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Join the ServerThe next afternoon, Jiang Yu finished his IV drip. He felt lighter, his fever gone, but his whole body still felt weak.
He checked the time. Five o’clock.
After a moment’s hesitation, he opened the delivery app and switched his status to “Accepting Orders.”
In less than ten minutes, the system assigned him an order.
The pickup location was an upscale Japanese restaurant downtown. The delivery address was… a high-end residential complex that looked familiar.
Jiang Yu didn’t think much of it. He got on his electric bike and headed out.
Picking up the order was smooth.
When he reached the delivery address, he froze in front of the familiar detached villa.
It was Li Xiao’s house.
Standing at the gate, he stared at the house number for a few seconds, then looked down to double-check the order details.
No mistake.
Li Xiao ordered takeout?
Jiang Yu frowned.
Was this a coincidence, or…
His phone rang. It was the customer calling.
He answered.
“Hello?”
“Come in when you get here.”
Li Xiao’s voice came through the receiver, calm and indifferent.
“I’m home.”
Then the line went dead.
Jiang Yu stood at the gate, looking at the exquisite Japanese food container in his hand, then at the closed villa door.
He took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell.
The door opened quickly.
Li Xiao was in casual homewear, his hair slightly damp, as if he had just showered. He glanced at the bag in Jiang Yu’s hand and stepped aside.
“Come in.”
“I’ll just leave the delivery at the door.”
Jiang Yu didn’t move.
“My note says to hand it over in person.”
Li Xiao raised an eyebrow.
“Didn’t you read the note?”
Jiang Yu was speechless.
He hadn’t looked carefully.
After a two-second standoff, Jiang Yu lowered his head and walked inside with the bag.
Li Xiao closed the door.
The living room was just like last time—cold, empty.
“Put it on the dining table.”
Li Xiao pointed to the kitchen island.
Jiang Yu walked over, set down the bag, and turned around.
“Please give me a five-star rating.”
He was about to leave.
“Wait.”
Li Xiao stopped him.
Jiang Yu paused but didn’t turn back.
“Have you eaten?”
Li Xiao asked.
“What?”
“I asked if you’ve eaten.”
Li Xiao walked over and opened the container. Inside were two portions of delicate sushi and sashimi.
“I’m not hungry.”
Jiang Yu said.
“I ordered two portions.”
Li Xiao pulled out a chair and sat down, looking up at him.
“Sit down. Eat before you go.”
Jiang Yu finally turned around and faced him.
“I’m working. And besides, it doesn’t seem appropriate for us to eat together.”
“Your work is delivering food, and I’m the customer.”
Li Xiao picked up his chopsticks and leisurely picked up a piece of tuna sashimi.
“A customer asking you to sit and eat counts as a work requirement.”
“That goes against the rules.”
“Rules are made by people.”
Li Xiao put the sashimi in his mouth, chewed, swallowed, then looked at him.
“Sit down. Or I can complain to the platform that you have a bad attitude and refuse reasonable customer requests.”
Jiang Yu’s hand clenched tightly.
He stared at Li Xiao. Li Xiao stared back, his expression calm but carrying an undeniable authority.
A few seconds later, Jiang Yu pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down.
But he didn’t touch the chopsticks.
Li Xiao pushed the other pair toward him.
“Eat.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“You still look pale.”
Li Xiao said.
“Out delivering right after your fever broke. What, you’re that desperate for money?”
Jiang Yu said nothing.
“Then eat more to regain your strength.”
Li Xiao pushed a small bowl of miso soup toward him.
“You’ve got the bar job tonight, right? Eight-thirty to two in the morning, plus delivering during the day… Even iron can’t take that.”
Jiang Yu finally looked up at him.
“What exactly do you want?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
Li Xiao set down his chopsticks and leaned back.
“I feel our last transaction was incomplete. I want to continue.”
“I told you, I’ll pay you back.”
“I don’t want money.”
Li Xiao stared at him.
“I want you.”
Jiang Yu’s breath caught for a moment.
“Why?”
He asked, his voice dry.
“I spend money to have fun.”
Li Xiao curled his lips.
“Last time wasn’t enough.”
“You can find someone else.”
Jiang Yu said.
“At the bar, or elsewhere, plenty of people would be willing.”
“But right now, you’re the only one I like.”
Li Xiao stood up, walked around the island, and came to his side. He placed his hand on the back of Jiang Yu’s chair and leaned in.
“How about this? We can negotiate terms. Money, or something else—you name it.”
Jiang Yu’s fingernails dug deep into his palm.
He remembered what Li Xiao had said before leaving last night.
“Between you and me, it’s not over yet.”
So this was what he meant.
Slowly, he raised his head and looked at Li Xiao’s face.
It was indeed handsome, carrying the superiority of a privileged upbringing and undisguised desire.
“What if I don’t want to?”
Jiang Yu asked.
Li Xiao smiled, but the smile held no warmth.
“Jiang Yu, your sister is a senior in high school this year, right? She studies well. Want to get into a good university?”
Jiang Yu’s pupils constricted sharply.
“What are you implying?”
“Nothing.”
Li Xiao straightened up, walked back to his seat, and picked up his chopsticks again.
“Just reminding you that life is hard. More friends mean more paths. Having a ‘friend’ like me… many troubles might not be troubles anymore.”
He picked up a sweet shrimp sushi, put it in his mouth, savored it, then looked at Jiang Yu.
“For example, those loan sharks. Twenty thousand can cover a month, but what about next month? And the month after?”
Jiang Yu’s face turned pale.
“I can call the police.”
He said, but his voice lacked conviction.
“Go ahead.”
Li Xiao shrugged nonchalantly.
“The police can handle it once, but can they guard you every day? You know better than me what those people are like. Scare your sister once, and they’ll do it again.”
He set down his chopsticks, pulled out a tissue, and wiped his hands.
“With me, at least I can guarantee they won’t bother you anymore. Your sister can take the college entrance exam in peace and go to university.”
Jiang Yu remained silent for a long time. Finally, he made up his mind and spoke.
“That’s my business. Don’t trouble yourself.”
The answer clearly caught Li Xiao off guard.
A hint of impatience crept into Li Xiao’s voice.
“Why? Why are you rejecting me?”
“Because… it’s too disgusting! Once was enough!”
Having said that, Jiang Yu didn’t give Li Xiao a chance to respond. He stood up, walked straight to the door, and pushed it open, leaving.
The excitement doesn't stop here! If you enjoyed this, you’ll adore Crow's Golden Fragment. Start reading now!
Read : Crow's Golden Fragment
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