When Ye Zhou woke up, his head felt foggy and dizzy. As his eyes came into focus, they were met with a pair of deep, mesmerizing eyes. From the first moment Ye Zhou saw Jiang Tingyuan, he knew the man had exceptionally beautiful eyes. Especially when he looked at you – their lethal effect doubled in an instant.
But this time, Ye Zhou was uncharacteristically unaffected by their beauty. Having Boss Jiang’s intense gaze fixed on him made him extremely uneasy. He quickly averted his eyes and mentally reviewed everything he had done recently, trying to figure out why the boss was acting this way.
Finding nothing amiss, Ye Zhou’s voice unconsciously took on a guilty edge: “W-what’s wrong?”
Jiang Tingyuan just stared at him, saying nothing.
Ye Zhou grew even more nervous. His previously muddled mind miraculously started working again. Fortunately, before he could start wondering if his past self had cheated which was now coming to light, and consider the most dignified way to kneel in apology…
Jiang Tingyuan, who had been silent all this time, suddenly stretched out his hand.
The cool touch on his forehead cut off anything Ye Zhou might have said, rendering him momentarily frozen in place, unsure what to do with his hands.
Jiang Tingyuan’s brows furrowed slightly, as if dissatisfied with the temperature he felt. He leaned in closer, pressing his own forehead against Ye Zhou’s under the latter’s shocked gaze.
Time seemed to stop in that moment.
After about five seconds, Jiang Tingyuan drew back and settled into his chair again, the crease between his brows finally smoothing out a little. “Your fever’s gone down.”
Ye Zhou remained frozen in the same position, like a statue unable to move.
Jiang Tingyuan raised an eyebrow. “Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere else?”
It took a while before Ye Zhou finally regained his senses. He stiffly shook his head, trying to keep his voice calm: “I…had a fever?”
“Yes, 39.2 degrees Celsius.” Jiang Tingyuan had just finished speaking when he saw Ye Zhou about to move and immediately pressed down the hand the other didn’t know what to do with. “Don’t move.”
His voice was cold but his actions unexpectedly gentle as he tucked the blanket back around Ye Zhou, which had slipped off when the latter shifted.
Ye Zhou, who had always taken care of others and was rarely taken care of like this, was suddenly at a loss when he was suddenly taken care of by the boss so considerately. He quickly sorted through appropriate words in his mind, but his usual eloquence failed him. All he managed was an awkward “Tha…thank you.”
Clearly also finding it inadequate, Ye Zhou was on the verge of trying again when a cup was shoved against his mouth. He instinctively drank down the entire cup of water following Jiang Tingyuan’s lead.
Looking at the empty cup, Ye Zhou thought he detected a glimmer of…satisfaction in Boss Jiang’s eyes?
Ye Zhou: …
Although he felt he should be touched by the boss’s thoughtful care, for some reason, Ye Zhou had the strange sense that the boss was feeding him like a pet.
Over the next few days, this impression was gradually confirmed.
According to the family doctor, Ye Zhou had overworked himself and fallen ill with a high fever. With youth and a strong constitution on his side, an IV drip for a couple days and some medicine would quickly set him right.
Ye Zhou had naively believed so at first. But soon he realized things weren’t so simple.
This manifested in, for instance, the current situation…
Ye Zhou was working on storyboards for a movie when he suddenly heard footsteps approaching from behind. He reflexively hid the notebook he was holding behind his back.
Jiang Tingyuan came down the stairs, walked gracefully over, and stopped beside him without a word. He merely extended a hand in front of Ye Zhou.
Ye Zhou: …
He felt extremely aggrieved! But it was useless. Although his inner self was unleashing a fierce combo attack, his body cooperated very honestly.
He slowly brought out the notebook hidden behind his back and obediently handed it over to Jiang.
His cooperation earned him a pat on the head. Jiang’s warm palm pressed against his forehead, but instead of comfort, he only felt a trace of resignation.
“Jiang-ge, it was just an accident before. I’ve completely recovered now after so long. You really don’t need to keep worrying about me.” Ye Zhou leaned back into the sofa, his voice lacking strength. “I’m really fine.”
Jiang Tingyuan ignored his protests, merely glancing at his watch and stating coolly, “It’s ten. Go get some sun.”
Yes, the truth was just that simple and cruel.
Ever since Ye Zhou’s illness, Jiang had the family doctor draw up a health regimen for him to follow, personally supervising its implementation each day. When he had to go to the company, he would even ruthlessly send two bodyguards to monitor in his stead.
Ye Zhou was beyond exasperated. After being cooped up at home for a whole week, he felt like he was growing fur. He had never yearned so badly for the outside world.
Ye Zhou was genuinely confused. He had mixed in the entertainment industry for so long in his past life and seen all kinds of relationships between sponsors and lovers, but no one like Jiang Tingyuan.
After associating with him these days, Ye Zhou felt their interactions were less like a sponsor and lover and more like father and son…
That’s right – Jiang Tingyuan was the father and he was the son.
Under Boss Jiang’s deadly stare, Ye Zhou timidly stood up from the sofa and walked back to the small garden outside, still hoping that the boss would have a change of mind. But that was clearly impossible – Boss Jiang’s will was like iron.
When Ye Zhou returned inside after soaking up sunlight for over an hour, Boss Jiang was already waiting for him in the dining room. Seeing him come in, Jiang beckoned him over.
Catching sight of the green vegetable juice on the table, Ye Zhou decided to resist and flee.
“Ye Zhou.” Jiang Tingyuan’s voice was calm and steady.
Ye Zhou transitioned from jogging to walking in place.
“Come back.”
Ye Zhou turned around, his steps slowing.
Their gazes met in midair. Jiang Tingyuan said nothing more.
The clever Ye Zhou wisely resumed walking normally until he reached the dining table.
To be honest, Ye Zhou felt that he didn’t have such a standard stance during military training when he was in college. This was too difficult.
Without Boss Jiang needing to say anything, the failed escapee Ye Zhou picked up the vegetable juice. Steeling himself, he squeezed his eyes shut, held his breath, and started chugging.
Ye Zhou hated vegetable juice. Despite mental preparation, he could only get halfway before moving to set the cup down. Right then, he suddenly heard Jiang Tingyuan speak.
“Finish it and I’ll take you out this afternoon.”
His hand abruptly changed direction and Ye Zhou downed the rest in one go before loudly placing the empty glass in front of Jiang Tingyuan.
“It’s a deal!”
Author's note:
Ye Zhou: Let’s go, let’s go, take me out to play, out to play!!
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