Gold-Devouring Bottom: A Guide to Pampering - Chapter 12

Shen Xinghuai: “…” There is no explaining this away.

He felt as if the phone in his hand had turned into a dagger pressed firmly against his throat.

Finally, a voice came from the other end—so cold it could freeze a person solid: “Address.”

Startled back to reality by the chill, Shen Xinghuai explained hurriedly, “Don’t misunderstand! I’m at Tian Yuanyuan’s house. That was just him talking—he’s drunk.”

“Address.”

Shen Xinghuai looked out the window, feeling a bit defeated. “I don’t know.” Tian Yuanyuan’s driver had been the one behind the wheel; Shen Xinghuai didn’t recognize the route at all, let alone the specific location of the house.

A suppressed, ragged breath of anger came through the line. “Send your location.”

“I really am at Tian Yuanyuan’s. How about I hang up and video call you?”

The man had lost all patience. “I said, send the location. Now!”

Coincidentally, the housekeeper walked in with a glass of water and handed it to Shen Xinghuai. Tian Yuanyuan sat up, leaning his head on Shen Xinghuai’s shoulder and acting spoiled: “Huai-huai baby, feed me!”

Since he was leaning so close, the voice was crystal clear over the phone. At the thought of how terrifying Ye Xiuchen could be when he lost it, Shen Xinghuai shuddered. “I’m sending the location now.”

“Wait there!”

The call cut off. Shen Xinghuai pushed the troublemaker leaning on his shoulder. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

Tian Yuanyuan, blissfully unaware, grinned foolishly. “Huai-huai baby, you’re so pretty. No wonder even that block of ice Ye Xiuchen was mesmerized by you. He’s so lucky, getting to hold someone so soft and warm while he sleeps every night.” He wrapped his arms back around Shen Xinghuai’s waist. “Hahaha! But tonight you’re sleeping with me! Let Ye Xiuchen sleep in a cold bed by himself!”

Shen Xinghuai shoved the glass toward his mouth. “Just drink your water!”

If anyone tried to tell Shen Xinghuai that spaceships didn’t exist in this world, he wouldn’t believe them. In barely ten minutes, the doorbell downstairs rang.

Shen Xinghuai wanted to head down, but Tian Yuanyuan refused to let go. A few minutes later, the temperature at the bedroom door plummeted as Ye Xiuchen appeared with a face like thunder.

Shen Xinghuai looked at him piteously and poked the “parasite” attached to his body. Tian Yuanyuan had quieted down by now, but he still wouldn’t release his grip.

Ye Xiuchen’s gaze fell on the hands around Shen Xinghuai’s waist, the coldness in his eyes seemingly turning physical. He strode over in two steps, grabbed Shen Xinghuai’s arm, and yanked him off the bed.

Tian Yuanyuan, caught off guard, lost his hold and glared at Ye Xiuchen with dissatisfaction. “Be gentle! Be gentle! Huai-huai is so soft—if you’re this rough, you’ll break him!”

Shen Xinghuai winced, sucking in a breath of cold air. He desperately wanted to cover the drunkard’s mouth. What on earth are you saying?

Ye Xiuchen’s icy gaze landed on Shen Xinghuai as he spoke in a sinister tone: “Come back with me.”

Hearing that someone was there to snatch his “prize,” Tian Yuanyuan immediately got agitated. “No! He’s staying here to sleep with me tonight!”

Ye Xiuchen didn’t say a word; he simply stared at Tian Yuanyuan with a ghostly, chilling intensity.

Initially, Tian Yuanyuan held his gaze with a stiff neck, but before three seconds had passed, his momentum visibly deflated. Finally, he lowered his head submissively. “Fine, go back then.”

Ye Xiuchen turned and walked out, pulling Shen Xinghuai by the hand. Tian Yuanyuan howled from behind them, “Be gentle! Don’t break him!”

Shen Xinghuai’s cheek twitched. If this drunkard dared to utter another word, he’d sew his mouth shut!

