Chapter 31 – Clarification
Lin Ganzhi’s eyes met Yan Shengping’s, and his heart couldn’t help but tremble. Why is the boss looking at me so strangely right now?
The pink-haired man cowered.
“Ganzhi, why aren’t you talking? Seriously, money is not an issue for me. If you worry about that, you’re looking down on me, buddy.” Every punctuation mark in Wenren Yi’s words reeked of a tycoon’s aura.
Sensing his boss’s displeasure, Lin Ganzhi’s words became much more cautious. “There’s no need. My dear is already taking care of it for me. Thanks for your concern, though~”
My dear?
Yan Shengping frowned. Is this how he introduces me to outsiders?
“Is that so? Looks like your man is pretty capable, aside from his problem in that department~” Wenren Yi’s words were suddenly on speakerphone.
An unsettling gaze swept over him again.
Lin Ganzhi, who had accidentally turned on the speaker with his cheek, was speechless. How can even the most innocent words sound so tainted coming from your mouth?
“The problem is only temporary. Once he’s cured, my partner will be even more amazing!” Lin Ganzhi clenched his fist in assurance, his gaze meeting Yan Shengping’s with utmost sincerity to show his loyalty.
Yan Shengping thought, …It’s a stomach problem, right?
Wenren Yi thought, A problem with his ‘prowess’? He’s amazing even with a problem? How amazing?
As a physically and mentally sound adult, Wenren Yi silently gave Yan Shengping a thumbs-up from across the distance.
Lin Ganzhi nodded enthusiastically. Yes, yes!
“Uh, alright then. By the way, didn’t I say I’d treat you to a meal? Are you free tomorrow? I’ll take you out for a feast!”
Oh, no!
How could he have this on speakerphone! Before Lin Ganzhi could turn it off, Wenren Yi’s words had already tumbled out, every single one audible.
Yan Shengping reached out and patted Lin Ganzhi’s shoulder, his eyes clearly saying, Are you going to betray me?
Lin Ganzhi was crying a river of tears internally, on the verge of becoming a man made of tears. He really hated clear broths and bland foods, thank you very much!
“I, I won’t be coming this week.”
“Huh? You don’t want a feast? We’ve been holding back for a whole week!” Wenren Yi was incredulous.
Lin Ganzhi’s face turned ashen, completely drained of color. “I accidentally ate a little too much spicy crayfish yesterday.”
Wenren Yi thought it was no big deal. “It’s just a little spicy crayfish. Lin Ganzhi, I believe in you!”
“Two and a half kilograms.” His heart was bleeding.
***
Hiss—
“It’s a miracle you’re still alive. Take care, my friend.”
After saying his final words, Wenren Yi heartlessly hung up, leaving Lin Ganzhi to flutter in the wind like a pitiful piece of paper.
Unbeknownst to Lin Ganzhi, Yan Shengping quietly raised the corners of his mouth.
The turning point came at nine o’clock that night. Just as Lin Ganzhi had finished his shower and emerged with water still dripping from his hair, Chi Feibai’s call came in.
“Hey, Ganzhi, my little baby, are you okay?” Chi Feibai’s voice sounded very tense.
Little baby?
Lin Ganzhi wiped the ends of his hair with a towel, the tips of his ears turning slightly red, but he didn’t reject the nickname.
“I’m fine. I only found out I was a trending topic this afternoon. I haven’t even looked at my private messages. Once you get used to it, your mental state improves a lot!” Lin Ganzhi said truthfully.
Chi Feibai breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the kid’s mentality was stronger than the average person’s. Anyone else would have probably jumped up and down, ready to argue with people online.
“That bastard Fu Yiran! I had no idea he bought the clothes to gain favor using my work! To hell with his ‘first piece.’ The one you’re wearing is the first one. Ganzhi, listen, would you be able to put on that suit and send me a photo? We’ll piss them off when we post the clarification!” Chi Feibai said furiously.
