Chapter 9

Chapter 9

“Then we'll take this one, and pick a few more,” Shang Zenian said generously.

No problem for him!

“No,” Jiang Cheng was only playing the part of a girl for two months, and Chen Pingzhou’s wife had already prepared plenty of dresses for him. More from Shang Zenian would be a total waste. “I only need this one.”

After typing this line, Jiang Cheng felt his tone might be a bit stiff, so he added “Okay?”

When the phone said those two words, he looked at Shang Zenian sincerely.

Seeing him like this, Shang Zenian was totally helpless.

“Are you sure you don’t want to look at others?” Shang Zenian asked.

Jiang Cheng nodded emphatically, waving his phone's payment QR code in front of the salesgirl to indicate she should ring him up.

The salesgirl hesitated and glanced at Shang Zenian. It wasn’t that she didn’t think the pretty boy could make his own decisions, but Shang Zenian’s tall and imposing figure made people automatically look to him for approval.

But since he liked it, what could Shang Zenian do?

“Do you have any leggings? Get her a pair,” Shang Zenian said, settling for the next best thing.

“Yes, we do,” the salesgirl immediately said. “Hang on, I’ll get them for you.”

The salesgirl fetched a pair of matching leggings. Jiang Cheng didn’t refuse and went back to the changing room to put them on. After wearing them, his legs didn’t feel so chilly, giving him a greater sense of security.

Only then did Shang Zenian say, “Alright, let’s check out.”

“Okay, please come to the front desk to check out.”

Jiang Cheng followed the salesgirl to the front. After carefully cutting off the price tag and scanning the barcode, right as Jiang Cheng was about to show his payment QR code, Shang Zenian handed over a bank card.

“Put it on my card.”

Jiang Cheng quickly waved his hand, indicating he would pay himself. After all, he was now a “wealthy heiress,” and to fit that persona, Chen Pingzhou had transferred 50,000 yuan to his WeChat to handle situations like this.

He extended his payment code, signaling the salesgirl to scan his.

Seeing him not wanting to let him pay, Shang Zenian found it both amusing and exasperating. He leaned in slightly and whispered by his ear, “Don't fight me on this. We're in public—do me a solid.”

Uh... As a man, Jiang Cheng instantly understood that stupid pride. After thinking for a moment, he pulled his hand back and typed, “Then you pay.”

The salesgirl swiped the card and handed back both the card and the receipt. Jiang Cheng glanced at the amount on the receipt and suddenly widened his eyes, suspecting he had misread it. He reached out and took the receipt from Shang Zenian’s hand.

He double-checked. No mistake. A skirt with that little fabric cost 18,000 yuan?!

And these plain-as-can-be leggings were 699!

Hello? Are we in Hong Kong or South Korea? Are we even using the same currency?!

Jiang Cheng, a broke guy who wore three pairs of briefs for ten yuan, had his mind blown by these prices.

Seeing him staring at the receipt looking like he questioned life, Shang Zenian asked, “What’s wrong?”

*Just floored by the prices in your rich world.*

Jiang Cheng typed on his phone to show Shang Zenian: *So expensive.*

Shang Zenian hadn’t even noticed the price. He leaned in to look, and upon seeing the figure, he laughed. Knowing her spending habits wouldn't change overnight, he said nothing—just reached out and messed up Jiang Cheng's hair.

Jiang Cheng was so floored by the price he didn't even care that Shang Zenian touched his head again.

He clutched the receipt, on the verge of tears. Now he wasn't just messing with his feelings—he was also scamming money out of him.

“Let’s go have dinner.”

Just as Shang Zenian was about to lead him away, the salesgirl called out, “Wait, miss, you forgot the dress you changed out of.”

Another salesgirl brought out the dress Jiang Cheng had worn in the changing room and was about to pack it up for him. Shang Zenian said, “No need. Just toss it, please.”

Jiang Cheng felt a pang of regret—it was only worn once. He took out his phone and typed for Shang Zenian to see: *Let’s take it. I can wash it at home.*

“Bloodstains are hard to clean. It’s fine—your uncle has money, and your mother left you quite an inheritance. No need to pinch pennies for them.”

