The apartment Nie Luo gave was nice.
Less than fifteen minutes’ walk from the company, and just ten more minutes in the other direction was a small park—perfect for Fan Qing’s morning runs.
The only downside, perhaps, was that the 150-square-meter apartment was meant for one person.
Fan Qing shook his head and tucked away his thoughts.
Tenghuang had been mostly peaceful lately.
The veteran artists were developing steadily, and new talent was gradually being signed.
Everything looked calm and orderly, a picture of normalcy and stability.
Fan Qing stretched and glanced again at the empty, document-free desk.
Very nice.
Indeed, Second Young Master Jin in the office was a sight that brought joy to both body and mind.
Meanwhile, Jin Yi was quietly sobbing in the office.
He couldn’t understand—really, he couldn’t understand!
Clutching a document in his hands, his face was twisted with pain.
How could work in this world be this terrifying?
And what exactly was written on this document?
He couldn’t read it!
The assistant standing nearby spoke at the right moment.
“Second Young Master, would you like me to briefly explain it?”
Jin Yi looked at him with a pitiful glare.
“…I feel like you’re just laughing at me.”
The assistant smiled politely.
“Second Young Master, you jest. Not at all.”
“Hmph, you definitely are.”
Jin Yi flopped the document onto the desk, breathing lazily like a salted fish.
He felt as though his whole body was covered in salt crystals.
He lazily glanced at the assistant with the corner of his eye.
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten you. Weren’t you my brother’s college classmate?”
Hmph. This guy surely wasn’t just laughing at him. Maybe he’d also reported back to his brother, letting him laugh at Jin Yi too!
The assistant looked a little surprised.
“Second Young Master still remembers me?”
He had graduated nearly ten years ago, yet Second Young Master still had an impression of him?
Jin Yi snorted twice, saying nothing.
What else could he do?
Tell this assistant that he had already memorized all his brother’s associates back in college, in preparation for a life of decadent indulgence later?
Hmph, he wasn’t stupid!
This was his little secret. His brother must never find out.
The office fell silent for a while. The assistant glanced at the messages on his phone.
A trace of surprise appeared, quickly replaced by calm.
“Second Young Master, Jin Shao has arrived.”
“…Before we talk about how he ended up in this dump, don’t you think it’s weird that you, as his classmate, call him Shao? Isn’t that strange?”
He couldn’t understand it and felt it was odd.
The assistant opened the door and spoke.
“As far as I know, your friends also call you Second Young Master. It’s the same. Also, Jin Shao, welcome.”
“Hmm.”
A third voice, belonging to an outsider, spoke.
Jin Yi: ???
He flipped over like a salted fish on the desk… and rolled onto his other side.
Well, but that was a mistake.
Jin Yi thickened his face and continued to lounge, only managing to turn slightly toward the doorway.
Goodness, in the middle of winter, still in a three-piece suit with just a coat outside—who else could that be besides his brother, that show-off weirdo?
Jin Yi was still grumbling when he noticed eight bodyguards following right behind his brother.
Jin Yi froze.
“…Bro, I know Elder Ning’s status is highly prestigious, but eight bodyguards just to go out—don’t you think that’s a bit over the top?”
If he remembered correctly, there used to be just two or three at most.
Jin Si glanced at him.
…Why did that look feel like it carried a knife?
Finally, Jin Yi was willing to leave the desk.
Although, as a playboy who didn’t need to work and could casually take dividends and pocket money from his brother,
Jin Yi felt the alarm bells ringing.
The kind that suggested he might not only have to work soon, but might even run out of pocket money!
Thinking about such an apocalypse-like fate, Jin Yi respectfully shuffled forward and handed his brother a bottle of water.
It wasn’t that he was trying to curry favor—his brother already had someone to make tea for him. Besides, his own skills in that area would be suicidal, not flattering.
“Hmm, you’ve actually gotten a little obedient and sensible.”
Jin Si took the water and casually handed it to one of the bodyguards standing nearby.
His gloved fingers peeked out, lightly tapping on the desk in an unhurried rhythm.
“Eight bodyguards—do you think that’s too many? Then pick a number: six or four?”
“Ah? Bro, I don’t think I get to decide… that…”
Jin Yi’s voice grew smaller and smaller as he sank into a daze.
Wait…
His fingers pointed at himself. “For me?”
“For this level? Of course it’s for you.”
Jin Si’s tone carried a slight trace of disdain.
The eight bodyguards in the office stayed silent.
They could sense his disdain, but none of them objected.
After all, they were all from Jin Si’s own team; the top-tier ones who usually stayed by his side were the real professionals.
The gap in capability made any complaints pointless.
“Jin Shao, your tea.”
The assistant suddenly appeared as if out of nowhere, respectfully handing over a cup.
Jin Si glanced at him and took a light sip.
“Your skills haven’t rusted.”
The assistant gave a small smile.
“Well, I was counting on you remembering me, so that when Second Young Master doesn’t need me, you can still bring me back.”
He spoke with a relaxed tone, showing that his private relationship with Jin Si wasn’t bad.
