Shan Yu was sitting in an armchair by the head of the bed, reading a book. His phone vibrated. He picked it up and looked at it. It was a message from his mom. She and his dad were both back.
Shan Yu turned his head to look at Chen Jian, who was lying on his stomach on the bed. He had been asleep for a long time.
He was probably a little tired today.
But Chen Jian’s sleep was usually quite good. He was like a dog, able to fall asleep anytime, anywhere in five minutes, and also able to wake up refreshed at any time.
He got up, covered Chen Jian with a thick blanket next to him, and walked out of the room.
His parents were sitting at the bar. There were a few small boxes on the bar. Based on Shan Yu’s experience, they were probably newly bought hooks.
“Where’s Xiao Chen?” his mom was mixing a drink.
“He’s asleep,” Shan Yu said, sitting down next to his dad.
“Huh?” his mom was taken aback.
“He’s asleep?” his dad also turned his head to look at him in surprise. “Does he sleep that well?”
Perhaps because Shan Yu had always had trouble sleeping, they were a little surprised that Chen Jian, who was so nervous about staying overnight at his boyfriend’s house with his parents there, could fall asleep before one in the morning.
“Should I wake him up?” Shan Yu asked, leaning on the bar and watching his mom mix a drink.
“No,” his dad said. “Why would you wake someone up who’s already asleep?”
“We could chat together,” Shan Yu smiled.
“Give him a break,” his mom said. “He’ll be coaxed out of it in a bit.”
Shan Yu smiled without speaking.
“You’re going back tomorrow, right?” his mom asked, pushing a glass of wine over to him.
“Mhm, the experience group is coming the day after tomorrow. I have to be at the shop. The group is being brought over by a CEO,” Shan Yu said. As he reached for the glass, his dad also reached out. He quickly retracted his hand.
“That’s for Xiao Yu,” his mom said.
“Here,” his dad pushed the wine in front of him again.
“You drink it,” Shan Yu said.
“Your drinks are different. Yours has a higher alcohol content,” his mom said. “Drink it so you can sleep well.”
“Mhm,” Shan Yu responded, took the wine, and had a sip. “It’s good.”
“Your mom’s bartending skills now were all trained by me,” his dad said. “She can open a bar after she retires.”
“She can do it now too,” his mom said.
“Forget it,” his dad said. “I don’t want to keep reminding you, and you always forget.”
“What?” his mom glanced at him. “My illness?”
“Mhm, be careful. Your body can’t keep up with your mind,” his dad said.
His mom clicked her tongue, didn’t speak, and pushed the mixed drink in front of him.
“To your health,” Shan Yu raised his glass.
“To your health,” his dad nodded.
His mom smiled and also picked up her glass. “To your health.”
When he returned to the room, Chen Jian was still sound asleep, lying there without moving.
After Shan Yu washed up and got into bed, he pushed him to roll over, but he didn’t wake up.
“This sleep quality,” Shan Yu said, lying down and turning off the light. “Did I poison you?”
But after lying there for less than two minutes, Chen Jian turned over and threw his arms and legs onto him.
“Get lost,” Shan Yu pushed him back.
But not long after, Chen Jian turned back again, with another thud of his arms and legs.
This person probably had a habit of sleeping with a pillow. Shan Yu got up and took out a large bolster from the cabinet, stuffing it between the two of them.
This time, it was peaceful. Chen Jian indeed hugged the bolster and didn’t move again.
Early to bed and early to rise, late to bed and early to rise, and early to rise even without sleeping.
Shan Yu couldn’t compare to Manager Chen’s workaholic schedule. He felt like he had just fallen asleep when Chen Jian was already getting up quietly.
As soon as he got out of bed, he was startled by the motion-activated nightlight under the bed and said in a low, hushed voice, “Fuck.”
In order not to wake him up, Chen Jian didn’t even wear his slippers. He tiptoed to the bathroom and then tiptoed back into the room, pacing around for a long time.
He even ran to the door and pressed his ear against it to listen.
“Looking for your bag, right?” Shan Yu’s voice came from the bed.
