SFBF CH44

Duoduo asked if Shen Qing and Gu Huaiyu could sleep together from now on. Shen Qing understood the cub’s underlying meaning: he basically didn’t want him and Gu Huaiyu to divorce, hoping they would stay together forever.

But still, hearing those words felt a little strange…

The boss was someone with one foot in the grave!

…If he slept together with him from now on, wouldn’t that mean…

Forget it, he wouldn’t dwell on it. Duoduo didn’t know about that anyway.

Shen Qing kept his expression completely neutral, not planning to say anything.

Unexpectedly, Gu Huaiyu corrected him: “Sleeping together temporarily is fine, but if we sleep together from now on, I’m afraid… it would be inconvenient.”

Shen Qing: ?

Wait, did the boss also realize he didn’t have much of a “from now on,” so he was trying to politely recuse himself?

But Boss, do you really need to be this literal and emphasize the timeframe? Duoduo doesn’t know you’re about to kick the bucket!

If you say it like that, all this cub is going to think is that we really are about to divorce! …

Seeing Duoduo’s gaze shift to Gu Huaiyu, his eyes filled with a mix of uncertainty and disappointment, Shen Qing knew the cub had indeed misunderstood.

“Sleep, sleep, sleep!”

Before anyone else could speak, Shen Qing blurted out, “It’s just sleeping, isn’t it? We’ll sleep!”

Gu Huaiyu: “…?”

Shen Qing had already turned to look at Gu Duo.

After thinking it over, he felt it was necessary to explain exactly why they hadn’t been sleeping together.

After all, even if Duoduo didn’t understand now, he would eventually.

If Gu Duo looked back on this day in the future and concluded that Shen Qing had zero affection for his little uncle, to the point of never even sharing a bed… Who knew what the adult Gu Duo would think or what position he would place Shen Qing in?

Organizing his words, Shen Qing said to Cub Duo, “You’re still young, and I don’t really know how to explain all this to you… Anyway, just remember this: Auntie never didn’t want to sleep with your little uncle.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt Gu Huaiyu’s gaze snap sharply toward him.

Shen Qing: “…Cough, cough.”

Originally, his use of the word “sleep” was incredibly pure. It literally just meant sleeping.

But for some reason, under Gu Huaiyu’s sudden, intense stare, Shen Qing felt that saying “sleep with your little uncle” didn’t sound so pure anymore.

Instinctively straightening his back, Shen Qing shot Gu Huaiyu a look.

His almond eyes narrowed slightly, the little under-eye bags becoming pronounced. The youth’s eyes were full of a smiling, slightly mischievous plea for the other man not to misunderstand.

Shen Qing then continued explaining to Gu Duo, “It’s just because of your little uncle’s health condition that we can’t sleep together.”

“Why?”

Gu Duo completely missed the smile Shen Qing had aimed at his little uncle and continued to look uncomprehending. “When I got sick, you were still willing to stay behind to accompany and take care of me.”

The underlying meaning: Little uncle is clearly sick too, so why aren’t you accompanying and taking care of him?

Shen Qing: …

Once again, he was stumped.

Actually, he could explain it. For example, he could tell Duoduo: You just have a common cold, whereas your little uncle is dying. It’s like how family members can stay in a regular hospital ward to nurse you, but in the ICU, they can only visit at scheduled times. When someone gets sick to a certain point, family members can’t get too close…

But it came back to the same principle: Little Duoduo was already so profoundly insecure that he felt he had to study himself into the ground just to feel safe, to the point of literally falling ill. It really wasn’t appropriate to let him know his little uncle was about to pass away.

So there were some things he simply couldn’t say out loud.

Unable to think of a good excuse, Shen Qing couldn’t help but look at Gu Huaiyu.

He found that Gu Huaiyu was still watching him.

The moment their eyes met, a stroke of genius suddenly hit Shen Qing: “Because the bed in your little uncle’s room is a single bed! It’s a specially made hospital bed, so two people can’t sleep on it.”

Perfect. A cub of Duoduo’s age probably wouldn’t realize that if someone had to sleep in a hospital bed every day, it meant their health was already in critical condition.

Shen Qing felt he had answered the question flawlessly.

