The sharp glint flashed in Guan Ciyan’s eyes.

The familiar sense of oppression returned in an instant. Jian Yang’s heart skipped a beat as he hurriedly explained, “The contract with Director Xu is under Wei Wei’s company. In the future, I’ll need a company or a studio, and I’d like to ask you for help, sir.”

Guan Ciyan waved him over. Jian Yang moved closer, and Guan Ciyan, as if encouraging him, patted Jian Yang’s head. “Not bad, you’ve thought of these things.”

“I wasn’t planning on having you sign with Fuyu Holy Hall at first. I was still considering which company to place you in and what position you’d take. Since you want to go independent, that’s a good thing,” Guan Ciyan said, gradually becoming serious. “As for the team, how do you want to structure it?”

Jian Yang raised his eyes, carefully observing Guan Ciyan’s expression. He couldn’t quite figure out his attitude, unsure if he was trying to probe him again.

Guan Ciyan patted his head again, comforting him like it was summer. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Jian Yang shook his head. “I’m still thinking.”

He had only mentioned opening a company to test the limits of Guan Ciyan’s kindness and leniency, and at the same time, he needed his own assets.

He hadn’t expected that Guan Ciyan had already thought about it.

“The company’s legal representative will be me at first. There are some behind-the-scenes matters you’ll need time to learn. What you need to think about is, a manager who can handle things for you and pull in resources, two assistants who get along, and staff for finance, legal affairs, and so on. The most important thing is that you’ll be the backbone of the company, their boss. You need to make decisions. Your decisions will shape the company’s future. Can you handle it?”

“I…” Jian Yang hadn’t really thought about it. He was somewhat familiar with the manager team, but when it came to running a company, he was completely in the dark. If he became the core of the team, would he be letting everyone down?

“It’s fine, take your time. No rush.” Guan Ciyan noticed his hesitation and didn’t want to rush him. He’d teach him slowly while keeping him close.

Unexpectedly, Jian Yang, like he’d stepped on a tail, responded quickly, “No need to wait, I want Jiang Ke. Jiang Ke will be my manager. I’m used to having a driver. I don’t mind not having assistants, I can take care of myself, or Wei Wei can help me find someone. For now, this is enough. We’ll fill in the rest as we go along.”

“Oh?” Guan Ciyan pinched his face, laughing. “The little cat’s ready to show its claws.”

“Didn’t you say I need to be decisive? Before, you never told me anything and made me find my own way with Wen Ye,” Jian Yang replied.

Guan Ciyan was at a loss for words.

He had hoped Jian Yang would grow quickly and become his second ace.

Now that he was being pushed out, no matter how he looked at it, he wasn’t at ease.

Well, the kid has to experience some things to grow. If worse comes to worst, he’s still got his back.

“Alright. I’ll listen to you.” Guan Ciyan shook his head with self-mockery.

He was firm when making decisions, but he was happy to change his mind for Jian Yang with just a few words. He had encouraged Jian Yang to be brave; he couldn’t keep worrying about him from behind.

Jian Yang’s heart was still pounding. It felt unreal—was this really happening? Guan Ciyan had agreed, and now he could go off and start his own company.

From now on, all contracts, businesses, and resources would be tied to his company. How long would it take him to leave this fragile comfort zone?

“Are you stunned?” Guan Ciyan flicked Jian Yang’s forehead. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Are you playing with me?” Jian Yang, for some reason, blurted out his thoughts.

Guan Ciyan, knowing he was in the wrong, said, “Just wait and see, and you’ll know.”

“Here comes the fish,” Zhang Boduan brought over a clay pot steaming with white vapor. “Wild Taishan red-scaled fish, young master, try some.”

Jian Yang had heard of this fish; it cost over ten thousand per pound in a five-star hotel.

Feeling a little guilty, Jian Yang served Guan Ciyan a bowl first. “Sir, drink.”

“You drink.” Guan Ciyan’s throat felt off, and after Jian Yang finished the soup, he went upstairs.

A strange feeling stirred in his heart. That night, he sent an email to his new assistant, asking them to quickly handle Jian Yang’s company matters.

Fortunately, today he had brought him back. He could see Jian Yang’s changes; maybe this time, he had really hurt the child’s feelings. Before, Jian Yang had been hesitant, never daring to accept anything he offered. Now, he was proactively paving his own way.

