Chapter 62: The Four Days Before the Holiday

Chapter 62: The Four Days Before the Holiday

A person can't be split in two, but time can.

The holiday spanned nine days in total. Master Water-Serving decided to spend the first four days at the God of Wealth's place and the following four with Ms. Jiang, leaving one day in between for streaming and spending time with his online friends.

Suddenly, what was once an empty schedule filled up.

The day before New Year's Eve, Chen Yibai finished all his work in the morning. His agent was heading to the airport that afternoon but still insisted on dropping him off at home.

"If you get bored while I'm gone, let me know."

The car was already on familiar roads, and the agent seized the last moment to say, "I probably won't stay much during the last few days of the holiday. Those relatives will start nagging about marriage again. Just give me a call, and I'll come back. It'll be perfect timing for us to hang out and practice your drinking skills."

Chen Yibai silently raised his hand as a signal. "I'm actually quite busy this year."

The agent glanced at him, unable to tell if he was being serious or joking. She waved her hand and said, "Anyway, if anything comes up, just let me know."

Chen Yibai nodded.

Outside the window, they could see the buildings of his neighborhood. Driver Uncle Zhao, who knew this route well, stopped by the entrance.

He had originally wanted to slide further and park where he usually did, but there was already a car ahead, so he had no choice but to stop from a distance.

The agent couldn't see what was ahead, only the side window, and asked, "Why did we stop so far away?"

Uncle Zhao explained, "There's a car up ahead. If I scratch it, my salary for the whole year is gone."

The agent then leaned over to take a look.

It was a black car with sleek lines, looking rather low-key, yet its emblem commanded respect.

She felt that stopping at a distance was indeed the right decision and commented, "Another domineering CEO waiting for someone."

Chen Yibai glanced at his phone and then looked up, saying, "It seems like they're waiting for me."

The agent laughed and patted his head. "Well, everyone waits for you."

She added, "Go ahead and rest when you get home. See you next year."

Chen Yibai got out of the car, remembering to put on the coat he had set aside. Standing by the roadside, he watched the vehicle drive away. He waved one last time, pulled his coat tighter against the breeze, and instead of heading into the neighborhood, walked forward to tap on the window of the car that would cost Uncle Zhao a year's salary if scratched.

Indeed, the car was waiting for him.

The God of Wealth had also finished work today and decided to pick him up directly. He had sent a message earlier, saying he would wait near the entrance of the neighborhood, but Chen Yibai hadn't noticed the car until the salary-sensitive Uncle Zhao spotted it.

Before he could knock on the window, the car door opened automatically. A man in a simple shirt sat in the backseat, looking up at him.

The God of Wealth wore his usual shirt, trousers, and tie ensemble. Chen Bai greeted him and then said, "Hold on, I need to go back and grab something."

He moved quickly, leaving after a nod, and rushed into the neighborhood.

When he returned, he carried a bag and a bouquet of flowers.

The flowers had been ordered yesterday and delivered to the security guard's post this morning. The guard uncle had become familiar with him and kept the flowers well-preserved; Chen Bai could simply pick them up upon departure.

Inside the car, the cold wind was completely shut out, and he felt much warmer.

Placing the flowers securely to the side, Chen Bai then turned to greet the four-million-dollar boss sitting beside him sincerely with a gentle smile. He also exchanged greetings with the driver he hadn't seen in a while.

If not for needing to be reserved in front of the God of Wealth, his smile would have been even brighter.

Huochuan acknowledged him, his gaze drifting down to the bouquet placed firmly on the seat.

Noticing his line of sight, Chen Moubai explained, "They're for Auntie."

Pink and white gladioli, complemented by ranunculus and pink mountain snow, made for a vibrant bouquet.

With both people and the bouquet settled in the car, the driver started the engine and headed straight for the hillside manor.

As the New Year approached, the trees along the road were festooned with colorful lights. Though it wasn't dark yet, one could imagine how dazzling they would be at night.

After passing the brightly lit section, Huochuan glanced sideways at the quiet figure beside him and said, "Don't worry about me. Just focus on having fun with her these few days."

