Chapter 15 The Protagonist Uke and Four Suitors XV

Chapter 15: The Protagonist Uke and the Four Suitors - Fifteen

"Let's go eat. My treat."

They'd been shopping all afternoon, so Shu Xian must be hungry.

"I want something expensive."

Preferably something that would bankrupt Gu Tingyuan.

"Okay."

Gu Tingyuan agreed readily.

Of course he would agree readily—after that million-yuan watch.

Ugh, his million yuan.

Even though he was very wealthy in this world, he usually didn't spend this much.

Back in his previous world, that amount of money could have set him up for a comfortable retirement.

"Don't feel bad. Here, for you."

Gu Tingyuan took out a black card.

"No spending limit. Use it however you like."

So domineering. He loved it.

Wait, why was he giving him the black card?

That was weird.

He wasn't his boyfriend.

"No."

Shu Xian pushed the bank card back.

He didn't want it.

That would make it seem like they were really close.

But then, thinking about his million yuan, he reached out and took it back.

"Then I'll use it to buy a gift—consider it you giving the money back to me—and then I'll return the card."

He'd buy himself a million-yuan gift too.

Hmm, that made him feel much better.

"As you wish."

Seeing Shu Xian in a better mood, Gu Tingyuan went along with it.

Gu Tingyuan hadn't expected Shu Xian, coming from such a wealthy family, to be such a penny-pincher.

The way he agonized over money was utterly adorable.

"Let's have hot pot."

It had been a while since he'd had it.

Even at home, he ate home-cooked meals.

He really craved something spicy.

"Not going for expensive food anymore?"

"If I want expensive food, I'll go by myself. Let's have hot pot first."

Now that his money was back, of course he wanted to eat what he liked.

"Are you okay with hot pot?" Shu Xian asked.

"Yes."

"Then let's go."

Gu Tingyuan turned the car around and headed to a nearby hot pot restaurant.

"Eat up. You're not already full, are you?"

Gu Tingyuan had been sitting beside him, just watching him eat.

Shu Xian felt a bit self-conscious.

"Yeah, I'm full."

Tsk, so disciplined even in front of such delicious hot pot?

And it seemed he'd only eaten from the clear broth side.

Shu Xian picked up a piece of fatty beef with his chopsticks. "Can you handle spicy food?"

"Yes."

Really? Or was he just saying that?

He dipped it into the spicy oil dipping sauce in his bowl and then placed it into Gu Tingyuan's bowl.

"Try it. It's amazing."

"Okay."

Without hesitation, Gu Tingyuan picked up the fatty beef and put it in his mouth.

"Cough, cough, cough."

The spiciness made him cough a few times.

Oh man, if you can't handle it, just say so. So stubborn.

Shu Xian shook his head. Not being able to eat spicy food was no good. Li Wu loved spicy food too.

"That's way too spicy for you."

"No, no, no. You're just not up to it." This level of spiciness was child's play to him. He used to eat things even spicier than this.

"You wanna try?"

"Huh? Try what?"

Shu Xian asked after stuffing the beef into his mouth.

"Try me."

"Cough, cough, cough."

This time it was Shu Xian’s turn to choke.

Weirdo, since when did he start making dirty jokes?

Gu Tingyuan passed him a cup of tea and patted his back.

"Take it slow, no one's racing you."

Shu Xian glared at him with red-rimmed eyes. This was all *his* fault.

"Don't be mad, tell me what you want and I'll dip it for you."

Gu Tingyuan still coaxed him, like calming a spooked kitten.

Shu Xian’s anger instantly fizzled out.

Of course he wouldn’t refuse someone serving him.

"Then put in the shrimp balls, and that beef tripe—just for fifteen seconds."

"Okay."

Gu Tingyuan rolled up his sleeves and started dropping all sorts of meats and veggies into the pot for him.

Whenever a piece of meat was overdone or underdone, Shu Xian didn't hesitate to call him out on it.

