Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Jiang Zhuochen cast a suspicious glance at the man's plump, round face. "I don't even know you. What is there to talk about?"

"Young Master Jiang is so accomplished and deeply favored by Xu Xing. You must be exceptionally talented and intelligent." President Zhang pushed forward a young man who had been waiting nearby, one with delicate and handsome features.

"Young Master Jiang, this is Xiao Lin, an exceptional student from the film academy. He greatly admires Xu Xing and has been hoping for a chance to meet him, just to pay his respects." President Zhang lowered his voice, leaning in. "You see, you're so close to Xu Xing... Could you perhaps... put in a good word for him, make a simple introduction? If Xu Xing would just grace our company with a chance to collaborate, anything is negotiable!"

Xiao Lin's words were as sticky as syrup. "You must be Young Master Jiang. I've heard so much about you."

Jiang Zhuochen couldn't fully grasp the deeper logic behind the word "introduction" in this context; he only felt the scene was exceedingly strange.

Seeing he didn't refuse immediately, President Zhang thought there was hope and upped the ante with blatant desire and calculation. "Young Master Jiang, don't worry. Xiao Lin is very sensible, knows his place perfectly, and would never upset you. Later... if Xu Xing likes him, the two of you could accompany him together. Wouldn't that be livelier and more considerate? For someone of Xu Xing's stature, having more people to attend to him is only fitting, right?"

He rubbed his hands together, his eyes gleaming with cunning. "As for your benefit, that's absolutely guaranteed! This obscene amount, how about it?" He made an exaggerated gesture with his fingers. "Or... do you want something else? Resources? Or... Xiao Lin is actually quite willing to befriend you first."

Jiang Zhuochen was utterly bewildered by this barrage of words. *Wasn't it about serving Xu Xing? Why should I worry about whether Xiao Lin is sensible or not? Xu Xing has a steady stream of domestic helpers coming to his house; I don't have to lift a finger, which makes me perfectly happy.*

*Besides, it's just introducing someone. Why offer money and resources? And why couldn't I be friends with Xiao Lin after introducing him? What kind of logic is that?*

Jiang Zhuochen bit his lip, lost in thought, momentarily speechless. His face showed only a tangled confusion. This brief silence, in the eyes of different people, was easily twisted into the hesitation and calculation of someone weighing their price.

At that very moment, the light at the entrance to the terrace suddenly dimmed.

Xu Xing stood there, his face hidden in the interplay of light and shadow, his expression unclear. But the chill emanating from him was almost enough to freeze the air in that area solid. He clearly hadn't just arrived.

His sharp, blade-like gaze first swept over President Zhang, who was breaking out in a cold sweat, and Xiao Lin, before firmly fixing on Jiang Zhuochen's face, which was full of bewilderment.

Especially that ambiguous attitude of his—not immediately refuting or angrily denouncing the offer.

A nameless fury surged within Xu Xing. A short, cold laugh escaped his throat, so faint it was almost imperceptible, and the corner of his lips curled into an indifferent arc.

He walked forward slowly, each step seeming to land on President Zhang's frantically pounding heart. The overwhelming pressure made President Zhang's legs go weak; he almost stumbled.

"President Zhang," Xu Xing spoke, his voice no different from usual. "You've really gone to great lengths. You even trouble yourself to arrange so thoughtfully what kind of people I need around me."

"X-Xu Xing! It's a misunderstanding! That's not what I meant! I was just, just joking, having a chat with Young Master Jiang..." President Zhang stammered incoherently, shaking his head so hard it was a blur.

"Joking?" Xu Xing raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on the trembling Xiao Lin. A single glance was enough to make the latter collapse uncontrollably. "Since when do people like you get to joke about what's mine? Even presume to make decisions for me?"

Jiang Zhuochen shrank his neck, looking left and right. *Wait, why are they arguing now?* He tentatively tugged at Xu Xing's sleeve, only to be met with a glare when the man turned his head.

