After the Straight Male Incubus Became a Heartthrob - Chapter 23

Liang Wenle closed his eyes, wanting to see what Ye Lin would do. At first, there was a cool sensation, followed immediately by an itchiness. It was intermittent, lacked any clear rhythm, and felt entirely like a disorganized mess. Liang Wenle opened his eyes to see Ye Lin looking dazed with his hands seemingly lost. He could not help but burst out laughing.

“What are you trying to do?”

“I am just trying to,” Ye Lin started. He looked at Liang Wenle and then at himself, racking his brain. For a long while, he could not recall the specific steps. He wondered how Gu Jiazhi had operated. It had been first like this and then like that, and then they had finished. He truly did not understand how it worked between two men.

He decided to stick to the basics because the hunger level could not be allowed to rise any further. Ye Lin gave up on taking the lead and opted for simple mutual assistance. However, he had not expected that despite the delicate face of Liang Wenle, the man was actually on par with Gu Jiazhi in terms of difficulty. This was going to be a problem.

“Ye Lin, you,” Liang Wenle started. He leaned against the shoulder of Ye Lin, his breath turning scorching and his voice trembling. He was entirely inexperienced, so he could not possibly withstand even basic techniques. He quickly reached his limit.

“Wenle, you are a bit too fast,” Ye Lin said. He looked at his palm and then up at Liang Wenle. He wanted to make a joke, but seeing the flushed face and fierce gaze of Liang Wenle, he immediately lost his nerve.

Liang Wenle bit back angrily, “You are not allowed to say it!”

Ye Lin fought to suppress his laughter. “I will not say it. Actually, Wenle, you were quite good.” As he spoke, he realized he could not carry the lie any further. Men are naturally sensitive about their stamina, and no matter how much he tried to pretend, he could not hold back his amusement. The expression of Liang Wenle darkened further. He suddenly pushed Ye Lin down.

“If you laugh again, I will kill you!”

Ye Lin waved his hands, his smile becoming even more unrestrained. “I am not laughing. Really, I am not.”

Before long, his smile froze. He looked at Liang Wenle in horror. “Wenle, are you going to do it?”

Liang Wenle leaned in to kiss him. “Of course it is me. You are so small and delicate. How could you possibly manage?”

Ye Lin was infuriated. If anyone else had mocked him for being small, he would have cursed them out, but since it was Wenle, he decided to endure it. He wanted to struggle, but he found that the physique of Liang Wenle was larger than his own. It was difficult to resist, and he was forced to surrender.

The defined features of Liang Wenle were due to his mixed heritage, and his body was anything but weak. Once he removed his outer clothes, he looked like a Greek statue: well-proportioned with smooth lines and a full physique. He was far too clingy, even more overwhelming than the Samoyed lunging at him. The temperature rose quickly, as if they were inside a steamer. Fine beads of sweat began to appear. Like a dog, Wenle loved to lick to express his affection, and he did so with excessive frequency. Because Ye Lin was completely sober, he could clearly perceive every breath and every movement. Compared to the relaxed and measured pace of Gu Jiazhi, Liang Wenle felt chaotic and unreliable.

“Wenle, how about I do it instead?” Ye Lin was truly afraid and tried to persuade him. “I promise I will not make you uncomfortable.”

“No! I am telling you, I am very good at this.” Liang Wenle was adamant as he pulled out a drawer and rummaged through various items.

This moment felt exactly like their first time at the racetrack. He had claimed his driving skills were top-tier and that he would definitely crush Shen Shao to take first place.

“This is not a game, Wenle. I think we should think this through,” Ye Lin urged. Having experienced the abysmal driving skills of Wenle, he was worried by these amateurish movements. However, he was soon unable to speak and could only cry out in pain. Liang Wenle was indeed a novice. During the encounter, he completely ignored whether his partner would survive, acting with reckless abandon. Furthermore, even as Ye Lin was on the verge of fainting, Wenle had no idea how to help, standing by like an idiot with no idea what to do.

