On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Zong Cheng was handed a decree by his boyfriend.
He was forbidden from coming within one meter of him.
The moment Zong Cheng heard the order after getting out of bed, half his heart shattered on the spot.
To make matters worse, Brian—utterly oblivious—was still wandering around nearby.
Brian glanced at his employer’s lips, then at the man beside him, and suddenly understood.
He walked over to Zong Cheng, patted him on the shoulder, and gave him a thumbs-up.
“Looks like you guys had a very wonderful night. Brother, you are impressive.”
Zong Cheng stood frozen, unsure whether he should nod or shake his head.
Last night really had been wonderful. Beneath a sky filled with dazzling fireworks, every kiss he exchanged with Yin Chen had given him a strange, intoxicating thrill.
But somehow, he felt Brian meant more than just that.
So…
Should he nod?
Yin Chen had just finished applying medicine in front of the mirror when he caught sight of Zong Cheng’s blank expression.
The tiny bit of irritation he had left instantly fizzled out.
Forget it.
It was not as if he had lost out anyway.
After a moment’s thought, Yin Chen beckoned at Zong Cheng.
Zong Cheng’s eyes lit up slightly.
Then he stopped exactly one meter in front of Yin Chen.
Looking pitiful.
?
Yin Chen froze for a second. Then he saw the expression on Zong Cheng’s face.
He laughed in exasperation.
Now he was being obedient? Where was that obedience last night when he should have been applying medicine?
“Come here. Carry me to the study.”
Yin Chen smiled sweetly and stretched out both arms.
He would only stay mad for a little while. After all, with such an adorable boyfriend, who could bear to stay angry for long?
Carry him!
The moment he heard that, Zong Cheng’s face flushed red.
He shuffled forward awkwardly, but when it came to actually picking him up, he was decisive and efficient.
Still—
“What are we going to the study for?”
It was the first day of the New Year. Was Yin Chen already going to work?
Zong Cheng frowned slightly.
What kind of life was Yin Chen living?
“To greet a few business contacts and keep in touch.”
Yin Chen pinched his ear lightly, signaling him to set him down in the chair.
Then he leisurely opened his laptop.
For the Yin Corporation to reach its current scale, connections were naturally indispensable.
Holiday gifts were handled by assistants, but maintaining genuine relationships required his personal attention.
In previous years, he would visit in person. This year was different.
Now that his boyfriend was living at home, why should he go out to meet a bunch of old men?
A video call would do just fine.
Yin Chen felt no guilt about this at all.
Since Yin Chen did not tell him to leave, Zong Cheng stayed seated beside him.
There were quite a few people Yin Chen needed to contact.
Many of them were business magnates Zong Cheng had only heard of before, seeing for the first time.
Yet these formidable figures all appeared remarkably amiable in front of Yin Chen.
And Yin Chen showed not a trace of timidity. He chatted and laughed with them effortlessly, composed and confident.
At first, Zong Cheng’s gaze lingered on the people on the other side of the screen.
Gradually, more and more of his attention settled on Yin Chen instead.
Yin Chen seemed to be glowing.
Zong Cheng watched him, utterly captivated.
His Adam’s apple bobbed occasionally, his eyes lingering tenderly on Yin Chen’s lips—yet he did not dare act.
Those lips were sweet.
Unfortunately, he had been too rough last night.
After several greetings, Yin Chen finally noticed Zong Cheng’s gaze.
Ah, what a pity.
Looking at the video call that had just connected, he clicked his tongue inwardly.
He had wanted to steal a quick kiss during the gap and see how Zong Cheng would react.
After a second of regret, Yin Chen refocused on the person on the other end.
President Wu was another business heavyweight, primarily active in the entertainment industry. Though his company had been founded only thirty years ago, it was already an industry leader.
President Wu was a little surprised to receive Yin Chen’s video call.
One glance at the screen and he immediately noticed the mark on Yin Chen’s lip, pausing briefly.
“So that is why you did not mention visiting this year. Because of that?”
Yin Chen lightly tapped the spot with his index finger and answered calmly, “Yes. It would not look proper to go out like this, so I decided to stay home.”
Not that it was improper.
After all, it was the result of his boyfriend’s inexperience.
Thinking about it that way even made him a little pleased.
President Wu nodded. “Fair enough. Staying home is fine.”
Just as he finished speaking, someone stepped on his foot.
He suppressed a reaction and glanced sideways.
Instant headache.
Standing beside him was none other than his youngest daughter.
He discreetly angled the screen away and tried to look stern.
“Dad is discussing business. Go play somewhere else. Do not stand here—”
Before he could finish, his little princess huffed.
