The day after returning to Feijing Island, Yao Zhen received a call from his mother, Madam Du Manqiu. She informed him that his “childhood sweetheart” would be coming to the island for a vacation in a couple of days and told him to play host.
“Mianmian heard you were staying over there and wanted to visit you while doing some field research. Take good care of her,” his mother said over the phone. “Your father’s stance has softened lately. If you’re willing to settle down and start a family first, he might let you come back.”
“Stop right there,” Yao Zhen immediately interrupted his mother. “Hosting her is fine, but anything else is off the table.”
His mother sighed deeply on the other end. “You really are something, child. Isn’t Mianmian great? You grew up together—how is there zero chemistry? Your mommy was looking forward to drinking a daughter-in-law’s tea from her. Isn’t it better to get married early?”
Yao Zhen offered some half-hearted pleasantries to brush her off. I already have a ‘wife,’ but would you be willing to drink a son-in-law’s tea?
Unfortunately, his “wife” didn’t seem to have him in his eyes at all, being entirely focused on work. After returning to the island for a few days, it was as if Liang Jiming had vanished again. Yao Zhen was left alone all day, playing games in his room like a shut-in.
Utterly bored.
Yao Zhen didn’t take Du Manqiu’s instructions to heart; he mentioned it to Xiao Wei and promptly put it out of his mind.
Two days passed like this. One evening, while he was napping face-down on his bed, he was awakened by his phone. The Young Master pressed answer, asking impatiently with his eyes still closed, “What is it?”
Xiao Wei, hearing the resentment in his voice, sounded a bit embarrassed. “Young Master, Miss Jiang has arrived.”
“If she’s here, she’s here,” Yao Zhen grumbled, his eyes bleary with sleep.
The voice on the other end changed to a brisk, feminine one: “Young Master Yao, what time is it? Still in bed? This Young Lady has arrived—aren’t you going to get up and welcome me?”
Yao Zhen hung up immediately.
Half an hour later, in the hotel’s main restaurant.
Yao Zhen was eating leisurely while listening to Jiang Mian’s non-stop chatter. This young lady was the daughter of one of his mother’s socialite friends; they had known each other since childhood, and she was currently studying in Paris.
Their families had once thought about pairing them up. Jiang Mian had even confessed to Yao Zhen in the past, but Yao Zhen preferred gentle, intellectual older women like Shen Jinghe and had turned her down flat.
Since Jiang Mian had suddenly rushed over here, he didn’t bother guessing what she was up to and said directly, “Don’t get any ideas about me.”
Jiang Mian choked. “Have you no shame? That was just me being young and ignorant—a dark stain on my past. I grew out of liking guys like you a long time ago, okay?”
Yao Zhen nodded casually. “Then what are you doing here?”
Jiang Mian said speechlessly, “I just got back for summer break and my dad already set me up on blind dates. What a joke. I told him I still have lingering feelings for you just so I could hide out here.”
Yao Zhen: “…” Is that true? Or is ‘lingering feelings’ just an excuse because you actually still like me?
The young lady saw right through him and looked thoroughly disgusted. “Stop being so full of yourself. Who would like a playboy whose only merit is his face?”
Yao Zhen curled his lip. Having a face like this already puts me ahead of ninety-nine percent of men; what do you know?
Liang Jiming had just finished giving instructions to the restaurant manager and emerged from the kitchen area. He immediately spotted Yao Zhen sitting by the window, chatting and laughing with a girl.
He had intended to leave, but Yao Zhen saw him and waved him over.
Liang Jiming paused for a fraction of a second before walking over. “Young Master.”
Yao Zhen invited him to sit, introducing them: “Jiang Mian, a friend of mine here for a visit. This is Mr. Liang from the Executive Department.”
He didn’t say anything else; otherwise, if Jiang Mian’s big mouth went back and told his mother, it would be another pile of trouble.
