Zhou Yi’s movements in organizing the files were somewhat unpracticed, yet his expression remained intensely serious, as though he were facing the most difficult choice of his life.
Chu Yanyi picked up a organized document and flipped through it at random; there were no errors, the layout was clear, and even the curled corners of the pages and the crumpled receipts had been smoothed out.
He smiled: “It’s a good thing you’re here, otherwise it would have been quite a hassle. One can tell at a glance that you used to do this often. You really could come work at the company.”
Zhou Yi raised his head, wearing a blank, innocent expression.
“Once you’ve finished organizing, go wash your hands; I have something to discuss with you.”
By the time Zhou Yi returned from the bathroom, the electronic hourglass had been placed back in its original spot by Chu Yanyi.
Chu Yanyi was opening several invitations brought over by Chen Ke. Chen Ke and a few assistants had already filtered through them, so they wouldn’t pile up like a small mountain on Chu Yanyi’s desk. However, which ones Chu Yanyi would attend was decided in advance, making the process a mere formality.
He pulled out a navy blue invitation from among them; the silk-laminated paper felt smooth and soft, displaying a gentle reflection like a river under natural daylight. The gilded family crest at the absolute center shone brilliantly, radiating an air of refined elegance.
Using a letter opener to slice open the wax seal, Chu Yanyi scanned the contents inside before handing it to Zhou Yi.
“Are you interested?”
Zhou Yi wiped the water off his hands onto his trousers before carefully taking the somewhat heavy invitation.
“The President—that is, the President of the Chamber of Commerce’s birthday banquet. Many people from Desert Planet θ will be attending. Perhaps there will be people who know you and are aware of your past, which might be beneficial for recovering your memory.”
Chu Yanyi bent his fingers to tap the desk: “However… I’m worried about your condition. You’ve been using painkillers quite a bit recently—is your headache getting worse again?”
Zhou Yi’s Adam’s apple bobbed twice, as if waking abruptly from a dream, carrying a trace of panic, even forgetting to close his mouth.
Supporting his chin on his hand, Chu Yanyi opened his virtual screen to scroll through a list of names, tapping his lip with a finger as if in thought.
“Forget it… take Chen Ke? Or take Little Xu? Everyone knows Chen Ke, so that’s convenient. As for the newcomer…”
His voice wasn’t loud, sounding more like he was talking to himself.
Zhou Yi bit his lip, suddenly stepping forward.
Chu Yanyi raised his head to look at him, letting out a soft sigh: “Zhou Yi, this time is different. There will be even more rumors and gossip than yesterday. If you don’t want to go, I think it’s better if you stay behind.”
Zhou Yi shook his head, his gaze firm.
He mouthed: “I want to go with you.”
Chu Yanyi smiled: “Alright then. I’ll have someone come pick you up and bring you to the venue when the time comes. Put on those clothes and accessories by yourself—can you do that?”
Zhou Yi looked at Chu Yanyi blankly, as if failing to grasp the meaning.
Chu Yanyi explained patiently: “I have some matters to attend to outside and must leave immediately. So you don’t need to come over in the afternoons for these next few days. Weren’t there several sets of clothes left over from last time? Or you can buy new ones; you know how to use the terminal to buy things, right? Rest assured, most of those people aren’t much better than the ones you met yesterday.”
“As for your tasks over these next few days…” Chu Yanyi cupped his coffee cup, taking a sip of the remaining liquid before opening a drawer.
He quickly retrieved the items he had prepared from the drawer: a box of candies, a car key, and a document.
He spread the three items across the desk, pushing them one by one before Zhou Yi: “The candy is to thank you for helping me pick up the files. The car key is a gift for you—that car can’t use biometric registration systems and only works with the primitive method… As for this document, it contains the handwriting you need to learn.”
A faint wave of heavy emotion flickered across Zhou Yi’s dull green eyes. Reaching out his hand, he picked up the candy box and the document, yet left the car key untouched.
Lowering his head, he opened the document.
The next second, disregarding any rules or decorum, he placed the document before Chu Yanyi in shock.
“What’s wrong?” Chu Yanyi stroked the paper inside the document with a beaming smile. “Can’t learn it?”
Written neatly across it were all of Chu Yanyi’s own signatures and hand-written records.
Handing a pen to Zhou Yi, Chu Yanyi asked: “Want to try?”
Only after a moment did Zhou Yi accept the pen. Bending down, he began to slowly trace the writing onto a sheet of white paper.
Chu Yanyi toyed with the hourglass in his hand, staring straight at him.
Zhou Yi merely felt his already clumsy fingers turned extraordinarily stiff today.
He didn’t understand Mr. Chu’s intent—he never understood it, like a blind person feeling an elephant. He suddenly found himself absurd to the point of being laughable.
“Not in the right state today?” Chu Yanyi rose to his feet and reached out, gripping Zhou Yi’s left hand to guide it slowly. “Keep your strokes steady and more decisive, otherwise you won’t be able to learn anyone’s handwriting well.”
Zhou Yi held his breath unconsciously, writing entirely under Chu Yanyi’s control. Yet the scent of Alpha pheromones representing noble elegance accompanied him like a shadow, enveloping him completely and tightly.
“Isn’t this very good?” Chu Yanyi released his grip, a subtle, unreadable smile surfacing at the corners of his lips as he admired the crooked handwriting for a moment. “I hope you learn to write as close to mine as possible. Don’t worry, it will come in handy in the future.”
Zhou Yi looked up quietly, then imitated Chu Yanyi’s expression by forming a smile.
