Lin Ruohuai came to his senses and explained with a flushed face, “No, it’s not like that. Seeing this shawl reminded me of someone from my past, so I covered you up without thinking. I didn’t mean anything else, please don’t misunderstand.”
To his surprise, the more Shen Qi listened, the more off his expression became. “What person from your past?”
There was an unbelievable feeling of Are you looking through me at someone else? How dare you use me as a substitute? It wasn’t about love; it was a matter of dignity. Lin Ruohuai was a bit dazed, but even while being misunderstood, he still spoke in a gentle tone.
“My grandmother.”
Lin Ruohuai’s eyes were naturally round. When he explained things, his eyelids would lift with effort, making his eyes wide and very earnest. “I’m not lying to you. My grandmother is over eighty years old, and she has the exact same shawl as yours.”
After saying that, Lin Ruohuai felt the air pressure in the room drop instantly. He swallowed and sensibly lowered his eyelids, the lines at the corners of his eyes appearing beautiful and soft.
This was a small, calculated move to show weakness.
Shen Qi had no reaction whatsoever.
Lin Ruohuai flicked his eyelids up and then down again. “Mr. Shen, it’s ten o’clock. I’ll be going now.”
If he stayed even a few minutes later, he’d have to charge by the hour, and he didn’t want to work overtime.
Receiving no answer, Lin Ruohuai naturally took the silence as consent. He walked to the door and opened it quietly. The next instant, a deep, magnetic voice came from inside.
“Mr. Lin, see you tomorrow.”
Lin Ruohuai shut the door safely, patted his chest, and slipped back to his own room. After taking a shower, he lay in bed and messaged Xie Yusheng.
The anniversary event lasted for two days. Most people had left that night, leaving only those in the inner circle. It felt even more exhausting.
“How is the commission calculated? I spent more than four hours with Shen Qi tonight.”
Xie Yusheng: “How do you want to calculate it?”
“Accompanying Shen Qi is quite tiring. How about an hourly rate, calculated at 15% of the base salary? I can help you tomorrow as well.”
Xie Yusheng scoffed on the other end: “With acting skills that poor, you still want that much?”
Lin Ruohuai’s face reddened: “But I did help stall him for you.”
After a while, Xie Yusheng said: “Continue tomorrow. I’ll have someone settle the payment with you after the banquet is over.”
Lin Ruohuai was so happy he could burst into laughter. What was a base salary? The commission was the real money; a few hours and he’d have tens of thousands.
He was squirming and rolling around on the bed when Xie Yusheng’s question suddenly made the whole world go quiet.
“What do you need so much money for?”
Lin Ruohuai asked softly in return, “Is it a lot? Right now, I don’t even have 200,000 in savings.”
Xie Yusheng didn’t speak. In fact, after the bankruptcy, the Lin family’s life was still decent; a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Unfortunately, illness has no mercy. After Papa Lin was hospitalized, the money vanished like flowing water, and the family assets were drained, leaving only a small house with a low market value. If sold, it would probably only fetch 200,000 or 300,000.
The next day, the sky was covered in thick dark clouds as if it were night. It had rained moderately last night, leaving the roads muddy and slippery. A strong wind howled with traces of rain, making the windows rattle and the curtains flutter.
Lin Ruohuai checked the weather forecast. A text message arrived with a yellow warning, stating there was a heavy rainstorm and to avoid going out unnecessarily.
There were no tasks during the day. Only the cleaning staff remained in the lobby, clearing the wreckage from last night and preparing for tonight’s new program.
Lin Ruohuai went downstairs with an empty stomach and bumped into Xie Yusheng, who clearly hadn’t slept well. His right cheek was visibly red and swollen. The person involved didn’t seem to feel the pain, letting out a cold laugh. “Does it look good?”
“Did your wife hit you?”
Xie Yusheng gave him a look that said It’s good that you know. Lin Ruohuai found it hard to describe; this guy was treating the slap from his “wife” like a medal of honor to show off on his face.
They met at the elevator and walked out together. In the empty environment, a rumbling sound echoed. Xie Yusheng turned to look at him.
Lin Ruohuai’s face reddened slightly, looking a bit embarrassed. “It’s a nice sound, let it rumble a few more times.”
