Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Despite having a bad cold, Xie Ci still managed to secure the top spot in the grade-wide mock exam, becoming a teaching example used by teachers to push their students harder.

When it comes to sheer talent, who would bother with Xie Ci's personal conduct issues? Regardless of why he went to nightclubs, the fact remains that he took first place.

On the third day of Xie Ci's cold, Gu Yufeng remembered the foot soak packets for treating athlete's foot that Zhang Zhijie had given him earlier and found them in a hidden corner.

Watching Xie Ci being forced by Gu Yufeng to soak his feet in a chair, Jiang Chenyu and the others watched the show.

"Isn't this what they call 'the tables have turned'?" Jiang Chenyu laughed heartlessly.

Zhang Ruochuan, who was writing his exam paper, chimed in, "What goes around comes around, even for Lao Xie."

Zhang Zhijie added, "Do you have enough foot soak packets? If not, I have more at home."

Xie Ci replied, "It's enough. I can't let your mom keep spending money."

What they had would last until the end of the semester.

Gu Yufeng went to brew a cup of ginger tea and handed it to Xie Ci, leaning against the table to supervise, "Drink up."

Xie Ci had already smelled the ginger from afar and pushed it away in disgust, "Do I have to drink it?"

Gu Yufeng said, "This is a specially bought extra-strong ginger tea. It's said to be very effective."

Xie Ci held the cup up to Jiang Chenyu's nose, who was sitting next to him.

The ginger smell hit Jiang Chenyu hard, and he sneezed violently, quickly grabbing his papers and running away, "Damn! That's hot! This could be used as a weapon."

Xie Ci looked at Gu Yufeng, "See? This isn't fit for humans."

Jiang Chenyu, "...Bro?"

Using him as a guinea pig?

Gu Yufeng snatched the cup back, took a sip without flinching, and handed it back to Xie Ci, "Now it's fine to drink."

Xie Ci, "..."

He would do anything to mess with Xie Ci.

Watching Xie Ci drink it and grimace from the spiciness, Gu Yufeng finally took a deep breath, his throat burning, and coughed lightly, "What the hell did Robertson buy?"

"Could it be that you added too much?"

Xie Ci grabbed a piece of candy from the table and threw it at him, "This isn't ginger tea; it's ginger porridge."

Gu Yufeng unwrapped the candy and ate it, "Just eat it and quit whining. One more word, and I'll feed it to you myself."

Xie Ci, "..."

His bossy attitude is just like in his past life.

After soaking his feet and drinking the ginger tea, Xie Ci sweated buckets, and his cold improved significantly the next day.

Seeing it worked, Gu Yufeng had Robertson buy ten more boxes of the extra-strong ginger tea, placing them in the most noticeable spot in the dorm. This made everyone in the dorm avoid the area, and they even doubled up on socks every day, fearing they might catch a cold and be forced to drink the ginger tea.

Before they knew it, there were only five days left until the final exams, and the intense studying was suffocating everyone.

On Thursday afternoon after school, Jiang Chenyu and his friends discussed going out for a stroll. When they got to the old street, they casually dropped into Old Li's shop.

After ordering, Jiang Chenyu and Zhang Ruochuan went to get drinks, while Fang Size turned to Xie Ci and said, "I heard from my dad that the disciplinary committee is here to investigate."

"The disciplinary committee?"

Xie Ci poured a cup of barley tea—a common Chinese tea made from roasted barley—for himself and Gu Yufeng, "What are they investigating?"

"Corruption."

Fang Size lowered his voice, "Recently, parents of several students who had been beaten by Gao Yuan have come forward to speak out. I heard one of them has caught a lead on Gao Yuan's protector and reported it to the disciplinary committee."

"It's probably not that simple." Gu Yufeng slowly rotated his cup in his hand.

They hadn’t found anything before or after, but just when the incident of Gao Yuan beating someone blew up, they found something. Even if the parents did uncover something, they probably don’t have that much influence.

