Chapter 52 The Second Day of a Five-Person Showdown: Shared Babysitter? How Could That Be…
The golden twilight gradually faded away.
Only the gradually descending moonlight remained, its thin glow falling entirely upon the man and Xie Ruan.
Xie Ruan had an extremely handsome face. His small, delicate face, with a hint of frightened vulnerability, made it easy for anyone who saw his trembling, uneasy eyelashes to feel a desire to tease him.
Pei Zhi seemed to have some thoughts of his own as well, and his slightly raised eyes fell on Xie Ruan, who was unusually quiet: "Aren't you going to ask?"
Pei Zhi's voice was almost completely devoid of any emotion.
Xie Ruan had no way of knowing, so she could only clench her fingers tightly and think about the price she might have to pay.
Xie Ruan is not someone who is so socially anxious that she cannot ask questions.
But "Jiang Zhi" is different.
In the original book, Jiang Zhi even plotted to kill his own uncle, Pei Zhi.
This is the kind of person who goes crazy from time to time, makes demands, and even if the other party refuses, just like in the original book, ruthlessly takes everything away from others on a whim.
How could Xie Ruan dare to ask so casually?
After all, Xie Ruan had actually seen how Jiang Zhi was begged on his knees by a supporting character, and how Jiang Zhi simply snatched the item when the supporting character felt he couldn't afford the conditions.
In Xie Ruan's memory, Jiang Zhi was the only one.
They'll stop at nothing.
Xie Ruan couldn't guess what "Jiang Zhi" really wanted.
Xie Ruan had almost nothing.
Besides money and work.
Xie Ruan had almost no one who was in Jiang Zhi's favor.
Xie Ruan didn't even have any friends.
So, the only point Jiang Zhi could exploit was...
Speak, listen, plan, follow.
Can he really become a puppet for the sake of those below him?
Can't.
Absolutely not.
Xie Ruan shook his head vigorously.
Xie Ruan didn't even notice the man's subconscious movement as he approached him, his lips landing on Xie Ruan's thin lips.
Only when the man suddenly approaches.
With a sudden conditioned reflex, a push sent the man and his wheelchair to the side.
"bump".
The sound seemed too loud.
The action happened too quickly.
Xie Ruan only realized what she had done as a conditioned reflex after she did it.
Only one thing remained in his mind—
It's over.
We're doomed.
Xie Ruan didn't dare to check on the man's current condition.
He just hurriedly ran away, heading downstairs.
Xie Ruan didn't see at all that Pei Zhi, who had been pushed aside by Xie Ruan, smiled slightly when he saw the ahoge (a single hair sticking up) on Xie Ruan's head.
He is somewhat clever.
Pei Zhi was testing him from the start.
One person can see about 70-80% of what another person is seeing.
It can also be seen in his answers and choices.
See what's left.
Pei Zhi slightly curled the corners of his mouth.
I have already seen through Xie Ruan's character.
Xie Ruan is someone who seems easy to coax.
But some people are clever.
Pei Zhi was very satisfied.
After all, for Pei Zhi...
Everything in this world comes at a price.
You don't want to get something.
Then there will be a second thing that needs to be exchanged.
And the second thing.
It's often a brief escape.
A greater cost.
Pei Zhi watched Xie Ruan's retreating figure.
Xie Ruan no longer cared about anything else.
*
Xie Ruan ran too fast.
By the time Xie Ruan reached the elevator, she still hadn't remembered—
The layout of this villa is as follows:
The employer can let Xie Ruan come up.
This would also make it difficult for Xie Ruan to leave.
"Bang bang bang." The open door of the room easily made Xie Ruan's action of banging on the elevator door audible.
Xie Ruan pressed the elevator button several times and took several photos.
The elevator didn't respond at all.
Xie Ruan felt a pang of regret; he should have just left the man behind and gone downstairs.
Why would he even think that he could exchange a man for protection with just a little salary?
He was wrong.
Xie Ruan: "..."
If the protagonist in the novel could negotiate.
Then it wouldn't be the main character.
QAQ!
So, why did he ask that question?!
She was still pushing a man just now!!!
We're doomed.
It's completely over.
Xie Ruan completely forgot that the owner of this villa could prevent anyone from getting on or off the elevator at any time.
Xie Ruan was so nervous that her breathing became rapid. As the corridor grew quieter, Xie Ruan could even hear the sound of wheelchair wheels rolling on the plush carpet.
Xie Ruan wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he instinctively stepped back, though there were only so many spots in the villa.
