Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Just as he was racking his brain for a solution, a sudden phone ringtone from behind startled Su He.

The person sleeping beside him finally stirred. Sheng Jinyu sat up to answer the call and, without even a glance, reached over to hook Su He’s waist, pulling him directly into an embrace.

Su He tumbled awkwardly into his arms, his back pressing against Sheng Jinyu’s broad chest. Sheng Jinyu leaned his head on Su He's shoulder, lazily speaking into the phone, "Lunch in ten minutes. And send two sets of clean clothes first… Yes, for both of us."

Pressed against Sheng Jinyu’s left chest, Su He could feel the strong, rhythmic heartbeat thudding against his back.

Only after Sheng Jinyu hung up and let out a deep yawn did he grumble into Su He’s shoulder, "Why do I have to get up for work again?"

Su He chuckled and nudged him. "Go get cleaned up. Assistant Fang will be here soon."

Sheng Jinyu reluctantly sat up straight, then suddenly leaned in to plant a loud kiss on Su He’s cheek before finally getting up and pulling on a spare robe.

"Your clothes are ruined. I’ll get you a new set later," he said.

"Okay," Su He nodded, pulling the blanket higher in an attempt to cover his bare upper body.

Just as he was about to relax, thinking Sheng Jinyu had left, the man suddenly doubled back with a smirk and asked, "Does anything hurt? Should I ask Fang Cheng to get some ointment?"

Su He’s ears instantly flushed crimson. "No need!" he insisted stubbornly.

Nothing even happened!

His flushed ears looked utterly delectable, and Sheng Jinyu couldn’t resist pinching Su He’s soft cheek lightly before chuckling, "Wait for me."

Only after Sheng Jinyu closed the door behind him did Su He emerge from under the covers. As he turned over, he suddenly realized pain was setting in from all directions.

Now he understood why Sheng Jinyu had asked that question earlier...

Su He lifted the blanket to check and saw that the delicate skin on his inner thighs had been chafed raw, now scabbed over. The slightest touch sent a dull, constant ache. It wasn't obvious, but it was a persistent torment.

That area was already sensitive—even rough fabric could irritate it, let alone the repeated friction from last night’s activities...

And it wasn’t just there. His knees seemed bruised as well.

Su He sighed in frustration. He remembered only kneeling briefly before Sheng Jinyu lifted him onto his lap, but the bathtub’s hard surface had still left its mark.

He sat in a daze for a while before it dawned on him—Sheng Jinyu was actually the investor for this project. What an incredible coincidence! Did he even know Su He was part of the team?

Probably not. Sheng Jinyu didn’t know his pen name and hadn’t seen him in the group.

He’d have to find a chance to tell him.

Just then, Sheng Jinyu knocked and entered with a set of clothes. He was already dressed in casual wear, looking perfectly respectable—though all Su He could think of was how wild and unrestrained he’d been the night before. Now, he just seemed like a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Sheng Jinyu put the clothes down and pulled out a tube of ointment and cotton swabs from the bag before reaching for the blanket. "Let’s apply this before you get dressed."

He moved too fast. Before Su He could cover himself, he was already completely bare. He hastily snatched the blanket back. "I’ll do it myself!"

A soft chuckle followed.

Sheng Jinyu sat on the edge of the bed, smirking. "Can you see your own back?"

The amused glint in his eyes made Su He flush with equal parts embarrassment and irritation. After everything they’d done—and hadn’t done—why was he still so shy? How long would it take for him to get used to this?

Su He grimaced because Sheng Jinyu was right. He didn’t have eyes on the back of his head.

The chafed skin stretched from the front of his inner thighs to the back, with patches on both sides—a real pain to deal with.

At this point, there was no use protesting. It was only fair—he’d helped Sheng Jinyu, so now it was Sheng Jinyu’s turn to help him.

They were both men anyway. Who was taking advantage of whom?

With that thought, Su He steeled himself, plopped face-first onto the pillow, and announced dramatically, "Go ahead!"

His bare ass on full display, Sheng Jinyu burst into laughter, shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

Did this guy even realize how much this position looked like... an invitation?

Hearing the suggestive laughter, Su He whipped his head around, face red with outrage. "W-What are you laughing at? I’ll do it myself!"

He tried to sit up, but Sheng Jinyu gave his butt a light, sharp smack—not painful, but embarrassingly loud.

!!!

"Stop sticking it out. Turn over and lie across my lap," Sheng Jinyu said simply.

Su He froze for a second before his ears turned crimson. He’d just been spanked—bare—by another man!

This was intolerable!

Clutching his backside, Su He scrambled up and shot daggers with his eyes at Sheng Jinyu. "You hit me! After everything I did for you last night—ungrateful! Using me and tossing me aside! Get out!"

His outburst was meant to be fierce, but with his pretty face and naked state, it had all the threat of a kitten puffing up its fur.

Sheng Jinyu was momentarily taken aback by the sudden outburst, but then he couldn't help but be amused. If he laughed now, though, he’d only provoke Su He further.