However, Gu Duo said, “But Auntie’s room has a double bed.”

Shen Qing: “?”

Gu Duo looked at Shen Qing, his tender face full of confusion and seriousness: “Besides, even if it’s a specially made bed, why can’t it be made bigger? Aren’t there lots of beds in this house? Isn’t little uncle very rich?”

Shen Qing: “? …Cough cough cough!”

This time, Shen Qing really had to learn from the boss and clutch his chest while trying to suppress a cough.

…As expected of the genius cub who would endure endless oppression and humiliation only to grow up into the ultimate ultimate villain. This kid’s mind was way too fast!

After coughing a couple of times and meeting Gu Duo’s fever-reddened, yet distinctly black-and-white eyes, Shen Qing truly had no more tricks up his sleeve. He had no choice but to look at Gu Huaiyu again, seeking help from the only other adult player in this parenting game.

Gu Huaiyu was crisp and decisive. His voice rang out with an exceptionally firm resonance: “We will sleep together.”

Shen Qing: “?”

Meeting Shen Qing’s shocked gaze, Gu Huaiyu added, “Moving tomorrow.”

Shen Qing: “…???”

After dropping those few words, Gu Huaiyu turned back to Gu Duo on the bed. “Rest properly and don’t let your mind run wild. Overthinking is bad for your growth; wasting your energy for no reason will only delay the important things.”

He spoke in a flat tone, yet it carried the unquestionable authority of a family patriarch.

Although Gu Duo liked and was grateful to this little uncle in his heart, he still didn’t dare express his emotions freely in front of him. He didn’t dare say no or try to explain himself, looking far less natural and relaxed than he did with Shen Qing.

Gripping his little blanket tightly once more, Duoduo nodded, looking incredibly obedient.

Watching this dynamic clearly from the sidelines, Shen Qing felt that some people were simply too imposing. Even when their intentions were good, children and small animals wouldn’t dare get close to them.

—Gu Huaiyu was exactly this kind of person.

…Using the tone of a boss commanding a subordinate to show concern for a cub—how were the kids ever supposed to feel close to him?!

Anyway, in the future, Gu Huaiyu would inevitably hold the supreme position of “Best Uncle” in the cubs’ hearts. Shen Qing figured he might as well go with the flow and help pull their relationship a bit closer now, considering it a free favor.

Besides, although he didn’t know why Gu Duo was so terrified of them divorcing, Duoduo’s intentions were obvious: he wanted to see a harmonious relationship between Shen Qing and his little uncle.

At a time like this, Shen Qing naturally felt duty-bound. He directly grabbed Gu Huaiyu’s hand, then grabbed Duoduo’s.

Three people, three hands—two large and one small—clasped together.

The other two froze and looked at Shen Qing.

The largest hand had long, evenly proportioned fingers; it was skin and bones, the palm icy cold without a trace of warmth.

The tiny hand also lacked much meat, but it was slightly hot due to the fever.

Shen Qing pressed their two hands together, placing his own on top.

He smiled and said, “Don’t be so serious. Little uncle just wants you to get better soon.”

The first half was directed at Gu Huaiyu, and the second half at Duoduo.

The uncle and nephew pair automatically accepted Shen Qing’s words, and by unspoken agreement, both fell silent.

Shen Qing continued to speak to Gu Duo, “Little uncle cares about you. Tell me, what could a little cub like you possibly be worrying about every day? I know you and Aozi suffered a lot in the past and went through many hardships. But didn’t we already tell you? You are very safe here.”

Gu Duo’s little hand stiffened, not daring to move. His expression was slightly dazed as he stared fixedly at Shen Qing.

In the room where the main lights were off, half of Shen Qing’s face was hidden in the shadows, yet the exposed part remained bright and radiant.

His voice was low and clear, like a murmuring stream or a warm spring breeze.

To Gu Duo, it sounded so much like the gentle voice his mother had used to coax him to sleep, once upon a time.

Shen Qing said, “So go to sleep. Uncle and Auntie will always protect you and Aozi. Our Duoduo doesn’t need to worry about anything. You never have to worry again, okay? Sleep well.”

“…”

In the dim light, Gu Duo suddenly pulled his hand out, turned his head, and faced the inner wall.