For a moment, the world went dark for Ye Lin. He feared he would die there and never see the morning sun. But he was called back by the voice of Liang Wenle, and he looked around weakly as if he were in the underworld. Seeing the face of Ye Lin turn deathly pale and his features contorted, Liang Wenle was also startled. He shook the shoulder of Ye Lin and called his name.

“Ye Lin, are you okay?”

“No, I feel like I am dying.”

“Then what should I do? I did not know you would be like this. It seemed so smooth in the movies.”

Liang Wenle looked innocent. In truth, he was uncomfortable too, but he could sense that Ye Lin was in a much worse state, so he showed a rare moment of consideration and asked urgently. Ye Lin spoke with no strength left. “How about you just give up?”

Liang Wenle tried to stop, but that resulted in more cries of pain. He could only suggest, “It seems like people get used to it slowly. Ye Lin, just endure it for a bit.”

“No!”

Before Ye Lin could stop him, he burst into tears. They were genuine tears with no hint of acting. Distressed by the crying, Liang Wenle kissed the tears away and tried to adjust himself to make Ye Lin happy. However, after a long while, there was very little progress. Ye Lin even suspected he had gone numb from the pain, as he actually found the heart to guide Liang Wenle. It was a pathetic form of self-rescue because he could not just let himself be tortured.

“Wenle, a little to the left.”

“Okay.”

But even an experienced guide could not lead a stupid novice. Even when told to go left, Wenle would find the wrong direction and fail to reach the mark. Ye Lin wondered how Liang Wenle was fit to be a man because he was terrible. He wanted to cry again, but Liang Wenle was enjoying himself, constantly asking, “Like this? How about this?”

Ye Lin thought he was a brain-dead idiot who should be sent back to the womb to be remade. When he received no response, the expression of Liang Wenle would fall, and he would try to say, “I will work harder.” But after a few more tries, he would complain, “Can you not be more understanding of me?”

Ye Lin wondered who was supposed to be understanding of whom. He stopped acting altogether and simply closed his eyes like a corpse. He finally understood why there were always posts online saying that one partner in a relationship needs to be a good actor for the love to last. He did not want to date Liang Wenle, he just wanted to make money. He had nearly lost his life for it, so he was not going to act anymore. He was fed up.

This sort of thing was only interesting when it was mutual. If only one person was trying while the other was cold and indifferent, it became tedious. Liang Wenle tried to please Ye Lin, complaining in a low voice, “You are ignoring me. That is so mean.”

Ye Lin looked at him with an urge to slap him, but he only replied with calm sarcasm, “As long as you are happy. It does not matter if I live or die.”

Liang Wenle heard the mockery and knew Ye Lin was in a lot of pain, so he stopped talking and tried to improve his technique. But much like his love for racing, he was high on passion but low on skill. Ye Lin could not hold it in and started crying again. He could endure being scolded or hit, but he could not endure this pain. He begged for mercy. “Wenle, I am begging you, stop torturing me. Go find someone else.”

Liang Wenle got angry at that and leaned down to kiss him. “I will not find anyone else. I only like doing this with you.”

Ye Lin could not process the words. His mind was filled with the image of Liang Wenle grinning smugly and saying he loved torturing him. Before long, he lost consciousness, which was a form of relief.

The dream was long, like walking through a thick fog until he reached a villa. Liang Wenle was standing at the door in a white suit, bowing slightly like a gentleman and urging him to hurry over. Ye Lin was so scared he turned and ran, only to find that Liang Wenle was floating beside him, waving and smiling. No matter how much he accelerated, Liang Wenle remained floating there, smiling and telling him not to run but to continue enjoying their happy world. That was not a person; that was a ghost.

Ye Lin ran until his legs gave out. He collapsed on the ground, crying out in despair for help. When he woke up, he actually shouted for help. The next moment, his hand was gripped tightly. He looked up to see a frowning Liang Wenle looking at him with concern and asking softly, “Did you have a nightmare?”

Seeing that face, Ye Lin instantly yanked his hand back and screamed. Liang Wenle could not understand it, but he pressed him back down and considerately patted the blanket. “It is okay. This is reality, not a dream.”