This 'her' clearly referred to Ms. Zhang.

The goal was to make Aunt Zhang happy, shifting the focus from his previous role as a substitute to pleasing her. Chen Bai cautiously reminded him, "If you don't mind, President Huo might witness a drastic change in personality."

Though their faces might resemble each other, he had a clear self-awareness that his character differed significantly from that of his counterpart. Not having to act was certainly a relief, allowing him to enjoy the holiday without stress, but a considerate service provider worried that such a significant change might severely shock the client.

The client responded, stating that if he said not to worry, then there was no need to worry.

With the God of Wealth's assurance, Chen Moubai felt free to let loose and smiled.

Huochuan hadn't initially thought a person's personality could change so drastically.

But today, he understood.

From the city to the hillside, he discovered that the family's driver was actually quite talkative, chatting all the way with the person sitting beside him. The two seemed to share a sense of regret at not meeting sooner, as if kindred spirits.

The car entered the manor and stopped at the gate. As soon as the car halted, the previously calm individual leaped out with the flowers, bounding down like a cannonball.

His movements were indeed too swift, even catching the butler, who came to open the door, off guard. He watched as the man landed safely on the ground, slightly lifting his cap brim and greeting him with a smile.

He had gotten a haircut, the previous white hair now trimmed, reverting to black. Underneath the black tousled hair, his eyes sparkled in the light, curved in a smile.

Some people naturally exuded infectious energy. The courtyard, which had been somewhat bleak after last night's frost, seemed to brighten, lifting the mood considerably.

Aunt Zhang, having received word beforehand, draped with a blanket on her legs, was already waiting at the entrance.

Huo Qing stood to the side, hopping up and waving her hand as she called out, "Brother Bai!"

She seemed to have been doing well during this period, her voice full of vitality.

Brother Bai nodded, smiling as he waved his hand. The butler who had just walked to the side didn't have time to open the car door, so instead, he took over Brother Bai's bag. Brother Bai thanked him, stepped forward slightly bending down, and handed the flowers in his hand to the person in the wheelchair.

He brought a bouquet of flowers every time he came, which had quietly become a tradition.

No matter how many flowers one received, the recipient would always be happy upon receiving them. Aunt Zhang accepted the bouquet, her brows and eyes relaxing as she smiled and said, "The first time you sent me flowers was also with gladioli."

From the beginning to the end of the year, it was consistent.

Chen Bai reacted for a moment before laughing and saying, "Aunt Zhang still remembers that."

Aunt Zhang lowered her head, touching the pink-white petals twice, her lips curling upward as she said, "Of course, your aunt remembers everything."

It was cold outside, so she couldn't stay for too long. With everyone gathered, they all went inside together.

The house's climate control system operated 24/7, maintaining a perfect temperature. After the front door closed, everyone felt warm. It was inconvenient for Aunt Zhang to sit in her wheelchair, so Huo Qing volunteered to lead someone to the upstairs room, being very proactive.

The room was on the second floor, near the music room, a sun-facing room. The sunlight was just right now, filtering through the leaves outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a green shadow on the wooden floor.

Toiletries and other daily necessities were all prepared, including pajamas and loungewear.

All meals, accommodations, clothing, and even conversation were included, mainly at a rate of one million per day. Chen Moubai felt that these working conditions should be considered the top-tier in the job market.

Huo Qing looked toward the bedroom direction and said, "These sheets and things were picked by Mom, she was so happy picking them out."

Chen Bai chuckled and asked, "How has Auntie been recently?"

Huo Qing waved her hand. "She's been great. Her girl friends just came to play, and they were playing mahjong downstairs quite lively."

"…"

Chen Yibai thought for a moment, recalling the "quiet house" and "only Little Qing and her brother" he heard about over the phone.

—Turns out Auntie was also a potential powerhouse actress.

The aforementioned powerhouse actress waited downstairs for them to finish touring the upstairs rooms. When she saw people finally coming down the stairs, she waved them over to come to the living room to rest.

