After The Flower Of The High Mountain Meets The Rough Man Ⅱ Chapter 19

## Chapter 19: Finally, Shen Jixun: “The original plan was to imprison you”…

Ji Sheng was stunned by the slap.

He clutched his cheek, his nose bleeding onto the collar of his short-sleeved shirt. It took him nearly half a minute to react. He shrieked, “Assault! He’s assaulting me! This is outrageous! He’s killing me!”

He started rolling on the ground, throwing a tantrum, acting as if he wouldn’t stop until he extorted a few million.

Shen Jixun scoffed, saying, “Then go ahead and sue me. Tell my lawyer whatever you have to say.”

“That slap was what you deserved. The next time you hit Ji Shen, it won’t be as simple as a slap.”

Ji Shen looked at Ji Sheng, whose face was red and swollen and who was still bleeding from the nose.

It was only then that Ji Shen realized.

The slap Shen Jixun gave him yesterday truly was nothing. If Shen Jixun were genuinely angry, a slap could directly knock a person to the ground.

After issuing the warning to Ji Sheng, Shen Jixun took Ji Shen’s hand, turned, and got back into the car, preparing to drive away.

Seeing Shen Jixun hit someone and then try to leave, Ji Sheng immediately scrambled up from the ground to block the car, but he was stopped by Shen Jixun’s bodyguards who had rushed over.

He struggled to chase after them but tripped and fell hard where he stood.

Ji Shen saw this scene through the rearview mirror and couldn’t help but laugh.

Shen Jixun, however, didn’t look pleased. He said, “You idiot, you were hit and didn’t know how to fight back?”

Ji Shen explained, “Because, ultimately, he is still my father. Fighting back wouldn’t look right. Besides, I can’t control my strength. I was afraid I might seriously injure him, and at this critical juncture, I don’t want to cause trouble for you.”

“If the executives at your company knew your boyfriend was a violent person, it would affect you.”

Ji Shen’s consideration wasn’t without reason, but Shen Jixun was still dissatisfied that he didn’t retaliate when hit. He snorted, “Why are you thinking so much? You grew up to be so big for nothing!”

Ji Shen scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed. He said, “Speaking of which, don’t look at my large, muscular build. I’ve actually never hit anyone.”

“When I was little, I was thin and small. When I was bullied by classmates on the way home from school, an adult helped me and told me that if I didn’t want to be bullied anymore, I should make myself look like someone others wouldn’t dare to bully. So I started exercising and trained myself to look like this.”

“It’s strange, but no one bullied me after that time, and my father was also imprisoned for four years for theft. So even though I developed this physique, I’ve never put it into practice. I’m not good at violence…”

Ji Shen had just realized something.

In his life of over twenty years, during the days he was bullied by classmates and abused by his father, apart from his mother, Shen Jixun was the first person to appear before him.

After hearing his explanation, Shen Jixun offered no further comment.

Ji Shen then said earnestly, “Ge, you’re so good to me!”

Shen Jixun scoffed, “You’re only realizing that now?”

He drove the car back to the front of the villa.

Once they were home, Shen Jixun retrieved the medical kit that hadn’t been used in a long time, taking out disinfectant and anti-swelling medication.

He had Ji Shen sit on the sofa and carefully applied the medicine to Ji Shen’s cheek.

“Since your father has appeared now, don’t worry. I will ensure he and your mother get a smooth divorce,” Shen Jixun said slowly. “Afterward, I will make him leave this place and never return.”

Ji Shen lowered his eyes, looking self-conscious. He said, “Ge, do you feel ashamed that I have a father like this…”

“I always feel disgraced because of him. I despise him, hate him, and wish I could kill him.” Ji Shen’s voice was slow and husky. “But I can’t. My mother is innocent. If it weren’t for her, I might have died when I was very young.”

“Before I met you, I thought about dying countless times. I prayed to the gods to let me escape my current predicament, to keep that bastard away from me, and to restore my mother’s health. Then you came…”

Shen Jixun was somewhat moved. Neither he nor Ji Shen could claim to be happier than the other; ultimately, they were just two unfortunate people huddled together for warmth.

He said, “That’s enough.”

“Don’t overthink it. No one looks down on you.”

“You will be happy in the future.”

Ji Shen looked at him. “Good! Ge, you will be happy too!”

Shen Jixun raised his hand and ruffled his hair, casually saying, “Silly dog.”

*

A few days later.

It was past ten in the evening. The two had just finished one round and were about to turn over to continue when Shen Jixun’s phone suddenly rang.

He pressed down on the head beneath him and picked up the phone to check the caller ID.

It was Assistant Li.

He answered the call.

“Boss, based on the lead Ji Shen provided you, we found that one of the shareholders behind the hotel is Dai Yingying’s distant cousin. We started with him and, after investigating all the hotels under his name one by one, we found traces of Shen Tingming.”

