Although the design of the music box was unnecessarily complex, with absurdly tricky mechanisms and a magnifying glass that was hard to pry out, it still had its uses in the right situations.
Bai Shuijin accepted the music box with a beaming smile. As long as it was a gift, he liked it.
No one dislikes receiving gifts.
This music box was an antique, old enough to be his ancestor. For its casing to be preserved so perfectly, it must have taken a significant amount of manpower, resources, and repair work.
Bai Shuijin couldn’t put it down the moment he got it. He carefully stored it away, and decided to place it on his bedside table once he got home.
“Laogong-ge, I like it, give more.” He made no effort to hide his satisfaction with the gift.
Wang Huanxiu finally let go of the tension in his heart. As long as the other party liked it, that was enough.
He had carefully selected the gift, sifting through countless options, before picking the one that perfectly matched the first rule of “Make Your Husband Unable To Resist You”.
The first rule was completed. As for how much closer it made them, it didn’t seem like much, but seeing Bai Shuijin’s happy smile, Wang Huanxiu felt satisfied.
He also remembered Rule 78 of “Make Your Husband Unable To Resist You”…pretend to be sick to gain the other person’s careful attention, and to draw closer in the ambiguous atmosphere, and ultimately kiss.
Wang Huanxiu had never kissed anyone before and he was eager to try it. Turning textbook theory into real-life practice was what truly mattered.
Otherwise, everything was just empty talk.
He started the engine, and the Rolls-Royce Phantom drove onto the road. When it came to pretending to be sick, Wang Huanxiu had done that many times when he was a child.
Before the age of ten, he would pretend to be so at least once or twice every month to skip school. He’d even pretend to be sick for the next month in advance.
However, no matter how much he pretended, he could never fool his parents. He failed time and time again but never gave up.
Now, the childishness of his youth was long gone, which only made it harder for him to pretend to be sick convincingly.
While the car was in motion, he let out a few soft coughs, not too hard, but noticeable.
About once every ten minutes.
The frequent coughing successfully caught the attention of Bai Shuijin in the passenger seat.
Bai Shuijin turned his head and looked at him. “Laogong-ge, if there’s hair stuck in your throat, just drink more water.”
“…”
The coughs didn’t sound like he was sick, more like he just had an itchy throat.
At the red light ahead, the tires gradually came to a stop in the lane. The numbers on the timer weren’t changing much, and Wang Huanxiu’s expression remained steady as he calmly lied, “I’ve been catching a bit of a cold lately.”
Having been in the business world for so many years, having a mind that was sharper than a rocket scientist’s was one of Wang Huanxiu’s essentials.
‘A cold?’
It was already late spring, and the temperature difference between day and night wasn’t that big. It wasn’t the season for colds. But thinking about it, his laogong-ge had always been a bit frail. Catching a cold wasn’t that unusual.
“It’s okay, it will be gone in seven days.”
He made it sound as simple as the life of Grandpa and the seven calabash brothers.
**The Calabash Brothers is an animated series about seven magical brothers, each with unique powers, born from calabashes and raised by an old man to fight evil.
Colds were minor ailments, and they were all adults…it would pass in a few days.
But Wang Huanxiu never paid much attention to his own well-being. Even when he felt unwell, he wouldn’t say anything.
So Bai Shuijin reminded him, “Laogong-ge, you must tell me if you have a fever.”
Wang Huanxiu: “…”
No, ever since he got those three books, he had started to act like he lost his mind, but Bai Shuijin just didn’t know it.
After they got home, Bai Shuijin first went to his room to change, then kept coming back to check on Wang Huanxiu.
“Laogong-ge, are you feeling unwell?”
“Laogong-ge, does your head hurt?”
“Laogong-ge…”
To all of this, Wang Huanxiu always gave a precise answer, “Not yet.”
Not yet. In a few minutes, or a few hours, it might be different.
By answering this way, it ensured Bai Shuijin’s attention would keep returning to him, giving him the care he craved.
Wang Zhenzhu also returned home from school and was sitting on the sofa sketching. She was also applying to schools abroad this year, but her chosen country wasn’t the same as Bai Shuijin’s. Otherwise, they could’ve kept each other company overseas.
The two of them felt regretful for three whole days over this. For now, they were both comrades in the struggle.
Wang Zhenzhu felt a pang in her heart as she watched Bai Shuijin circle around her brother like an overly enthusiastic puppy.
Her brother didn’t even like Bai Shuijin, and yet he was so enthusiastic. She felt it was a waste, he would be better off focusing on himself.
Before dinner, Wang Zhenzhu stopped Bai Shuijin from bothering Wang Huanxiu any further and dragged him onto the sofa.
