Chapter 18#

With the help of Nan Shuyi, Jiang Yicen not only got to taste different flavors of candy but also learned how to market sweets in today’s market to maximize profits.#

When the two were at work during the day, Nan Shuyi had someone come to the house to clear away all the ribbons hanging from the lights, swapped the big wedding bedding back, leaving only the “happiness” characters posted on the glass windows.

The guest room was also cleared out, though Jiang Yicen still shared a dressing room with Nan Shuyi.

Originally, this guest room was intended by Nan Shuyi to be used as a study. To make it easier to go back to the bedroom to sleep, he had connected the study, dressing room, and master bedroom into one space, installing doors between them. However, after moving in, he found the downstairs guest bedroom more spacious and convenient, so he relocated the study downstairs.

Nan Shuyi looked at the restored big bed, and every time he lay down, he couldn’t help thinking back to the first two nights—when a fair-skinned person in loose pajamas lay in the big red quilt, obediently waiting for him to sleep together. His emotions were inexplicably complicated.

He happened to be lying right where Jiang Yicen had slept for those two days. Sleeping alone was still the best; dreaming alone was even sweeter!

He stayed up until two in the morning, barely feeling sleepy, wondering if Jiang Yicen next door was also suffering from insomnia like him.

But Jiang Yicen next door was the exact opposite of Nan Shuyi.

He had stayed with Nan Shuyi for two nights. The first night, he was too tired to notice any discomfort having another person beside him. On the second night, both of them inevitably felt a bit awkward, and their sleep quality noticeably declined. Since they had to go to work the next day, Jiang Yicen insisted on moving to the guest room. He didn’t mind it himself, but he couldn’t let it affect Nan Shuyi.

Over the years, he had maintained the Jiang family’s business and upheld their dignity and prestige—all for show to outsiders. As the last heir of the Jiang family, he had never shared a bed with anyone.

After coming to this world, he had even lived alone on an entire floor, with no servants around, and felt even more at ease.

It was only natural that he hadn’t yet adapted to sharing a bed with someone.

If Nan Shuyi insisted they sleep together, he could try to get used to it. Thankfully, Nan Shuyi was a man of integrity and didn’t force them to share a room. Jiang Yicen’s appreciation for this modern wealthy young man grew a bit more.

He wasn’t the kind of person to act recklessly, and he treated him well—not only respecting his preferences but also being willing to help him.

It was hard not to develop a favorable impression of someone like that.

Thinking that Nan Shuyi was sleeping right in the master bedroom next door, Jiang Yicen felt a strong sense of security. Living with Nan Shuyi, he ate well and slept soundly.

Nan Shuyi actually had the same protective effect as Guan Yu or Qin Shubao—guardian deities at the door. He amused himself with that thought.

Over the next two days, Jiang Yicen gradually became more proficient with his computer skills. He learned to use PowerPoint by watching tutorials. Since he couldn’t create anything too complex in a short time, he stuck to the simplest designs. No matter how flashy the appearance, it had to be backed by solid content.

During these two days, he not only studied on his own but also observed his colleagues and learned from them.

Fortunately, his supervisor Jin Huanxin didn’t pay much attention to him. Originally, Tan Ping was supposed to guide him into his new job, but Tan Ping seemed to hold a strong grudge against him, clearly treating him as a rival. He looked at Jiang Yicen with cold eyes, acted aloof, and even showed a hint of disdain.

One day in the break room, Jiang Yicen overheard Tan Ping talking about him to a colleague from another group. His words were filled with contempt, and he repeatedly described Jiang Yicen as “someone who got in through the back door.”

It was true that Jiang Yicen had entered the company through connections, but this was a private company, not a state-owned one—every position was a designated slot, not taking up any state resources. Tan Ping’s hostility toward him was too obvious.

Jiang Yicen thought about it; he didn’t seem to have offended the other person in any way, nor had he taken his position.

Back in his time, if someone found out that a person had entered a company through higher-up connections, everyone would show some respect, not knowing when they might offend that person. Maybe modern people could secure a high-paying job solely based on their own abilities, without relying purely on relationships or gifts to get a hard-won position. So in handling interpersonal relationships, they followed their whims—liking or disliking openly.

Jiang Yicen respected the other person’s choice, after all, it wouldn’t have a significant impact on him.

