Chapter 42: Easy to Coax
Happiness. This word had been far away from Shi He since he first heard it, or rather, since he first understood what it meant.
How could he possess happiness?
He was a puppet—a puppet for his parents, a puppet for the Shi family.
He first realized this at the site of the annual Shi family portrait. A little over one-year-old, Shi He sat on his parents’ laps and looked around. The other Shi family children his age all seemed very happy, acting spoiled while leaning against their parents.
Suddenly, little Shi He’s arm was grabbed harshly. On the inner side of his small sleeve, he had just been beaten for answering a question wrong.
His parents’ voices were cold. “Shi He, sit properly.”
He didn’t understand why his family was different from other children’s.
It wasn’t until many years later that Shi He learned the answer from Gu Xici’s mother.
Shortly after Shi He was born, his father met with an ex-girlfriend who had returned to the country. His mother signed the divorce papers. Due to disagreements over the division of interests, they maintained a “happy and perfect” marriage in the eyes of outsiders while living their own separate lives.
Yet they told him over and over again, “We’re only staying married for your sake.”
“You’re the child of both of us. We both love you.”
It was all a lie. In this house, Shi He was the only one who wasn’t loved.
During Shi He’s early childhood, the Shi family was at the height of its power. Every year, the Shi family would hold a grand birthday banquet for him, and many children his age would tell him with faces full of envy, “Shi He, you’re so lucky.”
Little Shi He, in an exquisite small suit, looked toward the distance with a cold and calm expression. The adults clinked glasses, hypocritical smiles plastered on their mature faces, but not a single one showed a hint of concern for him.
What kind of… birthday was this?
The young Shi He had most wanted nothing more than a hug from his family and a simple, warm dinner.
He couldn’t get it as a child, and as an adult, he no longer sought it.
Today, Shi He himself spoke the word “happiness.” His arms tightened around the other, and his handsome, cold face lowered, resting his chin on Ruan Zhimian’s shoulder. “Baby.”
The rainstorm that had spanned ten years of Shi He’s life no longer seemed to cause him pain.
The kitten in his arms reached out and gently patted his back, his voice soft yet firm. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you.”
If there truly were deities in this world, Shi He’s deity was Ruan Zhimian.
…
Hearing that Shi He had to take a call and go to the company, Ruan Zhimian, who was preparing to go home, quietly walked back from the door. He peeked into the dressing room and accidentally saw Shi He with his back to him, putting on a shirt.
Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and well-defined abdominal muscles.
Shi He looked into the side mirror. He put on his shirt unhurriedly and lowered his eyes to fasten the buttons, giving him plenty of time to watch. “Mianmian, is something the matter?”
The “caught” kitten walked in, naturally lowering his head. His snowy-white, soft fingertips rested on the edge of the cabinet. He picked up a pair of cufflinks from the drawer and said as if it were the most natural thing, “Nothing.”
He selected a pair and put them on for Shi He, speaking softly. “I’ll accompany you during the day today, but I have to go home tonight. My parents messaged me.”
The Alpha, who had just put on his suit, glanced sideways. The pure black shirt and jacket were minimalist in design, giving off a serious and cold vibe. “Accompany me?”
Ruan Zhimian nodded without hesitation, carefully fastening the cufflinks. With his hands hanging at his sides and his porcelain-white face lifted, he looked incredibly obedient.
“If you don’t need me, I’ll go home.”
The Alpha picked up a nearby tie—also black, with a silver-gray pattern. He handed the tie to Ruan Zhimian and said with a double meaning, “I need you.”
Ruan Zhimian knew how to tie a tie, but he wasn’t very practiced.
He stood on his tiptoes, first looping it around the back of Shi He’s neck. His upper body drew close to Shi He, his eyes focused intently on Shi He’s collar. His breathing was slow and gentle; he was so serious.
Shi He lowered his head slightly, his left hand pressing against Ruan Zhimian’s lower back.
“Tie it.”
Compared to his previous movements, even though this wasn’t particularly intimate, Ruan Zhimian’s face turned red. He loosened his fingers and said in a muffled voice, “Done.”
Shi He lifted his eyelids and looked into the mirror. “It looks good.”
He slightly loosened his grip, caught Ruan Zhimian’s fingers that were resting on the back of his hand, and walked out. “Mianmian, accompany me to the company.”
Ruan Zhimian’s driver was downstairs.
