Chapter 38: HE Side Story (Part 2) [Side Story] Part 2

A smile he himself had not noticed flickered in the man’s eyes. He picked up a straw hat from nearby and placed it on Shen Yu’s head to block the excessive sun, then lifted his gaze to Shen Yu. “How do you want to change it?”

Shen Yu adjusted the hat in surprise. “Huh?”

Zhou Jinsheng continued, “Once you’ve decided, tell Song Shi to handle it.”

Wait, was this something you could just change on a whim?

Shen Yu had only said it offhand. Cathead Island’s ecosystem was already in excellent balance, proving the original design flawless. He had never expected Zhou Jinsheng’s response and threw up a puzzled question mark in his mind. “?”

Zhou Jinsheng, thinking he did not believe it, added, “Don’t forget, you’re the master of this island. You have the right to do whatever you want.”

Shen Yu fired off three emphatic question marks internally. “???”

Wait, when did he become the owner of this island?

Was he that rich now??

In the days that followed, Shen Yu finally dug out the sugar baby contract he had signed before, along with a supplementary agreement he didn’t remember signing. After studying them carefully, he was forced to face a shocking fact—

There were hardly any people in the entire Shang Capital City who were richer than him now.

He finally understood why those big shots looked at him with such fondness, as if he were their own grandson.

Once he realized this, Shen Yu closed his eyes, hugged the contracts to his chest, and lay flat in peace.

Shen Yu had specially placed an extra-large lounge chair in the seaside courtyard. He would lie on it from time to time to sunbathe, but he had the kind of constitution that didn’t tan, so even after all this time in the sun, his skin stayed fair.

Time passed leisurely amid endless bliss, and in the blink of an eye, it was Zhou Jinsheng’s birthday. Shen Yu couldn’t think of a good gift for him, so he privately asked Song Shi what Zhou Jinsheng needed lately, so he could prepare something fitting.

The stone-faced Assistant Song received his plea for help, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses with a finger, pondered with a serious expression for a moment, then shifted his gaze to Shen Yu.

Shen Yu was puzzled. “Why are you looking at me?”

Song Shi kept staring at him steadily.

Shen Yu gradually caught on, pointed at himself with a wooden expression, and said, “You mean… me?”

Song Shi rested his chin on his hand and nodded three times in a row.

Shen Yu: “…”

Seeming to feel that this was too direct and unbecoming of socialist core values, Song Shi cleared his throat and added solemnly, “Anything prepared by Mr. Shen, the BOSS will like.”

“…”

That just makes it even weirder.

Shen Yu racked his brains but still couldn’t think of anything good. In the end, on the day of the birthday, he blindfolded Zhou Jinsheng with an eye mask and led him by the hand toward the courtyard.

The moment he was plunged into darkness, Zhou Jinsheng’s muscles tensed instinctively. But the instant Shen Yu took his hand, all that defensive tension melted away.

The walk was long, but with Shen Yu there, it didn’t feel long at all. They held hands, just like years ago, walking through that long holly path in Jingyang, the wind rustling as they headed to class together.

The warmth left, and his hand was released.

Zhou Jinsheng grasped at empty air, failing to catch Shen Yu’s hand. He frowned and raised his hand to yank off the annoying eye mask.

From not far away, Shen Yu saw his movement and immediately shouted to stop him. “Zhou Jinsheng, don’t move!”

The person hadn’t left.

Confirming Shen Yu was right there, Zhou Jinsheng paused, his whole body gradually relaxing.

“Wait a bit. I’ll tell you when to take it off.”

Another rustling sound followed.

After patiently waiting a moment, Zhou Jinsheng asked, “Can I now?”

“Be patient.”

Zhou Jinsheng pressed his lips together and waited patiently.

A little while later, Shen Yu’s voice rang out again.

“Alright, take it off now.”

Zhou Jinsheng twitched his ears. The voice sounded a bit muffled. He hesitated for a moment, then hooked his fingers under the edge of the eye mask and lifted it off.

Sunlight flooded his vision instantly. Having been in the dark for so long, the sudden brightness stung his eyes. Zhou Jinsheng rolled his eyes to adjust, then his gaze slowly settled on the massive colorful gift box in the courtyard.

The colorful gift box was about sixty centimeters long and wide, covered in bright stickers. A little black kitten with a red bow tie was dancing on it, and atop the lid sat a huge pink bow.

The sea breeze blew gently, and Zhou Jinsheng’s heart pounded wildly. He licked his lips and strode over.

Shen Yu sat inside the gift box, waiting a long time with no sign of it being opened. Puzzled, he curled his fingers and knocked on the lid from below.

The person outside seemed to freeze for a second, then mimicked him and knocked back.

Next came the sound of fabric rustling. Zhou Jinsheng sat down on the ground too, his shoulder leaning against the side of the gift box.

Through the thin cardboard, Shen Yu felt the man’s warmth and presence.

Faint sunlight filtered through the gaps in the gift box, scattering specks of light inside the small space. Many landed in Shen Yu’s palm. After a long silence, he heard the man’s low voice.

At first, the words came haltingly, but once they started, they poured out like an avalanche.

“Shen Yu, I’ve never felt emotions surging in me like this before. A long time ago, Zheng Keqin told me that loving someone shouldn’t be like this—that love isn’t a conquest.”

“…Love isn’t a conquest? To be honest, even now, I still don’t understand what love is. I still don’t agree with others’ definitions of it.”

“I only know one thing clearly: I can’t accept you leaving… Your presence is like a seed that took root in my heart. Over time, it sprouted stems and wrapped around my entire heart. Even the slightest pull would uproot it entirely.”

