Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Jiang Mo stood rigidly in Chen Zui’s office.

His eyes darted around nervously, taking in Chen Zui’s workspace. It appeared devoid of unnecessary items, presenting a clean, elegant, and efficient aesthetic.

Jiang Mo glanced at the desk; no photo frames or personal touches, suggesting a man who strictly compartmentalized work and personal life.

He mused.

From the inner lounge, Chen Zui retrieved a sky-blue, casual raglan-sleeve shirt with two chest pockets. He walked out, holding the shirt, and offered it to Jiang Mo: "The clothes I keep here are mostly formal, which you’re probably not accustomed to. This is the only casual one. You can change in the lounge."

Jiang Mo bent slightly, head lowered, and accepted the shirt: "Thank you, President Chen. I’ll just change in the restroom."

Chen Zui replied, "The restroom is too cramped; you might snag it."

Jiang Mo found no excuse to refuse. He took the clothes and, with heavy steps, entered the lounge. He hesitated, unsure whether to close the door. Glancing at the bed, he recognized it as a very private space, and closing the door felt inappropriate.

He walked further inside, away from the door, and began to change.

Chen Zui sat behind his desk, watching Jiang Mo change on his computer screen. The man, over six feet tall, possessed a well-proportioned frame, with lean, taut muscles smoothly contoured over his bones, creating an appealing physique.

He was very pale.

A cool, porcelain white.

And also very pink.

Like the delicate pink of cherry blossoms.

What most captivated Chen Zui was the man’s waist—trim and taut, with skin so fine it seemed to reveal his underlying form.

Ao Tian: "Oh~ I didn’t expect him to be quite a looker."

Chen Zui: "It’s rude to keep staring."

After all, he was his to claim.

Jiang Mo put on the shirt. Chen Zui observed him take several deep breaths before emerging from the lounge, as nervous as a timid puppy just brought home, making its owner yearn to tease it.

Jiang Mo rarely met Chen Zui’s gaze: "Thank you. Sorry to have bothered you, President Chen. I should go—"

"You’re wearing it wrong," Chen Zui interrupted, rising from his chair and stepping out from behind the desk until he stood before Jiang Mo. He was half a head taller and slightly broader, a physique that could easily envelop the other man.

Jiang Mo kept his head down, allowing Chen Zui’s gaze to linger unhindered—a look of possession, asserting complete control.

As he had imagined, Jiang Mo, pale as a cloud, suited the sky-blue color perfectly. Wearing it, his demeanor seemed less melancholic. With his head lowered, the ends of his black hair lay obediently against his neck—his hair was a bit long.

Chen Zui was pleased; this way, his neck wouldn’t be fully exposed to others.

He raised his hand, his neatly trimmed fingertips lightly brushing the hem of Jiang Mo’s shirt, which hung in front—a delicate position, almost directly above his lower abdomen. With a touch more pressure, the hem swayed from his finger, the slight movement nearly causing Jiang Mo to stumble backward. His toes curled tightly in his shoes to regain balance.

He looked up, flustered, his dark, wide eyes trembling with discomfort and confusion at the situation.

Then, in an instant, he lowered his gaze again.

Chen Zui seemed to sense his unease, lowering his hand and stepping back to create distance: "Tucking the shirt into your pants would look better."

Only after Chen Zui retreated could Jiang Mo finally breathe easier.

Ao Tian: "Strange, his favorability level towards you went up another point. Why?"

Chen Zui: "Must be because you’re lucky."

Ao Tian was delighted.

Jiang Mo: "Thank you. I’ll keep it like this. I won’t disturb you further, President Chen. Goodbye."

He bowed almost 90 degrees and fled the office as if escaping.

Chen Zui felt a slight regret; the man’s waist was slender, and tucking the shirt in would have looked even more striking.

Jiang Mo still hurried to the restroom, slipping into an empty stall. He needed a place and time to compose himself, but he didn’t even dare lean against the partition, afraid of dirtying Chen Zui’s shirt.

He caught a faint whiff of men’s fragrance—woody, subtle. He couldn’t help but lower his head closer to the collar, suddenly wondering: Had President Chen worn this shirt?

His face flushed instantly.

—

Night fell. Chen Zui calculated Jiang Mo’s current favorability level at 11, still a considerable distance from 70, but he remained unhurried and confident.

Ao Tian: "Ah! Tonight is a pivotal moment. Chen Xiu is going to sign a contract with Xiao Hang tonight to become his kept man!"

Chen Zui: "What is Jiang Mo doing tonight?"

Ao Tian: "He’s following Chen Xiu as usual, but tonight Chen Xiu will get into trouble at a bar and face a huge compensation. While Jiang Mo is wondering how to discreetly help Chen Xiu, Xiao Hang steps in and solves the problem with money, taking Chen Xiu away."

Chen Zui: "Then he must be quite pitiful tonight."

Ao Tian: "Very pitiful. On his way back, his gloomy appearance attracts some hoodlums who gang up on him and break his ankle. While Chen Xiu and Xiao Hang’s relationship heats up, he can’t even stalk properly due to his broken bone."

