You have to take responsibility

In all fairness, Chu Yilan had never considered Zhou Tangsi a rival.

Not in business, nor in any other respect.

He simply couldn't understand how Zheng Ge could divide his affections among so many people.

It no longer mattered now.

Zhou Tangsi frowned. "Chu Yilan, you..."

"Shut up," Chu Yilan cut him off coldly.

"Don't fight," Zheng Ge said in a small voice.

But Chu Yilan had already turned away. At the same time, a hand reached out from the car, beautiful and finely jointed, without a word.

"Keep the blanket wrapped around you," Chu Yilan reminded him.

Even so, he took that hand and got into the car. The door closed behind him.

Both Zhou Tangsi and Zheng Ge were stunned by the sight.

The car drove off.

Who was in the car? Zheng Ge was suddenly very curious.

Chu Yilan didn't seem to take that little interlude to heart, and Shen Lian was even less likely to dwell on it. They had already kissed, after all. Surely the great Mr. Chu wouldn't refuse to own up to it?

Still, just before they went inside, Shen Lian reminded him, "You have to take responsibility."

Chu Yilan: "..."

Sometimes, he really wanted to pry this man's head open and see what was inside.

At a call from Shen Lian, Aunt Fen hurried into the kitchen. Ten minutes later, Shen Lian polished off another late-night meal.

After a steaming bowl of fresh shrimp noodles, broth and all, Shen Lian felt the chill seeping out from deep in his bones disappear.

When he looked up, he found Chu Yilan watching him intently.

Shen Lian smiled sheepishly. "Not right now."

Chu Yilan: "?"

It took Chu Yilan some effort to get back on track and suppress the urge to slap Shen Lian senseless. What nonsense was he spouting? Couldn't he see that even Aunt Fen was looking at them differently?

"I wanted to ask whether you get regular medical checkups," Chu Yilan said in a low voice.

Shen Lian thought back. "I think so..."

The original owner of this body had undergone some basic examinations, and nothing particularly serious had turned up. As for his death from heart disease in the novel, Shen Lian had never had a chance to confirm it. He also didn't think he could be that unlucky.

Chu Yilan was clearly dissatisfied with that answer. "Never mind. I'll arrange it."

This was the second time Chu Yilan had noticed something was wrong with Shen Lian.

The first had been when the young man came out of the bathroom and fell, leaving his ankle bleeding. Then there was today. Shen Lian hadn't been wrong: kissing shouldn't cause oxygen deprivation. But how could a healthy young man develop low blood sugar just from missing one meal?

Shen Lian didn't refuse. "Sure. Thanks, Mr. Chu."

Aunt Fen carried the dishes into the kitchen, and Shen Lian seized the chance to ask Chu Yilan, "What flowers would you like to see tomorrow?"

"Give it a rest," Chu Yilan said. "I could hold a flower exhibition in my office already."

Lately, the senior executives had been trembling whenever they entered his office, terrified that this might be their "last glimpse of beauty." In short, vibrant colors had nothing to do with Chu Yilan. Something had to be wrong when things were this far out of the ordinary!

His special assistant, Yang Bin, had it worst.

Yang Bin asked himself three hundred times a day what on earth had happened!

Shen Lian continued, "Then I'll grow them at home. The balcony looks so empty. When we're not home, Aunt Fen can help take care of them. Tending some flowers and plants would lift her spirits, too."

Chu Yilan said, "Do as you see fit."

Shen Lian's eyes immediately lit up, and he smiled in triumph.

This was Chu Yilan's private domain, and he was beginning to let Shen Lian decorate it and make decisions. Whether they admitted it or not, their relationship had changed.

What else could I do? Chu Yilan thought. My first kiss...

He pressed his lips together, involuntarily recalling how it had felt.

When they headed upstairs to bed, Shen Lian followed behind Chu Yilan, barely a meter between them. Chu Yilan was going to the study, but when he turned around, he found Shen Lian still there.

Chu Yilan raised an eyebrow. "Need something?"

Shen Lian made a few vague noises but said nothing.

Seriously, he'd only just had a taste. Was Chu Yilan a monk? How could he hold back?

Chu Yilan read something in Shen Lian's silence, and his gaze darkened. He reached out and took Shen Lian by the shoulders. Just as Shen Lian was about to ask, "Here?" the man spun him around and gave him a push forward.

"Go back to bed," Chu Yilan said, dismissing him.

Shen Lian: "..."

Fine! You won't get to kiss me next time, mister!

Chu Yilan hadn't come to the study to work. He had come to sort out his thoughts.

Today's kiss had been completely beyond his control.

The time, the place, the person-everything had come together. They had stood in that cramped storeroom as though sneaking around having an affair. Chu Yilan had to admit it had been thrilling, and a little novel.

He felt no aversion to Shen Lian at all. On the contrary, after Shen Lian's tentative approach, every cell in his body had screamed, Mine!

None of it was difficult, except that Shen Lian had said, "You can always trust me."

For Chu Yilan, taking that step was tantamount to shedding the tough shell he had always worn and giving Shen Lian the chance to hurt him. Chu Yilan wasn't afraid of being cheated out of money. He could fully tolerate the flaws inherent in a person's nature. What frightened him was the possibility that the affection that moved his heart was fake.

Shen Lian slept straight through until broad daylight. At noon, someone contacted him.

The man introduced himself as Hu Kailan, the liaison and manager Xingkai had assigned to Shen Lian. Since Shen Lian had yet to officially terminate his contract with Xingtu Entertainment, they could only have a brief conversation over the phone. The contract would have to wait until everything was settled.

Shen Lian chatted pleasantly with him, and everything went smoothly. It was only when Hu Kailan tentatively asked, "What are you good at?" that Shen Lian shamelessly declared, "Whatever you need, I'm good at it!"

Hu Kailan: "..."

If I hadn't read your entire file, I might have believed you.

Still, Shen Lian had done very well in his last two appearances, especially his cosplay at the comic convention, which was still generating buzz.

And the higher-ups had hinted that he shouldn't be stingy with resources for Shen Lian.

Hu Kailan understood at once: Shen Lian had someone backing him.

Hu Kailan was one of Xingkai's top managers and had guided plenty of big names to stardom. The fact that they had approached him already said something. After some thought, he said, "All right. I'll put together some work options for you. Pick what you want, and you can get started when the time comes."

Shen Lian said, "Okay."

Hu Kailan was quite satisfied with Shen Lian's modest, cooperative attitude.

Now, all that remained was to wait. In another week, Shen Lian's contract with Xingtu Entertainment would expire.

Xingtu was still dreaming that Shen Lian would change his mind. After all, there hadn't been the slightest news of him moving to another company. In the eyes of Xingtu's senior executives, Shen Lian was probably so anxious his hair was turning gray, which only made them more convinced they had him in the palm of their hand.

Nothing of the sort was happening. Shen Lian bought a heap of flowers online and packed the balcony to the right of the living room with them. Aunt Fen loved them, of course, and helped him arrange everything. When Chu Yilan came home that evening, he had barely sat down on the sofa before he looked up and noticed the changes to the balcony.

"Looks nice, doesn't it?" Shen Lian showed off.

Chu Yilan said, "Don't kill them."

"I won't. With Aunt Fen and me working together, I guarantee we'll have a little flower garden growing there in less than a month."

Aunt Fen really did love flowers and plants. She had bought everything they needed: a watering can, a trowel, and fertilizer.

"Do you have any plans tomorrow?" Chu Yilan asked Shen Lian.

"No."

Chu Yilan nodded. "All right. Come to a gathering with me."