“……”
“So they just… packed you up and tossed you over here?”
Ms. Tang slapped Tang Chen’s hand away as he tried to sneak a bite, her own hands efficiently handling the various fried foods.
At this moment, she could still stand there calmly, not rushing to scold Zong Cheng directly—he definitely owed her for what was in that pan.
If it weren’t for the memory of Zong Cheng’s deceased parents, she might have just tossed him into the pot along with the food!
Zong Cheng instructed Tang Chen to fetch another pack of tissues, continuing to blow his nose expressionlessly.
What could he do?
He was just as desperate.
Didn’t he want to spend the New Year with Yin Chen?
The thought of being ruthlessly packaged and discarded made him sigh softly.
He could only blame himself.
Besides being a boyfriend, there was also the fact that he was the author Yin Chen liked.
Thinking of the reason Yin Chen had thrown him out, Zong Cheng felt his breath catch.
So this was the downside of having your boyfriend also be your reader?
To get him to recover quickly and update properly, Yin Chen had heartlessly packed up this freshly minted boyfriend and thrown him away!
…
Though, still, he had to go.
Zong Cheng remembered the doctor’s advice: “Emotional ups and downs, maintain calm.”
Embarrassing.
Truly embarrassing.
The more he thought about it, the worse it felt.
Silently setting down the tissues, Zong Cheng opened his phone.
What to update today?
This story had run out of love; now he only wanted to write sweet little romance stories.
What was there to write in a horror infinite-loop story?
Could horror be sweet?
Nope.
Damn it.
He absentmindedly typed, while Tang Chen quietly edged closer to talk to him.
Before he could say a word, Tang Chen glanced at the screen.
!
He quietly stepped back, pressing himself against the sofa.
Damn!
Wasn’t he just tossed aside by Mr. Yin?
Had his brother’s inner world always been this terrifying?
So scary!
Amitabha, Amitabha…
Tang Chen quietly, subtly, slipped back toward the kitchen.
Better to sneak a bite!
Sneaking food brings double joy!
In the kitchen, the oil crackled. Ms. Tang, though frustrated, reasoned that the people were already home—she couldn’t exactly toss them out again, right?
After pondering, she decided to let them stay and… properly… handle things.
Sigh.
Ms. Tang stood in the kitchen, reminiscing.
It was time to pull out the notes on how she had once captured Tang Chen’s father!
“Ah-choo.”
She quickly grabbed a handkerchief, sneezing lightly. Yin Chen, however, had already composed himself and continued conversing with the person in front of him.
The man stood at 198 cm, his bronzed skin covering muscles that weren’t overly exaggerated but, to the trained eye, looked more formidable than those enhanced artificially.
Occasionally, patches of skin showed scars that had mostly faded, crisscrossing like books filled with stories, exuding a sense of smoke and battle.
Yin Chen tapped lightly on the table, yet his presence matched the man opposite him.
After all, there was nothing to fear.
He thought.
The man sitting across from Yin Chen spoke in a deep voice, slowly.
“Lao Ban, ni shuo Chinese duo shao yi nian?”
See.
Yin Chen remained expressionless.
Inside, he wanted to laugh.
He tried hard to keep it in!
Though…
He was starting to lose it!
Why did this guy insist on showing off his Chinese?
Wouldn’t communicating in English be fine?
After ten minutes, his abs were about to split from laughing so hard!
Taking a deep breath, Yin Chen slowly exhaled.
I can do this.
I can handle it.
“According to Lawyer Gao, you’ve been here this many years.”
Yin Chen held up five fingers.
The man nodded.
“If you’re willing to come with me, then I can offer this number.”
Yin Chen held up one finger.
The man seemed unfazed.
OK.
Time to go big.
Yin Chen smiled slightly.
“Have you heard the saying, ‘the best teacher is life’? If you want to learn Chinese, I can have someone speak Chinese with you every day.”
The man’s eyes lit up.
“Ni shuo de zhen de?”
This guy really did like Chinese, just like Lawyer Gao said!
Though, talking to him in Chinese every day?
Better teach someone else!
Yin Chen’s mind raced, calculating.
No joke!
If he kept speaking, he might start picking up this guy’s accent!
“Of course it’s real. So? How about it?”
Yin Chen looked at him.
“Good, if you say so, I’ll try my best, and from now on, I’ll follow Lao Ban Ni!”
The man flashed a bright smile, extending his hand.
Yin Chen stood, shook it.
They released hands amicably.
Yin Chen slowly turned around.
Pfft!
Who the heck gave this Brian a Chinese name?
“Good effort?”
Might as well have called him “Strong Ox”!
Knowing the deal was done, Lawyer Gao immediately brought over the contract, expression neutral.
