Chapter 9: Responsive to Every Plea

A long-standing habit of sleeping and waking early meant that even though Shen Xici had no scenes today and didn’t need to go to the set, he still woke up at eight o’clock.

Not wanting to leave the bedroom, Shen Xici stared at the snow-white ceiling, imagining in his mind what the mute boy living in the mountain forest would be doing at this time. He would have just returned from the stream, a lively fish dangling from a grass stem in his hand under the morning mist. When his younger sister ran towards him, he would smile and pull out a handful of dew-kissed wildflowers from behind his back.

He wasn’t professionally trained in acting; his university major had absolutely nothing to do with filmmaking. When faced with a character, he would immerse himself as much as possible, imagining what thoughts and past he would have if he were this person, and what actions and expressions he would have when encountering different people and situations.

Fortunately, since he was young, he had always observed and tried to understand the people around him, imitating their reactions.

Usually, he immersed himself quickly and easily fell into the character’s world, but today, his thoughts kept straying uncontrollably.

Last night’s situation was urgent, and besides pretending to be a secret couple, he really couldn’t think of a better, more effective solution. At the very least, anyone who knew even a little about Sheng Shaoyan’s situation would never believe that he would be cohabiting and dating someone in a remote small town like Sui County.

But.

Shen Xici rolled over, burying his face in the soft pillow, the tips of his ears showing through his messy hair a little red.

He remembered how he had leaned on Sheng Shaoyan’s shoulder last night and deliberately panted twice with a raised volume—

Although Sheng Shaoyan didn’t seem to notice he was panting, and although after the two people left and they came out of the narrow alley, Sheng Shaoyan didn’t press him on why he had suddenly pulled him into the dark and asked him to hold him.

But, let the world end, it was too shameful!

After a long session of mental preparation in the bedroom, Shen Xici finally opened the door and went out.

In the living room, the small wall-mounted TV, bought by the landlord who knows how many years ago, was broadcasting financial news from a Hong Kong television station.

Even with amnesia, a person’s habits couldn’t be changed. For example, after flipping through so many channels of TV dramas and variety shows, Sheng Shaoyan’s preference still turned out to be financial news.

On the screen, a female anchor in a red suit faced the camera: “…Sheng Yujing, chairman of Mingcheng Fund, was legally detained by the Beijing procuratorate at 4:00 PM on March 22nd on suspicion of falsifying accounts, concealing huge tax loopholes, and transferring assets through offshore companies.”

The screen changed, and in front of a towering glass office building, a middle-aged man in a black suit was being escorted down the steps by law enforcement officers. The female anchor’s voice-over played: “According to relevant information, Sheng Yujing, chairman of Mingcheng Fund, and Sheng Shaoyan, vice-chairman of the board and executive president of the renowned multinational corporation TGS, are both members of the Sheng family. From the perspective of equity structure, Mingcheng Fund is a joint venture fund company, and 9% of its shares are held by TGS Shenghe Group…”

Shen Xici had no impression of this name. Since he had no impression, it was most likely someone from Sheng Shaoyan’s second uncle’s side, who had already been put in prison by Sheng Shaoyan before he and Sheng Shaoyan met in his previous life.

The arrest of this person named Sheng Yujing was probably the result of a mine that Sheng Shaoyan had buried before his accident exploding. The Sheng family’s second uncle had stabbed Sheng Shaoyan, and Sheng Shaoyan had stabbed back without mercy.

However, Shen Xici glanced at the man sitting on the sofa. This amnesia was really thorough. The news was announcing his full name, and he didn’t have the slightest reaction.

“Vice President Lin, may I ask if President Sheng will stand by and do nothing about Sheng Yujing’s detention?”

“Vice President Lin, it’s said that President Sheng has been absent from board meetings for many days. Is it as the rumors say, that President Sheng is critically ill and beyond recovery?”

Shen Xici looked back at the TV screen. The woman in a black high-end suit with elegant makeup was very familiar. So Lin Yueshu was already a high-level executive in the Asian region at this time?

The “clack clack” of high heels on the marble floor stopped. Lin Yueshu was besieged by a crowd of reporters, but her voice remained steady: “Mr. Sheng Yujing? Although Mr. Sheng Yujing has publicly claimed to be a member of the Sheng family, in terms of blood relations, he is already very distant from my superior, Mr. Sheng Shaoyan. The two do not know each other, so how could there be any question of standing by? As for the shareholding, such a small stake, for Shenghe, can only be called scattered shares, far from being considered a significant holding.”

She accurately looked at another reporter who had asked a question: “Thank you for your concern for Mr. Sheng. Due to long-term high-intensity work and excessive fatigue, Mr. Sheng is currently recuperating in Switzerland. I believe that when he is riding horses under the snowy mountains, he does not wish to hear anyone say that he is beyond recovery.”

