TMWTGD CH61

With the call failing to connect, Xie Jianwei thought for a moment before standing up and leaving the study.

This villa was one of Xie Jianwei’s numerous properties. Because of its prime location and fine layout, he visited relatively often, which meant the young lovers permitted to stay here were mostly the ones currently most favored.

Xu Jiaxi’s appearance suited his tastes remarkably well, which was why he had brought him here.

Since he was to his liking, he shouldn’t be neglected on his first night.

Xie Jianwei was rather curious. He was completely certain that “God’s will” would never allow him to engage in intimate acts with anyone else, yet “it” was determined to push such a setting.

In that case, how would this be handled?

Xie Jianwei wanted to test the waters.

He went to the bedroom, pushing open the door to see the young man sitting by the window.

Having showered, he had changed into soft, comfortable clothes. Xu Jiaxi looked clean and refined. Silky black hair, fair skin, and facial features that were not excessively stunning but grew increasingly charming the more one looked.

In all honesty, Xie Jianwei genuinely did not dislike him.

Before meeting Lu Li, Xie Jianwei had never pondered what his lover would look like. Yet in this dream, he strangely felt that if he had never met Lu Li, perhaps… he might have chosen someone like Xu Jiaxi.

A docile, clean young man who nevertheless fell short of the Xie family’s social standing.

Xie Jianwei recalled Jiang Hua from the previous dream and couldn’t help shaking his head with a faint smile.

Lu Li might understand him better than he imagined.

Sensing the door opening, Xu Jiaxi looked up nervously.

Under the faint moonlight, the young man’s gentle eyes brimmed with anxiety and an unspeakable anticipation.

Xie Jianwei curved his lips. “Scared of me?”

Xu Jiaxi hurriedly shook his head. “N-No.”

“Then are you afraid of what happens next?”

Xu Jiaxi’s face flushed crimson instantly. He lowered his gaze, not uttering a word.

Xie Jianwei said, “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.”

With his head bowed, Xu Jiaxi felt lightheaded all over.

Xie Jianwei slowly drew closer to him…

Yan Sherlock Ke declared solemnly, “I bet the Lord Marshal will kick the door down!”

Unfortunately, not a single soul showed up.

Yan Conan Ke continued his deduction: “An emergency is bound to happen, like… an earthquake? A tsunami? A volcanic eruption?”

Xie Jianwei was already extremely close to Xu Jiaxi, his hand nearly brushing against that slender neck.

Yan Detective Dee Ke refused to give up: “There’s bound to be a terrorist attack! My Lord, be prepared; someone might burst through the door at any moment to ruin the mood!”

Yet nothing happened at all.

Yan Ke looked utterly shocked. “Could it be… is the Lord Marshal really going to let you…”

Right as Xie Jianwei was about to touch Xu Jiaxi, the young man went limp and fainted cold.

Yan Ke: “…”

Xie Jianwei: “…”

Yan Ke whistled awkwardly. After all those earth-shattering guesses, the outcome turned out to be so ridiculously straightforward and blunt!

Knocking him out directly? But did Xu Jiaxi faint from sheer nervousness, or did God make him faint?

While they were still bewildered, the dream provided the answer.

Xie Jianwei hadn’t done a single thing, yet the unconscious Xu Jiaxi had flushed cheeks, appearing entirely as though he were being thoroughly loved, even letting out soft moans.

Yan Ke: “This… this is truly…” High-end, elegant, and classy!

Xie Jianwei couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter. “What a ridiculous farce.” He turned and stepped out of the room. Listening from the outside, the scene inside sounded even more intense. The creaking of the bed, uncontrolled moans, and heavy male pants.

Lifelike, remarkably lifelike.

Yan Ke didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Why go through all this trouble?”

Xie Jianwei said, “It seems Lu Li is aware of its existence.”

Yan Ke looked baffled. “Huh?”

Lu Li had known about the Hundred-Limbed King’s existence and had been contending with it all along.

