Chapter 53
Shi Ye behaved himself for all of five minutes before asking again,
“So when you touched him and when you touched me, which one…”
Xia Fengsheng could already guess what he wanted to ask. In a light, indifferent voice, he said, “I touched you harder.”
Shi Ye was satisfied.
What he got was more than what Qi Qianli got.
Just when Xia Fengsheng thought the matter had passed, Shi Ye opened his mouth again. “Then why didn’t you touch me a little more gently?”
Smack—
Xia Fengsheng gave his other cheek a light slap.
You wanted a light one too? Fine. There. Satisfied?
Shi Ye sat on the bed covering both cheeks, finally behaving.
Thinking about it carefully, he felt Xia Fengsheng obviously liked him more than before, even spoiled him a little. Ask for a slap and get a slap.
Shi Ye: “:D”
He dotes on me so much.
Xia Fengsheng had no idea what Shi Ye was grinning foolishly about. He figured maybe a coconut had fallen from a roadside palm in Hawaii and hit him on the head.
Buzz—buzz—
Somewhere a phone started vibrating. Feeling a numbness against his thigh, Xia Fengsheng pulled his phone from his pocket.
It was a call from his senior brother, Qin Buming.
He answered, “Senior.”
Qin Buming’s voice came through. “Sheng’er, what are you doing?”
Xia Fengsheng glanced at Shi Ye. “Jungling.”
Playing games?
Qin Buming was touched for a moment. He hadn’t expected Xia Fengsheng to risk being flamed by teammates just to pick up his call. This was total boyfriend treatment—well, not girlfriend treatment, since Xia Fengsheng liked men.
Looks like, in Sheng’er’s heart, this senior brother still held some place after all.
Feelings were mutual, so Qin Buming understandingly said, “Then keep playing first. Call me back after you’re done.”
Xia Fengsheng directly refused. “No need.”
No need?
He wasn’t going to keep gaming? He was choosing the call first?
Qin Buming’s pupils shook like a magnitude-eight earthquake.
Then… what about parents and teachers?
Qin Buming asked, “You sure you don’t need to keep playing first?”
“Yeah.” Xia Fengsheng said, “If I hit too much, my hand hurts.”
His hand hurt?
Qin Buming had never seen Xia Fengsheng play games before. Was his gaming addiction really that serious, so serious his hands hurt from it?
Since Xia Fengsheng wasn’t gaming, then Qin Buming could get to the real business.
“Sheng’er, how’s the progress on your side?” Qin Buming asked about his work progress over the past two days.
Xia Fengsheng said, “It’s all done. President Qi said they’ll contact us proactively about future cooperation, so we just wait for their message.”
“Puchi… book, dong-dong-dong… da-ci da-ci…”
A string of ancient incantations suddenly came through the phone.
Xia Fengsheng frowned. “Senior, what are you doing over there?”
Qin Buming said, “Setting off fireworks for your success.”
Xia Fengsheng: …
Qin Buming’s mouth-fireworks really were not moving in the slightest.
Ever since breaking free from Yang Liwan’s exploitation, Qin Buming had more and more of a living person’s spirit about him, to the point of seeming a little abnormal.
A modern Fan Jin.
“Oh right, Sheng’er, there’s another piece of good news. Shengyao’s task was completed perfectly too. The partner was super satisfied—they said Shengyao had three heads and six arms, she got their stolen nanny back in one stroke.”
“They’ve already sent a cooperation invitation. Once everyone’s back, let’s work hard together and make another huge pile!”
The more Qin Buming spoke, the more excited he got, and fireworks started going off in his mouth again.
“Book, book, book…”
Xia Fengsheng: …
It really was good news.
In his mind, Xia Fengsheng could already see little hills of RMB waving at him.
Time was short and the tasks were heavy. Since he had work to return to, Xia Fengsheng booked a flight for early the next morning.
Shi Ye sat beside him watching him buy the ticket on his phone. “You’re going back tomorrow already? Not staying in Shanghai another couple of days?”
