DPT chapter 46

Sheng Li didn’t know when he fell asleep. When he woke up, the projector screen showed “The movie has finished playing.” He reached for his phone and found that it was already past seven in the morning.

He walked out of the home theater room and followed the scent of pheromones to the kitchen. Zuo Chi was wearing casual home clothes, his hair slightly messy, bending over to put toast in the oven. He set the timer, then turned to pour the settled coffee through a filter.

Suppressing the impulse to hug him, Sheng Li called out, “Ah Chi.”

Only then did Zuo Chi glance at Sheng Li. Sheng Li was wearing his new pajamas, which were a bit ridiculous because they were too small. His face was still handsome, with traces of lingering drowsiness.

Zuo Chi asked, “Coffee?”

Without hesitation, Sheng Li replied, “Yes!”

“Do you want toast?”

Sheng Li said, “Yes!”

Sheng Li didn’t expect to receive such treatment. He thought Zuo Chi would kick him out early in the morning.

He leaned in, “Is there anything I can help with?”

Zuo Chi said, “Don’t stand in the doorway, blocking the light.”

“Oh!” Sheng Li responded dumbly and went to the bathroom to freshen up before sitting at the dining table.

Before long, Zuo Chi came out with toasted ham and cheese sandwiches and two cups of coffee. “The toast is a bit burnt.”

Sheng Li picked up a piece of toast. “It’s okay, even if it’s burnt, it still tastes good.”

Taking advantage of the rare good morning atmosphere, Sheng Li sought advice from Zuo Chi on several work-related issues.

Zuo Chi, knowing no bounds, answered them all. After speaking, he subconsciously looked at Sheng Li. Their eyes met in the air, Sheng Li’s eyes shining brightly. Zuo Chi could clearly see himself reflected in his pupils.

Zuo Chi pursed his lips. “Are you listening?”

“I am.” Sheng Li recalled scenes from their student days when Zuo Chi tutored him.

Zuo Chi’s coffee cup was almost empty. He remembered the troubles that tormented him last night. “Since when did you start following me?”

Perhaps because Qin Xu had few acquaintances in China, or perhaps Qin Xu’s life was simply clean and uncomplicated, the private investigator had followed Qin Xu for several days but hadn’t captured anything useful. Sheng Li relaxed a bit, hoping Qin Xu’s approach to Zuo Chi had no ulterior motives. But he didn’t want to tell Zuo Chi the truth; wouldn’t that just give points to his romantic rival? He wasn’t that foolish.

Vaguely, Sheng Li replied, “Not long ago.”

“Even yesterday, you followed me so late? Were you with me twenty-four hours a day?” Zuo Chi stared at him. “Do you know everything I’m doing?”

Sheng Li felt Zuo Chi’s attitude was strange, so he tentatively said, “More or less.”

Zuo Chi asked, “Is the private investigator reliable?”

“He is,” Sheng Li replied.

Leaning back in his chair, Zuo Chi crossed his arms. “Make sure he keeps his mouth shut. I don’t want anyone else to know about registering the company for the time being.”

Sheng Li was surprised. “Registering a company?!”

Zuo Chi looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze. “…You didn’t know?”

Sheng Li was somewhat excited. “You’re starting your own business? You should have done it long ago. It’s so much better, like Xingyu, being completely independent, not having to worry about the family’s business. No matter how well you do at the Zuo’s, you won’t get the treatment you deserve. You plant trees, only to let your younger brother enjoy the shade? Zuo Yi’s thinking too highly of himself.”

Sheng Li didn’t know that Zuo Chi had registered a company. Zuo Chi regretted not keeping it quiet. “It’s not as easy as you think. The situation at Tai Xingyu’s family and ours are completely different. Their family supports him in starting his own business. But my father and mother have ways to prevent my company from succeeding.”

Zuo Chi had long ago tried to test Shu Qingyu, but she advised against the idea of independence. She had spent most of her life in the Zuo family and was determined to take a piece of the pie from them no matter what.

Shu Qingyu said, “Your father won’t agree. Starting your own company means you’re disregarding him and the Zuo family. He’s been in this industry for so many years; as long as he gives a word to someone, you and your company will find it difficult to move.”

Zuo Chi gave up the idea of independence, but on his trip, the thought came back. The past constraints made him think he had no right to choose, but not having a choice only meant he wasn’t strong enough.

As long as he was capable enough, he wouldn’t lack options.

After returning from the trip, he selected an office location quietly, prepared all the necessary documents, and extended an olive branch to the subordinates he trusted.

He had gambled on love and lost. But in his career, he was confident he would win.

Sheng Li felt indignant for Zuo Chi. “Damn it, if Zuo Yi won’t hand over the Zuo Group to you, why should he stop you from developing on your own?”

There were no ‘whys’ or ‘shoulds’ in this matter. Zuo Chi emphasized, “Keep this quiet.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone else.” Sheng Li’s eyes lit up. “I can even invest.”

Zuo Chi chuckled. “How much can you invest?”

Sheng Li stated an amount, and Zuo Chi said, “With such a large amount of capital flowing, Sheng Changyu can’t possibly not notice. He won’t agree.”

