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Chapter 40: I want to cherish you.
In this winery, Huo Niansheng didn’t have a private room, and the accommodation provided was a standard hotel-style room with a large bed.
Chen Wengang handed his phone to Huo Niansheng.
As the elder brother, he sneered at the unknown number on the phone and said, “So embarrassing.”
He was referring to Huo Jingsheng.
Huo Jingsheng’s clever idea was ridiculed by his elder brother as a pretentious act. In fact, Chen Wengang had encountered this second young master from the Huo family in his past life. He was somewhat successful but had more failures, and he wasn’t very courageous. If it weren’t for the support of the second uncle from the Huo family, he wouldn’t have been so audacious.
But Huo Niansheng found it strange that Chen Wengang was so daring—he dared to follow anyone who invited him. Fortunately, today, it was in his hands.
Chen Wengang casually brought down the tablet, and Huo Niansheng didn’t even bother to look at it, throwing it on a chair.
The business world was just like a battlefield, and the use of surveillance cameras and bugs in social circles was not uncommon.
However, Huo Jingsheng not only checked Chen Wengang’s phone but also tracked his location.
Huo Niansheng pinned Chen Wengang to the bed and whispered in his ear, “I’ll help you settle this score. How about cutting off one of his little fingers?”
Chen Wengang laughed beneath him, “What nonsense is this?”
Huo Niansheng lowered his head, capturing Chen Wengang’s thin lips and silencing whatever words were about to follow.
It carried a comforting undertone. The two entwined in an intimate embrace, exchanging a kiss.
After having enough fun, Chen Wengang lay back on the bed, reaching out to gently trace from the bridge of Huo Niansheng’s nose to his chin. Huo Niansheng turned to the side, lying next to him, supporting his head with one hand and playing with his hair with the other, allowing him to explore his face carefully.
“Be careful of the people around you,” Chen Wengang said. “Master Huo has a big family and a big business, with many people around. There might be many schemers.”
“Worried about me?”
“I’m just a small character, not worth scheming against. You’re different; anyone who can scheme against Master Huo is truly skilled.”
“Listen, this sounds more like you’re scolding me in a roundabout way.” Huo Niansheng finally sensed that something was off. “I think it’s more like you’re cursing me.”
Chen Wengang, ticklish, arched his body and pleaded for mercy repeatedly.
Huo Niansheng used his thumb to wipe away the tears that formed from Chen Wengang’s laughter.
Chen Wengang’s fingers finally rested on the arch of Huo Niansheng’s eyebrow, covering half of his face.
He pondered what to say, but Huo Niansheng’s guarded heart seemed like a double-edged sword. Just like those friends couldn’t extract Chen Wengang’s name from Huo Niansheng’s mouth, Chen Wengang couldn’t find an opportunity to bring up the topic of the Huo family from him.
In the end, he had to temporarily give up and call him, “Huo Niansheng.”
Huo Niansheng’s eyes deepened, and he asked with a humble tone, “What’s the matter?”
After a moment of hesitation, under his watchful eyes, long fingers slowly unfastened the top button of his shirt.
A curve appeared at the corner of Huo Niansheng’s mouth.
Leaning down by his ear, with a slightly intoxicated scent of alcohol, he said, “Don’t move; I’ll take care of you.”
Chen Wengang’s movements paused, his fingers still resting on the button he had just undone.
Huo Niansheng tucked his hair behind his ear, slowly moving upwards until he held that hand, gradually tightening his grip.
Taking the lead, he reversed the roles, holding onto Chen Wengang’s hand and guiding him to undo the remaining buttons one by one.
The atmosphere was relatively harmonious. Suddenly, Huo Niansheng raised his hand, and Chen Wengang instinctively closed his eyes, tensing slightly.
The defensive reaction was ingrained, even though he immediately realized it and opened his eyes.
Huo Niansheng simply propped his arm on the bedside table, opened a drawer, and took out a box.
Some emotions don’t necessarily need words to be expressed.
He was as tense as a rusted spring.
The drawer was still open, with a wide gap, and had an unopened box inside.
With a thud, Chen Wengang sat up first, holding his hand, “I…”
Huo Niansheng patted his arm and pulled his hand out, “If you don’t want to, just go to sleep early.”
Men always have times when they don’t feel like it, but the situation from the last time was vivid in their memories, and they both knew it. Huo Niansheng didn’t reject him or demand complete compatibility, but it couldn’t be the same every time. Continuing today, what difference would it make from the last time?
He got off the bed from one side and went to the table to pour water.
Twisting open the cap of a purified water bottle, two arms looped around his waist from behind.
Chen Wengang rested his forehead against Huo Niansheng’s sturdy back, “It’s not that I don’t want to.”
Huo Niansheng sighed, “Darling, I want to cherish you. The problem is, what do you really see me as?”
Chen Wengang opened his mouth, but what he said with his words contradicted what his body expressed. Huo Niansheng wasn’t entirely convinced by his words.
