Chu Yilan jolted awake in a wave of panic.
He sat bolt upright, immediately assessing his surroundings.
He was in his office, all right.
Chu Yilan couldn't help frowning, unsure where this agitation had come from. He opened his phone and found messages Shen Lian had sent five minutes earlier.
There was a photo of braised chicken, a shot of the set, and a close-up selfie.
The heaviness in Chu Yilan's chest instantly cleared.
His fingertip gently stroked Shen Lian's face on the screen.
Hu Kailan occasionally urged Shen Lian to post for his fans. With his good looks, Shen Lian did as he pleased. Usually, after a shower, he would find somewhere with good lighting and snap a nine-photo grid on the spot, his expressions ranging from open to bold. But he never showed outsiders that alluring hook in his gaze.
With Chu Yilan, though, it was no exaggeration to say his eyes practically smoldered.
Chu Yilan didn't dwell on that brief panic, because worrying wouldn't solve anything. His way of recovering his sense of security was simple: reinforce the defenses protecting the person he treasured, over and over. Having Sun Binghe there was a tremendous reassurance.
Chu Yilan replied half-jokingly: [Did the braised chicken soothe your pain?]
Shen Lian answered quickly: [No. I'm afraid I'll remember this for the rest of my life.]
Chu Yilan couldn't hold back a soft laugh. Even then, he still thought there was no need.
That lasted until a few days later, when Chu Yilan attended a business reception by invitation. As luck would have it, Ming Lin was there too, thanks to the daughter of Kangsheng Pharmaceuticals' owner.
Feng Yueshan and Zhou Yuanlin had arrived first. Just as Chu Yilan approached, he heard Feng Yueshan grind out through clenched teeth, "I'm going