Just as the phone ringtone was being unruly, Bai Shuijin reached out and “pa!”, hung up the call.
Looking at Wang Huanxiu’s face that was full of indifference like he’d already seen through everything, Bai Shuijin almost wanted to put his palms together and ascend to the heavens on the spot.
Dear heavens, if you want his life, do you have to be so direct? At least pretend a little.
The ringtone had shocked him once before, but out of laziness, he hadn’t bothered to change it. Instead, he’d just switched the phone to silent. For the past few days, all calls had only vibrated, so he forgot about it.
Who would’ve thought the ringtone that had attacked him once would sneak attack him again?
For a moment, the hospital room was filled with awkwardness. The old man, the old woman, and their daughter all put themselves on silent mode a step ahead of Bai Shuijin.
Especially the old woman. She originally wanted to say something to help smooth things over, but ended up being an accomplice.
For a moment, the watermelons in the hands of the family of three were very appropriate to the occasion.
The fate hidden in the shadows peaked at this exact moment.
The daughter was the first to react. “You’ve been lying around all day yesterday, your body must be stiff. Dad, Mom, let me help you go out for a walk. The weather looks nice.”
There was no snow on the road, and it wasn’t slippery.
The old couple replied, “Yes, yes, yes.”
Before the daughter could even help, the two of them lifted the quilt and got out of bed on their own, leaving the ward at full speed.
Bai Shuijin: “…”
Bai Shuijin was so embarrassed he even curled his toes under the quilt.
After the family of three left, only he and Wang Huanxiu remained in the room.
Ever since the ringtone had gone off, Wang Huanxiu had been looking at him with the scornful gaze of a judge, eyes filled with coldness as if he had known it all along.
“Laogong-ge, this is all a misunderstanding.”
“Mn, I’m listening.”
Bai Shuijin let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”
Fortunately, Wang Huanxiu was set up as an evil, arrogant and domineering CEO, not one of those green tea sweethearts who’d shake their head and refuse to listen at the first sign of trouble.
This gave him ample opportunity to explain. Bai Shuijin exhaled and prepared to speak. Just as the first syllable came out…
Wang Huanxiu: “Go on, keep making things up.”
“…”
It turns out the domineering CEO persona had a hint of green tea sweetheart mixed in.
“Laogong-ge, actually, I’ve wanted to change that ringtone for a long time, but the phone was always on silent. I only turned the sound on last night while playing a game, and then I forgot.” Afraid Wang Huanxiu wouldn’t believe him, Bai Shuijin added, “Really!”
But even with the explanation, Wang Huanxiu’s deep dark eyes didn’t show a hint of change.
Clearly, he hadn’t believed a single word of Bai Shuijin’s flimsy excuse.
Bai Shuijin was so anxious he spun in place like a top, nearly crawling all over the bed.
“Laogong-ge, you have to believe me!” Bai Shuijin scooted across the bed and sat facing Wang Huanxiu, eyes full of pleading.
Wang Huanxiu sat there with arms crossed, saying nothing.
“He and I have no legal relationship, only you and I do.”
“Plaintiff and defendant?”
“…” Bai Shuijin nearly flipped the small side table in anger. ‘Not that!’
He actually cared quite a lot about Wang Huanxiu. After all, this was the only person in this world who could be considered close to him, like the family he had always dreamed of.
He had longed for family since he was little. The feeling of having loved ones together was the happiest thing, something he yearned for deeply.
So he really didn’t want any misunderstandings. And if this person truly misunderstood him, he’d be chopped up and fed to sharks.
“Laogong-ge, I really don’t like Pei Zhiheng.”
“Oh?” Wang Huanxiu said, “Then why did I hear that you liked him so much you’re all muddled like seven meats and eight vegetables?”
“No way!” He slapped the bed. “That’s slander! Naked slander! And…”
Bai Shuijin suddenly blushed. “Seven meats and eight veggies still didn’t make me full.”
“…”
People who spread rumors like this should have an umbrella shoved up their butt and opened!
“Laogong-ge, I already clarified things. Don’t believe it.”
Bai Shuijin grabbed his phone, his little mouth babbling as he explained, “I’ll change the ringtone right now. I’ll never use this crappy ringtone again.”
Look how angry laogong-ge is. His hair was practically turning green.
As a result, as soon as he turned on the phone, the lock screen revealed another handsome face.
It was none other than the male lead from the costume drama he had been chasing.
A cold, sharp gaze pierced into him like an ice pick.
Bai Shuijin: “…”
He forgot about this part.
Last night while playing on his phone, he felt the old lock screen was too dull, so he changed it. He didn’t expect his late-night self to backstab him like this today.
Taking a deep breath, he looked up again. “Laogong-ge, this is all…”
Wang Huanxiu raised an eyebrow. “A misunderstanding?”
He chuckled awkwardly. “Laogong-ge, you’re even stealing my lines now. I’ll change this lock screen right away.”
As he quickly switched the lock screen, Bai Shuijin wanted to cry from regret. Truly, the country’s warnings to stay away from pornography, gambling, and drugs were valid…lust was indeed a knife to the throat.
And it also reminded him: don’t play on your phone late at night.
Although he deeply reflected on his behavior in his heart, he still felt like crying but had no tears. He was just a silly boy who liked looking at handsome guys, wuuu…
While Bai Shuijin was changing his ringtone and lock screen, it started to rain outside despite the sunny sky. It was a rare sight in winter, but today was noticeably warmer than the recent cold wave.
He stared at the bean-sized raindrops outside. The old couple were probably in trouble now.
But in this counter-current situation, some things were actually going his way.
Just then, a nurse walked in and asked, “Should I close the window?”
