Is This The Right Way To Repay A Favor? Chapter 48

Taking Photos

Jiang Zhou’s phone lit up. Wei Yan had sent a message telling them to come out in one minute; a gray Volkswagen was parked nearby.

Just then—

The underground garage erupted with the clamor of fans and the rapid clicking of camera shutters.

“It’s Kaiya, Kaiya! Mommy loves you!”

“Zixuan, Zixuan, the coolest in the world!”

“…..”

The massive wave of chaotic noise instantly became the best cover, shattering the suffocating, strange ambiguity inside the utility room.

The noise grew distant.

Jiang Zhou seized the moment and quickly twisted the door lock open.

The garage corridor was much emptier. The distant chaos acted like a giant sound source, drawing all attention away.

Jiang Zhou pulled Shen Zhiyu, quickly running toward the discreet black car parked not far away.

Jiang Zhou lowered the air conditioning inside the car.

The cool breeze, along with the faint scent of tea and the car’s leather interior, diluted the suffocating smell of disinfectant from the utility room, gradually cooling Jiang Zhou’s body temperature.

His tightly wound nerves slowly relaxed in the relatively spacious environment.

Jiang Zhou leaned back slightly into the seat. He raised a hand to loosen his tie and let out a long sigh of relief.

Shen Zhiyu glanced sideways at Jiang Zhou, also relaxing back into the seat, his long legs casually crossed.

“Thanks to CEO Jiang, otherwise…”

He left the sentence unfinished, deliberately allowing room for imagination.

Jiang Zhou recalled the trending topic Shen Zhiyu had coined in the utility room and felt a little uneasy.

He intentionally changed the subject, “Why are you here?”

“The shoot ended early.” Shen Zhiyu looked at Jiang Zhou. The dim light inside the car cast shadows in his deep-set eyes, making them appear even more unfathomable. “I wanted to come back early to see Zhouzhou.”

He emphasized the word “Zhou” at the end, seemingly carrying a deeper meaning.

“I intended to surprise you quietly, but I underestimated how sharp those people are.”

“Oh.” Jiang Zhou deliberately ignored the scorching gaze, turning his face slightly to look at the neon lights flashing past the window, keeping his tone as calm as possible.

“I have to attend a gala later. If CEO Jiang doesn’t mind, could you give me a ride?”

“Of course.”

Shen Zhiyu gave the hotel location.

Afterward, Shen Zhiyu seemed to remember something and looked back at Jiang Zhou, his tone casual and natural, “By the way, CEO Jiang. You’re attending the charity auction tonight too, right?”

How did he know?

Jiang Zhou had received an invitation to the auction. He hadn’t planned to attend and had previously deferred it to Ye Tianming. But that guy had been on his honeymoon for a month and still refused to return, throwing the responsibility back to Jiang Zhou.

The host of this charity gala was an old friend of Languang Media, and Jiang Zhou couldn’t refuse him, so he agreed.

Jiang Zhou nodded, “Yes, representing the company.”

“Perfect then.” Shen Zhiyu’s smile deepened. “It’s getting late now, so CEO Jiang shouldn’t bother going back and forth. Just come to my place to get ready.”

This suggestion was too sudden and intimate.

Moreover, if they were photographed, it would be even harder to explain.

Jiang Zhou’s first reaction was to refuse, “No need to trouble yourself, I…”

“It’s no trouble. Consider it my thanks for helping me out today.”

The other party’s words carried an undeniable forcefulness. Jiang Zhou had no choice but to compromise, “In that case, I apologize for the imposition.”

The car smoothly drove into the hotel’s underground VIP tunnel. Zhang Fanshu was already waiting at the exclusive elevator entrance, standing next to Jiang Zhou’s assistant, Wei Yan, who was holding a garment bag containing a custom-made suit.

“Teacher Shen! CEO Jiang!” Zhang Fanshu swiped the elevator open.

The group went straight up to the penthouse presidential suite. Shen Zhiyu’s personal stylist, Lin Zhe, was already set up in the living room’s styling area. Lights, mirrors, and mobile racks full of clothes were all present, and the air was filled with the scent of hairspray and various mixed perfumes.

As Shen Zhiyu entered, he signaled to Lin Zhe, “I’m going to shower first.” He then turned to Jiang Zhou, “CEO Jiang, make yourself comfortable.”

Jiang Zhou nodded and turned to enter the bedroom on the other side.

Jiang Zhou took a shower and changed into the formal wear Wei Yan had prepared. It was a classic black tuxedo, wing-collar white shirt, black tie, paired with simple platinum cufflinks. There was no superfluous decoration, relying entirely on the exquisite tailoring and fabric to highlight his physique.

When Jiang Zhou emerged, Shen Zhiyu was already seated in the styling area, holding a kitten in his arms.

Hearing the sound, he looked at Jiang Zhou through the mirror.

Shen Zhiyu scrutinized him, noticing that Jiang Zhou was once again in a strictly formal suit, his beautiful neck line completely concealed.

Those beautiful, innocent deer eyes were also hidden behind reflective lenses. Shen Zhiyu nodded in satisfaction and naturally complimented him, “CEO Jiang, that suit suits you very well.”

Caught off guard by the praise, Jiang Zhou’s cheeks uncontrollably flushed slightly. He gave a slight nod, pretending to be calm as he walked over to the sofa area and sat down, fiddling with his phone while his gaze was unconsciously drawn to Shen Zhiyu in the styling area.

Shen Zhiyu was casually wrapped in a dark velvet bathrobe, his damp black hair resting on his forehead, and the skin of his collarbone was faintly visible beneath the open neckline, exuding a lazy sexiness.

