When he woke up again, the evening sunlight was slipping through the curtains, pouring warmth into the room. The golden rays painted over the couple who was lying on the bed. Changning lightly brushed his finger over Yushangâs sharp nose bridge. He playfully poked his eyelashes and smiled as the eyelid shivered.
The warm breath huffed on Changningâs face, âStill not satisfied with your husbandâs looks?â Yushang said as he opened his eyes, directing his pampering gaze onto his lover who was caught red-handed.
Changning who snapped out from the daze, returned a glare at his husband, âWhy are you pretending to be asleep when youâre awake?â
âIâm curious if my Changning was stunned by his husbandâs good looks and decided to stay by his side forever.â
The younger man poked his husbandâs forehead, âNarcissist. Get up now. Iâm hungry.â
Yushang who received a pleasant kiss, went to wash up with his wife. Then, he also carried him to the ground level and settled Changning on the chair that had extra cushion.
Changning felt so embarrassed by the action. He tried to protest against it, but Yushang would not listen to it and carried out the actions stubbornly. Although Changningâs body was not that uncomfortable, neither was his lower half feeling painful. Even though he was able to walk on his own, but his lover would not give in and insist on carrying him.
All the helpers had an understanding look on their faces as the couple made their way to the dining room. However, to be admired by so many people, Changning could not help but to blush at the attention received.
Changning felt that all his lifetime worth of reputation had been destroyed by Shang Yushang.
The younger man turned his gaze onto the appetizing food on the table and the urge to stab Yushang with the knife or to simply cut his own stomach and end the embarrassment.
Yushang picked some light food and placed it onto Changningâs plate and served a bowl of black chicken herbal soup [1] for Changning, âHave some more. Try this chicken soup, I got the chef to cook it specially for you. Iâve scooped away the oil layer, itâs less greasy.â
Changning wanted to say, can I not drink? Why do I feel like Iâm on confinement?! But he saw Yushangâs earnest gaze. He sighed and tried the soup â it was delicious anyway.
After the couple had dinner, Yushang carried Changning to the sofa, âDo you still want to get some rest?â
Changning shook his head, âIâve slept too much. I want to head outside for a walk.â
Yushang frowned at his reply, âChangning, you should rest for another two days before heading outside.â
Changning blushed, âIâm fine. Itâs too boring to be cooped up indoors so I want to head outside for some fresh air.â
Yushang got up and carried Changning as they headed outdoor, âThen Iâll carry you there. Weâll get some fresh air before we sleep.â
Changning sighed internally, itâs no good, Iâm so thoroughly embarrassed.
The couple walked around in the garden until they were tired. They sat on the long bench, stargazed while they talked. It was just like what Changning requested â to get some fresh air outdoors â the only difference was that he was carried around.
The writer looked up as he stargazed. He relaxed and leaned his head on Yushangâs shoulder, âYushang, why did you want me to call you Jianzhi?â
The chairman held his lover firmly in his arms as he replied, âItâs named by my grandfather. He said that âYushangâ sounded too oppressive. He wished that I would have a peaceful life and gave me the name âJianzhiâ. [2]â
âI like how Jianzhi sounded.â
âThere arenât many people who know that I had another name. You can call me that if you liked it.â
âJianzhi.â
âHm?â
âJianzhi.â
âHm.â
They continued answering each other like children playing around. One kept calling, the other was very patient until the both of them broke into laughter before this mindless and childish game ended.
It was already the tenth day since the couple had arrived. When Changning was finally allowed to walk on his own, Yushang decided to bring his wife to Maldives. However, his plans were disrupted by a call from their home country.
Changning reached out and wrapped his arms around Yushang who was standing by the window. He pressed his face against his back and listened to his strong heartbeats, âItâs alright. Work comes first. Weâll have more time in the future and we could travel anywhere we want.â
The chairman turned around and returned the hug. He kissed Changningâs cheek and he looked at him regretfully, âIâm sorry. Iâll make it up to you next time.â
âNo need to get so formal, weâre a couple, arenât we?â
Yushang pressed another kiss on Changningâs head and thought, such an understanding person, âHm, Iâll accompany you when weâve got time in the future.â
In the end, the couple packed their things and left overnight back to their home.
After ten over hours, Yushang and Changning finally arrived back at the old mansion. Old madam Shang was already waiting for them.
