Feng Sheng arrived late and wasn’t fully aware of the situation yet; he should have assumed An Xun was the one being bullied.

Bo Xiangzhou sat in a chair, his long legs crossed, his innate commanding presence not something the inferior alpha, deadbeat, could match.

He glanced lightly at the two men, who shrank back like ostriches, already losing their aggressive demeanor.

On the other hand, with Bo Xiangzhou’s support, An Xun felt bolstered, “Why so quiet now? Weren’t you quite talkative earlier? Didn’t you say I’ve served many people? Name them. You know how to play dumb now? Why didn’t I see you playing the fool in the restaurant? You even called out to me, saying you wanted revenge. Here I am sitting, come take your revenge.”

Bo Xiangzhou gently tapped An Xun’s hand, “Alright, baby, calm down. We can talk more after tonight, it’s already very late. Are you hungry?”

“Hungry.”

“I’ll take you somewhere else to eat soon.”

An Xun quietly clung to his arm, as if entrusting something significant, “Comrade Bo, I’ll leave it to you to handle this.”

Bo Xiangzhou instantly turned humble, “Okay.”

While they talked, the diligent Feng Sheng had already mostly grasped what had happened and whispered it to Bo Xiangzhou.

Hearing about the demand for ten thousand yuan in compensation, Bo Xiangzhou scoffed, “Hitting you was already giving you face. Where do you get the nerve to ask for ten thousand? Just a broken corner of your mouth, a few cents for a band-aid would fix it. Besides, is your face even worth ten thousand? Don’t say I’m biased. Whoever starts trouble is at fault, you provoke and can’t win, then turn around barking mad like a beaten dog. Daring to act but not to own it, cowardly and incompetent, and you call yourself an alpha, you only dare to show off with your mouth. Alright, enough talk, apologize, and just like now, avoid him whenever you see him, and we can pretend nothing happened. If you want to make it ugly, you can try.”

He signaled Feng Sheng with his eyes.

Feng Sheng nodded.

An Xun watched, bewildered as Feng Sheng suddenly walked away.

A police officer nearby cautioned, “President Bo, isn’t this inappropriate?”

Bo Xiangzhou replied, “Who sets the terms for the settlement, you or them?”

“Of course, it’s you.”

“Then what’s the problem with what I just said?”

“None, please continue.”

Cheng Song’s brother was the mayor of the neighboring Lincheng City, and the person in front of them held a significant position in the business world, not someone they could afford to offend.

The fight was a minor issue, supposed to be resolved in a matter of minutes, but had been dragged out by both parties for half an hour.

The police washed their hands of it, letting the parties negotiate their own terms.

He couldn’t just let this beating go unaddressed; he had started it out of frustration over being outnumbered, not expecting Meng Xiao to be useless, unable to help at all. Knowing that the other party had tricked him and that Bo Xiangzhou was his legitimate husband, he was furious and jealous, his eyes burning with rage.

At that moment, An Xun spoke up, “Why are you glaring at me? Do you also want to steal my husband?”

Pointing at deadbeat, he turned to Bo Xiangzhou and said, “Husband, Mr. Zhang here has taken a liking to you.”

Bo Xiangzhou facepalmed, “Baby, his surname is Zhao.”

An Xun kept a straight face, “Oh, sorry, I always forget his surname.”

Bo Xiangzhou found his expression extremely cute, wanting to pinch his cheek, “It’s okay not to remember, he’s not someone important anyway.”

The alpha across was nearly driven mad, Meng Xiao was someone who bullied the weak but feared the strong. Before, he had bullied An Xun, just a recent graduate, with petty schemes. Now, facing his powerful backing, he didn’t dare breathe too loudly.

Bo Xiangzhou’s gaze was cold and detached, the slight curve of his lips making him appear even more aloof and inscrutable.

No matter how much the two on the other side pretended to be calm, they couldn’t escape his eyes; they weren’t even qualified to be his adversaries.

Bo Xiangzhou warmed An Xun’s hand, “Decided yet? An alpha, hesitating and indecisive, no wonder you can only find a pathetic sense of satisfaction by bullying the weak.”

