Chapter 18

Caught between them, Zhou Jingcheng expressionlessly cut into a piece of steak, feeling like a solar streetlamp—charging by day, glowing at night.

A commotion rose in the distance.

The noise drew closer and closer, finally catching the attention of the couple and Zhou Jingcheng. All three turned to look.

"Say bye-bye to all your troubles, say hi-hi to all your happiness. Dear, dear, happy birthday! May every day be wonderful~"

Six waiters pushed a glowing dining cart brazenly past everyone and stopped in front of Shi Bochuan, shoving an enormous cake right up to the table.

At the front, Shi Jihan and Zhou Zeyang held colorful glow sticks and suddenly raised a massive holographic sign. The words "Happy Birthday" flashed merrily in time with the birthday song.

It drew the attention of everyone present.

"Whoa, someone's having a birthday!"

"This restaurant has this kind of service? Blacklisted."

"Oh my god, the adult world is terrifying."

"Distinguished guests, honored attendees," Shi Jihan announced into a microphone in a formal broadcaster's voice, "we have gathered here today to celebrate my eldest brother Shi Bochuan's thirty-third birthday. Let us all wish him—"

Zhou Zeyang, the atmosphere guy, set off a burst of confetti with a bang and shouted along with the audience, "Hap-py birth-day!"

Shi Bochuan's expression gradually turned panicked as he helplessly shrank to one side.

The steak on Zhou Jingcheng's fork smacked into his plate.

Brother? Dignity?

Chapter 18

Zhou Jingcheng was extremely grateful that this Western restaurant served individual portions. Carrying his own steak plate, he spun around, his chair tracing a perfect 180-degree arc, and smiled at the young couple about to sit at the table behind him. "Mind sharing a table?"

The young couple's pupils shook. They repeatedly waved him off and backed away, then promptly moved to another table.

Zhou Jingcheng had a new table all to himself.

Over here, Shi Bochuan desperately leaned back, but his broad shoulders bumped against Shen Qinghuai's chest. There was nowhere left for him to retreat.

Shi Bochuan looked at the enormous "Happy Birthday" neon sign and felt incomparably fragile.

[Ding, Malice Points +5]

The fragile man was dragged out by Shi Jihan, who somehow produced a tiny electronic birthday crown. Its colorful LED lights flashed with a "beep beep beep" as he forcibly put it on Shi Bochuan's head, then shoved the microphone toward his mouth. "Big Brother, say a few words."

Shi Bochuan tightly sealed his lips, expressing rejection with his entire body.

Someone gently nudged his shoulder.

He turned and met Shen Qinghuai's hand holding up a phone to record him. Shen Qinghuai smiled encouragingly. "A-Chuan, say a few words. I'm recording."

Shi Bochuan was stunned:?

So jokes were entertaining when they weren't happening to you, huh?

[Ding, Malice Points +8!]

"I..." He carelessly let a sound slip out, uttering a single word.

"Well said!" Shi Jihan and Zhou Zeyang immediately clapped like seals, as though they were watching Touching China.

Shi Bochuan said, "? No, you two..."

"Great!! Brilliant!!"

Never mind what he had said. The important thing was whether the atmosphere was there.

Shi Jihan even patted Zhou Zeyang. "Hurry up, the leader's giving a speech. Why aren't you recording yet? You're not as quick-witted as my Brother Huai."

Shen Qinghuai's camera automatically focused on his husband. When he smiled softly, he looked like he was having fun without a care for anyone else's survival. "Huh? I think it's fun. A-Chuan, smile."

Shi Bochuan, an animal on display: "..."

He gave up resisting and tentatively smiled.

It was purely a passive skill activation. He began smiling and nodding to the people around him in greeting, like a leader inspecting the troops. By the time he came to his senses—

Wait, what am I doing?!

Shen Qinghuai recorded the entire process.

Such a meaningful moment naturally had to be recorded as a keepsake.

He even turned the camera for a wide shot, recording the gawking crowd egging them on and the dedicated waiters as well. The final shot settled on Shi Bochuan's pitiful, helplessly handsome face.

[Ding, mission "Make Shi Bochuan unable to forget his white moonlight during dinner together" completed. Reward: Malice Points +20]

An even more meaningful moment, of course, was giving gifts. As a responsible host, Shi Jihan naturally had to cue every step of the process.

He signaled that it was Zhou Zeyang's turn again.

Zhou Zeyang gave him a look that said, "Don't worry," then began digging through the pocket of his workwear short-sleeved shirt... and pulled out a wrinkled scarf.

After taking it out, he held it up and gave it a shake, stretching the scarf out.

Shi Jihan was shocked: [He actually stuffed the scarf straight into his pocket and brought it over? Not even a plastic bag?]

000 marveled: [Holy shit, there are experts everywhere.]

Zhou Zeyang presented the warm winter scarf with both hands. In a suit-wearing restaurant during the hottest days of summer, he offered it to Shi Bochuan with sincere words and earnest eyes. "President Shi, this scarf is my birthday gift for you. I knitted it myself. May you be warm through the three months of winter, and may summer never leave you cold."

Shi Bochuan: Could someone still be cold in summer? Was he an air conditioner's outdoor unit?

