Chapter 24#
Tan Xiao discovered that this was a thornier problem than he had imagined.
For anyone, the sudden transformation of a very familiar ordinary person into the scion of a wealthy family—and not just any wealthy family, but one with wealth rivaling a nation—is not a change that can be easily digested and accepted.
His relationship with Zhang Xingchuan now was more than just being familiar; they were already each other’s most intimate partners.
He couldn’t judge at all how Zhang Xingchuan would react upon learning the inside story.
First of all, he definitely wouldn’t be very happy; being startled was the most likely initial reaction. And then? Would he be angry?
Would he choose to leave because he couldn’t handle the pressure of such undeniable and immense wealth?
He couldn’t tell.
Even though he felt he already knew Zhang Xingchuan very well, no one could say for sure how money might affect and change human nature until it actually happened.
Tan Xiao had fallen so deeply in love with Zhang Xingchuan that he couldn’t pull himself out. He didn’t want Zhang Xingchuan to be sad, but he also didn’t want Zhang Xingchuan to break his heart.
Wealth can buy many things: basic survival, various forms of pleasure, and sometimes even happiness.
But in a relationship between two people, it is often a burden.
Zhang Xingchuan parked the car in a temporary spot outside the school gate. Tan Xiao unfastened his seatbelt, about to say goodbye and get out.
“Wait a second.” Zhang Xingchuan picked up his phone and transferred money to Tan Xiao right then and there, saying dominantly, “Accept it quickly.”
Last night, Tan Xiao had taken a late-night flight to Shanghai to see him. He wanted to replenish Tan Xiao’s depleted wallet.
Tan Xiao didn’t look closely after opening it and habitually clicked to receive the money. He soon noticed that Zhang Xingchuan was waiting for his reaction.
Tan Xiao: “…”
He tried hard to put himself in the perspective of a student from a working-class family, feeling that this should be a very charming moment for a CEO boyfriend. The correct reaction might be to be moved by the CEO’s generous spending.
“…” Tan Xiao looked at the amount and said, “It’s so much. Why did you transfer so much to me?”
It was indeed quite a bit, exceeding the total of all the gifts and transfers Zhang Xingchuan had given him before.
Zhang Xingchuan immediately transferred another sum to him, double the previous amount.
Tan Xiao thought for a moment, clicked to receive it again, and said, “That’s enough. Don’t transfer any more. You’re already very handsome, and I’m already captivated by you.”
But Zhang Xingchuan was about to make another transfer. Tan Xiao pressed down on his phone screen and said, “Stop transferring!”
Zhang Xingchuan took his hand and said, “Then think about what kind of car or other things you like. Let me spend this money on you, and I’ll feel better.”
Tan Xiao: “…”
He had somewhat experienced the charm of the CEO “dropping gold coins.”
It wasn’t a question of whether money was spent or how much, but he could truly feel that Zhang Xingchuan did all this because he loved him, his inner feelings bursting out in the form of spending money.
To be honest, this behavior was both unrefined and silly, but it also had a certain cuteness.
“Buy me a bicycle then,” Tan Xiao finally said. “I can’t ride shared bikes; they’re really too small for me.”
Shared bikes are not designed for people over 1.8 meters tall. Although there were bicycles everywhere on campus, he still had to rely on his own two feet. If he was in a hurry, he would randomly pick a “scooter hero” and ask for a ride.
He had bought a bicycle during his undergraduate years, an entry-level model from an Italian brand, which was already very cool.
He was still a minor then, a true “younger brother,” and very easygoing, so that bike was often borrowed by classmates.
When he graduated with his bachelor’s, a roommate who had taken care of him most was going to work in the south. Before they parted, the roommate was still fond of his bike, so he gave it to him.
Then, during the summer vacation that year, he returned to Europe, went to the brand’s flagship store in Milan for body measurements, and ordered a fully handcrafted bicycle perfectly adapted to his riding habits. He brought it back from halfway across the world before the start of the semester. Relying on the eye-catching nature of that bike, he made several very good friends.
Then one day, he rode his bike out of the school gate to buy a hamburger. In a moment of carelessness, forgetting he was off-campus, he didn’t lock the bike, and it was stolen just like that. He was too embarrassed to report it to the police, feeling it would be too much of a fuss.
