Chapter 114: Zhou Yili: I am his wife

The morning light was hazy and fragmented.

Shen Jixing was awakened by the ringing of his phone, reaching out for it in a sleepy daze. His palm was suddenly caught, his fingers interlaced with someone else's.

"Hello," Zhou Yili’s lazy, crisp voice rang out. "Looking for Teacher Shen? He’s not awake yet... Who am I? ...I’m his hus—"

Shen Jixing opened his eyes: "?"

The two locked eyes in the beautiful morning light.

Zhou Yili’s unruly blue hair was a messy, arrogant mop. Seeing the warning in Shen Jixing’s gaze, he finished with a smug grin, "—band."

Shen Jixing: "..."

Director You on the other end of the line: "..."

"Incredible, simply incredible." Director You had known they were involved. "Hurry up and put your husband on the phone."

Zhou Yili glanced down at Shen Jixing.

Shen Jixing’s mind was still groggy, and he buried his head back into the pillow. Director You was surely calling about work, and he had no interest in starting his workday the moment he woke up.

Watching him nuzzle into his shoulder, his soft eyelashes fluttering shut, Zhou Yili felt his heart melt into a puddle.

"Not happening, my husband is busy."

Director You was stunned. "Busy with what?"

Zhou Yili, born with a rebellious and noble air, had always been prone to provocative banter. He smiled, the stud in his ear catching the light. "Busy being loved—ouch, ouch, ouch."

Shen Jixing was calmly and forcefully prying his fingers apart.

In the end, Zhou Yili didn't manage to finish saying "busy with loving me," shattering both of their top-tier idol images in one fell swoop.

"You're a grown man, why are you asking? Hanging up."

Zhou Yili tossed the phone aside. "Pretty savage, aren't you?"

He hooked his long fingers under Shen Jixing’s sleepy chin to tease him. "If you break my fingers, who’s going to apply medicine for you later? You don't even say when it hurts..."

"..."

Shen Jixing abruptly opened his eyes, his clear, water-like gaze blazing with irritation.

"Zhou. Yi. Li."

Zhou Yili let out a muffled chuckle, rolling over while holding the slender, porcelain-delicate man in his arms, basking in the fragmented morning light with unbridled intimacy.

"I love you," Zhou Yili whispered, kissing him on the eye.

Shen Jixing paused in his attempt to push him away. He didn't understand why the little lion was acting so strangely so early in the morning. Yet, such earnest declarations of love could stir one’s thoughts, leaving a warmth flowing through the body.

Shen Jixing, wearing a rose chain on his wrist, said, "I know."

"You don't know."

Zhou Yili’s expression was rarely this serious. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly; it was never easy to make a proud lion bow his head. But Zhou Yili did so willingly. He whispered an apology, "I’m sorry. I won't lose my temper so easily again."

Shen Jixing didn't dislike him. His own feelings were hidden too deep; no one knew except for the little rose. Since his lover was a block of ice, Zhou Yili was determined to melt him. This was the only way this not-so-clever little lion could think to handle things.

Shen Jixing met his dark eyes, and after a long moment, he slowly gave a faint smile. "You'd better."

Actually, it wasn't so bad; it was quite cute. Zhou Yili was straightforward and transparent, and even his temper tantrums had a unique, amusing quality. For instance, just last night, when it was the first time Shen Jixing had calmly spoken about his past, Zhou Yili had been more distressed than he was.

Burning hot tears had soaked through his collarbone.

It had even been up to Shen Jixing, in the hazy moonlight, to gently stroke his broad, firm back to soothe him. "Zhou Yili."

"Yeah."

"I'm fine. Stop crying."

...

Shen Jixing had a few more MV shots to film. After breakfast, he went to the company with Zhou Yili, and the entire staff witnessed what it meant to see a peacock fanning its tail.

The slender, cold beauty was on the phone, flanked by a dashing, cool guy who had his arm half-draped over his shoulders, every rebellious strand of blue hair shouting with triumph.

"What is he showing off for? Look at that smug face. Just because he managed to get the beautiful Shen, is that anything to be proud of? Wuwuwuwuwu..."

"I can't watch this anymore. No one is getting a pleasant look from me today!"

"The water is too hot, I dare not drink; the human heart is too cold, I dare not touch."

The employees of the entire building gathered together, the sour taste of jealousy hitting the ceiling.

As the king of competition, the lion could naturally sense everyone’s mood. He curled his lips into a smile, and for the Nth time, he went to speak to the beauty in his arms, only for Shen Jixing to preemptively raise a hand to stop him while still on the phone.

*On the phone, wait.*

It wasn't that Zhou Yili didn't want to wait, but the phone calls had been constant since Shen Jixing woke up, never stopping along the way.

"I just have to say—"

The next second, Shen Jixing’s hand pressed against his lips, gently pushing.

Zhou Yili behaved.

Shen Jixing hung up, pulled his slightly damp fingertips away, and looked at him with a slight frown.

Zhou Yili laughed. "Fine, fine, fine. I’ll wash my mouth out, okay?"

"No need."

Shen Jixing’s fingertips slid across his lips, and he withdrew his hand without changing his expression. "We're going to be late. Get back to your work."

The elevator door opened, and he walked off in the opposite direction without looking back.

Zhou Yili stood frozen in place, his lips flushed and damp, letting out a breathless, silent laugh.

"How the hell can I be blamed for having a head full of dirty thoughts?"

Zhou Yili rubbed his reddened earlobe with one hand. "This little white bird just knows how to seduce me every single day."

Humming a tune, he walked into the office in high spirits.

"Good morning, my fellow wage earners~"

The entire team looked at him with eyes more resentful than ghosts.

"What's he going crazy about now?"

"Don't know. Probably got smacked by Film Emperor Shen."

"?"

"If he got smacked, why is he so smug?"

The agent, having watched Zhou Yili come up through the ranks, understood him better than anyone. "He’s enjoying it. Even if Shen Jixing slapped him, he’d probably lick the palm."

"..."

Ever since the news of his contract termination was announced, Shen Jixing’s phone hadn't stopped ringing all day. During a work break, just as he was about to switch his phone off, Xiongxiong came running over with a flushed face.

"Brother, Brother, Brother Pei said that today, if you’ve decided which company to sign with, let him know. He wants to follow you there."

Shen Jixing paused. "He wants to leave Xingyu too?"

Pei Ming wasn't originally part of Shen Jixing’s team; he had been the top-tier agent sent by Boyu to manage him after Chu Wen took power. Both professionally and personally, Xingyu had treated Pei Ming well.

Xiongxiong nodded. "Yes, he said he’s used to managing you. You know that saying—it’s hard to go from luxury to frugality."

Shen Jixing found it inexplicably funny. "Alright."

What was there to be used to in managing him? Pei Ming had been popping heart medication quite often lately.

Xiongxiong added, "However, Brother Pei said he has one more condition."

Shen Jixing understood that for a top-tier agent to jump ship, the price paid was not small. "What is it?"

But as long as the people from his old team were willing to follow him, Shen Jixing would offer them even better terms.

Xiongxiong leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Brother Pei said, this time he must know who that male fan you slept with was!"

Shen Jixing: "..."

Boyu's dynasty was all but completely finished, yet his agent still hadn't figured out who that male fan was.

Shen Jixing glanced at the endless stream of incoming calls and calmly switched his phone off.

He said in a calm tone, "There’s a live broadcast event tonight. He’ll know once he watches it."