Chapter 30 Extra

Chapter 30: Side Story

The news that the new employee, barely settled in, was the boss's boyfriend spread like wildfire through Sheng Sheng Technology, even reaching its subsidiaries. The boss's public announcement had simply been too startling.

He had actually shown up on the employee's floor during work hours to ask him out.

"Wow, the boss is so bold—it must be true love, right?" The receptionist gossiped during a lull, regretting that their workstation didn't offer a firsthand view of the fresh drama.

"And then?"

"And then, haha—" The storyteller chuckled, lowering her voice. "Then the boss’s boyfriend said, 'Mr. Chen, it’s work hours right now.'"

"Really? That's kind of cute."

"Seriously. And before the boss could even respond, this dutiful 'employee' offered a solution: 'Mr. Chen, please wait a moment. I'll go request leave now, and I can make up any missed work later.'"

"Hahaha—"

"Hard to tell if he's more dedicated to work or the boss."

"He's willing to delay work for the boss, so he's more passionate about the boss."

"Makes sense."

—

"Ah-choo!"

Jiang Mo sneezed, typed the last word of the morning, and it was finally lunch break. He left his workstation and entered the elevator under the sidelong glances of many.

Life had changed dramatically recently. For one, it seemed he and Mr. Chen were genuinely dating like any normal couple—a relationship that could be openly acknowledged. Though everyone at the company was surprised, no one dared to say anything to his face. Everyone had become incredibly friendly, and he knew it was because of Mr. Chen.

When he stepped out of the elevator, he ran into Chen Zui’s secretary. By now, she was used to seeing him at this hour and greeted Jiang Mo with a smile.

Jiang Mo nodded more naturally, curving his lips into a smile in return.

He went to the break room first, took a lunchbox from the fridge, and put it in the microwave. He had made the meal that morning—though the taste wasn’t anything special, it was definitely healthier and more wholesome than takeout.

Jiang Mo carried the heated meal to Chen Zui’s office.

"Mr. Chen, time to eat."

Chen Zui, seated behind his desk, set down the documents he was holding, adjusted his glasses, and looked at Jiang Mo with a gentle smile. His devoted puppy had brought him a hot meal—how could that not brighten his day?

As Chen Zui walked over, Jiang Mo had already unpacked the lunchboxes, arranged everything neatly, and even refilled Chen Zui’s water glass.

Ao Tian: [I told you he's such a homemaker.]

Chen Zui, about to sit down: "Almost forgot."

He turned back to his desk, picked up the bubble tea there, and placed it on Jiang Mo’s side.

It was from Jiang Mo’s favorite shop, in his favorite flavor. A warm glow of happiness spread through Jiang Mo’s heart: "Thank you, Mr. Chen."

Chen Zui still hadn't managed to break him of his formal habits, but he found it somewhat endearing. He wasn’t in a hurry to change it—letting things take their course was fine.

"Your cooking keeps getting better."

Before Jiang Mo could feel happy about the praise, Chen Zui added, "Seems you have a talent for this too."

Chen Zui’s gaze, seen through his glasses, held a teasing glint that made Jiang Mo blush. Since they got together, Chen Zui loved teasing him—mainly because his reactions were just too entertaining.

Chen Zui: "And you're eating more too."

Jiang Mo, utterly embarrassed, could only murmur in protest: "Chen Zui."

That was the extent of Jiang Mo’s resistance.

But to Chen Zui, it sounded like playful teasing. Jiang Mo should be glad Chen Zui wasn't the type to lose all reason to lust—otherwise, Jiang Mo’s reactions would have gotten him absolutely ravished.

Chen Zui gave a low chuckle and didn’t continue teasing the man, whose face was now red enough to drip blood and who was too flustered to eat.

After lunch, the two would rest in the lounge for 40 minutes. Chen Zui hated sleeping in his clothes, especially his suit, so Jiang Mo also lost the right to sleep fully dressed.

Chen Zui hugged Jiang Mo from behind, his larger build enveloping Jiang Mo’s. He bent slightly, burying his face in Jiang Mo’s neck, making Jiang Mo lean forward. Their bodies pressed tightly together, body heat mingling, and through skin and flesh, they could feel the steady rhythms of their heartbeats.

It felt reassuring.

Apart from the first time, they never messed around at the office—sleep was just sleep.

Once asleep, Jiang Mo would gradually turn over, wrapping around Chen Zui like an octopus. His slightly flushed cheeks buried in Chen Zui’s solid embrace, he slept sweetly and clingily.

—

If Chen Zui didn’t need to work overtime, he would go straight to Jiang Mo’s floor to pick him up after work. Jiang Mo had almost completely lost the right to work overtime, which left him a bit restless—he was too used to being an overworker.

At the supermarket, the two discussed what to eat over the next couple of days, slowly filling the shopping cart.

Chen Zui watched Jiang Mo carefully selecting meat. He had never lived this kind of life before. He’d become an orphan around age ten—it was so long ago he could barely remember what having a family was like. Later, he struggled to survive, grew up, became a mercenary, and lived a life surviving gunfire and dancing on the edge of a knife.

He had never even imagined such quiet, domestic days.

Because he simply couldn’t picture it.

But now, looking at Jiang Mo, who returned cheerfully with the meat, saying, "The meat is fresh today. Let’s cook it tonight. We can also make wontons. Yeah, I’ll make some wontons for tomorrow morning—they’ll be delicious."

