The three letters weren’t that far off.
Wang Huanxiu put down his phone and asked, “Your name is Chen Ji?”
Chen Ji stood at attention, hands by his sides. “Yes, President Wang!”
“Not bad.”
“You taught me well, President Wang.”
Chen Ji’s flattery landed with a resounding sound, and the trumpet of a raise was already blaring above his head. Two little angels appeared, one throwing flowers, and the other broadcasting it in his mental world.
[Congratulations, Master Chen Ji, for successfully flattering President Wang after one year and three months on the job, skipping twenty years of detours.]
He was a top student who had studied abroad. He had a lot of pride, but not much, just enough to prevent himself from doing anything that would make him break a bone.
Those who know the times are wise. Saving face wasn’t important in the workplace; it only mattered to the gossiping aunties at the village entrance.
There were no village aunties here. Chen Ji discarded his pride without hesitation, determined to become the number one lapdog beside Wang Huanxiu.
If he worked hard on his own, it might take him years to buy a home in a city where land was worth gold. But if he just flattered Wang Huanxiu a bit, all that could be within reach.
Heh, maybe he’d even get to pick the house.
For someone like Wang Huanxiu, even a million yuan didn’t count as real money.
“Do you have a visa for European countries?”
“Yes, President Wang.”
“There’s a business trip the day after tomorrow.”
The light bulb above Chen Ji’s head lit up. Wang Huanxiu hadn’t finished speaking, but he already understood. He had just finished his flattery when a golden opportunity to go abroad on a business trip together fell on him.
He would definitely serve him with full devotion.
“You can go now.”
“President Wang, call me if you need anything.”
Chen Ji left the office with a blank expression. The moment he stepped out, his face nearly broke from smiling.
The chief assistant saw his pleased expression and walked over. “What’s with that smug smile?”
Chen Ji wiped the grin off his face. “Watch your mouth.”
“I’m asking you, what has got you smiling like that?”
“President Wang is going on a business trip in a few days and said he’s taking me.”
Chen Ji had been at the company for over a year, but among the secretarial team, he was still a true newbie. The others all had more than three years of experience.
The chief assistant was no exception, she had been with Wang Huanxiu the longest.
“He’s taking you?”
Usually, Wang Huanxiu brought the veterans when going on business trips, and Chen Ji had never been on one. Who knew his first time was a trip abroad?
“Alroght, you kid, did you flatter President Wang?”
Wang Huanxiu wasn’t even the type to enjoy flattery. How did Chen Ji manage it?
Chen Ji stared at the chief assistant with sharp eyes.
The chief assistant was stunned. “What’s wrong?”
“Don’t be too jealous.”
“…”
Two days later, at the capital airport.
Wang Huanxiu was sitting in the VIP lounge when Chen Ji rushed in, holding a bag of mixed nuts.
He had gone home and prepared his flattery plan in detail, even making a whole PPT.
Like the veteran employees said, Wang Huanxiu didn’t like being flattered. From every conversation, Chen Ji had come to understand that only one person could lighten Wang Huanxiu’s mood, Bai Shuijin, the young man who had married him last year and the announcement was made in the newspapers.
As long as Bai Shuijin came up, Wang Huanxiu, who couldn’t even say five sentences a day, would automatically have something to talk about, and he would be more enthusiastic than when discussing a big project.
Got it. The old flame still burned bright.
If he wanted a raise, he couldn’t do it without his God of Wealth, Bai Shuijin.
Walking into the VIP lounge, Chen Ji’s bag of nuts had everything, crunchy and fresh.
He carefully held it out in front of Wang Huanxiu. “President Wang, it’s nut season right now. My hometown produces a lot, and these are machine-processed and shelled. We might not love them, but 18- to 20-year-old college students definitely do.”
College students were hungry for everything. It would be strange if the other party didn’t like them.
“I heard Young Master Shuijin is in Europe too. If we happen to run into him, we could bring some for him to try.”
After showing the nuts, Chen Ji put them in the suitcase. If it was an expensive gift, Wang Huanxiu and Bai Shuijin must have seen enough of those. Something thoughtful and sincere could carry a lot more weight.
After the airport announcement, the two boarded the plane to Europe.
.
When Bai Shuijin first arrived abroad, his days and nights were reversed, and he spent two days just adjusting to jet lag.