He had only just arrived. He had thought he’d get to hang around with Xia Fengsheng.
Xia Fengsheng said, “No. It’s almost the end of the year. The studio’s getting busy.”
Shi Ye gave an “oh,” then took the flower garland from around his own neck and looped it over Xia Fengsheng’s.
“Hawaii’s pretty fun too. Next time let’s come together.”
After saying that, Shi Ye pressed his lips together.
He remembered Xia Fengsheng saying he wanted him to apply sunscreen for him personally.
The garland was woven from real flowers and stems, red and yellow blossoms set off against each other, with the faint fragrance of the petals.
It was getting late.
Xia Fengsheng said, “You can sleep here tonight.”
Shi Ye: ?
The suite Xia Fengsheng had booked had only one bed.
He and Xia Fengsheng would sleep together.
Back when they’d livestreamed in the dorm, hadn’t Xia Fengsheng refused to sleep with him? Shi Ye had climbed up in the middle of the night and been kicked right back down.
At moments like this, Shi Ye’s thinking became exceptionally clear. Ever since Qi Qianli had said he was impotent, Xia Fengsheng’s guard against him had obviously lowered. Usually he wouldn’t even sit on the same bed with him. But today, when Shi Ye patted the space beside him and told him to sit, Xia Fengsheng had sat down without hesitation.
Shi Ye asked flatly, “Why?”
“What do you mean why?” Xia Fengsheng lifted a brow. “You want to sleep on the sofa?”
That worked too.
“You weren’t willing to sleep with me before, so why are you suddenly saying we should sleep together today?” Shi Ye asked. “Don’t tell me you believed Qi Qianli when he said I’m impotent.”
Xia Fengsheng’s gaze drifted into the distance. “No.”
Shi Ye: …
Who exactly was he looking at?
Xia Fengsheng’s eyes wandered everywhere except onto him.
If Shi Ye had known Xia Fengsheng would believe Qi Qianli’s slander, he would have smashed a coconut over his head.
Ever since hearing Qi Qianli say Shi Ye was impotent, Xia Fengsheng’s skin had basically come all the way loose.
Next time they met, he wanted to act wild enough to shove him straight into the proctology department.
Xia Fengsheng laughed inwardly. He probably has the will, but not the ability.
Shi Ye had always been someone who strictly kept his promises. No wonder when they first met again, he hadn’t acted on those old threats.
So it turned out he was impotent.
Truly heaven was helping him.
That also meant that when the two of them eventually broke up, Xia Fengsheng had even less reason to fear Shi Ye would retaliate.
If Shi Ye really wasn’t impotent, then the first time they met again, he should already have ended up in proctology. Would he still be lively and kicking now?
Rumors did not arise from nowhere. Xia Fengsheng believed Shi Ye was impotent.
Smiling like a fox, Xia Fengsheng told him, “No, don’t overthink it.”
The secret delight in his eyes was practically spilling out. After saying that, he grabbed a change of clothes and swaggered into the bathroom, clearly ready to start his own concert in there.
It had been a long time since he’d opened his voice.
Shi Ye: …You’d better not be lying!
The next morning, Xia Fengsheng flew back to Beijing and ran into Zhan Shengyao, who had also just flown back from out of town.
The two of them rolled their suitcases, and after spotting each other, tacitly stopped in front of one another.
Xia Fengsheng said, “I heard you’ve got three heads and six arms?”
Zhan Shengyao smiled. “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare.”
Zhan Shengyao said, “I heard you’re the reincarnation of Hua Tuo?”
Xia Fengsheng smiled back. “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare.”
Dawn Studio did not keep useless people.
Anyone who had served as a beast of burden under Yang Liwan had frightening methods.
Xia Fengsheng used his outstanding black heart to get Qilian Mountain back on his feet. Zhan Shengyao used her peerless gift for verbally taking on whole crowds to snatch the nanny auntie back. And that still wasn’t even the full extent of their shameless power.
Of course, what was even more impressive than their methods was their professional ability at work.
