AAMIBBSBY 5

The hall once again fell into dead silence. That crisp call of husband was too conspicuous, making it hard not to make people notice.

Xia Huaishan’s loose skin trembled slightly, looking in the distance with doubt. 

Is the relationship between Xia Zhi and Shen Shixiao actually this good?

On the other side, Xia Mingxuan’s face was deathly pale. Qin Wanru muttered, “In broad daylight, he is not afraid of losing face—even our Xia family is still afraid of losing face.”

With a “bang” sound, Xia Mingxuan, with a dark face, heavily placed the red wine glass in his hand onto the waiter’s tray next to him, looking at Xia Zhi with sourness.

It must be Xia Zhi shouting like this on purpose, otherwise, Shen Shixiao wouldn’t pay attention to him at all.

At that time, Shen Shixiao had already taken strides with his long legs and quickly squatted down to check Xia Zhi’s condition.

“Where does it hurt?”

“Doesn’t hurt.”

After confirming he had no major issues, Shen Shixiao hooked his waist and slowly helped him up. 

The palm of his hand was very wide, transmitting the temperature of his fingertips through the suit fabric, touching Xia Zhi’s waist—it was ticklish.

Xia Zhi lowered his eyes, kept his head down, and cried from his own stupidity¹Modern slang. It means doing something so incredibly embarrassing or dumb that you mentally want to cry at yourself..

Truly so embarrassing.

Fang Tingyu and the others also gathered around, asking with concern, “Are you okay?”

Xia Zhi mumbled the sentence: “I’m fine.”

The band continued playing. The melodious sound of the violin slowly circled, the cocktail party recovered into a scene of intertwining wine cups and chatting happily.

Fang Tingyu joked, “You two are quite affectionate.”

The surrounding old antiques of the board of directors still hadn’t left; the obedient boy from just now looked over there intently. 

He was specially brought by his father, wanting to form a marriage alliance with Shen Shixiao. However, this Xia Zhi seems to have already married Shen Shixiao?

His father is really unreliable. Fortunately, the proposal of a marriage alliance just now wasn’t said out loud. Otherwise, it would be truly embarrassing.

Ever since Xia Zhi was helped up, he kept his head down. From Shen Shixiao’s angle, he could see the hair whorl on the top of his head as he look down.

Very cute.

“I couldn’t find you just now, and was a bit anxious.” Xia Zhi clutched his chest, his soft eyes and brows carrying a bit of anxiety. “I was so afraid you would leave me.”

How about it? White lotus²A very popular Chinese internet slang term. Originally representing purity, it is now used sarcastically to describe someone who outwardly appears innocent, pure, and fragile, but is actually manipulative and hypocritical. or not?

He learned all of this from novels!

Shen Shixiao’s eyes glowed with a faint radiance. He raised his hand and covered Xia Zhi’s head. “I won’t leave you.”

The other old antiques also knew of the relationship between the two. They congratulated them with a few sentences and left, lacking interest.

Fang Tingyu had been standing to the side the whole time, feeling the interaction mode between the two was very interesting, so he took the initiative to reach out his hand and introduce himself, “Xia Zhi, hello, I am Fang Tingyu, Shixiao’s buddy.”

Just as Xia Zhi was about to shake hands with him, he was suddenly stopped by Shen Shixiao, who held it back in his own palm.

“Since you’ve met, let’s find a time to get together tomorrow,” Shen Shixiao said in a low voice.

Fang Tingyu sneered with a laugh, “Stingy.”

At this time, Xia Huaishan leaned closer, asking with feigned concern, “Zhizhi, did the fall hurt just now? You must be careful next time.”

Xia Zhi blinked his eyes. “Thank you for your concern, Dad, I’m fine. Compared to being kicked out of the house, wandering outside destitute and working alone, this counts as nothing.”

Xia Huaishan’s face stiffened a few degrees. “That’s good then.”

“Ah.” Xia Zhi suddenly covered his mouth, looking at Shen Shixiao with feigned worry. “Don’t misunderstand. Although my dad kicked me out of the house, he still loves me in his heart.”

As soon as this sentence was spoken, even the look in Fang Tingyu’s eyes when looking at Xia Huaishan became deeply meaningful.

Shen Shixiao’s face carried a rare smile. “Okay.”

Xia Huaishan was so angry he blew his beard and glared his eyes, yet abruptly didn’t dare to retort a single sentence. 

He originally wanted to invite Shen Shixiao and Xia Zhi to come home for a meal, but Xia Zhi simply didn’t give him the chance to open his mouth.

Watching Xia Huaishan suffer a snub and leave resentfully, Xia Zhi narrowed his eyes and smiled.

Truly thrilling!

He looked up with a glance, coincidentally meeting Shen Shixiao’s eyes. 

Realizing the two of them were still holding hands, he gently pulled it out.

“How did I perform?”

Shen Shixiao said in a gentle voice, “Mm, very excellent.”

