The mellow aroma of coffee grew stronger, almost filling the entire pantry. He thoughtfully adjusted the sweetness to match Shen Qi’s taste, immersing himself in the mindset of a “true professional.”
After all, with a monthly salary of hundreds of thousands, he wouldn’t feel right if he didn’t earn it.
Plus, his performance record was likely in the old butler’s hands, being rated every day or something. Sigh, must work harder. Earn money, earn money. If the pay is enough, I’ll live at the office and work like a dog or an ox without complaint.
He placed the coffee back on the table. Shen Qi gave a calm command: “Take the shawl to be washed. You’ve touched it too many times.”
“I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful next time.” Lin Ruohuai’s face was full of awkward apologies. Feeling that wasn’t enough, he added sincerely, “In the future, I will never touch your things without your permission, Mr. Shen.”
Shen Qi asked casually, “Did your grandmother have a similar one?”
“I think so.” Lin Ruohuai played dumb, not telling the truth.
Shen Qi told him to leave. Once he was gone, Shen Qi slowly looked up. He can’t even lie properly. Lin Ruohuai’s grandmother had passed away shortly after he was born; where would a “similar one” come from?
Trying to play the family card?
He wasn’t like Shen Qingyi; he didn’t soften up that easily.
Lin Ruohuai went downstairs and put the shawl in the laundry room’s sorted hamper. A robot called him to dinner, but the impact of lunch was too great—his mouth still felt salty even now. He had no appetite and only wanted water.
The outsourced employees had a dedicated “canteen”—the lounge in the back garden was reserved for them. Lin Ruohuai ate in the side building with the old butler. Occasionally, he would go to the main building and wander around freely. It was a dream job.
After eating, the butler told him he didn’t need to go back just yet. Looking at the horizon painted by a vibrant sunset, Lin Ruohuai asked blankly, “Why?”
Uncle Chen didn’t give a long-winded explanation, only saying with a smile, “The Young Master is doing his rehabilitation. We aren’t allowed inside.”
Lin Ruohuai lay in the grass, staring at the sky with a stalk of foxtail grass in his mouth. Understood. The Young Master has strong self-esteem and cares about his dignity; he won’t let anyone know if he falls.
Lin Ruohuai asked, “If we aren’t allowed to stay close, does Mr. Shen handle bathing and the bathroom all by himself? What if there’s an accident?”
“There’s an emergency buzzer, and the Young Master has never used it.”
Lin Ruohuai’s eyes widened. “Never?”
Uncle Chen nodded with a smile.
Lin Ruohuai didn’t understand much of this. He didn’t ask about the cause of the disability, choosing instead to look forward: “Is there still a chance for Mr. Shen to stand up?”
Uncle Chen was open with his information: “If the Young Master cooperates, there is a chance.”
So there was a chance. It made sense; with medical technology so advanced, as long as the damage wasn’t permanent, there was bound to be hope.
Shen Qi must be quite tall. His wheelchair looked large, his legs were long, and he had broad shoulders, a lean back, and a narrow waist. A 1.9-meter tall handsome man—truly a sight to behold.
Suddenly, Uncle Chen took out a board and a pen, scribbling away on the paper. Lin Ruohuai took the grass out of his mouth, thinking, Is his summary of today really that long?
“Uncle Chen, I did very well today. Mr. Shen seemed quite satisfied.”
Uncle Chen didn’t look up. “I know.”
Lin Ruohuai sensed something was off and started praising him: “What are you drawing? Is that… me? A sketch?! You’re amazing, Uncle Chen! I admire you so much. You know how to do everything, while I know nothing.”
Seeing his eyes go wide, Uncle Chen asked, “Want to learn?”
Lin Ruohuai, full of a student’s curiosity, let out a soft, melodic sound: “Yes~”
As soon as he spoke, a cold chill ran down Lin Ruohuai’s spine. He immediately turned to look at a small, narrow window in the main building, but there was nothing.
Shortly after, the old butler’s phone rang. He checked it and put it away. “Mr. Lin, you can go in and rest now. That’s all for today. See you tomorrow.”
The relaxed muscles in Lin Ruohuai’s back tightened slightly. “Okay, see you tomorrow.”
