wrapped in a thin quilt, scrolling through his phone with a look of satiated contentment. The month was drawing to a close. If his engagement to Shao Xun hadn’t been called off, their grand wedding would have been in just a couple of days. He had been eating so well this month that the mere thought of doing those things with that pathetic loser Shao Xun caused him both physical and psychological discomfort.

Older men truly were better.

Xi Shi glanced toward the bathroom. Through the frosted glass, the man’s smooth, elegant muscle curves were vaguely visible. Satisfied, he opened Jing Chen’s WeChat chat and transferred 350,000 to him. 300,000 of that was the remaining balance of the 500,000 monthly allowance for keeping him—Xi Shi had already paid 200,000 when they first slept together. The extra 50,000 was, of course, a tip for his satisfactory service.

Xi Shi did a rough mental calculation. Excluding the 500,000 allowance, he had spent about 700,000 on Jing Chen this month, including gifts like suits and watches, as well as various appearance fees. It was cheaper than keeping a third-tier celebrity, and the key was that Jing Chen possessed looks that surpassed even A-list stars.

Yesterday, he had received the monthly revenue report from the developer of the mini-game app he had invested in. The net profit was over 500,000, double that of the previous month. It had to be said that harvesting "leeks" through a mini-program was more ferocious than he had imagined; it was likely even more profitable than some current online or mobile games. With this back-and-forth, his wallet had barely shrunk.

Thinking of Jing Chen’s thoughtfulness and his increasingly good service, Xi Shi decided to get him another gift. The car wrap he had put on his Panamera—a "forgiveness green"—was too eye-catching and didn't suit Jing Chen’s mature and steady style.

Why not just buy him a car?

Xi Shi thought this was a brilliant idea. He already had a specific model in mind and immediately opened WeChat, wanting to find a 4S dealership salesperson to get a quote.

Just then, a message from Huo Siyuan popped up.

Huo Siyuan: Good evening, little Xi Shi.
Huo Siyuan: I didn’t interrupt any "good times" between you and your partner, did I? [Smirk]

YouWhyDontYouGoToHeaven: ...No.
YouWhyDontYouGoToHeaven: I’m thinking of buying my partner a car. What do you think of a BMW 5 Series?

Huo Siyuan was drinking water when he read this; he spat it all out, followed by a violent coughing fit that lasted quite a while. It scared his housekeepers so much they nearly called for an ambulance. Once he recovered, he waved them away, feeling a lingering sense of shock. The world was going mad; the natural order had been completely overturned.

Huo Siyuan: I think you should at least buy a 7 Series.

YouWhyDontYouGoToHeaven: You rich people don't understand.
YouWhyDontYouGoToHeaven: My partner is a wage earner. With his status, he doesn't need anything too flashy; a few hundred thousand is plenty.
YouWhyDontYouGoToHeaven: A 5 Series is decent but not too high-profile. It’s perfect for him.

Huo Siyuan: "..."

*God damn "wage earner."* Thinking of his uncle’s garage, which could host a motor show, and the multi-million dollar vehicles he usually traveled in, Huo Siyuan didn't even know where to start complaining. He decided to switch to a safer topic. He was afraid that if he knew too much and Xi Shi lost face, his uncle would use him as the sacrificial blade.

Huo Siyuan: Now that you put it that way, it’s actually quite good.
Huo Siyuan: By the way, did that little bastard Wang Yang apologize to you?

Ever since that bizarre kneeling incident that night, Wang Yang hadn't returned, nor had he moved his things out. Nobody knew what he had been up to. But things likely hadn't gone well for him; if they had, with Wang Yang’s personality, he would have been bouncing around in front of Xi Shi by now.

YouWhyDontYouGoToHeaven: He apologized. Thanks a lot.
Huo Siyuan: What are you thanking me for? If you run into any trouble now, just tell me. Big brother has your back!

Xi Shi didn't know why this rich second-generation kid was so enthusiastic, but since he had offered, he had to show appreciation.

YouWhyDontYouGoToHeaven: Got it, I’ll reach out if I need anything.
Huo Siyuan: I’ve divined that you have a problem right now that needs my help.

