Ji Zhouye’s brow was slightly furrowed. “You didn’t say who your boyfriend is.”
Shen Li glanced at Ling Feng, then back at Ji Zhouye. “He didn’t ask who my boyfriend is, did he?”
Ji Zhouye’s expression darkened. “So you won’t say it if he doesn’t ask?”
Shen Li was momentarily speechless. How did this turn into a loop? He leaned back in his chair, massaging his forehead in exasperation. “If he doesn’t ask, how am I supposed to say it?”
Ling Feng: “……”
What are these two even talking about?
Even more shocking to Ling Feng was that his president dared to argue with a big shot—the very man who practically ruled Jiangcheng.
Ji Zhouye’s cold gaze landed on Ling Feng. “Ask him: who is his boyfriend?”
Shen Li: “……”
Ling Feng: “……”
Swallowing nervously, Ling Feng whispered, “Shen Zong… who is your boyfriend?”
“No, Ling Feng, what are you doing?” Shen Li burst out laughing.
Traitor!
Ling Feng: “I don’t dare offend President Ji.”
Shen Li: “……”
So now you do offend him?
Shen Li got up, walked around the desk, grabbed Ling Feng by his shirt, and tossed him in front of Ji Zhouye. “Look carefully. The man in front of you is my ex… and my current boyfriend.”
Only then did Ji Zhouye’s lips curl into a satisfied smile.
Shen Li, increasingly annoyed, added, “Also the jerk you called a jerk.”
Ji Zhouye’s smile vanished.
Ling Feng was stunned and terrified, almost kneeling to apologize. “President Ji, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called you a jerk. I apologize, really, I’m sorry.”
“Explain.” Ji Zhouye, unusually calm, asked.
Ling Feng froze. “Uh… today Shen Zong asked me what it meant if someone doesn’t like you but kisses you… and then I said…”
Shen Li: “……”
Looking at Ji Zhouye, he could clearly see the amusement in his eyes but no inclination to explain.
A flicker of disappointment passed through Shen Li—he was almost desperate to hear Ji Zhouye’s explanation. But they were lovers, weren’t they? No explanation was needed.
Ling Feng finished and began apologizing again. “President Ji, please don’t be mad at me.”
Shen Li picked up a document and slammed it on the desk. “Work hours—no personal matters allowed.”
Ling Feng fell silent.
Shen Li looked at him. “Arrange the cooperation with Shengyang.”
“No.” Ji Zhouye’s voice was cold.
Ling Feng was caught in a dilemma—going was wrong, not going was wrong.
“Ji Zhouye, you…” Shen Li gritted his teeth.
Ji Zhouye: “Work with me, or with Shengyang?”
“What work with you? Where’s the file?” Shen Li asked.
Ji Zhouye sent him the electronic version via email.
Shen Li didn’t check it; he trusted Ji Zhouye. “Can’t both work together?”
“No.”
Fine. Shengyang’s contract had obvious loopholes anyway; they would have gotten the bigger share. Ji Zhouye appeared unexpectedly at the dinner—forget it.
“Choose me, or Shengyang?” Ji Zhouye asked.
“You. Fine, you’re my master, my golden sponsor. If not you, who else?”
Then Shen Li remembered he hadn’t settled things with Ling Feng. Looking at him, he said, “You go back with your President Ji; that’s where you belong. I can’t accommodate you here.”
“Really? President Ji?” Ling Feng’s eyes sparkled.
That was JH! Who wouldn’t be tempted?
Shen Li: “……”
His emotions were indescribable.
“Stay here. Your Shen Zong needs you more,” Ji Zhouye said, lips curving slightly.
Shen Li pulled a cigarette from his pack, putting it in his mouth without lighting it. “Take your dog away when you leave. Don’t make me nauseous.”
Ling Feng: “……”
From human to dog in an instant.
Ji Zhouye didn’t respond, his gaze on Shen Li deepening, amusement flickering.
Ling Feng glanced between the two. “Uh… Shen Zong, anything else?”
“No.”
Ling Feng gave a meaningful look. “Then I won’t disturb…”
He disappeared before Shen Li could even respond.
Shen Li picked up his phone and sent a message to Ling Feng:
[Mind your mouth, or I’ll make you mute.]
Ling Feng: [Yes, Shen Zong.]
Shen Li didn’t want too many people to know; maybe Ji Zhouye would get tired and they’d break up. Could be tomorrow, a week, or a month—no telling.
Shen Li extinguished the screen and said, “President Ji, do your friends know I’m your lover?”
In polite terms, they were together—but he knew the truth: just lovers.
Ji Zhouye’s eyes darkened slightly. “No.”
As expected, lovers weren’t presentable.
Shen Li lit the cigarette in his mouth, inhaled deeply, exhaling white smoke. “Your friends don’t know, so why would you want people around me to know? Ji Zhouye, you’re unreasonable!”
Ji Zhouye walked around the desk, standing beside him, looking down.
Knowing he had no right to complain, Shen Li leaned back. “Ji Zhouye, don’t make this public. If one day you get tired, it’ll be messy.”
Ji Zhouye rotated the chair’s armrest so Shen Li faced him.
He leaned in, one knee between Shen Li’s legs, arms on the armrests, asserting his dominance, keeping Shen Li in his territory.
Shen Li looked up, his heart skipping a beat.
Ji Zhouye’s features were sharp, emotions flickering in his eyes.
“President Ji, this is an office. Mind your manners,” Shen Li pretended to be calm, hiding his racing heart.
He kept reminding himself: this was a business transaction, but he couldn’t resist seeing Ji Zhouye.
“You don’t like the term ‘lover’? Then be my boyfriend. Okay?” Ji Zhouye rarely spoke so gently, fastening the top button of Shen Li’s shirt and straightening his slightly crooked tie.
Shen Li stared into his eyes, soft as water, almost drowning in them, his last shred of reason pulling him back.
He deliberately avoided Ji Zhouye’s gaze. “President Ji… what kind of international joke is this? You like me, so I should be your boyfriend?”
The words made Ji Zhouye seem like a careless, irresponsible playboy.
Ji Zhouye snatched the cigarette from Shen Li’s hand, tossing it into the trash. “Do you like me?”
Shen Li thought for a moment. “Now… or back then?”
“Back then.” Ji Zhouye asked about the past first.
Shen Li smiled, a trace of bitterness in his eyes. “Back then, of course I liked you. I thought we’d be together forever.”
Ji Zhouye asked seriously: “Then why did you stop liking me?”
“Life is long. Who can guarantee they only like one person in their life? If we hadn’t broken up, could you guarantee you wouldn’t have changed your mind? Besides… life isn’t just about love.” Shen Li’s voice trembled slightly, trying to hide the shameful past with Zhou Lifen.