Song Dimu lowered his head in thought, while Xia Shule sat beside him and waited.
He was honestly tempted, but... when Jiang Gechen had made this offer before, he had found it unbearably irritating: money in exchange for work. Now, though, he worried about Xia Shule's money. He was afraid he would make Xia Shule lose out.
"I... I... how about I work as your assistant the rest of the time? I'll do my best to make sure you don't lose money."
"Oh, come on! How could I..." Lose money? What if that put pressure on Song Dimu? "Okay, it's settled, then!"
Song Dimu beamed. "Okay! You're so good to me, giving me so much... will you still have enough for yourself?"
Xia Shule could tell at a glance that this guy was underestimating his finances. He wasn't Jiang Gechen. He wasn't nearly as stingy!
"Once you're with me, you won't have to worry about not having enough money to spend." As he spoke, Xia Shule struck what he considered a very handsome pose.
In reality, though... it was adorable.
Song Dimu couldn't help laughing, but he was still worried.
After all, someone of Jiang Gechen's standing-the Jiang family's heir and CEO of a listed company-could only give him a hundred thousand a month.
Xia Shule was offering him five hundred thousand? Wouldn't that put too much pressure on him? Signing a five-year contract with the company had only brought in five hundred thousand. Would he end up holding Xia Shule back?
Knowing how much pressure Song Dimu felt, Xia Shule had no choice but to tell him a cruel truth.
"He gave you a hundred thousand because he's stingy, not because that's all he could afford. He's incredibly selfish. A hundred thousand was simply the lowest price he thought he could pay."
"So don't feel burdened. Five hundred thousand would disappear if I bought a watch."
Hearing that did ease Song Dimu's worries, but... I hate you rich people.
"He paid what he thought was the bare minimum, then watched me run around crying with gratitude..." The last of Song Dimu's gratitude vanished.
Ha... Jiang Gechen really got a lot done for very little money. Watching me work myself to death, mess up my job, and get humiliated every time must have been entertaining, huh?
From his own perspective, that hundred thousand had indeed solved his immediate crisis. From the other man's perspective, however, things became rather interesting.
"I can wait until you've sorted things out with him. Come find me at the Yan Residence then."
"The Yan Residence?"
"I haven't told you, have I? I'm getting married." Xia Shule smiled as he spoke.
"?!?!?!?" Song Dimu, petrified.
"You... I know you don't like Jiang Gechen anymore, but... this! Isn't this way too fast? You're already getting married?" Song Dimu counted on his fingers. The last time Xia Shule had targeted him over Jiang Gechen... hadn't that been just recently?
"When love comes that fast, there's no stopping it! What can I do? Life moves so quickly. Who knows what you'll encounter in the next second? And here came love, bursting onto the scene!"
"The Yan Residence..." Song Dimu murmured, then suddenly raised his voice. "President Yan!? Yan-Yan-Yan-Yan Zhiyi!?"
Song Dimu had heard that name before. His reputation was enormous. Even Jiang Gechen was a small fry next to him.
This was so sudden, and Xia Shule was so... carefree. When would he be able to live as freely as Xia Shule?
As he pondered that, a ringtone cut in.
"Ring, ring!!!!" It sounded like a summons to his doom.
He picked up his phone, and Xia Shule sneaked a look from beside him. It was that "Boss" again. This time, he knew who it was, and he tilted his ear closer to eavesdrop.
"Why aren't you here yet? Your location history shows you haven't even left home! What's going on?!"
"I'll be there right away. Just now... I accidentally... I..."
"I don't care about that. Hurry up."
Song Dimu breathed a sigh of relief. He really hadn't come up with an excuse. "Okay."
Xia Shule checked the time. Yan Zhiyi wasn't off work yet, but surely he could leave early? He was craving the tea-infused bamboo shoot tips at the Quiet Silence Residence.
Le Shuxia: Are you off work yet?
Le Shuxia: I want the tea-infused bamboo shoot tips at the Quiet Silence Residence.
Le Shuxia: Song Dimu's leaving, so I'll be all alone.
Le Shuxia: [Pitiful]
"Then... Lele... I've already taken his money for this month, so I thought I'd finish the month and quit!"
"Sure, go ahead. I'm heading out for dinner in a bit anyway." Xia Shule spoke with certainty, knowing the man would agree.
They walked out together into the bustling market, where the fishy smell of freshly butchered fish mingled with the scents of all kinds of fruits and vegetables.
Water covered the ground, turning to mud wherever it met dirt. Fish scales were scattered everywhere, and sometimes an uneven step left a scale stuck to the sole of a shoe.
Song Dimu glanced sideways at Xia Shule. Although his expression hadn't changed, Song Dimu still felt that the boy was completely out of place here. He shouldn't have been somewhere like this.
