Chapter 54: Prying

Over the Wall Feng Ran was thrown onto the bed, kisses raining down like raindrops, skillfully executed, effortlessly stirring desire. His vision was swirling with confusion, Chen Zhi's face flashing across his mind, frame by frame, like a slideshow.

Chen Zhi... Why was he thinking of Chen Zhi at this moment? All those different times, different looks, yet all the same Shen Zhi, lost in his own passion? He remembered his eyelashes fluttering softly, his pupils always misty, unfathomable, moving, staring intently at him.

He remembered all the times when Chen Zhi said nothing, yet those eyes honestly confessed all his lust.

Like kisses, caresses, restraints, sadism, confessions.

...After a long moment, the one doing the touching looked up, blushing and panting.

Feng Ran woke as if from a dream—he hadn't reacted at all.

The two of them stared at each other, feeling incredibly awkward.

His face flushed, and in an instant, all his romantic thoughts evaporated.

"Drank a little, maybe..." he said dryly, his attempt to conceal his feelings only made them more obvious.

The other party expressed his understanding, hesitated for a moment and said: "It's okay, how about I do it?"

Feng Ran grabbed the clothes beside the bed and fled.

The other party chased him to the door and actually shouted "Brother, I have medicine", the voice echoed in the corridor. He was so embarrassed that he couldn't even lift his head, and fled like a gust of wind.

He was blowing the wind by the river, his mind calmed down, the spark of the cigarette fell on his hand, shuddered, and the whole cigarette fell to the ground and went out.

He almost forgot that there was a problem with his ability in a certain aspect.

The problem stemmed from his obsession.

It was past three o'clock, and He Chuan couldn't go back home. He touched his pocket with mixed feelings and wandered into a roadside Internet cafe. He wanted to check a few corresponding hospitals, but he always felt that someone was watching him from behind. He narrowed the window furtively and entered keywords. There were so many cases that he couldn't figure it out.

Finally, he was upset and closed the webpage, played a few games, and finally didn't sleep all night.

At daybreak, He Chuan called, his tone stiff and filled with anger: "Where are you?"

"I'm here, I..." Feng Ran's voice was lazy and tired, as if he hadn't woken up yet, "I'm in the internet cafe. You're up so early."

"Didn't you lock the door yesterday?"

"The shop door? It was locked."

"What time did you leave?"

"A little after twelve. What happened?"

He Chuan said, "Feng Ran, the shop was robbed." He took a deep breath and said, "You weren't home all night. Were you playing games?"

Feng Ran was more sober now and said, "Wait, I'll be there in ten minutes."

When he arrived, He Chuan said that nothing was missing, but the house was just turned upside down. The police came and checked inside and out. There was no damage and no marks. They gave them a few instructions, suggested installing surveillance, and then left.

It was just the two of them. After they had tidied up the shop, He Chuan brought up what happened last night again: "Where did you go?"

"Young Master," Feng Ran collapsed on the sofa and closed his eyes. "I didn't go anywhere. I just went to the Internet cafe to play for a while."

He also regretted it. If he had known this would happen, he would have left the hotel in the middle of the night and returned to the silver shop.

He Chuan stood in front of him: "There is no Internet here? Go to the Internet cafe and play for six or seven hours."

"Occasionally."

"Then what? After you're done, you don't go back." He Chuan endured it and said, "It rained heavily last night."

It rained heavily? He was too focused on playing the game, and the noise reduction on his headphones made him not hear anything. Feng Ran opened his eyes: "Didn't you tell me not to go back?"

He Chuan seemed speechless, lowered his eyes, turned and walked away.

After lunch that day, He Chuan packed up and left work early. Feng Ran noticed later that he seemed a little unwell, so before he left, he asked considerately, "What's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"

He Chuan said, "I couldn't sleep last night."

"You stayed up all night too. Why don't you sleep?" "

It's raining too hard," He Chuan said, pushing open the door.

Feng Ran called out to his back, "Then I'll look after the shop for you. You go back and just rest."

Sure enough, He Chuan didn't come all afternoon.

In the evening, Feng Ran was fiddling with the camera when suddenly someone pushed the door open. He thought it was He Chuan and said, "Come on, come and see why this thing is not moving."

"You don't seem to be plugged in."

"Ah?" Feng Ran turned around, "Why is it you?"

Chen Shuze was wearing a dark blue suit, which was well-tailored. His hair was meticulously groomed and he wore a pair of glasses. He looked very elite. He leaned against the door frame, smiled and said, "Why can't it be me?"

"I thought He Chuan brought me food."

"Haven't you eaten? I'll take you there later."

