BF Chapter 15

Zhan Shili drove Xu Shen back to the Xu Family mansion; today’s matters still needed to be reported to Xu Shiji.

When they entered, Xu Ziren and that Liu Bingzhong were also in the study, currently reporting their work to Xu Shiji.

Xu Ziren turned around and saw Xu Shen, speaking first to ask, “What was going on with you today, saying at the meeting that the Mong Kok project work group was disbanded?”

Xu Shen stepped forward, taking the initiative to apologize to him: “I’m sorry, Second Brother. Being a newcomer, I’m not familiar with many people and things. Seeing that their work attitude wasn’t proactive, constantly making excuses to dilly-dally the tasks they were following up on, I inevitably got anxious and hot-headed. Fearing it would delay the project progress and drag Second Brother into it, I spoke harsh words. Afterward Nic also reminded me that I shouldn’t be so impulsive, and I’ve reflected on myself too; when speaking and doing things, I should be a bit more tactful.”

The light in Zhan Shili’s eyes flickered slightly, but he didn’t add to the conversation.

Xu Shen deliberately dragged him into the mess, seemingly explaining to Xu Ziren that Zhan Shili wasn’t an accomplice, but in reality only making people even more suspicious of their relationship.

Xu Ziren’s brows knitted slightly; Xu Shen’s expression was too sincere, his words too earnest, as if he really were just a young man eager to perform and going too far in his rashness, but—

Not much blame was visible in Xu Shiji’s expression, and he asked Xu Shen, “Now that you’re involved in this project, you also know what tricky problems have been encountered in it. Do you have any good suggestions?”

“I was just about to tell Father about this matter.” Xu Shen wore a smile on his face, informing him of the matter he and Liang daban of Huidu Bank had agreed on that afternoon, “We have already reached a verbal agreement with him. Once the agreement document is drafted, we can send someone to the bank’s side to get things settled as quickly as possible.”

Xu Ziren’s expression contorted slightly upon hearing this.

Xu Shiji could no longer bother with him, delighted beyond measure: “Really?”

Xu Shen nodded: “Absolutely.”

“Good, that’s good then,” Xu Shiji was very pleased, “You really are a promising kid. I didn’t misjudge you.”

Xu Ziren also adjusted his emotions quickly, smiling: “Fourth Brother indeed has capability, but the troublesome matters this project is encountering right now aren’t just this single one. Those two buildings in Ryder Fund’s hands are even harder to negotiate down; next time you might not necessarily have such good luck.”

“I know,” Xu Shen said, “Mr. Zhan and I are both trying to find a solution; where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Xu Shiji said directly, “Ziren, you’re the company CEO right now. There’s too much work on your hands to attend to everything; hand this project entirely over to your fourth brother.”

Xu Ziren instinctively wanted to refuse: “Ah Shen has only just entered the company…”

“Give him a chance to hone his skills.” Xu Shiji had already made up his mind, “Nic, you help Ah Shen follow up on this project together, and report to me regularly.”

Zhan Shili obediently agreed.

More words of persuasion that Xu Ziren wanted to say reached the tip of his tongue, only to be swallowed back, reluctantly agreeing to it.

Xu Shen put on an act of being terrified and overwhelmed, so Xu Shiji instructed him: “Having drive is a good thing, and one should be a bit strict with those obedient ones. However, the project group doesn’t need to be disbanded either; you decide on personnel changes yourself. Kick out those who can’t do work, and if you have people you find handy to use, let them follow you and work together. You handle these things as you see fit.”

Only then did Xu Shen seem to put his heart at ease: “Okay, thank you Dad, I understand.”

Xu Shiji kept the two of them to chat, exchanging a few more sentences. After finishing, Xu Shen saw Zhan Shili out.

Just as they walked out, faint talking voices were heard coming from up ahead—it was that Assistant Liu: “No matter how capable he is, he’s still just a wet-behind-the-ears kid, and with that identity of his, how could the boss really let him rise to power? When all is said and done, he’s just a stepping stone for you, Second Young Master, so why care about him?”

