Chapter 11

Some time ago, Xiao Hanzhou’s investigation into Secretary Liu had produced results. It confirmed that she had indeed been involved in the car accident and had staged the entire incident herself. However, Yan Zhimo’s Second Uncle hadn’t left behind any evidence. He had handled everything flawlessly. Even the business secrets Secretary Liu had leaked by exploiting her position could be blamed entirely on her unilateral violation of professional ethics, allowing his Second Uncle to distance himself completely. Anything that couldn’t be discarded could simply be pinned on a scapegoat.

Yan Zhimo had originally planned to use Secretary Liu as bait to lure out the bigger fish. Now it seemed the fish was too cunning to bite, which meant this small piece of bait was no longer useful.

The only business secrets she had been able to leak were obsolete pieces of false information. It wouldn’t be long before they were exposed as such.

Even if Yan Zhimo didn’t deal with this little piece of bait himself, once his Second Uncle’s people realized something was wrong, they would dispose of Secretary Liu. He might as well handle her personally.

According to the novel’s plot, Secretary Liu would make her move at a banquet in a few days. He could seize that opportunity to catch her in the act and deal with her.

She had been wandering around under his nose for far too many days. She was an eyesore.

He would make everyone understand that those who dared oppose him never met a good end.

…

The blow of learning that he had to attend university was simply too great for Jian Anmian. He hadn’t even been sleeping well lately. He used to sleep twenty hours a day, but now he could only sleep nineteen. He spent the remaining hour feeling anxious!

After dinner on yet another sleepless evening, Jian Anmian lay in bed, tossing and turning as he bit his fingers and silently brainwashed himself. How could a salted fish possibly feel anxious? A salted fish should lie flat, give up, and think about nothing! All he needed to do was wait for the protagonist gong to torment him!

But… why did a salted fish still have to attend university?! QAQ

The brainwashing failed. He was still so sad, boohoohoo.

Several more days passed before Yan Zhimo suddenly announced that he would take Jian Anmian to a banquet. Jian Anmian calculated the date and realized it was once again time for the main plot to proceed.

If he remembered correctly, this was the banquet where Secretary Liu would drug the protagonist gong. He would nearly sleep with another woman, only for the protagonist shou to catch them in the act at the most critical moment.

This plot was unbelievably melodramatic.

The moment Jian Anmian heard that he had to go outside, his already poor mood became even worse. Yet two days before the banquet, he also had to leave the house to buy clothes.

There was no helping it. The Qin family disliked the original Jian Anmian, and he had rarely attended large banquets like this. He had barely brought any clothes with him, much less formalwear.

As Yan Zhimo’s wife, he couldn’t be allowed to embarrass him.

On the day they went shopping, Jian Anmian was as listless as an eggplant struck by frost. From the moment he left his room until he climbed into the car, he kept his head lowered without saying a word.

Yan Zhimo found it amusing. He leaned over and pulled down Jian Anmian’s mask, revealing his full lips pressed into a pout. His small face, rosy from sleep, was scrunched into a miserable expression. His entire body radiated sorrow and suffering. He didn’t look as though he were going shopping. He looked as though he were heading to his execution.

“You’re unhappy even though I’m buying you clothes? Hmm?” Yan Zhimo hooked a finger beneath Jian Anmian’s chin as though teasing a puppy. Smiling, he said, “You’re so difficult to please.”

He possessed an almost pathological desire to claim everything that belonged to him. Whenever Jian Anmian traveled by car, Yan Zhimo always drove personally. It was merely because Jian Anmian had to sit in the front passenger seat, and Yan Zhimo refused to let him sit side by side with another man. Changsun Yong had been entirely correct when he called Yan Zhimo a pervert.

Jian Anmian raised his head and stared pitifully at the man. A faint mist appeared in his eyes. “I don’t want to go outside…”

Yan Zhimo pinched Jian Anmian’s chin and leisurely admired the little fellow unconsciously acting spoiled. His voice lowered to nearly a murmur. “Then what do you want? Should I keep you locked at home like a pet and never let you go outside? I’ll feed you when you’re hungry, and when you’re sleepy, you can obediently stay inside your little nest and sleep. You won’t see anyone except your master. Would you like that?”

The man’s words made Jian Anmian’s scalp tingle. His back instantly went weak, and his breathing involuntarily tightened. Yet a trace of anticipation rose uncontrollably within him. His misty eyes grew even more moist as he couldn’t help asking, “Can you?”

Yan Zhimo looked surprised for a moment, genuinely not expecting such an answer. His gaze gradually darkened as he stared at Jian Anmian.

