“Then I’ll have to stay here.”
Xue Bao Tian froze for a moment before laughing. “Fuck, so this is where you were leading me all along?” Leaning back against the wall again, his gaze turned disdainful. “Trying to scare me again? Zhang Chi, I’ve realized you’re the kind of petty schemer who’ll do anything to get what he wants. Stay the hell away from me—I have trypophobia. I can’t handle your eight hundred little tricks.”
The amusement in Zhang Chi’s eyes was obvious. Not only did he not deny it, he admitted it openly. “There’s some selfishness in what I’m saying, but not much. Huang Song really is trouble. If you’re wary of him, you don’t have to go to the dinner.”
“Master Xue isn’t that cowardly. And do you think you’re the only person I can rely on?” Xue Bao Tian pulled open a nearby drawer and threw several stacks of cash onto the table. “Three-legged toads are hard to find, but muscle-brained idiots are everywhere!”
The woven sack slipped from Zhang Chi’s fingers onto the floor. He pushed the door open and walked inside. In only two steps, he was standing right in front of Xue Bao Tian, lifting a hand to caress his cheek.
His fingers slid along smooth skin and tilted up Xue Bao Tian’s chin. In such close proximity, even their breaths felt burning hot. “But you also know I’m the most suitable choice.”
His gaze locked onto Xue Bao Tian’s from inches away. One slight movement forward would be enough for a kiss. “I’ve fucked you before, so naturally I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe. I’m the one who injured Huang Song’s people. If I accompany you to the dinner, it’ll raise your standing too. So, Two Hundred, are you really not planning to use me?”
The distance between them was so small it was almost suffocating. Xue Bao Tian stared at Zhang Chi’s infuriatingly handsome face for a long while before finally pushing him away in irritation. “Living here is out of the question. I’ll book you a hotel.”
Zhang Chi pressed close again. “I can feed the cat and cook.”
“I’ll book you the best hotel, and your salary will definitely satisfy you.”
“I’ll stay in the guest room. Whatever you say goes. I promise I’ll behave.”
“Don’t push your luck, Zhang Chi. I’m warning you to quit while you’re ahead.”
“I absolutely won’t touch you unless you ask for it yourself.”
Xue Bao Tian burst out laughing. “Zhang Chi, do you seriously think you still have any credibility left with me?”
Zhang Chi smiled with that same gentle warmth. “If I can’t keep my word, you can throw me out anytime. And I’ll deal with Huang Song before I leave. Other than matters involving the bed, my words still count.”
Xue Bao Tian glared viciously at him, cursing him a hundred and eighty times in his heart before finally grabbing him by the collar through gritted teeth. “Don’t bring your pile of trash into my house. Though you’re trash too.”
Shoving him away, he slammed the bedroom door shut with a bang, startling the little kitten. Zhang Chi crouched down and stroked its fur, then lifted one tiny paw and said with a smile, “Please take care of me from now on.”
The woven sack was placed into the storage room, and Zhang Chi moved into the guest room.
He truly hadn’t caused any trouble. Every night, he stayed shut inside the guest room without stepping past the door. Xue Bao Tian secretly checked several times, and every single time all he saw was the tightly closed door. That reassured him somewhat, though he still locked the master bedroom every night. Zhang Chi was shameless—there was no such thing as being too careful.
After twisting the lock twice in the opposite direction, Xue Bao Tian opened the bedroom door. The kitchen hummed with the sound of the range hood and sizzling oil. Bright morning sunlight streamed through the windows, making the once lifeless air feel alive again.
A faint shadow stretched out from the kitchen onto the section of floor near the living room. Surrounded by the scent of food, Xue Bao Tian stared at that shadow and unconsciously murmured, “Mom.”
By the time Zhang Chi noticed him, Xue Bao Tian was already leaning against the wall, silently watching him in the kitchen.
Removing his apron and turning off the stove, Zhang Chi walked out of the kitchen and pulled Xue Bao Tian into his arms. Unusually enough, the man didn’t push him away. He only muttered, “So annoying,” then let himself be held and accepted the good-morning kiss pressed against his earlobe.
“Go shower. Breakfast is almost ready.” Zhang Chi patted the small of his back.
“So naggy.” Xue Bao Tian pushed him away and turned toward the bathroom. “I drink coffee in the morning. Make me a cup.”
When he came out again, breakfast was already laid out on the table—plain porridge, side dishes, fried eggs. An utterly ordinary breakfast.
Running a hand through his damp hair, Xue Bao Tian swept his gaze over the table. “Where’s the coffee?”
Zhang Chi pulled out a chair for him. “I don’t know how to make coffee. You’ll have to teach me. Eat first. I’ll make it for you tomorrow.”
Xue Bao Tian was unusually easygoing today. Aside from the sour expression on his face, he didn’t complain much. After taking a sip of vegetable porridge, he originally intended to sneer at it a little, but after opening his mouth several times and failing to get past his own conscience, he gave up.
His phone rang. It was his assistant. Xue Bao Tian accepted the video call and propped the phone up on the table.
“Talk.”
“Boss, the president’s office called. They want us to switch meeting rooms. They said Conference Room A01 has an important reception today.”
Xue Bao Tian had scheduled a quarterly performance analysis meeting today. He liked showing off, so he’d reserved the company’s most luxurious conference room.
Taking another sip of porridge, he answered with an indifferent “Mm,” then casually asked, “What important meeting does the company have today? Why haven’t I heard anything about it?”
“Vice President Wei wants to use A01. Apparently he’s introducing some industry big shot to the chairman today. He also reserved seats at Shaohua tonight and invited a bunch of directors to accompany them.”
Xue Bao Tian slowly straightened up. “My brother-in-law? What’s he up to now? Why don’t I know about this?”
The assistant had just opened his mouth to continue when he suddenly saw, on the video feed, a broad, solid hand reaching over with a tissue to wipe away a smear of porridge from the corner of Xue Bao Tian’s lips. His boss only glanced at the other person and accepted it as though it were perfectly natural.
That gesture was way too intimate. Was it a lover? But that was clearly a man’s hand!
“Boss… there’s someone beside you?”
Xue Bao Tian pulled a cigarette from the pack and held it between his lips, his gaze shifting toward somewhere outside the assistant’s camera view.
After lighting the cigarette, Xue Bao Tian answered blandly, “A personal assistant and bodyguard.”
The assistant had followed Xue Bao Tian long enough to pick up some of his habits. Inwardly, he cursed. Damn, corporate slaves really have it rough these days. Even wiping the boss’s mouth is part of the job now.
The thought had barely crossed his mind before his eyes widened again. The cigarette Xue Bao Tian hadn’t even taken a puff from yet was removed by that same hand reaching back into frame. Then a deep male voice sounded out:
“Eat properly.”
The assistant nearly exploded inside. Holy shit, is this social slave new on the job? Hasn’t he ever been scolded by Vice President Xue before?
Sure enough, the cursing came right after. But when that hand pulled his boss out of the camera’s view, the familiar stream of insults gradually changed in tone.
“That phone’s still on, damn it.” That was the last thing the assistant heard.
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