Chapter 7 – The Universally Disliked CP
Nini? The original owner didn’t have a nickname like Nini, did he? How could Uncle Yan give him a nickname without his permission?
Lin Ganzhi turned around, displeased.
“Uncle Yan, long time no see.”
Lin Ganzhi froze.
Uncle Yan came over, pleasantly surprised, and opened the gate to let the burly man in. “Yes, it’s been a long time. Where are you working now, Nini? I didn’t expect you to come see the master. He’ll be very happy.”
“How is the master’s health?” the burly man named Nini asked with concern.
“He’s been better recently,” Uncle Yan said with a smile, then noticed Lin Ganzhi, who had shrunk into a ball. “Oh, right. This is Lin Ganzhi, the master’s husband. Ganzhi, this is the master’s former secretary, Tian Nini.”
Secretary!!?
Partner?
The two exchanged a strange look, their eyes filled with thick distrust for each other.
The book never mentioned Yan Shengping having such a tough-looking secretary!!!
Why was the master’s partner lying to people!?
Their first impressions of each other were abysmal.
“Hello,” Tian Nini greeted Lin Ganzhi perfunctorily.
“Hello to you too,” Lin Ganzhi replied, feeling numb inside.
After the dry greetings, Tian Nini was led by Uncle Yan to Yan Shengping’s study.
Lin Ganzhi stood bewildered in the wind for three minutes, then continued to loosen the soil for the last patch of land.
Perhaps the afternoon wind was too strong, preventing him from hearing the hushed whispers nearby.
“Damn, isn’t that Lin Ganzhi!”
“It is. Didn’t he marry Yan Shengping? Why is he in the yard, digging for wild vegetables?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Yan Shengping must be abusing him!”
“That’s… too tragic! He doesn’t even have food to eat!”
“Let’s go, let’s go, don’t let him hear us!”
— Inside the study —
After discussing business with Yan Shengping, Tian Nini said indignantly, “President Yan, your partner lied to me!”
Yan Shengping said faintly, “What did he lie to you about?”
“He lied and said you live in the lake! And your neighbor used the same excuse to lie to me!” He felt no love in this strange place!
This time, Yan Shengping, who had easily figured out Lin Ganzhi’s line of thinking, couldn’t help but show a gloating look in his eyes. The kid must have been scared out of his wits to say something like that.
“Sometimes when you think about problems, you should start by looking at yourself,” Yan Shengping said bluntly. “If you had just trimmed your eyebrows, worn a well-fitting suit, and not gone out looking like a thug, there would probably be more people willing to tell you the truth.”
Tian Nini glanced at Yan Shengping, dissatisfied. “President Yan, I spent a long time picking out this suit. It won’t rip, but it shows off my physique. And my eyebrows, to achieve a thick look, I even had them specially dyed!”
“…Don’t force me to tell the truth. Next time you see me, fix it,” Yan Shengping’s smile faded, his eyes giving Tian Nini a look that said he was asking for a beating.
Tian Nini had graduated from a famous business school abroad, had first-class work abilities, and a personality that allowed him to get along with everyone in his former company, except for his almost catastrophically bad sense of aesthetics.
Tian Nini sighed. It had been a few months, and he thought his aesthetic sense had improved. “Did I scare Madam Yan just now?”
“What Madam Yan!” Yan Shengping interrupted, feigning composure!
“President Yan, didn’t you two get your marriage certificate?”
“Even if we did, don’t call him that! Alright, we’re done talking. Hurry up and leave, don’t let them get suspicious!” Yan Shengping turned his back, and despite his weak body, his back was ramrod straight.
Tian Nini, combining this with the family ethics dramas he had been watching with his sister lately, thought of an idiom—united in appearance but divided in spirit!
He suddenly felt a little sorry for that soft, fluffy pink-haired kid.
After finishing up with his beloved little vegetable garden, Lin Ganzhi took a big slurp of the milk tea he bought at the market today. The huge TV was playing his favorite show, Crayon Shin-chan. Uncle Yan, with nothing better to do, was watching with him.
