“Xie Chengnan.” The lounge door suddenly swung open, and Jiang Yuan hurried out. “Did you see the videos online?”
Jiang Yuan had clearly just woken up; his hair was a bit messy, and a fresh sleep crease marked his cheek. An oversized silk pajama set hung loosely on his frame, slipping to one side as he rushed out and revealing the elegant line of his collarbone.
Shen Qinian looked at the fair-skinned, dazed, and beautiful youth before him and let out a low, roguish whistle. He thought to himself that it was no wonder Professor Xie, who had been single for nearly thirty years, had suddenly turned gay. Facing someone like Young Master Jiang every day, who could possibly resist?
Then, he received a middle-finger warning from the young master himself.
Shen Qinian: “...”
Xie Chengnan let out a muffled chuckle. He stood up and wrapped his boyfriend tightly in a heavy coat, then reached out with his long arms to scoop him up. “Why did you run out without a coat or shoes? What if you catch a cold?”
“Isn’t the heater on?” Jiang Yuan snuggled into Xie Chengnan’s arms, glancing between the two of them. “Were you two fighting?” He had noticed the atmosphere in the office was off the moment he stepped out; the two men had been staring each other down with serious expressions, clearly in a standoff.
“No,” President Xie replied, casting a warning glance at Vice President Shen. “Just a slight difference of opinion.”
Shen Qinian’s eyes lit up, knowing a turning point had arrived.
If there was anyone in this world who could make Professor Xie change his mind, it was likely only the person currently in his arms.
Thus, braving President Xie’s death stare, Shen Qinian explained the entire situation from start to finish. Finally, he asked Jiang Yuan, “What do you think of this plan?”
Seeing the look Shen Qinian threw his way, Jiang Yuan immediately realized they hadn’t reached an agreement because Xie Chengnan had refused.
After a moment of thought, he put his arms around his boyfriend’s neck and coaxed him softly, “I actually think the plan is quite good.”
“I said no, and I mean it,” Xie Chengnan said with rare firmness. “The potential risks are too great. I won’t agree to it.”
Jiang Yuan sat up straight and said seriously, “You’ve lived abroad for years, so you might not fully understand Weibo’s influence. For young people in China, scrolling through Weibo has become a lifestyle habit. Getting on the Hot Search is more effective than spending tens of millions on television advertisements.
“Furthermore, these people will be your first batch of target customers—they’re young, open to new things, have a certain level of disposable income, and love sharing their lives online. If this plan is managed well, it could become a long-term promotional strategy.”
Xie Chengnan looked at his boyfriend’s eager expression, momentarily at a loss for words.
Young Master Jiang pressed his advantage: “More importantly, I believe in your abilities. You’re Professor Xie, the man who can build AI robots! Protecting my privacy on the internet is a trivial task for someone of your caliber.”
Looking into those sparkling eyes, Xie Chengnan sighed and finally compromised. He handed his phone to Jiang Yuan. “Go ahead and register it for me.”
Shen Qinian grinned like a fox, earning a sharp glare from President Xie.
Jiang Yuan fiddled with the phone, excitedly setting up the Weibo account. “Hey, what do you want your username to be?”
Xie Chengnan: “Whatever you like.”
Jiang Yuan’s eyes darted around. He didn’t say anything else, but his smile was a bit mischievous.
Shen Qinian busied himself with calls to the PR department to refine the press release, preparing to post the news via the company’s official Weibo account later that day.
Professor Xie held his boyfriend while typing code on his computer. Since he had accepted Shen Qinian’s proposal, he had to ensure that Jiang Yuan’s information was technically shielded from any potential leaks.
The three of them stayed busy until it was time for dinner.
Xie Chengnan handed the completed code over to Jason for processing. As long as any content posted online involved Jiang Yuan’s private information, this code would automatically run—deleting the relevant posts and replies on one hand, and sending lawyer’s letters to the posters on the other, taking the legal route.
Jiang Yuan had already submitted the verification request and was curled up in his boyfriend’s arms watching him work. They say a man is at his most handsome when he’s focused; at this moment, Professor Xie was so charming he made Jiang Yuan’s legs feel weak. If it weren’t for the "lightbulb" still lingering across from them, the young master had no doubt he would have made a move on the older man right there in the office.
Jiang Yuan licked his upper lip, suddenly thinking that "office play" sounded rather exciting.
“What are you thinking about?” Xie Chengnan noticed his boyfriend’s small gesture and suddenly looked down at him.
Jiang Yuan leaned into his ear and whispered two words. The words immediately made President Xie’s face flush. He reached out and gave Jiang Yuan’s rear a light swat, whispering back, “Stop misbehaving.”
