6: Sister-in-law

These days, Shen Cizhu had been spending most of his time in the new company.

To express his regret for the misunderstanding on the night he disrupted the wedding, leading to the failed marriage alliance, his father handed over the management of this new Shen Group subsidiary to him.

The Shen Group has a well-developed business network that reaches far and wide, especially in developed countries. Shen Cizhu had previously managed a joint venture financial trading company in the United States.

Now, the genetic technology company he took over upon returning to China is located in the central area of the capital city. Thanks to substantial investments and support from the Shen Group, the company had already become the third-largest research giant in the country before Shen Cizhu took charge.

However, there was one problem: the research company was governed by a board of directors, and any decision made by Shen Cizhu would be subject to the board’s oversight.

These old men, who were on the same side as Wen He, had dirty hands and needed a pliable leader to exploit for wealth and power. They were determined to support Wen He, the illegitimate son, as the new heir.

Naturally, they had to sideline Shen Cizhu, the legitimate heir.

Shen Cizhu needed to place his trusted subordinates on the board, but this would take time. In the past, he didn’t need to worry about any of this because Xie Yan was responsible for everything.

But he had driven Xie Yan away.

What he said to Xie Yan a few days ago, it seemed to have broken Xie Yan’s heart.

Now, he faced a problem. Shen Cizhu was not well-versed in managing a domestic company, and he couldn’t quickly consolidate power.

The board of directors at the research company was only the tip of the iceberg. Bigger threats loomed behind them, as a series of rampant and greedy criminal cases had already demonstrated. If they weren’t eliminated, Shen Cizhu wouldn’t be able to fully inherit the Shen family.

It was time to take action.

Shen Cizhu now needed a new subordinate, someone intelligent, ruthless, and willing to go to great lengths for him and the Shen family.

Xie Hou.

Shen Cizhu remembered the angry words he said to Xie Yan that night, where he told Xie Yan that he would use Xie Hou to replace him.

Did he need it? Would the child do this for him?

What kind of allure could he use to make him devoted to him?

Did he need Xie Yan, or did he need Xie Hou?

When the psychologist visited his home, Shen Cizhu was standing by the cage, feeding a crow with a crippled wing.

“Today’s treatment is about to begin,” the psychologist smiled slightly.

As Shen Cizhu shared all of this with the psychologist, the psychologist smiled and shook his head, saying, “You may deny it, but you still need… a lover, don’t you?”

“I don’t need trash,” Shen Cizhu sat across from the psychologist, denying it.

“I don’t mean that. What I mean is that you still need a partner,” the psychologist said.

Shen Cizhu stared at him dangerously.

“Don’t be angry, Mr. Shen. I am your dedicated psychologist, and we’ve been talking about everything for four years.”

The psychologist took out a pen and paper and continued, “According to what you’ve said, you’ve known Xie Yan for ten years. He became your bodyguard when you were fifteen, he confessed to you at nineteen, you accepted him, and then you had a five-year romantic relationship. During that time, there was no sexual activity, and the furthest you went was kissing… This is somewhat surprising to me… He doesn’t seem like someone with erectile dysfunction, and you don’t seem like a Platonic lover.”

Shen Cizhu: “…”

None of your goddamn business.

The psychologist continued, “Your homosexual relationship was discovered by your father a year ago because your father saved Xie Yan’s life. Xie Yan repaid the favor by obeying your father’s orders to break up with you, is that correct?”

Shen Cizhu shifted his gaze away from the psychologist and clenched his fingers discreetly.

“A year later, when you returned to the country, you reunited with Xie Yan. According to your contract, he is still your bodyguard and will protect you. However, in the past few days, you requested to terminate his employment. Not a request, but a command. I don’t need traitors; I need someone with a clear mind and absolute loyalty.” Shen Cizhu rested his chin on his hand, tapping his fingers on the glass table. “Besides, I no longer have any feelings for Xie Yan. I can assure you—”

“So, stop giving me that look as if you suspect I’ve become mentally unstable from a breakup, Uncle,” Shen Cizhu smiled.

