Chapter 34: Kid, My Services Are Expensive

Chapter 34: Kid, My Service Fee Is Expensive

"Parents who abuse their children are not worthy of respect. Don't come back here again. If you need anything, I'll help you."

Fu Yan's voice was calm, yet carried a reassuring strength.

The boy's dense, long eyelashes fluttered slightly, as if making a promise or giving himself a pep talk.

"This is the last time I'm coming back. I won't give them another cent from now on."

"Mm, well done. When others bully you, you have to learn to fight back." Fu Yan let go of the boy's chin, but his gaze still lingered on his lips. "You've made progress, kid. I should praise you."

Fu Yan's tone was like a parent praising a child who got high marks.

After spending some time with Fu Yan, Du Yang felt much better, no longer trembling or uncomfortable. And that comment about praise made his mood improve a lot.

It felt like coaxing a child, but it totally worked on Du Yang. You could see the smile starting to form in the boy's eyes.

"How are you going to praise me?"

"Lollipop or a cupcake?" Fu Yan asked.

"Cupcake!" Lollipop didn't sound like a proper reward, so Du Yang chose cupcake without hesitation.

Fu Yan dropped his gaze, his face unreadable. He hummed softly, clicked his seatbelt, and started the car.

Du Yang stared at the scenery flying by outside, feeling at peace.

Today he'd been brave, played it smart, pissed off the old hag, gave her a warning, and made her nervous.

Du Yang glanced sideways at the man driving intently; even his profile was that handsome.

This man was actually going to reward him.

This was the first time someone praised him for his progress and gave him a reward.

-

On Monday morning, Fu Yan changed his routine, waking up forty minutes earlier to make breakfast for two.

Du Yang also managed to hitch a ride in Fu Yan's car to work.

Old Zhao saw through the rearview mirror that the marks on Du Yang's face were barely noticeable, and he was still going to work with the boss. Looks like he'd been crashing at the boss's place the last couple of days.

As a father figure, Old Zhao thought the boss was a bit old for him.

But it was good that he could protect Du Yang; older folks know how to take care of people.

Looks like he'd have to pick up the boss forty minutes earlier for the next few days.

When they arrived at the company, Du Yang changed into his janitor uniform and first went to the break room to make coffee for Fu Yan, then brought it into the office.

"Chairman Fu, your coffee. Take your time drinking it. I'll come back later to come grab the cup."

Fu Yan hummed in acknowledgment. He watched the boy's back as he left the office, then withdrew his gaze, took a sip of coffee, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Chen Miao came out of the elevator carrying his bag. Du Yang had just finished wiping and mopping the floor, and greeted Chen Miao with a faint smile in his eyes.

"Good morning, Assistant Chen!"

"Morning." Chen Miao couldn't manage a smile. He had mixed feelings.

As the special assistant to the chairman of Fu Corporation, Chen Miao was well-informed. He found out about Du Yang getting beaten by Du Debao on Friday night by Saturday.

Thinking back to Friday night, he'd gone to the boss's place to bring Du Yang clothes and the doctor's anti-swelling cream for the boss.

And then he'd said all that crap to the boss.

He'd even wished them a wonderful night together.

He wanted to kick himself.

The boss didn't care about his nonsense, but it made him die of embarrassment right then and there.

It must've been because he'd worked his ass off as an assistant for eight years that the boss let it slide.

Chen Miao studied the smiling boy in front of him.

This kid is so tough.

"Du Yang, I'm sorry. I didn't know about what happened on Friday night. When I dropped off the clothes, I thought..."

Chen Miao thought of his embarrassing speech again and felt he couldn't go on.

"Thought what?" The boy's eyes widened slightly, looking at Chen Miao curiously.

"Oh, nothing!" Chen Miao couldn't say it no matter what, so he changed the subject on his own. "I'll go to the detention center later and pull some strings to make him suffer a bit more."

"No, don't." Du Yang quickly stopped him. "Don't waste your time on a scumbag."

