SGSHE62

Xi Xinghe clutched his little daisy, his emotions had been on a rollercoaster ride during the brief moment Jing Heguang was speaking.

He was completely dumbfounded when he heard Jing Heguang say he wasn’t allowed to like anyone.

That was so heartless! Jing Heguang wouldn’t even let him like him!

But upon hearing the next part, Xi Xinghe felt like…something wasn’t quite right?

Before Xi Xinghe could figure out what was amiss, his shop assistant couldn’t stand by and watch anymore. Jing Heguang, who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, looked rather menacing.

A young woman stepped forward, indignant: “Sir, please don’t cause trouble, you’re scaring our manager. Who our manager likes is his own business, it has nothing to do with you. Besides, our manager is already married. The person he likes is, of course, his spouse!”

Hearing Lele mention his spouse made Xi Xinghe blush. “Lele, I can tell him myself. You go have your lunch.”

Lele thought Jing Heguang looked too fierce and refused to leave. “Manager, I’m not going anywhere.”

Jing Heguang thought it was actually a good thing the girl wasn’t leaving.

“I am your manager’s spouse,” Jing Heguang said. “Now, can I find out who was harassing him this morning?”

Lele, the clueless shop assistant: !!!

Lele looked at Xi Xinghe. “Manager?”

Xi Xinghe said, “This is my partner.”

“Ah, the boss’s spouse is so handsome!” Lele gave an awkward smile, then added, “No one harassed the manager this morning. After he finished his work, he just started counting the petals on the daisy, it seemed like he was determined to get a ‘he likes me’ result.”

“Let’s go talk in the back.” Xi Xinghe pulled his partner toward the back of the shop, shooting a helpless, exasperated glance at Lele along the way.

Lele felt like she was in a tough spot: she’d managed to get on the boss’s spouse’s good side, but it seemed the boss himself was unhappy. QAQ

***

In the back of the shop. At the far end of the corridor, the long walkway was lined on both sides with potted greenery, leaving only the blue-gray wall at the very end exposed.

The two of them stepped into this corner.

Jing Heguang pondered the girl’s words, a look of bewilderment on his face.

His assumption had been that Xi Xinghe was troubled by the unwanted romantic interest of others. In that scenario, Xi Xinghe ought to be listing reasons why those people didn’t like him.

Yet, what Xi Xinghe wanted to list were reasons why someone did like him, the exact opposite of Jing Heguang’s line of thinking!

Jing Heguang was certain that Xi Xinghe liked him. Therefore, what Xi Xinghe must want was for Jing Heguang to like him back.

The very concept of wanting something implies not yet having it.

So…did Xi Xinghe think he didn’t like him?

Jing Heguang said earnestly, “I think we need to talk.”

Xi Xinghe nodded as well.

Then, he took a step forward, cornering Jing Heguang against the wall, and mustering all his courage, he spoke:

“There isn’t anyone else who likes me. Do you like me?”

After asking, Xi Xinghe pressed his lips together and stared unblinkingly at Jing Heguang.

“Of course I like you!”

Jing Heguang found it strange. “Xingxing, what made you think I didn’t like you? Did I do something wrong?”

Xi Xinghe asked stubbornly, “Are you sure you like me, and not the ‘me’ with color? You fell for me way too fast.”

Jing Heguang felt unfairly accused. “Baby, that first day you kept staring at my pajamas, you didn’t like the pajamas themselves, did you?”

Later on, whenever Jing Heguang wore those pajamas, Xi Xinghe always seemed to enjoy stripping them off him.

Jing Heguang thought for a moment, his brows knitting slightly, and asked in return, “Don’t tell me you didn’t fall for me on the very first day?”

“I…I did.” Xi Xinghe felt his brain struggling to keep up. A question that had been lingering in his mind for ages suddenly popped out, so he asked, “But you made me try on so many outfits? Wasn’t it because you wanted to see those colors?!”

Hearing this, Jing Heguang realized exactly what Xi Xinghe had been thinking.

— Xi Xinghe had misunderstood, thinking Jing Heguang liked the uniqueness he displayed at the start, rather than liking him as a person.

Jing Heguang leaned back against the wall and looked at Xi Xinghe with a smile.

“I made you change into so many outfits because I wanted to look at you. I did intentionally have you change clothes often, that way, I could see different colors and see you in various styles.”

