Chapter 41 [VIP]

Xu Xing was awakened by a rustling noise. He frowned slightly, opened his eyes and saw Jiang Zhuochen sitting cross-legged on the bed with his eyes closed, a big silly smile on his lips, shaking his head excitedly like a little sparrow.

"Cough." Xu Xing cleared his slightly dry throat, his voice hoarse from just waking up in the morning.

Jiang Zhuochen's attention was drawn back by the cough. He slowly opened his eyes, his bright eyes meeting Xu Xing's gaze. They were filled with lingering pleasure, so intense it could almost burn.

His master hadn't lied to him; his soul was already responding to him, and he would definitely stay by his side from now on!

This good mood was amplified when he saw Xu Xing's face; his smile grew even brighter, and it even took on a slightly silly, affectionate quality.

"Xu Xing!"

Her voice was clear and bright, with an infectious smile.

Xu Xing looked at him without speaking, but simply placed his hands together in front of him, raised his eyebrows slightly, and asked silently.

Receiving no reply, Jiang Zhuochen's eyes dimmed slightly. He called out again to himself, his tone rising slightly at the end, carrying a hint of coquettishness: "Xu Xing!"

This puffed-up, soft creature, bubbling with colorful bubbles in the sunlight, was like a ray of warm sunshine that unexpectedly pierced through the lingering gloom and resentment in Xu Xing's heart from last night, spreading warmth almost comfortably.

"Mmm," Xu Xing responded lazily, unaware that a gentle smile had curved his lips.

Jiang Zhuochen didn't say anything after receiving a response. He nodded in satisfaction, threw off the covers, jumped out of bed, and turned to rush out. In the process of swinging his arm, he accidentally bumped into Xu Xing's outstretched hand.

He paused, glanced at the hand with distinct knuckles, and then, without thinking, reached out and grabbed the other person's wrist. He pulled hard and strode out.

"Get up, get up, I'm so hungry, let's go have breakfast."

Caught off guard, Xu Xing was pulled by him and stood up to steady himself. He felt the warmth of Jiang Zhuochen's palm on his wrist, the undeniable strength conveying a straightforward and honest intimacy.

He gazed at the other person's swaying back, feeling the undeniable pull on his wrist. The turbulent thoughts of last night were completely dispelled by the morning light and the vitality of the person before him, leaving only a sense of resigned acceptance and lighthearted joy.

After breakfast, the two packed their luggage and went home. As soon as the villa door opened, Jiang Zhuochen felt like he hadn't been there in a long time. Even though it was only a few days, time seemed to have been stretched out by the illusion.

He threw down his luggage and ran to the living room to get a glass of water. He glanced around as Xu Xing's bedroom door opened and closed; the man was dressed neatly, clearly about to leave.

He casually asked, "Going to work?"

Xu Xing straightened his cuffs as he answered, "Mm."

Jiang Zhuochen didn't think much of it, mumbled a reply while drinking water, and looked away.

But after he calmly finished his glass of water, Xu Xing was still standing there, his hand that had been adjusting his sleeves now lowered. He looked puzzled: "Aren't you leaving?"

It was just a simple question, and Jiang Zhuochen didn't seem to be eager for him to leave, but Xu Xing felt inexplicably uncomfortable. The other person didn't seem to have any intention of letting him go. What would the other person do while he was gone, and who would they go to see?

He glanced at the time and asked, "What are we having for lunch?"

The topic changed abruptly, leaving Jiang Zhuochen bewildered, but he still answered honestly, "I'll eat whatever Auntie makes."

"Then why don't we go out to eat together?" Xu Xing said naturally.

"Go out to eat?" Jiang Zhuochen was attracted by the suggestion and his tone became a little more enthusiastic, but after thinking about it, he waved his hand and refused: "No, it's too much trouble to run around for just one meal. I'd rather sleep than waste that time."

After all, his spiritual energy was depleted and his body hadn't recovered yet. And the food his aunt made wasn't bad, so there was no need to go to that trouble.

Xu Xing noticed the hesitation in her eyes. The seasoned businessman, a master at winning people's hearts, knew exactly how to do it. He said slowly, "If you're tired, you can rest at the company; it's close by."

