“I… I was worried about the young master, so I sneaked in,” Butler Ling said awkwardly.
Although the lie was flimsy, Chi Fei didn’t think much of it. Back then, he had only brought Butler Ling over because the man had experience, and now he was indeed quite attentive.
“Behave yourself during the formal banquet later. Don’t cause any trouble,” Chi Fei warned, glaring at Chi Anyu.
Chi Anyu kept a cold face and said nothing.
Chi Fei was more helpless than anything when it came to this son.
The banquet began.
Qi Si stood on the stage with his arm linked through his daughter Qi Ya’s, reading the opening remarks. Qi Ya wore a simple, elegant white dress. Her hair was swept up high, revealing her pale neck, and she smiled gently and gracefully at the crowd.
Naturally, there was no shortage of gasps and flattering remarks from below.
Then everyone raised their glasses. The dark red wine swayed against the sides of the glasses as they drank together.
Chi Anyu sat in a corner sofa with his legs crossed, cracking melon seeds as he lazily watched the scene.
System 07 sighed and teased, “That eldest Miss Qi is quite pretty. Don’t you have any thoughts of a marriage alliance?”
He could tell that inside this banquet hall, quite a few shy female gazes were still falling on Chi Anyu. A good-looking face really was attractive enough.
“Although I’m straight, I don’t have any intention of stepping into the grave of marriage right now. Don’t spout nonsense.”
System 07 narrowed its eyes at the melon seeds in Chi Anyu’s hand. 『Where did you get those melon seeds? Can you even be cracking melon seeds at a high-end event like this?』
Chi Anyu clicked his tongue. “That waitstaff. I just casually mentioned it, and he got them for me.”
System 07: “…” So indulgent?
In the shadows on the second floor, a scorching gaze landed precisely on Chi Anyu. Xie Junyi leaned back in his chair. Moonlight, bright as silver, poured down, skimming across his face in a fleeting flash and leaving a wavering shadow behind.
“Young master, the young master is fine. He didn’t fall into the water, so you don’t need to worry.”
Xie Junyi crossed his legs, lowered his eyes, and answered softly, “Mm. He drank a bit too much fruit wine. Have the waitstaff send some food over later to help with the hangover.”
Butler Ling rolled his eyes. His own young master was like some kind of pervert, always secretly following their young master around, protecting him as if he were the most precious thing in the world, always anxious and fearful.
In a little while, he would also have to have the young master’s room prepared in advance. It had to be comfortable enough for him to sleep well for the whole night. If they simply gave him the room the young master had slept in in the main building, that would be perfect.
The banquet at the estate would always prepare rooms for the attending guests. Besides the main building, there were also several guest villa areas.
Upon learning that he would have to stay the night here, Chi Anyu immediately put his foot down.
“Wasn’t I only supposed to attend a banquet? I’m not staying here. I want to go back.”
Father Chi said patiently, “This estate is in a remote location. By the time we get back, it will already be very late, and it’s unsafe at night. Stay one night. We’ll have breakfast tomorrow morning and then go back.”
Chi Anyu: “…”
In the end, he still had to compromise.
The resting rooms for the banquet guests had all been arranged in advance.
The waitstaff led Chi Anyu to the room at the far end of the third floor in the main building and smiled slightly. “Young Master Chi, this is your room for tonight.”
Chi Anyu was no fool. He could tell something was off at a glance. “I’m staying here alone? Why does everyone else seem to be in the villas next door?”
The waitstaff’s expression shifted slightly. “Uh… that side… the rooms were full, so we arranged for you to stay in the main building.”
Chi Anyu stared at the waitstaff for a few seconds, then looked away. “Fine. Staying anywhere is the same.”
He wasn’t about to make things difficult for a waitstaff member.
Chi Anyu casually pushed the door open and glanced inside, then froze completely.
The entire room was huge, dominated by cool tones. It came with a dedicated dressing room and study, and even had a small living room area and a gaming room. A huge floor-to-ceiling window let him take in the estate’s night scenery.
System 07 was stunned as well. 『This room is huge? It’s so fully equipped. Isn’t that a bit extravagant?』
Chi Anyu walked straight in and was instantly drawn to the gaming room. It was almost as if it had been custom-made for him. He was just about to sit down and try it out.
System 07 suddenly said in a gloomy voice, 『Host, bad news. The one-week deadline is up. There are only two hours left until midnight.』
Chi Anyu’s heart lurched too. The last time he kissed Xie Junyi had been a week ago. It had come around so quickly that he’d nearly forgotten.
“Why didn’t you remind me earlier? With only two hours left, there’s no way I can make it back in time!”
System 07 said awkwardly, “I forgot.”
Chi Anyu: “…” When will you ever be reliable!
Chi Anyu felt dead inside. He quickly pulled out his phone and called Xie Junyi. After all, he didn’t want to be electrocuted.
The call was answered almost instantly.
Chi Anyu sounded anxious. “Where are you right now? I’ll send you the address. Try to get here as fast as you can!”
Hearing how anxious Chi Anyu sounded, Xie Junyi’s heart lurched up into his throat. “What’s wrong? Did something happen to you? Don’t panic. I’ll be right there.”
After hanging up, Xie Junyi didn’t even bother changing out of his bathrobe. He was already at the estate, so it would only take a few minutes to get to Chi Anyu.
Chi Anyu sat on the sofa, looking miserable. “That’s it. There’s no way he’ll ma…”
Before he could finish the last two words, with a loud bang, the door was slammed open.
Xie Junyi was panting hard, his hair in disarray, worry written all over his face. He rushed up and looked Chi Anyu over from head to toe. “What happened? Where are you hurt? Let me see.”
Chi Anyu swallowed the words that had been on his lips and stared at the man in shock, almost thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him.
That fast?
He got here in only ten minutes?
“How are you this fast?”
Chi Anyu immediately narrowed his eyes. He had never told Xie Junyi which room he was in. How had the other man found him with such accuracy, and in such a short time?
Only then did Xie Junyi remember he was still wearing his bathrobe. His eyes shifted slightly, and he lowered his gaze before quickly making up an excuse. “I… I secretly followed you to the estate too. Uncle Ling told me you were here. My room isn’t far from yours, so I got here quickly.”
Chi Anyu thought about the fact that Butler Ling really had come tonight too, and didn’t think any further about it. He still had to finish the plot task first.
He immediately shoved the man down onto the sofa and swiftly straddled Xie Junyi. By now he was already familiar with it. He directly gripped the other’s neck and kissed him.
Xie Junyi’s pupils suddenly dilated. At that moment, he felt as if he couldn’t hear anything around him anymore, only Chi Anyu’s faint breathing.
Chi Anyu kissed him once and was about to get up. Xie Junyi’s eyes were a little unfocused. He braced himself on one elbow, and when he saw the other man about to leave, his lips chased after him for another kiss. He even turned the tables and pinned Chi Anyu back onto the sofa.
Chi Anyu’s eyes widened in shock: ??? What is going on?