Chapter 44: Hyperventilation
Xie Residence.
Xie Shibai stopped the car. Standing at the elevator entrance to welcome him was still Zhou Chengping, dressed in his elite attire.
Zhou Chengping wore a smile, acting just as usual, molding himself into the perfect special assistant. He spoke as if making familiar small talk: “I heard you’re not living at Yue Garden anymore? The Old Master asked Assistant Li to send you some things, only to find you weren’t there.”
Xie Shibai swept a lukewarm glance at him. Accustomed to this clumsy probing, he couldn’t muster any emotion. “Mn.”
The smile on Zhou Chengping’s face became unnatural. “Bought a new property? Where did you move to?”
Xie Shibai asked faintly in return, “I am married now. Where do you think I should move?”
Zhou Chengping’s face darkened at the thought of the variety show he had accidentally noticed. He had always believed Xie Shibai had no feelings for his flash-marriage partner, and that the other party was just an irrelevant C-list celebrity who could be easily crushed. He thought the marriage was just Xie Shibai’s petty rebellion against Old Mr. Xie, like a rebellious phase, and that Xie Shibai would realize his mistake sooner or later.
Canaries locked in cages were always like this, vainly attempting to escape the prison. Only after learning a lesson would they deeply realize their mistakes. This was an indispensable step in pruning and taming.
Yet the clips from the variety show on the trending search seemed to be slapping his face.
Zhou Chengping’s expression was grim. “The Old Master is very angry. And he invited Professor Ye to the house today.”
Xie Shibai’s footsteps paused slightly. His fingers twitched. His expression was so indifferent that no emotion could be seen.
In the elevator, Zhou Chengping observed Xie Shibai for a while, frowning.
Professor Ye was the attending physician responsible for treating Xie Shibai back then. Xu Ruixin suspected Xie Shibai’s illness hadn’t been cured. Given Old Mr. Xie’s personality, meeting Professor Ye wouldn’t be purely for catching up; this time, it was likely a warning. Yet Xie Shibai seemed completely unfazed.
Knocking on the study door, he pushed it open after receiving permission.
In the study, Old Mr. Xie was chatting happily with a refined middle-aged man. Beside them was Xu Ruixin, who was pouring tea for them.
Xu Ruixin looked delighted when she saw Xie Shibai. She quickly waved. “Shibai is here. Come over quickly and see who is here.”
Upon seeing Xie Shibai, Old Mr. Xie put away the fake smile on his face. His expression was stern, and he didn’t speak.
Xie Shibai’s gaze fell on Ye Yingpu.
Ye Yingpu observed for a few seconds. Everyone present was shrewd; he understood why he was called here. The evaluation required the Xie family’s help. He had done a “best of both worlds” deal once before, so he wasn’t afraid to do it a second time. “It’s been so long, you must have forgotten me.”
Xu Ruixin waved her hand and laughed. “How is that possible? Professor Ye has practically given our Shibai a second life. If it weren’t for you, how could his illness have healed so quickly?”
Hypocrisy was forever the synonym of the Xie family.
Just being here, Xie Shibai felt a nameless irritability overflowing in his heart.
He wanted to go home quickly.
Xie Shibai greeted them: “Grandfather, Professor Ye.”
Since Xie Shibai was discharged, Ye Yingpu hadn’t observed his ‘experimental subject’ up close for a long time. Although he had heard descriptions from others, nothing was as clear as his own observation. He stepped forward and extended his hand to shake Xie Shibai’s. “I didn’t expect you to remember me. Seeing you recovering well now, I’m truly happy for you.”
Xie Shibai looked at the hand in front of him. Almost as a conditioned reflex, his body’s aversion to physical contact came rushing back. It was as if the peace of the recent period was a fake dream, and this moment was reality. He suppressed his nausea and shook back, stopping at a mere touch. “How could I forget Professor Ye?”
Ye Yingpu suddenly tightened his grip on Xie Shibai’s hand, deliberately holding it for a few extra seconds to observe his reaction. Soon, he was disappointed. Xie Shibai’s expression was exactly the same as during the discharge test—no reaction at all, just like a normal person’s attitude towards a handshake.
“Your illness hasn’t relapsed, has it? If there are any problems, remember you must come to find me.”
He remembered during the treatment back then, he had been tricked by low currents several times before he remembered never to initiate a handshake with anyone ever again.
It took a long time to correct it to become like a normal person.
