As the teenager spoke, he could not help but pout, looking very much like he was about to hold someone accountable. Shao Tingyue’s eyes were filled with the moonlight, his breathing becoming heavy. He only felt that Li Chu was adorable to the extreme.
“Chu Zai, I never intended to deny it. You were the one who forgot that night. If you had asked me earlier, I would have been very happy to tell you.”
There was no turning back once a move was made. In his dictionary, the word deny did not exist.
Li Chu sat in silence.
Having received the answer, it was now his turn to be at a loss. The man’s handsome, masculine face was close enough to touch, like a leopard lurking in the dark. His black eyes stared straight at him in the dim light, calm yet carrying a hint of playfulness.
Li Chu met his gaze for a few seconds, but surprisingly, he lost his voice. He opened his mouth, not knowing what to say. “You…”
The teenager’s lips were moist and bright, revealing a hint of crimson tongue. The scent of alcohol mixed with a faint sweet fragrance created a strange and ambiguous atmosphere. Shao Tingyue looked at him like this, the corners of his lips hooking up extremely lightly.
“You said you were not my nephew, so you wanted to return all the money I gave you, right?”
Mentioning money, Li Chu’s heart felt as if it were being cut by a knife. His expression heavy, he nodded.
“And then?” Shao Tingyue pursued, leaning closer. Li Chu was forced back step by step until he fell onto the bed. The man supported himself with both hands on the edge of the bed on either side of Li Chu, enveloping him completely in his shadow. “What are you planning to do? Leave the Shao Mansion?”
Leave the Shao Mansion.
Li Chu thought of the Matriarch who held him and called him her good grandson, Uncle Ming who looked after him in every way, Auntie Mei who was always worried he would not be well-fed or warmly clothed, and the silly dog BOBO. In the few months he had lived in the Shao Mansion, it was the most genuine warmth of a home he had felt since becoming an orphan.
Thinking of this, Li Chu’s eyes reddened. He sniffled and replied, “Yes, I will leave.”
After saying this, he tilted his head up and pulled at the man’s lapels. “Mr. Shao, I have one request. In the future, can I occasionally come back to see the Matriarch? And Uncle Ming, Auntie Mei, BOBO, and the others?”
Hearing the words “Mr. Shao,” Shao Tingyue’s eyes darkened. His tone was cold. “No.”
Two words, categorical and final.
Li Chu’s little face collapsed instantly, and the last light of hope was extinguished. He lowered his head, his long eyelashes covering the water in his eyes. After a few seconds of silence, he said sulkily, “Oh, okay then. Well, I will pack my things and leave tomorrow.”
It seemed there was nothing to pack. He had arrived at this place all alone. Although he was very reluctant, Li Chu was not the type to sit still and wait for death. He was already calculating working a part-time job while continuing his studies. He wondered if the tuition at HKU was expensive. Last time, Jiaming introduced him to a job as a cargo mover in Sham Shui Po. However, that was too far from the school. Maybe he should wash dishes; he was skilled at that.
The child frowned, his eyes darting around. In his heart, he was likely truly calculating his departure.
Shao Tingyue was so angry he could have exploded. He sneered and suddenly asked, “In the cellar just now, what wine did you drink?”
Li Chu’s brain was a bit sluggish. Upon hearing this, he looked up and subconsciously answered, “Just, just a bottle of red wine. It said Romanée-Conti 1978 on it…”
Shao Tingyue listened to him quietly, then smiled, his tone very light. “Chu Zai, the current public auction valuation of this wine is approximately 400,000 Hong Kong dollars.”
“Oh, 400,000.”
Li Chu repeated it distractedly, still thinking about packing his luggage and where he would settle down in the future.
The next second, he suddenly realized, his peach blossom eyes opening wide!
“400,000?! Hong Kong dollars?!”
He sat up straight on the bed. Because the movement was too rushed, he almost hit Shao Tingyue’s jaw. The man deepened his gaze and pressed him back down to sit.
