My proofreader from Ten Day Ultimatum decided to lend me a hand, he’s already done the first two chapters, this one may be a little late, but all future chapters will be proofed before being posted! Let’s all thank P-chan!

Edit: ok, all proofed~

Translated by Pure (ko-fi)

Proofread by CitrusP

Chapter 3

Before the new semester commenced, endless meetings filled the schedule. The morning was dedicated to a school-wide faculty assembly, while the afternoon was reserved for grade-level sessions. A class-specific meeting remained on the agenda for the following day.

Thanks to the previous class under his guidance achieving the highest college enrollment rate in the grade, along with an English subject average that far surpassed other classes, the school decided to appoint Ying Tongchen as the homeroom teacher for the freshman Experimental Class 2.  

Ying Tongchen did not decline the offer. After briefly exchanging information with the other subject teachers, he confirmed the time and location for tomorrow’s meeting.  

Once the meeting concluded, the teachers headed to the cafeteria for lunch. Several female teachers from his team invited him to join them later for karaoke and late-night revelers.  

"It’s your girls’ night out. I’d better not intrude," Ying Tongchen politely declined.  

"Oh, come on. You’d be perfect for carrying our bags," joked Teacher Fu, whose professional outfit still carried a hint of allure despite the formal occasion. "Mr. Ying, you skip out on our gatherings every time. Don’t tell me your girlfriend has you on a tight leash?"  

The other female teachers covered their mouths, giggling at the remark.  

Teacher Fu had only joined the school last year and was particularly fond of teasing Ying Tongchen in the office. Ying Tongchen, however, could never quite tell whether she was serious or just joking, so he had no choice but to turn down her invitation.  

"It’s not like that," he waved his hand dismissively. "I’m just worried that if I go out with a group of beauties like you, passersby might get so jealous they’d come after me with a knife."  

The group burst into laughter, doubling over at his remark. Teacher Fu feigned a pout and said, "Mr. Ying, you really make it hard for the pursuers! I’ve heard from the other faculty that you’re still single? Our English department is full of beauties, and with looks like yours, I’m sure plenty of people are after you. How do you stay so calm and unfazed?"  

How? Simple—just swing the other way.  

"Guess I’m waiting for fate," Ying Tongchen replied in an upright manner.  

Teacher Fu: "Then what’s your type? We can help keep an eye out for you."  

Ying Tongchen: "Someone taller than me."  

The others: "???"  

A math teacher across the table looked dumbfounded. "You’re already pushing 1.8 meters—are you seriously looking for someone even taller?!"  

"Yes, the taller ones give more sense of security," Ying Tongchen said with a slight smirk. Rising from his seat, he added, "You all enjoy your meal. I’ve got plans to hit the gym with a friend." And with that, he left behind a group of teachers reeling under the whir of the ceiling fan*.

(TL: It’s another meme, just standing in the wind, dumbfounded.)  

"Wait, does Ying Tongchen like tall people because he’s into fitness?"  

"The director was even thinking of setting him up with his daughter. Looks like that’s off the table—hahaha, I’m suddenly in a good mood."  

"Does that mean none of us stand a chance either? Are we all out of the running?"  

"So short girls don’t deserve love now?"  

Math teacher Zheng Zhinan timidly raised his hand, his face turning red. "I—I like shorter girls. Would you, um, consider me instead?"  

"No thanks, math is our natural enemy! We have no common ground!"  

Zheng Zhinan: sob

…

Meng Gong worked at a private fitness club in the city center—a spacious and spotless venue catering exclusively to the wealthy and influential. Clients could always count on having a personal trainer available for one-on-one sessions.  

Thanks to Meng Gong’s employee benefits, Ying Tongchen managed to score an annual membership at a discounted rate.  

After finishing a set of exercises, he grabbed a bottle of water and settled down in the snack lounge. Before long, Meng Gong found a break in his schedule and joined him at the table.  

"How’s Zhen Mingxin doing?" Ying Tongchen asked.  

"Pretty good," Meng Gong replied smugly, jerking his chin toward the area behind Ying Tongchen. "Check out my new client."  