Her tone brooked no refusal. “Sit still. Do whatever you want, but your butt isn’t allowed to leave the sofa before dinner.”
‘Missy, you’re so domineering.’
Bai Shuijin asked curiously, “What if I get up?”
What would happen?
Wang Zhenzhu: “Then I’ll use scissor legs to clamp your head.”
Bai Shuijin: “…”
No wonder your whole family is full of villains.
Scissor legs clamping heads was really terrifying. Bai Shuijin collapsed onto the sofa like jelly and started watching dance competition videos.
He had great flexibility and a soft body. Slumped there, he looked like a paraplegic.
Wang Zhenzhu was working on her design drafts. She rekindled her design dreams thanks to Bai Shuijin’s encouragement. Now that she saw him working hard toward his future, she felt genuinely comforted.
Having something to focus on was better than chasing after her brother all day.
“Don’t you already have something to do? Why do you keep sticking to my brother every second?”
Bai Shuijin: “Because laogong-ge looks like someone really easy to stick to.”
Was her brother made of super-light clay that was easy to stick to?
“The key to success is having no man in your heart. Other dancers are refining their skills and studying costumes, you should put more thought into those things, or you’ll quietly fall behind.”
Bai Shuijin felt that what Wang Zhenzhu said made sense. Effort is something that happens when no one’s watching. Bai Shuijin stayed on the sofa for half an hour and didn’t move until dinner began, still watching dance competition videos and studying seriously. It definitely wasn’t because he was afraid of the scissor legs.
At dinner, afraid that Wang Muguang would feel lonely in a foreign country, Bai Shuijin made a video call to him and propped the phone up on a tissue box.
“Little Uncle, have some cloud food.”
Wang Zhenzhu: “…”
Wang Huanxiu: “…”
From that angle, it really looked like Wang Muguang had already gone to heaven.
It was raining in England, and everything felt gloomy and depressing, with damp air everywhere. Everything felt wet and cold, even the clothes on his back.
When the video call came through, Wang Muguang saw the warm family scene on the other end. He had been eating French fries at the dock for days. The seagulls didn’t come every day, but he had to go there everyday for the shoot.
Looking at the delicious food on the table and the smiling faces of his family in the video, Wang Muguang… almost ground his molars to dust.
He now felt just like a sewer rat in the UK, crawling back into the sewer to sleep after a long day.
However long the dinner lasted, that’s how long Wang Muguang watched. His longing for Chinese food could only be eased by looking at a plum to quench thirst.
When dinner ended over there, the filming resumed on his end.
The scene was about his sister-in-law cutting ties with him. When he returned home, he accidentally saw the warm family scene between his brother and sister-in-law.
“Mu Huang~”
Wang Muguang corrected, “It’s Muguang, director. You don’t have to speak Chinese…just call me by my English name, I can understand.”
The bearded director laughed, “Calling you in Chinese feels more affectionate.”
“Then why are you calling someone else so affectionately?”
“…”
In the end, the director switched back to using his English name.
The shoot had been going smoothly for a while. Today’s scene was a major one, so the director wanted to explain it thoroughly.
As a result, Wang Muguang directly refused, “No need. I get it.”
The director holding the script: He gets it again!
Every time they were about to explain the scene to him, Wang Muguang would look completely clueless at first. But then, something would click, and he’d suddenly become the king of understanding.
Seeing that he was full of confidence, the director decided to trust him and start filming right away.
Sure enough, when Wang Muguang saw the warm, loving side of a family while he himself was out of place like an outsider, he delivered a brilliant performance of helpless rage.
Today’s shoot also went smoothly in one take.
.
After finishing the call with Wang Muguang, Bai Shuijin sat at the dining table drinking tea. He didn’t like drinking these things before, but now he felt like he was really pretentious before.
Wang Zhenzhu had gone back to her room and was chatting enthusiastically with her online friend Chen Yuan.
Wang Huanxiu was still eating on the side.
Bai Shuijin took a loud sip of hot tea, burned his mouth and winced, then remembered Wang Huanxi’s cold. “Laogong-ge, are you feeling unwell now?”
“A bit.”
Bai Shuijin became excited when he heard this. “Laogong-ge, let’s sleep together tonight. I’ll take care of you.”
A bright light flashed in Wang Huanxiu’s eyes, then it vanished in an instant. “Okay, but I might be a little troublesome tonight.”
“No, no.” Bai Shuijin rolled up his sleeves. “I’m really good at taking care of people.”
That evening, after working in the study until 9 o’clock, Wang Huanxiu showered and went straight to the master bedroom on the fourth floor.
