I Snatched the Overbearing President’s Canary [Transmigration] - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Offering Oneself

He truly wasn’t paying much attention to Ning Chen at the moment, because He Shenyu’s focus was entirely on the milk tea and the meal.

He had carried it all the way home and hadn’t even tasted it yet…

Shenyu sat down opposite Ning Chen and impatiently took a sip of the milk tea. A blend of peach and grapefruit—not bad, very refreshing.

He picked up his chopsticks, noticed Ning Chen wasn’t moving, and looked up to ask, “What’s wrong? No appetite?”

Ning Chen shook his head and picked up his own chopsticks. “No.”

Shenyu glanced at him again. He figured Ning Chen was just uncomfortable being in someone else’s house, but there was no quick fix for that. He’d get used to it over time…

Anyway, food first! Shenyu was genuinely hungry.

The two finished their meal in silence. By the time He Shenyu looked up, Ning Chen was already sitting there properly, staring blankly into space.

Seeing Shenyu looking at him, he finally snapped back to reality and asked softly, “Are you finished? I’ll clean up.”

Shenyu waved him off. “No need. There’s a dishwasher, it’s fast. I’ll do it. You go shower first!”

Ning Chen stood up quietly and nodded. “Okay.”

After he left, He Shenyu stood up as well. He quickly loaded the plates into the dishwasher, wiped down the table, and washed his hands.

He had to admit, dishwashers were incredibly convenient. Things in rich people’s houses were just better to use…

He had basically fast-forwarded through five years of career struggle. Thinking of this, He Shenyu’s resentment about transmigrating faded a little more.

The faint sound of running water drifted from the room; Ning Chen was already showering.

Shenyu had prepared a separate guest room for Ning Chen. After all, it was only their first day meeting. To be honest, he found it hard to accept sleeping in the same bed with someone he didn’t know well.

If Ning Chen asked, he’d just say he suffered from insomnia…

Shenyu sat on the sofa, turned on the projector, and picked a random movie. He stayed in the living room because he wanted to wait for Ning Chen to come out so they could discuss how they would interact from now on.

He couldn’t have Ning Chen staying tense forever, thanking him for every little thing; he felt like he couldn’t handle that level of politeness.

As for why he let Ning Chen shower first…

It was purely because he saw how tired the boy looked and wanted him to rest early.

Shenyu leaned back on the sofa with his phone, half-watching the movie. He didn’t recognize any of the films here. This random choice didn’t seem very good…

Clack—

While He Shenyu was spacing out, the bedroom door suddenly opened.

Ning Chen walked out slowly, draped in a white bathrobe. His slightly long hair swayed elegantly, strands brushing against his eyes.

This made it hard for He Shenyu to see his specific expression. He only noted that Ning Chen must have washed and blow-dried his hair; he had waited long enough to nearly fall asleep.

Ning Chen walked over and stood before the sofa. Because He Shenyu was still sitting, Ning Chen’s height felt quite oppressive.

Shenyu momentarily forgot what he wanted to say. He could only stare at Ning Chen’s movements until their eyes met. They stared at each other for a long time; neither spoke.

In the background, a soft piano piece began to play. Whatever the movie plot was, the music was quite nice.

Shenyu dazed for a moment.

Finally, Ning Chen spoke first: “Shenyu, I’m done.”

His voice was slightly hoarse. The faint heat from the bathroom had completely dissipated, leaving his face looking luminously pale under the lights.

Even more like an angel…

The thought popped into He Shenyu’s head out of nowhere. The “paper protagonist” was truly something else; once he was cleaned up, his beauty was heart-stopping.

He swallowed hard and offered a dazed, “Mm.”

Wait, what was he going to say to Ning Chen? Why did his mind go completely blank?

Shenyu squinted, trying to regain his train of thought, but then he noticed Ning Chen’s movements change.

Ning Chen took two steps back and lowered his head. He pulled hard on the belt at his waist. Before He Shenyu could react, the only garment on Ning Chen’s body—the bathrobe—slipped off his shoulders.

The soft white fabric slid down the curves of his body until it finally piled at his feet, motionless.

Caught off guard, He Shenyu saw everything.

His brain couldn’t process the situation. He only felt that the person before him looked like a sacred statue under the lights. Every muscle was perfectly defined; he would have made a perfect case study for an anatomy class.

In the next instant, he saw the “statue” blink. It seemed like he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.

Shenyu finally snapped back to reality. He jumped up from the sofa, his heart racing uncontrollably and his ears burning. He realized Ning Chen must have misunderstood something.

But… How could he explain this?

Should he say, “I didn’t sponsor you because I was lusting after your body”? That sounded even weirder…

Shenyu lowered his head, crouched down, and picked the bathrobe up from the floor. He kept his head tilted up, not daring to look closely, and guided the fabric back onto Ning Chen’s shoulders by feel.

Meeting Ning Chen’s dark eyes at such close range, He Shenyu swallowed again. At this distance, the height difference was palpable.