Ying Tongchen turned around and saw Zhen Mingxin standing there, dressed in a tank top that showed off his slender arms and legs. A towel hung over his shoulders, and his face was flushed with sweat. Despite looking slightly embarrassed, he managed a shy smile. "Hello Ying ge."  

Ying Tongchen raised an eyebrow. "Sit down."  

Zhen Mingxin sat down nervously beside him, placing his hands neatly on his knees. His flushed cheeks made him look even more self-conscious. "Thanks for helping me last time. I didn’t get a chance to properly express my appreciation. How about I pay for your next annual membership?"  

"No need," Ying Tongchen replied before asking, "What brings you to the gym?"  

"I want to get as strong as Meng Meng*." Zhen Mingxin kneaded his own skinny arm and sighed.  

(TLN: A cute nickname for Meng Gong)

Ying Tongchen chuckled. "What about your manager? Didn’t she give you trouble?"  

"Nope."  

Ying Tongchen had barely started to relax when Zhen Mingxin added, "She laid me off directly. Now I’m stuck with a rookie manager."  

Ying Tongchen and Meng Gong sighed in unison.  

"But it’s not so bad. The new manager’s young, cheerful, and full of righteous energy. She even said she’s going to make me a movie star!" Zhen Mingxin laughed twice, but then something seemed to cross his mind. He quickly glanced around, lowered his voice, and asked, "Ying ge, is it true... you and that guy...?"  

"Mhm, we did."  

"Whoa." Zhen Mingxin gave him a big thumbs-up. "You’re the real MVP—taking one for the team and looking out for your little bro. Don’t say no more! I’m definitely renewing that membership for you!"  

"You should focus on making it big first," Ying Tongchen replied.  

Meng Gong, who had been quiet this whole time, finally couldn’t hold back. "Come on, spill. What’s about that guy? Are you really not going to meet up with him again?"  

"Yeah."  

"What about anyone else?"  

"Not considering it for now. The new semester’s about to start."  

After the short break, Meng Gong was called away to help a regular client, leaving Ying Tongchen to keep an eye on Zhen Mingxin.  

Ying Tongchen lowered his head and started scrolling through his phone. He reached for the water cup beside him and took a sip, only to sense a burning gaze gradually fixating on him. Confused, he turned his head, only to meet Zhen Mingxin’s overly innocent and wide-eyed stare.  

Zhen Mingxin was completely mesmerized by his profile. "Ying ge, you’re so handsome. What do you think—how about dating me?"  

"Pfft—"  

Zhen Mingxin wiped the water off his face and grinned cheekily. "Ge, can’t you at least consider me as an option?"  

"You’re more like a di di (younger brother)," Ying Tongchen said awkwardly, handing Zhen Mingxin a tissue.  

"Alright then." Zhen Mingxin sighed, wiping his face. Noticing a drop of water clinging to the corner of Ying Tongchen’s mouth, he instinctively reached out to wipe it away.  

Ying Tongchen caught his wrist, about to say something, when a sudden shadow loomed over them.  

Both of them looked up at the same time and saw a man with sharp features and piercing eyes staring at their intertwined hands. His gaze then shifted to Zhen Mingxin’s face.  

Zhen Mingxin nearly shriveled up on the spot, muttering nervously, "Uh, Ying ge... is this your friend?"  

"No." Ying Tongchen answered at first, but after seeing the man’s frown, he hesitated and corrected himself, "Actually... yes?"  

Do friends with benefits count as a friend?  

"Ying Tongchen, get over here." Zhuo Shu's face darkened as he turned and strode off. After a few steps, he glanced back, only to find no one following him. Furious, he marched back, grabbed Ying Tongchen’s wrist, and dragged him straight to one of the private lounges. With a swift motion, he locked the door behind them.  

Ying Tongchen tried to pull his hand free, but the other man, clearly incensed, pinned him against the door.  