Xi Shi’s fingers paused. Did Huo Siyuan mean he already knew about his cousin wanting him to invite Huo Siyi to her birthday party? It wouldn't be strange; perhaps Xi Yue had let the word out, and Huo Siyuan had heard it. Xi Shi bit his lip. Xi Yue was betting on him using Huo Siyi to bolster her social status. He would rather die than give her that satisfaction.

YouWhyDontYouGoToHeaven: Actually, there is something I need your help with.

***

When Jing Chen came out of the shower, he found Xi Shi happily wiggling his toes. He was covered only by a thin sheet, and his fair feet peeked out from underneath, revealing glimpses of the spring scenery within. Red and white intertwined, glowing with a pearlescent sheen.

Jing Chen felt his throat tighten. He said in a low voice, "Go take a shower."

Having settled a troubling matter, Xi Shi was in a great mood. He tossed his phone aside, sat up from the bed, and blinked at Jing Chen. "One more time, then I'll go wash."

Jing Chen: "..."

Xi Shi wrapped himself around him, his hot breath falling against Jing Chen’s ear. "This time... you can stay inside..."

Xi Shi was someone who cherished his health. A while ago, he had specifically asked Jing Chen to get a physical exam and had sent his own report to Jing Chen as well. Both were perfectly healthy with no infectious diseases. Summary: they could play a bit more recklessly.

Jing Chen’s body went rigid. Then, he picked up Xi Shi and took the initiative.

***

The next day, Xi Shi had his roommate ask for leave for him. He didn't know if he had teased too hard, but Jing Chen was like an old house on fire—the more it burned, the more intense it became. The consequence was that Xi Shi couldn't even get out of bed today.

Jing Chen didn't go to work either; he stayed with him all morning and only left at noon. He was going on a business trip and wouldn't be back until the National Day holiday. Even though it was only for a few days, Xi Shi felt a surprising amount of reluctance.

"I’ll have a surprise for you when you get back," Xi Shi said, his eyes never leaving Jing Chen as he put on his clothes one by one.

Jing Chen asked, "What kind of surprise?"

"If I say it, it won't be a surprise anymore, but you can look forward to it."

Jing Chen seriously suspected it was another suit. This person’s suit obsession had reached a terminal stage. However, he didn't call him out on it. He walked over, kissed the corner of his mouth, and said, "I’ll bring you a gift, too."

Xi Shi smiled, his eyes curving into crescents. He hugged Jing Chen’s neck and kissed him back. "Okay."

They lingered for a while longer, only parting reluctantly when Jing Chen absolutely had to leave.

With a few days left before the National Day holiday, Xi Shi moved into his new place. He invited his two roommates, Xie He, and his childhood friend Qin Mingtian over for hot pot to "warm the house." They brought beer, but they also bought Xi Shi some Wahaha milk drink. Xi Shi was so annoyed by these jerks he nearly laughed, but considering the face he’d lost at Jing Chen’s place while drunk last time, he swallowed his pride and drank the Wahaha.

The consequence was that while he stayed sober, his two idiot roommates, Guo Hao and Xiao Nan, got wasted. Fortunately, his new place was close to Yan University, so sending them back wasn't a hassle.

After dropping them off at the dorm, Xi Shi was just about to leave when the door opened. He nearly collided with the person walking in. Seeing Wang Yang, who looked startled, four words popped into Xi Shi’s mind: *enemies often cross paths.*

Xi Shi had nothing to say to him. Just as he reached for the doorknob, Wang Yang beat him to it, walking in and slamming the door shut. Xi Shi frowned, hearing Wang Yang’s hoarse voice ask, "I’m being sent abroad by my family. You must be very happy now, right?"

"..."

Here we go again.

Xi Shi was speechless. He was indeed very happy, but it had absolutely nothing to do with Wang Yang. When would this person realize that he really didn't care about them at all?

"Move," Xi Shi said coldly.

"But you still lost," Wang Yang said, immersed in his own emotions, triumphantly. "Why do you think I came back on the eve of your wedding? Because I know I am the 'white moonlight' in Shao Xun’s heart. As long as I return, he will abandon everything and throw himself into my arms."

