Chapter 119

Chapter 119

But could he let Jing Xi have his way so easily? Hao Jixin humphed: "I don’t need money."

"Is that so?" Jing Xi smiled cunningly. "Then, no raise."

Hao Jixin: "??"

Jing Xi: "With the money for your raise, I’ll hire two more assistants for you. That way, you can relax a bit. Who knows, if they’re capable enough, they might even replace you, and you can take as long a break as you want."

Hao Jixin: "!!!” Brother, why aren’t you playing by the rules? Aren’t you supposed to counteroffer? At least say it one more time, otherwise, I feel like I’m at a loss."

Seeing the opportunity, Hao Jixin hastily backed down with a couple of forced laughs: "No need for that, the company isn’t that busy, haha. Why hire assistants? Am I not good enough? I’m worth three!"

Jing Xi’s eyes lost their mirth: "Alright, since you say so, we won’t hire anyone. You keep managing the company. Vice President Hao, work hard, and I’ll give you a bonus at the end of the year." With that, he picked up his car keys and stood up. As he passed Hao Jixin, Hao suddenly snapped out of it and grabbed him: "Wait, it’s only four-thirty, where are you going?"

It wasn’t time to clock out yet! Surely Jing Xi wasn’t planning on leaving early again?

Jing Xi pulled away Hao Jixin's hand holding his sleeve with two fingers: "Stop being handsy. Don’t make me jealous in front of Qingfeng for no reason."

Hao Jixin, annoyed by Jing Xi's shamelessness: "The Master would never be jealous! Even if you did manage to win him over, it’s because you begged relentlessly!"

Jing Xi, unfazed: "Even if it was through relentless pursuit, it's still my skill. You wish you had this opportunity."

Hao Jixin: "..." He’s determined to compete with him!

But he dares not.

Hao Jixin, feeling resentful: "What excuse are you making this time? There’s nothing going on today, but there’s a gathering tonight. Aren’t you going again?" Jing Xi could drink anyone under the table using his internal energy, making him an asset at parties.

Jing Xi: "Don’t even think about it. Qingfeng doesn’t like the smell of alcohol, and I really do have something important today."

Hao Jixin sighed: "What is it?"

Jing Xi: "Today is Qingfeng’s birthday, and as his official boyfriend, how could I not go home early to celebrate with him?"

Hao Jixin laughed in disbelief: "Didn’t you just celebrate it recently?" He had planned to celebrate the Master’s birthday the next day, not wanting to intrude on their private time. However, Jing Xi had clung to the Master so much that he didn’t show up until the third day, looking utterly content and refreshed.

"My pure Master, taken down by this guy!"

Jing Xi calmly said: "You don’t understand. That was his lunar birthday; today is his solar birthday. As his boyfriend, how can I neglect it?" Besides, it's Saturday tomorrow, no work. What’s wrong with leaving half an hour early? Am I not contributing to the company’s success?

Hao Jixin couldn’t bear to watch, waving him off: "Go, go." He felt his name, meaning 'a life of ease,' was ironic, as he seemed destined for hard work.

Riches he had, but no leisure.

Jing Xi got home just after five o'clock, knowing Qingfeng only had two classes that afternoon. Even if Qingfeng was slow, he should have been home by now. Leaving work at four-thirty was the most he could tolerate. How diligent of him.

Xie Qingfeng finally had some free time today. After returning home early, he reviewed Jing Xi’s recent academic progress. Under his insistence, Jing Xi diligently studied in exchange for the privilege of sharing a bed each night.

Xie Qingfeng could have genuinely refused, but he couldn’t resist Jing Xi's increasingly pitiful acts. Even if he did refuse, Jing Xi always had a hundred ways to soften his heart. And the problem was... he fell for it every time.

On his birthday night, Jing Xi crossed a line and nearly wore him out, leading Xie Qingfeng to banish him from the room, not allowing him back in no matter what.

It was only after establishing three major principles and getting satisfactory answers that Xie Qingfeng allowed him back into the room. One rule was that during weekdays, only cuddling was allowed, with Friday nights being an exception, and weekends depending on his mood.