As if that weren’t enough, he turned his small body entirely, curling onto his side to face the wall completely.

And then, two trails of hot tears slipped out uncontrollably.

He didn’t even know why he was crying.

Was it when Shen Qing asked him what he was worrying about every day? Or when he said that he and his brother were safe here? …Or was it the realization that this person actually understood his past suffering? Or maybe it was simply the soft, gentle voice telling him to sleep.

Gu Duo couldn’t tell anymore.

He only knew that all his grievances and insecurities—this person understood them all.

And more importantly, the two adults beside him were willing to shelter him from the wind and rain.

In this moment, the thing that made him feel safe was no longer the solid but freezing wall in front of him.

Instead, he felt an intense warmth at his back.

Someone was behind him, keeping him company.

Even though he didn’t want to rely on anyone, in this moment, Gu Duo couldn’t help but hopelessly crave this warmth, soaking in this profound sense of security.

This long-lost feeling of safety finally made him feel grounded.

Even the physical discomfort of his illness lessened significantly, to the point where he could almost ignore it.

Of course, it was still embarrassing.

Gu Duo felt that as a little man, he really shouldn’t be shedding tears anymore.

Fortunately, neither of the two adults behind him called out to him, nor did they blame him for suddenly pulling his hand away.

But Gu Duo knew they were there.

—Shen Qing was still sitting on the edge of his bed.

He didn’t know how much time passed. Gu Duo must have drifted off, only to be abruptly awakened by the sound of rustling behind him.

The lights in the room had grown even dimmer.

“Go to sleep, I’m right here,” Shen Qing’s voice came from behind.

Then, an arm reached over and rested on top of him.

“Even though your little uncle and I will move in together tomorrow, Auntie will still sleep with Duoduo tonight.”

Gu Duo struggled uncomfortably. He was no longer used to being held and patted to sleep.

But the Shen Qing behind him was currently doing exactly that.

Realizing his struggle was useless, Gu Duo wanted to try again, but stopped moving completely when he heard Shen Qing yawn.

Shen Qing started rambling again: “Your little uncle actually wanted to stay and keep you company too, but I sent him back. With his health… and besides, this tiny bed of yours couldn’t possibly fit all three of us.”

Gu Duo: “…”

Realizing that Shen Qing was explaining why he hadn’t gone to sleep with his little uncle tonight, Gu Duo felt a wave of embarrassment.

He hadn’t expected the adults to take his willful demand so seriously.

Wanting his little auntie and little uncle to have a good relationship, and wanting the current Shen Qing to stay forever—these were indeed his selfish desires.

With Gu Duo’s usual personality, he would never have demanded that his aunt and uncle sleep together, or interfered with others’ lives like that, especially not putting someone in a difficult spot just because they cared about his feelings.

But thinking of this incredibly warm auntie, this auntie who understood him so well…

Gu Duo ultimately remained silent.

He admitted it; he was just that selfish of a person.

Gu Duo merely gave a low, soft response: “Mm.”

Shen Qing had crawled into Gu Duo’s little bed. Although a child’s bed wasn’t quite long enough, thankfully it was wide enough for him to lie down.

Only by hugging the child from behind did Shen Qing realize just how skinny Duoduo was.

The cub was still running a fever, his small body burning hot. Shen Qing asked him again, “Is there anywhere that feels uncomfortable? Do you need a cooling patch?”

Gu Duo shook his head.

A moment later, he said in a muffled voice, “…Thank you, Auntie.”

“Then go to sleep.” Shen Qing pulled the blanket over himself as well. “Call me if you need anything.”

“Okay.” Gu Duo’s voice still had that slight milky undertone, sounding muffled and thick, like a wronged little puppy that had been abandoned and just recently picked back up.

“Little Duoduo, let me ask you a question.”

Shen Qing’s voice sounded again: “Why didn’t you want me and your little uncle to separate? Do you actually like me quite a bit? You don’t want me to leave, right?”

In the darkness, lit only by a few small nightlights, Shen Qing tried hard not to laugh out loud. Having just reviewed everything that happened tonight, he had suddenly figured it out.

