Jiang Shao silently watched the man in the distance, the expression in his dark eyes obscure and unreadable.
Only after so much time had passed that confusion appeared on Qi Mu’s face did Jiang Shao take a deep breath, suppress the agitation in his chest, and walk toward him.
Qi Mu looked at Jiang Shao’s solemn, grave expression in puzzlement. Hadn’t the young master been in a fairly good mood today? Why was he wearing such a dark expression again?
He truly was temperamental…
However, after discovering the warm heart beneath Jiang Shao’s cold exterior, Qi Mu no longer felt quite so nervous when he saw that gloomy expression. After all, this formidable ancestor wore a cold face nine days out of ten, yet in the end, Jiang Shao had never actually done anything to him, had he?
After enough time, a person naturally became desensitized. Qi Mu could not remain constantly on edge.
Since he still had to spend some time with Jiang Shao, there was no need to treat him like a formidable enemy. He might as well interact with Jiang Shao as though he were an ordinary person.
Qi Mu smiled and asked Jiang Shao, “Would you like to play with them for a while?”
Jiang Shao glanced disdainfully at the little brats. He had stopped playing such childish games after turning six. Do you think I’m as childish and bored as you are?
Qi Mu ignored Jiang Shao’s cold expression. His legs had grown somewhat numb from crouching, so he directly grabbed Jiang Shao’s wrist and used him for support as he stood. Jiang Shao had not expected Qi Mu to suddenly reach out and immediately went rigid at the touch. Before he could react, Qi Mu smoothly pushed him forward.
Qi Mu smiled gently at the children. “I’m tired. Let Uncle Jiang play with you for a while.”
Jiang Shao’s refusal became lodged in his throat and was swallowed back down as Qi Mu pushed him into the group of children.
The children did not know how to read someone’s expression. Since Uncle Qi had said so, they would simply play with Uncle Jiang. Uncle Jiang was an employee, so naturally, he had to listen to Uncle Qi!
Qi Mu watched Jiang Shao being dragged away by the children, then pulled over a chair and sat to one side.
Qi Mu had actually been quite embarrassed that Jiang Shao had witnessed such an undignified side of him. Now that Jiang Shao had also been made to play with the children, they were both the same, and neither had any reason to feel more embarrassed than the other.
From the side, Qi Mu watched Jiang Shao reluctantly but patiently accompany the children and could not help laughing softly. The Long Aotian did not seem quite so terrifying after all, did he?
Wasn’t he getting along perfectly well with the children?
The sky gradually darkened.
The children left for home one after another, and the school slowly emptied.
Principal Zhang called the two of them over for dinner.
Perhaps because of everything that had happened that day, the two of them seemed to have unconsciously grown less unfamiliar with each other. Qi Mu smilingly called Jiang Shao to come inside with him.
Meals here consisted mainly of wild vegetables gathered from the mountain, along with preserved pork and wild game delivered by nearby farmers.
Principal Zhang had cooked a bubbling hot pot of preserved pork and cabbage. It looked appetizing just from the steam rising above it. Qi Mu took the initiative to help serve the rice and carry the dishes. The group then sat on small stools around a low table to eat hot pot.
The meal could only be described as simple, but the ingredients were fresh and possessed a distinctive flavor. Qi Mu ate with great enjoyment. After eating the steaming hot pot in winter, his entire body also began to feel warmer.
Jiang Shao glanced sideways at Qi Mu. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, his face had reddened from the heat, and fine beads of sweat had gathered on his forehead.
At this moment, he truly had none of a company president’s airs left.
Principal Zhang smiled as he looked between the two of them. His gaze moved from Jiang Shao to Qi Mu before he suddenly remarked, “President Qi and Xiao Jiang seem to have a very good relationship.”
Qi Mu’s eating motion abruptly paused, and he nearly choked. Where had Principal Zhang gotten the impression that they had a good relationship?
They had only just progressed from an outwardly cordial but mutually guarded employer-employee relationship into an ordinary, vaguely friendly employer-employee relationship that was slightly less tense and guarded.