Bai Shuijin had also showered and changed into pajamas.
The music box Wang Huanxiu had given him was placed on the bedside table, and was very conspicuous.
Wang Huanxiu walked in, and Bai Shuijin automatically lifted the quilt for him to lie down. “Employer sir, lie on this side.”
Wang Huanxiu raised his eyebrows, not knowing what the other party was trying to pull now.
Bai Shuijin: “I’m your caregiver tonight, here to look after your daily needs.”
Wang Huanxiu went to lie down.
Bai Shuijin reminded him, “Employer sir, you’re supposed to take off your clothes before sleeping.”
The book said not to get physically intimate until the other person showed 100% enthusiasm.
Wang Huanxiu: “I have got a cold recently and my body is cold, so I’ll sleep with clothes on.”
Bai Shuijin: “…”
Damn cold.
After Wang Huanxiu lay down, Bai Shuijin brought over a glass of water. “Employer sir, are you thirsty?”
“A bit.”
Bai Shuijin somehow pulled out a cotton swab, dipped it in the water, and dabbed it on his lips little by little.
Those who knew he had a cold might get it, but anyone else would think Bai Shuijin was taking care of a vegetative patient.
Wang Huanxiu directly sat up, took the glass and drank it all in one go. If he had to wait for Bai Shuijin to dab it drop by drop with a cotton swab, the desert would get rain before the water ran out.
As he watched his Adam’s apple roll up and down as he drank, Bai Shuijin’s hand felt itchy again.
Wang Huanxiu didn’t beat around the bush and said. “Get up here and sleep.”
Bai Shuijin: “Employer sir, I’m your caregiver, that’s not appropriate, right?”
“Where were you planning to sleep tonight?”
Bai Shuijin pointed to the sofa at the foot of the bed. “Caregivers usually sleep on the sofa.”
The other party was talking nonsense, so Wang Huanzhi also started talking nonsense. “Another caregiver is coming tonight. He’ll sleep on the sofa, you sleep on the bed.”
“If I sleep on the bed, where will you sleep?”
Wang Huanxiu: “…”
He gritted his teeth. “I’ll sleep with you.”
With the perfect excuse now in place, Bai Shuijin finally crawled onto the bed. “Employer sir, didn’t you say your body is cold? Let’s get closer so it’ll be warmer.”
Bai Shuijin casually slung a leg over him, placed a hand on his abdomen, and even boldly reached up and touched Wang Huanzhi’s Adam’s apple.
Wang Huanxiu’s throat tightened from the touch, and he wrapped a strong arm around Bai Shuijin’s waist, pulling him closer.
The room fell into silence. Wang Huanxiu turned to face Bai Shuijin. Their eyes met, their breaths brushing over each other’s faces.
His eyes locked onto Bai Shuijin’s lips with a possessive intensity. Bai Shuijin had applied a layer of lip balm to moisturize his lips before going to bed.
Being so close, Wang Huanxiu didn’t know what it would feel like to kiss those lips…but at this moment, his heart was pounding with anticipation.
Bai Shuijin stared at Wang Huanxiu who was suddenly closing in. They were now only a fist apart, any closer and their faces would touch.
He gulped, and his body started to heat up from the other party’s body temperature.
Wang Huanzhi silently counted to ten in his mind. Within those ten seconds, Bai Shuijin made no move to reject him.
Bai Shuijin blinked at him. “Employer, what’s wrong?”
“I’m horny.”
As he leaned down, just when their lips were about to meet, a palm blocked his way.
Bai Shuijin narrowed his lips and smiled like a little fox. “Laogong-ge, you’re so cunning, you’re trying to pass your cold to me.”
Wang Huanxiu: “…”
The clever and witty Bai Shuijin saw right through it, laughing wildly as he rolled away with a ha-ha-ha and a tumble.
Never try to guess a villain’s mind…one guess and you’ll be right. Just assume he’s not a good person and you’ll know what he’s up to.
It was like a chasm had opened between Bai Shuijin and Wang Huanxiu. From across the gap, he let out a final thunderclap before sleep: “I’m going to sleep first, good night!”
After pulling up the quilt, Bai Shuijin happily fell into a deep sleep.
Wang Huanxiu stared at the ceiling with blank eyes. Bai Shuijin’s thoughts jumped around, and his train of thought was incomprehensible to most people.
He was thoughtful and considerate of everyone’s feelings, but when it came to love, he was completely oblivious.
While Bai Shuijin slept soundly on one side of the bed, Wang Huanxiu stayed stiff and unmoving on the other.
