His laogong-ge was “dead”, but unexpectedly, these three were stimulated and each came to him one after another to speak nonsense.
Wang Heng still wanted to say a few nice words, and talk about the benefits of the two being together. For the past six months, he had never even thought about the gym.
“I…”
Bai Shuijin reached out his hand, “Alright, no need to say more. I know exactly what you’re going to say.”
Wang Heng refused to comply, “I haven’t even said it yet, how could you know?”
Pei Zhiheng and Lei Liming behind the curtain: “…”
How else would he know?
They had already gone through two rounds. Things shouldn’t be repeated more than three times; Bai Shuijin was tired of hearing it.
Behind the curtain, Pei Zhiheng and Lei Liming avoided looking at each other, and the atmosphere was awkward. Lei Liming really regretted it, he should have hidden behind the curtain on the right instead.
Lei Liming was rough on the outside but shy on the inside, while Pei Zhiheng was consistently foolish through and through. These two were easy to deal with, but Wang Heng had the attitude of a rich young master that neither of them possessed, along with a tendency to nitpick.
Bai Shuijin wore a white flower on his chest and was dressed entirely in black, which accentuated his slender waist and long legs.
There’s a reason for the saying: if you want to look pretty, wear mourning clothes.
Wang Heng looked at his sorrowful appearance. “Now that my cousin is gone, I’ll take care of you from now on.”
How could Bai Shuijin possibly need his care? “I’m a grown adult with hands and feet; I can take care of myself.”
In the eyes of outsiders, his situation was perfect: he had good looks, money, and a lot of time. Soon, he would be studying abroad at a prestigious university, with a large inheritance left by his deceased husband.
He didn’t know why, but in the eyes of these three, he seemed very pitiful.
Seeing his excuse ruthlessly exposed, Wang Heng wasn’t flustered. He directly stated his intention: “I like you. Be with me.”
Bai Shuijin said to him, “Your cousin has only been gone for two weeks.”
Wang Heng’s mind raced. “Are you saying this kind of behavior is immoral and shameless?”
Hallelujah!
A hymn sounded overhead. So Wang Heng could understand the implied meaning.
Put simply and clearly, Wang Heng knew it in his heart, and the two behind the curtain could hear it too.
Lei Liming lowered his head in shame. He had feelings for Bai Shuijin. If it weren’t for Huanxiu’s unexpected death, he would never have spoken up. How shameless would that be, coveting his good brother’s lover?
But since Wang Huanxiu was gone, he wondered if he might have a chance to develop something with Bai Shuijin. Still, he had been too impatient. How long has it been since Huanxiu passed? Yet he came to offer to take care of Bai Shuijin. What must Bai Shuijin and Wang Huanxiu in heaven think of him? It really was inexcusable.
Pei Zhiheng also felt some guilt. The young man’s husband had just passed away, and here he was asking him to be in a relationship. He was always thinking about love and romance…had he even mastered his magic tricks? Yet here he was always dreaming about dating.
The two reflected behind the curtain, the awkward atmosphere creating a slight sense of mutual understanding.
Having been called out, Wang Heng remained unbothered. “So what? Don’t you like people who are shameless and lacking in virtue?”
Bai Shuijin: “…”
Pei Zhiheng: “…”
Lei Liming: “…”
Chen Ji raised his hand again to cover his pocket. President Wang, don’t listen. He’s referring to you.
Wang Heng had done his background research beforehand. Unlike Pei Zhiheng and Lei Liming, who came over foolishly without thinking, he was shameless and came to dig the corner right after the man’s passing. But that was because he was catering to Bai Shuijin’s preferences.
Bai Shuijin liked this type. When it came to being immoral and shameless, Wang Huanxiu was the king.
An untimely knocking sound came from the door. Wang Heng’s first thought wasn’t to hide; he simply sat to the side to see who had arrived.
Bai Shuijin was curious. “Why aren’t you hiding?”
Wang Heng: “There’s nothing between us yet. Why should I hide?”
Besides, aside from Bai Shuijin and Chen Ji, who else had heard what he just said?
Bai Shuijin wouldn’t spread it himself, and Chen Ji, as a subordinate, would maintain the dignity of Bai Shuijin and Wang Huanxiu, so he naturally wouldn’t say anything either.
Wang Heng had nothing to fear.
Lei Huan pushed the door open and came in, “Where’s Lei Liming? My dad is looking for him.”
Bai Shuijin corrected: “Your dad.”
Lei Huan said impatiently, “Okay, okay, our dad, our dad. Where is he?”
Wang Heng: “He’s not here. Why are you asking for him here?”