Xi Shi: "..."

Wang Yang lifted his chin and continued, "You used underhanded methods to hook up with the Huo family and suppressed us to force us apart, just to make Shao Xun crawl back and beg for your forgiveness, right? What’s the point? You’ll never have him. Even if you get his body, his heart has already followed me!"

"..."

"May I ask, why on earth would I need to obtain a piece of trash?" Xi Shi, who hadn't wanted to engage, couldn't help but speak coldly. "Some people treat you like a treasure, but in others' eyes, you aren't even worth a blade of grass. 'Crawl back and beg for forgiveness'? I’d beat his face into a pulp. You’re brain-damaged."

Having said that, Xi Shi shoved Wang Yang away from the door and walked out. If he wasted any more breath on him, he was afraid he’d lose his temper and start a fight. He only had two years left until graduation; he didn't want a disciplinary record. No wonder Shao Xun and Wang Yang were so compatible—they truly shared the same brand of brain damage.

Back at his place, Xie He and Qin Mingtian had already cleaned up the mess. Xie He had class early the next morning and had left, leaving only Qin Mingtian, who insisted on staying over.

"Hey, hey, he’s back." Qin Mingtian was video chatting with someone. Hearing the sound of Xi Shi changing his shoes at the entryway, he said to the screen, "I’ll pass the phone to him, you can talk to him yourself."

With that, Qin Mingtian walked to the entryway and handed the phone to Xi Shi.

"Who is it?" Xi Shi took it and was stunned to see the bright, handsome face of Huo Siyi.

"Senior," Huo Siyi said, looking aggrieved like a giant puppy, "why didn't you call me when you moved?"

"..."

For Xi Shi, his living space was relatively private. Even though he’d slept with Jing Chen so many times, he had never brought him home. By the same token, this rented apartment was his secret rendezvous base with Jing Chen; he hadn't invited anyone else except his two roommates, his high school buddy Xie He, and his childhood friend Qin Mingtian. He wasn't nearly close enough to Huo Siyi for that.

But he couldn't say that to Huo Siyi. Xi Shi chuckled dryly, "I just moved in, it’s a mess. I couldn't impose on you to come over."

Huo Siyi was immediately mollified. "Then invite me over as a guest in a couple of days once you’ve tidied up. I’ll cook for you, Senior! Let me tell you a secret: I’m super talented at cooking. The cooking genes my dad lacks all went to me."

"…Okay."

Since it had come to this, Xi Shi could only agree.

"It’s a deal, then. Promise!"

Xi Shi: "Yeah, okay."

Huo Siyi flashed a huge grin. "Then I won't disturb you while you tidy up. Goodnight!"

"Goodnight."

Xi Shi hung up and tossed the phone to Qin Mingtian, who was grinning sheepishly on the side. He said sarcastically, "I didn't know you were so close to the richest man's son."

"After you ran off that day at the horse track, I just had a meal with him, chatted a bit, and we got close." Qin Mingtian explained, then smiled apologetically. "Don't be mad. I just wanted to play matchmaker. The son of the richest man—how great is that!"

Xi Shi was cold: "I’m not in his league, thanks."

"How are you not in his league? You’re a young master from a wealthy family, too. And haven't you noticed? Huo Siyi is interested in you."

Xi Shi paused. Was Huo Siyi interested in him?

Qin Mingtian truly wanted to set them up. "I think Huo Siyi has a great personality. Even as the son of the richest man, he doesn't have any spoiled habits, and he’s academically brilliant. He’s destined for great things. If you marry into his family, you won't just be repaying your uncle’s kindness; you won't have to worry about your cousin riding roughshod over you anymore. A partner of such quality is hard to find even with a lantern."

It was true. In all of Yanjing, one probably couldn't find a better match than Huo Siyi. However, Xi Shi, who had always been proactive about his arranged marriage prospects, found that after such a high-quality candidate appeared, the face that surfaced in his mind was Jing Chen’s handsome features.

He closed his eyes and said, "Stop trying to play matchmaker. We’re both still young. Let’s just let things happen naturally."