Boss Zhao’s case alone had turned the principal over twenty-one times. The results had just come out yesterday.
Before that, those partners had only tested the waters with them through other small matters instead of cooperating directly, because the final results from Boss Zhao’s case hadn’t yet come in. No one knew if hiring a fresh new studio like theirs would mean bleeding themselves dry.
The answer was: impossible.
Dawn Studio had strength and methods in abundance.
Boss Zhao’s case caused a small ripple of shock within the industry. It had been a while since anyone had seen a cooperation plan that maximized profit to that degree.
The client from Zhan Shengyao’s assignment contacted the studio. Qiming Yue followed right after.
Xia Fengsheng and Zhan Shengyao returned to the studio and didn’t even stop for water before throwing themselves into work.
They stayed busy until deep into the night, all four of them sprawled at their desks.
As the leader of the studio, Qin Buming stretched out a finger and checked each one’s breathing in turn, to ensure everyone’s life safety.
Good news: all members still alive.
Xia Fengsheng asked about the others’ work progress. “Feifei, how’s your side going?”
Zheng Xing pushed up his glasses with his middle finger. “When we’re working, address me by my title.”
Xia Fengsheng: ? Title?
Qin Buming murmured, “Great Sage.”
Xia Fengsheng: …
The three of them got up from their stations and collapsed onto the sofa to rest. Qin Buming ordered some late-night snacks, the delivery rider would bring them soon.
Zhan Shengyao showed off the new bag their client had gifted her. “Let me broaden your horizons—Hermès!”
She’d heard it was worth several hundred thousand.
The client had been generous, sending it just like that.
Zheng Xing played along. “If not for you, we’d still be hicks who’d never even seen luxury goods.”
Qin Buming and Xia Fengsheng applauded in agreement.
While waiting for the food, Xia Fengsheng idly decided to harass Shi Ye a bit.
If Shi Ye didn’t reply before dawn, then Xia Fengsheng would have a ready-made excuse to stir up trouble.
Xia Fengsheng: What are you doing?
Shi Ye: Reading.
A reply in seconds.
Xia Fengsheng: …
On Shi Ye’s side, he had just gotten off a call with his family, discussing what to do for New Year’s.
He hadn’t expected that the moment he hung up, Xia Fengsheng’s message would arrive.
It was already midnight now, and Xia Fengsheng had actually taken the initiative to message him.
Shi Ye felt his heart floating in the sky like a cloud on a sunny day.
Before, it had always been him who took the initiative. If he didn’t send messages, Xia Fengsheng would hardly ever chat with him. But now Xia Fengsheng was the one taking the initiative.
And at midnight too, that dead-silent hour when human emotions were at their softest.
Shi Ye: “:D”
He’s fallen for me.
Still, if Xia Fengsheng sent him a message and he answered in seconds, wouldn’t that look a little too eager? Not reserved enough.
Putting on an act, Shi Ye asked, Why are you messaging me so late at night?
Xia Fengsheng replied instantly: Working the night shift.
Shi Ye: ……
.
After several days and nights of battle, Dawn Studio delivered a satisfactory plan to their partners in an incredibly short span of time.
In front of money, nothing was impossible.
All four of them had worked like they’d been injected with chicken blood, day and night, surviving only on coffee.
Thankfully, because they had prior experience as beasts of burden, they managed to grit their teeth and make it through the high-intensity workload.
The good part was that their partners praised their plans to the skies, and immediately settled eighty percent of the payment with them. The remaining balance and profit share would be transferred to the studio account in later installments.
The four of them stared at the balance displayed in their banking app and suddenly understood what rich people meant when they said money was like dirt.
One word: a lot.
A shocking amount.
Studio earnings were always split evenly four ways.
Thinking of something, Qin Buming suggested, “Should we donate some money to an orphanage? Do some charity.”
Successful entrepreneurs, after all, were supposed to do charity.
Xia Fengsheng said, “I don’t care.”