This was a good thing. He had always hoped for Jian Yang’s growth. But Jian Yang’s words, “I don’t want to like you anymore,” kept echoing in his mind.

Guan Ciyan walked to the bedside, lit a fragrant sandalwood incense, and lay awake most of the night, watching the burning incense, thinking about the past.

But now, Jian Yang’s words overshadowed everything. When the incense burned halfway, Guan Ciyan stood up, crossed his arms, and stared out the window, mocking his own restless heart.

Small problem.

He walked out and knocked on Jian Yang’s door.

Jian Yang was just about to sleep, groggy and asked, “Sir, what’s wrong?”

“Tired?”

“Mm.”

After eating and drinking, the sleepiness hits, and that bowl of fish soup was just too delicious.

“I have a question for you,” Guan Ciyan said truthfully. “What you said about not wanting to like me—was that real or fake?”

Jian Yang suddenly woke up from his drowsiness, but he couldn’t find the words to reply.

Damn it, every question Guan Ciyan asked felt like it was going to kill him.

“Why are you asking me that?” Jian Yang tried to remain calm, quickly calculating the best response in his head.

“I want to know if I was wrong to deny what you said about liking me before.”

Jian Yang pressed his lips together. “It’s true. I don’t want to like you anymore. You’re so hard to figure out. Every time I think I’m getting closer to you, you make me feel like you never trusted me.”

If Guan Ciyan wanted him to keep liking him, then he would. If that liking could increase his value in Guan Ciyan’s eyes, then he would continue liking him—what did it matter?

Jian Yang spoke smoothly, probably because there wasn’t much lying in that statement. Aside from the liking, he really did trust Guan Ciyan.

“Then try continuing to like me,” Guan Ciyan said as he quickly walked away. “It won’t be so tiring anymore.”

Jian Yang watched his back disappear into the room, unable to guess his intentions. However, Guan Ciyan had said before that his liking felt fake.

He was always positive with words, but his actions never showed anything.

Jian Yang decided that, from now on, he would play the part better. It wasn’t difficult for him.

Guan Ciyan entered the room, exhaled deeply, and when he heard Jian Yang “accuse” him, his heart was both bitter and excited.

Not wanting to like him was real, which meant that liking him was also real.

With this confirmation of Jian Yang’s feelings, he extinguished the incense, turned off the lights, and lay down on the bed.

It was just the right time, still enough.

On the other hand, Jian Yang had already started planning the “Guan Ciyan Liking Plan.” What had Guan Ciyan said before? He didn’t like staying home and running out. He wouldn’t give his contact details and didn’t let him message him, right? Change that! Pretend to be a secret admirer—what’s so difficult about that?

Now, Guan Ciyan was his benefactor. Whatever attitude the benefactor wanted from him, he would give.

Jian Yang was a straightforward person, and when it came to staying at the Guan house, he would just rest assured, waiting for the right chance to leave openly.

Break this damn plot.

The next day, Jian Yang unusually woke up before Guan Ciyan. When he went downstairs for breakfast, Zhang Bo was carrying a medicine box upstairs.

They really had been using that medicine box a lot.

“Zhang Bo, isn’t it inconvenient to leave the medicine box on the second floor?” Jian Yang wondered if he’d be injured and would need to go upstairs to get it.

Zhang Bo replied, “Sir has a fever. I’m taking him medicine.”

“A fever?”

Jian Yang was surprised. How could Guan Ciyan be sick?

After taking a beating, he would be up and running the next day, working overtime, and his stamina was like a supercharged battery. He was as strong as a robot. How could he have a fever?

“It’s nothing, young master. The sir caught a cold last night when he was looking for you. He took some medicine this morning, and he’s feeling much better.”

“Oh.” Jian Yang turned back to continue drinking his porridge but then, thinking of the persona of liking Guan Ciyan, he called out to Zhang Bo, who was heading toward the stairs.

“Zhang Bo, I’ll take the medicine. You were up all night too. Please rest.”

“No need, young master. Finish your meal, and then go back to sleep.”

“No, it’s fine.” Jian Yang ran over and took the medicine box from Zhang Bo. “I want to check on the sir.”