Xu Shen glanced over; by the swimming pool ahead, Liu Bingzhong wore a flattering look on his face as he lit a cigarette for Xu Ziren.

Xu Ziren ignored him, directly dismissing the man after finishing instructing him on business matters.

Not wanting to bump into Xu Ziren again, they took the other side toward the carport.

“Even if you want to keep a low profile now, you won’t be able to,” after walking far away, Zhan Shili turned his head, reminding Xu Shen by his ear, “Second Young Master will definitely have remembered this today.”

Xu Shen hummed: “Isn’t that exactly what you wanted?”

Zhan Shili wanted to use him as a gun to deal with Xu Ziren, so he insisted on dragging this heartless bastard along with him; neither of them should think of escaping.

The so-called low profile was originally a false proposition; from the first day he entered Zhaoqi, as Xu Shiji’s son, he was destined to be unable to keep a low profile. Xu Shiji didn’t trust Xu Ziren all that much—he had seen through it. Xu Shiji was willing to promote him, which was his opportunity, and he had to seize it.

Zhan Shili raised his hand and patted his shoulder, ending the conversation.

After seeing Zhan Shili in the car, Xu Shen stopped by the side of the car and didn’t leave immediately.

Zhan Shili rolled down the car window, turning his head to look at him: “Not getting in?”

Xu Shen caught sight of a car coming in through the front gates, barely recognizing whose car it was in the dazzling glare of the lights. He bent down, propping his hands against the car door: “Nic.”

Zhan Shili stared intently into his eyes that were right before him, not missing the malicious, teasing smile that flickered in his gaze.

The distance between them was only an inch or so; as the stagnant air was compressed, Xu Shen leaned forward, quickly leaving a peck on Zhan Shili’s lips.

The warmth of their lips touching was fleeting—in a flash, Xu Shen had already stepped back flippantly, and car headlights flashed across their faces in that instant.

Xu Zikang’s car stopped ahead of them, and he was helped out of the car by his driver to his wheelchair.

Xu Shen stood up slowly, and Zhan Shili got out of the car and went over to greet him.

Xu Shen called out to Xu Zikang: “Third Brother, you guys chat, I’ll go in first.”

Xu Zikang nodded, watching him turn and walk far away, his gaze falling back onto Zhan Shili in front of him: “You two, just now…”

“Why back so late today?” Zhan Shili quickly changed the subject, “A lot of matters over at the art gallery?”

Xu Zikang whispered, “Someone came to buy paintings today, talked for quite a while.”

Zhan Shili bent down slightly, looking into his eyes: “Tired?”

“A bit,” Xu Zikang said truthfully.

Zhan Shili instructed in a warm voice, “If you’re tired, go upstairs to rest early; don’t make things too hard on yourself.”

Xu Zikang was still somewhat conflicted over the scene he had just witnessed, hesitating to speak.

Zhan Shili said, “Your dad just had Young Master Shen take over that Mong Kok project from your second brother’s hands; your second brother is quite displeased. This Young Master Shen’s ambition isn’t small, but he’s still too young and doesn’t know how to hide his flaws. He’s keeping an eye on your second brother as of now, so you aren’t a threat to him over there, but you have to be careful, too; maintaining a superficial relationship with him is enough.”

Hearing Zhan Shili’s tone, Xu Zikang felt once more that he was overthinking, and that he must have seen wrong and misunderstood just now.

“…I just saw you two talking.”

“Mn,” Zhan Shili said calmly, “His mind is filled with too many schemes and isn’t so easy to deal with. No need to worry, I’ll help you handle these troubles; as long as you trust me, that’s enough.”

“But—”

Zhan Shili stared into his eyes, his voice gentle yet forceful: “There’s still a ‘but’?”

The breath Xu Zikang was holding dissipated silently without a trace: “…I understand, Nic, thank you.”

Half an hour later, Xu Shen returned to his room, took a shower, and went downstairs to make coffee.

Zhan Shili’s call came in, and he casually put on his Bluetooth headphones to answer.

“You left your lucky coin in my car,” the person on the phone said.

“Is that so?” Xu Shen said unhurriedly, “Hold onto it for me then, return it to me tomorrow.”