Yan Ke truly couldn’t keep up with his train of thought, pleading, “Please explain in detail!”

Xie Jianwei explained, “The dreams reflect Lu Li’s mental realm. Lu Li and it are engaged in a mental struggle, which manifests before us as these sequential dreams.”

“Lu Li’s subconscious can influence the dreams, and it can also participate in setting up the dream parameters. However, the Lu Li who actually exists within the dream knows nothing of this, and it also treats the dream as a real world.”

Yan Ke found this somewhat convoluted.

Xie Jianwei offered an analogy: “If we consider this dream world as an actual universe, then Lu Li and it are both creator gods. They established all the rules, discarded their divine identities and memories, and merged into this world to become ordinary participants.”

“My character setting was likely born from their mutual tug-of-war. That makes sense…” Xie Jianwei gave a self-deprecating smile. “As you know, Lu Li always believes I don’t love him, so it could easily exploit that insecurity.”

“Yet Lu Li has been resisting it too. While it established a plausible setting, Lu Li could never tolerate me being intimate with someone else, which is why he created such a situation that is simultaneously ‘logical yet illogical’.”

Yan Ke understood a bit better, yet remained slightly puzzled: “If that’s the case, why doesn’t the Lord Marshal simply rewrite the settings?”

Xie Jianwei narrowed his eyes and smiled. “Lu Li has likely sensed my presence to some extent.”

Yan Ke blinked rapidly.

Xie Jianwei said, “He is helping me adhere to the settings, working with me to deceive it.”

Realization dawned upon Yan Ke!

Its entire goal was to shatter Lu Li’s psyche, and Lu Li’s greatest vulnerability was Xie Jianwei. If wounded deeply by Xie Jianwei, his mental fortitude would easily fracture, granting it the opportunity to take over.

Therefore, it devoted itself to smearing Xie Jianwei, amplifying Lu Li’s insecurities without limit, painting Xie Jianwei as an absolute scumbag who grew increasingly worse.

It believed that by maintaining this interference, Lu Li’s long-suppressed complexes would inevitably detonate. Even if Xie Jianwei did nothing wrong, a crisis would emerge in their real-world relationship.

And as long as Xie Jianwei grew weary of Lu Li and abandoned him, it could reclaim everything.

Unfortunately for it, Military Advisor Xie had detected the anomaly in time and initiated psychiatric therapy early on.

Its greatest advantage was parasitizing Lu Li’s mental realm, yet that was also its fatal flaw.

Because it could not distinguish reality from dreams, it had no way of knowing that the real Xie Jianwei had entered the dream.

Lu Li must have vaguely sensed Xie Jianwei’s presence. In this dream, Lu Li followed its lead in making Xie Jianwei seem utterly unfaithful, while secretly creating a “cheat” for Xie Jianwei so he could stay in character and deceive it completely. No matter what an opponent was, once its guard was down, defeating it became vastly easier.

“However…” Another thought struck Yan Ke. “…The Lord Marshal who merged into the dream is kept in the dark as well, right?”

“Yes, but…” Xie Jianwei sighed softly. “As long as he believes I don’t love him, his tolerance is…” Shockingly immense.

Reflecting on this, Yan Ke felt genuine heartbreak for the Marshal. When it came to self-torment, if the Lord Marshal claimed second place, nobody would dare claim first.

After a good night’s rest, Xie Jianwei checked on Xu Jiaxi the next day.

Xu Jiaxi’s face was flushed, tears still clinging to the corners of his eyes, looking thoroughly worn out from excessive passion. Even though broad daylight had arrived, he showed no signs of waking up.

It was plain to see just how intense last night had been.

Pitiably, the supposed participant, Xie Jianwei, had merely slept soundly in another bedroom the entire night.

Xie Jianwei stayed at the villa for three consecutive days, fully demonstrating his doting favor toward Xu Jiaxi.

