Chapter 1

Chapter 1

At seven o'clock in the evening, Shen Tingzhou cooked himself a plate of butterfly pasta.

Just as he had poured the meat sauce over it, the doorbell suddenly rang.

The person outside seemed very anxious, not only ringing the doorbell but also knocking urgently on the door.

Shen Tingzhou was slightly taken aback. He put down his plate and went to open the door.

Standing outside were two familiar faces, dressed in black suits and wearing dark sunglasses.

Before Shen Tingzhou could react, they grabbed his arms and started leading him away.

Shen Tingzhou: !!!

In front of these two burly men with bulging muscles, the 180-centimeter-tall Shen Tingzhou was dragged like a chicken to the elevator.

One of his fluffy slippers fell off halfway.

The man in black stopped, bent down to pick up the slipper, and put it back on for him.

Shen Tingzhou's pupils trembled slightly, and his usually calm face showed a hint of distress. "What are you doing?"

The man who picked up the slipper looked at him. "Doctor Shen, President He is a little ill."

Shen Tingzhou caught his breath, looking at his pajamas, feeling awkward. "Then wait for me to change my clothes."

The man's expression was even more subtle than Shen Tingzhou's. "President He's condition is a bit... urgent." And a bit crazy.

Shen Tingzhou harbored doubts. "How urgent?"

They had just said it was a minor illness?

"Very urgent," the man avoided Shen Tingzhou's gaze. "You'll understand when you get there."

With a ding, the elevator doors opened.

The two men exchanged glances and, in unison, lifted Shen Tingzhou again and walked into the elevator.

Shen Tingzhou: ...

-

In every domineering CEO novel, besides a butler who says "It's been a long time since I've seen the young master so happy," a family doctor is also indispensable.

Shen Tingzhou was such a family doctor, helping domineering CEOs solve all kinds of ailments.

That's right, domineering CEOs.

He had four employers, and Employer No. 1 was the most troublesome. These two bodyguards were also from Employer No. 1's household.

After being stuffed into the car by the bodyguards, the black Bentley took a shortcut and sped all the way to He Yanting's villa in less than twenty minutes.

When he got out of the car, Shen Tingzhou felt dizzy and his legs weak from motion sickness.

Seeing this, the bodyguards immediately supported him and quickly walked up the steps.

Feeling embarrassed, Shen Tingzhou was about to say it wasn't necessary when He Yanting's assistant approached from the doorway.

He stepped forward, shoved the medical kit into Shen Tingzhou's arms, and earnestly said, "Thank you, Doctor Shen."

Before Shen Tingzhou could say another word, he and the medical kit were pushed through the door.

Shen Tingzhou: ...

What's going on?

Wearing his fluffy slippers and pajamas, he stood in the foyer, bewildered.

The faint metallic smell in the air made Shen Tingzhou's nose twitch.

As a doctor, he was exceptionally sensitive to the smell of blood. Following the scent, he took a few steps forward.

Passing through the foyer, he saw the scene in the living room, and his heart sank.

The floor was littered with glass shards mixed with blood, furniture was overturned haphazardly, and the marble coffee table was cracked like a spider web.

In front of the large window, Shen Tingzhou's employer was holding a young man whose shirt was stained with blood, and his chest and arms were soaked red. The curtains beside them fluttered in the wind.

Good grief, what kind of murder scene is this?

Shen Tingzhou's hair stood on end, and he reached into his pocket to grab his phone to call the police when a cold sneer suddenly echoed through the living room.

"Don't you want to kill me?"

He Yanting grabbed the young man's hand holding the fruit knife and pressed the bloody tip against his own artery, his expression indifferent. "Don't shake. Hold it steady and stab here."

Huh?

Seeing that the young man was the one holding the knife, Shen Tingzhou paused.

Jiang Ji clenched his teeth, trying to shake off He Yanting's grip.

As they struggled, the knife tore through He Yanting's clothing and cut his skin.

Seeing the blood seep out, Jiang Ji let go, his eyes red with hatred. "You madman."

He Yanting smiled, but his eyes were filled with a fierce determination. "If you dare to see Lin Xueyan again, every meeting will cost him a finger."

Jiang Ji's pale lips trembled.

Crouched in the corner of the entrance, Shen Tingzhou, who was eavesdropping, finally understood why his employer had gone mad upon hearing Lin Xueyan's name.

Lin Xueyan was Jiang Ji's first love. They dated for three years with a stable relationship, but then He Yanting came into the picture.

He Yanting fell in love at first sight with Jiang Ji, whose demeanor was cool and detached, and thus began a chase where "I chase you run, I chase again you run again."

Until Lin Xueyan got into a car accident and needed a large sum of money for surgery.

Jiang Ji was an orphan, and Lin Xueyan's family was ordinary; they couldn't afford the exorbitant medical fees.

At this moment, He Yanting took advantage of the situation, coercing and tempting Jiang Ji to become his lover in exchange for Lin Xueyan's treatment fees.

After the surgery, Lin Xueyan's life was saved, but he remained unconscious in the hospital for over half a year.

So—

Did Jiang Ji get caught by He Yanting when he secretly went to visit Lin Xueyan in the hospital, leading to today's incident?

Shen Tingzhou: Does dating have to be so bloody?

Should I go bandage He Yanting's wound now?

Wait, who has the fruit knife?

Shen Tingzhou peeked out and exclaimed inwardly, oh oh, it's in President He's hands.