Glancing at Sheng Shaoyan, who was recuperating on the shabby sofa in the rental apartment, Shen Xici said pointedly, “A’Shao, this person is very good at dealing with reporters. Her boss must pay her a very high salary.”

“Mm,” Sheng Shaoyan nodded with little interest. “Not bad.”

Really not a single impression?

Shen Xici deliberately said again, “I feel like this person looks a bit familiar, as if I’ve seen her somewhere.”

In his past life, Lin Yueshu was one of Sheng Shaoyan’s most trusted subordinates. Later, she broke through the ranks and was personally appointed by Sheng Shaoyan as the head of the Asia-Pacific region, a true right-hand woman.

Clearly, “recuperating in Switzerland due to excessive fatigue” was the official reason put out for Sheng Shaoyan’s disappearance after this attack.

As long as it wasn’t confirmed that Sheng Shaoyan was truly dead, the Sheng family’s second uncle wouldn’t dare to completely overturn the chessboard.

There were still three weeks.

“She was also in the financial news we watched last time, attending a conference. Do you remember?” Sheng Shaoyan didn’t continue watching. As he replied, he took the remote and changed the channel. The TV started playing a commercial.

His gaze fell on Sheng Shaoyan’s hand holding the black remote. For some reason, he once again thought of the warmth of those hands on his hair and back last night.

Looking away, Shen Xici casually picked up a mango. His Adam’s apple moved. “A’Shao, actually—”

“Hm?” Sheng Shaoyan turned his head. His semi-long hair had just been washed and wasn’t styled, falling messily over his brow bone. His pair of eyes were like the deep blue surface of the sea, quiet and patient, watching him, waiting for him to continue.

Perhaps because of his Slavic genes, Sheng Shaoyan’s proportions were exaggerated. Sitting on the sofa, his feet were next to Shen Xici’s slippers, yet his long, bent legs still didn’t have enough room. Under the taut fabric of his thighs, the lines of his muscles were faintly visible.

Shen Xici’s mind raced. He hadn’t been lying in the bedroom for so long for nothing. For example, he had come up with a completely logical reason for why they had to hide in the alley and pretend to be a couple last night.

“A’Shao, I never told you, but because my expenses are quite high, I actually borrowed a sum of money from someone before.”

Sheng Shaoyan thought, he had already learned from Lan Xiaoshan that this money was probably used to fill his financial holes.

Being drained by a boyfriend who lived off him, and after the money was spent, going into debt to continue funding the boyfriend’s large expenses. And, all the while, quietly hiding this matter. Was it because he was afraid his boyfriend would feel burdened, or was he afraid that after he lost his value, his boyfriend would break up with him and leave?

However, Shen Xici indeed understood the pre-amnesia him very well.

“He’s just a cold-hearted and ruthless, profit-oriented person who only sees money and benefits in his eyes! He’d watch someone die without helping, not even caring a bit about kinship!”

It seemed someone had cursed him like that before.

Seeing Sheng Shaoyan listening patiently, Shen Xici continued to fabricate: “This money can only be repaid after the film wraps and I get paid, but the creditor—”

Just as Shen Xici was about to say that the two people from last night were sent by the creditor to collect the debt, “thump, thump, thump,” a knock suddenly sounded on the door.

Ripples appeared in the air from the vibration.

Shen Xici looked at the door, his mind racing, and a sense of alertness immediately arose.

It wasn’t time to pay the rent, so the landlord wouldn’t come. They hadn’t ordered any takeout. If anyone from the crew had business, they would contact them in the work group chat first or call directly.

Seeing Sheng Shaoyan get up to open the door, Shen Xici immediately stood up. “A’Shao, I’ll get it. It should be someone looking for me.”

It was only a short distance from the sofa to the door. Shen Xici thought, if it really was the two people from last night coming to their door, it wasn’t impossible.

Sui County was a remote place and rarely had outsiders. This time, the crew of “Mountain Range” was stationed here, with countless staff and actors of all levels, people delivering equipment and props, fans visiting the set, and paparazzi squatting for scoops. The comings and goings allowed Sheng Shaoyan to hide among them without being conspicuous.

But there was always a “what if.”

Gripping the cold doorknob, Shen Xici put his eye to the peephole.

Huh?

The door opened, and two uncles in blue plaid shirts stood at the entrance. Seeing the door open, one said, “You’re the one who ordered the chair, right? Here, sign the form.”

A crumpled piece of paper and a blue-cased ballpoint pen were handed to Shen Xici.