Li Chu blinked a few times, and a teardrop fell.
Heartbreak, heartbreak, heartbreak!
400,000 had been gulped down like that. What he had gulped down was not wine; it was liquid gold! It was the down payment for a small apartment in an ordinary part of Hong Kong!
Although the taste of the wine was gentle, the kick was not small. Shao Tingyue was cold-faced, but he was still worried Li Chu would feel uncomfortable, so he poured him a cup of warm water and watched him drink it.
After finishing the water, Li Chu was already feeling sleepy. Shao Tingyue did not allow him to sleep, his palm clasping Li Chu’s drunken and burning cheeks, speaking in a measured tone, “Chu Zai, let us settle an account.”
“The pocket money, gift expenses, clothing expenses, educational expenses, security expenses, and various other expenditures in your account—all in all, it is about this amount.” He casually reported a sum that was astronomical for Li Chu.
“Plus this bottle of Romanée-Conti, 400,000.”
“And…” Shao Tingyue paused. Li Chu could not help but clutch his arm.
“Wait, Mr. Shao. Taking a step back, don’t you have some responsibility in this? You were the ones who came to the wrong place first, and you were the ones who brought me back…”
Shao Tingyue paused for a moment and nodded in agreement. “That is true. This was Liang Wei’s dereliction of duty, and I will give him appropriate punishment. For the sake of you calling me Second Uncle for a period of time, I will give you a 50 percent discount on this amount.”
Even with a 50 percent discount, it was a sum that Li Chu could not pay off no matter how many dishes he washed. He sat blankly on the bed, his brain buzzing with countless zeros.
Shao Tingyue leaned over and pinched the teenager’s soft, full cheeks, his tone calm. “Do you think you can pay it off?”
Wuwu, I can’t.
Li Chu felt a bit of despair. He could not jump into the sea again, could he?
Shao Tingyue watched the child, who was about to be frightened into tears, the corners of his lips hooking up, his tone enticing. “Chu Zai, do you want to pay it off in one go?”
Li Chu nodded with teary eyes, his willingness to pay off the debt very strong. “Yes! How do I pay it?” As long as he could pay it off and not be in debt for a lifetime, he would be willing to do anything…
Shao Tingyue looked at his eager and innocent eyes and took a deep breath. His gaze slid from the teenager’s smooth forehead, across his straight, delicate nose, and finally landed on his light pink lips.
The bedroom was so quiet that their staggered breathing could be heard. The moonlight was like water, flowing between the two.
After a long while, Shao Tingyue slowly opened his mouth, his voice low. “Chu Zai, you know what I want.”
Li Chu finally understood the meaning, his cheeks instantly exploding into red. Shao Tingyue had clearly been plotting this all along!
Images flashed uncontrollably through his mind.
Li Chu’s heart beat thump-thump, and he started to give himself psychological preparation in a chaotic manner.
Kissing was probably like sleeping; you get the hang of it the second time, right?
Wasn’t it just like that last time?
He was trembling with nervousness, as if he had made a great decision, tilting his face up and pressing toward Shao Tingyue.
Lips touched.
Shao Tingyue’s body paused for a moment. The teenager’s soft lips were like a feather scratching at the most itching part of his heart, igniting the dark fire that had been suppressed for a long time.
Li Chu separated after touching him as if it were a dragonfly skimming the water. His chest heaved slightly, and his entire face from his ears to his collarbone was red, like the sunset glow.
“Second Uncle, is this okay?”
Shao Tingyue’s black eyes were bottomless, swirling with intense emotions. He reached out and pinched Li Chu’s chin, his thumb rubbing his cheek.
“Baby,” he used a very intimate form of address, his tone low and slow. “I taught you last time. Like this… is not enough.”
Li Chu opened his eyes blankly. The moment the words fell, he was heavily kissed by the man.
