Chapter 16 (continued)

Only the bouquet in his hand added a touch of color, softening the cold, stark tones.

"..." Qi Yan silently glanced down at himself, then at the face that was sure to attract a never-ending stream of admirers. A surge of jealousy welled up in him.

What's with the attitude...

So what if he's handsome...

"Young Mr. Qin."

Hearing Pei Sheng greet him, Qi Yan composed himself, straightened his tie, and put on a perfect smile. "Hello, Young Mr. Qin—"

Qin You glanced at the two of them. As usual, he ignored the protagonist and gave Qi Yan a slight nod in response. Without stopping, he walked past him and continued toward the target's hospital room.

He had no intention of getting involved with Yan Tingshen.

Since Qi Yan and Yan Tingshen were friends, there was no need to associate with him either.

"..." Qi Yan still had his mouth open. Before he could get his next words out, he watched Qin You brush past him. The familiar scene left him utterly speechless. "Wait, what..."

He turned to look at Qin You's retreating figure and finally understood what it meant that this man was only close to Yan Tingshen.

No wonder!

Birds of a feather!

That identical disregard for everyone else was infuriating!

Qi Yan couldn't help looking at Pei Sheng. "Didn't you say he was easy to get along with?"

Pei Sheng's expression didn't change. "I never said that."

Qi Yan: "..."

Pei Sheng said nothing more to him and simply watched Qin You enter Yan Tingshen's room.

"How are you feeling this morning?"

Qin You entered and saw Yan Tingshen sitting propped up against the headboard. "Any better?"

Yan Tingshen noticed his right hand behind his back. "I'm fine."

Only when Qin You reached his side did he bring the flowers out from behind his back and hold them in front of him. "Do you like them?"

Yan Tingshen pressed his lips together. Through the fragrant, fiery red bouquet, he saw Qin You's smiling face.

Qin You said, "I bought them especially for you. Yesterday's over, so let's start today in a different mood."

Yan Tingshen looked away and made no move to take the flowers. He merely said flatly, "Save your tricks for Miss Liu."

Qin You raised an eyebrow. "You know her?"

Yan Tingshen said, "Qi Yan has met her."

Qin You understood.

The target and the protagonist weren't just employer and employee; they were friends too. Qi Yan was probably a mutual friend from their circle.

He casually set the flowers down and sat on the edge of the bed. "Why bring up Miss Liu out of nowhere?"

Yan Tingshen said, "With good news on the horizon for you, President Qin, why shouldn't I bring her up?"

"Good news on the horizon?"

Qin You chuckled. "If that were true, wouldn't it be exactly what you wanted?"

Yan Tingshen's fingers tightened slightly, but he said nothing more.

Qin You asked the system, [What's the favorability?]

The system said, [It hasn't changed. It's still at thirty-three percent.]

Qin You looked at the expressionless target before him and felt helpless for a moment.

When he completed the task yesterday, the favorability had shot up ten points to thirty-three percent. The more he tried to lower it, the higher it climbed. He really couldn't let this continue.

The system was still muttering openly, [I already told you, the target used to like wild roses but doesn't anymore. What good is buying him a bouquet of roses going to do, host?!]

Qin You glanced at the flowers on the table.

The flower shop hadn't had any wild roses in stock.

Flowers all looked much the same. Trying was better than not trying.

He turned to Yan Tingshen. "Let's drop that and focus on your injury."

Yan Tingshen said, "I'm being discharged this afternoon."

"Discharged?"

Qin You said, "Are you sure?"

The target had put a lot of strain on himself when he braced against the floor last night. There was no way he could have fully recovered in less than a day.

Yan Tingshen said, "Yes."

Qin You asked, "What about your daily rehabilitation exercises? Do you have a plan?"

Yan Tingshen only said, "That's none of your concern."

Qin You said, "If you don't have a plan, then listen to me."

When Yan Tingshen had helped him finish that proposal, he had planned to repay the favor by helping Yan Tingshen recover from his injury.

After the task, Yan Tingshen had moved out of Zeshui Bay. Qin You had thought that, given the target's ability to follow through, he wouldn't fail at such a minor matter.

But judging by the results of this examination, he had clearly overestimated the target.

He didn't know how demanding the target's job as an assistant was, that he was too busy to spare even an hour a day.

Nor was there anyone around to remind him.

Yan Tingshen looked back at him, his brow shifting slightly. "There's no need."

Qin You said, "This isn't up for discussion."

Yan Tingshen finally frowned slightly. "Qin You—"

Qin You said, "Here, Zeshui Bay, or your company. Pick one."

Yan Tingshen said, "I'll do my rehabilitation exercises. You needn't trouble yourself, President Qin."

"Pick one."

Qin You raised an eyebrow at him. "Otherwise, I don't mind carrying you out of your office in front of everyone at your company."