The sunset before him gradually vanished into the dense woods. Behind him was the mysterious castle-like manor, its lights dim. It was the third day, and thinking about the environment he’d be sleeping in made his scalp tingle.
Once inside, he thoughtfully closed the door. Turning around, he saw Shen Qi sitting in front of him, watching him silently. He had no idea where he’d come from.
How can he not make a single sound?!
With a lingering feeling of heart palpitations, Lin Ruohuai hurried to him, his forehead break out in a sweat. His voice was muffled and slightly aggrieved: “Why are you down here? Can you please not do that in the future? You could literally scare someone to death.”
A flash of unease flickered through Shen Qi’s steady gaze, his lips a straight line. “You stayed outside too long.”
Lin Ruohuai sniffled. “You know I’m afraid of ghosts and the dark…”
As soon as he said it, the lights in the room flared to life. In an instant, the darkness vanished, and it was as bright as day. Lin Ruohuai sucked back the tears that were about to fall: “?”
Shen Qi turned his wheelchair, looking half-amused and half-exasperated. “I changed the system and canceled the night-light mode. Mr. Lin, you really make me go to a lot of trouble.”
Lin Ruohuai rubbed his nose and looked down at him, stammering, “I didn’t say you had to cancel the night-light mode… but why didn’t you make a sound? I could hear you before.”
“The wheelchair gets regular maintenance.”
“Do you do it yourself?”
Shen Qi: “Am I a useless person in your eyes?”
“…No, no. In my eyes, you are the most capable, most handsome, gentlest, and most considerate man.” Lin Ruohuai leaned in and spoke into his ear, “Second to none.”
Shen Qi gave a careless laugh. “You’ve probably said that to many people.”
Lin Ruohuai was silent for a moment before saying, “Only you.”
The corners of Shen Qi’s eyes twitched. He glanced at the boy’s still-wet eyelashes, falling into an utter silence.
Lin Ruohuai wondered why he wasn’t moving. He tilted his head and saw that the tips of Shen Qi’s ears had turned a faint shade of red. It wasn’t deep, but it was noticeable.
Sensing the other’s scrutiny, Shen Qi’s expression darkened. “Have you seen enough? Don’t cross the line.”
Lin Ruohuai, as patient as a kindergarten teacher, explained: “Mr. Shen, I don’t have any ulterior motives toward you. Please don’t misunderstand. This is my job; I’m just very dedicated.”
Shen Qi’s face grew even darker.
The lighting system in the manor was perfect, making the interior bright, but at night it was still voice-activated. If no one spoke, it would abruptly go dark. It was better than before; Lin Ruohuai didn’t ask for much.
When the elevator reached the top floor, Shen Qi pointed toward the study. Lin Ruohuai said, “Don’t stay up too late. You need to sleep early.”
Shen Qi moved his wheelchair, his lips curling in mockery. “Mr. Lin, I am five years older than you.”
“I know, I know. You don’t have to emphasize it. You’re an adult.”
“…”
Lin Ruohuai stood at the door, hesitating. “Um, Mr. Shen, do you still need me to accompany you tonight?”
Shen Qi closed his eyes and said nothing.
“Then can I come find you ahead of time? Or I could sleep on the rug like last time.”
This time, Shen Qi turned his head to look at him, his calm eyes rippling.
Lin Ruohuai was starting to figure out his temper. He licked the bit of dry skin on his lower lip. “Then I’ll…”
Bang. The door closed.
Lin Ruohuai was shut out: “…”
Tsundere. So childish.
Lin Ruohuai went back to shower and change into clean pajamas. He grabbed a pillow, put on his slippers, and went pitter-patter back up to the top floor. He knocked, and the door swung open as if pushed by a breeze. It hadn’t been closed properly; how careless.
The study was large and divided into two sections. One was Shen Qi’s main office area, and the other was a small sitting room with a coffee table, a small sofa, and a rug.
Hearing the noise, Shen Qi opened his office door and saw Lin Ruohuai peeking over the pillow. “It’s almost one o’clock. Aren’t you going to sleep? When are you going to bed?”
Don’t wait until I’m asleep to come and bother me again. Lin Ruohuai looked at him with a pure, harmless expression and a clean smile.