Obviously, when Duoduo said he didn’t want him to divorce his little uncle, it was because he didn’t want Shen Qing to leave. Which was basically an indirect way of giving him his approval.

Did that mean his recent efforts to “turn over a new leaf” had been highly effective?

So he hadn’t arrived too late after all?

No matter how deeply the gloomy, cruel villain of the future held grudges, right now he was ultimately still a cub—a little sapling, a tiny flower of the motherland. As long as he cultivated him with care, he could be changed.

Thinking like this, Shen Qing felt a rare sense of grounded reassurance.

Suddenly, this novel world didn’t feel so unfamiliar or terrifying anymore.

“Hmm? Why aren’t you answering me?” In the darkness, Shen Qing smiled brightly. “I hit the nail on the head, didn’t I?”

Gu Duo: “…”

Continuing to clutch a corner of his little blanket, Gu Duo chose to simply give another low, soft response: “Mm.”

The next day, after a full night’s rest, Gu Duo’s condition had improved immensely. The fever was gone, though he still didn’t have much of an appetite.

However, Aunt Zhang had prepared easily digestible porridge and appetizing side dishes. Giving her face, Duoduo ate some, and the cub looked far more energetic afterward.

The doctors came by again in the morning and confirmed there were basically no more issues. All that was left was to rest well and slowly recuperate.

Knowing his brother was better, Aozi recovered his usual lively and cheerful spirit. Bright and early, he dragged all his toys out, filling the small lounge on the second floor with them, declaring that he was giving his little cars and big robots a “sunbath.”

While sunbathing them, he ran back and forth flipping them over.

Shen Qing completely relaxed as well.

They had gone out to play for a whole day yesterday. Given Shen Qing’s level of laziness, today could only be spent resting at home, doing absolutely nothing.

According to his self-imposed “21 hours a week” cub-raising schedule, he had massively overdrawn his quota yesterday, so today he didn’t even need to watch the kids.

At most, he was just supervising from the sidelines.

Yep, watching Aozi run around on the second floor, and watching Duoduo read his books nearby.

…The house rules established yesterday only dictated cub Duo’s bedtime and weekend rest time. He had forgotten to establish specific recovery rules for when he was sick.

But in Duoduo’s own words, if he wasn’t reading, he didn’t know what else to do. Shen Qing could only let him be.

He reminded Duoduo: “Rest when you’re tired, drink water when you’re thirsty, and ask Grandma Zhang for food when you’re hungry, understood?”

Gu Duo nodded silently.

Shen Qing then yelled toward Aozi in the distance, “Little Ao-Ao, where’s the cub?”

Squatting amongst a cluster of large standing robots, completely hidden from sight, Gu Ao heard the call and poked his big head out: “Awooo?”

Shen Qing: “…No running too fast, and no playing near the railings or the stairs, got it?”

“Awooo,” Gu Ao replied, pulling his big head back in and vanishing from sight again.

Shen Qing was already used to it.

Having issued his reminders, he pulled out his tablet, put on his headphones, and started binge-watching his shows.

Throughout the morning, the servants brought him fruit, nuts, and hot black tea.

From the second-floor lounge, he could basically see the layout of the entire villa. Shen Qing lay halfway back in his recliner, occasionally taking a sip of tea or stabbing a piece of fruit with a fork. Life was delightfully comfortable.

That was, until his hands got itchy, and while pouring himself tea, he insisted on pouring a glass of water for Gu Duo too.

Cub Duo, who had been staring at his book the entire time, suddenly looked up: “Auntie.”

Shen Qing: “Yeah?”

Gu Duo: “When are you going to start moving your things?”

Shen Qing: …?

Sitting at the tall, round high-top table, Gu Duo was just like Aozi; his two little legs dangled, unable to reach the floor.

But he was used to keeping himself rigid. Even sitting on a barstool, he didn’t swing his legs; his posture was perfectly straight.

This Gu Duo lowered his long eyelashes, pretending to ask casually during a break from reading. But in the face of Shen Qing’s shocked expression, he pressed further, “Didn’t you promise me you would sleep with little uncle?”

“…Ah, right. Sleep together.”
…

Actually, when Shen Qing woke up this morning, he had regretted it a little.