Wang Heng’s tone was always bad when speaking to others, and Lei Huan also had a quick temper. “I saw him come in. If I’m not asking for him here, where should I ask?”
Wang Heng: “You’re full of…”
There was a rustling sound behind the curtain. Wang Heng turned back in surprise as Lei Liming walked out from behind the curtain embarrassedly.
Wang Heng: “…”
He froze there, his body turning into a mound of hardened mud that would shatter at the slightest touch. There was a fourth person here besides him, Bai Shuijin, and Chen Ji?
Then everything he had just said must have been heard.
Lei Liming emerged from behind the curtain. Lei Huan asked, “What were you sneaking around hiding behind the curtain?”
“Nothing.” Lei Liming said to Bai Shuijin, “I have matters to attend to, so I’ll leave now. I hope you’ll consider what I said.”
He walked out without making eye contact with Wang Heng the entire time.
Lei Huan: “What matters?”
Lei Liming’s tone changed, not as gentle as when he spoke to Bai Shuijin. “None of your business.”
“Hey!” Lei Huan followed him out. “What is it? What did you say?”
Lei Liming closed the door behind him as he left. Their voices grew more and more distant until they were inaudible, but Wang Heng remained frozen.
Bai Shuijin had no time to ease his worries; his mind was completely occupied by the hidden fried chicken. The funeral had lasted all morning, and he hadn’t eaten a thing. He also had to maintain the appearance of being grief-stricken and having no appetite.
If Wang Heng and Pei Zhiheng didn’t leave soon, the fried chicken will no longer be crispy.
“If you have nothing else, you should leave too.”
Wang Heng: “How can I face anyone after going out like this?”
“Aren’t you shameless?”
“I was just saying that. I can’t actually be shameless.”
Bai Shuijin pouted. “Oh.”
Who knew you’d pull this “say one thing but mean another” act again.
“Achoo!”
A sound like machine gun fire came from behind the curtain. Wang Heng, who had been immersed in social embarrassment, suddenly sat upright. “Wh-what was that sound?”
Bai Shuijin didn’t want to hide Pei Zhiheng anymore. “Someone behind the curtain sneezed.”
Wang Heng’s mental world collapsed again. “There’s still someone behind the curtain?!!”
Seeing his position exposed, Pei Zhiheng had no choice but to come out.
Wang Heng saw Pei Zhiheng and his vision went dark.
Bai Shuijin looked at his regretful expression. “I told you to leave earlier.”
Wang Heng: “…”
Wang Heng and Pei Zhiheng weren’t close, but they attended the same university and often ran into each other. Although they had never spoken to each other, they were considered half-acquaints.
Wang Heng didn’t ask why Pei Zhiheng was hiding behind the curtain, and Pei Zhiheng didn’t bring up Wang Heng’s attempt to steal someone. Both knew they had no face left, so they left the room one after the other in shame.
As expected of President Wang, even his funeral is so dramatic. Chen Ji had a listening device in his pocket, so everything that had just happened must have been heard by Wang Huanxiu.
He must be furious.
Bai Shuijin felt quite pleased with himself. This was exactly the effect he had been aiming for recently.
Wang Huanxiu’s fake death had deeply hurt Bai Shuijin’s heart. At the time, he thought the man was truly gone, and the world instantly reverted to the black-and-white animation of the 1950s or 60s.
He couldn’t even imagine how to live his life afterward. Such a vibrant person was suddenly missing, yet traces of him were everywhere in daily life.
What’s more, he was the person he loved most.
After giving him the cold shoulder for two weeks, his anger had mostly subsided. It was already November, and his admission letter would arrive soon.
There wasn’t much time left for the two of them to spend together alone before he went off to study. The academic calendar abroad differed from domestic ones. While China was celebrating the Spring Festival, classes would still be in session overseas.
He was set to go abroad in January and needed to arrive a week early to familiarize himself with the living environment and finalize housing arrangements.
So, when the funeral ended and he returned home, Bai Shuijin decided to let go of his anger.
On the way back, he specifically stopped by a restaurant to order a bitter melon set meal to clear heat and reduce internal heat. It would be just right for Wang Huanxiu to eat today.
Sitting in the car, Bai Shuijin took out his phone and typed on the keyboard, [I appreciate your kindness, but I have no plans to start a new relationship for now. Thank you for your affection. You will meet someone better in the future.]
Copy and paste, copy and paste.
He sent it to Wang Heng, Lei Liming, and Pei Zhiheng.
The three received the rejection message, each feeling differently inside, but all were filled with unwillingness and melancholy. Could it really be that they still couldn’t compare to Wang Huanxiu?