Under the milky light of the wall lamp, he closed his eyelids again, his face shrouded in shadows. It’s said that amputees may experience phantom limb pain; he wondered if burn victims had a similar condition. Otherwise, why would an elusive itching sensation seep from the depths of his bones, akin to the lingering pain of an old injury?
Huo Niansheng keenly sensed his silence.
Turning around, he considerately gave him a goodnight kiss, “Let’s forget about it tonight; it was too rushed. Next time, we’ll choose a better place.” After all, it was Huo Jingsheng who haphazardly brought him here, and Huo Niansheng didn’t want to make things difficult for him.
Chen Wengang pulled down his neck and kissed him, attempting to make amends, “…I’m sorry.”
Huo Niansheng said, “Stop apologizing to others all the time. You don’t owe anyone anything.”
On the contrary, he could have trampled many people under his feet, but unfortunately, he wouldn’t. He wouldn’t use his own resources, preferring to keep a low profile while maintaining his integrity. Huo Niansheng felt that he was more suited to being a scholar, spending a lifetime in an ivory tower, untouched by worldly affairs.
However, the restlessness had already set in, but there were always other means.
Huo Niansheng sealed his lips with a kiss.
Chen Wengang closed his eyes.
His eyelashes trembled slightly.
As the night fell, whispers seemed to come from a dream.
The darkness descended, whispers reminiscent of a dream echoed in the air.
Although sharing the same bed wasn’t a first, tonight someone tossed and turned.
Finally, Huo Niansheng reached out with both hands and pulled him into an embrace. “Can’t sleep?”
Chen Wengang turned around, resting his head against Huo Niansheng’s chest and listening to the rhythmic beating of his heart.
He settled down, no longer changing positions, and lost consciousness at some point.
When he woke up again, the room was still pitch black, as if daytime had no intention of returning.
Chen Wengang got out of bed quietly, pulled open the thick curtains, and in an instant, daylight exploded, filling the room with transparent morning light.
Huo Niansheng couldn’t sleep anymore. He came over and pulled him behind the curtain, “Why are you up so early?”
Although there were disagreements last night, after a night’s sleep, their moods changed.
Moreover, feeling restless in the morning, Chen Wengang embraced Huo Niansheng’s neck, allowing himself to be manipulated. “There’s still an early class at school.”
Huo Niansheng rested his chin on Chen Wengang’s shoulder, his arms gradually tightening. “No rush… There will be a driver to take you later.”
After nearly an hour passed, they decided to head downstairs.
The winery provided a simple breakfast. Huo Niansheng had his own driver, who had already finished his meal and was waiting at the door, reading a newspaper.
Chen Wengang had a refined way of eating, but his pace was quick. He quickly finished two sandwiches, considering the time constraints for his class.
Huo Niansheng, on the other hand, didn’t eat much, turning his fork throughout, almost entirely focused on watching him.
Chen Wengang got up and brought two cups of black coffee. One cup had two creamer balls, which was for himself as he didn’t like it too bitter. The black one was for Huo Niansheng, as Chen Wengang remembered his preference for espresso.
Huo Niansheng lowered his head to sniff, but frowned, “No sugar cubes?”
Chen Wengang was taken aback, “There is.” Without thinking much, “Should I go get it for you?”
He got up again and brought it back, but Huo Niansheng laughed, “No need, just asking. I didn’t say I wanted it.”
Chen Wengang understood. He suddenly chuckled, tilted the spoon, and forcefully dropped the sugar cube into his coffee.
Huo Niansheng took a sip of his coffee, thinking that adding more sugar or less wouldn’t hurt anyone. However, he rarely saw the person across from him display such an unclouded smile. He considered that maybe he should smile more, undergo some adjustments, and charm others.
The journey back to the city was smooth. Huo Niansheng and the driver dropped Chen Wengang off at the university gate.
Upon reaching the destination, Chen Wengang got off the car, and surprisingly, Huo Niansheng followed and hugged him.
The embrace seemed a bit sudden, and although Chen Wengang enjoyed it, he was also surprised. He instinctively hugged Huo Niansheng back.
Huo Niansheng whispered in his ear, “Good day.”
During the morning class, Chen Wengang sensed whispers and felt eyes on him. But when he turned around, nothing unusual happened.
During the break, a classmate couldn’t hold back the laughter and finally came over to pat his shoulder and say, “Dude, where did you go early in the morning to pick flowers and provoke trouble?”
Chen Wengang was taken aback, and his classmates couldn’t help but burst into laughter. They even plucked a white flower from the back of his collar.
He twirled the slender, green stem, finally realizing what had happened. He chuckled, flipped through his notebook, and pressed the flower between the pages.
However, Huo Niansheng didn’t make plans for their next meeting, didn’t tell him where he was going, and didn’t ask about Chen Wengang’s schedule for the day.
