Chapter 135 Cry for Help

Chapter 135 Seeking Help

Yan Zhoubai blinked, finding his usually boorish roommate surprisingly agreeable for the first time.

Bu Qiran frantically winked at Zhang Lin, urging him to refuse, but Zhang Lin either didn't see or pretended not to, turning his head away to avoid his gaze.

Damn it!

…

Chen Chu brought a document to Zhan Jiayu’s office for his signature. He noticed Zhan Jiayu frowning at his computer screen, his dark eyes so clouded with confusion that it seemed to spill over the silver rims of his glasses.

What could he be looking at?

"Boss, there’s a document here from Country A that needs your review."

Chen Chu reined in his curiosity, speaking in a formal, businesslike tone.

"Just leave it there for now."

Zhan Jiayu clearly had no interest in the document. His eyes remained fixed on the screen as he tapped the desk, signaling Chen Chu to place it down.

As Chen Chu walked past, his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of Zhan Jiayu’s computer screen. It displayed a colorful interface with cartoon characters, resembling an event page.

Could his boss secretly be into this kind of thing? It didn't seem right. He had worked with Zhan Jiayu for years and, even if it was just a professional relationship, he knew Zhan Jiayu well enough to know he wasn’t into anime, cartoons, or anything similar.

"Have you ever been to a comic con?"

Chen Chu was still deep in thought when Zhan Jiayu’s sudden question startled him.

"A comic con? I’ve been twice, with friends. I don’t usually watch anime or follow the subculture, so I’m not very familiar with it."

So it really was a comic convention event page. How peculiar.

"Do you think I’d fit in at a comic convention?" Zhan Jiayu asked, looking at Chen Chu.

Chen Chu: What new eccentricity is this today?

"Do you mean just visiting, or are you considering cosplaying as a character?"

Though he had internally groaned a thousand times, Chen Chu was a professional. He maintained his composure and carefully presented Zhan Jiayu with two options.

"Cosplay?" Zhan Jiayu gently stroked his chin. "I’ve never tried it, but I probably wouldn’t be suitable."

Chen Chu thought to himself: Logically, with your physique, you’d be perfect for cosplay. But given your personality, you’d probably lose your temper during the makeup and costume changes.

"People usually cosplay as their favorite characters at comic conventions. They also interact with fellow fans, take photos, and so on."

Chen Chu added more details, hoping Zhan Jiayu would abandon the idea. After all, Zhan Jiayu knew nothing about it. If he suddenly decided to cosplay and go to a convention, it would ultimately create more trouble for Chen Chu.

Better to avoid unnecessary complications. It’s best if the boss just focuses on work. If he really wants to go, he should just visit—no cosplaying.

"Do you know the anime 'Kitten Kia’s Adventures'?"

After listening to Chen Chu, Zhan Jiayu seemed thoughtful, though no one could tell what he was thinking. Then he continued to ask.

"...Not really."

Chen Chu was utterly speechless. What was going on today? First, a sudden interest in comic conventions, and now asking about an anime that sounded adorable just from its title—it was completely out of character for him.

"Xiao Chuaner said he’s going to a comic convention to see 'Kitten Kia’s Adventures.' He plans to go with Bu Qiran." Zhan Jiayu suddenly revealed.

Now Chen Chu understood. If it involved Yan Zhoubai, then nothing Zhan Jiayu did would be surprising.

After all, he had witnessed firsthand how, after Young Master Yan accidentally got poisoned at his entrance banquet, his boss frantically contacted Country A and poured a massive fortune into a renowned pharmaceutical lab to develop an antidote.

There was no guarantee that such a huge investment would yield results, but Zhan Jiayu didn’t even bat an eye—he made the decision on the spot.

It was only because after consolidating his power in the Zhan family, he had purged all opposition, making the Zhan family essentially his "one-man show." This allowed him to swiftly approve such a large allocation of funds. Otherwise, not only would the money be inaccessible, but it would also cause widespread discontent and instability within the Zhan family.

After the two confirmed their relationship, Zhan Jiayu showered Yan Zhoubai with all sorts of valuable things. Of course, that wasn’t the most important part. For him, anything money could solve wasn’t a problem. Besides, although this Young Master Yan was a "fake" young master, he had been raised in luxury within the Yan family and didn’t place much importance on material possessions.

But beyond that, Chen Chu could also clearly see that his boss was paving the way for this Young Master Yan.

Not in the sense of preparing him for a future in business—Yan Zhoubai wasn’t cut out for that. Rather, whatever Yan Zhoubai wanted to do, Zhan Jiayu would leverage his connections and resources to help him.

Just the other day, he heard Zhan Jiayu asking if the Great Compassion Temple would allow Taoists to set up feng shui stalls there.

Zhan Jiayu himself didn’t believe in such things, and the only Taoist around him was Yan Zhoubai, who had trained at the Cangru Temple. Thus, it was clear who he was trying to help.

