ISWTDB Ch83

Chapter 83: The President is Very Fierce (7, 8)

Seeing that Ying Zhao seemed to be missing the man, Xiao Bai curiously asked, “Host, why did you refuse Shi Yanchen when he invited you to dinner?”

Ying Zhao heard Xiao Bai’s question and smiled slightly, replying, “Because the real Ying Ruihan would never agree so easily. The original host isn’t just an artist but also a businessman. He wouldn’t let his guard down so quickly with someone he just met. Shi Yanchen doesn’t know my true identity yet, but one day he will. I’d rather follow his lead and pace, so he lowers his guard and believes that I’m genuinely attracted to and in love with him, which is why I’m willing to be with him.”

Ying Zhao knew just how imaginative his lover could be in every world, so even though his lover might fall for him at first sight, he still had to carefully manage the pace of their relationship. Letting the feelings develop gradually would help prevent his lover from overthinking.

Ying Zhao wanted his lover to feel at ease and fully enjoy the happiness of being with him. So, when it came to taking care of his lover’s feelings, Ying Zhao had always put in a lot of effort.

Watching through the surveillance as the man personally and meticulously revised the contract he had previously asked his subordinates to prepare, a smile appeared on Ying Zhao’s lips.

He suddenly remembered that in a previous world, his lover had also tried to buy his time with money. It seemed that in every world, the man was remarkably consistent in his relentless efforts to be with him.

But Ying Zhao didn’t mind if his lover used a little trickery, viewing it as a playful interaction between them. He also asked the system Xiao Bai to inform Mu Qing on the other side, telling him that if Shi Yanchen came to discuss any contract matters, Yixing Entertainment shouldn’t stop him.

As for the entertainment industry, Ying Zhao didn’t plan to take on any new work for the time being. He only told Mu Qing to inform him if there were any particularly special or plot-related parts.

After all, the original host didn’t really have his heart set on the entertainment industry, and now that Ying Ruihan’s soul had been replaced by Ying Zhao, he was even less inclined to waste time in that field.

Fulfilling the original host’s wish and then being sweet and loving with his partner was the main priority. As for becoming a big star or a king of songs, what did that have to do with him?

After giving all the necessary instructions, Ying Zhao happily stayed up all night, watching over his lover. He observed as the man spent the entire night revising the contract, looking as if he were bearing some great burden. If someone didn’t know better, they might have thought Shi Yanchen was handling a multi-billion-dollar project, given how conflicted he seemed.

It wasn’t until the next morning that Shi Yanchen finally finished working on the contract. Heaven knows how much he wanted to add some clauses for intimacy with Ying Zhao, but he knew he couldn’t.

If he had really included such demands, not only would the contract no longer be seen as purely professional, but no matter how generous the remuneration, it might make his beloved feel disrespected. But how could he ever look down on him? That person was his lifelong treasure!

After confirming all the terms of the contract once more, Shi Yanchen rushed over to Yixing Entertainment without even having breakfast. He sought out the higher-ups there, intending to discuss matters with them in person.

Given Shi Yanchen’s status and his mention of a large investment during their phone call, Yixing was naturally very welcoming.

Li Ge, who was actually Mu Qing after entering this small world, had already become the vice president of Yixing. Although Li Ge was best known for his past achievements as a top manager, now, Ying Zhao was the only artist under his wing.

Mu Qing personally received Shi Yanchen and raised an eyebrow at the man before him, who bore an eighty percent resemblance to Zhu Que. Although he was happy that Ying Zhao and the man could finally be together, there was no way he, as a friend, would let his longtime buddy get snatched away without some sort of reaction.

So, in this small world where he wasn’t a match for Zhu Que in the real world, Mu Qing naturally wouldn’t miss the chance to tease him. With a troubled expression, he said to Shi Yanchen, “I’m sorry, although we’re very interested in the large investment you’re willing to make in our new variety show, Yixing doesn’t sell out its artists. Besides, as you must know, Yixing is the most reputable entertainment company in the country, so there are plenty of people wanting to invest in us. Ruihan wouldn’t accept such an arrangement, so I’m afraid this private contract of yours is a bit too much to ask, Mr. Shi.”

Shi Yanchen frowned slightly at Mu Qing’s words, though he was pleased by Yixing’s protection of Ying Zhao. However, he didn’t back down in his speech, responding, “I know Ruihan is very talented, but please take a look at the contract I’ve prepared for him. I’m not asking you to sell out your artist; I just hope he can help me out. I’m aware that Ruihan never engages in publicity stunts, so if he’s the one I’m contracting with, it could enhance credibility, and Yixing could gain a significant investment. It’s a win-win situation. Moreover, I can guarantee that during the contract period, I won’t force Ruihan to do anything. Once the contract expires, he’s free to go his own way.”