Yesterday, he just felt that life was too hard for this human cub, who was terrified of them divorcing. As an adult, he couldn’t stimulate the cub further while he was sick, so he had agreed.

As for actually sharing a room with Gu Huaiyu… The very salted-fish Shen Qing had figured he’d cross that bridge when he came to it.

What if Duoduo got better the next day and stopped clinging to the issue?

Operating on that psychology, Shen Qing hadn’t even mentally pictured the scenario of sleeping with the boss.

…And in fact, Duoduo was much better today.

He hadn’t mentioned it the entire morning.

Shen Qing had genuinely thought Duoduo wasn’t going to bring it up again! …

Alright then. As the family patriarch, he had to keep his promises.

Shen Qing forced out an awkward smile. “Moving, moving, moving… I’ll move this afternoon.”

Gu Duo: “Uncle Li Hong said that some people will be coming to the house in a little while to have a meeting with little uncle. If Auntie is going to move, it would be much more convenient to do it now.”

Like most cubs his age, Gu Duo’s arms and wrists were exceptionally slender.

His thin fingers pinched a long pencil, and his delicate wrist moved as he jotted down a few words on some scratch paper. He added, seemingly casually, “Besides, I already asked. The bed in little uncle’s bedroom right now is a double bed.”

Shen Qing: …???

What happened to the hospital bed? …Wait, no.

The real question is: Duoduo, when and how did you manage to gather all this intel?!

Shen Qing: “…Then I’ll go up and ask your little uncle first to see if it’s convenient to move right now.”

“Okay.”

Gu Duo looked up, revealing his distinct black-and-white eyes. They were shining brightly.

…Shen Qing hadn’t noticed before, but this cub’s eyes were actually quite beautiful.

Aozi had inherited the phoenix eyes common to the Gu family. Though they looked round now, you could sometimes catch a glimpse of his little uncle in them, especially when he squinted.

Duoduo’s eyes, on the other hand, seemed to have been inherited from his biological father. They were single eyelids with a hidden inner fold, not bad-looking at all—in fact, they closely resembled peach blossom eyes. He’d probably be very popular in that department when he grew up.

It was just that previously, those eyes had always carried a melancholy, a gloom and lifelessness that didn’t belong to his age. They had never shone this brightly before.

So seeing the sudden light in the kid’s eyes was actually quite heart-lifting.

Especially for Shen Qing, who desperately wanted him to break free from his villain persona, it brought a tremendous sense of achievement.

Instantly encouraged, Shen Qing took wide strides up the stairs.

On the way, he bumped into Assistant Li.

Li Hong: “Ahhh Madam! I heard you’re planning to move into President Gu’s bedroom! Let me know if you need any help!”

Shen Qing: “…”

For some reason, Assistant Li seemed weirdly excited about him moving upstairs?

Shen Qing maintained his smile. “I’m just planning to. I still need to discuss it with President Gu. Is your President Gu currently…”

“Oh, oh.” Li Hong said, “President Gu is in his bedroom right now. You can go straight in.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Thanking Assistant Li, Shen Qing walked along the third floor and glanced down over the railing at the second-floor lounge.

Aozi had switched to lying on his stomach to play with his toy cars.

From Shen Qing’s angle, all he could see was his little butt sticking up in the air. The cub was wearing light pink long johns today, so lying there, he looked exactly like a plump little peach.

Meanwhile, Duoduo continued to bury his head in his writing. Perhaps sensing Shen Qing’s gaze, he abruptly lifted his head and looked over.

Shen Qing: “Cough, cough.”

He averted his eyes and quickened his pace.

Arriving straight at the boss’s bedroom door, he knocked. After a moment, Gu Huaiyu’s voice came from inside: “Enter.”

Shen Qing pushed the door open, and his eyes were met with the familiar sight of several rows of magnificent, vintage bookshelves. But Gu Huaiyu was nowhere to be seen at the desk nearby.

?

Gu Huaiyu’s voice rang out: “Over here.”

“Boss?”

Following the sound, Shen Qing walked to the edge of the bookshelves, but still couldn’t see where Gu Huaiyu was.

But to his shock, he discovered that after walking past the first few rows of bookshelves and turning a corner… there were more rows of bookshelves! Also completely packed with books!

