Chapter 3: A Honeymoon and a Grudge

Ji Xiao spent the entire day at the company, familiarizing himself with its various operations.

Just as his secretary assumed he would be working overtime that day.

Promptly at six o’clock, he stood up, straightened his collar, and walked out.

His secretary thought, “…” ‘Given that momentum, I truly believed the boss was going to work late.’

Ji Xiao declined the driver’s offer and drove home himself.

The moment he stepped inside, he was greeted by the enticing aroma of a freshly cooked meal.

He looked up to see a young man approaching him, his smile as warm as spring.

Ji Xiao’s stern face softened slightly. He quickly changed his shoes and opened his arms to the man.

Pei Yu embraced him.

The black cat thought, “?”

Ji Xiao kissed his hair, “Weren’t you supposed to be back tonight?”

“I wanted to surprise you, so I came back early,” Pei Yu said, releasing him. “Dinner’s ready. Why don’t you go wash up first?”

“All right.”

Under Pei Yu’s watchful gaze, Ji Xiao steadily walked into the bathroom.

Pei Yu hadn’t noticed, but the black cat certainly had.

Even as Ji Xiao held Pei Yu, his actions intimate and his voice tender, his eyes seemed devoid of emotion, remaining utterly cold.

The black cat couldn’t help but ask, “You just now…”

“What?”

“…Nothing.”

Ji Xiao took a quick shower and changed into loungewear before returning to the living room.

“Have the dishes gone cold?”

“No, I’ve kept them warm.”

“Then let’s eat.”

“Mm.”

As Pei Yu ate, he pondered silently.

‘My lover is still angry, after all.’

‘He joined the crew so soon after our marriage, not even giving me a wedding night… and he was gone for months.’

‘It’s only natural for him to be upset.’

After dinner, Ji Xiao collected the dishes and headed to the kitchen.

Pei Yu followed him in, “I’ll wash them.”

Ji Xiao lowered his head to the task, “I’ll do it.”

Pei Yu watched his stern profile, then walked behind him, wrapping his arms around Ji Xiao’s waist. He rested his face against Ji Xiao’s nape and whispered, “I’m sorry. I’ll push back my recent announcements.”

Ji Xiao continued washing dishes, offering no reply.

“A’Chi…”

Ji Xiao swiftly finished washing the last dish and placed it aside. He then turned, embracing Pei Yu and spinning him around, pinning him against the sink. He leaned close to Pei Yu’s ear, “Call me A’Xiao, Xiao, or, husband.”

“A’Xiao.”

Ji Xiao knew he was calling out Xiao, not his name, and chuckled softly before biting his lips.

They communicated with their breaths.

****

Long moments later.

Pei Yu leaned in Ji Xiao’s arms, the corners of his eyes flushed crimson.

Ji Xiao gently stroked his back, “You owe me a honeymoon, don’t you, hm?”

“I do.”

****

Pei Yu had expected something more to happen that night.

To his surprise, after their playful teasing, Ji Xiao simply showered, scrolled on his phone for a bit, and then went to bed early.

Pei Yu thought, “…”

The next morning.

Pei Yu watched him, impeccably dressed, eat breakfast and leave the house, letting out a soft sigh.

‘I thought he wouldn’t be angry anymore after we kissed in the kitchen last night.’

Pei Yu murmured, “He really holds a grudge.”

****

At Star Ocean Entertainment Company.

As soon as Ji Xiao entered the company, he encountered a somewhat anxious Ye Sheng at the front desk.

“CEO Xiao…”

Ji Xiao stated flatly, “Come with me.”

Ye Sheng acknowledged him and followed behind.

They took the CEO’s private elevator to the CEO’s office.

“Secretary Zhou.”

Zhou Qing stepped forward, “CEO Xiao.”

“This is Ye Sheng. Take him and arrange everything. Promote him.”

“Yes.”

Ji Xiao entered his inner office.

Zhou Qing smiled, “Mr. Ye, please follow me.”

Ye Sheng whispered, “Thank you.”

“You’re too kind, Mr. Ye.”

