Chapter 18 – People Whose Words And Actions Are Inconsistent

There are three urgent matters for humans. Zhou Ziyi said he needed to go to the bathroom, and Yan Xiuzhi couldn’t possibly say “hold it in.”

But Yan Xiuzhi didn’t move for a while, just stood by the bed and looked at the person on the bed.

Zhou Ziyi: “Um, President Yan?”

Yan Xiuzhi remained silent for a second. “Really?”

Zhou Ziyi wondered what kind of image he had in Yan Xiuzhi’s mind. “Why I am joking with you?”

Yan Xiuzhi continued to stay silent.

Zhou Ziyi had no choice but to try to prop himself up. He couldn’t get up easily, and he had to start moving slowly on his own. His back still hurt a lot, and he couldn’t exert too much force on his waist. He had no idea how long it would take to reach his destination.

Finally, Yan Xiuzhi moved.

He knelt on one knee and gestured with his hand, “I’ll help you up.”

“Oh.” Zhou Ziyi tried to cooperate and reached out his hand, but whenever he reached up, Yan Xiuzhi would also reach up; when his hand moved down, Yan Xiuzhi would follow suit. Their hands always collided, and it was unclear whether it was due to lack of synchronization or too much synchronization.

Yan Xiuzhi finally said, “Don’t move.”

Zhou Ziyi complied.

Yan Xiuzhi extended his arm to the young man’s neck and exerted a little force to support him upward. “Take your time and get up.”

With the CEO’s half-support and half-carry, Zhou Ziyi finally managed to get up and moved to the edge of the bed. Yan Xiuzhi turned around, squatting down. It seemed like he was going to carry Zhou Ziyi on his back. Zhou Ziyi quickly said, “It’s fine, I can walk over there myself. Could you please just help me up?”

Yan Xiuzhi stood up.

As he stood up, he casually supported the edge of the bed. Zhou Ziyi noticed his movement and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

Yan Xiuzhi stood up straight. “What?”

Zhou Ziyi said, “Are you feeling a bit unsteady?”

“Your imagination,” Yan Xiuzhi said as he helped him up. Zhou Ziyi thought that was it, but Yan Xiuzhi continued to support him and slowly walked towards the bathroom. The speed was incredibly slow, so slow that Zhou Ziyi felt it was unnecessary and couldn’t help but say, “General Yan, do you think we’ll trip and fall flat on the ground again?”

Yan Xiuzhi replied, “You can walk on your own if you’re able.”

Zhou Ziyi was dissatisfied. “I can walk while leaning against the wall.”

“Until tomorrow?”

“……” Forget it, let’s not argue. The more we argue, the more frustrated we become.

In a harmonious (?) chatting atmosphere, the two finally arrived at the bathroom next door.

Yan Xiuzhi supported Zhou Ziyi in front of the toilet and slowly released his hand. But the CEO didn’t immediately leave, standing in place to make sure the young man could stand on his own. Zhou Ziyi didn’t understand what he was doing and looked at him with a strange expression, saying, “What, you want to see me use the toilet?”

Only then did Yan Xiuzhi turn and leave. Zhou Ziyi leisurely used the toilet, flushed the water, and washed his hands. Just as he was about to open the bathroom door, the door suddenly opened inward.

“!!!” Zhou Ziyi was startled, glaring at the man standing at the door, “You almost hit me!”

Yan Xiuzhi said, “I judged it by the sound of water.”

Zhou Ziyi realized that it was difficult to get a thank you or an apology from this CEO, even more difficult than reaching the sky. He had to suppress his temper and use a more gentle tone, saying, “But you scared me… At least you should knock, right?”

In fact, Yan Xiuzhi also remembered this. He didn’t know what happened earlier, but after closing the door, he just stood outside the door. After hearing no movement inside for a while, a sudden impulse surged in his heart, and he instinctively opened the door without even thinking of knocking first.