She held Changningâs hand and said, âChangning, the company matters caused a burden to both of you. Iâm really sorry about that.â
Changning quickly comforted her, âGranny, donât say that. The company comes first.â
She patted his hand, âAlright. Granny knows youâre a sensible child. Go get some rest upstairs, you can come down to eat after you got enough rest. Itâs your home now, okay?â
Changning was thankful towards old Madam Shangâs love and concern more than ever, âGranny, thank you.â
After the couple returned to their room, they changed their attire, âChangning, go get some rest. Iâll head to the office. No need to wait for me for dinner. Iâm really sorry that I have to leave you for work right after the wedding.â
âStop all these nonsenses. Iâm more worried at the fact that weâve just arrived home and youâre leaving to handle the company. Can your body handle it? Weâre still having time lag after all. Iâm really worried for you.â
Yushang pulled Changning into an embrace as he thought how amazing it was to be cared by someone else with such sincerity. He felt like that he would do anything to enjoy this privilege forever, âIâll be fine, donât worry. As long as youâre here, everythingâs fine.â the chairman answered as he kissed his lover.
Yushang was then escorted to the company by Dazhou. Although Changning did felt tired, but he could not bring himself to sleep. He kept thinking about the Shang Est matters. He was pissed at those snobs who caused them to end their honeymoon prematurely and even made Yushang so exhausted. Those people must be punished so that theyâll remember to mind their own business, he thought.
The more he wondered, the more awake he felt. Changning decided to switch on his computer and look at news related to the Shang Est., hoping to find anything useful for the situation.
News scattered all over the web: someone had food poisoning after eating poisoned food at one of the hotelâs restaurant under Shang Est. Later, when the person was sent to the hospital, the doctors managed to save him, but the customer was still unconscious till date and it was possible that he may never wake up again. In addition to that, a jewelry boutique under Shang Est was found to be selling fake diamonds that had an abnormal level of radiation. Some consumers had lodged their complaints to the analytical department and the results showed that those were a hundred percent fake diamonds that had high radiation level.
The netizens were raging on the media as they ridiculed at Shang Est for being a black-hearted company who deceived the general consumers, not caring about human lives and that Shang Est would do anything for money. Some members of public had even started to gather the masses and protest Shang Estâs âevil doingsâ, demanding the government to investigate on the matter. The opinions were negative and one-sided. For news to spread far wide in such a short timeframe, it was possible that someone was behind all these publicities.
Changning logged in to his QQ account that he had abandoned for quite a while. There were messages from the readers, but majority of the messages were from his editor.
He opened the conversation tab to his editor.
âQingshui, Iâm dying. If you donât come out now, Iâll poison myself and commit suicide. My soul will follow you wherever you go.â
âQingshui, Iâm your mother. You canât treat me like that. Iâm begging you, please come out and take to me. PLEASE.â
[Qingshui]: you there?
[DucklingLi]: QINGSHUI? IS THAT YOU? YOU TRANSMIRAGRATED BACK TO REALITY? *criesathousandriver*
[DucklingLi]: qingshui, youâre so damn heartless, you know that?! you just watch me suffer and refuse to come out. I HATE YOU!!!!!! *sobsobsob*
[Qingshui]: okay, Iâll get the manuscripts out soon.
[DucklingLi]: if you donât submit them soon, my next step would be to offer myself to you.
The edge of Changningâs lips twitched as he recalled how silly and thick-skinned yet meticulous person his editor was. He always wondered how a person could have such extreme characteristics and yet seemed like a perfect combination.
[Qingshui]: the situation about Shang Est thatâs all over the web, what do u think of it?
[DucklingLi]: ??? what has it got to do with u???
[Qingshui]: all my savings are invested on Shang Est. what do u think?
[DucklingLi]: what do u mean??
[Qingshui]: stop questioning. Whatâs ur opinion on the incident, share some inputs?
[DucklingLi]: well⌠since uâre that smart, u should agree that someone must be behind all that nonsense.
[Qingshui]: hm. Thatâs highly likely.
[DucklingLi]: then why ask me??!!
[Qingshui]: check something for me. I want to know whoâs the first person that release that news on the internet.
[DucklingLi]: dear boss, Iâm just an editor, not a hacker, okay?
[Qingshui]: do I have to explain to ur boss about why thereâs photos of him meeting his mistress in your computer?