Having “done it” so many times, Xu Jiaxi was no longer as intimidated by Xie Jianwei, though he still did not dare overstep. Yet in those clean eyes, his affection could not be concealed.

Xie Jianwei didn’t dislike him to begin with, so he treated him very generously.

He gifted him cars, property, and money, even asking him, “Is there anything you want to do?”

Xu Jiaxi replied, “Nothing in particular.”

“You just want to stay by my side?”

Xu Jiaxi looked up abruptly, wanting to say yes, yet lacking the courage. Xie Jianwei was notorious for his promiscuity after all. He was tender now, but the moment someone new caught his fancy, he would…

Xie Jianwei smiled and said quite earnestly, “I heard you used to be a model. Do you still want to work in entertainment? I can help you.”

Xu Jiaxi’s heart chilled. Lowering his head, he gripped the hem of his clothes and remained silent.

Xie Jianwei’s voice was gentle. “Be good. Having something you enjoy doing will keep your spirits up.”

Xu Jiaxi felt an indescribable ache in his heart. Xie Jianwei was a model sugar daddy, yet he only ever wanted to be his benefactor.

By the fourth day, Lu Li still hadn’t appeared, and Xie Jianwei grew restless.

Knowing where Lu Li was, he decided to pay a visit in person.

Located in a prime district of City S, the Shennan Building served as the base headquarters for Lu Li and Xie Jianwei.

Nine times out of ten, Lu Li was there.

After checking Lu Li’s schedule, Xie Jianwei headed toward the Shennan Building.

The bustling coastal metropolis glowed under the blazing morning sun. Bustling crowds, weaving traffic, and vibrant activity displayed a vitality that no habitable planet in the interstellar era could ever match.

Despite being stuck in traffic on the elevated highway for forty minutes, Xie Jianwei remained in high spirits.

Humans were social creatures. In the interstellar era, over-colonization and development had long outpaced population growth. Simply put, there was too much land and too few people; occupying territory sometimes meant an individual living across an entire city, creating a profound loneliness that no network technology could remedy.

Therefore, any interstellar traveler arriving on ancient Earth would likely find everything fascinating.

Even a traffic jam, the most boring occurrence in history, became novel and entertaining.

Finally exiting the elevated highway, the Shennan Building loomed ahead. Xie Jianwei found the architecture somewhat familiar.

A miniature version of the Capital Planet’s supreme administrative base, the Astral Palace?

There were still differences, of course. The Astral Palace was a triumph of hyper-advanced technology; though it looked like a skyscraper piercing the clouds, its form could transform at will, and in emergencies it could morph into a colossal starship and soar into space.

The Shennan Building before him merely shared a cosmetic resemblance.

Xie Jianwei enjoyed special privileges, with a dedicated driveway into the building. The driver asked, “Will Young Master enter through the main entrance?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Yes.”

The driver acknowledged, “Understood.”

The car drove up to the main entrance, pulling to a stop outside the grand, cavernous doors.

The doorman rushed forward to open the door, and Xie Jianwei stepped out of the vehicle.

Today he wore an expensive bespoke suit accentuating his long, straight legs, with a dark vest over a crisp white shirt. Lean-waisted and commanding in presence, the moment he stepped out, heads turned from all around.

Although many held contempt for Xie Jianwei’s dissolute ways, none could deny his striking demeanor and beauty.

An exceptionally attractive person was already an unfair advantage, let alone one with such a distinctive aura.

He was refined and noble, yet possessed an innate, wicked edge, tempting people to look while fearing to do so, longing to approach yet terrified of being swallowed whole.

An assistant draped a long trench coat over his shoulders, and Xie Jianwei strode into the Shennan Building, a realm steeped in power and wealth.

The receptionist girl’s face flushed bright red as she chimed, “Young Master, this way please.”

Recalling his playboy persona, Xie Jianwei offered the young girl a curved smile. “How adorable.”

The girl turned into a boiled lobster in an instant.