“I think I’ve got a good understanding of the situation,” the psychologist said, looking at the medical records. His eyes were beginning to tear up, not because Shen Cizhu called him Uncle or old.

It was because Shen Cizhu had not turned on the lights. It was 8 PM, and he hadn’t turned on the lights, reading the words on the medical records by the dim light outside the window.

Patients with mental illness often had quirks, and Shen Cizhu had a particular fondness for darkness.

Shen Cizhu suffered from a hereditary form of destructive borderline personality disorder. Clinically, this was characterized by self-identity disturbance, emotional instability, impulsivity, anger, self-destructive tendencies, fear of abandonment and loneliness, and severe cases exhibited incurable antisocial tendencies, making it extremely dangerous.

This condition was highly controversial in the field of psychoanalysis. The term “borderline” meant that this condition existed on the border; in other words, Shen Cizhu could choose to be normal or choose to be insane, but before that…

He needed to have a romance.

Ah, although this treatment method might seem absurd and lacked authority, it was indeed the best therapy Shen Cizhu could receive. He could swear by his position as one of the top figures in the academic field of psychology after thirty years.

Love could drive infatuated people mad, but it could also save those deprived of love from going astray.

Compared to medication, surgery, or a past romantic relationship that was more like a master-servant dynamic, nothing was better than a real, genuine love to show Shen Cizhu the beauty of the world.

Ah! Men are beautiful!

Ah! Love is beautiful!

Ah! Sex is beautiful!

Ah! The world is beautiful!

The psychologist sang passionately in his mind in a tenor higher than B5.

“Mr. Shen, rather than a platonic love without sex…”

And so, the psychologist said a few more words before leaving.

He cleared his throat and thought for a moment, gently saying to Shen Cizhu, “I think you could find a new male partner for some wild indulgence. There are many ways to relieve stress in this world, and sex is one of them. It might help you let off some steam. Please don’t keep your mind too tightly wound. Since Mr. Xie Yan is not suitable for you, why not try someone else? And…”

“You seem to be interested in someone already,” the psychologist tilted his head.

He looked at Shen Cizhu’s eyes, which were very beautiful, with green irises and dark lashes, naturally captivating and easily harnessing his seductive talent.

But the true thoughts behind those eyes were often hidden by false emotions. Therefore, to understand Shen Cizhu, you had to look beyond his eyes and into his heart.

He had found his prey.

The psychologist was quite certain of that.

At nine o’clock in the evening, the young master of the Zhou family messaged Shen Cizhu, asking if he had time to meet later.

When Shen Cizhu returned to the country a year ago, this Zhou family’s scoundrel had sent him a long voice message confessing his feelings in the middle of the night. Seeing that Shen Cizhu hadn’t responded, he sent a short video of himself moaning Shen Cizhu’s name while pleasuring himself.

Hmm… he was quite quick.

So, it turned into a short video.

At the time, Shen Cizhu replied with a “Thanks for the affection” and nothing else.

Now, this Zhou family scoundrel heard that Shen Cizhu had returned to the country and was already thinking of causing some trouble.

What did he plan to do this time?

Shen Cizhu stood on the balcony, smoking, gazing at his phone with a raised eyebrow.

He was curious about what this scoundrel wanted from him.

The crippled crow with broken wings was still cawing beside Shen Cizhu, as if it were hungry again. Shen Cizhu glanced at the glass fish tank in the bedroom, walked over, and casually picked up a goldfish from the tank.

Since it was already dying, he thought it might as well serve a purpose, so he gleefully tossed it into the crow’s beak.

As soon as he arrived at the Gilded Moon Club, the waitstaff were quick to receive him. Shen Cizhu handed them his car keys and entered on his own, not allowing anyone to accompany him.

This club saw a constant influx of wealthy young men, and the lighting was always set to be ambiguous. There were many swaying couples in the hall, both male and female.

As Shen Cizhu walked toward the S-VIP area, he even spotted the rising idol from the Shengshi Entertainment, who had been gaining popularity recently.

“Mr. Zhang… the variety show…” The young idol was being cradled in the arms of a balding man, cooing and pouting affectionately. “Will you give it to me?”

