Chapter 64: Four Million in Hand

Chapter 64: Four Million in Hand

"00:00"

Stepping into the new year, beyond Skyway, a brilliant light rapidly ascended against the pitch-black night sky.

It was New Year's fireworks. They were ignited from all around, far from here, but the sudden burst of their explosions could be faintly heard.

Just as the driver uncle had said, the fireworks at the turn of the year were the most spectacular to behold.

No longer scattered sporadically, this time the fireworks were magnificent and grand, illuminating the sky with countless specks of light.

Amidst the continuous sounds, Chen Moubai, held securely by someone, reached his hand around the person's neck. Taking advantage of the fact that both of the other's hands were occupied on him, he patted the person's shoulder and slightly lifted the brim of his nearly falling-off hat, smiling as he said, "Found me, right?"

In the noise of the exploding fireworks, he slightly raised his voice so that the person beside him could hear clearly.

The hand resting on the back of his head didn't change its pressure, but he could feel the arm around his waist tighten slightly. Before he could say anything else, he heard the other person reply:

"Found you."

The voice was somewhat low, each word spoken clearly.

Satisfied with the response, he nodded and tried to step down from the human shock absorber.

Down... couldn't go down.

The shock absorber didn't seem to exert much force, but was surprisingly steady, leaving him unable to lower himself at all.

"..."

Waiting quietly for a moment, not sensing any intention from the shock absorber to let go, Chen Moubai reached out to pat the person's neck and whispered, "Comrade Old Xu, I admit I was speeding and broke traffic rules, but can you please release me now?"

He added, "I'm carrying cargo in my truck, can you be lenient?"

With a pat, he realized that this person's body temperature was unusually high, several times warmer than his own hand.

Unable to resist, he patted twice more, using it as a way to warm his hands.

After two more pats, the good neighbor who had temporarily turned into a traffic officer finally slowly released his hold.

When he reached out to catch him, it was quick, but when letting go, it was as if in slow motion at 0.5x speed.

A cargo-carrying truck needed to be handled with care, and Master Chen understood, not urging, as he slowly and steadily landed and stood upright.

Comrade Old Xu helped adjust the hat on his head before asking, "Why did you come here?"

"Just wanted to see you, so I came."

Finally on solid ground, the honest Chen Yibai truthfully answered, then reached into his pocket, pulling out the small cookies he had kept there. Slightly lifting the brim of his hat, he introduced them, "This is my cargo."

The bag of small cookies was well-protected, and at first glance, they didn't appear to be crushed.

He extended his thumb, saying, "Baked this afternoon, top-notch flavor."

A professional pastry chef was in control, so the taste was bound to be excellent.

The good neighbor lowered his eyes, shadows concealing the emotions within, carefully stowing away the cookies in a pocket of his clothes where they wouldn't be crushed.

Looking at the person standing opposite him again, he noticed the white pajama collar hidden under the coat. His gaze drifted downward, finally realizing that the person was still wearing pajamas.

Meeting his gaze, Master Chen, who had rushed out somewhat sloppily, rubbed the messy hair not covered by his hat and smiled, saying, "I was in a hurry when I left."

At least he remembered to change his shoes and didn't leave wearing slippers.

He turned left and right, giving a half-full display, saying, "My pajamas look nice, don't they?"

The pajamas were white, and the parts with little flowers were already covered by the coat, making the pattern unrecognizable, but Xu Sinian still nodded, saying, "Very nice."

There were deeper emotions in his eyes, but they were well-concealed.

Chen Moubai felt content.

His Comrade Old Xu glanced down at the time and asked, "It's late now, there are rooms available in the hotel, want to stay here for the night?"

He waved his hand, "I'll leave later, I have work tomorrow."

Meeting the gaze, guessing what the person might be thinking, he added, "The nature of my work is rather special, I'll sleep immediately after returning, and the employer said it's fine to sleep until I wake up naturally, so the sleep time will definitely be enough."

According to Chen's unique equation, sufficient sleep time equaled no staying up late.

Crossing half the city just to meet for this one encounter.

