Chapter 46: A Direct Hit to the Heart!

The sunlight quietly descended.

Jian Mingzhou’s tailbone inexplicably shivered.

In his mind, an image flickered for a moment but was quickly suppressed. His gaze slowly focused on Xiaolu…

It was just a delusion. No comment!

After Xiaolu’s excitement, she noticed that Jian Mingzhou’s expression wasn’t right. In an instant, her enthusiasm dimmed a bit, and she asked, “What’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?”

Jian Mingzhou took a deep breath and calmly said, “It’s my mistake.”

Xiaolu innocently asked, “What did I say wrong?”

“I shouldn’t have let you idle so much.”

“?”

In his heart, Jian Mingzhou formulated several promotional activities and left Xiaolu, who was still alert, to go back to the company with the signed contract.

…

It was around five o’clock when he returned to the company.

After handing over the contract, it was almost time to get off work.

Jian Mingzhou stepped out of the company and suddenly remembered that Xie Jing said he would bring something to eat for him.

In the past, it wouldn’t have mattered, but now that Xie Jing said he liked him, accepting treats from him seemed a bit…

He paused for a moment and turned to the convenience store next door.

Inside the convenience store, rows of shelves lined up.

The glass door opened and closed, and the overhead incandescent lights emitted bright light in the twilight.

Jian Mingzhou chose something that Xie Jing liked.

Just as he turned the corner, he almost collided with a figure! Both of them stopped at the same time and looked up.

“Mingzhou?”

“…Class Monitor?”

Zhou Wensong was still wearing a suit.

He was slender, wearing glasses. In one hand, he held fast food, and in the other, he carried a laptop bag.

The last time they met was during the weekend of the Qixi Festival at the mall.

They added each other on WeChat, but perhaps due to each other’s busyness, they didn’t chat much.

He asked, “Class Monitor, do you live nearby?”

Zhou Wensong waved his hand. “Oh, no, no. I came here for some business today and need to return to the company later… By the way! we’ve been talking about organizing a class reunion recently. Are you coming?”

Jian Mingzhou was momentarily stunned, not expecting to catch the class reunion.

“I don’t know the time yet…”

“It should be this weekend. I’ll let you know when it’s confirmed.”

While they were chatting, a “ding-dong” sound came from the automatic door. Then, from the side, someone called out, “Brother Mingzhou?”

Jian Mingzhou turned his head and saw He Yi and Zhou Xuyang entering.

He had also bumped into Zhou Xuyang here last time, seemingly a route both took on their way home.

“Just finished training?”

“Yes!” He Yi rushed up. “Brother Mingzhou, what about you? What are you doing here?” He realized halfway through his words, “Oh, right, Huanjiao Headquarters is nearby.”

Jian Mingzhou nodded. “Yes.”

He Yi looked over. Weren’t they colleagues?

Zhou Xuyang didn’t say anything; he just glanced at the things Jian Mingzhou picked up, then turned around and led He Yi away.

“We’re heading that way, Brother Mingzhou.”

“Okay.”

After the two left, Zhou Wensong tentatively spoke, “Is it… the Boys’ Love Comics Department?”

Jian Mingzhou hesitated for two seconds before saying, “Yes.”

He didn’t feel too uncomfortable, probably because Zhou Wensong was also a fan of the genre.

And he remembered that in high school, once during lunch break, he ran into Zhou Wensong in the stairwell while reading manga. The two had even chatted…

“Ding-dong,” the automatic door rang again, interrupting their reminiscence.

Jian Mingzhou looked up and realized the other person was also lost in thought. “Class Monitor?”

Zhou Wensong snapped out of it and said, “Ah, sorry.”

“But it’s really nice, Mingzhou.” He sighed with a bitter smile. “Unlike me, just an ordinary company employee doing something I don’t like. I always feel…”

Jian Mingzhou fell silent for a moment and consoled him, “It’s okay, my boss is the same.” The fallen summer angel.

“?”

“But he still became my boss.”

“…Zhou Wensong.”

“And,” Jian Mingzhou continued in a calm tone, “even if hobbies don’t turn into a profession, you can still continue to enjoy what you love.”

Zhou Wensong scratched his head and smiled, “True.”

Just as they were talking, his phone rang.

He glanced at it and quickly bid farewell. “Oh, I have to go. I have overtime tonight.”

Zhou Wensong hurriedly left the convenience store but turned back. “Regarding the class reunion, we’ll talk later—make sure to come!”

“Oh!” Jian Mingzhou waved.

That figure quickly disappeared into the dusk.

Enjoying what one loves.

Encountering the class monitor unexpectedly brought Jian Mingzhou’s memories back to ten years ago. Then he remembered the contract he signed today for Xiaolu.

His heart suddenly swelled.

It seemed like he had unknowingly completed what he wanted to do ten years ago.

A faint smile formed on Jian Mingzhou’s lips. He bought some items and headed home.

–

Back home, Xie Jing was already there.

He was standing in front of the dining table, unpacking the food.

Jian Mingzhou, still immersed in his emotions, felt a bit uneasy seeing fewer people around. “Xiao Jing.”