That wasn’t a problem, but, “Feibai, if you clarify for me, Zhong Jingyi’s fans might…”
“What’s there to be afraid of! When you were getting cyberbullied by Zhong Jingyi’s fans, you were fine, weren’t you? You even came to my shop to buy clothes happily. Having a clear conscience has been my creed for years. Don’t worry. Even though we’re both sisters, I’m tough on the inside. If, by any chance, you get a divorce, I might even be willing to become a top for you, for love…”
“Cough, cough, cough, cough! I will not leave Yan Shengping!” How could he say such shameless words in the boss’s house!
Chi Feibai couldn’t resist teasing Lin Ganzhi for a bit. There was still a considerable gap between an old pro and a novice. By the time Lin Ganzhi put on the suit and went to find Yan Shengping, the heat on his face hadn’t completely subsided.
“Yan Shengping, are you done with work?” The pink-haired man’s head popped out from the crack in the door again.
Yan Shengping looked up from the complex documents, rubbing his throbbing temples. The orange light cast a weary shadow over his features, but it still couldn’t hide his inherent charm.
“Just finished. Why didn’t you dry your hair?” Yan Shengping closed his laptop, offering a rare word of concern.
Lin Ganzhi slipped in, tugging at his damp hair. “I need your help with something. It’s just a little wet, no big deal.” Even so, he was a little happy that his boss was concerned about him.
Only then did Yan Shengping notice what Lin Ganzhi was wearing. It was the same suit Zhong Jingyi had worn on the show. However, on the same outfit, Lin Ganzhi, who had just thrown it on, looked even better than Zhong Jingyi, who had deliberately styled himself for the program.
His slender, upright figure perfectly showcased the androgyny and freedom the clothing was meant to convey. His fair, almost reflective neck further accentuated the suit’s tone and color.
“Yan Shengping? Can you help me take a picture?” Lin Ganzhi’s eyes held a hint of confusion, as he had already asked twice.
Yan Shengping snapped back to reality, rubbing his thumb against the base of his index finger to hide his unease. “Is it for that designer?”
“Mhm!” Seeing a chance, Lin Ganzhi stuffed his phone into Yan Shengping’s hands.
Yan Shengping lowered his gaze to the phone, just as he was about to open the camera app.
[Chi Feibai: Ganzhi, my big baby, I forgot to ask earlier. Those few outfits you bought at our store~ have you worn them for your partner to see? Peeking slyly.jpg]
Yan Shengping’s glance almost made him drop the phone.
Lin Ganzhi was trying hard to recall the modeling class he took in college. After finally striking a pose he was somewhat satisfied with, he looked up to find that Yan Shengping hadn’t even aimed the phone properly!
He suddenly understood the fury of girls everywhere!
“Yan Shengping, if this isn’t working, I’ll just go find Uncle Yan.” It was a humble moment for the worker.
Yan Shengping collected his thoughts, though something new flickered in his eyes. “Why bother the old man at this hour? Is this pose right? I’m taking it.”
CEO Yan held his breath, his slightly trembling hand pressing the burst shot button.
Lin Ganzhi held his pose for a conscious two seconds, then strode towards Yan Shengping. The camera stopped just as Lin Ganzhi’s face leaned in close to the lens.
After taking the phone back, Lin Ganzhi’s expression became indescribable.
“Is there a problem?” Yan Shengping rested his chin on his hand.
Lin Ganzhi could guarantee that if he expressed dissatisfaction, the stubborn donkey would definitely refuse to eat breakfast tomorrow.
“It’s… fine.” Lin Ganzhi tried hard to find the clearest shots among the numerous blurry images.
Yan Shengping nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly, making him look lazy and noble, like a leopard cat stretching. “Then let me see, too.”
Lin Ganzhi immediately snatched the phone away, looking nervous, like a little hamster protecting its food.
The air fell into a strange silence for a few seconds.
“Was it a bad shot?”
