“Did President Su tell you to put my things in the master bedroom?” Shen Zhu asked cautiously, following the butler toward the dining room.
From what he had seen of Su Xingque, the man didn’t seem like the type to have such strong desires.
The butler paused mid-step, startled by Shen Zhu’s way of addressing Su Xingque. He turned back to look at the young boy behind him. “You and the Master are married, Young Master. Naturally, you will be staying in the master bedroom.”
“There is no need for him to explicitly instruct that,” the butler added, a gentle smile gracing his lips at the end.
This child was sometimes cute in his innocence. He was the perfect contrast to all the schemes and deceit his master had to deal with in the business world. Perhaps, after spending enough time together, he might even help thaw his master’s icy exterior.
Fine, whatever. Shen Zhu had been through a lot today and wasn’t in the best state, so he didn’t feel like interfering with the butler’s arrangements. He sat down at the table to enjoy his belated lunch.
The meals of the Su family had always been highly sophisticated—small but exquisite portions with a wide variety of dishes. Knowing this was Shen Zhu’s first meal at the estate, the butler stayed by his side to help serve him, introducing the ingredients and the cooking process as they went.
Compared to the main course, Shen Zhu preferred the post-meal desserts and freshly squeezed juices.
By the end of the meal, the butler had figured out most of his taste preferences and let him know that he only had to say the word if he wanted anything specific, and the kitchen staff would prepare it.
“There’s no need to go to such trouble,” Shen Zhu said. Although he desperately wanted to enjoy having a private chef, he remembered to maintain his docile and well-behaved persona. He smiled shyly at Uncle Chen and said, “I’ll just eat whatever President Su eats.”
The butler smiled without a word and nodded, though it was unclear if he actually took the request to heart.
“You should head to the living room to pick out some clothes, Young Master, and then get some rest.”
Even though he had prepared himself, Shen Zhu was still startled when he walked into the living room.
Shopping bags of various luxury brands were piled all over the floor, ranging from loungewear to formal suits, and from small accessories to shoes and luggage. Everything he could possibly need was there.
If I sold all of this, how much cash could I get? Shen Zhu tried his best to keep his jaw from dropping as his mind instinctively started calculating the resale value.
Ultimately, though, he selectively chose only a few low-key, unassuming daily outfits, most of which favored an academic, preppy style.
He did this for one reason only: to look more like Su Xingque’s white moonlight.
Knowing that Shen Zhu’s background was a far cry from the Su family’s wealth, the butler simply assumed he was being modest and had not yet adapted to a life of luxury. He didn’t push him to keep more and simply instructed the servants to take the remaining clothes down to the walk-in closet on the basement level.
After a brief tour to familiarize himself with the villa, the butler led Shen Zhu to a bedroom door on the third floor.
“This is the master bedroom. Please go in and rest, Young Master. If you need anything, just call for me.”
“If you haven’t come downstairs by dinner time, I will come up to wake you.”
Shen Zhu asked, “Will President Su be back for dinner?”
Surprised and pleased that the young master wasn’t afraid of the master but was actually quite attached to him, the butler beamed. “Unless there is a business dinner, the Master always returns on time for dinner.”
“I see. Thank you, Uncle Chen,” Shen Zhu said before stepping into the master bedroom.
Perhaps because Meng Jing had dropped hints, or perhaps because Su Xingque’s limited time meant he hadn’t left detailed instructions, the butler and servants treated Shen Zhu with far more warmth than the head of the house himself did. It was almost too much for him to handle.
Having struggled on his own in the world for so long, even a tiny shred of warmth—even if it wasn’t entirely genuine—was enough to deeply move him and leave him at a loss.
Su Xingque’s bedroom shared the same design language as the rest of the villa: low-key luxury, meticulously arranged.
Shen Zhu stood by the edge of the master bed for a moment. Instead of lying down on it, he turned and walked toward the sofa in the corner of the room.
Before Su Xingque returned, he couldn’t take it upon himself to expose the true nature of their relationship.
What if Meng Jing had instructed Uncle Chen to watch them?
