Shao Ke turned his wheelchair sideways, rested his arm on the armrest, and propped his left hand against his temple, wearing the hint of a smile.
"You picked my flowers and now you're selling them to me? Aren't you making this business a little too easy for yourself?"
Yan Ningke admitted it, but he wanted to anyway!
"Buy a bouquet! Don't worry, you won't lose out or get scammed. I guarantee it'll be more than worth the price!"
Shao Ke nearly laughed in exasperation at his shamelessness.
"Then tell me, how much?"
There was hope.
Yan Ningke smiled bashfully. "Not much. Just let me feel your abs."
Shao Ke was speechless. "..."
Lunatic.
Yan Ningke persisted. "Just once. I won't get greedy. You just take my hand like this and gently put it on-ah...!"
He had gotten carried away, lost his footing, and nearly fallen. He hurriedly grabbed the windowsill to steady himself.
Shao Ke abruptly sat upright, his expression shifting slightly as his hand involuntarily tightened around the armrest.
A moment later, a head popped up, still wearing a goofy smile. "Well? Do we have a deal?"
To die beneath a beauty's charms would make even being a ghost worthwhile.
His face livid, Shao Ke scolded him coldly. "Get down."
He'd snapped at him.
Not romantic at all!
The villain's presence was still intimidating.
Yan Ningke only dared grumble under his breath. He set the flowers on the windowsill and climbed down carefully.
Only after the ladder had been moved away and he heard Yan Ningke starting to tease the animals again did Shao Ke realize his palms were covered in sweat.
After lunch, Yan Ningke lay on his bed with the air conditioning on, feeling that this was how life ought to be lived.
A mansion, a dog, and a breathtakingly handsome benefactor.
Even towering buildings started from the ground. You still had to build your own life.
That afternoon, before it was time to cook, Yan Ningke played Frisbee with Lars in the yard.
He turned his head and saw Shao Ke at the entrance, dressed in an exquisite suit.
"Huh? Mr. Shao, are you going out?"
Shao Ke leisurely fastened his cuffs. "I'm attending a banquet. Have dinner on your own."
Yan Ningke nodded. "Oh."
Wait! A banquet!?
He suddenly remembered that many people from high society would attend this banquet.
Among them were Shao Yang and the Childhood Friend who had stabbed Shao Ke in the back.
He remembered that at this very banquet, Childhood Friend had pulled Shao Ke into a corner and said some ambiguous things, only for Shao Yang to happen upon them.
That hypocrite had ordered someone to stage an accident and push Shao Ke into the swimming pool.
The most disgusting part was that all those people around them, dressed so respectably, had stood by the pool pointing and commenting, yet refused to lend a hand.
Only when Shao Ke was on the verge of drowning had the hosts hurriedly sent bodyguards into the water.
And that bastard Shao Yang had waited until Shao Ke was rescued before coming over to make a show of concern.
This incident had also deepened the darkness and paranoia in Shao Ke's heart.
Yan Ningke still remembered how this passage in the book had portrayed Shao Ke as a madman, both pathetic and hateful.
But in fact, even when he had read it, his heart had ached for this villain.
He had done nothing wrong from beginning to end, yet had to endure everyone's arrogance and prejudice.
Yan Ningke decisively called out to stop him. "Wait!"
Shao Ke turned back and looked at him questioningly.
"Can I go with you?"
"Give me a reason."
Yan Ningke already had an excuse ready. "I can take care of you."
He took two steps forward, trying to persuade the man. "The driver can't go inside. It'll be more convenient if I'm there with you."
Shao Ke looked him over, wondering what mischief he was planning now.
Yan Ningke's eyes were filled with sincerity.
What bad intentions could he possibly have? He only wanted to freeload some food and drinks.
Whether or not he believed that nonsense, Shao Ke agreed. "Go get changed."
"Yes, sir!"
The original owner of this body had owned a few formal suits, but Yan Ningke hadn't brought them over.
After rummaging through everything, he finally found a black casual blazer.
He paired it with a simple white T-shirt, black wide-leg trousers, and skate shoes.
The overall look was pretty good.
A lively, fashionable gentleman.
Yan Ningke admired himself in the mirror and fussed with his hair a couple of times.
"Mr. Shao, what do you think? Satisfied?"
Shao Ke couldn't be bothered with him. "Hurry up."
Yan Ningke pouted. Stubbornly aloof bastard.
Would it kill you to give me a compliment?
Only after getting into the car did he notice how complete Shao Ke's ensemble was today.
From his cuffs to his bow tie, his watch, and his pocket square.
Every detail spoke of refinement.
Wide-eyed with curiosity, Yan Ningke admired him carefully from head to toe.
This was his first brush with the gates of high society.
Shao Ke rested against the seat with his eyes closed. He could feel that burning gaze.
But he didn't mind.
Over the years, he had seen far too many looks of all kinds, both open and covert.
He had long since grown numb.
The evening banquet was held at a private estate.
An array of luxury cars dazzled outside the main entrance.
Yan Ningke felt as though his eyes couldn't take them all in.
Cayennes, Maseratis, Porsches, G-Wagons!
There was even a Rolls-Royce Phantom.
"It's a real Phantom!"
Shao Ke gave a cold laugh. "Have you seen a fake one?"
Yan Ningke nodded earnestly. "Yes. Some expert drew one in a video's comments."
Shao Ke: "..."
Seriously nuts.
Yan Ningke's jaw remained dropped even after they entered the banquet hall.
The scenes of champagne, fine wine, fragrant gowns, and elegant coiffures he had seen on television slowly unfolded before his eyes in vivid clarity.
At a glance, there were lavish, expensive decorations and elaborate light fixtures casting a chilly glow.
People holding glasses gathered in groups of three or five to exchange pleasantries, their faces wreathed in smiles.
Only they knew how much of it was genuine and how much was false.
At the thought that it was all empty courtesy, Yan Ningke's excitement instantly cooled.
While he was sizing others up, they were scrutinizing him too.
Shao Ke went without saying. Even setting aside his current status, simply arriving in a wheelchair was enough to draw attention.
What was more, a stranger was following him.
Yan Ningke's parents had never taken him to a banquet. Some people in the same social tier as the Yan family did know that their eldest son had been abducted and later found.
But they couldn't put a face to him.
It never occurred to them that he might be a housekeeper. They assumed he was the male companion Shao Ke had brought.
A few gossip lovers had already begun whispering.
After all, apart from being the Shao family's former heir, Shao Ke still held shares in the family business.
When tragedy had struck his parents, those monsters had carved up his father's shares, but they hadn't been able to touch his mother's.
They had no legitimate claim.
Most people really wouldn't dare treat him lightly.
At least, not to his face.
The host came over to greet Shao Ke. Seeing that he didn't introduce Yan Ningke, the host didn't ask, either, and invited them to make themselves comfortable before going to welcome other guests.
Yan Ningke pushed him over to a less crowded seating area.
From this angle, they could see the entire room.
"Apart from dressing better and talking in a more roundabout way, they don't look much different from the gossip station outside a residential compound."
Shao Ke didn't understand and turned to ask, "What do you mean?"
Yan Ningke bent down and whispered in his ear, "The village entrance gossip station. The old folks' domain."
Shao Ke gave it some thought, understood what he meant, and suddenly smiled.
It really was an apt description.
Yan Ningke was explaining the differences between large-scale and small-scale gossip stations when a commotion rose at the entrance.
They both looked over.
It turned out that Shao Yang and Childhood Friend had arrived.
Before you continue