"Catching a bullet with bare hands, especially from such a close range—this man must be a formidable martial artist, right?"

Zhou You flicked the bullet, striking the man's wrist. What seemed like a casual move resulted in the bullet piercing through the man's wrist.

Amidst the agonizing screams, Zhou You crushed the pistol on the ground with his foot, commanding, "Leave!"

Turning around, Zhou You and the man locked eyes for a long while before he remarked, "This sword is exquisite."

Shao Qi never imagined they'd meet under such circumstances—awkward and uncomfortable, yet filled with endless anticipation.

He handed over the sword, "It's freshly made, a gift for you."

Zhou You's eyes lit up as he took the item and inspected it, testing a few maneuvers with it. It fit his hand perfectly. "I really like it," he said joyfully.

A silent sigh of relief escaped Shao Qi as he began gathering things from the ground. Zhou You bent down to help, and their hands brushed against each other. Scars from burns and cuts marred the back of Shao Qi's hand.

Zhou You grasped that scarred hand, trembling slightly, but said nothing. He moved everything to his side, then asked, "You weren't avoiding me, were you?"

Shao Qi cleared his throat, a hint of guilt in his eyes. Wanting to divert the conversation, he asked, "Have you eaten? Would you like to join me?"

"Yes, I've been without food for two days," Zhou You admitted. Since leaving for a competition the previous day, he hadn't had a chance to eat.

Shao Qi led him back to the mall, selecting the most upscale restaurant. They initially sought a private dining room, but with none available, they settled near the floor-to-ceiling windows. An inexplicable tension hung in the air.

Zhou You quickly ordered some dishes, then, unable to contain his curiosity, inquired, "How's your recovery coming along?"

With a wry smile, Shao Qi replied, "As you just witnessed, even a minor thug can harm me now. I'm practically useless."

Zhou You scoffed, "That's a bit harsh, isn't it? So anyone not a martial artist is useless? I remember a time when you didn't think that way. Or have you always categorized people by their capabilities?"

"You misunderstand. Ordinary people have the potential to rise, they are untapped resources. But me... my meridians are completely destroyed. I likely won't be able to practice martial arts ever again."

"So you can't harness internal energy. But with all the martial techniques you've learned, once you've physically recovered, you could still become a strength-based fighter."

But Shao Qi knew that wasn't feasible. At present, he couldn't even lift heavy objects.

As the food arrived, they ate in silence. Anyone observing them would assume they were mere strangers sharing a table.

Boss Jia had a bit too much to drink. Today's distributor was particularly difficult, and his company lacked eye-catching representatives, making negotiations even trickier.

On that note, he found their new designer quite attractive, especially if one could overlook the scars on his face. Those eyes were particularly captivating.

He had initially considered funding a plastic surgery for the designer. But after seeing his purchasing power today, Jia abandoned that idea, wondering what the man's face looked like before the scars.

As Jia turned a corner, a dashing, charismatic young man entered his field of vision.

Zhou You was in disguise, playing the role of a young office worker. Dressed in a crisp white shirt, black suit, and tie, his flawless handsome face was truly striking.

Tipsy, Boss Jia approached, ready to strike up a conversation. To his surprise, he saw his taciturn designer sitting across from Zhou You.

"Oh, Zhou Qi, dining here as well?"

Splurging on luxury brands and dining in such upscale restaurants, Zhou Qi truly is wealthy!

Zhou You chuckled upon hearing the name, playfully teasing Shao Qi's face, "Husband, I didn't realize you could be so flirtatious."

Thick-skinned as Shao Qi is, had he not been recently rattled, he'd have taken control of the situation. It's rare for Zhou You to affectionately call him "husband."

Shao Qi glanced at Boss Jia, who was staring intently at Zhou You, and sternly said, "Boss Jia, this is my spouse."

Boss Jia had already heard. Internally, he screamed, "Why does a mere designer have such a handsome partner, while I can't find my other half?"

Extending his hand towards Zhou You, he introduced himself, "Pleased to meet you. I'm Jia, Jia Luoming."

Zhou You lightly shook his hand and let go, courteously saying, "Thank you for looking after my husband. If you ever need assistance, feel free to contact me."

Shao Qi immediately offered his resignation to his boss, "Boss Jia, starting tomorrow, I won't be coming in. You can keep this month's salary as compensation for using the equipment."

"What? You're quitting?" The reason Boss Jia felt confident sitting there was because he had discovered this designer was a goldmine. The weapons he designed were always the most popular, and in just half a month, sales had multiplied.

Shao Qi nodded. Now that Zhou You was here, he couldn't keep hiding.

His probation period wasn't over anyway, and he hadn't signed a formal contract, so he was free to leave anytime.

The two settled the bill and left. Boss Jia looked forlorn, feeling as if he had lost two treasures simultaneously.

He wondered about their true identities and assumed he might never see them again.

A waiter approached with a note, "Mr. Jia, a gentleman left this for you before departing. He mentioned his surname is Zhou."

On the paper was a phone number – Zhou You's number, proving he keeps his word.

As soon as they stepped into the house, Zhou You eagerly began to pull at Shao Qi's clothes, "Quick, take it off, let me see!"

Shao Qi grabbed his hand, jokingly saying, "Easy there! I know absence makes the heart grow fonder, but let me shower first."

"Oh, shut up! I... I don't want that. I just want to see your injuries!"

"My, our Principal Zhou has a bit of a dirty mouth. But all external wounds have healed, only this face looks a tad scary."