"Who was that guy just now?" Zhuo Shu demanded, his anger barely contained. He had finally managed to squeeze in a gym session, only to catch his supposed kept lover flirting with another man, playing some ridiculous hand-holding game. "Are you cheating on me? Picking up more 'clients' behind my back?"  

Zhuo Shu felt as though he was practically encased by a green aura*. Even the lounge's décor was bursting with vibrant shades of green—how infuriating!

(TLN: Wearing a green hat, or having something green over you is basically the same as being cuckold.)

Ying Tongchen blinked, quickly piecing together what was going through Zhuo Shu’s mind. A beat later, he let out a short, amused laugh. "He’s just someone I recently met—a di di, that’s all."  

"Oh, right," Zhuo Shu snapped through gritted teeth. "Isn’t it trendy these days to call them ‘daddy and baby’ or ‘ge ge and di di’?"  

"Pfft." Ying Tongchen chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he looked up. "You’re surprisingly well informed, aren’t you? Am I right... ge ge?"  

Zhuo Shu: "!"  

Zhuo Shu paused. "What did you just call me?"  

"Ge ge." The corners of Ying Tongchen’s mouth perked up. "Or did you actually want me to call you daddy instead?" As soon as the words left his mouth, he noticed the fierce-looking man in front of him suddenly flush red at the ears.  

Ying Tongchen bit back a grin but couldn’t stop the laugh that eventually slipped out. Then, he heard Zhuo Shu deliberately lower his voice, trying to sound serious. "I am your daddy."  

A financial backer was basically a sugar daddy. With that thought, Zhuo Shu’s confidence returned. "Go on. Let me hear it."  

"Don’t push your luck!" Ying Tongchen shoved him away, torn between exasperation and amusement. Straightening his collar, he remembered he was still in workout clothes.  

Zhuo Shu noticed it too. Despite Ying Tongchen wearing nothing more than a white T-shirt and workout pants, the damp fabric clung to his chest, turning slightly translucent. His exposed skin was fair and smooth, and there was even a faint mark near the collar.  

Zhuo Shu casually tugged at Ying Tongchen’s neckline, revealing a few lingering traces that had yet to fade. There were no new ones, which made him smile with satisfaction.  

Ying Tongchen slapped his hand away, walked over to the sofa, and sat down. Crossing his long legs, he looked up at Zhuo Shu. "While we’re on the topic, since when do you get to dictate who I talk to?"  

"Of course, I do." Zhuo Shu shot him a glare, but his expression softened as he took in Ying Tongchen’s composed demeanor, a hint of admiration flickering in his eyes.  

What Zhuo Shu despised most was the competition within his own social circle. Surrounded by wealthy second-generation heirs whose lives revolved around drinking and partying, he had grown numb to their constant flaunting of lovers—day in and day out—while mocking him for having plenty of money but no one to warm his bed. Yet, after witnessing enough of those sultry, attention-seeking types who shed their clothes at the slightest provocation, he found himself utterly disinterested in such displays.

It was precisely that air of restrained asceticism and effortless composure that made him willingly embrace the role of a keeper of a gilded canary.

With this thought, Zhuo Shu straightened his posture and sat upright across from Ying Tongchen. "You’re mine now, and fooling around is absolutely off-limits. While we’re at it, let’s clear the air. Don’t worry—I might be new to this whole arrangement, but I’ll make an effort to adapt, practice more, and settle into my role sooner rather than later."  

"Mm, where there’s a will, there’s a way," Ying Tongchen also felt he needed to put in more practice when it came to technique—otherwise, finding new hookups in the future might become a real problem.

Zhuo Shu: "?" Did he just—encourage me?  

Clearing his throat, Zhuo Shu adopted the stern tone of a financial backer laying down the law. "Personally, I’ve been a little busy recently, but I know your workload isn't heavy right now."  

"Mm, not too busy," Ying Tongchen replied with a hint of regret. September was nearly here, and his paid leave would be over before he knew it.  

Seeing the sadness on his face, Zhuo Shu thought to himself that this was someone with ambition. He couldn’t help but add a few points to his mental scorecard. "Don’t worry, soon enough, you’ll be working, and excel at it."  

