Zhou Yi asked softly, “Mr. Shang, don’t you dislike me asking about your affairs?”

After a brief pause, he seemed to have thought of something and continued, “I recognize my place now. I won’t bother you anymore. I won’t cross any lines or do anything that might annoy you.”

His words were measured, placing himself at the lowest point. There was no melodrama in his tone; it was simply a fact, stated with sincerity and humility.

His calm, restrained expression and eyes full of earnest emotion seemed to have an impact on Shang Yichen. Something inside him shifted.

Zhou Yi continued, observing Shang Yichen closely. When he saw that the other man’s expression softened, he added the final blow, “I’m already very satisfied just being with you.”

Zhou Yi knew exactly what he was doing. He understood that Shang Yichen disliked being entangled, so he carefully kept his distance, doing nothing that might provoke him. He wanted to stay within the boundaries without overstepping, quietly accepting his position.

But even as he spoke with the gentlest eyes and actions, Shang Yichen couldn’t shake the strange emptiness he felt. He should have been pleased by Zhou Yi’s self-restraint and carefulness. But instead, a vague discomfort lingered.

Zhou Yi, who had been paying close attention, noticed this. He knew Shang Yichen still desired something more. The weight of his quiet words, the absence of a push for more intimacy, made Shang Yichen feel as if something was missing.

“I’m not angry,” Zhou Yi added, his voice calm but with a hint of sadness. “I understand.”

Despite Zhou Yi’s composed exterior, Shang Yichen felt a pang of guilt. He looked at the man before him—his eyes were wide, full of sincerity, but also restrained. He hadn’t realized how much Zhou Yi had given up to keep the peace. His anger began to simmer down, replaced by a feeling of disquiet.

Zhou Yi quickly excused himself, his face masking the anxiety building inside him. “I’ll run some hot water for you. You can shower and rest,” he said, trying to mask the discomfort with a polite tone.

Turning to leave, Zhou Yi let out a sigh of relief when he was out of Shang Yichen’s sight. It seemed no one had noticed anything unusual, and he felt the weight lift slightly from his shoulders. For now, it seemed he could continue living in this arrangement, making money from Shang Yichen.

But as he walked toward the master bedroom, Shang Yichen’s gaze lingered on his back, his mind heavy with thoughts of the expression in Zhou Yi’s eyes. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, and it made him feel uneasy.

Zhou Yi quickly prepared a bath for Shang Yichen, laying out the necessary supplies. Then, he moved to the kitchen to start cooking a hangover soup. He had learned over time that when his sponsor was at home, he needed to show diligence. It also helped maintain a safe distance from Shang Yichen, avoiding the intensity of his pheromones and keeping his own desires in check.

Zhou Yi also knew that Liang Xianzhang’s influence lingered in the back of his mind. He no longer wanted to fall into the trap of being pressed against a door and kissed.

As the soup simmered, his phone vibrated. Zhou Yi instinctively turned toward the master bedroom before pulling his phone from his pocket. The message was from Liang Xianzhang: Is he back?

Zhou Yi quickly typed his reply: I’m back, taking a shower.

Liang Xianzhang: What about you? What are you doing?

Zhou Yi: Cooking a hangover soup.

There was a brief pause before Liang Xianzhang replied again: I should have prepared a few bottles of sleeping pills just now.

Zhou Yi frowned, wondering what he meant by that, but the next message came in swiftly: I’ve never eaten the food you cooked. I’m jealous of him.

The straightforwardness of the message hit Zhou Yi like a punch to the gut. He had known Liang Xianzhang was jealous, but to this degree?

His hands trembled slightly, and he almost dropped the phone into the pot. He typed back, trying to deflect the tension: You can’t do this.

Liang Xianzhang: I’m already trying my best to be patient.

Zhou Yi, feeling a twinge of guilt mixed with amusement, typed: Next time…

Liang Xianzhang: What?

Zhou Yi, unsure if Liang Xianzhang didn’t understand or was pretending not to, replied again: I’ll cook for you next time if he’s not around.

A voice message from Liang Xianzhang came through, his voice low and husky, sending a shiver down Zhou Yi’s spine. He clicked on the message and brought the phone to his ear, listening to the words: I’ll eat it all.

Though he was referring to food, Zhou Yi couldn’t help but feel the weight of the ambiguous undertones in his voice.

Zhou Yi’s face flushed, his ears tingling with the heat of the moment. He quickly turned his head to ensure Shang Yichen wasn’t coming, his body reacting to the voice more than he’d like to admit.