He withdrew his hand sheepishly. "If you don't want it, just say so. Why be so fierce..."

"President Zhang, take care."

These words fell like a final verdict. President Zhang's face turned ashen, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word. He only knew it was over, completely over.

Xu Xing couldn't be bothered to spare them another glance. He reached out and grabbed Jiang Zhuochen's wrist. The grip was powerful, almost dragging him, leaving no room for argument as he pulled him away from the corner and back into the main hall.

Not a word was spoken along the way.

Xu Xing's jaw was tightly clenched, his lips pressed into a thin line. The low pressure surrounding him made several people nearby who wanted to approach and greet him instinctively retreat. He held Jiang Zhuochen's wrist with force, as if venting some indescribable anger.

Jiang Zhuochen stumbled along, dragged by him. A clear pain shot from his wrist, and his brow furrowed involuntarily. But he was cowed by Xu Xing's terrifying silence and the chilling aura around him, not daring to speak.

He grew even more confused. *It's not like he can't afford to pay. Why get so angry about hiring someone?*

Returning to their original seating area, Xu Xing yanked his hand forward, sending Jiang Zhuochen tumbling into the soft sofa. Xu Xing stood before him, looking down from above, still not saying a word. His gaze was as heavy as the sky before a storm, terrifying.

Just as Jiang Zhuochen was about to open his mouth to ask, someone walked up behind Xu Xing without him noticing. Old He, leaning on his cane, asked with concern, "Xiao Xing, is something wrong?"

Jiang Zhuochen closed his mouth, words left unsaid. He could even see the veins bulging at Xu Xing's temples. Xu Xing's Adam's apple bobbed violently as he leaned down, pressing close to Jiang Zhuochen's ear. "I'll settle this with you when we get back."

As soon as the words fell, Jiang Zhuochen felt a sharp pain in his earlobe. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xu Xing slowly retracting his hand. When he looked up, Xu Xing had already composed himself and turned to socialize.

The banquet lasted late into the night. After several of the most influential elders left, Xu Xing wordlessly pulled Jiang Zhuochen along and headed home.

The engine roared all the way, the accelerator hovering around the speed limit. The tension that had built up over hours finally reached its breaking point only after they returned to the villa, completely shutting out the outside world's glamour and noise.

Xu Xing released his grip. A glaring red mark was already visible on Jiang Zhuochen's fair wrist. He turned to face Jiang Zhuochen, his voice cold as if dredged from an ice cellar. "What were you doing standing there dumbfounded earlier? Didn't I tell you to stay put and not wander off?"

Jiang Zhuochen rubbed his wrist. Before he could fully untangle the jumbled mess of thoughts in his head, he was taken aback by this harsh, rapid-fire questioning.

This reaction only fueled Xu Xing's anger further. He loosened his tie, bracing one hand on the sofa, forcing the other to look up at him.

*I really feel like slapping you right now.*

*If it weren't for this face of yours...*

Jiang Zhuochen didn't take his scolding to heart. Slowly, he realized there was a misunderstanding between him and these people, but due to Xu Xing's aggressiveness, he didn't want to ask exactly where the discrepancy lay.

He turned his head away, his body leaning back, deforming the soft sofa. This movement provoked an impatient click of the tongue from Xu Xing, who reached out to press against the back of his neck with one hand while using the other to grip his chin, restricting his movement.

"Talk."

Jiang Zhuochen gave a sudden push, surprisingly failing to move him. After a second's hesitation, he gave up on using spiritual power and began to struggle instead. In the chaos, he opened his mouth and bit down on the fleshy part of Xu Xing's hand between thumb and forefinger, using as much force as he had just pushed with. He could feel Xu Xing's fingers tremble for an instant before remaining perfectly still, letting him bite.

He slapped Xu Xing's hand away, pressed his lips together, picked up a nearby cushion, and threw it, covering Xu Xing's face. He then tried to slip away from the side.