No matter where he hides, the other party can always find him easily if they want to.
Unless he jumps off the building...
But this is the third floor QAQ!
Even if Xie Ruan doesn't die after jumping, she will be crippled.
Xie Ruan didn't want to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.
Xie Ruan instinctively stepped back.
Step back further.
He was still thinking about how to explain it to the man.
The increasingly loud noise suddenly drew the man into Xie Ruan's view.
Xie Ruan almost felt her breathing stop.
*
He was naturally unaware that none of the three people on the first floor were willing to exchange a single word with each other.
"..."
The atmosphere was too oppressive.
After Xie Ruan was taken away by Pei Zhi, Ji Ye and Zhou Jingchi stood frozen in place.
Wen Hezhou sat quietly in the living room, seemingly lost in thought, as he helped Xie Ruan put her backpack on the sofa.
Zhou Jingchi was the first to break the deadlock: "Why are you back, Ji Ye?"
Ji Ye silently looked at Zhou Jingchi with a cold gaze, then sat down on the sofa with Wen Hezhou.
Ji Ye seemed completely uninterested in Zhou Jingchi's question.
Ji Ye didn't see Zhou Jingchi's fist gradually hardening after Ji Ye ignored him and left.
Zhou Jingchi: "That Pei Zhi guy, he wouldn't be bullying Aruan, would he? It's been so long."
Zhou Jingchi didn't sit on the sofa. Instead, he walked in the opposite direction from the two of them toward the kitchen.
Zhou Jingchi thought, Xie Ruan is no longer here.
But with so many people coming tonight, someone definitely needs to cook.
Zhou Jingchi didn't want Xie Ruan to do it.
Zhou Jingchi went into the kitchen to check the food: "What does that guy like to eat?"
Zhou Jingchi kept talking.
His hands were so busy.
He didn't see at all that Ji Ye and Wen Hezhou, who hadn't replied to him yet, were staring at each other in an extremely tense atmosphere.
Zhou Jingchi continued, seemingly oblivious to his own thoughts, "That Pei Zhi guy, he probably eats anything, right?"
Zhou Jingchi took a steak.
I grabbed some butter and decided to make a simple butter steak.
Zhou Jingchi: "It doesn't matter if he doesn't like it, as long as he can eat it."
Zhou Jingchi was holding a steak in his hand, still thinking about what to make for Pei Zhi, Ji Ye, and Wen Hezhou.
He only vaguely paused his fingers.
He remembered the last time he didn't make good coffee, and the man suddenly made things difficult for him for hours...
Pei Zhi is truly a devil.
Zhou Jingchi naturally wouldn't listen to his advice.
But he...
But she knew that Pei Zhi would make things difficult for Xie Ruan.
He didn't want Pei Zhi to make things difficult for Xie Ruan.
He could only stand there, trying to open the internal system's chat interface to search for Pei Zhi's name.
All he could do was ask Pei Zhi what he liked.
Zhou Jingchi is really not good at doing these things.
Even his brows furrowed slightly.
Zhou Jingchi didn't notice at all that Ji Ye had just seen Xie Ruan's backpack in Wen Hezhou's hand.
Ji Ye didn't recognize this backpack.
But this backpack is the one he endorses; he just saw Xie Ruan carrying it.
So, it seems that this backpack was given to Xie Ruan by him.
But it was precisely this gift he gave to Xie Ruan that Xie Ruan saw…
As Wen Hezhou leaned closer, the items inside were faintly visible...
Ji Ye saw that half of the badge had fallen out of the backpack.
What's on top looks like...
Wen Hezhou's face.
It's not a pleasant feeling to suddenly see someone else's belongings inside something you've given away.
Ji Ye could clearly feel the atmosphere around him becoming more oppressive. "You went out with him?"
Ji Ye is not stupid.
It can fill a whole backpack.
Even without thinking, Ji Ye could figure out who Xie Ruan went out with today.
Ji Ye: "Did you ask him to go out and do things for you today?"
Ji Ye's voice was icy cold, devoid of any emotion.
When asked about his motives, Ji Ye offered no explanation.
His arrogance wouldn't allow him to explain.
He tried to find Xie Ruan on the account today, but saw that Xie Ruan was out.
Ji Ye didn't know how Assistant Li had set up the status.
Xie Ruan went out to work and could not contact anyone else.
Ji Ye tried to contact them multiple times, but it didn't work until the evening.
He rushed over to find Xie Ruan after finishing his work.
I just didn't expect it.
