C18 Part2

Translated by boilpoil Edited by boilpoil

While waiting for the video call to connect, Liu Yu’an opens his lunchbox.

He puts it down on the table with the utensils as Shao Yanxi accepts the call.

It seems he is eating as well.

Liu Yu’an notices that it is just a normal Chinese takeout.

There are three items. A stir-fry with potato slices and green pepper, some sweet cooked lotus root and a big chicken drumstick.

The lotus root is almost finished and there’s a bit of stir-fry left. Though there is only one big bite mark on the drumstick.

Looking at the takeout and comparing it with the luxurious assorted meal with even a soup in front of himself, Liu Yu’an’s facial expression grows a bit dark.

Shao Yanxi really felt no connection to the world anymore. Recently he’s been spending time with him, feeding him, looking at how he liked the sweets and even asked him to make food for him, he thought he could find his salvation through food.

But now, Liu Yu’an isn’t so sure anymore, because it doesn’t seem like Shao Yanxi is actually as obsessed with food as he appeared.

And worse, he has no attachment to anything else.

He doesn’t care anymore – just like how he let him write whatever amount of money he wanted onto the divorce papers.

He doesn’t even care about his money or his company.

As for ‘Liu Yu’an’… It’s already a foregone conclusion that Shao Yanxi has zero lingering feelings towards the name as well.

When someone can’t see any value in anything they do or have, it is exceedingly terrifying. They might explode without reason anywhere, at any time.

“Why are you just eating such a simple meal?” Liu Yu’an decides to ask.

“The assistant bought this,” Shao Yanxi says, while his eyes seem to have been attracted onto Liu Yu’an – or, more specifically, his current appearance.

Liu Yu’an’s handsomeness and beauty have been emphasised right now.

So Liu Yu’an chuckles and moves closer to the screen, and asks, “I look handsome, don’t I?”

Shao Yanxi is quite frank about it, nodding without hesitation and saying with a serious tone, “really handsome.”

“I see, good,” Liu Yu’an leans back onto his seat, and continues, “then it’s a request from the handsome man. From tomorrow onwards… I’ll order the meals for you.”

“You don’t need to trouble yourself,” Shao Yanxi replies, “takeout is just fine.”

Many people in the company just have takeout for lunch as well.

“Then was it not troublesome for you to tell Xiao-Zhang to order a meal for me?”

Suddenly, Liu Yu’an can’t help but feel like he might have made a mistake in judgement; Shao Yanxi was, still caring for him, just a little?

But he decides against asking about that.

Shao Yanxi doesn’t answer either. So Liu Yu’an says, “let’s eat then. It’ll get cold.”

Then, quickly, before Shao Yanxi might decide to end the call, “we can eat like this. Don’t cut off the call.”

Shao Yanxi stares at him for a few seconds, but doesn’t say anything.

When he’s eating, he’s always noble and elegant.

He’s also a practitioner of the ‘silence during meals’ doctrine.

So it’s quiet.

Liu Yu’an is thinking to himself while eating, eyes still glued to Shao Yanxi.

It makes Shao Yanxi a bit uncomfortable. He swallows before saying, “stop staring at me. Or I’ll end the call now.”

“Ok, ok, I’ll stop looking.” Liu Yu’an stops staring at him, and focuses on eating.

Shao Yanxi started eating earlier, and finishes earlier. He throws the polystyrene box into the trash and gets himself a cup of water.

“Finished?” Seeing Liu Yu’an pack up, he asks.

“Yeah,” the meal was a bit much. He’s too full to keep eating.

“I’m a bit full.”

“Don’t force yourself to finish it all.”

“Ok. When are you going home tonight?”

“Six and a half, I think,” Shao Yanxi isn’t sure. Then he asks, “how about you? When might you finish?”

“My parts today are done. I’ll just need to wash the make-up off,” then, he seems to have thought of something, and asks Shao Yanxi, “want to see the me wearing the clothes in person?”

Shao Yanxi stares at him and bites his lips a little. He doesn’t reply.

“I’ll tell the director then, and wear them when I come.”

Shao Yanxi is still staring at Liu Yu’an, before finally saying, “need me to help?”

!

Oh? You’re not turning me down, are you, Shao Yanxi? Liu Yu’an thinks to himself.

“I don’t think I’ll need it,” Liu Yu’an replies, “if the director refuses then I’ll call you back.”

“Alright.” Shao Yanxi says, then looks away.

After the call has ended, Shao Yanxi goes to director He without changing. The director was reluctant at first.

Though Liu Yu’an’s clothes are not exactly expensive, but it’s still thousands of RMB .

It’ll be an unnecessary expense if it does have to be replaced afterwards.

And most importantly, with this precedent, what if everyone else asks to wear their clothes outside?

Though of course, the worry is unfounded. Besides Liu Yu’an nobody else would like to run about outside with their uncomfortable and baggy clothes.

Liu Yu’an wanted to show this to Shao Yanxi in person only because he once actually dressed like this.

“If there’s any wear and tear I’ll repay, double,” Liu Yu’an says then tries to reassure the director, “don’t worry, I’ll go quietly and come back quietly. Nobody else would know. You just have to leave a note for the clothing people.”

The director is still reluctant.

Then Liu Yu’an drops the bomb, “director He, you know it’s useless to refuse anyway. I’m wearing the clothes right now, if I don’t undress you can’t really rip it off me, can you?”

And he successfully sets the director off, who yells, “go away, I don’t want to see your face anymore.”

“Sure, thanks!” Then Liu Yu’an quickly makes his way to the nanny van.

And then… Xiao-Zhang drives him towards the Heng’an building.

Along the way, he seems like he’s dying to speak up, probably feeling like questioning whether he’s really going to go see Shao Yanxi dressed like this.

But since he’s kept his mouth shut, Liu Yu’an doesn’t say anything either.

As Xiao-Zhang continues to be conflicted, the car is already in the underground car park. Then, Liu Yu’an takes the CEO’s private elevator up towards the 56 ^th floor.

Liu Yu’an then realises what Shao Yanxi has done. The secretariat has been emptied out.

Liu Yu’an “…”

Oh, getting possessive now, aren’t we?

Though it’s a good thing.

While he doesn’t care either, he would rather have less trouble coming.

Then he makes his way past the secretariat and knocks on the door to Shao Yanxi’s office.

Author’s notes:

I really have it hard, you know! I was away at my uncle’s during the day, so I only realised the power was out when I was home at night. My phone had only 20% battery.

My laptop had power, but it was too dim, so I had to use the laptop to charge my phone while I typed on the phone.

I’m already slow typing on the laptop. On the phone… I might as well be 80 and crippled.

Took me six hours to finally write a few characters shy of 6000.

I was a few minutes late to the schedule, but I haven’t broken our promise, have I?

Love you all!

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