The kiss lasted so long that Ye Zhou felt it was getting a little hard to breathe before he was finally released.
Ye Zhou blinked and glanced down between Jiang Tingyuan’s legs, raising an eyebrow slightly. After a few seconds of silence, he casually said, “Well…if you want, I can.”
He was not innocent, to begin with. Having spent so many years in the entertainment industry in his past life, he was long accustomed to financial sponsors and lovers.
It was just a fair transaction between one who wanted money and one who wanted sex at the end of the day, nothing to make a big fuss over.
Although Ye Zhou seemed carefree on the surface, he actually hated owing favors to others. From the day he took Boss Jiang’s money, he was mentally prepared to pay the price.
Back then, he thought he might return to his world anytime, so freeloading off such a handsome and rich tycoon like Boss Jiang made Ye Zhou feel he was the one taking advantage.
However, Boss Jiang showed no interest in him at that time. Since he didn’t bring it up, Ye Zhou naturally wouldn’t embarrass himself by offering.
Ye Zhou didn’t know what made Boss Jiang suddenly interested in him now, but since the other party wanted it and he didn’t dislike it, there was no shame in two consenting adults fulfilling each other’s needs.
Jiang Tingyuan looked stunned at his words. The usual cold, piercing eyes softened remarkably when they looked at Ye Zhou.
He reached out and gently ruffled Ye Zhou’s hair, wordlessly conveying reassurance.
Seeing him remain silent, Ye Zhou thought he might have misunderstood, so he kindly elaborated, “What I mean is, since I’ve taken your money, strictly speaking, I’m yours now.”
As he spoke, Ye Zhou couldn’t help patting himself on the back mentally. He was such a principled person who honored agreements, as well as a very considerate lover.
However, Ye Zhou completely failed to notice how Boss Jiang’s previously gentle gaze instantly froze over with bone-chilling coldness upon hearing these words.
Oblivious to the danger, Ye Zhou prattled on, heavily implying, “So, before we part ways, you can do anything you want with me.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Ye Zhou shivered abruptly. He suddenly felt an inexplicable chill in the ward that was supposed to be temperature-controlled. Before he could figure out if the door had opened or the AC was broken, Boss Jiang, who had been silent for a while, abruptly spoke up.
“Anything?” Jiang Tingyuan repeated the latter half of Ye Zhou’s words, his voice slightly cold and ambiguous.
Ye Zhou’s body stiffened as he belatedly realized something seemed off about Boss Jiang’s tone. Gone was the sensual huskiness from his arousal earlier, replaced by bone-piercing iciness instead.
Sensing danger instinctively, Ye Zhou racked his brains, trying to figure out which part of his words had offended Boss Jiang.
Could it be that Boss Jiang preferred the shy, reluctant act and was displeased by his proactiveness?
Before Ye Zhou could think it through, he saw Jiang Tingyuan purse his thin lips into a faint curve and state coolly, “I’ll remember that.”
Ye Zhou was so spooked by his expression that cold sweat broke out all over. He swallowed and said uneasily, “Uh, I mean, as long as it doesn’t affect my health…”
“Don’t worry.” Jiang Tingyuan smiled thinly as he tapped Ye Zhou’s face with cold fingertips. “You’ll definitely remain very healthy.”
It was only after being discharged from the hospital that Ye Zhou understood the meaningful look in Boss Jiang’s eyes when he said those words.
During the three days Ye Zhou was unconscious, Jiang Tingyuan had practically every possible test done on him. Although there were signs of mild malnutrition and overwork that caused some physical damage, overall, he was given a clean bill of health.
After waking up, he was brought to get a CT scan of his head again. At this point, Ye Zhou suddenly recalled that a long time ago, when he had a fever after selecting those three projects at the second round of Dream Incubation’s audition, Boss Jiang had also immediately taken him to the hospital for a head CT scan.
Ye Zhou truly did not understand why Boss Jiang kept suspecting him of having something wrong with his brain.
However, Ye Zhou was quite emotional deep down. Back then, no one had faith in those three projects, but who could have expected two of them to start shining now?
E-sports team captain Xu Cheng had hidden depths and talents around him. He really formed a team and successfully obtained a spot in the official league by winning the qualification tournament.
The movie “Tears Behind Bars” gained the favor of Best Actor Zhong Bai. There was a high probability of inviting this gold signboard. As long as he was willing to act, even just a supporting role, it would set off a craze in the entertainment industry and drive countless fans mad.
Who could have foreseen that in just one short year since the initial investment, there were already signs of profitability and viral popularity, not just outsiders, even Ye Zhou the investor himself didn’t dare dream of this!
After being cooped up in the hospital for three more days, Ye Zhou was finally allowed to go home.
He was in high spirits on the day of discharge, thinking he had finally regained his freedom and could return to his long-awaited home, unaware that his days of suffering had only just begun the moment he stepped through the door.
This morning, Ye Zhou woke up and finished washing up. He was about to go to the dining room for breakfast when a bitter, nauseating smell assaulted his nostrils as soon as he opened the door.
The odor was so strong that Ye Zhou had to cover his nose. He traced the smell to its source downstairs in the kitchen. What he saw next made him nearly jump in shock.