As they watched Misae chase Shin-chan all over the street…
“This kid is quite cute,” Uncle Yan said with a smile.
Lin Ganzhi fiercely chewed a pearl. “This kid needs a beating!”
Then why are you watching it!!
Uncle Yan had to admit he was getting old. He really couldn’t keep up with the thinking of young people anymore.
The sound of footsteps came from behind. After Uncle Yan had told Lin Ganzhi about Tian Nini’s situation, Lin Ganzhi felt it was necessary to apologize to Nini.
“Nini, I’m sorry for lying to you just now,” Lin Ganzhi sincerely approached, holding the mango pomelo sago he had bought today. He had originally planned to have another cup after dinner, but now he was offering it as a small apology gift. He just didn’t know if Nini would mind.
Tian Nini was a bit flattered as he took it. It wasn’t every day that the boss’s partner apologized to him. But based on this alone, Tian Nini’s fondness for Lin Ganzhi went straight up.
“It’s okay. President Yan just reminded me. I’ll wear my original size suit next time and trim my eyebrows. I most likely scared you with my appearance.” Tian Nini scratched his head in embarrassment.
Be confident. Remove the “most likely.”
After clearing the air and chatting for a while, Lin Ganzhi was surprised to find that his personality was unexpectedly compatible with Tian Nini’s. When he invited him to watch Crayon Shin-chan together, he could understand his complicated feelings for Shin-chan!
Uncle Yan smiled and chatted with them for a while before going upstairs to take a nap.
On the warm-colored sofa, a tuft of pink hair and a double-door refrigerator emerged, chatting harmoniously about the following:
“Slurp~”
“Ganzhi, why did you suddenly marry President Yan? As far as I know, President Yan isn’t the warm, gentle type. He’s very hard to get close to!”
Lin Ganzhi smiled shyly, his small eyes shining. “I even love the part of him that’s aloof and unapproachable~”
Thinking of Yan Shengping’s dismissive attitude just now, Tian Nini felt even more sorry for Lin Ganzhi. He couldn’t let Lin Ganzhi continue this one-sided love. “From now on, I’ll tell you everything I know about President Yan, without holding anything back! Let’s add each other on WeChat and chat slowly!”
Add on WeChat!
Lin Ganzhi’s heart trembled with excitement. Was he about to make his first friend in this world?
“Oh, oh, oh!”
Lin Ganzhi quickly took out his phone. “Let me scan you!”
Making friends requires action and a sincere heart. You can’t always let your friend be in a passive position!
Lin Ganzhi gave himself a big thumbs-up in his heart!
“What are you two doing?!” a cold voice suddenly came from behind.
The pink-haired ball and the double-door refrigerator turned around to see Yan Shengping looking at the two of them, who were huddled so close their faces were almost touching, with a displeased expression!
Yet the person in question said without a clue, “I’m adding Nini! Nini is my friend now!” After saying that, Lin Ganzhi even proudly and smugly waved his phone.
Tian Nini, who had been with Yan Shengping since graduation, felt an inexplicable chill. This was not good!
Yan Shengping snorted coldly. “What does you making friends have to do with me?” He then added, “Anyway, we’re not in your contact list at the same time.”
Tian Nini whispered in Lin Ganzhi’s ear, “You haven’t added President Yan?”
Lin Ganzhi swallowed. “I didn’t dare to ask before!”
“Then how can you say you like him?” Tian Nini questioned.
Lin Ganzhi, under the pressure from ahead, said, “I like him, and I fear him!”
“It’s better to be brave and say you like him! Ganzhi, go ask!” Tian Nini, who knew nothing about Lin Ganzhi, had still underestimated him.
Lin Ganzhi was pushed off the sofa and walked towards Yan Shengping.
“No. It won’t do you any good to add me,” Yan Shengping sneered. He wasn’t going to be added casually!
Tian Nini knew that Yan Shengping was usually cold, but he was exceptionally good to his employees. And the person standing in front of him now was his partner. How could he say such a thing?