Shen Qinian’s gaze shifted between their faces, and he let out a "tsk." “I feel like a total lightbulb right now.”
“You’re underestimating yourself,” President Xie said calmly as he finished his work. “You’re not just a lightbulb; you’re a bathroom heat lamp.”
Shen Qinian: “???”
President Xie: “You emit both light and heat.”
Shen Qinian: “...” *Pah!*
After roasting his old friend, President Xie carried his boyfriend to the lounge to change clothes.
Jiang Yuan was still preoccupied with the Weibo Hot Search, constantly checking the comments on his phone. In just half a day, his follower count had jumped by nearly a hundred thousand. Under his latest post, there were people praising his looks, people asking about Xie Chengnan’s identity, and naturally, some trolls saying nasty things.
Jiang Yuan stole a glance at Xie Chengnan and quietly deleted the trolls' comments one by one. He wasn’t afraid of being insulted himself, but he was afraid his boyfriend would be unhappy if he saw them later.
Dinner was at a place chosen by Shen Qinian. The Shen Group’s primary businesses were hotels and catering, so they naturally had no shortage of award-winning high-end restaurants.
Young Master Jiang was a picky eater. Although Shen Qinian had mostly been a "fair-weather friend" in the past, he was well aware of the young master’s pampered habits.
Xie Chengnan was the complete opposite; he had no real requirements for food. After all, he often got so busy that he forgot to eat entirely, so he hardly had the time or energy to nitpick whether the ingredients were fresh or if the chef’s timing was perfect.
Thus, Shen Qinian ordered the menu entirely according to Jiang Yuan’s tastes, choosing dishes that leaned toward the sweeter side and specifying that the head chef must cook personally. He even brought a private vintage from his own collection, putting in a sincere effort to celebrate his friend’s departure from the single life.
While the three of them were waiting for the food in their private room, Jiang Yuan went to the restroom. When he returned, Zhang Siyi was following behind him.
Zhang Siyi greeted them with a smile. “Brother Xie, Young Master Shen, what a coincidence.”
Shen Qinian raised an eyebrow. “Quite a coincidence. You’re eating here too?”
Zhang Siyi nodded. “I’m with a few friends in the room right next door.”
Shen Qinian was already finding it painful to eat "dog food" alone with the couple. Seeing a savior, he immediately said enthusiastically, “Why don't you bring your friends over to join us? This meal is on me.”
Zhang Siyi was also someone who loved a crowd. The two hit it off instantly, and the once-empty table was soon filled with people.
Jiang Yuan had originally thought Zhang Siyi’s "few friends" would be other wealthy heirs from their circle, but he hadn't expected Zhang Siyi to be meeting his group of "gay besties" today—including He Luoluo.
As soon as the group entered the room, their eyes darted between the three of them.
He Luoluo’s eyes lit up, and he smiled. “Brother Xie is here too.”
Xie Chengnan remembered this person was Jiang Yuan’s classmate and said politely, “Hello.”
Jiang Yuan, however, leaned back against his chair and looked at the other with a half-smile. “Is ‘Brother Xie’ something you should be calling him?”
He Luoluo froze, his expression turning awkward.
Zhang Siyi gave a forced laugh to interrupt them and introduced both parties. When introducing Xie Chengnan and Jiang Yuan, he pointedly mentioned to the group of eager "zeros" that the two were a couple. The subtext was: *Behave yourselves, that’s my brother and my brother-in-law.*
Jiang Yuan’s expression remained cool. For Zhang Siyi’s sake, he didn’t say anything more.
Since living with Xie Chengnan, the young master rarely lost his temper. It was as if the irritable cells in his body had suddenly gone dormant; even if he was occasionally unhappy, he wouldn't lose control. He didn't like He Luoluo, and he liked Zhang Siyi’s group of friends even less. In the past, he would have walked out without a word. Being willing to sit here and eat with them was already the greatest compromise he could make.
The people across from him didn't look pleased because Jiang Yuan had snapped at He Luoluo.
Because he had classes today, Jiang Yuan was wearing a baseball jacket and jeans. He was dressed very simply, with no visible logos on his clothes. To an outsider, he looked like a common university student with a pretty face.
Xie Chengnan, on the other hand, was in a perfectly tailored suit, wearing exquisite cufflinks and a priceless watch. He looked every bit the wealthy elite.
The people Zhang Siyi brought weren't from wealthy families; some only hung around him because he was generous with his money. Because they moved in different circles, they only knew Zhang Siyi was rich, but they had no idea who Jiang Yuan was. Seeing the age gap between Xie Chengnan and Jiang Yuan, they naturally assumed Xie Chengnan was Jiang Yuan’s "sugar daddy." Their expressions were a mix of jealousy and disdain.