…Exactly how much does this man love reading?!

And Boss, where exactly are you?

In that moment, Shen Qing suddenly felt that Gu Huaiyu was very much like little Aozi downstairs—he liked to hide himself.

Are we playing hide-and-seek here?

Walking past the bookshelves around the corner, he finally saw an open door beside the innermost shelf. Gu Huaiyu’s figure happened to appear in the doorway, and Shen Qing walked over.

“If this place isn’t a museum, it could definitely be a library…” Shen Qing remarked to Gu Huaiyu.

As he spoke, he arrived at the doorway, and his voice abruptly stopped. Shen Qing took in the layout behind the door.

Clearly, this was where Gu Huaiyu actually rested and slept.

It continued the European vintage minimalist style with solid wood furniture. Inside, there was a wardrobe, a small table and coffee table for resting, and—just as Duoduo had said—a double bed.

The curtains on the side and opposite the door were drawn wide open, letting in large swathes of sunlight. The air was filled with the premium men’s cologne scent that always lingered on Gu Huaiyu.

It wasn’t overpowering. In fact, the base notes were very fresh, hovering at the edge of perception—both luxurious and understated. Just smelling it made one feel pleasant.

However, Shen Qing: …?

“Why did I hear that you sleep in one of those hospital beds?”

Was his intel wrong?

He had always assumed President Gu’s room was one of those stark white, lifeless hospital rooms filled with medical equipment, reeking of disinfectant. Because of that, he had never dared to go near the boss’s sleeping quarters…

Gu Huaiyu merely tilted his head slightly. “It’s next door.”

Shen Qing: “?”

After all that, he actually did have one?!

Gu Huaiyu maneuvered his wheelchair over to the small table inside. On the table sat a miniature tea set, along with a book placed face down. …Evidently, President Gu had been reading just a moment ago.

Pouring a cup of tea for the youth, Gu Huaiyu said, “I just haven’t slept in that room for the past few days. Do you want a tour?”

“No, no need…” Shen Qing took the tea and downed it in one gulp, only then remembering he wasn’t here for a tea break.

“I came to say that Duoduo is very determined for us to sleep together now. What should we do about this?”

Gu Huaiyu’s expression didn’t change. His movements while pouring tea remained smooth and elegant as he said, “Then move up here.”

Shen Qing: “? Cough cough! You can’t be serious?”

So the boss really was different from him… The boss wasn’t using delay tactics at all!

Shen Qing looked at Gu Huaiyu.

Gu Huaiyu looked back at him.

Then, Gu Huaiyu suddenly asked, “Weren’t you the one who really wanted to sleep with me?”

Shen Qing: “???”

Sleep… The boss’s use of ‘sleep’ had to strictly mean just sleeping, right?

For a second, Shen Qing felt his mind had gone straight to the gutter.

Damn it, I shouldn’t be thinking like this!

He stabilized his mindset and maintained his smile. “Who said that?”

Gu Huaiyu: “You.”

Lifting his eyes as he spoke, he asked, “Last night, didn’t you say it yourself?”

Shen Qing: “…I only said that to comfort Cub Duo. I don’t actually want to sleep with you!”

Gu Huaiyu raised an eyebrow slightly. “Oh? Then who do you want to sleep with?”

“I want to… sleep by myself!”

Catching on, Shen Qing immediately looked at the boss suspiciously. “…Even Duoduo and Aozi don’t need someone to accompany them to sleep. I’m not a child, why would I need someone beside me to sleep?”

Gu Huaiyu: “.”

Shen Qing: “…”

In that moment, Shen Qing felt his age had been insulted.

He widened his eyes to demonstrate his maturity. “Really, I think sleeping by myself is perfectly fine.”

But Gu Huaiyu had already turned serious again. He said, “Since you promised Duoduo, it’s better if you move up here. Is this room not big enough for you to sleep in?”

His tone was very earnest; it seemed he had genuinely thought it over before bringing it up.

Hearing this, Shen Qing glanced at Gu Huaiyu’s bed.

Uh, even though it wasn’t as massive as the one he was currently sleeping on, it looked to be at least two and a half meters wide and long.

Plenty big enough for two people.