Especially with those exquisite, expensive-looking white sneakers stepping through filthy mud and fish scales. Even a god descending to earth could hardly have looked more striking.
Desecration. Yes, that was desecration.
As Song Dimu thought that, Xia Shule stood beside him with an innocent expression and genuine curiosity. "What's this fish like? Have you bought it before? How's the meat?"
He even craned his head to look as he spoke.
More moving than a god descending to earth was the fact that this innocent god didn't think he had descended at all. Others felt distressed for him, while he simply found the mortal world interesting.
"It's pretty tasty. Come over sometime, and I'll cook it for you!"
"Okay! I want it steamed. Actually, sweet and sour... hmm... steamed after all."
"I'll make them all for you. Steamed, braised, sweet and sour, and green peppercorn."
Surprise spread across Xia Shule's face. Why did it feel as if everyone around him could cook except him? Song Dimu could actually make that many different flavors. He wanted to try them!
With a ding, Xia Shule's phone chimed.
He opened it, and Xia Shule wore an expression that said, "Just as I expected."
Old Man: I'm coming over now.
Haha, he knew it! Xia Shule looked utterly smug.
"I'll get going, then?" Song Dimu was reluctant to leave. Being with Xia Shule felt so comfortable.
Xia Shule urged him on. "Go on, hurry. That raging maniac will get worked up again soon." And who knew what idiotic thing he might do then?
"Haha." Song Dimu burst out laughing and left with his mind at ease.
Xia Shule didn't have to wait long. The man drove over himself and arrived quite quickly.
Only, when he got into the car, Xia Shule knocked the soles of his shoes against something.
They were covered in mud and fish scales, such a thick layer that he felt a little taller. He wondered if that was why.
Yan Zhiyi noticed what was stuck to his soles, got out, walked to the trunk, and took out a pair of pale blue Birkenstocks.
Then he walked over to Xia Shule, wrapped a large hand around his slender ankle, removed the "height-enhancing" white sneaker, and personally slipped a pale blue Birkenstock onto his foot. He even lifted Xia Shule's newly shod feet into the car himself.
Only after putting the white sneakers in the trunk did Yan Zhiyi get back into the car.
Xia Shule enjoyed being looked after and felt thoroughly content. After several days of this kind of care, he had long forgotten his initial cautious attitude.
Feeling overwhelmed that a man like this was looking after him? All that was nonsense. He felt so good now that Xia Shule had thrown it all to the back of his mind.
Yan Zhiyi asked, "What else do you want besides the tea-infused bamboo shoot tips?"
Xia Shule replied, "Huoshaoyun oil-braised chicken, raw-marinated crab claws with green peppercorn, Longjing tea-infused ribs, and hot apple-orange tea!"
The corners of Yan Zhiyi's lips lifted slightly, and a laugh spilled from his throat, deep and resonant, mature and indulgent.
He had known the little guy wanted plenty of dishes. He had only mentioned the tea-infused bamboo shoot tips on WeChat because he couldn't be bothered to type too much.
The Quiet Silence Residence was quite popular and generally required advance reservations.
"Oh! I haven't called them yet!" Xia Shule hurriedly pulled out his phone.
Yan Zhiyi glanced over and said, "I've already made a reservation."
Xia Shule put his phone down. At this rate, being with him would make him forget how to function. "The charm of a mature man! Staying with you, I'm really going to end up never lifting a finger."
"Wouldn't that be nice? If I spoil you helpless, you won't be able to leave me." Yan Zhiyi lowered his voice for the latter half, unsure whether Xia Shule could hear him clearly.
Sure enough, Xia Shule didn't hear him at all. He hummed to himself, his heart and mind filled with the delicious food awaiting him.
It was quite a distance from the rented apartment to the Quiet Silence Residence, about an hour's drive. Xia Shule's excitement lasted only a little while before he drifted off to sleep.
He even enjoyed a serving of tea-infused bamboo shoot tips in his dreams.
They reached the Quiet Silence Residence just as the sun was setting. The evening glow painted the sky in bold strokes, lending the high-rises poetic silhouettes. The man beside him softly called his name, and through sleep-blurred eyes, Xia Shule saw a beautiful view.
"Mmm..." Xia Shule let out a contented sigh.
The two entered the Quiet Silence Residence. One was a prominent figure, and the other a regular with considerable standing of his own, so they were immediately escorted to their reserved private room.
Without needing to ask again, Yan Zhiyi briskly ordered all the dishes Xia Shule wanted.
Bored while waiting for the food, Xia Shule remembered the bamboo grove in the Quiet Silence Residence's rear courtyard and wanted to explore.
Utterly bored, Xia Shule's gaze was practically flying outside. "Their bamboo grove out back is lovely. I want to take a stroll. Coming, gege?"
