What Liang Xianzhang had asked Liang Shaowen to investigate was the relationship between Shang Yichen and Zhou Yi.

In the circles of the second generation, gossip ran rampant—stories about celebrity affairs, losses in the casino, or any scandal that could be spread for fun. Most things could be uncovered by simply asking around.

The documents that Liang Shaowen had compiled were thorough, and as Liang Xianzhang skimmed through them, he learned that the relationship between Shang Yichen and Zhou Yi was far from ideal.

From the description, it was clear that Zhou Yi was humble, almost desperate, in his devotion to Shang Yichen—who treated him as nothing more than a contractual partner. The relationship appeared to be one-sided, with Zhou Yi giving, while Shang Yichen took without any true affection.

Liang Xianzhang couldn’t help but feel a surge of jealousy. He was jealous that Zhou Yi cared so much for Shang Yichen, jealous that Zhou Yi saw him every day, jealous that Zhou Yi had feelings for him.

This jealousy stirred something deep within him, leaving Liang Xianzhang restless. He removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to quiet the storm inside.

If only I had known Zhou Yi was in this situation, he thought bitterly. I should have kept him with me, no matter what.

His phone vibrated again, and Liang Xianzhang opened the new message from Liang Shaowen.

Liang Shaowen: [Brother, have you finished reading this? This Omega is truly miserable. He has a sponsor like Shang Yichen, who has always treated him as a joke. Zhou Yi is not welcomed in their circle at all.]

Liang Shaowen: [He works as a nanny and often picks Shang Yichen up or cooks for him. I heard that a few months ago, when Zhou Yi went to pick Shang Yichen up at a bar in the middle of the night, he had a serious car accident. He ended up in the hospital for a while. And yet, Shang Yichen never even visited him. He just continued living his carefree life.]

Liang Shaowen: [Also, everyone knows Zhou Yi is Shang Yichen’s “substitute lover.” His friends often humiliate him, making him feel embarrassed and worthless.]

Though this sort of behavior—using a substitute lover—was common in their circles, the Liang family held strict values. Liang Xianzhang himself frequently lectured his brother on the importance of respect and decency. He couldn’t help but feel contempt as he read these details.

Liang Shaowen, having sent several messages without receiving a reply, finally asked: [Brother, what are you planning to do next? Are you going to use some special means to take him back?]

Liang Xianzhang froze as he read the last sentence. His mind churned with conflicted emotions. Initially, he had refrained from making a move, worried that Zhou Yi had a partner, and respected the boundaries of their relationship. But now, after seeing how Shang Yichen treated him—without affection or care—Liang Xianzhang couldn’t contain his growing desire to step in.

The relationship between Zhou Yi and Shang Yichen was based on money, not feelings. While Zhou Yi may have feelings for him, Shang Yichen clearly did not value Zhou Yi as anything more than a plaything—something disposable.

A despicable thought crossed Liang Xianzhang’s mind: Shang Yichen doesn’t have any real romantic feelings for Zhou Yi. Maybe… maybe that means I still have a chance.

His heart pounded as he thought about how to approach the situation. If Zhou Yi was truly unhappy, perhaps he could use this opportunity to take him away from Shang Yichen. After all, Zhou Yi’s departure might not be final if Liang Xianzhang intervened.

---

Meanwhile, Shang Yichen had just returned to his apartment after work. As he entered, Zhou Yi was there, greeting him. “Mr. Shang, you’re back.”

Shang Yichen removed his coat, carelessly throwing it on Zhou Yi before slipping into the slippers at his feet. “Hmm,” he muttered, not offering much more than a grunt.

Zhou Yi, dutifully, hung up his coat. “I’ve prepared dinner. Would you like to eat now?”

Shang Yichen nodded. “Let’s eat.”

“Then please wash your hands first, and I’ll serve the food.”

Shang Yichen didn’t respond, simply turning toward the bathroom. Zhou Yi moved to the kitchen, getting the rice and bringing the cooked dishes to the table.

As Shang Yichen sat down, impatience flickered in his eyes. “Why is it taking so long?”

Zhou Yi quickly placed the rice in front of him. “It’s ready.”

Shang Yichen began eating, but as soon as Zhou Yi sat beside him, he frowned. “You sit over there. You smell like oil smoke. How come you don’t even use deodorant after cooking?”

Zhou Yi suppressed his frustration but didn’t let it show on his face. “It’s my fault. I’ll sit over there after serving you the soup.”

After serving him the soup, Zhou Yi moved to the farthest seat, keeping his distance.

Shang Yichen, between bites, asked casually, “What did you do today? You sounded like you were crying when I called.”

Zhou Yi placed his chopsticks down. “Someone ran over my foot with a shopping cart. It hurt a little, so my voice sounded strange.”

Shang Yichen barely reacted. “Don’t go to those crowded places too often. If you need something, just have it delivered.”

Zhou Yi nodded, silently relieved that Shang Yichen didn’t seem suspicious. He finished his meal, cleaned up, and washed the dishes by hand—despite the availability of a dishwasher—wanting to demonstrate his diligence to his sponsor.

Later, as Zhou Yi prepared fruit for Shang Yichen, he carefully peeled, cut, and arranged it. Shang Yichen was a picky eater, so it had to be perfect. The seeds had to be removed, the slices even, and the plate arranged with a special fork, or he wouldn’t eat it.

Zhou Yi had worked in a KTV before, so cutting fruit was second nature. As he worked, he snuck a few bites of the sweetest parts, such as the watermelon core.

After arranging the fruit, Zhou Yi mixed a cup of warm water and took both to Shang Yichen, who was working in his study. “Mr. Shang, the fruit is here. Remember to eat.”

Shang Yichen glanced up at the beautifully arranged plate, then his gaze shifted to Zhou Yi. It landed on his wrist, and he asked, “Why aren’t you wearing the watch I gave you?”

Zhou Yi hesitated, his lips curling into a shy smile. “This is the first gift you gave me, Mr. Shang. I don’t want to wear it in case it breaks.”

Shang Yichen paused, the words nearly escaping his lips: “It’s just a watch. Why are you being so cautious?” But as he looked into Zhou Yi’s eyes, his words faltered. The amber eyes were soft and almost liquid, mesmerizing him in a way he couldn’t explain.

The hand holding the mouse trembled slightly, and he looked away, trying to regain his composure. “You can wear it. After all, you’ve been with me for so long. If it breaks, I’ll buy you a new one.”

Zhou Yi lowered his head slightly, hiding the flicker of a mischievous thought behind his expression. Maybe I’ll break it on purpose, then I can get an even more expensive one.

Shang Yichen, distracted by the lingering look in Zhou Yi’s eyes, didn’t notice the thought that passed through his mind. He couldn’t calm his thoughts for the rest of the night.