BF Chapter 49

After work, Xu Shen went straight to Cai Lihao’s bar. He had been under constant surveillance by Xu Ziren’s people before and hadn’t visited in a while.

 

Seeing that he was alone, Cai Lihao was a little surprised: “Now that’s strange. You didn’t bring that one along today?”

 

Xu Shen sat down and leaned back against the sofa, staring blankly for a while before saying, “He still has some work he hasn’t finished, so he’s working overtime at the company.”

 

Cai Lihao handed him a glass of wine: “Why are you so listless? Is Young Master Shen in a bad mood?”

 

Xu Shen took the wine, not particularly enthusiastic: “No.”

 

Cai Lihao asked him, “Speaking of which, what exactly happened? About that Silicon business, not only your Second Young Master Xu, even I don’t believe Nic didn’t hear a single thing beforehand. He never mentioned it to you?”

 

“No.” Xu Shen shook his head slightly. “If he says he didn’t know, then I’ll take it that he didn’t know.”

 

Cai Lihao tapped his chin: “Looks like his ambitions really aren’t small. Makes sense, though. Before, when he followed your dad, he was the chairman’s assistant, and now that he’s following you, he’s still an assistant. No matter how capable he is, he isn’t a member of the Xu Family. At the end of the day, he’s still just working for Zhaoqi.”

 

Xu Shen was displeased to hear this: “Don’t try to drive a wedge between us.”

 

“Why would I drive a wedge between the two of you?” Cai Lihao said in amusement. “You know better than I do what’s really going on. Just don’t let love cloud your judgement.”

 

Xu Shen couldn’t be bothered with him: “Shut up.”

 

Cai Lihao mimed zipping his mouth shut and obediently stopped talking.

 

Xu Shen continued drinking and chatting idly with him on and off, but was absent-minded the whole time.

 

Around ten o’clock, Zhan Shili called and asked where he was. Xu Shen lounged against the sofa and lazily answered: “Drinking.”

 

Hearing the loud music in the background, Zhan Shili asked, “At your godbrother’s place? I’ll come pick you up.”

 

Xu Shen asked, “Have you finished work? Do you know what time it is…”

 

Zhan Shili replied, “Do you know what time it is, and you’re still out drinking?”

 

Xu Shen didn’t like his tone: “I don’t need you to come pick me up.”

 

Zhan Shili simply said, “Twenty minutes. I’ll be there soon.”

 

After the call ended, Xu Shen set his phone aside. Cai Lihao asked him, “Is Nic coming over?”

 

“Yeah.” Xu Shen swirled the wine in his glass, his voice slightly unclear: “He insists on coming, so just let him be.”

 

Cai Lihao couldn’t take it anymore: “You two really are weird. You don’t look like you’re dating, but I’ve also never seen a boss and assistant act like you guys either.”

 

Xu Shen laughed and said to Cai Lihao, “Don’t you think he looks more like he’s blinded by love? He isn’t even as decisive as he used to be. He does what he wants, then turns around and takes the initiative to remind me to be careful of him. He really is something.”

 

Cai Lihao laughed: “So you’re just watching him make a fool of himself?”

 

“It’s fun.” Xu Shen tipped the bottle back and drank the last mouthful from it directly. He then brushed a finger over his lips, moist from the liquor, gaze unfocused as he said softly, “Watching other people want him but never get him, watching him slowly fall hopelessly in love with me, all hesitant and conflicted…”

 

Zhan Shili arrived punctually, before ten twenty. The moment he entered the private room, he saw Xu Shen lounging lazily against the sofa with his head turned, flirting and joking with someone beside him.

 

An unlit cigarette rested between his lips, while a seductive, attractive woman was practically glued to him, flicking a lighter to light it for him.

 

Zhan Shili stepped forward, his gaze falling over her like a blade of ice. The woman looked up, caught sight of him, froze for a moment, then awkwardly backed away.

 

Xu Shen slowly turned his head. Zhan Shili plucked the cigarette straight from his mouth and tossed it into the ashtray on the coffee table beside them.

 

Cai Lihao, who also had a woman in his arms while drinking and singing karaoke, saw this and greeted him with a laugh: “You finished working overtime this late and still came to pick this kid up? Is that part of your job as his assistant too?”

