With a few days left before school started, An Yubei was getting bored.
Ji Dongsheng still hadn't returned, and he hadn't replied to any messages either. An Yubei didn't know what was going on.
An Yubei told Ji Shang about his worries, but Ji Shang said Ji Dongsheng was surely enjoying himself in a lover's embrace, having so much fun he'd forgotten about coming home.
An Yubei asked very seriously, "Is a lover's embrace really that wonderful?"
Ji Shang hurriedly said a lover's embrace was poison, afraid An Yubei would go looking for one of his own.
He had wanted to hang out with Lu Jinsheng, but Lu Jinsheng had been very busy lately.
The caregiver had taken leave for an unexpected matter, so Lu Jinsheng needed to look after Zhang Hui at the hospital.
An Yubei didn't want to go to the office with Ji Shang, so he stayed home gathering dust.
That day, after breakfast, An Yubei lazed around in bed for a while before going back to finish his golden house.
Another batch of gold bars had arrived, just enough to complete his courtyard.
He now had five hundred million worth in his room, just enough to build a golden house.
To show off his achievement, An Yubei decided to visit Ji Shang, but turning up empty-handed didn't feel right, so he went to the kitchen to prepare a thoughtful packed lunch.
His big brother was working hard to support the family, so a salted-fish baby like him ought to do something too.
The moment An Yubei entered the kitchen, Lao Wang looked as though he were facing a formidable enemy. "Young Master An, please leave the cooking to the chef. Go wait in the living room. It'll be ready soon."
"No, of course I have to make a loving packed lunch for my big brother myself. How could I let someone else do it?"
An Yubei pouted. "You don't believe in me, Lao Wang. Don't worry, I can cook."
An Yubei had gotten the wrong idea. It wasn't that Lao Wang didn't trust him or thought his cooking would taste bad or that he couldn't cook. He was simply afraid An Yubei might burn himself or bump into something.
Given how protective Ji Shang was of An Yubei, even the slightest scrape would be a catastrophe.
Lao Wang couldn't shoulder that responsibility.
Such a precious treasure ought to be enshrined, not descend into the mortal world to experience everyday life.
"Young Master An, please don't make things difficult for me. If Mr. Ji finds out you're cooking in the kitchen, we'll lose our jobs."
Lao Wang deliberately exaggerated the severity to put An Yubei off the idea of cooking.
Sure enough, An Yubei was swayed. "Really?"
Lao Wang nodded vigorously, and An Yubei asked, "Why?"
An Yubei didn't think Ji Shang was an unreasonable person. Why would he fire people for no reason?
His big brother was the best big brother in the world. He wouldn't make things difficult for anyone.
Lao Wang ushered An Yubei out. "Because he's afraid you'll get hurt. What if you burn yourself in the kitchen?"
"Young Master An, just sit and watch some television. Leave everything to the chef."
"All right, then!" An Yubei could only sit quietly on the sofa and watch television.
Just over half an hour later, a fragrant, lovingly prepared packed lunch was packaged and set before An Yubei.
"Young Master An, your lunch is ready, and the driver has the car ready too. You can leave now."
An Yubei thought this was a bit excessive. "I could just take the subway."
Lao Wang shook his head. "We have to ensure your safety."
An Yubei got into the car, and the driver started it.
About half an hour later, An Yubei arrived at the office building housing the Ji Group.
There were many people downstairs, all hurrying to and fro as though their backsides were on fire.
Working in a big city meant a fast pace and enormous pressure. Everyone wished they could split themselves into eight to get everything done.
Once upon a time, he had been one of them too. Fortunately, he'd made it ashore and was lying flat now.
He never wanted to hustle again.
As soon as he entered through the building's revolving doors, Zhao Ze came over to greet him. "Young Master An, I'll take you upstairs."
An Yubei was about to ask how he knew he was coming, but then he figured Lao Wang must have told him, so he didn't ask.
Zhao Ze took the insulated lunch box from An Yubei and led him into the elevator.
When they reached Ji Shang's office door, Zhao Ze handed the insulated lunch box back to An Yubei. "Young Master An, President Ji said you should go straight in."
