Qiao Hailou waited the entire day, but Shen Yuan never came to apologize first.
Right after their argument that morning, he’d even thought to himself that even if Shen Yuan came to say sorry, he absolutely wouldn’t agree that easily. He’d make the kid wait. Otherwise that little brat would think forgiveness was something he could get just by blinking up at him. Qiao-uncle was still the elder here—he couldn’t let the kid walk all over him!
By noon, Shen Yuan still hadn’t called.
Qiao Hailou wondered, What’s with that kid? Why hasn’t he contacted me yet? Can someone that young really hold his ground this long?
Still, he kept his patience. A businessman had to have patience, after all…
A friend sitting beside him during a meeting asked, “Old Qiao? What’s wrong? You keep checking your phone. Is it broken?”
Am I?
Qiao Hailou shoved the phone into his pocket—no way he’d let anyone laugh at him. Even if Shen Yuan called right now, he wouldn’t pick up!
When the meeting finally ended, he immediately pulled out his private phone. No missed calls.
What’s going on with that kid? Didn’t his father say he was good at handling people? Does he really not get even this much?
He wanted a cigarette. When he took out the pack, he suddenly remembered how Shen Yuan had taken the one he’d just had between his lips last night—adorably bold.
By a little after five, Qiao Hailou was out of temper. He thought and thought, concluding that Shen Yuan was probably just too young. A college kid who’d never stepped out of his ivory tower—of course he’d sulk unreasonably.
Kid’s never suffered the dark side of society.
Maybe he had already realized he was wrong but was too embarrassed to say it out loud. Or maybe he simply didn’t know what to do.
He was still young, after all.
Qiao Hailou, who was much older, figured… maybe he should give the boy a way out. Then Shen Yuan would behave again.
Probably.
With that in mind, he cleared his throat, coughed twice, and called Shen Yuan—totally not guilty at all.
Not guilty. Really.
“Hello? What do you want?”
Shen Yuan’s impatient tone immediately put him on edge, and he rushed to say, “Don’t get the wrong idea, I’m calling about work…”
He chose his words carefully. “Uh… I just wanted to ask—you know how your uncle said you’d intern at my company? Are you still coming or not?”
Shen Yuan frowned. Was Qiao Hailou trying to get back at him?
He didn’t even sugarcoat it. He just said, matter-of-factly, “Of course I’m not going.”
“….”
So much for using that as leverage. Shen Yuan flipped the whole table on him.
When Shen Yuan didn’t hear a response for a while, he almost thought the phone had died or Qiao Hailou was messing with him. “Hello? Hey? Can you hear me? …If not, I’m hanging up!”
Qiao Hailou quickly said, “Ahem—I’m here. Don’t hang up.”
Was the kid really this indifferent to him? He’d thought they were great in bed, and someone young and inexperienced like Shen Yuan should’ve been at least a little smitten. Not to brag, but plenty of people liked him. He still had the same charm. How could this brat not be interested at all? And when Shen Yuan saw him, didn’t his little face turn red?
It made no sense.
Shen Yuan asked bluntly, “Anything else? If not, I’m hanging up. Uncle Qiao. I have assignments to do.”
Qiao Hailou inhaled, helpless. After thinking it over, he finally said, “Shen Yuan… about this morning… let’s talk it over again.”
That was exactly what Shen Yuan had been waiting for. He clenched his phone, biting back a grin, his mood soaring—but he still put on a show.
“What? You already broke our agreement. I’m not discussing anything with you. You don’t stick to your word—talking is pointless. Anyway, Uncle Qiao, you’re loaded. You don’t need someone like me, right? Go find someone else to serve you.”
This was absurd. Qiao Hailou couldn’t believe how much his temper had mellowed. The old him would never have tolerated such a mouthy brat. Yet here he was, swallowing his pride.
“You misunderstand,” he said. “Let’s talk calmly. About the hotel bill—I couldn’t possibly let you pay. You’re still a student. How could I let you spend your money? If you’re upset, give me something of equal value, or pay next time. That’s fair.”