Shen Zhu curled up on the sofa, pulling his clothes tightly around himself. Breathing in the faint, lingering scent of masculine cologne in the air, he closed his eyes and drifted off.
Perhaps because he was in an unfamiliar environment, his sleep was fitful. Fragmented nightmares chained together one after another—a marriage certificate soaked in the rain, heavy iron chains, a dilapidated, leaking single-story house.
When a man with a blurry face in his dream raised a syringe toward him, Shen Zhu finally struggled and jolted awake.
The figure before him blocked out most of the light with his broad shoulders, and a warm knuckle pressed against his cheek. With tears of fright still lingering in his eyes, Shen Zhu blinked a few times before finally making out the person crouching in front of him.
Su Xingque’s eyes were half-lidded as he stared intently into his eyes, his expression dark and unreadable.
For some reason, Shen Zhu read a trace of ruthlessness in the man’s gaze. He instinctively averted his eyes, bracing his arms against the sofa to sit up.
“I’m sorry.” Shen Zhu curled his index finger and wiped the corner of his eye. “I—”
Before he could finish, the sofa cushion behind him sank slightly. Su Xingque braced one hand against the back of the sofa, his legs framing Shen Zhu’s tightly pressed knees on both sides.
“What exactly is your motive?” Su Xingque leaned down, pressing close to Shen Zhu’s ear as he demanded in a low, pressing whisper.
“Who are you sleeping here for, huh?”
As Su Xingque spoke, he lowered his upper body even further. His slightly husky voice, mixed with the warm breath of his words, brushed against Shen Zhu’s ear, instantly sending a jolt through his entire nervous system.
Shen Zhu was practically pinned between the sofa and the man’s chest. With nowhere to shrink back to, he had no choice but to grab hold of Su Xingque’s suit jacket to keep some distance.
I literally just took a nap on his turf. Is there any need to go this crazy? Shen Zhu rolled his eyes inwardly.
To maintain the perfect boundaries in his interactions with Su Xingque, he had already been incredibly cautious. He needed to create moments that would flutter the man’s heart without pushing things too far and causing a backlash.
That was why he had entered the master bedroom but chose to sleep on the sofa, attempting to ease his way into the man’s private life in a round-about way.
Suddenly, his eyelid was gently pinched. Shen Zhu snapped back to reality and realized Su Xingque was already standing two paces away, having resumed his usual cold, indifferent facade as he looked down at him.
“The butler arranged this bedroom for me,” Shen Zhu explained, placing his hands on his knees. The medical tape from his IV drip was still stuck to the back of his hand.
Seemingly desperate to explain himself, Shen Zhu looked up, his face filled with panic. “I-I didn’t dare lie on the bed. I originally planned to sit here and wait for you.”
But he had accidentally fallen asleep.
Shen Zhu’s acting skills had been refined to perfection during his days working at the clubs. Coupled with the fact that Su Xingque had genuinely startled him just now, his performance was incredibly convincing.
Su Xingque caught the subtext in Shen Zhu’s words. The boy meant that he knew Su Xingque disliked him, but hadn’t dared to go against the butler’s arrangements. Therefore, he had come up with the best compromise within his power, minimizing his contact with Su Xingque’s private space.
But Su Xingque knew that wasn’t the real reason he had lost his temper.
In truth, it had very little to do with Shen Zhu himself.
It was primarily because the way Shen Zhu looked while asleep just now was too similar to Bai Que. The dim lighting in the bedroom, combined with their nearly identical style of clothing, had actually caused Su Xingque to experience an illusion the moment he stepped through the door.
“I will have the butler prepare a guest bedroom for you downstairs. From now on, you are not allowed on the second floor or above. You are not to appear in any non-public areas, with the exception of the kitchen, living room, and bathrooms.”
While Shen Zhu gnashed his teeth in his mind, his outward appearance remained submissive. He agreed quietly and began to walk toward the door.
“One more thing,” Su Xingque’s voice sounded from behind him.
“When I am at home, stay out of my sight.”