With that, he turned and went to a nearby workstation.
Holding the lunch box, An Yubei gently turned the door handle and poked his head in to look around. Ji Shang was on the phone in front of the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows.
He spoke in English the entire time, and An Yubei only understood about half of it.
Ji Shang's back was straight, his shoulders broad, his hips narrow, and his legs long. The smooth lines of his back conveyed a sense of strength.
He looked good from every angle.
An Yubei couldn't help marveling, My big brother is so incredibly handsome!
I'm going to give him a scare.
He slipped inside, gently set down the lunch box, and tiptoed up behind Ji Shang.
Once Ji Shang hung up, An Yubei eagerly stretched out his little hands and stood on tiptoe to cover Ji Shang's eyes.
Ji Shang was much taller than An Yubei, so covering his eyes was a little difficult even on tiptoe.
An Yubei playfully deepened his voice. "Guess who?"
His arms began to ache after only a short while.
Ji Shang played along. "Let me have a good think. Who could it be?"
As he spoke, he reached behind himself and gripped An Yubei's waist, then felt his way down to his plump bottom.
"Whose little bottom is so perky?" Ji Shang chuckled, squeezing a little harder.
An Yubei wriggled and took his hands away from Ji Shang's eyes, complaining coyly, "Hmph, you're so silly."
Ji Shang smiled, turned around, and gathered An Yubei into his arms. "Oh, it's Xiao Bei. Your big brother really is silly."
Ji Shang truly hadn't heard the door open, but he had heard An Yubei's thoughts, so he had known all along that it was An Yubei who had come in.
He had only played dumb to make An Yubei happy.
"Time to eat. I brought you a loving packed lunch." An Yubei took Ji Shang's hand and sat down on the sofa with him.
An Yubei took out the lunch and explained, "I didn't make this. Lao Wang wouldn't let me. My cooking is actually pretty good."
"I'll cook for you when I get the chance, okay?"
Rather than answer immediately, Ji Shang beckoned to An Yubei. "Come here, Xiao Bei."
An Yubei obediently sat on Ji Shang's lap and wrapped his arms around his neck. "What is it?"
Ji Shang said, "What made you want to come over today, Xiao Bei?"
Usually, An Yubei was very reluctant to come to the office, as though a monster lived here and would eat him if he came.
Only after Ji Shang's reminder did An Yubei remember his real reason for coming to see him.
Like someone showing off a treasure, he took out his phone, opened his photo album, and showed Ji Shang the picture he had taken.
It was a picture of a house built from gold bars. Like a little baby desperate for praise, An Yubei said proudly, "Look, aren't I amazing? I managed to build it."
"Yes, very impressive."
Ji Shang wrapped his arms around An Yubei's waist, his eyes gradually darkening. "Would you like a real golden house, Xiao Bei? A house made of gold that you could live in."
Leaning against Ji Shang's chest and looking at his phone, An Yubei said lazily, "Wouldn't that make me A Jiao?"
"Keeping a beauty in a golden house. Are you going to hide me away?" An Yubei raised his eyes and met Ji Shang's amber gaze.
Emotions An Yubei couldn't understand swirled in those eyes, but he understood one thing: Ji Shang truly wanted to hide him away in a golden house.
He wants to hide me away? What for? An Yubei blinked his lovely eyes, unable to figure it out.
Soon, he laughed again and squirmed in Ji Shang's arms. "Do you want to punish me again? You're trying a different trick now, aren't you?"
Instead of spanking me, is he going to lock me up?
"Of course not. I just don't want you to leave, Xiao Bei."
Nor did he want anyone else to see him, though he didn't say that aloud.
An Yubei tossed his phone aside and nuzzled against Ji Shang with a smile. "I don't want to leave you."
The sight of An Yubei smiling so sweetly made Ji Shang's heart itch terribly. His gaze settled on An Yubei's lips. He had tasted them that day, but only briefly, nowhere near enough to satisfy him.
Perhaps he could continue today.
With that thought, he leaned in.