Shen Jixun’s hazy eyes slowly regained clarity.

He slipped his finger into Ji Shen’s mouth, playing with his tongue.

At the same time, he said, “Mhm, have them prepare. I’m coming over now.”

After hanging up, he withdrew his hand and pushed Ji Shen’s shoulder, telling him to get up and move aside. “I’m going out for a bit. You should go to bed early.”

Ji Shen sat up, watching Shen Jixun start to get dressed. Thinking about the phone call he had just overheard, he knew what Shen Jixun was going to do.

So he said, “Ge, I know you’re going to complete the thing you’ve been planning for a long time. Be careful.”

Shen Jixun put on his shirt and walked over to him, cupping his face and kissing him on the corner of his lips. He said, “Sweetheart, I’ll take the good luck from you, my great contributor.”

“Wash up at home and wait for me to come back so we can continue.”

Shen Jixun grabbed his jacket and left without looking back.

Ji Shen stared at his retreating figure.

The expression on his face gradually shifted from joy to dejection.

His ears drooped, and his eyes started to sting.

He knew that the moment Shen Jixun completed his plan, their agreement would also expire.

He cherished every day he spent with Shen Jixun.

Because as he grew older, his world had gradually turned from color to gray.

His mother was the only source of color.

Then Shen Jixun’s appearance brought another splash of color, and this color was constantly spreading, gradually dyeing his originally gray world into a colorful one.

He liked Shen Jixun.

That was beyond doubt.

But he only liked Shen Jixun; he couldn’t give Shen Jixun anything.

Ji Shen tidied up the mess in the room, threw the sheets into the washing machine, and then went downstairs.

He sat on the sofa, waiting for Shen Jixun to come home.

Just like countless nights before, waiting for Shen Jixun to return from work or social engagements.

The wall clock ticked steadily.

The trees and grass outside the window rustled in the night wind.

Ji Shen turned on the TV, hugged his knees, and stared at the protagonists on the screen.

Shen Jixun returned in the middle of the night.

He carried the chill of the late night on him. He thought Ji Shen would have already fallen asleep, but just as he took out his key to open the door, it was opened from the inside.

Ji Shen stood in the doorway, his face full of delight, looking at him. “Ge, you’re back!”

Shen Jixun was surprised to see him still awake. “You haven’t slept yet?”

Ji Shen took the jacket from his hand, then crouched down to help him change his shoes, saying, “I couldn’t sleep.”

After his shoes were changed, Shen Jixun walked over and sat on the sofa.

It was indeed warm.

Ji Shen brought him a glass of warm water from the kitchen. “Ge, was it very cold outside today?”

Shen Jixun nodded. “It’s winter now.”

“Has Ge resolved everything?” Ji Shen knelt by his feet, looking up at Shen Jixun’s tired eyes.

Shen Jixun bent down, his long hair falling to brush Ji Shen’s face. He pinched Ji Shen’s earlobe and said softly, “Mhm, the majority of my plan is complete. Now that the matter of Shen Cong’s illegitimate child has been exposed, once this spreads tomorrow, his shares will inevitably plummet, and his standing on the board will drop drastically. Soon, everything he possesses will vanish, and I will reclaim what belongs to my mother.”

As he spoke, the smile on Shen Jixun’s face softened considerably. He added, “I have to thank you this time. Because of the lead you provided, my people had a target for investigation, which led us to Shen Tingming.”

“It’s great that I could help you.” Ji Shen rested his face against Shen Jixun’s knee.

Shen Jixun lowered his head and stroked his face. “So you can make one request of me, and I will fulfill it.”

Ji Shen slowly shook his head. “This is already good enough. Ge has given me far too much.”

What should have been a happy moment was permeated with a sense of sadness.

Shen Jixun withdrew his hand and offered an invitation, “Shall we continue what we didn’t finish last night?”

To Ji Shen, this sounded more like a “breakup sex” before their agreement was terminated.

He stroked Shen Jixun’s leg, slowly moving his hand forward. “Ge, I won’t hold back this time.”

Shen Jixun smiled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The impending separation was the hardest thing for Ji Shen to accept, but he didn’t believe he could offer Shen Jixun any more value.

Everything he had was given by Shen Jixun.

In reality, he possessed nothing.

Only a sincere heart.

But what was a sincere heart worth?

For two days.

Shen Jixun didn’t leave the bedroom once. When they were hungry, Ji Shen ordered takeout, and after eating, they continued.

The balcony, the bay window, the table, the bathroom, the bathtub… they were everywhere.

If it weren’t for the phone call Assistant Li made after finishing his tasks, Shen Jixun felt there was a possibility he might die in bed.

However, after getting out of bed, Shen Jixun looked refreshed.

He wasn’t ashamed of their intimate activities; for him, it was more of a way to release stress.

