LABMY CH14

Wei Zhenge didn’t take Jian Yuanbai’s talk about starting a company seriously. He thought Jian Yuanbai was just putting on a front in front of Fu Pengyi and the others. Although they hadn’t known each other for long, Wei Zhenge had somewhat understood Jian Yuanbai’s situation. With a total net worth of less than 200,000 yuan, how could he possibly start a company?

Moreover, it had been less than a week since they separated and enrolled in school. No matter how he thought about it, it seemed impossible.

However, as he followed Jian Yuanbai forward and was led into a high-end residential complex near the school, Wei Zhenge began to feel a little surprised. Yet, he maintained a calm expression and continued following him.

It wasn’t until Jian Yuanbai took out a key and entered a finely decorated, bright, and spacious apartment that Wei Zhenge couldn’t help but ask, “This place is…?”

Jian Yuanbai placed the key on the shoe cabinet and picked up another key. “This is the house I just bought. From now on, this will be our home. This is your key.”

The key was attached to a round, chubby keychain with a cloud pattern, resembling a pillow. It was quite cute, but not exactly Wei Zhenge’s style.

Wei didn’t take the key. Instead, he asked first, “Where did you get the money to buy this house?”

Jian Yuanbai opened his mouth to answer but noticed the tension and worry on Wei Zhenge’s face. The words that were about to come out were swallowed back. “Where do you think I got it from? Look at me. Where could I possibly make money?”

Wei Zhenge’s gaze swept up and down Jian Yuanbai, finally landing on his face. This face was flawless, without a single blemish, even more attractive than celebrities on screen.

He stared for a long time until Jian Yuanbai waved his hand in front of his eyes. “What are you thinking about?”

Wei Zhenge’s expression was extremely complicated. His voice was soft, as if he feared that speaking too loudly would shatter Jian Yuanbai’s heart.

“You… You became a duck (gigolo)?”

Jian Yuanbai looked confused. “What duck? I can’t even cook.”

Wei Zhenge pressed his lips together, his tongue touching his dry lips. He couldn’t quite pinpoint the discomfort in his heart, so he attributed it to the pain of watching his older brother, who had helped him so much, go astray.

Seeing Jian Yuanbai’s denial, he became even more convinced of his assumption. “Okay, okay… you didn’t do it.”

Wei Zhenge began to feel a bit repulsed by the seemingly luxurious apartment. He nervously pinched his fingertips and said, “Just break up with her. We can live in that old apartment.”

“If you’re really short on money, I can work as a tutor on weekends.”

As he spoke, Wei Zhenge gradually moved closer to Jian Yuanbai. He reached out, intending to pat his shoulder, but in the end, his pale fingertips only lightly rested on Jian Yuanbai’s shoulder. “How… how old is she?”

Jian Yuanbai was completely bewildered. “Break up with who? How old… who?”

He suddenly lowered his head and stared at Wei Zhenge in disbelief, shouting:

“You think I became a gigolo?!”

“Not a roast duck! I mean the kind that sleeps with people for money!”

In Jian Yuanbai’s mind, the system was laughing hysterically, almost to the point of suffocation.

“With the way you present yourself in front of Wei Zhenge, like a good-for-nothing with no survival skills and only a pretty face, it’s no wonder he misunderstood! Hahahaha!”

The system was laughing so hard that it felt like it had collected a year’s worth of jokes. Finally, it was Jian Yuanbai’s turn to be humiliated, and the system was more thrilled than anyone else.

Jian Yuanbai, filled with indignation, grabbed Wei Zhenge by the shoulders and asked emotionally, “Which part of me looks like a gigolo?”

“I hit the jackpot with a piece of imperial green jade, do you understand what imperial green is?!”

Realizing it was a complete misunderstanding, Wei Zhenge was so embarrassed that he wished he could find a hole to crawl into. A thin layer of blush quickly spread across his pale face. “N-No… you don’t look like one… I misunderstood, Jian-.”

At this point, Jian Yuanbai wasn’t really listening to what he was saying. His face still bore an expression of grievance, but his thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.

His hands were still gripping Wei Zhenge’s shoulders, and they were standing so close that he could feel the other’s breath. From this distance, he could clearly see the shyness in Wei Zhenge’s eyes as he avoided his gaze.

He could also see the faint blush that spread across Wei Zhenge’s beautiful face, soft and tender like peach blossoms drifting onto a tranquil river, creating ripples that tickled the surface.

