Sheng Mingzhi felt that this conversation could no longer continue.
He simply shut his mouth obediently and didn’t say another word all the way back to Xishan No. 1.
Upon arriving home, Lu Jiayan received a call from the office and went straight to the study to handle official business. Sheng Mingzhi wasn’t surprised; the fact that this workaholic could squeeze out time to pick him up today was already enough to say the sun had risen in the west.
In Sheng Mingzhi’s memory, Lu Jiayan always seemed to be busy. After becoming an adult, he was busy with internal power struggles against his older brother and busy with work. In his youth, he was busy studying and participating in various elite training programs in his spare time.
Though they supposedly grew up together, Sheng Mingzhi hadn’t actually seen him that often in the past. Occasionally, when he did see him, it was while going out with Sheng Xu; his brother would lead him and Sheng Xue along like two little tag-alongs.
There were three children in the Sheng family: the eldest brother, Sheng Xu, and the twins, Sheng Mingzhi and Sheng Xue. Being five years younger than Sheng Xu, Sheng Mingzhi’s memories of his teenage years lacked parental involvement; he was basically raised by Sheng Xu.
Lu Jiayan probably found him annoying back then, too. High schoolers always looked down on kids—mostly because they went out to sing karaoke and drink, and wouldn’t let elementary schoolers join.
Thinking of this, Sheng Mingzhi gritted his teeth and nearly threw two punches at the air.
Lu Jiayan had been very popular during his school days, top grades and the school hunk. Not only that, but his personality was likable, and he was always surrounded by all sorts of friends. Whether it was with the top-tier scholars or the “campus king” types like his brother Sheng Xu, Lu Jiayan was always the most eye-catching figure at the center. Even though Sheng Mingzhi was only in elementary school at the time, he could judge this fact by the sheer volume of gifts and love letters Lu Jiayan received every Christmas.
Back then, there were enough school beauties rumored to be with him to fill a bucket, even reaching the ears of those in the primary school department. Honestly, Sheng Mingzhi never thought he would marry Lu Jiayan in the future. Or rather, he never thought that the person who would end up with Lu Jiayan would be himself. It was beyond ridiculous.
Sheng Mingzhi shook his head, clearing the old memories away.
He finished his shower and came out to find the light in the study still on. His footsteps paused for a second before he slowly walked into his own bedroom. In the three years they had been married, the two of them had never shared a bed. They hadn’t before, and he didn’t expect they would in the future. He figured they would just make do like this for the rest of their lives.
Lying in bed, Sheng Mingzhi somehow thought back to when they first got married. The union between Lu Jiayan and the Sheng family was purely to use the Sheng family’s influence to suppress his brother, Lu Xiao. Sheng Mingzhi was undoubtedly the best candidate for the marriage. As it happened, Lu Jiayan was handsome and rich, and Sheng Mingzhi wasn’t particularly interested in girls. They hit it off, and three years passed in a blur.
Having not shared a bed for three years, Sheng Mingzhi began to wonder if Lu Jiayan had some sort of functional issue or some hidden difficulty. He wasn’t bad-looking himself; did the other man really not have a single thought about it?
Wait, why did he feel like his self-esteem was being insulted?!
Then again, it would be terrifying if he did have thoughts. If Lu Jiayan insisted on sleeping with him, he would definitely sue the old man for marital rape. But that was probably impossible. A man like Lu Jiayan looked like a refined scoundrel and a total asexual. Even if Sheng Mingzhi stripped naked and sat on his lap, this “dog-b*tch” would probably only have next quarter’s financial reports in his mind—a modern-day cyber monk.
Once Lu Jiayan had firmly secured his position as the top dog in the Lu family, their marriage would likely reach its end. Sheng Mingzhi was too lazy to think about the future; he rolled over in bed and scrolled through his Moments for a while.
He switched to the chat page, and the chat box with Lu Jiayan suddenly jumped into view. As if possessed, Sheng Mingzhi tapped on the message, subconsciously biting a nail as he wondered: He’s probably not asleep yet?
The light in the study was still on. Sheng Mingzhi hesitated in bed for a moment, remembering that Lu Jiayan had specifically come to pick him up from work this afternoon. Did he fall behind on work because he came to pick him up? And why did he come to pick him up in the first place?
Sheng Mingzhi rolled over again, finding a new problem troubling him. He hadn’t written a requirement to be picked up from work into the marriage agreement.