Upon arriving, they found everyone present, all searching for Xie Ruan.
Ji Ye suddenly realized that he hadn't been visiting this villa enough.
He had no idea that Xie Ruan had become the object of so many people's covetousness.
Ji Ye's fingers tightened.
Wen Hezhou didn't reply; he simply placed his backpack aside indifferently.
The atmosphere around Ji Ye became even more oppressive.
The three people were not far apart.
But only Zhou Jingchi was talking incessantly.
Zhou Jingchi sent Pei Zhi a message: "What do you like to eat? I'll cook for you tonight. Don't make things difficult for Xie Ruan."
Pei Zhi did not reply.
Zhou Jingchi looked at Wen Hezhou.
Wen Hezhou only showed him the back of his head.
Zhou Jingchi asked Ji Ye in a low voice, "What do you want to eat?"
Ji Ye didn't even bother to answer such a question. He sat on the sofa like a big shot, staring intently at the backpack in Wen Hezhou's hand.
Ji Ye looked as if he were sitting still, staring at Wen Hezhou.
That explains why Xie Ruan's bag contained Wen Hezhou's items.
Utterly innocent.
Zhou Jingchi laughed. He took out a steak and looked at Ji Ye: "If Wen Hezhou won't tell you, I can tell you."
Ji Ye's gaze indeed shifted to Zhou Jingchi.
Zhou Jingchi: "Because Aruan came to see my and Wen Hezhou's event today. It's a celebrity double weekend."
Zhou Jingchi waved his phone: "It even made it to the trending topics."
Ji Ye frowned.
He opened his phone and saw messages from male fans who had bypassed the Great Firewall, which were conveniently displayed on the hashtag.
Even in dim lighting.
Xie Ruan was bundled up tightly when she went out today.
Ji Ye recognized Xie Ruan at a glance.
Ji Ye inexplicably exuded a jealous aura: "..."
Xie Ruan had never seen his work.
They actually went to Wen Hezhou and Zhou Jingchi's place.
The atmosphere in Jiye became even more oppressive.
Zhou Jingchi, however, was in the kitchen, finding Ji Ye's stern face and dark expression quite pleasing to the eye. "Envious, aren't you?"
Zhou Jingchi and Ji Ye competed for it the most times.
Zhou Jingchi doesn't consider himself a person with a perverse sense of humor.
But seeing Ji Ye's expression of disappointment at not getting Xie Ruan, he couldn't help but smile and declare his ownership: "Ruan, I'm the one you like the most."
Zhou Jingchi: "He accepted my vote."
Zhou Jingchi slightly raised his chin.
Ji Ye gave a rare cold laugh, got up, and walked towards the kitchen.
Ji Ye also knew that if he didn't do it, Xie Ruan would.
How could he possibly let Xie Ruan prepare meals for five people all at once?
Even though neither Ji Ye nor Zhou Jingchi are good at cooking, they both cooked.
Only when Ji Ye took out a new apron did his gaze fall on the Xie Ruan apron worn by Zhou Jingchi, and he frowned.
Ji Ye remained silent.
He simply picked up a carrot, washed it, and peeled it.
Then, despite caring terribly, she still stirred up trouble as if it were none of her business: "Really? For you, that backpack is full of Wen Hezhou's things."
Ji Ye: "It seems it wasn't for you."
Ji Ye silently took a knife and peeled the skin.
Ji Ye had never been to the kitchen before, and with a quick peeling motion, he had completely removed the already slender carrot.
Ji Ye sensed the increasingly oppressive atmosphere surrounding Zhou Jingchi.
A slight smile played on her lips as she continued to fan the flames: "Otherwise, my backpack would definitely be stuffed full of your merchandise."
Zhou Jingchi's fingers stiffened: "Really? You didn't give me any, but you gave yours, and A-Ruan even cheered for me. You didn't get any support, did you?"
Zhou Jingchi's lips curled slightly.
The atmosphere became even more tense.
Zhou Jingchi placed the steak on the pan, and the butter sizzled in the pan.
The atmosphere in the living room grew increasingly tense.
On the contrary, only Zhou Jingchi and Xie Ruan, who was upstairs at the time, bumped into Pei Zhi and made some noise.
*
"Big brother..." Xie Ruan spoke in a trembling voice to Pei Zhi, who was approaching step by step.
Although Pei Zhi was in a wheelchair, the sudden pressure from his approach made it almost impossible for Xie Ruan to breathe.
Xie Ruan looked at the man, whose expression revealed almost no emotion.