That made it even more hopeless. As the consciousness of Ye Lin returned, a stinging pain followed, mixed with a tearing sensation that made him gasp. Liang Wenle looked guilty and explained in a low voice, “I had a doctor look at you. There was bleeding. It is quite serious. You will need ten days of rest to recover.”

Ye Lin felt his heart die. He murmured, “Bleeding. And I am still alive?”

Liang Wenle continued to soothe him. “Don’t worry, I used the best medicine. You will recover quickly.”

Ye Lin was ashen and stopped talking. He felt he had suffered the greatest hardship of his life. Even when he crashed his motorcycle in middle school, it had not hurt this much. Liang Wenle had heard the description from the doctor and knew he had gone too far, severely injuring Ye Lin. Feeling very guilty, he tried to make amends. “I took some time off. I will stay with you for these ten days.”

Ye Lin closed his eyes. “You should go to school. Just let me rest alone.”

Liang Wenle brought out a pile of gift boxes and placed them beside him. “These watches and jewelry are for you. Do not be sad anymore.”

Ye Lin glanced over and saw six watches with brands like Rolex, Vacheron Constantin, and Patek Philippe, each worth millions. There were also rubies and sapphires of incredible color and clarity, likely worth tens of millions. Roughly estimated, these items were worth at least sixty million. After all that suffering yesterday, he had only earned a bit over a million through the system. It could not compare to today. Liang Wenle took out a watch and placed it in his hand. “I spent a long time picking these. They suit your skin tone perfectly. Do you not like them?”

Ye Lin nodded repeatedly in appreciation. “I like them! Your taste is amazing!”

Liang Wenle set the items aside and grabbed his hand, saying softly, “Then do not be sad anymore.”

It would be a lie to say he was not angry, but faced with sixty million, Ye Lin wavered. No wonder Liang Wenle could talk about buying a school; he was truly wealthy. Money makes the world go round, and sixty million was like a miracle drug that cured the sarcasm of Ye Lin.

He said immediately, “Actually, I was not exactly sad. It just hurt too much. And you did not care about me, Wenle, so I was very scared.”

Liang Wenle quickly promised, “I will definitely listen to you next time. I will not be reckless anymore.”

Ye Lin could not help but roll his eyes, nearly breaking character. “Let us just not have a next time. It hurts so much.”

Liang Wenle, ever confident, added, “But these things only get better with practice. I just lack experience and need to learn more. You can accompany me as I improve.”

Ye Lin was speechless. He thought this kind of thing depended on talent and that a loser could not change. He cursed hundreds of times in his head, but on the outside, he forced a smile. “We will see. I do not want to think about it for a while.”

Liang Wenle agreed. “Right, the doctor said you need to rest properly too.”

Ye Lin felt like crying without tears. “Let us just rest forever. I do not think this kind of thing should be forced.”

Liang Wenle had actually enjoyed the feeling yesterday. It was like a new world had opened up. He was curious and wanted to explore every corner. Hearing the reluctance of Ye Lin, he grew resentful again. “Well, I thought things were moving too fast myself! That is why I only wanted to hold hands and kiss. You were the one who insisted on it last night!”

Thinking back, if he had not gone crazy yesterday and tried to copy Gu Jiazhi, he would not be in this state. Ye Lin regretted his past actions. He understood now that it was not easy between men, and finding someone as well-coordinated as Gu Jiazhi was extremely rare. Liang Wenle leaned down to kiss his cheek and suggested, “When you are better, let us try again slowly.”

Ye Lin thought he was like a sick person who had no idea about his own abilities. He did not curse out loud for the sake of the sixty million. He just gave a vague promise. “Fine, we will talk about it then.”

Liang Wenle was happy and insisted on lying down to hold him, talking incessantly. He was a chatterbox, recounting his childhood and teenage years, wanting to share every detail of his growth with Ye Lin. When he finished, he shook the shoulder of Ye Lin, demanding to hear stories from his past. Ye Lin could not be bothered to respond and simply lied that he was hungry. Liang Wenle had someone bring food over. It was all light, liquid meals and herbs to supplement his blood. Ye Lin suspected that even after eating, he would not have the strength to move, but he ate anyway to avoid starving.