“Give it, give it! Laozi’s life is all yours!” The balding man turned red as he pressed the young idol against the wall to kiss him.

The VIP room Shen Cizhu was heading to was right next door to these two flirtatious individuals. He was about to open the door.

“Mr. Shen!” The young idol beside them smelled the scent of wealth and turned to look, his eyes immediately lighting up.

The young idol pushed away the balding man’s hand.

Tonight was a stroke of luck. This was Shen Cizhu, one of the top-tier billionaires in a century! The heir to the Shen Group! This opportunity was too rare to pass up.

“Oh my god! Who the f*** took away Laozi’s sweetheart?” The balding man was left dumbfounded when his sweetheart ditched him for another man!

He was about to curse someone, but when he saw it was Shen Cizhu, he backed off, terrified. He wouldn’t dare to provoke him, so he went to flirt with someone else.

He slinked back to the hall to find a different companion.

“Mr. Shen, are you alone? Do you want me to accompany you inside? I can handle my alcohol well and can help you deal with it… I can be of great use,” the young idol approached Shen Cizhu, speaking softly and shyly as he reached for Shen Cizhu’s arm.

Ah, he wanted to serve him.

The sound of card games and loud music coming from the private room was deafening, and Shen Cizhu felt out of place. He was dressed in a sharp suit, his long hair flowing, black leather gloves impeccably on his hands. He carried the sweet scent of the young idol’s perfume, which, while gaudy and provocative on most, turned into an elegant fragrance on him.

“Do you want to stay with me that badly?” Shen Cizhu was taller than the young idol, and the idol had to bend a little to look up at him. His tone held a hint of indulgence.

“Who in the Beijing circle doesn’t want to be with you?” The young idol playfully continued to flirt, “After all, everyone loves Shen Cizhu.”

It had to be said, Shen Cizhu was genuinely stunning, a level of beauty that couldn’t be found even in the entertainment circle, which was full of beautiful people. Sleeping with him for a night would be well worth it, especially if he managed to win Shen Cizhu’s favor. The resources at his disposal would be endless.

The corridor was dimly lit, and Shen Cizhu’s face was hidden in the shadows when the lights were off, his green eyes gazing at him. The sight of those eyes in the dim light made him a little weak in the knees.

“Stop teasing me and come inside,” Shen Cizhu said warmly when the lights came on.

“Okay! Thank you, Mr. Shen!” Delighted, he followed Shen Cizhu into the private room.

As soon as they entered, Shen Cizhu was surrounded by a pack of wolves. These young socialites were secretly watching him, as if he were a plaything. But he was Shen Cizhu, and they dared not do anything.

“Did I arrive late? What are you guys playing?” Shen Cizhu appeared oblivious to the danger and took a seat in the center, with the young idol, bringing him along.

The men circled around him.

The young master from the Zhou family was most eager to please. He came over, locked eyes with Shen Cizhu, and positioned the tips of his shoes next to Shen Cizhu’s.

He squinted and said, “It wouldn’t be fun without you. Cizhu, want to play a game of pool together? We can also have some drinks. I’ll call a waiter to bring them in. I remember you like apples, right? I had the best batch air-freighted just for you.”

Shen Cizhu chuckled in response.

The young idol had never experienced such an extravagant display of wealth, and he broke out in a cold sweat.

Being surrounded by so many elite and wealthy individuals was no joke. The arrogance, discrimination, cruelty, and cynicism cultivated over decades of amassing wealth and power were suffocating.

What’s more, he didn’t know why, but when he was sitting on the sofa, with Shen Cizhu’s arm around his waist, all the men’s eyes were focused on his waist, as if they were ready to pounce on him like wolves.

The young idol suddenly regretted not leaving with the balding man.

—

“Hey!” The bald man returned to the lobby and tossed a bank card to the front desk, imitating the arrogant male lead from a TV drama and said to the front desk, “There’s half a million in this card. Is it enough for me to find a top-quality companion tonight? Quickly call someone to come and sleep with laozi tonight.”

Here, half a million can only buy a bottle of wine. You poor guy, can you roll out?

