After The Flower Of The High Mountain Meets The Rough Man Ⅱ Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Malice

“Is it because I haven’t given you enough freedom? Ji…”

Following the address provided by Shen Jixun, Ji Shen took a car to the company building.

He looked up at the towering structure, which gave him a sense of immense height and oppression. Taking a deep breath, Ji Shen lifted his feet and walked into the building.

He had expected to negotiate with the receptionist downstairs, as he had seen on TV, needing an appointment and a phone confirmation.

To his surprise, before he could speak, a female staff member at the front desk spoke first, “Excuse me, are you Mr. Ji Shen?”

Ji Shen looked startled. “Yes…”

The woman smiled gently. “We’ve been waiting for you for a long time. Please follow me.”

She made a gesture for him to follow.

Ji Shen followed her.

The elevator went directly to the twenty-third floor. After exiting, the female employee led him through the work area.

Each cubicle was spacious, and most of the people working looked young, exuding an air of social elite.

Ji Shen felt somewhat uneasy under their gazes.

Fortunately, Shen Jixun’s office wasn’t far.

The employee knocked on the door. “Boss, Mr. Ji is here.”

A cold voice came from inside. “Enter.”

The employee opened the office door and stepped aside. “Mr. Ji, please.”

Ji Shen hesitated and asked, “Aren’t you coming in?”

The employee smiled and shook her head.

Ji Shen gave up, cautiously poking half his head inside. He saw Shen Jixun standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, taking a call. He wasn’t wearing his suit jacket, just a simple white shirt tucked into his tailored suit trousers.

In the light filtering through the window, the outline of his waist beneath the shirt was visible.

Ji Shen quickly walked in.

The employee closed the door behind him.

Seeing Shen Jixun handling a work call, Ji Shen carefully sat down by the coffee table and took out the lunch from the insulated bag, arranging the dishes on the table one by one.

He had made oil-braised shrimp, tomato and potato beef brisket, kelp and pork rib soup, and a cold vegetable salad, plus a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.

The table was fully laden.

Shen Jixun finished his call and walked over. Ji Shen quickly offered the long chopsticks to Shen Jixun with both hands.

Shen Jixun sat down beside him, picked up a piece of cold cucumber salad, and asked, “Did you eat?”

“Mhm, yes, I ate already!” Ji Shen nodded repeatedly.

Shen Jixun said nothing more and quietly began eating lunch.

Ji Shen stared at him and asked, “Brother, what made you think of having me bring lunch today…”

“Aren’t we lovers?” Shen Jixun asked.

Ji Shen: “That’s true…”

“Then that’s it. Don’t worry, I won’t trouble you often,” Shen Jixun said.

Ji Shen waved his hand. “No trouble at all, no trouble. I’m very happy to do it.”

“You can stay here this afternoon. We’ll have dinner with my father later.”

Ji Shen had been wondering why he suddenly asked him to bring lunch today. It turned out this was the reason.

“But I haven’t prepared anything, and I haven’t changed my clothes,” Ji Shen was wearing very casual clothes. If he was going to meet family for dinner, this outfit was indeed inappropriate.

Shen Jixun, however, said, “This is fine.”

Ji Shen gripped his knees with both hands and said awkwardly, “Alright.”

This was Ji Shen’s first time visiting Shen Jixun’s workplace. The office decor was much as he expected—a unified, minimalist style with few decorations. The door next to them was likely Shen Jixun’s rest area for his lunch break.

Ji Shen quietly observed the surroundings.

Shen Jixun continued, “He probably didn’t just invite us for dinner. Just handle it as it comes, and don’t mess things up.”

“Okay,” Ji Shen nodded seriously.

“If you get bored this afternoon, go wait in my rest room. There’s a TV in there.”

“Okay!” Ji Shen could only reply with this word, as everything he did now was arranged by Shen Jixun.

Only what Shen Jixun said mattered.

He stayed with Shen Jixun until he finished lunch, then collected the containers and packed them back into the insulated bag before heading to the rest room.

Just as he reached the door, he suddenly remembered something.

“Brother, are you coming in for a nap later?”

Shen Jixun was at the coffee machine brewing coffee. Without looking up, he simply said, “No.”

“Oh.” Ji Shen opened the door and entered the rest room.

The sudden chill made him shiver. The air conditioning wasn’t on, so he walked over and turned it on.