Just as he was about to risk his life and interject…
“It will. Because I like you. If I can add you, I’ll be very happy!” My dear boss~
Lin Ganzhi lifted his tender, bun-like face, his soft hair brushing against Yan Shengping’s chin. His pair of watery eyes were fixed on Yan Shengping.
!!! A straight-ball bottom!!!
Tian Nini, who was watching the show, was frantically commentating in his head.
Yan Shengping took several deep breaths but couldn’t calm his heart down. He once again couldn’t help but wonder, if he had this kind of acting skill, how could Lin Ganzhi’s acting be so terrible! But if his acting was really that bad, then he wasn’t faking it.
“President Yan…” If you don’t add him now, it’s just too much.
“You’ll probably have to go out for work, right?” Yan Shengping suddenly asked.
“If a film crew is willing to have me, that day should come,” Lin Ganzhi’s brain glitched. He regretted it madly after saying it.
***
“Then there’s no choice. We might need to contact each other sometimes. Take out your phone.” The old man was being incredibly tsundere. He was at the level where he could work in demolition, taking down a wall with every bite!
Lin Ganzhi delightedly added his boss on WeChat.
Yan Shengping’s satisfaction lasted until he went to bed and pulled up the covers. Wait, wasn’t he supposed to be distancing himself from him? Why did he add him?
Was it just because Tian Nini added him, so he couldn’t not add him?
…
Today was another day of President Yan regretting his inexplicable competitiveness.
—
Unconsciously, Lin Ganzhi had been at the small suburban villa for two weeks. In two weeks, the radishes and tomatoes he planted had sprouted. Yan Shengping had also stopped being dramatic, coming down for meals on time, and could even get water downstairs on his own. If it weren’t for Lin Ganzhi and Yan Shengping’s strong opposition, Uncle Yan would have posted on his social media to celebrate.
Yan Shengping thought it was embarrassing.
Lin Ganzhi felt the embarrassment was all directed at him!
At eight in the evening, it was Lin Ganzhi and Uncle Yan’s prime-time drama hour. Yan Shengping happened to come down for a drink of water.
“Oh! It’s Saturday today! ‘Mom Teaches You How to Love’ is updated!” Lin Ganzhi picked up the remote control to select the channel.
To keep up his lie, Lin Ganzhi had specifically watched this variety show last week. It was basically a group of women gathered together to teach you the ways of love, sometimes paired with some cringey stories. Not only did Lin Ganzhi get addicted, but he also dragged Uncle Yan into the pit with him!
Uncle Yan smiled as he watched the kid select the channel. Noticing Yan Shengping’s gaze, he quickly beckoned him over. “Master, come watch TV and relax.”
Lin Ganzhi poked his head out to glance at Yan Shengping, a hint of expectation in his eyes.
The words on the tip of Yan Shengping’s tongue were swallowed back down. “I’ll sit for a while.”
He had been really tired from work recently. Fortunately, the main framework was complete, and things would be easier later on.
The few of them sat on the sofa. They were legally husbands, yet Uncle Yan sat between them.
Lin Ganzhi: Relieved.
Yan Shengping: …Hmph.
“How about I…” Uncle Yan was about to get up when a hand on each of his shoulders pressed him back down.
“Uncle Yan, this is fine,” Yan Shengping said faintly.
Lin Ganzhi also nodded in agreement. After all, the middle seat had the best view. One must respect the elderly~
The variety show started quickly. The host first briefly summarized the previous episode: “In the last two episodes, we talked about using the ‘a whip and a candy’ approach with your husband, so his heart will be tied to you.”
Lin Ganzhi quickly glanced at Yan Shengping, attempting to prove his sincerity.
Yan Shengping saw it in his peripheral vision but chose to ignore it.
Lin Ganzhi pitifully shrank back.
“But we’ve received private messages from our darlings recently, all saying they can’t control the whip, leading to excessive force. There are even cases where they are still chasing after their husbands for forgiveness! So, the mothers from our last two episodes specially contacted our program team to say that this technique is rather complicated and is recommended for use only after the age of thirty-five.”
