Why do you dote on me so much?

"President Xia, Feng Chuyue's wife, Yu Youyou, picked him up and took him home." Chen Xiaohua stared at the two slap marks on Feng Chuyue's face, then watched Yu Youyou, dressed in Chanel couture and high heels, drag Feng Chuyue by the ear toward the car, swearing at him all the way.

Feng Chuyue's first wife had been his college classmate. Because he was always out fooling around, he had met Yu Youyou, who worked as an escort. She had shown up at his door pregnant, leading to his divorce from his first wife.

Having supplanted his first wife, Yu Youyou ought, by rights, not to have been so overbearing with Feng Chuyue.

Yet it was quite the opposite. Though Feng Chuyue was the family's breadwinner, he seemed to have even less standing than Yu Youyou.

Anyone else who saw them would merely think Yu Youyou was a shrew and Feng Chuyue let her walk all over him because he loved her.

Only Chen Xiaohua knew that Feng Chuyue let her do whatever she pleased because he feared the person backing her.

Chen Xiaohua's lips curled as he watched the ridiculous scene before him.

"Understood. Come back." Xia Qinghe's mature young voice came through the phone, clearly suppressing his anger.

"All right." The trace of mockery on Chen Xiaohua's face quickly vanished. "Tell the people who slipped into Feng Chuyue's house to get out right away. We're leaving."

By the time Chen Xiaohua returned to the hotel, Xia Qinghe was already back. He told Xia Qinghe everything: how they had found Feng Chuyue, how they had arranged to catch him cheating, and how Yu Youyou had gone to the police station to bail him out.

Xia Qinghe looked down at his phone, anger etched around his eyes and brows. "From now on, watch everyone around Feng Chuyue. Don't overlook a single one."

"Yes." Having received his orders, Chen Xiaohua returned to his own suite, where all the equipment was running. A boy with a buzz cut and a row of ear studs looked up at him.

"Brother Hua, I hacked into the surveillance cameras at Feng Chuyue's house and heard her make a call. Someone using a voice changer answered and said to sacrifice the pawn to save the king. I'm afraid Yu Youyou is going to make a move against Feng Chuyue."

Chen Xiaohua rubbed his head. "We just need to keep watching. Whatever they're planning, we don't interfere."

Chen Minzhang nodded. "Brother Hua, I ordered red wine and Australian lobster. Want some?"

Chen Xiaohua rapped him on the head in exasperation. "Do I usually treat you so badly? Why do you always take advantage of business trips to eat on President Xia's dime?"

Chen Minzhang stuck out his tongue and protested, "It's a company-paid trip. Only an idiot wouldn't eat. Are you having some or not?" He had finally gotten a chance to come out this way; of course he had to eat something they didn't have in Shengjing.

"Yes."

Upstairs, Xia Qinghe had already drunk half a bottle of liquor. Li Yang wandered out of another room, took away the remaining half bottle of whiskey, screwed on the cap, and put it in the deepest part of the cabinet.

"He's only gone one day without replying to your messages. Do you really need to drown your sorrows?"

"You don't understand. I've cherished Mianmian and spoiled him since he was little. He knows nothing about the dangers of the outside world. I-"

"Stop right there," Li Yang cut him off. It was utterly baffling. He kept saying Lin Fengmian was his best buddy, but treated him like a wife to be spoiled.

How was that anything like being best buddies? Yet Lin Fengmian thought they were best buddies too.

Li Yang sighed. "Your company's people have already contacted me. Once the deposit arrives, my team can set off and come over. I've really offended someone badly for your sake this time."

Another very famous biologist in the country had conducted the official survey. If Li Yang's report contradicted his, the two of them would probably be glaring at each other whenever they met from then on.

Xia Qinghe gave a contemptuous snort. "Since when were you, Li Yang, afraid of those hypocritical academics who give false testimony for money?"

Li Yang knew Xia Qinghe understood him, and regretted failing to fool him. "He does have real expertise. He had no choice but to do this."

"You mean he can irresponsibly open his mouth and say migratory endangered animals have appeared in the wetlands, cost me over ten billion, and I'm supposed to sympathize with his difficulties?" Xia Qinghe was furious. "I'm not some saint online who grants every request. Spare me the moral blackmail."

Li Yang heaved another sigh. "He probably didn't expect you to push back so hard."

