Chapter 20

Then he turned and darted out of frame at twice the speed, leaving an afterimage behind.

Zhou Jingcheng:?

He tapped the next one.

It was a workplace short drama. After suffering relentless suppression from his boss and exclusion by his colleagues, the protagonist tore open his burial-shroud suit, flung the scraps into the air, and shouted, "When people throw mud at me, I say this mud comes from the Yellow Earth Heights!" Then he immediately teleported to the Loess Plateau, charged through rapids on a sheepskin raft, and performed the Ansai Waist Drum on the yellow earth.

The narrator recited emotionally, "Life has more than one way to be lived. You've read a few more pages of the book called the world."

Zhou Jingcheng:???

"Are they sick?" he said, tapping the next video again.

A sleep-aid ASMR streamer sat cross-legged on the floor wearing a Merit Fish-Drum Hat, while someone tapped his head again and again. The tiny LED screen on the hat displayed the words "Merit +1 +1." The livestream title read: Tap once to forgive your boss; tap twice to let yourself go.

Next came a mukbang streamer, who yelled, "Babies, let's try this fermented herring flavor," while tearing a sheet of edible paper off an elaborate European-style skirt and stuffing it into her mouth. "Wow, this flavor is so unique—blegh, unexpectedly blegh blegh... delicious, blegh! Babies... blegh."

The screen went black as the streamer hurriedly ended the broadcast.

Watching the disastrous video, Zhou Jingcheng laughed. "What kind of marketing genius is this? Good thing he isn't from my company. With him and Shi Jihan around, Shi Bochuan is truly unfortunate."

He casually forwarded Shi Bochuan a link titled "Work Injury Insurance Guidelines," seemingly showing concern for a competitor while actually mocking him right to his face.

After laughing for a while, he realized something was wrong. "Wait, what does this have to do with me?"

Secretary Sun pointed at the second most popular post beneath the top trending topic, #Shi Jihan Who Upset You Again#, titled #Special Thanks to Zhou Jingcheng#.

[Such bold design, such avant-garde promotion. I don't believe President Zhou wasn't behind this.]

[I'm sold. Their love is worth Wu Bai.]

[Similar illnesses collide and spark the flames of love. Look, even their trending topics are right next to each other.]

[Upstairs, are you two serving food or what?]

Secretary Sun said, "After your collaboration series with Young Master Shi became famous in one battle last time, everyone assumed these were also your personal masterpieces."

The smile vanished from Zhou Jingcheng's fox-like eyes. He could hardly believe it and repeatedly confirmed, "My masterpiece? Why would they say that?"

Secretary Sun had already retreated to the door. "Madam just called. She said you need regular follow-up appointments with the psychologist, so don't bottle everything up until you go crazy."

Zhou Jingcheng flung the cap of the gel pen in his hand with a sharp snap.

Just then, a message from Shi Jihan came in, asking whether he would be attending Shi Corporation's new product launch in a few days.

[Why Are You Still Awake?: I saved you a center seat.]

Zhou Jingcheng did not even ask why Shi Jihan had suddenly invited him. He decisively typed two words.

[Z: I'm attending.]

Not only was he going to check out this new marketing genius and make sure HR remembered his face to avoid hiring him in the future.

He was also going to publicly clarify at the launch that Shi Jihan's new clothing line had absolutely nothing, whatsoever, to do with him.

[Why Are You Still Awake?: Nice!]

[Why Are You Still Awake?: Admission is 1,888, VIP seating is 3,888. We accept WeChat and Alipay, dear~]

Zhou Jingcheng:?

An outrageously priced ticket scalper?

Chapter 20

A trace of absurdity flashed through Zhou Jingcheng's eyes. He read that sentence over several times, wondering whether this was even Chinese.

[Z: What the hell are you talking about?]

The other side clicked his tongue at him loudly in disdain. [Tsk tsk tsk.]

[You don't understand? How am I supposed to explain what an admission fee is?]

A familiar feeling rose within him. Zhou Jingcheng felt as though he had been struck by a boomerang.

[ Ding, Malice Points +2 ]

Looking again, even the two eights at the end of 1,888 and 3,888 suddenly seemed to carry a special meaning.

He tugged at the corner of his mouth. "No way, you're really holding a grudge over this?"

He sounded rather helpless, but not particularly angry.

Shi Jihan watched the chat box on the other end display "The other party is typing..." for a while, then received a transfer from him.

[The other party has transferred 6,888 yuan.]

[Note: Voluntary gift. I want the very center C seat.]

Shi Jihan:!!!

He sprang off the sofa like a carp, his fingers dancing across the screen in a blur.

[Why Are You Still Awake?: Of course, President Zhou! Rest assured, even if my brother wants to sit there, I'll kick him away!]

[Why Are You Still Awake?: This is your invincible supreme gold-plated sacred seat [Crown]]

Zhou Jingcheng thought that this guy really had two faces.

A tiny middleman making a fortune.

-

Shi Corporation's new product launch.

After Shi Bochuan confirmed with his secretary that the procedures were correct and the rehearsal had gone smoothly, he took Shen Qinghuai to their seats.

Every seat at the venue had a name label attached, just in case someone sat in the wrong place. Brimming with confidence, he walked straight toward the center C seat, only to discover—

Hm? His name was not on it?

Shi Bochuan pointed at the blank seat and asked, "I'm not sitting here?"

The secretary checked the seating chart. "Young Master Shi arranged for you to sit here. Please follow me."

