The brightly lit living room was filled with unspoken tension. Two handsome men stared each other down, their gazes brimming with hostility.
Chu Zizhe blinked, his exotic emerald eyes shining like precious gems. He let out an exaggerated gasp. “Ah, brother.”
“?”
“Did you know? Once men pass the age of 25, their bodies start to decline.” Curly sighed dramatically. “Mr. Zhao, how old are you this year? If I recall correctly, you’re 26.”
He placed extra emphasis on the number “twenty-six.”
But apparently, Curly hadn’t had enough yet and continued to dig at him. “Brother, I’m only nineteen! Seven whole years younger than him.”
“A nineteen-year-old should be at school today, shouldn’t he? It’s Wednesday,” Zhao Wenxiu said, his expression blank, seemingly unaffected.
“I just wanted to spend the day with my brother.”
Curly remained unfazed, trying to snuggle into the youth’s arms. His fair face still bore traces of tears and a bit of silvery residue, while his pink lips parted slightly, giving off an alluring air.
“…”
All of Xia Yan’s attention was focused on his face.
He pushed Curly’s forehead away with a long, slender finger, instinctively retreating a little. His brows furrowed as he freely expressed his likes and dislikes, “You’re dirty. Stay away from me.”
“Brother!”
The youth remained unmoved no matter how much Curly tried to act cute and clingy.
In the end, Curly gave up, sulking as he went to wash his face. As he passed Zhao Wenxiu, he deliberately bumped his shoulder against him.
Zhao Wenxiu: “…” How nice.
This apartment was quite spacious, around 300 square meters, with five rooms and a living room, decorated with the best materials. The bathroom was in the farthest corner, and people couldn’t hear anything once the door was closed.
Zhao Wenxiu calmly dusted off his shoulder and glanced at his watch. With a nonchalant tone, he said, “It’s 11:30. Let’s go out for lunch.”
Xia Yan asked curiously, “Didn’t you already make a reservation?”
“Oh, they just called to say the kitchen caught fire, so they can’t deliver,” Zhao Wenxiu lied effortlessly. “Maoxiang just opened a new French restaurant, and I heard it’s great.”
Would Xia Yan agree?
Of course not!
As a petty and vengeful jerk, he still remembered how Zhao Wenxiu had forced a whitewashing narrative on him earlier.
If he had forgiven this so easily and gone out to eat with him…
His jerk persona would collapse.
“I don’t want to eat with you.”
The youth propped his chin up with one hand, yawning, his eyes hazy with a layer of mist that moistened his curled lashes. With a slight frown, he lazily expressed his discontent.
Zhao Wenxiu’s heart tightened.
The thing he feared most was happening.
Even though he had just helped clear Xia Yan’s name to the spoiled young man, his actions were seen as defying his orders.
Naturally, that would earn his disdain.
The bathroom door was shut tight, but Zhao Wenxiu faintly thought he heard the sound of running water slowing down.
That annoying brat was coming out soon.
Chu Zizhe was young, knew how to act sweet, and was good at making people happy. In just one day, Zhao Wenxiu already felt he was a huge threat.
He couldn’t let the two of them keep getting closer.
The man massaged his temples. “I know you’re mad at me, but everything I did—”
“…was for your own good.” The youth finished his sentence, drawing out the words with a hint of mockery. “Mr. Zhao, you sound like an old man, always nagging.”
Zhao Wenxiu: “…”
Another gut punch.
“You’re so boring.”
“…”
“Forget it. Take me home.”
“…”
Zhao Wenxiu almost laughed in frustration. How could someone insult you while casually treating you like a servant? Yet, looking at Xia Yan…
He softened.
Once he realized his true feelings, rejecting the person he liked became a much harder task.
He grabbed a set of car keys from the living room drawer, opened the front door, and walked out first. “Fine, let’s go.”
Xia Yan, who had been waiting for the other, to get angry and throw him out: “…”
Something’s definitely wrong with this world.
Since they met again last night, Zhao Wenxiu’s attitude had been strangely different, almost as if… he’d suddenly turned into Mr. Nice Guy.
Xia Yan appeared proud and arrogant on the surface, but inside, he felt uneasy. As he rode the elevator down to the underground parking lot, he seemed to look straight ahead, yet in reality, he was covertly observing the man beside him from the corner of his eye.
Today, the man was dressed in a light gray loungewear set. The excellent tailoring highlighted his superior physique, and his aura was cold and refined, with strikingly handsome features.
