Chapter 18: Who Can Resist This Temptation?

“President Lu, I’ll take my leave now.”

“Have Lin Cheng come in.”

Qing Shiru turned and left upon hearing this.

After a while, Assistant Lin knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Lu Tingshen looked up, leaning back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping on the desk.

“Help me find someone to convert the empty room on the first floor of the apartment into a painting studio. I’ve already prepared the design plans.”

“Get it done by 7 PM tonight.”

Assistant Lin didn’t know why the boss suddenly wanted to create a painting studio.

Thinking of the rumors he had just heard, it might be prepared for that person.

He took the design draft drawn by the boss himself and immediately contacted the renovation team.

Lu Tingshen picked up his phone from the desk.

L: How are you today?

L: Are you feeling any discomfort?

When he took him to school yesterday, he was still complaining about back pain. He held him and comforted him for a long time before the little ancestor finally calmed down.

After leaving the painting studio, Ji Jinbai went to the school supermarket to buy some pencils since he had run out.

Ji Jinbai walked familiarly to the shelf selling pens and picked up the pencils he usually used.

Then he went to buy some snacks for Lu Mian, took the items he mentioned, and headed to the checkout counter.

Zhou Xu was buying water in the supermarket. When he turned around, he saw that cold and beautiful boy.

Since the last competition, he hadn’t encountered him again.

But it seemed this beautiful boy was having some trouble.

“Hello, the total is 45 yuan.”

Ji Jinbai reached into his pocket but didn’t find his phone.

He must have left his phone in the painting studio, and he didn’t have any cash with him.

Ji Jinbai frowned, looking at the cashier, feeling a bit awkward. “Then I…”

“I’ll pay for you.”

A unfamiliar male voice interrupted him.

Ji Jinbai looked at the boy who spoke.

The boy had golden hair, was very tall, and looked like a mixed-race person.

He didn’t want to trouble others and instinctively refused, “Thank you, but it’s not good to trouble you.”

The boy in front of him smiled nonchalantly.

“It’s fine, I’ll pay for you now, and you can transfer the money to me on WeChat later.”

That indeed sounded like a good option, and he wouldn’t have to go back for his phone.

Ji Jinbai didn’t refuse anymore and looked at him gratefully. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Zhou Xu stepped forward from behind him, placed the sports drink he was holding on the counter, had the cashier scan it, and then paid with WeChat.

After leaving the supermarket, Zhou Xu looked at the boy with exquisite and cold features, his heart couldn’t help but race.

He picked up his phone and waved it.

“Let’s add each other on WeChat.”

Ji Jinbai looked at him and didn’t refuse, telling him his WeChat ID.

Zhou Xu entered the number on his phone and clicked to send the verification.

He put down his phone and tilted his head at Ji Jinbai with a sunny smile.

“Let’s get to know each other. I’m Zhou Xu, a freshman, majoring in sports. What about you?”

Ji Jinbai thought the other boy was kind-hearted and had a good impression of him, but that was all.

He said in a cold voice, “I’m Ji Jinbai, a sophomore, majoring in art.”

“So you’re my senior. Nice to meet you, senior.”

Ji Jinbai nodded at him and gave a faint smile, not expecting the other to be a junior.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now. Thank you for today.”

Zhou Xu was captivated by his smile, which stirred his heart.

His cool and composed face carried a faint smile, making everything around him seem to pale in comparison.

“Alright, see you later, senior.”

Ji Jinbai nodded, picked up his bag, and walked past him. After a few meters, he turned back.

“Senior, remember to accept my friend request.”

Hearing the voice, Ji Jinbai turned around and saw him waving his phone at him.

The golden hair on his head swayed with the movement, shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight, giving off a youthful and vibrant vibe.

He looked just like a golden retriever, Ji Jinbai thought with an inward chuckle, nodding to indicate he understood.

…

After sending the message, Lu Tingshen waited for a while but received no reply, assuming he was still busy.

He lowered his head to continue working on the documents, but his eyes kept glancing at his phone.

Twenty minutes later.

He opened his phone for the fourth time, still no reply. He frowned, wondering if the kid was upset again.

He thought it would take a long time to get a response.

A few seconds later.

Jinbai Not Jin Bai: My waist is still a bit sore, and it was uncomfortable sitting in the painting studio this morning.

Jinbai Not Jin Bai: I just went to the supermarket and forgot my phone, so I didn’t see your message.

Painting in the studio for hours at a time can really strain the back.

L: Alright, bear with it. I’ll give you a good massage when we get home tonight.

Seeing this, Ji Jinbai smiled softly, rubbing his slightly sore waist, feeling like today wasn’t so unbearable after all.

Jinbai Not Jin Bai: Sure, let’s test President Lu’s skills tonight.

Lu Tingshen noticed that he had gone to the supermarket without his phone, knowing that young people nowadays rarely carry cash.

He frowned, feeling a bit concerned.

L: If you forgot your phone, did you have cash with you?

Ji Jinbai was surprised, not expecting him to pay attention to such a detail.

He sighed softly and replied gloomily.

Jinbai Not Jin Bai: No, I didn’t. But a kind junior helped me pay, or I wouldn’t have known what to do.

Lu Tingshen frowned, his eyes fixed on the words “junior,” a strange emotion flickering in his gaze.

Jinbai Not Jin Bai: Did you miss me today?

Lu Tingshen’s lips curved into a smile, his eyes gentle.

L: Yes, I missed you a lot.

Ji Jinbai was in a good mood, his face bright with a radiant smile.

Jinbai Not Jin Bai: Remember to eat lunch. Don’t skip meals just because you’re busy with work, got it?

He was worried that the man would neglect his health for the sake of work.

He feared he would end up like his father, who often skipped meals when busy.

Over time, his father developed a mild stomach condition.

Since then, his mother would bring lunch to his office every day, making sure he finished it before leaving.

Lu Tingshen managed such a large company, with a heavy workload and endless tasks. Before he knew it, lunchtime would pass.

He often forgot to eat or just grabbed something quick, having grown accustomed to it.

L: Alright, I’ll obey.

Ji Jinbai was pleased with the man’s attitude, smiling softly to himself.

Back at the dorm, he handed the snacks to Lu Mian.

Lu Mian took the bag with a smile. “Thanks, Xiao Bai! Mwah, love you so much!”

Ji Jinbai suddenly remembered something he had forgotten to mention.

“I might not be staying in the dorm occasionally.”

Lu Mian looked at him in surprise. “So, you’ll be living off-campus then?”

“Mm, if I have classes in the afternoon, I’ll come back to stay.”

Lu Mian suddenly had an epiphany, “So you’re planning to live with my Second Uncle?”

He nodded gently.

Lu Mian looked at him with a face full of disappointment.

“How could you be so weak-willed? Those little tricks of an old man, how could you just foolishly agree to them?”

Ji Jinbai was momentarily stunned, then replied bluntly, “You don’t understand.”

You don’t understand how tempting it is.