Of course, he personally introduced this person to Mr. Yin; no way would the contract fall through.
He had thoroughly vetted Brian before recommending him!
Moreover, looking at the employment price in the contract, Lawyer Gao was very satisfied.
Still pricier, showing he had a higher status in Mr. Yin’s mind.
With the contract signed, Yin Chen patted Lawyer Gao on the shoulder.
“Teach him to use WeChat, add him, and chat more often.”
Lawyer Gao typed a question mark slowly.
Adding on WeChat and teaching him, sure. But “chat more often”?
Yin Chen was calm.
“He needs an appropriate language environment. As a lawyer, you’re perfect—every word precise.”
Perfect.
Brian had been discovered by Lawyer Gao, too.
Was this destiny?
And Ning sold me out just for this?
Lawyer Gao never expected he’d end up shooting himself in the foot.
He stared at Yin Chen for a full two seconds, then nodded.
“I understand.”
Huh?
Yin Chen was slightly surprised.
Lawyer Gao, so agreeable?
Then he saw him personally register a QQ account for Brian.
Ah?
Yin Chen was puzzled.
Next second, Lawyer Gao cheerfully had Brian add his son’s QQ account.
Smiling genuinely, he said:
“I think your current learning environment is basic. Even we adults have various oral issues from poor teaching before. But kids at school learn standard Chinese, and they won’t mock you for mistakes.”
He paused, looking sincerely at Brian.
“So, I think you can start practicing by chatting with my little one. How about it?”
Brian listened carefully several times.
Then had Lawyer Gao repeat it in English.
After hearing it, he nodded excitedly.
“Ni shuo de you dao li! Fei chang you dao li! Wo jue de hen hao!”
Good grief.
Seriously, good grief.
Yin Chen expressionless.
Truly the lawyer’s mouth, deceiving masterfully.
Lawyer Gao, worth over twenty million a year, just with his mouth?
Amazing. More impressive than this big hustler.
With the personal bodyguard matter resolved, Lawyer Gao left with the signed contract, and Brian flew back home to handle things. The villa instantly felt empty again.
A little lonely.
Yin Chen poured some hot water and drank.
…Tsk.
Wondering what that fool Zong Cheng was doing.
Feeling better from the cold?
Should’ve kept him for New Year.
Yin Chen thought expressionlessly, though his ears warmed slightly.
Oh well.
People are gone; thinking won’t help.
Might as well check the updates!
Yin Chen opened the novel page, clicked in.
Paused.
Silent.
Ah, he almost forgot what Zong Cheng had done.
【What’s happening? Can someone tell me today’s events? Why is the comment section in chaos? And! Is it true the author went on a date with her boyfriend?】
【I wanna know too! Tell me, Copper Ball!!!】
【Sisters, scroll up… nah, too much. I’ll just say it. Yesterday, the author accidentally wrote ‘my boyfriend is really good-looking’ in the chapter. Sisters freaked out. Just a few minutes later, she deleted it, then in the author’s note said she went out on a date with her boyfriend. Think about it. I still can’t calm down!】
【Whaaat? Really? I always thought the author was staunchly single! Otherwise, why are all her books non-CP?】
【+1, but I’m so jealous. Even the most unlikely to be in a relationship author has a boyfriend. When will my boyfriend show up? Isn’t the country assigning them?】
【Isn’t the issue… did the author update today?!】
Reading down, Yin Chen propped his chin, a slight smile forming.
Well…
He had learned a lot from the novel, and… from the readers.
These readers were actually quite cute.
Yin Chen refreshed the comments casually.
【Sisters, stop chatting! The forum already pinned this post!】
Pinned on the forum?
What happened?
Yin Chen was slightly stunned.
“Pick up the phone, answer it!”
The editor spun around, sweat on his forehead.
A pink interface was open in front of him.
Title: 【Spill: Some so-called dead gay who claimed he can’t write romance suddenly exposes he has a boyfriend, sisters don’t be fooled!!!】
Repeated calls couldn’t connect. He plopped in front of the computer, sweating, staring at the page.
Scrolling fast—the post was already two pages deep!
【What happened?】
【OMG? Is it who I think it is? Yesterday’s update felt off—non-CP suddenly flaunts a boyfriend? What kind of stunt is this?】
【D-section. No way, no way, no way… it’s a man? I’ve been following this author, always regretted the no-CP. But a male author showing off a boyfriend? D-section time. What’s going on? Stirring up hype or what? A man writing BL with no CP? Now what?】
Yin Chen, opening the forum, froze.
He noticed a comment:
【? OK I get it, this blew up. Already two pages deep after being pinned!!!】
Author’s note: Your imagined author: What? Pinned? I’m panicking!!!
Real author: What? Pinned? Pages turned? No? Damn, I’m screwed.