A Thrilling Escape and a Romantic Interlude

Jing Chen was momentarily stunned by Si Xi’s series of actions, then let out a low chuckle.

His original intention had been to arrange a better place for Si Xi, which was why he had instructed his assistant to list this apartment with the agency and have her rent it to Si Xi at a reduced price.

The WeChat user named “Day” was, in fact, his assistant. Everyone had initially thought it would be a simple matter, never imagining Si Xi would be so exceptionally vigilant.

‘It’s good that he’s sharp; he won’t be easily led astray in the future.’

Realizing they had botched the job, the agent could only try to salvage the situation. “I swear there’s no trickery involved,” they insisted. “This apartment really is that cheap to rent, and we won’t give you any trouble when you move out later.”

Si Xi remained unmoved. “Thank you for making the trip today,” he said. “Let’s go look elsewhere.”

The agent, seeing that he was completely unswayed, could only stammer, “Well, if you change your mind, feel free to contact me anytime.”

After leaving the apartment, the agent departed, glancing back every few steps.

Jing Chen, on the other hand, was in a rather good mood. Si Xi usually presented himself as a love-struck, rather unintelligent individual in front of him, so seeing his clever and astute side felt quite refreshing.

“Still looking?” he inquired, noting that Si Xi hadn’t immediately left.

“Yes, I’ve arranged to meet another agent. She has an apartment that’s newly renovated. The rent is a bit steep, so I hadn’t originally considered it. But after seeing that last place, I feel like no other apartment will catch my eye now. A little expensive is fine, then.”

“Newly renovated means formaldehyde,” Jing Chen stated.

“I saw the screenshots of the agent’s chat with the landlord,” Si Xi explained. “It was renovated before the summer break. But many graduating students move out during the summer, so it didn’t get rented. It was rented once after the semester started, but the tenant broke the lease early. Combined with the high rent, the apartment has been vacant ever since.”

Admiration flickered in Jing Chen’s eyes. Si Xi’s understanding and consideration were remarkably comprehensive.

From a boss’s perspective, if this apartment hunt were a covert interview, Si Xi would have already been accepted with a perfect score.

“Brother.”

Si Xi suddenly leaned closer, gazing into his eyes.

Jing Chen asked, “What is it?”

“Your gaze is exceptionally capitalistic, Brother,” Si Xi remarked. “I can almost smell the faint scent of labor wafting from myself.”

Jing Chen was speechless.

‘He’s spot on. Next time, he’s not allowed to be spot on.’

They waited for a short while, and then the second agent arrived.

This young woman appeared quite youthful, likely not long out of university. Upon seeing the two handsome men, she couldn’t help but blush.

She led them to view the newly renovated apartment. It was a two-bedroom unit, and aside from the secondary bedroom having less optimal lighting, it didn’t visually differ much from the previous luxurious three-bedroom apartment.

Of course, the details were incomparable. Si Xi was certain that the cost of just the master bedroom’s bed in the previous apartment would be enough to cover several months’ rent here.

However, its advantage lay in being newly renovated and never occupied. Aside from the higher rent, it was impeccable.

“Is there any room for negotiation on the rent?” Si Xi asked.

He genuinely found the price the agent had listed to be too expensive.

Though he was wealthy, a true second-generation rich, renting this apartment for fifty thousand a month wouldn’t burden him in the slightest. Yet, that didn’t mean he was willing to be taken for a fool.

True to form, the agent was clearly new to the working world and lacked experience. She honestly stated, “Mr. Si, if you’re serious about renting, I can talk to the landlord and get you the same price the last tenant, who never moved in, was offered. I guarantee this is the absolute lowest price; the previous tenant negotiated with the landlord for a long time to get it.”

“How much?” Si Xi asked.

The agent quoted a number, six hundred less than the advertised price.

‘That’s quite the negotiator, I have to say.’

‘Still, it’s very expensive.’

Si Xi and Jing Chen exchanged a glance.

Jing Chen nodded at him. Si Xi knew the price wouldn’t go any lower, so he readily agreed, “Alright, go make the call.”

The agent immediately called the landlord. It was unclear how the two parties communicated, but the call lasted nearly ten minutes. When she returned, the agent’s eyes were slightly red, and her voice had a nasal quality. Si Xi suspected she had been too honest and revealed too much, earning a scolding from the landlord.