Just then, a voice dripping with sarcasm rang out: “A rabbit doesn’t eat the grass around its burrow. Xie Jianwei, aren’t you getting a little too indiscriminate?”

Information about this person surfaced automatically in Xie Jianwei’s mind.

Zhou Quan, who could be considered Lu Li’s trusted subordinate. An ambitious man who despised Xie Jianwei.

For no other reason than the fact that he fought tooth and nail to earn Lu Li’s favor, whereas Xie Jianwei needed only to offer his body to obtain peerless trust. How could he accept that?

Xie Jianwei turned to look at him. “The one who is even more indiscriminate is upstairs.” He never hid his relationship with Lu Li, and the insinuation could not be clearer.

Zhou Quan instantly snapped, “Shameless whore!”

Xie Jianwei smiled meaningfully. “Zhou ge, don’t be jealous. Why don’t you give it a try too, and see if Father will graze on the grass beside his burrow like you?”

Zhou Quan was tall and burly with naturally fierce features; sporting a shaved head, he looked like a door god capable of exorcising demons.

At Xie Jianwei’s remark, though the onlookers dared not make a sound, they struggled mightily to hold back their laughter.

Zhou Quan choked with fury, retorting in frustration, “Who would do such shameless things like you!”

“Cursing me is fine,” Xie Jianwei’s eyes turned chillingly cold in an instant, “but do not drag Father into it.”

At these words, Zhou Quan felt a sudden jolt, realizing he had misspoken. If he claimed Xie Jianwei’s actions were shameless, wouldn’t Lu Li, who was with him, be equally shameless?

Flushing red, Zhou Quan put on a stubborn front: “My loyalty to Sir can be witnessed by heaven. It isn’t something a petty person like you can drive a wedge between.”

Xie Jianwei smiled. “That would be for the best.”

Zhou Quan had zero counters against Xie Jianwei. This man was so openly shameless; despite trading his body, he never hid it or felt disgraced. Call him a whore or a wanton tramp, he merely brushed it off with a laugh without a hint of anger, appearing almost proud of it.

That made him invulnerable, since aside from this, he possessed no other weaknesses. Zhou Quan plotted day and night to bring him down, yet found no angle of attack.

This proved just how meticulous Xie Jianwei’s mind was beneath his frivolous exterior.

Zhou Quan stormed off in irritation. Xie Jianwei calmly boarded the elevator, operated by a fair-skinned young man.

He winked at him.

The young man’s face flushed crimson from the flirtation. He chanted to himself a hundred times that he was straight, desperately picturing his beautiful goddess, only to realize in shock that his goddess was nowhere near as good-looking as Xie Jianwei…

Flirting all along the way, his excess hormones lost their potency upon reaching the top floor.

Those stationed here were all veterans, and every one of them understood a rule. If you want to stay alive, don’t spare the Young Master a second glance.

The expensive rosewood door was kicked open as Xie Jianwei entered without the slightest courtesy.

The entire office was styled with exquisite taste. A dark brown sofa for guests in the center, and at the back, an executive desk crafted from a solid slab of fragrant rosewood. Behind it stood bookshelves lined with rare collector’s volumes, alongside art pieces each worth an entire luxury apartment.

At a glance, Xie Jianwei spotted the man behind the desk.

Without lifting his head, Lu Li merely chided softly, “What kind of nonsense is this?”

Xie Jianwei found this rather amusing.

Historically in their relationship, he had been the steadier one, while Lu Li had been the reckless one.

Yet in this dream, their roles were reversed.

Lu Li was a full thirteen years older than him, mature and dignified, truly resembling a “father.”

Xie Jianwei lounged casually on the sofa, resting his arm across its back as he fixed his gaze on Lu Li.

His stare was brazen and provocative; having shed his deliberately cultivated elegance, his feral nature was on full display.

Without even looking up, Lu Li knew exactly what he looked like.

A fierce little wolf cub baring its fangs and claws, evoking both love and exasperation.

