New Year’s Day spans three days.
On the morning of the third day, Fan Qing finally felt what a January sun really felt like.
A bit chilly.
?
He even felt a slight chill along his spine.
“What’s going on?”
Fan Qing instinctively glanced out the window.
Sure enough, it was a rare, bright sunny day—but why did his back feel cold?
It almost felt like… something dirty was staring at him?
“I say…”
A voice drifted behind him, ghostlike.
“How’s the taste of a three-day holiday? Must be pretty nice, huh?”
Good grief.
Fan Qing turned his head.
Who else could it be but Jin Ershao?
“…Not bad?”
For once, Fan Qing felt a flicker of guilt for a couple of seconds.
But just as quickly, he relaxed again.
After all, it wasn’t his company.
And Jin Ershao’s company—what’s wrong with working three days over New Year?
Nothing, right?
“…I think I saw some ungratefulness in your eyes.”
Jin Ershao always had a remarkable talent for picking up on strange things.
Like now.
He narrowed his eyes dangerously and took tiny steps closer.
“You took three days off, what did you—”
Before he could finish, he saw the marks on Fan Qing’s neck.
Not that it was anything else—this guy didn’t even try to hide them!
Wasn’t this just flaunting his love?
Absurd!
Wait a second.
Fan Qing has marks?
Jin Ershao’s pupils practically trembled.
“Old Nie… lost his virginity?”
No, the focus seemed off.
Try again.
“You two… did it?”
Hiss… still not quite right?
Jin Yi hesitated for two seconds, then glanced at Fan Qing.
Good grief.
This side of his face was flushed, full of springtime pride, vitality… wait, something strange has crept in.
Finally, Jin Yi hit the point.
“You took three days off just to go have fun with Old Nie?”
How could anyone be so shameless?
He worked diligently in the office, while this man lived it up in someone else’s embrace?
Ridiculous, outrageous!
Jin Yi’s pupils shook violently.
Fan Qing cast him a casual glance, unfazed.
“Why? When I’m at work in the company, didn’t you also go out and enjoy yourself?”
…Damn.
He made a good point—I couldn’t even refute that.
Jin Yi choked.
“…But not three days in a row! Aren’t you afraid of exhausting yourselves?”
The first part of his sentence was quieter, but by the end, he felt justified raising his voice.
Exactly!
How could these two go at it for three days straight!
He couldn’t even handle it himself!
Fan Qing stretched leisurely.
“Not bad. Not like you use it every day. We indulge once in a while—should still be better than you, Ershao.”
Jin Yi choked a second time.
“…You’re like a ginseng rooster. And I didn’t even—”
The last part was too soft; Fan Qing really couldn’t hear it.
“By the way, why’s Ershao in such a good mood today? Not only did he wait for me here, he even keeps talking to me for so long?”
He had expected that if Ershao came to work, he would’ve dashed off without a trace.
But here he was.
Fan Qing glanced at his watch.
Eight-thirty in the morning.
So Ershao actually woke up early just to talk to him?
When he thought about it, Jin Yi looked at him with a faint expression.
“No… I actually…”
He hesitated.
But then!
He decided it wouldn’t hurt to speak up.
After all, he felt some sort of deficit—though he couldn’t quite say what.
Finally, he softly said,
“Mainly… I’ve kind of gotten used to it…”
The old life tips really weren’t lying.
Three days—three days were enough to form a new habit.
Like waking up early.
Fan Qing could see it clearly in Jin Yi’s eyes and hear it in his words.
Bitterness.
He patted Jin Ershao on the shoulder.
After thinking a moment, he looked serious.
“Well, you should be happy then.”
“I should be happy?”
Fan Qing, you have no heart!
Jin Yi looked stunned.
Fan Qing nodded, smiling.
“You should be happy I didn’t turn these three days off into a habit of skipping work.”
Jin Yi was momentarily speechless.
He opened his mouth, hesitated, then slowly said,
“No wonder my brother likes you so much.”
Not that it mattered—his brother and Fan Qing really did look like siblings.
“Oh, right.”
Speaking of which, Jin Yi suddenly remembered.
“My brother said the assistant is borrowing it for a few days, so as compensation, he gave this to you.”
Fan Qing glanced at the box Jin Yi handed him.
Same size, same packaging.
Probably the same thing inside.
Only…
Fan Qing felt a headache coming.
Ershao wasn’t around, the assistant had been taken away—when would he have time to use it?
Jin Si’s ‘gift’—was it really a gift, or just a teasing mockery of love?
“So… what exactly is this thing?”
Jin Ershao looked genuinely curious.
“Your brother actually gave you a gift?”
He fidgeted a little, fingers twitching.
Curious.
Very curious.
Fan Qing had originally intended to stop him, but then he thought…
Perhaps… he could use this to secure himself another holiday?
Thinking that, Fan Qing’s tone carried a teasing edge.
“Curious? Well… that’s not impossible.”
“How do you mean?”
Jin Yi’s interest piqued.
Fan Qing only smiled, silent.
Jin Yi blinked, utterly confused.
