Chapter 14
Some time later, Yan Zhimo came home from work before noon one day. He had lunch with Jian Anmian, then changed into formal attire and prepared to leave for the banquet.
It was a fairly ordinary charity gala hosted by the Wang Group, whose primary business was in the clothing industry. The event was being held at a well-known five-star restaurant in the city.
The car pulled to a stop in front of the red carpet, and a valet immediately approached the back seat to welcome them. Instead, the man in an elegant, luxurious black suit opened the driver’s-side door and stepped out. He passed the valet, walked around to the passenger side, bent down to open the door, and smiled as he extended a hand inside.
The man before him was as elegant and handsome as a prince, and the whole scene felt like something out of a fairy tale. As an innocent, inexperienced teenager, how could Jian Anmian possibly withstand it? His face instantly flushed. Shyly, he placed his hand in the man’s palm and let Yan Zhimo shield the top of his head as he guided him out of the car, then took his hand and led him toward the lobby with steady, measured strides.
The valet froze for a moment before hurriedly catching the car keys Yan Zhimo tossed to him and going to park the car. As he walked away, he couldn’t stop himself from glancing back at the tall, striking man and the fair-skinned, beautiful boy with envy.
The click of camera shutters sounded around them. Only then did Jian Anmian notice that a great many reporters had gathered nearby. He instinctively tightened his grip on the man’s hand.
“Scared?” Yan Zhimo lowered his head and leaned close to Jian Anmian’s ear, asking in a low voice.
“Mm…” Jian Anmian nodded gently, stealing a timid glance at the man. He was afraid Yan Zhimo would think him useless for still being so cowardly at his age.
Yet the man’s lips curved upward. For some reason, he seemed pleased instead. He gently stroked Jian Anmian’s head and even praised him. “Good boy. Don’t be afraid. I’m here. We’ll be inside as soon as we sign our names. Don’t worry—once this is over, I’ll keep an eye on them. They won’t dare publish anything without permission.”
Naturally, Jian Anmian trusted anything the protagonist gong said without reservation. He didn’t particularly care whether their relationship became public, but the man’s attitude filled him with an immense sense of security. Blushing, he softly thanked him.
He couldn’t help thinking that it was no wonder the protagonist shou in the novel remained so hopelessly devoted to the protagonist gong no matter how much the man tormented him.
The protagonist gong truly was an exceptionally charming, mature man.
For the protagonist shou, an inexperienced teenager who had only just graduated from high school, falling for such an outstanding man would have been far too easy.
Sure enough, even being a scumbag required the right credentials.
Unfortunately… Jian Anmian wasn’t the original character. He had already sealed away his heart and renounced love. He was destined never to fall for the protagonist gong in this lifetime.
…
After Yan Zhimo and Jian Anmian left, the reporters immediately began whispering excitedly among themselves:
“Holy shit! I heard ages ago that the most promising successor to take over the Yan Group married an eighteen-year-old boy who’d only just finished the college entrance exam. I can’t believe it’s actually true!”
“What’s so surprising? If you were rich, your future wife would still be in kindergarten right now.”
“…Some truths are better left unsaid, bro.”
…
The lobby was decorated in dazzling splendor. Heavy crimson silk drapes hung before the windows, the stone pillars were intricately and magnificently carved, and celadon vases filled with fresh, vibrant flowers stood all around.
Sure enough, as soon as they entered, Jian Anmian saw Secretary Liu and Special Assistant Yuwen approaching to greet Yan Zhimo.
Neither of them was an invited guest. They were accompanying Yan Zhimo, so they hadn’t needed to use the main entrance and had entered early through a side door to wait for him.
A uniformed server approached them with a smile, carrying a tray of wineglasses.
Yan Zhimo raised a hand and took a glass of wine, then declined when the server moved the tray toward Jian Anmian.
Not far away, a young woman in a shimmering blue evening gown spotted Yan Zhimo. Her eyes lit up, and after saying something to the elder beside her, she picked up her wineglass and started toward him.
Catching sight of her from the corner of his eye, Yan Zhimo discreetly signaled to Yuwen Chi. “Yuwen.”
“Understood, President Yan.” Yuwen Chi immediately raised his glass with a smile, walked over, and mercilessly blocked the young woman’s path to Yan Zhimo.
“Hello, Miss Rong. I’m Yuwen Chi, President Yan’s special assistant. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Yuwen Chi smiled and extended a hand toward her.
“Hello, Special Assistant Yuwen. President Yan…” Miss Rong anxiously craned her neck to look at Yan Zhimo, but all she could see was the man’s back receding into the distance.
Yuwen Chi simply stepped forward and completely blocked her view, saying with a false smile, “President Yan has other matters to attend to and was afraid he wouldn’t be able to receive you properly, so he specifically asked me to come and greet you.”
Miss Rong: “…”
…
Meanwhile, Jian Anmian vaguely heard Yuwen Chi’s voice and paused.
Miss Rong?
That surname… He seemed to have heard it somewhere before.
Without so much as glancing behind him, Yan Zhimo took Jian Anmian’s hand and said, “Come on. Let’s go greet our hosts.”
Secretary Liu followed closely behind them, prepared to help Yan Zhimo fend off drinks at any moment.
As Jian Anmian walked, he couldn’t resist looking back.
Miss Rong was gazing after them unwillingly, and her tender, affectionate eyes happened to meet Jian Anmian’s.
Abruptly, Jian Anmian’s eyelid twitched.
He remembered now. This Miss Rong was the woman the protagonist gong’s scumbag father had recommended as a marriage prospect.
She was also the woman who had nearly ended up in bed with the protagonist gong in the novel.
“What’s wrong?” Noticing something off about Jian Anmian, Yan Zhimo leaned closer and asked softly, slowly massaging the back of Jian Anmian’s head with his warm, dry palm. “Are you still dizzy from being in the car so long?”
“No… I’m fine.” Jian Anmian licked his dry lower lip as he answered.
“If you’re still feeling unwell, tell me. We can skip this banquet altogether.”
“…Mm.” Jian Anmian answered distractedly, his thoughts still fixed on Miss Rong.
Yan Zhimo frowned slightly. He didn’t know why the boy had suddenly become so downcast. It seemed to have started the moment Miss Rong tried to approach him.
Miss Rong?
Yan Zhimo paused, suddenly feeling as though he had realized the truth.
Could it be… that the boy was jealous?
The moment this possibility occurred to him, Yan Zhimo felt happier than ever before. The corners of his mouth lifted involuntarily, and he affectionately pinched Jian Anmian’s earlobe, asserting his faithfulness in an extremely domineering tone. “Don’t worry. I have no interest in Miss Rong.”
The remark came so suddenly that Jian Anmian froze. “Huh?”
Yan Zhimo lowered his eyes to look at him, tilting his chin up slightly as if the tail behind him had risen proudly into the air. With arrogant pride, he declared, “I don’t like women.”
Jian Anmian was utterly bewildered. “…”
I… already know that! You’re the protagonist gong in a danmei novel!! Of course you don’t like women!!
What on earth is there to be so proud of?!
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