"Thanks for the good word."  

"But the premise is that you need to be obedient."  

"?"

"When I want to see you, you must appear immediately and satisfy my desires."  

"Uh..." Ying Tongchen wasn't sure if this was something other flings also did—openly demanding the other person to fulfill their needs?  

He shrugged it off, "Depends on the situation."  

"Depends on what situation?" Zhuo Shu furrowed his brows.  

"I'm just worried you'll wear yourself out," Ying Tongchen said, glancing at him with a hint of sympathy.

"It’s fine," Zhuo Shu replied, musing he was completely unexhausted!  

He added, "Leave your number. Someone will reach out when you're needed."  

Ying Tongchen fell into thought.  

Zhuo Shu, on the other hand, was utterly baffled: Is that solemn, sacrificial expression of yours actually serious?

"Do you mean—are we supposed to keep this relationship going long-term?" Ying Tongchen asked, perplexed.

Zhuo Shu nodded. "That's right, but from now on, I won’t be giving you any bath scrubs." How could someone make such a request of their sugar daddy?  

Ying Tongchen pursed his lips, looking somewhat troubled. While the suggestion was practical—it would address his physical needs, and having a regular partner would ensure safety and health—the pleasurable sensation...  

"Ah, well..."  

"You have reservations about this?"

Just as they were talking, there was a knock on the door. Meng Gong popped his head in. "Tongchen, when are you heading back? Do you need a ride?"  

At the sound, Zhuo Shu immediately furrowed his brows. He turned around and saw a tall, muscular man in a black tank top, his presence exuding masculinity. His eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"  

Meng Gong widened his eyes, looking at the strikingly handsome man. His heart skipped a beat, and he shyly responded, "He–Hello, I'm Meng Gong. Are you a friend of Tongchen's?"

Zhuo Shu turned to look at Ying Tongchen, his hands propped up on the armrest as he assumed the posture of a wealthy patron, awaiting the perfect explanation.

Ying Tongchen rubbed his nose and walked over to the door, speaking quietly to Meng Gong. "He's the one who requested for Zhen Mingxin."

"!" Meng Gong turned back to look at Zhuo Shu, his words stumbling out in shock, "If I'd known he was this handsome, I could've... ahhhh!"

"Keep your voice down." Ying Tongchen glanced outside, lowering his voice. "We still don't know if he recognizes Zhen Mingxin. Don't forget, Zhen Mingxin is still here."

"!!!" Torn between beauty and friendship, Meng Gong decisively chose beauty. "You go hide Zhen Mingxin. Leave this to me."

"......"

Zhuo Shu, seeing them whispering without a care in the world, felt so enraged that green light seemed to radiate from the top of his head. He stood up and walked over, causing the two of them to immediately fall silent and turn to look at him in unison.

"Come with me," Zhuo Shu said, casting a sharp glance at Ying Tongchen.

"Where to?"

"You tell me."

Ying Tongchen felt his daisy slightly tightening.

However—

He lifted his gaze slightly, letting his eyes linger on Zhuo Shu's striking features for just a moment—only a moment—before declaring with righteous certainty, "Let's go. This time, I’ll pick the place."

Meng Gong watched their retreating figures, and suddenly, Zhen Mingxin leaned in. "Meng Meng, why do you look like you're about to cry?"

"Boo hoo, I just got dumped."

"What a coincidence, me too!" 

…

Outside a hotel, Zhuo Shu stood in the cold wind, stubbornly refusing to go inside. "Are you still half asleep, or am I the one who hasn’t woken up? Do you seriously think I'd sleep in a place like this?"

"It's just to sleep. Why make a big deal out of it? You think this is free?" Ying Tongchen, unwilling to waste money at a five-star hotel, pushed him forward. "Hurry up, do you want to do this or not?"

Zhuo Shu held firmly to his principles. "I'd rather die. I’d rather jump off this building than do anything in there."

"Then don’t," Ying Tongchen turned and walked away, not bothering to hesitate.

Zhuo Shu: "......"

Zhuo Shu: "You stop right there!"

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