While they were changing clothes, Chen Hongmei pulled Zong Xiaomo to her side. “Daughter, does Shengyan have feelings for you?”
“Mom, not at all!” Zong Xiaomo’s scalp nearly exploded.
Chen Hongmei teased, “Oh, you’re even shy now.”
Thinking about the possibility that Jiang Shengyan liked her made Zong Xiaomo shiver several times. She looked anxious. “Really, Mom, don’t say such things.”
Could it be that I’m wrong? Chen Hongmei was skeptical. “Really?”
“More real than gold!”
Just then, Zong Yuan and Jiang Shengyan came out after changing clothes. Jiang Shengyan walked ahead, seething with anger, while Zong Yuan followed behind with a playful smile.
As Chen Hongmei watched them, she couldn’t help but sigh. The rapport between Shengyan and A’Yuan was so good that her assumption had been misleading.
She called out, “Shengyan, son, come here and help Mom with something.”
Jiang Shengyan seemed to be lost in thought. He hesitated and said, “Is it really okay to call you Mom this early?”
Zong Yuan laughed at him. “You’re overthinking it, Boss Jiang. Are we even together?”
Jiang Shengyan’s expression changed dramatically.
Even though Zong Yuan told Jiang Shengyan to secretly observe Aunt Lin and Uncle Wang’s relationship to see if they were deliberately hiding something, Jiang Shengyan seemed to agree but forgot everything when he arrived home and saw Aunt Lin.
He leaned against the door and Aunt Lin opened it for him. “Mr. Jiang, you’re back! Come in quickly.”
Jiang Shengyan’s face was mostly hidden in the darkness as he slowly spoke, “Aunt Lin, I have a question for you.”
Aunt Lin’s heart skipped a beat. “Why are you being so polite? Just ask; I’ll say whatever I know.”
Jiang Shengyan asked, “What is your relationship with Uncle Wang?”
Aunt Lin forced a smile. “Oh, what kind of relationship could we have? We’re not familiar with each other.”
“Really not familiar?”
Jiang Shengyan’s voice gave away no hint of emotion. The usually angry man was surprisingly calm now, which made Aunt Lin’s heart race. She was so nervous that her palms were sweaty and she didn’t dare to speak.
Jiang Shengyan was only thinking about Zong Yuan’s words praising his “good assets” and had no anger left for her.
Oddly enough, while he felt upset then, looking back, he found it was hard to describe the feeling of someone praising his assets.
Aunt Lin stammered, “I-I was just somewhat familiar with him before.”
Jiang Shengyan replied, “Think carefully before you say anything.”
Aunt Lin gritted her teeth and suddenly pushed past him, rushing out. “Boss Jiang, I don’t know what to say right now. I’ll come back with Old Wang tomorrow to explain.”
Jiang Shengyan was taken aback. What kind of strange maneuver is this?
He walked to the study, opened the safe, and wanted to check some documents after seeing Assistant Lin earlier that day.
0046 shouted again, “Ah! Ah! Ah!”
Zong Yuan lay calmly on the bed, lazily commanding, “Speak.”
0046 was puzzled. “Zong Yuan, the surveillance camera in Jiang Shengyan’s study is on.”
Zong Yuan was speechless.
He resignedly put on his shoes and quietly walked across the courtyard, careful not to wake Chen Hongmei and Zong Xiaomo.
He headed straight for Jiang Shengyan’s house under the moonlight.
Jiang Shengyan had just poured himself a cup of coffee and was leisurely sitting at his desk. The documents were still unopened when there was another knock at the door. He frowned, thinking, Could it be Aunt Lin and Uncle Wang?
When he opened the door, he saw Zong Yuan.
Zong Yuan shuffled in wearing slippers, appearing at a late hour to tease him, and winked at Jiang Shengyan. “Boss Jiang, can I borrow your bathroom for a shower?”
Jiang Shengyan, still dazed, led him to the bathroom.
0046 asked, “Why don’t you tell him about the study?”
Zong Yuan replied helplessly, “How do I say that? ‘Hey Boss Jiang, don’t go to the study. There are surveillance cameras there and they’re currently on’—how would that sound?”
He was indeed more reliable.
He worried that Jiang Shengyan might sneak off to the study during this time, so he called through the bathroom door, “Boss Jiang.”
Jiang Shengyan feigned impatience. “What now?”
“It’s a shame that the glass door in your bathroom isn’t transparent; you can’t see my great figure.”
Jiang Shengyan felt a surge of irritation at those words and growled, “I’m going to the study.”
0046 said, “You just scared him off.”
“Don’t,” Zong Yuan said with a smile, his voice carrying a hint of steam, “Boss Jiang, I came all this way to tease you and chat, and this is your attitude?”
Jiang Shengyan felt as if his feet were nailed to the ground, his gaze occasionally darting toward the bathroom door. He really did feel a bit regretful, just like Zong Yuan had said, about the door not being transparent. “What do you want to talk about?”
Zong Yuan was determined, “I haven’t had the chance to check out Boss Jiang’s room yet. Why don’t you show me around and let me stay over tonight?”
Stay… stay over?
Jiang Shengyan’s face flushed red. He struggled to maintain a sense of rationality amidst the excitement and other emotions bubbling inside him. “There’s no guest room.”
Zong Yuan felt a headache coming on. “Why is he being so timid at this moment?”
0046 encouraged him, “Come on, don’t be afraid of him!”
Zong Yuan replied, “I’ll just sleep in Boss Jiang’s bed.”
