“First, the business partnership you mentioned is what you want. What I want are the next two things. Second, tell him that you and I are in a relationship, and make it clear that he needs to stop pursuing you. Finally, come up with a reason for your disappearance. Anything will do, as long as he believes it.”
The more Gu Xichao heard, the darker his expression became. His eyes were filled with anger and displeasure toward Yu Yan.
“Oh, right. I’ll have your phone modified. If you say anything you shouldn’t during the call, the system will automatically mute that part, so the other person won’t hear a word.”
Yu Yan spoke lightly, his tone casual, as though he were merely playing with an interesting new toy.
“Is that all?”
Gu Xichao raised an eyebrow and asked with open disdain.
“That’s all.”
Yu Yan carefully studied Gu Xichao’s face.
Gu Xichao showed no sign of embarrassment or distress. Instead, a trace of contempt could be seen in his eyes. He looked so composed that even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, his expression would not change.
Yu Yan walked around the desk and stopped beside Gu Xichao’s chair. Leaning against the edge of the desk, he slowly said:
“Let me remind you of one more thing. I’ve also investigated Shen Jizhou’s background. It wouldn’t be difficult for me to find something I could use against him.”
“So choose your words carefully during this call. Don’t drag your business partner down with you.”
Gu Xichao glared fiercely at him without saying a word.
At last, Yu Yan felt a flicker of satisfaction at seeing his displeasure. He smiled warmly.
“Are you surprised? Surely this isn’t your first day knowing how awful I can be.”
“I’m not surprised. I just think you’re rather pathetic.”
Gu Xichao replied calmly.
He opened his phone, and a flood of missed-call notifications immediately popped up like bombs. With Yu Yan watching, Gu Xichao calmly called Shen Jizhou back.
Yu Yan took the phone from his hand, turned on the speaker, and placed it farther away on the desk.
As they waited for the call to connect, the endless ringing seemed unbearably long. Every ring felt as though it struck directly against their temples.
Finally, the call was answered.
Gu Xichao’s throat moved slightly. A moment later, Shen Jizhou’s anxious voice came through:
“Nolan? What have you been doing? Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been trying to find you? I’ve called you every single day for the past few days. You finally picked up.”
“I’m dealing with the trust fund. Over the past few days, I’ve found a new fund management company. They’ll contact you when everything is ready.”
Gu Xichao’s tone was calm, as though they were merely having an ordinary conversation.
“As for the project in Malaysia, I’ve found a promising embodied intelligence project with practical downstream applications. I’ll finalize the integration plan and hand it over to the manager. Someone will send it to you for review afterward.”
“All right, I understand. Are you… doing okay?”
Shen Jizhou’s voice sounded subdued. Unable to suppress his concern, he asked:
“Did you catch a cold? Are you still in City A?”
Gu Xichao was about to answer when a shadow suddenly fell over him. Even the swivel chair sank beneath the added weight.
Yu Yan straddled Gu Xichao’s thighs, sitting directly in his lap. With a smile, he pressed himself close while his restless hands began wandering up from Gu Xichao’s waist, instantly turning the man’s entire face bright red.
“You…!”
“Nolan? What’s wrong?”
Shen Jizhou asked suspiciously.
“It’s nothing, Brother Shen. It’s been raining lately… and the weather… is getting colder. Remember to wear… something warm.”
Gu Xichao barely managed to finish the final word.
His loungewear had already been pulled open. Yu Yan’s lips moved relentlessly over the skin around his collarbone, slowly traveling upward along his neck and leaving several red marks without the slightest restraint.
Gu Xichao glared at him furiously.
But Yu Yan was much heavier, and no matter how hard Gu Xichao pushed, he could not move him. On top of that, he had to keep his voice steady, which was proving almost impossible.
After struggling against Yu Yan only a few times, Gu Xichao was already covered in sweat, his breathing turning increasingly ragged. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and force back every unsteady breath.
Yu Yan held up his phone. Several large words were clearly displayed across the screen:
TELL HIM YOU AND I ARE IN A RELATIONSHIP.
Then Yu Yan boldly slipped his other hand beneath Gu Xichao’s sleepwear. His threatening gaze moved between Gu Xichao’s eyes and lips, making his intention perfectly clear:
If Gu Xichao still refused to say it, Yu Yan would go even further and make sure the person on the other end heard everything clearly.
Gu Xichao shot him a vicious glare.
“That’s right… I haven’t returned to Malaysia. These past few days, besides working, I’ve also been… seeing… someone… so I haven’t had time to check my phone.”
The moment the words “seeing someone” left his mouth, Gu Xichao truly wished he could disappear on the spot.
Even without seeing him, Gu Xichao could easily imagine the shocked expression on that old fox Shen Jizhou’s face.
Damn it. He could not take this anymore.
Gu Xichao immediately ended the call.
Yu Yan immediately clamped a hand over his mouth and buried his face in the hollow of Gu Xichao’s neck, his whole body shaking with suppressed laughter as he desperately tried not to make a sound.
Seeing Gu Xichao looking embarrassed, furious, overwhelmed, and utterly helpless all at once only made Yu Yan want to tease him even more. The urge was almost unbearable.
He leaned close to Gu Xichao’s ear again and pleaded in a breathy whisper:
“Give me the right to call you mine, won’t you, Xichao?”
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