Chapter 35

Chapter 35

"Hello, I'm sorry. The A01 ocean-view suite was already taken by a guest a few days ago. We have another identical suite, A02. Would that be acceptable?"

Xie Yunshen was taken aback. That's strange. In the novel, the A01 suite was supposed to be unoccupied.

Could it be Lin Jin? But he remembered Lin Jin boarded the ship around the same time he did.

"Is A02 directly opposite A01?"

"That's correct."

"I'll take it, then."

If the plot was still following its original trajectory, Sand would escape from the arena tonight. The kind-hearted female lead would discover him and help him hide in the legendary, supposedly uninhabited A01 suite.

From then on, Sand would develop an imprinting loyalty towards the female lead, becoming utterly obedient. This would ultimately benefit Lin Jin. At first, Lin Jin would be jealous, but once he realized Sand was like an obedient human nuclear missile, he'd put aside his jealousy.

Xie Yunshen had originally thought that by arriving a day early, he could secure the location and get a head start on building rapport. It seems the male lead truly is the male lead, blessed with an insane plot armor halo.

Booking A02 meant he probably wouldn't get that rapport boost, but at least he could watch the drama unfold tonight.

After securing the room, Xie Yunshen returned to Yan Shiqi's suite, B01.

He had slipped out during a break while Yi Wuyi was on guard duty.

The day after winning the staggering 6.5 billion dollars, everything was calm and peaceful.

Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi had taken turns standing guard last night, but nothing happened.

The hotel's outdoor restaurant offered a delicious buffet breakfast for suite guests.

The restaurant's potato and shrimp cakes and coconut juice were really good.

Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi were sitting next to each other.

Yan Shiqi sat opposite them, frowning slightly as the morning sun was shining right in his face. The sea breeze swept through his sharp, handsome features, making him look exceptionally handsome and proper.

Yi Wuyi noticed this and stood up. "Mr. Yan, I'd like to get some sun. Shall we switch seats?"

Yan Shiqi didn't refuse. He stood up and exchanged seats with him.

The moment Yi Wuyi stood up and Yan Shiqi sat down, Xie Yunshen had already silently shifted his position, joining Old Wu on the other side to bask in the sun.

He moved without a sound, almost like teleporting.

However, Yan Shiqi's sharp eyes tracked his every move as he got up and sat down again, his gaze intense.

Yi Wuyi, holding his plate, faltered for a second and discreetly nudged Xie Yunshen's leg with his knee.

Xie Yunshen looked up, puzzled. "Old Wu, leg cramp?"

"..."

Xie Yunshen patted his shoulder. "Did you stand guard too long last night? Let me give you a massage!"

Yi Wuyi raised a hand. "No need. It's fine now."

Xie Yunshen left it at that.

Yan Shiqi ate a few bites casually, placed his napkin on the table, and looked at Xie Yunshen across from him.

Feeling the weight of that unavoidable gaze, Xie Yunshen swallowed his food. "Mr. Yan, what's wrong?"

Yan Shiqi said, "It's not to my taste."

Xie Yunshen blurted out, "I always figured you didn't have taste buds!"

Yi Wuyi choked and started coughing violently.

Yan Shiqi asked, "What gave you that impression?"

"Because you always eat without a single change in expression," Xie Yunshen said while patting Yi Wuyi's back. He then turned his head. "Old Wu, you're being dramatic."

Yi Wuyi, not one to argue, could only give him an incredulous look, thinking: *You're the truly outrageous one here.*

Yan Shiqi didn't say anything else. He just sat there watching them, watching Xie Yunshen's hand on Yi Wuyi's back, watching Yi Wuyi turn back to give Xie Yunshen a speechless look.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, his brow furrowing a little.

Unlike traditional theater seating, the audience area here consisted of semi-private booths.

The cruise hotel had provided them with a booth for four.

The best seat was, of course, for Yan Shiqi.

Yi Wuyi was quick to claim the seat farthest from Yan Shiqi.

Xie Yunshen was stuck sitting in the other seat, right next to Yan Shiqi. He couldn't help but suspect Old Wu did it on purpose.

Xie Yunshen wasn't particularly interested in stage plays and didn't really "get" piano music. Shortly after the play began, he started zoning out.

Although the Golden Bodyguard couldn't sleep, last night's high alert had left him exhausted.

He glanced over and saw Old Wu was also struggling to stay awake, looking back at him.

Xie Yunshen immediately closed his eyes: In situations like this, whoever sleeps first wins!

He instantly entered a deep, baby-like sleep.

Yi Wuyi was a second too late. He could only watch helplessly as Xie Yunshen entered sleep mode, forcing his eyes to stay open and remain on guard.

Mr. Yan, choosing that moment to be considerate, said, "We should head back."

Xie Yunshen's head was practically nodding to the floor. The moment he felt Yan Shiqi stand up, he immediately opened his eyes. "Huh? Is it over already..."

Yi Wuyi explained, "Mr. Yan said to go back and sleep."

Xie Yunshen was so touched he was practically tearful. "Mr. Yan, you're an angel..."

As he spoke, he opened his arms, about to hug Mr. Yan. But when he was mere millimeters away, he paused and forced his arms to abort the mission.

A potentially comforting hug was abruptly aborted.

Yi Wuyi closed his eyes behind them, unable to watch.

Yan Shiqi said nothing, but the look in his eyes was starting to look dangerous.

On their way out of the theater, Xie Yunshen caught a glimpse of the male lead in another booth, accompanying Miss Bai to watch the play.

Before he could be spotted, he quickly ducked to the other side of Yan Shiqi.