Jin Si simply responded lightly.
“Shouldn’t be long. I think that Fan Qing is pretty good.”
The assistant considered and nodded in agreement.
“If he were one of our original batch, maybe you’d like him even more.”
Jin Si was noncommittal.
“Different. Talented people also have the skill to cause trouble.”
He paused, speaking with implication.
“High standards when it comes to choosing someone.”
Jin Yi was still wondering what big deal his brother was up to that required eight bodyguards.
Hearing the conversation between his brother and the assistant, he sensed something was off.
“Did Fan Qing cause trouble? What happened?”
Curious. Nosy. Openly inquisitive.
After all, the person in front of him was his brother—terrifying as he may be, he couldn’t kill him, and he had to be indulged anyway. Why be afraid?
For the sake of gossip, charge ahead!
Jin Si understood exactly what this brat wanted.
Jin Yi perked up, his intentions obvious.
Jin Si let out a derisive chuckle from his throat, his meaning clear.
“Second Young Master really has selective memory. What happened—wasn’t it the call you made to me?”
Huh?
When did he call his brother…?
Oh!
Jin Yi suddenly remembered.
He gave an awkward chuckle.
“Is it about Old Nie?”
“Wow, Second Young Master still remembers.”
Jin Si sipped again, putting on his gloves.
“Wasn’t that just a few days ago? So, Brother, you’re leaving already?”
Jin Yi was surprised to see him putting on the gloves. He had just arrived—less than three minutes!
Jin Si glanced at his watch.
“I only have five minutes to talk to you. The people are here for your protection. Nie Luo’s matter isn’t serious, but it seems he offended someone named Zhuo. Be careful yourself.”
Five minutes?
Jin Yi felt like he should be moved to tears.
What an epic brotherly love!
His super busy brother was willing to spare five minutes just for him!
But… someone named Zhuo?
Jin Yi couldn’t resist asking.
“Then… does that mean Fan Qing is also in some danger?”
No! Just looking through those files had been torture enough. If something actually happened to Fan Qing…
Thinking about potentially facing the same treatment as his brother made Jin Yi shiver.
Terrifying.
Jin Si put on the other glove.
“Didn’t I give you eight bodyguards?”
Then he patted the assistant on the shoulder.
“Keep an eye on things. Later, when we return, we’ll calculate your bonus together.”
The assistant’s smile was genuine and wide.
“Don’t worry, Jin Shao.”
You two don’t have to make it feel like some kind of human trafficking in front of me, okay?
Jin Yi watched his brother leave, rolling his eyes.
Turning his head, he thought: wow, eight massive guys—no wonder they look intimidating.
But…
Jin Yi stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Was his brother suggesting that some of these eight could be assigned to Fan Qing?
…Tsk.
See? He knew it.
He was still his big brother’s most beloved precious little brother.
Jin Yi happily counted out three of them—not that he didn’t want to give more.
It was just that his brother was that kind of person. If he really gave even one more, his brother would definitely have opinions about it.
Tsk. Old-fashioned.
So classist.
But hey—
Whatever. Who doesn’t have a few minor flaws as a human being?
When Jin Yi cheerfully brought the men over, Fan Qing briefly wondered whether the company had somehow defaulted on a loan shark.
Three hulking bodyguards marched in in a line. Even Fan Qing was taken aback.
“Oh? You heading out?”
Jin Yi slipped out from behind the three brutes. He had been about to announce this as a surprise when he noticed Fan Qing already wearing gloves and a scarf, clearly ready to leave.
“…Second Young Master.”
Fan Qing felt a headache coming on.
As expected, this one was never going to sit quietly in an office.
He swept his gaze over the three men, his temples twitching violently.
“Second Young Master, what exactly is the arrangement with these three?”
“For you, obviously.”
Jin Yi explained simply.
Then he waved toward the outside. “I kept five for myself. Don’t worry about me.”
As soon as he finished speaking, five more burly men flooded in through the door.
For a moment, Fan Qing truly experienced what it meant to be surrounded by men on all sides.
But… people sent by President Jin?
After thinking it over, Fan Qing didn’t refuse.
That surprised Jin Yi.
He leaned in a little, clearly astonished. “I thought you wouldn’t take them. I hadn’t even figured out an excuse yet.”
Fan Qing glanced at him.
So you just said it outright without an excuse, then?
Honestly, that worked much better. Highly recommend using it more often.
“Why would Second Young Master think I wouldn’t accept them?”
Jin Yi rubbed his nose and muttered something under his breath.
Fan Qing suddenly felt his blood pressure rising.
“…Second Young Master, do you think I have superhuman hearing, or ears that are exceptionally sharp?”
That mutter was so quiet it couldn’t even be called a mosquito’s buzz—more like something even mosquitoes would struggle to hear.
Jin Yi’s mouth moved again.
Fan Qing stopped walking entirely.
He really wanted to hear exactly what Second Young Master Jin was trying to say.
Seeing this, Jin Yi steeled himself.
Well, Fan Qing had brought this on himself.
“I just thought… maybe you’d only want things from your husband.”