Liang Jiming didn’t sit down. His gaze fell on the girl, scanning her inconspicuously before asking politely, “Miss Jiang, how do you find the cuisine in the restaurant today?”
Jiang Mian’s eyes visibly brightened when she saw him. She smiled and said, “Delicious. Are you from the mainland?”
Liang Jiming chatted with her for a few moments, asking if there were any areas where the dishes or service needed improvement.
Jiang Mian kept saying “everything is great,” but her eyes were fixed on him. She asked for his business card.
Yao Zhen frowned, wanting to intervene, but Liang Jiming had already handed over a card—one printed specifically after he took the position of Assistant Manager of the Executive Department.
The young lady happily accepted it. “Let’s keep in touch when you’re free.”
Liang Jiming nodded, told them to enjoy their meal, and excused himself.
Seeing that she was still staring at Liang Jiming’s retreating back, Yao Zhen annoyed-ly waved a hand in front of her eyes. “What are you looking at? He’s gone.”
Jiang Mian finally retracted her gaze, looking unsatisfied. “I didn’t expect you to have such a premium specimen hidden here. It seems I came to the right place.”
Yao Zhen gave a dry laugh. “He’s just got a face to look at. ‘Premium specimen’? Isn’t that a bit much?”
Jiang Mian disagreed. “He’s very manly, very cool.”
Yao Zhen felt a prick of irritation hearing this. “You can forget about him.”
“Why?” the young lady asked, defiant.
Yao Zhen couldn’t be bothered to explain. “Anyway, it’s a no.”
…….
At night, when Liang Jiming went upstairs to return to the room, Yao Zhen was sitting cross-legged on the living room sofa playing video games.
Hearing the noise, Yao Zhen slanted a glance at him. Liang Jiming poured a glass of water, walked over, and asked casually, “Why are you playing out here tonight?”
The Young Master could play games in the bedroom if he wanted to; sitting in the living room made it look like he was specifically waiting for him.
Yao Zhen tossed the controller aside and interrogated, “Why did you give Jiang Mian your business card?”
He was unhappy—very unhappy. That young lady had developed a “lustful heart,” and his “wife” had actually taken the bait. This dog of a man was ambitious; if Jiang Mian beckoned with some benefits, he might just run off with her.
Then what am I supposed to play with?!
Liang Jiming, however, didn’t see a problem. “In the service industry, when a guest asks for a card, there’s no reason not to give it.”
“You and your reasons,” Yao Zhen snapped. “Anyway, stay away from her.”
Liang Jiming looked at him silently.
Yao Zhen looked away and said icily, “She’s the marriage partner arranged by my family. She doesn’t know about… us.”
Liang Jiming’s gaze darkened for a few seconds. His eyes lingered on Yao Zhen’s frost-cold face before his voice dropped. “Understood.”
He set the empty water glass on the coffee table, turned around, and went back to the guest bedroom.
Yao Zhen: “??” What do you mean ‘understood’? What did you understand?
Forget it. He wasn’t going to hand over his toy to someone else.
……..
In the following days, Yao Zhen also started leaving early and returning late, accompanying Jiang Mian out for fun.
He was bored anyway, and Jiang Mian was a decent hangout. Even though he had to humor and serve her, it distracted her so she wouldn’t have time to fixate on Liang Jiming. It would be best if she left once the novelty wore off after a few days.
Consequently, he skipped the regular meetings, and the documents requiring his signature started to pile up.
When Liang Jiming asked about him, Xiao Wei’s answer was always that the Young Master had gone somewhere with Miss Jiang. Every time he heard this, Liang Jiming’s face darkened.
Xiao Wei was speechless. Being caught in the middle made him the unluckiest one.
By evening, the yacht returned from the sea. Jiang Mian complained all the way back about how a big man like Yao Zhen was afraid of water, forcing her to go diving alone, which was boring.
Yao Zhen was indifferent. “Weren’t there instructors with you?”