When Bai Shuijin brought the bitter melon set meal home, Wang Huanxiu was exercising in the living room.
The soundproofing in the house was excellent; even if someone screamed wildly in one room, it couldn’t be heard through the wall.
The living room was spacious. Wang Huanxiu probably chose to exercise there specifically because the sunlight was good. He had moved two types of exercise equipment from the fitness room.
A pull-up bar and some dumbbells.
The apartment door opened directly into the living room. As soon as Bai Shuijin opened the door, he saw Wang Huanxiu shirtless, his powerful arms pulling his entire body upward.
His back muscles stretched and tightened, and his biceps and forearms were so defined they made one want to gasp.
Bai Shuijin kicked off his shoes and walked in, circling around to face Wang Huanxiu, his eyes sparkling. “Laogong-ge.”
Sweat dripped from his chest down to the distinctly outlined abs.
‘So well-built!’
Bai Shuijin was still wearing the mourning clothes from the funeral, and the little white flower was still pinned on him. The pretty young widower watched Wang Huanxiu work out.
Wang Huanxiu smiled inwardly. Bai Shuijin had even called him “laogong-ge” upon returning.
In the previous days, Bai Shuijin was too angry to call him by his name or usual nicknames, instead referring to him as “Wang Zhenzhu’s brother” or “Sensen’s uncle.”
Wang Huanxiu let go and descended from the bar.
“What’s that in your hand?”
Bai Shuijin shook the lunchbox. “I bought some bitter melon on the way back. I was afraid you’d be having too much internal heat.”
The internal heat was already at its maximum.
After listening to the entire funeral proceedings in the room today, Wang Huanxiu almost flipped the table by the second half.
He never expected that right after his death, Bai Shuijin would already have three people targeting him.
Wang Huanxiu looked down at Bai Shuijin’s outfit for the day. His fair and tender face was like a lotus petal, fresh and dewy. To emphasize his grief and sorrow, he had even asked Zhenzhu to apply something to his lips before the funeral started, making his normally rosy lips appear pale and sickly.
With his eyebrows and eyes drooping downward, he looked so fragile a gust of wind could knock him over…a sight that made everyone soft and infatuated.
By the end of the surveillance, Wang Huanxiu was both angry and amused. Too distracted to focus on the documents he was processing, he switched instead to the book, “How To Make Your Husband Unable to Resist You.”
His death had really stirred up trouble.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Bai Shuijin looked up at him.
“Too much internal heat.”
“I brought you bitter melon. Why do you still have internal heat?” Bai Shuijin pulled him toward the dining room. “You’ll be fine after eating.”
The taste of bitter melon wasn’t very pleasant. Bai Shuijin had brought it back to help reduce internal heat, but after a few bites, he stopped eating.
He regretted buying the bitter melon.
Putting down his chopsticks, he felt that this should be a sweet, intimate time for the two of them.
Bai Shuijin didn’t take the initiative, still holding onto the leverage of Wang Huanxiu’s mistake. He let Wang Huanxiu into the room at night but didn’t outright say he forgave him or that everything was water under the bridge.
Someone like Wang Huanxiu was very good at gauging the situation. He didn’t go all the way that night but left room for maneuver.
Three love rivals had appeared all at once. It would be bad if he didn’t offer Bai Shuijin something new and the other party lost interest.
He had to prepare properly.
After Wang Huanxiu’s funeral, Wang Wang and Wang Dong completely fell out and began fighting openly, with dirty, despicable methods emerging one after another. Wang Pingtian, who was in prison, was nearly killed due to the struggle between his father and uncle, living in darkness behind bars.
He prayed every day to be released; otherwise, he didn’t know how long he could live. Perhaps one day, those people’s fists and feet would go too far and beat him to death.
Wang Wang never expected Wang Dong to truly try to kill Wang Pingtian by having him beaten mercilessly. His wife received videos of Wang Pingtian being beaten and cried daily, making Wang Wang both furious and annoyed.
He wanted to rescue his son quickly, but Wang Dong was tenacious and didn’t give him a chance at all. Wang Dong was pressing harder and harder, but at this point, Wang Wang wouldn’t relinquish his position of power easily
Wang Dong’s repeated vicious moves finally made Wang Wang determined to kill.
Wang Dong wasn’t as stupid as Wang Wang. Whatever Wang Wang could think of, Wang Dong could anticipate. Before Wang Wang could make a move, Wang Dong arranged a car accident for him.
This accident almost paralyzed Wang Wang. Wang Dong even came to see him while he was hospitalized. Wang Wang had lost a leg, amputated below the knee. Wang Dong showed no more mercy in dealing with Wang Wang than he had with Wang Huanxiu.