The first day he woke up, it was pitch black outside and he couldn’t see his own hand in front of him.
Bai Shuijin grabbed at the air. “The sun has disappeared.”
Wang Muguang was having breakfast, which was both very early and very late. “No, it’s shining on the Eastern Hemisphere right now.”
Bai Shuijin: “…”
By the third day, his sleep had finally stabilized, and the ZJL tattoo on his arm had also faded.
He didn’t feel bad about it.
After all, he and fried chicken strips would meet again in the next life. This deep bond made Bai Shuijin eat three breakfast buns just thinking about them.
The morning sun outside was bright, almost blinding.
Wang Muguang had finished two days of rehearsal with the crew and finally got a day off.
After finishing his third bun, Bai Shuijin put down his knife and fork.
Seeing him stop eating, Wang Muguang was shocked. “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you eating? Are you sick?”
He usually ate like there was a giant bowl inside him, and he wanted to eat as much as he could. But today, just three buns and he stopped?
‘Boy, don’t be modest.’
After two days of Western food, Bai Shuijin was already tired of it. He preferred traditional Chinese flavors.
Western food wasn’t bad and tasted fine, but it was a bit boring to eat it for every meal.
Chinatown was a bit far, so he dropped the idea of going there.
Chinese food abroad was a bit expensive, so it was more cost effective to have it for dinner.
“I’m tired of eating the same breakfast every day. I want to switch it up.”
“How do you want to switch it?”
Yes, Bai Shuijin had been eating hotel meals for days, and it was normal for him to get tired of it.
“When in Rome…” Bai Shuijin was suddenly possessed by a seagull. “Let’s go to the docks and grab some French fries.”
“…”
Because of the limited rest time, and the fact that they had booked tickets for both the dance competition and the male strip show, today’s schedule was a bit packed.
They drove to the docks, grabbed a pack of fries each, then headed to the dance competition venue.
The venue was the national stadium, known for its iconic architecture. Police cars were parked within a one-kilometer radius.
Some of the dancers were dance stars, with international followings and huge and crazy fanbases. To prevent stampedes and traffic chaos, the police had been stationed here early.
Knowing he’d be attending an international competition today, Bai Shuijin wore formalwear. His hair was slicked back with gel, every strand meticulously in place.
The suit he wore was carefully chosen. When he couldn’t find something suitable, Wang Muguang had taken him to a suit shop to see if there was anything he liked that he could wear.
This international dance stage was so grand and magnificent that Bai Shuijin’s heart was pounding. It was a global art hall that dancers from around the world would watch.
He was dressed delicately and carefully, and looked serious and sincere, even more exaggerated than his first time on stage.
With his forehead exposed, he added a touch of masculine maturity. His well-shaped eyebrows outlined the three-dimensionality of his eyes and features. Normally, people would focus on his perfect nose and cherry-red lips, but now his distinctive eyebrows and eyes were more eye-catching.
He was young, yet with an unusual mature beauty, like a young wolf but with the beauty of a butterfly, a blend of both.
There was no such creature in the biological world, so his beauty mixed with sharpness became one of a kind.
The only one of his kind in the world.
The car entered the stadium area. Outside, a mellow cello tune was playing.
Sitting in the car, the French fries in their hands suddenly felt like glasses of red wine.
Wang Muguang also unconsciously puffed out his chest, like a fighting rooster full of spirit.
Good, he already felt like he was a dancer standing on the competition stage.
The two got out of the car, and a staff member came to guide them in.
Bai Shuijin thought it would just be a regular elevated spectator seat. After all, those tickets were nearly impossible to get. Anyone who could buy one was either heaven’s chosen lucky dog or had powerful connections and got invited. Who would’ve thought the staff didn’t lead them upstairs but went straight to the main entrance of the venue.
Bai Shuijin swallowed nervously. He had been extremely tense since arriving, walking with mismatched arms and legs and almost tripping over himself.
“Where are our seats?” he asked.
The staff member smiled politely and said with a British accent. “Front row, sir.”
Bai Shuijin almost fainted on the spot.
Then… then… then wouldn’t the seats in front of him be for the dancers’ temporary rest area and standby spots?!!!
Could he actually see Mr. Hilton in person?!
He remembered Hilton was a judge at this competition.