The room was filled with a faint, clean scent, similar to wood. The bed was neatly made, the duvet spread flat.

The bookshelf held many famous domestic and international literary works, unlike the house, which was full of financial books he couldn’t understand.

Ji Shen reached out and took out *The Little Prince*, briefly flipping through it. It was the untranslated version and showed signs of having been read.

He quickly looked through two pages before putting the book back exactly where it was.

He then wandered around the room. There was also a large wardrobe, which he didn’t open. It would only contain Shen Jixun’s clothes, or perhaps some undergarments, and opening it would be an invasion of privacy.

Ji Shen walked over and sat on the sofa, turning on the TV.

On the other side of the wall, Shen Jixun was diligently working.

Ji Shen turned the TV volume to the lowest setting and carefully lay down on the sofa.

The TV was replaying the morning news.

He gazed up at the ceiling.

The voice of the news anchor drifted into his ears, becoming a lullaby. He slowly closed his eyes, his thoughts drifting further and further away.

Shen Jixun pushed the door open and saw this scene.

Undeniably.

Ji Shen’s bone structure was excellent. His nose bridge was high and straight, his profile lines were delicate, and his prominent Adam’s apple gave him a unique mature charm.

His assistant had told him that Ji Shen hadn’t eaten lunch for many days.

It was as if when Shen Jixun wasn’t home, Ji Shen didn’t know how to take care of himself. He had transferred so much money into his card; he could easily order takeout or go out to eat.

Yet, Ji Shen acted like a puppy that lost its appetite when separated from its owner.

A puppy, huh?

He leaned against the door, studying Ji Shen’s face for a moment. He was quite similar.

On the two nights Shen Jixun came home late due to socializing, only one spot on the sofa was warm. Ji Shen had been sitting there, waiting for him.

Upon hearing the slightest movement at the door, he would immediately run to the entryway and open the door.

Like an excited puppy, circling him.

Telling him he worked hard, asking if he wanted a late-night snack.

Shen Jixun withdrew his gaze, turned, opened the door, and left the room.

Perhaps this was because he had restricted too much of his freedom.

As soon as the matter with Shen Cong was resolved, he would give Ji Shen his freedom.

*

Ji Shen slept straight until 4:30 PM.

When he saw the time on his phone, Ji Shen wondered if he had fallen into a coma mid-nap. How could a person nap for four whole hours?!

Or was it because the room was filled with Shen Jixun’s scent?

Was that why he slept so peacefully?!

Ji Shen quickly washed up in the bathroom and opened the door to leave.

He happened to run into one of Shen Jixun’s employees reporting work to Shen Jixun.

Ji Shen felt awkward but had no choice but to walk over and sit on the sofa.

After the work report concluded, the employee quickly grabbed the documents and left the office, his gossipy expression barely concealed.

“Did you sleep well?” Shen Jixun asked casually, looking down at the documents.

Ji Shen sat extremely straight. “Mhm!”

“I’ll be off work in half an hour,” Shen Jixun said.

“Okay, I’ll wait for you,” Ji Shen replied.

Shen Jixun still didn’t look up and instructed, “Make me a cup of coffee.”

“Okay!” Ji Shen immediately stood up, went to the coffee machine, brewed a cup for Shen Jixun, and placed it next to him. “It’s ready, Brother.”

Shen Jixun: “Xiao Li said you haven’t eaten lunch these past few days.”

Ji Shen hadn’t expected this to be reported to Shen Jixun. He quickly explained, “I just wasn’t very hungry. Since I haven’t been working outside, my physical exertion isn’t high, so I don’t get hungry very fast.”

Shen Jixun didn’t seem to listen to him, instead saying to himself, “Is it because I restricted too much of your freedom?”

“You can go see your friends. I haven’t forbidden that.”

Ji Shen sat across from the desk and slowly said, “No, I don’t feel restricted.”

“Then what else do you want?” Shen Jixun began to suspect that he wasn’t treating Ji Shen well enough.

Ji Shen smiled helplessly. “My employer, you have given me more than enough. I doubt there’s anyone else in the world as good as you. I’m sorry that I made you worry, but you don’t need to worry about me. It’s really nothing.”

Shen Jixun finally looked up at him.

He studied Ji Shen’s face. His handsome face held a pair of gentle eyes that always seemed to be smiling, causing those around him to overlook his inner thoughts.

“Alright,” Shen Jixun said.

