Chapter 16: Dog-Blood High Society
Gugujiu: 【Good morning, boss [/sun]】
Since he had to wake up early to go to work with Ninth Uncle anyway, Gu Xiu sent a good morning greeting to his top contributor.
Across the dining table, Lu Shichen’s phone, which was placed on the table, vibrated.
Gu Xiu immediately looked over.
Lu Shichen glanced at his phone, put it in his pocket with a blank expression, and then called out to him, “Bring that new tie over and tie it for me.”
“…”
Gu Xiu was a quick learner. He had studied several videos on how to tie a tie for someone else. Now, when he tied Lu Shichen’s tie, he was skillful and proficient, as if he had practiced countless times.
His movements were smooth, and the knot was tied quite standardly.
He looked up and saw that Lu Shichen’s brow was slightly furrowed again. He really didn’t know what else he was dissatisfied with.
Gu Xiu raised an eyebrow, his eyes expressing his confusion.
Lu Shichen’s throat bobbed, and his gray eyes flickered slightly, like a nitpicker looking for a bone in an egg. “Didn’t I tell you before not to get so close to me?”
“…”
Well, weren’t you the one who asked me to tie your tie? Gu Xiu thought.
Gu Xiu pursed his lips and deliberately reached out again, smoothing the tie from top to bottom. “There.”
Lu Shichen quickly took the tie, which had been warmed by the young man’s hand, and turned his body away to avoid being directly assailed by the lingering crispy, nutty aroma again.
It was strange. It was early in the morning, and he hadn’t seen Gu Xiu eat any snacks, yet he still had a roasted nutty scent on him, like a small bird that had been warmed and softened by the sun, holding a nut in its sharp beak.
Perhaps a parrot or a tit, a plump species with long tail feathers and a fluffy body.
Even though Gu Xiu was tall and well-proportioned, Lu Shichen inexplicably felt that way.
Only when it flapped its wings and flew high would that seemingly harmless “little fat bird” reveal its streamlined figure. Agile, swift, as free as a glider, its white feathers shimmering in the sunlight.
Lu Shichen was momentarily stunned.
“Ninth Uncle?”
Gu Xiu came around to face him again, tilting his head and waving his hand to bring him back to his senses.
“…” Lu Shichen’s gray eyes behind his glasses flickered, and the turbulent emotions in his heart dissipated. His voice was as steady as ever. “Mm, let’s go.”
Today, there was an audition at the Huanya Building.
It seemed that being stood up on Christmas Day had not left any resentment. Jiang Yuan Yao excitedly told Gu Xiu the good news and looked forward to seeing him at the company.
Gu Xiu couldn’t help but sigh in his mind: 【Sigh… why do I feel like the rhythm of this crematorium is a bit off?】
【No problem.】 007, as expected of a data-brain, said, 【You’ve perfectly completed every key plot point. The crematorium will definitely burn fiercely!】
【I hope so.】 Gu Xiu was too lazy to think too much.
However, since Lu Shichen didn’t mention it, Gu Xiu didn’t rush to the audition to join in the fun. Lu Shichen went to supervise the audition and left him a message to stay put. If he was bored, he could deal with tomorrow’s work in advance and eat fewer snacks.
Gu Xiu agreed to everything.
As soon as Lu Shichen left, Gu Xiu’s expression changed 180 degrees.
【No one has been scolding me lately.】 Gu Xiu complained in his mind. 【I find it strange. Doesn’t Ninth Uncle’s mansion look fake?】
He had never seen a host who was so eager to be scolded. 007 was speechless.
As Gu Xiu spoke, he touched his Adam’s apple and murmured, 【They’re all more concerned about this mole of mine… If you’re hungry, you might as well go to the pier and get some potato chips.】
The small silver ball of light popped out at his words, circled around his neck, and observed him seriously.