Bai Shuijin’s face flushed with excitement, and his heart was galloping like a wild horse.
Just as they were about to enter, they were stopped by an administrator, who spoke very courteously, “Sorry, gentlemen, because your seats are in a special area, food is not allowed.”
Bai Shuijin and Wang Muguang looked down at the fries in their hands.
It was fair enough. They were sitting in the front row, if they were eating and drinking, it might distract the performers.
Seeing neither of them seemed upset, the administrator smiled, “If you don’t mind, I can keep them or dispose of them for you.”
Bai Shuijin and Wang Muguang looked at each other.
They said in unison, “No need, we’ll take care of it ourselves.”
Three minutes later, two Peashooters walked into the competition hall.
The administrator: “…”
In his hands were the empty wrappers of the fries. If there had been even one more fry, the two of them wouldn’t have been able to fit it in.
Entering the venue, Bai Shuijin forgot how to breathe.
Wang Muguang: “Fuck! Breathe, don’t die on me!”
If Bai Shuijin dropped dead on his watch, how would he explain it to his big brother?
At Wang Muguang’s reminder, Bai Shuijin slowly began breathing again. Mr. Hilton had arrived at the venue an hour before the competition began and was seated at the judges’ table.
Bai Shuijin pointed at him. “Little Uncle, that’s my idol.”
“Wait until the competition ends to go say hello. You might even get an autograph.”
“Really?”
“Of course.” Wang Muguang had seen Hilton before. When he was a child, he attended a competition with his whole family. Back then, his parents were still alive, and his big brother brought him and his younger sister to sit in the front row.
At that time, Hilton was still a performer on stage. Now, he was an internationally renowned dancer.
Hilton was not arrogant. If you asked politely and he didn’t mind, you could get an autograph.
Bai Shuijin was vaguely looking forward to it.
Before arriving, his passion for dance had already burned out. But the moment he stepped into this place, he realized how ridiculous and laughable his past self had been.
He even owed an apology to the version of himself who used to stretch his legs in the middle of the night back in high school. What a joke, he actually gave up on a dream he had pursued for over ten years so casually.
Those days of gritting his teeth, of sweat and tears mixed together, weren’t a shameful chapter of his life. They were the thorns he had walked through.
He stared intently at the stage, watching as one professional dancer after another passed by in front of him. They were calm and restrained, yet burned with passion. Their dancing ignited something in everyone watching.
They gave their all to open the show and bowed deeply at the end.
Every movement was precise and at their peak, striving to break through themselves.
By noon, Bai Shuijin’s dress shirt was soaked with sweat. This feeling was even more exhausting than washing dishes for three days straight at his old job. But the excitement in his heart and mind didn’t stop for a second.
It was like he had drank several cups of coffee and multiple energy drinks, tireless.
His hair stayed neat thanks to the gel, and he didn’t loosen his tie even from the heat.
His heart was with dance, and he was so determined he didn’t look back.
Suffering wasn’t something to be romanticized, but if it meant hearing the final victorious tune, Bai Shuijin felt he could forget all the pain.
The competition ended at 3p.m. Wang Muguang felt like he had been liberated. If it had gone any longer, he worried Bai Shuijin might break.
Bai Shuijin was usually a chatterbox, but he hadn’t said a word all day after entering the venue. He just sat there filled with expectation and nervousness. He even thought Bai Shuijin should have sat one row closer, with the dancers.
After the competition, Bai Shuijin nervously went backstage. Mr. Hilton was being interviewed by the media at the time.
“I think this competition is a great stage to show dance to the world…”
Bai Shuijin waited behind the crowd, hoping to get an autograph.
He clutched a piece of paper and a pen tightly. Fortunately, Mr. Hilton noticed him after the interview.
Bai Shuijin mustered the courage to step forward and, in slightly awkward English, greeted him and asked for an autograph.
“Of course!” Mr. Hilton shook his hand. Bai Shuijin was sweating like a fountain, and even his hand trembled as he took the cap off the pen.
While signing, Hilton looked into his eyes. “You’re a dancer too.”
Bai Shuijin blushed. “I once gave up on dance.”
“That’s normal. I gave up once too.”
Bai Shuijin looked up suddenly, and Mr. Hilton smiled at him. “Every dancer might have given up in their heart thousands of times, right?”