“Mhm, huh?” Chen Jian turned his head, still in a hushed voice. “Fuck, did I wake you up even though I was so quiet?”
“I wake up as soon as the bed shakes,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian walked to the side of the bed and bent down to look at him. “It’s just past seven. You should sleep a little longer.”
“Why are you up so early?” Shan Yu asked, raising his hand to touch his face.
“I just wake up at that time,” Chen Jian whispered. “We should be leaving around eight or nine, right?”
“Mhm,” Shan Yu responded.
“Then you can still sleep for another hour,” Chen Jian said.
“I can’t fall back asleep,” Shan Yu said, turning over and lying on his back. “I’ll get up in a bit. The earlier we leave, the earlier we’ll arrive.”
Chen Jian sat down and fell back onto the bed next to Shan Yu.
He felt a little guilty. He knew that Shan Yu was a light sleeper. If he had waited a little longer before getting up, Shan Yu could have at least slept for another half an hour.
“I don’t have trouble sleeping every day,” Shan Yu said, turning on his side and hugging him, his hand gently stroking his waist. “As long as I don’t have trouble sleeping for several months in a row, it’s not a problem.”
“Mhm,” Chen Jian responded.
“Your bag is still in the living room,” Shan Yu said.
“Huh?” Chen Jian was stunned for a moment. “Didn’t I bring it in yesterday?”
“No,” Shan Yu said. “Go get it.”
“Where did I put it?” Chen Jian asked.
“On the sofa in the living room,” Shan Yu smiled. “What, are you scared?”
“How is that possible,” Chen Jian said. A CEO and a professor probably wouldn’t get up this early. If it were a little later, he might really run into them.
Chen Jian looked down at the little bear pajamas he was wearing, opened the bedroom door, and walked out.
Shan Yu’s home was indeed large. From the door of Shan Yu’s bedroom, there was no way to know what was going on in the living room. But he could hear that the house was very quiet. The soundproofing of the doors and windows was very good, so no outside noise could get in, and it was also silent inside.
They should all be asleep.
Chen Jian walked out of the hallway and glanced towards the living room. The floor lamp by the wall was on, but there was no one there.
Rich people are different. They don’t even turn off the lights at night…
Chen Jian walked quickly towards the living room.
As he passed the dining room, he saw that the lights in the dining room were also on.
He turned his head to look.
At the dining table, President Liu and Professor Shan were sitting there in their pajamas, eating breakfast.
Chen Jian froze on the spot.
“So early?” Professor Shan was also clearly taken aback when he saw him.
“Good morning, Auntie,” Chen Jian had no choice but to turn and take two steps towards the dining room. “Good morning, Professor Shan… You’re up this early too?”
“Professor Shan just came back from a run and brought back breakfast. I always get up at this time,” President Liu smiled. “I’ve bought breakfast for both of you. Do you want to eat now or wait for Shan Yu to get up?”
Thank you, President Liu!
Thank you, President Liu, for giving two options!
She didn’t just ask him to go over and eat!
Thank you, the highly emotionally intelligent President Liu!
“I haven’t washed up yet,” Chen Jian said, pointing at the sofa in the living room. “I came to get my bag. My clothes are still in my bag.”
“Go ahead,” President Liu said.
“Mhm,” Chen Jian responded, quickly went over to get his bag, and then hurried back, not forgetting to say, “Enjoy your meal.”
When he returned to Shan Yu’s bedroom, Shan Yu was already up and was brushing his teeth in the bathroom.
He was leaning against the wall with one hand and holding a toothbrush with the other, staring at the mirror.
“What are you looking at?” Chen Jian asked, looking at him.
“A handsome guy,” Shan Yu said.
“Ah,” Chen Jian responded.
Shan Yu started laughing, spat out the toothpaste in his mouth, and turned his head to look at him. “Did you get your bag?”
Chen Jian came back to his senses and cursed in a hushed voice, “You tricked me!”
“Hm?” Shan Yu raised an eyebrow.
“Why didn’t you tell me your parents also get up at this time!” Chen Jian pointed at the door. “Your dad even bought back breakfast and they’re eating right now.”
Shan Yu smiled without speaking and lowered his head to start washing his face.