There was a slender, straight-backed figure in the kitchen. The man had rolled up his shirtsleeves slightly, and his neatly pressed trousers fit perfectly. He was dressed very formally, but oddly out of place was the orange waist ribbon tied behind him in a crooked bow. He held a spoon and kept stirring something.
Ye Zhou rubbed his eyes in disbelief at the scene before him, but no matter how hard he rubbed, the figure did not disappear.
Unable to believe it, he tentatively called out softly, “Jiang-ge?”
The person stirring with the spoon halted abruptly, then slowly turned around.
Meeting each other’s eyes, Ye Zhou was so stunned his jaw nearly dropped. Forcing down the urge to gouge out his eyeballs, he dragged his gaze away from the highly incongruous orange apron.
After a lengthy silence, he asked in a dazed, somewhat distorted tone, “…Jiang-ge, what are you doing?”
Jiang Tingyuan’s expression remained perfectly calm. He put down the spoon and stated evenly, “Cooking medicine.”
Ye Zhou was baffled. Now he finally understood where the pungent smell filling the house came from.
Stepping forward to Jiang Tingyuan’s side, Ye Zhou leaned over to peer into the white medicine jar on the stove. Inside the blackish broth were dark medicine packets floating around.
After glancing at the fire, Ye Zhou asked Boss Jiang, “How long does it need to simmer? What time did you start? Any temperature requirements?”
Having gotten the answers, Ye Zhou first went behind Jiang Tingyuan to untie the horrendously ugly bow. He had to stand on tiptoes to lift the offensive apron off Jiang Tingyuan’s tall frame.
With his back facing Jiang Tingyuan, Ye Zhou put the apron around his own neck and tied it while saying, “Jiang-ge, go wait outside. The smell’s too strong. I’ll bring it to you once it’s done.”
Jiang Tingyuan remained standing where he was, watching Ye Zhou’s hands nimbly and adeptly tie a nice knot behind himself. He picked up the spoon by the pot and gently stirred the medicine broth.
It was an indescribable feeling.
It was like a feather floating down from the sky, gliding along his body and into his heart. Wherever it passed, there was a tingling sensation that made him feel a little itchy inside.
A sudden urge came over Jiang Tingyuan. He moved his hand to the ribbon Ye Zhou had just tied behind himself and gave it a gentle tug. The pretty bow instantly came loose.
Sensing the movement behind him while still stirring, Ye Zhou glanced back to check what was happening.
“What’s wrong?” he asked blankly.
Jiang Tingyuan shook his head and lied shamelessly with a straight face, “It was too tight. It would be better to loosen it a little.”
“Oh, okay.” Believing him, Ye Zhou turned his back and was about to retie it.
But Jiang Tingyuan didn’t give him the chance. He picked up both ends of the ribbons first, inevitably colliding with Ye Zhou’s hands.
Ye Zhou reflexively tried to pull his hand back, but he suddenly felt his hand being held by someone, forcing his fingers to open. Thinking something was about to happen, he instead felt a brief coolness on the back of his hand, followed by a ticklish sensation in his palm.
It was like being zapped by a tiny electric current – the feeling was distinct yet vague as if he clearly sensed it, yet it was also just his imagination.
For an instant, the only sounds in the quiet kitchen other than the bubbling medicine were their breathing and heartbeats.
Jiang Tingyuan withdrew his fingers and meticulously retied the apron for Ye Zhou.
Instead of leaving as Ye Zhou had told him to, he took two steps back, leaning slightly against the doorframe in a rare leisurely manner as he watched Ye Zhou intently.
Ye Zhou felt uneasy with this attention, unable to articulate what he was feeling. It seemed…strange, yet not unacceptable.
Neither of them spoke until the medicine was done simmering. Only then did they exit the kitchen together.
Ye Zhou fished out the medicinal packets into an empty dish and poured the broth into a bowl for Jiang Tingyuan.
But to Ye Zhou’s shock, after looking at him for a few seconds, Jiang Tingyuan actually pushed the black, pungent medicinal broth towards him instead.
Ye Zhou stared blankly at the medicine bowl before unbelievingly looking up at Jiang Tingyuan, his voice rising in pitch from sheer astonishment. “This is…for me?!”
Though still clinging to a sliver of hope that Jiang Tingyuan would give a negative answer, this hope was swiftly crushed.
“I got a traditional doctor to prescribe body-nourishing medicine for you. Three times a day, one bowl each time.” Jiang Tingyuan’s tone was flat as he stated the facts.
Ye Zhou was on the verge of tears. His voice cracked as he pleaded reasonably with Jiang Tingyuan, “No, no, I’m fine, I don’t need nourishing. I was just over-fatigued last time. Really, I’ll balance work and rest in the future. Jiang-ge, believe me, I can heal myself very quickly!”
Jiang Tingyuan’s gaze swept over him, seeming to weigh the credibility of his words seriously. Ye Zhou immediately sat up ramrod straight, posture perfect, just short of standing at attention before him.
Just when Ye Zhou thought Jiang Tingyuan would change his mind, he suddenly let out a faint chuckle.
“I remember you told me at the hospital a couple of days ago…”
“I can do anything I want with you.”
I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Please consider supporting the author directly.
You can also follow me on Ko-fi to get the latest updates on my translation progress and new projects. I appreciate your love and feedback.