The supposedly weak An Xun pinched his waist, though the coat was too thick to feel it. He grabbed his hand, brought it to his palm, and said, “Stop it.”

The alpha’s pride was crushed in front of a true powerhouse. Deadbeat struggled, “Is he not wrong then? You lecture me with all this reason, better to tell him.”

“He’s only been out of school just over a year, still not familiar with social rules and proprieties, what does he understand? Even if you told him, he wouldn’t comprehend. Today’s ugly situation could have been avoided if you hadn’t clung to your worthless pride, unable to recognize your own position, troubling him, a mere employee at a company team-building event. So, tell me, what did he do wrong?” Bo Xiangzhou signaled An Xun to keep quiet.

An Xun gestured that he would keep his mouth shut, then made a “please go ahead” gesture, putting his hands back into Bo Xiangzhou’s.

“Oh, I forgot, he does have a small fault. He has nothing to do with any high-level executive at Yi Hai, he made that up the other day, and I’ve already reprimanded him for it. His only alpha has always been me, if you misunderstood, then please don’t misunderstand in the future.”

Bo Xiangzhou said, “There are some things I’d rather not say. Act prudently, you know what you’ve done. He doesn’t want me to interfere, and I won’t, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a temper.”

Bo Xiangzhou’s gaze was threatening, and Meng Xiao, thinking to say a word or two, was intimidated back into silence. After a long time, both parties finally reached a settlement.

“Aren’t you cold?” An Xun only then remembered to ask. Bo Xiangzhou’s hand felt warm; he wasn’t cold.

Bo Xiangzhou pretended, “Cold.”

“Cold and you wear so little, can’t blame me then.” An Xun hugged his waist, and Bo Xiangzhou half-hugged him as they slowly walked forward, “Husband, today was so embarrassing.”

A crescent moon hung in the sky, its light thin like gauze, blending into Bo Xiangzhou’s shadow. His words were as gentle as ever, seeming to accommodate all of An Xun’s bad habits and flaws, providing great encouragement.

His words provided the security a partner needed, “It’s not embarrassing, baby, you weren’t the one in the wrong, it’s just that baby is a bit silly. Baby doesn’t need to worry about anything else. Before the news came out, I had someone block it, the restaurant’s management and waitstaff signed non-disclosure agreements, and the audience was bribed in the guise of Cheng Song’s identity. If leaked, it will be legally pursued. As long as baby doesn’t say, no one will know. But you might need to explain to your boss.”

Once in the car, An Xun still looked worried, but with no outsiders, Bo Xiangzhou could finally pinch his cheek without restraint, “Is baby worried about explaining? I have an idea, but I’m not sure if baby wants to hear it.”

“Let’s hear it. If it’s feasible, I’ll use it.” Not one to miss out, An Xun understood his implied meaning, promptly kissing him intensely.

“Just give me a status.” Bo Xiangzhou hooked his finger, then kneaded it in his hand.

An Xun was confused, “What status? Aren’t we married already? What more do you need?”

“Baby, everyone knows you have a husband, but they don’t know who your husband is. How much longer do you plan to keep it a secret?”

“It was you who didn’t want to go public initially, not even willing to post a photo. Now why blame me?”

Indeed, part of the responsibility was his, Bo Xiangzhou didn’t shirk it, “At that time, I was worried it would affect your normal life. The family suggested keeping it private, which seemed reasonable, so I agreed. I thought it was better to let our relationship develop for a while. But later, it was you who wanted to achieve something great on your own, refusing to be tied to me.”

An Xun, thinking he was being sarcastic, resolved, “Just wait a few more years for me, and I will indeed make a name for myself!”

That day’s conversation ended on a sour note.

An Xun, eager to eat, noticed Feng Sheng’s absence for the past ten minutes, “Where’s your assistant?”

“Having them sign non-disclosure agreements.”

So those few minutes they were away were for printing contracts? An Xun didn’t know whether to admire the caution of the wealthy or think he was naïve for trusting they’d be intimidated by their threats.