Yan Tingshen was silent for a moment.

The system said, [Oh, host, did you forget? The target has a strong character. He's always responded to a gentle approach, not force. You—]

"The hospital."

Yan Tingshen said, "I'll come on time at three every afternoon."

[...] The system pretended it had never appeared.

Qin You said, "I'll pick you up."

His current daily routine was the complete opposite of the target's. He had nothing to do, so picking him up would give him a chance to figure out how to lower the favorability on the way.

In the original story, the target had always been extremely averse to the original owner's relentless pursuit.

Although he now had a base of thirty-three percent favorability, the nature of the situation hadn't changed. It was bound to have some effect.

The crease between Yan Tingshen's brows remained. "No—"

"It's settled."

Qin You said, "I'll wait for you in your company's parking lot at two-thirty every afternoon."

Yan Tingshen remained silent.

Qin You looked at him. "Anything to add?"

Yan Tingshen met his gaze. After a moment, he only said, "I don't need you to keep watch over me."

Qin You looked him up and down, then glanced around the hospital room. "I think you do," he said pointedly.

Yan Tingshen's expression didn't change. "This was an accident."

Qin You said, "If you'd done your rehabilitation exercises every day as scheduled this week, would this accident have landed you here?"

Seeing that Yan Tingshen still had something to say in rebuttal, he chuckled helplessly. "All right. It's already decided, so stop giving me your reasons."

Yan Tingshen glanced at him and said nothing more.

Just then, a nurse came in with his medicine.

Qin You watched her hold a glass of water out to Yan Tingshen, then saw his left hand move only after a pause. Qin You stood and took it first, gesturing to the nurse. "I'll do it."

"All right," the nurse said. She turned and left with the tray.

Only after he heard the door close did Qin You look at Yan Tingshen again. "You're already lying in a hospital, and you still can't bear to lose face?"

Yan Tingshen acted as though he hadn't heard. "I can do it myself."

Qin You had already brought the glass to his lips. "You still have to put on a brave front in front of me?"

Yan Tingshen glanced at him again. After a pause, he slowly tipped the medicine into his mouth.

Qin You moved the water a little closer. Feeling the hand Yan Tingshen had placed beneath the glass exert a little force, he let go and set the glass back on the table.

Then he saw a trace of water at Yan Tingshen's lips and casually pulled out a tissue to dab at the corner of his mouth. Meeting the gaze that suddenly lifted to his, he paused and simply put the tissue beside his hand.

"You can do this yourself."

Yan Tingshen pressed his lips together and took a tissue, but made no further move.

Qin You coughed and sat down beside him.

The system was still cheering him on. [That's right! That's it, host! From the original owner's memories, whenever he approached, the target moved away. Touch him a few more times, and maybe the favorability will drop!]

Qin You said, [That's not what you said before.]

[Uh...] The system crashed for two seconds. [That was for a task, and it had a special time limit. Besides, look: after you kissed the target, the task actually failed, and the favorability didn't rise! That's not normal, host. It means the target really hates intimate contact. I suggest you kiss him a few more times to make sure.]

Qin You said, [Make fewer suggestions from now on.]

[...Okay.]

Qin You looked at Yan Tingshen.

Although the system was of limited use, he did need to lower the favorability.

He thought for a moment, then turned to Yan Tingshen without betraying his thoughts. "By the way, tell me about when you were little."

What the target hated most was any mention of the past, and his childhood naturally counted.

Yan Tingshen looked at him. "When I was little?"

Qin You said, "We met when we were children, but because I went abroad, we never got to develop that relationship. It's always been a regret of mine. Now that I have the chance, I'd like to hear some stories about your childhood."

Yan Tingshen said flatly, "President Qin, you should understand that I have no intention of developing any so-called relationship with you."

Qin You smiled. "I meant friendship."

Yan Tingshen paused slightly.

Qin You's smile deepened, and he asked in feigned curiosity, "What kind of relationship did you think I meant?"

Yan Tingshen's hand pressed a little harder against the blanket.

"Ah..." The lazy, frivolous voice again feigned realization. "Could it be—"

Yan Tingshen's voice grew slightly stern as he interrupted him. "I have nothing to talk to you about."

Qin You suppressed the curve of his lips and leaned forward slightly, looking to see whether Yan Tingshen was as cold as his gaze. "Really?"

Yan Tingshen said, "Do you think I'd lie, President Qin?"

Qin You offered no comment and sat upright again. "But there's still a lot I want to talk to you about. What should I do?"

With that, he looked at Yan Tingshen. "Not just your childhood. I'm also very interested in what happened after you grew up, such as—"

Bringing up the Pei Family's bankruptcy so directly would make his purpose too obvious.

The target was sensitive to begin with. There was no need to offend him too badly all at once; it would also make later tasks more difficult.