Gu Xiu waved his hand. 【Go, go, go.】
On another floor of the Huanya Building, Jiang Yuan Yao was waiting in line for his audition, and also waiting for a message from Gu Xiu.
This time, Gu Xiu told him clearly: 【I’m not going. I’m not done with my work yet.】
“Alright…”
Jiang Yuan Yao pouted, looking extremely wronged.
Just then, there was a commotion. Not far away, Lu Shichen was striding over with a group of people. Jiang Yuan Yao also looked over, and the bit of grievance in his heart instantly vanished, replaced by a strong fighting spirit.
When it was Jiang Yuan Yao’s turn to go in for the audition, the two of them finally came face to face for the first time. Then, they saw a similar look of astonishment on each other’s faces.
“Hey?” The producer looked at the auditioning actor, then at Lu Shichen, and said innocently, “What a coincidence. Your ties are the same style, right?”
A clear embarrassment appeared on Jiang Yuan Yao’s face. The change in Lu Shichen’s expression was almost imperceptible, but the pressure around him had clearly dropped by a few degrees.
It was naturally not a happy occasion to be wearing the same tie as an auditioning actor. No one dared to provoke the big boss, so they didn’t dwell on the topic.
“Jiang Yuan Yao, right?” The director was kind-hearted and kindly reminded him, “You don’t need to wear a suit for an audition, and a tie is even more unnecessary. It’s too formal and will affect your performance…”
As if he had received a pardon, Jiang Yuan Yao quickly took off the matching tie. His face, which had been flushed as if from lack of oxygen, finally relaxed.
How to deal with the tie made him hesitate. After a moment of struggle, he still carefully put the gift in his pocket.
…
The audition was in full swing.
Gu Xiu was not idle either. He started another job of showing off his wealth and looking for scolding.
He rarely live-streamed during work hours in the daytime, but the number of online viewers was quite astonishing.
He set up his phone on the grand chairman’s desk, sat down in the boss’s chair, and arrogantly propped his two long legs on the armrest, swaying them carelessly.
Behind him was a huge floor-to-ceiling window, with a view of the imposing office building across the street that soared into the clouds.
Gu Xiu twirled a pen in his hand and said slowly, “Today, I’ll show you my office.”
Thanks to his unremitting efforts, today’s comments finally returned to the main point.
【The streamer has rented a new place?】
【Which company is this? The rent must be expensive, right?】
【It could also be a studio, 2333】
【The streamer is finally back to streaming in your MCN company? You’re not going to say you’re the chairman of the company, are you??】
“Of course I’m not the chairman,” Gu Xiu chuckled lowly, his voice both pretentious and annoying. “I’m just an ordinary idler enjoying a life of leisure.”
“The chairman is so busy, I get tired just looking at him. I’m fine with just collecting dividends from my shares and swiping my black card. I absolutely love this useless and boring life.”
The trolls: 【…】
I can’t stand it anymore. I really want to punch his head off-camera!
What was even more infuriating was that there were still many fools who were blinded by his long legs and believed this full-of-holes wealth-flaunting. They were all scrambling to apply to be the domineering CEO’s wife.
Gu Xiu ignored those wild “husband” comments and sighed helplessly. “I told you I’m not the CEO, just an idler… You can forget about the real CEO too. He already has someone.”
During a break in the audition, Lu Shichen, who had opened the live stream, happened to hear this last sentence.
What did he mean by the CEO already has someone?
For example, an amateur assistant with basically zero professional ethics, who is dissolute and whose every small action seems like a seduction?
Lu Shichen’s mind was in a turmoil. He looked up and saw Jiang Yuan Yao in the corner, and his heart immediately became as still as water.
Gu Xiu was not only his assistant, but also Jiang Yuan Yao’s close sugar daddy, and also the cousin-nephew entrusted to him by his maternal cousin…
Knock, knock.
Even the sound of knocking on the door had a hint of heaviness.
Gu Xiu, who was still boasting in the live stream, was startled. He quickly jumped up from the boss’s chair, turned off the live stream, and stumbled to open the door.