A long arm shot out horizontally, wrapping around his waist and pulling him backward. In the moment of weightlessness, he vaguely heard a sigh before being enveloped in a tight embrace, unable to move.

Xu Xing pressed his head against the crook of his own shoulder and said helplessly, "You'll be the death of me."

"You started it by being fierce," Jiang Zhuochen mumbled, his voice as faint as a mosquito's.

The warm breath against his collarbone sent a fine, tingling itch across his skin. Xu Xing could only rub the back of Jiang Zhuochen's neck to soothe it, his voice gentle. "Shouldn't I be fierce when you don't listen?"

Jiang Zhuochen pouted. "But you wouldn't listen to my explanation..."

"It's clearly you who wouldn't say anything." Xu Xing gritted his teeth. He had been so angry he'd wanted to blow up Zhang's company headquarters on the spot. Yet this person hadn't said a single word to clarify, leaving him hanging, and then, when provoked, hadn't hesitated to try and run off. How could he even stay angry? In the end, he still had to be the one chasing after him to coax him back.

"Say what?" Jiang Zhuochen's mouth was pressed against his suit jacket, his voice muffled. "I don't even know why you're angry. I didn't understand a single word they said. If you think having one more person come to the house to work and take care of you is inconvenient, just say so. I really didn't hear anything dirty or sordid in what they said..."

He paused slightly, a dawning realization in his voice as he asked, "Is it because the other party is a competitor, so you can't use someone they recommend?"

Xu Xing was both shocked and amused by this astonishing line of reasoning. *How could I forget this person isn't from here? The local culture hasn't influenced him that deeply yet.*

He suddenly let out a sigh of relief, a complex mix of emotions churning inside him, belatedly realizing he might have overreacted. But in that moment, with someone being practically offered to him and Jiang Zhuochen showing no reaction, he had to admit it was hard not to be angry.

"No... Forget it. It's my fault. I shouldn't have been fierce with you."

Xu Xing lifted his upper body slightly, looking down to meet a pair of eyes that seemed softened, as if on the verge of tears. He reached out to gently brush over them, his voice tender. "Crying again?"

Jiang Zhuochen glared at him, speaking fiercely. "You're the one crying! Stop changing the subject. If you don't explain clearly right now, I'll..."

He trailed off, unable to think of a threat. He glanced around and could only say with feigned anger, "...you'll let me go."

That would be fatal. This sentence struck Xu Xing right in the heart, making him tighten his embrace.

"Hey, I'm warning you not to push your luck..."

Xu Xing whispered in his ear, "Don't you know the difference between serving someone and taking care of them?"

Jiang Zhuochen's ear went half-numb, the low, slightly hoarse voice exploding like fireworks in his mind, leaving his thoughts in a daze.

Xu Xing stared at his flushed face, his eyes darkening with turbulent emotion. With great effort, he restrained his impulse, his palm cradling the other's cheek before slowly sliding down. "Or do I need to personally demonstrate it for you?"

Jiang Zhuochen trembled all over from the touch, instinctively recoiling. Xu Xing spread his hand to press against his ribs, guessing the other was about to start clawing, so he quit while he was ahead and said seriously, "Stay away from people like that from now on, understand? You don't have to be polite to anyone with ulterior motives who approaches you. Just chase them away or call me immediately."

After Xu Xing's actions, Jiang Zhuochen felt utterly lost, like hitting walls in a maze at every turn, a helpless confusion spreading throughout his body with no way to release it. His thoughts and attention were completely hooked, left with nowhere to settle. It took a while before he mechanically replied, his brain finally catching up, "Got it, I'll call you to chase them away..."

This was the answer he most wanted to hear.

Xu Xing gently stroked his hair, each stroke carrying a soothing rhythm.

A profound silence settled over the villa, leaving only the sound of their heartbeats and breaths pressed tightly together in the airtight embrace.

Xu Xing gazed at the person who had relaxed and fallen asleep defenselessly in his arms, then leaned down to place a kiss at the corner of the other's mouth.