Work was temporarily put aside. This time, Huochuan didn't immediately retreat to his study upon returning home. He sat on the edge of the sofa, watching the two people on the stairs descend.

Unlike her refined appearance when dressed up outside, Huo Qing wore loose clothes, her hair casually tied up. The person next to her removed their hat, their messy hair slightly moving with the action of descending the stairs.

At a glance, they looked like real siblings.

Aunt Zhang noticed this and leaned back in her wheelchair, laughing and patting her chest to catch her breath. When they approached, she lifted her hand, and Chen Moubai understood her meaning, sitting down on the sofa to the side and lowering his head skillfully.

A very kind aunt patiently combed through the messy hair bit by bit, her movements gentle, not harming a single hair.

Huochuan picked up his water glass and slowly took a sip, glancing sideways.

The person who was like a cannonball when getting out of the car was mysteriously obedient at this moment, half-closed eyes allowing the person to do as they pleased. As if noticing the gaze from this side, those half-closed eyes moved slightly, turning toward this side, the light gray irises meeting his directly.

Then the person smiled, turned their head again,收回their gaze, and continued chatting with Huo Qing across the space.

"…"

"Click."

Huochuan shifted his gaze, leaning forward to place the water glass on the table, making a slight sound.

It had been quite some time since they last met, and there were many things to say. Unlike usual, the living room wasn't quiet, but lively.

These few people seemed to have endless topics to discuss. In the evening, when the post-dinner chat was halfway through, a phone call came in, and Huochuan, who had been pulled into the conversation indiscriminately, got up, picked up his phone, and temporarily left the area.

Leaving the living room and entering the empty corridor, the surroundings instantly became quiet, only the faint sounds of voices could be heard from afar.

It was Zhang Wenxuan who made the call, and he answered it.

Zhang Wenxuan's intentions were clear; after the call connected, he asked, "Today, a few friends happened to have time to get together. They're all at Xiao Wang's place. Are you coming to join us?"

Huochuan declined, simply saying, "I'm unavailable."

"Bullshit." A concise response came from the other end of the phone.

Zhang Wenxuan then continued, "I ran into your assistant shopping today. You haven't worked since this morning."

Voices could be heard from the phone, likely others wanting to say something, along with music, creating a chaotic mix.

Moving the phone away a bit, Huochuan said, "I can't leave today."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, followed by Zhang Wenxuan's voice, "Boss Huo, it's not New Year's Eve today. You don't have to stay at home, why can't you leave?"

So that moment of silence was spent checking the calendar.

Huochuan raised his eyes to look at the dim streetlight in the courtyard outside the window and said, "Go ahead and have fun."

The other side of the phone fell silent. After a brief pause, Zhang Wenxuan asked, "Is there someone at your house?"

The corridor was quiet, and Huochuan didn't speak for a moment.

"?"

His silence caught Zhang Wenxuan off guard, his mind racing, strangely connecting the dots. After a lengthy contemplation, he tentatively asked, "Could it be that Chen Bai is at your place?"

Huochuan acknowledged it.

Zhang Wenxuan: "Without a word, you're actually doing something big."

Upon realizing the reason, his voice softened instantly, his imposing aura subsiding. Without waiting for a response, he continued, "Well then... alright, there's always time to catch up later. You go ahead and do your thing, we won't bother you for now."

True to his word, he hung up the call without any hesitation, leaving no room for further conversation.

"..."

As the screen dimmed, Huochuan stood in place for a moment before putting his phone away and heading back into the living room.

At the bar.

After hanging up, Zhang Wenxuan tossed his phone onto the table and slumped onto the sofa, meeting the gazes of his friends. "He's not coming this time."

His friends asked how the conversation went.

"What else could I say," Zhang Wenxuan said with a smile as he took a sip of his drink. "With an addition to the family this year, he needs to spend more time at home. We shouldn't push him."

His words were both subtle and direct, and the others understood. One of them asked, "Hasn't he changed yet? It should be about a year now."

Taking advantage of Chen Moubai's absence, Zhang Wenxuan let loose, saying, "If he changes now, there's something wrong with his eyes."