He had said it a long time ago—if he were rich like a second-generation heir, with clothes brought to him and food brought to his mouth, then of course he would also have the kindness to donate money to others.
See?
He hadn’t lied.
The sarcastic words spoken by a poor young man had turned into reality after success. Every word had been true.
In the name of the studio, Qin Buming donated to an orphanage. The very next day after the donation, they received an invitation to an orphanage event.
Every year before the Spring Festival, this orphanage invited the kind-hearted sponsors who had supported them to come spend time with the children, play games with them, and take part in a charity activity.
While playing and spending time with the children, the sponsors could also see for themselves that the money they had donated had not been wasted or pocketed. Every cent had indeed gone to the children.
The event would last two days.
The studio just happened to have no work scheduled for those two days.
Qin Buming asked, “Does anyone want to go?” But they would have to stay one night at the orphanage.
The orphanage would provide empty staff dorm rooms for the volunteers to sleep in.
Zheng Xing and Zhan Shengyao already had other arrangements, so in the end the two great idlers, Qin Buming and Xia Fengsheng, were the ones going.
.
On the other side, Shi Ye received a call from his assistant.
Chen Ke was his domestic assistant, helping him organize and arrange all the various matters of his work.
“President Shi, the orphanage you sponsored earlier is having an event soon where people spend time with the children. Do you want to go?”
No matter how many times he heard it, being called “President Shi” always made Shi Ye feel like they were calling him his dad.
But “Old President Shi” and “Little President Shi” weren’t great options either.
Keep saying “Old President Shi” long enough and it started sounding like “Old Benefactor Shi.”
Shi Ye had grown up doing charity and public welfare with his parents. When he was little, he had taken part in this kind of event all the time. As he got older and had less free time, he hadn’t participated in one for a long time.
This winter, for once, his grandfather hadn’t thrown him into the military, which left him with much more free time.
Shi Ye said, “I’ll go have a look.”
The moment he got the instruction, Chen Ke arranged everything for him.
On Tuesday morning, Chen Ke drove Shi Ye to the orphanage.
“President Shi, you’ll stay there one night. The dean will arrange a dorm room for you.”
The orphanage was out of town, accessible by either car or high-speed rail.
The reason Shi Ye had donated outside Beijing was because the orphanages in Beijing already had too many sponsors. They didn’t lack him.
Better to give money where it was needed than pile more onto a place that already had enough.
High-speed rail would have been faster than driving, but they didn’t choose it because on the way to the orphanage there was a famous cookie shop.
The owner was a retired old man. His pension was enough for him to enjoy his old age in comfort, but people were never good at staying idle—they always wanted to find something to do.
So he opened a cookie shop.
His house was in a little town, right by the roadside. It was a flat two-room place, one room for himself, one for making cookies.
You could tell he cared a lot about this retirement project of his. He had decorated the house carefully, deliberately turning it into the style of a dessert cottage, with a giant cookie-shaped ornament standing outside the door.
He sold only cookies.
At first he hadn’t even aimed to become internet-famous. It was just that some road-trip blogger had bought cookies there, posted about them online, and the place had exploded in popularity.
The cookie shop wasn’t open every day, but every Tuesday it definitely opened, because Tuesday was cookie day for the orphanage children’s after-meal snack. The orphanage ordered from him every week.
In order to make sure the children could eat cookies, the old man opened the shop every Tuesday, rain or shine. He closed at exactly two in the afternoon.
Chen Ke wanted to buy some to take home to his niece.
Shi Ye wasn’t a harsh boss—buying some cookies wasn’t exactly going to delay him.
The two of them got out at the old man’s cookie shop. Since the weather was cool that day, there weren’t many customers.
Chen Ke tried the samples and thought they were pretty good, so he got a little of every flavor.
“President Shi, aren’t you buying any?”
Shi Ye chewed the cookie in his mouth and quietly said, “No, I don’t really like cookies.”
When he was little and training in dance, he hadn’t been allowed much junk food. On the rare days he was allowed snacks, he only ever tasted a little. His favorite was the Chips Ahoy without chocolate chunks, because he was allergic to chocolate.