"I'll transfer the money tomorrow. Hurry up and get your team over here with the equipment. If you need anything, contact the branch office. If there's nothing else, you're dismissed. The sight of you annoys me."

The moment he finished speaking, his phone rang. The special ringtone made Xia Qinghe answer instantly. "Mianmian."

His voice sounded so aggrieved that it was almost tearful.

Li Yang stumbled at the sound and nearly fell. Before he had even steadied himself, he turned and gave him both middle fingers. Xia Qinghe was a drama queen through and through.

Xia Qinghe didn't spare him so much as a glance. All his attention was on the person at the other end of the line.

"Where are you?" Lin Fengmian's exhaustion carried clearly through the phone to Xia Qinghe, making his heart ache as though it were splitting apart.

"I'm at the Marriott Hotel. You came to Lanhai?"

Lin Fengmian gave an indistinct hum of assent. "Didn't you want to mate with me? I've delivered myself to your door. I just don't know whether Young Master Xia welcomes me."

Xia Qinghe's heart nearly melted, sweet as though it had been steeped in honey, though his words were still relentless. "You'll mate with me just because I want you to?" Why do you dote on me so much?

"Open the door."

Xia Qinghe jumped off the barstool, rushed to the door, and flung it open. Lin Fengmian stood before him, his forehead a little red.

Lin Fengmian hung up and spread his arms. Xia Qinghe pulled him into an embrace and brought him inside in the same motion. "Where's Lin Sui?"

"We ran into Chen Xiaohua on the way. I asked him to take Lin Sui to get a room and have a good rest. He's worked hard, running all over the place with me these past few days."

Hearing that he had already made arrangements, Xia Qinghe put Lin Sui out of his mind. "Are you hungry? Want something to eat? Shall I make you some noodles? Why is your forehead so red? Who bullied you?"

Lin Fengmian swallowed the refusal he had been about to voice. "Sure. Fry me two eggs too."

"No one bullied me. I was playing someone from ancient times. It's from wearing that wig."

Xia Qinghe was beside himself with concern. He went over, held Lin Fengmian still, and blew on his forehead several times, even spraying saliva.

Lin Fengmian: "..."

He was just about to give Xia Qinghe a sharp rap on the head when he saw him slip away to the open kitchen.

For the sake of the food, he would put up with him and let him be for now. He would find a chance to beat him up later.

The Marriott Hotel belonged to the Xia Corporation. Almost every Marriott kept a presidential suite reserved for Xia Qinghe, and whenever he stayed, the fresh fruit and vegetables in the refrigerator were replaced daily.

"I'm going to shower first."

"Don't take a bath. You might fall asleep in the tub."

"Got it."

When Lin Fengmian came out after washing up, he saw Li Yang hovering around Xia Qinghe, practically drooling over the food. "Li Yang, what brings you here?"

"What else but those wetlands? Qinghe invited me to help, but this bastard won't even make me a bowl of noodles. I've been begging him forever. Do something about him."

"You're nearly forty. What do you need a late-night snack for? Watch out for high blood pressure."

Li Yang: "...Don't curse me. I work out every day."

"Have you worked out these past few days?"

"Fuck, I haven't gone because I can't exactly show my face, have I? Who am I doing this for? Are you giving me any food or not?"

"No."

Lin Fengmian lounged on the stool, watching the two of them bicker with a smile. Before he knew it, so many years had passed since they had left school.

He and Shui Feiyan had been college classmates, in the same major and dorm room. By chance, while working part-time serving food in the cafeteria, Shui Feiyan had encountered a creep who blocked the serving window and insisted on getting his contact details.

After a long tussle, Li Yang, who had been standing behind the creep in line, finally knocked him out with a single slap. "Fuck, a weakling like you dares ask a beauty for his contact details? Take a good look at yourself."

Then he turned to Shui Feiyan. "I saved you. I'm not asking you to repay me with your body, but could I get your contact details?"

Shui Feiyan looked at the big, strapping Li Yang, who had sent someone reeling with one slap, then looked at his own skinny arms and legs, and wisely gave Li Yang his WeChat.

From then on, Li Yang checked in with Shui Feiyan every day with "Have you eaten?" and "Have you gone to bed?" Beyond that, he made no actual moves.

Shui Feiyan simply muted his notifications and let him check in as he pleased.