Jian Yuanbai couldn’t help but wonder: Would it feel soft to the touch, like pink cotton candy?

Lost in thought, his hand unconsciously reached out, intending to pinch that slightly chubby cheek.

Wei Zhenge felt uncomfortable under his gaze and instinctively took a step back, calling out awkwardly, “Jian-ge, don’t be mad.”

The sudden retreat snapped Jian Yuanbai back to reality. Realizing he was supposed to be angry, he let out a childish huff, stuffed his hands into his pockets, and walked away.

For some reason, not being able to pinch that “peach blossom petal” left Jian Yuanbai feeling a little disappointed. But that disappointment was fleeting, quickly washed away by the annoyance that resurfaced.

Jian Yuanbai didn’t go far, simply sitting on the living room sofa. Helpless, Wei Zhenge followed and sat beside him. However, the moment he sat down, Jian Yuanbai shifted away. Wei Zhenge followed suit.

On the sofa, every time Wei Zhenge moved closer, Jian Yuanbai would scoot further away. Eventually, Jian ended up in the corner of the sofa with nowhere left to retreat. Just as he was about to stand up and leave, Wei Zhenge pressed him back down by the shoulder.

Amused and exasperated, Wei Zhenge said, “Are you a child? Acting this immature.”

Without missing a beat, Jian Yuanbai retorted, “I’m not a child. I’m a duck.”

…

Wei Zhenge bit his lip awkwardly. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions without knowing the truth.”

“Hmph.”

“It’s all because Jian-ge is too good-looking. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have thought that way, right?”

“Hmph…”

“Are you hungry? How about I make you something to eat? Maybe some soup to help sober up?”

“Hmph!!” Jian Yuanbai stood up to leave again.

Wei Zhenge, who wasn’t skilled at apologizing, quickly ran out of words. His attempt to change the subject clearly wasn’t working. He tugged at the hem of Jian Yuanbai’s shirt.

Though Jian could have easily shaken him off, he didn’t.

Because there, on the soft sofa, sat a blushing Wei Zhenge, tilting his head up and softly pleading, “Brother, don’t be mad.”

After a pause, he added with a hint of sadness, “Don’t ignore me.”

Jian Yuanbai struggled to suppress the upward curve of his lips, but his efforts were in vain. “It’s getting late. Go to bed.”

Though his words sounded cold and perfunctory, Wei Zhenge smiled, his brows and eyes curved with joy, his ears still flushed red. Compared to Jian Yuanbai’s restrained grin, Wei Zhenge’s smile was far more captivating. So much so that Jian Yuanbai found himself stunned for two seconds.

Awkwardly coughing twice, Jian Yuanbai stiffly changed the subject. “I’m going to take a shower.”

Since the apartment was worth over nine million yuan, the bathroom was separate, and both the master and guest bedrooms had their own sinks and private toilets.

After showering and stepping out with only a towel wrapped around him, Jian Yuanbai saw Wei Zhenge standing by the door of the guest bedroom, where the light was still on, as if he had been waiting.

Puzzled, Jian Yuanbai asked, “What’s wrong?”

Wei Zhenge shook his head gently, his gaze warm. “Goodnight, Jian-ge.”

With that, he closed the door, as if he had been waiting for Jian Yuanbai to finish showering just to say goodnight.

Jian Yuanbai pouted and muttered to the system, “This little pillow only calls me ‘Gegr’ when he’s trying to please me. Normally, it’s just ‘Jian-ge ’ with that cold face.”

The system snickered, “What, do you want him to call you ‘Duck Brother’ instead?”

“Wipe that grin off your face, Duck Brother.”

“…Has anyone told you that you’re really bad at conversation?” Jian Yuanbai retorted.

The system sneered, “Says the one who’s just as bad.”

Ignoring the system, Jian Yuanbai dried his hair and lay on the bed. He thought of the warm light and the soft “goodnight” from Wei Zhenge, and suddenly asked, “Do family members say goodnight to each other like this?”

Not really expecting an answer from the system, Jian Yuanbai mumbled to himself, “So… this is what family feels like. Not bad.”

Meanwhile, in the same apartment, just one wall apart, Wei Zhenge closed his eyes. But the image that flashed through his mind was of Jian Yuanbai, fresh out of the shower, with wet hair dripping beads of water.

Some droplets were caught by his collarbone, while others traced down his chest, leaving damp trails across his well-defined abs.

Hmm… Nice body, Wei Zhenge thought, his mind wandering.