Xie Shibai’s fingers tightened slightly, suppressing the urge to wash his hands. His arm gradually began to ache. This pain wasn’t small in area; it felt as if electricity was sweeping through his entire arm—a dense, pricking pain radiating from the bones. “Thank you for your concern, Professor Ye. I heard you are being evaluated for Academician.”
Ye Yingpu patted Xie Shibai’s shoulder. “Speaking of which, having this opportunity is all thanks to you. Your illness when you were young helped me a lot. Come to my place for a check-up in a few days.”
Xie Shibai naturally knew what he was referring to. Looking at his demeanor, as if the Academician title was already in the bag, a flash of mockery passed through his eyes. He said with ambiguous meaning, “Then let me congratulate you in advance.”
Xu Ruixin beside them quickly said, “Don’t worry, Professor Ye, we will definitely go.”
Ye Yingpu laughed. “I won’t disturb your family chat. Mr. Xie, let’s gather another day.”
After speaking, he turned to leave.
Old Mr. Xie nodded and signaled Xu Ruixin to see him out.
Xu Ruixin glanced at Xie Shibai. Even if she was unhappy, she had no choice but to see the guest out.
She gritted her teeth. This double-standard old man couldn’t be thinking of handing the Xie Corporation to Xie Shibai, right?
With two people gone, the study was much quieter.
Ye Yingpu’s appearance was like a warning, just like the pruning shears beside a bonsai; any branch showing a tendency to grow crooked would be ruthlessly snipped off.
Old Mr. Xie took off his reading glasses. “I called you here today for one thing only: Divorce.”
Xie Shibai’s fingers tightened slightly, suppressing the urge to wash his hands. “Impossible.”
Old Mr. Xie suppressed his temper. This wasn’t the first time Xie Shibai had defied him. “Do you want the Xie family to end with you? The Xie family raised you, and this is how you repay us? Marrying a man? Ungrateful wretch!”
Xie Shibai lowered his eyes and clenched his fingers. Even the pain in his palm couldn’t cover the increasing pain in his arm and his anxious nerves. He said bluntly, “Grandfather, do you still have the energy to manage these things?”
Old Mr. Xie’s face sank, and he said sternly, “What do you mean?”
Xie Shibai’s patience ran out. “Two backward decisions have already pushed the Xie family to a dead end. If you’re worried about it ending with me, you have to ensure Xie Corporation can survive first. If it’s just about this matter, there’s no room for discussion. Take care of your health.”
After speaking, without waiting for Old Mr. Xie’s reply, Xie Shibai turned and left.
Old Mr. Xie looked at Xie Shibai’s resolute back and laughed out of extreme anger. “I’ve lived a whole life, what haven’t I seen? Special Assistant Zhou!”
Zhou Chengping looked at the departing Xie Shibai, then turned his head to reply respectfully, “Old Master.”
Old Mr. Xie asked, “What is the name of the person he married? Lu what?”
Zhou Chengping immediately replied, “Lu Ciheng.”
Old Mr. Xie: “Investigate clearly. Notify everyone privately. From now on, I don’t want to see any information about this person.”
Zhou Chengping’s expression paused. Feeling somewhat awkward, he struggled for two seconds before saying it: “It has already been investigated. It’s the Lu family. He had been abroad before, so there was very little news. He entered the entertainment industry upon returning to China. The confidentiality measures were done well. Since returning, he has only attended the Zhong family’s banquet once, so…”
Hearing “The Lu Family,” Old Mr. Xie looked stunned.
Almost as soon as he got home, he ran right into Lu Ciheng, who had been waiting for a long time.
Lu Ciheng curved his lips, looking like a Beagle in its appreciation period who had waited at home for a long time to finally see its master. At the same time, he played the image of a perfect husband. “Teacher Xie is back. What do you want for dinner?”
Xie Shibai, who had endured for a long time, was breathing a bit rapidly. His goal was clear: wash his hands. He didn’t even have time to reply to Lu Ciheng.
He threw his coat into the trash can and turned on the faucet, repeatedly rinsing the place where he had shaken hands. He scrubbed until the skin on his fingers turned red, but the anxious emotion still didn’t disappear. The symptoms that hadn’t appeared for a long time seemed to have accumulated; after erupting like a geyser, it was an uncontrollable somatization.
The stress response caused waves of pain in his arm. Like electricity sweeping through the body provoking numbness, followed by the pain of ants gnawing.
Xie Shibai grabbed the clothes at his chest, breathing rapidly. The oxygen in the air seemed to become exceptionally thin, difficult to support the oxygen needed by the body. A sense of suffocation followed him like a shadow.