“Were you doing it on purpose!” Chen Jian kicked him on the butt.
“You can’t beat me,” Shan Yu said while washing his face.
“It’s fine. You can’t outrun me,” Chen Jian said.
Shan Yu laughed and turned his face to look at him. “You really don’t care about face at all.”
Shan Yu’s face was wet, glittering in the light.
Very beautiful.
He’s not just the most handsome boss in the whole town.
He’s the most handsome in the whole world.
Chen Jian leaned over and gave him a hard peck on the cheek.
The breakfast Professor Shan bought was probably not from a roadside stall. The takeout packaging was very high-end, and the contents were also quite high-end. The steamed dumplings were filled with large shrimp.
“So luxurious?” Shan Yu asked when he sat down. “Did you buy it from a teahouse?”
“It’s a new one that just opened near your great-aunt’s place. It’s been open for half a year. Your dad has wanted to eat it for a long time, but he thought it was too expensive,” President Liu said. “He finally found an excuse today.”
“If you had told him that using these to make bait would catch fish, he would have eaten it on the opening day,” Shan Yu said.
“It’s not convenient to fish here. He just goes to the fishing tackle shop every day to simulate fishing. He only fishes a few times a year,” President Liu said. “He kept talking about the two days he fished at your place.”
“He can go and stay there during the summer vacation to fish. He can pay Xiao Dou’er’s grandfather some tuition and fish with him,” Shan Yu said.
“…Then it would be more cost-effective to just buy fish from Xiao Dou’er’s grandfather,” Chen Jian said, and only after he had spoken did he remember to look around. He saw that Professor Shan was sitting on a chair in the Western-style dining room. He immediately felt a bit embarrassed and quickly lowered his head, stuffing a steamed dumpling into his mouth.
Shan Yu didn’t speak, just laughed silently for a long time.
This business trip was quite successful. The task of making money was completed.
On the way back, Shan Yu didn’t let Chen Jian drive again, afraid that he wouldn’t make it back in time for dinner.
Shan Yu drove much faster. When Chen Jian closed his eyes, they had just gotten on the highway. When he opened his eyes, the familiar mountain road was already outside.
“You really…” Shan Yu’s voice was filled with emotion. “Can sleep.”
“Are we almost there?” Chen Jian asked, pressing his face against the window and looking out in shock.
“Why don’t you just sleep a little longer? When you open your eyes, you’ll be sitting at the table waiting for dinner,” Shan Yu said.
“How did I get so sleepy?” Chen Jian himself was a bit disoriented.
“Am I that good?” Shan Yu asked.
Chen Jian was stunned for a few seconds before he reacted. “Damn it, isn’t it because I was too nervous driving on the highway for the first time, and then even more nervous staying at your house…”
“The key is, you just slept all night, and then you fell asleep again for several hours after you got up,” Shan Yu said, reaching out to touch his forehead. “You don’t have a fever, do you?”
“I don’t think so,” Chen Jian touched his head.
“No,” Shan Yu said. “You’re still weak.”
“Then I’d rather have a fever,” Chen Jian said.
Returning to the small town gave him a particularly solid feeling.
It wasn’t that he didn’t feel solid on this trip. It was also quite interesting. He saw the city where Shan Yu had lived, saw his home, and slept in his bed…
But when he saw the familiar things in the small town, he would suddenly breathe a sigh of relief, and his whole body would relax.
When Da Yin’s sign appeared in front of him, he even had a feeling of coming home.
Everything in the shop was the same as usual. Hu Pan was spinning a pen at the front desk, Lao Wu was dragging a vacuum cleaner, Sanbing and Lao Si were arranging flower stands in the courtyard, Chen Erhu was cleaning the guest rooms with Sister Huang, and Zhao Fangfang had just returned from buying groceries.
When the two of them returned to the shop, no one reacted. It was just the boss and the manager who had gone on a short business trip coming back.
Calm and steady.
Only Sun Nana was not in the shop. She had gone to the city again today. Because Shan Yu really couldn’t think of a better name than ‘Xijian’, she had gone to handle the procedures with this name.