[DucklingLi]: Qingshui, u bastard.
[Qingshui]: cut the crap. Do me a favor, I wonât shortchange u.
[DucklingLi]: really? Like how?
[Qingshui]: uâll have priority to [My World 2] copyright.
[DucklingLi]: REALLY? DAMN. I LOVE U. IâLL BIRTH 18 CHILDREN FOR U TO EXPRESS MY LOVE FOR U
Changning felt goosebumps all over his body as he shivered from the chill down his spine.
[Qingshui]: stop those crazy imaginations. I donât wish to die prematurely from being disgusted by u.
[DucklingLi]: â_â go work on ur manuscripts now. Iâll give u an update at 3pm.
[Qingshui]: donât disappoint me or prepare to face the wrath from ur boss.
[DucklingLi]: á(ಠ_ಠá) I HATE U!!!! IâM GONNA CURSE U!!!
After Changning had gone offline, he pondered about the current situation. He knew that Yushangâs men must have started their own investigation. Whether or not his editorâs findings would be of any help was still a question. Seeing how the incident just happened two days ago, yet the news was spreading like wild fire, it was highly likely that someone must be behind it. Changning trusted that Yushang would had thought so too and must have began to check on anything or any person that could be a suspect. The Shang Est. employees, the companyâs opponent, and those people who Yushang had offended before â even the internal struggle within the Shang family â all those were possible suspects that was involved in this incident. To have chosen to create this mess during their honeymoon, they must have prepared long ago.
The person who landed in the hospital might really be unconscious due to poisoning, but it was possible that someone had twisted the facts. Other than the personâs identity and background information, even the doctors were major suspects as well. If that was the case, then Bai Mo could render his expertise and the truth would be out in no time.
As for the diamonds that were found with high level of radiation, Shang Est. must be having big problems internally. Regardless of which part of investigation went wrong, everything had to be reinvestigated again. After all, those reports were released to public without the consent nor agreement from Shang Est â so how did that report come up to and who was the person who released it?
For the past two days, the Metropolis Daily had been releasing headline news on Shang Estâs poisoning incident as well as the diamonds with high level of radiation incident. They highlighted and strongly criticized Shang Estâs irresponsible behavior of cheating the general public and disregard for human life. They pushed all those blames onto Shang Est without even giving the company any chance to explain themselves. It was as if all the evidence had been proven to be true and Shang Estâs chairperson was simply awaiting to be prosecuted.
Changning rubbed his temple as the thoughts alone were giving him headaches. He wondered how Yushang could maintain a strong image as he faced such tremendous pressures, be it physically or mentally.
The writer couldnât have but to hate those idiots who loved to create trouble for nothing. Would it hurt them to just stay content for once? In fact, those people refused to be resigned to their fate â they were jealous, crazy and psychotic â so long as someone else was living a good life, they would feel upset. Likewise, when someone lived a terrible life, they would be at ease.
There were a portion of such people in this world that refused to stay content for their current situation and could not accept that they were not as recognized. They insisted that they must come up with some earth-shattering news for themselves so that their names would be remembered. However, these people had outlooked their capability â reality would always be different from imagination.
Changning wondered if these people deserved to be pitied, or should he be pitied for having a headache, worrying himself over these idiots.
â
Notes:
[1] äšé¸Ąćą¤ (Black Chicken Herbal Soup) â itâs one of the soup that most Chinese Asian (?) women drink. It helps to improve blood circulation and revitalize your energy levels, and it helps to replenish the blood. LOL.
[2] çŽäš (Jian Zhi) â Yushangâs other name given by his grandfather. It means simple, uncomplicated.
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[RECRUITING CO-TRANSLATOR]
Hi everyone! I apologize for the sudden missing updates! I was really busy with my family and coping with my new job, so⌠đ I may be updating SPMW once every two weeks in worst case scenario. And because of that, I would like to ask if anyone would like to join me in co-translating this novel? If anyone of you are interesting, please drop me an email at [email protected] or message me through discord @iamfeiii for a short translation test (it will be based on SPMW).
You can be any of the following:
â able to translate C-E without any problem
â able to translate C-E with translation checker (me)
â able to MTL the Chinese raws into decent English
P.s. I wonât be paying you (the ads donât earn much anyway), but you can include your paypal/ko-fi account for every chapter that you translate~