Xie Zhiyan sneered. "Enough. I'm not wasting my breath on you. Let's go, Shu Yao!"
He would never let Shu Yao see him lose his temper.
With that, he took Shu Yao by the hand and prepared to leave like a victorious general.
Hua Jian shifted lightly to block their way, looking surprised. "So you're Young Master Shu Yao. I've heard Young Master Qin talk about you.
"So Young Master Qin really did help you get an access pass for your internship and studies at the television station.
"Then aren't you and Young Master Qin... Huh, Third Brother, what's your relationship with him, then?"
The confusion and shock on his face were perfectly measured.
Shu Yao's expression stiffened. He moved closer to Xie Zhiyan again and stared darkly at Hua Jian.
How dare this bitch spout nonsense in front of Xie Zhiyan.
Fortunately, Xie Zhiyan didn't want to hear anything Hua Jian said right now, much less believe him!
Xie Zhiyan thought he had seen right through Hua Jian's tricks.
He was determined never to misunderstand Shu Yao again because of Hua Jian's inexplicable inner thoughts!
"Don't be scared!" He turned to reassure Shu Yao gently, then quickly raised his head to glare at Hua Jian. "Don't push your luck. Keep talking shit and I'll have your mother deal with you!"
With that, he bumped Hua Jian with his shoulder and walked away.
But the instant their shoulders collided, the arrogant smile froze on Xie Zhiyan's face.
"Zhi Yan, what's wrong?" Shu Yao asked with a frown. "Are things okay between you and him?"
"Everything's fine." Xie Zhiyan forced a faint smile and shook his head.
Fuck, had that bastard Hua Jian been working out behind his back?
His muscles were as hard as rocks!
Hua Jian's smile faded as he frowned at the two walking away together.
Question: how could Xie Zhiyan's chronic stupidity be cured once and for all?
Forget it. He couldn't handle this. Time to give up.
[Second Brother! Big news! Guess who I ran into with Third Brother outside the Imperial Capital Television Station today?]
A brother this brainless, with an IQ below zero...
He was better left to his biological brother with an IQ of 180.
Xie Zhitan was probably busy, or hadn't checked his phone.
Hua Jian's fingers kept flying across the screen.
[Ta-da! Here's the answer! It was Shu Yao!]
[Oh my god, Third Brother's fallen under Shu Yao's spell again. Shu Yao wants him to do something for him. Guess what?]
Xie Zhitan: [Outside the Imperial Capital Television Station? Is that idiot Third Brother trying to get Shu Yao an internship certificate?]
Holy shit, Xie Zhitan was amazing!
Hua Jian's eyes widened as he asked: [Second Brother, how did you know?]
Xie Zhitan: [I've seen Shu Yao in the control room at the Imperial Capital Television Station. Stay out of this.]
Beaming, Hua Jian sent a cute little-girl reaction sticker.
Xie Zhitan: [Do you still have spending money? I'll transfer some after class. Go get a few nice pairs of glasses. Eldest Brother said Aunt Hua agreed to let you stop wearing black frames.]
Hua Jian: [Salute.JPG!]
Two hundred thousand in a day! Hua Jian felt immensely satisfied when he saw the money arrive in his bank account.
He even secretly considered hanging around Xie Zhiyan again the next time he ran out of spending money.
Then he could take turns reporting back to Xie Zhiwei and Xie Zhitan...
Xie Zhiyan sneezed as soon as he got into the car.
Shu Yao asked him with concern, "Zhi Yan, are you really okay? You haven't looked well since just now."
The spot where he'd collided with Hua Jian still throbbed faintly, but Xie Zhiyan kept his expression perfectly normal and told Shu Yao with effortless cool, "Don't worry. I'm fine."
Remembering the matter Hua Jian had interrupted, Shu Yao grew eager to try again.
His voice was delicate and slightly timid, and he gazed at Xie Zhiyan as though no one else existed in his eyes.
"Brother Zhi Yan, there's something I'd like to ask you to help me with."
Being called "Brother" out of nowhere by the person he liked, in such an intimate, enclosed space...
Xie Zhiyan's breathing quickened. He nodded emphatically. "What is it? I'll definitely take care of it for you."
Shu Yao's eyes shone. "I knew you were the best, Brother Zhi Yan! It's actually just a small favor. My access pass for studying at the Imperial Capital Television Station is about to expire. Could you help me?"
Xie Zhiyan, that warrior of pure love, nearly passed out.
"An access pass for the Imperial Capital Television Station?"
Please, Shu Yao, deny it!
The next second, wearing that adorable face, Shu Yao nodded without a thought for whether Xie Zhiyan survived the blow.
Damn Hua Jian! He'd shattered his rose-tinted view of Shu Yao again!
Ever since they parted that day, Hua Jian hadn't seen Bo Lin at UP again.
Old Master Bo's birthday was coming up soon. As the Bo Family's heir, Bo Lin would indeed be a little busier.
But as the only daughter of Bo Lin's younger sister, Qi Fanling was also Old Master Bo's only great-grandchild.
Why didn't she live with Old Master Bo?
As mysterious power players in the novel, both the Bo Family and Bo Lin seemed shrouded in mist.
Neither the protagonists nor the readers seemed able to see more than the scraps the author grudgingly revealed.
Hua Jian thought that might explain both his rose-tinted view of Bo Lin as a character and his curiosity about the real Bo Lin he'd met.
Yes, curiosity.
The Bo Lin in the novel was a ruthless, decisive business tycoon, cold and unfeeling.
In a sweet romance where readers picked their favorite love interest, he was the only man unaffected by the bottom protagonist, focused solely on his career.