Just as Jian Anmian was about to become unable to breathe beneath the man’s increasingly [bailiantales.com]forceful presence, Yan Zhimo finally showed mercy and released him. He pulled the mask hanging beneath Jian Anmian’s chin back into place. His grip tightened around the steering wheel, but his expression remained indifferent as he answered noncommittally, “Once you manage to make me happy, I’ll give you that as a reward for being a good child.”

…

After parking, Yan Zhimo led Jian Anmian directly to a retail store owned by the Yan Group.

The socially anxious puppy was exceptionally timid. His large, dark eyes stared fearfully at this strange and terrifying world, and the slightest movement around him was enough to startle him.

Whenever this happened, Jian Anmian instinctively pressed closer to the man. When strangers approached, he clutched Yan Zhimo’s clothes even more tightly and refused to release them. His nerves were so tense that he failed to notice how rudely he had wrinkled the man’s shirt. He was unbearably delicate, clingy, and dependent.

Yan Zhimo’s heart practically overflowed with satisfaction. For an extremely possessive pervert, nothing could provide a greater sense of accomplishment than a clingy little puppy who knew how to act spoiled.

“Don’t be afraid, Mianmian. We’re almost there. Hold my hand tightly and be careful not to get lost.” Yan Zhimo gently enclosed Jian Anmian’s smaller hand within his large palm.

The man’s palm wasn’t soft, but it was warm, dry, and filled with strength. Where their skin touched, currents of warmth seemed to flow slowly between them. Holding his hand felt extremely comfortable and easily soothed Jian Anmian’s nerves.

Jian Anmian lacked far too much of a sense of security. To him, the tall, powerful man was his only support, someone who could effortlessly shield him from every harm the outside world might inflict.

However, Jian Anmian hadn’t unauthorized copy forgotten that in the novel, the greatest harm the protagonist shou suffered came from the protagonist gong himself.

…

They finally reached the luxury boutique. The moment they entered, a well-trained sales associate quickly stepped forward to greet them. “Hello, sir. What are you looking for? I can make some recommendations.”

“Call your manager,” Yan Zhimo instructed in an extremely domineering-CEO-like tone.

The sales associate froze, then recognized Yan Zhimo’s face and immediately inhaled softly. “Of course. Please wait a moment, President Yan. I’ll call our manager right away.”

Yan Zhimo led Jian Anmian to sit on a sofa. Another sales associate approached and handed them two glasses of water. After leaving, the associate joined the others and began whispering.

“President Yan actually came here personally! Aaaaah!”

“It’s my first time seeing him in person. He’s a hundred times more handsome than he looks on the covers of financial magazines!”

“Who is that boy? They seemed to be holding hands when they came inside…”

“I heard President Yan got married recently. Could this be his young wife?”

The manager happened to emerge at that moment. Passing the whispering sales associates, the manager shot them a warning look before approaching Yan Zhimo and respectfully greeting him.

Yan Zhimo took Jian Anmian’s hand and stood. He stroked Jian Anmian’s head and said gently, “You’ll have to make do this time. When I have time later, I’ll send a tailor to the house to take your measurements and have several formal outfits custom-made for you. The clothes here aren’t very good. Handmade clothing fits more closely and is more comfortable than mass-produced pieces.”

The manager smiled while listening to President Yan disparage their own top-tier luxury clothing by comparison. “…”

Fine. You’re refined. You’re impressive. All your clothes are handmade.

Yan Zhimo looked at the manager. “Choose two formal outfits for him. They don’t need to be overly formal. Something youthful and attractive will do. Comfort is the most important thing.”

Casual, youthful, attractive, and comfortable.

The manager quickly memorized these requirements and gave Jian Anmian a polite smile. “Of course. Sir, please come with me. I’ll recommend several suitable formal outfits.”

Yan Zhimo gave a soft “Mm,” then suddenly drawled, “This is your madam.”

The eavesdropping sales associates: Shocked!

Jian Anmian’s ankle twisted, and he nearly tripped over level ground.

“You’re so careless that you can’t even walk properly.” Yan Zhimo intimately wrapped an arm around Jian Anmian’s waist, lowered his head, and indulgently pinched his cheek.

“I’m sorry…” Jian Anmian’s face turned bright red like a firecracker exploding. The small patch of skin Yan Zhimo had touched tingled as though scorched by flames. He nervously tugged the man’s sleeve and shyly curled into a small ball against Yan Zhimo’s chest.