High above the azure sky at 10,000 meters, a silver-white Gulfstream III was rapidly passing through the clouds. The mist slid along the streamlined fuselage, and it began to enter stable flight.
As the ultimate symbol of status and strength, only a few top wealthy people in all of Hong Kong owned private planes. This aircraft model not only had superior external appearance, but the interior was luxurious and comfortable, and it could fly directly to Europe or the West Coast of the United States, perfectly matching the needs of intercontinental travel.
At this moment, the cabin was peaceful, with only the low hum of the engines. Two flight attendants in uniforms with meticulous makeup were busy in the pantry on tiptoes.
As crew members of a private plane, their work was easier and their salaries higher. Most importantly, they could come into contact with wealthy people they normally would not encounter. For example, at this very moment, the Mr. Shao sitting in the cabin sofa chair.
The man was wearing a top-quality dark casual suit, the lines of his side profile appearing exceptionally cold and profound under the light.
However, the most eye-catching thing was not him himself, but the figure wrapped in a soft blanket in his arms.
It had been more than an hour since boarding, and Mr. Shao’s posture in holding the person had not changed. Occasionally, he lowered his eyes, his gaze flowing with indescribable emotions.
Who was the person he was holding in his arms?
Could it be some beautiful and noble lady in Hong Kong? Or perhaps a movie star with all kinds of charm?
A flight attendant walked over with a cup of warm water. She had not intended to peek, but this angle happened to allow her to glimpse half a face exposed under the blanket.
At just one glance, she was stunned.
The person sleeping soundly in the man’s arms was not some young lady, but a teenager who was unimaginably beautiful.
Because he was in a deep sleep, his beautiful eye shape was closed, his eyelashes half-hidden, and a small lip bead protruded in the middle of his lips. He was sleeping very soundly, so his cheeks were flushed pink.
It simply transcended gender, possessing a breathtaking and undisputed sense of beauty.
The flight attendant was lost for a moment, even forgetting her actions.
When she came back to her senses, she had met the cold, dark eyes of the Shipping Magnate, who was looking at her with undisguised displeasure.
Her heart suddenly tightened, and as she trembled, she accidentally knocked over the water cup in her hand.
With a clatter, the water spilled all over the table.
The flight attendant could not help but let out a low cry, picking up a napkin to hurry and wipe the water off the table, apologizing as she did so. “Sorry, sorry, Mr. Shao, I will wipe it clean immediately.”
Shao Tingyue did not speak. As she wiped the table nervously and picked up the cup, she was stunned again.
The teenager in the Shipping Magnate’s arms was awake, sitting up and staring blankly at her, with a dazed feeling of not knowing where he was.
The flight attendant could not help but exclaim in her heart. What beautiful peach blossom eyes!
Li Chu was completely awake. He rubbed his eyes, looked at Shao Tingyue, and muttered as if he had morning grumpiness. “Second Uncle, where is this…”
Shao Tingyue put away the blanket on his body, his tone flat. “Are you still sleepy?”
Li Chu shook his head, looking curiously out the porthole.
At this time, the plane was above the sea of clouds, and the sunlight poured down without obstruction, magnificent enough to make one gasp.
So beautiful…
Li Chu stared out the window at the spectacular and unreal sky for a full few seconds before he suddenly realized—he was in the sky! In an airplane!
Not only that, he was being carried by Shao Tingyue in full view of everyone! The sister from before had seen everything!
Li Chu hurriedly tried to break free, his knees accidentally hitting the tray, making a slight sound.
“Why are you moving around?”
The man’s arm steadily circled him, having no intention of letting go immediately, his tone like he was lecturing a child. “Sit properly, be careful of bumping yourself.”
“Wh-why am I on a plane?”
Li Chu finally broke free a bit of distance, but he was still trapped in Shao Tingyue’s arms. His eyes were wide open. “We… where are we going?”
