Real life isn’t a TV drama; Shen Heyu didn’t pass out, but he felt a sharp sting at the back of his head. He clutched his noggin, howling in pain, and looked at the old butler with a pitiful, aggrieved expression: “Uncle Chen, I grew up under your watch too… how could you do this to me… waaaaah.”
The old butler assisted him up with great apology: “Master Heyu, I am truly sorry. The Young Master has had great difficulty sleeping lately; it’s rare for him to drift off, so please try not to disturb him.”
Shen Heyu went silent, leaning half his body on the butler like a dejected, defeated stray dog.
Xie Yusheng, having witnessed the entire scene, was incredulous: “What are you guys doing? Filming a movie?”
Uncle Chen took a brief look at Xie Yusheng. He noticed that this “official boyfriend” was actually calmer than the pursuer, which suggested there was definitely something fishy going on.
As for what it was, the Young Master likely knew best.
But regardless, putting one’s hand on someone else’s stomach like that… it was truly, truly… unrefined.
The old butler wasn’t highly educated; “unrefined” was the best word he could come up with.
…
As the medication took effect, Lin Ruohuai’s stomach felt much better, and he slept like a log. When he woke up, he was told that Xie Yusheng had come to see him. He was halfway through a yawn and a stretch when he suddenly froze.
He actually came…
He really came.
Lin Ruohuai was dazed. He touched his belly, failing to notice the dark, secretive gaze Shen Qi was using to observe him.
Uncle Chen added: “Master Heyu is here as well.”
Lin Ruohuai was even more dazed: “Are they here for me?”
The butler gave a soft “Mhm.”
Lin Ruohuai pursed his lips. Still lying on the sofa, he crawled toward Shen Qi’s arm on all fours: “Then I’ll go see them. I’ll be back soon.”
Shen Qi suddenly spoke: “How soon? Ten minutes, fifteen minutes, or the whole night?”
He then dropped a haunting question: “Which one are you seeing?”
Lin Ruohuai thought to himself, What does Shen Heyu have to do with me? I can only afford a 5,000 yuan monthly salary. “Xie Yusheng.”
Shen Qi replied indifferently: “That’s only natural. He is your boyfriend.”
Lin Ruohuai rested his chin on Shen Qi’s arm for a full five minutes. When he finally got up, the heat from his skin had seemingly fused with Shen Qi’s arm, making a soft “pop” sound as they separated.
“I’m going then.” Lin Ruohuai began putting on his shoes, stood up, and straightened his rolled-up pant legs.
“As you wish.”
“I’m really leaving!”
Shen Qi adjusted the direction of his wheelchair, hooked his finger into the belt loop of Lin Ruohuai’s trousers, and pulled him back: “I’ll go with you.”
An imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of Lin Ruohuai’s mouth. He pushed the wheelchair, coaxing him with a mix of perfunctory and sincere charm: “Okay, okay, let’s go together.”
When they got downstairs, only Xie Yusheng was there. He looked cold, his eyes radiating an overbearing aura, looking quite high and mighty. Lin Ruohuai looked around: “Why is there only one person?”
Uncle Chen explained: “Master Heyu felt unwell and is resting in the guest room.”
“What’s wrong with him?” Lin Ruohuai asked casually.
The old butler lied with a straight face: “Likely just not acclimated to the environment.”
Xie Yusheng gave the butler an incredulous look, thinking to himself that everyone around his Xiao Huai was a freak.
Lin Ruohuai believed it completely: “I see. Let him rest well then.”
He actually believed it!
What a fool. He wouldn’t even know if someone tricked him out of his pants.
Xie Yusheng didn’t waste words and got straight to the point, looking at Lin Ruohuai: “I have things to discuss with you. Privately. No one else allowed.”
“You sure are a hassle.”
“So what if I am? Let’s go to your room.” You took my money, so stop whining.
“…Um.” Lin Ruohuai wanted to, but he knew Shen Qi’s surveillance was everywhere. Only then did he realize Shen Qi was still right beside them.
Shen Qi was naturally cold and spoke little. His presence was incredibly strong, yet no one dared to cause trouble. Since the conversation started, he hadn’t said a word; it was as if his breathing had stopped, like a dead man.
The manor was Shen Qi’s territory. Even though it was currently Lin Ruohuai’s bedroom, he still had to seek the owner’s permission.
Lin Ruohuai: “Mr. Shen, is it alright?”
Shen Qi finally reacted, his tone cold: “Go to the drawing room.”
Xie Yusheng curled his lip: “The drawing room has cameras, right? I don’t want my private affairs watched. Chairman Shen, please understand.”
Shen Qi looked at him icily.
Understand?
What am I supposed to understand? You are in my house, looking for my person, and you want to flirt right under my nose.
What kind of logic is that?
Lin Ruohuai was already familiar with the house layout and instinctively countered: “That can’t be right. Not every room has them.”
Shen Qi remained unmoved. Lin Ruohuai suddenly leaned down, a scent of jasmine drifting by, and whispered: “Does every single room really have surveillance?”