“Hehe,” Zhang Bo smiled kindly. “Then go ahead, give the sir some warm water.”

Jian Yang took the medicine box, determined to solidify his persona as the secret admirer today.

He knocked on the door, but there was no response.

Strange. Jian Yang took it upon himself to open the door. The room was quiet, and the air smelled faintly of fragrance, very pleasant. The room layout was the same as before, with the long curtains hanging motionless in midair. Jian Yang lifted them and saw Guan Ciyan lying on the bed.

“Sir, sir.”

There was no response.

Jian Yang walked closer and was startled by Guan Ciyan’s complexion.

His face was as pale as paper, his lips tightly closed, dry and cracked, with a bloody tear at the corner of his mouth. His brow furrowed tightly. He looked very uncomfortable, and the blanket was only covering his chest. His breathing was ragged, and it seemed like he wasn’t just running a mild fever—it had been going on for a while.

“Sir.” Jian Yang touched Guan Ciyan’s forehead, and the temperature was frighteningly high.

“This medicine is useless. I’ll call the doctor over,” Jian Yang put down the medicine box and began dialing the phone.

The hand resting on Guan Ciyan’s chest was suddenly caught. Guan Ciyan weakly extended his index finger and hooked it around Jian Yang’s pinky. His tightly pressed lips tried several times to part, but the mucous membranes were stuck together due to dryness. Jian Yang knew that feeling all too well.

“Sir, please don’t speak yet.”

Jian Yang poured hot water and used a cotton swab to moisten Guan Ciyan’s lips. “Sir, can you drink some hot water?”

Guan Ciyan opened his mouth, and the mucous membranes were still slightly stuck. “Okay.”

Jian Yang reached over Guan Ciyan’s shoulder, trying to help him sit up, just like how Guan Ciyan used to care for him. He tried once, but couldn’t lift him. Tried again, still couldn’t do it.

Jian Yang was slightly out of breath. “Sir, you’re really heavy.”

Guan Ciyan felt like his head was splitting open, his body burning with fever. Hearing Jian Yang’s words made him want to laugh. The little thing was really so weak.

“Move aside, I’ll get up myself.”

“Oh.” Jian Yang moved back slightly, feeling a little embarrassed. After all, he was also a grown man, and yet couldn’t help someone sit up.

Guan Ciyan barely propped himself up, the world spinning around him. As soon as he sat up, he lost his strength, and his back leaned against Jian Yang’s shoulder. He slowly calmed his breathing. Every exhale felt like his throat was being scrubbed with sandpaper, and the taste of blood lingered.

Jian Yang wrapped one arm around Guan Ciyan’s arm and pulled him into his embrace. He brought the hot water to his lips. One thing after another, just like how Guan Ciyan had taken care of him before. Jian Yang didn’t even realize that what Guan Ciyan had taught him was far beyond business tactics for manipulating people’s hearts.

“Sir, your fever is too high. Can I call the doctor to give you a fever-reducing injection?”

Guan Ciyan drank the water, feeling a little better in his throat, and shook his head.

“Medicine works slowly. What if… what if the fever…,” he trailed off, worried.

“You don’t need to worry, I’ll get better soon.” Guan Ciyan raised his hand and pinched Jian Yang’s face weakly. “Smile, your little face is all scrunched up.”

Jian Yang couldn’t smile. Right now, Guan Ciyan was the key person shielding him from the storm.

“Drink some more water.” Guan Ciyan, seeing Jian Yang’s concern, leaned back into his embrace, inhaling Jian Yang’s unique scent, like a plant basking in the winter sun. He thought to himself that this illness was worth it. The little one hadn’t really wanted to talk to him last night.

Jian Yang fed him some more water and medicine. Seeing how uncomfortable Guan Ciyan was, he once again suggested calling a doctor for a fever-reducing injection, but Guan Ciyan refused.

A mischievous glint flashed in Jian Yang’s eyes. “Sir, you’re not afraid of the pain, are you?”

Two shots would solve the problem, but Guan Ciyan was insisting on toughing it out with medicine.

Earlier, the doctor had said that Guan Ciyan was afraid of pain, which Jian Yang thought was understandable. But was it a bit exaggerated to be afraid of injections? Jian Yang suddenly felt that it wasn’t that embarrassing that he couldn’t help Guan Ciyan sit up.