“No, no, no! I just think I look so good in the photos that I’m afraid of blinding you with my beauty so late at night!” Cold sweat trickled down Lin Ganzhi’s back.
It’s okay, photo editing software is so good these days, it can definitely salvage these ruined pictures! I’ll learn how to edit photos when I get back!
Yan Shengping’s eyes narrowed even more, clearly unconvinced.
“Are you questioning my feelings for you?!” The Love Brain, Ganzhi, was back online.
Yan Shengping looked slightly speechless. “What does this have to do with feelings?”
“Feelings include honesty. Every word I say to you is sincere!” Lin Ganzhi’s conscience ached slightly.
“…I don’t really believe you.”
Ugh! Was his one million about to sprout wings of freedom and fly away?
Lin Ganzhi prepared to squeeze out some tears.
“It’s not that. It’s that I don’t believe you love me.” For the first time, Yan Shengping was willing to explain it plainly to Lin Ganzhi. He didn’t believe someone could fall in love with another person for no practical reason.
Lin Ganzhi was silent for two seconds. In truth, he didn’t believe it either. He wasn’t the type to fall for someone at first sight—how impractical was that? To him, love itself was a slow, steady process. He had managed to muddle through before for the sake of his salary, but now that Yan Shengping was asking again, it seemed that simply muddling through was no longer enough.
“It’s probably because my experience is a bit like a low-budget version of yours.”
“But I stabbed Zhong Jingyi.”
“That’s a story for fools. I don’t believe it.” Lin Ganzhi answered quickly, giving himself a mental thumbs-up for his wit. “You’ve always been my role model. You were self-reliant even while living under someone else’s roof, never giving up on pursuing your career and dreams. The current Zhong’s Chips is not the same as the old Zhong’s Chips. In my heart, it should bear the name Yan, not Zhong.”
“Besides, don’t underestimate my years of experience in the entertainment industry. I never need anyone to tell me what kind of person Zhong Jingyi is. If he pushed me to my limit, I’d stab him too!” Eighty percent of what Lin Ganzhi said was true. He didn’t believe the “truth” that everyone had confirmed, the one where Yan Shengping was despised and rejected by all. Other than not loving Yan Shengping, everything he said was genuine.
After hearing Lin Ganzhi’s words, Yan Shengping was stunned for two seconds before uttering two words: “As you wish.”
Hehe, he passed!
Lin Ganzhi was about to leave with his phone.
“Aren’t you going out with your friend? Go buy a suitable car. I didn’t give you a hundred million just to let it sit in the bank and collect interest.”
Woohoo!
Right now, Lin Ganzhi just wanted to run a lap outside. Otherwise, he couldn’t calm the irrepressible excitement within him!
Boss, I absolutely love this habit of yours of giving out money whenever you’re happy!
At ten o’clock that night, the designer Chi Feibai, who had two million followers, posted on Weibo.
@ChiFeibai: (Image)(Image) This suit was designed by me. The person below, who is making his husband take pictures and engaging in extreme PDA, is my first customer and the first owner of this suit. My fans know that I can sell hundreds of copies of a single design—just a regular designer making a living. But the first piece is always reserved for the model who I feel is most suitable. Some people, when looking for drama, please don’t drag me into it. I was not aware that my clothes were sold to Mr. Zhong Jingyi. @FuYiran @ZhongJingyi, from now on, my clothes will never be sold to these two individuals. I can’t afford to associate with such people, thank you!
PS: To the fans of a certain someone who posted a nine-square grid, if you’re going to post, at least be honest. (Image) The hat in this photo of his back was designed by me and was just released. If you zoom in, you can see the logo. As far as I recall, it was only sold to Mr. Lin Ganzhi. As for why it appeared under someone else’s Weibo post, I won’t comment further. I just hope certain people have some sense of morality. Alright, I’m done. Good night!
As soon as this Weibo post was published, it shot straight to the top of the trending topics.