Nevertheless, the negotiation resulted in good news: the landlord had agreed.

The landlord was not in Yanjing City, so Si Xi signed the contract with the agency, which would then mail it to the landlord for their signature before returning it to him.

Once all the formalities were complete, Si Xi changed the password to the smart lock and officially rented the apartment.

He hired a cleaning service to tidy the place, then went out for dinner with Jing Chen.

“Let’s go have that popular Ferris wheel dinner,” Si Xi suggested to Jing Chen, his mood lightened by resolving one of his worries.

Jing Chen had no objections.

The World Trade Center, home to the Ferris wheel restaurant, was located near the school. They drove to the venue and entered through Gate Three, the closest entrance to the restaurant.

Just as they reached the entrance, Jing Chen suddenly halted.

Si Xi, whose hand was intertwined with his, turned to ask, “What’s wrong?” when he noticed Jing Chen stop.

“Let’s use a different entrance,” Jing Chen stated.

With that, Jing Chen pulled Si Xi and quickly walked away.

“Huh? Oh,” Si Xi mumbled, feeling a bit confused. He then asked curiously, “What exactly is going on?”

“I ran into someone I’d rather not see,” Jing Chen explained, his voice devoid of emotion, as he quickened his pace.

“Oh, I see.”

‘So even someone like Jing Chen has people he wants to avoid?’

Si Xi couldn’t resist the urge to turn back and see what kind of eccentric person it was, but Jing Chen reached out and pulled him into an embrace.

Si Xi had always been the more proactive one, so this was the first time he’d seen Jing Chen initiate such an intimate gesture. His heart immediately swelled with delight, and he no longer bothered to look back.

“Brother Huo, who are you looking at?”

Huo Siyi’s classmate asked curiously, noticing him constantly glancing towards the entrance.

Huo Siyi frowned. While idly playing on his phone just now, his peripheral vision seemed to catch sight of two people. One resembled Si Xi, and the other… his father.

But the two had only flashed by. By the time he looked more closely, they had already walked away.

‘Their actions were intimate, clingy even.’

Huo Siyi then averted his gaze.

‘I must have been mistaken. Their clothes didn’t match, and their behavior certainly didn’t.’

‘My dad, that workaholic and total straight man, whose cold expression could scare off a multitude of admirers, would absolutely never be so intimate with anyone.’

‘The guy in the man’s embrace could possibly be Si Xi, though. After a few days of observation, Si Xi definitely seems to be taken.’

Huo Siyi suppressed the urge to rush over and take a closer look, instead pulling out his phone to message Si Xi.

****

Si Xi and Jing Chen then detoured to Gate Two. As they entered, Jing Chen kept a watchful eye on the people around them.

It wasn’t that he was unwilling for Huo Siyi to see him with Si Xi.

It was just… their current relationship wasn’t exactly respectable.

As a father, he also had his pride.

The situation of being kept by a university student—especially one who was his son’s schoolmate—was truly a bit scandalous and best kept hidden.

Si Xi noticed his vigilance. Jing Chen, he thought, always gave him the impression of being composed and at ease wherever he went; even in high-end settings, he never seemed intimidated.

It was as if every place was his domain.

This was the first time he had ever seen Jing Chen so unsettled.

Si Xi said with a grin, “Brother, why are we acting like we’re having a secret affair? You don’t actually have a family and are afraid of being caught, do you?”

‘A family, no. A son, yes.’

Jing Chen considered for a moment, then said, “I lied to you. I did see a family member just now, but not a partner. I’ve always been single.”

When he heard “I lied to you,” Si Xi’s heart skipped a beat. But once Jing Chen finished his sentence, Si Xi couldn’t help but playfully punch him.

“Damn it, you scared me half to death! You should’ve just said you were hiding from family; I wouldn’t blame you,” Si Xi exclaimed.

Si Xi also knew that his relationship with Jing Chen wasn’t exactly honorable, so it was perfectly normal for Jing Chen not to want his family to know he was being kept.

“My apologies,” Jing Chen said, his attitude one of sincere regret.

Si Xi wasn’t truly angry. Grabbing Jing Chen’s hand, he said, “I’ll lead the way, and you keep watch. If anything seems off, tell me immediately. Let’s go, let’s go!”

