Xia Qinghe finished plating the food and went into the bedroom.
The lights were off, but he could still clearly sense Lin Fengmian's presence, light and faint, quiet, yet unmistakable.
He crouched beside the bed and called softly, "Mianmian."
A pillow answered him. Xia Qinghe didn't dodge, taking the hit squarely. He grinned foolishly and straightened his glasses, which had been knocked askew. "Eat before you go back to sleep."
Lin Fengmian rolled over, but eventually opened his eyes. Xia Qinghe understood him, just as he understood Xia Qinghe. This guy was very firm about certain principles.
Besides buying two of everything, he insisted on regular sleeping hours and meals.
He got up. Xia Qinghe had already turned his back to him, so Lin Fengmian climbed straight onto it, resting his chin on his shoulder. Before long, he felt his body slowly rise as he was carried to the dining table.
After eating, Lin Fengmian went back to sleep, while Xia Qinghe returned to his toil as a CEO-level workhorse.
Shengjing was sweltering in summer, and the central air conditioning diligently pumped out cool air.
Being a workhorse was miserable enough, but then Xia Qinghe received a call from his mother, Qian Yulan. First she asked after his health, then started nagging: something like this had happened entirely because he was unmarried, which was why so many people would stop at nothing to secure a place beside him.
Xia Qinghe tossed his phone onto the desk and massaged his temples.
Qian Yulan's voice streamed endlessly from the phone. Only after she had talked herself hoarse did she realize her wretched son hadn't been listening at all.
Qian Yulan closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. In a slightly louder voice, she said, "Come home for dinner tonight. I've made your favorite..."
Xia Qinghe impatiently set his fountain pen down on the desk, cutting her off. "Mom, I'm busy with work. I don't have time for blind dates."
Qian Yulan sighed in defeat. Having such a clever son made being his mother exhausting. "She's Grandpa Fan's granddaughter. She studied classical Chinese language and literature and just finished graduate school. She's three years younger than you, a perfect match. Just meet her."
Xia Qinghe pinched the bridge of his nose. "How is she a match for me? I finished graduate school at twenty-two. She only graduated at twenty-six."
Qian Yulan heard his sarcasm. Why did this brat have to have a mouth like that?
Angered, Qian Yulan raised her voice. "Xia. Qing. He. Say that again. Is that how I taught you to behave?"
Xia Qinghe shut his mouth, huffing angrily, his neck stiff with defiance, but said nothing more.
"Are you coming home or not?" Qian Yulan was angry with her son too, but even so, her gentle nature meant that even her anger was soft and mild.
Only those close to her could tell she was angry.
The two stubbornly faced off over the phone.
Thinking of Qian Yulan's health, Xia Qinghe finally gave in, gritting his teeth. "Yes."
Qian Yulan adjusted the shawl around her shoulders. "Good. I'll go make the arrangements, then. Don't rush after work. Be careful on the road."
Xia Qinghe didn't hang up outright, but he didn't answer either, waiting for Qian Yulan to end the call.
In the end, Qian Yulan couldn't bear to leave her son working while angry. She said gently, "Qinghe, I know you've always had a mind of your own, but you're not young anymore. You'll be thirty in a few months. I know my own health better than anyone. I can't stay with you forever. I just want someone by your side who'll care about you and look after you in my place."
"A butler can do all that." Xia Qinghe didn't think he needed such a person. If he absolutely had to have one, he could hire a butler. Pay enough, and never mind asking after him-even if he died, someone would collect his body.
What was so good about marriage?
His mother had married, but what had marriage given her?
And what had it given him?
Deception, betrayal, concealment... Every disgusting word could describe the marriage he knew.
Qian Yulan kept reminding herself not to argue with him. "Fan Jing is a wonderful girl, cultured, delicate, and quiet. She'd make a very good wife. I believe you'll like her once you meet her."
Xia Qinghe scoffed. In his entire life, Lin Fengmian was the only person he'd liked on sight. Anyone else? Sorry, no.
"Mom, I'm very busy."
Qian Yulan sighed softly. She knew her son didn't want to listen anymore. Her marriage had been so terrible that it had cast a deep shadow over him. Getting him to marry would take more persistence.