Xie Ruan's breathing became slightly rapid.
His fingers were sweating, and he couldn't think of a way to explain himself. He could only feel embarrassed and, with a forced smile, take the initiative to approach Pei Zhi.
Xie Ruan: "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to."
Xie Ruan's thin lips were very thin and moist. When they opened and closed, they had an ambiguous color, which seemed even more ambiguous in the dim, unlit corridor.
Xie Ruan, however, was completely unaware of this.
Xie Ruan subconsciously walked a few steps toward the man's wheelchair.
She prayed that the man would treat her better.
Xie Ruan: "You...you're not hurt, are you...?"
Xie Ruan's breathing was very weak and thin. She was so powerless that she was trembling all over when she got close to the man. She was completely unaware of her own condition, which aroused people's desire to tease her.
Xie Ruan kept her head down, quietly waiting for Pei Zhi to speak.
Until Pei Zhi placed his hand on Xie Ruan's head.
The gentle movement startled Xie Ruan, who stared blankly at Pei Zhi.
Xie Ruan never expected Pei Zhi to be so gentle with her.
As Xie Ruan approached, Pei Zhi's extremely low and magnetic voice rang out: "So scared? Did they bully you?"
Xie Ruan stood there, stunned.
Pei Zhi suddenly moved closer to him, his fingers instinctively pulling him into his arms.
Pei Zhi's embrace was broad, and Xie Ruan easily fell into the man's arms.
Xie Ruan subconsciously held his breath. The man's faint minty scent approached him, and Xie Ruan didn't know why, but this cool minty scent didn't make him shiver even more. Instead, as the man got closer, his gentle demeanor gradually relaxed him.
Something's not right?
Isn't Jiang Zhi known for holding grudges?
Why treat him like this?
Xie Ruan's mind was racing, but the man's fingers were playing with his hair, tugging at the ends of his hair and turning them in his fingers, almost relaxing Xie Ruan's guard.
Xie Ruan was completely unaware of the slight surprise on the man's face when he noticed the movement of his fingers upon seeing her.
The man simply let his fingers move, then parted his thin lips slightly, as if testing Xie Ruan, or perhaps testing why he had suddenly become so intimate with her, and asked, "How did they bully you when I wasn't around?"
The man clearly sensed something was wrong with the shared nanny arrangement.
Men don't know—
His question was that this was the first time Xie Ruan had been asked about her work since she came into this world.
Xie Ruan pondered: Can Jiang Zhi be trusted?
Xie Ruan looked at Jiang Zhi uncertainly, her eyes lingering on him for a long time.
Until the man spoke up: "I don't get along with them, I won't tell anyone."
Jiang Zhi does indeed have a bad relationship with the main characters.
Ji Ye, Zhou Jingchi, Wen Hezhou, and Jiang Zhi were complete strangers before.
In addition, all three of them grew up with Pei Zhi.
Jiang Zhi had no contact with them at all.
Xie Ruan felt that Jiang Zhi's words could be trusted.
Xie Ruan was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't realize she had been lying in the man's arms for far too long.
She was completely unaware of how captivating her slightly drooping eyelashes were when she was thinking.
It's so captivating that you can't take your eyes off it.
The man seemed to see through Xie Ruan's thoughts and spoke again: "If you can convince me, I might help you tonight."
The man's voice lingered in Xie Ruan's ear, his warm breath brushing against his earlobe. Xie Ruan felt the man was too close. The unlit corridor made the already close distance between them, and the psychological distance between them, even closer. Xie Ruan even felt that he could hear his own heartbeat.
She also heard her own heartbeat clearly after being bewitched by the man.
Xie Ruan was completely unable to refuse the conditions offered by the man.
In the original book, Jiang Zhi was also considered a trustworthy person.
If there's one condition, it's that Jiang Zhi will always help him.
So, his suggestion of an exchange—in exchange for protecting him tonight—seems... plausible.
Xie Ruan thought that he was only asking Jiang Zhi to help him for one night, so it should be alright.
He was just saying bad things...
Xie Ruan's cheeks flushed slightly.
The sudden decision to do something wrong made him feel uneasy.
But he really wanted to find someone to talk to about these things.
Xie Ruan has no one in this world she can trust.
Perhaps we can trust Jiang Zhi to a small extent?
Xie Ruan's observant eyes silently fell upon the man.
Xie Ruan couldn't tell what the man was thinking.
Just following the man's lead, she asked, "Did they touch your head?"