For the next three days, Shen Jixun didn’t come home. He was handling the final cleanup. Ji Shen sat on the sofa, waiting for Shen Jixun to return, just as he always did.

Until the very last day.

He saw Shen Jixun’s interview on the news.

Shen Cong colluded with his mistress to force his original wife to death, seized her family assets, and neglected his biological son…

This spread not only within their circle but also online.

Shen Jixun’s plan was perfectly concluded at this moment.

Ji Shen watched this segment of the news over and over, not even hearing the doorbell ring.

He only snapped out of it when the door opened, and he quickly got off the sofa and went to the entrance.

“Sorry, Ge, I didn’t notice you came home,” Ji Shen said apologetically.

Shen Jixun didn’t mind. “It’s nothing. Have you had lunch?”

Ji Shen nodded silently. “Mhm.”

“My matters are completely resolved,” Shen Jixun said, taking a document from his briefcase. “I’ve had the lawyer handle the agreement. Once you sign this, the agreement is terminated. The promised sum of money will be transferred to your card later.”

“Oh, and I also bought you an apartment in Jianjin District. Do you want to go see it now? You and your mother can live there from now on.”

Shen Jixun said a lot in one breath.

To Ji Shen, there was only one meaning.

They had “broken up.” Even if they hadn’t truly been together, wasn’t an agreement couple still a couple?

“I’ll go pack my luggage. Thank you, Ge, for taking care of me all this time,” Ji Shen said, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.

Shen Jixun said, “Then I’ll drive you over to see the apartment now. I’ll have someone send your luggage over.”

Ji Shen nodded silently, not daring to speak, afraid Shen Jixun would notice he was about to cry.

Sitting in the car, Ji Shen remained silent, burying his head, lost in thought.

Shen Jixun, however, looked relaxed, as if he didn’t care about their time together at all.

The car finally stopped smoothly downstairs at the residential complex.

Shen Jixun handed him the house key, then looked at him and asked, “Is there anything you want to say?”

Ji Shen thought about it. This might be the last time they ever saw each other, so he had to speak his mind!

“Ge, thank you for appearing in my life. If it weren’t for you, I would still be working as a waiter in a bar, still burdened with countless debts, chased by creditors, and exploited by that scumbag father,” Ji Shen said earnestly.

Shen Jixun frowned. Clearly, this wasn’t what he wanted to hear, so he decided to give Ji Shen another chance and asked, “And?”

Ji Shen bit his lip and shook his head. He opened the passenger door and got out of the car.

Shen Jixun sighed, rolled down the window, and said to Ji Shen, “Then, may we meet again someday.”

Though he said “may we meet again,” it was highly likely they would never see each other again.

After Shen Jixun finished speaking, he stepped on the accelerator and drove away without hesitation.

Watching the car disappear into the distance, Ji Shen’s tears finally streamed down. He regretted it instantly and chased after the car, shouting, “Ge, no, I also wanted to say I like you!”

“I like you! I don’t want the agreement to end… Ge…” He constantly wiped away his tears, but the car was long gone. It was too late to speak his mind.

Ji Shen stood at the intersection, silently crying for a long time.

The dark clouds overhead clustered together, and Ji Shen felt his world turn gray again at that moment.

After a very long time, he finally took the house key Shen Jixun had given him and slowly walked back into the apartment Shen Jixun had bought for him.

The floor and location were excellent.

He used the key to open the door. As he stepped inside, he was greeted by a faint, woody fragrance, the same scent as Shen Jixun.

The interior decoration was already complete and was entirely furnished according to his preferences, indicating that Shen Jixun had been preparing this apartment for a long time.

Ji Shen’s tears rolled out again.

He thought, *Shen Jixun is truly a genuine scumbag! He’s so good at making people happy, yet he leaves so decisively!*

He sat on the sofa, hugging his knees, silently crying.

Just then, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Since he had just moved in, it couldn’t be a stranger knocking. There was only one possibility: it must be Shen Jixun, who had returned!

If it really was Shen Jixun, he had to be brave and confess his feelings to him this time!

Ji Shen didn’t even bother to put on his shoes, immediately rushing to the entrance and opening the door.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t Shen Jixun. He didn’t even clearly see who was knocking before he was forcibly shoved aside by several bodyguards who pinned his arms and pressed him down onto the coffee table in the living room.

“Who are you!” Ji Shen never expected to be grabbed by these people even after his debts were completely paid off.

No one answered him.

Instead, someone outside the door slowly walked in.

“Sir,” the bodyguards all called out respectfully.

Ji Shen’s pupils constricted sharply. This scene was too familiar.

He sensed that the “Sir” sat down on the sofa opposite him, and then the bodyguards holding him released their grip.

Ji Shen quickly looked at the person opposite him.

It was Shen Jixun, who had returned.