“Actually, it’s quite good,” Hu Pan said, resting her chin on her hand. “Xijian Tourism Project Investment Co., Ltd., Xijian Tourism…”
Maybe. Maybe he would get used to it after hearing it enough.
Chen Jian was flipping through the logbook at the front desk.
Hu Pan’s phone log was much better than the boss’s, neat and clear. The key was that the content of the calls was very reliable, with no ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I’m not sure’.
But from now on, the boss probably wouldn’t have many chances to answer the phone at the front desk.
After President He brought the experience group for a visit, Shan Yu started to get busy with company matters. Although he was still sitting in the office on the fourth floor, he was obviously much busier than before.
The company rented half a floor in a building in the city. Sun Nana and Xiao Ye would be there for about three days a week in the early stages. Chen Jian hadn’t been there yet. From the photos, it looked quite… like a company. Besides Sun Nana and Xiao Ye, they had also hired two male employees, though he didn’t know what they did.
More than a month later, the room on the fourth floor of the guesthouse, next to the sunny terrace, was also “rented” by the company as its office in the small town.
“Can’t you just hang a sign on your own office door?” Chen Jian couldn’t quite understand. “And you’re occupying one of our rooms.”
“This office belongs to Da Yin. We can’t mix them,” Shan Yu said. “It’s not like I’m not paying for the room!”
“Your monthly rent won’t be worth it during the peak season,” Chen Jian said. “If we’re fully booked, your rent will have to go up too.”
“Chen Jian,” Shan Yu looked at him and couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re quite something now.”
“I have no choice,” Chen Jian said. “Dayinis not under your company’s management.”
“We’ll talk about it when we’re fully booked,” Shan Yu clicked his tongue. “I’m going to the city next week. I’m not taking you this time.”
“Mhm,” Chen Jian looked at him. “You’re going to see Lu Jun, right?”
“I’d better take you with me then,” Shan Yu said immediately.
Chen Jian started laughing. “I was just asking casually. Isn’t it Nana who’s in contact with him now?”
“Then why are you still asking!” Shan Yu glanced at him.
“Then what are you going to the city for?” Chen Jian asked.
“To bid on a project,” Shan Yu said.
“Huh? Where is there a project to bid on?” Chen Jian had never really understood the company’s situation. It was only at this moment that he felt the reality of it.
Damn it, it’s starting already?
“The renovation of Shitoubao,” Shan Yu said. “It’s just a small part. We’re just trying to see if it works.”
“Damn,” Chen Jian rubbed his hands together. “I’m suddenly a little excited.”
“This matter is handled by Sun Nana and Xiao Ye. I’m just going to take a look, to join in the fun,” Shan Yu said.
“What if we don’t win?” Chen Jian was a little worried again.
“If we don’t win, we’ll just wait for the next project,” Shan Yu said. “There are plenty. There are some in the old village here too.”
“President Shan,” Chen Jian called him.
“Hm?” Shan Yu looked at him.
“President Shan,” Chen Jian repeated.
“What?” Shan Yu laughed.
“It sounds different from ‘Boss Shan’,” Chen Jian said.
“When we open the next guesthouse, I’ll upgrade you to President Chen,” Shan Yu said, walking to the window, stretching, and looking at the mountains in the distance.
Chen Jian walked to his side and looked out with him.
He rarely stood here and looked out. Anyway, everything outside was something he had seen since he was a child.
But looking out now, it was a little different.
Spring had arrived, the snow had melted, and the mountains had slowly gained color from their withered black and gray.
The tender green shoots that covered the mountains were like a soft blanket, with some of the color of the mountain rocks showing through. But under the sunlight, it was still brightly dazzling.
He glanced at Shan Yu.
Shan Yu also looked at him and smiled. “What are you thinking?”
“…I don’t know,” Chen Jian said, leaning against him, wrapping his arms around his waist, and gently squeezing.
A gust of wind blew, scattering the thin clouds, and the sunlight suddenly poured down, filling their faces.
Chen Jian squinted his eyes. “The sun is nice today.”
“Want to go for a walk?” Shan Yu asked.
“Okay,” Chen Jian nodded.