“But the clothes were secondary, you were the main focus.”

“No wonder that first night, you were teary-eyed, saying I didn’t like you.”

“Though, you looked pretty cute with those red eyes.”

“Oh, and when I was lost in admiring beauty? That beauty was you.”

Xi Xinghe: …

Xi Xinghe was certain now, he had misunderstood! And he’d gotten it completely wrong!

How embarrassing was that?!

He’d actually misunderstood for so long, and had even made himself miserable over it!

Had he used up all his brainpower acting to fool his stepmother?

Jing Heguang leaned against the wall, smiling brightly and revealing a row of neat, white teeth.

Looking healthier and more radiant than ever, he seemed to glow amidst the colorful surroundings. Green leaves might serve as a backdrop for flowers, but even the flowers were merely an embellishment for him.

Xi Xinghe was momentarily dazed.

He had liked Jing Heguang in the first place because of…that face that had suddenly become so handsome. And now, Jing Heguang looked even better. He seemed to hit every single one of Xi Xinghe’s aesthetic preferences!

Xi Xinghe now knew for certain that Jing Heguang liked him.

Jing Heguang was devastatingly handsome these days, whereas he…was just a goofball.

Xi Xinghe felt incredibly happy, yet there was a strange, bittersweet ache in his heart.

His eyes grew a little hot, and he turned his face away. “It’s so embarrassing, please don’t think I’m stupid!”

Jing Heguang turned his face back. “It’s not embarrassing. I’m the only one who knows.”

Xi Xinghe thought for a moment, then proposed, “What if I give you a kiss, and you just pretend you don’t know about it?”

Jing Heguang: ?? A deal like that actually exists?!

“That sounds great!”

Jing Heguang wrapped his arms around him, holding him tight, and kissed him right there in the little corner.

***

Fifteen minutes later.

The two of them returned to the shop with flushed lips. It was time to head to the front area for a meal.

The staff stared, unable to look away as they noticed their boss’s reddened eyes and lips.

Xi Xinghe cleared his throat. “According to the schedule, two people stay to watch the shop. Everyone else can go eat.”

Lele gave a sheepish smile but kept trying: “Boss, that restaurant around the corner, the one you like, has a couple’s set menu now!”

Xi Xinghe looked at Jing Heguang, feeling a bit shy. “Shall we go? It’s home-style cooking. The flavors are mild, but the ingredients are very fresh.”

Jing Heguang said, “I want to eat there!”

Then, Jing Heguang gave Lele an affirmative look.

Rest assured, friend, Heguang will put in a good word for you tonight!

***

Xi Xinghe took Jing Heguang to the restaurant. Seeing that a regular customer had finally found a partner, the owner thoughtfully gifted them a couple’s drink, the kind with two ends on a single straw.

The food was indeed delicious. Jing Heguang, having used his brain all morning, was famished and thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Seeing that Xi Xinghe looked famished, Jing Heguang asked with concern, “Is work exhausting?”

“A little bit.” Jing Heguang smiled and began telling him something more amusing.

After talking for a while, Jing Heguang paused to take a sip of his drink.

Outside the glass window, the president of the branch office, who had come down for a meal, watched the Chairman’s beloved son sharing a fruit juice with another man. He felt a wave of sheer panic wash over him.

The Chairman’s son was actually with a man!

Should he tell the Chairman? If he didn’t, would the Chairman blame him for withholding information? If he did, would the Chairman fly into a rage and take it out on him?

Ultimately, considering Jing Yongyan’s character, the middle-aged man, who was a father himself, snapped a photo and sent it over.

Half a minute later, he received a reply.

— Chairman: That’s my daughter-in-law. From now on, we’ll buy the company’s greenery from him. P.S. Send someone from the staff to handle it through official channels.

The middle-aged man breathed a sigh of relief and was just about to slip away unnoticed.

However, Xi Xinghe spotted him and said to Jing Heguang, “There’s a middle-aged man over there who keeps looking at us.”

Jing Heguang turned to look as well.

He smiled and said, “That’s my boss, the current president of our branch office.”

Xi Xinghe smiled at the man and waved a greeting.

The middle-aged man smiled back and waved as he walked away, pretending he had just been passing by.

Once he was gone, Jing Heguang and Xi Xinghe looked at each other and laughed.

Their worlds, beyond just the two of them, were opening up and beginning to merge.