The stylist, Lin Zhe, was using a hairdryer on his hair.

Jiang Zhou’s heartbeat pulsed along with the buzzing of the hairdryer.

Before long, the hairdryer’s humming stopped. Lin Zhe deftly applied foundation and contouring to Shen Zhiyu…

Jiang Zhou’s gaze was fixed on the phone in his hand, but his ears clearly and keenly picked up the subtle sound of the makeup brush sweeping across the skin in the styling area, as well as Lin Zhe’s occasional low inquiries and Shen Zhiyu’s brief responses.

The air gradually filled with the mixed scent of hairspray and cosmetics.

Soon, the makeup and styling were nearing completion. Lin Zhe carefully put the final, highly-designed platinum diamond ear cuff on Shen Zhiyu, stepped back, and examined him with satisfaction, “Perfect! Brother Yu, you’re ready.”

Shen Zhiyu stood up and slowly walked toward Jiang Zhou.

“CEO Jiang.” White hotel slippers stopped in front of him.

Jiang Zhou looked up in a panic. The screen of his phone had gone dark sometime earlier.

The person before him was dazzlingly beautiful. The colors used on his eyes were vivid and bold, outlining an upward curve that highlighted the brilliance of his peach blossom eyes. A wavy line, drawn with red liquid eyeliner, ran down his high nose bridge and extended to his cheekbone. A few seemingly casual strands of hair fell to his temples, and his lips held an alluring, vibrant color.

Jiang Zhou felt overwhelmed and hastily averted his gaze.

Shen Zhiyu leaned in slightly. The slender chain of the ear cuff lightly brushed against Jiang Zhou’s cheek.

The cold touch scraped past, like a cool breeze, and waves of heat surged from his cheeks, spreading throughout his body.

Jiang Zhou’s breathing instantly hitched.

Immediately afterward, a fluffy sensation was placed in his arms.

“Hold this for me.”

Jiang Zhou unconsciously gathered his arms to accept the kitten.

The kitten burrowed into his embrace, adjusted its position, and continued sleeping.

Shen Zhiyu went into the bedroom to change clothes. For public appearances, his attire was always fashionable and daring. Lin Zhe had paired him with a highly-designed brown velvet jacket, a deep V-neck silk shirt underneath, wide-leg trousers, and Chelsea boots.

Lin Zhe gave him a final touch-up.

Shen Zhiyu looked into the mirror, adjusting his expression. His gaze then caught Jiang Zhou on the sofa through the reflection.

Jiang Zhou sat obediently on the sofa, holding the kitten, his posture appearing somewhat stiff, his neck and cheeks still faintly flushed.

Shen Zhiyu walked toward him.

Jiang Zhou immediately reflexively picked up the kitten and handed it to Shen Zhiyu.

Jiang Zhou was looking up at Shen Zhiyu. His glasses had slipped down a bit at some point, perfectly revealing those beautiful, moist deer eyes.

The innocent eyes contrasted strangely with his strictly formal suit, creating an expectation of being dominated.

How could there be someone in the world so perfectly to his taste? Shen Zhiyu felt his throat tighten. The restlessness and desire in his heart surged like a tide.

“Your glasses are crooked.” Shen Zhiyu reached out to help Jiang Zhou adjust his glasses, using the action to compose himself.

Shen Zhiyu didn’t take the cat. He chuckled softly and asked naturally, “CEO Jiang, could you do me a favor and take a few departure photos? Their shots are too formulaic, I’m tired of them.”

Lin Zhe, who was tidying up makeup in the styling area, thought: “?”

Wang Lei, who was reaching for a camera, also thought: “?”

Jiang Zhou’s fingers tightened slightly around the cat, “I’m not very good at taking photos.”

“Nonsense.” Shen Zhiyu smiled. “I was very satisfied with the video you took for me last time.”

Shen Zhiyu bent down, picked up the kitten, and walked over to Wang Lei. He took the camera from Wang Lei’s hand and handed the kitten to him instead.

Shen Zhiyu stepped forward and gently placed the camera in Jiang Zhou’s hands, his movements natural. “Just use this one.” He then turned and walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, standing with his back to Jiang Zhou.

Jiang Zhou had no room to refuse.

He picked up the camera and walked toward Shen Zhiyu.

Shen Zhiyu didn’t strike a deliberate pose, merely turning slightly to offer a natural profile to the lens, his gaze fixed on some unknown spot outside the window. His shoulder line was particularly defined, highlighted by the velvet and crystal. His posture was relaxed, as if he were simply standing there enjoying the view.

Jiang Zhou raised the camera and looked through the viewfinder.

The city’s flowing lights became the backdrop, and Shen Zhiyu’s figure was calm and tall.

He pressed the shutter.

“Click—”

Shen Zhiyu heard the sound, turned around, and faced the camera directly. He didn’t pose intentionally, just let his hands fall naturally, his gaze calmly fixed on Jiang Zhou. “Two more from the front.”

Jiang Zhou pressed the shutter again, capturing his front view.

Next, Shen Zhiyu leaned slightly against the glass, adopting a more casual posture. He raised his hand, his fingertip unconsciously lightly touching the edge of his brooch, his eyes still looking in Jiang Zhou’s direction.

“Click—”

Shutter sounds rang out one after another.

Shen Zhiyu stopped speaking, simply changing his stance naturally—lowering his eyes or adjusting his cuff—allowing Jiang Zhou to capture his authentic state.

Jiang Zhou also found his rhythm, focusing on documenting these moments. A silent understanding grew between them.

After taking more than ten shots, Shen Zhiyu finally stopped. He walked toward Jiang Zhou and reached out to take the camera.

“Thank you for your hard work. Want to take a look?”