If Du Debao got crippled or seriously hurt, it'd mess up his plan. He just had to do nothing and let him out as usual.

Chen Miao started to worry that a person like Du Debao wouldn't let things go. "Du Yang, after he gets out, he'll definitely be looking for trouble. You need to be careful."

"Mm, I will. I'm not scared of him. Let him come!" Du Yang tightened his grip on the mop handle, his face turning serious.

Chen Miao relaxed his expression and showed a relieved smile. Previously, when he investigated Du Yang, he'd thought Du Yang was kind of a coward, letting himself get abused like that without fighting back.

Now that Du Yang was starting to fight back, Chen Miao was genuinely glad for him.

In his excitement, big words just came out.

"I've got your back. If you need anything, just say the word. I'm here 24/7!"

"Thank you, Assistant Chen."

Du Yang had just started to thank him when a cool voice came from the chairman's office doorway.

"Assistant Chen's pretty loyal, huh."

Hearing that voice, Chen Miao's hair stood on end. He had been talking nonsense again.

Not to mention whether the boss and Du Yang had been 'getting it on' these past few nights, Du Yang had definitely moved into the boss's place.

That meant Du Yang was the boss's man. What Du Yang needed was the boss to be there for him 24/7.

"Chairman Fu, you're too kind. I still have work to do. You two talk."

Chen Miao hugged his bag and scurried into the office, sat up straight and pretended to be busy.

"Come in." Fu Yan glanced at Du Yang, then turned and walked into his office.

Du Yang put the mop and bucket aside and entered the office.

"Chairman Fu, what can I do for you?" Du Yang walked to the desk, his expression natural, as if nothing had just happened.

Fu Yan also stood by the desk, his well-defined fingers resting on it. He looked down at the young man and spoke in a calm tone.

"That's great, someone's on call for you 24/7."

He knew that with Du Yang's stunning looks, many people would have a crush on him.

Chen Miao, that straight man—he's dated girls before. Why is he butting in, trying to mess with a kid?

Du Yang's eyes shifted. He could tell that this wasn't a compliment.

It sounds like... jealousy?

He wasn't sure.

But he had to speak up quickly!

Du Yang moved a little closer to the man and said in a slightly fawning tone, "Assistant Chen was just being polite. I didn't take it seriously."

"Mm, don't trust just anyone." Fu Yan seemed satisfied with the young man's attitude; his voice softened. After a pause, he added, "You can trust me."

"I trust you." The young man looked at Fu Yan with his beautiful, glistening eyes. "Can you be the one who's on call for me 24/7?"

Time seemed to freeze, and the office suddenly fell silent.

The tips of Fu Yan's fingers, pressed into the desk, turned white.

Could he do that?

Yes, he could.

He relaxed the pressure in his fingertips, then picked up the empty coffee cup on the desk and placed it in front of the young man.

In an amused tone, Fu Yan said, "Kid, my rates are high."

Du Yang, like a deflated balloon, took the cup and turned to leave, muttering under his breath, "If it's expensive, I can sell my body."

His voice was very soft, but he knew Fu Yan had definitely heard it.

As the office door closed, Fu Yan looked away and let out a low, magnetic chuckle.

Sell his body? Would he dare to accept? Would the kid dare to offer?

Soon, Chen Miao entered the office. He sat down nervously, ready to apologize first.

"Chairman Fu, I didn't mean anything else by what I said to Du Yang."

"Mhm, I know." Fu Yan's voice was flat. "You're into women."

Chen Miao suddenly realized: he liked women—he was straight. What was he nervous about? He and Du Yang were brothers!

"I've always liked women; my sexual orientation hasn't changed!" Chen Miao said with a determined expression, as if swearing a solemn oath.

Fu Yan put down the pen in his hand and said in a calm tone, "Chen Miao, I have a task for you."

Chen Miao straightened up, his expression serious. "Chairman Fu, go ahead."

"The annual party is in a few days. Use the party lottery to give Du Yang a laptop." Fu Yan paused. "Arrange it so that during the lottery segment, Du Yang can win the laptop."

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