Xie Yusheng: “The kitchen is serving Roujiamo (meat burgers) for breakfast today.”
Lin Ruohuai walked like the wind: “Bye-bye.”
Xie Yusheng thought of something and his expression changed drastically as he chased after him: “Hey! Save some for me! Don’t eat them all!”
They were completely unaware that their scene was being fully observed by the two people in the second-floor corridor. Shen Qingyi didn’t watch for long before withdrawing his gaze. “Brother, I’ll take you somewhere else for a stroll.”
Shen Qi didn’t respond, asking flatly: “Does it feel bad?”
Hearing this, Shen Qingyi’s movements stopped. He lowered his eyes and smiled faintly, masking all his emotions. “I’m not blind. I can see he’s only doing it to spite me.”
Shen Qi saw through everything: “Regardless of whether it’s true or false, there’s no way to judge. Since Xie Yusheng dared to introduce him in front of us, then they are real.”
Shen Qingyi pursed his lips in silence, not wanting to continue the topic. He switched to a lighter tone: “But there’s no need for you to take your anger out on Lin Ruohuai. What did you call him to your room for last night? You’re not the type to take the initiative.”
“I spent time alone with him, and you’re already unhappy.” Shen Qi let out a short scoff.
“Even if you distract him, it won’t change his current relationship with Xie Yusheng.”
Shen Qi’s aura sank slightly, sounding beyond doubt: “Not necessarily.”
Shen Qingyi’s heart felt unsettled. He suddenly gave a relieved smile. “His parents weren’t really able to accept me anyway.”
“You did nothing wrong. Their inability to appreciate you is a problem they need to solve.”
“Then what about Lin Ruohuai? You investigated him. Don’t tell me you’ve suddenly become interested in him.”
Shen Qi didn’t say a word.
When the Lin Group’s market value was at its lowest, it was bought by Shen Qi at a low price. This was already considered quite unkind, but the business world is like a battlefield. The only thing that surprised Shen Qingyi was that both elders of the Lin family passed away one after another, leaving only a young, only son. It sounded quite pitiful.
“Brother, don’t bully him.”
Shen Qi lowered his eyelids as if he hadn’t listened. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lin Ruohuai walking out holding three large Roujiamo, smiling with prominent dimples. Shen Qi didn’t look away for a long time. “You call this bullying?”
Shen Qingyi followed his brother’s gaze and saw Lin Ruohuai eating a Roujiamo that was bigger than his face. He took one bite after another, the oil and fragrance overflowing. It looked delicious just by watching.
Something was wrong. Shen Qingyi turned his head to look at his brother, his eyes squinting as if observing something. After a while, he said: “Brother, I’ll take you back to your room.”
Shen Qi frowned slightly a subconscious change in expression. Shen Qingyi already knew the answer. “Then I’ll head back first, you can stroll around yourself.”
His brother didn’t even give a reaction. Shen Qingyi stayed in place for a few seconds. Shen Qi only glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. “Why aren’t you leaving yet?”
Shen Qingyi: “…”
Downstairs, Xie Yusheng walked out in a huff. He only had two portions left in his hands and could only tell the chef to keep working. “Eat, eat, eat! Eating so much, I hope you get fat.”
Lin Ruohuai pursed his lips in dissatisfaction. “You know, in some countries, you have to pay a fine for swearing and personal attacks.”
“What else is in your brain besides money?”
“You’re right. I’m ‘money-sexual’.” Lin Ruohuai quickly stuffed the last few bites into his mouth. “Brother, when do you plan to be honest with Shen Qingyi?”
Xie Yusheng’s expression turned ruthless. “I’ll be honest whenever he breaks up with Zhou Gaoyi.”
Suddenly, Lin Ruohuai felt a chill down his back. Following his sixth sense, he looked up. A wheelchair with a metallic luster came into view. Moving further up, he met Shen Qi’s cold, scrutinizing gaze.
“!” Lin Ruohuai almost dropped his Roujiamo. He looked at the person upstairs, dumbstruck and breaking into a cold sweat. He didn’t hear my conversation with Xie Yusheng just now, did he… Please no, there’s still two months of salary left.