“I heard that! That was President Yin’s voice, right? I want to wish him a happy New Year. Is that not allowed?”
President Wu felt overwhelmed. He could not exactly refuse.
Covering the microphone, he whispered urgently, “Just wish him a happy New Year. Do not start imagining things. Your mother and I have already picked out a suitable young man for you. Yin Chen may be impressive, but he is too aloof—and he likes men. He is not suitable for you!”
Wu Mei kicked him in the shin.
She was not in love with President Yin!
She was just a fan! Could she not be a fan?
What was wrong with him being aloof? He was incredibly handsome—better-looking than every artist under her family’s company!
Left with no choice, President Wu adjusted the camera slightly.
Wu Mei immediately beamed at the screen.
“President Yin! Happy New Year!”
?
The female voice snapped Zong Cheng out of his trance.
Why was there a girl’s voice?
He pricked up his ears and glanced at the screen.
Oh. The Wu family’s little princess.
Yin Chen nodded gently. “Thank you. Happy New Year to you as well.”
Wu Mei nearly exploded with excitement.
President Yin had thanked her!
Thanked her!
She turned and grabbed her father’s sleeve, whispering, “He seems less cold than last year! Did I move him?”
President Wu panicked internally. Absolutely not! He and his wife had carefully selected future prospects for her—and Yin Chen was not one of them.
Just as he was figuring out how to gently crush her hopes, Wu Mei suddenly noticed something.
Her gaze fixed on Yin Chen’s lips.
That mark—
Was it from heat? Or…
Before she could ask, the camera shifted.
She froze.
A handsome man flashed into view.
And in the very next second, she watched as Yin Chen, smiling faintly, leaned over and kissed him.
Kissed him.
Wu Mei’s jaw dropped.
Was he not supposed to be aloof?
Was he not unsuitable as a partner?
Was that aloof?
He actually initiated the kiss?
Wait.
The point was—
President Yin had a partner. No—his partner was a man?
And they were already living together???
Wu Mei’s pupils trembled.
She had only been abroad for half a year.
What had she missed?
“…She is President Wu’s youngest daughter. She is not even an adult yet. Why are you jealous?”
After soothingly kissing Zong Cheng, Yin Chen looked at him with an amused smile.
Zong Cheng flushed. “I am not…”
Not even an adult?
Then he could relax.
Not jealous?
Then what was that sigh of relief?
Yin Chen saw through him but chose not to expose him, generously preserving his boyfriend’s pride.
Still, a slightly sour-tasting kiss was not bad.
Unfortunately, his lip had not fully healed yet, which diminished the experience.
He turned the camera back. Wu Mei had already disappeared.
Unbothered, Yin Chen exchanged a few more polite words with President Wu, discussed prospects for the coming year, then ended the call and moved on to the next.
On President Wu’s end, seeing his daughter finally stop pestering, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed sending her abroad had broadened her horizons—she was no longer fixated on Yin Chen.
Good.
Yin Chen was clearly unattainable.
Even if someone did manage to win him over, he seemed like the type who required others to do all the chasing and initiative.
His little princess would not suffer that way.
Meanwhile, Wu Mei was in total shock.
She immediately called her closest friend from before she went abroad.
The moment the call connected, she blurted out, “Why did you not tell me President Yin changed? Are we even friends? That is huge news!”
Her friend, still half-asleep, was bewildered. “What news? What are you talking about?”
Wu Mei rattled off everything she had just seen.
At the end, she added excitedly, “You really did not hear anything? He is already living with someone! That guy was pretty handsome. Do you think he is from the entertainment circle?”
Her friend nearly choked on this juicy gossip.
“Are you serious? Definitely a man? Not just a masculine-looking woman?”
“No way! Those pectoral muscles were huge. Absolutely not a woman!”
Even pectorals?
Explosive.
Her friend’s eyes practically shot lasers.
“Do you remember what he looked like? About how old? We could search! President Yin brought a man to the Yin Corporation annual gala before! The chest was impressive too—but he wore a mask, so no one knew who it was.”
Wu Mei trembled.
He had brought someone to the annual gala?
Was it true love?
All sorts of romantic scenes she had seen abroad flashed through her mind.
Overwhelmed, she hurriedly warned her friend not to spread it, then hung up.
Clutching her chest, she threw herself onto the bed—
And began rolling around.
President Wu opened the door just in time to witness this strange scene.
His precious daughter was rolling on the bed with an oddly blissful smile.
Had she become silly after going abroad?
President Wu stood there, stunned.
Meanwhile, the friend who had just hung up immediately forgot Wu Mei’s warning.
As if she would keep something this explosive to herself.
Such a juicy scoop—how could she possibly be the only one to enjoy it?