Ye Xiuchen’s car was parked right outside. Shen Xinghuai reached for the back door, only to find the man staring at him.

“What? Aren’t we getting in?”

Ye Xiuchen walked around to the driver’s side and pulled the door open. “Get in the front!”

Only then did Shen Xinghuai realize there was no driver today; Ye Xiuchen had driven here himself.

Wait! But he shouldn’t be driving!

Shen Xinghuai remembered that the man suffered from severe bipolar/dysphoric mania. Driving was dangerous, and Ye Xiuchen likely knew it himself, which was why he always traveled with a driver.

Shen Xinghuai hurried over and pressed down on his hand. “Brother, let me do it. I haven’t been drinking.”

Ye Xiuchen looked at him for several seconds before finally releasing the door handle and walking to the passenger side.

Once they were in and buckled up, Shen Xinghuai said, “Why didn’t you bring a driver today? It’s dangerous for you to drive yourself.”

Ye Xiuchen’s hand paused on the seatbelt. He turned to stare at him. “What do you know?”

Shen Xinghuai felt a prickle of unease under that gaze. He guessed that Ye Xiuchen might not want anyone to know about his condition. It made sense—people already called him a lunatic; if they found out he actually had a mental illness, the rumors would only get nastier. He’d better pretend to be ignorant. “What do I know? I just meant it’s dangerous to drive in the middle of the night.”

After a long silence, Ye Xiuchen retracted his frigid gaze and scoffed. “Do drivers not need rest? Do they also run around the city all night like you, refusing to go home?”

Shen Xinghuai was left speechless. He smacked his lips and silently started the car. “What about you? Are you coming home tonight?”

Ye Xiuchen stared straight ahead, taking a while to answer: “Yes.”

From the east of the city to the north, it was nearly 2:00 AM by the time they returned to Yujun Garden.

The servants were all asleep, save for Uncle Ming, who was waiting in the front hall with a night light. “Young Master, Mr. Shen, you’re back.”

Uncle Ming was in his fifties—not exactly a young man. Seeing him stay up waiting, Shen Xinghuai felt a pang of guilt. “Uncle Ming, you don’t have to wait up for me next time.”

Uncle Ming waved it off. “It’s fine, it’s not that late. Are you going up to rest, or would you like something to drink?”

Shen Xinghuai glanced at Ye Xiuchen. “I’m going to my room. Nothing for me.”

Ye Xiuchen signaled to Uncle Ming: “Go rest.”

The two of them entered the elevator. Shen Xinghuai hovered awkwardly in the corner, stealing glances at Ye Xiuchen. Whether it was his imagination or not, he felt that ever since that night at the old estate, Ye Xiuchen had become even colder. He was like an ice sculpture covered in tiny, sharp needles, making people even more afraid to approach.

His brow furrowed as a thought occurred to him. Could it be that Old Master Ye was dissatisfied with me?

The more he thought about it, the more certain he became. It had to be it. Why else would the old man disappear right after dinner? He’d even been refused when he wanted to say thank you. Plus, Ye Xiuchen’s reaction was obvious—vanishing for days without so much as a text until tonight.

Thinking that his “Life-Saving Gold Plaque” might have slipped through his fingers, Shen Xinghuai’s mood plummeted.

He walked out of the elevator with his head down, trailing listlessly behind Ye Xiuchen. He was so distracted he didn’t notice the man suddenly stop and walked right into his back.

Ye Xiuchen turned and glared at him. “Watch where you’re going.”

Shen Xinghuai murmured an apology with downcast eyes, falling silent.

Ye Xiuchen turned into his bedroom. Surprisingly, Shen Xinghuai followed him. Luckily, Ye Xiuchen hadn’t closed the door yet; he looked back just in time, otherwise the door would have slammed right into Shen Xinghuai’s face. “What is wrong with you?”

“I want to talk to you.” Shen Xinghuai tried to step inside, but Ye Xiuchen blocked him. “Do you know what time it is?”

Shen Xinghuai held up his thumb and forefinger to show a tiny gap. “Just a little bit. I won’t take up much of your time.”