Jiang Yuan couldn't be bothered with them. He let President Xie serve him food and water, looking every bit the spoiled brat.
This only made certain people more restless.
When one of the "zeros" repeatedly tried to toast Xie Chengnan individually and even asked for his WeChat, the young master, who had been holding back his anger, finally darkened his face. With a sharp *clack*, he slammed his chopsticks onto the table.
The private room had been quiet to begin with, and this sound made everyone at the table look up.
Xie Chengnan set down his wine glass and said politely to the person who had already pulled out their phone, “This... gentleman.” Xie Chengnan couldn't recall the man's name for a moment and paused. “It’s not convenient for me to give you my WeChat.”
The man smiled. “I’m only asking for Mr. Xie’s contact information because I wanted to ask if your company is hiring interns.” He then glanced at Jiang Yuan. “I didn't expect to make your boyfriend unhappy. I’ll drink a penalty cup as an apology.” He downed the wine, but his eyes were still lingering on Xie Chengnan.
Jiang Yuan lifted his eyelids and looked at the man, saying coldly, “Do you think I’m dead?” *Apologizing to me while staring at my boyfriend? Tsk.* Young Master Jiang had no patience for these games. He said airily, “Get out.”
The man’s face faltered. He gave a fake smile. “What’s going on?” He looked at Zhang Siyi, clearly waiting for him to smooth things over.
Zhang Siyi was about to open his mouth when he met his "brother’s" icy gaze. He immediately shrank back like a quail, remaining as quiet as a mouse.
Seeing that Zhang Siyi wasn't speaking, the man turned his target back to Xie Chengnan. “Mr. Xie...”
He Luoluo tugged at the man’s sleeve and urged him in a low voice that everyone could hear, “A-Lin, just apologize to A-Yuan again.”
A-Lin pursed his lips, looking aggrieved. “I’ve already humbled myself, isn't that enough...?”
Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow. So now he was the bully?
“All of you, get out.” The young master’s patience finally ran out. He picked up a napkin and slowly wiped his fingers one by one. “Don't wait for me to get physical.”
When Jiang Yuan was angry, his expression wasn't particularly cold and his tone sounded calm, but Zhang Siyi knew his brother was suppressing a volcanic rage. He might smash a wine bottle over that idiot’s head in the next second.
Zhang Siyi didn't dare play dead anymore. He stood up quickly and said, “Brother, don't be angry. I’ll take them away right now.”
A-Lin still hadn't grasped the situation. He shook off Zhang Siyi’s hand, looking indignant.
Then, his newly done nose went crooked—shifted into a bizarre angle. He clutched his face and fell back into his chair in pain.
Xie Chengnan stood up and pulled Jiang Yuan into his arms. He took Jiang Yuan’s hand, gently prying his fingers open one by one, then interlaced their fingers together. He asked softly, “Does your hand hurt?”
The young master looked at him, and the icy facade finally melted. “It hurts a little. Blow on it for me.”
Xie Chengnan lifted his boyfriend’s hand, blew on it, and then gave it a kiss. “Still angry?”
The young master pouted. “Yes.” He reached out a finger and poked the older man’s shoulder hard. “President Xie, you’re quite something, aren't you?”
Xie Chengnan let him poke him, coaxing him in a low voice, “Don't be angry anymore. It’s all my fault.” He then turned to A-Lin, who was still clutching his face, and said, “We will cover the subsequent medical expenses. Now, please leave immediately. My boyfriend doesn't wish to see you.”
He Luoluo hadn't expected Xie Chengnan to protect Jiang Yuan so fiercely. He helped A-Lin up, biting his lip as he said, “I’ll take him to the hospital. I’m very sorry about today...”
Xie Chengnan nodded and said, “Thank you.” He turned back to continue coaxing his young boyfriend, not noticing the thoughtful, fleeting look in He Luoluo’s eyes before he left.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 浴霸 | Bathroom heat lamp / Yuba | A high-powered heating lamp used in bathrooms; used here as a pun on "lightbulb" (third wheel). |
| 阿林 | A-Lin | A friend of Zhang Siyi. |
| 零 | Zero | Slang for "bottom" in the gay community. |
| 狗粮 | Dog food | Slang for public displays of affection (PDA) witnessed by single people. |
| 拼桌 | Share a table / Join tables | To sit together at the same table in a restaurant. |
| 认错 | Apologize / Admit fault | To acknowledge a mistake. |
| 医药费 | Medical expenses | Costs for treatment or surgery. |
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