But I would never give him the chance to leave me—this part, Shi Yanchen naturally didn’t say out loud.

Mu Qing, hearing this, took the contract from Shi Yanchen and carefully examined it. Then, a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes behind his glasses. This contract was less about business and more about charity.

Aside from the requirement for the two to establish a romantic relationship in public and not let the public realize it was fake, there were almost no other demands.

Of course, there was also a clause that the parties involved couldn’t date anyone else during the contract period, but that was reasonable. Moreover, Shi Yanchen promised many benefits and a large sum of money in the contract. Any fool would be tempted by such an agreement.

After reading the contract, Mu Qing’s eyes gleamed with interest. He naturally knew what the other party was up to and didn’t plan to play dumb. Waving the contract in his hand, he grinned and said to Shi Yanchen, “It seems, Mr. Shi, that your interest lies not in the investment itself.”

Shi Yanchen, hearing Mu Qing put it that way, didn’t bother to hide his intentions and responded, “Yes, so I hope you can help persuade Ruihan to accept this job, giving me a chance to pursue him. I’m very serious about this!”

Mu Qing nodded, knowing he couldn’t obstruct things too much, or Ying Zhao might hold it against him later.

After a brief consideration, he told Shi Yanchen that he would arrange a dinner with Ying Zhao that evening, where they could discuss the contract over a meal.

When Shi Yanchen heard that he would get to see Ying Zhao again and have dinner with him, he eagerly agreed and hurriedly left.

The reason for his haste was, of course, to freshen up and prepare himself before meeting his beloved, so he could present his best side.

After Shi Yanchen left, Mu Qing immediately called Ying Zhao, intending to tease him a bit. But Ying Zhao had just woken up and still sounded groggy.

Ying Zhao had finished his filming work the day before, and with the Ying family’s business empire already well-established, there was no need for Ying Ruihan to worry about it constantly. So Ying Zhao only needed to oversee the broader direction of things.

Having secretly watched his lover all night through the system, Ying Zhao was now quite tired and had slept in until this time. If it weren’t for Mu Qing’s call, he might have slept even longer.

However, upon hearing that Mu Qing had arranged a dinner with Shi Yanchen that evening to discuss the contract, Ying Zhao immediately perked up.

Ying Zhao quickly agreed to Mu Qing’s suggestion, but he changed the location of the dinner. Instead of having Mu Qing invite Shi Yanchen to a restaurant, Ying Zhao had them come to his home, where he planned to cook dinner for them himself.

Of course, he also shared his mischievous plan with Mu Qing, intending to have some fun during dinner with Mu Qing’s cooperation.

Thinking about how his lover might be a bit flustered, Ying Zhao flashed a mischievous smile. He figured that when they were an old couple in this world, they would have another amusing memory to tease his lover with.

With this in mind, Ying Zhao happily took out a bunch of ingredients from the fridge, intending to showcase his cooking skills in front of his beloved.

While cooking, he reminisced about the days they had spent living together in the school world. That world had no major ups and downs, and Ying Zhao and his lover had spent a peaceful and happy life together.

Although their days were filled with mundane tasks, the simple happiness of being with the person he loved still captivated Ying Zhao.

As the food was almost ready, the sky began to darken. The doorbell of his apartment rang, and Ying Zhao quickly washed his hands and went to open the door, where he saw Mu Qing and Shi Yanchen standing outside.

Shi Yanchen had been thrilled when Mu Qing called to say they would be having dinner at Ying Zhao’s place. Mu Qing, being considerate, decided to pick him up on the way, so the two of them arrived together.

Seeing his lover dressed so formally, with his hair meticulously styled, Ying Zhao couldn’t help but twitch his lips. It looked like even the tie clip had been carefully chosen, making him look like a peacock proudly displaying its feathers.

Raising an eyebrow, Ying Zhao suppressed the smile in his eyes and stepped aside to let them in. He then asked Mu Qing to entertain Shi Yanchen while he went back to the kitchen to finish cooking.

Once Ying Zhao turned and left, Shi Yanchen finally breathed a sigh of relief, relaxing his tense nerves. He began to take in the surroundings of the small apartment, which gave him a particularly warm feeling.

Especially when he saw Ying Zhao in an apron and casual clothes answering the door, Shi Yanchen almost felt as if he were coming home from work and being greeted by his wife.

Shi Yanchen was an orphan, abandoned at the entrance of an orphanage when he was still an infant, so he had never experienced the warmth of a family and was rather indifferent to emotions.

But now, as he watched Ying Zhao busying himself in the kitchen, Shi Yanchen felt, for the first time, a strong longing for a home.