The injury was severe. It took him five full days to have the strength to sit up, but it was still painful. He had eaten liquid meals for five days and had to continue for five more. It was a nightmare. During those days, Yuanyuan often ran into the bedroom, barking around the bed and tapping the edge with a chubby paw, hoping Ye Lin would pet him. But Ye Lin could only look at the expectant face of the dog, powerless to help.

The weather outside was beautiful, and the sunlight made the lawn a lush green. A breeze rustled the sycamore leaves, and the faint scent of roses drifted in. On such a beautiful day, he was stuck in the bedroom like a prisoner. The resentment of Ye Lin toward Liang Wenle deepened. He glanced at the gift boxes on the nightstand, feeling like he was earning hard-earned money through suffering.

“Woof woof woof!” Yuanyuan sensed his master and ran to the bedroom door, rubbing against the feet of Liang Wenle.

Liang Wenle bent down to pat his head and looked at Ye Lin. “Do you want to play in the yard today? Yuanyuan really wants to go out.”

Ye Lin immediately lay down and covered himself with the blanket. “Forget it. It still hurts.”

Liang Wenle sighed and walked over to apologize. “Alright, I am sorry.”

Ye Lin did not speak.

Liang Wenle added, “Ye Lin, I rarely apologize to anyone.”

Ye Lin pulled back the blanket to look at him, his eyes dull. “Oh, what an honor.”

The anger of Liang Wenle flared up. He did not like seeing Ye Lin like this, like a withered plant. But Ye Lin was indeed injured and needed rest. Fine, he would endure it for now. And so, the pampered Liang Wenle learned patience and tolerance for the person he liked. He carried Yuanyuan out of the bedroom and went back to stay with Ye Lin.

On the tenth day, Ye Lin finally recovered and could get out of bed. A long-lost vitality returned to him. He started by eating a huge meal, then put the valuable watches and gems into a bank safety deposit box for safekeeping. Liang Wenle disliked that he wore the same clothes repeatedly and took him to buy dozens of new outfits, giving him twenty million in pocket money as well.

So, Ye Lin happily accompanied the young master to school. However, he had not seen Gu Jiazhi for a long time. He heard that during those ten days, Gu Jiazhi had not come to class. He was hanging around bars, drinking every day and living in a drunken stupor. Ye Lin wondered if he had a fight with Liang Wenle and was drowning his sorrows. But his relationship with Liang Wenle was quite shallow, so surely it would not come to that.

Ye Lin had complained about Gu Jiazhi before, but now he missed his good points. At least Gu Jiazhi was obedient and highly skilled, which was a world of difference compared to Liang Wenle. Both brothers lacked experience, but Gu Jiazhi had been a natural from the first time, while Liang Wenle was a disaster who caused nothing but torture.

Hunger level 50. Please be careful to supplement, Host.

Ye Lin sighed. Ten days had passed, and the hunger level was rising again. He wished it could be negative. After the terrible performance of Liang Wenle, he thought it should have gone into the negatives. He was told that hunger level cannot be negative.

Ye Lin rested his chin on his hand and looked at the blackboard, his gaze wandering around the classroom, trying to find a familiar figure. Liang Wenle was chattering beside him, asking why Ye Lin would not tell him about his past. Ye Lin acted pitiful and said his past was miserable and he did not want to remember it. He asked if Liang Wenle still went back to the house of his grandmother.

Liang Wenle picked up a pen and drew on a piece of paper. “The house of my grandmother is in the Southern Hemisphere. I go back every winter. It is summer there and very comfortable. By the way, the house of my grandmother is several times larger than this university. There are lots of cute animals inside. You will definitely like it.”

He drew a grand estate with deer, alpacas, and bears. His handwriting was incredibly ugly, but his drawing skills were strong, sketching out a fairytale world in just a few strokes. When Liang Wenle drew, he had an artistic air that was free and unrestrained. Ye Lin remarked sincerely that the house of his grandmother was quite wealthy.

