The look in Qi Fan’s eyes was so indifferent that Gu Wangzhou couldn’t gauge his current mood.
The man’s expression was cool and distant, showing no signs of joy or anger as he cast a casual glance their way.
At the control terminal, Lin Weiyu stared at this unscripted gift with a head full of question marks.
Sheng Zhiyu reached out to take the exquisitely wrapped box, lowering his eyes and thanking him in a soft voice: “Time was tight, I’ve caused you trouble.”
“No trouble at all. Are these the clothes Ah Zhou picked for you? They suit you well.” Qi Fan smiled and glanced back at Gu Wangzhou. “I’m heading out.”
“Qi Fan” was a quintessential playboy who, since childhood, had only ever received gifts or ignored them; he had no idea why one should put effort into a gift. It was exactly the kind of careless mistake his character would make.
Silence fell in the second-floor hallway.
Gu Wangzhou turned his gaze, only to find the person in front of him holding the gift box in silence.
Sheng Zhiyu hadn’t fully recovered from his illness, so his face was naturally pale. In the silence, the tips of his long lashes were tinged with red, making him look pitiably delicate.
“…Lover’s cufflinks.” Gu Wangzhou’s cold tone softened by a fraction as he realized the situation. He asked in a low voice, “Xiao Yu, is this for me?”
Sheng Zhiyu counted the seconds of silence in his head. When he spoke, his voice was pitched to be sufficiently hoarse: “Mhm. I didn’t know if you’d like them.”
Gu Wangzhou’s dark eyes lowered, his emotions hidden within his pupils. Had he actually harbored suspicions toward Xiao Yu because of a dream?
【It looks like he was sulking because he misunderstood something. Why don’t you strike while the iron is hot and harvest a wave of Regret Points?】
Regret Points?
On someone like Gu Wangzhou, those were likely harder to collect than Affection Points.
Sheng Zhiyu said nothing, only reaching out to gently catch the sleeve of the man in front of him.
Gu Wangzhou was wearing formal attire with a white shirt underneath.
Sheng Zhiyu swapped out the cold silver cufflink and fastened the white pearl one in its place.
“You haven’t answered me. Is it because you hate it?”
“No, I like it very much.”
As the words fell, Gu Wangzhou’s hand moved to Sheng Zhiyu’s face, applying slight pressure to tilt it up.
He was a bit leaner than in his teenage memories, and the dark ink of his brows and eyes was more intense, but otherwise, there was no difference.
Gu Wangzhou’s gaze swept over his features, dropping to his lips and tracing the lip line.
The distance between them suddenly closed, their breaths mingling and intertwining.
The ostensibly intimate gesture carried a heavy sense of aggression. Gu Wangzhou’s deep voice drifted out: “Thank you.”
In the plot, Gu Wangzhou and the White Moonlight did indeed share many romantic gestures but the first kiss wasn’t supposed to happen now.
Sheng Zhiyu had seen negative examples in the Bureau of “violently harvesting” affection. Intimacy that wasn’t a natural progression often led to contempt or boredom.
As he was calculating a countermeasure, Sheng’s mother’s voice came from the stairs: “Xiao Yu, Wangzhou, you two…”
Gu Wangzhou’s eyes narrowed as he watched the person in front of him take the opportunity to step back.
“My mom,” Sheng Zhiyu whispered as a reminder.
A trace of coldness seeped from Gu Wangzhou’s deep eyes. He withdrew his hand and stood up straight, unfazed.
But before he could turn around, his sleeve was tugged from behind.
Then, his fingertips were briefly and gently squeezed by Sheng Zhiyu.
Gu Wangzhou froze in place, hearing the person beside him whisper: “I’ll wear that pair of Lover’s cufflinks, too.”
Watching Sheng Zhiyu happily show off the clothes to his mother, Gu Wangzhou touched the white pearl with his fingertip. The gloom shadowing his eyes finally dissipated.
