“Wasn’t it impressive when you just hit someone?” Guan Ciyan leaned his entire upper body weight onto Jian Yang, pressing him down a bit.

“Don’t press me down! I’m already not that tall.” Jian Yang tried to straighten up, supporting Guan Ciyan.

Guan Ciyan groaned softly, and Jian Yang stopped moving his hand around his waist, afraid to touch the whip scars. When he entered the detention room, Guan Ciyan already looked like he’d been beaten for a while.

“How come you’re so obedient, taking the beating without a word? You don’t seem like someone who listens that much,” Jian Yang thought too much and accidentally spoke his mind.

He didn’t have parents and had been bullied a lot. To avoid causing trouble for his sister, he mostly endured in silence. When he was in first grade, some classmates picked the meat out of his lunch, and he quietly ate the vegetables. It wasn’t until one day when he forgot to bring his homework, and his sister came to deliver it, that she saw only vegetables in his lunch box. She didn’t say anything but went home and secretly cried, giving him an extra fried egg with breakfast every day. They didn’t have much money back then, so while he got an extra egg, his sister ate one less. The next time someone tried to steal his meat, he smashed their lunch box, and his own too. Whoever dared to take it, he’d break their lunch. Though he got beaten twice for it, no one ever tried to take his meat again.

Since then, he understood that his forbearance would only make his sister feel worse. He grew up learning to be smooth in handling situations, not causing trouble, but not afraid of it either.

Guan Ciyan, who wasn’t polite to anyone, was willing to take a beating under his father’s hands.

Guan Ciyan heard Jian Yang mumbling and looked at the swirling marks above his head, confirming his thoughts. This guy wasn’t as submissive as he appeared; he had his own plans in mind.

But Guan Ciyan didn’t expose him. Right now, Jian Yang standing by his side was his ability, and Guan had no words to say.

With one hand resting on Jian Yang’s right shoulder, a slight movement could easily pinch the soft flesh of his cheek. It felt just right, and he pinched the dazed person. “Let’s go.”

A crosswind blew, and light rain came through the corridor, soaking Jian Yang’s shirt. His body was burning with a slight fever, and the cold and heat made him feel extremely uncomfortable. Jian Yang helped Guan Ciyan and quickened his pace. When they reached the covered corridor, Guan Jingyu caught up from behind.

“Jian Yang. Little Uncle, I need to talk to Jian Yang alone.” Guan Jingyu’s whip scars had been simply treated, and he blocked the way between Jian Yang and Guan Ciyan.

Guan Ciyan turned his wrist, and his posture, which had been leaning on Jian Yang for support, changed to hold Jian Yang tightly in his arms. He looked down at him. “He wants to talk to you. Do you want to go?”

Jian Yang shook his head vigorously. “I don’t want to.”

“Jian Yang… I know everything,” Guan Jingyu suddenly spoke with emotion.

As expected of the protagonist, such deep feelings came so easily. Jian Yang slapped his wound, worried he’d say something fatal.

“Why don’t you go?” Guan Ciyan’s eyes were only on Jian Yang, pretending to be magnanimous, as if he really didn’t mind.

Only Jian Yang knew how badly he’d been punished when he secretly met with Guan Jingyu before. Guan Ciyan had thrown him onto a deserted island, leaving him to play survival for a whole week.

“Because I’m professional, and it’s not even noon yet.”

Guan Ciyan bought him a whole day’s time.

“You…” Guan Ciyan wanted to say, “You’re this desperate for money?” but then thought of the cheap cold medicine. He turned to Guan Jingyu and said, “He earns five million a day. Come back when you have money.”

Guan Ciyan held Jian Yang and started walking. Guan Jingyu automatically stepped aside. It was one thing to play tricks behind their backs, but he wasn’t confident enough to confront Guan Ciyan head-on.

Jian Yang, stunned by the five million, asked, “What did you just say?”

Guan Ciyan, expressionless, replied, “I was just raising the price of pigs.”

