Isn’t money good?

Chapter 19

Back in the banquet hall, Ye Peiyuan saw them and hurried over, looking anxious. “Where’s Xiaoqiu?”

Sheng You snorted and looked away. Acting so well, he might as well go compete for a Best Actor award.

“Wen Chen took him back.” Ji Yunnian said.

Ye Peiyuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, his fingers at his side twitching. “He came too?”

“I called him. He happened to be nearby.” Ji Yunnian didn’t miss his micro-expression and asked, “Is there something else?”

Ye Peiyuan shook his head. “Nothing.”

“Thank you.”

Ji Yunnian nodded and left with Sheng You, walking past him.

Ye Peiyuan stood there, watching their retreating figures. His brows lowered, his gaze sharp and cold, his expression showing intense disgust and anger.

But it passed in an instant, replaced again by a hypocritical smile.

Only when they were far enough from Ye Peiyuan did Sheng You speak again. First he cursed the man twice, then said, “He doesn’t have any feelings for Yan Shiqiu at all, does he?”

“Generally speaking, when dealing with a lover, if you know he’s fainted, wouldn’t the first thing be to care about his health? Ye Peiyuan didn’t care at all, he only cared about where he was.”

After a few seconds’ pause, he had a sudden realization: “I understand why Yan Shiqiu suddenly took your side. He must have realized that Ye Peiyuan doesn’t like him at all, so love turned to hate.”

Ji Yunnian glanced at him. “I’ve discovered you have real talent for being an entertainment reporter.”

Sheng You looked confused. “Huh?”

“Gossipy enough.”

Sheng You: “…”

—

Yan Shiqiu woke up in the middle of the night. The moment he opened his eyes, he was a bit dazed.

After coming to his senses, he carefully examined his surroundings. The room was unfamiliar and didn’t look like a hotel. It should be someone’s home.

Lifting the covers and getting out of bed, he put on slippers and walked out of the room. The living room was lit, and someone sat on the sofa with their back to him.

Probably hearing his footsteps, the person turned around. It was Wen Chen.

“Cousin?”

Yan Shiqiu was somewhat surprised.

But the next second, he understood. This was Ji Yunnian’s arrangement.

Ji Yunnian himself couldn’t leave the banquet. If he put him in a hotel room, Ye Peiyuan might go up looking for him. Only Wen Chen was safest.

“You’re awake? Are you uncomfortable anywhere? Do you want some water?” As Wen Chen spoke, he poured a glass of water and stood up, walking over to him.

Taking the water, Yan Shiqiu shook his head. “I’m fine.”

“That’s good. You got drunk at the banquet. Yunnian notified me to pick you up.”

He added with concern, “Don’t drink so much in the future. It’s bad for your health.”

Yan Shiqiu nodded obediently. “I won’t drink anymore.”

“Mm.” Wen Chen smiled. “Are you hungry? Want something to eat? I could make you some noodles?”

“I’m not hungry, thank you.”

Yan Shiqiu glanced at the time. “Aren’t you going to sleep? It’s past one.”

“I still have some work to finish.” He returned to sit on the sofa, and the sound of keyboard clicking resumed. “If you want to shower, I put clean clothes on your bedside table earlier.”

Yan Shiqiu looked at Wen Chen’s back as he worked seriously, finding this person increasingly excellent.

He had to find a way to play matchmaker between Ji Yunnian and Wen Chen.

Not wanting to disturb Wen Chen’s work further, Yan Shiqiu quietly went back to get clothes for a shower.

After showering, Yan Shiqiu sat on the bedside drying his hair, reaching for his phone with one hand to unlock it.

The interface showed one unread WeChat message and one unread text.

The WeChat was from Ye Peiyuan, while the text was from Ji Yunnian.

They still hadn’t re-added each other on WeChat, but had exchanged phone numbers.

He directly ignored Ye Peiyuan. It wouldn’t be anything good anyway. He clicked on Ji Yunnian’s text, which contained only five brief words: Call me when you wake up.

If he called now, would Ji Yunnian want to hit him?

Did Ji Yunnian have a bad temper when woken up?

Yan Shiqiu thought about it but ultimately didn’t call. Disturbing someone’s sleep in the middle of the night wasn’t polite. His fingers flew across the nine-key keyboard, typing out a message to send back to Ji Yunnian.

[Yan Shiqiu]: I’m awake. I’ll call you back in the morning.

After sending the text, Yan Shiqiu put down his phone and focused on drying his hair. But less than a minute later, the ringtone sounded.

Caller ID: Ji Yunnian.

???

Still awake? Or did he wake him up?

Yan Shiqiu answered. “Did I wake you?”