Xie Jing glanced over and said, “Uncle, you seem to be in a good mood.”

“Yeah.” Jian Mingzhou put down the takeaway bag. “Xiaolu’s animation contract got signed today, and I ran into an old classmate and had a little chat.”

“Old classmate?”

“The high school class monitor—the one we met at the mall the day after Qixi.”

Xie Jing thought for a moment, “Oh, your fellow enthusiast.”

Jian Mingzhou felt strangely embarrassed by the term, changing the subject to “I brought you some food.” Seeing Xie Jing’s gaze, he tried to sound casual, “Because you said you’d bring something to eat back home…”

“Got it,” Xie Jing couldn’t help but chuckle.

Jian Mingzhou resisted the warmth in his ears. Why was he laughing?

But Xie Jing had already effortlessly unpacked the food. He also pushed a box of cake toward Jian Mingzhou, saying, “Just baked; try it.”

The cake had a soft crust that was plump and round.

Jian Mingzhou took a bite.

As he squeezed the cream, it spurted onto his cheeks. “…” He was about to grab a tissue when Xie Jing saw and laughed.

With a slight raise of his long arm, he casually wiped it for him.

Jian Mingzhou’s heart skipped a beat.

Was it because he had read so many comics that, for a moment, he thought Xie Jing was going to eat them himself?

Feeling his gaze, Xie Jing wiped his fingertips. “Uncle, what are you thinking? I won’t do it like in the comics.”

“…” Jian Mingzhou was incredulous.

All those things before—were they really so proper!?

“Besides, in the comics, they don’t use their hands to wipe,” Xie Jing continued with a slight smile.

Jian Mingzhou wondered if he had telepathic abilities.

Xie Jing went on, “You haven’t said you like me, so it would be too ambiguous.”

“…” Jian Mingzhou found himself at a loss.

After a while, he made a sound of agreement, lowered his head, and continued eating the remaining cake.

The cream seemed to float in the air.

Very sweet and light.

–

After dinner, Xie Jing went to take a shower.

Jian Mingzhou sat down with his computer on the lazy couch.

When he returned to the company in the afternoon, Xia Ye had already left. Now, the other person was texting him:

【Chief Editor】: Did you bring the signed contract back?

【Mingzhou】: Yes, I did.

【Chief Editor】: Hmm, good. [Adjusts glasses] Did Xiaolu say anything?

“…” Jian Mingzhou’s gaze subtly shifted.

After a moment, he replied, You made inappropriate remarks, so I banned her.

【Chief Editor】: ?

After sending the message, he didn’t bother with Xia Ye, just closing the chat box.

A new manuscript was sent to the computer.

It was from a new author he recently took under his wing. The newcomer was enthusiastic, unaware that it was already after work hours.

Jian Mingzhou didn’t mind, opened the draft, and after a while, he circled the problems and sent suggestions:

 【Mingzhou】: Teacher, the atmosphere between the seme and uke here is a bit too bland ^0^ We need something that directly hits the heart.

【Xiaoxin】: Alright!

In just a few minutes, the revised version arrived.

Jian Mingzhou was somewhat surprised. So fast?

He opened the illustration and saw that a Cupid icon, 【Cupid】 was added on top.

[biu! The uke’s heart is pierced.]

He said, “…”

A superficially direct hit to the heart!

Jian Mingzhou took a moment and patiently replied:

Not only should it hit the character’s heart but also the reader’s heart. Make it more exciting—an irresistible moment. ^^

The response was a quick “Alright!” and the revision was made.

Just as he was about to close the chat box, he heard the bathroom door open.

Xie Jing came out after taking a shower.

Jian Mingzhou instinctively looked over.

He saw Xie Jing walking under the ceiling light in the living room, his tall figure swaying directly into view. The damp hair lay gently on his eyebrows, looking fluffy and soft.

Just as he was looking, Xie Jing suddenly turned and met his gaze.

“What’s wrong, Uncle?”

Jian Mingzhou’s gaze shifted slightly.

Just in time, he saw that his phone was running out of battery.

At the moment, he was still sitting on the couch with his computer. “Xiao Jing, can you help me get the charging cable?”

The charging cable was on the small table in front of the balcony.

Xie Jing picked it up casually. “Uncle.”

Jian Mingzhou reached out to take it, and as he looked up…

It was a bare cable.

He said, “…” Xie Jing’s understanding was quite surface-level.

A new message popped up on the computer. Jian Mingzhou looked down and spread his palm. “Xiao Jing, there’s still a head.”

It was quiet for two seconds.

Then, the large sofa beside him sank.

Jian Mingzhou raised his head just in time to see Xie Jing sitting next to him, placing his head on his palm.

“Appearance.”

His heart felt like it was struck in an instant!

He held his breath.

After staring at each other for a while, he found his voice again, “…The cable’s head.”

“Oh,” Xie Jing rubbed his chin and stood up.

His figure walked past.

Jian Mingzhou slowly withdrew his hand from the fixed position. In that moment, he was unexpectedly cute.

…But just a bit!

In the midst of a rapidly beating heart, Jian Mingzhou turned his head away. This shouldn’t be considered falling, right?