 

Zhan Shili ignored Cai Lihao and only looked at Xu Shen: “Go back with me.”

 

Xu Shen raised his eyes and stared at him for a while before asking, “Go back where?”

 

“My place,” Zhan Shili said. “Or Langting.”

 

Xu Shen eventually smiled, patted the space beside him, and beckoned: “I drank too much and can’t walk. Nic, how about you sit with me a little longer?”

 

Zhan Shili remained standing and Xu Shen held out a hand to him and said once more, “Sit, only a while.”

 

After a brief stalemate, Zhan Shili finally reached out and took his hand, allowing Xu Shen to pull him down to sit.

 

Xu Shen shifted his head from the back of the sofa onto Zhan Shili’s shoulder, curling into his arms like a cat before closing his eyes.

 

“How much did you drink this time?” Zhan Shili asked, lowering his head, chin grazing Xu Shen’s soft hair as his heart softened too.

 

“Not that much,” Xu Shen murmured, half-asleep. “Half a bottle of liquor, two bottles of beer… something like that.”

 

Zhan Shili frowned: “You’re not allowed to drink like this next time.”

 

Xu Shen chuckled softly, eyes still closed: “You won’t let me smoke, and now you won’t let me drink either. You have so many rules. But no one’s ever controlled me like this before. It’s quite novel.”

 

Zhan Shili said nothing more. He had someone pour a glass of ice water and fed Xu Shen half of it, sitting there quietly with him for a while.

 

At around 11 o’clock, Zhan Shili glanced at his watch and asked Xu Shen, who was still nestled in his arms: “Feeling better? Can you walk?”

 

Xu Shen murmured, “If I can’t, can’t you carry me?”

 

It wasn’t as though Zhan Shili had never carried him before, but in public, he’d rather not.

 

Xu Shen swayed as he stood up. Zhan Shili rose with him and steadied him: “Can you really walk?”

 

Xu Shen nodded and waved to Cai Lihao: “I’m leaving.”

 

Zhan Shili led him out. Outside the private room, the place was packed with people, the deafening music almost overwhelming.

 

As they crossed the dance floor, Zhan Shili held Xu Shen’s hand, turning away several men and women who came over to flirt with them, until a drunken girl bumped into him.

 

Zhan Shili frowned. The girl turned around, and it turned out to be Xu Keyi. Once she blearily made out who she had bumped into, she grinned and leaned toward him: “Brother Nic, it’s you? What a coincidence!”

 

Although Xu Ziren’s daughter wasn’t quite as outrageous as Xu Tianlang, she wasn’t much better; just another unruly rich young miss.

 

Zhan Shili had no intention of paying her any attention: “Excuse me.”

 

Xu Keyi refused to move aside. Ignoring Xu Shen beside him—or perhaps simply failing to recognize him—she hooked both arms around Zhan Shili’s neck: “Brother Nic, are you here to dance and drink too?”

 

Zhan Shili had no time to deal with her and forcefully pulled her hands down. Xu Keyi seemed completely unaware of how annoying she was and clung to him again: “Brother Nic, have a drink with me. I’ll tell you a secret about our family, okay?”

 

Zhan Shili’s hand gripping her wrist stopped mid-push.

 

Although Xu Shen was drunk and could not see too well either, he was still in much better shape than Xu Keyi; at least his mind was still clear. He jerked his chin toward the side and said, “There’s a table over there.”

 

Zhan Shili pulled her over, ordered some alcohol, and let Xu Keyi drink.

 

“What do you want to tell me?”

 

Xu Keyi grumbled and complained incoherently, from Xu Shiji to Xu Ziren and Lin Meina.

 

Especially her mother, Lin Meina, who had always favored sons over daughters and only had eyes for Xu Tianlang. Even after Xu Tianlang was caught doing ketamine last time and ended up with a criminal record, Lin Meina still spoiled and indulged him, letting the brat run wild outside, while with Xu Keyi, the slightest displeasure would earn her either a beating or a scolding.

