After finishing the work discussion, Jiang Nan should, by rights, have taken a taxi home.
Then he remembered that he had been in this world for almost a week without properly exploring it, so he turned left and went to the mall to buy a black baseball cap.
His pink hair was too conspicuous. Given that his sleaziness had now landed him on the trending searches, keeping a lower profile was probably best.
The technological level of the world in the book was about the same as his original world's, and many of the food and drink shops even had the same names.
Jiang Nan got tired halfway through his shopping. He surveyed the nearby milk tea shops and, out of habit, headed into Mixue.
Halfway there, he suddenly remembered that he was rich.
So he happily turned around and dashed into Nayuki's Tea across the way.
He spent twenty-four yuan on a cup of milk tea.
There weren't many customers at this hour, so he stood in front of the counter and waited a little.
The baseball cap was solid black, with an H printed on the side-a very simple design. The young man wore it pulled low, so from the front, only the smooth line of his jaw and his straight, finely sculpted nose were faintly visible.
From the side, the pink hair his cap couldn't contain was still visible.
When the server handed over his milk tea, they couldn't help stealing a few extra looks.
That was an aura only a handsome guy could have.
Jiang Nan carried his milk tea outside, tore the plastic wrapper off the straw, pushed it into the cup, and took a sip.
771 watched intently as he finished drinking, then couldn't help asking, "How is it? How is it?"
Jiang Nan gave it serious thought. "How should I put it? It tastes like milk tea."
771 spluttered: [You said something, yet somehow said nothing.]
It was already nine at night when Jiang Nan took a taxi back to Jinghe Garden.
The sky was pitch-black, but Jinghe Garden was brightly lit.
A winding little river ran through the villa complex. Nearby streetlights shone brightly over its shimmering waters.
When Jiang Nan pushed open the door, he caught a faint whiff of smoke.
It was light, and smelled much better than ordinary cheap cigarettes.
The living room lights were off. All he could make out was a figure on the sofa and a glowing ember.
Click.
Jiang Nan flipped the switch.
The living room lit up at once.
The crystal chandelier shone brightly, its light falling into the man's pitch-black eyes.
Fu Jingzhou narrowed his eyes and looked over, a slender cigarette held between his pale lips. He sat on the sofa, with his wheelchair beside him.
"You're back?"
His voice was hoarse when he spoke, yet inexplicably sexy.
"Mm."
Jiang Nan kept getting the feeling that he was in a terrible mood, so he nonchalantly changed into slippers, put the completely cold roasted marshmallows he was holding on the coffee table, and made to bolt.
He had only taken one step when two brief words suddenly came from behind him. "Come here."
The tone was casual, as though he were calling over a cat or teasing a dog.
Jiang Nan tensed his jaw.
Just as 771 thought he was about to throw in the towel, Jiang Nan obediently went over and sat down. "Baby, are you in a bad mood?"
Fu Jingzhou didn't take up that topic. Instead, he asked, "Where did you go today? Why were you so late getting back?"
Jiang Nan said, "I went to discuss a stand-up comedy show, then did some shopping. Oh, right, I might have to go to Haicheng next week for a show."
As he listened to Jiang Nan's account of his day, Fu Jingzhou stubbed out his cigarette and propped his chin on one hand, looking unconcerned.
The man really was devastatingly handsome. Every feature was just right, refined and austere-the sort who could put on a kasaya and go play a beautiful monk.
The tiny crimson beauty mark at the outer corner of his eye, in particular, made him look all the more romantic and rakish.
As he quietly stared at someone, Jiang Nan suddenly felt disgruntled.
Fuck, with a face like this right here, how the hell did the protagonist shou fall for the protagonist gong???
An eye disease was the only explanation.
"So discussing a show took you to the police station?"
Fu Jingzhou spoke unhurriedly.
That simple sentence wiped away every little thought running through Jiang Nan's head.
Damn!
Fu Jingzhou already knew the little secret he'd worked so hard to hide!!
Jiang Nan sniffed, feeling inexplicably embarrassed. "How did you know?"
Fu Jingzhou didn't answer, merely lowering his lashes.
Jiang Nan flew into a rage. "You had someone follow me?"
"Not follow you. Protect you," Fu Jingzhou said.
Jiang Nan paused, a belated flicker of joy rising in his heart.
"I have bodyguards?"
Watching delight spread across his face, Fu Jingzhou couldn't help curling his lips slightly. "That happy?"
How could he not be happy?
He finally got to enjoy the perks of a wealthy family.
Transmigrating into this book had been so worth it!
Jiang Nan tried hard to suppress his smile, only making the little dimples at the corners of his lips even more pronounced.
"Find a time for me to meet them, then."
"As you like," Fu Jingzhou said. "You still haven't answered me. How did you end up at the police station?"
Jiang Nan stammered a little. "I went to do a good deed."
No one else could find out about today's social-death incident at the police station.
Fu Jingzhou gave a derisive chuckle. "How kind of you."
Jiang Nan patted his chest. "As a new youth of the new era, doing my part to create a good social environment for our country is only right."
That air of utter righteousness...
Fu Jingzhou was left speechless.
Jiang Nan quietly enjoyed himself for a while. Since Fu Jingzhou had arranged bodyguards for him, he reciprocated by asking, "What's wrong? You don't look very happy tonight."
Fu Jingzhou was silent for a long while, then suddenly reached out and gripped Jiang Nan's chin.
With the distance between them narrowed, he caught that faint scent of palmarosa.
"Jiang Nan."
"Hm?"
Fu Jingzhou asked slowly, "Do I treat you well?"
The question caught him completely off guard.
Jiang Nan gave it serious thought.
Though the big shot had a rather sharp, mean tongue, he gave him food, drinks, and a huge villa to live in.
He really treated him pretty well.
Jiang Nan was thinking so seriously that he failed to notice how, during that half-minute of contemplation, the man's gaze grew colder and colder.
Even the faint smile on his lips turned sinister.
Jiang Nan said, "Pretty well. It's just that your tastes aren't very normal."
Fu Jingzhou raised an eyebrow. "What's abnormal about them?"
Jiang Nan sucked in his cheeks and freed his chin from the man's fingers.
"For example... you really like holding my chin when you talk to me."
Fu Jingzhou: "..."
He was speechless for a few seconds, then withdrew his hand.
Only for Jiang Nan to catch his fingers halfway.
The young man's palm was warm, his skin fine and smooth.
Jiang Nan placed Fu Jingzhou's fingers against his jaw. "But I respect you. You can keep holding my chin while you talk to me."
Fu Jingzhou lowered his lashes and stared into those amber eyes.
They were so clear, like a pool of clean spring water.
Everywhere he looked, there was only his own reflection.
Fu Jingzhou froze.
The outer edge of his hand rested against the young man's Adam's apple, and he could feel its slightly nervous tremble.
Fu Jingzhou suddenly smiled.
"So willing to play along?"
You're my wife. Who else would I play along with? Jiang Nan thought.
But Fu Jingzhou cared about his pride and didn't like anyone calling him his wife.
Jiang Nan could only say, "We're already married. Of course I should spoil you and treat you well."
Fu Jingzhou said nothing.
He quietly watched Jiang Nan.
It hadn't been particularly cold today. Jiang Nan had spent the whole day out and about and worked up a little sweat. Though it was no longer visible, the pink hair over his forehead was still damp.
Those amber eyes were so sincere.