Bai Shuijin: “No need, I need to swear to the heavens in a bit.”
“…”
Once the ringtone and lock screen were changed, Bai Shuijin lifted the quilt. Dressed in a hospital gown, he faced the suit-clad Wang Huanxiu and raised three fingers.
With a solemn expression, he declared, “I, Bai Shuijin, swear I absolutely do not like Pei Zhiheng.”
After speaking, he glanced at the window. The weather was calm, and the sunshower remained steady.
Bai Shuijin breathed a sigh of relief. “I also don’t like looking at any handsome guys.”
BOOM! There was a loud thunderclap and lightning struck, plunging the room into momentary darkness.
“Ahhh! Laogong-ge!”
Bai Shuijin, who was already feeling guilty, was almost scared into losing his soul. He jumped straight into Wang Huanxiu’s arms and buried his mutton-fat jade in the latter’s chest.
“…”
Fuck! That lightning wasn’t really coming for him, right?!
Once the thunder faded, he looked up and saw Wang Huanxiu’s expression was a little strange.
He sniffled. “Laogong-ge, what’s wrong with you?”
Ten minutes later, in orthopedics…
The doctor wrote out an order for an X-ray and asked, “How did this injury happen?”
Then, upon seeing the shy and flustered Bai Shuijin behind Wang Huanxiu, the doctor said, “Never mind, don’t bother explaining.”
“…”
.
Jiang You walked into the VIP room of the golf course. Seeing that only he had shown up, the surrounding friends questioned him.
“Where’s Huanxiu? Why didn’t he come with you?”
Last night’s impromptu drinking party had been canceled, but today’s golf game had been scheduled five days ago.
Jiang You flopped down on the lounge chair. “You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?”
He also wanted to know why Wang Huanxiu didn’t come.
He’d sent a message and received the same reply as last night: something came up.
If he didn’t come, he didn’t come. Wang Huanxiu was the type to say one thing and stick to it, no one could sway him.
Wang Huanxiu had recently gotten married. Jiang You had originally planned to tease him about it today, but the man hadn’t even shown up.
In fact, this group of friends really thought Wang Huanxiu had lost his mind this time.
Even if marrying such a vulgar person was to make Old Master Wang angry, he could’ve picked someone with a little taste. Who would’ve thought he’d go so hard on himself and choose someone like Bai Shuijin with a clown face?
Most of the friends had attended the wedding. A few of them had even silently made the sign of the cross over their chests.
To say the wedding scene was tragic would be an understatement, Bai Shuijin’s face had practically turned into 2D.
“Brother Xiu’s marriage…he must be waking up in the middle of the night regretting it.”
“If I were Brother Xiu, I wouldn’t marry Bai Shuijin even if I got beaten to death.”
“I heard he even fractured his hand. Was it Bai Shuijin’s doing?”
The more the group of friends talked about it, the more they felt that Wang Huanxiu was miserable. He had never had a good day after getting married.
“Brother Xiu’s days aren’t easy.”
‘Not easy?’
Jiang You thought of Bai Shuijin’s face…if that bastard’s life wasn’t easy, then whose was?
Watching his friends one after another sympathizing with Wang Huanxiu, Jiang You rubbed his neck and said dryly, “Actually, I think his marriage is okay.”
“Pfft… Jiang You, have you been so busy with the game proposal lately that you’ve gone crazy and talking nonsense now.”
Life is okay after marrying Bai Shuijin. Do you want to listen to what you are saying?
Not to mention, the fact that Bai Shuijin had thrown himself at Pei Zhiheng was common knowledge.
Speaking of which, the relationship between the Wang and Pei families was quite complicated. The old masters of both families had started their businesses together as brothers-in-arms. After they succeeded, neither would yield to the other. But to avoid souring their relationship, they split the wealth down the middle and founded their own brands.
The two old men were close, but that didn’t mean the younger generation got along. Once they handed over their empires, the next generation began openly and secretly fighting in the business world. There was only so much meat in the market, and everyone wanted a piece. The Wang and Pei families had clashed more than a few times. But the two elders, having retired, stayed out of the mess and still thought the families were close.
They even arranged meetups for the younger ones now and then, saying the next eight generations should stay brothers.
Old age made people greedy.
Wang Huanxiu had been groomed as the heir since childhood. His capabilities were plain to see. Not long ago, he had just gone head-to-head with Pei Zhiheng’s third uncle. And now, Pei Zhiheng, a college student in his twenties, suddenly emerged.
He declared he was starting his own company and planned to compete with Wang Huanxiu, but no one knew how that would turn out.
“It’s boring without Huanxiu. He’s the best one at golf.”
“If it really won’t work, just call him again. Didn’t he just finish a project? Even the busiest CEO should be able to spare a little time for a round of golf.”
Fang Ming pulled out his phone and dialed Wang Huanxiu’s number.
On the other end, Wang Huanxiu had just had his splint re-secured when the original ringtone of his phone rang, which was much more plain and simple compared to Bai Shuijin’s previous one.
Bai Shuijin flattered him lightly, “Laogong-ge, your ringtone really blends in with the common people.”
“…”
Wang Huanxiu picked up. “What is it?”
They chatted for a bit before he hung up.
Bai Shuijin was curious. “Laogong-ge, what was that about?”
“Golf.”
Golf was a sport with a certain level of class. Bai Shuijin patted his chest and said, “Laogong-ge, take me with you.”
Wang Huanxiu glanced at his hospital gown. “You think you can go?”
“The doctor said I can be discharged this afternoon and just do rehabilitation exercises.” Bai Shuijin said, “And besides, I haven’t played golf in a long time.”
“How long?”
“Twenty years.”
“…”
