Days before, he had already told Chen Shi to clear his schedule for today.
After getting the call, Chen Shi arrived at the Swan Bay villa in under half an hour.
Today Chen Shi had specially dressed up, changing out of the bar’s work uniform into a set of international-school-style clothes, which made his fine features carry an extra touch of youthful brightness.
When Shi Yi met those light tea-colored eyes of his, made up with colored contacts, he couldn’t help but freeze for a second.
It really was similar.
Too similar.
Practically another him in the world.
There was still about half an hour left before Lu Huaiqian got off work.
And then from the company to home took roughly another half hour or so, which meant there was still a full hour before Lu Huaiqian could get home and see the surprise Shi Yi had prepared for him.
Shi Yi suddenly felt this stretch of time was a bit too long.
He couldn’t wait to see Lu Huaiqian’s reaction the very next second.
Would it be joy, or sorrow? Or perhaps anger?
He’d never seen Lu Huaiqian angry before, he didn’t know what this man would be like if he actually got angry.
As for sorrow, what right did Lu Huaiqian have to be sad?
Going by what Lu Huaiqian always said about falling for him at first sight, then giving him a surprise like this, what was there for Lu Huaiqian to be sad about?
Lu Huaiqian should be happy.
Because Chen Shi would surely be more willing than he was to let himself be pushed around by Lu Huaiqian, would listen to Lu Huaiqian more, and might even fall in love with Lu Huaiqian and live a life of mutual affection with him.
Lu Huaiqian should thank him.
He’d dare say there was no better gift in the world than this.
Bundles of romantic red and pink balloons filled the living room, and rose petals in a deep red like dipped blood covered the tiles, forming a lane strewn with romantic petals.
On the dining table, straight rows of French candles and dishes cooked by a five-star restaurant chef made for a truly indulgent, romantic candlelit dinner.
Now all that was left was for the other lead to arrive.
Shi Yi saw off each of the staff members with satisfaction, then checked the time again, about fifty minutes left until Lu Huaiqian would probably get home.
A little boring.
Might as well play a round of a game.
Shi Yi flopped back onto the sofa and called Chen Shi over to join him for a game.
Ever since running into Shi Yi at the bar that day, Chen Shi had gone back and looked into what he could find about Shi Yi and Lu Huaiqian, so when he learned a few days ago what Shi Yi wanted him to do, he wasn’t particularly surprised.
Rich people doing whatever they wanted was nothing unusual to begin with.
He didn’t care much either way, his goal was the money, regardless.
If Lu Huaiqian happened to take a liking to him, that would be even better.
He wanted to try out what it felt like to be rich, too.
After one round of the game ended, with less than ten minutes left until the time Lu Huaiqian had said he’d be home, Shi Yi put his phone away and led Chen Shi to the guest room next to the dining room.
He instructed Chen Shi, “Just stay in this room and don’t move. Come out only when I tell you to.”
Chen Shi nodded very obediently, “Don’t worry, Young Master Shi. Whatever you tell me to do, I’ll do.”
Shi Yi gave a cold snort, closed the door, sat back down on the sofa, and stared at the time, turning his phone screen on and off.
Three minutes.
Two minutes.
One minute.
Finally the time Lu Huaiqian said he’d be home arrived, and there was still no sound from the door.
Shi Yi knew Lu Huaiqian was only human, and that something might happen on the road that delayed him, so he wouldn’t necessarily be exactly on time.
So he held his patience and waited another five minutes.
But after five minutes, Lu Huaiqian still hadn’t come back.
Anger rose up through his chest at once, and his slender fingers tapped against the screen with sharp clicks.
【Shi Yi: Where are you? What time is it? What time did you say you’d be home? What time is it now?】
【Shi Yi: Can’t even do what you say? Something wrong with you?】
Just as he felt the vibration against his thigh, Lu Huaiqian’s hand had already come to rest on the door handle.
He more or less knew who had sent it, but he still let go of the door handle, took out his phone, and replied to Shi Yi.
The instant he saw the content of Shi Yi’s message, Lu Huaiqian felt joy.
Shi Yi rarely ever pressed him to come home, or paid attention to what time he’d get back, and today of all days was their third wedding anniversary.
Didn’t that mean Shi Yi had missed him?
Shi Yi had also said he’d prepared a surprise for him, and he was starting to feel eager.
Lu Huaiqian held the flowers in one arm, awkwardly carrying the gift he’d prepared for Shi Yi, and typed with one hand on his phone with the other.
【Lu Huaiqian: I’m at the front door, just about to open it.】
【Lu Huaiqian: Sorry, there was a bit of traffic on the way, it delayed me a little, please don’t be angry.】
After replying, without even putting his phone away in time, Lu Huaiqian hurriedly reached out and pushed the door open, walking quickly toward the living room with both anxiety and full anticipation.
The front door wasn’t locked, and it opened at the lightest touch.
What came into view next was red.
A sea of red, mixed with a bit of soft pink, heart-shaped balloons and roses that spoke of thick, heavy affection, things that could never possibly appear in his house, were now here.
And most important of all, the person who had prepared all this for him was Shi Yi.
It was actually Shi Yi.
Nothing but joy and excitement, on top of more joy and excitement.
A seed buried deep down, one he thought would never again see the light in this lifetime, was suddenly lifted out from underneath by a great force, and quickly began to take root and sprout.
Lu Huaiqian felt like he was dreaming.
And it was the kind of dream you have wide awake.
He looked around the room, his eyes locked on Shi Yi sitting on the sofa, forcibly holding back the urge to rush over and pull him tightly into his arms, and called out softly, “Shi Yi.”
As if afraid a voice too loud would shatter this fantasy.
His deep eyes, long dulled by joyless gloom, suddenly shimmered with light from happiness, and it made even Shi Yi freeze for a moment without meaning to.
But in an instant, Shi Yi came back to himself and sneered inwardly.
Heh, what a spineless thing.
What he hated seeing most was Lu Huaiqian happy.
Shi Yi immediately got up and walked over to shatter Lu Huaiqian’s glassy dream, “Look at that expression on your face, you don’t actually think I set this up myself, do you? Heh, what a daydream. Do you think you deserve it?”
The joy that had been overflowing in Lu Huaiqian’s eyes froze right at the rim, and the curve at the corners of his mouth fell along with it.
After a long moment, Lu Huaiqian raised the corner of his mouth into a smile again and murmured softly, “No, it’s not that.”
It didn’t matter, it was fine even if it wasn’t Shi Yi who’d set it up himself. With this much stuff, wouldn’t doing it all by hand be exhausting anyway?
Besides, with Shi Yi’s personality, he wouldn’t set up something like this with his own hands regardless.
So it didn’t matter, that Shi Yi had the thought to prepare it at all was already good enough.
Watching Lu Huaiqian’s expression turn from joy to pain and dejection, and then forcing out a bitter smile, Shi Yi finally felt satisfied, and couldn’t help sneering again, “Heh, good that you know.”
Lu Huaiqian ignored the contempt in Shi Yi’s tone, smiled at him gently, and raised the flowers cradled in his arm along with the two exquisite gift bags in his hand, “Shi Yi, happy third anniversary.”
Shi Yi lowered his eyes and swept a glance over the things held out in front of him, didn’t take them, then raised his face and asked coldly in return, “Lu Huaiqian, do you think I’d be happy about our third anniversary with you? And these flowers, who exactly are you planning to give them to? Me? Do you think our relationship is the kind where you send flowers?”