Listen to that! Is this something a villainous CEO should be saying?

Jian Yang snorted, “I just helped you beat Guan Jingyu earlier.”

Guan Ciyan didn’t know where Jian Yang got all these little expressions from. The ancient and heavy vermilion door became the background, and it seemed like new buds were sprouting on a dead tree. “The old man retired from the army with honors, and when you snatched his whip earlier, maybe there were already guards outside with their guns aimed at you. When I pulled you away, I saved your life.”

Jian Yang rubbed his fluffy head against Guan Ciyan’s arm, looking at him skeptically.

Could it really be that exaggerated? How could anyone have that kind of position?

But then again, this was the family of the protagonist, so it might not be impossible.

Guan Ciyan lowered his voice and continued, “They might still be aiming at you now. If you show even a little suspicion…”

Jian Yang looked around. The front door was wide enough to build a three-room suite, surrounded by artificial hills and towering old trees. It could hide people easily. Moreover, he hadn’t seen a single servant at the old house. When Old Mr. Guan told Guan Jingyu to come, he came right away.

Could there really be people hiding outside?

Jian Yang moved closer to Guan Ciyan, a little scared. “Sir, I was doing it for you earlier.”

Jian Yang’s half-body was pressed completely against Guan Ciyan’s side, his head nearly in Guan Ciyan’s arm, like a newborn chick, anxiously looking at Guan Ciyan.

They had been leaning on each other earlier, and now that Jian Yang moved, the gap between them was filled. Through their clothes, Jian Yang could feel the outline of Guan Ciyan’s body. The touch was unfamiliar, and Guan Ciyan felt a lump in his throat.

Since he could remember, he didn’t like anyone touching him. He only tolerated it in the detention room as an act for Old Mr. Guan. Once they left, he forgot to push Jian Yang away.

“I was lying to you. There are no guards. Stand up straight,” Guan Ciyan suddenly spoke coldly.

Jian Yang froze, thinking, what happened now? Everything was fine just a moment ago.

No wonder he couldn’t compete with the protagonist’s temper. This kind of mood swing makes even dogs want to run away after two days.

Jian Yang moved a bit further from Guan Ciyan and quietly helped him to the car.

“Be careful.” Guan Ciyan bent down to get into the car, and his wound was inevitably pulled. Jian Yang saw him close his eyes in pain.

Just as he was about to get in, Guan Jingyu caught up and handed him a card. “Jian Yang, I’ll wait for you.”

Then he ran off, avoiding a confrontation with Guan Ciyan.

He’s pretty clever. If it were in front of Guan Ciyan, Jian Yang wouldn’t have dared to accept the card.

Jian Yang stuffed the card randomly into his bag.

As the car drove out of the old house’s garden area, Guan Ciyan, who had been pretending to sleep, suddenly spoke, “What are you thinking?”

Jian Yang: “Huh?”

Guan Ciyan: “You’re almost tearing the leather seat apart with your nails.”

Jian Yang looked down at the real leather seat, now scratched. “Sorry, sorry.”

He tended to scratch or pick at things when nervous or thinking, not noticing that the value of the leather might be worth his life.

It’s all Guan Jingyu’s fault. Now he really wants to know what’s on that card.

It’s like hearing half of a gossip story and not knowing the outcome. It’s driving him crazy.

“Are you thinking about what Guan Jingyu will do next?”

Jian Yang knocked on the seat again and asked, “Does Guan Ciyan have mind-reading abilities?”

“No,” Jian Yang shook his head, “I was just thinking, is the 50 million you mentioned real?”

Guan Ciyan opened his eyes, his gaze piercing through the night, sharp like an eagle. Jian Yang remained motionless. Guan Ciyan spoke to his assistant in the front seat, “Settle Mr. Jian’s daily salary of 360.”

Jian Yang sighed regretfully, “Alright then.”

He opened the payment QR code and stretched it toward the gap between the front passenger and the driver’s seats. “Scan it.”