So simple—just feeling happy because the meat was fresh.

Chen Zui never dared to dream of such a life. The only regret was that *Wolf Cub* wasn’t here.

"Okay."

"I'd love to."

His words made Jiang Mo even more motivated.

The place they returned to was Jiang Mo’s apartment. Chen Zui loved this small but complete home, which Jiang Mo had made warm and cozy. Chen Zui changed clothes and played with Xiao Momo, while Jiang Mo, wearing an apron, busied himself in the kitchen.

Their home was one light among thousands, and soon the aroma of food filled the air.

Chen Zui trimmed Xiao Momo’s little claws. The kitten stayed still obediently. The black kitten had pink paw pads that were super fun to squeeze. Chen Zui also trimmed the fur around the pads.

"Does he need to slim down?"

Jiang Mo, in the kitchen, didn’t turn around and replied naturally, "I think so too."

The kitten meowed loudly, as if pleading its case and protesting against both of them.

Stealing food from a cat—how dare they!

After dinner, the two watched a horror mystery movie. When the film reached the scene where the protagonist was being stalked, their expressions subtly changed. Chen Zui wore a faint, composed smile at the corner of his mouth, while Jiang Mo looked slightly guilty.

Chen Zui grasped Jiang Mo's hand: "If you like it, I can continue stalking you."

Jiang Mo hesitated to speak: *In Mr. Chen's mind, I must be a pervert...*

T^T

—

Jiang Mo hurriedly ran in through the residential complex entrance, anxiously glancing back as if something were chasing him, then turned around and sped up even faster. The phone in his pocket kept ringing incessantly.

If he had taken out his phone, he would have seen:

?: [Run faster, baby.]

?: [That ass of yours swings so hot when you run.]

?: [I'm gaining on you.]

?: [Hide well, little mouse~]

Jiang Mo summoned a burst of energy and rushed upstairs, fumbling desperately for the keys in his pocket. At that moment, he somewhat regretted installing such a heavy-duty lock outside—it took several tries to insert the key. As he twisted the key, he kept looking back toward the staircase.

Once the lock was open, he unlocked the door at the fastest speed of his life, dashed inside, and as he turned to close the door, a hand suddenly grabbed the door panel. He almost screamed. Before he could push the door shut with more force, it was wrenched open by the other person.

Jiang Mo stumbled back two steps in fear, breathing rapidly as he stared at the tall figure now standing in the doorway.

The man advanced slowly, wearing a mask that revealed only the lower half of his face. Snapping out of his panic, Jiang Mo turned to run toward the bedroom but was grabbed by the wrist and pulled back.

"Caught you."

The other gripped his chin and said this.

Jiang Mo couldn't bear to imagine what awaited him...

The door closed.

Chen Zui surveyed his handiwork—he had always said red suited Jiang Mo. Red satin ribbons gleamed as they coiled around Jiang Mo's body, pulling his arms high above his head, lifting his body along with them so only his toes barely touched the ground.

The ribbons wound from his hands to his body to his toes, and on that useless part of him, an exquisite bow was tied.

Jiang Mo's face was even redder than the ribbons: "Chen..."

He quickly stopped himself, nearly slipping up with the title: "You... you bastard, what are you going to do?"

Chen Zui's hand reached from behind, gently toying with the bow: "What am I going to do? Whatever that Chen Zui did to you, I'm going to do to you."

He pulled Jiang Mo tightly against him.

Jiang Mo's acting was much stiffer, reciting his lines with forced shame: "Don't even think about it, I won't let you succeed."

Chen Zui was fighting back amusement at his rigid tone and performance: "Let me see how you plan to resist me."

Jiang Mo's resistance failed. His toes, barely touching the ground, bobbed briefly before leaving the ground completely, until his bare feet finally rested on those lace-up black combat boots.

The faint strain in his arms forced Jiang Mo to put all his weight onto the only support he had...

His ear was suddenly bitten: "Let's film this and send it to Chen Zui, okay?"

The tone was lingering, like a whisper between lovers.

Jiang Mo resisted the waves of overwhelming feelings washing over him: "Don't go too far."

"Okay."

Chen Zui kissed Jiang Mo's earlobe.

"I won't tell him."

"We're sneaking around."

Jiang Mo was losing his mind.

—

Chen Zui's hand rested on Jiang Mo's cheek; the man had already fallen asleep.

Ao Tian: [This world will pause.]

He murmured "Mm-hmm."

He leaned in and placed a kiss on Jiang Mo's forehead: "Goodnight, my little deviant."

—

The people around Jiang Mo gradually blurred and finally disappeared completely.

Ao Tian was preparing to send Chen Zui into the next world, but there was one thing that he hadn’t told Chen Zui.

Remember how he said he wanted to learn from Chen Zui, and Chen Zui mentioned teaching required payment?

After much deliberation based on his own experience, he decided to use a memory extractor to extract Chen Zui’s memories of this world.

He had eight previous hosts, three of whom had failed their tasks because they had become too emotionally invested in a particular world, ultimately forfeiting their revival chance.

His responsibility was to assist the host in successfully completing the mission, and he didn’t want Chen Zui to fail.

After the mission concludes, I will restore your memories.

My best host,

Please forgive me for taking matters into my own hands.