“Damn it!”
A hint of ridicule rose in Yan Shengping’s eyes.
After the show, Lin Ganzhi’s eyes were filled with resentment.
He’d be a dog if he watched it again!
Later, a mother told a story about how an orphan couldn’t adapt to a new married family. Lin Ganzhi just glanced at it, said nothing, and opened his phone.
Yan Shengping wasn’t originally interested in these things, but seeing Lin Ganzhi’s dislike yet not saying a word, he felt a little stuffy in his chest. He was just about to ask Uncle Yan to turn it off when he saw Lin Ganzhi open a game.
Finding a new source of joy, wahoo~
Yan Shengping was glad he hadn’t said anything.
After two weeks, the unlucky Lin Ganzhi was back at it again, determined to pull that character! He had saved up a lot of materials during this time, enough for thirty pulls. He’d test his luck first. He still had a lot of materials saved from last time!
First ten-pull, mm, purple light.
Second! Ugh, purple light.
Third, it’s gold, it’s gold!
Damn! I got spooked!
Lin Ganzhi was visibly devoid of life.
But he wasn’t reconciled! He had already built up so much pity. He couldn’t take it anymore! He might as well be the big spender! Lin Ganzhi once again furiously smashed a few thousand! He’d just be an incomprehensible rich fool!
Five minutes later, with only one ten-pull left, Lin Ganzhi was about to cry.
His two handsome eyebrows were tightly knitted together, his bun-like face drooping, looking no different from a withered little sapling!
And all of this was seen by Yan Shengping.
“Why play it if you’re not happy?” Yan Shengping frowned.
Lin Ganzhi looked at him mournfully. Even with Uncle Yan between them, his fiery gaze couldn’t be blocked. Yan Shengping couldn’t help but feel his brow twitch. He had a feeling this was not good.
Lin Ganzhi quickly extended his phone over. Letting someone else complete his ten-pull for him was a sign of a life-and-death friendship! That’s right, Lin Ganzhi was using this action to express his importance to his boss!
“Click here,” Lin Ganzhi gently coaxed, from across Uncle Yan.
Uncle Yan: Should I just leave?
Just as Uncle Yan was about to get up, he was pressed back down by the two of them.
“Uncle, just watch TV.”
“Uncle Yan, it’s just a click. We’ll deal with it later.” With that, Yan Shengping moved the phone to the back of the sofa, and Lin Ganzhi buzzed over like a diligent little bee.
The two of them, one on each side, draped a large, drafty shawl over Uncle Yan.
Uncle Yan: This is even worse than before! Now my back feels cold!
Yan Shengping rarely played, but that didn’t mean he didn’t know how. He reached out and tapped it. It was just a matter of probability anyway.
But, three seconds later, the golden light came!
Lin Ganzhi had already prepared himself to be spooked.
But, the character he wanted appeared!
Lin Ganzhi was so moved he almost shed tears! But it didn’t stop. Just as he was about to skip, another gold popped out. The animation hadn’t disappeared yet.
“No, it can’t be,” Lin Ganzhi’s unlucky player tears were about to come out.
Another gold!
Lin Ganzhi was so excited he was about to scream! But reason told him, Uncle Yan was still watching TV!
But to express his gratitude and admiration, Lin Ganzhi tremblingly gave Yan Shengping a big thumbs-up with one hand from behind the sofa, and a sincere heart sign with the other hand from his chest.
Yan Shengping let out a rare sneer. “What kind of strange gesture is that?”
But that was it. No more harsh words came from Yan Shengping’s mouth. He just watched the little bun opposite him prop up his profile with sparkling eyes, holding this pose for a full five seconds.
“Can I come to you for my card pulls in the future?”
Yan Shengping glanced at him faintly. “…Whatever.”
Whatever means yes! Lin Ganzhi felt that in the future, he would finally no longer be a rich fool with more money than sense!
Not only was his boss rich, but he was also lucky! Lin Ganzhi was becoming more and more satisfied with his current situation!
