Chapter 44: Answer Me

Chapter 44 Answer Me

Before going to bed at night, Song Jiang told Fu Zhichen about what he saw in the stairwell involving Ye Qingqing and Fan Jian.

The two lay in bed, Song Jiang with his back to Fu Zhichen.

The scent of cool sandalwood from Fu Zhichen filled the dark room. As usual, he wrapped his arm around Song Jiang's waist and stayed completely calm after hearing what Song Jiang said.

He said flatly, "Steward Song, what does that have to do with me?"

Song Jiang was speechless for three seconds. Well, that was true enough.

For someone as cold-hearted and ruthless as the CEO, he wouldn't bat an eye no matter what happened.

"Mr. Fu, I just wanted to tell you." Song Jiang said matter-of-factly.

"Ye Qingqing is such a good actress. Someone ought to call the Oscar people and get her a Best Actress nomination."

"Otherwise, all that talent would go to waste."

After Song Jiang finished, Fu Zhichen let out a low chuckle from his chest.

He had no idea what went on in his steward's head every day.

Chuckling, Fu Zhichen asked, "Steward Song, do you need my help?"

Song Jiang was taken aback that Fu Zhichen would go along with his joke. He wasn't sure how to respond.

He rarely met anyone who was on the same wavelength as him.

Song Jiang jabbed Fu Zhichen's chest with his elbow. "Mr. Fu, I'm serious."

"Steward Song, I'm serious too. I'm giving it serious thought."

Song Jiang couldn't see Fu Zhichen's expression, but he could tell from Fu Zhichen's tone that he was way more laid-back than at work.

Song Jiang collected his thoughts and said earnestly, "Ye Qingqing is close with Grandma Fu, isn't she? You should warn Grandma Fu to watch out for Ye Qingqing. You can't be too careful around someone like her."

Instead of answering right away, Fu Zhichen switched gears. "Are you saying all this because you're worried about me and my family, Steward Song?"

Where was the CEO's head at?

Of course he was concerned. If the CEO or his grandma got taken down by the bad guys, he'd never see the money they promised.

Without that money, how would he ever get back to his own world?

In a tone as resolute as reciting an oath, Song Jiang said, "Mm, Mr. Fu, you are my boss. Of course I'd be worried."

Fu Zhichen nuzzled his nose into Song Jiang's soft hair. The steward used the same shampoo, so he smelled just like him every day.

It made him feel weirdly content.

"If I weren't your boss, would you still care, Steward Song?"

Fu Zhichen's question caught Song Jiang off guard, leaving him speechless.

Then Fu Zhichen's arm suddenly squeezed tighter, as if demanding an answer right then and there.

"Steward Song, answer me."

Was the answer even the point? The real issue was that he was being suffocated!

The CEO was pulling his usual power move. If he didn't answer, he wouldn't let go, right?

From a basic human decency standpoint, of course he'd care. He couldn't help it; he was kind-hearted.

He worried about stray cats and dogs on the street, homeless and hungry.

As far as he was concerned, Fu Zhichen was no different.

"Of course I would."

In the dark, an involuntary smile crept onto Fu Zhichen's lips.

"That's good to hear, Steward Song."

Song Jiang missed the hint of affection in Fu Zhichen's tone. All he could focus on now was the ache in his waist. After a few minutes of thought, he finally worked up the courage to say, "Mr. Fu, I want to protest!"

For his physical and mental safety, he had to dare to resist capitalism!

"Go ahead," Fu Zhichen said slowly.

"Mr. Fu, does the contract say anything about what happens if Party A injures Party B?"

"Injure?"

A sly glint flashed through Fu Zhichen's eyes in the darkness.

"Steward Song, I didn't use much force."

Song Jiang gritted his teeth. "Mr. Fu, but I feel like my waist is really sore..."

Fu Zhichen loosened his grip a little. "Steward Song, then let's add a clause to the contract."

"If Party A injures Party B, Party A will compensate Party B with a certain amount of money."

"Steward Song, are you satisfied with that?"

As he spoke, Fu Zhichen slid his large hand to Song Jiang's waist and began gently rubbing it.

Before Song Jiang could respond, he asked gently, "Steward Song, is this okay?"

The second Fu Zhichen's hand touched his waist, an electric jolt shot through Song Jiang's entire body.

Hearing that the CEO was going to pay him again, Song Jiang felt a whole lot better.

And... the warmth of Fu Zhichen's palm as he kneaded felt genuinely nice.

Song Jiang gave a soft "mm" in agreement.

He had no idea how dangerously that sound registered with Fu Zhichen.

Holding Song Jiang tightly, Fu Zhichen's body temperature rose higher. He asked in a husky voice, "Steward Song, are you done talking?"

In Song Jiang's ears, this question roughly meant: "Steward Song, are you satisfied with the money I'm giving you?"

Of course he was satisfied.

But he definitely couldn't let the CEO know his little thoughts. Song Jiang just nodded slightly.

Fu Zhichen's voice was very soft, like a breeze brushing by—light, comfortable, relaxing, and somewhat mesmerizing.

"Then let's go to sleep, Steward Song. It's very late."

Drowsiness soon overcame Song Jiang. Just before drifting off, a strange thought crossed his mind.

The conversation he just had with Fu Zhichen gave him this weird vibe of an old married couple chatting before bed.

He must be out of his mind.

It had to be the dizziness from seeing blood, messing with his head.

Yeah, that's it. Definitely.

*

The first thing that woke Song Jiang was his phone. This time, it wasn't an alarm, but the notification of a new text.

Song Jiang groggily reached for his phone on the nightstand and squinted at it through bleary eyes.

In the three-person group chat.

Mei Moyu: [SOS, the boss has lost it!]

Mei Moyu: [He actually told me to come up with five plans to acquire the Ye Group within three days]

Mei Moyu also sent a voice message below. Song Jiang had no idea how he ended up tapping on it.

[Secretary Mei, it's dawn. The Ye Group ought to be bankrupt by now.]

Mei Moyu: [Do you hear what the boss is saying? Is that even human? Where did he learn this new way to squeeze people? Someone save me, save me, save me, save me, save me, save me, save me, save me, save me!]

Fu Zhichen's voice came from above. "Steward Song, why does that sentence sound so familiar?"

"..."

Oh crap. Mei Moyu is toast.

At this thought, Song Jiang's drowsiness vanished completely. He stuffed his phone under the blanket and turned off the screen.

He also buried his head under the covers and said, feeling guilty, "It's no one, CEO Fu. You must have misheard."

Fu Zhichen ran his fingers through Song Jiang's hair, not pressing down. "Steward Song, what do you want to do to me?"

Song Jiang was totally baffled by his words. Do something to the CEO? What does he mean?

Fu Zhichen's voice was low, his words faster than usual, with a hint of suppressed desire.

"Steward Song, you'd better not go any lower. You should understand that guys get like this in the morning. I can't promise what I'll do if you keep going."

Wait.

Song Jiang's first reaction was that he felt very hot, and the heat under his face was getting stronger.

This feeling is definitely wrong.

"..."

His eyes snapped open instantly.

Song Jiang swallowed hard, his thoughts frozen for a few seconds.

Can someone tell him why he woke up this morning lying right here on the CEO's chest?

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