Zhan Shili entered the door of his home, narrowing his eyes under the lit lamps to look closely at that gold coin, imagining how that person looked when rubbing and playing with it: “I thought this thing was very important to you.”

“It is quite important,” Xu Shen’s voice through the phone felt a bit surreal, “But since it’s in your hands, I feel quite reassured.”

Zhan Shili gently twirled the gold coin between his fingers: “Hmm.”

Making his coffee, Xu Shen smiled, “Nic, did you coax my third brother well? Did he not suspect you?”

Listening to his gloating tone, Zhan Shili asked, “Having fun?”

“I wasn’t playing around,” Xu Shen raised his hand to touch his ear; talking on the phone like this felt like Zhan Shili was whispering low in his ear, and he said, “Why do you think I was playing around? Could it not be that I just wanted to kiss you?”

Zhan Shili, however, wasn’t buying it: “Did I give you permission to kiss me?”

“Don’t be so stingy,” Xu Shen’s voice drifting upward near the end, “not even a kiss is allowed?”

“Not allowed.” Zhan Shili said with zero leniency, “You can’t without permission.”

Xu Shen sighed: “Alright, I was just being presumptuous again. But Nic, that just now was my first kiss. I gave it to you, so shouldn’t you take responsibility for me?”

Zhan Shili stopped twirling the gold coin in his hand. After a moment, Xu Shen heard an extremely low laugh coming through his headphones. It was like a tiny electric current coursing through his nerves, lightly scratching at his heart.

He rarely saw Zhan Shili smile; except for that night when he had just returned, the night Zhan Shili smiled as he embraced someone else and responded to his flirting. This was only the second time—

Even without seeing it, he felt as though he could perceive the warmth in Zhan Shili’s breath.

“What are you laughing at?”

Zhan Shili’s voice sounded as though it implied something deeper: “Is it really your first time?”

“You don’t believe me?” Xu Shen emphasized, “It really is! This is the first time, my first kiss.”

“How do you want me to take responsibility?” Zhan Shili asked, “I’m afraid I may not be able to satisfy Young Master Shen’s requirements.”

“I’ll have to think that over carefully.”

As Xu Shen’s words fell, he heard the sound of the elevator descending from up ahead. When the doors opened, Xu Zikang rolled his wheelchair out all by himself.

Xu Shen’s brows twitched slightly, and switched on the main lights. He didn’t hang up the phone, walking straight forward.

“Third Brother, why did you come downstairs?”

Xu Zikang said, “I felt a bit thirsty, so I came down to pour a glass of water.”

“Let me help you.” Xu Shen pushed him over to the wet bar, poured him a glass of warm water, and handed it over.

Xu Zikang saw the coffee in his hand, asking, “Drinking this at night, aren’t you afraid of not being able to sleep?”

“Used to it,” Xu Shen said casually, “after all, unlike you Third Brother, tossing and turning alone in a cold bed, I couldn’t fall asleep anyway.”

Xu Zikang sensed the teasing in his words and felt a little embarrassed, unable to respond.

Xu Shen raised his hand to touch his headset, looking at him with a sparkling smile: “Third Brother, are you and Mr. Zhan dating? I saw it.”

On the call that had never been hung up, Zhan Shili reminded him in a deep voice: “Stop playing around.”

Xu Shen turned a deaf ear, staring at Xu Zikang as if joking with him.

Xu Zikang felt increasingly awkward, not knowing when he had bumped into the business between himself and Zhan Shili: “Did you ask Nic about this too?”

“No,” Xu Shen said with an innocent look, “I’m not familiar with him, so how could I possibly ask him about this kind of thing?”

Xu Zikang bit the bullet and pleaded with him, “Ah Shen, please don’t tell anyone about this. I don’t want Dad and the others to know and cause trouble for Nic…”

“I know.” Xu Shen nodded with great understanding, still smiling, saying it for Xu Zikang to hear, and also seeming to say it for the person on the other end of the phone to hear—

“I’ll help you guys keep it a secret. I won’t tell a single soul,” he said playfully, “I promise.”

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