Shen Li had tried to avoid ruining Ji Zhouye’s appetite, but Ji Zhouye misunderstood his intentions, thinking he was putting on airs. Being a “good person” was surprisingly difficult.
Ji Zhouye didn’t hold back. He yanked Shen Li off the bed. “Why would I misunderstand your intentions?”
Shen Li pursed his lips, cautiously asking, “Did I say something I shouldn’t have?”
He thought back—nothing he said seemed wrong. So which part made Ji Zhouye angry?
Reflecting, he guessed Ji Zhouye might think that because he had taken money but didn’t want to be his lover, he was being untrustworthy—a deadbeat refusing to repay. That must be the reason for the anger.
For a fleeting moment, he considered another possibility: maybe Ji Zhouye was angry because he still liked him. But he immediately dismissed it—far less likely than winning a five-million lottery.
Ji Zhouye’s features were sharp and cold, eyes full of indifference. “Say or ask one more thing, I’ll smash your mouth.”
Shen Li: “……”
“President Ji, you just said earlier that hitting someone is wrong.”
Ji Zhouye’s dark eyes narrowed. Shen Li got nervous but tried to joke, “If you hit someone, it’s definitely their fault. Don’t worry, President Ji, I’ll keep my word—since I took your money, I won’t ever be a deadbeat.”
Ji Zhouye’s expression didn’t soften. He ignored Shen Li’s teasing, released him, and walked toward the bedroom door. “Go downstairs for dinner. I won’t say it twice.”
His reaction confirmed Shen Li’s suspicion:
Being a top-level CEO, his distrust was intense. His suspicion was completely unnecessary. Even if Shen Li truly wanted the money without doing anything, he wouldn’t dare go against Ji Zhouye—he was just an ant, easily crushed with a finger.
At dinner, Ji Zhouye didn’t speak a single word.
Shen Li, afraid of saying too much and making mistakes, quietly ate his meal.
Afterward, he went to the garden to smoke. It wasn’t as hot as that afternoon; the wilted flowers had revived, and tiny insects hovered near the lights.
After two cigarettes, he returned indoors and went straight to the bathroom for a shower, worried Ji Zhouye would dislike the smell.
Sunday passed quietly, with only online work and gaming. It had been a long time since he had such a relaxing gaming session.
Ji Zhouye emerged from the study to drink water, eyes falling on the person lounging on the sofa with a controller in hand.
Noticing the gaze, Shen Li looked up. “Want to play? I’ll carry you.”
Ji Zhouye withdrew his eyes, heading upstairs. He said nothing, yet it felt like he had said everything.
Shen Li scored a pentakill but was taken down by the defense tower. He ruffled his hair, respawned, pushed to the enemy crystal, and won.
He tossed the phone aside and drank half a cup of water.
Monday was the busiest day of the week. Shen Li worked until after 3 p.m. before finally having a moment of downtime.
Ling Feng entered to report work and was about to leave, but Shen Li called out, “Wait a moment.”
Ling Feng returned. “Shen Zong, anything else?”
Shen Li set aside his documents, hesitated, then asked, “Tell me, how do you stay by someone’s side forever?”
Ling Feng thought for a moment. “Depends on the person, right?”
Shen Li tapped the desk rhythmically. “The one you like.”
“Does he like you back?”
“Not me.” Shen Li cleared his throat. “He used to, but now he probably doesn’t.”
“Used to like? Your first love? Didn’t you two get back together? How could there still be problems?” Ling Feng remembered him saying his boyfriend was his first love.
Shen Li scrunched a piece of paper into a ball and tossed it at Ling Feng. “Not me.”
Ling Feng picked it up and threw it in the trash. “Fine, fine. Not you.”
He thought for a moment. “If he still likes you, then you have to actively flirt, create opportunities, and tell him—you can’t leave him, you want to be with him forever.”
“And if he doesn’t like me…?” Shen Li trailed off.
Ling Feng thought seriously. “If he doesn’t like you… then… I have no idea.”
Shen Li: “……”
He shouldn’t have expected much.
Ling Feng stammered, “If you’re brave enough… then… I suggest…”
“What?” Shen Li raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
“Just… forcefully make your move.”
Shen Li’s face darkened. He pointed at the office door. “I said it’s not me. Door’s there. Get out!”
Ling Feng couldn’t explain further. “Shen Zong, you know I’ve never had a relationship, never dated.”
“Get out. With you, you’ll never find a girlfriend.”
Ling Feng made a hasty exit. At the last moment, he shouted, “I’m not looking for a girlfriend—I’m looking for a boyfriend!”
Before Shen Li could react, the door closed and Ling Feng ran off.
Shen Li muttered at the door, “You won’t find a boyfriend either.”
Always trying to force things, it was no wonder he wouldn’t find a partner.
Shen Li stared at his phone, lost in thought. If Ji Zhouye didn’t like him now, was there a way to make him like him again?
Normal methods wouldn’t work—they had too much history.
He set down his phone, typed quickly into a browser: “how to make someone like you again.”
Scrolling to the last page, he found no answers.
Even the browser knew he was unforgivable, unwilling to help him. Shen Li sighed.
Chasing someone was hard; chasing someone again was even harder.
He thought about the time Ji Zhouye had pursued him. He guessed Ji Zhouye must have been confused then too.
They say letting go is best for both parties, but after reuniting, you don’t want to let go. That desire to hold him had reignited.
The next day, on the way to pick up Ji Zhouye from work, Shen Li passed a lottery store. He parked and randomly bought five tickets.
Ji Zhouye, sitting in the passenger seat, noticed a ticket fall from Shen Li’s pocket. “Buying lottery tickets?”
Shen Li lowered his eyes, picked it up, and put it back in his pocket. “Yeah… maybe I’ll win.”
Ji Zhouye said nothing.
Shen Li teased, “Let’s bet. If I win over five hundred…” he trailed off.
Ji Zhouye: “Over five hundred, what?”
“Over five hundred, I’ll take you out to eat, drink, and watch a movie. Deal?”
Shen Li waited patiently for an answer.
After a few seconds, Ji Zhouye slowly said, “Deal.”
The waiting for the draw was agonizing—days felt like years.
First ticket: no win.
Second ticket: no win.
Third ticket: no win…
Fourth ticket: no win…
Shen Li closed his eyes. Seems like no luck this time.
The fifth ticket… his expression went from blank to pure joy.
He had won!
Five million!
Not just five hundred, but five million!
Shen Li grabbed the ticket and went to the study, knocking and waiting before pushing the door open.