Suppressing a grin, he put on a serious face. "I’m ungrateful. Will you give me a chance to make amends?"

Su He eyed him before reluctantly lying across his lap.

Sheng Jinyu grabbed a pillow from the headboard and tucked it under Su He’s chest for support before examining the raw skin on his thighs.

The delicate flesh there, rarely exposed to sunlight, was unnaturally pale, making the angry marks stand out even more.

Guilt pricked at him. He’d truly got carried away last night—he shouldn’t have been so rough.

Squeezing a bit of ointment onto a cotton swab, he applied it gently to the wounds. "Does it hurt?"

Su He shoved his face deeper into the pillow, voice muffled. "It’s cold."

Sheng Jinyu chuckled. "Can’t help that. Want me to warm it for you?"

Before Su He could react, a warm touch brushed against his inner thigh, making him shiver. He immediately swatted Sheng Jinyu’s hand away.

"Don’t do that."

Just then, voices sounded outside—likely Assistant Fang arriving with lunch.

Sheng Jinyu stopped teasing and quickly finished applying the ointment before covering the sensitive areas with waterproof bandages to prevent further irritation from clothing.

This time, he showed some consideration, giving Su He space to dress himself. By the time Su He was presentable, lunch had already been set out on the dining table.

Assistant Fang approached with a file to hand to Sheng Jinyu but hesitated momentarily upon seeing Su He emerge from Sheng Jinyu’s room. He offered a polite smile in greeting.

Su He returned the smile and sat down to eat. As Assistant Fang stood between them, his gaze flickered uncertainly toward Su He again—only to freeze at the sight of the dense clusters of hickeys trailing along Su He’s exposed collarbone and neck...

Extending beneath the fabric.

The visible marks were likely just the tip of the iceberg. Fang's eyes went wide as a suspicion took root in his mind.

When handing the folder to Sheng Jinyu, he didn't notice he'd handed it upside down—Sheng Jinyu had to flip it around himself.

Assistant Fang let out an awkward laugh, only to notice a bite mark on the tip of his boss’s ear and a split lip…

A boss on drugs, sharing a room with another person, both with suspicious marks—what did that imply?

!!!

Fang's eyes went even wider, like he'd uncovered some scandalous secret. It wasn’t until Sheng Jinyu called his name, reminding him that he was crumpling the folder, that he snapped back to professional mode. He quickly pretended nothing had happened, not daring to look anywhere else.

After the meal, Sheng Jinyu left to attend a symposium. Su He followed along and, after setting up his drinks and snacks, waited in the lounge. Just then, Shao Fei called to invite him out.

Su He counted up his remaining time off for the month and agreed. Shao Fei then asked, “I saw your social media post—you got a cat? A calico cat?”

“Yeah, I haven’t named it yet. Want to come see it?” Su He said with a laugh, knowing Shao Fei was crazy about cats and couldn't resist meeting any new one.

But Shao Fei hesitated. “I remember you used to live at Sheng Jinyu’s place? You're still living together?”

“Yeah, still together,” Su He replied.

Shao Fei tsked skeptically. “I always thought your relationship was kind of weird. You’re so good to him, you live together, and now you’re even raising a pet together?”

“Ah He, be honest with me—what exactly is your relationship?” Shao Fei asked point-blank.

Su He, however, seemed genuinely confused. “I’m his assistant. Isn’t it normal for a live-in personal assistant? It’s part of my job.”

Shao Fei found that reasonable, yet something still didn’t sit right. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

He continued, “That makes sense, but… I feel like you two are, well, maybe too close?”

After some deliberation, he finally settled on an adjective.

“Every time I invite you out, you have to ask for his permission. You’re a grown man—since when do you have a curfew? Don't you think that's kinda controlling?” Shao Fei grumbled.

Shao Fei’s words made Su He pause briefly to reflect. Over time, he and Sheng Jinyu had indeed gotten much closer.

Now, they were… like this.

It was unusual, to be sure. Perhaps they had moved beyond a typical superior-subordinate relationship, becoming close friends? Confidants? Or something... like cohabitation.

But Su He didn’t dwell on it. Assuming Shao Fei was just complaining about him always leaving early, he reassured him, “Sorry for being a buzzkill. Next time, I’ll treat everyone to Chinese food at Xuan’s place.”

“That’s not what I meant!” Shao Fei’s train of thought was derailed, and he forgot what he had been fixated on earlier.

By the time the event ended, it was already evening. The full moon hung high in the sky as they returned to Xiaoxie Garden, illuminating a clear, starry night.

Su He retrieved the gift he had bought days earlier from his room. He had hidden it for three or four days, never finding the right moment to give it. Now that Sheng Jinyu was home, it was the perfect opportunity.

Carrying the gift bag upstairs, he knocked on the study door and asked softly, “Are you busy?”

Sheng Jinyu responded, “Not busy. Come in.”