Xie Ci took off his jacket and picked up Gu Yufeng's almost-dragging clothes, placing them together on the back of the chair: "There’s always someone ready to pile on when you’re down."

Where there are people, there is conflict. As long as the situation escalates enough, someone will have the power to use this momentum to remove that protector. He doesn’t need to do anything, just wait for the situation to unfold.

Seeing Xie Ci so calm, Fang Size asked, "Did you anticipate this?"

Originally, the incident of Gao Yuan beating someone wouldn’t have drawn attention from the provincial department. Everything started when Xie Ci intervened.

The instigator, posing as a victim, quietly stepped back, but the situation continued to escalate in places they couldn’t see, and the ripples continued to spread.

A pebble tossed into the water sent ripples spreading, making many hidden giants restless.

"How could I?"

Xie Ci smiled faintly, "I just handed them a knife. Whether they use it or not is up to them. In any case, my goal has been achieved."

Gu Yufeng glanced at the corner of his raised lips and muttered, "Old fox"—a term used to describe someone cunning.

He managed the situation without begging anyone for help, and even took down Gao Yuan's protector in the process.

With Xie Ci’s current position, he couldn’t control everything. He just outplayed everyone.

Jiang Chenyu and Zhang Ruochuan returned and placed the hot drinks on the table.

Gu Yufeng casually grabbed a bottle, but Xie Ci, remembering what happened in the hot spring town, took it from his hand and checked the ingredient list.

"I’m not going to fall for that again," Gu Yufeng emphasized.

Xie Ci: "You’ve got my socks on today."

Gu Yufeng paused, rolled up his pant leg, and sure enough, they were Xie Ci's socks.

The kid noticed but didn’t say anything.

"Food’s here!" Old Li brought several steaming plates of stir-fried dishes to the table, "Exams are around the corner, right? Eat up, I’ve given you extra."

Jiang Chenyu and the others cheered.

"Thanks, Uncle Li!"

Every time they visited, they made sure to order a plate of spicy stir-fried snails—a popular Chinese dish. Gu Yufeng wasn’t a fan of spicy food or snails, but seeing everyone at the table enjoying them, he decided to give them a try.

Xie Ci watched as he ladled a spoonful of snails into his bowl and passed him a toothpick.

"Here, use this."

Gu Yufeng didn’t take it: "Nah, I’m a pro at sucking."

Xie Ci: "...Sucking what exactly?"

Gu Yufeng spoke slowly: "Obviously, sucking the one below—the snail."

Xie Ci withdrew his hand: "I thought you meant something else below."

Fang Size and the others caught on and glanced over, only to hear Xie Ci continue: "The snail’s tail end."

Gu Yufeng smiled: "If you’re stuck, I can help you suck it out."

Xie Ci: "You should worry about your own first."

Jiang Chenyu looked at them: "Hey, are you guys being dirty?"

Gu Yufeng said seriously: "Can you really make eating snails sound dirty?"

Jiang Chenyu gave Zhang Ruochuan and Fang Size a suspicious look, both of whom remained calm.

Was he the only one thinking dirty?

Fang Size: "..."

Stop staring, you’ll never get it.

After trying to suck out three or four snails and failing, Gu Yufeng finally gave in and used the toothpick, which made Xie Ci laugh.

"What’s so funny?" Gu Yufeng, red-faced and annoyed, nudged Xie Ci’s knee under the table.

The more he protested, the harder Xie Ci laughed.

"What happened to all that confidence earlier?"

Zhang Ruochuan: "Lao Gu, I’ll show you how to suck snails."

All three tried to teach Gu Yufeng, but none succeeded. Finally, Xie Ci stepped in and showed him how, and he got it.

Gu Yufeng: "You’re the one who taught me all these naughty tricks."

Xie Ci was puzzled: "What else did I teach you?"

Gu Yufeng: "You figure it out."

Xie Ci: "..."

On Saturday, Gu Yufeng went to Xie Ci’s place, claiming it was for tutoring.

