After the Young Master’s Death, He was Kissed by His Mortal Enemy! - Chapter 44

“That’s all for today’s meeting. Good work, everyone.”

With a smile on his face, Cheng Yi stood up and dismissed the meeting with a rare gentleness that left his employees scrambling to flee the conference room like startled deer.

Something was off. Very off.

Usually, their President Cheng would give a thorough summary and throw in a few well-placed jabs to keep everyone on their toes.

But today? He ended the meeting himself. Voluntarily. With a smile.

It was utterly baffling.

Then again, if it were Boss Shen from next door doing this, it might feel more… normal.

“Achoo!” Shen Ran, basking in the sunlight at the gallery and dozing off, suddenly sneezed. “…Huh? Who’s cursing me? There’s no way I caught a cold — I’ve been sunbathing!”

—

Back in the office, Cheng Yi closed his notebook with practiced ease and gave out his final instructions:

“Alright, if there’s nothing else, get back to work. It’s year-end — push through a couple more days, and your bonuses won’t disappoint.”

The moment he said bonus, the energy in the room skyrocketed. Everyone lit up like New Year’s fireworks.

Watching this sudden burst of enthusiasm, Cheng Yi lifted an eyebrow slightly and quietly returned to his office.

Once the door clicked shut behind him, the smile he had been suppressing finally spilled over completely.

To say he was beaming would be an understatement.

Shen Ran has feelings for me, right? Probably. Almost definitely.

At this rate, forget dating — marriage wasn’t far off, was it?

Cheng Yi’s heart was soaring. But just as the excitement reached its peak, doubt crept in.

…If he were just “President Cheng,” he would’ve confessed already — ripped off the emotional bandaid and gone for it.

But he wasn’t. He also had another identity. One he kept in the dark.

What if he misunderstood Shen Ran? What if Shen Ran didn’t like him back, and he was just imagining things?

Or worse… what if Shen Ran despised him for being an illegitimate child?

Not everyone could accept that kind of background.

Ordinary people might hesitate — and noble families like Shen Ran’s, which valued bloodlines deeply, would hesitate even more.

The joy that had filled Cheng Yi just moments ago now gave way to unease. He stopped pacing and returned to the window.

Why do feelings always make people so unsure?

Expressing love face-to-face — it’s one of the hardest things in the world.

After a moment of contemplation, Cheng Yi decided to call Wei Hailan for advice.

True, as far as he remembered, Wei Hailan had never been in a relationship — but Cheng Yi didn’t really have anyone else to talk to about emotional stuff.

Whether Hailan was a love guru or a clueless fool, he was the only option.

The call connected quickly.

“Hello? Old Cheng? What’s gotten into you, calling me at this hour? Don’t tell me something’s happened to Shen Ran again?”

“No.” Cheng Yi denied calmly. “Shen Ran’s fine. I’m the one with the problem.”

“You? What could possibly happen to you?” Wei Hailan immediately sounded suspicious. “If you’re calling me out of the blue, you’re definitely up to something! Spit it out — what kind of scheme are you planning, Cheng Yi?”

“No schemes today. I just want to ask you for some emotional advice.”

“…Emotional advice?”

Wei Hailan sounded startled — and then unreasonably pleased. His voice rose with self-importance, even his laughter becoming smug.

“You mean to say, you think I’m some kind of love expert, able to untangle your romantic woes? Aha, oh-ho-ho-ho! You flatter me, Brother Cheng. I mean, I’m not that qualified, but since you asked — lay it on me! Master Wei is here to help!”

“Alright, then I’m saying it.” Cheng Yi cleared his throat. “So… I think Shen Ran might like me.”

“…Huh?” Wei Hailan sounded like he’d been struck by lightning. “Wait, I thought you two were already dating! You mean… you’re not?!”

“Do we really look like we’re together?” Cheng Yi asked sincerely.

“Uh, duh? The last time you both came to see me — the vibe, the energy — please. Anyone who didn’t know would’ve thought you two were married already.”

Cheng Yi was quite pleased with that answer, so he continued:

“Now, here are the reasons why I think Shen Ran likes me.”

“Mhm, go on. I’m listening.”

“First — he bought me breakfast this morning. Voluntarily. I think that means he likes me.”

“…He buys you breakfast and that’s enough to make you think he’s in love with you?” Wei Hailan drawled. “You hopeless romantic, you.”

“Second — he dumped that guy Chen Xu on his own initiative.”

“Dumping Chen Xu… still doesn’t prove Shen Ran likes you,” Wei Hailan said. “Maybe he just saw through that scumbag’s true colors?”

“Third,” Cheng Yi pressed on, “while he was breaking things off with Chen Xu, Shen Ran messaged me — and invited me to lunch.”

“Uh… okay? Maybe he was just hungry?”

Cheng Yi dropped the real bombshell: “Final point — he’s currently staying at my place. To be precise… in my bed.”

There was a beat of stunned silence on Wei Hailan’s end — and then a loud crashing noise, like something had just shattered.

“…You’re telling me this now?!” Wei Hailan shouted. “That last point is more important than all the others combined, times a hundred! After all that, how could Shen Ran not like you?!”

“But I sleep on the floor,” Cheng Yi added calmly.

“…You coward.”

Wei Hailan’s tone immediately turned frosty. “Okay, now I’m not so sure.”

“But last night,” Cheng Yi said, “I kissed Shen Ran. Pinned him down and kissed him. And he didn’t push me away.”

“…Cheng. Yi.” Wei Hailan’s voice trembled. “Can you, for once, say all the important stuff in one go?! This emotional rollercoaster is going to give me a heart attack!”

Inside a lab several kilometers away, Wei Hailan clutched his chest dramatically, nearly rolling his eyes into oblivion.

“He let you pin him down and kiss him, and you’re still doubting if he likes you?! If he doesn’t, then ghosts must be real!”

Wei Hailan didn’t know it, but Shen Ran did in fact like Cheng Yi — and well… ghosts were also quite real.

“I think so too,” Cheng Yi admitted. “I think he does like me. But…”

He trailed off, hesitant.

Wei Hailan immediately understood.

“You’re afraid Shen Ran will find out about your background — that you’re an illegitimate child — and hate you for it. That he might distance himself.”

“…Yeah.”

“Come on, you don’t give Shen Ran enough credit. He’s not that shallow, is he? Don’t assume the worst — trust him! You kissed him already, right? Go for it! Confess!”

“It’s not that I don’t trust him,” Cheng Yi said, standing by the window, overlooking the tea house where Shen Ran had sat earlier. His voice was quiet, firm.

“I don’t trust myself.”

There was a pause on the other end.

Wei Hailan sighed, his tone softer. “You… sigh. I can’t blame Shen Ran, and I can’t blame you either. If you’re not ready to confess, then don’t force it. But from everything you’ve said, Shen Ran really does like you.”

Hearing even Wei Hailan say it made Cheng Yi feel more at ease. A subtle peace settled in his heart.

That was, after all, why he’d made the call in the first place — just to hear those exact words.

Since the call was already going, Cheng Yi figured he might as well make small talk.

“So, how have you been lately?”

“…Hehe. Me?” Wei Hailan suddenly sounded bashful — which was rare. A second later, he dropped a bombshell of his own.

“I think I’m ready to fall in love. Old Cheng, I think I’ve fallen for someone — love at first sight.”

Support