"I still have to watch the store."

"Where's the boss?"

"He's not feeling well and went back to rest."

Chen Shuze found a place to sit down and watched him busy. After he adjusted the camera, he said, "Anyway, this guy will watch it for you. Come out for a meal. It won't take long."

Feng Ran still said, "Forget it."

Chen Shuze laughed, "Feng Ran, why do you always refuse me."

"I always reject you, don't you know what I'm trying to do?"

Chen Shuze stared at him, his eyes clear. "Do you have someone you like? Aren't you together?" When he didn't answer, he pressed, "Could it be the one who messaged you last night?"

Remembering that person from last night and the terrible experience they'd had, Feng Ran felt like he'd been stabbed in the back. He immediately denied it, "No, don't let your imagination run wild."

Chen Shuze smiled again. "That's good. I don't think you'd be interested in someone like that."

Feng Ran felt uncomfortable.

Chen Shuze lingered for a long time, chatting with him haphazardly. He was playing cards on his computer, distracted, thinking, since he liked coming here so much, why not let Chen Shuze run the shop from now on? With him as a mouth, He Chuan's difficult clients would be easily dealt with.

Feng Ran was about to turn around and offer a suggestion when someone pushed the door open. Seeing the two people inside, he froze.

It was He Chuan, his face stern, his lips tightly pursed, his cap pulling his hair down, half obscuring his eyes.

"What's up? Are you awake?" Feng Ran asked.

He Chuan didn't answer. Instead, he looked at Chen Shuze and asked, "What's up?"

Chen Shuze smiled and said, "I'm here to see Feng Ran."

"Are you done yet?"

"Chen Shuze, aren't you going out to eat?" Feng Ran, keenly sensing tension, grew restless. "Let's go. I've installed the camera. Just download the app and register."

Chen Shuze nodded, and the two of them passed He Chuan. He Chuan remained silent.

Chen Shuze took him to a hot pot restaurant, where they shared many of his work worries. Feng Ran didn't know how to address them; he knew nothing about Chen Shuze's family company. In the past, they never spoke so much.

Chen Shuze kept talking, and Feng Ran was a little lost in thought. He couldn't help but think of his four years in college. Perhaps the most relaxing moment was being with Chen Shuze. In that small, dim, windowless rental house, he could briefly forget the high debt, the endless part-time job, the annoying boss, the difficult Liu Mang... forget everything.

He chose Chen Shuze just to vent - Chen Shuze was a good venting target, sensible, tight-lipped, less troublesome, and good at work. As for why Chen Shuze chose him, it has always been an unsolved mystery.

They never disturbed each other, nor did they enter each other's lives. Without entering the door of the rental house, they were no different from strangers.

What he said in the car was what he was thinking. He really felt that they would never meet again in this life.

Chen Shuze said that the shop was about to close. Feng Ran almost understood his predicament after hearing what happened, so he had to say, "If you are really uncomfortable, talk to your family and they will transfer some people over, or transfer you away. There is always a solution."

Chen Shuze said, "They let me figure it out myself."

"Don't worry, these are just talks. I used to serve a young master, and my family never cared about him. Later, he got into trouble, but he didn't suffer any big loss. He still got everything he deserved." Feng Ran said, "Your family is well-off. If something really happens, your family will not ignore you."

"That's right." Chen Shuze thought for a moment and changed the subject, "After you returned to China, have you been following He Chuan to help in his shop?"

"No, I just worked casually, without any real job."

Chen Shuze opened a can of beer and handed it to him, his voice lowered, "What happened back then had a big impact on you, right? I heard that although you didn't attend classes much, your grades were the best. You are smart, hardworking, and have work experience. If nothing happened, you should have a bright future."

"How could that be? I didn't skip any classes. I just chose to come. As for work and all that, it has nothing to do with that. It's my own fault."

"What's the reason?" Chen Shuze said slowly. "You're not the type to waste time, are you? Who influenced you? It shouldn't be your family. I guess it's your boyfriend or something."

Feng Ran smiled softly, making it difficult to understand.

Chen Shuze blinked. "Why aren't you talking?"

Feng Ran was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Is your company short of people?"

Chen Shuze was stunned, then smiled helplessly.

"After so many years, I still feel a little unwilling to be seen through by you. Is my intention so obvious? When did you find out after a whole night?"

"Just now." Feng Ran was puzzled. "Why are you beating around the bush with me? Just say it directly."

"Yes, we are short of people, so you think about it." Chen Shuze said, "Don't rush to reject me. I will ask for your opinion in three days."

Feng Ran smiled: "No need to wait three days, I promise you."