During his direct Ph.D. program, he grew a bit taller, and the previous data could no longer be used. He also didn’t have time to go to Milan again to custom-order another bike.
He loved that stolen bike very much; it was made for him, and even the paint color was his own choice. His sadness was like losing a child. Now, of course, he felt it wasn’t that exaggerated, but back then, he was not yet twenty and had hidden away to cry several times over the stolen bike.
the shadow of the lost bike was quite deep, and he hadn’t bought another bicycle since.
It would be nice to have Zhang Xingchuan buy him a bicycle now. It would make traveling around campus convenient before graduation, and it could still be used for cycling afterwards.
It could also satisfy the CEO’s urgent need to “top up” right now.
“Okay.” Zhang Xingchuan thought a bicycle was fine, as long as he bought a sufficiently good one, and readily agreed.
He then signaled Tan Xiao to come closer, saying, “Come here.”
Tan Xiao knew what he wanted to do and happily moved his face toward the driver’s seat, waiting for a kiss, the anticipation in his eyes completely undisguised.
He was just talking about philosophy, thinking that a person shouldn’t be controlled by desire. Zhang Xingchuan felt that he was sometimes truly both pure and alluring. It was only natural and reasonable for him to be infatuated with this university student; it would be strange if he weren’t.
The two shared a kiss in the car.
Tan Xiao wanted to talk about his family but was worried he would really scare Zhang Xingchuan away.
It was also nice to continue like this with Zhang Xingchuan. If he were truly just a poor student, he wouldn’t have this moment of worry and could happily be a “kept” lover of Zhang Xingchuan’s; there was nothing wrong with that.
When he was happy, he could go find a job; when he wasn’t, he could stay home and play games. He didn’t even need Zhang Xingchuan to keep him; he could find something to do and support himself without any problem.
Zhang Xingchuan wouldn’t treat him like a canary; they had been equal lovers from the very beginning.
Therefore, Zhang Xingchuan had the right to know.
He couldn’t face Zhang Xingchuan with a disguised identity forever; it wasn’t fair to Zhang Xingchuan.
Since things had come to this, better just kiss for now. Tan Xiao thought to himself that he would tell him after the defense was over—Dr. Tan would give the CEO a huge surprise then.
Zhang Xingchuan noticed he still had something on his mind, assuming he was still pondering some philosophical question.
Zhang Xingchuan thought that after Tan Xiao finished his Ph.D. in finance, he would support him in studying philosophy or any other major he was interested in. It would be fine; as it happened, Tan Xiao didn’t like working anyway.
Long ago, Zhang Xingchuan had been a bit worried about his future and wanted to make career plans for him. Now, not at all.
Tan Xiao could do whatever he wanted in the future. He was both his wife and his “kid.” If he loved studying, he could study for the rest of his life. If he didn’t want to do anything, he could just focus on playing. What did it matter?
Zhang Xingchuan believed he was fully capable of being his safety net.
Two days later, a certain bicycle brand made a home delivery, bringing Tan Xiao a flagship model of the brand.
Tan Xiao felt a surge of unexpected joy when he received the delivery. This one was almost identical to the one he had during his undergraduate years, except that one was an entry-level model, while this one was top-of-the-line—it was the model and color scheme that most closely matched his heart among mass-produced, fully-assembled bikes.
Zhang Xingchuan’s taste in choosing bikes was quite good, and he had accurately grasped what Tan Xiao would like.
Tan Xiao asked a classmate for help to film a video of him and sent it to Zhang Xingchuan.
In the video, he wore a simple white shirt and came charging from a distance on the bike, rushing like the wind right up to the camera before braking. He leaned down slightly, tilting his head and smiling at the lens.
Zhang Xingchuan looped the ten-second video three or four times.
Tan Xiao said: It looks good, rides well, I love it.
Zhang Xingchuan made a CEO-style statement: As long as you like it.
Having a bicycle made getting around very enjoyable. Going to the library, back to the dorm, to the cafeteria—Tan Xiao zipped all over campus on his bike, looking more like a tourist than the actual tourists. The bike also drew crowds of boys, which satisfied a bit of Tan Xiao’s vanity.