Qi Mu finally swallowed the food in his mouth and was about to explain when Jiang Shao spoke indifferently beside him. “Yes. I must thank President Qi for trusting and valuing me enough to give me opportunities to improve myself and gain experience.”
Qi Mu: “…”
He had the distinct feeling that Jiang Shao’s words were not entirely sincere, but he could hardly deny them, so he nodded to indicate that Jiang Shao was correct.
Principal Zhang, however, detected nothing wrong whatsoever. He advised earnestly, “A young person must cherish opportunities like this. You’re fortunate to have encountered a leader like President Qi.”
Qi Mu: “…”
Yet Jiang Shao solemnly agreed with Principal Zhang. “Yes. I’ll be sure to cherish it.”
Seeing how obedient and sensible Jiang Shao appeared, Principal Zhang was greatly gratified. He praised Jiang Shao without restraint, then began praising Qi Mu as well. He looked at them with immense satisfaction, as though he were witnessing the bright future of the nation…
Qi Mu’s expression gradually became tranquil while numbness spread through his heart. He truly had not known that when the Long Aotian wanted to deceive someone, he could be so patient and flawlessly convincing.
They continued eating and chatting like this. Of course, it was mainly Principal Zhang speaking, Jiang Shao answering, and Qi Mu sitting there speechless.
Halfway through the meal, Teacher Jiang suddenly entered to find Principal Zhang. “Xiao Jun has developed a fever. I’m taking him to the clinic.”
Concern appeared on Principal Zhang’s face, and he stood without hesitation. “I’ll go with you.”
He could not feel at ease allowing a young woman like Teacher Jiang to walk along the mountain roads at night while taking Xiao Jun to the clinic.
If they delayed any longer, it would become completely dark. Principal Zhang abandoned his meal and said to Qi Mu, “President Qi, I’m taking Xiao Jun to the clinic tonight and won’t be coming back. That works out well—you two can sleep in my room.”
He remembered Qi Mu mentioning earlier that their vehicle had broken down halfway there, that the driver would be unable to reach them today, and that they hoped to stay the night.
Qi Mu said, “All right. You should hurry and go. There’s no need to worry about us.”
Principal Zhang nodded and hurriedly left.
Because everyone else had gone, only Qi Mu and Jiang Shao remained in the room. Neither spoke while eating, and the atmosphere immediately became quiet.
Qi Mu was not someone skilled at enlivening an atmosphere, nor did he intend to exchange pleasantries with Jiang Shao. They quickly finished eating, and Qi Mu casually began clearing away the bowls and chopsticks, carrying them to the sink behind the building to wash.
He would feel far too embarrassed leaving such a mess for Principal Zhang to clean up when he returned the next day.
Jiang Shao lazily followed behind Qi Mu and casually leaned against something nearby. Raising his eyelids, he watched Qi Mu wash the dishes. The man leaned slightly forward, his sleeves rolled above his elbows, his long fingers holding a bowl as running water flowed through the spaces between them.
Jiang Shao stared at Qi Mu’s fingers for a long while before his gaze moved behind Qi Mu’s ear. Beneath the soft, short black hair was a stretch of long, fair neck, like a handful of snow resting beside the darkness of night.
Jiang Shao stared fixedly before suddenly asking, “Why do you do these things?”
Whether donating supplies to the school, playing with the children, or helping Principal Zhang wash the dishes, Qi Mu did everything so naturally, as though it were only right. But what meaning did any of it have?
What could he possibly gain from it?
This was something Jiang Shao could not understand.
Qi Mu was concentrating on washing the dishes, and the sound of running water filled his ears, so he did not hear clearly. He turned back and looked at Jiang Shao in confusion. “What did you say?”
Jiang Shao slowly repeated himself. He stared into Qi Mu’s eyes, waiting for his answer.
Qi Mu laughed. “Do I need a reason?”
When he saw Jiang Shao continue staring at him, he thought for a moment and answered seriously, “Perhaps seeing the children happy makes me happy as well?”
Jiang Shao frowned in contemplation.
So a person could derive satisfaction from someone else’s happiness.
One did not necessarily have to seek a reward. Merely seeing someone else happy could allow a person to share in that feeling.
Yet Jiang Shao could not understand such an emotion. He was unable to empathize with the joys and sorrows of others.