Xie Jianwei said nothing, and Lu Li didn’t speak either.

Inside the quiet room, there were only the two of them.

Lu Li remained engrossed in his paperwork. After staring at him for ten whole minutes, Xie Jianwei snapped impatiently, “If you don’t come over right now, I’m leaving.”

Lu Li finally looked up at him.

Their eyes met. One pair pitch-black and profound, the other young and insolent.

Entirely different, yet surprisingly in harmony.

Lu Li set down the documents in his hands, gazing at him unhurriedly: “Argued with Zhou Quan again?”

Xie Jianwei scoffed cold, “He provoked me first.”

“Appointing people according to their strengths; I taught you that principle.”

Xie Jianwei replied dismissively, “You can use him all you want, I can’t be bothered to look at him.”

Lu Li furrowed his brows slightly. “You will encounter many more people like Zhou Quan in the future. You might avoid one, but can you avoid them all?”

Xie Jianwei muttered in annoyance, “Isn’t Father here anyway?”

“My people will all be yours eventually. If you don’t adapt now, then later…”

“Alright, alright,” Xie Jianwei surrendered. “I get it. I’ll pay attention.”

Lu Li’s gaze drifted to the desktop, watching a document for a moment before speaking: “This was brought by Zhou Quan just now.”

Xie Jianwei sneered, “Let me guess. Does it say that Sun Qinghai and I colluded, smuggling contraband behind your back?”

Lu Li read in a flat tone, “Sun Qinghai slipped you three million in hush money, and even sent you a bedmate?”

Xie Jianwei said, “I took the three million, and I slept with the guy too. But as for keeping quiet… this petty amount really isn’t enough to seal my lips.”

Lu Li glanced at him and continued, “Now is not the time to move against Mosen.”

Xie Jianwei leaned forward abruptly, his eyes flaring with vicious intent: “He wants to take my place, and I’m not allowed to strike back?”

Lu Li said, “Relations between you and Zhou Quan are already in a deadlock, and Sun Qinghai was framed. If you truly have an open falling out with Mosen, do you have any odds of winning?”

Xie Jianwei scoffed cold, “He wants to pin Sun Qinghai’s mess on me, but he’d better see if he can wash his own hands clean first!”

The mastermind behind Sun Qinghai’s incident was Mosen. Mosen clashed with Xie Jianwei and wanted to bring him down even more than Zhou Quan did. He knew better than anyone that Xie Jianwei was vital to Lu Li, and such an important figure was an absolute obstacle on his ladder to power.

Sun Qinghai certainly couldn’t resist the temptation himself, but without Mosen secretly instigating behind the scenes, he wouldn’t have had the nerve. When trouble struck, Mosen stayed squeaky clean, keeping far out of reach. Meanwhile, Sun Qinghai both feared and relied on Xie Jianwei; to save his neck, he would desperately beg Xie Jianwei for mercy. When the time came, Mosen would pull strings, firmly pinning the blame on Xie Jianwei. But how could Xie Jianwei ever let him have his way?

Yet Lu Li said, “Be good. It’s not time yet.”

Unwillingness flashed in Xie Jianwei’s eyes, but he said nothing further.

Lu Li moved to speak again, but Xie Jianwei suddenly softened his tone, calling out to him.

Lu Li’s heart trembled, his thin lips pressed tightly together.

Xie Jianwei stood up, walked around the executive desk, and leaned down. “Let’s not talk about that. We haven’t seen each other in days; did you miss me?”

Lu Li looked up. From this angle, he could see the young man’s slender neck, the lean waist tightly wrapped in a shirt and vest, and…

Xie Jianwei licked his lips, murmuring, “Father, it misses you terribly.”

Lu Li gripped his chin and captured his lips in a kiss.

Xie Jianwei’s nimble tongue slipped into his mouth, playfully and provocatively tangling with his.

Lu Li stood up, exerting slight force in his arms. Xie Jianwei hopped smoothly onto the desk, perching right atop Lu Li’s pile of precious documents.