However, he soon realized that his attire, compared to the relaxed and casual outfits of Ying Zhao and Mu Qing, seemed overly formal. He felt somewhat out of place, standing out from both the other two and the surroundings, which made him a bit embarrassed.

Moreover, seeing Mu Qing acting so familiar, as if he knew the place well, made Shi Yanchen feel a bit jealous.

But he could only comfort himself by thinking that Li Ge was Ying Ruihan’s manager, so it was natural for him to have been here before. It made sense that he would be familiar with the place.

Shi Yanchen then focused his attention on Ying Zhao’s living space. The house was clean and tidy, with everything in order. Although it didn’t have a luxurious feel, it was very comfortable.

When he saw a photo on the table of a young Ying Ruihan with his father, Shi Yanchen picked it up out of curiosity and asked Mu Qing, “Is this Ruihan’s father in the photo?”

Mu Qing nodded and answered casually, “Yes, Ruihan lost his mother when he was young, so he was very close to his father. But Mr. Ying has been gone for many years, and this house was left to him by his father. Ruihan has never been willing to move out.”

Shi Yanchen nodded at this, his lips forming a tight line. So now Ruihan, like him, had no father or mother. Looking around at the furnishings in the house, it was clear that this was where Ruihan lived, with no signs of anyone else living there.

Shi Yanchen thought to himself that Ruihan must have spent many years alone, just like he had. But not anymore—he would never let Ruihan be lonely again. They had each other now.

Soon enough, Ying Zhao finished preparing the remaining dishes and unceremoniously asked the two of them to help bring the food to the table.

Ying Zhao had prepared an abundant dinner, with six dishes and a soup, even though there were only three of them. Seeing the delicious spread before him, Shi Yanchen’s appetite was fully awakened. He had been single for many years but had never developed such good cooking skills.

Ying Zhao thoughtfully served him a bowl of warm soup. As Shi Yanchen took a sip, the savory taste spread across his tongue, down his throat, and into his stomach, filling him with a warmth that made him suddenly feel like he might cry.

Ying Zhao watched as his lover cherished the soup, sipping it slowly with a deeply moved expression, and couldn’t help but twitch his lips again. He wasn’t sure what he had done to touch his lover so deeply.

But Ying Zhao didn’t bother trying to figure out what was on his lover’s mind. Instead, he casually turned to Mu Qing and said, “Li Ge, you told me you’d bring a friend over for dinner, but I didn’t expect it to be this friend. I just saw Mr. Shi on set yesterday. Mr. Shi, it seems we’re really quite fated.”

Shi Yanchen looked up at Ying Zhao’s words, somewhat stunned, and glanced over at Mu Qing. He hadn’t expected that Mu Qing hadn’t told Ying Zhao the reason for his visit yet.

Of course, Ying Zhao knew the reason; he just wanted to tease his lover a little. Mu Qing played along perfectly, eating the delicious food and speaking with his mouth full, “If I hadn’t said I was bringing a friend, would you have come out to see me? Let alone let me come to your house for dinner!”

Mu Qing swallowed his food, thinking it was unfair that after all these years, this was the first time he’d tasted Ying Zhao’s cooking. He hadn’t expected Ying Zhao to be such a good cook.

Satisfied, Mu Qing took a sip of juice and continued speaking to Ying Zhao, “Actually, there’s a job I want to discuss with you, but it’s a bit personal.”

Ying Zhao frowned at these words and looked seriously at Mu Qing. “Li Ge, you know I don’t like discussing work matters at home. But we’ve worked together for many years; what kind of job would require you to go to such lengths?”

Mu Qing finally managed to swallow the mouthful of food he had just stuffed into his mouth. Looking up, he saw Ying Zhao acting all serious, as if he were putting on a performance. Smacking his lips, Mu Qing shamelessly pushed the conversation toward Shi Yanchen, smiling at him and saying, “You should discuss this directly with Mr. Shi. After all, as an outsider, there are some things I can’t explain very well. But Ruihan, Yixing will definitely respect your personal wishes. If you don’t want to, you can naturally refuse.”

Hearing this, Ying Zhao nodded and turned to Shi Yanchen. Shi Yanchen, confused by the conversation between the two, hurriedly pulled out the contract he had prepared when Ying Zhao looked at him.

While the two of them were momentarily distracted, Mu Qing quickly stuffed more food into his mouth. Then, out of nowhere, he produced two lunch boxes and swiftly divided half of the food on the plates into them.

After finishing, Mu Qing wiped his face, grinning at Ying Zhao as he said, “You two carry on, I have some business to attend to, so I’ll be off!”

With that, Mu Qing didn’t wait for Ying Zhao and Shi Yanchen to react. He quickly grabbed the lunch boxes and practically fled from Ying Zhao’s apartment.

