Chapter 53 – A Little Scheme
Lin Ganzhi paused mid-sip, a strange warmth spreading from his stomach to his heart. He looked up and met Yan Shengping’s expectant gaze. It lacked its usual gloom, and he seemed… a lot more normal?
“Oh, oh, thank you,” Lin Ganzhi replied hastily, stammering in a way that was very unlike him.
Yan Shengping might have noticed, but he didn’t say anything. He simply lowered his head and continued drinking his soup, a secret smile playing on his lips where Lin Ganzhi couldn’t see.
After breakfast, Lin Ganzhi dragged his suitcase out the door. A biting cold wind snaked down his neck, and he couldn’t help but flinch. “I’m going to grab something upstairs, wait for me.” Just as Lin Ganzhi was about to turn around…
Yan Shengping reached out and took the suitcase from him. “Give me the suitcase,” he said, his tone so casual it was as if he were doing the most natural thing in the world.
Lin Ganzhi finally realized what felt so off. But rejecting him now would surely result in a dark look from his boss, so he could only nod and thank him.
Yan Shengping watched Lin Ganzhi jog back into the house before turning around. When Uncle Yan offered to help, Yan Shengping refused. “It’s fine, Uncle Yan. It’s very light.”
Uncle Yan’s mind was as clear as a mirror. Very light? There are plenty of other light things, so why are you only willing to carry this one?
After getting in the car and waiting for about three minutes, the back door opened and Lin Ganzhi climbed back in. He was holding a dark gray scarf, and he had a red one wrapped around his own neck.
“Yan Shengping, put on this scarf. The temperature dropped today,” Lin Ganzhi said, his nose already red from the cold. He held out the scarf, and through the gaps in the fabric, his pale fingertips could be seen trembling slightly.
Yan Shengping’s gaze lingered on the scarf for a moment. “I was going to wear one this morning,” he said, his voice sounding a little weak, “but my muscles were aching when I tried to lift my arms, probably a side effect of the fever, so I gave up. It’s fine, I’m just going to a restaurant. A ten-minute walk won’t be a problem.” Yan Shengping’s tone was frank, and he still had the look of someone freshly recovered from a serious illness.
Lin Ganzhi’s conscience pricked with pain. If it weren’t for him, his boss wouldn’t have gotten a fever and wouldn’t even be able to put on a scarf.
“I’ll help you!” Lin Ganzhi declared, feeling it was his duty.
A strange light flashed in Yan Shengping’s eyes, but his tone remained soft. “I don’t need you to do things for me intentionally. I’ve said before, your kindness—”
Before he could finish, Lin Ganzhi started to feel annoyed. How could such an awesome person like his boss constantly look down on him? He had given him over a hundred million! That was more money than he could earn in several lifetimes!
If his boss gave the order, he’d have no problem cooking for him for the rest of his life!
Without another word, Lin Ganzhi wrapped the scarf around Yan Shengping’s neck, his voice full of passion. “If it’s for you, I wouldn’t get tired of putting on your scarf every day. It’s not intentional at all. I just care about you, and I can’t stand to see you unwell!”
Yan Shengping was stunned. “Are you telling the truth?”
“Absolutely!” Lin Ganzhi thumped his chest to show his loyalty, then finished tying the scarf into a handsome knot.
Just as Yan Shengping was about to say something, he suddenly turned away, coughing lightly with his back to Lin Ganzhi. When he recovered, he said, “Thank you.”
Lin Ganzhi’s simple, foolish heart suddenly felt a pang of sourness, followed by a new sense of enlightenment.
He swore to protect his boss’s future!
Sitting in the front and hearing everything, Uncle Yan thought to himself that he never expected his master would one day resort to such little tricks…
Half an hour later, Uncle Yan arrived at the airport. A hint of displeasure appeared in Yan Shengping’s eyes. Once he left, it would be another week.
“Yan Shengping,” Lin Ganzhi began, hesitating. Suddenly, from outside the window, a sharp-eyed Wenren Yi spotted him and called his name.
Why now of all times?!
“Hmm?” Yan Shengping turned his head, his handsome eyes looking calmly at Lin Ganzhi.
Lin Ganzhi gritted his teeth. “It’s nothing. Yan Shengping, I have to go catch my flight.”
Although Yan Shengping was curious, he didn’t press the issue. He only said, “Don’t take any unnecessary risks. The bodyguards will be following you the whole time.”
Those words made Lin Ganzhi feel as if he suddenly had a mountain of support behind him. He completely forgot what he was going to say, his heart filled with warmth as he nodded obediently.