Another friend analyzed calmly, "This time it seems genuine. No matter what, he wouldn't bring someone home during the holidays."

"So," a friend who had gone to fetch a fruit platter chimed in, "is that person not coming back this year either?"

Someone replied, "There's been no word from the Yang family, so they probably won't return."

Finally remembering this detail, Zhang Wenxuan felt a pulse throb in his forehead, recalling something he had forgotten.

Every year at this time, his friend would call the person overseas, regardless of the time or location, a bad habit he couldn't shake.

Thinking about it made his face twitch. He refilled his empty glass and sidestepped the topic, saying, "Cheers."

---

The post-dinner chat didn't last long. Aunt Zhang, who went to bed at eight every night, was elated today. Her mind was excited, but her body was more tired than usual, and she was escorted upstairs to sleep by the caregiver at the usual time, dispersing the group.

Going to bed at eight was too early and too difficult for someone accustomed to staying up late.

The weather forecast predicted snow tonight. Back in his room with nothing to do, Chen Moubai stepped out onto the balcony to observe, but saw no signs of snow. After his cheeks and neck grew cold, he went to take a shower in the bathroom and changed into his pajamas.

The pajamas were white, fitting perfectly, with a small flower on the chest, a pale pink. Though he couldn't explain why, he felt that Ms. Zhang chose these pajamas because she liked the little flower.

Impulsively wanting to snap a photo to share the flower with his good neighbor, he reached into his pocket, only to find it empty.

His phone wasn't in the clothes he had changed out of in the bathroom or anywhere else in the room.

It must have been left downstairs.

Without a second thought, he slipped on his slippers, turned around, opened the door to his room, and made his way down the corridor and down the stairs.

The living room was empty, the main lights already off, casting it in semi-darkness. The smaller accent lights on either side were still on, allowing one to make out the general appearance of the vicinity. Indeed, his phone had been left here, lying intact on the sofa.

A number of messages had accumulated on the phone since he last checked it, but none from his good neighbor. The other party would likely be working late into the night tonight.

Putting his phone away, Chen Bai slipped it into his pocket and headed back upstairs.

He hadn't seen anyone when he came downstairs earlier, but as he ascended again, there was now someone near the hexagonal balcony by the corridor close to the music room.

From a distance, details were unclear, but as he drew closer, he realized that it was the God of Wealth who should have already retired to his room. Leaning against the balcony railing, he had changed into loungewear during the afternoon. Holding his phone in hand, he looked down at it, though the screen remained dark. His features were indistinct, but an undercurrent of irritation could be sensed.

Not wanting to disturb him too much, Chen Bai had intended to quietly leave, but his phone, nestled in his pocket, chose this moment to vibrate, its faint light piercing through the fabric of his pajamas and illuminating the dim corridor.

Though weak, it was sufficiently noticeable. The person by the balcony turned to look over. Clearly, there was no chance of a stealthy departure now. Chen Bai nodded politely and asked, "President Huo hasn't gone to bed yet?"

President Huo pocketed his phone, his expression unchanged as he acknowledged with a simple response.

Thinking that the conversation had reached its natural conclusion, Chen Bai lifted his foot to continue on his way, only to hear another question: "Are you going to sleep?"

Chen Bai smiled modestly. "It's still early. I usually go to bed around two."

Having just taken a shower, it was now nearly nine o'clock, leaving five hours until his usual bedtime. The evening had only just begun.

"…"

Even President Huo paused upon hearing the time of two o'clock, lifting his gaze to look at the person standing in the corridor, still lively and smiling. After a moment, he shifted his eyes towards the music room and asked, "Do you have time?"

Though phrased as a question, he already had an inkling of the answer.

The person opposite rarely, if ever, refused him.

"President Huo, it's like this," Chen Moubai began, rubbing his hands together nervously as he gathered his thoughts. "My job is to accompany Aunt Zhang, and it should be my off-hours now."

The God of Wealth's gaze turned towards him.

Continuing to rub his hands together, he said, "Overtime isn't out of the question, but the overtime pay..."