Shi He wasn’t polite and got into Ruan Zhimian’s car.
They had changed to a different car today. The driver stood by the door, well-trained. He didn’t observe Shi He, only saying to Ruan Zhimian, “Young Master, this is a gift from Young Master Xubai. It was just delivered to the house yesterday.”
“And this is the medicine Young Master Xubai asked me to bring for you.”
Many people in the Ruan family drove themselves, and everyone had a different style.
Ruan Zhimian didn’t like driving, so Ruan Xubai had sent him a comfortable business van.
Ruan Zhimian pulled out his phone and stuffed it into Shi He’s hand. “Help me take a photo.”
He stood by the car, his snowy-white mohair sweater making his aura seem soft and warm. The corners of his lips were slightly tilted up; he looked like a snow elf—vibrant and beautiful.
Shi He pressed the shutter and handed the phone to Ruan Zhimian.
“To Shi Corp.”
The car door closed. Ruan Zhimian tapped the screen to message Ruan Xubai, who replied quickly.
[Mianmian: Ge, I saw it! It’s so, so cool and very comfortable. Thank you, Ge.]
[Mianmian: (Photo)]
[Ruan Xubai: As long as you like it, Mianmian.]
[Ruan Xubai: I’m coming home tonight too. Let’s have dinner together.]
[Mianmian: Okay, I’ll wait for you to come home.]
Shi He sat to the side. His gaze slid across the phone screen, and he suddenly asked him, “Why aren’t you wearing the gift I gave you?”
Teng Yu had told him that the gemstone watch was extremely expensive. He kept it in a safe; other than taking it out once when he wanted to return it to Shi He, he had never brought it out.
The young master put away his phone and said to him seriously, “I’m afraid of losing it.”
“Wear it tomorrow.”
Ruan Zhimian agreed. “Okay.”
The vehicle parked in Shi Corp’s underground garage, and Shi He led Ruan Zhimian into the elevator.
The “obedient kitten,” who had been scrolling through messages on his phone, had his brow furrowed the whole way. It wasn’t until the elevator arrived that he asked dizzily, “A lot of people are saying you and I are together. Do you want to clarify?”
[x: Why would Shi like that person?]
[c: I’m more curious about how the one wearing the green hat feels right now.]
[Teng Yu: Keep spreading rumors and I’ll have you crawl out of Huajiang. Do you really think I’m blind?]
The elevator door opened with a ding, and the special assistant waiting at the door happened to hear.
The Alpha’s eyelids lowered. He reached out and turned off Ruan Zhimian’s phone screen, his voice clear and cold. “Mianmian, I won’t clarify. I’ll only solidify it.”
Ruan Zhimian blinked, slowly tightening his grip on his phone.
He followed Shi He into the office and whispered, “If you won’t clarify, then don’t.”
There was nothing he could do, so he stopped worrying about it.
Anyway, after he left, these rumors would pass. He lowered his head, opened the medicine bag, pinched his nose to drink the medicine, and quickly tore open a piece of candy to suck on.
Outside the screen, Shi He was discussing matters with senior executives.
Ruan Zhimian, who had just been about to stand up, opened his favorite game, Anipop, and started tapping. His calves swung by the side of the sofa as he entertained himself.
Before leaving, the supervisor stole a few glances behind the screen.
With that little young master of the Ruan family here, President Shi’s mood today was truly excellent.
The two hours of morning work ended. Shi He had processed the backlog of work from yesterday. He walked over carrying the lunch he had ordered. Ruan Zhimian had fallen asleep against the sofa at some point.
“Mianmian.”
Ruan Zhimian rubbed his eyes. “Shi He.”
Shi He sat beside him, unwrapped the food, opened the utensils, and handed them over. “Eat lunch.”
Ruan Zhimian said in a small voice, “I wanted to cut some fruit for you, but you were busy, so I… didn’t move…”
“I’m already very happy that you’re here.”
Today’s Shi He was even gentler. His elegant, cold fingers pressed against the lids, arranging the containers neatly. “Try it. Do you like it?”
The aroma of the food drifted out, steaming hot. Ruan Zhimian picked up a spoon and took a sip of soup first; his stomach instantly grew warm.
He looked up and saw Shi He was peeling shrimp for him.
For some reason, whenever Shi He was by his side, his mood was always pleasant and upbeat. Ruan Zhimian didn’t understand why; he only felt that Shi He was very good—better than anyone else he had ever met.
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