The cocktail party ended. Xia Zhi followed Shen Shixiao home, during which they ran into Xia Huaishan’s family on the red carpet, and his gaze did not linger for even half a minute.

Qin Wanru scolded, “Look! This crow just flew onto a branch and became a phoenix³An idiom for “rags to riches” or rising in social status, usually through a very advantageous marriage., and already refuses to recognize our family. What can we still count on him to help us with?”

Xia Huaishan was played a trick on by Xia Zhi today, and was also very irritated, saying in a bad mood, “Shut up!”

“You only know how to be fierce to me!” Qin Wanru continued to complain, “If I had known earlier, we would have let our Mingxuan go.”

Xia Mingxuan, who had kept a dark face the whole time, said, “Those two are just putting on an act for the occasion, and you guys actually believe it.”

Returning home, Xia Mingxuan locked himself in his room and searched Shen Shixiao’s name once again.

In the past few years, because his mother had no official status, he was also hidden and tucked away along with her. Every time he saw the Xia family host a banquet, and Xia Zhi’s appearance of being the moon surrounded by stars, he was so jealous his teeth itched. It was as if Xia Zhi was that bright and clear moon, and he himself was just like an insignificant insect in the dark shadows.

He finally managed with great difficulty to step out from the shadows, gradually replacing Xia Zhi’s status to become the Xia family’s sole young master.

He will not allow Xia Zhi to live better than himself! 

To receive more attention than himself!

The fingertips holding the mouse turned slightly white; crazy jealousy and uneasiness surged in Xia Mingxuan’s eyes.

The Shen residence.

After Xia Zhi finished showering, he delivered the agreement to Shen Shixiao’s room. 

It just so happened the butler came out of Shen Shixiao’s room, making a hush gesture toward him.

“Mr. Shen’s narcolepsy has acted up.”

“Okay, I just came over to deliver something to him.”

Xia Zhi walked lightly into the room, discovering Shen Shixiao lying prone on the desk in the study, his eyes tightly closed. 

Xia Zhi had searched for this illness online. Its medical name is sleep disorder—it is very hard to cure completely, and regardless of day or night, one can fall into a deep sleep without warning.

Placing the agreement on the table, Xia Zhi felt it was not too safe, so he put it into the first drawer.

“I am not looking at your privacy on purpose, Gold Master Daddy.”

Lifting his head from his bent body, Shen Shixiao’s sleeping face impressively appeared before his eyes. 

Xia Zhi bent his waist slightly, leaning on the desk and looking at Shen Shixiao. Shen Shixiao’s sleeping appearance was not as strict and aloof as usual; perhaps because of wearing a gray sweater, his aura carried a bit of gentleness.

How could the butler be so ignorant of things? Sleeping here, how uncomfortable must it be?

Xia Zhi rolled his eyes, struggling over whether to help him onto the bed.

“Gold Master Daddy is also quite pitiful,” he mumbled softly. Lying prone here all alone in the evening, his waist and back will definitely ache tomorrow.

He really is an angel.

Just like this, the kind-hearted angel with a silver halo above his head draped Shen Shixiao’s arm over his own shoulder, supporting him step by step toward the bedroom. 

During this, the pendant on Shen Shixiao’s neck popped out from his clothes, reflecting a silver radiance, very eye-catching.

Xia Zhi casually took a couple of glances. It was quite good-looking.

“Couldn’t tell, you are a bit heavy.”

Thanks to the trials and hardships of working part-time these past few years, his strength was decent. Otherwise, he really wouldn’t be able to support him.

Falling onto the bed, Xia Zhi considerately covered him with the quilt. 

He wanted to drink some iced sour plum soup to reward himself. 

Unfortunately, there was none here.

Wu~

The next day was the weekend. Early in the morning, Xia Zhi yawned as he walked toward the dining room. Different from yesterday, Shen Shixiao did not go to the company today, and was sitting there checking the stock market.

“Good morning.”

“Morning.”

After taking a seat, a cup of pitch-black stuff was placed in front of Xia Zhi’s eyes. Shen Shixiao seemed to know his doubt, and took the initiative to say, “Sour plum soup. In the morning, you can only drink a little—it’s bad for the stomach.”

Xia Zhi took a small sip, feeling a bit guilty. 

Is this a coincidence or…? 

Narcolepsy wouldn’t allow one to hear what people nearby are saying, right?

It just so happened Auntie Li, who was in charge of breakfast, walked over. She smiled. “Dark plums just arrived at home, so I made some.”

Xia Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, smiling sweetly. “Thank you Auntie Li, I like drinking it.”

After eating the meal, Shen Shixiao said he wanted to take him out to gather with friends. Xia Zhi gladly agreed, anyway, there was nothing to do at home.

This was a club; there were many people in the private room. Although Xia Zhi had not dealt with them before, they were very familiar-looking, frequently appearing in the interviews of financial magazines.