****

The black cat asked curiously, “Don’t you dislike Ye Sheng’s type?”

Ji Xiao sat in his chair, “Is there a conflict between disliking him and promoting him?”

“No conflict, I guess?” the black cat mused. “Then when are you going to find your next lover? You need to establish that playboy persona!”

“No rush,” Ji Xiao replied.

Zhou Qing was Ji Xiao’s secretary, known by everyone in the company.

She personally took Ye Sheng to the Artist Management Department to find an agent, then went to the publicity department and others to specifically announce his promotion.

Everyone who received the notice knew who had arranged this.

Ye Sheng hadn’t come from a professional acting background and lacked performance experience. While he possessed good looks, beautiful faces were hardly rare in the entertainment industry.

Yet, he was assigned to the company’s ace agent.

He even signed the highest-tier contract.

His contract was nearly identical to those of the company’s pillars, like Pei Yu.

Pei Yu’s agent, Xie Fu, quickly learned of the news and immediately called Pei Yu.

Xie Fu knew about Pei Yu’s marriage to Xiao Chi.

“Brother Xie?”

Xie Fu frowned, “You and CEO Xiao… nothing’s wrong, is it?”

Pei Yu chuckled softly, “We just got married not long ago. What could be wrong? It’s just that I joined the crew two days after the wedding, and he’s a little unhappy, that’s all.”

“That’s all?” Xie Fu took a deep breath. “I advised you not to rush into joining the crew back then, to push it back. The penalty fee wasn’t something you couldn’t afford…”

Pei Yu said helplessly, “That drama was already signed and officially announced. Withdrawing isn’t just about the penalty fee…”

“…”

Xie Fu, of course, understood. He sighed softly and lowered his voice, “Today, Secretary Zhou personally arranged a newcomer, saying he was to be promoted. You understand what I mean, right?”

Xiao Chi used to dabble in such things.

However, he was very discreet, quietly providing resources, and few people knew about it.

This grand public display was a first.

Pei Yu paused, “It shouldn’t be what you’re thinking. A’Xiao wouldn’t…”

Xie Fu heard footsteps and quickly whispered, “I’m just giving you a heads-up. Just keep it in mind. That’s all for now, I’m hanging up.”

****

When Ji Xiao returned home that evening, Pei Yu pressed him against the wall in the entryway.

Ji Xiao’s eyes darkened. He clasped Pei Yu’s waist, eagerly taking the delicious offering that had presented itself.

“Shall we go to Santorini, Greece for our honeymoon?”

Pei Yu leaned in his arms, his voice somewhat deep and hoarse.

Ji Xiao stroked his head, “All right.”

“Tomorrow?”

“All right.”

Pei Yu’s lips curved in pleasure, “Go take a shower, then we can eat.”

Ji Xiao picked him up and walked towards the bathroom, “Together.”

“…”

The black cat meekly asked, “Didn’t you just meet him? He’s the original host’s partner, not yours. Why do you two look so deeply in love?”

Ji Xiao replied, “Be good, go watch cartoons. Don’t spy on us from now on.”

The black cat thought, “…Oh. ‘I won’t!'”

So, the black cat watched with wide eyes as Ji Xiao’s gaze remained clear amidst the throes of passion, and shivered. It retreated deep into his mind to watch cartoons.

‘What kind of demonic host is this?!’

‘One moment, he’s enjoying extreme pleasure with someone, his voice filled with affection, and the next, he’s completely clear-headed when the other person can’t see his expression!’

‘He’s definitely a scumbag!’

‘Perfectly matched with a scumbag system like me!’

The black cat settled down, engrossed in a hilarious, addictive cartoon.

By the time Ji Xiao and Pei Yu returned to the living room, the food had grown completely cold.

Ji Xiao reheated the dishes and cooked a pot of porridge.

“Eat some food first. After that, I’ll apply your medicine.”

Pei Yu’s handsome face still carried a faint blush, and he softly assented.

After dinner, once Ji Xiao had applied Pei Yu’s medicine, he held a video conference with the company’s management.

“Starting tomorrow, I’m taking a vacation for my honeymoon. You can handle whatever comes up. Only come to me if you can’t solve it. If you bother me with trivial matters, then you’ll be useless.”