He thought it over back and forth. He couldn’t find a reason, but his mood improved considerably. That dog of a man; it’s taken three years of marriage for him to finally catch on a little and know how to take care of his spouse. He had to admit, this was practically the greatest progress in the history of their plastic marriage. At the very least, it finally made Sheng Mingzhi feel like this commercial alliance wasn’t so repulsive.
A moment later, Sheng Mingzhi rolled out of bed, trotted downstairs to the kitchen island, and opened the fridge. In a rare act of kindness, he warmed a glass of milk, intending to show some consideration and gratitude by bringing it to Lu Jiayan in the study. He wanted the man to know he wasn’t heartless.
After some fussing, Sheng Mingzhi padded over to the study in his slippers. He happened to hear Lu Jiayan on the phone. The villa was very quiet, so much so that Sheng Mingzhi could recognize the man’s voice on the other end. It was his brother, Sheng Xu.
Sheng Mingzhi looked at his watch. Calling at midnight?! A bizarre thought resurfaced: Could Lu Jiayan have a thing for my brother?!
Damn, was he just some “next-best” stand-in lover? The terrifying part was that the more Sheng Mingzhi thought about it, the more sense it made. Why else would Lu Jiayan have looked down on him for three years of marriage? But even looking down on that idiot brother of his would be better than looking down on him. Lu Jiayan’s taste was truly frightening.
Sheng Mingzhi indulged in these wicked thoughts for a while before Sheng Xu’s voice came through the phone. They discussed business matters formally first, and finally, Sheng Xu mentioned Sheng Mingzhi: “How has Mingzhi been lately? He hasn’t caused you any trouble, has he?”
?
Sheng Mingzhi immediately leaned his ear closer.
Lu Jiayan laughed, as if remembering something, his expression showing a hint of a smile: “He’s fine.”
He actually didn’t speak ill of him. Sheng Mingzhi was a bit surprised.
“That’s good. Oh, by the way,” Sheng Xu said on the other end, “I heard you went to pick him up today? Thanks for the trouble. That South China Sea project you mentioned last time is no longer a problem. Whenever you have time, come over and sign the contract.”
Outside the study, Sheng Mingzhi froze. He didn’t snap out of it until Lu Jiayan hung up the phone. A string in his brain felt as though it had suddenly been plucked.
Sheng Mingzhi thought dully: So, Lu Jiayan only came to pick me up to get the South China Sea project from my brother. He’s using this gesture to send a signal of friendly cooperation to the Sheng family.
He had wondered why this dog man was being so proactive; it wasn’t because he had “caught on,” but because there was an ulterior motive. Sheng Mingzhi realized the truth: Lu Jiayan was still that refined, self-interested capital bloodsucker. How could that caustic freak ever do anything without a benefit?
Having stood there too long, Sheng Mingzhi felt his legs getting sore. Lu Jiayan finally seemed to notice someone at the door and looked up, slightly surprised: “Sheng Mingzhi?”
The study door opened. Sheng Mingzhi was wearing deep blue silk pajamas that made his skin look even whiter. The hollows of his collarbones were very distinct, like a pair of butterflies about to take flight. He was still holding a tray with a glass of warm milk.
Lu Jiayan watched him for a while, then suddenly raised an eyebrow, his expression becoming somewhat intrigued. His voice was lazy: “Is this a late-night snack for me?”
Lu Jiayan was actually a bit surprised; in his understanding of Sheng Mingzhi, the word “considerate” didn’t exist in the little ancestor’s personal code.
In the next second, Sheng Mingzhi finally snapped back to reality. Hearing Lu Jiayan’s punchable tone, his brain went into an immediate stress response. He countered decisively: “A snack for you? You’re dreaming before you’ve even fallen asleep.”
Lu Jiayan clearly didn’t believe his nonsense. He reached out and tapped the milk in his hand. His peach-blossom eyes held a mocking, punchable glint, heavy with implication.
Sheng Mingzhi: “…”
He doubled down on his denial: “Can’t I bring it up to drink it myself?”
Lu Jiayan said leisurely: “Using a tray to bring yourself milk? You certainly have a sense of ritual.”
“I’m sorry, but this is just how we Gen-Zers live our lives. With a sense of ritual. Thank you!” Sheng Mingzhi picked up the milk and forced a polite, fake smile, emphasizing the last two words especially hard.
Then, right in front of Lu Jiayan, he unceremoniously downed the warm milk in one go, gulping it down until his cheeks puffed out slightly. He drank so fast that a little milk stained the corner of his mouth.
In Lu Jiayan’s eyes, the man’s gaze paused subtly for an instant. His Adam’s apple bobbed briefly before he gallantly looked away.
