Is This The Right Way To Repay A Favor? Chapter 50
byReaction
A dozen children, holding hands, were led onto the stage by the staff.
“This painting was created by all these children together. Although they cannot see, their inner world is as vibrant as spring.”
The auctioneer invited Shen Zhiyu onto the stage. The children presented the painting to him.
Shen Zhiyu politely crouched down to accept the painting and took a photo with the children.
On the live stream, netizens flooded the screen with comments.
“Holy cow, what kind of deity am I following?”
“Shen Zhiyu is so loving!”
“I will follow Shen Zhiyu for life.”
After Shen Zhiyu stepped down, he used the excuse of going to the restroom to leave the auction venue.
No one noticed that in the corner of the third row, Jiang Zhou had also quietly left the venue sometime earlier.
—-
The spacious restroom stall felt cramped because two tall men were squeezed inside.
Shen Zhiyu pressed his back against the door, trapping Jiang Zhou tightly between himself and the cold tile wall.
He had taken off his jacket and hung it casually on the wall, wearing only the deep V-neck shirt. The collar was wide open, revealing his clearly defined collarbone and a small patch of firm chest, with the lighting outlining beautiful contours.
His hands were hanging down, his face unreadable, though a slightly dangerous smile seemed to linger on his lips.
Shen Zhiyu didn’t speak. Jiang Zhou couldn’t gauge his mood and hesitated to break the silence.
Jiang Zhou had actually started regretting his actions the moment he headed to the restroom.
He and Liu Ye were old friends. Before the event, Liu Ye had revealed that one of the auction items tonight was a painting by special needs children and hoped Jiang Zhou could help bid it up to a respectable price.
When Jiang Zhou saw that the auction was being live-streamed, a bold idea was born in his mind.
He thought he might as well use this opportunity to let Shen Zhiyu shine and earn a good reputation.
So, when the painting was introduced, Jiang Zhou specifically messaged Shen Zhiyu, hoping he could help raise the price of the artwork. He planned to withdraw once the price reached an astronomical figure, leaving all the applause for Shen Zhiyu.
This strategic thinking was sound, but Jiang Zhou overlooked one crucial point: Shen Zhiyu’s attitude.
In Shen Zhiyu’s eyes, Jiang Zhou had practically calculated and maneuvered him, completely unaware, into that position.
In terms of work, as long as the outcome was positive, a little calculation didn’t matter much.
Thinking this, Jiang Zhou straightened his back and spoke in a steady, businesslike tone, “Tonight is a charity auction. Bidding on that painting will boost your image, and the company will cover the auction price.”
Hearing this, Shen Zhiyu chuckled softly, his voice magnetic and pleasant, echoing in the quiet space.
“CEO Jiang is truly painstaking in his efforts to repay a favor.” Shen Zhiyu tilted his head slightly, his gaze seemingly warm as it slowly traced the sharp line of Jiang Zhou’s shoulder, lingered on his meticulously tied necktie, and finally settled on the lean waist perfectly outlined by his formal wear.
Jiang Zhou’s ears tingled slightly. He felt the gaze was less than friendly, and his body instinctively tensed for a moment.
He immediately apologized, “My apologies. It was indeed my fault for not informing you beforehand.”
“Not enough sincerity.”
Shen Zhiyu leaned closer to Jiang Zhou, his voice dropping low, carrying a hypnotic magnetism. His breath lightly brushed Jiang Zhou’s ear.
“CEO Jiang calculated that I would help, calculated that I would follow your script, and be the ‘good person’ you meticulously designed and elevated.”
“But Jiang Zhou—” Shen Zhiyu raised his hand, his fingertip landing on Jiang Zhou’s Adam’s apple, slowly caressing the slightly protruding cartilage. “I never said I wanted to be this ‘good person.’”
Jiang Zhou’s breathing hitched sharply. His body stiffened, and he even stopped the motion of swallowing.
Shen Zhiyu felt the temperature of the skin under his finger instantly rise. He leaned in, his lips almost touching Jiang Zhou’s earlobe, delivering the scorching words in a whisper.
“CEO Jiang has elevated me so high. What if I fall from grace someday?”
“That won’t happen.” Jiang Zhou’s throat bobbed, and the scorching fingertip slid lightly along with it.
“What if that day comes?” Shen Zhiyu seemed insistent on the question.
“I… I will do everything in my power to send you back to the pedestal.”
“Oh, with CEO Jiang’s promise, I feel relieved then.” The caress of his fingertip intensified slightly.
Jiang Zhou’s breathing was completely disrupted. He raised his hand to pull Shen Zhiyu away.
Shen Zhiyu took the opportunity to lower his hand, then gently placed it on Jiang Zhou’s narrow waist, pulling him closer with a slight force.
The warm touch ignited Jiang Zhou’s senses, which he was desperately trying to suppress, like fire. He wanted to push Shen Zhiyu away, but his body felt bound by invisible threads, unable to move.
A sound came from outside the door.
Jiang Zhou’s voice was hoarse, carrying a hint of uncontrolled tremor, “Let go first…”
Instead of releasing him, Shen Zhiyu leaned in further, his nose almost brushing Jiang Zhou’s. His gaze greedily captured the panic and the ignited desire that Jiang Zhou was desperately trying to hide in his eyes.
At that moment, clear, sharp discussion, accompanied by mean-spirited laughter, came from outside the stall.
“Tsk. Shen Zhiyu sure knows how to put on a show tonight!”
“That painting was just drawn by a bunch of useless kids, and it was bid up to a sky-high price.”
“He just knew the inside story beforehand, a self-directed performance to gain fame.”
“They even gave him the title of ‘Heart Sprout Ambassador.’ Heh, he just knows that these disabled children are good for emotional manipulation, using them to gild his own reputation….”