The front desk responded, “Sir, I’m sorry, but this is a legitimate establishment. We don’t engage in illegal activities like that. We uphold moral and ethical standards that perfectly align with our country’s core socialist values. Please recite with me, ‘prosperity, democracy, civility…'”

“F***! What nonsense are you talking about? I know the owner of this place. He’s just a shady character. Can any of his establishments be clean? I have to sleep with someone tonight! Just, just…” The bald man’s eyes were rolling.

Finally, he stopped at a waiter who was carrying a fruit platter and red wine towards the S-VIP area.

“It’s him! Half a million for one night! Hey, call that waiter for laozi!” the bald man commanded the front desk.

The waiter was dressed in a suit, with a slim and tall figure, standing at 1.85 meters. He looked young and exceptionally handsome, the kind who could become a top-tier celebrity in the entertainment industry within three seconds. His face had no flaws, exuding youthful male charm.

The waiter seemed to have heard someone calling him by name. He stood not far away, with several dim pearl lights behind him, making his cold and youthful appearance even more perfect.

“You, it’s you, come here!” the bald man squinted at the waiter’s name tag on his chest, read his name, pointed his finger at him, and said, “Xie Hou, right? I’ve set my eyes on you.”

“How about you spend the night with me for fifty thousand? If you make me happy, I’ll give you an extra ten thousand.”

Xie Hou’s amber eyes showed no emotion as he stared at the bald man and suddenly walked over.

His jet-black hair and sharp eyebrows framed his beautiful and delicate forehead. His finely sculpted features were like ink strokes, outlining Xie Hou’s handsome eyes and eyebrows.

He raised his phoenix-like eyes and gave the bald man an intense visual impact.

Cold and fierce, like a sharp, just-used white dagger, Xie Hou had a small red mole on his neck, and when his Adam’s apple moved, it exuded an inexplicable sense of pressure.

This made the bald man have a thought… Hmmm, will it be enjoyable to be with him?

While he was still daydreaming about being respected, Xie Hou came over.

Xie Hou silently placed the fruit platter at the front desk and then rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt, revealing bulging veins on his forearm. He tilted his head, with an icy corner of his lips, and before the bald man could react, he suddenly punched him hard in the foul face.

“Ah!” Along with a cry of agony, there was a crisp sound of a broken nose bone!

The front desk girl was so scared that she covered her mouth and stepped back. She watched as Xie Hou knocked the man unconscious with one punch.

Xie Hou didn’t say a word, his face had some blood splatters, and his knuckles were red. He took a tissue from the front desk and calmly wiped them.

He was too calm for an eighteen-year-old…

“My goodness! Xie Hou, why did you hit him? The manager will not spare you for this,” the front desk girl was still trembling, and she looked at the man lying on the ground, bleeding and convulsing.

It’s like a crime scene…

The lobby was now filled with people, both guests and staff. Those who didn’t mind the trouble were already taking photos and videos.

“Don’t take photos, don’t take photos! If this gets out, my boss won’t let you off!” The manager rushed over and dispersed the onlookers.

“Xie Hou!” The manager angrily approached and yelled at Xie Hou, “You’ve only been here for two days, and you’re already hitting people!!! You, get out of here! We can’t afford you! Get out!”

Xie Hou looked at the manager with indifference and said, “I was acting in self-defense.”

Who can harm you with the strength of a professional fighter like that?!

“Who cares about self-defense? What’s the big deal if a grown man gets touched a bit? Same old rule, you pay for the medical expenses yourself! Get out of here, and don’t expect your salary this month!”

The manager gritted his teeth and humiliated Xie Hou in front of the whole lobby, “You, a penniless guy with 140 million in debt. If it weren’t for your good looks, I wouldn’t have kept you. And now you come here every day to fight! Let’s see how you’ll pay for your medical bills. Maybe you’ll end up behind bars!”

People whispered among themselves.

Xie Hou lowered his head and remained silent, showing no emotion on his face.

“What’s wrong with this child? Why are you scolding him?” A male voice filled with concern and tenderness sounded gently behind Xie Hou.