Xie Jianwei loosened his collar, his mouth dry as he said, “Let’s do it right here.”

Lu Li said, “No.”

“I can’t wait,” Xie Jianwei unbuckled his belt, using his other hand to push his shirt all the way up, revealing a large expanse of his chest. He smiled, curving his lips: “Come kiss me, hurry.”

It was truly an extraordinarily gorgeous, intensely wanton body.

Lu Li’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his gaze fixed hungrily on that seductive spot.

Xie Jianwei touched himself. “Hurry up, we haven’t done it in so long.”

Lu Li said, “Haven’t you been staying at the Wangxi villa these past few days?”

“How could that be the same?” Xie Jianwei blinked. “The front got satisfied, but the back didn’t.”

Lu Li’s eyes darkened instantly. He yanked Xie Jianwei’s clothes back down, turning away: “Go back. I have matters to attend to shortly.”

Xie Jianwei was stunned.

Lu Li had already lifted him down from the desk and tossed the trench coat over him.

Only after a long moment did Xie Jianwei react: “You really won’t do it?”

Lu Li said, “No.”

Xie Jianwei glanced down at him. “You’re already hard.”

Lu Li frowned. “I said I have things to handle.”

Xie Jianwei was hard himself. Swallowing dryly, he said, “If you don’t want to do it here, we can go inside the lounge.”

He had wanted to test out this desk allegedly worth tens of millions, but if Father didn’t like it, they could do it in the lounge.

Xie Jianwei felt he was truly a sensible, “dutiful son.”

Lu Li’s chest rose and fell, his voice growing noticeably raspy: “We’re not doing it.”

Xie Jianwei blinked in confusion, then asked seriously, “Do you really have business?”

Lu Li avoided his gaze.

Xie Jianwei stared at him again. “Um… twenty minutes tops. Just regular missionary. My back is itching…”

Before he could finish saying “itching to death,” Lu Li scooped him up around the waist and strode directly into the lounge behind the office.

Xie Jianwei didn’t stay idle either. As he unbuttoned Lu Li’s shirt, he mumbled, “If we did it on the desk, ten minutes would have been enough… mgh…”

Unable to listen any longer, Lu Li silenced his lips.

The promised twenty minutes eventually turned into two hours.

With his itch finally relieved, Xie Jianwei was thoroughly contented. Resting his chin on his palm as he admired Lu Li’s upper body, he smiled: “You have a great build.”

Lu Li glanced at his bare body.

Xie Jianwei said, “No matter how much I work out, I can never match you. Probably because…” He gestured at his frame before continuing, “my bone structure is a bit smaller?”

Lu Li said, “You are fine as you are.”

Xie Jianwei beamed sweetly. “They always say I’m great too.” “They,” of course, referred to his string of little lovers.

Lu Li: “…” The fire that had just subsided flared up once more.

Xie Jianwei seemed entirely oblivious, staring at Lu Li’s package as he added, “So big.”

Lu Li: “…”

Xie Jianwei gasped, “It got even bigger.”

Lu Li had planned to take a shower, but this saved the trouble.

Xie Jianwei was taken so hard he kept crying out for Papa. Toward the end, he couldn’t take it anymore: “Didn’t you say you had things to do? Go do your work then! No more, stop, if I come again I won’t be able to get hard anymore!”

Hearing this, Lu Li knew exactly what he meant.

He had a new darling tucked away in his “golden house,” eating from the bowl while eyeing the pot.

Thinking of this, Lu Li drove into him with even greater ferocity.

Xie Jianwei slept straight until the late night. When he awoke, he realized he had been moved to a different location.

Lu Li said, “Get up and eat.”

Xie Jianwei rubbed his head. “Wait until I make a call.”

Lu Li pursed his lips, watching him with a cold face.

Xie Jianwei only had a bathrobe draped over him, the collar wide open and the belt loose; wearing it was worse than wearing nothing.