 

“What’s so great about any of it? I don’t care at all.” Xu Keyi gulped down a mouthful of alcohol through gritted teeth: “She thinks giving birth to a son means she can tie my dad’s heart down. Stupid woman. Ever since I was little, I’ve lost count of how many different women I’ve seen around my dad…”

 

Zhan Shili had no interest in Xu Ziren’s affairs. He patiently listened to a few more sentences, but seeing that Xu Keyi kept repeating the same things, he was about to leave.

 

Xu Shen poured Xu Keyi another glass: “So?”

 

Xu Keyi raised her eyes and looked at him blearily, probably still not recognizing who he was. She held up one finger and waved it about drunkenly, hiccupping as she said: “So, so she thought once Grandpa’s young wife was driven away, she’d be the most impressive woman in the Xu Family. As if! She can’t even compare to Eldest Aunt. I saw it with my own eyes—my dad slept with Eldest Aunt, hehehe…”

 

Xu Shen’s expression shifted; the “Eldest Aunt” Xu Keyi was referring to was Xu Zijie’s wife, Huang Minli.

 

“When did this happen?”

 

“Oh, it’s not just once,” Xu Keyi’s voice slurred. “I saw it when I was really little, lots of times, lots and lots of times. When I was little, I liked playing hide-and-seek, hiding in places around the house where no one could find me. I saw them having an affair and sleeping together…”

 

Xu Shen signalled to Zhan Shili with his eyes. They had asked what they needed to ask; they could leave now.

 

But Xu Keyi refused to let it go. She grabbed Zhan Shili’s arm and kept trying to paste herself against him: “Brother Nic, don’t go. Stay and drink and dance with me. I’m so bored by myself…”

 

Zhan Shili pulled his arm free, having no interest in wasting any more time on her. Leaving behind a curt “Take your time drinking by yourself,” he wrapped an arm around Xu Shen and left.

 

Once they got into the car, he fastened Xu Shen’s seat belt for him as usual. Looking up, he saw Xu Shen watching him with a playful look in his drunken eyes. He asked, “What are you looking at?”

 

Xu Shen raised a finger and poked at his lips: “Nic, does this niece of mine have a thing for you too?”

 

Zhan Shili replied coldly, “That has nothing to do with me.”

 

“Who knows?” Xu Shen’s eyes were brimming with amusement: “You’re so charming that even if you don’t do anything, a casual word or look from you is enough to make people start imagining all sorts of things.”

 

Zhan Shili asked him, “You too?”

 

Xu Shen’s finger was still resting beside his lips, the tip gently caressing them, though he didn’t answer.

 

“Don’t talk nonsense when you’re drunk.” After saying that, Zhan Shili sat back, fastened his own seat belt, and started the car.

 

Xu Shen’s voice sounded a little wronged: “Fine, I won’t say anything then. Well, what right do I have to ask about these things anyways?”

 

Zhan Shili said, “If you insist on putting it that way, then don’t ask.”

 

Xu Shen was tickled into laughing by him again: “Nic, you really have no sense of romance at all.”

 

Zhan Shili focused on driving and had no intention of arguing with a drunkard.

 

Feeling bored, Xu Shen changed the subject: “What Xu Keyi said was pretty interesting. I was already planning to find an opportunity to talk to my eldest sister-in-law, and now this works out perfectly, giving me one more thing to talk about.”

 

“The Eldest Young Mistress isn’t as weak as she looks,” Zhan Shili said. “Take it easy.”

 

Xu Shen wagged a finger: “Just watch.”

 

Zhan Shili said nothing more and handed him a piece of candy.

 

As Xu Shen took it, he casually pinched Zhan Shili’s fingertip, then smiled as he unwrapped the candy and put it into his mouth.

 

The car stopped at a red light when Zhan Shili’s phone rang at an inconvenient moment. He glanced at the caller ID, saw Xu Zikang’s name, but had no intention of answering.

 

Xu Shen raised his chin slightly: “Answer it.”

 

Zhan Shili asked: “Why should I?”

 

Xu Shen said, “Let him know I’m with you.”

 

Zhan Shili indulged him and answered.

 

He had only said a couple of sentences when Xu Shen snatched the phone from him and said, “Sorry Third Brother, I asked him out first tonight.” Then he hung up, turned the phone off, and tossed it back onto the armrest compartment.

