After The Flower Of The High Mountain Meets The Rough Man Ⅱ Chapter 2

## Chapter 2: The Agreement—Turns Out Money Really Can Make the World Go Round

After clearly seeing the face of the “Sir,” Ji Shen’s first thought was that he must have been mistaken.

Their eyes met for a few seconds before Ji Shen slowly let out a sound of disbelief: “It’s you…”

Shen Jixun looked at him with a smile, slowly parting his lips: “Hello, we meet again.”

“You, I…” Ji Shen pointed at Shen Jixun, then pointed at himself, demanding, “What exactly is going on?”

“Before you left yesterday, you reminded me not to come here alone anymore,” Shen Jixun said slowly, his smile unwavering.

“So this time, I brought some people to accompany me. How about that? Am I listening to advice?”

His intention was probably to lighten the mood, but the effect seemed counterproductive.

Ji Shen gave a dry laugh and resignedly said, “So you brought all these people just to drink?”

Shen Jixun raised his hand and wiggled his fingers. The assistant standing beside him immediately opened a folder, then stepped forward two paces and said:

“Ji Shen, 23 years old, a local of Shenzhen. Your mother is seriously ill and bedridden, and your father gambles and drinks heavily. You completed junior and senior high school at Shenzhen No. X Middle School with the help of neighbors and teachers, and later enrolled in the local S University. However, the 8.3 million yuan debt your father incurred from gambling has fallen upon…”

Ji Shen knew it was impolite to interrupt, but he didn’t want to hear about his tragic past one bit.

“Hello, I don’t think I need to review my own past. Could you tell me the reason for this… gathering?”

Shen Jixun showed no displeasure at him interrupting the assistant. He picked up the document beside him and pushed it toward Ji Shen.

Ji Shen already imagined it contained another colossal debt.

He forced himself to remain calm and opened the first page of the document.

Wait, what?

The six large characters “Agreement Couple Contract” jumped into view.

Ji Shen’s deep brown pupils suddenly widened, filled with disbelief at seeing those words.

He flipped to the next page, and it was at this moment that he learned the name of the handsome man opposite him: “Shen Jixun.”

The dense text was packed together, yet Ji Shen dared not miss a single word.

Shen Jixun crossed his legs, resting his elbow on his knee and propping his cheek on his hand, looking at Ji Shen. “You can read the contract slowly later. I’ll briefly explain it to you.”

“I need you to pretend to be my partner and accompany me to some banquets and events to deal with my family elders. In return, I will help you pay off all your debts and give you enough money for you and your mother to live comfortably for the rest of your lives.”

“I will hire the best lawyer to help your mother get a smooth divorce and help you get rid of your troublesome father.”

“I will arrange for the best doctors to treat your mother wholeheartedly until she recovers. Even if the agreement expires, the commitment to care for your mother until her recovery will not change.”

Actually, after hearing that Shen Jixun could find a way for his mother to get a smooth divorce, Ji Shen could barely hear the rest.

For Ji Shen, who couldn’t even scrape together a thousand yuan, this was undoubtedly a godsend.

But he didn’t dare believe such a thing would happen to him.

What if it was some other scheme?

Ji Shen looked at him and cautiously asked, “Why me?”

Looking at Ji Shen’s bright, clear eyes, Shen Jixun recalled that Ji Shen had the same bright, sparkling, puppy-like eyes when he looked at him last night.

“No reason,” Shen Jixun couldn’t articulate why himself.

Ji Shen lowered his head, nervously twisting his fingers. He genuinely craved a huge sum of money to rescue him from his predicament, but this method…

Seeing him still hesitating, Shen Jixun continued, “Ji Shen, I’m not discussing this with you; I’m giving you a choice. You just need to play along with me. After everything is over, I will disappear from your and your mother’s lives and won’t affect you.”

Every word Shen Jixun uttered seemed laced with temptation, offering Ji Shen immense allure.

Ji Shen looked up at him, troubled. “But I don’t like men, and I’ve never dated one. I don’t know how to play the role of your boyfriend well. I’ll mess things up.”

Anyone else would have agreed to such tempting conditions long ago.

Ji Shen’s reason for hesitation was actually his worry about causing trouble for his employer.

Shen Jixun smiled slightly. “Date me the way you would date a girl.”

Ji Shen shook his head, honestly admitting, “I haven’t dated a girl either.”

Shen Jixun frowned in annoyance. He reached out, pinched Ji Shen’s chin, examined him from side to side, and then released him. “You don’t need to lie to me about this.”

Shen Jixun wouldn’t believe for a second that someone with Ji Shen’s face couldn’t find a partner.

Ji Shen had no choice but to explain, “In primary school, I focused on studying. In junior and senior high, I started working part-time to earn money for the family. In university, apart from class time, I was always working part-time to earn money. I simply didn’t have time to date.”

His expression and tone were exceptionally sincere during his explanation. Coupled with Shen Jixun having witnessed his behavior after lying last night, he believed Ji Shen’s words.

At the same time, he found it amusing and let out a slight laugh.

Shen Jixun was incredibly handsome; his entire face looked meticulously sculpted. He had a pair of peach blossom eyes, yet they weren’t flirtatious or overly passionate, carrying a hint of cold indifference and detachment.

That brief smile dissipated the resentment Ji Shen felt from being so brazenly apprehended by Shen Jixun.

Shen Jixun said, “If you don’t know how to date, you can learn. I need a partner who won’t cause me major trouble.”

As he spoke, he pulled a pen from his suit pocket and slid it across the table toward Ji Shen.

“If there are no issues, sign it.”

Ji Shen held the agreement document and hesitantly asked, “Could you give me some more time to read it carefully?”

Shen Jixun stood up and adjusted his jacket. “Suit yourself. You can take it back and read it slowly. My assistant will come to pick you up tomorrow.”