Taking a breath, Xu Sinian lowered his head and asked, "Can the privilege of being good friends be expanded a bit more?"

Without asking about the specifics of the new privilege, the friend's brain simply nodded generously, "Yes."

The person in front of him bent over and lowered his head, and then he found himself enveloped in a hug filled with intense warmth.

The cold wind blowing in his ear disappeared, effortlessly shielded by the other person. He could still smell the familiar pleasant scent, and for a moment, he didn't react or push the person away. With his eyes open, he pondered for a while before realizing what the newly added privilege of being good friends was.

"..."

His good friend was tall, had long legs, and a cool guy face, and it turned out that in reality, he liked holding hands and hugging.

He wasn't unfamiliar with hugging after winning basketball games and team competitions, although it seemed to be slightly different from the current situation, but in essence, it was still a hug, and he accepted it well.

The hand hanging by his side slightly lifted, and a certain Bai patted the person's back affectionately, saying, "Hug away."

As the words fell, the hand on him gradually tightened, and he heard the person beside him take a deep breath.

The sound of fireworks gradually faded away, the streets were devoid of people, and even the occasional passing vehicles had vanished.

All sounds disappeared, buried in the warm embrace that carried a hint of heat, Chen Bai finally heard the incessant sound by his ear.

Beat after beat, crystal clear.

It was his good neighbor's heartbeat, rapid. Having heard it, he voiced out, saying, "Comrade Little Xu, your heart seems to be beating quite fast."

Comrade Little Xu responded with an "Mm."

His voice was low, tinged with a slight hoarseness, and Chen Bai could still feel the tremor of his chest as he spoke.

Turns out his good neighbor's voice sounded even better up close.

With nothing to do while being held, Doctor Chen attempted to analyze the cause of the accelerated heartbeat. After a serious contemplation, he said,

"A rapid heartbeat isn't good for your health... Has this patient been under excessive work pressure recently?"

When the film crew rushed to meet deadlines, they treated no one like human beings, exerting immense pressure on both mind and body. It either led to a racing heart or a complete stop.

Patient Xu chuckled. It wasn't a pure laugh, but rather seemed somewhat helpless, laced with other emotions. His fingers delved into the black hair, and he said, "Let's assume it's as the doctor says."

Doctor Chen took it as if he was right.

At such times, telling someone not to overwork themselves was somewhat unrealistic. He could only express his sincere wishes, saying, "Then I hope Comrade Old Xu doesn't have any overtime in the new year, goes to bed early, rises early, and stays healthy."

And that he could quickly pay off that four billion.

A wish that was exceedingly simple and unadorned. Even the person expressing the wish realized how plain it was, so he added, "May all your wishes come true."

Surrounded by the flickering lights, Xu Sinian bent down, holding the person in his arms. Closing his eyes and opening them again, he said, "I hope so too."

Doctor Chen patted him on the shoulder once more, slightly lifting the brim of his cap to look upwards, asking, "By the way, are those your colleagues?"

—Those people looked as if they wanted to say something.

Xu Sinian followed his line of sight, turning his head and raising his eyes. He met the gaze of the crowd lined up against a row of windows upstairs.

They were jostling each other, still fighting for front-row positions, pausing when he looked their way.

"…"

He retracted his gaze, firmly pressing down the brim of the person's cap, responding with an "Mm."

Straightening his body once more, he finally slowly released his hold.

Having seen the person and delivered the cookies, the mission was successfully completed. Knowing that his good neighbor had work the next day, the considerate Master Chen didn't plan to stay any longer. Once he breathed in the cold night air of the street again, he pulled out his phone and started hailing a ride back. Although this place was also remote, it was much better than halfway up the mountain.

Now that buses and subways had stopped operating, he could only take a taxi back. The night breeze blew, but it wasn't cold. He had his own portable wind-blocking wonder and warming companion; leaning back, he could rest against his good neighbor, instantly feeling warmth.

Xu Sinian accompanied him as they waited by the roadside. Seeing the car arrive, he closed his eyes and opened them again, exhaling a breath.

The vehicle smoothly parked by the roadside. He opened the door, watching as the person got into the car.