But Ning Chen was acting strange. Perhaps he had completely “broken the jar” (given up on his dignity) just now, because he stared back without blinking, refusing to look away.

Shenyu whispered, “You don’t have to do this, Ning Chen.”

He tied the bathrobe’s belt and stepped back to a safe distance.

Ning Chen continued to watch him, his voice raspy. “Are you… not satisfied?”

“Huh?” Shenyu froze for a second before catching Ning Chen’s logic. He said quickly, “No, it’s not like that, Ning Chen. I…”

How was he supposed to say it?

I don’t actually want to sponsor you? I sponsored you, but not for your body?

The more he thought about it, the weirder it got…

After agonizing for a while, He Shenyu finally squeezed out: “Actually… actually, this is my first time sponsoring someone, you understand? I’ve never even been in a relationship. Our… progress… doesn’t need to be this fast. We can take it slow…”

Ning Chen gave him a deep look and finally nodded. He tucked the jade Buddha necklace, which was hanging outside the robe, back into his collar. “I understand, Shenyu.”

Shenyu’s gaze followed the red string on the boy’s neck. His mind involuntarily flashed back to the previous scene—the red string and green jade against that bare chest had been strikingly vivid.

Stop! Shenyu felt his face burning fiercely. He turned and fled toward his room. “I’m going to shower too. You go get some rest!”

He had only taken two steps when Ning Chen called out again: “Shenyu, do I not need to sleep with you?”

Shenyu turned back. “No, not for now. I’m a light sleeper.”

Ning Chen went back to his room obediently, and He Shenyu breathed a sigh of relief.

That had been a huge shock. He was a Southerner (from a region where people aren’t as accustomed to public bathing), and this was the first time in his life he’d seen another adult man’s body besides his own. It felt… indescribable.

Of course, the cadavers at the hospital didn’t count…

Shenyu closed his door and took a few moments to calm his breathing before he could fully banish the images from his mind.

It wasn’t until he woke up the next morning that he realized his “squeezed out” answer was also quite unreliable.

Hadn’t he just turned a non-romantic situation into something ambiguous? It would have been better to just say “I’m not interested in your body”…

Sigh.

Shenyu scratched his head and sat up. When he opened his door, he found Ning Chen standing right there.

“What are you doing standing here?” Shenyu was startled again.

Ning Chen’s expression didn’t change. “The auntie finished making breakfast. I came to see if you were up.”

Shenyu narrowed his eyes at Ning Chen. Although the boy still had that submissive tone, for some reason, he felt like Ning Chen wasn’t as afraid of him anymore…

Was it because of what he said last night? Well, since he said they would “take it slow,” if he were Ning Chen, he would probably feel relieved to have a benefactor like that…

It was fine; it indirectly achieved his goal. He didn’t want Ning Chen to be constantly on edge around him.

What He Shenyu didn’t know was that the expression of the person following him had grown even colder.

Ning Chen’s worry had reached a new height.

Ever since he decided to sell himself, he had researched the worst possible outcomes. In a sponsorship, you want money and I want your body—a fair trade. You endure until the contract ends and then part ways.

The scariest type of benefactor was the one who didn’t follow the rules—the one who wanted to toy not just with the canary’s body, but with its heart.

When Manager Cheng was training him, he shared many cases. There were plenty of young boys and girls who couldn’t move on, who didn’t even want the money anymore and foolishly thought they could stay with the benefactor—only to be cruelly discarded.

Manager Cheng’s mocking voice rang in Ning Chen’s ears: “The ones to fear most are the little fools who think some rich heir is ‘pure-hearted.’ Pure-hearted, my ass. They’re just acting to have some fun because they’re bored. I’m telling you this now as a warning: make your quick money and get out. Don’t throw your whole life away…”

“Ning Chen…”

“What is it?”

Shenyu looked at him and asked, “Do you want me to drive you to school?”

Ning Chen shook his head quickly. “No need. I saw it when I came yesterday; there’s a subway station downstairs. I can go by myself.”

“Alright.” Shenyu didn’t push. He could take him or not; his shift was very flexible anyway. He had only asked because he was afraid Ning Chen would mind. After all, Ning Chen’s expression had been very poor when his classmates saw him getting into the car yesterday.

“Then… I’ll head to school now,” Ning Chen said.

Shenyu nodded. He had woken up too late; Ning Chen had eaten before coming to call him. He probably only came to the bedroom because he was worried the food would get cold.

Ning Chen went to his room and changed. He was wearing the clothes He Shenyu had bought on his way home from work—a white hoodie and light-colored jeans. He looked like a perfectly innocent college student.

It was a color Ning Chen rarely wore. Shenyu had only realized after buying them that Ning Chen seemed to prefer black. Whatever, I’ll take him to buy his own next time.

“I’m leaving, Shenyu,” Ning Chen said.

Shenyu nodded. Seeing him changing his shoes, he suddenly remembered something. “Ning Chen, move in here. Pack your things after school today; I’ll come pick you up.”

Ning Chen’s hand paused for a split second while holding his shoe, then quickly resumed. “Okay.”