Lu Ciheng immediately noticed something was wrong. He walked quickly to Xie Shibai’s side and nervously grabbed Xie Shibai’s arm. “What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?”
Xie Shibai’s fingers grabbed Lu Ciheng’s clothes. Gasping urgently, he couldn’t answer Lu Ciheng’s words. His body slid downwards. Buzzing appeared in his ears. His head felt like it was bagged in plastic; oxygen decreased with every breath. Every minute and second, the feeling of suffocation multiplied, making it hard to breathe.
The somatized feeling of impending death was so strong it felt like he would suffocate and die in the next second.
Lu Ciheng’s expression turned grave. A guess flashed through his mind.
Respiratory alkalosis (Hyperventilation syndrome).
He made a prompt decision, reaching out his large palm to cover Xie Shibai’s mouth and nose. The large palm pressed close to the fair cheek, covering it tightly, forcefully stopping his rapid gasping. His other hand protected the back of Xie Shibai’s head, pressing his back against the wall, hooking the waist of the person in front of him. The posture was forceful, leaving no room for retreat.
Xie Shibai’s long eyelashes trembled lightly. His eyes were covered with a layer of mist, slightly unfocused. His fair fingers subconsciously gripped Lu Ciheng’s arm tightly, struggling to grab the opponent’s arm with force.
But after lacking oxygen, his fingers were constantly numb, and he couldn’t exert much strength at all. Although he tried hard, he only left a few red marks, scratching like a cat and leaving only an itch.
Breathing was blocked in an instant, leaving only the hand pressing firmly on his cheek—scorching and forceful. His breath became humid.
Black soft hair was slightly messy. The cold cheek appeared exceptionally small under the large palm, able to be completely controlled by one hand.
The sense of suffocation, accompanied by physical contact, seemed about to explode in his mind.
Lu Ciheng’s gaze froze for a few seconds. He guided in a low voice, “Teacher Xie, don’t gasp heavily. Calm your breathing.”
The continuous suffocation caused Xie Shibai’s eyes to be misty with moisture. His cold face was dyed with a pathological flush. The spasm in his throat made him want to cough, but it was all blocked by the large hand. Only the gentle guiding voice remained in his ear.
Lu Ciheng stared tightly at Xie Shibai, guiding his breathing rhythm. His palm felt the exhaled hot, humid moisture. “Breathe slower. Look at me. Don’t worry, it will be okay.”
Xie Shibai’s fingertips firmly grabbed Lu Ciheng, following the other’s guidance to adjust the rhythm of his breathing, until his breathing stabilized and his lungs no longer sent searing signals of thin air.
The large hand covering his mouth and nose was slowly released only after confirming his breathing had calmed.
After the hand was removed, Xie Shibai’s chest rose and fell as he panted. Black strands of hair stuck to his cheek, slightly messy. His long eyelashes still held physiological tears. His cheeks flushed with a thin layer of red, and his rosy lips parted slightly, panting slowly for oxygen. His expression was dyed with a sense of brokenness.
Lu Ciheng’s gaze paused for a few seconds. His thumb lightly touched the marks he had made on Xie Shibai’s face. His Adam’s apple rolled. His palm could still feel the moist water traces left by Xie Shibai—wet and a bit hot, spreading from his fingers and burning fiercely.
Xie Shibai covered his mouth and coughed lightly a few times.
Lu Ciheng lowered his eyes and asked with concern, “Teacher Xie, feeling better?”
Xie Shibai calmed his breathing and nodded. His throat was a bit unable to speak.
He wanted to get up, but their movements were too intimate. Lu Ciheng was kneeling in front of him; because he had to cover his mouth and nose, his knee was stacked under his legs, thighs touching. It was almost a holding posture. The other hand was still pressing on his waist.
He calmed his breath, his face hot. His hands pushed against Lu Ciheng’s shoulders, just about to get up.
The next second, he was held down by the waist by Lu Ciheng, and the whole person was steadily lifted up.
There was a height difference between the two. When being carried, Xie Shibai was slightly higher than Lu Ciheng. His breath hitched slightly, his wet eyelashes widening a bit. looking down from above, his fingers suddenly tightened on Lu Ciheng’s clothes, his voice slightly hoarse: “Lu Ciheng!”
Solid arms held the person steadily, while the other hand protected the waist to prevent him from falling while struggling.
Lu Ciheng held him very steadily, looking up slightly to look straight into Xie Shibai’s eyes. “Teacher Xie, control your breathing. If you move around, be careful not to fall. You need to avoid walking now. I’ll carry you back to rest.”
Xie Shibai rested his head on Lu Ciheng’s shoulder and stopped talking. It seemed like self-abandonment, or perhaps the somatization of his illness had consumed a lot of energy, and exhaustion made it impossible to react further.
Sleepiness came quickly. As soon as he lay back on the soft bed, his consciousness began to drift. He glanced at Lu Ciheng, then looked away to the floor-to-ceiling window. He could still recall the feeling of being held tightly in his arms when suffocating.
The aversion to physical contact seemed to have disappeared again.
And this characteristic was only effective for Lu Ciheng.
When Lu Ciheng finished talking to the doctor on the phone, he found Xie Shibai had already fallen asleep.
He reached out and gently touched Xie Shibai’s hair. His gaze touched his own palm, recalling the wet, hot breath pressing against it. There were also wet water stains when Xie Shibai coughed lightly.
Lu Ciheng’s Adam’s apple rolled. He raised his hand and pressed his palm forcefully against his mouth and nose, as if he could still feel the moist heat left by Xie Shibai’s breath. The faint scent rushed into his nasal cavity as he inhaled deeply, hiding deep obsession in the depths of his eyes.
Chapter 45: “Want to Touch?”
Xie Shibai opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling with a somewhat confused expression. Only after noticing there were no cameras did he realize that the variety show recording was paused.
He moved a little, lowering his eyes to look at the hand lying across his waist. The memories of last night revived in his mind.
Xie Shibai rubbed his forehead and moved Lu Ciheng’s hand away. Just as he was about to get out of bed, his waist was suddenly encircled by an arm.
The solid arm circled the slender waist, and with a slight force, pulled him back.
Lu Ciheng looked like he hadn’t woken up yet. He wasn’t quite lucid, relying entirely on instinct to encircle Xie Shibai, his fingers shackling his chin. “Teacher Xie, you’re awake?”
Xie Shibai’s eyelashes widened slightly, dodging backward away from Lu Ciheng’s hand.
Lu Ciheng narrowed his eyes. As Xie Shibai dodged back, he approached, his fingers grinding against Xie Shibai’s cheek. His calloused fingertips felt the soft skin, lamenting with contradiction, “The marks on your face have faded.”
Yesterday, in order to help Xie Shibai control his breathing, due to the suddenness of the situation, he hadn’t controlled his strength well. He had pressed red finger marks onto Xie Shibai’s cheeks. They had a promotional livestream the next day. Lu Ciheng sat by the bed applying ice all night to eliminate all the marks.
Xie Shibai felt uncomfortable having his cheek rubbed. He raised his hand to press against Lu Ciheng’s face and pushed him away forcefully. “Let go.”
Lu Ciheng grabbed Xie Shibai’s hand and observed carefully for a few seconds. Seeing no sequelae mentioned by the doctor, his eyes curved. He actively placed his face in Xie Shibai’s hand, letting Xie Shibai’s fair, slender hand cover his mouth and nose, breathing in the cool scent.
He looked like he was apologizing, yet his black eyes stared straight ahead. “Teacher Xie, I accidentally made your face very red yesterday. Do you want to cover me back?”
Xie Shibai paused for a few seconds. He thought Lu Ciheng would ask what happened yesterday. Staring at the black eyes for a few seconds, he tried to withdraw his hand. “I don’t have that kind of hobby.”
Lu Ciheng didn’t let go, his eyes shining as he said seriously, “You could have.”
It was as if one could see an invisible tail behind Lu Ciheng, wagging in circles with anticipation.
Xie Shibai: “?”
He slapped Lu Ciheng’s face back with his palm, gritting his teeth. “You really are a pervert.”
Xie Shibai looked at the breakfast in front of him, which was perfect in color, aroma, and taste. The plated eggs were heart-shaped. The simple meal was exquisitely made, and the taste and texture were very good.
If he ignored the body swaying back and forth in front of his eyes, it would be a very immersive breakfast experience.
Lu Ciheng wore loose casual trousers on his lower body. After showering, he wore nothing on his upper body except an apron, revealing solid, broad shoulders. The muscle lines of his back were smooth like mountain ranges. His long arms were powerful, capable of easily lifting a person—Xie Shibai had already learned this yesterday; even carrying him up a flight of stairs didn’t disturb his breathing.
When turning sideways, the abdominal muscles at his waist were vaguely visible under the apron. The person opposite seemed to know how his body looked and displayed it unreservedly. Every gesture hid an obvious seduction.
Xie Shibai looked away, lowered his eyes, and took a bite of the heart-shaped egg. After Lu Ciheng swayed past him for the nth time, he spoke up, “Are you very hot?”
Lu Ciheng, who had been ‘peacocking’ all morning, immediately leaned in. “It’s okay. Mainly, the doctor said you need to maintain a happy mood.”
Xie Shibai looked up, unable to understand. “What does keeping me in a happy mood have to do with you not wearing a shirt?”
Lu Ciheng smiled and said, “I searched online. They all say looking at abs more can maintain a happy mood.”
Xie Shibai: “…” Thanks, but I don’t really want to look either.
“Go away, don’t disturb my meal.”
Lu Ciheng immediately asked, “Teacher Xie, how does breakfast taste today?”
Xie Shibai ate the last bite. “Terrible.”
Lu Ciheng chuckled as he looked at the empty plate. He only found Xie Shibai’s duplicity (saying one thing but meaning another) terribly cute. “I will definitely refine my cooking skills.”
Xie Shibai was just about to get up and leave the dining table when Lu Ciheng immediately stepped forward. “Teacher Xie, where are you going? I’ll carry you. The doctor said to avoid strenuous exercise.”
Xie Shibai glanced at him sideways. “I’m just walking.”
Lu Ciheng: “That’s not allowed either.”
Xie Shibai: “…You are so annoying.”
Lu Ciheng made “mm-hmm” sounds and picked him up by the waist, cherishing him as if holding the Princess and the Pea.
Xie Shibai’s hands had nowhere to place. He stared at Lu Ciheng for two seconds then looked away. His attitude was an indulgence he didn’t even realize himself.
Physical contact with Lu Ciheng did indeed alleviate the anxious emotions in his heart.
Although he didn’t understand why, this kind of physical contact was slightly addictive.
Follow-up care for respiratory alkalosis required special attention. Once it happens, it can easily be triggered again during emotional agitation.
Lu Ciheng had just finished confirming the foods Xie Shibai needed to avoid with the doctor when he received a call from Zhuang Bo.
He answered the phone. “Found it?”
Zhuang Bo on the other end replied, “Mn, it’s Ye Yingpu. When Teacher Xie was seven or eight years old, he received treatment for mental illness at Hongshan Sanitarium for two years. The Xie family was very cautious; confidentiality was strictly maintained. Apart from the personnel involved at the time, basically very few people know.”
Lu Ciheng held the glass cup, his face turning cold.
Two years. No wonder.
“His attending physician was Ye Yingpu. Not long after Ye Yingpu hooked up with the Xie family, he was promoted to professor. But his reputation isn’t good; there have been scandals about him being an academic tyrant. Moreover, his treatment methods are problematic. Rather than saying they are radical, it’s better to say…”
Zhuang Bo recalled what he had read and felt somewhat angry. “This guy promotes electrotherapy.”
With a crisp crack, the glass cup in Lu Ciheng’s hand was crushed. Shattered glass cut across his palm, and blood spilled from the wound, but he seemed unable to feel pain. He threw the shattered glass into the trash can, his expression leaving only icy coldness.
“Ye Yingpu went to the Xie family yesterday for the Academician evaluation.”
Lu Ciheng rinsed the blood off his hand with water.
Xie Shibai losing control of his emotions was very likely because he met Ye Yingpu at the Xie house yesterday.
Zhuang Bo continued, “He has many students who have protested long ago, but their voices are weak and easily suppressed. Ye Yingpu has backers; students trying to fight him are like eggs striking a rock. I’ve already contacted them in advance. Some are willing to step forward and report him, including some of his former patients—they are all willing to stand up. Should we inform Teacher Xie’s side?”
Lu Ciheng flipped through the patent papers by Ye Yingpu that Zhuang Bo had sent. When his eyes landed on the title about microcurrents and neurons, his face was as cold as glacial ice.
“Don’t tell him for now.”
Lu Ciheng wasn’t simply playing around. He had a bad temper and sought revenge for the smallest grievance. Life abroad had aggravated the ruthlessness in his nature. Only in front of Xie Shibai was he harmless like a Beagle in its appreciation period. The evaluations of him within the circle had never been wrong.
He wanted the people who hurt Xie Shibai to suffer unbearable backlash.
Lu Ciheng casually wiped the blood from his palm. When his gaze touched Xie Shibai on the terrace, the hostility on his face lessened for a moment.