Licking the milk stain away, Sheng Mingzhi gave a cold laugh: “By the way, I’m here to give you a reminder.”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t stay up late when you’re getting old.” Sheng Mingzhi glanced at the time and said icily: “Going to bed after eleven, at your age, makes it very easy to go bald prematurely.”
With that, Sheng Mingzhi didn’t care what Lu Jiayan was going to say in response; he simply turned and left the study with a dark face. His footsteps thudded on the floor. Each one heavier than the last, as if he wanted to stomp right through the floorboards.
He vented this inexplicable temper on Lu Jiayan, who didn’t even understand what he was angry about, only giving a soft laugh after a long while. He remained noncommittal toward the boy’s arrogance.
________________________________________
Back in his bedroom, Sheng Mingzhi opened his WeChat list and sent a message directly to Sheng Xu.
[Go die.]
Sheng Xu: [?]
Sheng Xu: [Is that how you talk to your brother?]
Sheng Xu: [Say that again after looking at the seven-figure balance on the bank card in your wallet that used to belong to me.]
Sheng Mingzhi: [You retracted a message.]
After hesitating, Sheng Mingzhi typed: [Did you make Lu Jiayan come pick me up today?]
Sheng Xu: [?]
Sheng Xu: [I’m touched. Is ‘good brother’ really my persona in your heart?]
Sheng Mingzhi: [Heh.]
Sheng Mingzhi: [He’s been too nice to me lately; I suspect you’re giving him too many benefits. Be honest, did you give him our entire family fortune?]
Sheng Xu: [Giving you to him is already the worst thing I’ve done to him in my life.]
Sheng Xu: [I wouldn’t go as far as giving him other things to harm him.]
Sheng Mingzhi: […]
A bizarre feeling suddenly surged within him, and he asked tentatively: [Why are you being so good to him? You don’t have a secret crush on him, do you?]
The chat box was silent for a long time. It was unclear if Sheng Mingzhi’s question was so ridiculous that it stunned his brother, or if his brother was feeling guilty for being found out.
Could he really have guessed right? What kind of soap-opera plot was this?
After a while, Sheng Xu sent a message:
[Sorry, just finished throwing up. There’s no need to insult my character.]
[Except for you, no one would ever take an interest in a backstabbing, insidious dog like Lu Jiayan.]
…
…
He didn’t take an interest either, thank you very much. But what did he mean, except for him, no one would take an interest? Lu Jiayan was still very handsome.
Sheng Mingzhi felt a bit defensive. His brother could use money to insult his dignity, but he couldn’t insult his taste.
[Don’t be so prejudiced against handsome guys.]
Sheng Mingzhi sneered: [You should face the shortcomings in your own looks.]
Sheng Xu: [Aren’t we from the same set of genes?]
Sheng Mingzhi: [So, thankfully, your contribution to those genes was strictly ‘participation award’ level. (Heart Emoji)]
After sniping at Sheng Xu, Sheng Mingzhi’s mood finally improved a little. Looking back at the chat history, he suddenly realized it seemed his brother hadn’t asked Lu Jiayan to pick him up.
Did he just misunderstand him? And throw a tantrum on top of that?
Sheng Mingzhi felt inexplicably guilty. After a moment’s hesitation, he sent a message to Lu Jiayan.
[.]
[Asleep?]
However, after the message was sent, it was like a stone dropped into the ocean. Sheng Mingzhi didn’t manage to wait for a reply before falling into a drowsy sleep.
It wasn’t until he woke up the next morning that he saw the WeChat Lu Jiayan had sent him at 8 AM.
[Was asleep last night.]
Sheng Mingzhi had completely forgotten what he had said the night before and was quite puzzled: [Asleep so early?]
[Mm.]
The other party replied: [After all, at my age, I’ll go bald if I sleep late.]
At this point, Sheng Mingzhi finally remembered everything that had happened the previous night. At the same time, no matter how he looked at the message, he felt Lu Jiayan was being passive-aggressive.
Sheng Mingzhi replied hesitantly: [You wouldn’t have intentionally ignored my message all night just to get up early and spite me, would you?]
Thinking about it carefully, it was actually quite likely. Lu Jiayan was exactly that kind of narrow-minded bastard.
[Mm.] Lu Jiayan replied righteously: [After all, I was so sad because of what you said last night that I couldn’t sleep all night.]
Sheng Mingzhi: […]
Lu Jiayan: [And I lost two hairs.]
Sheng Mingzhi: […]
Lu Jiayan: [You have to take responsibility for them.]
Sheng Mingzhi: […]