64: provocative

Shen Lian finished his lemonade and was called over by Feng Yueshan to play mahjong.

"You're good at cards, how's mahjong?" Feng Yueshan asked with a smile.

Shen Lian: "I have a natural Mahjong Holy Body."

"Come on, come on!"

Chu Yilan sat behind Shen Lian, watching him speak with such conviction only to play a total mess.

Yang Bin arrived late, quickly walking to Chu Yilan's side and leaning down to say, "It's settled. The contract will be mailed back tomorrow morning."

Chu Yilan gave an "Mhm." "See what you want to play or drink. Today is Young Master Feng's treat."

"Don't be polite," Feng Yueshan said, busy shuffling tiles.

Yang Bin said, "Thank you, Young Master Feng," and stood properly behind Chu Yilan.

Sun Binghe had once given him a piece of advice: "If Teacher Shen is present, you'd better stay with the Boss at all times."

"Why?"

"Because there will be surprises."

Special Assistant Yang was very curious.

By the time he lost the third round, Shen Lian frowned slightly.

"Holy Body, pay up." Feng Yueshan showed him the QR code.

Just as Shen Lian was about to take out his phone, a "beep" sounded. Chu Yilan scanned ten times the amount and said indifferently, "Play as you like."

Feng Yueshan choked. Honestly, sometimes I really want to kick you two out.

While the automatic shuffler was working, Shen Lian flexed his wrists. This round would definitely be the one.

"Why won't you let us in?" An argument broke out at the door. "We made a reservation too. What, going back on your word just like that? Do you know who we are?"

Shen Lian felt the voice sounded familiar.

Everyone looked up at the sound and saw a group of people at the door. Although they were just silhouettes in the dim light, they could still be recognized. One of them was carrying a cake. Shen Lian thought of something and turned to ask Feng Yueshan, "What's the date today?"

"July 11th." Feng Yueshan took a shallow breath. No, is now the time to worry about that?

Of course, because Shen Lian remembered today was Zheng Ge's birthday.

Qudu had hundreds of streets and dozens of avenues, with seven or eight well-known high-end entertainment venues. Talk about a coincidence—Zheng Ge and his group just had to squeeze in here.

And the one shouting just now was Wei Fanchen.

Birds of a feather really do flock together, Shen Lian thought. Without him acting as a foil, these two could still hang out.

From a distance, Zheng Ge spotted Chu Yilan at a glance.

He habitually wore that clean and innocent expression, looking hesitant as if no ash should ever fall on him.

Shen Lian leaned back. "Master Chu."

"Hmm?" Chu Yilan leaned forward.

Shen Lian raised his hand back, his slender fingers touching Chu Yilan's hair and cheek, then sliding down. His thumb lightly brushed over Chu Yilan's lips twice, as if stroking a tamed lion. The movement was fluid and intimate. Meanwhile, he stared at Zheng Ge with a half-smile, his eyes full of mockery and provocation.

"Were you looking at him just now?" Shen Lian asked.

Chu Yilan: "Looking at who?"

"Zheng Ge."

"The one standing at the door is Zheng Ge?"

Chu Yilan wasn't lying. The fog in his heart had been torn apart by Shen Lian, letting him see the essence of "liking." Thus, the things Zheng Ge had once planted were uprooted. The filter he had for Zheng Ge shattered, and the face naturally became blurred.

Chu Yilan really didn't recognize him; he just felt the other person's gaze was annoying.

"I like hearing that." Shen Lian turned his head. The uneven light outlined his features with a touch of scratching wickedness. The possessiveness within made Chu Yilan's heart surge.

Chu Yilan couldn't help but give him a kiss.

Feng Yueshan: "..."

Holy crap! You guys are for real, dammit.

While shocked and excited, Feng Yueshan's mind was filled with nothing but colorful language.

In the corner, Special Assistant Yang took a deep breath.

Everyone belatedly started screaming and cheering.

"Hey, Zheng Ge, how could CEO Chu..." Wei Fanchen was shocked.

"Shut up!" Zheng Ge interrupted coldly.

Chu Yilan's behavior made him realize that some things were rapidly spiraling out of control.

Under the cover of the light, a dark murkiness welled up in Zheng Ge's eyes.

Shen Lian's gaze just now clearly told him: You are nothing.

The manager blocking them received a call and immediately looked troubled. Holding the phone, he was caught in a dilemma, but finally, he gritted his teeth and came in to find Feng Yueshan.

"Young Master Feng, I'm truly sorry. My subordinates made a mistake, leading to this conflict. President Zhou has also been calling me. We didn't actually book the whole place. I thought since everyone knows each other, then the other side..."

Feng Yueshan sneered. "What, you want me to share this favor? It's Zhou Tangsi's person's birthday, what does that have to do with me?"

The manager stood there, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

"Let them in," Shen Lian suddenly chimed in. "Don't you guys want to see some fun?"

Feng Yueshan looked up. "What fun?"

"The self-cultivation of a white lotus."

Feng Yueshan's expression changed slightly, caught between wanting to see the fun and being wary of Chu Yilan.

Chu Yilan noticed his gaze and said indifferently, "I don't mind."

Zheng Ge and the others came in and went to the other side. On the way, a few people who didn't know the truth greeted him. It wasn't because they were close, but because Qudu was both large and small. The people who called the shots in the upper circles were just those few. As one of them, Zhou Tangsi had extensive business interests, and his boyfriend, Zheng Ge, naturally received some respect.

From beginning to end, Chu Yilan didn't even look at Zheng Ge. His chin rested lightly on Shen Lian's shoulder, in a posture that was almost an embrace from the side. One hand was pressed lightly against Shen Lian's lower abdomen through the fabric. He asked, "Are you hungry?"

Shen Lian couldn't afford to lose and just wanted to win once. "Wait until I finish playing."

He wasn't worried about Zheng Ge. With so many people, Zheng Ge wouldn't dare approach Chu Yilan. Otherwise, if it reached Zhou Tangsi's ears with added color, there would be a fight.

And Shen Lian didn't even need to ask; looking at Zheng Ge's face, he knew the conflict between him and Zhou Tangsi wasn't shallow lately.

After all, according to the plot in the book, every time it was Zheng Ge's birthday, Zhou Tangsi treated it as solemnly as reporting to the United Nations—accompanying him the whole time, with custom gifts and cakes. But today? Just a friend carrying a medium-sized cake, and Zhou Tangsi was nowhere to be seen.

"Winning!" Shen Lian pushed over the tiles with a "clack," humming twice. He felt better.

Feng Yueshan was amused. "No, brother, you've only won once since you came in."

Shen Lian: "Humph."

It didn't matter; a perfect ending was enough.

Chu Yilan said in a deep voice, "What do you want to eat?"

"Soup dumplings."

Special Assistant Yang immediately appeared. "They don't have them here. I'll have someone buy them right away."

Meeting Chu Yilan's appreciative gaze, Yang Bin felt a bit lightheaded. Wait, has CEO Chu ever looked at me like this after assisting in closing a hundred-million-dollar deal?

No.

No wonder Sun Binghe was always in a good mood after seeing Shen Lian. This emotional value was off the charts.

Pleasing Mr. Shen is pleasing CEO Chu.

Right, I get it now.