Also, what did the boss mean by that? Was he planning to give this room to Shen Qing while he went to sleep in the hospital bed next door? …

Just as Shen Qing was thinking this, he heard Gu Huaiyu say, “Duoduo reminded me yesterday. You sleeping alone downstairs really doesn’t present a good image; it easily invites gossip. So starting today, you will live here.”

After saying this, he picked up his teacup again. With his long fingers holding the small cup, he slowly lifted his gaze to look at Shen Qing. His eyes weren’t angry, yet they carried a quiet authority.

Shen Qing: “…”

Standing opposite the boss and facing his imposing, handsome face, Shen Qing couldn’t really find an excuse to refuse anymore.

But… what gossip could possibly come from him sleeping downstairs?

Shen Qing didn’t get it.

Once again channeling his inner Aozi and turning into a curious baby, Shen Qing asked, “Why? Is there some bad influence caused by me sleeping downstairs?”

Hearing his question, Gu Huaiyu, who had looked away, raised his eyes back to Shen Qing’s face.

In that moment, Shen Qing felt the boss’s gaze was just a tiny bit evasive.

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck Shen Qing.

Could it be! …

Since getting the marriage certificate, the two of them hadn’t lived together at all. Have the servants, Assistant Tian, and the bodyguards started getting ideas? Are they all starting to guess that President Gu is incapable in bed?! …

Hmm, thinking back to when he ran into Assistant Li earlier… the guy was way too excited about him moving upstairs. As President Gu’s top executive assistant, he was probably well aware of the boss’s physical condition.

And precisely because he was the top assistant, Li Hong cared immensely about protecting his boss’s dignity and saving face…

Thinking about it this way, that had to be it!

Shen Qing instinctively dropped his gaze to the boss’s long legs.

He didn’t dare look any further up, afraid that giving the boss too weird of a look would wound his pride.

At that moment, Gu Huaiyu—whose eyes had previously shown a flicker of evasion—spoke in a deep voice: “It was thoughtless of me to have you sleep downstairs before. You are, after all, a master of this house, so you should sleep in the master suite. For that, I apologize.”

Shen Qing: Oh my, I get it.

As your partner, of course I’ll help you protect your dignity!

Who told you to treat me so well?

Shen Qing nodded vigorously to show that he understood completely. Then he said crisply and decisively, “I’ll move right now! I’ll go pack my things immediately! Is this room free for me to use as I please?”

“…” Gu Huaiyu gave him a strange look, but still said, “Yes.”

With a loud “Great!”, Shen Qing swiftly exited the room.

Gu Huaiyu: “…”

Gu Huaiyu had recently looked at the comments online, which was how he found out that marrying him had brought some negative impact on Shen Qing. For instance, starting yesterday, people had begun speculating about Shen Qing’s status within this household.

Therefore, having Shen Qing move into the master bedroom was necessary; it was the first step.

Even though it seemed the youth couldn’t care less about those things…

Shen Qing was a man of action. He went straight back to his room to pack his things.

Seeing him packing, Gu Duo went over to help.

Aozi didn’t know what was happening, but he loved excitement. Hearing that his auntie and brother had a task to do, he immediately scrambled up, clamoring to help move too.

For a moment, the crisp, joyful voices of children echoed through the entire villa.

But then Shen Qing remembered that his bedroom still contained some of the original owner’s little fetishes… Uh, for example, the white silk leotard with a bunny tail hanging in the closet. He immediately stopped Duoduo from helping.

He declared, “No need to help! Nobody needs to help me. I’m just grabbing some simple toiletries. If I need anything else, I can come down and get it anytime! We’ll treat this old bedroom as my little warehouse!”

Looking at Duoduo and Aozi standing in front of him with their heads tilted up—two cubs, four huge eyes, unfathomably adorable—Shen Qing couldn’t resist. He reached out with both hands and ruffled both their heads. “Go on, go play by yourselves.”

Accepting the “warehouse” explanation, Gu Duo went back to his seat to read.

Aozi was still a little confused, but seeing his brother go back to his seat, he returned to fiddling with his toy cars.

Shen Qing went back into the room, simply packed two sets of pajamas and his toiletries, and truly executed a minimalist move into President Gu’s bedroom.