Chen Zui analyzed this plot point and called one of the original host’s good friends to invite him for a drink.

Jiang Mo donned a black hat and mask, revealing only his eyes as he watched Chen Xiu emerge from the opposite building entrance, heading to his part-time job at a bar. He waited until Chen Xiu had walked a distance before stepping out, blending almost entirely into the night. As he followed Chen Xiu toward the bus stop, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

He took out his phone; it was an unknown number.

Glancing at Chen Xiu, who was looking down at his phone, Jiang Mo backed away, standing behind a lamppost to answer the call. He remained silent, waiting for the other person to speak.

The caller didn’t keep him waiting long: "Jiang Mo, Mr. Jiang?"

The voice sounded familiar. Jiang Mo recalled a tall, noble-looking man with ambitious eyes but a gentle personality.

"President Chen?"

"It’s me. Sorry for getting your contact from a subordinate without permission. There should be a small USB drive in the shirt you wore today. I need it urgently. If you have time, could you please bring it to me?"

Jiang Mo watched Chen Xiu preparing to board the bus.

He should refuse. He hadn’t followed Chen Xiu for days.

But the words of refusal wouldn’t come out. Instead, he said: "Certainly, where are you?"

Chen Zui raised an eyebrow in satisfaction at Jiang Mo’s deferential tone and took a sip of his drink before stating his location.

He added at the end: "No rush, be careful."

After hanging up, Jiang Mo swallowed, feeling his ears grow warm. He really has a good personality, even telling me to be safe.

Jiang Mo abandoned his pursuit of Chen Xiu and returned home. In his haste to follow Chen Xiu, he hadn’t had a chance to wash the clothes—he certainly had to wash them before returning them.

Even though he had worn the shirt all afternoon, he had been careful not to touch anything, worried he might damage it. He never expected there would be something left in the pocket.

Since the clothes hadn’t been washed, he felt it would be impolite to return them like this.

He pulled out an ultra-mini USB drive from the chest pocket.

Might as well drop off the USB drive first.

——

Ao Tian: "What if he found that USB drive during the day?"

Chen Zui: "Then there would have been another excuse."

Chen Zui clinked glasses with Liu Sheng. The other man was a good friend of the original host. Generally, Chen Zui tried to avoid interacting much with those in the original’s social circle, especially close friends, to avoid being noticed for his different personality.

He couldn’t be bothered to pretend.

But Liu Sheng was an exception—he was pretty laid-back. Even if he noticed differences, he’d simply think people’s personalities naturally change over time.

Having a drink was more fun with company.

Like now, Liu Sheng was going on and on about all sorts of gossip in their circle—it made for great conversation to drink to.

20 minutes later.

Ao Tian: "Jiang Mo has arrived."

Chen Zui: "He rode the shared bicycle that fast?"

Ao Tian: "Holy heavens! He actually took a taxi here!"

Hearing this, Chen Zui smiled faintly and finished his drink.

Just as Jiang Mo got out of the car and was about to cross the street, he saw Chen Zui and another man walking out of the bar, talking and laughing together.

He froze.

Out of the corner of his eye, Chen Zui noticed that figure radiating dark energy and deliberately kept talking with Liu Sheng for a while longer. Jiang Mo never approached, standing motionless in place like a good little puppy waiting for its owner’s call.

With a soft laugh, Chen Zui finally ended the conversation with Liu Sheng. Liu Sheng turned and left, and Chen Zui took out his phone, about to ask if Jiang Mo had arrived.

Before he could make the call—

"Mr. Chen."

Chen Zui put down his phone. When he looked up, he staggered a little, a smile crinkling the corners of his eyes behind his glasses.

"Mr. Tasty-Name."

The words immediately made Jiang Mo blush. He licked his lip nervously before speaking: "This is your USB drive. I’ll return the clothes to you after I wash them."

The USB drive was held out with both hands.

As Chen Zui took it, his fingertips dragged slowly, almost lazily, across Jiang Mo’s palm.

He could clearly feel the other man tremble.

He took the USB drive: "Thank you, this is a huge help. But may I trouble you one more time?"

Jiang Mo lowered his hand, secretly hiding it behind his back, and used his other hand to scratch his itching palm.

"What else do you need, sir?"

"I need to get back in a hurry. Waiting for a designated driver would take too long. Could you drive me?"

He swayed again, almost leaning against Jiang Mo.

Jiang Mo turned into a Jiang statue.

——

Jiang Mo sat bolt upright as he drove. Chen Zui, claiming he wasn’t feeling well, had taken a seat in the back, catty-corner from him.

He leaned against the window, eyes closed.

The car was so quiet that even a loud breath felt intrusive, making Jiang Mo’s hands sweat.

While waiting at a red light, his phone vibrated.

He took it out. "?" had sent a photo—it showed him and Chen Zui at the entrance of the bar.

?: "You haven’t been good."

?: "I’ve had my eye on you."

In the back seat, Chen Zui opened his eyes, watching quietly, dangerously, Jiang Mo’s pale face.