The two of them, looking left and right, arrived furtively at the Ferris wheel restaurant. Si Xi gave his reservation number, and a server led them to an empty gondola that had just landed. They quickly got inside.

Once the Ferris wheel car door closed, both of them simultaneously let out a sigh of relief.

Si Xi, patting his chest, declared, “I finally understand why so many people enjoy secret affairs. It’s truly thrilling!”

Jing Chen was speechless.

‘This is too thrilling. I’ve never been this unsettled even when negotiating multi-million dollar projects at the table.’

“Wow, the scenery here is amazing!” Si Xi exclaimed, looking around.

The interior of the gondola was decorated in a romantic and beautiful style. Above them, a flower rack adorned with pink roses and white drapes created an ethereal canopy. The cabin shielded them from the outside hustle and bustle, while soothing music played from the speakers. A bouquet of fresh flowers on the table diffused a delightful fragrance.

Jing Chen also gazed out the window. As the gondola slowly ascended, the view gradually expanded, eliciting an indescribable sense of tranquility.

“Oh, right, time to order! Brother, just pick whatever you want to eat, don’t be shy!”

“Alright,” Jing Chen replied.

A full rotation of the Ferris wheel here took 1314 seconds. During the first rotation, customers scanned the QR code on the table to place their orders, which would then be prepared below. Once the first rotation was complete, the servers would bring in all the freshly prepared dishes at once, and guests would begin enjoying their meal during the second rotation.

Si Xi took out his phone, opened WeChat, and scanned the QR code on the table. This was a Western restaurant, so Si Xi ordered a few of his favorite dishes. After Jing Chen had also finished ordering, he confirmed the order.

‘Meal ordered, now it’s time to enjoy Jing Chen!’

Just as Si Xi was about to put his phone away, he noticed unread messages on WeChat.

One was from Huo Siyi, the other from Xi Yue.

[Junior: Senior, what are you doing? Want to play basketball?]

Si Xi replied, “Can’t, I’m out eating with someone,” then checked Xi Yue’s message.

[Xi Yue: Second Brother, I just told Mom and Dad that you’ll be bringing Huo Siyi. They’re so happy! Keep up the good work, we’re waiting for your good news.]

Si Xi’s hand, gripping his phone, turned slightly pale with anger.

He hadn’t even agreed, yet Xi Yue had already told their uncle and aunt. If he didn’t bring Huo Siyi now, he couldn’t even imagine how disappointed they would be.

Si Xi bit his lip tightly. His cousin truly knew how to manipulate him, always knowing his weak points and always striking true.

Just as Si Xi was grinding his teeth in helpless anger, a slender hand covered his phone screen.

It was Jing Chen.

Si Xi looked up blankly, only then noticing Jing Chen gazing at him with concern. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I…”

Si Xi desperately wanted to pour out his feelings of frustration and grievance, but what was the use? It would only mean one more person sharing in his helplessness.

He didn’t want to ruin such a perfect date atmosphere, so he shook his head and said, “It’s nothing, just saw something unpleasant.”

With that, he tossed his phone onto the table, then hunched over and moved to Jing Chen’s side, settling close to him. He pouted and said, “Sugar Daddy is unhappy, and his baby needs a kiss to feel better.”

Jing Chen was speechless.

Jing Chen typed something on his phone and sent it, then put the device down. He lowered his head and kissed Si Xi’s lips.

The lingering glow of the setting sun streamed through the glass window, bathing the two intertwined figures. Like any ordinary couple, they lingered and embraced within the romantic confines of the Ferris wheel.

Meanwhile, Huo Siyuan, who had just finished a day of work, aching all over, and was preparing to go out and relax, received two WeChat messages that made his smile vanish.

[Little Uncle: Ask Si Xi what trouble he’s run into and try to help him.]

[Siyi: Senior seems to really be in love. Help me think, how can I break them up?]

Huo Siyuan: “…………”

‘Seriously, what problem could his Little Uncle, the richest man, possibly not solve? Why drag him into this little couple’s “play”?’

‘And his cousin! Never mind that he doesn’t know how to break people up, even if he did, would he dare to say it?’

‘Would he dare?’

In that moment, Huo Siyuan just wanted to blow up the Earth.

‘There’s nothing left in this world worth clinging to. Let it all be destroyed.’