Mr. Zhong Counts as Your Elder

Seeing Zhong Mohan sit directly beside Wen Chengze and openly voice his concern, the Wen father and sons exchanged glances. The situation had taken an unexpected turn.

What exactly was going on with Zhong Mohan?

But recalling what he had discussed with Zhong Mohan in the garden earlier, Father Wen found it awkward to directly interrupt the conversation between Zhong Mohan and Wen Chengze.

Not noticing how grim his father's and brother's expressions were, Wen Chengze merely looked silently at Zhong Mohan.

He had thought Zhong Mohan was a straightforward person. If they were to be precise about it, he had been the one at a disadvantage last night, yet he had not said anything. He had assumed Zhong Mohan would be smart enough never to mention it, but unexpectedly, the man had come knocking the very next day.

Wen Chengze said in a low voice, "You don't need to take responsibility, and I don't need your compensation. I'm fine."

He thought he was speaking coldly, but Wen Chengze had no idea how enticing he appeared in Zhong Mohan's eyes.

His cheeks were tinged pink from the fever. He tried hard to keep a stern face, but his moist, watery eyes exposed his current vulnerability, making one's heart ache for him.

Zhong Mohan could not help recalling last night. Those same watery eyes had looked at him timidly, slender fingers lightly clutching his arm as Wen Chengze begged him to be gentler.

Thinking of last night made his breathing grow a little heavier.

At the same time, Zhong Mohan's voice softened further. "Don't be temperamental. Since it already happened, why not find a way to gain something from it? There's a great deal you can get from me."

Hearing that, Wen Chengze's gaze sharpened. What did this man take him for?!

Listening to their conversation, Father Wen and Wen Chenglin found everything about it strange. Seeing their youngest son's expression, they grew even more worried.

"Xiaoze." Wen Chenglin instinctively called out to his younger brother. He was worried Wen Chengze might say something to offend Zhong Mohan.

After last night and today, Wen Chenglin had quickly come to a conclusion: Zhong Mohan was definitely not someone they could afford to offend. Moreover, he was not a particularly magnanimous person. One wrong word might provoke him.

"Brother?" Hearing his voice, Wen Chengze turned to look at him, unsure why his brother had called him.

When Wen Chengze looked away, Zhong Mohan unconsciously rubbed his fingers together. Why did he suddenly feel a little displeased?

"It's nothing. Be more polite to Mr. Zhong." After a pause, Wen Chenglin added, "Mr. Zhong counts as your elder."

Though he said it to Wen Chengze, Wen Chenglin had really meant for Zhong Mohan to hear it. By calling him an elder, Zhong Mohan should be too embarrassed to bicker with Xiaoze, who was still practically a child.

Yet after hearing the word "elder," both Wen Chengze in the bed and Zhong Mohan sitting beside it stiffened at the same time. They exchanged a tacit glance, and Wen Chengze was the first to look away.

After several seconds, Wen Chengze calmed down and said, "What happened last night can be considered mutual help, so Mr. Zhong doesn't need to compensate me either. Everything that needed to be done was done last night. The fact that you came to see me today is already an extra gesture of sincerity. Thank you, but as you can see, I'm sick right now and need to rest. We aren't familiar with each other, so it would be better if we didn't have any further contact. That would be good for everyone, wouldn't it?"

Even before officially meeting Zhong Mohan, Wen Chengze had known the Zhong Household would definitely be a huge source of trouble. After meeting Zhong Mohan, he became even more certain of it.

After all, there probably were not many people who could sleep with someone one night, then brazenly show up at their door the next day.

People like that were far too terrifying. It was better to stay away.

Even though what happened last night had occurred, he would still have to avoid contact with the new head of the Zhong Household in the future.

How could Zhong Mohan fail to see Wen Chengze's eagerness to distance himself? Yet he simply did not want Wen Chengze to get his wish.

He attributed it all to the fact that Wen Chengze was the first person he had been intimate with who treated him like some monstrous threat. The malicious amusement in his bones was at work.

But Wen Chengze was sick now, so it would not be right to bully him too much.

Touching what remained of his conscience, Zhong Mohan said, "Fine. Since that's the case, I'll head back first."

Wen Chengze was somewhat surprised. He had thought Zhong Mohan would pester him a while longer, but he was unexpectedly easy to reason with.

After thinking it over carefully, Wen Chengze understood. What sort of person was Zhong Mohan? He had surely met countless people. Having understood the implication behind Wen Chengze's words, he naturally would not lower his status to pester him.

Since Zhong Mohan said he was leaving, Father Wen and Wen Chenglin naturally had to see him out. Once the three men left the bedroom, Wen Chengze let out a breath of relief. He had finally sent the head of the Zhong Household away.

"Xiaoze, what exactly happened between you and the head of the Zhong Household?" Perhaps women were naturally intuitive about such things, but Mother Wen always felt there had been an indescribable ambiguity in the conversation between Xiaoze and Zhong Mohan just now.

Though Mother Wen had seen quite a few same-sex couples, she had never thought her son would like men. But the atmosphere just now had made her unable to resist looking deeper into it.

Besides, when Xiaoze had first returned, his face had still held a trace of youthful innocence. Now, however, it carried a hint of seductive charm.

It was an unconscious change that only came after someone had experienced such things.

Wen Chengze had not expected his mother to ask so directly. He bit his lip. He did not want to lie to his family, but he was too ashamed to speak of this kind of matter.

Seeing her son remain silent for so long, Mother Wen's heart sank little by little. It seemed she had guessed correctly.

Mother and son looked at each other for a long time, neither knowing how to begin.

After thinking for a while, Mother Wen asked, "Did you know each other before?"

If not, she truly could not understand why Zhong Mohan had given Xiaoze gifts, or why something might even have happened between them last night.

After hesitating, Wen Chengze still shook his head.

Mother Wen knew adults could have rich nightlife, but she did not think her Xiaoze was someone who could sleep with another person after meeting only once.

So why had Xiaoze gotten involved with Zhong Mohan?

Could Zhong Mohan have forced him?

Thinking of how that man's tone had been gentle just now, yet his every word had revealed dominance, Mother Wen immediately felt that might be the case.

She reached out and grasped her younger son's hand. "Tell Mom, did he force you?"

Wen Chengze had already felt ashamed about what happened. Now that his mother had discovered it and was questioning him about the reason, he felt even more embarrassed, and even his ears turned red.

Though Zhong Mohan had forced him at first last night, he had also felt good later on, so he could not truly call it coercion. Besides, drinking that glass of champagne had been an accident.

"Mom, it can't really be considered coercion. What happened last night was rather complicated, but I didn't suffer any loss, so you don't need to worry. There won't be anything between him and me in the future either. Can you just pretend this never happened?"