After pulling over, Robertson noticed Gu Yufeng sorting through the books and papers he brought, and hesitantly said: "Should I come along?"

Gu Yufeng gave him a strange look: "You’re not taking the test, so why bother?"

To supervise the situation between you and the young master.

Robertson smiled apologetically: "It’s better if I come along to take care of you."

"No need."

Gu Yufeng opened the car door and stepped out, "I prefer not to be interrupted by outsiders while I'm studying."

"But wait—"

Before Robertson could finish, the car door closed.

So, does that mean Xie Ci isn't an outsider?

Two guys alone in a room—what could go wrong?

When Gu Yufeng entered, Xie Ci was playing frisbee with Xiao Fang in the front yard.

The studio was deserted on weekends, giving it an especially spacious feel.

As they walked through the back garden, Gu Yufeng cast a glance at the standalone painting studio.

The curtains in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows were wide open, and the studio was bathed in sunlight. Paintings were strewn about in a seemingly chaotic yet organized fashion. On the shelf by the window sat an unfinished piece, splashed with vibrant, bright color blocks, a stark departure from Jian Yan's usual style.

"How's your dad been lately?" Gu Yufeng asked casually.

Xie Ci: "Yeah, he shut himself off for a few days after the group event, but he's actually doing better now."

Gu Yufeng: "Where is he?"

Xie Ci: "Your dad took him out for some fun."

After saying that, he noticed Gu Yufeng giving him a subtle look, realizing the ambiguity in his words: "He took him to meet up with some other older guys for a calligraphy and painting exchange."

Gu Yufeng: "I almost thought we were about to become brothers."

Xie Ci pictured the scenario in his head and felt a wave of discomfort.

"Stop talking nonsense."

Though it was supposed to be tutoring, Gu Yufeng wasn't incapable—just lazy.

When Xie Ci came down with the competition materials, Gu Yufeng was already at the dining table, working in a spot bathed in sunlight.

He skimmed the documents on the table, some of which were acquisition proposals for tech companies.

"Is Derson already making his move?"

"The Derson family has been targeting mine for generations, but we're evenly matched, locked in a stalemate."

Gu Yufeng browsed through the corporate information on his laptop, "But my grandfather wasn't as underhanded as he was and got outmaneuvered."

Xie Ci walked behind Gu Yufeng and glanced at the content on the screen.

He wasn't sure if Gu Yufeng had taken on the group's work this early in his past life, but like him, Gu Yufeng was starting from scratch.

Gu Yufeng did come from a prominent family, seeming glamorous and untouchable, but the more prominent the family, the more tangled the interests.

Though Gu Yufeng had past-life memories and could pinpoint investments and plan the group's direction, he was just a high schooler with no clout in the group.

When it comes to interests, talk is cheap; the best move is to deliver results and shove them in the board's faces, but results take time.

Plus, all relationships needed rebuilding, and remote work wasn't sustainable.

Logically, Xie Ci got it, but he couldn't just send him back like that. As sunlight hit the bottom of the screen, Xie Ci shifted his laptop inward: "Take care of your eyes this time; don't end up nearsighted again."

"Do you pity me?" Gu Yufeng looked up at him.

Xie Ci gently touched the corner of his eye: "It’s a shame for such beautiful eyes to be nearsighted."

Gu Yufeng tilted his head and rubbed against his palm: "Are you flirting with me?"

Seeing the smile in his eyes, Xie Ci bent down and kissed the corner of his mouth: "This is what I mean."

Taken aback by the kiss, Gu Yufeng's fingers on the table tightened. After reacting, he reached out to pull Xie Ci closer, wanting to deepen the kiss, but Xie Ci stepped back.

"It’s time to study." Under Gu Yufeng's dissatisfied gaze, Xie Ci pulled out the chair beside him and sat down, starting to work on the test papers.

Gu Yufeng was at a loss for words.

"You’re just going to leave after having your fun, without caring about me?"

