“…What’s wrong?”
Sure enough, Ning Zhi curled his eyes into a smile and acted spoiled: “My clothes haven’t been washed yet, but I’m really, really tired today. I can’t move an inch.”
Si Yuche remained silent for a moment: “…I’ll wash them later.”
Ning Zhi generously blew him a kiss: “Mwah!” Then, rolling his light-grey eyes, he pushed his luck further: “Actually, my whole body feels weak and sore. I want a massage!”
Si Yuche: …
“What, you’re not willing?” Ning Zhi glared at him fiercely, speaking with complete justification: “It’s only natural for a husband to serve his wife!”
Even if he didn’t have money, he still had to serve him, right? He couldn’t just call him “husband” for free!
In the end, he got his massage. Half an hour later, Ning Zhi was lying comfortably in bed, his small face flushed and glowing.
He checked on him with a slow, delayed concern: “By the way, does your head still hurt?”
Si Yuche returned to the room after washing his hands: “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“I knew you had such a good physique that you’d recover quickly!” Ning Zhi pointed to the floor bed set up on the ground: “To express my gratitude for the massage just now, I specifically made up a bed on the floor for you!”
Si Yuche lowered his gaze to look at the floor mattress laid out in the narrow passage, raising an eyebrow and looking at him with an inscrutable expression.
Feeling a bit guilty under his gaze, Ning Zhi rubbed the tip of his nose and said, lacking confidence: “You know this bed is very small, and it’s so hot out. How uncomfortable would it be for two adult men to sleep together? Besides, I have terrible sleeping habits. What if I accidentally hit your wound?! I’m doing all of this for your own good.”
Si Yuche looked at Ning Zhi’s small frame and failed to see where he was “big.”
Nevertheless, he still lay down on the floor bed and turned off the lights as he did so.
“Goodnight.”
A dreamless night passed.
When Si Yuche woke up the next morning, Ning Zhi was already gone.
Si Yuche pulled out two pillows that were stuffed under his head, feeling a slight pain in his neck. He estimated he had almost gotten a stiff neck.
Ning Zhi had stuffed those there, likely out of a guilty conscience for making an injured person sleep on the floor, insisting on stacking two pillows under his head.
Si Yuche pinched the bridge of his nose, let out a sigh, and then spotted a note on the sofa.
【I’ve gone to work. When you wake up later, sort out your own meal. I left you ten】
The word “ten” was crossed out, as if the writer couldn’t bring himself to leave that much.
【six yuan! There’s fried rice sold outside for six yuan! You can also choose instant noodles with a sausage! That’s delicious too. I get off work at eight. As for dinner, I’ll bring it back for you, so you won’t starve.】
Folded money lay right beneath the sticky note.
Si Yuche picked it up, hesitated for a moment, and dialed a number.
“Hello, Secretary Xu.”
Ning Zhi had another job during the day, working as a waiter at the Aureate Venue.
In fact, he rarely did food delivery runs. If he hadn’t been completely out of options, he would rather stay in and sneak snacks at the venue than go outside delivering orders.
He had gotten up too early for work, and Ning Zhi was dozing off.
“Ning Zhi, I have a huge piece of gossip to share with you!” The surprised voice of his colleague, Fang Yang, suddenly echoed in his ear: “Oh my gosh, Si Yuche is back in the country! Did you watch his press conference in the UK from a few days ago?!”
Ning Zhi slowly raised his drooping head to look at him.
Fang Yang shook him excitedly: “The Si family will was changed! Now Si Yuche has become the heir to the Si Group! And to go from an unfavored illegitimate son to the heir of such a massive conglomerate, what an incredible and inspiring turnaround story!”
Ning Zhi thought groggy: That’s because you don’t know that despite carrying the title of heir, not a single penny can be charged to his card.
He wondered if something had happened in the Si family…
However, he didn’t dare meddle. After all, the Ning family could barely protect itself right now. The Si family had numerous side branches, and the old master of the Si family still had several other sons. The waters were deep and muddy, it had been a chaotic mess before, and now that old master Si was dead, the reveal of that single will made things even more chaotic.
“No, no, that’s not what I wanted to tell you. It’s his body!”
Fang Yang had an infatuated look, speaking without any filter: “My goodness, look at his male-dog waist, huge pecs, and long legs! He seems to have just come of age, how can he look so incredible in a suit?!”