“Yes.”
“…” Lin Ruohuai accepted his fate. “Then let’s just go to my room.”
Xie Yusheng walked with large strides. Lin Ruohuai followed sluggishly behind. At the turn of the stairs, he glanced back at Shen Qi’s silhouette—he was motionless, hadn’t moved an inch.
It feels like Shen Qi has turned to stone… forget it, don’t overthink. If you meddle too much, you’re the one who suffers.
After closing the door, Lin Ruohuai rubbed his shoulders and heard Xie Yusheng say: “That old man Shen Qi treats you pretty well. The room environment is nice, similar to a hotel. Can you sleep comfortably here?”
After all, they were childhood friends; Xie Yusheng’s concern for him was genuine, though unrelated to romance.
Lin Ruohuai didn’t want him to worry: “I’m fit as a fiddle, eat like a horse, and sleep like a log.”
Even though he hadn’t actually slept properly once.
The two sat down. Lin Ruohuai waved his phone: “Cash for info.”
Xie Yusheng transferred 5,000 yuan to him.
Even though his assets were frozen, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Xie Yusheng couldn’t give a fortune, but a few thousand was perfectly fine.
“Ooh, that’s more than Shen Qi gives.”
Xie Yusheng raised an eyebrow: “How much does he give?”
“One thousand. Because he wanted my calligraphy to hang on his wall. I’ll show you.” Lin Ruohuai opened his photo gallery.
Xie Yusheng sneered internally. Only a thousand? Since when did Shen Qi become so stingy? But after seeing the calligraphy, he realized Shen Qi was actually paying too much.
“What is this writing? A thousand yuan? Did you pay Shen Qi, or did he pay you? Was it for mental damages or to pay for eye-washing?”
The mockery was impossible to hide.
Lin Ruohuai couldn’t take the insults and put his phone away dejectedly.
Xie Yusheng tapped the table: “The info?”
“It’s fake.” Under Shen Qi’s reminder, Lin Ruohuai had recalled the general plot of the book. “Their engagement is a delaying tactic. The goal is to help Zhou Gaoyi. As for the specifics, I’m not sure. You can ask Shen Qingyi.”
Actually, he did know, but he’d rather leave that part of the script to the protagonist.
Xie Yusheng looked thoughtful. “He might not tell me.”
“True, he might not. But if you don’t ask, he definitely won’t. Can’t you both just be a bit more proactive?”
Xie Yusheng drank some water calmly, rested his chin on his hand, and smiled: “I’ve noticed that sometimes you seem to be guiding me.”
Lin Ruohuai leaned on the table, touching the glass cup, his casual tone sounding sincere: “You’re my brother. I’m doing this for your own good, okay?”
“Tsk, smooth talker.”
But on second thought, what he said made sense. However, putting it into practice was difficult. For adults, nothing is solved just by opening one’s mouth. Xie Yusheng stood up and paced back and forth when he suddenly heard a buzzing electrical sound coming from the door. Zzzt, zzzt.
Xie Yusheng opened the door to check. The corridor was empty; no one was there.
“Did you hear something just now?”
“What?” Lin Ruohuai walked over and poked his head out, looking confused.
Xie Yusheng narrowed his eyes: “A buzzing sound, like an electrical leak.”
“…”
“Do you know what it was?”
Lin Ruohuai curled his lip and shrugged: “I don’t know. I don’t know anything.”
I totally don’t know that Shen Qi is eavesdropping, he thought, rolling his eyes internally.
Before leaving, Xie Yusheng mentioned they would attend the engagement banquet together. Lin Ruohuai couldn’t be in two places at once and asked: “What about Shen Qi’s side?”
“What about it? We’ll deal with it when the time comes. You’re working here, not sold to him. It’s settled.”
Capitalists are incapable of empathizing with workers; Xie Yusheng embodied this perfectly.
Lin Ruohuai rolled his eyes: “Oh.”
After seeing him off, Lin Ruohuai returned to the lobby and saw Shen Heyu coming from the side building, clutching his head with one hand.
As soon as he spoke, he was aggressive: “When you were napping at noon, were you alone?”
Lin Ruohuai thought this guy was incredibly annoying. Is he secretly in love with me or something?
“Otherwise what? Was a ghost sleeping with me?”
Shen Heyu lowered his hand, his tone slowing down: “Regarding the 5,000 yuan salary… if you’re unhappy, you can bring it up. I’ll try my best to satisfy you.”
“You can’t satisfy me. I have a big appetite, and right now, you’re not enough,” Lin Ruohuai said crossly. “Uncle Chen said you were looking for me. Was it just for this?”
Shen Heyu grit his teeth: “Ungrateful.”
He could guess that his big brother must have given Lin Ruohuai a lot; otherwise, how could such a vain person have compromised so easily?
Shen Heyu thought for a moment and handed over a business card: “If you change your mind, come find me anytime. You can name your salary, as long as I can afford it.”
After speaking, he wore an expression that said “See how great your younger brother is?” Lin Ruohuai took it with a complicated expression.