Outside the door was indeed Lu Shichen, who had returned from the audition. His face was grim, and he got straight to the point. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing…” Gu Xiu scratched his hair and lied without batting an eye. “Just waiting for you to come back, Ninth Uncle.”
Lu Shichen: “…”
The leather seat of the office chair still held the warmth of his cousin-nephew’s body.
Lu Shichen sat down, and his thigh muscles instantly tensed. His restless hands grabbed the armrests of the chair, and he suddenly realized that this was where Gu Xiu’s thighs had rested.
He felt as if he were frozen, and every part of his skin felt like it wasn’t his own.
Only his brain was working at high speed. The suggestive images from the live stream, the lewd comments…
To make matters worse, Gu Xiu came back with a cup of hot tea and circled around him. “Um, Ninth Uncle…”
After placing the teacup on the desk and showing his attentiveness, Gu Xiu tentatively asked, “How did Yaoyao’s audition go?”
Lu Shichen looked up.
His gray eyes were like a lake in the mist, cold and inorganic, without a trace of human emotion.
After a moment of staring, Lu Shichen frowned and put his annoyance on full display. “Not very good.”
Gu Xiu’s heart skipped a beat. That’s not good.
【What’s going on, Jiujiu? Even if it’s not good, he still has to pull strings for the protagonist shou!】 007 was more anxious than him, useless at everything but being noisy.
Gu Xiu was so annoyed that he almost lost control of his expression. He took a breath, picked up the hot tea, and handed it over. “Ninth Uncle, you must be tired. Have some tea first…”
Is he that concerned about Jiang Yuan Yao?
Lu Shichen looked at his nephew, who was being so considerate for the first time, with a blank expression.
…for Jiang Yuan Yao.
Not long ago, he was the one who told Gu Xiu to be more considerate. Now, he was the one who was filled with anger.
He felt like a stranger to himself, with his unreasonable and out-of-control emotions.
Staring at those bright black eyes, he took a deep breath—
“Ah!”
Gu Xiu cried out in fright.
He lost his grip, and half a cup of tea spilled out. Fortunately, it wasn’t boiling water, but it all spilled on Lu Shichen’s custom-made suit pants…
Gu Xiu quickly put down the teacup, looked around in a panic, and when he couldn’t find any paper towels, he used his own shirt sleeve to wipe it.
The tea stained the black pants, and the mark was not obvious. He didn’t think much of it and knelt on the ground, huffing and puffing as he rubbed the man’s leg with his arm.
His wrist was suddenly grabbed.
Gu Xiu’s movements froze. He looked up and saw Lu Shichen’s face was as cold as frost.
His heart trembled slightly, and he swallowed as he tried to remedy the situation. “I’m sorry, Ninth Uncle, I didn’t mean to…”
As Gu Xiu spoke, he pulled himself out of his panic, and his eyes darted around.
The truth slipped out. “If it’s really not working out, you can just fire me.”
Lu Shichen took his wrist, pushed it away, and growled in a hoarse voice, “Get out.”
Gu Xiu quickly raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, okay.”
Knowing that Lu Shichen had a strong personality and always meant what he said, he didn’t argue and quickly left.
007 was in a panic, shouting incessantly: 【It’s over, it’s over. I feel like you’ve really pissed off Ninth Uncle this time!!】
Gu Xiu’s heart was still pounding from that glare, but he thought that even the worst outcome would be exactly what he wanted. What’s the big deal about being fired?
Therefore, Gu Xiu’s tone was light and cheerful: 【It’s fine. At worst, he’ll fire me. I’m a perfectly good profligate second-generation. Why should I be working…】
Gu Xiu left the office, not forgetting to thoughtfully close the door for Lu Shichen.
Lu Shichen’s gaze on the door was still cold and freezing. Little did he know that under the desk, his suit pants were already stretched taut.