Ever since Yan Zhiyi had asked him to call him gege, Xia Shule had kept using it. The address was just right. Uncle Yan sounded a little old, and none of the other options quite fit. Gege was perfect.
Although he had grown used to it, hearing it still made Yan Zhiyi's heart flutter.
He swallowed a mouthful of tea before answering, "Let's go together."
"Okay." Yan Zhiyi had previously said Xia Shule couldn't leave his sight, and he had barely done so all this time. Although his hand was almost healed now, he had long grown accustomed to the man's presence.
Even with Yan Zhiyi constantly accompanying him, Xia Shule didn't find it strange.
Habit really was a frightening thing.
Along the way, Yan Zhiyi's phone kept buzzing. Xia Shule kept glancing over, wanting to suggest that he simply check it. What messages was he so unwilling to read?
Perhaps the vibrations finally annoyed him, because Yan Zhiyi did take it out to check. The messages on the screen made him frown involuntarily.
The person Lai Jiangtian had mentioned was back already.
Group chat (5)
Lai Jiangtian: Holy shit!! Holy shit!! Speak of the devil, I really jinxed it! Oh my god! Guys, can you believe this? Anyone want to know what happened? I've got earth-shattering news!
Lai Jiangtian: Send me 10,000, and I'll give you all the juicy details~
Song Jing'an: ?
Song Jing'an: [Cuff him.jpg]
Yin Xian: Is this guy sick? Come to my hospital. I'll have your brain checked.
Yin Xian: I'm not interested at all. I'm swamped with work every day. Who has time for your pointless gossip?
Yin Xian: So boring. Is this supposed to be fun?
Yin Xian: WeChat transfer: 10,000 yuan [Designated recipient: Lai Jiangtian]
Song Jing'an: ?
Lu Mingwen: ?
Yin Xian: Hurry up and talk. Don't waste my time.
Yin Xian: [Guilty.jpg]
Lai Jiangtian has claimed your red packet.
Lai Jiangtian: Huge news! Yuzhi's back. Already off the plane, and asked me out to dinner.
Yin Xian: Why invite you instead of Old Yan?
Lai Jiangtian: Who knows? Maybe I'm easier to talk to.
Lu Mingwen: Oh, I got a message too, but I ignored it.
Song Jing'an: Me too, but I'm on duty tonight, so I can't go.
Yin Xian: ?
Yin Xian: Why didn't I get a message? But I still have to say this: see, Lai Jiangtian? You weren't the only one invited! Hahahahaha!
Yin Xian: ...
Yin Xian: I got a message... here it comes...
Lai Jiangtian: Better late than never! Should I go or not? I'm so torn. We aren't that close, but we're actually pretty close.
Lu Mingwen: Is your left brain attacking your right brain?
Lai Jiangtian: I've decided to go. We did have a pretty good time together back then.
Lai Jiangtian: [Location: Quiet Silence Residence]
Lai Jiangtian: @Y, apparently asking you directly is too embarrassing, so I'm supposed to invite you. As if I could get you to come?
Yin Xian: Quiet Silence Residence? I'm coming too. I've been craving it!
Lu Mingwen: I'll pass. We don't know each other well.
Lu Mingwen: @Y You do. You should go.
Lai Jiangtian: Mingwen, was that dry humor? Hahahahaha, I admit I laughed.
Lai Jiangtian: @Y
Y: ...
Watching him stare at his phone, Xia Shule wondered what important message had him so absorbed.
So he stealthily brought his little head closer, and sharp-eyed Lele quickly grasped the main points.
Someone named Yuzhi had returned and apparently had some connection to Yan Zhiyi. Everyone was teasing him about it. And... they were at the Quiet Silence Residence too.
Yuzhi...
Xia Shule carefully tried to recall the original plot. After all this time, his memories of it weren't as firmly rooted anymore, and he had almost forgotten some parts. Recalling it now took some effort.
After scrunching up his face in thought for ages, he realized it wasn't his memory failing him. The original plot didn't seem to have mentioned this person at all.
Another new character had appeared. Ever since he stopped following the path of his previous life, quite a few new characters had shown up!
Then, in a bit... will Yan Zhiyi go eat with them? We're all at the Quiet Silence Residence anyway. Will I have to eat alone?
It's fine. I knew all along. There's no one I can rely on completely, no one I can trust without reservation. In the end, I've always felt that I only have myself.
It was as though he was ill. He didn't know, but every so often, bitterness would well up in his heart.
Xia Shule: ... head drooping.
For some reason, when Yan Zhiyi put down his phone, he felt that the little guy beside him was already surrounded by gloom.
A dark cloud hovered over that fluffy little head, thundering and raining. He looked terribly sad.
Was it because he had been looking at his phone instead of keeping him company? He wondered, unable to think of any other reason, and decided that must be it.
"Do you like the bamboo grove?" Yan Zhiyi asked, searching for a topic.