He was dressed the same way as that day.

“Ge!” Ji Shen cried out excitedly.

Shen Jixun took a document from Assistant Li and, just like the first time, pushed the document across the table toward Ji Shen. He smiled. “Take a look?”

Ji Shen was confused but did as he was told.

This contract was light and thin. The first page only had four large characters—”Couple Contract.”

He flipped to the next page.

There was only one clause—

[Ji Shen must love Shen Jixun forever and is not allowed to cheat.]

The meaning was already very clear.

Ji Shen couldn’t hold back anymore and rushed into Shen Jixun’s arms, sobbing loudly. “Ge, Ge, I’m sorry, I should have been braver.”

He cried, “Ge, I like you. I like you. This is what I wanted to tell you the most. Ge, I like you, I really like you.”

He repeated “I like you” many times.

Shen Jixun smiled helplessly, gently stroking Ji Shen’s head. “Alright, alright, I know.”

Ji Shen wailed, as if venting his grievances.

Even Assistant Li, who was usually not entirely satisfied with Ji Shen, couldn’t help but smile.

*

That same night, Ji Shen moved back into the villa. For Ji Shen, those few hours away from the villa felt like several years.

Seeing every familiar object filled him with nostalgia.

The sofa, the coffee table, the green plants, the refrigerator, the microwave, the kitchen knife… everything felt incredibly dear to him.

Shen Jixun sat on the sofa, watching his pathetic display, and rolled his eyes, thinking he should have left him out there for a couple more days.

It was his fault for being too stubborn to confess his feelings first.

However, thinking of how Ji Shen had cried like a floodgate had opened just now, Shen Jixun decided to let it go.

After Ji Shen finished reminiscing about the furniture and decorations in the house, he returned to Shen Jixun’s side.

He lay on the sofa, pushing aside the cushion in Shen Jixun’s arms, and rested his head on Shen Jixun’s lap.

Shen Jixun watched TV, casually stroking his face, and asked, “Are you done reminiscing?”

“Mhm, a few hours away felt like a few centuries… I thought you really didn’t want me anymore, Ge,” Ji Shen said.

Shen Jixun snorted. “What if I hadn’t come back for you?”

Ji Shen turned over and buried his face in Shen Jixun’s lower abdomen, muffledly saying, “I was actually thinking that no matter what, I had to let you know my feelings. Someone like me, who can’t hold things in, might have called you tonight to confess.”

“I hesitated because I felt that after you completed your plan, I wouldn’t be of any help to you anymore.”

“I actually took to heart what your so-called stepmother said to me before, but at that time, I hadn’t realized I had fallen for you, so I thought it didn’t matter…” After realizing he liked Shen Jixun, Ji Shen constantly considered from various angles whether he was worthy of Shen Jixun.

However, every angle told Ji Shen that he was not worthy of Shen Jixun.

“Why think so much… If you had admitted your feelings for me earlier, you wouldn’t have had to leave me for that short time this afternoon,” Shen Jixun didn’t want to hear him talk about worthiness.

“Mhm, I’m truly timid,” Ji Shen said.

Shen Jixun smiled and didn’t continue the topic.

But Ji Shen asked again, “But Ge.”

“Why is the contract clause ‘Ji Shen must love Shen Jixun forever and is not allowed to cheat,’ but there isn’t a clause that says ‘Shen Jixun must love Ji Shen forever and is not allowed to cheat’?”

Shen Jixun seriously considered it, then said, “Hmm, why is that? Maybe it’s because I can’t promise to love you forever?”

His tone was clearly joking, and a teasing smile hung on his lips.

Ji Shen immediately sat up from his lap. He protested loudly, “No, you can’t! Ge, you must love me forever too!”

Shen Jixun continued to tease him. “No.”

Ji Shen panicked, throwing himself into Shen Jixun’s arms and hugging him. “No, you can’t…”

As he spoke, he started to cry again. “Ge, you can’t not love me…”

Seeing that Ji Shen was genuinely crying, Shen Jixun finally said, “Alright, I was just scaring you. Crying like this, you’re so spineless.”

“Why do you cry so much?” he teased again.

Ji Shen wiped away his tears. “Isn’t it because Ge said such scary things!”

Shen Jixun’s eyes slowly softened. He rubbed Ji Shen’s head and whispered, “Silly dog.”

In truth, long before he realized he liked Ji Shen, he had already made up his mind.

Regardless of whether Ji Shen liked him or not, he wouldn’t let Ji Shen leave his side.

At that time, he thought that once his plan was complete, he would keep Ji Shen locked up by his side for life. That apartment was originally bought to confine Ji Shen.

It was just that too many things changed in between.

Ji Shen fell in love with him.

So, the imprisonment plan was ultimately abandoned.

Of course, Shen Jixun would never let Ji Shen know about this [^]_[^]

—End of Main Story—