The lingering sound of the voice brushed against Xie Hou’s ear, like a murmured whisper laced with desire.

As soon as Shen Cizhu spoke, the entire lobby fell silent.

He stood behind Xie Hou, lightly placing his five fingers on Xie Hou’s shoulder.

Xie Hou caught a glimpse of the shape of the black leather gloves, and above the gloves was the slender and delicate white wrist of a man. Slim and beautiful.

“Mr. Shen, why are you here?” The manager, no longer abusive, became humble and ingratiating. “I… I really didn’t entertain you well, and I apologize for any inconvenience.”

“Your boss, Mr. Zhou, personally attended to me. How can that be considered inadequate?” Shen Cizhu walked past Xie Hou and casually glanced at the bald man who had been knocked out in the middle of the lobby.

“What happened to this gentleman?” Shen Cizhu feigned surprise.

Xie Hou remained motionless, watching Shen Cizhu’s demeanor.

“Cizhu, why did you come out?” The young master of the Zhou family, who was also the owner of this establishment, followed Shen Cizhu.

“I heard a commotion outside, so I came to take a look,” Shen Cizhu replied.

The young master of the Zhou family responded with an “Oh,” and after taking a quick look at the situation, he understood what had happened. He instructed someone to call for an ambulance and then walked over to the scene.

Before he had a chance to punish Xie Hou, Shen Cizhu opened a bottle of wine worth 1.2 million yuan at the front desk. The wine spilled out from the narrow bottle neck and splashed around the area where the bald man lay, mixing with the blood, making it difficult to distinguish one from the other.

Now it looked like a drunken person lying on the ground, rather than someone who had been brutally beaten.

The entire room fell into complete silence.

“Mr. Zhang is drunk, and he’s still unconscious on the floor,” Shen Cizhu gently chuckled in the midst of the silence and said to the young master of the Zhou family, “Zhou Zhou, find someone to take Mr. Zhang to his room to sober up.”

“Alright! I’ll do as you say,” the young master of the Zhou family was delighted to be called by Shen Cizhu using a nickname. He immediately forgot about punishing Xie Hou and rushed to drag the bald man away on his own.

The crowd was also dispersed, and the wine and blood on the ground were cleaned up as if nothing had happened.

The black leather gloves were stained with wine, and Shen Cizhu frowned as he took them off, revealing his fair and slender fingers.

He suddenly felt someone watching him and, with a sidelong glance, realized it was Xie Hou.

The boy was still standing in the same spot, staring at him with an indescribable hint of loneliness.

Shen Cizhu couldn’t help but think that Xie Hou was having a hard time. He had come out for some fresh air and had an unexpected encounter with Xie Hou. The first time they had met that night, the boy had coldly exposed his disguise. He thought he was quite capable, but it turned out he wasn’t as clever as he thought.

Publicly assaulting someone was a crime, and anyone with a bit of intelligence wouldn’t be so foolish. If it weren’t for the commotion that brought Shen Cizhu here, Xie Hou might have ended up in jail.

Xie Hou was still looking at him.

Shen Cizhu was starting to feel impatient.

“Mr. Shen!” At this moment, a person rushed out of one of the private rooms, the same young idol.

“Why haven’t you gone back yet? The people in the private room are being really mean to me… I’m scared. Can you stay with me?” The young idol, with a face full of grievances and teary eyes, clung to Shen Cizhu, holding his wrist and swaying while acting coquettish.

Shen Cizhu allowed the young idol to act coquettish towards him.

It was somewhat amusing.

Xie Hou’s gaze remained indifferent. His fingers subtly tightened, creating a faint, almost inaudible creaking sound, which Shen Cizhu couldn’t hear.

But he did hear Xie Hou call him, “Sister-in-law.”

“Are you going to tell my brother about me hitting someone?” There were still traces of blood on Xie Hou’s cheek, dripping down his jaw like tears.

Shen Cizhu couldn’t help but give him a glance.

Sister-in-law?

Who the hell allowed you to call me that?

Shen Cizhu’s heart sank a little, momentarily overlooking the young beauty clinging to his side.

Only then did Xie Hou feel satisfied.