But once Hua Jian actually crossed paths with Bo Lin, he realized his understanding of him had been far too one-sided.
He wasn't cold, nor was he unfeeling.
A man like him reserved his coldness for irrelevant outsiders and offered his tenderness to those who truly mattered.
Amid UP's glittering lights, the tipsy patrons admired Hua Jian behind the bar.
None of them knew that this bartender, with his air of aloof restraint, had his mind completely occupied by a man.
The next morning, Hua Jian was woken by the Xie Family's butler.
After he'd finished his part-time shift the night before, the Xie Family's car had picked him up.
Still groggy, he called toward the door, "I'm awake."
"Very good, Young Master Hua. Breakfast is ready."
The entire Xie household was bustling early that morning.
As he headed downstairs, Hua Jian paused at the noise coming from below.
Xie Zhiwei really was taking today's visit to the Bo Family seriously.
Understandably so. The modest wealth the Xie Family had painstakingly accumulated couldn't compare to that of a deeply entrenched old-money family like the Bo Family.
Trying on formalwear, getting styled, choosing accessories.
At four that afternoon, all sorts of luxury cars headed in the same direction.
Lakeside No. 1, where the Bo Family lived.
When the Xie Family arrived, numerous cars had gathered at the Bo Family's outer gate.
Only after their invitation had been submitted and the car's contents inspected did the guards let them through.
Seemingly noticing Hua Jian's confusion, Xie Zhiwei explained, "Bo Lin was kidnapped shortly before he came of age. The kidnappers slipped in among the guests' cars coming to a Bo Family banquet."
Hua Jian froze, then couldn't help asking, "Shortly before he came of age? Was there anything special about that timing?"
"Old Master Bo has few descendants. Bo Lin's father was his only child, but just before Bo Lin came of age, his parents died in an accident."
"Old Master Bo was overwhelmed with grief, and the Bo Group immediately announced something."
"When his only grandson came of age, he would hand over all the Bo Family's businesses to him."
"Perhaps that threatened the interests of the Bo Family's collateral branches. So Bo Lin was kidnapped and tortured for several days..."
"All right, we're here." Xie Zhiwei broke off.
After entering the outer gate, the car traveled down a long, tree-lined avenue before finally arriving in front of the Bo Family Estate.
Hua Jian slowly turned his gaze toward the towering, imposing estate.
Tonight, more than half of the Imperial Capital's wealthy people had gathered at the Bo Family's home.
Amid the clinking glasses and flowing conversation, Hua Jian drank a glass of champagne and actually felt a little tipsy.
He shook his head and went out onto the terrace for some air.
Just then, Bo Lin was helping Old Master Bo downstairs when he caught a fleeting glimpse of a familiar figure from behind.
Bo Lin paused. How was that possible? Why would Hua Jian be here?
"Old Master Bo, may your blessings be as vast as the eastern sea and your life as enduring as the southern mountains!"
Bo Lin collected himself and greeted the guests alongside his grandfather.
Meanwhile, Hua Jian lit a cigarette and looked through the glass doors at the undisputed center of attention.
The guests bowed and scraped, flattering him endlessly, yet he remained composed throughout.
With his cigarette almost finished, Hua Jian pinched it between his thumb and forefinger. He was about to grind it out underfoot when he noticed the pristine white tiles beneath him.
He stopped himself and decided to go inside to find an ashtray.
By sheer coincidence, the moment he looked up, his gaze met Bo Lin's as the latter looked outside.
Hua Jian didn't know what came over him. Without thinking, he flashed Bo Lin a broad smile.
But the next instant, Bo Lin's gaze drifted lightly past Hua Jian like a floating dandelion seed.
He seemed to be searching for something, his eyes roaming about.
Hua Jian abruptly realized that he was standing on an unlit terrace in complete darkness.
Bo Lin couldn't see him.
"Tch."
Hua Jian gave a wry chuckle and quickly brushed aside that little flicker of displeasure.
"Hua Jian? Where the fuck have you been wandering? I've been looking for you forever. Come with me. Eldest Brother wants you!"
Having finally found Hua Jian, Xie Zhiyan snapped at him.
Hua Jian smiled. "You've been avoiding me all day, Third Brother. I thought..."
"You thought jack shit. Get over here!"
Meanwhile, Xie Zhiwei and Xie Zhitan had finally finished socializing and wanted to take their two younger brothers to offer Old Master Bo their birthday wishes.
The project Xie Zhiwei was working on with Bo Lin was a drop in the ocean to the Bo Family, hardly worth mentioning.
But it meant a great deal to the Xie Family.
Xie Zhiwei looked sternly at his two younger brothers. "Both of you had better behave. If either of you causes trouble, I'll throw him out of the Xie Family!"
Hua Jian immediately raised his hand to pledge his loyalty. "Eldest Brother! I'm very well behaved!"
The sight of him made Xie Zhiwei laugh.
Just as Bo Lin finally gave up looking for that figure, he suddenly went still.
In a corner, two men wearing suits of the same style and color stood facing each other.
The atmosphere between them was hard to describe, intimate and suggestive.
That was Xie Zhiwei and...
Hua Jian.
Bo Lin abruptly lowered his gaze.
In those usually cold, composed eyes, something welled up unnoticed by anyone... jealousy.
It was jealousy, wasn't it?
No one understood the significance of today's occasion better than Bo Lin.
Yet on such an occasion, Xie Zhiwei, the Xie Family's heir, had actually brought along the young lover he kept.
Hua Jian and Xie Zhiwei were closer than Bo Lin had imagined.
Before you continue