The managers thought, “…”

More than a meeting, it was an announcement of his vacation.

The managers hadn’t even spoken before Ji Xiao finished and hung up.

****

The next day.

Star Ocean Entertainment Company.

Secretary Zhou found Ye Sheng and handed him a card.

“This is from CEO Xiao. He said he lost your account, so here’s this card for you. The password is six zeros.”

Ye Sheng bit his lip, took the card, and whispered, “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me, I’m just following orders,” Zhou Qing paused, then added, “CEO Xiao is on vacation. If you have any problems you can’t solve, you can come to me.”

Zhou Qing had followed Xiao Chi for a long time and knew he had private connections with certain artists.

However, Ye Sheng was the first person he had openly designated for promotion.

If they were minor, convenient matters, helping him wouldn’t hurt.

Ye Sheng’s eyes reddened, and he tightened his grip on the card, “Thank you.”

Zhou Qing smiled and turned to leave.

Ye Sheng lowered his head, looking at the card in his hand.

Xiao Chi’s defenseless sleeping face from that night imprinted itself on his mind.

Xiao Chi was his benefactor.

He now had the best contract, an ace agent, a luxurious apartment dormitory, and a driver and assistant solely for him.

And this money.

He could provide his father with a comfortable hospital room, good medicine, and hire a professional caregiver.

A tear fell onto the bank card, and he closed his eyes.

“Dad, you will wake up.”

“CEO Xiao, I will repay you.”

****

When the boss ordered someone to be promoted, those below naturally wouldn’t be perfunctory.

After Ye Sheng arranged his father’s affairs, he became busy.

Meanwhile, Ji Xiao and Pei Yu were inseparable in Santorini, Greece, living a carefree and joyful life.

They stayed there for an entire month.

On the day they left, Pei Yu still felt a touch of sentimentality, “This place is truly wonderful.”

“So good you’ve forgotten your home and don’t want to return?”

“No, no matter how good it is here, it’s not our home after all.”

Ji Xiao ruffled his hair, “From now on, every season, we’ll travel until our hair turns white, to see if we can tour the whole world.”

It was an absolutely beautiful promise.

Pei Yu clasped his hand tightly, his eyes filled with a gentle smile, “All right.”

****

Pei Yu had almost no schedule arranged for the second half of the year.

Soon after they returned, Xie Fu did arrange a variety show for him.

“Back when you and CEO Xiao weren’t together, we owed them a favor. Now that they’ve invited you, it’s hard for us to refuse,”

Xie Fu deliberated,

“I know you don’t particularly like variety shows, but, Pei Yu, think carefully. Do you want to repay this favor?”

“Of course, I do,” Pei Yu replied.

He was never the kind of person to be ungrateful.

The variety show was called *Entertainment Above All*.

It invited guests from various fields within the entertainment industry.

They played all sorts of games.

And it was a live broadcast, not pre-recorded.

Many people became famous on this show, but quite a few also revealed their true colors.

Of course, for those who missed the live broadcast, there was also an edited version later.

Ji Xiao knew Pei Yu was going on a variety show, but he hadn’t made an effort to learn about it.

While Pei Yu was on the show, Ji Xiao, urged by the black cat, sought out a new lover.

The black cat thought, “‘The playboy persona must be maintained!'”

It was the same hotel, the same room.

This time, Ji Xiao found a new artist from the same company.

Someone who had genuinely entered the company’s training department through a talent show.

A cute young man with a baby face and sparkling, starry eyes.

His mere presence was delightful.

Ji Xiao sat on the sofa, propping his hand, and watched him, “What’s your name?”

The young man smiled, revealing his small canines, “Cheng Tian.”

“You certainly live up to your name, you’re quite sweet. You…”

Before Ji Xiao could finish speaking, the screen of his phone lit up, and the ringtone sounded.

The word “Darling” on the screen was clearly visible.

Ji Xiao picked up his phone and held up a finger to Cheng Tian, “Don’t speak, understand?”

Cheng Tian nodded obediently.