Chapter 25 The Apartment Showdown: Day Five of Bullying.

And I promise I won't bully you like they do.

OK?

Zhou Jingchi's words echoed in Xie Ruan's ears, like a seductive spell, emitting a warm breath that further intensified the already extremely close proximity between them. The heat was so intense that it was almost suffocating.

Xie Ruan could only unconsciously rub her sweaty fingers on the fabric through her pants.

Isn't this bullying?

Xie Ruan felt inexplicably a little wronged, her chin slightly raised, and even the tip of her nose turned a little red.

Getting this close is practically bullying for someone with social anxiety, isn't it?

Xie Ruan transmigrated from a book during the apocalypse, and for him, patience was the most acceptable thing.

He knew better than anyone which was more worthwhile: enduring for a moment or enduring for a lifetime.

Salary and benefits, and a relaxed work environment are very important!

But for Xie Ruan, what was more important was...

Zhou Jingchi is really free.

Zhou Jingchi is very wealthy; as Xie Ruan's employer, he is undeniably one of the most generous people around.

However, Zhou Jingchi is very free! Really very free.

If she hadn't experienced memory loss, Xie Ruan remembered that most of the employers in this book were from the "Scroll King" faction.

For example, there's the CEO, Pei Zhi, who appears in the story every day, whether it's early morning, noon, afternoon, or night, and seems to eat black coffee for every meal.

For example, Ji Ye, who doesn't sleep every night, suffers from heart palpitations and chest tightness, and seeks medical help everywhere to no avail, yet still insists on working normally every day.

Even the original owner's idol, Wen Hezhou, was a ruthless character.

How could someone be so anorexic that they work without eating every day, and still act like everything is normal in front of others?

Xie Ruan couldn't understand the configuration of the male protagonists in this book, but he was greatly shocked.

After all, for Xie Ruan—

Leisure is important.

Sleep is very important.

Eating is also very important.

The main characters in this novel completely violate Xie Ruan's principles of a happy life.

Zhou Jingchi was the only exception.

He was neither involutionary, nor sleepless, nor did he skip meals.

On the contrary, they are very healthy...

In the original book, Zhou Jingchi seems to have little desire for anything. He doesn't need to control his physique like an artist, and despite being a musical prodigy, he lacks ambition in both career and relationships. He shows little interest in even his younger brother. Over the years, he has released almost no albums, rarely participates in events, and has little contact with his family. In the original book, he is almost like a mysterious lone wolf.

Even when fans catch him, they use him to trend on social media, whether it's bungee jumping, diving, eating and drinking, or even his dog.

There is practically nothing else.

...

Such people have far too much free time.

Xie Ruan had a strong impression of the original book. He remembered that in the original book, Zhou Jingchi was the one who was most attached to the protagonist.

In the early stages, when the original owner was around, Zhou Jingchi stayed home every day and never came here. Later, after the protagonist was hired as a nanny, Zhou Jingchi practically lived here and was always sticking close to the protagonist!

Xie Ruan couldn't believe she would receive the same treatment as the protagonist.

But given Zhou Jingchi's leisurely attitude, he might not come to the villa every day, but he will definitely be at home every day.

So, if Xie Ruan goes with him, wouldn't she be stuck at home staring at Zhou Jingchi every day?

What's even more terrifying is that if he becomes Zhou Jingchi's personal nanny, it's one thing to be forced to serve him tea and water outdoors, but what if Zhou Jingchi also makes him go bungee jumping, ride drop towers, or hang gliding?

At that point, all that will be left for Xie Ruan is social death, social death, and social humiliation!

Xie Ruan really wanted to run away.

Zhou Jingchi's gaze was so intense that Xie Ruan almost instantly realized he couldn't escape. Xie Ruan trembled slightly, his dark eyes darting around before he instinctively shrank back, "I..."

Xie Ruan's eyes were filled with grievance, and she looked at Zhou Jingchi with teary eyes.