“And his face is devastatingly handsome! I feel like none of the foreign guys I’ve dated before are as hot as him. If I could sleep with him for one night…”
Ning Zhi’s drowsiness was completely shattered by this speech.
He reminded him quietly: “Fang Yang, this isn’t abroad.”
If Si Yuche himself knew you dared to think like that, he would definitely seek revenge on you!
Fang Yang sighed: “Of course I know. Returning from studying abroad, I found that gay men in China are pitifully few, let alone ones of decent quality! If we were abroad, I would definitely invite him to bed!”
Ning Zhi: …
With such a chatty and gossip-loving colleague, Ning Zhi chimed in here and there. Coupled with the fact that not many people came to the Aureate Venue today, he quickly survived until off-work time.
He casually packed all the small cakes from the break room into his small bag, preparing to head off work happily, when the boss stopped him.
“You’ve been short on money lately, haven’t you?”
Ning Zhi was a bit surprised: “Boss, are you going to give me a bonus?”
Boss: “…You’ve only worked for a few days, and you want both an advance and a bonus?”
Realizing he was indeed being a bit greedy, Ning Zhi laughed twice: “Then why are you asking if I’m short on money?”
“The venue is running a new event recently, the animal-themed one. Today is a trial run, but someone called in sick. Cover the shift for them.”
Ning Zhi knew about this event. He heard it paid several times the normal wage. Initially, he had wanted to participate too, but when the outfit arrived two days ago, he discovered it was all female clothing!
How could he, Ning Zhi, wear women’s clothing?
“No, no, no, I’d rather, ”
As if having anticipated his refusal long ago, the boss calmly uttered two words he couldn’t refuse: “Two thousand.”
Ning Zhi: …
“Just two hours of overtime tonight.”
Ning Zhi: …
Evil capitalism had tightly gripped him.
Thus, ten minutes later, a figure wearing a black-and-white maid outfit walked down the venue corridor, wearing an electric, constantly twitching set of cat ears on his head and a tail behind him.
His light-blue hair wasn’t long, just enough to be tied into two small, cute twintails behind his ears. His light-grey eyes darted around evasively out of embarrassment.
The fluffy skirt covered only down to the root of his thighs, exposing those pair of slender, fair legs to the air.
It was a very delicate and fair face, but upon closer inspection, one could notice a tiny protruding Adam’s apple at his neck.
“…Is that a boy? So pretty.”
Overhearing someone’s exclamation, Ning Zhi lowered his head in shame and pulled down his overly short skirt.
This was too embarrassing, especially wearing a skirt in front of so many people…
A blush crept up his fair cheeks. He quickly pulled out a small cat face mask and put it on, hiding most of his face.
Taking a few deep breaths, he knocked on the door of Room 666.
“Wait, is Si Yuche really not coming?”
Quite a few people were sitting inside Room 666, mostly young masters from A-city’s social circle. Leading the group in the center was Huang Yi of the Huang Group.
He scratched his yellow hair, saying with a displeased expression: “This welcome party was specially organized for him. The moment I heard he returned to the country, I rushed to set it up. Is he giving me no face?”
The person who had called Si Yuche said cautiously: “Young Master Si said he doesn’t have the spare time to accompany us.”
Huang Yi: …
“Damn it, isn’t he just an illegitimate son taking power? What’s he acting so arrogant for!”
Seeing him angry, someone attentively stepped forward to pour him wine: “Young Master Huang, don’t be angry. Si Yuche indeed has methods. During the period Old Master Si was critically ill, he accompanied him abroad the whole time. Who knows what trick he used to make Old Master Si change his will before passing away! Having just reached adulthood, he already holds shares in the Si Group and has become the indisputable heir. We better not hold a grudge against him.”
Huang Yi sneered cold-heartedly: “Even so, isn’t he still an unpresentable illegitimate son?”
“Exactly! Even if his methods are clever, how can he compare to you, President Huang? He’s merely relying on the Si family.” That person flattered servilely: “It’s actually good that he’s not coming today. We can enjoy ourselves fully without an illegitimate son who doesn’t know how to play coming in and ruining the mood.”
Huang Yi burst out laughing twice.
“By the way, Young Master Huang.” That person pulled out a package from his pocket, his eyes carrying a deep implication: “I got this from abroad, an aphrodisiac, even better than the last one. A private room upstairs has been booked for you, so you can try it tonight.”
Huang Yi glanced at the package of medicine, his eyes flickering as he asked: “Even better than the last one?”
