In the end, Lu Jinsheng still returned the bank card to An Yubei. He said, "The thought alone is enough. I'm very grateful."
"It's late. Hurry home."
An Yubei was about to say more when a deep voice came from outside the window. "Young master, it's time to go home."
An Yubei recognized that voice. It belonged to Ji Shang's assistant, Zhao Ze.
Before An Yubei could be surprised or think about why Ji Shang had tracked him down, he hurriedly said, "Coming."
"I'm leaving now. Bye."
After saying goodbye to Lu Jinsheng, An Yubei ran out.
Watching An Yubei leave, Lu Jinsheng felt conflicted.
The young master was innocent and kind. If only he could have him.
He had to work hard. He wanted to give An Yubei the best of everything.
As soon as An Yubei left the alley where Lu Jinsheng lived, he saw a top-of-the-line Maybach parked by the road.
He skipped over. Zhao Ze opened the door for him, and he bent down and got into the car.
The atmosphere inside was unbearably oppressive, as freezing as a cold winter.
Ji Shang simply sat there, radiating an oppressive authority.
He seemed angry.
An Yubei shrank back a little and cautiously asked, "What's wrong?"
Ji Shang lifted his eyes slightly and cast An Yubei a sidelong look. "Where did you go?"
Since he already knows, why is he asking? Does he want to see whether I'll tell the truth?
Ji Shang is clearly worrying too much. How could I lie to handsome Brother Shang?
It's wrong to lie to pretty Ji Shang.
An Yubei moved closer to Ji Shang and wrapped his arms around his arm, tilting his head to rest it on his shoulder. "You have no idea how brave I was today."
"Tonight, Lu Jincheng got people to corner Lu Jinsheng. I protected him as we left together, but my phone got smashed during the fight. In the end, Lu Jinsheng took a blow from a club for me."
"He got hurt for me. I couldn't just leave him, so I took him home."
"I was so scared."
An Yubei blinked and looked up into Ji Shang's eyes. I'm so pitiful. Ji Shang will definitely feel bad for me and won't have the heart to scold me.
Ji Shang sighed, feeling that An Yubei had him wrapped around his finger. He really couldn't bear to scold An Yubei; he could only feel bad for him.
Letting out a breath, Ji Shang said, "If something like this happens again, tell me immediately. I can handle it for you."
"Leave anything dangerous to me. No matter how many thorns lie ahead, I'll clear them away for you."
An Yubei hugged Ji Shang's arm even tighter. Ji Shang is so nice. Handsome and considerate.
Ji Shang had a keen sense of smell. He caught the scent of safflower oil.
"Are you hurt? Why do I smell safflower oil?"
An Yubei shook his head and hurriedly explained, "I'm not hurt. Lu Jinsheng was hurt. The smell got on me when I applied medicine for him. It's not from me."
Ji Shang's tone suddenly turned dangerous. "You applied medicine for him?"
But An Yubei didn't pick up on it. He said cheerfully, "Yes, I rubbed it in for him. Brother Shang, aren't I amazing? He even said my massage felt really good."
This was also the first time An Yubei had found a line of work he was good at. Perhaps if the Ji family went bankrupt in a power struggle someday, he could still support his family by giving massages.
His wrist was suddenly seized. An Yubei looked at Ji Shang in bewilderment. "What's wrong?"
"How could you give someone else a massage?" Ji Shang rubbed An Yubei's sore hands and said with concern, "I spoil you and indulge you, but not so you can wait on other people."
"Remember, you're not allowed to do this again. Your hands are precious!"
An Yubei still didn't quite understand what Ji Shang meant. What was so precious about his hands? They were just an ordinary pair of human hands.
They could neither turn stone into gold nor deftly do everything. They couldn't have been more ordinary.
After pondering for a while, An Yubei said, "Then am I not allowed to give you a massage either?"
The words "not allowed" rolled around in Ji Shang's throat again and again, but never came out.
Fine. He admitted he wasn't any better himself.
Ji Shang pulled An Yubei into his arms and declared overbearingly, "From now on, you're only allowed to give me massages. No one else."
"If I find out, I won't touch you. I'll go after him."
Ji Shang's warning worked very well. An Yubei huddled in his arms, not daring to move.
A moment later, he bit his lip and asked hesitantly, "Not even Ji Dongsheng?"
Ji Shang's tone was firm. "No."
An Yubei gave a quiet "Oh," then said, "I understand."
Leaning against Ji Shang's chest, An Yubei thought, Ji Shang is way too overbearing. Not even Dad is allowed.
Ji Shang: "...!"
If he wasn't a little overbearing, someone would trick the little guy away.
That brat Lu Jinsheng was too wicked.
Unable to find An Yubei, Ji Shang had specifically checked the surveillance footage, only to discover that Lu Jinsheng had been feigning weakness all along to make An Yubei feel sorry for him.
He didn't know what the two had said, but An Yubei had taken his hand and left through the back entrance.
There were no cameras at the back entrance, so he didn't know what had happened. When he rushed over to check, all he saw was An Yubei's shattered phone.
Although he didn't know what had happened, he could tell that Lu Jinsheng was up to no good.
That damn Lu Jinsheng was truly scheming, actually deceiving his precious boy.
After taking An Yubei upstairs, Ji Shang went to the study.
"Find everyone who cornered Xiao Bei at the back entrance. I don't want to see them again."
"Also, make some trouble for Lu Jincheng. Let him learn the consequences of messing with my little brother."
Zhao Ze nodded. "Understood, Mr. Ji."
After Zhao Ze left, Ji Shang smoked in the study for a while. Only after stubbing out his cigarette did he get up and return to his room.
Tonight's ordeal had left him a little tired. Ji Shang wanted to take a bath and relax.
After filling the tub, he took off his clothes and stepped inside.
Whenever he thought of An Yubei giving Lu Jinsheng a massage, his chest tightened terribly, as though something were poking him there over and over.
The person he cherished like a treasure had been used as a servant. He was truly angry.
If An Yubei hadn't said Lu Jinsheng was very useful, Ji Shang would never have kept him around.
Ji Shang rubbed his temples, but his anger still hadn't eased.
Soon, he heard the door open. His guard went up, and he asked coldly, "Who is it?"
Footsteps soon approached. The bathroom door opened from outside, and then a little head peeked in.
"Brother Shang, it's me."
An Yubei's smile was lovely, especially with the little canine tooth he showed. It was cute and soothing.
His anger vanished completely. Ji Shang beckoned to An Yubei. "Xiao Bei, come here."
An Yubei obediently walked over and leaned against the edge of the bathtub like a little animal. "Are you still angry?"
Ji Shang fixed his gaze on him. "You came to see me just for this?"
An Yubei nodded. "Yes. I was afraid you were upset, Brother Shang, so I couldn't sleep."
An Yubei smelled faintly of shower gel. It was clearly the same brand and fragrance Ji Shang used, yet he felt it smelled a little better on An Yubei.
He raised a hand and stroked An Yubei's head, as though petting a little animal. "You couldn't sleep just because of this?"
An Yubei nodded vigorously. "Yes. I was wrong. Please don't be angry with me, okay?"
This familial bond had been so hard to come by. An Yubei didn't want there to be any misunderstandings between them.
I really like Ji Shang. I don't want him to be angry.
Ji Shang's hand came to rest on An Yubei's face. After a moment, he said, "Do you want me to stop being angry?"
An Yubei nuzzled Ji Shang's hand and said obediently, "Of course I do."
Ji Shang's eyes gradually darkened. "Give me a massage, and we'll let this go."
An Yubei: "...!"
Wow, Ji Shang really is easy to appease.