A little unmasking

Friday was every student and office worker's favorite day.

The anticipation of the coming weekend made people release happy hormones without even realizing it.

Hua Jian was no exception.

Especially since he had no classes on Friday afternoon.

After leaving the cafeteria, he headed straight to the Luchuan villa.

But when he arrived, Housekeeper Chen told him Qi Fanling wasn't there.

"It's almost time for class. Are we still having the lesson today? If Miss Fanling isn't available, I can head back first."

"There's no rush, Mr. Hua. Please sit for a while. The kitchen has just brewed some coffee."

Hua Jian didn't understand why she wanted him to sit there if there was no lesson.

Then Housekeeper Chen added, "You'll still be paid the usual fee for today's lesson."

Hua Jian immediately smiled. "All right. Please, don't let me keep you."

The afternoon sun was scorching, but Hua Jian was perfectly comfortable in the tea room, enjoying the cool air. Before long, his head began to nod as he grew drowsy.

When Bo Lin returned, he was carrying a soundly sleeping Qi Fanling in his arms.

"President Bo, let me carry the young miss."

"No need. She wore herself out crying. Passing her to someone else would wake her."

"Of course, of course!"

Today was the anniversary of Qi Fanling's mother's death. Bo Lin had taken her to the Bo Family's old residence first, then to the cemetery to visit Bo Xiao's grave.

The little girl usually acted like a miniature adult, but standing before her mother's grave, she could no longer hold back her hurt and grief.

Bo Lin carefully laid her on the bed and tucked her favorite doll into her arms before going downstairs.

A year ago, Bo Xiao had taken Qi Fanling abroad, hoping to discuss a divorce with Qi Fanling's father.

Who could have known they would encounter a robber along the way? Young Qi Fanling had screamed in fright, enraging him.

In his fury, the robber stabbed Bo Xiao several times, snatched her jewelry and cash, and fled.

After witnessing her mother's murder, Qi Fanling developed post-traumatic stress disorder.

Fortunately, she was still young, and there was time to treat her gradually.

Because of her condition, however, she couldn't attend a school or enter similarly complex environments for the time being.

Sweaty, Bo Lin impatiently tugged his tie loose. As he passed the downstairs tea room, he suddenly stopped.

Hua Jian was sleeping soundly inside.

Apparently finding his glasses uncomfortable, he had taken them off and set them aside, leaving his entire face exposed.

Just like that night at the Haiping Hotel.

"President Bo!"

A servant approached with a tray holding two desserts.

Their bright colors looked like something Qi Fanling would like.

Bo Lin glanced at them and asked, "Are these for him?"

The servant hurriedly replied, "Yes. Housekeeper Chen told me to bring them over. Mr. Hua loves desserts, and during his lessons, Miss Fanling asks us to serve him afternoon tea as well."

Bo Lin reached out and took the tray. "I'll bring it in. You can go."

Naturally, the servant agreed.

Looking at the desserts in his hands, Bo Lin leaned closer and sniffed them, his face expressionless.

They smelled sugary, with hints of cream and fruit.

He simply couldn't imagine what Hua Jian looked like eating them.

Hua Jian's sleep was far from restful. The scenes in his dreams shifted chaotically, all sorts of people appearing and disappearing, while he wandered through them like a spectator looking for entertainment.

Until his dream brought him back to that night at the Haiping Hotel.

It was something he had done his utmost not to think about since transmigrating into the novel.

Because although he had been drugged and dazed that night, he still remembered bits and pieces of the entire encounter.

How he had pinned a man down, and how he had kissed him despite the man's attempts to stop him.

How he had spouted one filthy line after another about how good the man smelled, coaxed him out of his suit, then twisted his arms and pressed him beneath him...

Fuck. Men really were all the same when they started thinking with their dicks!

Even a dream about it could piss him awake!

And so Hua Jian woke up cursing.

A soft thunk startled the newly awakened Hua Jian.

His eyes flew open. A blurry figure stood in front of him.

"Mr. Hua, sorry. Did I startle you?"

Hua Jian's heart pounded wildly.

Scared the hell out of me. I thought I'd gone back to that night at the hotel, right after sleeping with the man in the suit.

Hua Jian hurriedly fumbled for his glasses and put them on. "President Bo, I'm so sorry. I accidentally fell asleep. Is Miss Fanling back?"

He glanced outside the tea room in a fluster, missing the fleeting discomfort on Bo Lin's face.

"Fanling was exhausted and is still asleep. I'm afraid we can't have today's lesson."

"I see." Hua Jian relaxed, then glanced down at the time. "Why don't I head back, then? I can come tomorrow to make up Miss Fanling's lesson."

"There's no need. Her schedule is fixed, and all her other time slots are filled with lessons. You'll still receive your usual fee."

Damn rich people.

At those words, Bo Lin's gaze shifted slightly. "Sit for a while. The kitchen sent over desserts and coffee."

Hua Jian looked at the tiramisu and slice of mulberry cake on the tray, and his mouth began to water.

One look at big shot Bo tells you he doesn't like sweets. If I don't eat them, they'll go to waste.

Having reassured himself, Hua Jian quickly sat down. "Thank you, Mr. Bo."

Bo Lin watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed.

He thought Hua Jian was unlike many other men.

Plenty of men cared so much about their pride that they considered a fondness for sweets something shameful to admit.

Of course, Hua Jian had no such concerns.

After all, in his eyes, Bo Lin was something like an NPC, or the client who paid him for tutoring.

He politely offered some to Bo Lin, who waved him off.

Hua Jian then happily tucked into the desserts, taking a sip of black coffee between bites.

Bliss.

Bo Lin suddenly asked, "Were you at Xie Zhiwei's company today for another part-time job?"

Hua Jian gave him a slightly odd look, inwardly muttering, So he did see me today. Then why did he act like he didn't know me when I wanted to say hello?

The hand holding Bo Lin's coffee cup suddenly trembled, nearly spilling the coffee.

Fortunately, Hua Jian wasn't paying attention to him.

"You could call it a part-time job. Were you there to discuss business too, Mr. Bo?"

Helping Cheng Ruimu find a partner for the screenplay counted as part-time work. Nothing wrong with that.

"Besides teaching Fanling, you attend classes Monday through Friday, work part-time at UP in the evenings, and now you're going to Xie Zhiwei's company too..."

"Cough, cough, cough!" Hua Jian abruptly broke into a violent coughing fit.

Bo Lin put down his coffee cup and frowned. "What's wrong? Did it go down the wrong way? Be careful."

Hua Jian coughed until his cheeks flushed and his eyes watered. "You know I work part-time at UP?"

Bo Lin looked puzzled. "Why wouldn't I?"

Hua Jian's strange expression finally made Bo Lin realize what was going on.

A hint of a smile suddenly appeared on his face. "You didn't think I wouldn't recognize you just because you changed your glasses, did you?"

Bo Lin's smile grew wider.

Across from him, Hua Jian marveled inwardly. Big shot Bo really does look good when he smiles. No wonder he rarely does. If he smiled all the time, his subordinates probably wouldn't be afraid of him anymore.

The young man's voice was utterly sincere. Bo Lin pressed his lips together, lowered his gaze, and said nothing more.

"President Bo, please don't misunderstand. My part-time job at UP won't interfere with Miss Fanling's lessons."

"Mm. Fanling likes you very much. Just come on time for her art lessons."

The tea room fell quiet again, but the atmosphere was a little different now.