Yes, what of it? As a twenty-four-year-old university student, of course he would have some vanity.
Moreover, having a flashy bicycle made it easier to make friends effortlessly. When boys saw a cool bicycle, they would truly come up to chat and strike up an acquaintance. This was many times better than coming to school in a Mercedes, Porsche, or even a Bentley, which would only draw sideways glances.
Tan Xiao sacrificed half a day of study time to show off his new bicycle.
By evening, he felt deep regret and stayed up late to thoroughly review his recent mock defense, finally smoothing out the wrinkles in his conscience.
After a period of intense preparation, the end of May finally arrived, and Tan Xiao had his official defense.
In the end, the defense didn’t receive a unanimous vote; there were still some issues that needed modification. However, this result was within his expectations.
The discipline of finance is inherently open-ended, and with the external economic environment constantly changing, a unanimous vote is very difficult. Being able to pass conditionally—the key was passing! This was a huge victory, bringing a perfect end to his eight years.
With the results confirmed that day, he rode his beloved aerodynamic bicycle at dusk, braving the wind and waves for 8 kilometers to Zhang Xingchuan’s house.
The two hadn’t met since he received the bike until his defense today. Zhang Xingchuan had been very busy lately, being slow to reply to messages.
Tan Xiao missed him very much. If it weren’t for the fact that too many people at Wen Cheng knew him, and going there would inevitably be too flashy, he would have been tempted to charge straight into the company.
The housekeeper aunt had seen Tan Xiao several times and didn’t ask unnecessary questions. He was always very polite to her, and she treated him very kindly.
He went upstairs to Zhang Xingchuan’s room and waited for him while playing on his phone.
Zhang Xingchuan asked him about the defense results. He only answered the result and didn’t mention he had already come to the house.
Initially, he was very excited, waiting for Zhang Xingchuan to return. Zhang Xingchuan would surely be very happy to see him, they would have some intimacy, and then he would have a good talk with Zhang Xingchuan.
Before the defense, he had already decided that once his studies were settled, he would tell Zhang Xingchuan everything he needed to share.
As for what reaction Zhang Xingchuan would give him, he didn’t know, but he was very optimistic.
He had managed such a difficult doctoral defense; surely he could do well in the “defense” of wealth and love as well.
By past nine o’clock, his phone had already been recharged once, but Zhang Xingchuan still hadn’t returned, nor had he sent any message.
Was he this busy lately?
Tan Xiao walked countless circles in Zhang Xingchuan’s room, sitting here and looking there. Of course, he didn’t move things around randomly. Finally, he lay back on the bed to play games, soon felt sleepy, and decided to nap for a while.
When Zhang Xingchuan returned home and parked the car in the garage, he saw the bicycle he had given to Tan Xiao.
After entering, the aunt greeted him with a smile, acting somewhat mysteriously, intending to let him discover the surprise for himself upstairs.
But Zhang Xingchuan asked, “Is Tan Xiao here?”
The aunt had no choice but to say, “He’s upstairs. He’s been here since past five.”
Zhang Xingchuan nodded, appearing a bit distracted.
Tan Xiao was lying across Zhang Xingchuan’s bed, sleeping. Because of the defense, he hadn’t slept well for several days. As he had said before, the bed at Zhang Xingchuan’s house was very comfortable. Now he was sleeping in a sprawled-out position, very deeply and soundly.
Zhang Xingchuan entered the room without turning on the lights. He sat in the armchair by the window, more than a meter away, gazing at the sleeping Tan Xiao by the light filtering in from outside.
It was already a bit warm at the end of May. Tan Xiao had ridden his bike here, wearing a white short-sleeved T-shirt and black sweatpants. The air conditioning wasn’t on in the room, so it wasn’t cold for sleeping, but he had still pulled a corner of Zhang Xingchuan’s thin quilt over his stomach.
His appearance was entirely that of a Chinese person, as were his living habits.
Zhang Xingchuan thought to himself: was his father, that King of Shipping, keeping him here in this almost free-range manner simply because his appearance was “too Chinese”?