In the study, Yan Zhiyi was organizing what he wanted to say. Surely that prickly little firecracker wouldn't get angry over this?
Hard to say. Then how could he keep him from getting angry?
Click. He came in.
Yan Zhiyi sat with his back to Xia Shule. As Xia Shule entered, all he could see was a broad back blocking some of the sunlight, radiating an imposing presence.
Xia Shule's big eyes swept around like searchlights. Why does that back look so familiar? I feel like I've seen it somewhere.
"President Yan?" His quiet voice carried a hint of flattery.
Yan Zhiyi's back visibly stiffened. The air in the study seemed to freeze.
Seeing the man still sitting motionless in his office chair, Xia Shule couldn't help speaking again. "President Yan?"
Yan Zhiyi had called him over today precisely to tell him this. There was no backing out now. He gave a cough, perhaps to cover his awkwardness, or perhaps out of nerves, before slowly turning around.
Paired with Xia Shule's curious, expectant gaze, the scene became rather comical.
"The gardener?!"
At the sight of the face turning toward him, Xia Shule's curiosity and anticipation instantly became disbelief.
He wasn't an idiot. He wasn't about to assume the gardener had barged into the study and say something ridiculous like, "Gardener, what are you doing here? President Yan might catch you~"
He wasn't some sweet, clueless innocent from a novel...
There was only one possible explanation for the situation before him: the gardener was President Yan. As for why he hadn't told him before, that was his prerogative.
Xia Shule smiled. His own fault for not finding out what President Yan looked like beforehand. His own fault for mistaking his identity.
And I even said I'd protect him for the rest of his life. Pah.
Xia Shule was currently turning to stone...
Yan Zhiyi rose from his chair and walked over to Xia Shule. His tall figure loomed over him, while the young man before him was already dumbstruck. He wasn't sure whether Xia Shule was angry.
He got straight to the point. "I didn't tell you before because I wanted to see whether you'd still speak up for me without knowing who I was. I'm sorry. I wasn't deliberately trying to hide it."
Xia Shule came back to his senses. The man before him was tall, yet he lowered his head to look at him. Everyone said President Yan was ruthless and decisive, a cold-faced devil, but... when he'd been the gardener, he'd clearly been so easy to get along with.
And now... he was even apologizing to him, without putting on any airs.
Xia Shule blinked and immediately regained his lively energy, grabbing the man's wrist. An idea flashed through his little head. Would a request be more likely to get accepted if I made it now?
I'm an absolute genius!!!!
"Marry me. You won't lose out!"
"Oh?"
This was the first time Yan Zhiyi had met a young man who made a request so openly right off the bat, yet wasn't at all irritating. His cool little hand clasped Yan Zhiyi's wrist, coiling around it like a snake.
"I need someone backing me, and you need a marriage. Let's work together. You back me up, and I'll charm your parents until they're positively giddy." Xia Shule made no attempt to hide the shrewd gleam in his eyes.
"I know about your family situation. Don't worry. I'll behave and do as I'm told. I won't overstep in the slightest or get greedy. What I want is very simple, too."
Xia Shule gave his wrist a little shake. Gardener? What gardener! He tossed all that to the back of his mind. Standing before him was the famous President! Yan!
Yan Zhiyi watched that little mouth chatter away. In his eyes, Xia Shule positively glowed, his gaze clear and bright, without a trace of impurity.
He really did state his motives outright, without hiding a thing. Completely candid. He'd also accepted the change in his identity quickly. But Yan Zhiyi hadn't expected him to actually want to marry him.
"Why?"
Xia Shule grumbled inwardly. Gardener or President Yan, this man was as aloof as ever, letting his words out one at a time.
Xia Shule released Yan Zhiyi's wrist and clenched his little fists. "I want revenge! He's the reason I'm in this miserable state. I want revenge!!!!"
It really was a good reason. He hadn't lied to the man, nor had he exposed his true objective. He actually wanted to kill Jiang Gechen, and that was a kind of revenge too, wasn't it? It all depended on how the other man interpreted it~
As the cool touch left his wrist, Yan Zhiyi felt something indescribable for a moment. "President Xia can't meet your needs anymore?"
"It's not enough. Not enough. I already told you that night... Anyway, my dad can't take that man on."
Yan Zhiyi recalled that pale yet certain little face from that night. He had said Jiang Gechen would definitely kill him. Definitely.
He didn't know what had happened between the two of them. But he was indeed considering what Xia Shule had said.
Partly because he really did need someone to fill that role, and partly... for selfish reasons of his own. That feeling of warmth... he wanted to experience it a few more times.
But Yan Zhiyi didn't agree outright. Instead, he said, "I'll consider it."
That answer was exactly what Xia Shule had expected. He wasn't an idiot, and President Yan certainly wasn't either. He couldn't agree so easily just because of their friendship. He surely had his own considerations.
Still... his sixth sense told him the man would agree.
Yan Zhiyi was merely thinking that the young man had his whole life ahead of him. If they really took that step, Xia Shule would be the one losing out. So he was only considering how to compensate him for what he would lose in life.
Such as what he would do after the divorce, and what he would have to fall back on.
Xia Shule smiled sheepishly. "Then, President Yan, once you've made up your mind, let me know when I can start the job."
He's smiling like a little lackey, Yan Zhiyi thought.
Without realizing it, Yan Zhiyi played along, putting on a boss's airs. "Mm. Go home and wait to hear from me."
"Okay~ President Yan, I'll go home and wait for your call~"
As he spoke, he raised a hand to his ear in a phone gesture, his fingers slender, fair, and soft. His voice was cute and lively, lifting the listener's spirits.
"How old are you?" The little fellow was probably younger than he'd thought, because he called his father... Grandpa Yan.
One look at his face made it obvious he wasn't very old, and he'd grown up with that cheap piece of goods. Yan Zhiyi knew he was young, but just how young?
Pretending to be solemn and profound, Xia Shule tipped his head back to gaze at the sky... er, the ceiling. "Twenty, President Yan."
Twenty. Yan Zhiyi's brow furrowed deeply at the answer.
He was too young. Between the two of them...
"Go on home. Let me think."
"Okay, President Yan. I hope I get good news~" Xia Shule's steps were light and brisk.
I'm in a great mood today. My plan's halfway to success, and the gardener is President Yan! He'd even carefully thought back over everything just now. His performance had been utterly perfect.
Flawlessly perfect!
It was all thanks to his naturally kind heart, wonderful moral character, and fine traditions. Heh heh heh, all that self-praise had him feeling fabulous.
In his sunny mood, he decided not to go home for dinner today. He would eat out and have something he liked.
He was so pleased with himself that he'd completely forgotten he needed to watch his diet because of his wrist.
"One avocado and salmon tartare with fish roe, pan-seared M9 wagyu, foie gras with blueberry balsamic vinegar, a French lemon tart, and a tiramisu. And a French wild mushroom soup to finish."
"Certainly. Please give us a moment."