“Because your senior students in the third year of high school are preparing for the college entrance exam, the school has given you a three-day break. Use this time to study well. You’ll soon be in the third year yourself, and it won’t be as easy as it is now. Although our class is at the bottom of the grade, I believe we have the smartest students! Put in some effort and don’t let me always get called to the dean’s office for scolding,” Teacher Chen said. Before she could finish, the students all started laughing.
“If the dean scolds our Teacher Chen at school, he has to kneel on a washboard at home*!” Chen Zong’s shout made the whole class laugh even louder.
*T/N: Because the dean & Teacher Chen are husband and wife
“Alright, alright.” Teacher Chen laughed and patted the stacks of papers on the desk. “Come up in groups to get your papers. Take one and leave with it. You know when the break ends and when to return to school, so I won’t repeat it.”
“Hey, what are you gonna do during the three-day break?” Chen Zong quickly grabbed a stack of seven or eight papers and handed them to Cheng Yue, who was standing behind him in line.
“It’s all Chinese.” Cheng Yue took one and handed the rest back to Chen Zong.
“Geez, silly.” Chen Zong took another stack and handed it to him. “Come out to play? Gezi said there’s a new bar on Huaining Road.”
“It’s all math…” Cheng Yue took one and returned the rest. “I’m not going. I’m underage and can’t go to bars.”
“What’s the big deal? Technically, you’re already on the path to 18. You…”
“Chen Zong, are you taking it or not? If not, just get lost!” Teacher Chen, annoyed, raised her hand to slap his arm. “So irritating!”
Cheng Yue smiled, took the stack of papers from Teacher Chen, stuffed them into his bag, and turned to leave.
Ji Xu had messaged him earlier saying he wouldn’t be able to make it and would likely be busy until late. So, Ji Xu asked Cheng Yue to go straight to their office after school.
As soon as he exited the school gate, Cheng Yue was stopped by someone. He looked at the car blocking his path and the person sitting inside with surprise.
“You’re on break?” Bai Zhen smiled at him.
“Aren’t you preparing for the college entrance exam?” Cheng Yue looked puzzled. “Why are you here instead of studying?”
“Um…” Bai Zhen got out of the car, his sweating hands behind his back. “I came to give you something.”
“Huh?” Cheng Yue frowned, confused.
“This.” Bai Zhen pulled out a black round box from behind his back and handed it to Cheng Yue. “Take it.”
Cheng Yue was taken aback by his sudden gesture but still accepted the box.
“Alright, it’s something I bought on the way. Eat it when you get home,” Bai Zhen said, getting back into the car. As he grabbed the steering wheel, he winced from the pain of some blisters on his palm but maintained a neutral expression. “I wanted to talk to you after my exam.”
“About what?” Cheng Yue shook the box lightly, unable to guess its contents.
“We’ll talk about it later,” Bai Zhen smiled at him suddenly. “Come on, I’ll give you a ride home.”
“No need,” Cheng Yue waved his hand. “You should go back to studying.”
“Get in quickly, it’s on the way.” Bai Zhen threw him a helmet.
Cheng Yue sighed, put the box in his bag, and got into the car.
When they arrived downstairs at Ji Xu’s office, Bai Zhen, slightly embarrassed, asked, “Is the man from last time your uncle?”
“Yes,” Cheng Yue nodded.
“He looks fierce,” Bai Zhen licked his lips uncomfortably.
Cheng Yue narrowed his eyes at his lip-licking gesture and asked, “Do you have thoughts about my uncle?”
Bai Zhen: “…”
He really didn’t dare to have such thoughts.
“Alright, you go up,” Bai Zhen said helplessly. “I’ll head off now.”
After watching Bai Zhen drive away, Cheng Yue stood there with a serious expression, deep in thought, before heading inside the building.
As he got off the elevator and reached the front desk, he ran into Zhang Mengmeng, who was picking up a package.
“Hey, Cheng Yue,” Zhang Mengmeng greeted him. “Lawyer Ji mentioned you’d be coming. That was quick.”
Cheng Yue felt a bit uncomfortable seeing Zhang Mengmeng. He remembered the last time she had introduced the stores and types of dresses to Ji Xu and felt embarrassed.
“Come with me,” Zhang Mengmeng smiled and led Cheng Yue to Ji Xu’s office.
“Already here?” Ji Xu looked up from his desk when he heard the noise.
“We have a three-day break,” Cheng Yue said as he threw his bag on the sofa and walked towards Ji Xu’s desk. “Can I stay here every day?”
“Sure,” Ji Xu responded, then frowned when he noticed the sweat on Cheng Yue’s forehead. He stood up and wiped Cheng Yue’s forehead with his hand. “You’re sweating a lot.”
“It’s hot,” Cheng Yue smiled and leaned his head closer to Ji Xu’s hand.
Ji Xu, looking at his actions, couldn’t help but smile. “Little puppy.”
“You big dog,” Cheng Yue said, laughing and pulling his head away.
“Go get some water,” Ji Xu handed him his cup.
“Do you want some?” Cheng Yue asked as he took the cup.
“Yes,” Ji Xu lowered his head to sort through the scattered papers on his desk.
Cheng Yue took the cup and, after asking Zhang Mengmeng for directions to the pantry, quickly headed there. He was quite thirsty.
The pantry was large, with a small sofa where two or three people were sitting and eating.
Cheng Yue scanned the room and went to the small bar at the front, which had a lot of drinks and snacks. But he just wanted some water right now.
As he navigated around the machines, he found the water dispenser at the far end. Just as he was about to put the cup under the dispenser to get water, someone suddenly tapped him on the shoulder.