As the door shut, the person inside waved at him through the window, smiling with curved brows and eyes.

He smiled in return, his hair hanging over his forehead swayed by the evening breeze, waving his hand.

In the quiet street, the vehicle parked by the roadside departed, heading towards the end of the street, disappearing from view.

Not until the car was completely out of sight did Xu Sinian lower his hand, standing there for a moment before lifting his foot to walk back towards the hotel.

"…"

By the time he returned to the floor where the film crew's dinner party was being held, the group that had originally crowded by the windows had already returned to their seats, eating and drinking as if nothing had happened, pretending everything was normal.

Pretending as if nothing had happened, but when he returned to his seat, numerous gazes still fell upon him, seemingly subtle yet strikingly present.

The director beside him, who had worked with him several times and was now a familiar face, leaned over after he sat down and asked, "Someone came looking for you?"

Then he added, "I heard someone say."

He tried to distance himself, but it was clearly unsuccessful. The person beside him said, "From left to right, third window, you were just there."

"…Ha ha, so you saw it."

The director awkwardly laughed twice, slapping his head. Since he had already been found out, he didn't hide it anymore, directly asking, "So who was it?"

The people around pretended to be nonchalant, pricking up their ears.

It was exciting; they hadn't expected such a surprise during their meal.

A person whom the entertainment reporters had chased for so long without being able to dig up even a hint of a scandal had, on the very first day of the year, stirred up a significant event, leaving them unable to focus on their food.

No wonder he had rushed downstairs so quickly when he received the call.

Xu Sinian gave a faint smile, saying, "A friend."

"I guessed as much," the director remarked, "Only…a friend would specially come over tonight?"

His eyebrows furrowed, then lifted high. "Ah?"

The people around echoed, "Ah?"

Their expressions mirrored the director's.

The shock was slightly overwhelming, and the director gestured, "You weren't…"

That was him taking the initiative to hug someone, and for so long.

Suddenly referring to them as friends, even someone as seasoned as the director was momentarily stunned.

He had initially thought that on such an ordinary and somewhat exhausting New Year's Eve, they unexpectedly witnessed the exposure of a lifelong bachelor's relationship, someone who had always been untouchable.

But now, he was being told it was just friendship.

"…"

Glancing at the smile still lingering on the man's face, the director felt that the person himself didn't even believe the words he had uttered.

Fine, friends it is then.

"You know…" remembering something, he said, "The news about you and your friend won't spread. No one here took photos."

By 'won't spread', he meant it wouldn't reach outside their circle. Within the industry, however, the news would undoubtedly circulate, perhaps even before tomorrow night.

Among the crew members watching, there were certainly some who wanted to take photos out of principle. But with so many people around and everyone watching, once the photos were leaked, it would be easy to identify the culprit based on the angle. No one was willing to take that risk.

"Considering we've known each other for quite some time," the director lowered his voice and whispered, "Can you at least reveal who it is?"

Mainly due to the hotel's poor window placement, their floor was too high to see the person's face. From above, only a hat and a white coat could be seen, allowing for a vague recognition that the individual seemed rather slim.

It was more frustrating not being able to clearly see the person standing right below them than not seeing them at all.

Xu Sinian took a sip of water, his expression unchanged as his hand brushed against the cookie wrapper in his pocket. He calmly replied, "We'll talk about it another time."

---

Chen Moubai returned to the Half Mountain Estate around two in the morning. Guessing that his good neighbor should have already retired for the night, he still habitually reported his safe arrival, stating that he had arrived safely.

Indeed, the security guards worked in 24-hour shifts, and there was someone on duty at two in the morning to open the gate for him.

Having taken a nap on the way back, he entered the house, went to his room, changed into his pajamas, and promptly fell asleep.

In a sense, his total sleep time today was longer than usual, and he woke up the next morning feeling refreshed.

The first day of the new year was sunny, but by the second day, the snow that had been threatening to fall for days finally descended during the night.

Upon waking up in the morning, the entire view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was a blanket of white.

Chen Bai wore his own clothes today. After having breakfast as usual, he and Huo Qing headed to the courtyard together.

