Chapter 35

“Hello, I’m very sorry, but the ocean-view room A01 was booked by another guest a few days ago. We have an identical suite, A02, available. Would that be alright?”

Xie Yunshen was taken aback. Strange—in the novel, room A01 was supposed to be vacant. Could it be Lin Jin? But he remembered Lin Jin boarding around the same time as him.

“Is A02 opposite A01?”

“That’s correct.”

“Book it for me then.”

If the plot followed its original course, Sand would escape from the beast arena tonight. The kind-hearted female lead would find him and help him hide in room A01—the room rumored to be so “haunted” or “forbidden” that no one dared stay there. From then on, Sand would develop a “fledgling imprint” on her, following her every command. This ended up benefiting Lin Jin; he was jealous at first, but once he realized Sand was essentially a loyal, high-powered nuclear missile, he finally let it go.

Xie Yunshen had planned to arrive a day early to seize the strategic location and boost his favorability score first. Now it seemed the Male Lead truly was the Male Lead—his “protagonist halo” was invincible. Booking A02 meant he wouldn’t get the favorability points, but at least he’d have a front-row seat to the drama tonight.

After booking the room, Xie Yunshen returned to room B01 where Yan Shiqi was staying. He had slipped out during the brief window while Yi Wuyi was on guard duty.

The day after winning the massive 6.5 billion sum was surprisingly Read on BaiLianTales calm. Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi had rotated guard shifts last night, yet the night passed without incident.

The hotel’s open-air restaurant offered a delicious buffet breakfast for suite guests. The potato shrimp cakes and coconut juice were excellent. Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi sat next to each other.

Yan Shiqi sat opposite them, his brow furrowed because the morning sun happened to fall directly in his eyes. The sea breeze ruffled his hair; he looked incredibly handsome and composed. Yi Wuyi noticed this and stood up. “Mr. Yan, I want to soak up some sun. Let’s swap seats.”

Yan Shiqi didn’t refuse and stood up to switch with him. The moment Yi Wuyi stood and Yan Shiqi sat, Xie Yunshen silently shifted his position to stay next to Old Five in the sun. It was a seamless move, almost like teleportation.

However, Yan Shiqi’s sharp eyes caught the entire process of him leaving his seat and sitting back down. His gaze was piercing. Yi Wuyi’s hand froze as he reached for a plate; he discreetly nudged Xie Yunshen’s leg with his knee.

Xie Yunshen looked up with a confused expression. “Old Five, is your leg cramping?”

“…”

Xie Yunshen patted his shoulder. “Is it because you stood guard for too long last night? Let me massage it for you!”

Yi Wuyi raised a hand. “No need. It’s fine now.”

Xie Yunshen ignored him after that. Yan Shiqi ate a few casual ​read the original at bailiantales.com​bites, placed his napkin on the table, and looked at Xie Yunshen. Feeling the unignorable stare, Xie Yunshen swallowed his food. “Mr. Yan, what’s wrong?”

“The food isn’t to my taste,” Yan Shiqi said.

Xie Yunshen said in surprise, “I always thought you didn’t have taste buds.”

Yi Wuyi choked on his food and began to cough violently.

Yan Shiqi asked, “What made you think that?”

“Because you always have a deadpan expression when you eat.” While speaking, Xie Yunshen patted Yi Wuyi’s back, then turned his head. “Old Five, you’re being dramatic.”

Yi Wuyi, not one for arguing, could only give him an incredulous look, thinking: [You’re the one who’s truly ridiculous.]

Yan Shiqi didn’t speak again. He simply sat there watching them—watching Xie Yunshen’s hand on Yi Wuyi’s back, and watching Yi Wuyi’s speechless reaction toward Xie Yunshen. He narrowed his eyes, his brow furrowing slightly.

The cruise featured world-class piano performances and stage plays—a balance of high culture and the raw grit of the beast arena. Unlike traditional theaters, the seating here consisted of semi-open private booths. The hotel had gifted them a four-person booth.

The primary seat naturally belonged to Yan Shiqi. Yi Wuyi was quick, sitting in the seat furthest from Yan Shiqi. Xie Yunshen had no choice but to sit in the seat directly ​unauthorized copy​adjacent to Yan Shiqi; he suspected Old Five did it on purpose.

Xie Yunshen had zero interest in stage plays and didn’t understand piano. As soon as the play started, his mind began to wander. While a “Gold Medal Bodyguard” isn’t supposed to sleep, the high-intensity vigilance of the previous night had left him genuinely exhausted. Turning his head, he saw Old Five also struggling to stay awake, looking back at him.

Xie Yunshen immediately closed his eyes: In a moment like this, whoever sleeps first, wins! In an instant, he fell into a “golden sleep” like a baby. Yi Wuyi was a second too slow and could only watch Xie enter sleep mode while he continued to keep his eyes wide open on guard.

At that moment, Yan Shiqi was unexpectedly understanding. “Let’s go back.”

Xie Yunshen’s head was nearly nodding to the floor, but the moment he felt Yan Shiqi stand up, he snapped his eyes open. “Ah, is it over…?”

Yi Wuyi explained, “Mr. Yan said to go back and sleep.”

Xie Yunshen was instantly moved to tears by this consideration. “Mr. Yan, you’re an angel…” As he spoke, he opened his arms wide to give Yan Shiqi a hug. However, when he was just millimeters away, he froze and forced his arms back.

A hug full of “security” was abruptly aborted. Yi Wuyi closed his eyes in the back, unable to watch. Yan Shiqi said nothing, but the look in his eyes was starting to change.

On the way out of the theater, Xie Yunshen caught a glimpse of the Male Lead in a private booth, watching the play with the Bai family heiress. Before he could be spotted, he quickly ducked to the other side of Yan Shiqi. He was here to steal the protagonist’s opportunity, after all.

However, a second later, a hand suddenly hooked onto Xie Yunshen’s shoulder from behind.

“The Great Banker, the big tycoon? Leaving without a greeting when we cross paths?” Lin Jin’s voice came from behind, sounding sinister.

Yesterday in the corridor, Lin Jin had wanted to say hello, but Xie Yunshen—who was in “auto-block mode”—had shoved him back, making him lose face in front of his girlfriend. Yan Shiqi didn’t stop walking, but Yi Wuyi noticed that Yan Shiqi’s expression had turned very sour.

“Let go.” Xie Yunshen didn’t feel like talking to him. With a shrug and a turn, he put distance between them and caught up to Yan Shiqi.

Lin Jin was stunned. How did this guy slip away so easily? He looked at his empty hands for a long moment before letting out a surprised, intrigued laugh.

Xie Yunshen had already walked a few paces when he suddenly turned back. “What’s your room number?”

Lin Jin laughed. “Finally seen the light?”

“Seen what light?”

“Leaving the darkness (pointing at Yan Shiqi) for the light (pointing at himself).”

Xie Yunshen turned and walked away.

Lin Jin shouted after him, “Hey, you asked for my room number, I haven’t told you yet!”

Yan Shiqi stopped walking; the “atmospheric pressure” around him was getting low.

“My room number is B03,” Lin Jin added. “I know you miss me, but don’t come and interrupt my date with Jingyan.”

Sigh, is that just how confident straight men are with other straight men?

Xie Yunshen realized with a start: Wait, it’s not A01?

Yan Shiqi’s gaze pierced through the void ahead, gradually turning icy.

Inside the Suite.

Even with his legendary lack of sensitivity, Xie Yunshen could tell the Bigshot wasn’t happy today. The atmosphere was as heavy as the eye of a hurricane—peaceful on the surface, but surrounded by a violent storm they couldn’t see.

Yi Wuyi felt he couldn’t take the pressure. “Mr. Yan, I’m going to sleep first.”

Yan Shiqi gave him a look, granting silent permission.

As Yi Wuyi left, Xie Yunshen looked at him as if he’d been backstabbed. How could he leave me here alone? But Yi Wuyi was cold and heartless, turning and walking out without a backward glance.

“Mr. Yan, I’ll go stand guard outside,” Xie Yunshen said, moving to follow.

“Come here.” Yan Shiqi’s voice wasn’t as calm as usual; it carried a rare hint of irritation.

Xie Yunshen turned back.

“Aren’t you tired? Sleep here,” Yan Shiqi said, his tone softening slightly.

Xie Yunshen tilted his head. “But there’s no bed for me.”

Yan Shiqi signaled toward the bed inside.

“Isn’t that your bed?”

Before Yan Shiqi could speak, Xie Yunshen’s face lit up with “understanding.” “Ah, sleeping here means I can protect you at a moment’s notice.”

“I’ll only sleep for three hours,” Xie Yunshen said, shedding his jacket without a care. According to Yan Shiqi’s habits, he liked the right side of the bed. Xie Yunshen considerately lay on the other side to avoid messing up the right.

Yan Shiqi sat on the sofa opposite the bed. When Xie Yunshen lay on his side, he was perfectly eye-level with him. It was an inexplicable pressure. Xie Yunshen had to close his eyes and pretend to sleep, suspecting this was exactly why Old Five had bolted.

Yan Shiqi held a glass, the crystal-clear glass illuminating his pale lips. He drank not to quench thirst, but just to moisten his mouth; his deep eyes betrayed his pensive state. He suddenly spoke: “Did you talk about something with Old Five yesterday?”

Xie Yunshen opened his eyes, wondering if he’d heard right—the voice was actually somewhat gentle. He recalled the conversation.

“I asked Old Five why you seemed unhappy. He said I was like a dog.”

Yan Shiqi looked up at him. “Why?”

“He said dogs have to rub against their masters every day! You be the judge!”

Yan Shiqi laughed. Xie Yunshen felt a bit hurt; that laugh was clearly an endorsement.

“So?”

“So I thought I should be more mindful of personal space. Being called a dog doesn’t sound very good, does it?”

Yan Shiqi stood up, walked to the bedside, and looked directly into his eyes. “Don’t do that. Just be like you were before.”

As he drew closer, the aura he carried made Xie Yunshen feel a bit strange; his heart skipped a beat unnaturally.

“So you also think I’m like a dog?” He was still hung up on that.

Yan Shiqi reached out and rubbed his head. The pressure was just right. Xie Yunshen narrowed his eyes slightly. It really is comfortable and warm.

Yan Shiqi said, “Who else besides a dog would enjoy being rubbed like this?”

“…It’s not like that.”

Yan Shiqi withdrew his hand. Xie Yunshen immediately tilted his head closer. ​unauthorized copy​“Don’t stop so suddenly.”

Yan Shiqi smiled, his fingers weaving through Xie’s short hair, his warm palm pressing against the scalp as he massaged. Xie Yunshen was so comfortable he was drifting off, but then he snapped his eyes open.

“Sleep.” The curtains were lowered, and Yan Shiqi’s characteristically deep gaze was covered by the shadows.

“Then promise me, you won’t go out.”

“I’ll be right here.” Yan Shiqi returned to the sofa.

Xie Yunshen closed his eyes. The scent of Mr. Yan drifted from the pillow. He thought with a delayed realization: Did Mr. Yan mean I don’t need to keep my distance, or that I shouldn’t try too hard to keep my distance?

But if he wanted me to sleep, did he really have to be so fierce earlier? he wondered just before falling asleep.