As soon as Chen Chu heard his boss’s words, he knew Zhan Jiayu was jealous. Yan Zhoubai was going to the comic convention with someone else instead of him, and he wasn’t happy about it.

But the problem was, his boss didn’t know anything about this scene—it was only natural he wouldn’t be invited. Besides, to be honest, there was an age gap between them, and they probably wouldn’t have much to talk about even if they went together. Not ideal, not ideal. If the boss had relationship problems, it was his subordinates who would suffer.

So, Chen Chu, who was usually adept at reading moods and understanding his boss’s feelings, unusually chose not to respond this time.

"I’ll ask Jasmine. She’d probably like this."

Zhan Jiayu didn’t pay attention to Chen Chu’s silence. Instead, he thought of Jasmine, who was still having a blast in China and hadn’t returned to Country A yet.

Chen Chu: Anyone is fine, as long as this task doesn’t fall on me.

…

The day before the comic convention, Yan Zhoubai received an address from Bu Qiran. He saw it was for a styling studio—presumably where Bu Qiran would be getting styled.

Yan Zhoubai had already showered and was comfortably lying in bed, holding a tablet and watching 'Kitten Kia’s Adventures.' He was going to the comic convention tomorrow, and he’d been in a great mood these past couple of days, so he decided to rewatch it.

When Zhan Jiayu emerged from the shower, he saw Yan Zhoubai chuckling gleefully at his tablet.

"What are you watching?"

Zhan Jiayu walked to the bedside, drying his hair with a towel.

His hair was still dripping, and to avoid getting water on Yan Zhoubai, he stood by the bed without leaning over.

From this angle, he could clearly see Yan Zhoubai’s open pajama collar, revealing his fair collarbone and the rosy peaks beneath.

Though he had just showered, Zhan Jiayu suddenly felt a wave of heat and thirst. He went to the mini-fridge and grabbed a bottle of ice water.

Yan Zhoubai didn’t come home to stay every day—usually, he returned once every two or three days. Every time he came back, Zhan Jiayu wanted to pull him into bed. But since he only came back every few days, doing that every time would make him seem overly horny, so he had to restrain himself.

But after all, he was at an age full of vigor, and he’d already experienced intimacy—sometimes it was truly impossible to hold back. Moreover, Yan Zhoubai had an irresistible allure for him. Even if Yan Zhoubai did nothing, he still found it tempting.

"'Kitten Kia’s Adventures'—it’s my favorite anime, the one I told you about the other day. Since we’re going to the comic convention tomorrow, I felt like rewatching it recently."

Yan Zhoubai happily shared with Zhan Jiayu.

"It's still early. Do you want to watch a couple of episodes with me?" Yan Zhoubai invited.

"Sure, wait for me to blow-dry my hair."

Zhan Jiayu's voice sounded unusually low and husky, as if deliberately suppressing something. But Yan Zhoubai was completely immersed in the world of *Kitten Kia's Adventures* and didn't notice at all.

Zhan Jiayu wasn't particularly interested in this anime. When Yan Zhoubai told him he liked it and was going to the comic convention with Bu Qiran because of it, he had immediately gone to watch it himself.

It was quite long, with forty or fifty episodes, so he only watched the first few. It was indeed a very good anime, but he genuinely wasn't interested in that genre, so that was all he saw.

After Zhan Jiayu finished drying his hair and got into bed, Yan Zhoubai scooted closer to him and placed the tablet between them.

How wonderful—watching *Kitten Kia's Adventures* with Zhan Jiayu.

Yan Zhoubai watched intently, even though he had seen it several times before. At key plot points, he would excitedly explain things to Zhan Jiayu, beaming with enthusiasm—anyone could see how happy he was.

But Zhan Jiayu's mind wasn't on the anime; all his attention was on Yan Zhoubai.

As Yan Zhoubai leaned against his chest watching the screen, Zhan Jiayu looked down at him. This scene felt incredibly warm to him, so warm that he had never imagined he would ever experience something like this.

Old Man Zhan had many lovers, but Zhan Jiayu had never seen him show deep affection for any of them when he was young. He treated each of his lovers well—never stingy with material things, never failing to offer care and concern—but none of them were ever special.

So Zhan Jiayu felt that his so-called father simply didn't know how to love anyone—he only loved himself.

But after meeting Yan Zhoubai, he rejected that idea. Because after meeting Yan Zhoubai, everything he wanted to do, all the kindness he showed Yan Zhoubai, came truly naturally from his heart—it didn't require any learned effort.

Just as Yan Zhoubai was getting into the show, he suddenly felt his earlobe being enveloped by warm lips, followed by teeth gently nibbling.

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Author's note: Old Man Zhan trying his best to keep up with the trends (just kidding) [dog emoji]