Ji Shen curved his eyebrows and returned a warm smile. “But thank you for caring about me, Brother.”

Half an hour later.

Shen Jixun clocked out on time.

Xiao Li drove the two of them to a Chinese restaurant.

Led by the restaurant manager, they were taken to a VIP Room.

Sitting next to Shen Cong was an elegantly dressed woman. Seeing the two walk in, the woman actively stood up and greeted them, “Jixun, you’re finally here. Your father and I have been waiting for a long time.”

Shen Jixun’s lips curved slightly, but his gaze gradually turned cold. “Apologies, you’ve waited.”

“Nonsense,” the woman playfully chided, then looked at Ji Shen. “This must be your boyfriend?”

She scrutinized Ji Shen, and Ji Shen likewise scrutinized her.

Ji Shen’s memory wasn’t bad; he usually retained an impression of people he had met once or twice. The moment he saw Dai Yingying, he felt a sense of familiarity.

He thought perhaps he had encountered her during a previous part-time job.

“Yes, A-Ji, this is my father’s wife.” The awkward introduction immediately clarified the woman’s identity for Ji Shen.

She was Shen Cong’s current wife, Shen Jixun’s stepmother.

“Hello, Auntie,” Ji Shen bowed deeply.

Dai Yingying covered her mouth and laughed. “He’s truly handsome. We never knew Jixun liked someone like you.”

She seemed like a kind mother, but her words carried a subtle malice.

Shen Cong, sitting in the main seat, spoke up. “Alright, let’s eat.”

His face wore a forced look of benevolence, but the hint of hatred in his eyes was barely concealed.

Shen Jixun pulled Ji Shen’s hand and sat down. Dai Yingying returned to her seat beside Shen Cong.

The kitchen began serving the dishes one after another.

Ji Shen proactively poured Shen Jixun a cup of hot tea.

Dai Yingying looked at the two of them across the table and smiled. “I used to worry that your temper, Jixun, would lead you to grow old alone. Now it seems I finally don’t have to worry.”

Shen Jixun took a sip of tea. “You should worry more about your own child, shouldn’t you?”

Dai Yingying’s expression stiffened, and the smugness slowly faded from her face. She gave a dry laugh and said, “What are you talking about? Don’t I only have you as a child?”

Shen Jixun scoffed and didn’t reply. Shen Cong timely interrupted. “Yingying, go get the red wine from the car. It’s rare for the family to gather for a meal today.”

Dai Yingying responded with an “Ay,” stood up, and looked at Ji Shen. “Son-in-law, why don’t you come with me? The car is in the basement, and I’m a little scared to go alone.”

Ignoring Shen Jixun and Ji Shen’s expressions, she stepped forward and gently pinched Ji Shen’s sleeve.

“I, Brother…” Ji Shen nervously grabbed Shen Jixun’s hand.

Shen Jixun didn’t look at him and said flatly, “Go.”

“See, Jixun agreed. Let’s go,” Dai Yingying insisted, pulling on Ji Shen’s arm.

Ji Shen had no choice but to stand up. Shen Jixun had told him before coming that this banquet might be specifically prepared for him. Now, he could only listen to Shen Jixun and take things one step at a time.

He followed Dai Yingying out of the VIP Room.

The woman walked ahead, her steps light, talking as she went. “I never knew Jixun liked someone like you. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have bothered introducing girls to him all this time. Honestly, Jixun should have told us sooner.”

Ji Shen walked behind her, pursing his lips without responding.

Dai Yingying continued, “By the way, how did you and Jixun meet?”

Ji Shen answered seriously, as instructed by Shen Jixun. “I was working part-time at a restaurant, and Brother came there to eat. That’s how we met.”

Dai Yingying pressed the elevator button. As the elevator slowly descended to the underground garage, she asked, “What about your family?”

“Just an ordinary family,” Ji Shen said.

“You know, our Jixun is truly hardworking. To inherit the family business, he endured so many hardships since he was little! His father and I have always been proud of him.”

Ji Shen was not good at lying, and similarly, he could quickly tell when others were lying.

What clumsy acting.

“Auntie.” Ji Shen didn’t like her or Shen Cong. Since Shen Jixun disliked them, he saw no need to be polite to them.

Dai Yingying, who was walking ahead after exiting the elevator, stopped and turned to look at him. “What is it?”

Ji Shen stared into her eyes. “You should at least hide the hatred in your eyes for Brother.”