Just as Lin Ganzhi got out of the car, he saw Wenren Yi striding over from a short distance away, dressed in an eye-catching coat. Even with sunglasses on, her clean and sharp aura attracted the attention of many passersby. Her androgynous face might as well have had the word “flamboyant” written on it.
Hmph, woman, you’ve changed.
“Lin Ganzhi,” Yan Shengping’s voice called from behind. Lin Ganzhi subconsciously turned and walked back.
Inside the car, Yan Shengping propped one hand on the seat and pointed at Lin Ganzhi’s head with the other before placing it back on his lap. “Come here, you seem to have something on your head.”
Lin Ganzhi immediately straightened up and obediently leaned closer. If he was photographed at the airport, his troll-attracting constitution would surely invite all sorts of nasty comments, which would then reflect poorly on Yan Shengping.
“Where, where?” Worried that Yan Shengping couldn’t see clearly, Lin Ganzhi squatted down in front of him. His white down jacket and red scarf made him look like a little snowman.
Yan Shengping leaned in closer, his dark brown eyes focused on Lin Ganzhi’s pink hair. The tip of his nose lightly brushed against Lin Ganzhi’s forehead. Lin Ganzhi’s breath hitched, and just as he felt he was about to lose his balance and fall backward, Yan Shengping cupped the back of his head with one hand and made a brushing motion with the other. “Just a bit of lint,” he said in a low, slow voice.
Boom! Lin Ganzhi’s heart virtually exploded.
“Oh, oh!!” His brain felt a little scrambled.
Seeing this, Yan Shengping reined it in a bit. He caught sight of Wenren Yi frozen in place out of the corner of his eye and felt a sense of satisfaction. He then continued, “Your attitude toward me outside, just act as you did before. If anyone asks how I am, just say I’m too sick to get out of bed.”
Lin Ganzhi’s head slowly cooled down. The fact that Yan Shengping could speak to him so rationally proved that the previous moment was just a misunderstanding. He had probably just been a virgin for too long and hadn’t experienced such intense situations. Lin Ganzhi quickly brainwashed himself and successfully regained his rational mind.
Then, Lin Ganzhi looked up and commented, “Yan Shengping, you’re so bad.” He had wanted to say “you’re so slick,” but since Yan Shengping had just scared him, he automatically lowered the score.
Hearing this description, Yan Shengping wasn’t angry at all. Instead, he smiled calmly. “Bad? Worse than you?” His eyes clearly alluded to the lies Lin Ganzhi had told him before.
Lin Ganzhi’s face flushed red, and he lowered his head in shame, completely checkmated.
“Go on, don’t miss your flight.” Yan Shengping poked Lin Ganzhi’s puffed-out cheek.
Lin Ganzhi nodded. Uncle Yan had already gotten his suitcase out for him. Lin Ganzhi took it, but after walking a few steps, he quickly returned and pulled a large handful of milk candies from his pocket.
“These are all for you. If you get low blood sugar, have some. They’re not too sweet, perfect for your taste.” Lin Ganzhi placed the handful of candies in Yan Shengping’s palm.
“All for me?” Yan Shengping asked with a smile.
Lin Ganzhi nodded seriously. Except for the ones in his suitcase.
After chattering for a while longer, Lin Ganzhi finally walked over to Wenren Yi. Wenren Yi’s expression was cold. “I think I was just force-fed a barrel of dog food. What are you going to do about it?”
Lin Ganzhi thought for a moment. “I’ll eat your airplane meal for you, so you won’t feel so full.”
Wenren Yi immediately rose up in protest, reaching out to pinch Lin Ganzhi’s cheeks. “Are you even human?!”
The two of them horsed around for a while before Que Jin also arrived at the airport. After a period of recuperation, her complexion had improved by more than just a little; she was a true great beauty.
The three of them had booked first-class seats together, but as luck would have it, they were on the same flight as Zhong Jingyi and Luan Yuanzhou.
Zhong Jingyi had completely dropped the act with Lin Ganzhi. After boarding the plane, he didn’t give him so much as an extra glance, which was just fine with Lin Ganzhi. He had no desire to speak to the scoundrel.
Wenren Yi sent a message in their small group chat: [Let’s just ignore them.]
Que Jin: [+1]
Lin Ganzhi enthusiastically replied: [Uh-huh!]
“Your partner was looking pretty good just now, even had time for some PDA,” Wenren Yi said sourly.
Lin Ganzhi paused, a bitter smile appearing on his face. “He was forcing himself to come see me off. He actually still has a fever. It’s because he caught a bit of a chill a few days ago, and he’s still not better.” After telling the lie, his conscience ached slightly.
Sitting behind them, Zhong Jingyi’s eyes suddenly flew open.