“...” *That’s not my money!*

“Come on, let’s eat.”

Jiang Cheng had no choice but to reluctantly leave, telling himself it was just one dress. Never mind—Mrs. Chen had prepared plenty for him to wear.

Leaving the clothing store, Jiang Cheng typed on his phone: *I’ll treat you to dinner!*

Since he'd accepted such an expensive dress from him, the only way to repay the favor was with a meal.

He quickly typed again: *Hang on, let me check what’s good nearby.*

Shang Zenian could tell she didn’t want to owe him, and how she insisted on splitting things down to the penny was kind of cute.

Everyone has their pride and principles, so Shang Zenian didn’t insist. Instead, he said, “Let’s go somewhere else. Not in this mall.”

Hearing this, Jiang Cheng assumed the mall didn’t have good food. But after pulling up nearby restaurant recommendations, he realized it was probably because this mall was upscale—the restaurants inside were ridiculously expensive, with average costs easily over a thousand per person.

*Why not just reach into my wallet and grab it?!*

Jiang Cheng complained to himself and quickly typed: *No, I don’t want to walk. I’m hungry. You don’t need to save money for me—Uncle gave me money! Look!*

He opened his WeChat balance and showed him the 50,000 yuan inside.

Shang Zenian had indeed been worried she might feel reluctant to spend, since spending habits don’t change overnight.

But after seeing her WeChat balance, he got why she thought the skirt was expensive—Chen Pingzhou was way too stingy.

If he’d put a few hundred thousand or a million in her wallet, she wouldn't bat an eye at 18,000!

Hmm, he had to hustle for the bride fund and bring her home soon. Then he'd hand over his paycheck to his wife, and she could spend any way she wanted.

“How about hitting up this BBQ joint?” Jiang Cheng typed, showing Shang Zenian the restaurant he’d chosen.

This BBQ place had a per-person cost of 1,100 yuan. Jiang Cheng felt like he was really leveling up.

But this kind of social reciprocation was necessary, so it should go under normal expenses, right? Chen Pingzhou wouldn't deduct it from the 200k he gave him… would he?

“Are you sure you don’t want to go outside? There's a food street close by,” Shang Zenian said.

Jiang Cheng typed: *No need. Come on, let's go—I'm starving!*

Shang Zenian didn't insist further: "Then let's go."

The barbecue restaurant was on the sixth floor. Shang Zenian glanced at the escalator and said, "This way."

The two walked toward the up escalator.

Jiang Cheng's dress showed off his killer long legs, drawing all eyes. Since he disliked wearing shorts, his skin, rarely seeing the sun, was almost glowing pale.

Add in his ridiculously handsome face, he attracted countless gazes along the way.

Jiang Cheng, though, was totally oblivious, just walking along without a clue.

Shang Zenian's face darkened at the creepy stares from some men.

If not for him walking beside Jiang Cheng with a grim, intimidating presence that kept creeps away, someone might have whistled at him.

Just as they were about to reach the escalator, Shang Zenian glanced at the sign and said in a low voice, "Let's take the elevator."

Jiang Cheng, puzzled but obedient, followed Shang Zenian to the elevator.

The elevator happened to stop at their floor, and they were the only two passengers.

Jiang Cheng pressed the button for the sixth floor and the door close button. As the elevator doors slid shut, he heard Shang Zenian's cold, deep voice: "I really want to hide you away, so no one else can see you."

Huh? Jiang Cheng turned around in confusion, meeting Shang Zenian's intensely possessive gaze.

His eyes were like black ink in ice—dark and heavy, jealousy and possessiveness swirling, burning with a desire to consume him, as if they wanted to wrap around him, devour him, and claim him as their own.

It wasn't fierce or frightening, but it was direct and intense.

Is this... right?

For no reason, Shang Zenian was acting crazy!

Being stared at with such blatant desire by a man of the same sex made Jiang Cheng's scalp tingle. He felt an urge to run away immediately.

He fought the urge to run and typed out a confused message: "Why?"

"Do you realize how many eyes those legs of yours just attracted?"

