Some time ago when he was chasing him, he’d even posted those pink photos that anyone could see.
He was bound to get scammed.
Fu Zhiheng pondered this, distractedly finishing the concert. On the drive to send him home, he made up his mind—since he was straight, he definitely couldn’t date Shu Ci. But he could provide better material conditions, broaden Shu Ci’s horizons, so he wouldn’t be so easily deceived.
After all, they were colleagues, and Shu Ci had once pursued him. He couldn’t just stand by and watch him walk into a trap.
So on the way back, Fu Zhiheng bought a bouquet and walked over when Shu Ci got out of the car.
He had never given flowers before. He was already awkward by nature, and under Shu Ci’s gaze he felt completely exposed.
Putting on a casual air, he explained, “They were for the S band. I left them in the trunk and forgot.”
Shu Ci suddenly understood. “Oh.” Seeing the look on Fu Zhiheng’s face that clearly said if you don’t take them I’ll have to throw them away, he silently accepted them.
“Thank you.” The corners of his lips lifted slightly. “They’re very pretty.”
With his heart pounding wildly, Fu Zhiheng fled.
When Shu Ci arrived home, Lu Xianyan had just finished bringing in the clothes from the balcony. Everything in the house was neatly arranged; even the slippers Shu Ci had kicked off before leaving were placed properly on the rack.
“You’re back?” The man’s gaze swept straight to the bouquet in Shu Ci’s arms, lingered for a few seconds, then returned to his face. “Hungry?”
“I already ate.”
Lu Xianyan said nothing more, just stared at him.
Under that gaze, Shu Ci felt uncomfortable, as if he were being examined all over. For a split second, he felt like a husband who had been fooling around outside.
Even the bouquet suddenly felt troublesome.
His cheeks warmed. “Y-you… have you eaten?”
Lu Xianyan shook his head. “I was waiting to eat with you.”
Guilt was added to Shu Ci’s unease. “…Then I’ll keep you company.”
Lu Xianyan’s dinner was a simple bowl of noodles. Probably because he had been alone, he hadn’t added the prepared ingredients—everything looked rather makeshift.
Shu Ci sat beside him.
Lu Xianyan didn’t immediately start eating. Instead, he asked, “Did you feel uncomfortable outside?”
“No…”
“Then now—do you want treatment?”
Shu Ci felt that Lu Xianyan cared about him too much.
The man asked verbally, but his arm was already reaching around him. In the beginning, their “treatment” hadn’t been this intimate. Until one time, Lu Xianyan had said standing like that would tire him—he might as well sit directly on him.
After agreeing once, every time after that Lu Xianyan would simply lift him into his arms.
So when he saw that familiar motion, Shu Ci instinctively raised his arms, making it easier for the other to wrap around his waist.
—This isn’t good.
So Shu Ci refused and shifted away.
Lu Xianyan’s arm paused midair, stiffened slightly, then withdrew.
He didn’t speak, just looked at Shu Ci with dark eyes, as if waiting for him to go first.
“I think I’m almost better,” Shu Ci said softly. “It only happens once a week now. I should be able to handle it myself, so I won’t trouble you anymore. Thank you for helping me all this time. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t have known what to do.”
He tried hard to express his gratitude, but Lu Xianyan’s eyes still dimmed little by little.
On that cold, handsome face, it was usually hard to find any extra expression. Yet at this moment, Shu Ci could clearly sense his emotions.
Lu Xianyan had always refused to take money for helping him.
Maybe tonight’s incident made him afraid of being “abandoned”… Wait—what abandoned? Why was he starting to think of him like a dog too…
Shu Ci hadn’t planned to accept it, but he was curious how much was in the card.
“About five hundred thousand,” Lu Xianyan said.
Shu Ci’s eyes widened.
“It’s not from my family,” Lu Xianyan added. “It’s my scholarships and project earnings from the past few years.”
“That’s amazing…” Shu Ci couldn’t help but admire.
The corner of Lu Xianyan’s lips lifted slightly. “I saved it as my future wife fund.”
What?
Shu Ci’s hand trembled.
Why was a wife fund being given to him?
He didn’t accept it and returned the card, but Lu Xianyan casually stuffed it into the cloth bag beside the fridge. After sending him the password, he said bluntly, “I don’t have a wife right now, so you can use it.”
Shu Ci’s ears burned.
The next noon, when Shu Ci woke up, he received a message from Fu Zhiheng asking him to have lunch at a certain restaurant.
He paused, then typed hesitantly:
【Is this another dare?】
Fu Zhiheng stiffened at the other end.
【No.】
【I was supposed to go with a friend, but he had something come up.】
【If you have plans, don’t force it.】
Fu Zhiheng had already treated him to a concert; technically Shu Ci should be the one inviting him this time. He originally wanted to say he would treat, but after checking the restaurant’s average cost per person, he quietly sucked in a breath.
Lu Xianyan’s hearing was sharp enough to catch that even from the balcony.
He came inside. “What’s wrong?”
Shu Ci told him honestly.
After a moment of silence, Lu Xianyan said, “You can use my card.”
Shu Ci stared at him.
Using Lu Xianyan’s wife fund to treat someone else to dinner…
He glanced at Lu Xianyan and had the odd illusion that something above his head would turn green in the future.
Of course, Lu Xianyan wasn’t that magnanimous. “Can I go with you?”
Remembering how poorly Lu Xianyan and Fu Zhiheng had gotten along last time, Shu Ci decided against it. He already found it too expensive anyway, so he told Fu Zhiheng the truth—that he didn’t want to go.
Fu Zhiheng said he understood.
【I’ll treat.】
Shu Ci said it wasn’t necessary.
【Do you have plans?】
【Or does your boyfriend not let you go out? That strict?】
【Suit yourself.】
From that final “Suit yourself,” Shu Ci could sense Fu Zhiheng wasn’t in a good mood. Just as he was hesitating over what to reply, another message popped up—
【Don’t get scammed.】
【When everything’s taken from you, don’t say I didn’t warn you.】
Shu Ci frowned in confusion.
How had a simple meal turned into talk about being scammed? Going to such an expensive restaurant was what felt like a scam.
As he hesitated, his phone vibrated again.
Fu Zhiheng sent several restaurant addresses.
【Pick one yourself.】
Shu Ci checked them one by one and finally chose one that interested him.
After setting the time, he heard someone knocking on the door.
It turned out to be a food delivery.
Lu Xianyan went to receive it.