Friends

Nan Qing, suppressing the heat in her face, met Huo Yuzhou's gaze, her rebuttal somewhat weak.

"I didn't start something and then abandon it; I didn't start anything at all—"

Footsteps could be heard outside the private room. Nan Qing lowered her voice and whispered something to him.

" Huo Yuzhou, you know perfectly well what's going on, don't talk nonsense."

"You never asked me to help you; you just insisted on doing it—"

The rest of the words were too hot for him to say, his ears were burning.

But his deep, handsome face remained remarkably calm, a gentle smile playing on his lips, his voice tender and lingering.

I'm willing.

"Isn't this a kind of mutual interdependence, where you are in me and I am in you, Baby?"

Nan Qing, who was sitting in the chair, shifted her position, trying to create some distance between herself and him.

But the next moment, he and his chair were pulled back. Huo Yuzhou looked at him, his eyes burning with a scorching light, and asked:

"You have to take responsibility for me, young master."

"You can't just walk away and deny it, Baby, can you?"

Nan Qing thought for a moment,

"But I already told you last night that I don't want to be in a relationship, and I don't want any romantic entanglements with you."

"You know, I've never been in a relationship because I really hate it; I don't like it at all."

"You have to respect me, Huo Yuzhou?"

"Can't we just be friends? Like before... but not exactly the same. Anyway, I won't bully you. Can't we just get along peacefully?"

"I'm willing to work for you, but don't treat me like your wife, treat you like your boss. I'll become more and more successful and make you lots and lots of money. Is that not even okay?"

Those soft, red lips glistened, opening and closing with each word.

Huo Yuzhou's dark gaze fell on his mouth, watching that little mouth chatter on and on, his Adam's apple bobbing back and forth.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Nan Qing reached out and poked his shoulder.

"Did you hear what I said, Huo Yuzhou?"

The man gave a low "hmm".

"Give me a kiss, Baby."

Nan Qing: "?"

"We're friends, right? And we're both men, what's wrong with men kissing each other?"

Huo Yuzhou's steady voice had no inflection, and coupled with his intelligent face, it was easy to give people the feeling that they would listen to whatever he said.

Nan Qing stared blankly at that face, her voice slow and hesitant.

"But normal men don't kiss each other."

Huo Yuzhou: "But we're not just ordinary friends, Qingqing."

"I helped you. We're closer than ordinary friends, and Qingqing is such a generous young man; he certainly wouldn't let his friend suffer a loss."

The man's deep voice flowed through the air, drifting into his ears.

Just one bite.

"Besides signifying our strengthened friendship, I'm also happy to help my good friend resolve his manager's problems."

"You know, Baby, Huading doesn't have a suitable agent for you."

"I feel like you're trying to fool me, and you're really long-winded..."

The handsome boy, whom he had trapped in the chair, muttered something.

Huo Yuzhou sighed after his attempt to seduce Huo failed, and prepared to resume normal social distancing.

The next instant, the handsome boy who had been muttering something quickly leaned over and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Huo Yuzhou lifted his eyelashes, a moment of blankness appearing in his sharp, deep eyes.

"Alright, we're even now!"

Nan Qing quickly withdrew her movement, then asked him with some uncertainty,

"So now we're back to being even closer friends than just ordinary friends, right?"

You won't bring that up again, will you? And you won't insist that I date you, will you?

Those long, narrow phoenix eyes were half-closed, then quickly opened again.

A fleeting hint of pleasure crossed her eyes as she watched him chuckle.

"Of course, we're the best of friends, Baby."

Huo Yuzhou resumed his seated posture, once again displaying the composed and elegant demeanor of a seasoned professional, much like a good friend offering to help him plan his career path.

"Regarding the agent issue, the solution is actually quite simple. I can have my assistant make a trip to Huading and have your agent contract signed separately."

"You can choose any agent in the industry, as long as you like them, your husband will help you negotiate."

Nan Qing's eyes widened.

"However, if you find that too troublesome, I can also acquire Huading Entertainment— "

Huo Yuzhou paused, looking at him meaningfully.

"With friends as close as us, you can do whatever you want at the company. You can kick out anyone you don't like, snatch the resources you want, and do whatever you want. Nobody dares to tell you what to do."

"You'll be the freest artist, Baby."

Nan Qing looked at him, her rounded eyes blinking gently, and sighed:

" Huo Yuzhou, the way you talk makes me feel like a high-ranking eunuch in the imperial court."

Huo Yuzhou: "?"

Nan Qing sighed deeply, her eyes shining:

"That's the kind of corrupt eunuch chief steward who abuses his power!"

"No wonder everyone likes to bully others by relying on their power. You just described it, and I already feel incredibly satisfied!"

Huo Yuzhou chuckled and then offered him a third suggestion.

"Of course, if you hate those people at Huading Entertainment, your husband can start a new company for you, sign only you as an artist, and have all the employees in the company serve you alone."

Nan Qing looked at him and suddenly asked:

"Is this also considered friendship?"

Huo Yuzhou's thin, crimson lips curved into a smile, his voice deep and resonant.

"Of course, I'm a very loyal person, and I'm only good to my friends."

Nan Qing didn't rush to make a choice, saying she needed to think about it.

-

The sunlight outside the window is long and bright, and the cicadas chirp incessantly in the trees as summer draws to a close.

After lunch, Nan Qing felt a little drowsy.

He was too excited last night and didn't get any rest.

Fortunately, he didn't have any work in the afternoon, so he planned to have Uncle Li take him home to rest later.

Before leaving, Nan Qing took a detour to the restroom.

The wooden floor beneath his feet gleamed with a lustrous sheen, maintained by tung oil. Nan Qing's light footsteps echoed as he passed by, but around the corner he heard someone call his name.

" My Qingqing."

Nan Qing's body trembled, the ease on her face vanished abruptly, and even her fingers unconsciously curled up.

He exhaled softly again before turning around to look at the person behind him.

It was summer, yet the visitor was dressed in a conservative three-piece suit. Even while eating, his clothes were buttoned up tightly, and there wasn't a single wrinkle on his trousers.

With deep-set eyebrows and a high nose, he was handsome and aloof, exuding an aura of insecurity even without anger.

She looks exactly the same as she did when she went abroad six months ago.

Nan Qing looked at him and smiled gently, but her nose felt a little sore.

He thought he should probably pretend he hadn't heard the call.

Instead of turning his head blankly like this, looking exactly like a stray dog that has been kicked out of its home.

She also had to pretend to be indifferent under the man's stern and scrutinizing gaze.

"What are you doing here, bro--"

Nan Qing swallowed the unfinished form of address and changed her words:

"What a coincidence, young master."