President Yan rarely behaves so impolitely, and he believes it must be the fault of alcohol.

So when Zhou Ziyi expressed his complaint in a softer tone, Yan Xiuzhi also followed suit and said, “Hmm.”

He tirelessly supported Zhou Ziyi back again.

Zhou Ziyi sat back on the edge of the bed but didn’t lie down immediately. Yan Xiuzhi thought he couldn’t lie down on his own, so he reached out to help him. However, Zhou Ziyi made another request, saying, “I want to change into pajamas.”

Yan Xiuzhi and he locked eyes for a second. Just when Zhou Ziyi thought he would hear “Why are you so troublesome,” Yan Xiuzhi turned and walked towards the wardrobe to find him pajamas.

Zhou Ziyi watched his figure and blinked.

—Just as expected.

—He’s someone who never admits guilt with his mouth but feels guilty through his actions…

Yan Xiuzhi found the pajamas from the drawer under the wardrobe. When he stood up, there was a momentary stiffness in his leg movement, but then he straightened up and turned back to the edge of the bed. He helped Zhou Ziyi stand up, and the next second, Zhou Ziyi’s pants slid down!

Yan Xiuzhi: !!!

Zhou Ziyi was wearing boxers, his thighs exposed. “What’s wrong?”

Even though they are of the same gender and he also has the same equipment, Yan Xiuzhi just felt that those legs were dazzling. He instinctively averted his gaze and said, “Why did you take them off?!”

“I untied them while I was sitting just now,” Zhou Ziyi said in a puzzled tone, looking innocent. “I can’t bend over now, so won’t they come off easily like this?”

As he spoke, Zhou Ziyi took two slow steps, and now he completely took off his pants.

What he said made sense, but Yan Xiuzhi felt that something was off. However, before the CEO could figure it out, Zhou Ziyi smiled at him apologetically and said, “President Yan… can you help me put them on?”

Yan Xiuzhi furrowed his eyebrows and asked, “What?”

“I can’t bend over,” Zhou Ziyi explained. “President Yan, please, can you help me?”

“……Speak properly,” Yan Xiuzhi said, but he was already squatting down, holding onto the pajama pants. The position was a bit awkward, so he tried to avoid looking up, grabbed one pant leg, and approached Zhou Ziyi’s right foot. “Lift your foot.”

Zhou Ziyi obediently put his foot in.
Then, following the same process, the left foot went in as well. Yan Xiuzhi grabbed the waistband and without hesitation, lifted the pants up for him.

“Thank you, President Yan.” Zhou Ziyi finally sat back down and then extended his hand to Yan Xiuzhi. Yan Xiuzhi was feeling a bit uneasy now, unable to describe the sensation. Without thinking, he asked, “What now?”

Zhou Ziyi’s tone was casual. “I can’t raise my hand, so I can’t take off my T-shirt. President Yan, can you help me with that?”

Yan Xiuzhi felt that Zhou Ziyi was taking advantage a bit, but he acted before he could think and graciously helped him. Previously, when Zhou Ziyi was in the hospital, a doctor helped him apply medication. Now that his clothes were off, the smell was quite strong. As Yan Xiuzhi helped him put on his pajamas and adjust his clothes, he saw the bruised area on his back, which added to his uneasiness.

Zhou Ziyi had good intentions of helping himself up the stairs, and he was the one who fell first. Zhou Ziyi ended up being the cushion, purely an innocent victim.

Although the examination results didn’t show any major issues, Yan Xiuzhi couldn’t remain completely indifferent when looking at the bruises.

Compared to Yan Xiuzhi’s fluctuating mood, Zhou Ziyi was surprisingly in good spirits and even made a playful remark, “The smell of this medicine is so strong. I guess we’ll have to change all the bedsheets afterward, right? Just hope it doesn’t seep into the mattress…”

“If it gets on them, we’ll change everything together,” President Yan replied confidently. After helping Zhou Ziyi get dressed and stand up straight, he asked, “Is there anything else you need?”