Cheng Yue was startled. His hand jolted, and the water spilled onto his chest.
“Hey!” Duan Changsheng, startled by the commotion, quickly grabbed some tissues and started wiping Cheng Yue’s chest.
After Cheng Yue had been wiped down a bit, he finally recognized Duan Changsheng and widened his eyes in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing,” Duan Changsheng said with a smile. “Kids are so clingy; you even chase after your uncle when he’s working.”
“I’m asking you,” Cheng Yue said, his mood sour. “Why are you here?”
“I work here,” Duan Changsheng replied.
“I mean…” Cheng Yue, looking at his expression and speaking slowly, “why are you really here?”
Duan Changsheng understood now, smiled, and leaned in closer, lowering his voice to Cheng Yue’s ear. “Guess why.”
Cheng Yue turned his head to look at him. After hearing his answer, his expression darkened even more.
“Are you angry?” Duan Changsheng took a sip of his coffee and said calmly, “Yes, I like him. I’ve liked him since university, very much.”
Cheng Yue frowned, his face turning pale as he tightened his grip on the cup, causing his knuckles to turn white.
“Alright, I won’t bully you, little kid. We…” Duan Changsheng hadn’t finished his sentence when he saw Cheng Yue’s pale face and suddenly chuckled in disbelief.
“Why are you angry? I’ve been waiting for Ji Xu for years, and I’m not upset that you’re cutting in.”
Cheng Yue’s anger was evident. He was upset that Duan Changsheng could so casually say things he couldn’t express and that Duan Changsheng was so blatantly challenging him.
Just because he was younger.
And the way Duan Changsheng kept calling him “little kid” with a tone of contempt for his age.
So what if he was young!
Cheng Yue gritted his teeth, unable to swallow his frustration. He turned his eyes, forced himself to calm his expression, and turned to get a glass of water.
“Hey, can we have a fair competition?” Duan Changsheng smiled and looked down at him. “Don’t be angry, I’m serious.”
“Sure, let’s have a fair competition, Uncle,” Cheng Yue said, turning to look at him. He took a sip of water and then licked the rim of the glass with his tongue, adding smugly, “Look at Ji Xu’s cup. I can lick it, so you can’t.”
Duan Changsheng was stunned. “What did you just call me?”
“Called you Uncle,” Cheng Yue straightened his back and looked at him. “I’m only 17, and you’re almost 30, right?”
Duan Changsheng: “…”
“Is calling you ‘Brother’ alright?” Duan Changsheng tried to make a last-ditch effort.
“Nope,” Cheng Yue raised an eyebrow and continued to needle him. “Look at what you’re wearing, it’s even older than what my dad wears.”
Duan Changsheng’s forehead twitched. He glanced at his latest suit, then looked at his reflection in a full-length mirror on the wall beside him. Tall, long legs, narrow waist, broad shoulders.
He was about to retort when he saw the young kid in front of him, dressed in a small suit and looking as fresh as a spring flower, and his anger seemed to deflate.
“Don’t be disheartened, Uncle. Maybe my uncle likes older guys,” Cheng Yue, feeling more confident, continued to jab, “Even old men have…”
“Hey.” Duan Changsheng couldn’t help but pinch Cheng Yue’s face in frustration. “You’re so cute, how did I not realize your mouth was so sharp?”
“Don’t pinch my face,” Cheng Yue frowned and dodged, then turned and left the pantry.
As soon as Cheng Yue exited the pantry, the smile on his face faded. He was deeply troubled by Duan Changsheng’s words and stood outside Ji Xu’s office for a while, wiping the sweat from his palms before slowly opening the office door.
“Why did it take so long to get some water?” Ji Xu looked up at him as he entered.
“I ate something,” Cheng Yue smiled and handed the glass of water to Ji Xu. “Here, drink up.”
“Why is your face red?” Ji Xu took the glass and noticed the red mark on Cheng Yue’s left cheek. “Who pinched you?”
Cheng Yue touched his face and realized he couldn’t feel anything. He thought it was probably from when Duan Changsheng had pinched him.
He didn’t want to bring up Duan Changsheng or give him any more attention in front of Ji Xu, so he pouted and said, “I did it to myself.”
Ji Xu smiled, pinched the red mark on Cheng Yue’s face again, and was about to say something when his gaze fell on the chat box on his computer screen. Remembering the content of the treatment plan Song Yi had sent and realizing Cheng Yue was on vacation, Ji Xu quickly formulated a plan in his mind and then looked at Cheng Yue.
“I’ll take you swimming later,” Ji Xu said.
“Swimming?” Cheng Yue was surprised. “I don’t know how to swim.”
“I’ll teach you,” Ji Xu said.
“Uh? Do I need to undress?” Cheng Yue asked suddenly.
Ji Xu was momentarily stunned by the question. “Yes, you need to.”
Cheng Yue began to worry, thinking about Ji Xu undressing. The thought of Ji Xu, who was already very attractive, becoming even more so when undressed, filled his mind with images of muscles and a toned body.
“What’s wrong?” Ji Xu noticed Cheng Yue’s sudden daze and flicked his forehead.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Uh…” Cheng Yue snapped out of it quickly. “I was thinking about what swimsuit to wear later.”
“You…” Ji Xu frowned, a bit stunned. After a moment of thought, he said, “In that case, we won’t go to the swimming pool. Uncle Tang has a villa with a pool where you can wear anything you want.”
“Okay,” Cheng Yue nodded.
But after nodding, he felt something was off…
Author’s Note:
Cheng Yue: The swimsuit I get must be the most beautiful!