He perfectly fits the description of the novel’s protagonist gong.
But his personality… Wasn’t it a bit too saintly?
Even though Xia Yan had deliberately provoked him, the man was still genuinely taking him home. And Tu Xi… He still trusted Xia Yan, unwavering and loyal, with no intention of breaking up.
What should he do about task seven?
Xia Yan was so lost in thought that he didn’t even notice when Zhao Wenxiu suddenly stopped walking. By the time the shadow loomed over him, it was too late.
Due to inertia, he bumped right into the man’s chest.
From a distance, it looked as if the young man had willingly thrown himself into the other’s arms.
“Mm.”
Xia Yan let out a muffled grunt and instinctively tried to step back, but the man pressed down on his shoulder, steadying him to prevent a fall. The man’s palm was burning hot, and Xia Yan reflexively shrank back, as if scalded.
“Why weren’t you looking where you were going?”
“…” Xia Yan wanted to retort, keeping up his persona, but then remembered how the protagonist gong had turned out to be a saint. What if his barbs turned this man into a pushover?
Worried, he swallowed his words and, after much internal struggle, managed to squeeze out two words: “Get in.”
Not throwing a tantrum?
Zhao Wenxiu’s gaze swept over him thoughtfully. His mind raced, and his fingers gently massaged the young man’s shoulder, causing the other to shrink back again, sensitive to the touch.
When Xia Yan shot him a confused look, Zhao Wenxiu stopped, satisfied.
He opened the red sports car door, placing his hand on top to prevent the young man from bumping his head. This wasn’t as soft as his own chest—it was hard.
Yet the young man didn’t appreciate the gesture. He mumbled under his breath, “…Why do you look like a valet?”
“…”
Zhao Wenxiu’s gaze deepened. Without saying a word, he bent down, grabbed the seatbelt, and buckled it for him with a click.
In the process, his body inevitably drew closer to the young man.
The once reckless and arrogant little leopard now seemed like a cat caught by the scruff of its neck, body tensing instinctively, lips pressed tightly together, and long eyelashes trembling uneasily.
It was a subtle, almost imperceptible reaction. If Zhao Wenxiu hadn’t already suspected something after the earlier incident, he wouldn’t have realized the young man was nervous.
No wonder Tu Xi believed he hadn’t cheated.
So that’s how it was… A little leopard with a sharp tongue.
He pretends to be a playboy on the surface, seemingly accepting all advances, but in reality, he doesn’t like physical contact. With that conclusion in mind, everything that had happened before suddenly took on a new meaning.
Zhao Wenxiu couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
“???”
The young man shot him a suspicious look, and Zhao Wenxiu quickly stifled his laughter, afraid that Xia Yan might figure out he’d seen through his true nature. Otherwise…
Ahem! Given the young man’s personality, he’d probably explode on the spot, cut all ties, and block him everywhere.
Feeling calm, Zhao Wenxiu was about to move to the driver’s seat when he heard hurried footsteps approaching from behind. A bad feeling instantly arose in his chest.
Sure enough…
When he turned his head, he saw Curly’s green tea face.
“Brother, how could you leave me behind?” Curly clung to the car window, tears welling up in his eyes as he pitifully said, “I want to go with you.”
Completely ignored, Zhao Wenxiu: “…”
The red Ferrari had only two seats.
Xia Yan fiddled with his seatbelt, quite satisfied with it, though he put on a mischievous expression and sighed dramatically. “But there’s only one seat left. What should we do?”
After briefly pausing, he continued, “How about the two of you fight it out? Whoever wins can take me home.”
Curly’s gaze slowly shifted to the man beside him.
Zhao Wenxiu remained composed and calm, though a trace of amusement flickered in his eyes. “Before that, may I ask if Mr. Chu has a driver’s license in China?”
Chu Zizhe: “…”
“Looks like you don’t. What a shame.” Smiling, Zhao Wenxiu opened the door on the other side and entered the driver’s seat. “I’ll take Yan Yan home. Mr. Chu, please feel free to do as you wish.”
The red sports car sped off, leaving the young man behind.
“…Damn it!”
Refusing to give up, Curly ran ahead, flagged down a taxi, and pointed to the faintly visible red car in the distance. “Follow that car.”
Thanks to the notorious traffic jams in the capital, even a Ferrari had to crawl along the congested roads.