“And about letting you set the time… then… then you set it.”
“But you know I have work. I can’t match your schedule perfectly. I figured since you’re a student with more free time, I’d arrange things. But if you don’t like that, fine. Just tell me a few days in advance. I can’t be on call 24/7. I really am busy.”
Shen Yuan listened, then laughed mockingly. “What are you pretending for? You clearly wanted to cancel this morning. Do you think I’m a little kid you can fool? You can’t just apologize directly?”
Wow. Give this kid an inch and he’d take the whole road.
Qiao Hailou covered the mic, stunned.
Who am I? I’m Qiao Hailou… I’ve never…
“Click.”
Shen Yuan hung up.
Barely three seconds later, his phone rang again. The caller ID flashed: “Old Pervert.”
Qiao Hailou braced himself and said, “Uncle… Uncle apologizes. It was my fault. I broke my promise. You’re generous—please forgive me this once, okay? Let’s talk it through and settle it. I swear I won’t go back on it again.”
Shen Yuan felt amazing. Even his voice sounded cheerful.
“Hmph, why are you acting like I’m narrow-minded? It’s not like we can’t talk. You should’ve said so earlier. I’m not unreasonable—I’d never make you skip work for me. I wasn’t going to contact you on weekdays anyway. Just send me your schedule. If I’m free too, then we’ll set a date. Satisfied?”
“…Fine.”
Shen Yuan still didn’t fully trust him, but so what? If Qiao Hailou messed with him again, he’d just stop dealing with him entirely. No big deal.
“So… are you coming to the company?” Qiao Hailou asked.
“I’m coming.”
Then Shen Yuan warned, “Old pervert, don’t sexually harass me at work. Remember I’m your friend’s kid. Don’t get handsy, okay?”
Qiao Hailou was furious—but helpless. He laughed once, irritated.
“Got it.”
“Then stop bothering me. I’m doing homework. Bye.”
And he hung up again.
After that day, Shen Yuan didn’t bother with Uncle Qiao much. It wasn’t like he was moody every day and needed to sleep with a handsome older man to feel better.
That old pervert seemed formidable, but turned out he was all bark and no bite—and now Shen Yuan had him wrapped around his finger. Shen Yuan felt smug.
Three days later.
A dossier was placed in front of Qiao Hailou.
Shen Yuan’s dossier—down to his name, age, height, weight, shoe size, even underwear size. Family situation, academic background, teacher evaluations, friends, how others viewed him, his romantic life—blank, either nonexistent or too well-hidden.
Since Qiao Hailou intended to keep him as a casual partner for a while, he naturally had to consider health and safety.
He assumed Shen Yuan saw him as a shameless playboy anyway. He didn’t think Shen Yuan was that innocent either. Half a dozen of one, six of the other.
Judging by Shen Yuan’s completely unreserved behavior in bed, he certainly didn’t seem like a first-timer. Not that Qiao Hailou cared, as long as he was clean.
He just wanted… to understand him better. The kid was completely outside his control—an unfamiliar sensation, hard to describe. He’d never met someone like this. It made him curious.
If he weren’t that curious—and worried the boy might slip away and leave his life boring again—he never would’ve swallowed his pride to coax him.
But the Shen Yuan in the files and the Shen Yuan he knew didn’t match at all.
On paper, Shen Yuan was gentle, polite, modest, conservative, honest, capable. A model student. Never fought, never cursed. A good son at home. After following his mother into the Li family, he was accepted quickly. Li Chen treated him like his own, continued as his guardian even after the mother passed. Li Lin, the biological son, also got along well with his older half-brother.
But another report said he loved befriending rich kids, held all kinds of positions at school, flattered people, networked constantly, schemed ambitiously, hungry for power.
…This is the same Shen Yuan?
He’d thought Shen Yuan was a sharp-tongued little firecracker who didn’t know his limits.
Qiao Hailou tapped the table with his knuckles.
A little chameleon.
How interesting.