Ji Shen quickly looked up, staring at him in shock. “Pick me up to go where?”

At this point, the assistant who had been standing beside Shen Jixun stepped forward and said, “It’s written in the agreement between you and the Sir that During the Agreement Period, you need to move in and live with the Sir.”

Ji Shen was about to ask Shen Jixun for confirmation, but the other man had already walked to the door, leaving only his back visible.

Slowly, the people present left one after another.

Ji Shen was left alone in the vast bar.

Looking at the empty bar and the agreement in his hand, Ji Shen realized he seemed to have found the answer to his earlier confusion.

Turns out money really can make the world go round.

*

The night fog dispersed, and a faint golden dawn gradually stained the horizon.

The air was filled with damp mist, and the sharp chirping of birds outside the window intruded into the bedroom, abruptly pulling the restless sleeper from his dreams.

Ji Shen glanced at his watch, his first reaction being that he was late for work.

Then he saw the document placed neatly on the bedside table.

What happened last night wasn’t a dream after all.

He really had signed this strange agreement with someone.

Ji Shen took a deep breath and reached out to grab the contract.

He flipped straight to the last page, where his name was right next to Shen Jixun’s.

Shen Jixun’s handwriting matched its owner—slender and elegant, light but not overly flowing, yet still grand.

After returning home last night, Ji Shen had read the agreement over and over at least five times, trying to find a loophole to trick himself, but the black and white text confirmed everything Shen Jixun had told him.

Ji Shen himself was utterly confused.

He buried his face in his hands, rubbing them together in distress.

The phone on the bedside table suddenly rang. Ji Shen jumped in fright and quickly grabbed the phone to look.

It was an unfamiliar number, with a local IP address.

Due to his father’s constant debts, Ji Shen had a habit of not answering unknown calls, but for some reason, he felt like he might be doomed if he didn’t answer this one.

So he gritted his teeth and picked up the call.

“Open the door.” Two very concise words.

Cold, like they were soaked in snow water, yet clear and crisp.

Ji Shen immediately understood the caller’s identity. He quickly threw off the covers and got out of bed. Ignoring his slippers, he rushed to the living room and opened the door.

The scent that greeted him was not the damp, musty smell of the hallway, but a very faint woody fragrance. Ji Shen’s eyes widened at the sight before him.

Standing right in front was Shen Jixun.

Diagonally behind him was his assistant.

And further back were people from a moving company.

Ji Shen was instantly dumbfounded, but Shen Jixun hung up the phone and greeted him first, “Good morning.”

“G-good morning. Why did you come?” Ji Shen wanted to invite Shen Jixun inside, but his room was too small for two people to move around freely.

Yet, leaving Shen Jixun standing at the doorway was truly inappropriate.

Shen Jixun, however, didn’t seem to notice his predicament.

He unceremoniously stepped sideways and walked into the room.

“I came to get the signed agreement and found someone to help you move, by the way.”

The living room was quite tidy. The three rooms had closed doors. He turned and asked, “Which one is your bedroom?”

Ji Shen awkwardly explained, “Mr. Shen, those two rooms are occupied by my roommates. My room is here.”

He pointed to the room in the furthest corner behind Shen Jixun.

“?” A flash of confusion crossed Shen Jixun’s eyes.

He probably couldn’t understand how three people could live in such a cramped apartment.

Ji Shen quickly walked over and opened the door. Back in his room, he folded the quilt in a few quick motions, then gestured for Shen Jixun outside the door. “The room is a bit small. Please sit on the bed. I’ll get the agreement for you.”

Before coming, Shen Jixun had tried his best to imagine how simple and dilapidated Ji Shen’s living situation might be.

But seeing it in person was still somewhat shocking.

The room was small, with the bed taking up half the space. The wardrobe was the kind with an iron frame covered in floral fabric—very small and old. There was a small table on the balcony with a few books on it, and several potted green plants by the window, which were growing exceptionally well.

There were no other furnishings in the room.

Although cramped, the items in the room were very tidy, and there was no strange smell in the air, only a faint, slightly astringent scent of soap.

Shen Jixun was very curious how this room managed to accommodate the 191 cm tall Ji Shen.

“Um, Mr. Shen, here is the agreement. I’ve already signed it.” Ji Shen handed the agreement to Shen Jixun with both hands.

Shen Jixun took it and immediately passed it to the assistant by the door.

He then stood up and said, “Pack your valuables and come with me. They will deliver the rest of your luggage later.”

“Oh, okay.” Ji Shen didn’t dare delay. After retrieving his ID and documents from the bedside table, he hurried out after him.

The two went downstairs and got into the car.

Although they sat together in the back seat, there was a significant distance between them—or rather, Ji Shen actively distanced himself from Shen Jixun.

He was practically pressed against the car door.

Shen Jixun noticed his nervousness. The ID documents were almost soaked through with the sweat secreted from his palms.

Sensing Shen Jixun observing him, Ji Shen felt even more restless, finding it difficult to breathe.

Shen Jixun smiled helplessly. He leaned on the seat and moved closer to Ji Shen.

Just as he was about to speak, with a “click,” the car door suddenly opened. Ji Shen tumbled out of the car in a roll, landing in a heap.

Shen Jixun tilted his head, looking confusedly at the person on the ground: ?

“I’m sorry, Mr. Shen, I didn’t mean to.” Ji Shen quickly got up and apologized for his foolishness.

Shen Jixun probably understood the reason for his abnormal behavior.

He sighed and raised his hand, beckoning Ji Shen with his index finger.

The car interior lights were off. Shen Jixun’s light-colored pupils seemed to cast a spell, enticing Ji Shen to slowly bend over and slide his upper body back into the car.