City A experienced snow several times a year, but it was always light, barely enough to build a small snowman. This was the first heavy snowfall in three years, and it was even more pronounced on this mountain.

Two masters of creation were about to unleash their talents.

The last time it snowed was… well, the last time. Although Huo Qing was an adult, she still enjoyed playing in the snow and was extremely excited. However, her brother was aloof, choosing to read and drink tea indoors instead of accompanying her. Without anyone to play with her, a perfectly good snowfall was wasted.

But this time, things were different. This time, she had Second Brother Bai.

Warm from breakfast, she teamed up with her Second Brother Bai to build a snowman, a must-do activity when it snows.

The snowman wasn't round or square; it had an irregular polyhedral beauty. Ignoring others' thoughts for the moment, the two masters were quite satisfied. Huo Qing deliberately placed it at the entrance, ensuring everyone could see it as they came and went.

She had originally wanted to touch the snow with her bare hands, but she had accidentally injured herself somewhere, leaving a wound that hadn't healed yet. It wasn't suitable for her to touch the snow, so she had to operate with gloves.

Following the routine, there should have been a snowball fight, but a snow battle with only two participants was too heart-wrenching. Thus, this part of the process was canceled.

After Zhang Ling took her medicine upstairs and came back down, she was wheeled out to the main entrance by her caregiver to watch the two play.

Hat, scarf, and coat, the blanket draped over her legs was thicker, and an additional scarf was added to the blanket. No cold wind could reach her.

When she came down, the snowman stood at the entrance, and the two masters had already started their free-form creations, each squatting on one side, buried in the snow, molding and shaping.

Miss Huo, as always, activated her passive skill, seriously working on abstract objects with astonishing production speed. Several items that were incomprehensible but seemingly deeply moving were already lined up beside her.

Her artistic talent had been fully displayed when making cookies, and her current creations, while unexpected, were also within reason.

Master Chen belonged to the slow and meticulous type, still focused on molding a snowball. Though its shape was indiscernible, one could feel that he was meticulously sculpting a masterpiece. His tousled hair was blown into a mess by the wind, but it didn't deter him in the slightest.

Squatting in the snow for the final touches, Master Chen, imbued with the spirit of a craftsman, finally completed his groundbreaking work, rising slowly and solemnly.

As he stood up, Zhang Ling, sitting by the gate, noticed that he wasn't wearing gloves and quickly beckoned him over.

Master Chen carried his creation in one hand and walked over the snow.

Standing in front of her, Aunt Zhang leaned forward slightly, reaching out to touch his hand.

It was icy. His fingers were long and slender, his skin pale, making the pinkish joints even more noticeable. She looked up and asked, "So cold, why didn't you wear gloves while playing?"

Master Chen smiled, "It's more comfortable without gloves."

Aunt Zhang glanced at his not particularly thick attire and reached for the scarf draped over her legs.

Pausing for a moment, realizing something, Chen Moubai cooperatively bent down.

A scarf was wrapped around his neck, which had been exposed to the elements, neither too tight nor too loose, instantly providing warmth. The scarf was a bright red, and when Ms. Zhang finished adjusting it, he smiled, "Thank you, Auntie."

His naturally fair complexion made his face even more prominent against the red scarf, his nose tip slightly flushed from the cold. His eyes curved into crescents as he smiled, his light-colored irises seeming to pierce straight into one's heart.

Zhang Ling also smiled, her brows and eyes softening.

With the scarf in place, Master Chen showcased his nearly ten-minute-long labor of love, manually rotating the work to provide a full 360-degree display.

The nurse, butler, and hired help nearby all turned to look, observing carefully.

"Is this a turtle?"

Before Ms. Zhang could comment, a voice came from upstairs.

The only one who hadn't left was President Huo, standing by the railing of the second-floor balcony, a cup of water in his hand, looking down with lowered eyes. Unlike them, who were fully geared up, he was dressed in simple loungewear, appearing much more relaxed.

"Rude," Master Chen's eyes opened wide as he lifted his creation high for everyone to see clearly, saying, "This is a dog!"