Xie Ci retorted: "Didn’t you used to do the same thing?"

Gu Yufeng: "Didn’t we agree not to dredge up the past?"

Xie Ci: "We’ve been reborn, but we haven’t lost our memories. We still have to bring it up when necessary."

Gu Yufeng turned sideways, holding his chin and turning it towards himself: "President Xie, you love me, don’t you?"

Xie Ci looked deep in thought: "In our line of work, falling for a client is the biggest taboo."

Gu Yufeng: "..."

Why does he still remember this?

How did he manage to be so magnanimous before?

After working until after 11, Gu Yufeng finished the tasks at hand and stretched his stiff shoulders and neck. Turning around, he saw Xie Ci still solving problems, with a thick stack of materials in front of him, almost done.

Is he planning to attend university domestically, preparing so seriously for the competition?

This thought crossed Gu Yufeng’s mind, making him uneasy.

"Have you decided on a university yet?"

"Not yet, no." Xie Ci glanced at the question stem, casually wrote down the formula and simplified the solution steps, and flipped to the next page.

"Let’s go to university in Germany together, shall we?"

Xie Ci's pen paused, and he looked up.

This wasn’t the first time Gu Yufeng had proposed going to Germany together.

Gu Yufeng looked serious: "Or we could go to university here in the country together."

Xie Ci was silent for a moment: "With your current grades, you’d barely make it into a junior college. You want me to accompany you to a junior college?"

Gu Yufeng: "...If you say yes, I’ll start putting in the effort from now on."

"As if working hard would get you in."

Xie Ci went back to working on the problems, head down. Gu Yufeng suddenly stood up and sat on him, somewhat helpless, "I can’t concentrate on the problems like this."

Gu Yufeng leaned in, nibbling gently on his ear: "I’m sitting on your lap, and all you care about is solving problems?"

Xie Ci pressed his waist and pushed him away a bit: "Hold still, I said no."

"Even the old guys on the board aren't as stubborn as you."

Gu Yufeng's fingers slid into Xie Ci's hair, kissing along his jawline.

They knew each other too well; a single touch could set them off. Xie Ci's hand on his waist tightened: "Keep it together."

A soft chuckle came from beside his ear, followed by Gu Yufeng's low voice: "I'm a foreigner who could lose control at any moment, I can't help it."

Xie Ci thought for a moment: "Isn't it said that a kiss from a middle-aged couple can give you nightmares all night?"

"..."

Gu Yufeng lifted his head, "With you, I'd be lucky if I didn't have dreams about you."

Xie Ci cursed under his breath, tilting his head to kiss him: "You really need to be put in your place."

Gu Yufeng was proud of his teasing, but the intense kiss left him weak and blank-minded, unable to think of anything else.

"You used to be so gentle, now you're so harsh." Gu Yufeng gasped, pushing him away, feeling his lips go numb, "You really had me fooled."

Xie Ci licked the corner of his lips: "You don't like it?"

Gu Yufeng wrapped his arms around his neck: "Do it again."

Xie Ci lifted him up and placed him on the table: "Time to start cooking."

Gu Yufeng was left sitting on the table in a daze as Xie Ci walked away.

"Xie Ci!"

In the kitchen, Xie Ci opened the fridge and took out some ingredients, handing them to Gu Yufeng who had followed him: "Go and wash these."

Gu Yufeng instinctively took them, annoyed: "I'm a guest here."

Xie Ci took an apron and tied it around his waist from behind: "Roll up your sleeves so they don't get wet."

"..."

Gu Yufeng resignedly walked to the sink, rolling up the sleeves of his hoodie, "That hug from behind felt nice, maybe we should try an apron play sometime."

Xie Ci: "...Is your mind just full of dirty thoughts?"

Gu Yufeng sneered: "I've been celibate for half a year, don't push me to act on my thoughts."

"You mean—"

Xie Ci hugged him from behind, his hands sliding over Gu Yufeng's chest and thighs, a faint smile in his voice, "You like this?"