After he stopped dancing, snacks were no longer forbidden. He ate so many Chips Ahoy that he basically hit a wall with them, and after that he stopped liking cookies much.
He said it quietly because he only meant that he personally didn’t like cookies—not that the shop’s cookies tasted bad. He didn’t want the owner to overhear and get hurt.
Who knew that the second the words left his mouth, there came a sharp “hmph” from behind him.
The old man stomped past from the back. “If you don’t buy any, you’ll regret it!”
What a tasteless brat.
Shi Ye: ……
So he had heard after all.
After Chen Ke bought the cookies, he drove Shi Ye the rest of the way to the orphanage.
Not far from the orphanage entrance, Shi Ye spotted a familiar Wuling Hongguang.
The license plate matched the one in his memory exactly. Just as he was making the connection, the dean came out to greet him.
“Mr. Shi, hello. It must have been a tiring journey. Have you eaten yet?” The dean’s smile was kind and welcoming.
It was just about lunchtime.
Shi Ye said, “Not yet.”
The dean led him toward the cafeteria. The second he stepped in, Shi Ye saw Xia Fengsheng and Qin Buming buried in their food among a crowd of children eating.
Shi Ye: O.O
He wasn’t seeing things. They really were here.
When Qin Buming got up to get more rice, he noticed Shi Ye, then quickly poked Xia Fengsheng on the shoulder.
Xia Fengsheng kept eating from his bowl. “I’m not getting more.”
Qin Buming poked him again.
With his mouth full of rice, Xia Fengsheng’s refined, gentlemanly face had cheeks puffed out. “I’m not getting more. This is already my third bowl.”
Shi Ye: ……
Qin Buming lowered his voice. “Your boyfriend.”
Boyfriend?
Xia Fengsheng lifted his head from his bowl and sure enough saw Shi Ye, who had just walked in.
What was he doing here?
Xia Fengsheng didn’t dig into it. Eating was more important.
After getting his tray, Shi Ye sat down in the empty seat beside Xia Fengsheng.
Qin Buming, who had just come back with more food and meant to continue eating: Is this right?
Fortunately there were other empty seats nearby. Since it made no difference where he sat, and since Shi Ye had once helped them break up Miss Zhao, Qin Buming generously yielded the place to him.
Shi Ye also began to eat.
Xia Fengsheng asked, “Why are you here?”
Shi Ye said, “I came for the charity event. You donated to the orphanage too?”
Xia Fengsheng nodded.
After lunch came the dessert-cookie segment. Each child got five cookies, and Xia Fengsheng and the others got some too.
Once he received his cookies, Xia Fengsheng finished them in just a few bites.
They tasted excellent, somewhat like the taste of cookies he had eaten as a child. He couldn’t remember the brand, but he remembered that he had liked them a lot back then.
Once something became tied to memory, it became special.
Seeing that Shi Ye hadn’t finished his, Xia Fengsheng directly snatched them away and stuffed them into his mouth.
Shi Ye turned his head to stare at him blankly.
Xia Fengsheng wore an expression that clearly said, What, I ate a few of your cookies—so what? If you’ve got the guts, then break up with me.
And he deliberately chewed hard right in front of him, like that evil cat that could speak German.
Absolutely rotten.
Shi Ye asked, “You really like these cookies?”
Xia Fengsheng didn’t answer. He turned and prepared to rob Qin Buming’s next.
It was rare for Xia Fengsheng to show this clearly that he liked something. For him to actively want cookies was especially unusual.
.
At 1:40 in the afternoon, the old man shut the front door and prepared to close the shop.
His usual closing time was two, but since there hadn’t been many customers that day, he was closing a little early.
Once he shut and locked the door, he turned, planning to head back inside.
The very next second there came a loud clunk.
The old man turned his head.
He saw Shi Ye standing there with both hands gripping the shop door handles, forehead pressed against the glass.
“Old sir, Er Yuehong has come seeking medicine.”