Their common interests had disappeared, naturally turning them into enemies.
Lying on the hospital bed, Wang Wang glared at Wang Dong with rage. Even in his dream, he hoped Wang Dong would drop dead. He said viciously, “Don’t forget who came up with the plan to make Wang Huanxiu’s plane crash.”
Wang Dong chuckled and sat down by the bed. “Don’t try to threaten me with shared secrets. If you expose me, can you escape? Or can your precious son in prison escape?”
“You can’t defeat me. Didn’t your eldest nephew say before he died that you’re not cut out for business, only for crooked schemes?”
“And your son’s name is unlucky.”
Wang Wang forced himself to sit up, trying to lunge at Wang Dong. Wang Dong stood up smoothly, and Wang Wang fell directly from the bed. His wound hit something hard, and his face turned red then green.
“Hey, why are you so excited? You can’t bear to see me leave? Don’t bother. With only one leg, you’ll struggle everywhere. Just wait for others to visit you from now on.”
Wang Dong tossed out a few taunts and left the hospital room feeling pleased.
Before leaving, he kindly pressed the call button for him.
Wang Wang’s chest tightened, and he spat out a mouthful of bright red blood, splattering it across the floor. The nurses and aides who entered were startled and quickly helped Wang Wang up from the floor to take him for examinations.
After losing part of his leg, Wang Wang became completely deranged. Before Wang Huanxiu died, his family had been suppressed by Wang Huanxiu. The old man had declared that his son couldn’t even enter the company. Now that Wang Huanxiu was dead, his ally Wang Dong had betrayed him, reducing him to this disabled, half-human, half-ghost state.
He would never let Wang Dong take power so comfortably and freely. What he couldn’t have, Wang Dong shouldn’t have either!
By the time Wang Huanxiu received the news, Wang Wang was already prepared to fight Wang Dong to the death, with the worst case scenario being mutual destruction.
Chen Ji showed him the recent reports. Wang Huanxiu couldn’t go out now, so everything was rather inconvenient.
“If Wang Wang lacks anything, just drop some on his way.”
Go with the flow.
Wang Huanxiu looked up. “Did you bring what I asked for?”
Chen Ji’s expression was mysterious. “I brought it, President Wang. The package arrived yesterday, and I brought it today.”
It came just in time, just right for Wang Huanxiu’s recent needs.
The items in the package were purchased overseas, mostly selected from the magazines Wang Huanxiu used to read before bed.
His identity made it inconvenient, so Chen Ji handled the purchases.
Thus, Chen Ji, a single man, had completely turned into an out-and-out pervert based on his purchase history. If he died one day, he would crawl back to life just to delete those records.
As winter arrived, Bai Shuijin also welcomed his last dance class. After this lesson, all his and Chen Yuan’s courses would end. The teacher would return to her country to continue shining in her dance career.
Bai Shuijin and Chen Yuan were both emotional people. During the last class, they cried their eyes out while dancing. After half a year of classes, they had become familiar with the teacher, like friends.
Goodbyes were sad. Bai Shuijin and Chen Yuan cried together, telling the teacher they must keep in touch.
Chen Yuan, whose eyes were red, looked at Bai Shuijin who was gritting his teeth and shedding tears beside her, and she asked between sobs, “Brother Shuijin, aren’t you a bit too sad?”
Bai Shuijin sniffled. “The teacher is leaving. After spending so much time together, it’s really hard to let go.”
More than just hard to let go.
He was crying even more pitifully than at Brother Huanxiu’s funeral.
It had been a month since Brother Huanxiu passed away. Seeing Bai Shuijin’s emotions slowly improve, Chen Yuan was genuinely happy for him.
The last class was emotionally moving. Only after the teacher left did Bai Shuijin and Chen Yuan depart dejectedly, both hanging their heads as they entered the elevator. At the exit, they waved goodbye.
Bai Shuijin was like a little seedling beaten by frost, taking one step and swaying with withered leaves.
But when he saw the car that had come to pick him up today, he was stunned. A tall man dressed entirely in black was leaning against the car.
Bai Shuijin recognized the figure…it was Wang Huanxiu.
A handsome guy could stand out in a crowd even without showing his face, just based on his physique.
Due to his current identity, Wang Huanxiu couldn’t reveal himself to the outside world, so he was bundled up tightly.
Bai Shuijin didn’t expect him to come pick him up. He jogged over and asked in a hushed voice, “Why are you here?”
Wang Huanxiu: “It’s your last class today. Shouldn’t I come pick you up?”
He raised his hand and held Bai Shuijin’s head, shaking it gently. “Are you feeling sad?”