Liang Wenle shook his head and said he could not compare his grandmothers because both were very good to him. But he promised that if he took Ye Lin to see his grandmother, she would definitely like him. Ye Lin offered a few more words of agreement while missing Gu Jiazhi. If his relationship with Gu Jiazhi were as good as before, he would not have to worry about the hunger level now. You only know the good once you have seen the bad. Compared to Liang Wenle, Gu Jiazhi was excellent and a friend worth keeping.

Realizing he had not replied to the messages from Gu Jiazhi, Ye Lin opened his phone while Liang Wenle was busy chatting with friends and sent a message.

“I had some things to deal with these past few days, so I did not get back to you.”

“Jiazhi, you are not really angry with me, are you?”

“Jiazhi, why have you not been to class? Are you out clearing your head again?”

“I was a bit harsh that day. I am sorry.”

“But I really have been tied up with Liang Wenle lately, so I could not reply. Do not be mad.”

The club was a blur of neon lights and a hazy, intimate atmosphere. On stage, attractive performers swayed their hips and sang into microphones, their voices blending with the rhythmic pulse of the room.

Liang Wenle watched the women on stage for a moment before waving his hand dismissively. “Tell them to take their tips and leave early. I don’t want any more women appearing tonight.”

 

The performers bowed in gratitude and left with bright smiles. They all knew Liang Wenle was incredibly generous. Getting off work early while earning ten times their usual pay was a dream come true.

 

One of his friends couldn’t help but complain, “Wenle, just because you don’t like women doesn’t mean the rest of us don’t. Kicking them out is making things pretty miserable for us.”

 

Liang Wenle glanced at Ye Lin and snapped back, “As long as I’m here, they stay out. If you’re unhappy, you’re free to leave.”

 

Knowing his temper, the group dropped the subject and pivoted to Gu Jiazhi. “Wenle, we haven’t seen you and Jiazhi hanging out lately. What’s up?”

 

“Oh, you didn’t hear?” someone else added. “They had a massive row in the middle of class. Jiazhi’s probably still sulking.”

 

Another tried to play peacemaker. “Wenle, you and Jiazhi have been friends for over a decade. It’s been days; it’s time to make up.”

 

Ye Lin, hearing this, leaned in. “Where is Gu Jiazhi? I haven’t seen him at school at all.”

 

“He’s been drowning his sorrows at bars every day,” someone replied. “His parents eventually caught on, so now he’s rotting away in the neighboring city. Nobody knows what’s really wrong with him.”

 

Liang Wenle felt a pang of guilt hearing how miserable his friend was. “Is he really that fragile? It was just a few words.”

 

Ye Lin nodded. “Exactly. It doesn’t seem like the kind of thing that would drive someone to constant drinking.”

 

“I’ll set up a gathering and invite Jiazhi,” a friend suggested. “Wenle, you can take that chance to clear things up.”

 

Liang Wenle didn’t want to lose a lifelong friend. “Fine.”

 

Ye Lin felt relieved knowing he would see Gu Jiazhi soon. There was no rush.

 

Liang Wenle noticed a friend across the table flirting with a male bartender. He turned to Ye Lin and handed him a bottle of wine. “Feed me.”

 

Ye Lin sighed, twisted the cap off, and handed it to him casually. “Here.”

 

Liang Wenle shook his head in dissatisfaction and pointed to his lips. “Not with your hands. Use this.”

 

Ye Lin sat bolt upright, putting the bottle down. “There are people everywhere. Let’s not.”

 

Liang Wenle didn’t say a word. He simply stared at Ye Lin with an intensity that made the hair on Ye Lin’s neck stand up. Left with no choice, Ye Lin leaned in and kissed him to transfer the wine.

 

The crowd immediately erupted in cheers. People began snapping photos, teasing Liang Wenle about how “bold” he had become. Liang Wenle didn’t waste a single drop of wine. He pulled Ye Lin into his arms, fully indulging in the thrill of the moment. “From now on, you’re not allowed to look at anyone else. You can only look at me, think of me, and miss me. Do you hear me?”

 

Ye Lin nodded blankly, offering a submissive agreement while internally lamenting his bitter fate.

 

Fortunately, an urgent matter at the Liang family estate required Liang Wenle to rush back, granting Ye Lin a five day vacation. On the first day, he rode his bike around and even checked Gu Jiazhi’s apartment, but no one was home. He wasn’t worried; he would likely see him at the upcoming gathering.