Ying Zhao looked at the plates on the table, now looking as if a dog had rifled through them, and his eyelid twitched. He thought that if Mu Qing hadn’t run so fast, he would have given him a good beating.

Ying Zhao didn’t need to think hard to figure out who the food in those lunch boxes was meant for. He couldn’t help but curse Mu Qing in his mind—this guy was as shameless as ever.

Meanwhile, Mu Qing, happily driving back to his own place, suddenly sneezed. Rubbing his nose, he glanced at the lunch boxes beside him, grinning as he muttered to himself, “I didn’t expect that kid Ying Zhao to be such a good cook—what a treat for Zhu Que! Good thing I packed half of it. I need to hurry back and let Ao Zhan have a taste before it gets cold.”

Mu Qing left in such a hurry that Shi Yanchen, who remained in the apartment, felt a bit awkward. After staring at each other for a moment, Ying Zhao lowered his head and began to carefully review the contract.

Shi Yanchen, feeling a bit nervous, watched Ying Zhao intently, not wanting to miss any change in his expression. Seeing Ying Zhao frown at the beginning of his review, Shi Yanchen became worried.

However, as Ying Zhao delved deeper into the contract, his expression shifted from initial displeasure to one of surprise, and even curiosity.

After finishing the contract, Ying Zhao looked up and raised an eyebrow at Shi Yanchen. He tapped the table with his long fingers and asked, “Mr. Shi, what does this mean?”

Shi Yanchen pursed his lips and looked directly into Ying Zhao’s eyes as he explained, “The contract is quite clear. You see, Ruihan, there are many social engagements in the business world, and sometimes people with no sense try to push all sorts of individuals onto me, which I find very frustrating. But if I have a very close lover, it would save me a lot of trouble.”

Seeing the other party lying so seriously and giving such an unconvincing reason, Ying Zhao kindly chose not to expose him. He simply rested his chin on his hand and stared directly into Shi Yanchen’s eyes.

Under Ying Zhao’s clear gaze, Shi Yanchen couldn’t shake the feeling that his true intentions had already been seen through, causing a thin layer of sweat to break out on his back.

After a long silence, Ying Zhao finally asked, “So why did you choose me?”

Hearing the question, Shi Yanchen hurriedly explained, “Because Ruihan, you’re very well-known in the entertainment industry, but you have a low profile. You don’t take on too much work, and you’ve never been involved in any scandals. Plus, your life is always quiet. Choosing you would make it more believable.”

Seeing that Ying Zhao was still staring at him without speaking, Shi Yanchen began to panic a little. After thinking for a moment, he hesitantly added, “And you’re very good-looking. Being recognized as the man who captured the heart of the most handsome male god is something to be proud of.”

At this point, Shi Yanchen worried that his reasoning might sound a bit far-fetched. To his surprise, Ying Zhao seemed quite satisfied and nodded, saying, “That’s a pretty good reason.”

Shi Yanchen, unsure, asked, “So… does that mean you agree?”

Expecting Ying Zhao to take some time to consider, Shi Yanchen was shocked when Ying Zhao nodded without hesitation and said, “I agree. Although I’ve worked hard over the years to avoid scandals, there are still some people who try to tie me up in publicity stunts, which I find very annoying. But if I had a nominal boyfriend, it would save me a lot of trouble. Especially since the terms you’ve written in the contract are so good, I have no reason not to agree. In short, this is a mutually beneficial arrangement.”

As he spoke, Ying Zhao smiled and extended his hand to Shi Yanchen. Shi Yanchen was stunned for a moment before coming back to his senses and quickly grasped Ying Zhao’s hand. He heard Ying Zhao say with a smile, “I look forward to our cooperation.”

After Ying Zhao withdrew his hand, Shi Yanchen remained in a daze for a long time. He had not expected to achieve his goal so easily and had thought he would need to persuade Ying Zhao thoroughly before he would agree.

Looking at the signed contract, Shi Yanchen cherished it, almost as if he could already see their future marriage certificate through the contract.

Ying Zhao, seeing his lover’s silly expression, smiled and asked, “The contract is signed, so what do you need me to do for you, Mr. Shi?”

Upon hearing Ying Zhao’s words, Shi Yanchen immediately looked up, pursed his lips, and said with a hint of a blush on his ears, “Call me Yanchen!”

Looking at Yingzhao’s confused expression, he continued to explain, “Call me Yanchen, use my name. Don’t call me Mr. Shi.”

Hearing this, Ying Zhao tugged at the corner of his mouth and leaned closer to his ear, whispering softly, “Why not call you Chenchen? It’s more affectionate. Changing the way we address each other is good too, so we don’t slip up outside and let people find out.”