“Of course, this is the latest product. It produces a lot of fluid.”
Huang Yi took it, stuffed it into his pocket, and said calmly: “You really know how to play your cards.”
That person leaned into Huang Yi’s ear: “I brought two people into the room, one male and one female. Young Master Huang, feel free to pick whichever you like.”
Huang Yi curled his lips into a smile. Taking the wine handed over by him, he took a sip, but the next second his brows furrowed tightly and he spat it out violently: “Is this cheap wine meant for me to drink? Where’s the wine I ordered just now?”
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and in walked someone carrying a wine tray,
Hearing the sound, Huang Yi turned his head to look. What first caught his eye was a pair of slender, fair legs, glowing dazzlingly white under the yellow light of the private room. Higher up was a black-and-white maid outfit that outlined the body’s silhouette, with an exquisite black corset accentuating a waist slim enough to be wrapped in a single hand, making it insanely enticing.
The moment he lifted his eyelids to look at the person, his Adam’s apple rolled. Wanting to get a clear look at the face, he was only met with a light-blue head of hair that immediately dropped low, wearing a small cat face mask.
All he saw was a pair of twitching cat ears facing him, while a voice muffled by the mask spoke: “I… I’m here to deliver your wine.”
Behind the mask, Ning Zhi’s pupils shrank drastically. He lowered his head with lightning reflexes and gripped the tray in his hands tightly.
No way… Could I run into an acquaintance even here? And while I’m dressed in women’s clothing!
Most of the people here were acquaintances! Especially that Huang Yi.
Huang Yi was Ning Zhi’s high school classmate. In high school, he had relentlessly pursued Ning Zhi for a long time. Even after being rejected multiple times, he remained stubbornly persistent, even running to the broadcasting station to confess his feelings and parade his deep affection regardless of Ning Zhi’s wishes!
At that time, Ning Zhi only felt intensely embarrassed and heard many unpleasant rumors.
In a fit of anger, he rejected him publicly over the broadcast system and taught him a lesson,
A toad will never get to eat swan meat.
Consequently, meeting now, Ning Zhi felt he would likely be made fun of or picked on.
So he absolutely could not be recognized.
“…Are you a guy?” Huang Yi noticed his Adam’s apple, his gaze gradually turning sticky and dense.
Leaning back on the sofa, he sized up this cat-boy waiter from top to bottom, smiling as he said: “That’s right, I ordered the wine. Bring it over to me.”
Ning Zhi brought it over with his eyes lowered. Just as he set down the tray and wanted to leave, a hand blocked him.
“Do you know how to serve? How am I supposed to drink if you don’t pour it for me?”
Ning Zhi’s brows twitched, but not wanting to get overly entangled with such a person, he nodded, picked up the wine they had ordered, and filled the empty glass in front of Huang Yi.
Huang Yi watched him with malicious intent, taking in those pair of straight, smooth legs, the slender waist in front of him, and the porcelain-white neck beneath the light-blue hair strands…
That constantly swaying tail hooked his breath into growing heavy.
“What are you doing!”
Ning Zhi gasped in shock, pulling his tail back out of his hands.
“Why get so excited?” Huang Yi savored the fluffy feeling left on his hand, shrugging his shoulders: “Didn’t I just touch the tail? I didn’t even touch you.”
Disgusting! Base!
Unfortunate for Ning Zhi, he couldn’t vent his anger right now and had to swallow his pride.
“…It’s nothing, I was just startled. Sorry about that,” Ning Zhi forced a smile: “Well, sir, your wine is poured. We still have other matters over there, so I’ll take my leave now.”
With that, he turned around, wanting to hurry away from this suffocating place.
“Did I say you could leave?”
The moment Huang Yi said this line, several people immediately blocked the doorway.
“You…” Ning Zhi’s eyes widened in panic as he looked at them, his voice trembling: “What do you want to do? I’ll call for help!”
Huang Yi picked up the wine poured for him, licking his lips as he stared at his back.
“Nothing much. Can’t we just ask you to serve us a bit more?”
Ning Zhi turned back to glare at him, berating: “I already poured your wine! What else do you want?”
“Come sit over here and drink with me for a bit.” Huang Yi hooked his finger at Ning Zhi, looking at him with a smile: “It’s my first time seeing a boy wearing a skirt, so I’m a bit curious. Are you gay?”
Ning Zhi’s breath hitched, he didn’t want to answer.
