Right—as long as he had money.
So he needed to figure out how to get more of it.
Seizing power was essential. Once he took over the company and had money, he’d smother Tao Zhi with it.
Mad? Smother him.
Coquettish? Smother him.
Smother him until he was dizzy and could only obey him from then on.
Ha.
Fu Zheng suddenly felt very cheerful. He tugged at his lips with an expressionless face, his smile utterly wicked.
Tao Zhi beside him: “…?”
Why did Fu Zheng suddenly seem so stupid now?
Tao Zhi looked at his expression, tilted his head slightly, furrowed his brows deeply, and wondered how he could be both stupid and suddenly fired up with determination?
Weird.
Tao Zhi silently put some distance between them.
–
After New Year’s, it was basically finals month.
Tao Zhi gradually grew busier, with little time to deal with Fu Zheng’s moods. Aside from his own duties, the place he visited most was the library.
Fu Zheng was very unhappy about this.
He’d grown accustomed to Tao Zhi devoting all his attention to him outside of class time, following him everywhere. Now, with no sign of him anywhere, Fu Zheng felt irritated no matter where he went.
Yet he couldn’t pick any faults with Tao Zhi.
Because even in his busiest times, Tao Zhi never neglected his responsibilities. Every day after returning from the library, he’d no sooner drop his bag than start washing Fu Zheng’s changed clothes and shoes. Sometimes he’d even rush back at noon to grab takeout for him.
This made Fu Zheng feel even more uncomfortable.
The young master had never experienced this prickly, itchy sensation all over. It was strange, and for some reason, it made him feel like if he let Tao Zhi keep doing this, he’d lose face.
That feeling peaked when he saw Tao Zhi return to the dorm and prepare to change his bedsheets.
Finally, the young master couldn’t take it anymore. He snatched them away with a stern face. “I don’t need you doing this.”
“Huh?” Tao Zhi blinked. “Not washing them? It’s been a month.”
“No.” Fu Zheng was cold and ruthless.
Tao Zhi: “…”
Fine. He scratched his head, not understanding.
After that, Fu Zheng took to doing chores like it was an addiction.
Whenever Tao Zhi was too busy to tend to him, Fu Zheng self-taught himself to wash his clothes and shoes. After workouts at the gym, boxing ring, or basketball court, he’d huff and puff through the tasks.
On Friday evening, Tao Zhi pushed open the dorm door and caught exactly this scene.
Fu Zheng was hanging clothes to dry on the balcony by himself.
Tao Zhi stood frozen in shock at the doorway. Fu Zheng only noticed him after finishing and turning around.
Caught in the act, Fu Zheng felt a bit awkward. “What are you doing, standing there like a door god?”
“Ah, nothing.” Tao Zhi snapped back, quickly shutting the dorm door.
“You’re washing your own clothes?” He held back but couldn’t help asking.
Fu Zheng hummed indifferently, as if it were no big deal.
But only he knew how nervous he was.
Wait, why was he nervous?
Fu Zheng felt speechless at himself.
…But he was inexplicably nervous.
It was like he was changing for Tao Zhi’s sake.
Strange.
Very strange.
Fu Zheng’s face grew even more awkward.
“There’s a laundry room downstairs.” Tao Zhi had no idea about the twists in Fu Zheng’s mind.
He thought for a moment and told him, “It’s not expensive. I hand-wash because I’m cheap.”
“If you can’t wait for me to come back, you can take it to the laundry room. Standard wash is five yuan a load, and the auntie will dry and fold it for you. Just pick it up.”
He knew this so well because he’d worked part-time at the laundry room for a while after school started and knew the procedures and prices.
“No rush. I’m bored anyway, too lazy to use it.” Fu Zheng snapped out of his awkward mood and got annoyed again, his tone stiff. “I just like hand-washing.”
Fine.
Tao Zhi said oh. “If you’re not in a hurry, wait for me to come back. I don’t get back too late; I can do it together.”
“You’re so nagging.” Fu Zheng got a bit flustered and exasperated. “I like washing myself. Stop talking.”
Getting caught hanging clothes was embarrassing enough, and now Tao Zhi kept yapping—Fu Zheng’s face had already darkened.
Tao Zhi: “…”
He could never figure out what set Fu Zheng off.
Deep down, Tao Zhi thought he was weird.
But doing less work made him happy.
After studying all day, he was exhausted. Tao Zhi flopped on the desk to empty his mind and relax, but his thoughts wandered uncontrollably.
Like, my family’s child has finally grown up; the rich second-gen pet has learned to handle his own affairs.
The older wife rejoices (?)
?
??!
No!
What the hell was this nonsense?!
Tao Zhi startled himself upright, sitting straight in embarrassment. He didn’t know where to put his hands and feet.
The more embarrassed he got, the worse it was.
Fu Zheng, who hadn’t spoken since earlier, saw him perk up and suddenly asked, “Hey, have you been in touch with Fu Si Heng lately?”
Tao Zhi: “…”
His expression froze on his face.
“Ah.” After a long while, he mumbled, “N-no, he hasn’t reached out recently.”
Tao Zhi hadn’t told Fu Zheng about his current situation with Fu Si Heng.
Since Fu Zheng said to shelve it until after New Year’s, Tao Zhi figured no need to stir things up.
Now was the critical finals review period; he was busy cramming key points. He worried that if he told him, Fu Zheng would make him steal files from Fu Si Heng during his busiest time.
He’d panic, and he wasn’t prepared for that task.