With his unstable emotions and tendency to go crazy, better wait a bit more. Don't get hurt innocently.

Suddenly, Shen Tingzhou widened his eyes.

In the living room, He Yanting pressed Jiang Ji against the floor-to-ceiling window, forcing him to look up by gripping his chin, then kissed him forcefully, biting into Jiang Ji's mouth.

Jiang Ji, a mix of shock and anger, tried to push He Yanting away by shaking his head and pushing his shoulder. When that didn't work, he grabbed He Yanting's injured arm.

He Yanting frowned in pain but did not let go of Jiang Ji, kissing him even more forcefully.

The taste of blood, low panting, and the wet sounds of their lips mingling stimulated all senses.

Shen Tingzhou stood there, stunned, unable to comprehend the sudden turn of events.

No, why is this happening? There must be a reason, right?

Why are they suddenly kissing?

Doesn't the wound hurt...?

Just as Shen Tingzhou was shocked, the door opened from the outside, letting in a gust of night wind.

Thinking it was He Yanting's assistant, Shen Tingzhou turned around.

Good grief, the old tycoon is here.

More accurately, He Yanting's grandfather arrived.

Someone must have informed the old man; his eyes were cold, and four tall bodyguards followed behind him, creating an atmosphere of impending storm.

He Yanting's assistant and bodyguards huddled at the door like frightened quails.

Shen Tingzhou instinctively moved aside, making way for the old man to scold his rebellious grandson.

The old man did not even glance at the chaos in the living room. He instructed the bodyguards, "Please escort Mr. Jiang back."

Though he used the word "please," his tone and demeanor lacked any warmth or politeness.

The bodyguards approached Jiang Ji.

He Yanting stepped forward, stabbed the fruit knife into the wooden bookshelf, and said coldly, "I dare anyone to touch him!"

His expression of inviolable authority mirrored that of the old man.

Looking at his rebellious grandson whom he had raised, the old man was not angry. He merely said calmly, "I told you not to keep ungrateful things close."

Shen Tingzhou frowned slightly.

He thought the old tycoon would use brute force to discipline his grandson, but it turned out differently.

Jiang Ji clenched his fists in humiliation.

He Yanting stared straight at the old man, equally defiant. "This is my business; you don't need to interfere."

The old man scoffed but did not insist on taking Jiang Ji away. Instead, he asked He Yanting to return to the old residence with him.

He Yanting glanced at Jiang Ji, who turned his face away coldly.

Without saying anything, He Yanting turned and followed the old man out.

Passing by Shen Tingzhou, He Yanting paused briefly, speaking softly, "His hand was cut by glass shards."

After saying this, He Yanting left the villa and got into the old man's car.

Once He Yanting left, Jiang Ji rushed to the bathroom, retching violently.

It was due to the extreme emotional fluctuations causing his stomach muscles to spasm.

Shen Tingzhou carried the first aid kit and waited outside the bathroom for Jiang Ji.

He Yanting's assistant approached and asked, "Is Mr. Jiang okay?"

Shen Tingzhou turned to look at the assistant.

Meeting Shen Tingzhou's gaze, the assistant felt somewhat guilty and chuckled dryly. "I'm sorry, Doctor Shen. The situation was too urgent, so we had to bring you here in your pajamas."

Feeling guilty toward Shen Tingzhou, nonetheless—

The assistant couldn't help but sneak another glance at him.

In his memory, Shen Tingzhou always dressed neatly and meticulously, with his shirt buttoned all the way up, his trousers without a single wrinkle, and his hair combed impeccably. He exuded an air of professionalism from head to toe.

But the person before him was clad in fluffy clothes, wearing slippers adorned with rabbit ears, his uncombed black hair falling softly, his nose straight and lips red, and his long eyelashes making him look three or four years younger than his actual age.

Assistant: Oh my, Doctor Shen actually has such a homely side.

It was hard not to suspect that he might be the type who loves pets, even possibly making the sound of Lady Shiji when petting them.

—Kitty, where are you running?

—No matter how far you run, you can't escape from Daddy's hands.

—Hehehe, hehehe.

Shen Tingzhou: ...

He didn't know what the assistant was imagining, but the look in his eyes grew increasingly strange.

The assistant spoke cryptically, "Doctor Shen, your slippers... they're quite unique and look very comfortable."

Upon hearing this, Shen Tingzhou's toes started building a magic castle, but he showed no sign on his face, smiling at the assistant with the practiced worldliness and tact of an adult.

The assistant had a knowing look on his face.

Shen Tingzhou: ...

-

Jiang Ji stayed in the bathroom for over an hour. Shen Tingzhou, worried, knocked on the door, and only then did he finally come out.

When he emerged, Jiang Ji had composed himself. As Shen Tingzhou treated the minor wound on his hand, Jiang Ji kept his eyes closed the entire time, saying nothing.

His handsome face was cold as ice, the veins in his neck clearly visible, and his hands tightly clenched together.

Shen Tingzhou glanced at Jiang Ji, said nothing, and quickly finished treating the wound.

After returning home from He Yanting's villa, the butterfly pasta had long since cooled down.

Shen Tingzhou heated it in the microwave for two minutes, fried himself a soft-boiled egg, and made do with dinner.

He maintained a good routine and went to bed promptly at ten-thirty if he had no work.

In the middle of the night, Shen Tingzhou suddenly sat up in bed, his brows tightly furrowed.

Am I crazy? Why am I concerned about what shoes someone wears?