Assistant Lin! A Raise!

Song Mingzhou felt like he had inflated into a roast duck on the spot. His skin could be thick sometimes, but that did not mean he could joke back without changing expression when an elder teased him like this.

Especially since the director was technically his superior.

Song Mingzhou awkwardly tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Thank you, Director."

The director rarely saw him looking so bashful and laughed delightedly. "What's there to thank me for? Hurry on back."

"Okay."

"Ah, wait. Don't tell Duan Xun I told you any of this. What if he gets unhappy and comes looking for trouble with me?"

Song Mingzhou smiled. "Of course. I would never betray the director."

"Good lad. Go on."

"Mm, see you tomorrow, Director."

After leaving the set, the heat in Song Mingzhou's cheeks finally eased a little. He patted his face and sent Duan Xun a message.

Lin Cheng handed the phone to Duan Xun. "President Duan, Mr. Song sent a message."

"Give it to me."

"Okay." Lin Cheng handed the phone to Duan Xun, who had just stepped out of the shower, and said with a straight face, "By the way, President Duan, um... it seems we're out of condoms."

"???"

Duan Xun's expression cracked slightly. After several sluggish seconds, he asked in confusion, "We're out already?"

Lin Cheng nodded. "Yes. I'll go buy more right away."

Duan Xun lowered his head and scrolled through his phone, his tone unreadable. "Mm. Go."

"Yes."

Lin Cheng took out a mask and was about to leave. Just as he grabbed the doorknob, Duan Xun called out again. "Wait."

Lin Cheng stood still. "What are your instructions, President Duan?"

"Mm... if they have them, buy some other things too." After thinking it over, Duan Xun added, "Nothing too excessive."

Lin Cheng ran through it in his head. Nothing too excessive—what level was that supposed to be? But!

As an all-purpose assistant, how could such a minor task stump him? Lin Cheng nodded firmly. "Understood, President Duan."

Then he flew out like the wind.

Only then did Duan Xun's smile spill from his eyes. He replied to Song Mingzhou's message: 'Come back soon. I miss you.'

Then he quickly shut off his phone.

For some reason, he was actually a little embarrassed. That did not suit his style.

When Song Mingzhou received the message, the corners of his lips lifted too. He smiled and smiled, until he let out a laugh.

Chen Fei: "..."

Chen Fei could not help reminding him, "Teacher Song, um, you might as well laugh out loud. Holding it in like that could cause problems."

Song Mingzhou: "..." Was he really that obvious???

Chen Fei looked at him as though he were an idiot. If not for his status and fear of losing his job, he really wanted to take a picture and shove it in Song Mingzhou's face.

Terrifying.

Were men this terrifying when they fell in love too?

Wait!

Chen Fei abruptly turned his head to stare at Song Mingzhou. With utmost seriousness, he solemnly asked, "Teacher Song, is the person you're dating this time Teacher Duan or Teacher Gu??"

Song Mingzhou: ????

Seeing Chen Fei's sincere expression, as if he genuinely did not know, Song Mingzhou propped up his chin and hesitated over whether to tell the kid.

[ Ding. A plot point has been triggered. The host confesses his illicit relationship with Duan Xun to assistant Chen Fei. ]

Don't be so ridiculous!

Song Mingzhou leaned back and closed his eyes. "Teacher Duan. Our relationship is not ordinary. Can't you tell? Why do you keep bringing up Gu, Gu, Gu? Just looking at that idiot brings me bad luck."

Chen Fei: "..."

Mom, he was so fierce. He should not have asked.

Chen Fei blinked innocently. "Oh, I was just confirming it. I was afraid you'd get played again and drag down my salary too."

[ Ding. Host Song Mingzhou's key plot point has been successfully repaired. Current task progress: 34/100. ]

"..."

Fine.

The original owner had indeed been overly stubborn before. When it came to Gu Yanting, he had held an extraordinary obsession.

The car stopped outside the usual place.

"You head back first. Come pick me up tomorrow."

Chen Fei readily agreed. "Sure thing. Good night, Teacher Song."

"Mm, good night."

Song Mingzhou no longer needed Lin Cheng to come downstairs and get him. He skillfully found the place, went upstairs, and knocked on the door.

The door opened in a second.

It was Lin Cheng.

"Brother Lin Cheng." Song Mingzhou greeted him obediently and with great respect. After all, this was Duan Xun's chief steward. Building a good relationship with him was important.

Lin Cheng still had little expression as he stepped aside. "Please come in, Mr. Song."

Song Mingzhou walked in.

Lin Cheng bent down to change shoes, then left.

Duan Xun leaned against the bedroom doorframe. He wore a creamy white bathrobe, its belt loosely tied around his waist, exposing his pale collarbones and long, straight legs.

He looked like a painting.

Very pleasing to the eye.

Song Mingzhou narrowed his eyes, staring somewhat entranced. He thought that they had already been having an affair—oh, no, secretly meeting—many times now, but every time he saw Duan Xun, it felt different. Each time made him happier than the last.

Duan Xun straightened and opened his arms to him. "What are you standing there for? Come hug me."

Song Mingzhou's eyes curved with a smile. He kicked off his shoes and ran toward him, only to slam on the brakes when he was one step away.

Duan Xun's face immediately fell. "What's wrong?"

Song Mingzhou looked innocent. "Gege, I haven't showered yet. I'm dirty."

"..." Duan Xun instantly broke composure and stepped forward to hug him. Song Mingzhou immediately retreated several steps to avoid him. "You've already showered, so you can't hug me. I'm going to shower first."

"We can shower together."

"No, no, no, I'll shower first." Song Mingzhou swiftly darted into the bathroom, afraid that if he were one step slower, he would be dragged away.

Duan Xun lowered his head and smiled. He did not force him, instead turning and entering another room.

There was a box in the room. When he opened it, it was filled with all kinds of dazzling... unspeakable things.

Duan Xun clicked his tongue, touching this and inspecting that. Everything seemed novel to him.

How had he never known that Lin Cheng, that ice block who kept a straight face year-round, understood so much? It was practically a door to a whole new world.

Duan Xun picked out two relatively mild little items, closed the box, then took out his phone and sent Lin Cheng a message.

Lin Cheng, who had already driven away, took out his phone to check his boss's message. He was fully prepared to turn around and head back.

Then he opened it.

Boss: Starting this month, you'll receive double pay.

"!!!"

No matter how composed Lin Cheng was, he could not stay composed now. The car swerved slightly, and he hurriedly focused all his attention on slowing down before quickly replying: 'Thank you, President Duan.'

Then the corners of his mouth spread into a broad, radiant smile.

Duan Xun satisfactorily finished his preparations and placed them by the bedside. Song Mingzhou happened to come out of the shower just then, his hair dripping wet, droplets still falling from it. Sexy yet innocent, irresistibly captivating.

What a seductress.

Gu Yanting really had to be blind as a bat.

Pah, pah, pah.

Why had he thought of that unlucky thing? Duan Xun snapped back to himself, walked over, took Song Mingzhou's hand, and smiled gently. "I'll dry your hair."

Song Mingzhou: "??!?!"

Why did that give him a creepy feeling?

He touched his hair. "Um, there's no need to dry it, right? I can just towel it off. It'll dry soon enough."

"No. You need to dry it. What if you catch a cold?"

"...All right." Then dry it, he thought. He was about to get the hairdryer when Duan Xun had already picked it up and led him over to sit down. "Sit properly. I'll dry it for you."

"...??!"