For some reason, Xie Ruo's words made Zhou Jingchi, who had just wanted to press Xie Ruan for more information, lose his desire to tease her. Instead, he chuckled, picked up a piece of fried chicken, and fed it to Xie Ruan.

Chirp.

The crispy crust spread through Xie Ruan's mouth, and the aroma lingered in her mouth, which made Xie Ruan feel a little better.

Xie Ruan looked at Zhou Jingchi pitifully.

A tentative question: "I... I'd like to... could I refuse...?"

Xie Ruan probed.

He cautiously stole glances at Zhou Jingchi.

Upon seeing Zhou Jingchi's expression freeze for a moment, Xie Ruan immediately lowered her head and tentatively said, "No, that's not it..."

Xie Ruan realized that Zhou Jingchi would never let him go.

Let's just hide for one more day!

Xie Ruan lowered her head: "Yes, I haven't thought it through yet..."

Xie Ruan's voice, though seemingly weak, clearly conveyed her intentions. She even unconsciously tightened the hem of her clothes, emphasizing her inner unease.

But Zhou Jingchi was a carefree person. He just looked at Xie Ruan and her slightly reddened ear tips, and teased her for no reason: "Then I'll wait for you."

"I'll wait for your answer." No one would refuse Zhou Jingchi.

Xie Ruan wouldn't either.

Zhou Jingchi made this judgment.

Seemingly to emphasize his advantage, Zhou Jingchi picked up fried chicken and fed Xie Ruan piece by piece, holding Xie Ruan tighter and tighter in his arms.

Zhou Jingchi suddenly realized that if his mother had given birth to such an adorable younger brother instead of a rough and tough one, he might have felt happy to have a younger brother.

Zhou Jingchi pinched Xie Ruan's cheek.

Xie Ruan was clearly angry, and reflexively slapped him.

Xie Ruan's eyes widened as she realized what was happening.

Before he could react, he saw that Zhou Jingchi, who should have been angry, not only didn't get angry, but instead grabbed his hand, gently blew on his palm, and coaxed softly, "Does it hurt?"

...

Xie Ruan thought that Zhou Jingchi must be a legendary masochist.

Otherwise, why would they not react when someone hits or kicks them, but instead ask if it hurts?

Xie Ruan instinctively wanted to avoid Zhou Jingchi's burning gaze. It hurt, of course it hurt. How could hitting someone not hurt? If Zhou Jingchi hadn't touched him and made him reflexively hit him, he wouldn't have done anything wrong, wouldn't have hit him, and then hurt himself.

Xie Ruan felt increasingly aggrieved as she thought about it, and her eyes welled up with tears.

He thought, if Zhou Jingchi wants to hit him, then so be it, and closed his eyes.

Unexpectedly, when I closed my eyes, I only felt the warm wind in my palm.

It looked like it was being exhaled.

It's very warm.

It eased some of the pain.

?

Xie Ruan tilted her head in confusion, and after a long while, she quietly opened one eye.

Unexpectedly, with one eye open, Xie Ruan saw Zhou Jingchi gently blowing on his palm.

Isn't Zhou Jingchi angry?

Xie Ruan sat in Zhou Jingchi's lap like a little wooden doll, but it was obvious to the naked eye that Zhou Jingchi seemed to hold him even tighter, as if afraid that he would fall off, and patiently soothed the pain in his palm.

Xie Ruan pursed her thin lips and spoke subconsciously.

But inexplicably, they spoke in unison—

"sorry……"

"Feel sorry."

...

Xie Ruan blushed.

Why is Zhou Jingchi apologizing?

Zhou Jingchi: "Was I too fierce and scared you?"

Xie Ruan was stunned. This was the first time someone had been beaten and she had asked the culprit if he was frightened.

Xie Ruan nodded almost unconsciously.

Zhou Jingchi's focused and serious expression seemed to indicate that he had thoroughly reviewed the situation. He then used his broad arms to pull him into a tight embrace: "I will be more careful in the future."

Xie Ruan: ...

Zhou Jingchi's tone was too gentle.