Zuo Chi’s smile held no sarcasm, but Sheng Li still felt embarrassed.

He said, “Regardless, as long as you need it, I can provide it.”

Zuo Chi didn’t respond positively. He waited until Sheng Li finished his toast, then began to push him as Sheng Li had anticipated.

“After changing your clothes, you’ll go back. I need to go to the bank later.” Zuo Chi stared at Sheng Li with a warning look. “Don’t send anyone to track me anymore. If I want to spend the night with Qin Xu, you can’t stop me.”

Mentioning Qin Xu, Sheng Li’s expression fell. “Since you’re starting your own business, your engagement with Qin Xu should be annulled. Why do you still care about Qin Xu?”

Zuo Chi was getting annoyed. “It’s up to me, okay?”

Sheng Li persisted. “What’s so good about him?”

Zuo Chi deliberately teased him, counting on his fingers. “Being tall and handsome is an advantage, right?”

Sheng Li protested, “Am I not tall or handsome enough?”

Zuo Chi raised an eyebrow. “I admit you’re tall, but as for handsome… seeing someone too often can make aesthetic fatigue set in.”

Sheng Li felt defeated, unable to retort.

Zuo Chi continued, “Being gentle and gentlemanly is always an advantage… and also, his pheromones smell pretty good.”

Sheng Li said, “Don’t forget, our pheromone match is over eighty percent!”

Zuo Chi smirked, half-jokingly. “Maybe my pheromone match with Qin Xu is even higher.”

Sheng Li exclaimed angrily, “Nonsense!”

An over eighty percent pheromone match was already considered high; it was unlikely it could be higher.

“I’m tired of talking to you. Until I leave the Zuo family, Qin Xu is still my fiancé. Even if I leave the Zuo family, I can still associate with Qin Xu. That’s my freedom, and you have no right to interfere. You have ten minutes to change clothes and leave.” Zuo Chi walked into the bedroom and closed the door. Sheng Li could still hear the sound of it locking.

Sheng Li walked up to the door. “I took your pajamas. I’ll wash them and give them back to you.”

Zuo Chi replied, “No need.”

Pretending not to hear, Sheng Li put on his clothes from yesterday, grabbed the pajamas, and went downstairs to drive. That day, he had a meeting with someone regarding project financing and needed to go home to change into a clean suit.

He had scheduled the meeting for ten in the morning. He returned home to tidy up and had some spare time. In his bedroom, he rummaged through boxes and cabinets looking for the bracelet Zuo Chi had given him when he was eighteen, but still couldn’t find it.

That evening, after dinner, he went to the Sheng family’s house again and turned his bedroom upside down.

Sheng Changyu wasn’t home, but Li Mingchuan heard the commotion and asked what he was looking for.

Describing it, Sheng Li said, “A bracelet with a cute little pendant on it.”

Li Mingchuan shook his head. “I haven’t seen it. I’ll ask Auntie to pay attention when she cleans. Have you checked your own place?”

Disheartened, Sheng Li said, “Yes.”

Li Mingchuan asked, “What about your other house?”

Thinking of the year he turned eighteen when Sheng Changyu gave him a villa, not the one he currently lived in. Maybe the bracelet was in that villa!

Eager to leave, Li Mingchuan stopped him. “It’s been a long time since you’ve been back. You’ve finally come home, won’t you stay for a bit?”

Sheng Li said, “I have something to do. Next time.”

“I heard from your father that you’ve been visiting Xiao Chi often lately?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?” Sheng Li’s tone was a bit confrontational, thinking Li Mingchuan would advise him not to embarrass the family like Sheng Changyu.

“No, there’s no problem. Your father has been thinking a lot lately.” Li Mingchuan said quietly, “Thinking back to when the Li family and the Sheng family were united in marriage, both Changyu and I hadn’t met yet. We stumbled into marriage because of family arrangements and ended up surprisingly happy. Changyu has some flaws, but at least he’s loyal. I’m not a perfect person either, but he can tolerate my shortcomings.”

Sheng Li stopped in his tracks, listening to him continue.

“Because the concept instilled in me since childhood was that following elders’ arrangements for marriage was natural, coupled with my lack of hardship, I’ve never been too resistant to the idea of arranged marriage. But I’ve overlooked your feelings. We shouldn’t have pressured you. If we hadn’t pressured you, maybe you wouldn’t have such strong resistance now.”

“But Sheng Li, you can’t project your resentment towards us onto Xiao Chi. He hasn’t done anything wrong. Now that you regret it, the harm you’ve done to him in the past is still real.”

“My views on this matter differ from your father’s. I don’t oppose you pursuing Xiao Chi, but he’s currently engaged to the Qin family. If you approach him recklessly, you’ll only add pressure to him. If you want to win him back, you must reflect on your past actions. First, learn to respect him, then treat him wholeheartedly. If you can’t do that, it’s better to let go now to avoid tormenting each other. Even if you try hard and Xiao Chi still refuses to accept you, don’t force him, don’t make him sad, okay?”