He added, “I’m your personal caregiver. Dr. Wang said today that you’ve been staying up too late recently and told me to supervise you.”
Shen Qi scoffed internally. Running around with the butler in the morning, chatting and laughing with that guy Wang at noon, and then acting all concerned for him at night. He’s certainly busy.
Shen Qi arched an eyebrow and glanced at him, his lips twitching. “You’re insistent on sleeping with me?”
“…” Lin Ruohuai looked at him with a complicated expression. “Not exactly. I…”
“Then why are you checking up on me?”
Lin Ruohuai’s toes wiggled inside his cotton slippers. “…I was just asking. Don’t react so strongly.”
Shen Qi gripped the wheelchair armrest, his fingers tightening for some reason, his knuckles turning white.
Sitting in his wheelchair, Shen Qi looked weary, as if waiting for a hug. The reality, however, was a coldly dropped promise: “Ten minutes.”
Lin Ruohuai sat on the sofa hugging his pillow, his chin resting on it. “Then I’ll wait for you.”
He said “wait,” but he was actually lying down. Lin Ruohuai found the rug in Shen Qi’s bedroom very comfortable, almost like a tatami mat. He could sleep anywhere, but his neck hurt without a pillow, so he had prepared one in advance.
He was so sleepy. No, stay awake. Lin Ruohuai forced his eyes open, rubbing his face into the pillow. He stayed in a “suffocating” position for a while before turning his nose out for air. Without realizing it, he drifted off.
More than ten minutes passed. When Shen Qi emerged from the other door, this was the scene he found: Lin Ruohuai’s dangling knuckles were touching the floor. The sofa wasn’t long enough, so he had one leg tucked to his chest while the other was stretched out over the armrest. He was lying on his side, his knees bent, his legs forming a graceful curve.
This is what he calls “waiting”?
Shen Qi leaned in, staring fixedly.
The pajama fabric was soft and skin-friendly. The neckline was low, revealing bony shoulder lines and collarbones—slender and delicate, yet not frail. His pale, tender skin looked as if a finger-print would appear the moment it was pressed.
Sleeping so soundly, he probably didn’t realize what kind of scene he was presenting. Who was he trying to seduce? A man who already had a boyfriend.
Shen Qi slowly frowned and closed his eyes. What am I thinking? I shouldn’t.
Isn’t he cold?
Shen Qi reached out and touched the boy’s dangling hand. It was warm—the texture was much better than he had imagined.
Those hands had massaged that guy Wang today.
Shen Qi leaned in obsessively and sniffed. He had showered; he smelled of lavender and a cool fragrance.
If nothing else, the people by his side had to be clean.
The dim, soft light fell on Lin Ruohuai’s deep eyelids, the corners of his eyes, and his closed lashes. His breathing was shallow, peaceful, and beautiful.
His muscles were too thin. If both his hands were grabbed, his legs would only flail, his body would tremble, and he would get angry until the corners of his eyes turned red. He had no power to resist.
How dangerous—to be so relaxed right under his nose.
Because he’s a cripple who can’t do anything?
Shen Qi patted his face expressionlessly. “Get up. Don’t sleep here.”
The flesh on Lin Ruohuai’s cheek bounced, but there was no reaction.
Shen Qi pulled his hand back, creating distance, and spoke directly to the sleeping boy: “What else do you want besides money?”
“You have nothing. you couldn’t even protect the Lin Group. For you, Xie Yusheng is indeed the last life-saving straw. It’s only natural that you’d want to grab onto him.”
“But you should also realize that Xie Yusheng’s feelings for you are fake.”
His tone wasn’t mocking, but a calm statement of fact, an objective evaluation from a bystander.
Shen Qi had watched step-by-step how Xie Yusheng and Shen Qingyi had come together. No amount of obstacles would easily separate them; melodramatic misunderstandings were just their “seasoning.”
But Lin Ruohuai was like a veiled mystery to him. Once one layer was peeled back, there was still a confusing mask underneath.
Shen Qi’s voice tightened, emphasizing each word: “You wouldn’t understand even if I told you. It doesn’t seem like you like Xie Yusheng that much anyway.”
At the banquet, they were just putting on a show. When he took Lin Ruohuai away, he was merely fulfilling Xie Yusheng’s wish.