Perhaps it was because he and Qi Mu were fundamentally different kinds of people.
…
By the time Qi Mu finished cleaning, the sky had become completely dark.
The internet connection in the mountains was poor, and there were no forms of entertainment. Besides, they had been tired out by the day’s events, so they might as well rest early.
Since Principal Zhang was normally the only person living at the school, there was only one bedroom. This time, Qi Mu and Jiang Shao truly had no choice but to stay together. Qi Mu walked into the room with a heavy heart.
The small, single-story room contained only one bed, and Qi Mu genuinely found himself in a difficult position.
This was entirely different from when they had stayed at the hotel. The luxury suite had allowed each of them to occupy a separate room without disturbing the other. But this shabby little room contained only one bed—and a single bed at that. Two grown men could not possibly sleep on it together.
If Qi Mu invited Jiang Shao to share the bed, he would never be able to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River.
Besides, he could never do something like that.
One of them could only sleep on the floor.
But the floor was cold, hard, and damp concrete, without tiles or carpeting. There was no heating in the room either. With the winter solstice approaching, sleeping on a floor like this would certainly be deeply uncomfortable.
Qi Mu did not dare order the Long Aotian to sleep on the floor. Although he was no longer as excessively cautious as before, he still could not imperiously command Jiang Shao in that manner.
Moreover, Jiang Shao had entered the water to rescue someone that day. If he slept on such a floor afterward, he might become ill. Qi Mu instinctively wanted to tell Jiang Shao to take the bed.
But the words stopped at his lips. As the boss, what would it look like if he voluntarily surrendered the bed to an employee? The Long Aotian would certainly become suspicious of his motives and might even assume Qi Mu intended something improper.
This was genuinely troublesome.
Qi Mu contemplated gravely for a moment before deciding to throw the problem back at Jiang Shao and allow him to choose.
If Jiang Shao wanted the bed, Qi Mu would let him have it and say it was out of gratitude for rescuing the child. If Jiang Shao wanted to continue portraying himself as a good employee and surrendered the bed to his superior, then Qi Mu would sleep there. Either way, it was only one night. They could simply make do until morning.
Therefore, Qi Mu said nothing. He calmly walked toward the wardrobe and pretended to search through it for bedding.
Jiang Shao stood behind Qi Mu with his arms crossed, observing his movements. He watched Qi Mu pretend to search for a quilt, every trace of his hesitation and inner conflict clearly visible.
Jiang Shao suddenly remembered how Qi Mu had blushed after secretly looking at him beside the pond earlier, hiding his reaction for fear Jiang Shao would notice. Thinking of how thin-skinned and easily embarrassed the man was, Jiang Shao’s mischievous streak surfaced, and he no longer wanted to let him off so easily.
He was not a kind and considerate person like Qi Mu.
So Jiang Shao deliberately remained silent, standing leisurely nearby as though waiting for Qi Mu to make the arrangements.
The wardrobe was only so large, with only a few quilts inside. Qi Mu searched through them several times, yet Jiang Shao still did not speak. He began to grow anxious.
If this continued, Jiang Shao would notice something strange…
Distracted, Qi Mu gripped a quilt and slowly began pulling it out. Suddenly, a hand reached forward from behind him and pressed against the upper edge of the wardrobe. At some point, the man had moved directly behind him, enveloping his entire body from the rear. The distance between them was extremely close. Qi Mu could faintly feel the man’s body heat and the breath falling against the back of his neck, burning hot and slightly ticklish, creating an inexplicably ambiguous atmosphere.
Qi Mu’s body instantly stiffened, and his breathing stopped for a moment. Several fragments from the previous night suddenly flashed through his mind—Jiang Shao’s arm wrapped around his waist…
Qi Mu was not drunk today. What did Jiang Shao intend to do?
Every hair on the back of Qi Mu’s neck nearly stood upright. Just as the oppressive atmosphere made it difficult for him to breathe, the man behind him suddenly laughed softly beside his ear. “President Qi, it seems we can only make do together.”
Qi Mu’s pupils practically trembled, and the expression control he prided himself upon cracked. Fortunately, his back was turned to Jiang Shao, preventing the other man from seeing his current expression.