***

After lunch.

The two of them took advantage of a ‘20% off for two drinks’ promotion.

Looking at their identical honey-pomelo teas, Xi Xinghe snapped a photo of the drinks and another of their joined hands.

Watching him take pictures, Jing Heguang asked with a smile, “How come I never see you posting these on your Weibo Moments?”

Xi Xinghe thought to himself: Well, that’s because I took these specifically to feed my online followers some sweet #HE# content.

But he didn’t dare say that out loud; after all, his online persona was far too grounded in gritty reality!

If Jing Heguang saw it, he’d definitely be branded the number one goofball in Jing Heguang’s eyes.

Absolutely not.

He was, after all, a serious person striving to play the role of a pampered young spouse of a wealthy tycoon.

Xi Xinghe said, “You’re too good-looking. What if someone else sees you and starts coveting you? I want to keep these photos just for myself!”

Jing Heguang took a sip of his pomelo tea and leaned in closer. “Then I’ll let you take a few more.”

Another day of being an excellent wealthy husband who thoughtfully satisfies his spouse’s wishes!

Xi Xinghe looked at his face and then snapped away furiously.

Even if he couldn’t show them to the public, he could keep the photos of Jing Heguang for his own viewing pleasure. Looking at them every day was a guaranteed mood booster.

After the photos, the two wandered around until 1:30 PM before heading back to work.

Xi Xinghe waved goodbye to Jing Heguang. Once the latter was out of sight, he didn’t leave immediately but instead looked down and opened Weibo.

@LittleHuaChiFromFlowerPlanet: Ahhhhh!!! He really likes me! He likes me! Like me! Like me! I must be the universe’s favorite child!!!

@LittleHuaChiFromFlowerPlanet: @GoldenShadedCat Kitty, your guess was so, so, so spot-on! Thank you! Whenever I was feeling down, seeing you say that he’d like me always cheered me right up.

@MoneyTree: Mom! I just got a taste of the real deal, actual couple sweetness!! Finally, a happy ending! That was a real scare, but I’ve hit the jackpot now.

@Carrot: Hahaha, you silly Huachi! I just want to know: what exactly did you misunderstand?

@ForgetMeNot: So sweet! Sweetness with a side of silliness, I’m totally here for it!

@HammerHeHe’sHeadIn: Post a pic! Expose him. We want to see what the guy who’s dancing all over your heart looks like!

@LittleHuaChiFromFlowerPlanet (replying to @HammerHeHe’sHeadIn): I’m not showing his face, though. [Image.jpg]

The photo showed a pair of hands, one larger, one smaller, interlocked finger to finger.

@GoldenShadedCat: It here! Congratulations! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together.

@Kumquat: I’m shipping this so hard! Once again, I’m tearing up over someone else’s fairytale love!!

***

Six months later, Jing Heguang took over the reins and officially became the CEO.

The investigation into Jiang Shi’s case had long since concluded, she was sentenced to eight years in prison.

She had orchestrated the car accident and caused Jing Heguang’s color blindness. Furthermore, her subsequent attempt to tamper with his medication, though discovered immediately, was clearly malicious, leading the judge to hand down a harsher sentence.

Jing Yongyan did not confiscate the real estate or personal belongings held in the names of Jiang Shi and Jing Jie.

However, the very act of leaving assets to the mother and son made Jing Yongyan feel guilty toward his own son. Consequently, over the past six months, he had gradually transferred ownership of shopping malls and shares in numerous companies to Jing Heguang.

When a person suddenly strikes it rich once, they are overjoyed. But after striking it rich repeatedly, the novelty wears off, and it starts to feel like an everyday occurrence. Jing Heguang had become accustomed to exactly that kind of life.

He also came to understand why the original owner hadn’t cared about money, because he didn’t care about it either now. He could live for several lifetimes and still never spend all the money Jing Yongyan had set aside for him.

Six months had passed, and Jing Heguang was getting ready to hold his own art exhibition. He sat in the CEO’s chair in his office. On the desk, alongside the usual office supplies, sat a beautiful, colorful cactus featuring a red offshoot that had grown into the shape of a heart.

After finishing his day’s work, Jing Heguang opened the Weibo account belonging to the original owner, an account that had long since fallen into disuse.

@PainterJingMouMou: I’m getting ready to hold an art exhibition.

T/N: One more to go then this world end. ( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ )