Zhou Yi had long grown accustomed to the attitude of those around Shang Yichen. After all, everyone who associated with him seemed to look down on Zhou Yi with a sense of disdain.

So, when Secretary Fu snapped at him, Zhou Yi didn’t feel anger rise within him. Instead, he simply apologized. “I’m sorry, Secretary Fu. The traffic was terrible. Where is Mr. Shang?”

Secretary Fu, clearly frustrated, replied sharply, “Mr. Shang has already gone to the restaurant. We’re stuck here waiting for you.”

Zhou Yi silently gave him the middle finger in his mind. Wouldn’t it be simpler to just go together with the one already waiting for you? Why do things have to be so complicated with Shang Yichen? Yet, he remained outwardly composed and continued, “I’m really sorry, Secretary Fu. I’ll take you home right now.”

Seeing Zhou Yi apologize twice, Secretary Fu didn’t know how to respond. After all, Zhou Yi was Shang Yichen’s sponsor. If he pushed too hard, he risked provoking Shang Yichen.

“Take the luggage and go,” Secretary Fu huffed, pushing the suitcase toward Zhou Yi, signaling the assistant to hand over the rest of the luggage.

Zhou Yi didn’t say a word. He simply took the luggage and walked out, silently thankful that his body no longer ached so much. Carrying the bags felt easier now, and it was less likely anyone would notice anything amiss.

He dropped them off at the company as requested, then drove to the restaurant where he had made a reservation. Although over an hour had passed since he left, he wasn’t sure if Shang Yichen was still there. But given that Secretary Fu had mentioned Shang Yichen was waiting at the restaurant for dinner, Zhou Yi figured he’d give it a try.

When he arrived, he asked the waiter at the front desk for the reserved private room, only to be told that it had been closed and given to other guests. This could only mean one thing—Shang Yichen had already finished dinner and left.

Zhou Yi immediately realized he had been misled by Secretary Fu. What a waste of time, he thought, feeling a mix of annoyance and resignation.

After a long moment of frustration, he shrugged it off, chalking it up to bad luck. As he turned to leave, his phone rang. It was Shang Yichen.

Zhou Yi answered the call, only to hear Shang Yichen’s displeased voice on the other end. “Zhou Yi, where are you? I’ve finished dinner and already gone home. Why aren’t you back yet?”

Zhou Yi responded honestly, “I thought you were still at the restaurant, so I drove here.”

Shang Yichen’s voice grew more impatient. “Didn’t I tell my secretary to tell you to come home directly? Why did you go to the restaurant? I’m not waiting for you to eat with me anymore. Just come back quickly.” With that, he hung up.

Zhou Yi simply shrugged. He wasn’t bothered by the tone. It doesn’t matter, he thought. He hadn’t eaten either, and he was in no rush to go home just yet. He would just use the traffic jam excuse.

After all, he needed some energy to deal with Shang Yichen when he got home.

Zhou Yi returned to the restaurant, booked a private room for himself, and enjoyed his meal in peace. He savored the food, the exclusive service, and the chance to relax. After eating, he drove back to his apartment. Before going upstairs, he checked his appearance in the mirror to ensure nothing was out of place.

Once satisfied, he headed upstairs. When he reached his door, he instinctively glanced across at the door opposite but quickly looked away. He took a deep breath, pretending to be in a hurry, and entered his apartment.

Shang Yichen was already sitting on the sofa in the living room, visibly angry. He hadn’t expected Zhou Yi to be late for the airport pick-up, especially since he’d always been the one waiting for him. During this business trip, Zhou Yi had been distant—only reaching out when Shang Yichen called or messaged him.

To Shang Yichen, this was a sign that Zhou Yi didn’t care about him.

The frustration boiled over as he stared at Zhou Yi, who entered the room late, his face cold with anger.

Zhou Yi took one look at Shang Yichen’s stern expression and knew he had to act first. He quickly changed his shoes and, adopting a humble and pleasant demeanor, walked up to Shang Yichen. “I’ve been waiting for you at home these past few days, Mr. Shang. Welcome back.”

Shang Yichen scoffed, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “You’re late to pick me up from the airport. How can you claim to welcome me back?”

Zhou Yi took the jab with grace, inwardly rolling his eyes. How dare he talk to me like that when I’m the one funding his lavish life?

Without missing a beat, Zhou Yi skillfully apologized, “Mr. Shang, I’m sorry for being late to pick you up. It won’t happen again next time.” He bowed deeply, 95 degrees in a gesture of respect.

Shang Yichen’s expression softened a bit. He sighed, clearly annoyed, but he changed the subject. “What have you been doing these past few days?”

Zhou Yi answered calmly, “I’ve just been at home, doing housework, cleaning up, and waiting for you to return, Mr. Shang.”

Apparently, this answer struck the right chord with Shang Yichen, as his face visibly relaxed, and the tension in the room eased.

“Is everything okay with your trip, Mr. Shang?” Zhou Yi asked, wanting to show that he cared.

“It’s fine,” Shang Yichen replied, raising his chin slightly. “Go and bring my suitcase to the room. I want to take a bath.”

Zhou Yi nodded eagerly. “Of course, I’ll get everything ready for you.”

After carrying the suitcase to the master bedroom, Zhou Yi prepared the bathroom. He ran the water in the bathtub, washed grapes, cut oranges, and poured a glass of champagne—something Shang Yichen liked. He also set out dinner plates and placed a bottle of essential oils on the shelf, finishing the setup just as the water temperature reached perfection.

Everything in place, Zhou Yi walked back to the living room. He reminded Shang Yichen that everything was ready, and Shang Yichen entered the bathroom soon after.

While Shang Yichen relaxed in the bath, Zhou Yi busied himself with making the bed in the master bedroom. He was meticulous, as Shang Yichen was a mysophobe and required everything to be pristine, just like in a hotel.

Once the bed was made and the windows closed, Zhou Yi stood by the bathroom door and called, “Mr. Shang, the bed is ready.”

“I got it. You can go out now,” Shang Yichen’s voice called from within.

Zhou Yi nodded and left the room, locking his own bedroom door behind him. Feeling a little tired, he stretched out. His body had not fully recovered from the previous events, and the red marks on his neck still hadn’t faded. To avoid detection, he kept his shirt buttoned all the way to the top, which felt tight and uncomfortable.

It was finally time for him to rest. He unbuttoned his collar and went into the bathroom to take a quick shower, planning to get some sleep afterward.

But as soon as he stepped out of the bathroom, he heard a knock at the door. Wrapping a towel around his neck to cover the marks, Zhou Yi quickly put on his pajamas and went to answer.

Shang Yichen was standing at the door, frowning. “Why did it take you so long to open the door?”

Zhou Yi explained, “I was just finishing my shower, so I didn’t hear you knock.”

Shang Yichen glanced at the ends of Zhou Yi’s damp hair but didn’t comment. Instead, he handed Zhou Yi a bag. “This is for you.”

Zhou Yi immediately recognized it as a souvenir from Shang Yichen’s business trip. He pretended to be surprised, accepting the bag. “What’s this?”

“You’ll know when you open it,” Shang Yichen said flatly.

Inside, Zhou Yi found a watch. While it wasn’t as extravagant as the one Liang Xianzhang had given him, Zhou Yi could tell it was still a pricey gift.

He held it up with a surprised smile, “Is this for me, Mr. Shang?”

Shang Yichen nodded. “It’s for you.”

“It’s beautiful, I really like it,” Zhou Yi exclaimed, his smile genuine.

Shang Yichen raised his chin. “Let me see it.”

Zhou Yi carefully took the watch from the box and fastened it around his wrist. “It fits perfectly,” he said, admiring it.

Shang Yichen watched him intently, his thoughts a mix of confusion and something else he couldn’t quite place. He felt a strange sensation in his chest.

Zhou Yi looked up and caught his gaze. “Thank you, I really like it.”

Shang Yichen’s heart skipped a beat at the sincerity in Zhou Yi’s voice. He hesitated for a moment, then simply said, “As long as you like it.”

Zhou Yi nodded, carefully adjusting the watch on his wrist. Shang Yichen turned and left the room, his steps quick as though trying to escape his emotions.

Zhou Yi watched him go, his smile fading as soon as the door closed. Once alone, he took off the watch, placed it back in the box, and thought to himself that it might just end up on a second-hand website once the contract expired.