To be precise, it was a Samoyed, and he had put in some effort to depict its fluffy fur.

"…"

His declaration silenced everyone present, including Madam Zhang and the butler.

No matter how hard they tried, they found it difficult to discern the shape of a puppy from the sprawling form before them.

Some masters, while adept at making cookies, seemed unable to handle snowballs effectively when it came to sculpting.

The only one who could understand him was Huo Qing, who nodded vigorously, saying, "I get it!"

She explained, "To portray the fluffy fur, you must have spent quite a bit of energy."

Master Chen nodded in agreement. Turning back to his aunt, he asked, "What do you think, Aunt Zhang?"

"…"

Taking another look at the object that was clearly akin to a turtle, Madam Zhang closed and then opened her eyes, saying, "The puppy looks very nice."

"?"

The caregiver and the butler instantly cast their gazes toward her.

Madam Zhang avoided their stares.

Not satisfied with just asking his aunt, Master Chen turned to the butler, asking, "What about Uncle Wang?"

Caught off guard, the butler was momentarily speechless.

Meeting his gaze, Uncle Wang, the butler, tersely replied, "It's beautiful."

With two affirmations, Master Chen nodded contentedly, thanking them both for their compliments. Then, lifting his head, he addressed the god of wealth leaning against the second-floor balcony, saying, "See that?"

With his aunt by his side, he wasn't afraid of having his salary docked, and his tone became bolder.

Huo Chuan looked down at Madam Zhang and Butler Wang. Having spoken insincerely, Madam Zhang chose to pretend she hadn't seen anything, while Butler Wang averted his eyes.

The caregiver and the hired help, who had witnessed everything, chose to remain silent.

Having successfully vindicated his skills, Master Chen didn't linger any longer. He turned back to the snow and began working on crafting a good friend for his Samoyed.

After a morning of labor, the fruits of Master Chen and Master Huo's efforts lined up next to the snowman, with two turtles huddled together among a collection of abstract shapes.

Chen Moubai took a photo with the irregular polyhedron snowman, skillfully flashing his peace sign.

After spending the morning playing with snow in the courtyard, Master Chen returned to his room after lunch to pack his belongings, preparing for the end of his workday. Aunt Zhang, who had grown accustomed to his presence, realized that this was the last day of his visit.

Knowing that he had work to return to, she couldn't keep him, so she gave him a few more instructions before he left, similar to what another lady named Jiang had said – reminding him to eat on time and not stay up too late.

Chen Bai nodded repeatedly.

After finishing her parting words, Aunt Zhang suddenly remembered something and added, "What kind of boss makes someone work during the New Year?"

Chen Moubai, who had been nodding habitually, almost nodded again but managed to stop himself in time, shifting his gaze to Boss Huo standing to the side.

Boss Huo, who had made someone work during the New Year, also looked over.

Master Chen cleared his throat lightly and said, "Perhaps the boss has his own considerations."

Madam Zhang told him to prioritize his own well-being over the boss's.

"…"

A naturally smiling mouth reappeared, and without looking at the boss, Bai Chen smiled and said, "Okay."

With the possibility of snowfall in the evening, which would impair visibility and make road conditions poor, he bid farewell in the afternoon after packing his things.

The ground where he had been squatting to play with snow in the morning had been cleared, making way for a path for vehicles. The driver pulled up to the gate and opened the door after parking.

Zhang Ling, seated in her wheelchair and pushed by the caregiver, watched as he got into the car. As the door closed, the person in the backseat turned to look back, still wearing the red knitted scarf from earlier, waving with a smile.

The car drove away, leaving twin tracks in the snow, exiting through the gates of the estate.

As the sound of the engine faded, even the usual chatter around her disappeared, and the world suddenly fell silent.

Not until the car was out of sight did Zhang Ling withdraw her gaze. She looked at the two turtles among the small snow piles at the gate and asked the butler beside her, "Do you think he'll take care of himself properly once he gets busy with work?"

Lowering her eyes, she sighed and said, "If only we were truly family."

Author's Note:

Aunt Zhang: Damn it, this is my biological son!