My… my bed?
Jiang Shengyan muttered, “Suit yourself.”
He really couldn’t stay there any longer. Even though he hadn’t taken a shower and the air around him was fresh and plentiful, he felt like he was about to suffocate.
Jiang Shengyan said, “I’m going to another room.”
“Don’t,” Zong Yuan said slowly, his voice laced with temptation. “Boss Jiang, why not go to the bedroom and tidy up a bit? By the way, could you bring me a change of clothes? I really like the mint-scented shower gel you use.”
Jiang Shengyan felt dizzy. “Okay.”
He completely forgot that he had once looked down on Uncle Zhang and Zong Xiaomo for being brainwashed by Zong Yuan.
Zong Yuan delivered a final blow. “Thanks, but I also need a pair of bigger underwear.”
Bigger… what the hell?
Ah, ah, ah, ah!
Jiang Shengyan dashed into the bedroom, feeling like he was about to burst into flames. Forget the documents; what even is a study?
Bigger underwear, bigger underwear…
What’s the point of growing up this much?
Zong Yuan asked 0046, “He didn’t go to the study, did he?”
“Nope,” 0046 replied, “I found out something else too. Zong Yuan, I know why the surveillance camera suddenly turned on.”
“Hmm?”
“There’s a pinhole camera on the study door that’s been on the whole time. It wasn’t there the last time I checked.”
0046 was puzzled. “When was it installed?”
Zong Yuan sneered, “This has only happened in the past few days. Even if the previous camera had nothing to do with Lin and Wang, this new camera is definitely related.”
Now it was a matter of how to tell Jiang Shengyan.
After a long while, Jiang Shengyan finally brought in a bathrobe. It was the largest one he had. He threw it onto the chair by the bathroom door, speaking harshly, “I left it outside. There are no bigger underwear; it’s either tight or you go commando. You choose.”
Feeling frustrated, Jiang Shengyan rummaged through his underwear but found nothing that Zong Yuan could wear. Why should he have to be more generous than him?
Zong Yuan was quite straightforward, whether intentionally or jokingly, “Well, I’ll just sneak away then. Boss Jiang won’t mind, right? I still need to sleep in the same bed with you tonight.”
Jiang Shengyan lost it. “Put it on!”
The largest bathrobe looked like the smallest one on Zong Yuan. He barely managed to put it on, leaving only a small gap in the middle. The fabric was too scant to cover him completely, revealing a glimpse of his tanned skin and the smooth lines of his muscles.
Even worse, he was indeed wearing the black underwear that Jiang Shengyan had given him.
So tight, so bouncy—white bathrobe, black underwear, all partially visible.
Jiang Shengyan awkwardly turned his head away. “Go to sleep.”
Zong Yuan was quite pleased with his outfit. “Boss Jiang has good taste. Besides being a bit tight, it’s not bad otherwise.”
0046 chimed in, “And it’s quite flashy.”
Flashy? That’s an understatement. When Zong Yuan gets flashy, no one can compete.
Jiang Shengyan dared not look at him, his cheeks flushed. His sharp and handsome face was transformed into a picture of shyness.
Zong Yuan made the most of the situation. “Boss Jiang, take me to see the bedroom.”
The word “bedroom” now carried an air of intimacy.
Jiang Shengyan replied, “No way.”
He was scared. What if he really couldn’t control himself and ended up pouncing on him?
Zong Yuan smelled of mint, the same scent as his own, yet somehow Zong Yuan’s fragrance was intoxicating.
Zong Yuan sighed regretfully. “Then take me somewhere else.”
Jiang Shengyan hesitated in his thoughts. “Okay.”
Both of them were distracted as they looked around. Jiang Shengyan’s home was an old residence. His grandfather may have been poor, but his ancestors had once lived in luxury. The old house was no joke; every decoration reflected the opulent style of that era.
However, most of Jiang Shengyan’s thoughts were on Zong Yuan, while Zong Yuan was mostly preoccupied with the study, neither of them truly appreciating their surroundings.
Finally, they arrived at the study.
Zong Yuan stiffened, his back to the door. With a swift motion, he pushed Jiang Shengyan against the wall, his hands on either side, trapping him in his embrace.
The suddenness of it left Jiang Shengyan blushing and his heart racing, filled with anticipation.
Zong Yuan lowered his voice. “Boss Jiang, you know I used to be a soldier, right?”
Jiang Shengyan shyly nodded, meaning to imply that he would be vigorous?
Zong Yuan continued, leaning in closer. “Then you know I’ve gone through some special training, right?”
Jiang Shengyan nodded again. Did he mean he had special interests?
Zong Yuan, seeing him obedient, smugly stated the main point, “Well, based on my experience, there’s a pinhole camera on your study door. Don’t ask me how I found out; let’s just say it’s experience.”
Jiang Shengyan’s face instantly darkened.
Zong Yuan had just started to comfort him when Jiang Shengyan gritted his teeth and snapped, “You really meant to say that?”
Uh-huh.
Jiang Shengyan grew angrier. “You knew there was a pinhole camera and still came prancing around like this? Why didn’t you just leave?”
“Did you really want to give the peeping tom a good show?”
Wait a minute. Zong Yuan tried to redirect his thoughts. “Don’t you think this is important?”
“Important?” Jiang Shengyan laughed in fury. “I want to see who the hell is watching you like this!”
Zong Yuan, “…”
This recipient of affection was still too much to handle.