The gentle, trembling, and resistant Xie Ruan also, very rarely, had the illusion that Zhou Jingchi wasn't so terrible after all.

Xie Ruan stood frozen in place.

I haven't come to my senses yet.

The plate that was just vibrating is vibrating again now.

"Buzzing".

"Buzz buzz buzz".

Xie Ruan glanced at it.

It's news from Ji Ye.

Xie Ruan was about to reach out when Zhou Jingchi quickly intercepted her.

Did he just reach out and block Ji Ye like that?

Zhou Jingchi: "You don't need to pay attention to him."

? ? ?

no.

Xie Ruan watched as Zhou Jingchi snapped the tablet shut down.

While she was still panicking, Zhou Jingchi replied, "I will tell Assistant Li that I did it all, and it has nothing to do with you."

Zhou Jingchi didn't want his time with Xie Ruan to be interrupted by a third person.

Even Zhou Jingchi didn't know why.

Zhou Jingchi looked at Xie Ruan.

Xie Ruan nodded stiffly.

After a long while, Xie Ruan nodded again in a daze.

That's okay! After all, no one with social anxiety would mind less work! Less communication and conflict, right?

It's still a relationship like Ji Ye's, one that's very difficult to handle.

Xie Ruan doesn't mind at all!

Xie Ruan was a little happy.

Zhou Jingchi looked at his phone ringing with gratitude.

Zhou Jingchi was looking at his phone very intently.

Held in Zhou Jingchi's arms, Xie Ruan was very serious. She stretched out her slender fingers and placed them on Zhou Jingchi's fingers, tentatively asking, "Brother, are you leaving?"

*

Xie Ruan truly had a face that evoked pity.

Especially with her hair sticking up from time to time, giving her a cute and messy look, it further accentuated the atmosphere of her aggrieved and tentative expression, making people inexplicably feel... sorry for her.

Zhou Jingchi was one of them, which led to his displeasure when his agent called him out to work at the last minute.

He had finally gotten the chance to spend time with Xie Ruan.

Zhou Jingchi even considered terminating his contract.

Fortunately, Assistant Li seemed to see through him and said that the work was only half a day and he could come back in the evening. Only then did Zhou Jingchi relent. He rubbed Xie Ruan's face and said pitifully, "Yes, but I will be back soon."

Zhou Jingchi completely agreed that Xie Ruan was reluctant to part with him.

He gently ruffled his hair and said goodbye to the aggrieved Xie Ruan.

Unbeknownst to them, their manager noticed that Xie Ruan's lips curled slightly, as if she were very happy, and she closed the door to see them off.

Zhou Jingchi's agent was still wondering if he had misread it.

Then Zhou Jingchi said to himself, "By the way, dinner might be affected, but remember to send a meal to Aruan around four or five o'clock."

The agent instinctively misheard: "You mean you want Xie Ruan to bring you food around four or five o'clock?"

After all, Xie Ruan was a nanny, and this was what he should do.

The agent instinctively opened his phone to make the contact.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Jingchi frowned: "He's so frail, how can he cook?"

The agent stood there, stunned.

Before she could even react, Zhou Jingchi said with a hint of dissatisfaction, "He can't even flip the wok properly, how can you bully A-Ruan and make him cook? Of course, you should find a chef to cook and then have it delivered to him."

He certainly didn't want Xie Ruan to faint from hunger at home.

Zhou Jingchi had just hugged Xie Ruan and even felt that Xie Ruan was thinner than the last time he hugged him.

Zhou Jingchi's eyes were filled with heartache.

To the agent, however, it was a long period of stunned silence before he finally came to his senses: "You mean, I'll hire a chef, cook for him, and then deliver it to him??"

Zhou Jingchi responded.

The agent watched Zhou Jingchi casually get into the car. Thinking about how Zhou Jingchi had only asked to bring food to Xie Ruan, without mentioning making one for himself, the agent froze once again.

It felt like a lifetime had passed after a long time.

I understand.

Zhou Jingchi.

Do you still hire ancestors?

They received the same treatment as Xie Ruan.