AAMIBBSBY 3
by starlightxelReaching an agreement, Shen Shixiao’s expression only then relaxed a few degrees.
“I will have my assistant draft the agreement tomorrow.”
“Waiter, serve the meal.”
This restaurant featured Italian specialties—the dishes Xia Zhi liked very much in the past. Before he was down and out, in order to eat authentic Italian food, he would specifically charter a flight with his friends and travel thousands of miles to Italy.
However, ever since he was kicked out of the Xia family, these friends gradually drifted away.
“Mr. Shen, this dish is super delicious.”
Xia Zhi was very clear-headed. Since Shen Shixiao was signing a marriage agreement with him, rounding it up, he was his food-and-clothing parent1An idiom historically referring to the local magistrates or the common people who support an official. In modern slang, it playfully refers to whoever pays your bills, signs your checks, or provides you with a living..
Frequently farming favorability points with his food-and-clothing parent, his future days would also be a bit easier.
“Thank you.” Shen Shixiao was very quiet when dining, especially when holding the knife and fork; the movements of his pale and slender wrists were elegant, like a performer.
Xia Zhi suddenly realized—a figure like Shen Shixiao, how could he possibly not have eaten these dishes?
Having no time for regret, he held his knife and fork and happily dined.
One cut! One hundred!
The taste of having money is truly good, orz2This is a classic text-based emoticon originating in Japan but widely used in Chinese web culture. It visually represents a stick figure kneeling on the ground, bowing in defeat, submission, or profound admiration..
After eating the meal, Xia Zhi swiftly bid farewell to Shen Shixiao and jogged to the nearby bus station.
Shen Shixiao had originally wanted to see him off, but by then, there was already no sign of him.
Tonight’s weather forecast said there would be heavy snow, which was rarely accurate.
The temperature dropped very quickly. Even though Xia Zhi’s down jacket was very thick, it still couldn’t withstand the cold. His hands and neck were shrunk into the clothes as much as possible, only revealing a pair of eyes.
A black sedan stopped by the roadside. Shen Shixiao rolled down the car window, quietly watching the bus stop platform.
Just now while eating, he noticed three little bears were sewn onto Xia Zhi’s down jacket, which should be a patch done to prevent stuffing from leaking due to the down jacket being damaged.
The edges of the sleeves were severely frayed, and the style was also not currently popular.
An oppressive atmosphere permeated the car cabin. Between Shen Shixiao’s brows, an imperceptible frown formed, his eyes ice-cold.
Xia Zhi was obviously Xia Huaishan’s biological son, yet he was living so impoverished.
Due to the severe weather, the bus was late in coming. Shen Shixiao noticed Xia Zhi’s legs and feet were shivering straight from the cold.
At this time, a black sedan slowly stopped in front of him.
“How happy future life is!”
“One day! One day! Sweet in my heart! Sweet in my heart!”
Xia Zhi’s legs beat to a rhythm, singing rap.
“I will take you home.”
Xia Zhi rubbed his reddened ears, only then noticing the person opposite was Shen Shixiao.
He lowered his eyes and refused, “No need, the bus is coming soon.”
Two stops away from here, there was a roasted sweet potato shop. Although the storefront was simple and crude, it was super delicious.
He had intentionally slipped away early just now, precisely for this.
If Shen Shixiao personally took him home, he would be too embarrassed to have the car stop for 20 minutes, specifically to wait for roasted sweet potatoes.
The pair of brown eyes in the car window looked at him calmly, seemingly not planning to give up.
Shen Shixiao said something to the driver, and the driver immediately got out of the car to open the door for Xia Zhi, quietly waiting for him to get in.
Sigh, won’t be able to eat roasted sweet potatoes.
“…I will trouble you then.” Xia Zhi wrapped in his down jacket, jogged and slipped into the car. A wave of heat filled his surroundings, warm and very comfortable.
Shen Shixiao liked to use fragmented time to handle company affairs; the car was equipped with a dedicated desk, a mini-fridge, and a wine cabinet.
Although he had enjoyed all of this in the past, he could clearly feel that Shen Shixiao’s requirements for quality of life were very strict and meticulous. This is probably the extravagance of the rich.
Xia Zhi sat obediently, his bright eyes blinking.
10 minutes later, Xia Zhi held onto the worn door curtain and cordially shouted to the boss couple, “Three roasted sweet potatoes!”
Shen Shixiao slowly stepped out of the car, staring at the pitch-black food preparation environment in front of him, frowning slightly.
Just this thing? It made Xia Zhi so greedy just now that his eyes went straight3An idiom describing someone staring blankly or fixedly at something out of intense shock, desire, or in this case, hunger.?