Jing Xi naturally had no objections, nor dared to have any, otherwise he might lose even the little chance he had, let alone getting close to him.

That’s why Jing Xi managed to come back by four-thirty on Fridays, only because he had a meeting with a collaborator that afternoon and was busy until just past four. Otherwise, he would have left much earlier.

As soon as Jing Xi got home and closed the door, he went up behind Xie Qingfeng, wrapping his arms around him from behind: “What are you looking at?”

Xie Qingfeng was flipping through Jing Xi's exercise books. With diligent effort, Jing Xi had already started learning eleventh-grade material. This rapid progress was naturally due to a sweet promise from Xie Qingfeng: once Jing Xi passed all twelfth-grade subjects, he would fulfill his promise.

Xie Qingfeng originally thought it would take at least two years considering his initial pace, but Jing Xi managed it in less than six months.

Xie Qingfeng, looking at the high completion rate of the assignments and then at Jing Xi resting his head in his neck and staring at him, said: “So you just didn’t want to study before, right?”

Jing Xi honestly confessed: “Not that I didn’t want to study, but I wanted to slow it down, even slower.” His voice was tinged with amusement, hardly sounding serious.

Xie Qingfeng’s ears slowly warmed, but he kept his composure, pushing away the face so close to his: “You didn’t have to rush.”

Jing Xi, grinning and moving closer again: “Back then, Qingfeng, you taught me hand by hand. I finally had a chance to be with you, why would I rush?” Why would he learn fast if he hadn’t yet won over Xie Qingfeng, missing out on all those cuddling opportunities?

Xie Qingfeng: "..."

Jing Xi hugged him tightly from behind, murmuring: “Today’s your birthday... and the timing is just right. Seems like destiny wants us to do something meaningful tonight.”

Xie Qingfeng, shocked by his shamelessness: “Are you planning to present yourself as a gift again?”

Jing Xi: “Who said that? I just learned a few fun things. Shall we explore them together?”

Xie Qingfeng: "..." He was too naive before, but now... “In broad daylight, don’t even think about it.”

Jing Xi: “Qingfeng, dear Qingfeng, count the days from Monday to now. How pitiful are Xiao Jing and Xiao Feng?”

Xie Qingfeng’s face heated up further, pushing him away, but Jing Xi kissed his palm as he did so. The warm touch on his palm turned Xie Qingfeng’s ears completely red.

Noticing this, Jing Xi leaned in and started kissing his neck, pecking and observing Xie Qingfeng's reaction. If there was no annoyance, it meant he liked it, so he continued pecking.

Xie Qingfeng, not one to openly express dislikes, thought that he had indeed been too busy to pay much attention to Jing Xi these past few days, so he acquiesced to Jing Xi’s actions and soon got carried away, letting the other man kiss him, his mind buzzing.

Until suddenly, he heard a sound by his ear and froze, Jing Xi also startled. It was their first time in such a situation, both somewhat dazed, instinctively turning their heads towards the door, completely taken aback: ??

The foster parents were at the door, each carrying two big bags of groceries. Xie Qingfeng had registered their fingerprints for door access, so they could open it with just a press. Thinking it was just past five and the two might not have finished class or work yet, they didn’t bother to knock, intending to cook early and eat together once they returned.

But they hadn't expected to open the door and immediately witness such a scene.

Although Xie Qingfeng and Jing Xi had separated and were now looking towards them, one was embracing the other from behind, and one’s head was nearly buried in the other’s face, their intimate posture unmistakable.

The foster parents stood frozen, their minds struggling to comprehend: Is this how close young people are nowadays? And why is Xiao Feng’s face so red?

The foster father was the first to snap back to reality, standing up straight.

Jing Xi also quickly straightened up, stepping back, his mind a mess for the first time. Had they been caught in the act? Were they inadvertently coming out?

Jing Xi’s mind flashed through various melodramatic scenarios – thwarted romances, eloping lovers, all sorts of spine-chilling scenes. Finally, the foster mother spoke up, “You’re both back? I, I and Old Xie came to prepare for Xiao Feng’s birthday feast, didn’t notify you in advance. Did we... interrupt something?”

Jing Xi hurriedly shook his head: “No, not at all!”