The next morning, Bai Shuijin went to school to complete his withdrawal procedures.
For this half of the semester, he had gotten along well with teachers and classmates.
Ji Cao sat next to him, watching him fill out the withdrawal form.
“I feel a bit reluctant to see you go.”
Bai Shuijin waved his phone. “If we can’t be classmates, we can still be online friends.”
Just like Zhenzhu and Chen Yuan.
Ji Cao: “What are you going to do after dropping out?”
“I used to learn dancing, but stopped for a while. Now I want to start again.”
“That’s good, as long as you’re not just sitting at home being lazy.”
“What if I do get lazy and just eat and sleep?”
“Then I’ll get pink eye.”
“…”
News of Bai Shuijin dropping out spread quickly in their circle, and soon reached Pei Zhiheng’s ears.
“What, Bai Shuijin is dropping out?”
Li Jie nodded. “Yeah, he went to school today to handle the withdrawal. He probably won’t be coming back.”
Pei Zhiheng had still been stuck in the phase of thinking Bai Shuijin liked him and was just angry at him. Now, before he had even finished learning his magic tricks, the other person was dropping out.
“Then what about Bai Shuijin?”
“What do you mean what about him? Dropping out was his choice.”
Pei Zhiheng: “Then he won’t see me anymore?”
Li Jie: “…”
The silence was deafening.
Pei Zhiheng was standing in the middle of his dorm room, surrounded by the pigeons he raised. With the two bird feathers stuck in his hair, he really looked like a fool.
Pei Zhiheng wasn’t like this at first. He and several others had founded a game company together, determined to replace Wang Huanxiu and become leaders in the game tech industry. They’d even secured a few projects, although all of them fell through.
Pei Zhiheng chose to withdraw his investment and returned to school to study his major while raising pigeons and learning magic in the dorm.
“Maybe he thinks not seeing you is okay too.”
“You mean he doesn’t like me anymore?”
“How would I know? I’m not a worm in his stomach.”
Pei Zhiheng: “True.”
But with Bai Shuijin gone just like that, he suddenly felt a little lonely. After all, he had been practicing magic recently just to impress Bai Shuijin.
Li Jie looked at his expression. “Actually, if you want to know whether he still likes you, there’s a way.”
“What way?”
“He’s dropping out, right? Throw him a farewell party, book a KTV room, and invite some classmates. When it’s time to play truth or dare, you’ll know.”
“How would I know? Just ask him directly?”
“Of course not. Anyone with a bit of dignity wouldn’t admit it. I’ll help you set things up and provoke him a bit. If Bai Shuijin still cares about you, he’ll definitely react.”
Pei Zhiheng was skeptical. “How will you provoke him?”
“When the bottle points to you in the Truth or Dare game, don’t hesitate, just choose Dare. I’ll have you kiss someone you like who’s present. I’ve already arranged an actor in advance. You’ll kiss him. If Bai Shuijin stands up, that means he cares about you.”
Pei Zhiheng listened with a look of disgust. “Why would I kiss someone else?”
He wasn’t the type to do that kind of thing with strangers.
“Are you stupid? Just fake it with a borrowed angle. Kiss your own thumb.”
That sounded… doable.
At noon, Pei Zhiheng found Bai Shuijin, who was devouring his meal in the cafeteria. The tomato beef brisket rice he ordered was already nearly finished.
An empty seat across from him was taken. Bai Shuijin looked up and saw Pei Zhiheng. It had been a while since the two last met.
Pei Zhiheng wanted to greet him. “Long time no see, how have you been lately?”
Bai Shuijin glanced at his empty plate and said, “I’ve been quite full lately.”
“…”
Pei Zhiheng said, “I heard you’re dropping out?”
Bai Shuijin nodded. “Mm, I came to complete the withdrawal procedures today.”
Pei Zhiheng was puzzled. “You were doing fine, why quit?”
“I want to go abroad to learn dance.”
Bai Shuijin took a sip of the orange juice next to his hand. “Do you need something?”
Pei Zhiheng: “Well, since we know each other, I heard you were leaving school and thought I’d throw you a farewell party.”
Afraid it might burden Bai Shuijin mentally, Pei Zhiheng didn’t go for anything extravagant. For college students, the key is to have a casual and relaxed environment
“I also invited many classmates from the class. It’ll be at a KTV. We’ll sing and play games and other things.”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
Bai Shuijin thought for a moment. He was free. “Okay, thank you.”
Pei Zhiheng was afraid he’d change his mind, so he stood up right away. “It’s settled then, don’t stand me up tonight.”
In just a few seconds, his figure disappeared from the cafeteria.
