Xia Shule thoroughly enjoyed his soak. By the time he emerged in his cool, silky satin pajamas, feeling utterly relaxed, Yan Zhiyi had already washed both their clothes.
Seeing his clean clothes set to one side in the walk-in closet, he secretly marveled, What a perfect homemaker. If only he'd keep looking after me like this forever, hehehe~
Huh? Stop right there, Xia Shule! What are you doing? What are you thinking?! Shame on you!
After reining in his wandering thoughts, Xia Shule turned and went downstairs. On the stairs, he was still thinking, It's not entirely out of the question. This older guy looks pretty easy to push around.
Before he could react, a glass of warm milk was pressed into his hand.
He looked up at the older man's handsome face. Dressed in loungewear, Yan Zhiyi looked even more languid.
Warm milk, a handsome husband, and his own freshly washed, sweet-smelling self.
Stop!!
Xia Shule, I'm telling you, you really need to stop!
Yan Zhiyi suppressed a smile at Xia Shule's bright red ears. What had embarrassed the kid this time?
Xia Shule took a big gulp of milk. It was slightly sweet; Yan Zhiyi must have added sugar.
The trace of milk on his lips was enticing, but Xia Shule pretended not to notice. "You said I couldn't leave your sight. Does that include sleeping at night?"
"It could."
"Either it does or it doesn't. What do you mean, it could?"
"Then it does."
Xia Shule finished the milk in one go and shoved the empty glass back into Yan Zhiyi's hand. "Forget it. I'm a restless sleeper."
He turned and returned to the room Yan Zhiyi had prepared for him. It was mostly white, with touches of pale blue. It looked far nicer than Yan Zhiyi's room, which he'd glimpsed on his way past earlier.
Back in his room, his phone chimed with a flood of messages.
Xia Shule really hated hassle, especially now that one of his hands was out of commission. He operated his phone one-handed.
Xiang Lin: Fresh gossip!
Xiang Lin: At the Jiang Family's banquet tonight, Jiang Gechen invited Song Dimu and Zhou Anyang. They both went.
Xia Shule recalled the call Song Dimu had received that day. It had been Jiang Gechen inviting him to dinner. He'd thought it would be just the two of them, but it turned out to be a whole crowd...
Xiang Lin: My friend went too. He told me about it.
Xiang Lin: That Zhou Anyang jumped into the pool himself, then claimed Song Dimu pushed him.
Xiang Lin: My friend saw it happen, but Jiang Gechen arrived afterward and didn't see it.
Xiang Lin: Every word he said sounded like he was defending Song Dimu, but every word also pinned the blame for pushing him on Song Dimu.
Xiang Lin: {Video}
Xia Shule tapped the video. The shaky footage made it obvious someone had recorded it secretly.
Zhou Anyang's voice was tearful, every word accusing Song Dimu.
"I didn't mean to get close to Gechen. Why would you do this to me?"
"Song Dimu, I was wrong. Are you satisfied now?"
"Dimu definitely didn't mean it. Don't be like this."
"Dimu, it's all right. I understand..."
Meanwhile, Jiang Gechen delivered what he clearly thought were incredibly cool lines, adopting the posture of someone defending Song Dimu, while every single word hammered home the claim that Song Dimu had pushed him.
"So what? Even if he did, I'd still love him."
"If anyone dares say another word against Dimu, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Song Dimu stood there dumbfounded. He almost suspected the two of them had planned this beforehand. "But I really didn't push him?"
"It's okay, Dimu. I won't blame you."
What? Is this guy a fucking moron?
The video ended with Song Dimu saying nothing more, falling silent.
After watching the video, Xia Shule sighed helplessly. His own actions before had simply been too blatant. With a troublemaker like Jiang Gechen, if he'd acted like Zhou Anyang back then, Jiang Gechen might well have believed him too.
Who knew whether he loved him or was out to screw him over?
Le Shuxia: That video leaves me speechless...
Xiang Lin: Right?! It's giving intellectually challenged, but still capable of basic self-care!
Xiang Lin replied instantly again. Xia Shule really had no idea what he did all day.
Le Shuxia: Do you hold your phone twenty-four hours a day?
Xiang Lin: Nope. My brother's been taking me to the office these past couple of days. It's so boring there, I've just been following gossip the whole time~ Hehe!
Le Shuxia: ...
He'd known it. Xia Shule closed his chat with Xiang Lin. With a long night ahead, he was about to play some games.
A red dot appeared on the contacts tab of the green chat app. Xia Shule tapped it and found a friend request from Song Dimu.
Xia Shule happily accepted it. This was the beginning of a great friendship!
Flute: Chairman Xia, thank you.
It must have been about the contract, since he was even calling him Chairman Xia. He hadn't done much, just given the contract a simple upgrade.
Le Shuxia: I believe in you! Just call me Lele. I only wanted to make it up to you a little more, but you'll still have to work hard to make the most of this opportunity. The more famous you get, the more money you'll earn. You can do it!
Flute: Okay, Lele.
Song Dimu couldn't help smiling. He quietly changed Le Shuxia's contact name on his phone to Lele, adding a little crown emoji after it.
At last, some of the day's bad mood lifted. At least-at least he and Xia Shule were no longer enemies.
As for that man with something wrong with his brain... I need to work hard and make a name for myself. Then I can get rid of him for good.
That was also why he hadn't explained himself. Song Dimu had no intention of staying involved with the man for long, so he didn't care what the people in his circle thought of him.
Xia Shule played a shooter until after eleven before he finally felt a little sleepy. He quickly put down his phone and went to bed. If he missed this wave of drowsiness, who knew how late he'd have to wait before he could sleep?
He slept without dreams.
Since he'd said he'd get up at eight thirty, Xia Shule got up at eight thirty sharp. Even after washing up, he was still bleary-eyed as he headed out with his hair sticking up every which way.
Yan Zhiyi was making breakfast in a suit and an apron. He looked both elegant and domestic, a master of contrasts.
The aroma practically bowled Xia Shule over, chasing away all his drowsiness. He drifted toward the kitchen as though in a trance, his tousled, fluffy head quietly poking inside.
Yan Zhiyi had already spotted Xia Shule's little head out of the corner of his eye.
"Wash your hands, then eat."
"Okaaay-" The tousled, fluffy head drifted away again.
Standing at the sink, Xia Shule moved slowly, since one of his hands could only move at an extremely slow pace.
Yan Zhiyi set the noodles on the table, then went to help Xia Shule. Standing behind him in an almost-embrace, he took the smaller hands in his large ones and began washing them, missing not a single detail.
Including every gap between his fingers.
The warmth radiating from the tall man behind him instantly made Xia Shule more awake than anyone. A solid chest pressed against his back, and warm breaths brushed his ear.
After washing his hands, Yan Zhiyi cradled Xia Shule’s hands and dried each finger individually, as though handling something precious.
Xia Shule had never thought his hands were particularly sensitive, but today overturned everything.
Fuck! Xia Shule cursed inwardly. I really hate this feeling. It's like my body isn't even mine anymore!