The warm breath on his neck caught Gu Yufeng off guard, his heart tightening. He dropped the potato and turned to pounce on him.

But Xie Ci stepped back, calmly turning to the stove.

"Got it, focus on washing the vegetables, the water's splashing."

Here we go again.

Gu Yufeng gritted his teeth in frustration, wondering who was really the one fishing here?

"You son of a—"

Gu Yufeng kicked Xie Ci in the ass, "You’re asking for it!"

Xie Ci took the kick without a word.

In the past, he could hardly imagine that the always elegant and composed Gu Yufeng could make such a rude move.

Teasing his ex seemed to be addictive.

Since it was just the two of them, Xie Ci cooked five dishes, plus a pot of light yam and pork rib soup.

Gu Yufeng grabbed a piece of meat and gave it to Xiao Fang, who was squatting by the dining table, watching them eagerly, "Do you know the trouble you’ve caused me? But I’m big-hearted and decided to let it slide."

Xiao Fang wagged his tail excitedly, whimpering after eating the meat.

Xie Ci set a bowl of dog food on the floor and asked Gu Yufeng, "Tried the dishes yet? How are they?"

"Want the truth or a lie?" Gu Yufeng smiled.

Xie Ci: "...Are they that bad?"

"Compared to my grandma’s cooking, they’re not even close."

Gu Yufeng said slowly, "But it’s still familiar, and it brings back memories."

Back then, they could be together without a care, but they didn’t cherish it, and now they have to sneak around. They don’t know how many obstacles they’ll face to get back to where they started.

"I like the present better."

Xie Ci walked over and sat down opposite Gu Yufeng, "At least you’re honest with me now."

The road may be tough, but the end won’t be shrouded in fog.

"It was better back then, when we could do as we pleased." Gu Yufeng sighed with a hint of disappointment.

Xie Ci: "..."

Robertson got the call to pick up Gu Yufeng around 3 PM and thought to himself, glad he didn’t stay the night.

As Gu Yufeng got into the back seat, Robertson immediately noticed the redness on his lips and couldn’t help but take a closer look, "What’s with your lips?"

Gu Yufeng wiped the corner of his mouth, calm as ever, "Lao Xie’s lunch was so good I bit my lip."

Robertson was shocked, "How good was it?"

Gu Yufeng smiled, "It was amazing."

After dropping him off, Robertson sent a report to Fiona.

"All was normal today."

At the dinner table, Xie Ci and his father casually chatted about the calligraphy and painting exchange event.

Xie Qian: "Xiao Gu came over today, didn’t you guys go out?"

"Too much homework, we didn’t go out."

Thinking about the conversation he had with Gu Yufeng at lunch, Xie Ci asked, "Who’s managing your finances?"

"Managing your finances?"

Xie Qian looked confused, "I haven’t given it to anyone; it’s just sitting in my account."

Xie Ci: "..."

He figured as much.

Xie Ci: "Give it to me, I’ll manage it for you after the holiday."

Of course, Xie Qian had no objections, thinking it would probably just be buying some bank investment products or the like. He didn’t care about the return rate; Xie Ci could buy whatever he wanted.

"By the way, yesterday a German art dealer named Neil contacted me, saying he wanted to sign a contract with me."

Xie Qian asked Xie Ci, "From the info he sent, it looks good, but I’m not sure. Can you check it out for me?"

"Neil?"

Xie Ci hesitated for a moment, "Is it Mr. Neil who runs the Beinier Gallery?"

Xie Qian nodded and pulled up the info on his phone to show him.

Xie Ci quickly flipped to the bio section, confirming it was the same old guy.

In his past life, his father’s paintings sold for millions, and this guy was a big reason why.

He didn’t expect him to show up so soon this time around.

Xie Ci suddenly remembered that Gu Yufeng had given Catelyn a painting Gu Yongnian bought as a gift a while back.

That kid was sneaking in help again.