Not daring to delay, he tremulously accepted the scarf. "Hand-knitted? That's very thoughtful."

"What's this?" Shen Qinghuai suddenly picked up the tag that had fallen out and read it word by word. "2025 autumn-winter premium atmospheric scarf, 9.9 yuan, men's green plaid, Korean-style couple's warming thickened...?"

[Ding, Malice Points +4]

Zhou Zeyang: "..."

Shi Jihan: "..."

Zhou Zeyang looked at his boss: Boss, why didn't you remove the tag?!

Shi Jihan glared back: Why didn't you check either?! I haven't even mentioned you pulling it out of your pocket!

The two vividly demonstrated what it meant to be resentful coworkers throwing shit pots at each other on the job.

"...That really was thoughtful. You even bought the latest seasonal style," Shi Bochuan said, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a napkin. "Not only am I not cold now, I think I'm getting heatstroke."

[Ding, Malice Points +2]

Shi Jihan quickly changed the subject. "Then let's blow out the candles and cut the cake!"

The luxurious three-tier cake finally made its entrance—it was the only normal thing there, and it was even delicious.

That was because Shi Jihan never mistreated his own mouth. Each tier had a different filling, and he most wanted to try the one with chocolate butter crisps, popping boba, and milk custard.

After the staff hurriedly helped them place the large cake in the middle of the dining table, they pushed the cart away.

Seeing that the entertainment was over, the diners regretfully turned back to continue eating. Yet the restaurant's chatter and laughter suddenly increased tenfold.

"I'll light the candles." Zhou Jingcheng suddenly took the lighter.

Shi Jihan handed it over casually. "Sure... Wait, were you sitting here just now too?" He looked at the man suspiciously.

Metal struck with a crisp sound, and the lighter flared to life with a snap. Zhou Jingcheng lit the candles one by one, then said faintly, "Young Master Shi, is it possible there's simply no room for me in your eyes?"

A very self-righteous question.

Shi Jihan instantly felt guilty. He rubbed his nose, his gaze wandering. "Uh, maybe I remembered wrong."

Zhou Jingcheng sighed loudly. "Makes sense. This is a family dinner, and I'm ultimately an outsider."

That made Shi Jihan feel even guiltier. "Sorry. I'll cut you the biggest slice of cake later."

Zhou Jingcheng was very satisfied and smiled himself into silence.

Beside them, Zhou Zeyang looked as if he had seen a ghost. He wanted to say something, but neither his brother nor his boss was someone he could afford to offend, so he silently shut his mouth again.

By the end of the meal, Shi Bochuan felt as though several years had been shaved off his life.

The next day at work, his secretary asked with a smile, "Boss, how was your birthday yesterday?"

Shi Bochuan said mournfully, "Very good. I never want to experience it a second time."

The secretary said, "Huh?"

"Oh, right." Remembering the warm winter scarf, he said, "Look into which department has someone with the character Yang in their name."

The secretary did not understand why, but still accepted the order and looked into it. That afternoon, he delivered the results to Shi Bochuan's desk.

The file was a thick stack. Shi Group was, after all, a massive conglomerate with tens of thousands of employees. Shi Bochuan flipped through it, unable to determine which one was the culprit who had warmed his heart so deeply, but these people basically shared one trait: they all occupied lower-level, relatively marginal positions in the company.

"So it was just as I thought?"

Having exchanged contact information with Zhou Zeyang the night before, Shi Bochuan got in touch with him.

-

Meanwhile, Zhou Jingcheng finally got a good night's sleep. He did not need to hold an international video conference in the middle of the night or get up early to walk the dog. He did not even go to work, remaining completely sealed in bed.

Secretary Sun called him. "Boss, something happened! Harlan flew back overnight yesterday and is now attacking our stock price like a mad dog!"

"What exactly happened at that chess game you attended yesterday? Weren't you supposed to soothe those people's emotions? Why have they all gone insane today?"

"Hold on," Zhou Jingcheng said. "There's something wrong with my eyes. Speak slower."

Secretary Sun became deeply worried. "Huh? What's wrong? Is it serious? Boss, you should've told me sooner that something happened to you. I'll go visit you in the hospital right away!"

"It's fine now. I've already opened them."

Secretary Sun: "..."

Zhou Jingcheng remained very calm on the other end of the call. "Overseas isn't the Zhou Family's territory. If we show weakness and submit, we'll truly be picked clean by those vultures. Here, contact this company. They should be quite interested in the material Harlan is using to short us..."

Secretary Sun listened as his just-awakened boss spent over half an hour laying out an advanced business strategy of setting tigers against wolves. He nodded along with repeated "Mm-hmms," hurriedly taking notes. When they were done, he remembered something. "Boss, your younger brother has asked for leave again, again, again today. He said he has a major project waiting for him."

Zhou Jingcheng said, "Leave? Tell him to collect this month's salary from the Swiss bank. I'm not paying it."

Secretary Sun asked, "Which Swiss bank?"

"The one with Earl Grey tea and classic original flavor mixed together."

-

Zhou Zeyang still did not know his brother had confiscated his salary. He was nervously and excitedly messaging his boss.