________________________________________
The charity gala began. A scene of shimmering wine, brilliant lights, and high society.
Given Gu Wangzhou’s status, he didn’t have the leisure to spend the entire night accompanying Sheng Zhiyu at such an event.
Sheng Zhiyu received many guests. Tired of the socializing, he made an excuse to slip away to the fountain in the back garden for a rest.
【Mystery of the century: Is Qi Fan part Doraemon?】
After Gu Wangzhou left, Lin Weiyu had flipped through the plot three times and couldn’t find a single mention of “cufflinks.”
How did Qi Fan know his Xiao Yu would be put in a difficult position, and how did he manage to pull out a cufflink of the exact same style?
Most importantly, wasn’t that guy maliciously sabotaging the plot just two days ago? Why was he helping today?
[Don’t know.]
Sheng Zhiyu replied casually. He looked down at the cufflink in his hand; in the dim night light, the peacock green looked like a black eye.
【Since they’re called ‘Lover’s cufflinks,’ why would Qi Fan look for white pearls which are the exact opposite color? Why does this feel so off to me?】
Lin Weiyu grumbled for a long while, eventually leaving it to Sheng Zhiyu to solve the puzzle.
However, Xiao Yu didn’t give him a single word. Instead, he was staring at another figure across the fountain.
[Is that Qi Fan’s canary?]
Lin Weiyu, feeling ignored, huffed: 【Yes.】
Chen Yiwan came from an ordinary background and naturally wasn’t qualified to be invited by the Sheng family; his presence here was likely due to Qi Fan.
The people in the Scumbag Department are so lazy. Can they just leave their mission targets out in the cold like that?
Sheng Zhiyu thought of something and made a phone call.
Five minutes later, the butler brought him a neatly packaged bag.
Carrying the bag, Sheng Zhiyu had just started walking toward Chen Yiwan when he heard an unpleasant voice.
“So, you’re the little jeweler Qi Fan is keeping?” It was a man in a decent-looking white suit, but his words were biting. “He certainly has broad tastes; he’ll ‘collect a stamp’ from just about anyone.”
This “Extra A” was clearly one of the many people “Qi Fan” had played with and discarded. He had seized this chance to show up and cause trouble like clockwork.
Lin Weiyu thought Sheng Zhiyu was just passing by to take a look, but he didn’t expect him to step up behind Chen Yiwan.
“To use ‘stamp collecting’ to describe someone else’s feelings. Mr. Li, your perception and bitterness are truly eye-opening.”
Sheng Zhiyu’s tone wasn’t heavy; he even had a smile on his lips.
The young master surnamed Li hadn’t expected to run into Sheng Zhiyu here. His arrogant posture instantly collapsed, and his face flushed red.
“I… I didn’t…” Having his ugly side exposed, he was mortified and fled the fountain in a panic.
Chen Yiwan lowered his head: “Thank you, Mr. Sheng.”
Sheng Zhiyu smiled and handed him the bag.
“Please hand this over to Mr. Qi for me.”
Only then did Chen Yiwan react, reaching out hurriedly to take it.
It was then that Sheng Zhiyu saw the injuries on both his hands.
One cut was still vivid, covered in wet blood.
“Your hands?”
Sheng Zhiyu paused, recalling the mocking words of the man from earlier.
Chen Yiwan is a jewelry designer.
Then, he almost immediately thought of that white pearl cufflink.
Sheng Zhiyu had actually wondered how Qi Fan managed to find an identical cufflink in this world in such a short amount of time.
“Oh, I just did some manual work…” Chen Yiwan, accustomed to self-deprecation when dealing with socialites, curled his fingers to hide the wounds.
Sheng Zhiyu turned around expressionlessly: “Come here. I’ll help you with the medicine.”
Is that scumbag Qi Fan not even going to provide some ointment after using someone?
Chen Yiwan was momentarily overwhelmed by the favor. He intended to refuse, but he felt the underlying force beneath Mr. Sheng’s gentle demeanor.