 

On the second day, Ye Lin received a message from Shen Shao, demanding he wait at a hotel that evening. It was incredibly annoying. Shen Shao clearly knew Liang Wenle was at the ancestral home and was taking advantage of the absence to avoid a scene.

 

A Change of Plans

 

It was a weekday morning. High-rise buildings were filled with office workers striving for a better life. Shen Shao was likely working at the Shen Group headquarters and wouldn’t be free until evening. Ye Lin hated being blackmailed, so he decided to sneak into the Shen Group building to turn the tables on him.

 

The building had ten elevators serving different floors, creating a massive labyrinth of human traffic. Assuming the CEO would be on a higher floor, Ye Lin picked one at random. After a ten minute ride, he reached the executive level. The space was vast and brightly lit, decorated with expensive greenery.

 

Shortly after entering, he heard the muffled sounds of an argument. It sounded like Shen Shao.

 

“Uncle, please look at it again. Fanxing is primarily internet-focused. It has huge potential and is worth the investment.”

 

“Shao, you’re just too inexperienced. These startups make a few million one year and then vanish. Only a handful survive. It’s a waste of capital.”

 

“No, the internet truly has growth potential! We should—”

 

“Enough. Your father sent you here to learn the family business, not to waste time on these whims. I have work to do. Leave.”

 

Ye Lin’s ears perked up at the name “Fanxing.” In the novel, this company’s growth was described in vivid detail. Fanxing was a tech giant that would find its footing in a year, take off in three, and eventually become a global industry benchmark.

 

The novel was set in a time when real estate was booming but the internet hadn’t fully peaked. The protagonist had invested in this very company, riding the wave of the era to become the richest person in the world. Ye Lin wanted in.

 

He watched a short, stout middle-aged man walk into a private elevator, completely oblivious to Ye Lin standing in the corner. Once the man was gone, Ye Lin walked toward the office. Shen Shao was standing by the door, clutching files and looking dejected. His brow was furrowed in deep thought.

 

Ye Lin ran over and tapped his shoulder. “I know about Fanxing. Can you introduce me to the founders?”

 

Shen Shao snapped out of his trance. Seeing Ye Lin, he immediately realized the situation. “You heard my conversation with my uncle.”

 

Ye Lin nodded honestly. “Yeah. You want to invest in Fanxing, but your uncle won’t let you. Since you can’t do it, let me have the opportunity. Think of it as an IOU.”

 

Shen Shao was baffled by the nonsensical logic until he remembered the nature of their relationship. He opened his office door. “Come in first. We’ll talk details.”

 

Ye Lin, eager to invest, hurried inside. He turned around only to find Shen Shao locking the door behind them.

 

“I didn’t expect you to come to the office looking for me,” Shen Shao said, setting his files aside. “Are you that desperate?”

 

Ye Lin saw the look in his eyes and realized Shen Shao’s mind wasn’t on business. He waved his hands dismissively. “Shen Shao, I’m not in the mood for that. I just want to invest in Fanxing. Give the chance to me. If I get rich, I can help you out later. Your family business is a paper tiger; it won’t last much longer anyway!”

 

Shen Shao scoffed, clearly not believing him. “You want to invest in Fanxing? Where are you getting the money? Tech startups are money pits. And our family is doing just fine. Why do you call us a paper tiger?”

 

Ye Lin knew from the novel that tech investment required millions initially and billions later. He didn’t have that kind of cash yet, but Fanxing was a guaranteed win. With Liang Wenle backing him, he felt confident.

 

“Small companies like this don’t need much at the start—a few million here and there. Even if I don’t have the cash, I can convince Liang Wenle to invest. He’s loaded. Besides, your family’s management style is outdated and rigid. No talented person wants to work here. It looks shiny on the outside, but your relatives have carved up the profits and left a mountain of bad debt. You saw the crisis coming, which is why you tried to convince your uncle to invest in Fanxing, right?”