Gu Huaiyu even gave him a quick tour. It turned out there were more doors inside the bedroom. Pushing them open, there were rooms on both the left and right—the left was a walk-in closet, and the right was an en-suite bathroom.

And there was also a door right in front…

Shen Qing: “…Isn’t the layout of this room a bit too complicated? It feels pretty inconvenient to get in and out. If you really needed to pee, you might not even make it here in time…”

He meant it. Going from the outer two layers of the study, through the bedroom, and all the way into this bathroom… that had to be at least a hundred meters!

Gu Huaiyu: “…”

Glancing at the youth, Gu Huaiyu rolled his wheelchair forward and pushed open that front door. It connected directly to the third-floor corridor.

So this massive suite masquerading as a bedroom actually had two entrances! …

Shen Qing understood.

“Are you particularly dedicated to building mazes? Do you like playing escape rooms?”

Gu Huaiyu: “?”

After the move was finished, President Gu said he had a meeting shortly and needed to prepare some materials, telling Shen Qing to go play by himself.

Shen Qing: …

Why did it feel like the tone the boss used with him was exactly the same tone he had just used on Duoduo and Aozi?

After leaving the bedroom, Shen Qing bumped into Assistant Li and a colleague of his in the corridor.

—It was presumably one of President Gu’s subordinates: a young man wearing a very formal suit, looking sharp and energetic.

Shen Qing had seen this person during the company executives’ group meeting at the house—the time Ms. Lian Jin had fainted from Aozi’s cuteness downstairs. Shen Qing remembered this guy talking privately with Ms. Lian Jin on the third floor afterward.

And very unfortunately, the moment Shen Qing opened the bedroom door, he overheard this young man’s conversation with Assistant Li—

Li Hong: “President Zhen, this matter doesn’t seem to concern you.”

The young man addressed as President Zhen said: “How does it not concern me? Tell me exactly what happened! How is Shen Qing suddenly allowed to move into President Gu’s room to sleep?! Don’t think I don’t know—President Gu has never slept with Shen Qing before! How could President Gu possibly have anything going on with someone else!…”

Shen Qing: ?

Suddenly hearing his own name, Shen Qing was stunned.

At the same time, Li Hong and the “President Zhen” down the hall noticed his presence.

All three of them simultaneously fell silent.

Li Hong’s face looked terrible. Gossiping about the boss was already forbidden, but this Zhen Yong had insisted on dragging him out here to vent his jealousy, not hiding his vinegar at all. And his tone and phrasing had been awful…

Great. Now who knows how much the Madam had overheard…

Zhen Yong also froze after getting a clear look at Shen Qing.

Aside from the embarrassment of being caught referring to the person he was technically supposed to call “Madam” directly by his full name, what shocked him even more was… Shen Qing had just walked out of President Gu’s bedroom.

!!!

President Gu’s bedroom!

A place none of them had the qualifications to even approach, despite being with him for so long!

This Shen Qing, this pretty vase—he actually moved in?!

Zhen Yong felt like he was going to die of anger!

Shen Qing: “…”

Because they were a bit far apart, Shen Qing only knew that this Mr. Zhen was sizing him up, but he didn’t know why.

Thinking back to the words the guy had just spoken in that exasperated tone—stuff about how President Gu had never slept with him, and how President Gu couldn’t possibly have anything going on with anyone else…

Shen Qing: ?

Does this guy also know President Gu is impotent??
…
Are subordinates nowadays really this gossipy?!

In an instant, Shen Qing felt it was his time to shine.

He must resolutely defend his husband’s dignity!

So, snapping out of his daze, Shen Qing suddenly hunched over slightly. He placed one hand on his hip and reached behind his back with the other, massaging his lower back.

He walked toward the two of them. Seeing his strange posture, Li Hong naturally asked with concern, “Madam, what’s wrong? Are you alright? Did you sprain your waist?”

Acting exhausted and unsteady on his feet, Shen Qing waved his hand dismissively at Li Hong and said:

“I’m fine, didn’t sprain it. It’s just that last night… and this morning, I was completely worn out at your President Gu’s place.”

Zhen Yong: “???”

Gu Huaiyu, who had heard the commotion and rolled out of the room: “…”

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