The manor where the charity gala was held was property of the Sheng family. Sheng Zhiyu quickly led him to the study.
He had already had the butler prepare the medical supplies and took out a cotton swab.
Chen Yiwan quickly waved his hands: “I can do it myself.”
“You have injuries on both hands. How are you going to apply it?”
Sheng Zhiyu’s lowered lashes lifted, his beautiful eyes reflecting a pool of clear light.
Chen Yiwan felt his heart skip a beat for unknown reasons, and then he obediently held out his hands.
When the medical alcohol touched the wound, he noticed Chen Yiwan flinch.
Sheng Zhiyu thought to himself that this was a hassle, but he blew gently on the wound: “Be careful for the next few days.”
Chen Yiwan looked a bit dazed, unconsciously clenching his hands: “Th-thank you…”
Sheng Zhiyu was about to send him back when he heard him ask awkwardly: “May I ask… why are you helping me?”
Lin Weiyu chimed in: 【Your humble servant would also like to know. Could you give me a hint?】
“Because you are a friend of Mr. Qi.” Sheng Zhiyu found a proper excuse, then naturally asked: “By the way, where is he?”
Chen Yiwan’s eyes darkened instantly. After hesitating for a moment, he whispered: “I don’t know.”
Probably off playing in some corner again.
Seeing his awkward state, Sheng Zhiyu put the supplies down: “Remember to take that bag when you leave.”
It took a moment for Chen Yiwan to realize Sheng Zhiyu meant that if he felt awkward outside, he could stay here for a while.
He opened his mouth to say more, but there was a knock on the study door.
Two knocks, neither light nor heavy.
Sheng Zhiyu opened the door to find Gu Wangzhou standing outside.
The hallway lights were dim, and half of Gu Wangzhou’s face was shrouded in shadow. Upon opening the door, he first looked inside the study.
Chen Yiwan suddenly met his gaze and was startled by the coldness hidden in his eyes.
It was like being stared at by a viper, an intense warning.
After seeing that there were only the two of them in the room, Gu Wangzhou lowered his eyes, his tone softening: “Why are you here?”
“I ran into Mr. Chen and saw he was injured, so I helped him tend to it.” Sheng Zhiyu took in the fleeting coldness he had seen, looking up at him. “Are you looking for me?”
“Mhm. I asked around and they said you were nowhere to be found,” Gu Wangzhou said. “The auction is about to start. Come with me.”
“Alright.” Sheng Zhiyu reached out to take his arm. “Let’s go then.”
Gu Wangzhou hummed. Before leaving, he looked at Chen Yiwan again and suddenly smiled: “Can’t get in touch with Qi Fan?”
Sheng Zhiyu appeared normal on the surface, but his nerves tightened slightly.
Chen Yiwan faltered and gave a small nod.
Gu Wangzhou: “Perhaps he forgot about you. You should head back.”
The study fell silent, the lights making Chen Yiwan’s face look exceptionally pale.
Just as he was preparing to take the items and leave, the phone in his pocket suddenly rang.
The screen clearly displayed—Qi Fan.
Chen Yiwan quickly answered: “Qi Fan?”
“…Where are you?” Qi Fan’s voice was remarkably hoarse, and even his breathing was labored.
“At the gala manor… What’s wrong? Why is your voice so weak?”
“Oh, that’s not far.” Qi Fan gave a faint, light laugh. “Come to the garage.”
Chen Yiwan went down to the parking lot and found Qi Fan in a black Maybach.
Qi Fan had changed his clothes and was leaning against the back seat with a pale face. When he saw Chen Yiwan, he lazily lifted his eyelids.
He cast an indifferent glance at the panting Chen Yiwan: “Why are you running so fast? I didn’t rush you.”
Chen Yiwan shook his head. Just as he was about to speak, he saw a blood-stained red cloth under the car seat.