 

Every word was the truth. Since his youth, the gap between the Shen and Liang families had widened. The Liang family was vibrant, always seizing new opportunities. The Shen family just circled the same drain, failing to keep up with the times. Shen Shao had seen the rot from the inside.

 

Shen Shao’s face darkened. He remained silent for a long time, his pride stung.

 

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Ye Lin continued. “How about this? Fanxing is too big for me to handle alone. Delete those audio recordings, forget the past, and let’s co-invest. Making money together is better than obsessing over… other things.”

 

Shen Shao felt a spark of life at the suggestion. “How much can you provide right now?”

 

Ye Lin held up his fingers. “Eighty million. That’s plenty, right?”

 

Shen Shao laughed. “Business isn’t just about having cash. There are nuances you don’t understand.”

 

“I’ll provide the money; you handle the nuances,” Ye Lin retorted. “If I were you, I wouldn’t want to live under the thumb of short-sighted relatives. Why not start your own era?”

 

The phrase “start your own era” echoed in Shen Shao’s mind.

 

“I can also convince Gu Jiazhi to invest,” Ye Lin added. “His money plus Wenle’s would be more than enough.”

 

With the Gu and Liang families’ capital and networks, Fanxing’s future would be secure.

 

Shen Shao smirked. “You’re quite talented at hooking men, aren’t you?”

 

Ye Lin rolled his eyes. “I believe in Fanxing. If you’re not interested, I’ll find them myself.”

 

Shen Shao pondered for a moment. “Go home for now. I’ll contact you once I’ve decided.”

 

Ye Lin slapped the desk. “Fine. Think carefully. If you keep threatening me with those recordings, you lose a golden goose and gain an enemy. A smart person knows what to do. You aren’t an idiot, are you?”

 

Despite having nothing, Ye Lin was incredibly arrogant, acting as if success were an absolute certainty. Shen Shao shook his head with a laugh, staring into Ye Lin’s eyes. “You are completely different than you used to be.”

 

Ye Lin panicked, thinking Shen Shao had figured out he was a transmigrator. “People change. I’m not content with a mediocre life, and neither are you. There’s nothing else to say.”

 

Shen Shao realized that while Ye Lin seemed foolish and conceited, the ambition in his eyes was dazzling and unforgettable.

 

The Investment

 

Ye Lin felt confident Shen Shao would agree. Still, he decided to find the founders privately to ensure he wasn’t being played. It took several days to find them in a cramped, old residential area. The neighborhood was a mess of illegal structures, tangled wires, and dirty, sunless alleys.

 

Just as he reached the building, he received a video call from Liang Wenle. He hurried to a secluded spot to answer.

 

“What are you doing?” Liang Wenle appeared on screen, looking adorable with a “cute” filter active.

 

“Just taking a walk. Staying in the room was making me restless.” Ye Lin used a patch of grass as his background, careful not to show too much of his surroundings.

 

“Why won’t you show your whole face?”

 

“Fine, look.”

 

“You’re so ugly! Why are you wearing that tacky t-shirt? Why aren’t you wearing the clothes I bought you?” Liang Wenle complained, but he was clearly happy to see his “ugly” boyfriend.

 

“I forgot. I’ll change later.”

 

Ye Lin spent an hour listening to Liang Wenle gossip about his relatives and their bizarre traditions. Finally, a relative called him away, and Liang Wenle hung up, telling Ye Lin to wait for him at home.

 

Ye Lin headed toward the Fanxing “office.” He couldn’t fathom how a rich kid like Shen Shao had even found this place. He opened the door to find five young men with messy hair and plaid shirts—the technical team.

 

The leader, Liu Wen, greeted him warmly. He explained they needed two million to register the company and hire more staff. Ye Lin didn’t want to hear the technical jargon; he just told them to draw up a contract for a five million yuan investment.

 

Liu Wen was stunned by the generosity. Just then, a noise came from the door. Shen Shao walked in, looking surprised to see Ye Lin. “You’re here. I was just about to call you.”

 

Ye Lin sneered. “If I didn’t come first, who knows how you’d try to screw me over.”

 

Liu Wen, sensing the tension, played peacemaker. “Both of you are welcome to invest!”