"..." He had no idea.

Still, he felt a little awkward and pulled the hem of his dress down a bit: "Is it too short? Then I won't wear it again."

To be honest, he had never even worn shorts this short...

But the dress cost eighteen thousand, and he had only worn it once.

He couldn't think about it; thinking about it would suffocate Jiang, the little pauper.

"No need," Shang Zenian paused and suddenly let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Right now, as a good man, I should say you have the freedom to dress how you like. If you like wearing short skirts, I won't interfere, but..."

"Well, I admit I'm not that generous. I'm a terrible person. You look beautiful in this dress, but I only want you to wear it for me. If anyone else gives you a second glance, I'll feel like they're trying to steal my treasure."

"..."

Then he definitely wouldn't wear it again!

Hmph, 'only for me to see'—in your dreams!

Just then, the elevator dinged to signal they had arrived at the sixth floor. Jiang Cheng hastily typed "Got it" and strode out quickly.

Anyway, he would never wear it again!

The barbecue that cost 1100 per person was indeed delicious. The meat was clearly fresh, and according to the waiter, it was A5 Wagyu steak flown in from Australia. It sounded high-end, though Jiang Cheng didn't quite understand.

After they finished eating, it was already late. Shang Zenian knew he had been tense all afternoon and needed rest, so he planned to take him directly back.

"Don't I need to stay at the hospital?" Jiang Cheng typed.

"You can't get into the ICU. There's a professional caregiver keeping watch outside. Your uncle is definitely there. If you go, there's nowhere for you to rest, and they'll have to arrange things for you. Don't you remember this afternoon?"

Jiang Cheng recalled how, in the afternoon, he had been like an outsider, with no one paying him any attention. If Shang Zenian hadn't come to rescue him, he would probably still be consumed by guilt and anxiety.

To avoid repeating that, he didn't insist.

After all, he was just putting on an act. Playing the dutiful son was enough.

Shang Zenian had driven his own car, the same Cullinan from last time.

Once he sat in the car, Jiang Cheng truly realized how short the dress was. No matter how he positioned his legs, they inevitably crept up as he sat, revealing his pale thighs.

He had to place his hands on his legs, pulling at the hem.

Shang Zenian opened the driver's door, about to get in, and noticed Jiang Cheng's awkwardness. Without saying anything, he just opened the back door, took out a suit jacket, and placed it over Jiang Cheng's legs.

Jiang Cheng hadn't expected Shang Zenian to be so considerate and gentlemanly. He quickly picked up the jacket and covered his legs completely.

The jacket must have been Shang Zenian's own. It had a faint, subtle scent, the same as the one on Shang Zenian himself—very pleasant.

He typed on his phone: "Thank you. You're really a good person."

Shang Zenian: "..."

The Chen residence wasn't far. Soon, the car stopped outside the Chen family's mansion. Jiang Cheng unbuckled his seatbelt, paused for a moment holding the jacket, and typed: "Do you need me to take it back and wash it for you?"

"No need." Shang Zenian took the jacket directly and, seeing that Jiang Cheng opened the car door without hesitation and stepped out, gritted his teeth, unbuckled his own seatbelt, and got out.

Jiang Cheng was just unlocking the courtyard's small gate with his fingerprint when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see Shang Zenian approaching. What did that guy eat to get so tall? He towered over Jiang Cheng, who at 176 cm looked petite next to him.

He walked up to Jiang Cheng, looking down at him in a way that was incredibly imposing. Jiang Cheng swallowed involuntarily, his back against the gate, and looked at him questioningly.

"When will you have your answer?" Shang Zenian asked, seemingly out of nowhere.

Jiang Cheng blinked. An answer to what?

"To our relationship."

Shang Zenian's gaze fell on the boy before him. Under the moonlight, his beauty was even more dreamlike and otherworldly, as if a celestial being had accidentally wandered into the mortal world. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice came out slightly hoarse: "I'm starting to lose my patience."

"..." Jiang Cheng's scalp tingled. Lose patience for what? To drop his pants and compare sizes?

Business marriages these days are way too fast and totally lacking class!

Author's note:

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