“No, I wasn’t asleep yet.”

“Oh.” Yan Shiqiu put the damp towel on the bedside table, sat cross-legged on the bed, and hugged his pillow like a bolster, resting his elbows on it and comfortably cupping his chin in his palm. “You were waiting for me to call back? Are you worried about me?”

This time Ji Yunnian was honest. “Yes.”

But he immediately added, “I was afraid something would go wrong with that drug and you’d come blackmail me.”

Yan Shiqiu thought to himself that this person was really tsundere. Being direct would be so much better.

He didn’t expose Ji Yunnian, playing along: “I really was planning to blackmail you. I helped you so much, how much money are you prepared to give me?”

He joked, “How about this? Just round down that 50,000 from my 500,000.”

Ji Yunnian didn’t hesitate. “Fine.”

Yan Shiqiu was stunned, sitting up straight. “Really?”

“Mm.”

“I’m really going to take you seriously.” Yan Shiqiu pressed his lips together, saying softly, “You know how much I want that painting.”

Ji Yunnian’s tone was indifferent. “Don’t try to play the emotional card. I can’t just give you the painting directly.”

“Haha, you saw right through me. But I recorded your promise to reduce it by fifty thousand. Don’t try to back out.” Yan Shiqiu blinked lightly, then said, “Thank you.”

Ji Yunnian hummed in acknowledgment, returning to the previous topic. “Are there any problems with your body?”

“No. I had that drug tested. It just works like a sleeping pill, but takes effect faster, and the effect is stronger when combined with a certain alcohol concentration. Ye Peiyuan wouldn’t dare actually harm your body. When he had me take those ‘bed photos’ of you, he only dared have his arranged person pose with you for a few shots.”

Yan Shiqiu laughed. “You didn’t think I would drink it without checking what kind of drug it was, did you?”

“The old you really wouldn’t have checked. Even if Ye Peiyuan told you to drink poison, you would have drunk it without batting an eye.” He said. “You really have changed.”

“I thought you confirmed that last time on the show.”

Ji Yunnian: “True enough.”

“Since you’re fine, I’m hanging up.”

“Good ni—”

Before Yan Shiqiu could finish speaking, he realized the other party had already hung up.

“…” Fine then.

They really weren’t familiar enough to say “good night” to each other.

Running his fingers through his hair and finding it mostly dry, Yan Shiqiu left the guest room, said “good night” to Wen Chen who was still working, then climbed back into bed to sleep.

When he woke again, it was already 9:30.

Wen Chen had already left for work, leaving him a sticky note on the door.

[There’s porridge warming in the pot. Eat before you leave. Also, Auntie is sick, go back and see her. Stop being stubborn with her.]

Yan Shiqiu held the note, stunned for a long time.

He should go see this world’s mother.

She had raised “him” and no matter what, he should repay her properly.

Writing a reply in the blank space below the note, Yan Shiqiu went to the kitchen, ate the red bean porridge Wen Chen had left for him, cleaned up the dishes, and then left.

Returning home, as soon as he got out of the elevator, he saw an unwelcome visitor at his door. Ye Peiyuan’s subordinate, the same person who had brought him the drug for Ye Peiyuan yesterday morning.

“What are you here for?” Yan Shiqiu became alert.

“Mr. Ye sent me to tell you a few things.” The man said.

“What things?” Yan Shiqiu took out his phone, his finger hovering over the emergency call button.

The man didn’t waste words, speaking directly: “Mr. Ye wants you to stop looking for him from now on. He’s very disappointed in you and can no longer speak for you in front of Old Mr. Ye. Old Mr. Ye won’t allow him to continue dating you.

He also asked me to remind you that some words can be said, others cannot. If you accidentally say the wrong thing, he can’t protect you.”

The man then pulled out a bank card. “Also, this is compensation from Mr. Ye. The password is 123456. He said he hopes you can part on good terms.”

Every word was a threat, but after hearing it all, Yan Shiqiu only wanted to burst out laughing immediately.

Desperately suppressing his joy and the corners of his mouth that wanted to turn up, Yan Shiqiu’s acting exploded as tears suddenly fell from his eyes. “I don’t believe it! I want to see him!”

“Mr. Ye is on a business trip. He doesn’t want to see you either.” After saying this, the man threw the bank card into his arms, stepped around him, and left with big strides, entering the elevator.

Yan Shiqiu listened carefully to the sound of the elevator going down.

Three minutes later, the elevator went up and down twice but didn’t stop on this floor again.

The man had really left.

He quickly opened his door and returned home, kicked off his shoes, wiped away his tears, and jumped up and down several times in place with joy.

That disgusting romantic relationship was finally over!

Long live being single!!!