“If being unable to let go of someone can be called love…”

“Then perhaps I love you more than anyone else in this world. I’m willing to die for you, live for you—do anything for you.”

…

“Shen Yu, forgive my past arrogance and ignorance. Punish me however you want. Make me do whatever you want.”

“But there’s only one thing I can’t do. I can’t let go. I’m sorry, I just can’t. This isn’t a request, Shen Yu—I’m begging you. Don’t leave me. Don’t disappear again.”

Shen Yu leaned silently against the cardboard, light spots dancing on his face. He lowered his eyes and tried calling out to 007 in his mind once more. No response.

Wasn’t it supposed to be that once affection maxed out, the World Will would detect the anomaly and force him to log out?

Then why? Why was he still here, not leaving?

Shen Yu finally realized the answer, belatedly.

Zhou Jinsheng was fighting against his real self, the cruel Heavenly Dao, and the irresistible World Will—just to beg him not to leave.

Don’t… leave?

If he chose to leave, would Zhou Jinsheng let him go?

The voice fell silent, then spoke again as if in resignation:

“…At least, if you disappear, can it be somewhere I can see?”

This roundabout plea, laying bare his true intentions, was clearly just saying he wasn’t allowed to go. Shen Yu heard it and couldn’t hold back a smile at the corner of his mouth. As expected—this was the Zhou Jinsheng he knew.

“Sorry, Shen Yu. I love you.”

With those final words, Zhou Jinsheng stood up from the ground.

The lid of the gift box was lifted off.

Shen Yu hadn’t expected the box to be opened so suddenly. The cardboard sides detached from the lid and scattered onto the grass.

Shen Yu’s plan had been to toss confetti the moment Zhou Jinsheng lifted the lid, but he had been listening so intently that he hadn’t even grabbed the confetti beside him when the lid flew open, sunlight pouring onto his face.

Shen Yu sat on the ground and looked up, meeting Zhou Jinsheng’s gaze. He instinctively raised his hand, but with nothing in it, he just waved at empty air.

Zhou Jinsheng’s eyes fell on his waving fingers.

Shen Yu grabbed at the air with his fingers, hesitating as he looked up. “Happy… Happy Birthday?”

It all felt so perfect, like a grand dream. Zhou Jinsheng thought that if it was a dream, he never wanted to wake up.

He was willing to drown in it forever, until death.

Zhou Jinsheng looked at him sitting on the ground, his heart filled with unprecedented joy. It overwhelmed him, making his head spin. He curved his lips into a smile. “Mm. Happy birthday to me.”

Shen Yu reacted and pulled his hand back. He frowned and looked around, then pointed and directed him. “Put the box back together.”

Zhou Jinsheng paused for a moment, then bent down obediently. He picked up the lid, knelt on the grass with his knees, propped up the sides, and reassembled the gift box.

The gift box was restored to its unopened state.

Knock knock. Two knocks came from inside. Zhou Jinsheng curled his fingers and knocked back in rhythm.

Zhou Jinsheng asked, “Can I open it now?”

No response.

Zhou Jinsheng reached out, his heart pounding. He grabbed the edge of the lid and yanked it open, only to be sprayed full in the face with confetti and streamers.

Shen Yu stood up from the ground, beaming. “Happy Birthday!”

Zhou Jinsheng brushed the confetti off his face, his gaze landing on that brilliant smile. He asked, “So you’re my birthday gift?”

Shen Yu snapped his fingers, bent down to grab a handful of streamers, and piled them all on Zhou Jinsheng’s hair. He grinned. “That’s right.”

Zhou Jinsheng shook his head, sending the streamers tumbling to his shoulders. He reached out, hooked his fingers into Shen Yu’s belt, and tugged him forward. His voice was low and magnetic. “Mm. So, can I unwrap my gift now?”

Shen Yu was wearing loose black pants with white trim and an elastic waistband. That tug exposed the firm lines of his thighs and the black underwear printed with letters.

To avoid flashing, Shen Yu hurriedly stepped forward—only to be pulled into Zhou Jinsheng’s arms. A scorching palm instantly slid to the small of his back.

When push came to shove, Shen Yu panicked a little. He flailed his limbs, smacked away Zhou Jinsheng’s wandering hand with one, twisted around with a kick to try to run, and declared righteously, “Under the broad daylight of heaven and earth, Zhou Jinsheng, there’s no need to rush like this!”

“Very necessary.” The laughter was low and husky.

Zhou Jinsheng’s arm snaked out like a python, wrapping around him from behind. His palm slid up Shen Yu’s waist to his chest and pressed down through the shirt fabric.

…

The two stumbled and crashed onto the sun-warmed lounge chair.

In the golden dusk light, the chair rocked and swayed. The sky over the island slowly turned shades of blue.

The rocking chair creaked under their intense movements.

Shen Yu’s shirt was unbuttoned and spread open, draped over the crooks of his elbows. The symmetric triangular shoulder blades on his back resembled a butterfly’s spread wings. He felt it tightening inside, his pale back muscles struggling up and down, rubbing against the chair’s suede fabric.

Zhou Jinsheng braced his arms on either side of Shen Yu’s shoulders, leaning over him, and suddenly asked, “Is this okay?”

Without waiting for an answer, he lowered his head.

Shen Yu’s palms clenched, fingers instinctively gripping the back of the head buried in his chest, tightening inch by inch.

“Mm—”

Shen Yu felt all his senses shrouded in a layer of wet, bubbly film. He furrowed his brows, a hum escaping his nose. His fingers slid up, threading into Zhou Jinsheng’s fluffy hair.

Bathed in sunlight, they plunged together into that dying instant.

One moment was eternity.