He stepped out of bed barefoot, grabbed his phone from the coffee table, dialed a number, and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside lay the starry sky and the nocturnal ocean, glittering starlight mirrored across the dark sea, as if the night sky had split into two interconnected halves.

Xie Jianwei’s voice sounded lazy: “I won’t be coming over today. Mm… eat your dinner and head to sleep early. Don’t miss me too much.”

No telling what the person on the other end said, but Xie Jianwei smiled playfully, murmuring, “Wait until tomorrow night when I come back to properly fill you up.”

Lu Li walked over, his large hand wrapping around his waist while kisses fell against his chest.

Xie Jianwei was driven breathless by his touches, hardly able to hold the phone steady.

“A-Alright…” Xie Jianwei’s voice shook as he said to the caller, “I have things to attend to, hanging up now.”

With that, he tried to hang up, but Lu Li pinned his hand, pushing him against the window before sliding straight inside.

The intense shock sent a shiver through Xie Jianwei’s scalp. His hand jerked, dropping the phone to the floor, while uninhibited moans spilled out without restraint: “Too… too intense.”

Lu Li glanced down; the phone on the floor was still connected.

Pale-faced, Xu Jiaxi disconnected the call.

Xie Jianwei had done it on purpose, of course.

Resolving one of his little lovers without breaking character was quite a satisfying feat.

The next morning, Xie Jianwei got up and remarked, “Dad, shouldn’t you find another partner? Bottling up so much isn’t good for your health.”

Lu Li wanted to smear breakfast all over his face.

Xie Jianwei rubbed his waist. “My stamina is plenty good, but even I can’t take you going at it like that.”

Lu Li held back his temper, setting the breakfast on the table at last: “Eat.”

Xie Jianwei’s eyes lit up upon seeing the food: “In such a good mood? You even made breakfast for me.”

Lu Li had actually been in high spirits, but now he didn’t feel like feeding him at all.

Taking a bite of the sandwich, Xie Jianwei said, “Seriously, if my little lovers met you, they’d probably all end up dying in bed.”

Lu Li said with a dark expression, “No talking while eating.”

Xie Jianwei stuck out his tongue. “Why don’t you teach me no talking in bed?” Then he exaggerated, “I’d love to stay quiet in bed, but you insist on making me…”

Lu Li picked up a bacon roll and shoved it into his mouth.

Xie Jianwei had no choice but to swallow it down before running his mouth again.

Lu Li’s culinary skill was beyond reproach. Such a mature, dignified, and powerful man personally making breakfast for him was already proof of how deeply he treasured him in his heart.

Yet Xie Jianwei supposedly didn’t understand.

Or rather, it wasn’t that he didn’t understand, but that he understood and feigned ignorance.

Having eaten and drank his fill, Xie Jianwei brought up the topic again: “Don’t worry, your son has great taste. I’ll definitely scout out a bedmate who can take your stamina.”

Not wanting to hear any more, Lu Li changed the subject: “Remember to come back on Friday.”

The moment he mentioned this, Xie Jianwei instantly quieted down, his expression dimming.

Lu Li said, “Don’t fool around too wildly. Your elder sister watching from heaven wouldn’t be pleased either.”

Xie Jianwei gave a muffled response, behaving considerably more obediently.

After a busy day, Xie Jianwei returned to that villa in Wangxi toward dusk.

Xu Jiaxi had waited for him a day and a night without catching a wink of sleep.

Seeing him return, he felt an almost pathetic surge of joy.

Xie Jianwei waved his hand. “Brought you pastries from Anqingzhai. Delicious stuff.”

Xu Jiaxi smiled unnaturally.

Xie Jianwei had the servants prepare tea and snacks, then approached Xu Jiaxi. Just as he was about to touch him, Xu Jiaxi jerked away.

Xie Jianwei paused.

Without warning, Xu Jiaxi hung his head and began to weep. Tears rolled down like beads, shattering onto the floor, looking truly pitiable.