Obviously, Xie Yusheng saw it too. He snorted and turned to leave.
Lin Ruohuai also wanted to run, but Shen Qi’s gaze seemed to have him locked in place. Thinking that he still had tasks to do tonight, he ran up to the second floor to greet him.
Shen Qi gave him a flat glance. “You seemed to be chatting quite happily.”
Lin Ruohuai smiled. “It was okay.”
“Flirting?” Shen Qi’s tone didn’t change. “I’ve interrupted you.”
“No.” Lin Ruohuai actually breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he hadn’t heard the content of the conversation with Xie Yusheng.
Having finished his probing, Lin Ruohuai prepared to say goodbye with a smile. Shen Qi spoke abruptly: “Trouble Mr. Lin to take me to the top floor.”
Lin Ruohuai remembered that Shen Qi’s wheelchair was electric—a high-tech thing. He just didn’t know the speed. If the price was within a reasonable range, he wanted to buy one to play with too.
“Mr. Shen, isn’t your wheelchair electric?”
He even used the formal “You” (Nin).
Shen Qi gave a half-smile. “I prefer being pushed by hand. If you’re unwilling, please call Xiao Yi down.”
Forget it then. Why should a supporting character like him meddle in the scenes of the main protagonists?
Lin Ruohuai walked behind him, staring at the back of Shen Qi’s standard, good-looking head. Just as his hands were placed on the handles, a voice came from that head: “The wheelchair isn’t locked this time.”
Lin Ruohuai rolled his eyes and mimicked the man in his head: The~ wheel~chair~ isn’t~ locked~ this~ time~
Why didn’t he remind him last night? It was definitely on purpose.
“Mhm, I’ll be careful this time. I won’t drop you, Mr. Shen. I’m really sorry about last night~” Lin Ruohuai never easily offended people, especially rich people.
When he spoke, he was in a slightly leaning posture, his breath falling near Shen Qi’s ear.
Shen Qi’s eyelid twitched, and his resting fingers jumped as if hit by an electric shock.
Shen Qi’s wheelchair was still difficult to push mainly because it was too heavy. If Lin Ruohuai pushed it for a year, he’d probably develop “unicorn arms.”
For some reason, Lin Ruohuai thought of plowing a field.
Pushed into the elevator, Lin Ruohuai pressed the floor button. Shen Qi’s gaze fell to his side, observing Lin Ruohuai’s outfit today. The indoor air conditioning was set to the extreme. He was wearing a loose-fitting, well-shaped knit sweater with a belt at his waist. His proportions were golden, making his legs look very long.
The elevator lights were bright, reflecting Lin Ruohuai’s handsome eyes and the delicate, white patch of his collarbone. He was staring at the elevator numbers. When they were almost there, he walked behind Shen Qi to push him out.
Very cautious, and very serious.
This time Lin Ruohuai didn’t take him in circles. After bringing him inside, Shen Qi suddenly said: “I heard you quit your job at CAW.”
Lin Ruohuai wasn’t surprised Shen Qi knew. After all, the circle was only so big, and he hadn’t planned on hiding it.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Although Lin Ruohuai’s contact with Shen Qi was limited, the man seemed to have an unpredictable temper and didn’t look like someone to provoke. He didn’t plan on doing anything extra. “Mr. Shen, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”
“In such a hurry?”
Lin Ruohuai glanced lightly at the ceiling, thinking: Didn’t you tell me to ‘restrain myself’? He said with a smile on his face: “It’s not good for a lonely man and a lonely man to be in the same room.”
The “ne” at the end of his sentence carried a bit of sarcasm.
“Lin Ruohuai.”
His name was called. He was instantly frozen in place, and the voice sounded very fierce. Lin Ruohuai turned around with a murmur in his heart, looking at Shen Qi with a very well-behaved expression.
“I have a job here.”
Lin Ruohuai blinked in surprise, his expression a dazed blankness as if he hadn’t processed it.
Shen Qi had hardly thought about it; he only wanted to give the best, better than that person: “A monthly salary of 300,000. Will you do it?”
Lin Ruohuai’s pupils underwent an earthquake.
300,000?!!