Since there was a farewell party tonight, there was no need to go home for dinner.
Bai Shuijin sent Wang Huanxiu a message, letting him know he had a farewell party to attend tonight.
Not long after, a reply came through.
[What time does it end? I’ll come pick you up.]
Bai Shuijin gave a conservative estimate. [Midnight.]
[Okay.]
.
After the last class in the afternoon, students went together to the KTV location Pei Zhiheng had sent.
He had gone through endless options on his phone before choosing a place with the best atmosphere and service.
Before arriving, he even asked the staff to decorate it a bit.
Classmates arrived one after another. Pei Zhiheng had dressed up as well. When tonight’s protagonist Bai Shuijin showed up, the farewell party officially began.
After going crazy for two whole hours, everyone was tired from singing.
Li Jie suggested they play Truth or Dare.
“Truth is too boring. Anyone the bottle points to has to pick Dare. If you can’t or won’t do it, drink three glasses as punishment.”
No one objected. There wasn’t enough space on the carpet, so Bai Shuijin sat on the sofa with two other classmates and joined in.
Laughter and chatter filled the room.
Pei Zhiheng kept waiting for the bottle to point at him. The actor Li Jie had found was already in place, sitting right next to him.
As long as the bottle pointed his way, he’d go for Dare and see if Bai Shuijin cared.
But after around ten rounds, it was like Pei Zhiheng was cursed and the bottle never pointed at him.
Classmates around him called him lucky, the chosen one of the night. Only Pei Zhiheng knew he was actually the unlucky one. He even tried sneaky tricks during the game, but it was like the bottle’s mouth had the same magnetic field as him, every time it aligned, it would bounce away instantly.
By the time it was almost midnight, Pei Zhiheng still hadn’t gotten his wish.
A tall figure suddenly appeared at the doorway of the private room. Wang Huanxiu’s entrance drew a lot of attention.
“Now that’s a man.”
“Fuck, such a strong aura.”
“I’ve seen him on the news before.”
Bai Shuijin who was sitting on the sofa waved at him and said to his classmates, “Let’s stop here for today. My family came to pick me up.”
Classmates: So that’s Bai Shuijin’s family~
Pei Zhiheng saw Wang Huanxiu and immediately looked like he was facing a formidable enemy. The latter’s expression didn’t look much better either.
When love rivals meet, the tension skyrockets.
If Bai Shuijin liked looking at male models, Wang Huanxiu would get angry but ultimately wouldn’t mind after calming down as Bai Shuijin had no emotional ties to them and they weren’t a threat.
But Pei Zhiheng was different. Bai Shuijin once had feelings for him, which inevitably made Wang Huanxiu a little concerned.
As soon as he heard Bai Shuijin was leaving, Pei Zhiheng shot up to his feet.
“No.”
Bai Shuijin looked back at him in confusion, and everyone also turned their eyes on him too.
Pei Zhiheng was embarrassed for a moment. “Just three more rounds. Let’s play three more rounds, then we’ll end.”
Three rounds wouldn’t take long. Bai Shuijin was in a good mood tonight and didn’t refuse.
He let Wang Huanxiu sit beside him and rejoined the game.
This time, it was fate. The bottle spun rapidly, and when it stopped, it pointed directly at Pei Zhiheng.
Pei Zhiheng almost jumped up from excitement but forced himself to stay calm. “Dare. Bring it on.”
Li Jie stepped forward. “Kiss someone you like who’s present.”
The room instantly exploded.
Only Wang Huanxiu, who was sitting on the sofa, stayed silent, his gaze fixed on the back of Bai Shuijin’s head.
Pei Zhiheng pulled the actor he had prepared to stand with him. Everyone else was seated, so it was easier to fake the kiss with their backs turned.
He asked the actor, “Are you okay with this?”
The actor put on his shy expression and nodded under everyone’s gaze, looking like he was excited too.
Everyone held their breath, and Pei Zhiheng quietly waited for Bai Shuijin’s reaction.
He turned his back with the actor, ready for the staged kiss.
Wang Huanxiu’s eyes also stayed on Bai Shuijin, worried that he might still care about Pei Zhiheng.
Just as Pei Zhiheng kissed his thumb, Bai Shuijin suddenly jumped to his feet.
Wang Huanxiu’s heart skipped a beat. He reached out to grab him.. but missed.
Pei Zhiheng turned around and looked at Bai Shuijin, who had stood up. His heart felt warm. He knew it…
As a result, Bai Shuijin looked at the two who had actually faked a kiss, clapped his hands, and shouted, “Be together! Be together!”
Pei Zhiheng: “…”