“Keep it down! But seriously, his team’s move was brilliant. Gaining both fame and fortune, they played it smoothly….”
The harsh words penetrated the door, and the air instantly became tense.
Jiang Zhou’s heart sank sharply. He looked up at Shen Zhiyu.
The malicious speculation outside continued, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.
“Did you hear that?” Shen Zhiyu’s voice was extremely low, his hot breath fanning the sensitive skin behind Jiang Zhou’s ear. “This is the good reputation you painstakingly earned for me. Hmm?”
Shen Zhiyu mimicked the cruel tone from next door when he said “good reputation,” the final syllable laced with naked sarcasm.
Jiang Zhou was shaken to his core. Just as he was about to speak, “I…”
Shen Zhiyu suddenly lowered his head and fiercely kissed Jiang Zhou’s lips.
Hot, soft, and carrying Shen Zhiyu’s intense scent, the kiss violently crashed into Jiang Zhou’s world.
Time seemed to freeze for a second.
Just as Jiang Zhou was completely stiffened by the sudden kiss, Shen Zhiyu’s phone rang.
The people outside the door heard the ringtone and hastily fled.
Shen Zhiyu didn’t immediately release Jiang Zhou. He breathed against Jiang Zhou’s lips, the soft contact slowly rubbing against Jiang Zhou’s sensory nerves.
Shen Zhiyu took out his phone. It was a call from his manager, Wang Lei.
Wang Lei reminded him, “It’s time for your auction item next.”
Half of the auction items this time were provided by invited celebrities. Shen Zhiyu, as requested by the organizer, had also brought one of his personal items.
“Got it,” Shen Zhiyu mumbled, hanging up the phone.
Jiang Zhou took advantage of the moment he was on the phone to gently push him away.
Shen Zhiyu looked down. He saw Jiang Zhou’s disheveled state: his long, curled eyelashes were damp, his cheeks flushed crimson, and a hint of ambiguous moisture lingered on his lips.
It was tempting enough to make someone want to pin him down and ruthlessly pluck the flower.
Shen Zhiyu cursed under his breath, using all his rationality to restrain himself and let go.
He grabbed the jacket hanging on the wall, threw it on haphazardly, and quickly left.
Jiang Zhou stayed in the restroom for a while to compose himself, then called Wei Yan to come pick him up.
—-
The auction continued, drawing to a close.
The item provided by Shen Zhiyu was the last one.
The auctioneer’s voice carried a hint of excitement.
“The final special item, kindly provided by Mr. Shen Zhiyu—a pair of antique cufflinks from his private collection, platinum with black onyx inlay. Fans should be familiar with this pair of cufflinks, as they have accompanied Mr. Shen Zhiyu to many important occasions.”
The large screen on the live stream showed a close-up. The exquisite cufflinks sparkled on the velvet tray.
The online comments instantly exploded with messages like “I want my Gege’s personal item.”
Shen Zhiyu stood up at the auctioneer’s signal, nodded to everyone, and then, as he sat down, glanced back, trying to catch the figure in the corner of the third row.
The corner seat was empty. Jiang Zhou had not returned yet.
The sharp-eyed netizens in the live stream noticed that something was off with Shen Zhiyu.
“Is it just me? Why do I feel like Gege is even more seductive after going to the restroom?”
Shen Zhiyu messaged Wang Lei. “Go into the live stream and bid back this pair of cufflinks.”
Wang Lei: “?”
The live stream’s popularity reached its peak due to Shen Zhiyu’s item, making it impossible to squeeze in.
Wang Lei tried for a few minutes, then helplessly reported, “I can’t get into the live stream.”
Shen Zhiyu: “If you don’t get it, your bonus for this month is gone.”
Wang Lei: “?”
And so, he tried even harder to join the crowd.
In a black Maybach driving at a steady speed.
Jiang Zhou tapped the tablet resting on his lap, stuck at the real-name verification step, the small circle spinning relentlessly.
“What’s the situation now?” Jiang Zhou asked.
“I was squeezed out of the live stream,” Wei Yan turned from the front seat, holding up his phone. “There are too many people.”
Jiang Zhou thought for a few seconds, took out his own phone, and logged into the live stream using the fan account.
Jiang Zhou had previously bought things on the platform with this account, so he didn’t need to re-verify.
When he entered the live stream, the auction price for the cufflinks had reached a peak after fierce competition, hitting a seven-figure high price.
The auctioneer began the first countdown.
Just then, on the large screen, a fan account named “Yu Ni Tong Xing” suddenly raised the paddle, announcing an astonishing, astronomical price that instantly silenced the entire venue.
“Three million.”
This price was double the current highest bid, carrying a strong sense of overwhelming dominance.
The venue erupted in an uproar.
“Who is that? So fierce?”
“An online big shot? So rich.”
Some fans recognized the account.
“Isn’t that the fanfic writer?”
“Three million! She’s truly a devoted fan!”
“The fanfic writer is actually a rich woman!”
The auctioneer began the countdown. Under this absolutely crushing bid, no one else raised the price.
Shen Zhiyu mentally noted the name of the account.
Wei Yan finally managed to squeeze back into the live stream, but only in time for the auctioneer to drop the final gavel.
“Three million. Congratulations to ‘Yu Ni Tong Xing’ for winning this pair of cufflinks.”
Wei Yan turned back. “CEO Jiang, the cufflinks were sold.”
Seeing Jiang Zhou’s expression and the phone in his hand, he immediately realized, “Congratulations, CEO Jiang.”
Meanwhile, at the auction venue, Wang Lei failed to squeeze into the live stream until the auction concluded.
The auction ended successfully.
Shen Zhiyu rose gracefully, and before leaving, he specifically looked at the third-row seat again.
Jiang Zhou did not return to the venue until the end.