 

Zhan Shili watched his actions and was certain that he was truly drunk to be acting so childishly: “Seren, when you seduced me back then, was it actually because you wanted revenge on him?”

 

Xu Shen lifted his eyelids, but instead asked: “Did I seduce you?”

 

Zhan Shili’s gaze paused. After several seconds of silence, he looked away and stepped on the accelerator again when the light turned green.

 

“Tch.” Xu Shen didn’t say anything else either. He had already drunk quite a lot, and now that he was sitting in the car, the dizziness hit him even harder. Once he finished the candy, he quickly leaned back in the seat and began dozing off.

 

Zhan Shili glanced over at him several times. Xu Shen slept quietly with his eyes closed, leaning to the side while the lights from outside occasionally swept across his face, casting hazy shadows.

 

Only at times like this was he truly docile and harmless.

 

Xu Shen slept dazedly and felt himself being picked up, but he was too lazy to move.

 

Only after they entered the elevator did he nuzzle against Zhan Shili’s neck, without opening his eyes and asked, “We’re home?”

 

“Mn.”

 

The elevator doors opened. Zhan Shili carried him out and into the apartment without immediately turning on the lights.

 

As Xu Shen slumped onto the sofa, both arms were looped around Zhan Shili’s neck, murmuring his name: “Nic…”

 

Zhan Shili ran his fingers through Xu Shen’s hair: “Why did you drink so much tonight?”

 

Xu Shen shook his head: “I just kept drinking, and somehow ended up drinking too much.”

 

“Bad mood?” Zhan Shili asked.

 

“Don’t know.” Xu Shen stroked the back of his neck, Zhan Shili’s hair brushing his palm and making it itch slightly: “Where’s the flower I gave you?”

 

Zhan Shili said, “It got crushed. You forgot?”

 

“Oh.” Xu Shen sounded faintly regretful. He really did seem even more drunk than when he had been at the bar; he wasn’t even as clear-headed as he had been. He pressed closer to Zhan Shili’s neck and sniffed, seemingly able to still catch a faint trace of the flower’s fragrance; he just didn’t know if it was his illusion or not.

 

Zhan Shili held down the back of his head, his voice slightly hoarse: “Don’t move.”

 

Xu Shen’s eyes had already adjusted to the darkness, and he could make out the emotions surging in Zhan Shili’s eyes. He felt like laughing.

 

Zhan Shili’s composure really wasn’t what it used to be. He was no longer so restrained or forbearing, and all of these changes were because of him.

 

“Nic,” Xu Shen’s voice drew closer. “Do you love me?”

 

Zhan Shili’s breathing grew increasingly unsteady: “Why are you asking something like that?”

 

“Can’t I ask?” Xu Shen giggled softly. “Fine, don’t answer—I already know.”

 

“Know what?”

 

Xu Shen said with disappointment, “That you don’t love me, that you’re going to say that the word ‘love’ can’t be spoken so casually. How could a relationship like ours be defined by love? I shouldn’t have asked.”

 

Zhan Shili’s throat bobbed: “Are you testing me?”

 

Xu Shen said, “If you think I am, then I am.”

 

Zhan Shili said nothing more and lowered his head to kiss him.

 

As Zhan Shili’s presence descended on him forcefully, Xu Shen closed his eyes and enthusiastically parted his lips to respond.

 

The look Zhan Shili had given him just now kept replaying in his mind—Zhan Shili had actually hesitated. How interesting.

 

At last, he wasn’t the only one addicted anymore; his toy seemed to be getting more and more fun.

 

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t/n: This chapter is named Do You Love Me?……. What a coincidence, cause I sure do have someone I love!!! I LOVE YOU AMEMAR <3 tysm for ur kofi purchase, it means a lot to me (ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)”

Also, advance chapters up to ch 63 are up on kofi shop~ ^^ I’ll work on tling some more since my stock is gonna be used up soon, may finish tling up to ch 88 within next week (I have a mid-term break soon!)

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♡♡♡ if you like my translations, please consider buying me a kofi~! ♡♡♡

Continue Reading Ch. 50-63: click me <3