“Just like that.” Chu Yanyi checked his wristwatch. “I need to set off now; you should head back as well.”
Zhou Yi nodded, packing up his things to leave, only to be called back by Chu Yanyi once more.
“Don’t forget this.” Chu Yanyi picked up the car key and shook it. “This is yours as well.”
Zhou Yi didn’t move. He stood on the spot, his lips pursed into a straight line, his back straight, yet remaining motionless.
It was Chu Yanyi’s first time seeing Zhou Yi show such resistance.
Pausing for a second, Chu Yanyi stepped forward to stroke Zhou Yi’s jet-black hair, stuffing the car key into Zhou Yi’s left hand: “I’ve told you before, once I give something away, I won’t take it back. What’s more, this car should hold significant meaning for you.”
Zhou Yi faintly understood the meaning behind Mr. Chu’s words. He had experienced a strange, hazy dream last night, in which he sat inside that familiar car, driving along a road that seemed to have no end.
He wanted to stop—and ought to have stopped—yet lost control and surged forward with even greater recklessness instead. Then, he saw Mr. Chu standing right in front of his car.
Mr. Chu looked at him with an icy, piercing gaze—looking less like he was looking at a stranger, and more like he was looking at someone with whom he held deep hatred.
Someone reached out from behind to cover his eyes. He slammed down on the accelerator.
The wheels ran over something, causing the entire vehicle to shake violently.
“Die together with Chu Yanyi. Let him die at his finest hour.”
That person whispered softly.
Waking up in terror from the dream, Zhou Yi suffered a splitting headache. His first instinct was to look for the painkillers nearby, and by the time he realized what he had dreamed, his back was already drenched in cold sweat.
“What’s wrong?” Chu Yanyi’s caring voice landed beside his ear. Zhou Yi lowered his head and sniffled forcefully, yet tears streamed down uncontrollably like an opened valve, striking against the brand-new car key.
He didn’t understand why a bizarre dream could evoke such intense emotions within him. The sincere panic and grief in his heart at that moment were far too profound, weighing on him until he could barely breathe.
The door was opened at this moment, and Chen Ke poked his head in: “Mr. Chu, we’re currently…”
Every muscle in Zhou Yi’s body tensed up instantly.
Taking in the scene in the study, Chen Ke let out a cover-up cough, shutting the door under Chu Yanyi’s cold gaze.
Chu Yanyi handed his handkerchief over: “Stop crying. If you don’t want it, don’t take it; don’t make others think I’m bullying you every time. Chen Ke likely misunderstood again.”
Zhou Yi felt even more aggrieved—he had disobeyed Mr. Chu so many times over these past two days and had even caused Mr. Chu to be misunderstood by others, something he wouldn’t have dared to imagine before.
Suppressing his souring nose, he raised his trembling hands, using chaotic sign language to answer Chu Yanyi’s question.
“It’s not about wanting it or not, I just don’t want Mr. Chu to be unhappy. If Mr. Chu is unhappy, then nothing has any meaning.”
Chu Yanyi stared at him until the electronic hourglass emitted a hum at its scheduled time, after which Chu Yanyi suddenly laughed.
Taking the candy box held tightly in Zhou Yi’s palm, he shook out a candy and brought it to Zhou Yi’s lips with practiced, natural movements.
Only after the Alpha slowly took the candy into his mouth did he speak, his tone serious and gentle.
“You really aren’t clever enough. I’m actually very happy—especially right now, extraordinarily happy.”
Zhou Yi stared blankly at Chu Yanyi. The daylight was crisp and clear, bathing Chu Yanyi’s entire form in clean, translucent sunlight, rendering his defined features delicate and fragile. Those captivating eyes currently rippled with a light-blue smile, drawing closer and closer to him.
Subconsciously, he closed his eyes.
Chu Yanyi let out a soft laugh, his breath brushing past the side of Zhou Yi’s ear as he reached for the hourglass behind Zhou Yi.
“Noisy, isn’t it? Who knows how Ying Yu picked out this gift.” Chu Yanyi continued playing with the hourglass, setting it back to its starting position. “Then see you at the venue; I look forward to seeing how you look that day.”
Zhou Yi watched from outside as Chu Yanyi departed. As the flyer ascended, he faintly overheard the whispers of others on the far side. Those people didn’t seem to care to hide from him, nor did they think there was any issue with doing so.
They said: “Does this slave really like Mr. Chu that much? Mr. Chu is just going out for a trip, and his eyes are already red from crying.”
They said: “Treating you so well, providing good food and drink—anyone would be moved.”
They said: “I heard he was even seeking favor in broad daylight in front of everyone last night… tsk tsk tsk, truly shameless. Looks like Mr. Chu still holds a bit of interest in him for now and didn’t hold it against him.”
They said: “Ha, that might not be the case in a few days. He’s the only one taking himself seriously.”
They said: “Quiet down, he’s looking over.”
Like? Do I like Mr. Chu?
Zhou Yi gripped the military knife in his hand forcefully. The edge of the knife handle carried fine traces of wear, with Chu Yanyi’s name carved upon it, digging deeply into his flesh.
Am I allowed to like Mr. Chu?
He slowly turned his head, staring at those people. With a flick of his fingertips, a cold glint flashed through the air as the sharp blade flew past someone’s cheek.
Screams erupted, and the surrounding guards immediately looked over.
Yet as if nothing had happened, Zhou Yi unhurriedly walked over to a tree and pulled the knife out with his left hand—a highly venomous insect speared through its body on the blade.
He bowed lightly to several guards, gesturing for the servants to be more careful in the future.