He placed the signed paper in Bai Shuijin’s palm. “It doesn’t change the result. What matters is getting back up. Even if you’ve given up before, haven’t you always believed that as long as your legs can stand, you’ll dance till the end?”
The two thoughts always coexisted.
“You know what I once said?”
Bai Shuijin: “I do.”
“Say it.”
“Failure is success, success is failure.”
Success and failure always come hand in hand.
Mr. Hilton patted his shoulder. “Young man, I wish you failure, and just the same…I wish you success.”
Bai Shuijin stood there for a long time. When he came back to himself, tears were already welling up in his eyes.
Maybe, at this moment, his life had started moving again, and dance had connected the two worlds he had lived in for twenty years.
In his ears were uncontrollable sobs, like a water pump truck starting up. He turned around and saw Wang Muguang crying hard.
Bai Shuijin’s nose was sour. Before he even started crying, the other party was already crying. “Why are you crying?”
Wang Muguang even gave himself a caption, “When a handsome man sheds tears, even heaven breaks.”
“…”
Wang Muguang walked over and patted his head. “Little Shorty, you were really tough just now.”
“How tough?”
“Tougher than a nut.”
After leaving the venue, they went to Chinatown to eat. Even though Wang Muguang wasn’t very famous overseas, there were still people who recognized him.
He kept a straight face, but inside he was elated.
Bai Shuijin: “Little Uncle, if you want to smile, just smile.”
Wang Muguang kept pretending. “I’m not.”
“Your face looks like you had a stroke.”
“…”
After eating, Wang Muguang was fully armed again, ready to take Bai Shuijin to see the male strip show.
For some reason, Bai Shuijin had an ominous feeling as he held the ticket stub.
“Little uncle, I feel uneasy.”
“What? Your heart feels yellow?”
Bai Shuijin: “…”
“Yellow is normal.” Wang Muguang knew Bai Shuijin liked handsome men, so he added, “If you become too full, just go to the bathroom and vomit.”
“…”
Bai Shuijin was speechless. Wang Muguang was sometimes just too random.
But he kept feeling like something was going to happen.
The dance show was scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., ending with a dance floor party for interaction.
When entering the venue, Wang Muguang also felt something strange, and the back of his neck felt cold.
The front rows were standing areas, and a server came by with drinks and refreshments. The show was about to begin, and Bai Shuijin ordered a cocktail. He didn’t know how strong it was, but it tasted good, with a sweet taste and a bubbly texture.
Wang Muguang’s drink was a bit spicy. Looking at the fruit-decorated glass in Bai Shuijin’s hand, he asked, “Is yours good?”
Bai Shuijin: ?
He wanted to drink his?
He immediately raised his hand and took a big gulp.
Seeing Bai Shuijin’s fearless move, Wang Muguang was so scared he rushed to take his glass, but there was only a cherry left. The glass was empty. “Don’t drink yourself to death.”
Bai Shuijin smacked his lips. “It tastes quite good. I want another one.”
Wang Muguang looked at his face and asked, “Aren’t you afraid the alcohol will hit you later?”
When the alcohol kicks in, it wasn’t just regular dizziness, they’d both be in trouble.
“It’s fine. Don’t we have a driver? We won’t drink and drive.”
Wang Muguang: “…”
Even without a driver, Bai Shuijin couldn’t drive as he didn’t have a license.
Seeing that the person wasn’t passing out, Wang Muguang ordered him another drink. “Sip it slowly.”
A waiter nearby overheard their conversation and glanced at Wang Muguang. His eyes seemed to say, “If you can’t hold your alcohol, go home!”
Wang Muguang: “…”
The show soon began. All the lights in the venue dimmed. The audience held their breath. When one male model after another, dressed in tight suits and holding long whips, stepped out, the place exploded with screams.
The crowd roared like a tsunami, shaking the roof. As the male dancers stripped off their tops, the energy in the venue reached a new climax.
People raised their glasses and screamed.
Chen Ji covered his ears, his voice full of vigor. “President Wang, this is the place. Based on my deduction, Young Master Shuijin and Young Master Muguang are definitely in here.”
After starting his job, Chen Ji became like a hunting dog, tracking Bai Shuijin’s whereabouts all over the country. Finally, he brought Wang Huanxiu here.
