Everyone felt depressed and even unconsciously sped up their speech. Once the meeting was finally over, they all scattered immediately, with no one lingering to gossip.
As Li Nian left, he gave Xu Chenghao a meaningful look, leaving Xu Chenghao to interpret it himself.
Xu Chenghao: “???”
What did I do?
But no one answered his question; everyone left without looking back, as if something was chasing them. The meeting room, which had been full of people just moments ago, was now quiet again, leaving Xu Chenghao alone, feeling speechless and helpless.
He swore he hadn’t shown any PDA during the meeting and had been diligently working the entire time. If anyone got the wrong idea, it must be their fault.
Yes, it was definitely their fault!
At this moment, Jing Yicheng had already positioned himself behind the wheelchair and asked gently, “Haohao, where do you want to go? I’ll push you.”
Xu Chenghao glanced at him, “Aren’t you leaving?”
Jing Yicheng: “You’ll be off work in fifteen minutes. I’ll wait and go home with you.”
Xu Chenghao checked his watch and saw there were indeed only fifteen minutes left. He swallowed his words of dismissal and, hugging the little yellow duck flowerpot, said, “Let’s go back to the office first.”
“Okay.” Jing Yicheng enthusiastically helped with the final tasks and seized the opportunity to ask, “Haohao, can I come over for dinner?”
Xu Chenghao immediately became wary, refusing outright to prevent a repeat of last night’s situation, “No.”
Jing Yicheng: “But I haven’t had a proper meal in so long. The food outside is terrible.”
Compared to before, Jing Yicheng had indeed lost a lot of weight. When they lived together, Xu Chenghao ensured three nutritious meals a day. However, after their separation, Jing Yicheng lost his appetite due to a bad mood, and no one dared to force him to eat like Xu Chenghao did, leading to a significant weight loss over the past two months.
Feeling a bit sorry but not wanting to relent, Xu Chenghao frowned for a while before recalling Jing Yicheng’s earlier comment about homemade food being the best. He softened, “You can only eat dinner. You have to leave afterward!”
Jing Yicheng’s eyes lit up, “Okay!”
So, when they went home in the afternoon, Li Nian witnessed Xu Chenghao, who had promised to kick Jing Yicheng out, personally bringing Jing Yicheng home and allowing him to stay for dinner.
Li Nian: “…”
He knew Xu Chenghao’s words couldn’t be trusted!
What’s more infuriating was that when Li Nian mentioned that Xu Chenghao’s leg injury was better and didn’t need care, Xu Chenghao actually nodded in agreement!
These ungrateful, two-faced people!
Too much!
Just as Li Nian was about to roll his eyes, Xu Chenghao explained, “I thought you were too tired from running around lately. Didn’t you keep asking for a holiday? I’m granting it now. Have a good rest.”
Li Nian instantly perked up, “Really?”
Xu Chenghao: “Would I lie to you?”
Li Nian glanced at Jing Yicheng, “Well, apart from certain situations where you often go back on your word, you haven’t lied to me.”
Xu Chenghao: “…”
He suddenly wanted to take back his words about the holiday.
But Jing Yicheng didn’t give Xu Chenghao a chance to regret it, quickly adding, “If you want to travel abroad or go anywhere, I’ll cover all the expenses during your holiday.”
Li Nian was shocked, “Everything?”
Jing Yicheng: “Of course.”
Li Nian looked at Jing Yicheng, then at Xu Chenghao, feeling a bit dizzy from the sudden kindness, “Why are you both so good to me all of a sudden?”
Xu Chenghao said, “I feel you’ve been too stressed lately, running between the hospital and the company. You didn’t even go home for New Year’s. I feel a bit guilty.”
Jing Yicheng added, “I’m grateful you took care of Haohao for so long. It’s been hard on you.”
Li Nian immediately forgot his earlier complaints, feeling touched, “Wow, I’m so moved by what you said. Don’t worry, I’ll move out right away and won’t disturb you. President Jing, I’m leaving our President Xu to you. Goodbye!”
Jing Yicheng naturally agreed, then started serving Xu Chenghao food, “Eat, or the food will get cold.”
Xu Chenghao sneered, “Don’t think getting rid of Li Nian means you can move in!”
Jing Yicheng didn’t hide his intentions, replying softly, “As long as we can be alone without a third wheel, I’m happy.”
Xu Chenghao felt both amused and exasperated, stuffing ribs into Jing Yicheng’s mouth, “Eat and stop talking!”
Jing Yicheng’s attention was immediately captured by ‘the ribs fed by Haohao’ and began eating them earnestly.
Taking the opportunity, Xu Chenghao went to find Li Nian, knocking on his door, “Can’t you finish eating before you start working? What’s the rush?”
Li Nian replied without turning back, “I don’t want to be a third wheel.”
Xu Chenghao: “You won’t be. Jing Yicheng will leave after dinner.”
Li Nian snorted, then whispered after ensuring Jing Yicheng wasn’t nearby, “Since when do wolves leave once they’ve entered?”
Xu Chenghao stubbornly said, “I haven’t forgiven him yet.”
Li Nian: “Not forgiven and already kissing, hugging, and sharing a bed? If you forgive him, it’ll be unbearable. I really need to leave quickly, or I’ll be too jealous!”
Xu Chenghao couldn’t refute, leaning against the door frame, repeating, “Anyway, I haven’t forgiven him.”