The weather was gradually turning cool. Xie Shibai wore a knit cardigan and sat on the rocking chair on the terrace, holding dried meat to tease the puppy. The ugly little local dog wagged its tail, barking, rolling over, and exposing its belly, trying its hardest to act cute to get the dried meat.
Xie Shibai lowered his eyes. The cardigan softened his cold face, and his hair moving slightly with the wind revealed a hint of softness.
Lu Ciheng watched, somewhat entranced.
Must hide it well. If discovered, what if Xie Shibai wants to divorce me? I tried so hard to trick him into getting the marriage certificate.
“It wouldn’t be good to scare him.”
Zhuang Bo on the other end of the phone was silent for a few seconds.
Scare who? Xie Shibai?
He recalled the not-so-distant past, the incident where an investor tried to use the ‘casting couch’ rules but was beaten by Xie Shibai until he was hospitalized for two days.
Zhuang Bo: “…Okay, I understand.”
On the terrace.
Xie Shibai fed the dried meat to Bobbi and quietly answered the phone.
Chen Qisheng: “The matter of Ye Yingpu’s academic fraud has been investigated clearly. A guy like him wants to be evaluated as an Academician? He’s gotten arrogant relying on his backers over the years; there are too many flaws in his work. But there is something strange.”
Xie Shibai lifted the Potato puppy onto his lap and scratched its chin, causing the puppy to whine and drill into his palm. Xie Shibai pinched the puppy’s nose. “Hmm?”
Chen Qisheng was somewhat puzzled. “Someone made a move before us. It looks like their methods are quite ruthless. It’s not just as simple as ruining his reputation. Heaven has eyes.”
Xie Shibai lowered his eyes and flicked the forehead of the puppy biting his finger. “Do you know who it is?”
The puppy Bobbi whined, but puppies always love humans; it leaned in to rub its head against Xie Shibai’s hand.
Chen Qisheng replied, “Not clear yet, let me investigate. Ye Yingpu must have offended many people over the years. He climbed too fast using unscrupulous means; it’s normal for many people to find him an eyesore. Someone wanting to take him down is normal. But since our goals align, we can be considered allies. Helping each other to send him to prison is good too.”
Xie Shibai glanced at Lu Ciheng through the terrace glass, a strange intuition rising in his heart. “Tell me when you find out.”
Chen Qisheng nodded. “Sure.”
“By the way, your dad finally discovered that Xingyun Technology is a hot potato. It’s full of bad debts, losing more than three hundred million. According to my undercover source, he smashed a Huanghuali wood table worth six hundred thousand in his office and threw out his old back. Aren’t you going back to offer condolences?”
Xie Shibai’s lips hooked up slightly. “If I go back, he’ll have problems with more than just his back.”
“True.” Chen Qisheng laughed a few times. He asked, “Actually, I’ve never understood. Even if you did nothing, the Xie family would fall into your hands eventually. You could turn around and sell it then; they wouldn’t be able to do anything even if they died of anxiety. There was no need to go to such great lengths.”
Xie Shibai said indifferently, “Selling it isn’t as interesting as destroying it.”
Chen Qisheng: “Judging by the current situation, it is indeed very interesting. If your grandfather knew that Xie Lingxi signed a VAM (Valuation Adjustment Mechanism) agreement using Xie family shares and lost, his reaction would definitely be even more interesting.”
Xie Shibai heard a sound coming from the terrace door. He turned his head to look at Lu Ciheng, who was holding coffee. “Find an opportunity to leak it to him.”
Chen Qisheng: “Don’t worry.”
Before hanging up, Chen Qisheng heard Xie Shibai’s voice from the other end: “Finally willing to wear clothes?”
Chen Qisheng looked at the hung-up phone with astonishment.
Do you guys play this big?
Lu Ciheng glanced at the phone Xie Shibai hung up. He pressed his brows down, a sour scent of vinegar spreading around him.
Who was he on the phone with for so long?
He even smiled. The vixen on the other end has some tricks.
Lu Ciheng placed the coffee on the small side table and asked with a sense of crisis, “Teacher Xie, how is your mood now?”
Xie Shibai looked slightly confused, not understanding what kind of fuss Lu Ciheng was making again. “It’s alright.”
Lu Ciheng’s sense of crisis grew heavier, the radar in his head instantly exploding off the charts.
He lifted his shirt, revealing the abdominal muscles he had worked so hard to train, looking exactly like he was using unscrupulous means to fight for favor. “Want to touch?”
Xie Shibai: “?”
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