The new proposal had a deadline of only three days. Jiang Yicen worked overtime to study others’ proposal formats and combined them with his own insights. He had market data and had tasted various products, but he still felt something was missing.

His proposal was at a confidential stage and needed to be submitted to Jin Huanxin by Friday. He felt his proposal still had shortcomings.

On Thursday afternoon, he reviewed his marketing plan again. He was dissatisfied but couldn’t pinpoint the problem, lacking a reference.

If he said too much, it would expose that he wasn’t a marketing major, and it would also increase his colleagues’ workload and waste their time.

That day, he didn’t work overtime; he left on time. After working overtime for two consecutive days, he realized it wasn’t very meaningful—he could finish the work at home. At home, he felt more free. Nan Shuyi had set aside a room for him to use as his study. Here, he had his own little world and could arrange the desk however he liked.

He had never used an electric height-adjustable desk before. Nan Shuyi also bought him an ergonomic chair that perfectly fit his body curves, allowing him to sit for long hours without getting tired.

Jiang Yicen grew fonder of living here day by day. In just a few days, he had developed a sense of belonging, something he had never felt while living in the Jiang family home.

Nan Shuyi wasn’t always free to pick Jiang Yicen up from work. Knowing he didn’t want to drive, he simply arranged a driver for him.

In the mornings, Nan Shuyi would take him, and in the evenings, the driver would pick him up to take him home.

Today, the driver brought Jiang Yicen home again. Dinner was prepared by a hired auntie; Nan Shuyi didn’t have time to cook, and Jiang Yicen couldn’t cook either. Having meals from their own restaurant would require multiple people and steps, and by the time it was carefully prepared and delivered home, the taste would have changed. But they couldn’t let Jiang Yicen go hungry, so Nan Shuyi borrowed an auntie from Nan Anru.

Nan Shuyi didn’t return until nine in the evening after a business dinner.

Usually, when living alone, he would drink some alcohol at social events. Once he drank, he didn’t feel like moving much. When he got home, he would turn on only one light and then go to his room to shower and rest.

Today was an exception. The house was brightly lit, warm to the heart.

The big TV, often gathering dust in the living room, finally served its purpose. Nan Shuyi could already hear the TV sound while changing shoes at the entrance.

Jiang Yicen was sitting on the sofa watching TV.

Nan Shuyi had expected Jiang Yicen to be lounging on the sofa, snacking on fruit or chips while watching, but instead, he saw a different scene.

Jiang Yicen sat upright on the sofa, hands resting on his legs, back straight—like the top student most favored by the teacher in an honors class. So prim and proper that one could imagine him raising his hand to answer a question, one hand flat on the desk and the other straight up, forming a perfect right angle.

The only thing that might break the atmosphere was his loose pajamas and the square throw pillow on his lap.

Nan Shuyi thought to himself that Jiang Yicen always managed to surprise him in subtle ways. There really were people who had dignity, composure, and gentleness etched into their bones—not just putting on a show in public, but being that way in private.

Nan Shuyi felt as if he had stumbled upon a secret garden meant only for him, wanting to treasure this secret known only to himself. So Jiang Yicen had always shown him his truest self. He suppressed the strange feeling in his heart.

Nan Shuyi took off his coat, the strangeness growing. He made a harmless joke: “Waiting for me specially?”

“Mm.” Jiang Yicen put the pillow aside and stood up. “I’ll get you a glass of hot water.”

“Thanks.” Nan Shuyi nodded, his eyes following Jiang Yicen as he moved—from the living room to the kitchen to get water, and then back out again.

The loose silk pajamas wrapped around Jiang Yicen’s body, outlining his figure—on the thin side, but with enough flesh in the right places, not bony.

Jiang Yicen handed the mug to Nan Shuyi, who was leaning on the sofa. He could smell the alcohol on him, but strangely, alcohol on many people would be unpleasant. Not with Nan Shuyi. He actually felt the alcohol was like perfume on him. He must have a problem with his nose.

Nan Shuyi knew Jiang Yicen had early sleep habits and would barely keep his eyes open by eleven at night: “Not sleeping yet?”

Jiang Yicen shook his head, hesitating slightly before speaking: “Do you have time?”

Nan Shuyi: “What is it?”

Jiang Yicen: “I have something I’d like to ask you.”

After much thought, asking Nan Shuyi was his best option. The man was clearly not an idle rich fool but had been hiding his true abilities. Besides, he understood better than Jiang Yicen what Nanyuan needed.