Being trusted by the boss, getting a raise and a year-end bonus…it was all within reach for him! Within reach!
The dance floor was packed. If something had to be done, it had to be done now.
Chen Ji: “President Wang, wait for me. I’ll find them right away.”
Then he dove into the sea of people and went swimming.
Wang Huanxiu listened to the blaring rock music in his ears. People waved their hands, cheering and shouting for the male models. All of them wore masks, revealing only their lips and sharply defined jawlines.
The more their faces were hidden, the more mysterious they seemed.
Wang Huanxiu observed quietly, with the focused expression of someone in class.
After the performance, the more enthusiastic interactive segment began. The male models jumped off the stage to shake hands and interact with lucky audience members. Some guests were even brought onstage to liven up the atmosphere, jumping and dancing to energize the crowd on the floor.
Bai Shuijin’s cheeks were flushed from the alcohol, and he was still holding a wide, square-shaped cocktail glass, bouncing and dancing with excitement to the music. Dressed formally, he looked like a bunny in a suit, cheering with the crowd.
A male model with a body like a bull came up to him.
“Do you want to come with me, angel?”
Bai Shuijin was drunk and liberated, arrogant and without hesitation.
Wang Muguang reached out to pull Bai Shuijin back, but the other party had already been lifted over the barrier of the dance floor.
Bai Shuijin had just found his footing when he was airborne again, riding on the male model’s shoulders. The model took the initiative to carry him up to the stage.
The moment he stepped onstage, a fresh wave of cheers erupted in the dance floor.
He had dressed up deliberately today for the dance competition. His hair was slicked back with gel, without a single strand out of place, looking serious and formal.
Now, he had taken off his coat, removed the bow tie, rolled his sleeves up to the forearms, and held a crystal glass in hand.
He radiated the solemnity of someone attending a formal banquet, and it was precisely this sense of seriousness that created a striking contrast in such a wild, lively setting, making him even more captivating.
Bai Shuijin raised his arms and moved with the rhythm of the dance floor. He sparkled under the lights and his smile was angelic, looking brilliant and charming.
Unlike his usual approachable aura, there was nothing shy or hesitant about him. He was confident and at ease.
Just as the male model carried him around to cheer, Bai Shuijin spotted a familiar figure in a corner of the dance floor.
!
His eyes widened, and he thought he was seeing things.
Looking again, under the flickering lights, Wang Huanxiu’s god-like face emerged from the shadows, his eyes lifted and looking straight at him.
Like a thick black bamboo, his whole body was stiff and terrifying.
Soon, Bai Shuijin saw two more people beside him, one he didn’t recognize, and one was Wang Muguang.
Wasn’t Wang Muguang at the very front of the dance floor? He looked again and saw someone else was already standing in Wang Muguang’s original spot.
Bai Shuijin: It’s over.
Bai Shuijin was partying hard onstage, and Wang Huanxiu was watching from below. It was the first time he’d seen Bai Shuijin so happy, and this was also the first time he’d seen him dressed like this.
Very beautiful. He used to think Bai Shuijin was soft, easily bullied. But right now, no one could overpower his presence.
His confidence was just like his appearance, bold and impactful.
Maybe he didn’t understand Bai Shuijin fully. Maybe Bai Shuijin hadn’t shown him everything yet.
There was still a lot he needed to learn about him, and a lot to study.
But no matter how much he had to learn, it didn’t stop the fire raging in him now.
No one could calmly watch their partner ride on another man’s shoulders at a strip show.
Wang Muguang stood next to his brother, sweating profusely under the pressure from his aura, not even daring to breathe.
It was the end of the world. He felt like he was about to ascend to heaven in the next second.
Wasn’t his brother working back home?
How did he end up here?
Why was he here! Aaaaaaaa!!!
Help! Someone save him!! He was going to get beaten to death!!
“Wang Muguang.”
Wang Huanxiu’s voice was particularly clear on the dance floor.
Wang Muguang swallowed hard. “Big Brother.”
“Why aren’t you smiling anymore?”
At this moment, Wang Muguang felt like a clown, needing to cut open his face just to force a smile.
Only Wang Muguang could do something like take his sister-in-law to a male strip show.
Wang Huanxiu’s voice was like a devil’s whisper. “Weren’t you smiling happily just now? Where are your teeth?”