The smile on Fan Qing’s face deepened.
Jin Yi suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
Fan Qing’s grin stretched to its fullest.
And then Jin Yi understood.
“Damn! You want to trade this for work days off?”
What kind of person was this?
And yet…
Damn it!
He really, really wanted to know what was inside.
Jin Yi wavered, caught between curiosity and dread.
Fan Qing said nothing, merely maintaining that look of “willing prey.”
“…Damn it!”
Reluctantly, Jin Yi snatched the box, grumbling.
“You’ve changed… you really have changed.”
“Remember—it’s just three days.”
Change or not didn’t matter; the main goal was the holiday.
Fan Qing leisurely settled behind the desk.
Jin Yi tore the packaging halfway open, then suddenly felt regret.
“I actually agreed to this? Damn it… this is my most precious freedom! What am I doing? Wake up, self!”
Three days… three days of what felt like the life of a corporate drone.
Why couldn’t he learn to behave?
Choked up inside, Jin Yi opened the rest of the packaging with tearful frustration.
“You weren’t like this before. You used to be so motivated at work.”
So motivated, in fact, that he hadn’t even wanted to run the company—Fan Qing had negotiated with him, pulling it all together.
How much time had really passed?
How had Fan Qing changed so quickly?
“Sorry… but my goal from the start was Nie Luo. Didn’t you know?”
So sometimes, company matters and careers could wait a little.
Fan Qing thought leisurely.
“…Damn it! Men should focus on their careers, you know? And you… with all that wealth, can’t you have as much male beauty as you want?”
Jin Yi shouted indignantly.
Fan Qing gave a small smile.
He slowly pulled a black card from his pocket.
“You’re right. That’s why Nie Luo got me.”
Click.
The box opened just enough to reveal most of its contents, the holographic packaging boldly emblazoned with the words “Ultra-thin.”
“…Damn it!”
Jin Yi glanced at the box that had fallen at his feet, then at the black card in Fan Qing’s hand.
“Damn!”
He shouldn’t have asked.
He shouldn’t have been curious.
What had he done to deserve this?
If he were guilty, he’d rather be arrested by the police than be subjected to Fan Qing’s two-pronged assault!
Jin Yi stared at the black card, then at the box.
Words died in his throat, hesitation and desire tangled together.
So many curse words, none safe to speak—he remained silent.
Fan Qing noted the reaction with satisfaction.
Today’s mood was doubly good.
He started planning how to spend the next three days of holiday.
Perhaps he should send a little gift back to Jin Si as well.
After all, Jin Si’s present had come in handy these past nights.
By the way… how did Jin Si know they’d just finished the large box? Could he foresee the future?
Jin Yi stood beside him, eyes a little dazed.
He felt… sullied.
Not in the ordinary sense.
He knew too much, yet some mysterious force had sullied his thoughts.
He didn’t understand.
He couldn’t understand!
Why would his brother give this kind of thing to Fan Qing?
“…By the way, why hasn’t today’s one been delivered yet?”
Jin Si lay half-prone on the bed, someone massaging his back with essential oil.
“I sent it to someone.”
The assistant’s tone was extremely calm, warming his palms and kneading Jin Si’s stiff, stone-like muscles.
“…Sent it to someone?”
Jin Si lifted his torso slightly, struggling.
“Stay down.”
One hand pressed down ruthlessly.
“Who did you send it to? Why give it away? That version isn’t easy to get in the country—it’s a hassle to buy even once.”
Jin Si’s meaning was obvious.
The assistant gave a small smile.
“Exactly. I figured Fan Qing and Nie Luo probably can’t get it themselves.”
He applied a little extra pressure with his hands.
“…You’re murdering your husband?”
Pain flickered across Jin Si’s pale face.
“Wind’s too strong. Did you just say something?”
The assistant remained composed.
Jin Si turned to him.
He suddenly challenged,
“How did you know they were about to run out? You even had time to secretly call them?”
The assistant chuckled softly.
“I based it on the first time your beastly instincts flared, and applied appropriate adjustments.”
Jin Si smiled meaningfully.
“Are you complimenting me?”
The assistant was left speechless.
Indeed, shamelessness reigns supreme—but compared to Jin Si? He was still too green.
He quieted, clearly intending to say no more.
Jin Si didn’t want it too quiet, so he asked again.
“When did you find the time to deliver that? You went out early just for this?”
The assistant finally couldn’t resist—smearing a layer of essential oil over Jin Si’s mouth.
“Shut up. Did you forget Ershao is at the company?”
He’d been staying at the Jin residence these past few days, so running into Ershao in the morning was hardly unusual.
Jin Si, his mouth still smeared from the essential oil, didn’t seem the least bit annoyed. A faint smile gradually appeared on his reddened face.
On the third day, Fan Qing finally closed his eyes around five in the morning, only to be woken by a call from Jin Ershao.
Jin Yi’s tone was peculiarly mischievous, laced with a hint of glee.
“Something’s happened, something’s happened! Some guy called Kong Ming is messing with us—you better get back to the office and take control!”