Slam! The door nearly hit his nose anyway.

Shen Xinghuai stared at the door for a while before heading back to his own room with a long face. With so much on his mind, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He eventually opened his game, and before he knew it, the sun was up.

In the morning, Uncle Ming was startled to see him in the third-floor dining area. In all the days Shen Xinghuai had lived here, he had never once woken up before 11:00 AM.

“Mr. Shen, why are you up so early? Are you feeling unwell? You look a bit pale.”

Shen Xinghuai had just asked the kitchen staff for a glass of warm milk. He took a small sip and spoke listlessly, “I had insomnia last night.”

“So, you didn’t sleep all night?”

Shen Xinghuai nodded, holding his milk as he prepared to head back to his room to catch up on sleep. “Yeah. I’m going back to my room. No need to call me for lunch.”

Uncle Ming looked worried. “Should I call Dr. Lin and have him stop by?”

Shen Xinghuai felt a bit lightheaded; even his gesture of dismissal was slow. “No need. It’s just insomnia, no need for a doctor.”

Not long after Shen Xinghuai went upstairs, Ye Xiuchen arrived at the third-floor dining area. “Breakfast. I have to head out in a bit.”

After giving instructions to the kitchen, Uncle Ming returned to Ye Xiuchen’s side, glancing toward the upper floors with concern. “Young Master, Mr. Shen was just downstairs. He doesn’t seem to be feeling well.”

Ye Xiuchen fell silent for a moment, his brow furrowing. “What’s wrong with him?”

“Mr. Shen didn’t sleep at all last night. He just came down for a glass of milk and went back up. He mentioned he has no appetite and asked not to be disturbed for meals.”

Ye Xiuchen’s cold eyes flickered, and he let out a breath. “Hold off on breakfast for now, and tell the driver not to wait. Call Lin Xiao—tell him to head straight to Shen Xinghuai’s bedroom on the fifth floor when he arrives.” With that, he turned and headed upstairs with long, brisk strides.

Shen Xinghuai had finished his milk and was huddled under the covers, finally catching up on sleep.

He had just managed to drift off when the door was pushed open. Ye Xiuchen strode into the room and reached the bedside before Shen Xinghuai even opened his eyes. He stared down at him coldly. “Uncle Ming says you’re sick?”

Shen Xinghuai looked up, the dark circles under his eyes particularly prominent. Having been startled awake, his gaze was still hazy and his eyes were rimmed with a faint, watery redness. He looked haggard and helpless. When he spoke, his voice carried a raspy quality, sounding like a soft, muddled murmur. “No. I’m not sick.”

The hoarseness made him uncomfortable, and he cleared his throat.

Ye Xiuchen looked down at him, his gaze deep and dark. Seeing Shen Xinghua’s sickly state made him feel inexplicably irritable. “If you’re sick, see a doctor. Don’t act tough.”

Shen Xinghuai felt aggrieved. “It’s not an illness. It’s just, I was sad after you shut me out last night, so I couldn’t sleep.”

“Sad?” Ye Xiuchen’s tone turned playful, though with a sharp edge. “Are you sad because I rejected you, or were you sad because you saw me last night?”

Shen Xinghuai blinked, confused. This man is being nonsensical. “Why would seeing you make me sad? I’m sad because you’re ignoring me.” The more he spoke, the more wronged he felt. “You haven’t talked to me since we saw Grandfather.”

“I ignored you, so you went to find Ye Xiujun? You two seemed to have a very pleasant chat. You even took his card—did you really think I wouldn’t find out?” Ye Xiuchen’s breathing was ragged; he was clearly fuming.

But Shen Xinghuai was angry, too. “I did take his card, but that was just me fleecing him! It would be a waste not to take it. Besides, I never intended to keep it from you—you just didn’t give me a chance to speak. You had a long face that night and then vanished for days.”

“So, you were so ‘sad’ that you stayed out from dawn till dusk every day, partying like a madman? If I hadn’t gone to find you yesterday, you wouldn’t have even come home!”