He pointed and criticized, but Gu Tingyuan didn’t utter a single complaint.

Hmm, a teachable student indeed.

He learns fast—this way, when he eats hotpot with Li Wu later, he can cook for him like this too.

Shu Xian started eating with gusto.

He hoped Gu Tingyuan would understand his well-meaning plan someday.

"Ahh, so satisfying."

Shu Xian patted his full stomach and slumped back in his chair, not wanting to move.

"Don't eat so full next time, it's not good for your health."

"Uh-huh."

Shu Xian replied absentmindedly.

This kind of happiness from being full—you CEOs with your custom-tailored three-meal nutrition plans just don't get it.

"Where do you want to go? Or should I take you back?"

"Just take me home."

I'm tired... and getting sleepy.

"Brrring~"

His phone rang, and Shu Xian answered.

"Hello?"

"Honey, your dad and I are back, where are you?"

Qi Yue hadn't seen her son in so long—she heard from Li Wu that he'd been doing so much better lately.

"Mom... Mom, I'm out with a friend, heading home now."

This was his first time having a mother.

Calling out "Mom," Shu Xian felt a strange flutter in his heart.

"That's my boy. Well, hurry home then. Your dad wants to see you too."

Shu Xian was finally willing to call her Mom—he'd been upset about Li Wu’s return before...

But after Li Wu's birthday, the day after tomorrow, Shu Xian would finally understand everything.

Li Wu would inherit the legacy left by his own father.

"Actually, never mind. I'll just grab a cab."

*If Li Wu saw them together and got the wrong idea, it wouldn't be good.*

"Don't be silly. Get in."

Gu Tingyuan guided him into the passenger seat and fastened his seatbelt.

So bossy.

Fine.

"You know where I live?"

"The Shu residence, been there before."

Shu Xian nodded, alright then.

"Wake me up when we get there. I'm gonna take a nap."

Now he was really sleepy.

While waiting at a red light, Gu Tingyuan grabbed a jacket from the back and draped it over him.

Once asleep, Shu Xian snuggled into the jacket and slept even more deeply.

A faint pink tinted his fair skin, his long, delicately curled lashes, his small, cute nose was straight, and his lips were red with a captivating sheen.

He looked utterly kissable.

So peaceful.

Gu Tingyuan took out his phone and took a few pictures of him.

Feeling it wasn’t enough, he leaned in close to take several photos of the two of them before finally putting his phone away, satisfied.

"Sweetie, we’re home."

Qi Yue gently woke her son.

Gu Tingyuan had intended to carry him inside, but as soon as they reached the entrance of the Shu residence, Shu Xian’s mother was already waiting at the door to greet them.

"How come you're with Brother?"

A flicker of confusion passed through Li Wu’s eyes—didn’t Shu Xian dislike Gu Tingyuan?

"He asked me to help pick out a gift for you and invited me to your birthday party."

"Birthday party?"

Li Wu thought back carefully—in his past life, so many things had happened at that birthday party.

It was all Shu Xian humiliating and targeting him.

Is Brother on another mission again?

"Strange, isn’t it?"

"He’s completely different from how he was in the past life."

"He must know something."

Gu Tingyuan muttered to himself, not caring whether Li Wu was listening or not.

"Tingyuan, come in and sit for a while."

Qi Yue invited him.

The Shu and Gu families were on good terms, with business dealings between them, so Qi Yue naturally knew Gu Tingyuan.

"No need, Auntie. I won’t disturb your family reunion."

"I’ll attend the birthday party the day after tomorrow."

Gu Tingyuan said.

"Alright, then come visit more often when you have time, Tingyuan."

"Sure, Auntie."

After bidding farewell to Gu Tingyuan, the group returned home.

Shu Zhen sat imposingly in the main seat of the sofa, his presence commanding even without anger.

"Don’t mind how your dad looks—he actually misses you a lot."

Ms. Qi whispered to Shu Xian.