Chapter 81

Qi Jing hadn’t recovered all morning. Even though everything had been explained, his face remained flushed with embarrassment. He hadn’t gone downstairs at all, staying in the bedroom to pack his luggage instead.

The Old Estate was fully equipped. The rooms were spacious, and they stocked all kinds of clothing. Every time they came, the servants prepared everything new.

So he’d arrived empty-handed.

Qi Jing just made a habit of taking some nice little trinkets home with him each time he left.

Last time, he’d pocketed a fountain pen.

This time…

The young man glanced at the table, reached up to grab a few boxes, and placed them in his suitcase. They were all beautiful pieces of jewelry.

He had no idea how much they cost.

But he was used to it by now, and it didn’t feel wrong to toss them into his luggage. He even stuffed in some local pastries, planning to give them to his friends back home.

Just then, there was a gentle knock at the door.

Qi Jing called out, “Come in.”

A servant entered carrying a tray with some fruit and a pot of jasmine tea beside it.

“Mr. Bo says it’s still early. He wants you to sleep a little longer.”

Qi Jing blinked in confusion. “Isn’t the flight at two in the afternoon?”

“Perhaps they’ve changed the mode of transportation.”

The servant spoke mildly.

Qi Jing didn’t think too much of it and simply nodded, thanking the servant.

~~~

Downstairs.

A servant stood under the classical chandelier, visibly nervous as he stammered through his explanation of the whole incident.

He’d bought the wrong items.

Including some aphrodisiac aroma candles.

The servant’s face had gone pale.

He felt like his career was over.

Standing before him was the butler, his expression cold and composed.

“Mr. Bo, we can dismiss him if you wish.”

It was a serious mistake, after all.

Erotic products and pleasure toys had no place in a traditional household.

They disrupted the order and felt utterly out of place.

“No need.”

The butler frowned slightly. He’d served at the Old Estate for many years, steeped in notions of hierarchy down to his bones.

Decadent and outdated.

“Just take the items back.”

Bo Chengyan’s face was impassive, his tone even. He bent down and picked up an aroma candle.

It was exquisitely designed.

The scent was rich and intense.

His eyelids lowered slightly.

“Mr. Bo, this is really—”

“Meng Xiang.”

The butler fell silent at once.

People often forgot their place after too many years.

Especially in a “traditional household.”

Propriety was paramount.

“Handle it per procedure.”

“Yes, Mr. Bo.”

Bo Chengyan was essentially building a stifling, rigid, oppressive family environment.

If he cracked down harshly on something like this…

Would Qi Jing end up fearing him?

There was no need.

It wasn’t worth it.

Whether it was Shen Nanzhi’s survival or his stance on certain matters, it all gained an extra benchmark.

Winding through the twists and turns…

Was a young man.

~~~

Qi Jing really didn’t want to go downstairs to see him. His inner thighs were sore, and he was utterly exhausted.

But why wasn’t he tired?

Qi Jing found it baffling. Physically speaking… weren’t forces supposed to be mutual?

The young man sat properly on the bed and even tried searching for answers, but it was mostly porn ads, a dizzying array.

Qi Jing raised his hand to exit the page but accidentally tapped something else. Another one of himself popped up.

A shoddy animated GIF.

He froze completely.

How could anyone draw something like this…

Until the door opened and footsteps approached from behind.

Qi Jing’s back straightened instantly. He shoved his phone under the covers and had just turned around when he was pulled into an embrace. His chin even pressed against the shirt fabric, his hands clutching the other’s shoulders.

“Mm…”

Bo Chengyan simply settled the young man on his lap and gave him a couple of glances. “Does it hurt?”

Qi Jing flushed with sudden shyness. Though he sat steadily, he tilted his head aside.

“N-not hurting.”

His words came out a bit stuttered.

“Let me see.”

Qi Jing panicked completely. Almost on instinct, he grabbed the man’s arm and leaned in for a kiss.

The room was very quiet. Macau’s climate wasn’t cold to begin with, and there was even a little bird outside the window.

“Where’d you learn that?”

Bo Chengyan sometimes slipped into a state of distant affection.

He treated the person in his arms like a child.

Even though Qi Jing had grown up.

He still fretted constantly over whether external negativity might influence him.

To the point of obsession.

“Learn it?”

The young man looked puzzled but asked earnestly, “The kissing?”

Qi Jing braced against the man’s arm and kissed him again. His lips were warm and soft, lingering for a few seconds.

Bo Chengyan gazed down at him.

“Like this.”

“And you’ll be all agreeable.”

It felt like he’d found the perfect leverage.

But it went even further.

Qi Jing lowered his eyelids thoughtfully.

[There’s another one…]

Bo Chengyan’s gaze darkened like ink that wouldn’t dissolve. When the young man tilted his head up, he cupped that slender waist.

His Adam’s apple was lightly nipped.

Qi Jing grazed it with his small sharp teeth.

Then released.

And told him.

“Like this.”

“You’ll y—”

The syllable was swallowed up.

Truth be told, there were plenty of times when deliberate online searches weren’t needed.