“Who wants to play with instructors!” The young lady’s eyes darted around as she started making demands. “Lend me that Manager Liang of yours for a couple of days?”
“What do you mean ‘lend him to you for a couple of days’? Watch your mouth.” Yao Zhen didn’t indulge her. “No. Out of the question.”
“What?” Jiang Mian pushed his arm. “Why do you act like a mother hen protecting its chick the moment he’s mentioned? People who didn’t know better would think you two have something going on.”
“We do have something going on,” Yao Zhen blurted out.
“??” Jiang Mian’s eyes widened in shock.
Yao Zhen said gloomily, “I didn’t want outsiders to know. He used to be my bodyguard. My dad found out about us and banished me here. My parents don’t know he followed me. Don’t you dare blow my cover when you go back.”
“Ah…” The young lady was stunned.
To cut off her interest entirely, Yao Zhen simply went all out. He looked at her seriously and said, “I’m counting on you.”
“…”
Jiang Mian felt a bit awkward and bumped his shoulder. “Hey, don’t be like that. Why didn’t you say so earlier? If I knew he was your man, would I be the type of person to hit on a good friend’s man?”
And just like that, they were “good friends.” This young lady’s ability to adapt was top-tier, and she immediately correctly categorized their relationship.
Yao Zhen held her back, giving her a thin smile to confirm: “It’s a deal then? No more ideas about him.”
“Don’t worry, don’t worry,” Jiang Mian nodded vigorously. “There’s nothing to say. I’ll even help you cover it up. I definitely won’t tell Auntie Du or my mom.”
…….
Liang Jiming, leading people to the pier to inspect the goods just delivered by the seafood supplier, saw the two of them from a distance at the tourist pier, looking very intimate and “flirting.”
He watched for a few moments, then retracted his gaze and ignored them.
The hotel manager finished checking the purchase orders and walked over. “Young Master Yao has disappeared again. There’s a pile of documents waiting for his signature.”
Liang Jiming added flatly, “He’d need to have the mind for it. All he does is neglect his duties to play all day.”
The manager didn’t dare respond… Why does that sound a bit sour?
After handing over the tasks, Liang Jiming went straight back to his office. The partnership agreement with the Yacht Club was almost finished. Since Yao Zhen didn’t care, everything had to be done by him.
He got up, brewed a cup of coffee, and walked out onto the balcony.
The office building for the hotel was a three-story structure that also faced the ocean. Standing on the balcony, one could see directly over to the open-air seaside restaurant.
Yao Zhen and Jiang Mian were seated in the spot with the best view, enjoying a barbecue in the sea breeze. Whatever they were discussing caused them to burst into laughter every now and then.
Liang Jiming took a sip of his coffee, his left hand sliding across his phone screen as he dialed Yao Zhen’s number.
The Young Master was currently listening to a joke about someone in their social circle when his phone rang. Seeing it was Liang Jiming, he bragged triumphantly to Jiang Mian: “My wife is looking for me.”
Jiang Mian made a gagging face, completely unable to stand his display of affection.
Yao Zhen pressed answer, drawing out his voice: “Hello~”
On the other end, Liang Jiming was silent for a second before saying, “I can’t find my room card. When are you coming back? I need to go to the room to grab a document.”
There were no spare cards for Yao Zhen’s room at the front desk; only the two of them and Xiao Wei held copies.
“Xiao Wei seems to have gone out to buy something,” Liang Jiming added flatly.
Yao Zhen had just started eating and was a bit reluctant. “Is it urgent?”
“The contract needs to be sent to the Yacht Club tomorrow. I need to go over it one more time tonight,” Liang Jiming said.
Yao Zhen sighed helplessly. “Fine, wait there.”
Having hung up and seeing Yao Zhen already standing up to head over, Liang Jiming averted his gaze and turned back inside. He pulled the room card out of his trouser pocket and casually tossed it into the trash can by his feet.