Wasn’t the Long Aotian supposed to despise men approaching him? Every man who coveted you was destroyed! Have you forgotten your homophobic character setting? Why don’t you listen to what you’re saying right now?!
Jiang Shao lowered his head and observed him intently. Seeing Qi Mu’s entire body stiffen and the tips of his ears instantly turn red, exactly as they had earlier—
He raised the corner of his mouth in satisfaction.
He truly was different from Qi Mu. Compared with helping other people, he preferred teasing Qi Mu. Watching him become flustered and embarrassed like this was far more interesting.
But didn’t Qi Mu normally flirt and fool around everywhere? With skin this thin, how did he dare provoke people so freely? Wasn’t he afraid that someone might turn around and devour him instead?
Just as Qi Mu appeared on the verge of bristling—
Jiang Shao abruptly stepped backward. At the same time, he took the quilt from Qi Mu’s hands and teased, “I only meant that I’d make do by sleeping on the floor. What was President Qi imagining? You didn’t think I intended to share the bed with you, did you?”
Qi Mu: “…”
Qi Mu drew several deep breaths before slowly turning around and forcing out a smile. “Of course not.”
With a careless, roguish smile on his face, Jiang Shao turned away, snapped out the quilt with his long arms, and spread it over the floor in only a few movements.
Remembering Jiang Shao’s malicious teasing, Qi Mu no longer felt guilty about allowing him to sleep on the floor. This was Jiang Shao’s own choice, after all. He could hardly blame Qi Mu.
With a stern expression, Qi Mu picked up another quilt and went to bed.
The room was exceptionally cold that night. There was only a small heater. Qi Mu wrapped himself tightly in the quilt, yet the bed remained cold for a long time, leaving him unable to sleep.
Winter nights deep in the mountains were exceptionally quiet. There was not even the sound of cicadas. Unable to fall asleep, Qi Mu’s mind filled with chaotic thoughts.
Although he had still been resenting Jiang Shao’s behavior moments earlier and had thought Jiang Shao could sleep on the floor if he wanted to, once he calmed down, Qi Mu remembered that he was cold even while sleeping on the bed. Jiang Shao had already exhausted himself all day. What if he caught a chill? Qi Mu inevitably felt somewhat guilty.
However, Jiang Shao was young, healthy, and strong. He should probably be fine. Otherwise, why would he have chosen to sleep on the floor himself?
Qi Mu lay with his eyes open, staring blankly overhead. But everything was pitch-black, and he could not see anything. The sudden yowling of wild cats came from outside. They were probably fighting over territory in the middle of the night, and judging from the noise, the battle seemed fierce.
Qi Mu quietly turned his head and looked toward Jiang Shao’s makeshift bed.
The man below lay beneath the quilt with his eyes closed and showed no response. He was probably asleep, wasn’t he? How could he sleep even under these conditions? Qi Mu genuinely admired the Long Aotian.
He wished he could fall asleep that quickly as well.
Then he would not think about all this nonsense.
After fighting for a while, the wild cats seemed to tire and presumably determined a victor. The surroundings gradually became quiet again. Qi Mu finally began to feel sleepy and unconsciously drifted off.
Therefore, he did not know that in the darkness, the man opened his eyes.
Jiang Shao had not fallen asleep.
It was not because of the cold or the noise, but because he was unaccustomed to sharing a room with anyone. As long as someone else was nearby, he found it difficult to sleep.
Hearing Qi Mu’s breathing become even and steady, Jiang Shao knew he had fallen asleep. He lifted the quilt and sat up, then silently walked to the window and looked toward the sleeping man on the bed beneath the moonlight.
Perhaps the night was simply too cold.
Damp, icy air surged in from every direction, penetrating his skin and pores and seeping into his blood. The rare emotions and palpitations within his chest gradually settled along with the falling temperature, and a trace of conflict appeared in Jiang Shao’s eyes.
Everything he did had a clear purpose. The direction of his life had been planned long ago. He had never hesitated or wavered…
But this time—
He was hesitating.
Whether he should continue allowing all of this to develop unchecked.
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