“I told you before,” Shao Tingyue reminded patiently, reaching out to smooth down his forehead hair that had been tousled from sleep. “I am going to Europe at the end of the month to handle some business, and I am taking you along to take a look, you agreed.”
Li Chu: “…?”
He tried hard to recall, it seemed… Shao Tingyue had indeed mentioned that.
Shao Tingyue did not care whether he remembered or not, signaling the flight attendant to brew another cup of American ginseng tea.
“Drink a little, it will sober you up and help you wake up.”
Li Chu drank a few mouthfuls from the man’s hand, and his whole person indeed became a bit more spirited. He could not finish the rest, and Shao Tingyue did not say anything, taking it and downing it in one gulp.
The flight attendants, who were working silently and trying their best to lower their presence, were shocked once more. Before serving this Shipping Magnate boss as crew members, the first rule of the code of conduct was that he was a mysophobe, and they needed to focus on avoiding physical contact. But he actually even…
Li Chu looked at his actions, his gaze falling on the man’s moist lips, and his cheeks and ears turned hot.
The chaotic memories of last night emerged one by one. They kissed again and again!
Shao Tingyue’s lips carried a scorching temperature, and he had pressed down with his clean, cold aura. Li Chu remembered the wet, hot sensation in his mouth, the suffocating looting, the ambiguous sound of their lips and tongues entwined, the stinging pain of his tongue tip being sucked numb.
How long did that kiss last? Li Chu could not remember.
When they finally separated, both of their breathing was a mess. He felt like a stranded fish deprived of oxygen, leaning softly against the man’s arms.
Shao Tingyue’s fingertips stroked his moist, swollen lips, his voice hoarse to the point of being unrecognizable. “Do you remember, baby? That is what a real kiss is.”
Later… Li Chu had blacked out; it was probably because the alcohol had gone to his head and he had fallen asleep.
Recalling this, Li Chu slowly closed his eyes, trying hard to comfort himself, it is fine, it is fine. But in reality, he already had the urge to open the cabin door and jump down to end it all because… it was simply too shameful!
The flight attendants began to serve the meal. They were eating Western food on the plane.
The appetizer was pan-fried foie gras, paired with dark sauce and crispy apple slices. The main course was a tender and juicy steak, with asparagus, small carrots, and mushrooms fried with butter. Finally, there was a small portion of truffle mashed potatoes, fragrant and appetizing.
Shao Tingyue cut up the steak and pushed it toward him. “Eat first.”
Li Chu sat obediently in the seat next to him, only then noticing that the pajamas he was wearing had been changed.
“Second Uncle, my clothes…”
“I changed them.” Shao Tingyue did not even lift his eyebrows, handing him a small piece of foie gras. “What is the matter? It is not the first time you have seen it. When you were drugged, I helped you dress as well. Is there any problem?”
“You…” Li Chu’s fingers were trembling, unable to catch his breath. “I want to go home. I want to go down.”
“Back to which home? The Shao Mansion on Victoria Peak, or my private residence in Deep Water Bay? You can live there if you like; we will move there when we return from Europe.”
Li Chu took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down. “Second Uncle, last night I… I kissed you.”
He paused, his ears turning redder, but he insisted on saying it. “You said that the money would be written off.”
Shao Tingyue put down his knife and fork, his deep black eyes reflecting the light from the cabin window, the corners of his lips hooking into a faint arc. “Chu Zai, who told you that just kissing was enough?”
Li Chu was startled, blinking his eyes. “Th-then what else do you want?”
Shao Tingyue leaned forward, looking at him, and said clearly, word for word, “What I want is for you to be with me.”
Li Chu was completely bewildered, an incredible sense of shock in his eyes. “Second Uncle… you are already so rich, how can you go back on your word?”
Shao Tingyue looked at the child’s confused and aggrieved expression. He reached out and rubbed Li Chu’s flushed cheek.
“Baby,” he used an intimate tone, his voice low. “I am not short of money. I am short of you.”