Chapter 43 – How a Sucker Is Made

Lin Ganzhi placed a hand over his chest, which was still trembling wildly. The final, drawn-out syllable from Yan Shengping had made the corners of his eyes burn.

But he quickly regained his composure. After all, business was business. “Yan Shengping, don’t turn off the light. The moment you do, I’ll fall asleep. What if you feel unwell in the middle of the night?”

“If I feel unwell, I’ll call you.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Yan Shengping turned his head, looking down at the troublemaker.

“I can sleep through a thunderstorm. I’ve tested it, really,” Lin Ganzhi said with conviction, assuring him that this was one thing he wasn’t lying about. His round eyes shone with determination.

Yan Shengping’s fist hovered between clenching and unclenching. Finally, he let go of his hand with a sense of resignation.

If he continued to bicker with this little rascal, neither of them would get any sleep tonight. Yan Shengping took a deep breath. At the company, he could scold an employee for making a mistake, but Lin Ganzhi was different. They were on the same marriage certificate, and arguing could lead to negative social repercussions.

In that instant, Yan Shengping successfully brainwashed himself and settled back into bed.

Lin Ganzhi smiled with satisfaction. He even got up to tuck Yan Shengping in tightly. After all, the weather had been so cold lately, and a delicate flower like Yan Shengping couldn’t handle even the slightest chill. In that moment, Lin Ganzhi completely ignored the ample heating in the room, looking at his handiwork with a gratified expression.

Yan Shengping wearily closed his eyes. “Hurry up and sleep.” Once he was asleep, he would be free.

But Lin Ganzhi frowned as he lay back down. “How can I sleep? You go to sleep. I’ll watch over you!”

His tone was firm and concerned. The last time someone had said something like that to him was when Uncle Yan had watched over his bedside when he had a fever before his middle school entrance exams at fourteen. A mix of emotions churned within Yan Shengping, and he slowly closed his eyes.

Lin Ganzhi lay back down and wrapped himself in his blanket. Drowsiness gradually crept over him. He sniffled lightly to jolt himself awake, scrolling through his phone as he waited for Yan Shengping’s call. But as he scrolled, his thoughts began to drift.

For lunch, he’d had steak. Wenren Yi, worried he wouldn’t have enough, had even ordered a portion for three. The feeling of three large steaks stacked on a plate was just incredible! The steak was cooked medium-well, the meat tender and smooth, and each bite was bursting with juice. He’d also eaten plenty of appetizers and dessert. Two-thirds of everything edible on the table had ended up in his mouth. Just thinking about it now made his mouth water.

Lin Ganzhi smacked his lips and continued to think about dinner…

Half an hour later, Yan Shengping opened his eyes. He was a light sleeper. When a light, rhythmic snoring reached his ears…

Click!

Yan Shengping rather brusquely reached out and turned off the room light. He never should have had any expectations for this person!

He didn’t feel any discomfort for the time being. Even if something did happen, Yan Shengping believed he could endure it. He would absolutely not let something like this get out to others.

Closing his eyes again, Yan Shengping found it difficult to fall asleep quickly. There was a time when he had severe insomnia, living on sleeping pills just to get some rest. Now that he had shed his responsibilities at Zhong’s Chips, he had slowly weaned himself off them.

Finding his most comfortable position, Yan Shengping tried to force himself to sleep. The sound of another person’s breathing filled his ears. It was unfamiliar, but he didn’t dislike it.

Ten minutes later, just as he was on the verge of falling asleep…

Thud!

A sudden thud from the floor startled him awake again. Yan Shengping opened his eyes in surprise, propping himself up with his right hand to turn on the small night light.

The person who had been happily snoring on the sofa had now fallen to the floor beneath it, taking half the small blanket with him. In his sleep, Lin Ganzhi’s contorted brow twitched, his small mouth smacked twice, and he rolled over a couple of times. The blanket fell completely to the floor, but this ended up being to his benefit. With two rolls, he had managed to wrap himself up completely, looking like a plump cocoon.

Through it all, he showed no signs of waking up.

The description “sleeps through a thunderstorm” was a bit of an understatement.

Yan Shengping propped himself up. The tips of his pale feet touched the cool floor, and he shivered slightly. With a soft creak from the large bed, Yan Shengping stood up completely. He walked over to Lin Ganzhi, thought for three seconds, and finally bent down to pick him up.

The person who usually seemed to eat so much was surprisingly light in his arms. A faint scent of coconut milk wafted from his neck, and his little snores continued unabated.

Yan Shengping lowered his eyes and finally carried him to the bed. At least he wouldn’t have to fish him out from under the bed a second time.

As if sensing the improved conditions beneath him, Lin Ganzhi rolled a little, ending up in the middle of the bed. His pink-haired head nuzzled the edge of Yan Shengping’s pillow, his messy bangs covering half of his eyes, looking completely harmless.

For a moment, as his eyes deepened, Yan Shengping found himself wishing the medicine had actually taken effect.

But he dismissed the thought just as quickly.

He got back into bed on the other side, took a new pillow from the cabinet, and lay down. He had just settled in when…

Lin Ganzhi, on the other side, let out a couple of whimpers. His furry head snuggled against Yan Shengping’s right shoulder. His moist breath seeped through the thin layer of his pajamas onto Yan Shengping’s skin. Yan Shengping closed his eyes, but couldn’t bring himself to push Lin Ganzhi away.

“Un…” Lin Ganzhi murmured a single word.

“Hmm?” Yan Shengping subconsciously replied.

“Uncomfortable? If… if you’re uncomfortable, call me~” Lin Ganzhi mumbled the rest of his dream talk, smacked his lips twice, and, leaning against Yan Shengping’s shoulder, drifted off into another dream.

Yan Shengping opened his eyes. He didn’t move, allowing Lin Ganzhi to maintain his position. A moved expression appeared on his face. If I’m uncomfortable, can I really call you? Lin Ganzhi.

Yan Shengping’s expression became unreadable, and he maintained the same position until morning.

When Lin Ganzhi woke up in the morning, he realized he had actually slept in his boss’s bed! The pillow carried the same scent as Yan Shengping—cool pine.

He subconsciously checked his clothes; they seemed untouched. It was just that his right shoulder and thigh ached a little!

Yan Shengping seemed to have gotten up long ago; he was nowhere to be seen in the room. The wrinkles on the other side of the bed proved that he had also slept here last night.

Lin Ganzhi couldn’t help but feel a wave of shame. He had said he would watch over him yesterday, but he had fallen asleep without a word. For some unknown reason, he had even ended up in his boss’s bed. This was simply audacious, an act of insubordination!

Lin Ganzhi quickly fumbled for his phone. It was 7:30 AM. Had Yan Shengping gone to the study this early? Or had he gone to the study so early because of him?

Just then, a message popped up.

Wenren Yi: [Ganzhi, are you up? It was my mistake! I called my grandpa first thing this morning. He knew all along your husband had stomach problems and prescribed nourishing Chinese medicine for his stomach. Yesterday… nothing happened, right? (Cat peeking.jpg)]

Lin Ganzhi stared blankly. He must have offended some big shot in his past life. Why else would he have a sucker of a friend like Wenren Yi?!