He did have experience as a restaurant owner, but when it came to marketing planning, his experience was clearly lacking. Even if he had some, it might not suit the current marketing environment.

Nan Shuyi: “In what area?”

Jiang Yicen noticed he had been drinking, his eyes a bit red. He might have had quite a lot. He didn’t want to trouble him too much.

“Wait a moment.”

He quickly walked to the study and returned to the living room with a laptop.

Nan Shuyi wasn’t surprised at all. Of course, that didn’t stop him from feeling a bit disappointed inside. He could have asked about something else too.

Uh-oh. He seemed a bit drunk—he had been letting his mind wander ever since he got home.

Until he saw the document Jiang Yicen had opened on the laptop. The title instantly drove those thoughts out of his head, and his mind became unusually clear.

Nan Shuyi placed the laptop on his thighs, his fingers moving faster than his mouth as he scrolled through the screen: “You want me to look at your proposal?”

Jiang Yicen sat down beside him: “Mm. I don’t know what’s good or bad. I’ve never done a proposal for the domestic market.”

Nan Shuyi’s fingers paused slightly. The heat surged back to his face. Jiang Yicen had already showered. As he sat down, the scent of body wash wafted into Nan Shuyi’s nose.

The laptop screen was narrow. For Jiang Yicen to look at the proposal together with Nan Shuyi, he had to lean closer.

Nan Shuyi’s eyes fell on the document: “Let me take a look first.”

Jiang Yicen: “Should I cut some fruit for you?”

Nan Shuyi remembered how Jiang Yicen couldn’t even turn on the gas stove in the kitchen, so he said, “No need. I already had fruit in the evening. You keep watching TV.”

“Okay.” Jiang Yicen listened obediently. He turned down the TV volume and continued watching the entertainment show—a dating show. He found it particularly novel; nowadays, people could even film their romances as a show for the audience. The concept was way too avant-garde.

Nan Shuyi focused on reading the proposal and soon had ideas, marking annotations on the document. When he looked up again, he found that Jiang Yicen was also very absorbed in the show. He even opened his mouth slightly in surprise when the dating contestants had physical contact during games. It really didn’t seem like someone who had studied abroad. Those were just actors following a script; why would that be surprising?

Nan Shuyi drew his attention back: “I’ve finished reading.”

When Jiang Yicen heard those words, a familiar feeling hit him. When he was a child learning from his grandfather, after finishing an essay and showing it to him, he would always stand by and wait. His grandfather would always say, “I’ve finished reading” after finishing. When Nan Shuyi said that, Jiang Yicen’s whole body tensed up reflexively.

Nan Shuyi was close to him. Jiang Yicen’s face was actually very small; any change in his expression was obvious.

He was amused: “Treating me like a homeroom teacher?”

Jiang Yicen thought of his deceased relative, nodded hesitantly, then shook his head: “Not a homeroom teacher.”

Nan Shuyi leaned forward slightly: “Then who did you think of?”

Jiang Yicen looked at the handsome face so close to his and said quietly, “My maternal grandfather.”

The mischievous flame that had just risen in Nan Shuyi vanished instantly.

He realized that Jiang Yicen always managed to throw cold water on him, and it was always spot on.

“Grandfather”… that title was highly respectful. Most people wouldn’t call him “wàizǔfù” but rather “wàigōng” or “lǎoye,” right?

“…Alright, let me explain where the proposal needs improvement. Your concept is good, but it lacks some details.”

Nan Shuyi took a deep breath. When Jiang Yicen got closer, he felt a bit unsettled, his ears turning hot. Probably because he had drunk too much.

Jiang Yicen leaned in again, pointing at the first marked spot: “Is the holiday giveaway not suitable?”

Nan Shuyi turned his head and caught the scent of Jiang Yicen’s hair. He nearly stumbled over his words.

He moved back a little, organizing his thoughts, and continued explaining to Jiang Yicen: “It’s suitable, but not enough. Our target audience isn’t just families with kids. It also includes travelers, young office workers, and even corporate welfare procurement can be included…”

Jiang Yicen listened very attentively. His eyes were exceptionally clear, the kind that showed he was the best student in class.

When Jiang Yicen looked at him like that, Nan Shuyi felt his mouth go dry. He downed the glass of now-cold water in one gulp.

He really seemed to have drunk too much tonight. He could barely stop himself from wanting to lean in and kiss him.