Seriously, he was here to steal the male lead's opportunities.

But the next second, a hand abruptly seized Xie Yunshen's shoulder from behind.

"Big shot, big spender? You see me and just walk away without a greeting?" Lin Jin's voice came from behind, ominous and cold.

Yesterday in the hallway, he had wanted to greet Xie Yunshen, but Xie Yunshen, on ignore-autopilot, had shoved him back, making him lose face in front of his girlfriend.

Yan Shiqi didn't stop walking, but Yi Wuyi noticed Mr. Yan's expression had already turned very unpleasant.

"Let go." Xie Yunshen couldn't be bothered to talk to him. With a sharp shrug and pivot, he broke free and caught up with Yan Shiqi.

Lin Jin hadn't even processed how this guy had slipped away so easily.

Looking at his empty hands, he stood there dazed for a moment, then chuckled in amused surprise.

Xie Yunshen had already walked a few steps away when he suddenly turned back and asked, "What's your room number?"

Lin Jin grinned. "Finally seen the light?"

"Seen what light?"

"Ditching the dark side (pointing at Yan Shiqi ahead) for the light (pointing at himself)."

Xie Yunshen turned and walked away.

Lin Jin shouted after him, "Hey, you asked for my room number, but I haven't told you yet!"

Yan Shiqi stopped walking, the tension around him thickening noticeably.

"My room number is B03," Lin Jin tossed in. "I know you miss me, but don't come disturb my date with Jinyan."

Ugh, straight men dealing with straight men—so overconfident, right?

Xie Yunshen belatedly realized: It's actually not A01?

Yan Shiqi's gaze, fixed on the emptiness ahead, gradually turned frosty.

Inside the suite.

Even Xie Yunshen, with his exceptionally thick skin, could sense that the big boss wasn't very happy today.

The whole atmosphere was as heavy as the eye of a storm, seemingly calm and peaceful, but in the outer circles, a storm was already brewing.

Yi Wuyi felt he couldn't quite handle the pressure and spoke up first. "Mr. Yan, I'm going to bed first."

Yan Shiqi glanced at him and gave a silent nod.

As Yi Wuyi left, Xie Yunshen shot him a betrayed look: How could you leave me alone here?

Unfortunately, Yi Wuyi was unfeeling, not even looking back as he turned and walked out the door.

"Mr. Yan, I'll go stand guard outside," Xie Yunshen said, about to head out.

"Come here." Yan Shiqi's voice wasn't as calm as usual, edged with rare irritation.

Xie Yunshen turned back.

"Weren't you tired? Sleep here." Yan Shiqi softened his tone.

Xie Yunshen was puzzled. "But there's no bed for me here."

Yan Shiqi nodded toward the bed inside.

"Isn't that your bed?"

Before Yan Shiqi could speak, Xie Yunshen immediately put on a look of understanding. "Sleeping here means I can protect you anytime."

"I'll only sleep for three hours." Xie Yunshen had no hesitation, taking off his jacket.

Following Yan Shiqi's habit of sleeping on the right side, Xie Yunshen thoughtfully slept on the other side to avoid messing up the right.

Yan Shiqi sat on the sofa opposite the bed. As Xie Yunshen lay on the bed and turned, they locked eyes.

There was a weird sense of pressure.

Xie Yunshen had to close his eyes and feign sleep, suspecting this was why Yi Wuyi had bolted early.

Yan Shiqi held a glass in his hand. The crystal-clear glass illuminated his pale lips. He drank not to quench his thirst, but just to moisten his mouth. His deep eyes revealed he was lost in thought.

He suddenly spoke. "Did you talk to Yi Wuyi about something yesterday?"

Xie Yunshen opened his eyes, wondering if he'd heard right because the voice sounded a bit gentle.

Xie Yunshen thought back.

"I asked Yi Wuyi why you seemed unhappy. He said I'm like a dog."

Yan Shiqi looked up at him. "Why?"

"He said dogs need to rub against their owners every day! You tell me if that's fair!"

Yan Shiqi laughed.

Xie Yunshen felt a bit hurt. This laugh basically meant he agreed.

"So?"

"So I thought, I should mind the distance. Is being compared to a dog flattering?"

Yan Shiqi stood up, walked to the bedside, and gazed straight into his eyes. "No need for that. Just act like before."

When he leaned closer, the presence he exuded made Xie Yunshen feel odd inside, his heart beating a bit erratically.

"So you also think I'm like a dog?" He was still hung up on this question.

Yan Shiqi reached out and ruffled his hair with just the right pressure, making Xie Yunshen slightly close his eyes.

It was really comfortable and warm.

Yan Shiqi said, "Who else besides a dog would enjoy being petted like this?"

"...That's not true."

Yan Shiqi withdrew his hand.

Xie Yunshen immediately leaned his head closer. "Don't stop all of a sudden."

Yan Shiqi smiled, his fingers slipping into the short hair, his warm palm pressing against the scalp as he gave it a rub.

Xie Yunshen was so comfortable he nearly drifted off, when suddenly his eyes snapped open again.

"Go to sleep." The curtains were lowered, and Yan Shiqi's typically deep gaze was shrouded in the shadows.

"Then promise me you won't leave."

"I'll be right here." Yan Shiqi returned to the sofa.

Xie Yunshen closed his eyes. The scent of Mr. Yan lingered on the pillow.

He realized a bit belatedly—did Mr. Yan mean they didn't need to keep a distance, or just not make a point of it?

But still, when telling someone to sleep, was it necessary to be so sharp just now?

That was his final thought as he fell asleep.