Bai Shuijin said stubbornly. “No.”
“You don’t look happy at all.”
Bai Shuijin pursed his lips and whispered, “The teacher left, she went back to her own country. I can’t bear to see her go.”
Wang Huanxiu knew he couldn’t bear it. Bai Shuijin treated everyone around him well, interacting with each person sincerely and genuinely.
Wang Huanxiu rubbed his head. “Don’t be sad.”
Being coaxed like this made Bai Shuijin become even more emotional. “I just feel very bad inside.”
Wang Huanxiu: “I prepared a comfort item for you.”
Bai Shuijin blinked. “What comfort item?”
Wang Huanxiu opened his coat, revealing the leather straps fastened over the man’s white shirt inside.
‘Chest harness!!!’
Bai Shuiju’s eyes widened.
This… he wore this directly out the door? Moreover, Wang Huanxiu’s shirt wasn’t very smooth underneath; clearly, there was something else under the shirt besides the chest harness.
Bai Shuijin pulled with both hands and sealed Wang Huanxiu’s coat shut.
There was a police station not far away.
Bai Shuijin’s heart raced. “Laogong-ge, I’m really afraid you’ll be arrested by the anti-ponography squad.”
Seeing such a good thing, Bai Shuijin began to feel elated.
“Laogong-ge, let’s go home quickly.”
He was impatient.
Wang Huanxiu sat in the driver’s seat. “We’re not going home.”
‘Not going home?’
Then where? Were they going to eat out?
Bai Shuijin didn’t want to eat at all right now; he just wanted to go home.
Bai Shuijin: “I want to go home.”
“Going home is boring.”
Bai Shuijin was stunned.
Wang Huanxiu handed him his phone. The location was a luxurious, high-end love hotel.
Generally, love hotels operated discreetly, but this one was very famous online. The environment was clean and tidy, with a full range of scenes for play, however, the room rates were relatively high.
Bai Shuijin’s face grew hot. He suddenly wanted to wear a mask; otherwise, he’d be too embarrassed to go in.
The car soon arrived at the hotel location. Due to Wang Huanxiu’s documentation issues, his subordinates had contacted the hotel in advance to secretly input the check-in information. So, Bai Shuijin only needed to show his ID card.
This was a bustling downtown area; many business discussions happened in the hotels and buildings nearby.
Wang Heng and Pei Zhiheng weren’t familiar with each other at all, but recently they had crossed paths due to business matters.
When rivals meet, they are extremely jealous of each other. Both were secretly competing, each wanting to gain the upper hand everywhere, as if this could prove they were stronger than the other and more qualified to win the beauty.
After another dinner meeting, the two walked out disliking each other. Before even getting into their cars, Pei Zhiheng spotted a familiar figure on the street.
That person was none other than Bai Shuijin. Not only him, but there was also a man with an exceptionally good figure behind him. His face couldn’t be seen, but it was obvious that he had the type of body Bai Shuijin would like.
He was following Bai Shuijin just a few steps behind. Bai Shuijin occasionally turned back to say a few words to him, and throughout, there was always some distance between them.
Pei Zhiheng: !
‘Bai Shuijin has a new lover?’
‘Wang Huanxiu has only been gone for a month!’
It wasn’t that Bai Shuijin couldn’t have a new lover…it was completely normal in today’s society. But didn’t the other party say he had no plans to start a new relationship when rejecting him last time?
Was it a misunderstanding? Were they just friends?
Wang Heng, who hadn’t gone far, obviously also saw Bai Shuijin, and his expression was identical to Pei Zhiheng’s.
Just as the two were curious about the relationship between Bai Shuijin and the black-clothed vixen, the two entered the famous love hotel one after the other.
Wang Heng, Pei Zhiheng: !!!
Bai Shuijin had just handed over his ID card when he heard footsteps behind him. Turning around, he was startled to see Pei Zhiheng and Wang Heng suddenly appear.
“Why are you two here?”
He then moved to block Wang Huanxiu, afraid he would be recognized.
Wang Heng’s face was dark. “He and I just finished discussing business. We saw you, so we came in.”
“Who is he?” Wang Heng pointed directly at Wang Huanxiu. “Didn’t you say you had no plans to start a relationship recently?”
Wang Huanxiu stood with his arms crossed behind Bai Shuijin, emanating an air of smugness.
Bai Shuijin’s scalp tingled. “The two of us are friends.”
“What kind of friends?”
“Ordinary friends.”
“What are ordinary friends doing at a hotel?”
Bai Shuijin was struck by inspiration: “We’re exploring the place.”
Wang Heng: “…”
Pei Zhiheng: “…”