An Xun browsed his phone for “a hundred ways to flatter your boss,” as Bo Xiangzhou leaned over, his breath warm against An Xun’s ear, “Got some good news, does baby want to hear?”

“Listening.”

“An Zhicheng took the bait, Cheng Song is keeping an eye on it.”

An Xun, forgetful, “What bait?”

“Your bankruptcy scheme.”

“The land deal? How did that old coot fall for it?”

“Cheng Song put on a show, An Xin overheard and then went straight to An Zhicheng with it.”

An Xun was incredulous, “Just like that, he bought it?”

An Zhicheng’s doting on An Xin was beyond imagination.

After the non-disclosure agreements were signed and checked three times by Feng Sheng, they were allowed to leave, and he even raised the partition for the two in the back.

The air thinned, but the romantic atmosphere did not diminish. Bo Xiangzhou, playing with his earlobe, said, “Chen Xiang might be involved inside, facing two drags, it’s his retribution. Unlike baby, baby is very smart.”

“Talk is talk, don’t touch randomly, if it catches fire, you won’t be able to handle it. I have to work tomorrow, and so do you.” An Xun said, “I still don’t understand why you didn’t just crush An’s directly, it would have been so much easier, they could have gone bankrupt overnight.”

Bo Xiangzhou explained, “Baby, our families are still allied through marriage, some things shouldn’t be done too ruthlessly, it would look bad for both sides if it blows up. My main task is to protect Bo’s interests and maximize them. He’s received our family’s help, which to some extent represents Bo’s face. We can’t act against their products, the common market tactic of slandering reputation can’t be used either, we can only plan long-term to push them out of the market without involving Bo.”

“I could actually come forward to prove that I don’t get along with their family, that the marriage alliance doesn’t exist.” An Xun stuffed his hands into Bo’s pockets.

Bo Xiangzhou paused for half a minute, speaking earnestly, “Baby, everything I do, I’m telling you, unpleasant memories from the past can be erased and need not be brought up again. I want you to be happy and joyful, when people mention you, they should think of you as lively and free, not the unwelcome young master of the An family. You will be happier than the second before.”

“You think so, huh.” An Xun buried himself in his embrace, “I’m a bit touched, can I kiss you a few times?”

“First clear up your rumors, I didn’t even know, I’ve apparently become a subordinate of myself.” Bo Xiangzhou rubbed his face, “How many identities have you arranged for me outside?”

An Xun’s half face was squished, “I’ll clarify, I’ll clarify tomorrow, say you work in the service industry at the market.”

“It’s too late today, we’ll settle new and old accounts tomorrow.”

“Can’t we just not settle? Let me go, I’m just a poor employee.” He didn’t want to be scolded like a little kid, “If you want to go public, go ahead, but you can’t hold me accountable afterward.”

Bo Xiangzhou pretended to think it over, “Then we’ll settle the accounts.”

An Xun glared at him, but he just smiled, his meaning unclear.

The number of high-end restaurants still open at this hour was few, An Xun, not picky about meat or vegetables, just tended to prefer meat. After checking several restaurant menus online and not finding any satisfying options, with only unappetizing dishes left.

An Xun dragged out his words, “Husband, go home and cook for me?”

“I only know those few dishes.”

“If my husband makes it, I can eat it even if it’s poisoned.”

The kitchen didn’t have many ingredients, Bo Xiangzhou simply made salmon pasta to fill his stomach. After cleaning the dishes in the dishwasher, An Xun, who had eaten his fill, was already quietly lying in bed asleep when Bo Xiangzhou came upstairs. The blanket was left half for him, the space just right, his body fit just right, and he could just wrap his arms around him.

The next morning, An Xun’s alarm set for six o’clock began to ring.

He turned it off irritably and tried to go back to sleep, but then remembered his purpose; he wanted to get to the company early to pick up a gift for Bo Xiangzhou. So, he left even earlier than Bo Xiangzhou, wolfing down a sandwich on the road while hurriedly asking the driver to take him to work.