Zhou Ziyi automatically translated this sentence as “Is there anything else I can help with?” and looked at him, saying, “Actually, yes.”

Yan Xiuzhi was truly willing to go the extra mile. “What is it?” he asked.

Zhou Ziyi said, “President Yan, your knee must have hit the ground, right?”

Yan Xiuzhi remained silent.

“I can tell, you’re trying to be strong,” Zhou Ziyi looked at the man’s leg. “It must be quite painful. I won’t nag you about it, but remember to apply medicine and take it seriously.”

Yan Xiuzhi’s movements when he stood up were not natural, and Zhou Ziyi noticed it three times. At first, Zhou Ziyi thought it might be because of alcohol, but upon further consideration, he realized it probably wasn’t.

Zhou Ziyi also didn’t know what made him so stubborn, so he could only rely on President Yan’s busy schedule tonight, along with his humanitarian spirit, to offer a gentle reminder.

Yan Xiuzhi’s response is, “I know my own body very well.”

Zhou Ziyi has already guessed that he won’t directly admit it, so he’s not annoyed and smiles at him. “As long as President Yan knows it himself.”

“You take care of yourself first.” Yan Xiuzhi helps him lie back down, his tone not particularly pleasant, but he still asks him, “Should I leave the bedside lamp on or off?”

Zhou Ziyi says, “Turn it off.”

Yan Xiuzhi gets up and walks towards the door. Just as he raises his hand, to turns off the light, and Zhou Ziyi suddenly exclaims, “Ah!”

Yan Xiuzhi turns the light back on and asks, “What’s wrong now?”

“I just remembered that there’s a sandwich in the refrigerator. I have to eat it by tomorrow morning at the latest.” Zhou Ziyi blinks at him and says, “Wasting food is not good, President Yan.”

Yan Xiuzhi says, “Can’t you eat it yourself after you get up?”

Zhou Ziyi confidently says, “My back hurts, I want to sleep a little longer and don’t want to wake up early.”

Yan Xiuzhi: “…”

Zhou Ziyi quickly adds, “Goodnight, President Yan!”

“Goodnight…”

Yan Xiuzhi turned off the light, closed the door, finally isolating himself from that troublesome person.

At this point, he hadn’t even taken off his tie and walked towards the stairs while twisting it. Seeing the steps, he couldn’t help but sigh: what a hassle.

He didn’t know if he was referring to the stairs being a hassle or someone troubling him.

Yan Xiuzhi lifted his foot to go upstairs, but just as he exerted pressure on his knee, that sharp pain returned.

“Tsk…”

Might as well take some medicine.

The next morning, President Yan appeared in the company on time.

Li Fei happened to run into him in the corridor and instinctively said, “President Yan, I ordered breakfast for you…”

Yan Xiuzhi handed her a bag.

Li Fei: ???

“Just heat it up in the microwave for me, no need to order breakfast,” Yan Xiuzhi said calmly, “And get me a cup of coffee.”

Li Fei reached into the paper bag and possibly found something to eat. Without thinking, he replied, “Okay.”

Yan Xiuzhi continued giving instructions, “Assist Xiao Li in quickly delivering the wheelchair and caregiver to the house. After you finish, remember to return the keys to me.”

“Ah?” Li Fei was completely puzzled. “Wheelchair? Caregiver?”

Yan Xiuzhi added, “Also, recently Zhou Ziyi is not feeling well. For matters related to the wedding, if there’s something you can decide directly, go ahead and decide. If it can be delayed, then ask later. For important matters that must be decided immediately, you can ask me.”

Li Fei exclaimed, “Huh?”

Yan Xiuzhi didn’t explain any further and turned to his own office.

Leaving Secretary Li standing there, utterly confused. Out of curiosity, she opened the paper bag and discovered a handmade sandwich.

— Why has the trend of bringing packed lunches with love started again?

— Is the world about to turn upside down?