Chapter 44 - 2#
Yu Xiuzhu remained silent, merely starting the car with relentless focus.
Jing Shun, well aware of his easygoing nature, teased him relentlessly. “Didn’t you know? Looking at him, he seemed pretty pitiful, like you were the one who abandoned him.”
“Nonsense.”
Yu Xiuzhu changed the subject. “I’ll take you to eat something good.”
Jing Shun snickered. “Mm-hmm.”
…
Just past ten.
Jing Shun returned to the Chi residence and noticed the lights were still on in the first-floor living room.
Entering, he saw Chi Gui still sitting on the sofa, holding a tablet, seemingly reviewing some documents.
“Back?”
“Why are you sitting downstairs?”
Their eyes met, both spoke at once, then stopped.
Chi Gui turned off the tablet and quickly walked over to him. “Waiting for you.”
“…”
Jing Shun faced his approaching figure.
Even though he had prepared himself before coming home, his heart still tightened uncontrollably. “Mm?”
Chi Gui took the familiar wristwatch from his pocket. “I got it repaired and picked it up yesterday afternoon. I’ve just been waiting for the right time to give it to you.”
Jing Shun saw the recovered electronic watch and took it with a hint of surprise. “It wasn’t broken?”
“Mm, I recharged it.”
Chi Gui watched as the person before him put the watch back on without any resistance, and the tension that had gripped his brow for so long finally eased.
He continued, “I asked about it during dinner. Guan Jinghai and Yuan Jiali’s fraud charges are established. They’re going to be sentenced—three years for the man, a year and a half for the woman.”
Jing Shun nodded slightly. “Mm, Brother Yu told me.”
The matter of compensation was handled jointly by Chen Yiming and Yu Xiuzhu—the former dealing with the couple Guan Jinghai and Yuan Jiali, the latter handling negotiations with Jushi Film and Lai Yu.
As for the original 300,000 yuan in compensation, Yuan Jiali hadn’t even had a chance to touch it; it was recovered in full.
As for Jushi Film, under Yu Xiuzhu’s extremely tough stance, an additional 150,000 yuan in compensation was added.
Jing Shun thought about the agreement between himself and Chi Gui and wasn’t in a hurry to settle the total. “Chi Gui, I do have some savings in my card now, but as for the specific treatment costs, should we settle them together later?”
“Mm.”
Chi Gui had never intended to ask him to repay it; he wished their entanglements would drag on indefinitely.
“By the way, Yiming said that after Yuan Jiali went in, her father and brother caused a ruckus at the police station more than once, insisting that she was set up by you.”
“…”
Jing Shun was speechless.
Chi Gui warned him worriedly, “They couldn’t find you earlier because you were in Macau. But if you need to go out lately, try to be careful.”
Of course, he had already sent Chen Yiming to have people keep an eye on them discreetly.
But often, the desperate have nothing to lose, and who knows what kind of trouble that father and son might stir up next.
Hearing this, Jing Shun became cautiously alert. “Mm, I understand.”
As his words faded, a silence began to creep in.
Chi Gui took a moment to gather himself. “Jing Shun, was that cup of honey water in my bedroom last night brought by you?”
“…”
Jing Shun had only just remembered that.
He had been so flustered and panicked last night that he left the cup behind when he left the room.
Jing Shun had to admit, “I heard that people who get drunk tend to wake up thirsty in the middle of the night, so I prepared a cup for you.”
Chi Gui stared at his eyes, uncharacteristically troubled as he pressed on, “When you came into the room last night, did I… do anything to you?”
“No.”
Jing Shun denied it abruptly. “You were dead drunk last night. I put down the honey water and left.”
Some things weren’t yet at the point where they could be asked, for fear it would embarrass both parties.
Since that was the case, Jing Shun would rather pretend nothing had happened for now, and there was no need to let it affect anything.
“Really?”
“Would I lie to you about that?”
Jing Shun had already made peace with it, smiling as he turned the page. “Chi Gui, you’re not still drunk, are you?”
Seeing that Jing Shun’s expression seemed unbothered, Chi Gui felt that the politeness and distance from earlier in the day might have just been a lingering illusion from his drunken stupor.
“It’s late, you should get some rest. Baobei is already in your bedroom.”
“Mhm, I’ll head up then.”
“Alright.”
Jing Shun maneuvered his wheelchair into the elevator.
Just as the elevator doors were about to close, he reached out and pressed the open button. “Chi Gui.”
Chi Gui’s gaze had been fixed on him the whole time. “What’s wrong?”
Jing Shun didn’t use Baobei as a crutch this time but spoke from the heart. “Good night. You’ve worked hard this time in Macau. I hope you have sweet dreams tonight.”
Chi Gui gazed at Jing Shun’s gentle features, and the real scene finally completely replaced the lingering nightmare from last night.
“Alright.”
He replied earnestly, “Good night. Sweet dreams.”
The elevator doors closed.
Chi Gui’s heart finally settled.
“Sir.”