Xie Jianwei said, “What happened?”

After sobbing for a long while, Xu Jiaxi choked out, “Last night… you didn’t hang up the phone. I… I heard everything.”

Xie Jianwei paused visibly, then assumed an expression of sudden realization. Narrowing his eyes, he said, “Jiaxi, this was never a secret…”

“I-I know.”

Xie Jianwei added, “I have plenty of people around me.”

Xu Jiaxi remained silent, tears falling even faster.

Xie Jianwei sighed. “You haven’t fallen in love with me, have you?”

Xu Jiaxi wept so hard he gasped for air.

Xie Jianwei watched him. After a long pause, he said, “If that’s the case, I can’t keep you around.”

Xu Jiaxi snapped his head up, his eyes full of panic.

Xie Jianwei said, “Leave. I’ll settle things with Sun Qinghai.”

Xu Jiaxi was frantic, rushing to say, “I… I don’t want to leave.”

“What would you stay for?” Xie Jianwei leaned in close, uttering icy words in a gentle tone: “I climb into my own father’s bed, keep a bunch of people on the outside, and will keep even more in the future. Can you truly stomach that?”

Xu Jiaxi stared at him with wide, desolate eyes.

Xie Jianwei patted his cheek. “Wake up. A person like me isn’t worth your affection.”

Leaving those words behind, he turned and walked away.

Xie Jianwei did not shortchange Xu Jiaxi. Even though it was only a dream and nothing had happened between them, the youth hadn’t done anything obnoxious. Having used him after all, offering generous material compensation was only fair.

Over the next few days, Xie Jianwei lingered delightfully among his various lovers once more.

On Thursday, Xie Jianwei attended a social gathering, bringing along an exceptionally striking beauty.

Bizarrely, this beauty bore a faint resemblance to himself. Exceedingly subtle, yet perceptible at first glance.

Someone whispered, “What kind of taste does Eldest Young Master Xie have? Could he be so narcissistic that he even wants to sleep with himself?”

“Hard to say. Our Young Master has versatile tastes, taking anything and everything.”

Xie Jianwei couldn’t hear what they were murmuring at all.

Xie Jianwei seemed quite proud of the beauty by his side, asking everyone he met, “Is he good-looking?”

Those asked felt uneasy. Saying yes might cross a line, while saying no would slap the Young Master in the face.

They could only reply evasively, “He’s your person, Young Master. How would we dare look too closely?”

Xie Jianwei insisted on them looking: “Cut the nonsense. Look when I tell you to look! Speak, is he good-looking or not!”

“Y-Yes, he’s good-looking.” After all, he truly was gorgeous.

Xie Jianwei was pleased: “I think so too.”

The crowd chuckled along obsequiously.

Immediately after, Xie Jianwei dropped a bombshell: “Father will think he’s good-looking too, right?”

Everyone: “…”

Xie Jianwei said, “Father’s birthday is coming up soon. As his son, I have to show my filial respect somehow.”

He added, “Training a beauty to keep Father company by his side can count as a token of my regard.”

He spoke cheerfully, but the listeners broke out into cold sweats.

Dammit, aren’t you the boss’s “beauty”? Hasn’t the boss added enough spice to your life already?!

What kind of madness is our Eldest Young Master pulling now?!

After asking around until everyone nodded, Xie Jianwei was satisfied: “Keep it a secret for me. In a few days, I’m going to give Father a surprise.”

I’m afraid the only “surprise” you’ll be tasting is a thrashing in bed!

With Xie Jianwei staging such a performance, schemers began speculating wildly.

Could Eldest Young Master Xie be falling out of favor? Had Mr. Lu grown tired of him? Was he training someone to present to him just to secure his standing?

Oho, this was an opportunity! They couldn’t let that brat Xie get the jump on them!

Unfortunately, no sooner had the thought crossed their minds than a bucket of cold water doused them head-on.

Falling out of favor? He was being spoiled rotten to the heavens!