The driver sighed from the side. “This smell is really fragrant.”
The piping hot sweet potatoes came out of the oven. Xia Zhi handed one to the driver, and one to Shen Shixiao.
“Their family’s sweet potatoes are all roasted and sold fresh—crispy and soft, very sweet.”
Shen Shixiao glanced at the sweet potato on the small table and responded with a sound.
For the rest of the journey, the two had no conversation. The driver followed the direction Xia Zhi pointed and quickly arrived at the front gate of the residential complex.
Before getting out of the car, Xia Zhi softly thanked him, and suddenly turned his head to ask before leaving, “Mr. Shen, I am clear about the Xia family’s strength. May I ask what benefit you get from allying in marriage with me?”
This was Xia Zhi’s last doubt.
The late-night moonlight fell on Shen Shixiao’s black suit, only revealing a blurry side profile. He looked up at Xia Zhi. “Your family’s coastal land is very important to us. We want to do trade and transportation, and we must acquire that land.”
Xia Zhi nodded. “Understood.”
Carrying the piping hot roasted sweet potatoes in his arms, Xia Zhi held a flashlight and ran toward the tube-shaped apartment building.
At this time, a bright and burning beam of light suddenly appeared behind him. Xia Zhi turned his head slightly—it was Shen Shixiao’s car.
The corners of his lips curved into a faint smile as he waved toward the distance.
The feeling of having light is truly good.
The agreed-upon moving day with Shen Shixiao arrived. Xia Zhi didn’t have many of his own things, only two large suitcases.
However, a few days ago, he received an express delivery package which he had bought after thinking it over again and again.
The one who came to pick him up was Shen Shixiao’s driver. The driver was very polite. “President Shen’s meeting will end in 30 minutes, but he was afraid of delaying the agreed time with you so he let me come first. Without any accidents, we and President Shen will arrive home together.”
Shen Shixiao’s home was located in Baiyue Manor, a complex of single-family European-style villas, with very high privacy among owners. His home was the area occupying the largest land in the real estate development, guarded by dedicated property security personnel.
After getting out of the car, Xia Zhi found a man over fifty standing at the doorway. The man wore a butler’s uniform, his every gesture and movement fully displaying the etiquette of a wealthy household.
“Mr. Xia, right? Please come in.”
Xia Zhi was very accurate in judging people; this person was not a fuel-efficient lamp4A very common and classic Chinese idiom. It describes a person who is not easy to deal with, is shrewd, calculating, or likely to cause trouble.. Those long, narrow, slanted eyes looked rather uncomfortable.
“Mr. Shen has already arrived home.”
In the living room, Shen Shixiao was taking off his suit jacket; he should also have just arrived home.
The layer underneath was a black turtleneck sweater, which showed off his figure very well.
The butler raised his eyebrows slightly. The eldest young master seemed to be in a good mood today.
“You’re here.” Shen Shixiao tried to take his suitcase. “I will take you upstairs to see your room.”
Xia Zhi waved his hand. “No need, I can do it myself.”
Although there weren’t many suitcases, they were all large sizes, and carrying them upstairs was very strenuous.
At this time, several servants walked over from behind, coming close and wanting to carry the luggage for Xia Zhi.
Seeing they were girls, Xia Zhi felt too embarrassed, blocking them several times. “Let me do it myself, it’s very light.”
In order to show the luggage was very light, Xia Zhi carried one in each hand and jogged upstairs, stopping in the middle of the stairs to look back. “Look, very light, right?”
Shen Shixiao made a hand gesture towards the servants, and the servants left in tacit understanding.
“Your home is really beautiful.” Xia Zhi stopped at the corner, carefully looking at the framed painting above. “This is the work of French artist Morland, right?”
Shen Shixiao: “Yes, quite a niche artist.”
When Xia Zhi turned around, the standing suitcase suddenly tipped over, then, top-heavy, rolled down the stairs, falling apart with a “smack” sound. The things inside scattered sparsely all over the floor.
Xia Zhi gave a dry laugh. “The quality is not good.”
Picking up things one by one along the stairs, the servants in the house also came to help. When Xia Zhi remembered that express delivery package, it was already too late.
He only saw Shen Shixiao pick up the anti-wolf spray5Or pepper spray. In Chinese slang, a “wolf” (狼) is a pervert or sexual predator. Therefore, pepper spray or mace meant for self-defense is commonly called “anti-wolf spray.” at his feet, his gaze turning cold. “What is this?”
An awkward atmosphere spread through the room.
Xia Zhi: …
That! Listen to his excuses.
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