Shen Xici signed it, and the two uncles left the chair at the door and went downstairs with a “thump, thump, thump.”

Moving the chair into the living room, Sheng Shaoyan came to help. Together, they removed the outer white protective foam, revealing a finely polished wood grain surface.

“Why did you suddenly buy a chair?”

Feeling relieved, Shen Xici said as he unwrapped it, “Didn’t you return that leather cigar chair you bought last time? That one was too expensive. If we had really bought it, the two of us would have had to sleep on the street. But, a chair handcrafted and polished by an old master craftsman is pretty much a private, exclusive customization, right? I didn’t expect that old master to deliver the chair so quickly.”

After the outer packaging was completely removed, the dovetail joints gleamed with a dark luster. Up close, one could smell the scent of wood sap and tung oil.

Shen Xici was very satisfied with this chair. He directed Sheng Shaoyan to move the chair next to the floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside the window, the color of the bougainvillea was full and bright. The small wooden bird carving hanging on the window lattice swayed in the wind. Seeing Sheng Shaoyan patiently adjusting the placement of the chair, Shen Xici couldn’t help but smile.

It wasn’t in vain that he had spent time in the old master’s yard picking the wood, then the style, and after that, which type of mortise and tenon joint to use.

Sheng Shaoyan stood up straight, looking at the chair that completely matched his aesthetic. After a moment of silence, he asked Shen Xici, “Is this chair expensive?”

“You’re actually asking about the price?” Shen Xici was surprised. A person like Sheng Shaoyan, whose family trust alone could support him spending happily for several lifetimes, was actually concerned about whether a chair was expensive or not one day!

Was it because he himself was too poor, that it was rubbing off on Sheng Shaoyan and making him pay attention to cost-effectiveness?

He explained, “Sui County is next to continuous mountains, and good wood is everywhere. The grandma who taught me to blow leaves said that the wood from the mountains here used to be a tribute item. The woodworking skills here are also top-notch. This old master she recommended to me is cheap and has good craftsmanship, so this chair isn’t expensive at all. Sit in it with peace of mind.”

After nightfall, the county town shed its daytime hustle and bustle and gradually quieted down. Looking out the window, the distant mountain ranges in the night looked like a pod of sleeping whales.

Sheng Shaoyan lay on his back on the narrow old sofa, the light from his phone illuminating his face. At this time, the US stock market had just opened.

The first time he opened the stock trading software, he discovered that he could easily understand what these red, green, yellow, and purple line charts represented, when he should short and increase his position, why the Hang Seng Index would gap down, and whether someone was accumulating shares behind the scenes.

Whether it was A-shares, Hong Kong stocks, or US stocks.

In the past two or three days, he had simulated market trends in his mind many times, and every prediction was verified.

It was as if those lines and numbers were changing according to his will, never disobeying.

Switching to the WeChat interface, Sheng Shaoyan tapped on the only contact in his list. After his finger hovered over the screen for a few seconds, he typed: “I want to borrow five thousand to buy stocks.”

The light from the bedroom leaked through the crack under the door. Shen Xici was probably still reading the script at this time. The pages of that script were already worn at the edges.

Sheng Shaoyan didn’t know if this was the first time he had asked Shen Xici for money, nor did he know if Shen Xici would give it to him again. After all, Shen Xici’s account balance should be less than ten thousand.

Just as Sheng Shaoyan was thinking, wanting to type a few more words or lower the amount from five thousand to two thousand, a reply popped up.

Shen Xici: [I have an account with Quantum Wealth. You can just log in directly with the username and password. The money has already been transferred.]

The wind coming in from the floor-to-ceiling window carried a few wisps of the mixed smell of wood sap and tung oil. Sheng Shaoyan looked at the username and password that followed. As the beneficiary of being a freeloader, he had no standing to criticize Shen Xici’s actions.

But, towards him, he was almost responsive to every plea.

In the bedroom, Shen Xici was writing a diary from the perspective of the mute boy in a notebook. This was a method he often used when filming in his past life, and it was very effective for getting into character.

After writing a couple of sentences, Shen Xici felt like he had forgotten something. He casually drew a few wildflowers and small fish at the bottom of the page with his pen. Just as he was trying hard to remember, the phone next to him chimed with a notification.

Could it be that the software couldn’t be logged into?

Shen Xici opened WeChat and saw that Sheng Shaoyan, whose profile picture was a photo of a water cup from their home, had sent him a long string of links.

“How to Prevent Being Financially Drained by Your Boyfriend During a Relationship”

“A Good Relationship Shouldn’t Make You Poor”

“How to Protect Your Bank Account Balance in a Relationship”

Shen Xici’s face was a mask of bewilderment. What on earth was all this?