Kids this age brimmed with curiosity.

~~~

It was around three in the afternoon when Qi Jing boarded the private jet.

Even quieter, with far more privacy.

It even had a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom… like a miniature house.

Qi Jing’s worldview expanded yet again.

He sat on the edge of the bed as his arm was gently held and medicated. The man across from him looked perfectly composed.

“This must be expensive, right?”

“Just for emergencies.”

Qi Jing hadn’t given it much thought. He didn’t realize tossing millions worth of valuables into his suitcase wasn’t secure.

“You’re so rich.”

His tone was straightforward and earnest.

Perhaps his upturned expression was too innocent.

Bo Chengyan looked down at him.

“Does it bother you?”

Casual, almost indifferent.

Qi Jing shook his head and glanced around. His skin was very fair; up close, you could even see the fine hairs.

Utterly unworldly.

He murmured in confusion,

“I’ve only ever read about this stuff in books before.”

The 996’s [Canary Package].

“You’re amazing.”

Another sincere compliment.

Until he was scooped up in one smooth motion.

Qi Jing perched on the man’s forearm and naturally looped his arms around his shoulders. It felt pretty nice like this.

He glanced down at the floor.

[No need to walk.]

Bo Chengyan felt a subtle emotion stir. Unable to hold back, he reminded,

“Little Jing could afford it too.”

Those legitimate assets.

Labeled with “freedom.”

The cost of leaving him.

“Huh?”

A soft exhale.

Qi Jing wasn’t too focused on that. Mr. Gu was 996’s host, so he trusted him implicitly.

It was the system that brought him here.

“I haven’t thought much about that yet. After graduation…”

As the words trailed off, it was like realization dawned.

Qi Jing rested his chin on the man’s shoulder.

“You’ll have to teach me.”

His voice was muffled, carrying a righteous air.

Bo Chengyan’s expression softened a touch.

One could have the shelter of an umbrella, but they needed the ability to thrive.

~~~

He needed to learn to manage his assets.

That meant switching majors or pursuing a double degree.

Qi Jing didn’t want to abandon his pure social sciences knowledge, but he felt his wealth should be handled by himself.

If he knew nothing…

The young man didn’t like that idea.

Winter break was already half over. He needed to think it through carefully.

Bo Chengyan had told him to weigh it seriously.

College wasn’t like high school.

He had to consider his future career path ahead of time, or he’d wander aimlessly.

But as Qi Jing pondered, his phone buzzed. A message from Jiang Xiuyuan.

111: How was it? Good?

Qi Jing took a moment to realize what he meant, and his whole body heated up.

He had no idea how to reply…

They hadn’t used it again after.

111: Was it okay? That kind really builds endurance.

Hates Broccoli: I-it was alright, I guess.

Qi Jing instinctively tried to brush it off. His calves were still a bit numb…

No need for the tool anymore.

But it didn’t end there.

111: How long?

Hates Broccoli: How long what?

111: Want me to spell it out?

Qi Jing froze for a second. Before he could reply, another message came through.

111: How long you two went at it, obviously.

A blunt combo of pronoun and verb.

Qi Jing had never seen text this explicit, especially that word… You could actually type it out?

[111 withdrew a message.]

111: Sorry, forgot you’re still in school.

111: I mean, the duration.

Qi Jing hesitated. H-how long… What was normal?

The young man even searched it online.

Maybe from searching all this random stuff all day, the recommendations had gone off the rails.

Qi Jing sank into utter conflict. He even suspected the internet results were fake.

But this wasn’t something to discuss openly.

Hates Broccoli: So how long for you?

Qi Jing instinctively wanted to look for some reference.

There was a moment of silence on the other end.

Then came the reply:

111: Those aren’t people—they’re psychos, total nutjobs who go at it for five straight hours. Braindead idiots!

111: Remember, you have to turn it down flat.

111: Five hours minimum? Just kick him to the curb.

Qi Jing stared at his screen for a long time, unsure how to respond.

Until the other side prompted him again.

111: Where’d you go?

Qi Jing typed cautiously.

Hates Broccoli: 4.5.

Precise and to the point.

~~~

Lin Se had returned to his workstation. As he mixed up a fresh batch of medicated patches, he chatted casually.

“Any side effects?”

Bo Chengyan replied with calm evenness. “None.”

“Then I’ll prescribe you something to regulate your dopamine levels…”

Lin Se was nothing if not diligent.

“No need.”

Bo Chengyan simply raised his hand to accept an item from the assistant nearby. It was a bottle of vitamins.

Qi Jing’s.

He brought them almost every time he visited.

Lin Se wasn’t technically a family doctor, but he’d practically become one at this point. Unable to hold back, he asked, “You know, coming here every day like this—don’t take your condition so lightly.”

“Has the migraine improved? That’s stress-related too, you know.”

Lin Se couldn’t shake the feeling that Bo Chengyan was addicted to Qi Jing’s presence. The young man was an adult now; logically, he wouldn’t grow any taller.

Yet Bo Chengyan still doted on him.

Treated him like royalty.

“It’s fine.”

Bo Chengyan asked offhandedly, “Lin Se, do you believe in the Lord?”

The young man blinked in surprise, crossing his arms. “What? Need some spiritual advice?”

The man looked up at him with that same serene gaze and posed his question.

“Will I face judgment?”

~~~

After sending the message, Qi Jing still felt a lingering unease. He’d completely forgotten about it—that whole business with the boxes.

Several boxes of toys.

The boy went looking right away, but he couldn’t very well ask Auntie about something like that. So he circled the first and second floors on his own.

In the end, she found him anyway.

“Little Jing, what are you looking for?”

Qi Jing mumbled vaguely. “There used to be some boxes upstairs. I… I forgot where I put them.”

Auntie was always gentle. She knew exactly what was up and told him straight away. “Head to the third floor, Little Jing. There’s a storage room there.”

“All your things are kept in there.”

Qi Jing had never heard of the room before. He tilted his head and glanced up at the upper floors.

Auntie went on with her flower arranging, murmuring to herself, “Not a single piece has been thrown out…”