His mind went into a mess instantly. He instinctively asked, “Are you hurt?”
Qi Fan didn’t confirm or deny, only asking: “Do you still remember the address of that villa in the south of the city?”
Chen Yiwan shook his head guiltily.
It seemed he didn’t remember. Qi Fan pressed his temple, and as he was thinking of how to describe the route, he heard the boy’s low voice: “Is it that you can’t go home?”
A trace of coldness flickered in Qi Fan’s lowered eyes. He didn’t deny it.
“Then let’s tend to the wound first. I… I know a place where we can do that.”
Chen Yiwan cautiously tried to support Qi Fan’s hand, but the latter subtly avoided him.
“Lead the way.”
The auction had begun, and the Sheng family’s guests were all at the venue; the back garden was empty.
It wasn’t until they reached the study and Qi Fan saw the bag he had left on the table that he understood why Chen Yiwan had brought him here.
“You saw Sheng Zhiyu?”
Chen Yiwan brought out the medical kit they had just used: “Mhm. Mr. Sheng asked me to bring some things to you.”
Qi Fan leaned back in the chair and said in a low voice: “Close the door.”
Chen Yiwan said “excuse me” and double-locked the study door.
“Do you know how to handle a knife wound?” Qi Fan asked.
Chen Yiwan was startled: “What?”
“Shh, keep your voice down.” Qi Fan didn’t elaborate. He took the medical kit and returned to the previous topic: “He only asked you to bring things to me?”
Chen Yiwan watched as he opened his jacket; the inner lining was soaked crimson, and a finger-long gash was bleeding profusely.
Qi Fan first washed the wound with distilled water. When he didn’t hear a response, he lifted his eyelids to glance at him.
Chen Yiwan snapped out of it: “Mhm, just this.”
“If he only asked you to bring things, why did you come here and know exactly where the medical kit was?” Qi Fan asked coolly. “What are you hiding from me?”
Qi Fan hadn’t expected him to be so sharp, so he had to hold out his hands: “Mr. Sheng saw the injuries on my hands and brought me here to tend to them.”
Qi Fan’s cleaning movements paused. He glanced at the wounds and said calmly: “Why is a jeweler doing rough work instead of fiddling with diamonds?”
Chen Yiwan’s cheeks flushed for a moment. He had to take out another semi-finished cufflink from his pocket.
“…Didn’t you ask me yesterday how long it would take to imitate a pearl cufflink?” Chen Yiwan said. “I gave it a try. I was in a rush and hurt my hands.”
Qi Fan looked at the cufflink—it was roughly the same style, but the details were slightly different. He smiled: “You certainly are hardworking.”
Chen Yiwan lowered his eyes.
Qi Fan adjusted his posture before changing to clean gauze: “Give me your hands.”
Realizing he was going to help tend to his wounds, Chen Yiwan shook his head: “No, Mr. Sheng already applied medicine for me. You should look at your own wound first. It’s bleeding so much.”
“He applied the medicine for you?” Qi Fan seemed to miss the second half of the sentence. “Not that he brought you here and let you do it yourself?”
Chen Yiwan finally realized that Qi Fan only seemed to care deeply about topics related to Sheng Zhiyu.
Qi Fan hummed and said no more, continuing to tend to his wound.
Although Chen Yiwan was startled by the shocking amount of blood, he quickly realized that Qi Fan’s current method of treating the wound was too rough.
“…Can’t we go to the hospital?” he whispered. “The cut is very long.”
“Oh, I forgot my medical insurance card.”
Chen Yiwan: “…”
It took Chen Yiwan a moment to realize it was a joke, and that he had missed the timing to laugh.
He hesitated: “Should we ask Mr. Gu for help?”
Qi Fan’s half-closed eyes slowly opened, his lowered lashes casting a dark shadow.
“No, it’s not a big deal.”
【If it really hurts, I saw a box of Ibuprofen in the kit just now.】
What a box of Ibuprofen.