In good times, everything was fine, and after parting ways, it was clean and neat, without any lingering or dragging of mud.
After class, Chen Wengang had other matters to attend to, so he took a taxi to another location.
Today, Ma Wen, the person in charge, asked him to attend a meeting.
Ma Wen worked for a charity foundation named “Houren Foundation,” which had a fixed charity cooperation with the Zheng Foundation. Chen Wengang had known him since high school, especially during the graduation season book donation event, strengthening their connection compared to his previous life.
Ma Wen had always held high regard for this young man.
Although they had known each other for several years, Chen Wengang used to give the impression of being introverted and silent, always quietly working, and not good at expressing himself.
People grow up, and Ma Wen witnessed this process. He had taught Chen Wengang many things during his adolescence, starting with participating in volunteer activities as required by the school. In the blink of an eye, he was now nearing graduation from university.
Especially in recent meetings, Ma Wen increasingly felt that Chen Wengang had undergone considerable changes, as if there had been a sudden leap in his development.
However, it wasn’t a negative transformation; instead, it reflected maturity and steadiness that had accumulated over time.
Moreover, what the bearded man had said to Qi Tongzhou before was sincere—
The so-called scarcity of talent was a perpetual issue. In plain terms, it meant a shortage of people.
Especially in charity projects, the demand was for individuals with specialized skills and, more importantly, for reliable individuals.
Therefore, Ma Wen had been eager to bring Chen Wengang into the project team. He believed that no one was more suitable for the role than this young man.
The Houren Foundation had a well-established matrix of charity projects. In recent years, Ma Wen’s focus has been on the medical care and support project for orphaned patients, particularly emphasizing the diagnosis, treatment, and assistance for children with intellectual disabilities, autism, Down syndrome, and other mental disorders. Setting up a designated special school was one aspect of this initiative.
With limited energy, Ma Wen could not handle all aspects on his own. Currently, he temporarily serves as the school principal, but he needs a long-term plan for the next five to ten years. If possible, Chen Wengang was a promising candidate for promotion in his eyes.
The reason for not letting him take on a full role immediately was because of his youth and considering his future plan to pursue a master’s degree. Ma Wen supported him in continuing his education, as obtaining a higher degree would undoubtedly be beneficial. In the initial years, Chen Wengang would join the team in a part-time capacity, taking on some management responsibilities. This was not an uncommon situation, as many NGO organizations were predominantly supported by volunteers rather than a large number of full-time staff.
The discussion meeting today aimed to refine some management procedures, and the recruitment of teachers and caregivers was also on the agenda.
When Chen Wengang interacted with Ma Wen as a colleague, Ma Wen sometimes felt as if they had cooperated for many years. It was probably what people called fate.
After the meeting, Ma Wen wanted to introduce a new member of the expert committee to Chen Wengang, who was said to be an advisor in the field of child psychology.
Chen Wengang followed him to the meeting room and encountered a lean but refined middle-aged man.
The face adorned with the crow’s feet even seemed familiar, and he was engrossed in flipping through a newspaper at the bookstand.
With his arm draped over Chen Wengang’s shoulder, Ma Wen introduced them, “This is Mr. Joskin Qiao…”
The man paused for a moment, then, in a gentle yet serious tone, teased Chen Wengang, “Fellow student, where’s your school badge?”
Chen Wengang instinctively touched his chest, and the man burst into laughter. Chen Wengang realized the coincidence and joined in the laughter. He then turned to the man and said to Ma Wen, “This is the supervisor of our high school.” The respect for senior figures was ingrained, especially when dealing with someone responsible for discipline and decorum. He even spoke with a respectful tone, “How have you been lately?”
Joskin was easygoing and extended his hand for a handshake, “Don’t worry, I resigned last year, and you’ve graduated long ago. There’s no reason to fear me now. Currently, I work as a full-time preacher while pursuing a Ph.D. in child psychology.”
With this teacher-student relationship, the atmosphere became more relaxed.
Joskin was pleased and said to Ma Wen, “I remember Wengang; he was a well-behaved student, although he used to break the rules. Even when he deserved punishment, I knew back then that he would certainly achieve something in the future.”
Chen Wengang responded humbly. He usually didn’t care much about others’ gazes, having long trained himself to remain composed in the face of praise or criticism. However, seeing his past teacher holding an entertainment newspaper filled with gossip about him made him feel a bit embarrassed—especially since it was a free subway advertisement newspaper, likely expired, featuring stories about how Huo Niansheng pleased a young master surnamed Chen with a yacht.
Joskin didn’t pay much attention to it and continued chatting with them, casually placing the newspaper back on the stand.
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For every Ko-fi received for a perticular novel, I will release a new chapter!
This is completely irrelevant to the plot, but is this story set in (mainland) China or Taiwan? Certain elements (or their absence) makes me feel it’s the latter. Again, it probably won’t matter to the plot development, but I’m genuinely curious.