Seeing them come in, Fang Tingyu greeted everyone, saying, “Shixiao and his wife have arrived.”

The man sitting in the very center was named Bai Qi. Wearing a black casual hoodie, he raised his eyebrows. “What, Shixiao doesn’t want his bai yueguang anymore?”

Everyone sitting there was Shen Shixiao’s friend, naturally knowing Shen Shixiao had a bai yueguang he constantly longed for. Even if abandoned, he still remembered and missed him.

Xia Zhi was not embarrassed in the slightest, smiling happily without speaking. 

On this kind of occasion, with Shen Shixiao not having spoken, he did not dare to speak carelessly.

Shen Shixiao gave that man a glance, carrying a bit of warning. The man shrugged and stopped teasing.

Those who could play together with Shen Shixiao were all outstanding figures in various industries. The one sitting next to Xia Zhi, was precisely the famous variety show producer, Yan Wenqing.

“I heard you guys are preparing a new variety show recently, about the selection of actors’ acting skills?” 

Shen Shixiao handed him a glass of champagne, asking casually.

Yan Wenqing, overwhelmed by the unexpected favor, took the wine, nodding. “Correct, is President Shen interested in investing?”

Shen Shixiao replied, “My lover is also an actor.”

Yan Wenqing immediately understood Shen Shixiao’s meaning, and actively asked, “May I ask if you have the intention to participate in our variety show?”

This variety show was the sister variety show “Best Actor” to last year’s phenomenal variety show “Best Singer.” It was created by the same team—thinking with one’s toes⁴An idiom meaning that something is incredibly obvious; even if you used your toes instead of your brain, you would still be able to figure it out., one would know it would also explode in popularity this year.

Xia Zhi glanced at Shen Shixiao. After confirming he was letting him decide, he softly said, “Can I participate?”

Yan Wenqing smiled. “Of course.”

I can!

I am willing!

Xia Zhi’s beautiful eyes and brows flew upward, holding back his excitement. “Okay, then I will participate.”

The matter was considered formally finalized; the excitement in his heart did not dissipate for a long time. Xia Zhi stretched his neck and quietly said to Shen Shixiao, “Thank you.”

Shen Shixiao took a sip of red wine, his tone gentle. “You’re welcome.”

After drinking the wine, everyone proposed to go play in the club together. Today’s gathering was hosted by the man sitting in the center, Bai Qi. He proposed playing some fresh games.

Inside the bowling alley venue.

A pile of chips sat on the table—one awarded for each round won. 

The person who obtained the most chips today could casually raise a condition to one person, as long as it wasn’t excessive. 

Generally, it was giving a yacht or collaborating on a project. 

This was also one of the games commonly played in the rich circle.

However, because many people didn’t know how to play bowling, quite a few people chose to give up on this event, sitting to the side drinking and chatting.

Inside the venue, the rolling sound of the bowling balls was very loud. Bai Qi and Fang Tingyu stood on two lanes, releasing the ball together. 

With a “bang” sound, the bowling balls made a crashing sound. Both of their results were not bad. In the end, only one or two pins were left standing.

Listening to the surrounding applause, Xia Zhi quietly sized up the chips.

Shen Shixiao said to him, “It’s fine for us to just rest here.”

“Xia Zhi, want to play?” Bai Qi saw Xia Zhi was closest to him, and issued an invitation. “Coming?”

Everyone’s gazes all gathered over, mostly carrying curiosity and distrust. 

After all, Xia Zhi didn’t look like someone who knew how to play.

Xia Zhi turned his head and glanced at Shen Shixiao. Shen Shixiao thought he was seeking help from him, and was just about to open his mouth. 

Unexpectedly, Xia Zhi gladly nodded. “Okay.”

Inserting his fingers into the ball holes, Xia Zhi picked up the bowling ball and came to the front of the lane, slightly adjusting his posture, squaring his shoulders. 

His bent arm straightened and slightly swung. Xia Zhi took a deep breath, his peripheral vision watching Shen Shixiao standing to the side. 

His waist was very beautiful. Accompanying the ball flying out, his body movements were both cool and crisp.

As the ball rolled over, the bowling pins fell down completely with a clattering sound.

Not just Bai Qi, but everyone was stunned.

Taking the first chip, Xia Zhi gave a radiant smile, immediately trotted over in front of Shen Shixiao, and sweetly said, “All for you.”

• 1
  Modern slang. It means doing something so incredibly embarrassing or dumb that you mentally want to cry at yourself.
• 2
  A very popular Chinese internet slang term. Originally representing purity, it is now used sarcastically to describe someone who outwardly appears innocent, pure, and fragile, but is actually manipulative and hypocritical.
• 3
  An idiom for “rags to riches” or rising in social status, usually through a very advantageous marriage.
• 4
  An idiom meaning that something is incredibly obvious; even if you used your toes instead of your brain, you would still be able to figure it out.