Although the wound would disappear after leaving the world, the pain experienced was very real.
Qi Fan looked indifferent and said nothing.
Gu Wangzhou’s hostility toward me seems to have grown for no reason.
The system looked at his wound with some helplessness: 【…I told you not to provoke a psycho. Do you regret it now?】
[Since you put it that way, with Gu Wangzhou’s personality, how could he let it go without doing something?]
Furthermore, it was just a small accessory accidentally left behind. Why would Gu Wangzhou care so much about that cufflink?
The study fell silent again. Qi Fan really didn’t like people seeing him in a pathetic state. He raised his hand: “Where’s the cufflink you made?”
His fingertips were a bit cold and pale from the blood loss.
Chen Yiwan felt embarrassed now: “It’s still missing a little bit.”
Qi Fan: “My hands are tired from being held up.”
The cufflink was carefully placed in his hand.
Chen Yiwan thought he was just using it to pass the time, but he didn’t expect Qi Fan to look at it so seriously.
He was a bit nervous and whispered: “When you mentioned replacing the black pearl from the photo with a white one, I tried it, and the effect was good. It’s just that my hands aren’t skilled enough; I didn’t set it well.”
“Mhm, it’s fine.” Qi Fan raised his other hand, placed the semi-finished product on his wrist, and tilted his head to look at it for a while.
Chen Yiwan thought the item had caught his eye and looked slightly expectant. Then he heard Qi Fan scoff: “I didn’t like white pearls anyway.”
His face instantly turned pale.
As the words fell, the sound of the door opening came.
It was a maid cleaning the rooms. The butler had told her the Eldest Young Master had brought a guest to the study, so she needed to tidy up.
Chen Yiwan stood up quickly: “We are friends of Mr. Sheng. We were a bit injured, so… so we’re resting here for a bit.”
The maid was already a bit startled, and his reaction shocked her even more; she dropped her cleaning tools.
Qi Fan pressed his temple and let out a soft sigh.
Chen Yiwan’s panic ultimately caused suspicion. The maid quickly told the butler, who repeated it to Sheng Zhiyu.
Sheng Zhiyu was outside the auction hall and quickly realized something was wrong.
He checked the time.
This was around the point where the Main Character (Shou) should appear, get mocked by some fodder characters, and then run into Gu Wangzhou for some push-and-pull drama.
He had a gap to go see what kind of mess Chen Yiwan had made.
Hanging up the phone, he sent Gu Wangzhou a message saying he was stepping out for a bit, then walked quickly toward the main house’s study.
Chen Yiwan was nervously following Qi Fan downstairs when he suddenly spotted Sheng Zhiyu at the bottom of the stairs, causing him to panic again.
As for Qi Fan, despite being injured, he still refused help. He stood on the stairs with a casual, composed air.
His jet-black eyes met the eyes of the person below from across the short distance.
Then, his long lashes lowered slightly as he said lazily: “Why is Mr. Sheng here? Forget something?”
Sheng Zhiyu didn’t reply, first glancing at Chen Yiwan before speaking: “I called a doctor.”
Looking at Sheng Zhiyu walking up toward him step by step, Chen Yiwan was initially worried that his panic had caused trouble.
He was debating how to tactfully explain to Sheng Zhiyu when his shoulder was lightly patted.
Qi Fan handed him the bag containing the sweater: “The driver is already waiting for you at the door. Go back first. If anyone asks about me… you don’t know.”
Chen Yiwan was stunned, then nodded.
Sheng Zhiyu didn’t see anything blood-stained in the study; it must have been taken away.
But he looked at the medical kit; half a roll of gauze was missing.
The wound shouldn’t be deep.
He looked sideways, intending to turn back and ask Chen Yiwan about the situation, but he found that only Qi Fan had followed him in.
Only the two of them remained in the room.
He hadn’t felt the room was cramped when Chen Yiwan was here, but with Qi Fan… Sheng Zhiyu felt the space had become smaller.