The manager’s mouth twitched before they perceptively addressed him as instructed. “Of course. Madam, President Yan, please follow me.”

This young couple was simply unbearable to watch. Tsk.

…

Although they claimed the manager would make recommendations for Jian Anmian, his input wasn’t needed at all.

The man was far too possessive. Every part of Jian Anmian’s outfit had to be personally selected by him from beginning to end.

The fine pattern of the shirt, the bow tie, buttons, belt, and even the matching socks… When dressing himself, Yan Zhimo directly left all these tedious details unauthorized copy to his stylist. Now, however, he tirelessly compared everything one item at a time, selecting the accessories he liked best and meticulously placing each piece against Jian Anmian’s body. It was as though he were dressing a beloved doll or cherished pet. He looked so hopelessly indulgent that any romantic young woman would have turned red with envy.

Jian Anmian was like a doll the man could arrange however he wished. Obediently and quietly, he allowed Yan Zhimo to hold various items against his body without displaying the slightest impatience.

The eavesdropping sales associates: They also wanted a rich, handsome, and generous husband like this, boohoohoo! One majestic wave of his hand, then swipe, swipe, swipe!

The store manager said darkly: Wake up. It’s his own store. He doesn’t need to pay.

The sales associates: “…”

Another group of sales associates: They were different. They only wanted an obedient, soft wife like that, hehehe.

The first group of sales associates: You dare steal President Yan’s wife? Such big audacity!

The manager: What kind of puppy-raising dress-up game was this? Rich people certainly knew how to have fun.

Yan Zhimo had originally planned to choose two outfits at random and leave. Unexpectedly, he became addicted once he started choosing and coordinated more than a dozen outfits in one go, intending to have Jian Anmian try them on one by one.

“Go inside and try them.” Like a gentleman, Yan Zhimo opened the fitting-room [stolen content]door for Jian Anmian. “I’ll wait right outside.”

Jian Anmian nodded and entered while carrying a pile of clothes. Before long, the sound of rustling fabric came from inside.

However, several minutes later, Jian Anmian’s soft, weak voice suddenly came through the door. “Mr. Yan, are you still there?”

Yan Zhimo immediately approached and stood close to the door. “I’m here. What’s wrong?”

“Please… please wait a moment.” More rustling came from inside. The next second, the fitting-room door opened a narrow crack, and Jian Anmian’s fair, flushed face peeked out. His slender fingers held a piece of stretchy fabric resembling a suspender. His lashes fluttered as he avoided looking at the man and stammered, “May I ask what this is? I… I don’t know how to wear it.”

Jian Anmian had already changed into the shirt. He had obediently fastened every button up to the very top, and the delicate turned-down collar framed a slender section of his neck. The smooth, snowy-white fabric made his face appear even more delicate and tender. His soft black hair rested obediently across his forehead, making him look as pure as an angel.

However, although his upper body leaned out through the doorway, his lower body remained timidly hidden behind the door. His body was nearly tilted at a ninety-degree angle, yet he still didn’t dare expose anything below. His face was far redder than usual.

The instant Jian Anmian emerged, Yan Zhimo immediately stepped forward and completely shielded him with his body. His sharp gaze shot toward the manager behind him like a beast guarding its food.

“…President Yan, I won’t disturb you and Madam. I’ll leave now.” The manager mentally gouged out their own eyes, turned around, and left.

Only then did Yan Zhimo turn back. His peripheral vision inadvertently swept past Jian unauthorized copyAnmian’s slender shoulder, and he noticed what appeared to be a pair of trousers draped over the chair behind him.

Known fact: The item Jian Anmian was holding was a shirt garter. It was strapped around the thighs and clipped to the shirt to prevent it from riding up.

Since it had to be fastened around the thighs, naturally, one had to remove one’s trousers before putting it on.

Therefore, Jian Anmian’s lower body was currently…

Realizing something, Yan Zhimo’s breathing abruptly grew heavier, and his eyes instantly darkened to an extreme degree.

“Mr. Yan?” Jian Anmian tilted his head and called him again in confusion.

Why wasn’t he saying anything?

Yan Zhimo’s Adam’s apple bobbed dryly twice. Facing the little fellow’s innocent, trusting eyes, he spoke against his conscience in a low, hoarse voice. “It’s all right. I’ll help you put it on.”

Jian Anmian froze.

The next second, the man raised his hand and firmly grasped Jian Anmian’s read the original at bailiantales.comslender, fair wrist. Pushing open the door, he pulled Jian Anmian with him and stepped into the fitting room.