Xie Ruan nodded subconsciously.
Xie Ruan did not see the man stop breathing for even a moment.
The man continued, "Did they hold your hand or hug you?"
Nannies have no such obligation.
but……
The man recalled the appearance of those people from just now.
It doesn't look like it's never been touched before.
Of course, a man wouldn't directly ask the people downstairs.
Unexpectedly, Xie Ruan nodded.
man:"……"
Ultimately, he overestimated the character of these guys.
They even preyed on nannies.
He shouldn't have gathered this group all in one villa.
Three sets should be provided, one set for each person.
The atmosphere around the man turned several degrees colder.
Xie Ruan, oblivious to the situation, decided to finish what he had to say and let Jiang Zhi protect him, saying, "They seem unhappy that I'm with someone else..."
But he was a public nanny.
How could you possibly be with only one person?
Xie Ruan didn't dare to tell anyone that several people had tried to poach him from his job and asked if he wanted to leave.
He could only keep it a secret, listening as the man asked again, "What else did they do?"
The man's voice seemed to lower even further.
Xie Ruan sensed that the man's mood was off, but when she looked up, she saw his smile.
That smile seems very kind.
Xie Ruan, not good at guessing what others might think, subconsciously spoke again: "Also... Teacher Wen said he'd pay me to be his private chef..."
man:……
He never expected Wen Hezhou to do such a thing.
In fact, when Pei Zhi was building this villa, he was also thinking about the fact that these three people all owned properties in Yungang City. Since their homes were not here, hotels were not as comfortable and they were also easy targets for paparazzi. That's why Pei Zhi gave this house, which was originally built for filming, to these three people.
After all, Pei Zhi and the three of them were family friends.
Living together as a family can ease tensions and is also the elders' wish.
Pei Zhi acquiesced.
He wasn't interested in this villa because he owns many properties all over the country.
Compared to going to the Seaview Bay, Pei Zhi is closer to the other villas.
So Pei Zhi never returned.
As for the others...
Pei Zhi didn't care.
All he knew was that before Xie Ruan joined the company, that group of people had always held the attitude that even a dog wouldn't come.
But now, not only has a villa arrived, but also...
Contact the nanny privately.
Looking for part-time work as a nanny?
The man had a vague feeling that something was wrong.
He was still pondering whether the villa could still be used for this group of people to live in.
Xie Ruan, completely oblivious to his expression, continued to struggle, twisting her fingers, and subconsciously confessed again, saying, "And... Zhou Jingchi also contacted me."
The man remembered that Zhou Jingchi was the first person to say, "Even a dog wouldn't come."
The man glanced at Xie Ruan.
He also agreed on the reasons why Zhou Jingchi was interested in Xie Ruan.
The man looked at Xie Ruan.
Xie Ruan, nestled in his arms, confessed again: "Zhou Jingchi is incredibly kind to me. He protects me. He said if anyone bullies me, I can come to him..."
man:"……"
Xie Ruan: "Zhou Jingchi told me to treat him only as an older brother, and he would bring me food... He even took care of me, stood up for me, didn't let me cook, and helped me deal with Ji Ye... He is a very good person."
Xie Ruan praised Zhou Jingchi more and more.
He didn't even notice the man's expression gradually turning cold as he saw Xie Ruan say those words.
But Xie Ruan was getting more and more carried away as she talked.
Then, the man abruptly interrupted, mentioning the next person: "Ji Ye."
Xie Ruan's fingers tightened.
Xie Ruan's relationships with Zhou Jingchi and Wen Hezhou are all normal.
Only Ji Ye...
His relationship with Ji Ye is too abnormal.
Xie Ruan was unsure whether Jiang Zhi could accept what was to come.
She would just quietly raise her head, and then, just as she was about to lift it, she would shyly lower it again.
Xie Ruan didn't notice the man's slight frown. She just pursed her lips and hesitated for a long time before finally speaking when the man asked what Ji Ye had done to her: "Ji Ye... Ji Ye wants..."
Xie Ruan subconsciously swallowed, not even noticing the man's more focused gaze upon him. He took a deep breath silently, then, as if gathering all his courage, slightly raised his head to meet Jiang Zhi's eyes.
He slowly began to speak: "He said... he seems to have sleep problems."
Pei Zhi had heard a little about these things.
Pei Zhi did not answer.
But then Xie Ruan said, "So, he said he can only sleep when he's holding me."
Pei Zhi: ...
Xie Ruan: "So, he wants me to sleep with him..."
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