He was taken to a seat near the fire exit.

Shi Bochuan:?

Wait, something was not right here.

As the launch was about to begin, he saw Zhou Jingcheng, dressed in a smoke-gray suit over a burgundy silk shirt, openly and purposefully walking toward the center seat that had originally belonged to him.

It caused an uproar.

Shen Qinghuai asked, "What are you looking up?"

Staring at the data in the Qichacha app, Shi Bochuan said with utmost seriousness, "I'm checking whether the company shares have changed."

As Shi Jihan listened to the notification for rising Malice Points, he felt extremely guilty. He lowered his head, not daring to meet his older brother's eyes, and pretended to be busy playing Happy Match. Then the tip of his nose caught a faint scent of sweet, mellow rum, mixed with vanilla and warm incense.

A huge cream cake floated through his mind. He swallowed and looked toward the source.

Zhou Jingcheng walked over unhurriedly. Two buttons of his burgundy shirt had been casually undone, and the thin chain of his gold-rimmed glasses hung over his pale collarbones. It swayed as he bent down, reflecting scattered golden glimmers beneath the lights like fallen stardust, making it impossible to look away.

Behind the cold lenses were a pair of beautiful phoenix eyes, slightly curved with amusement as he looked very pleased with the luxurious sacred seat his 6,888 had bought him.

He bent down and patted Shi Jihan's shoulder. "Young Master Shi, move your esteemed legs. You're blocking the way."

At close range, that elusive fragrance became clearer.

The scent of tobacco and leather wound around him, bitterness slowly seeping through and giving the lightly intoxicating wine aroma more depth.

Now he smelled like a layer cake.

Shi Jihan said to 000, [I've never seen him wear the same suit style twice.]

That was just how a peacock showing off was.

He was a few seconds late pulling back his legs, so Zhou Jingcheng mistook it for unwillingness to cooperate.

Imitating the way Shi Jihan had done it in their chat, Zhou Jingcheng clicked his tongue at him, then lifted his foot and brushed past Shi Jihan's knee.

Summer suits were made lighter and thinner. As their suit pants rubbed together, they could almost feel each other's warmth through the fabric. The casual touch stirred a subtle numb itch, like tiny currents sweeping across their skin.

Shi Jihan's scalp instantly exploded. He hurriedly pulled his legs back to let Zhou Jingcheng pass.

"Tsk, wouldn't it have been better if you'd done that sooner?" Zhou Jingcheng sat down contentedly in the C seat he had paid for, smiling as he teased the little shorty beside him.

But by accident, he noticed that the skin behind Shi Jihan's ear, hidden beneath his messy hair, had turned bright red.

Shi Jihan scratched his hair and glared at him. "What are you tsking for? Don't suck your gums dry."

Zhou Jingcheng answered with an even louder, "Tsk."

He said, "Am I not your esteemed President Zhou anymore?"

"...You are," Shi Jihan ground his teeth. For the money, he endured it. "Esteemed President Zhou, sit properly already. It's about to start."

But secretly, he exchanged Malice Points to have 000 control the air conditioner and blast Zhou Jingcheng with cold air.

Zhou Jingcheng, suddenly feeling a chill sweep over him:?

He silently fastened the buttons he had undone, all the way up to the top.

[ Ding, Malice Points +1 ]

Shi Jihan was satisfied.

Keep showing off, then. Freeze to death.

The gossiping crowd in the back rows murmured among themselves.

"Is this an elementary school argument?"

"You don't get it, do you? This is mutual appreciation between two god-tier designers."

The first person suddenly understood. "So that's how it is!"

Zhou Jingcheng, who had heard every word, looked calm and smiling on the surface, but inside, he wanted to travel back to the time several months ago when he had been drawing design drafts and slap his past self for going insane.

[ Ding, Malice Points +5 ]

Now that 000 had money, it made the air conditioner blow even harder.

Soon, everyone fell silent and the launch began.

The first thing projected on the screen was those advertisements Zhou Jingcheng had watched.

Even seeing them a second time... he still thought they were utterly deranged.

He did not even have the courage to watch them through again. Turning his head, he grabbed Shi Jihan to talk and ease his own awkwardness. "I heard you made these with a new marketing hire?"

Shi Jihan was deeply engrossed in admiring the lump of art he and Zhou Zeyang had created together. He answered casually, "Mm-hm. He'll be going onstage later too."

Zhou Jingcheng nodded and took out his phone, zooming the camera to 10.0, ready to take a picture for the records.

Such an outstanding newcomer could not be allowed to accidentally enter the market, then accidentally enter his company.

Better to leave him to torment Shi Bochuan.

As they spoke, the secretary went onstage to introduce the next segment. "Next, please welcome the Marketing Department to introduce Shi Corporation's product partner for the coming quarter."

The first thing Zhou Jingcheng saw was a familiar set of big white teeth, followed by Zhou Zeyang's punchable smiling face.

The hand holding his phone trembled, blurring the photo.

[ Ding, Malice Points +3 ]

For once, Zhou Jingcheng did not call Shi Jihan "Young Master Shi" in that lazy, teasing tone. His voice tightened. "Shi Jihan, did I get mushroom poisoning?"

"Huh? Seriously?" Shi Jihan immediately leaned closer, waved a hand in front of his eyes, then wiggled his body. "Then what do I look like right now? A shaking bubble tea? Or a dancing strip of kelp?"