Qi Fan gently locked the door and leaned his tall figure against it, slowly lifting his somewhat tidy jacket.
Sheng Zhiyu saw the carelessly treated wound and frowned slightly.
Qi Fan noticed his gaze and then feigned exhaustion, slowing his voice: “Mr. Sheng, do you think I can still be saved?”
Sheng Zhiyu’s grip on the table tightened. After skillfully blocking Lin Weiyu, he said calmly: “Even if your kind is cured, you’ll still drool.”
Qi Fan: “…”
Because there were no outsiders, Sheng Zhiyu leaned against the table, his long legs braced against the corner: “Show me the wound.”
“I just bandaged it. You want me to uncover it just to look?” Qi Fan sat opposite him, looking weak. “I suggest that whoever opens it is responsible for re-bandaging it.”
Sheng Zhiyu wondered if this man was hard of hearing.
He had clearly said a doctor was coming, and a professional would re-bandage it then. Why was he being stubborn?
Sheng Zhiyu looked out the door again. After hearing no movement for a while, he asked: “Your canary was very happy to bandage it for you. Where is he?”
“He was homesick.”
“…Qi Fan, is your brain actually injured?”
Seeing that Sheng Zhiyu had completely dropped his “peaceful” White Moonlight act, Qi Fan couldn’t help but laugh out loud, but it pulled at the wound on his side. He endured it.
When he looked up, he found Sheng Zhiyu wasn’t looking at him at all, but was looking down at his phone, sending a message.
Qi Fan raised an eyebrow. His lips pursed as he was about to look for a glass of water, but the person in front of him moved again.
Sheng Zhiyu walked up to him, leaned over to lift his jacket, and then uncovered the gauze.
Halfway through, the first thing he saw was a scratch mark stretching from the abdomen to the lower back.
The marks on Sheng Zhiyu’s own body had actually faded until they were almost invisible, but this one was still vivid and red.
His movements paused.
Was I really that forceful when I scratched him?
Qi Fan was currently reclining, meeting his gaze from close range: “What, do you want to sign your work?”
Sheng Zhiyu’s previous awkwardness vanished due to this comment. He scoffed: “You’re wrapping a tiny scratch like this in gauze?”
Qi Fan thought seriously: “Perhaps it’s because I’m quite precious.”
Sheng Zhiyu couldn’t be bothered with him anymore. He continued to uncover the rest and finally saw blood.
Qi Fan studied his expression with interest. Sheng Zhiyu evidently didn’t like blood; his expression quickly became solemn.
That was why he didn’t want others to see the wound.
…But if Sheng Zhiyu hated it, why did he take the initiative to apply medicine to Chen Yiwan?
“Did Gu Wangzhou do this?” Sheng Zhiyu asked.
Qi Fan laughed again, the haphazardly wrapped gauze on the wound shifting.
Sheng Zhiyu frowned and let go, afraid of pulling the wound.
Qi Fan asked: “I’m his best bro. What reason would he have to give me a taste of his blade?”
Sheng Zhiyu stared at him for a while, his expression turning complex: “I didn’t expect you to be so naive.”
The mockery in his words was heavy. Qi Fan heard it but chose to act as if he didn’t understand: “Thank you for the compliment.”
Sheng Zhiyu snorted, not believing a word Qi Fan said.
Sheng Zhiyu stood up, intending to step back to the edge of the table, when Qi Fan suddenly caught his ring finger and pinky.
It was just a light catch, without force—uncertain if it was due to the limitation of the wound or something else.
Sheng Zhiyu had to stop there, casting a cold glance at him: “What are you doing?”
Qi Fan didn’t respond, instead looking at his hand.
Sheng Zhiyu’s wrist was pale and somewhat thin, and the five fingers below were long and straight. Being lightly caught like that, they soon flushed pink.
A moment later, Qi Fan gave a soft laugh: “You really suit black pearls.”