“Tell me. I’m not discriminating, I just want to ask, do you guys all love wearing this kind of skirt?”
As these words fell, everyone in the room burst into laughter.
Teased publicly like this, Ning Zhi’s face flushed red with anger. In a fit of rage, he turned around sharply and pushed away the person blocking the doorway, wanting to open the door and get out.
“Fuck, don’t let him run!”
Ning Zhi failed to break free. Just as he opened a small crack, someone reacted swiftly and grabbed him. Instantly, several more hands scrambled over to drag him back inside, and in the chaos, a hand accidentally ripped off the mask on his face!
“…Ning Zhi?!”
Ning Zhi’s eyes widened. He subconsciously touched his uncovered face, then pursed his lips tightly.
“Holy shit… It’s you.” Huang Yi stood up in disbelief to inspect him, his tone filled with shock: “You actually wear women’s clothes… Oh, oh, right, I remember now, you’re gay too, hahahaha.”
Ning Zhi frowned at him.
“I didn’t see clearly earlier, so I didn’t know it was you.” Huang Yi clapped his hands with a smile, his face full of pleasant surprise: “I really didn’t expect that such a delicate young master in normal times would actually be working as a waiter here… and even dressed in women’s clothes as a little cat to entice people?”
Ning Zhi’s expression turned cold: “What do you mean?! This is just a themed venue activity, there are no other services!”
“No? Then why is your skirt so short? Showing off so much skin?”
Ning Zhi glared at him with a look of hidden fury.
“How about this: for the sake of our past connection, I won’t make things hard for you, alright?” Huang Yi took two steps closer, looking at him with a grin: “Out of the goodness of my heart, I’ll give you money to relieve our Young Master Ning’s financial distress, okay?”
People in the room cheered and whistled: “Great! Young Master Huang, you’re so generous, hahahahaha!”
Huang Yi cursed with a laugh, then handed the wine Ning Zhi had poured earlier over to him.
“One glass of wine for one thousand yuan. How about it?”
Ning Zhi lowered his eyes to look at the glass of wine, then looked around at the people surrounding him.
…He wouldn’t be able to leave without drinking it.
Besides, there was no reason to reject free money. At least, that was the case for him right now.
The embarrassment and anger in Ning Zhi’s eyes faded away. He even raised his chin toward Huang Yi and said: “Just one thousand? Since when did Young Master Huang become so stingy?”
Huang Yi raised an eyebrow, nodding as he asked: “Then how much do you want?”
The Aureate wine glass wasn’t big, holding roughly the same amount as a disposable cup.
He opened his mouth and demanded a exorbitant price: “Ten thousand a glass.”
Huang Yi: …
“…Young Master Ning’s mouth is that precious?”
Knowing that Huang Yi cared about his pride above all else, Ning Zhi pretended to be surprised, covering his mouth: “Young Master Huang couldn’t possibly lack this much money, right…? Buying on credit is fine too, you can just write me an IOU later.”
The veins on Huang Yi’s forehead throbbed. He said angrily: “Of course I have it! How could I not have such a small amount of money? Ten thousand it is! I want to see just how much you can drink!”
Ning Zhi decisively took the glass and downed it in one gulp, then held out his hand: “Ten thousand.”
Huang Yi ground his back teeth, pulled out the ten thousand yuan originally prepared as a tip for those two people in the room, and threw it into Ning Zhi’s hand.
“I underestimated Young Master Ning’s drinking capacity. Please continue.”
Ning Zhi put away the money and shook his head: “No, one glass is enough. Thank you for your generosity, Young Master Huang.”
Huang Yi: …
“Are you fucking playing with me?!”
Ning Zhi said innocently: “Wasn’t it ten thousand a glass? I drank one glass, so what’s wrong with taking ten thousand? You said earlier that if I drank it, you’d let me go. Young Master Huang wouldn’t go back on his word, right?”
Huang Yi choked on his words a few times, chuckling out of anger: “You’re really something.”
Ning Zhi tilted his head with a subtle smile, then instantly turned cold as he stepped away to leave.
Reaching the door, just as he was about to turn the handle, he suddenly felt an indescribable, intense surge of burning heat rush through his body!
“Ugh…”
Huang Yi burst out laughing. “This drug really works well, the effect is so fast.”
The empty drug packet held in his hand was casually tossed onto the floor. He then walked toward Ning Zhi, whose waist had instantly slumped limp and whose eyes were flushed red.