Li Nian, seeing through the ‘angry but actually sulking’ act, sincerely reminded, “Remember the doctor’s advice: avoid ‘intense activities.’ At least wait until your leg is fully healed.”
Xu Chenghao, misunderstanding, replied seriously, “I haven’t been doing any intense activities, just walking and occasionally standing. I rarely even run.”
Li Nian emphasized, “I mean that ‘strenuous exercise.'”
Xu Chenghao: “…”
Too lazy to talk to him!
Xu Chenghao was speechless with anger. He turned around and went back to the dining room, deciding to ignore Li Nian. It’s best to stay away from someone with a mind full of yellow thoughts!
Jing Yicheng instantly sensed Xu Chenghao’s emotional fluctuation and asked with concern, “Why are you unhappy?”
Li Nian followed into the dining room and quickly said, “Maybe Mr. Xu is worried that no one will be around after I leave.”
Xu Chenghao replied irritably, “Yes, a ‘talent’ like you is really hard to find.”
Jing Yicheng held Xu Chenghao’s hand on the table, gently rubbing it to comfort him, “It’s okay, you still have me.”
Xu Chenghao was surprised, “You want to be my assistant?”
Jing Yicheng: “As long as you don’t mind me.”
Xu Chenghao: “I still mind a bit.”
Jing Yicheng: “Then I’ll try to do better.”
Li Nian: “…”
Impatiently waiting for the movers to come, he couldn’t even eat because of the greasy atmosphere!
After dinner, Xu Chenghao and Jing Yicheng saw Li Nian off downstairs. Xu Chenghao reminded, “Remember to go to the office tomorrow, complete the handover, and wait for my approval of your leave before you can leave. Otherwise, it will be considered absenteeism.”
Li Nian: “Got it. You guys go back. Bye~”
“Bye.”
Xu Chenghao waved his hand. After watching the car leave, he turned to walk back, but after a few steps, he noticed Jing Yicheng hadn’t followed. Confused, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
Jing Yicheng said, “Wait a moment.” He then ran out of the streetlight’s reach, busying himself in the dark for a while.
Xu Chenghao squinted but couldn’t see what he was doing, so he asked, “What are you doing?”
Jing Yicheng replied, “Almost done. The ground is uneven here, don’t come over.”
Xu Chenghao stopped his steps, put his hands in his coat pockets, and waited for Jing Yicheng to return.
After a while, Jing Yicheng came back, hiding something behind his back. Under Xu Chenghao’s curious gaze, he suddenly revealed what he was holding, “Look!”
Xu Chenghao looked closely and saw a tiny snowman, the size of a hawthorn, shining white with two small leaves as hands. Xu Chenghao suspected the eyes and mouth were made of dirt. It was small but not delicate.
Xu Chenghao wanted to laugh but also felt a bit disdainful, “What is this!”
Jing Yicheng said, “I promised to build a snowman with you before the new year but didn’t fulfill it. This is to make up for it.”
Xu Chenghao’s heart softened, but he still acted tough, “So you plan to make it up with just this?”
Jing Yicheng leaned in and kissed him, “There will be more tomorrow.”
Xu Chenghao was surprised, “Where are you planning to get snow from?”
Jing Yicheng, holding the tiny snowman in one hand and Xu Chenghao’s shoulder in the other, guided him home, “Yes, I’ll bring it from the North Pole right away.”
Xu Chenghao laughed, “Can’t you lie a bit more realistically?”
Jing Yicheng just smiled without speaking.
Xu Chenghao didn’t mind, happily stretching out his hand, “I’ll hold it.”
Jing Yicheng handed the tiny snowman to Xu Chenghao, and held the little yellow duck flowerpot, then carefully guided Xu Chenghao home, worried he’d play and not watch his step.
Once home, Xu Chenghao placed the tiny snowman outside the window, fearing it would melt in the heated room. He was very careful, completely forgetting he had just despised it.
However, after settling the tiny snowman, Xu Chenghao turned strict again, “I need to rest now. You should go. Goodnight.”
Jing Yicheng’s face fell instantly, “I don’t want to leave…”
Xu Chenghao was cold and heartless, “Even if you don’t want to, you have to. I only agreed to have dinner with you, not let you stay over.”
Jing Yicheng moved closer and hugged him, “I don’t want to leave…”
Xu Chenghao: “Acting like a spoiled child won’t work!”
Jing Yicheng buried his face in Xu Chenghao’s shoulder, rubbing it, “I don’t want to leave…”
Xu Chenghao felt a bit ticklish from the rubbing. He tried to move away while saying, “If you keep this up, I won’t let you have dinner next time.”
Jing Yicheng knew Xu Chenghao’s soft-hearted nature. Hugging him, he continued to act spoiled, “Haohao, I miss you so much. It’s only my second day back, and I haven’t seen enough of you.”
Xu Chenghao tried to move back, but when he felt the cold touch of the window behind him, he realized he had no way out. He wanted to pretend to be angry, but when he looked up, he met Jing Yicheng’s deep, dark eyes and was at a loss for words.
The atmosphere was just right. When the other leaned in for a kiss, Xu Chenghao didn’t refuse, closing his eyes to receive the gentle touch.
After a while, Jing Yicheng whispered in his ear, “I won’t leave, okay?”
The author has something to say: Li Nian: Damn it, good thing I left early!
T/N: Cheng-ge has come a long way, he has even learned how to act cute lol.
Question of the day: Will Cheng-ge really bring snow from the North Pole to coax Haohao?