 

Shen Shao laughed. “We’re partners. I just came to check things out.”

 

Ye Lin leaned in and whispered a warning to Shen Shao. “If you want to work with me, fulfill your end of the bargain.”

 

Shen Shao unlocked his phone and handed it over. “Check for yourself.”

 

Ye Lin took the phone and immediately began deleting the recordings. As long as they were co-investors, they were tied together. Shen Shao wouldn’t sabotage him for the next few years.

 

Liu Wen suggested, “Since we’re all here, let’s grab a meal and talk about the future.”

 

Ye Lin initially refused, but eventually gave in. They went to a nearby street stall for home-cooked food, beer, and skewers. The atmosphere reminded Ye Lin of hanging out with his brothers back in middle school, and he ended up drinking more than intended.

 

Liu Wen was a natural charmer, and his words hit all the right notes with Ye Lin. “Liu Wen, you’re an interesting guy,” Ye Lin said, raising a bottle. “We’re brothers now!”

 

“You’ve got spirit,” Liu Wen replied, clinking bottles. “Together, we’re going to do great things.”

 

Shen Shao watched them in silence, sipping his beer. As the night darkened and a full moon rose, the small group sat on plastic stools, singing old motivational songs.

 

Ye Lin leaned toward Shen Shao. “I didn’t expect a young master like you to eat in a place like this.”

 

Shen Shao clinked his glass gently. “Great trees grow from the dirt. They aren’t born looking at the sky.”

 

Ye Lin finally had a decent impression of him. “Fine. You’ve got one good quality: you aren’t a pampered brat!”

 

“Shao is a breath of fresh air,” Liu Wen added. “With your help, Fanxing will definitely thrive.”

 

Ye Lin took another swig. “Fanxing will be an industry leader worth trillions. Don’t worry.”

 

Liu Wen laughed. “Trillions! I like the sound of that!”

 

After more boasting, Ye Lin passed out at the table. Liu Wen looked at Shen Shao. “You know him, right? Take him home.”

 

The Aftermath

 

Shen Shao helped Ye Lin to the car. He had originally thought Ye Lin was just someone to play with, but their relationship had shifted from physical attraction to business partnership. He had grown up hearing stories of his father’s struggles, and he knew supporting Fanxing wouldn’t be easy. But after today, he felt inspired to help the company grow.

 

“Jia… Jiazhi… let’s go back to how things were,” Ye Lin mumbled, his voice soft and his face flushed. “I’m telling you… Wenle can’t compare to you. I regret it so much!”

 

Shen Shao smiled, playing along as “Gu Jiazhi.” “Oh? How can’t he compare?”

 

“In that way! You have no idea how terrifying he is!”

 

Shen Shao listened with interest as Ye Lin vented his frustrations about Liang Wenle’s personality, habits, and “technical issues.” Ye Lin cursed Liang Wenle for being a nightmare and lamented his own suffering.

 

“I drank porridge for ten days!” Ye Lin cried, waving his hands. “And he has the nerve to blame me for ignoring him! If he wasn’t a Liang, he wouldn’t survive a day in the real world. No wonder you look down on him.”

 

“Is he really that bad?”

 

“Yes! I’m telling you…”

 

Shen Shao drove toward his own apartment. He didn’t want anything to do with Liang Wenle’s villa, so he decided to let Ye Lin stay at his place. They were business partners now, after all.

 

Entering the apartment, Ye Lin was still venting, clutching Shen Shao’s clothes. Remembering his hunger level, he leaned in for a kiss. “Jiazhi, I was so miserable while you were gone. I shouldn’t have said those mean things. You’re much better than Liang Wenle!”

 

Shen Shao, not wanting this kind of relationship with a business partner, tried to explain. “I’m not Gu Jiazhi.”

 

But Ye Lin was too drunk to listen. “You, hurry and help me.”

 

Shen Shao felt his self-control slipping. “Help you how?”

 

Ye Lin grabbed his hand. “Help me like that! Stop pretending!”

 

Shen Shao’s eyes darkened as he kicked the door shut. He was no saint, and faced with such an invitation, he found it impossible to stay calm.