He flashed a faint smile, gesturing with his hand to indicate salary.

Aware that his boss seemed somewhat irritable at the moment, he nonetheless didn't forget to fight for his meager compensation. He was cautious, yet audacious at the same time.

Huo Chuan: "…"

Huo Chuan gradually understood what 'a miraculous transformation' meant from earlier that morning.

Having promised the overtime pay, the man already dressed in his pajamas briskly entered the music room, asking as he walked, "Would playing the piano now disturb the neighbors?"

Although there were only three employers in the mansion, there were plenty of other employees: housekeepers, maids, chefs, drivers, gardeners, and caretakers. Altogether, it amounted to quite a few people.

Mr. Huo entered the music room and said he wouldn't interfere.

On the other side of the building, where no sound could be heard from here, Huo Qing was with another person, while the rest were even further away, effectively occupying an entire floor by themselves.

Chen Moubai thus gained a deeper appreciation for the vastness of this estate.

The lights in the music room illuminated, and the curtains slid open automatically, revealing the silhouette of trees and the dim street lamps in the courtyard through the window.

Paid overtime at ten times his previous restaurant job's hourly rate, Chen Moubai sat down on the piano stool with professional dedication, turned his head, and asked the god of wealth, "What would Mr. Huo like to hear?"

Mr. Huo took a seat beside him and said that anything would do, allowing him to play freely.

Thus, a certain Bai played freely.

It had been a long time since he last touched this piano. He tried playing a few notes and found that nothing had changed; it seemed a professional tuner had adjusted it in the meantime.

The butler, Uncle Wang, had indeed relayed his previous message, and they had surprisingly taken it to heart.

Not wanting to create a stirring and intense melody late at night, after testing two notes, he officially began. Master Chen chose light and soothing pieces that he knew by heart, without needing to look at sheet music.

Dressed in pajamas and slippers, with a mess of hair, he didn't look very professional, but every note was perfectly placed, as if he was naturally familiar with this piano.

Still holding his unlit phone, Huochuan looked down at the black and white keys being pressed, his pupils fixed.

"..."

When he came back to his senses, the black and white keys had returned to their original state, and a pale hand flashed before his eyes. The owner of the hand sat on the piano stool, turned his head, and asked, "What was Mr. Huo thinking about?"

Huochuan acknowledged with a sound but didn't say what he was thinking about.

Fortunately, Chen Bai wasn't particularly interested in what his boss was pondering. After finishing two pieces, he discovered the sheet music and started flipping through it, chatting as he did so. "Why did Mr. Huo think of listening to the piano at night?"

This time, Mr. Huo explained that when Old Man Huo thought about things, he liked to touch the piano. He didn't have that habit, but this time, he just happened to remember and decided to come take a look.

"Would Mr. Huo like to give it a try himself?"

Pausing his hands from flipping through the sheet music, Chen Bai stood up to make way, bent over to secure the music sheets in his hand, and recommended, "This little nocturne is quite good, easy to learn. After you learn it, you can lull yourself to sleep when you can't fall asleep."

Huochuan slightly raised his gaze, catching sight of a pair of eyes beneath the messy hair. The person wasn't looking at him, still focused on securing the sheet music, then turned his head and asked, "Give it a try?"

Under the person's gaze, he finally put the phone he was holding aside and sat on the piano stool.

Having briefly learned piano a long time ago, he could read sheet music, though his skills weren't guaranteed.

Master Chen assumed that a tycoon like the god of wealth would only use such words out of modesty.

"..."

Halfway through the piece, he seemingly casually lifted his hand to cover his mouth and coughed silently.

The music temporarily stopped, and the seated person looked at the upward curve of his lips revealed beneath his fingers, stating objectively, "You're laughing?"

Master Chen hastily waved his hand, suppressing the corners of his mouth. "No."

He said earnestly, "You know, I have a naturally smiling mouth."

After saying that, his naturally smiling lips curved upwards again.

"..."

Mr. Huo, who usually showed little change in expression, couldn't help but smile in the end, saying, "Laugh away, I'll have to continue listening even if it's bad."