"The company?" Jiang Zhuochen didn't have a good impression of Xu Xing's company. Although he hadn't been there many times, he either had to make an appointment or was ignored, which no one wanted to do. "Forget it, your company is troublesome too. You always have to make appointments for this or that. I'm afraid they'll stop me from going out."

"We won't stop you." Xu Xing spoke gently, his tone coaxing, and patiently explained, "I've already spoken to the administration. You can come anytime, no appointment is needed, and no one will dare to stop you."

Seeing that Jiang Zhuochen was beginning to waver, Xu Xing pressed his advantage: "There are beds in the office break room. If you're tired, you can just go and sleep there. It's more convenient than at home, and it's closer too, hmm?"

Jiang Zhuochen felt that Xu Xing was acting somewhat strangely today, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong. However, since the other party had already said so, he was too lazy to stay at home. "Okay, I'll go with you."

The two arrived at a restaurant near Xu Xing's company, and Jiang Zhuochen looked around the interior with curiosity. Crystal chandeliers hung down like waterfalls of stars, and amber light reflected off the velvet chairs and sandalwood dining tables, making the entire space look like a finely crafted work of art.

They were led to their seats by the waiter, and Xu Xing handed over the menu, indicating that the waiter could choose.

Jiang Zhuochen picked out a few nice-looking dishes from the pictures. Although he wondered why there was no rice, he didn't ask since there were noodles as a staple food. After returning the dishes, he idly fiddled with the fresh flowers in the vase next to him.

Jiang Zhuochen thought it would be enough to eat, but after two dishes were served, his lips twitched. Wasn't the difference between the picture and the actual food too big?

He held the plate close and stared at the amount of food, which was less than the size of a rose, before concluding, "No wonder everyone who eats here is so thin. Look at me, I ordered so little and they didn't even warn me. They're up to no good."

Xu Xing withdrew his teasing gaze and beckoned the waiter to come and add more food. His phone rang at that moment; he glanced at it and said to Jiang Zhuochen, "You eat first, don't wait for me."

Jiang Zhuochen responded and took the menu, ordering a few more dishes. After Xu Xing left, the steak and foie gras he ordered were served together, with knives and forks neatly arranged on both sides.

He picked up the knife and brandished it, unsure how to proceed. While inwardly marveling at the courage of the people in this world, who would even put a knife in their mouths, he asked, "Don't you have chopsticks?"

The waiter paused, his gaze sweeping over him. "Sorry, we don't currently provide chopsticks."

"How do we eat this?" He had been here for so long and had always eaten traditional Chinese food. This was the first time he had ever seen someone eat with a knife and fork.

The waitress's expression changed. This young man's clothes and appearance clearly suggested he was well-off, which seemed completely at odds with his current expression of utter ignorance. Connecting this to the person who had just left, she could roughly guess who this man was.

She raised her chin, a hint of disdain in her expression. "Knife in right hand, fork in left, cut it open and eat it with the fork."

"Oh~" Jiang Zhuochen drawled, put down the knife in his hand, and rested his chin on his hand, looking at the waiter in front of him. His eyes sparkled as he stared at the person opposite him until she lowered her head in embarrassment.

"With such good looks, there are so many things you could do..."

It was a whisper, almost a breath, but Jiang Zhuochen had cultivated for three years, so his hearing was better than most. A faint curiosity flickered in his eyes, "Then what should we do?"

The waitress seemed startled, afraid the other woman would report her, but then she realized she wasn't wrong, so she stiffened her neck and spoke in a voice barely louder than a mosquito's buzz: "Anything is better than being wrapped up."

"By what?"

Jiang Zhuochen genuinely didn't understand what it meant, but the waiter assumed he hadn't heard clearly and blurted out, "Being kept. You're quite a young and handsome guy, there's no need to take shortcuts now, is there?"

What is "being kept as a sugar daddy"?

Jiang Zhuochen's earnest question left the waiter stunned, his initial contempt and prejudice against the man clashing with his current complex emotions.

Receiving no reply, he turned his head to look behind the waiter. The girl turned around and her heart clenched instantly when she saw who it was. She turned back shakily, and the lurking desire in Jiang Zhuochen's eyes made her instincts kick in.