"Then get back to work. I'll tell Butler Xie to make some of your favorite dishes."
Qian Yulan hung up and went downstairs.
A girl with her long hair loose sat quietly by the window. Sunlight fell over her, and a single glance at her brought a sense of peace.
The girl held a book. Hearing footsteps, she curved her lips into a measured smile. "Aunt Yulan."
Qian Yulan went over and took her hand. "Qinghe will be home for dinner tonight. You two haven't seen each other in years, have you? You can get to know each other again and have a good chat."
Xia Qinghe had been brought back to Shengjing at three and occasionally returned to Lingcheng to visit his maternal grandparents. He had met Fan Jing as a child, but that boy's heart was so small it only had room for Lin Fengmian. He never seemed to remember anyone else.
Fan Jing nodded obediently. "It has been a long time. I've almost forgotten what he looks like."
"Come, I'll show you some pictures." With that, Qian Yulan led Fan Jing off to look through the photo albums.
This was her favorite activity.
Her marriage might have failed, but she had the best son in the world, even if he was always exasperating her.
Lin Fengmian was woken by his phone vibrating. He rummaged under his pillow for ages before finding it. Seeing that it was his manager, he tossed it aside and ignored it.
Unfortunately, the caller had no intention of letting him off. A second later, the ringtone sounded again.
Lin Fengmian still ignored it.
The caller kept trying.
They kept this up for about half an hour before Lin Fengmian admitted defeat and answered. "You'd better have a reasonable explanation."
"Got any money lately?" Manager Lin's voice came through the phone, practically begging for a beating.
Having just spent forty million, Lin Fengmian was caught by the scruff of his neck. "What job?"
"Yu Huan wants a guest singing partner. Ten million for the appearance. You only have to go once and sing one song."
"Don't have time." Expecting him to give up lazing around for ten million? Dream on.
Lin Sui said, "...You're broke, so think about it."
"I'm broke, but my best buddy has money." Lin Fengmian shifted into a more comfortable position.
Lin Sui was speechless. Why did the artist he managed have a billionaire best buddy?!
The Lin Family wasn't in business and really didn't have much money. A member of a collateral branch, Lin Sui had always worked at Song Su's studio. As family whose background was thoroughly known, he'd been assigned to manage Lin Fengmian.
But no matter how hard he worked as a manager, there was no overcoming his artist's laziness. Out of the year's 365 days, he barely accepted any work and spent all day lying around. Somehow, he hadn't even flattened his backside. It was utterly unreasonable.
Song Su had once been unable to stand it and cut off Lin Fengmian's funds, hoping to spur him into making something of himself.
His best buddy had promptly given him several hundred million to spend however he liked.
There was simply no justice. Why couldn't he find a best buddy like that?
Lin Sui was consumed with envy. "Just wait until your best buddy gets married. See if he still gives you money then."
Please, just come out and work. Your best buddy will change once he has a wife. You still need money of your own.
Lin Fengmian raised an eyebrow. "Even if he gets married, will his wife get to control his premarital assets?"
Lin Sui shrugged. "Who knows? If he suddenly meets someone he loves to his very bones and wants to be their dog, forget his premarital assets-he'd hand over the Xia Corporation too."
"...Impossible," Lin Fengmian said. "Then he wouldn't be Xia Qinghe."
Xia Qinghe was so rational. After all the trouble he'd taken to get the Xia Corporation into his own bowl, he'd die before spitting it back out.
Lin Sui said, "...I said if."
"That 'if' will never happen to Xia Qinghe." Lin Fengmian was utterly certain.
Lin Sui lost his temper. "You can't just keep spending Xia Qinghe's money forever!"
"He's happy, I'm happy. What have you got to object to?"
Lin Sui raged helplessly. What objection did he have? At most, he was envious and jealous.
"Well, you can't buy President Xia a present with money he gave you, can you? I remember his birthday's coming up."
Lin Fengmian was caught by the scruff of his neck again. "Who's Yu Huan? How come I don't remember anyone by that name?"
Lin Sui smiled. He knew this meant Lin Fengmian had agreed. "It's..."
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