The assistant sought Guan Ciyan’s approval with a glance, and Guan Ciyan had already closed his eyes. The assistant hesitated and asked, “Mr. Jian, is your daily salary really 360? It must be in USD, right?”

Jian Yang shook his head. “No, it’s 180, in RMB. Since we agreed on double pay for the afternoon, it’s 360.”

Guan Ciyan scoffed, “You don’t want the 50 million anymore? Still asking for 360?”

“It’s all in RMB. I don’t do discrimination,” Jian Yang said seriously.

What a joke—50 million was a worthless promise, but 360 was real money, ready to be deposited.

The assistant awkwardly transferred 360 to Jian Yang’s WeChat account; no need for reimbursement.

This was the first time the chairman used such a cheap person.

Jian Yang watched the balance grow slightly, feeling a sense of satisfaction. He had come from the poorest background, and he wasn’t afraid of returning to poverty. He was sure he would earn more money.

He patted the driver’s seat. “Master, could you drop me off at the pharmacy on the roadside later? I need to buy some medicine.”

Then he turned to Guan Ciyan. “By the way, sir, if I go to the ophthalmology hospital under your name, should I just give your name? Is there any proof needed? Can I get proof for free…?”

Just mentioning it made his eyes uncomfortable again. It had been three hours since he last used eye drops. Jian Yang blinked and started rubbing his eyes.

The assistant and the driver in the front seat tried to breathe lightly, blending into the air.

The car had never been this quiet.

The boss’s anger could explode in an instant.

Guan Ciyan had been annoyed by Jian Yang’s talk of money for most of the evening. He grabbed Jian Yang’s wrist firmly and said clearly, “Stop rubbing, sit still. There are doctors at home.”

Jian Yang’s golden eyes gradually lost focus, embedded in his almond-shaped eyes, showing a hint of confusion. He looked like a helpless baby animal, struggling weakly in Guan Ciyan’s hand. “It’s itchy.”

“The more you rub, the itchier it gets,” Guan Ciyan scolded sharply.

The assistant and the driver exchanged a look, both seeing a deep, terrified affection in each other’s eyes.

What tone was this??!!!

The chairman never spoke to them like this. Was it because their salary was too high and a waste of money?

“How do you know?” Jian Yang’s unfocused eyes already carried an innocent look. With the expression of doubt, they seemed as pure as crystal ice, making people afraid to touch them, for a single touch might make them melt.

“Jian Yang, this is common sense.”

“I do know that, but it really itches,” Jian Yang replied.

The assistant and the driver waited for what would come next, but the car was filled with endless silence.

Is this it? Just like this?

Was this how their boss treated people who argued back?

Impossible! What did all the hardships they went through before amount to?

Nothing.

It wasn’t until the car arrived at Guan Ciyan’s private villa that he stopped talking. He held onto Jian Yang’s wrist tightly, preventing him from rubbing his eyes and disturbing his peace.

The family doctor was already waiting in the villa.

As soon as the door opened, the butler and the doctor greeted them. “Sir, are you alright?”

Guan Ciyan swung Jian Yang’s wrist in a half-circle in front of the doctor. “Check him first.”

A faint trace of blood seeped through the whip mark on Jian Yang’s shoulder, staining his white shirt and looking frightening, but it wasn’t serious. He casually pulled down his collar. “It’s just a little injury here. I’ll put some ointment for bruises, it’s fine.”

The butler and assistant’s eyes widened in shock.

The blue diamond brooch on his collar fell to his elbow, revealing half of his smooth, white shoulder. The thin, bloody whip mark wound around his skin under the shoulder, like a tattoo, creating a beautiful painting under the crystal chandelier.

His collarbone and ribs were wrapped in fair skin, not a trace of flesh visible. The cherry-red spot on his chest peeked from the edge of his shirt, faint and mysterious.

“You all leave.” Guan Ciyan’s voice was low.

The butler and assistant quickly turned and left, while the doctor focused intently on the long whip mark, not daring to look any further.