The show ended.
Yan Shengping looked at the time and was about to go up, but Uncle Yan looked at his phone and said in surprise, “Ganzhi! It seems you’re on the trending topics.”
Knowing the kid was a celebrity, Uncle Yan didn’t know much about the entertainment industry. But seeing that Lin Ganzhi usually had no schedules, he probably was what the younger generation called an unknown. He never expected the kid to be on the trending topics!!
Lin Ganzhi was also surprised. He quickly leaned over, then read the trending topic title with a bewildered expression: “18th-Tier Artist Lin Ganzhi So Destitute He’s Digging for Wild Vegetables to Survive?!!”
Even Yan Shengping stopped in his tracks, his eyes full of confusion. “When did you go digging for wild vegetables?” Although their life at home was average, it wasn’t to the point of having to dig for wild vegetables, was it?!
Lin Ganzhi was also innocent. He took out his own phone and clicked to see the details.
There was even a picture. Although it was blurry, you could vaguely see him bent over in a grassy area, searching for something. At first glance, it really did look like that.
It was also accompanied by text: 18th-tier artist Lin Ganzhi exposed for being abused by his husband Yan Shengping after marriage, not having enough to eat, and can only survive by digging for wild vegetables.
As the person involved, Lin Ganzhi knew at a glance that he was just turning over the soil in his small vegetable patch at the time. It wasn’t like that at all.
“Yan Shengping, it seems we’re on the trending topics together.”
Yan Shengping’s foot, which was about to step on the stairs, retracted, and he sat back down on the sofa.
“Look.” The next moment, Lin Ganzhi was next to Yan Shengping, their arms touching. The scent of Lin Ganzhi’s hair once again wafted into Yan Shengping’s nostrils. This time, he finally knew what the scent on Lin Ganzhi was. It was the scent of coconut milk.
Lin Ganzhi himself had a particular fondness for coconut milk, and even the dairy products prepared for breakfast were mostly coconut milk.
Being approached so unguardedly, Yan Shengping couldn’t hastily push him away. He could only purse his lips, a little uncomfortable, and look at the content of the trending topic.
“The entertainment industry these days, they’ll really stop at nothing,” Yan Shengping said, looking at the content of the trending topic with excessive calm.
Lin Ganzhi was surprised. “You’re not angry?”
Yan Shengping calmly averted his gaze. “A few months ago, I was cursed out even worse.”
Lin Ganzhi was stunned for a moment. That seemed to be true.
Lin Ganzhi patted Yan Shengping’s shoulder like a good brother. “It’s fine. Think on the bright side. We may not have many fans, but our anti-fans make up half the entertainment industry.”
Yan Shengping’s expression was extremely complicated.
Sometimes he really couldn’t understand if Lin Ganzhi’s so-called optimism was something he could collect weekly. In what he saw as a desperate situation, he could always live out his own happiness.
After offering some comfort, Lin Ganzhi was about to say more when his manager Zhang Dianhuai’s call came in.
“I’ll take this call first.”
Yan Shengping lowered his eyes and nodded.
“Lin Ganzhi, your fame is truly surprising to me!” Zhang Dianhuai said with emotionless sarcasm.
Lin Ganzhi generously accepted it all. “I have many more surprises that you don’t know about. You’ll have to slowly discover them~”
“Tsk!” The other side let out an undisguised “tsk.”
By the way, do you really not have any intention of putting on a front for me?
“By the way, is your husband next to you?” Zhang Dianhuai asked.
Lin Ganzhi’s small eyes swept over Yan Shengping, then he said very shyly, “Mm~”
Yan Shengping frowned, not knowing what kind of trick he was up to.
“Ganzhi, I think this matter is a bit difficult to handle. After all, it also involves President Yan. I’ll work overtime at the company and have a meeting first. Don’t make any rash moves for now. Can you agree to follow the company’s arrangements for everything first? The company will do its best to minimize the damage of the public opinion on you and President Yan.”
Lin Ganzhi stiffened for a moment. “Brother Zhang, have you been possessed?”