Bai Yang moved into Shao Cheng’s spacious and empty villa in this inexplicable manner, staying in a guest room on the third floor, right next to Shao Cheng’s room. He still didn’t understand why Shao Cheng suddenly started taking care of him in this way, and he had subtly asked Shao Cheng a few times, but never received a clear answer.
Their class schedules differed due to their different majors, so they usually only met during dinner in the evenings. After Shao Cheng finished eating, he would immediately retreat to his own room. Although his door was always open, Bai Yang didn’t dare to disturb him.
They were like two unfamiliar tenants living under the same roof, not interfering with each other.
So, they spent two weeks in this indifferent manner. Finally, the eagerly awaited winter break arrived for the students at S University.
For Bai Yang, the winter break was a good opportunity to make money. Failing the interview at the publishing house had left him disheartened for a while, but his fighting spirit quickly rekindled. During the time he lived at Shao Cheng’s house, he had checked the prices of every piece of clothing or item Shao Cheng casually gave him and noted them down in a notebook. The amounts were so substantial that they gave him a headache. He decided to take advantage of the winter break to earn some money and gradually accumulate it, so that he could eventually repay Shao Cheng.
However, he needed Shao Cheng’s permission first. Firstly, since they were living under the same roof, he wouldn’t be able to hide that he got a job if he came and went early and late. It would be better to discuss it upfront. Secondly, Shao Cheng had a strong controlling personality, and he was sure that if he went out to work without permission, Shao Cheng would definitely be angry.
So, on the first evening of the break, Bai Yang gathered his courage and entered Shao Cheng’s room, knocking on the open door.
Shao Cheng was sitting at his computer desk, focused on typing. He glanced at Bai Yang and then turned back, asking, “What’s the matter?”
Bai Yang got straight to the point, saying, “I want to work during the winter break. Is that okay?”
“What about the publishing house interview?”
“…I didn’t pass.” Bai Yang said with embarrassment, his face turning red for having been overly confident before, “I was too self-assured…but it’s okay, I can find some odd jobs first. The winter break isn’t that long, and I can wait until next semester—”
“No.” Shao Cheng interrupted him with a cold tone.
Bai Yang had anticipated this outcome, but still asked with unwillingness, “Why?”
“I said no, so it’s no. If you need money, just ask me.”
“I don’t want your money. I want to earn it myself—”
Shao Cheng finally took his eyes off the screen, looking displeased. “How much can you earn on your own? You’d work yourself to exhaustion, and the money you’d earn in a month wouldn’t even be enough to buy one piece of clothing I could get you.”
Bai Yang’s heart was pricked, and he said, “I know you’re right, but I can’t rely on you for everything.”
Shao Cheng’s expression turned completely cold. He stood up and took a few steps over, pressing White Yang against the wall. His voice was icy as he said, “I told you, no.”
Facing his sharp gaze, Bai Yang pursed his lips and couldn’t help but protest in a soft voice, “You’re being unreasonable…”
Shao Cheng coldly snorted. “Who’s being unreasonable here? You’re the one who’s being unreasonable. How much can you earn working for a little over ten yuan per hour? I could transfer your entire winter break’s salary to you right now without you having to do anything. What more could you possibly want?”
“It’s precisely because I wouldn’t be doing anything.” Bai Yang’s brows furrowed slightly. “It might be a small amount to you, but it’s not for me. Why should I take so much money from you? Unless you let me do something for you.”
Shao Cheng’s deep black eyes fixed on him for a long while, to the point that the air became suffused with silence. Suddenly, he let out a faint mocking sound. “Are you suggesting something to me?”
“What?” Bai Yang didn’t understand.
Shao Cheng’s hand slid down, resting on his waist. He slowly traced his fingers, implying something:
“What can you do for me?”