Sure enough, the next moment, she heard the boy eagerly ask, "What is being kept as a sugar daddy?"

Xu Xing stopped in his tracks, his face suddenly darkening as he glanced at the waiter beside him.

With just that one casual glance, the girl immediately trembled uncontrollably, on the verge of tears.

Jiang Zhuochen was puzzled after asking two people without answering, unaware of the undercurrents between them. He took out his phone, adhering to the principle that it's better to rely on yourself than on others, and pressed the voice button to ask, "What does 'sugar baby' mean?"

The restaurant was nearly empty after lunchtime, and the voices were unusually clear and bright, making the girl want to die.

[Being kept by a sugar daddy/sugar baby refers to...]

Xu Xing had a headache. When the AI's voice answered, he quickly turned off his phone screen and then said without looking up, "Have someone else serve the dishes."

"Okay... I'm so sorry!" the waiter replied, then strode away as if fleeing.

Once the waiter's figure disappeared from sight, Jiang Zhuochen scolded, "Why did you scare him like that?"

"What did she say to you?" Xu Xing tapped his fingers on the table; the other person's indifference clearly made him even angrier.

"None of your business." Jiang Zhuochen stretched out his hand. "Give me back my phone."

Xu Xing frowned, intending to move his phone away. Jiang Zhuochen noticed his intention and quickly snatched the phone away.

He leaned back in his chair, turned on the screen, and thoughtfully turned the volume down to the lowest setting so he could listen to it himself. Under Xu Xingfa's deep gaze, his expression remained unchanged, and he even nodded in approval.

"Isn't that how we are now? I eat your food, use your things, and live in your house, so what they said wasn't wrong."

This wasn't a good word, at least Xu Xing had never thought of associating Jiang Zhuochen with it. But when the other party revealed this hidden meaning without reservation, he felt that he liked their tacit way of getting along.

He provides him with a place to live, buys him things, and gives him everything; all the other person needs to do is accept it.

Xu Xing didn't know what answer he had heard, but the other person's nonchalant attitude surprised him. If this person truly understood the meaning of being kept, would they still have this attitude?

His expression relaxed, and he smiled at Jiang Zhuochen, his words carrying a hint of teasing or something else. "Since you're eating my food and using my things, didn't the answers you found teach you what to do?"

Jiang Zhuochen swiped down on his phone. "Maybe, but I don't really understand it. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"You'll do whatever I say?"

Jiang Zhuochen placed his hand on the edge of the table and moved closer to Xu Xing. "Tell me, I'll help you within my capabilities."

This caught Xu Xing off guard. He asked softly, "Why are you being so nice to me?"

Jiang Zhuochen smiled with narrowed eyes, "I don't know why, but I always feel that you are very similar to my master. You can always help me in critical moments. I feel much more at ease with you around. Now that I think about it, you have indeed been helping me all along, so if there is anything you need, you can just say so."

Xu Xing's expression turned slightly pale, as if he had shot himself in the foot. "Not for now, I'll let you know when I do."

"Okay." Jiang Zhuochen said with a hint of regret, picking up his fork and poking at the foie gras. "Then remember to tell me."

After saying that, he recalled what the waiter had said, picked up his knife and fork, and prepared to eat. However, his technique was too clumsy, and the knife would occasionally scrape across the porcelain plate, causing a series of agonizing sounds.

He was busy working on his steak, ignoring his hunger, determined to cut off a edible piece. Out of the corner of his eye, a plate was pushed towards him. Jiang Zhuochen looked up and saw a plate of neatly cut steak being pushed towards him.

Xu Xing took the plate of gruesomely dismembered 'corpse' in front of him and started eating it without a care. "Just make do with this. I won't come here again."

Jiang Zhuochen comfortably forked a piece of steak into his mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and then said quite generously, "It's okay, next time we'll have them cut it up before serving it."

Xu Xing was both amused and exasperated. Seeing that the other person was about to collapse, he quickly took away the artistically presented plate in front of him. "Eat slowly, I won't fight you for it."

Jiang Zhuochen waved his hand dismissively, not paying any attention. However, his gentle words reached the ears of Xu Xing's secretary behind him, who stopped in her tracks, her mouth agape in shock.

A note from the author: