Is This The Right Way To Repay A Favor? Chapter 36

Find Me

Next up was Cai Zhiyang.

He sensed the strange atmosphere and racked his brain trying to figure out his connection to Jiang Zhou.

After a long time, he managed to squeeze out, “I played basketball with CEO Jiang, as opponents.”

His statement eliminated quite a few people.

Zhang Qian followed him, also pulling out a connection to Jiang Zhou. “I washed dishes with CEO Jiang once.”

With so many people trying to establish a link, the special significance of mentioning Jiang Zhou was somewhat diluted.

The game rotated to Zhou Mingfang.

Zhou Mingfang was invited by Yu Liang; she was his manager.

Zhou Mingfang didn’t continue the trend of old guests linking themselves to Jiang Zhou, instead starting a new topic.

“The person I like is here.”

As soon as she spoke, the expressions of several people in the room changed.

The atmosphere instantly became silent and awkward.

One after another, they were all letting loose.

Cai Zhiyang saw the mood turn sour and tried to salvage it. “My understanding of ‘like’ isn’t just romantic affection; it also includes appreciation. That counts, right?”

As he spoke, he signaled Yu Liang with his eyes to smooth things over and bring the atmosphere back.

But perhaps Zhou Mingfang was provoked or something, because she stuck firmly to her statement.

“The ‘like’ I mean is romantic affection, it’s love.”

This declaration instantly silenced even Cai Zhiyang.

Cai Zhiyang simply gave up completely, deciding not to bother anymore.

Let it all be destroyed, let it all be ruined. Whoever wants to clean up this mess can clean it up.

Yu Liang bent his finger.

Zhou Mingfang stared at Yu Liang, her gaze dark and heavy.

Under the pressure of that gaze, Yu Liang retracted the finger he had half-bent.

At first, Shen Zhiyu was still hesitating whether he should bend his finger.

But after Zhou Mingfang added that last sentence, he immediately bent his finger.

He did like Jiang Zhou.

But right now, that liking was mostly physical attraction and fondness; it didn’t quite reach the level of love.

He wasn’t like that fool, who could like someone for so many years.

Thinking this, Shen Zhiyu subconsciously looked at Jiang Zhou.

Sure enough, he saw that fool still holding up his finger.

Did he like him that much? Even to the point of love?

Blood rushed uncontrollably to his chest almost instantly. Shen Zhiyu felt a slight pain in his chest.

He was going to be driven mad by this fool sooner or later.

Shen Zhiyu then inexplicably followed the direction and glanced at Yuan Chong.

Yuan Chong was also staring at Jiang Zhou, his expression gloomy.

What was that look?

Was he unhappy that Jiang Zhou liked him?

What a bastard!

Zhou Mingfang even added fuel to the fire by asking, “CEO Jiang, are you sure the person you love is present?”

Everyone looked at Jiang Zhou.

Jiang Zhou leaned back. Behind him was only the chair back; there was nowhere left to retreat.

Jiang Zhou nodded honestly. “Yes.”

That heartless Cai Zhiyang, perhaps seeing everyone letting loose and getting a bit carried away himself, didn’t read the room and wore an expression of sudden realization.

“Ah! I know! Last time CEO Jiang said he had a secret crush in college! And CEO Yuan is your college classmate.”

“So, CEO Jiang, the person you secretly like is CEO Yuan!”

As soon as he spoke, the entire room fell silent.

His words tumbled out so fast that Zhang Qian couldn’t even stop him.

Only after he finished speaking did he realize his mistake and inwardly groan, It’s over.

Jiang Zhou had said it was a secret crush, meaning he hadn’t confessed. His big mouth had just exposed Jiang Zhou.

If Yuan Chong wasn’t interested, wouldn’t that put Jiang Zhou on the spot?

If Jiang Zhou held a grudge against him, forget about getting good roles and winning Best Actor; he might even be blacklisted.

Cai Zhiyang silently slapped himself twice.

It was all his fault for having a mouth that ran wild when he got excited. Now look, he had completely ruined himself.

“So CEO Jiang actually said something about a secret crush?” Yuan Chong looked at Jiang Zhou, grinding his teeth.

His form of address had changed from Little Zhouzhou to CEO Jiang.

Cai Zhiyang’s hanging heart finally died.

It was over, truly and completely over now.

“Little Zhouzhou, if you had a crush on me, you should have told me directly sooner, instead of letting me hear it from someone else.”

“That’s so embarrassing!”

Shen Zhiyu couldn’t help but look at Jiang Zhou again.

His face was pale, and his body trembled slightly, seemingly terrified at being exposed in public.

Looking at him, Shen Zhiyu felt an inexplicable pressure on his chest, as if a giant rock was crushing him, making it hard to breathe.

He had always known Jiang Zhou had a crush on Yuan Chong, but why, upon hearing such a direct statement in front of everyone, did his anger mix with a strange sourness and heartache?

Shen Zhiyu thought he must have been driven insane by this licking dog fool.

“Alright, I’ll discuss this with Little Zhouzhou privately later. Let’s not hold up the game.” Yuan Chong said.

Cai Zhiyang finally breathed a sigh of relief and let the next person continue the game.

Everyone tacitly sped up the game, bringing the gathering to an end.

As soon as it finished, Yuan Chong grabbed Jiang Zhou and left.

Shen Zhiyu watched the two figures pulling away in front, his face suddenly darkening.

Without Xue Pengfei needing to instruct them, the camera crew were sensible enough not to follow.

Lu Shen was also curious. “You’re still interested in Jiang Zhou?”

Shen Zhiyu scoffed, his tone inexplicably aggressive. “Why not?”

Lu Shen finally understood.

Shen Zhiyu hadn’t developed feelings for Yuan Chong; he was still preoccupied with Jiang Zhou. Judging by what those people said, Jiang Zhou had a crush on Yuan Chong back in college.

That was why Shen Zhiyu had asked him about Yuan Chong.

And he, without fully understanding the situation, had rashly invited Yuan Chong and spent a ridiculous night with him.

But if he were to say he regretted it, Lu Shen didn’t.

He was even a little addicted and wanted to do it again.

As for Shen Zhiyu, Lu Shen truly hadn’t expected that after all this time, Shen Zhiyu would still be interested in Jiang Zhou.

Even knowing that Jiang Zhou had a crush on Yuan Chong.

The figures pulling away in front walked further and further, and the more Shen Zhiyu watched, the angrier he became. He pointed at Lu Shen and cursed, “This bastard is flirting right in front of you, aren’t you going to do something?”

Lu Shen: “?”

“I have no relationship with him.”

“No relationship, and you slept with him?”

“Why are you so old-fashioned? Sleeping together these days doesn’t mean anything.”

Shen Zhiyu was so angry he laughed. “I’m old-fashioned? Lu Shen, you’re calling me old-fashioned?”

So, he hadn’t gotten what he wanted, and now he was consumed by rage.

Lu Shen understood and stopped provoking him. “Then I’ll help you ask tonight, see what’s going on between them.”

Shen Zhiyu gritted his teeth. “You better just ask.”

Lu Shen: …..

Suddenly, he wasn’t so keen on asking anymore.

A moment later, Shen Zhiyu changed his mind. “You better make something happen with him tonight! Make a big scene! Preferably wake us all up.”

Lu Shen: “?”

Was he starting to not understand human language?

—

Jiang Zhou was practically dragged back to Youran Residence by Yuan Chong.

Jiang Zhou wanted to explain on the way, but Yuan Chong didn’t give him a chance to speak.

As soon as they entered the door, Yuan Chong ripped off Jiang Zhou’s jacket.

Jiang Zhou was wearing a black, high-neck, long-sleeved sweater underneath.

Yuan Chong felt even more suspicious and reached out to pull that off too.

The people who had been following them entered the house at this moment.

Shen Zhiyu glanced at the two struggling figures. Yuan Chong’s hands were on the hem of Jiang Zhou’s sweater, an intimate posture. His gaze then fell on Jiang Zhou. He saw his hair was messy, his face flushed, and his breathing rapid.

Rage instantly spread and burned in his chest. Shen Zhiyu’s eyes were red with anger. “What are you two doing?”

Jiang Zhou found a burst of strength from somewhere and immediately broke free from Yuan Chong, looking panicked and then pleadingly at Yuan Chong.

“N-nothing…”

Yuan Chong was furious at his lack of backbone but was genuinely worried about Jiang Zhou.

“Alright, come find me.”

Jiang Zhou nodded. He knew Yuan Chong wouldn’t give up unless he personally confirmed that Jiang Zhou was fine.

Yuan Chong returned to his room, and Lu Shen quickly followed him.

Only Jiang Zhou and Shen Zhiyu were left in the living room.

Jiang Zhou felt he needed to explain his actions just now, but he didn’t know where to start.

Shen Zhiyu had just told him that Yuan Chong and Lu Shen had slept together, and now he was pulling and tugging with Yuan Chong right in front of Shen Zhiyu and Lu Shen, which was truly shameless.

Shen Zhiyu scanned Jiang Zhou up and down. “Did you hurt yourself again?”

Jiang Zhou shook his head. “No. I haven’t hurt myself since you… said that last time.”

“Quite obedient.” Shen Zhiyu was satisfied with the answer, and his anger subsided slightly. He reached out and ruffled Jiang Zhou’s hair.

“Keep it up. And… don’t be stupid.” Shen Zhiyu warned him.

Jiang Zhou knew what he was referring to. Although he himself had no intention, in Shen Zhiyu’s eyes, he did.

He probably feared Jiang Zhou wouldn’t be able to control himself and would embarrass everyone in front of Lu Shen. He nodded. “I won’t.”

Shen Zhiyu: “You better not.”

“I will check.”

Jiang Zhou: ….

What kind of patient was he, that everyone felt the need to check on him?

Shen Zhiyu lifted his hand again.

On his wrist, a red mark was clearly visible and frightening.

Yuan Chong was physically strong and worked out. In his haste, he hadn’t controlled his strength and had scratched Jiang Zhou.

Jiang Zhou let him hold his hand, no longer struggling.

He had never successfully struggled free from Shen Zhiyu anyway.

“Does it hurt?” Shen Zhiyu asked.

Jiang Zhou shook his head, originally intending to reply that he was used to it, but seeing Shen Zhiyu’s expression, he swallowed the words.

Shen Zhiyu’s expression was gentle, holding his hand as if carefully handling a precious, fragile item.

Jiang Zhou cherished this moment of tenderness.

Just this last time.

Tomorrow, when the program recording ended, everyone would go their separate ways, and there would never be such prolonged close contact again.

Jiang Zhou quietly allowed himself this final indulgence in his heart.

He nodded.

Shen Zhiyu led him into the room and applied medicine to his wrist twice.

Neither of them spoke. The scent of medicine permeated the air, mixing with the citrus and cedar aroma that often clung to Shen Zhiyu.

Jiang Zhou’s heart felt a little itchy, and he felt his greed being infinitely magnified.

He even wanted to completely fall into ruin, regardless of the consequences, just this once.

In this moment of calm, Shen Zhiyu’s anger gradually subsided, and he even managed to consider things from Jiang Zhou’s perspective.

“You know in your heart that he’s not a good person. But you still can’t stop liking him. Is that right?”

Jiang Zhou didn’t want Shen Zhiyu’s misunderstanding of Yuan Chong to deepen to the point where he was labeled not a good person.

He defended Yuan Chong. “He’s actually quite nice.”

This fool was still defending him.

Shen Zhiyu didn’t care whether he was a good person or not.

He asked directly, “Do you think you have a future with him?”

Jiang Zhou shook his head.

“That’s good.”

Shen Zhiyu kindly offered a solution. “From now on, just treat me as his substitute.”

Before, Shen Zhiyu had underestimated Jiang Zhou’s feelings for Yuan Chong, thinking he could replace him.

Now, he understood how deep Jiang Zhou’s emotions were. It seemed impossible to replace Yuan Chong’s position in a short time.

But he couldn’t wait too long.

He was impatient; he wanted to eat the hot tofu.

He didn’t care why the tofu was hot, as long as he could eat it.

He had warned Jiang Zhou a long time ago not to think too highly of him.

Jiang Zhou: “Huh?”

“In the future, if you miss him, come find me.”

“Anything he can do, and anything he can’t do, I can do.”