The butler, Uncle Lin, emerged from the corner at the bottom of the stairs, carrying a bowl of warm medicinal soup. “Weidi said you hadn’t eaten anything since noon and barely touched your dinner.”
“Now that Young Master Jing has returned safely, why don’t you have a little more?”
“…”
Chi Gui smelled the fragrant soup and finally regained a bit of appetite.
He sat back down on the sofa, picked up the white porcelain soup bowl, and took a sip. “Was everything peaceful at home while I was in Macau?”
Seeing that he was in the mood to ask, Uncle Lin answered truthfully, “The main branch hadn’t stirred. However, the old master sent people twice, asking when you would return.”
Chi Gui’s hand, stirring the soup, paused slightly. “What does he want?”
Uncle Lin shook his head. “He didn’t go into detail, but I discreetly found out—it seems the old madam has taken a liking to some young lady from a certain family.”
Hearing this, Chi Gui understood.
Were the old couple bored, trying to meddle in his marriage again?
Uncle Lin could see where Chi Gui’s thoughts lay and probed cautiously, “Sir, why don’t you find the time to explain things to Young Master Jing?”
Now that they had finally reached an agreement and were living under the same roof, shouldn’t he “strike while the iron is hot”?
“…”
Chi Gui swirled the soup in his bowl, his gaze deep. “Uncle Lin, I’ve never intended to use this agreement to hold him hostage, nor do I plan to use his gratitude to achieve what I want.”
Chi Gui had briefly considered the possibility of being a bit more “ruthless.”
Using Jing Shun’s need for leg treatment to force a relationship, or during the agreement period, being excessively good to Jing Shun, caging him with emotional debt.
But the moment those thoughts surfaced, Chi Gui rejected and shook them off.
He didn’t want his unspoken feelings to become Jing Shun’s shackles and burdens, nor did he believe in the notion that “giving must yield returns.”
More than anything, Chi Gui wanted Jing Shun to feel at ease staying by his side and receiving treatment for his legs.
Since the current agreement was the form Jing Shun was most comfortable with, then he would see it through to the end. There was still over a year left, and he treasured it.
Uncle Lin knew well the stubbornness buried deep in Chi Gui’s bones. “Sir, are you planning to never say anything?”
Chi Gui already had an answer. “At the very least, I’ll wait until he gets better first.”
Until Jing Shun could be as carefree as before, no longer feel inferior under others’ gazes, and no longer need to rely on anyone—
Then Chi Gui would find the right time to openly confess his feelings and hand the choice back to Jing Shun.
He had already waited for so many years; he wasn’t afraid to wait a little longer.
As long as Jing Shun could live safely and without worry in this world, he would feel at peace.
…
The ratings for “This! Is the Real Workplace!” from Shanghai TV Station continued to climb, not only breaking the stereotype that “workplace variety shows are niche” but also pushing online popularity to the peak of the second quarter.
Higher management generously approved sufficient funding, and the production team’s celebration party was exceptionally lavish.
However, by the time Jing Shun and Yu Xiuzhu arrived at the celebration banquet hall, the banquet hadn’t officially started yet.
Yu Yinhe temporarily led the two of them into a rest room. Once inside, they discovered that Fu Changting had already arrived early.
Their gazes met.
Compared to his state during the final episode recording, Fu Changting’s hair had grown a bit longer, and stubble had appeared on his chin, giving him a somewhat rugged look.
Jing Shun almost didn’t recognize him, greeting him a beat late, “Brother Ting, why are you here so early?”
Fu Changting smiled in welcome. “I finished work today and rushed straight over. I didn’t even have time to clean up properly.”
Yu Yinhe said, “I was curious earlier, but he’s in the middle of a new drama. He’ll have to head back to the set after tonight’s celebration party for tomorrow’s filming.”
Fu Changting nodded, tacitly agreeing with this explanation.
Hearing “new drama,” Jing Shun’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t rush to ask.
Yu Yinhe was prone to worrying. “You two sit here for a while. I’ll go out and check things again. I’ll call you when the banquet starts.”
“Alright, Sister Yin, you go ahead.”
The door to the rest room closed again.
Yu Xiuzhu pulled over a chair and sat down, starting the conversation. “Mr. Fu, two days ago, the production company under you called specifically to inquire about Xiao Jing’s upcoming schedule.”
Jing Shun maneuvered his wheelchair to his manager’s side.
Fu Changting didn’t deny it. “Mm, I asked them to inquire. I’ve started filming a new drama, and there’s a role in the later stages that I think would suit Xiao Jing. I want him to come and try out.”
Jing Shun showed a hint of curiosity but still seemed uncertain. “Brother Ting, but I’m not fully recovered yet. How could there be a role suitable for me?”
Fu Changting knew this question was coming and smiled without answering.
Clearly prepared, he pulled out his phone and tapped a few times.
Zzzz.
Within three seconds, Jing Shun received a character profile on WeChat.
Then, he heard Fu Changting gesture, “Open it. You’ll understand when you see it.”