If someone had treated him like this before he transmigrated, he would have been… so lucky.
Unfortunately, the current him looked down on these small scraps. But making more friends wasn’t bad. It was just a card; he’d keep it.
Shen Heyu’s head still ached, and he looked listless: “I’m leaving.”
Lin Ruohuai was curious and blurted out: “What happened to your head?”
“Are you worried about me?”
“…Uh, did you get hit?”
Shen Heyu pursed his lips. “I fell. On the stairs.”
“A head injury can be serious. You should go to the hospital for a scan,” Lin Ruohuai unwrapped a lollipop and popped it in his mouth.
“Are you worried about me?” Shen Heyu’s expression was complex. “Don’t forget you’re Xie Yusheng’s boyfriend right now. Have some morals.”
They’re brothers, how can their IQs be so inconsistent?
Lin Ruohuai waved him away: “…Just go, hurry up.”
After sending him off, Lin Ruohuai sighed, crunched the candy with his sharp teeth, and went up to the top floor. Shen Qi was playing chess; the black and white positions were a mess. He could only understand the basics, so he stood by the side, staring blankly and spacing out.
There were two invitations from the Zhou family, both in Shen Qi’s hands. Logically, they should attend together. It was all Xie Yusheng’s fault for throwing such a difficult problem at him.
Lin Ruohuai had prepared a script in his head, but in front of Shen Qi, he suddenly didn’t dare to speak.
I’m dead either way—Lin Ruohuai stiffened his neck and said he would attend with Xie Yusheng on the day of the engagement.
To his surprise, Shen Qi didn’t react at all and casually agreed.
The turn of events was unexpected. Lin Ruohuai breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing the sliced apple pieces on the table, he instinctively picked up the plate to eat. Shen Qi didn’t like apples; they were left for him.
He took a bite, then glanced at Shen Qi, repeating this three times until Shen Qi suddenly picked up a fork. Lin Ruohuai gulped, accidentally eating half of the remaining piece. “There’s still half left, want it?”
He offered it, but as soon as Shen Qi moved, Lin Ruohuai instinctively pulled back—a reflex of protecting his food.
“…” Shen Qi put down the fork. “I can’t eat it?”
“But my saliva is on it…”
“That’s your problem. I bought the apples.”
Lin Ruohuai realized his food-guarding behavior wasn’t great. Filled with apology, he fed the remaining half to Shen Qi.
It was too sweet and crisp, like Lin Ruohuai’s own scent.
Shen Qi frowned as he swallowed it, then asked abruptly: “What did you two do in the room this afternoon?”
Lin Ruohuai chewed the remaining half: “Just talked about the engagement.”
“Did you kiss?”
“…Pfft.”
“Holding hands? Hugging? Where did he touch you?”
“…Cough, cough, cough!” Lin Ruohuai nearly choked to death. “How… how is that possible? I… I don’t do that stuff.”
I sell my services, not my body!
“Oh,” Shen Qi sneered. “Who knows.”
Lin Ruohuai, playing dumb, leaned his head closer, magnifying his features—especially his eyes: “Are you unhappy?”
“This is your last piece of apple.”
“…”
Shen Qi slightly raised his brows: “Since you know you did something wrong, remember the lesson for the future. Eat less, work more.”
Shen Qi was truly angry.
He didn’t even ask Lin Ruohuai to hold him while sleeping.
Lin Ruohuai huddled quietly on the other side, turning his head to peek at him. Shen Qi was lying flat, eyelashes down, bridge of the nose high. A faint light filtered through the window gap, as if covering him in a lustrous glow.
The shape of his lips was exquisite, a pale rose color. Lin Ruohuai couldn’t help but think: Those are very kissable lips.
Desire is emptiness, emptiness is desire.
Lin Ruohuai got lost in the sight, pouted, turned over, and proactively hugged him.
He fell asleep soon after.
But what Lin Ruohuai didn’t know was that the moment his breathing stabilized, Shen Qi opened his eyes. He turned slightly, wrapped an arm around his waist and back, and stroked him inch by inch.
It was as if he were proving this person was alive and present by his side.
Not a cold corpse, not a pillow, but a warm living being who pressed tightly against his arm, chest, and waist every night.
Shen Qi’s dark, unreadable face held no trace of flirtatiousness; he even felt a bit puzzled—what was so good about touching a young man’s body? Yet his hands didn’t stop, continuing to stroke and rub.
It wasn’t until Lin Ruohuai let out a subconscious mumble that his breathing gradually became ragged, and his movements grew heavier.
Lin Ruohuai began to get restless, his legs starting to kick about—likely because they were being rubbed until they felt sore. Just as he was about to kick a vital spot, Shen Qi’s palm pressed down on his knee. His brow twitched, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.
“What are you moving for?”
The sleeping person naturally couldn’t answer him. Shen Qi was very disciplined; he would never check anywhere below the knees.
However, his palm lingered on Lin Ruohuai’s knee for a long time. The skin of the thigh was too smooth, and his fingertips accidentally slid upwards a fraction.
“The legs feel good too.”