"Are you worried about me, Mister Shen?"
Shen Yizhou's expression remained unchanged. He nodded, calm and composed. "I am."
Ephraim giggled, clearly pleased, before waving his hands dismissively. "I'm fine, Mister Shen…"
He paused mid-sentence, tilting his head thoughtfully. Then, as if struck by inspiration, his eyes gleamed with mischief.
"No, wait. I am absolutely not fine," he said, pouting with dramatic flair. "My feelings have been trampled. It's miserable being on the receiving end of an avalanche of lies and ridiculous scandals."
Blinking up at Shen Yizhou with a faux-innocent gaze, Ephraim pursed his lips. "A kiss would make it a little better."
He had asked for it—boldly, teasingly—but it still caught him by surprise when Shen Yizhou bent down without hesitation and kissed him.
It was a soft kiss, gentle, delicate, like the brush of a petal on skin.
'Soft', Ephraim thought hazily, before his eyes fluttered shut and he reached up, looping his arms around the man's neck and drawing him closer. 'It feels nice'.
A strong arm wrapped firmly around Ephraim's waist, pulling him in until there was barely any space between them. Shen Yizhou's tongue slipped past his lips, deepening the kiss with patient insistence, as if mapping out every curve and contour of Ephraim's mouth.
Somewhere in the system space, Rachel, who had been respectfully silent, chose that moment to log herself offline with exceptional tact.
It hadn't even been a full minute before Ephraim's signal tugged at her like a child calling for his nanny.
[Rachel: Love, no offense but wasn't that a bit too short for strawberry time?]
Ba-dump.
Ephraim, currently hiding his face against Shen Yizhou's chest, had turned red all the way to his ears and the nape of his neck. He refused to move, completely tucked into the other's embrace.
Ba-dump.
[Ephraim: …That was all my bravery in one go. I didn't think he'd actually do it. I've used up a whole month's worth of shame in a single moment…]
Ba-dump.
Rachel chuckled softly.
Ba-dump.
[Rachel: It was just a kiss, peanut.]
Ba-dump.
[Ephraim: Married women should remain silent. I'm a virgin, you know. That was only the second kiss of my entire life. You should respect that. Besides… I like this man too, which makes it even more overwhelming- Rachel, are you seriously playing drums in your system space right now? You're messing up my emotionally delicate moment.]
[Rachel: Obviously. I've got enough free time to add a tambourine and a euphonium into the mix, if you'd like.]
Ephraim pursed his lips at the sarcasm, but fell silent. His cheek still pressed to Shen Yizhou's chest, he finally listened more carefully-
Ba-dump.
Ba-dump.
Ba-dump.
'…Oh.'
His breath hitched.
Slowly lifting his gaze, Ephraim looked up, only to find Shen Yizhou staring back at him without a trace of panic or hesitation. His face was as calm and composed as ever. Cold and expressionless… if not for the striking flush painting the tips of his ears.
His heartbeat, though… it was almost dangerously loud.
Shen Yizhou's hand lifted, fingers brushing gently along the curve of Ephraim's face and jaw. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind his ear, the motion tender, almost reverent.
Then, in a voice quieter than a breath, he asked:
"…Are you okay now?"
Ephraim almost laughed.
At that moment, in those deep, unreadable eyes, he thought he saw a ghost from the past—a piece of himself long buried, and a man he had once lost. Someone who had once looked at him with the same unwavering intensity Shen Yizhou was looking at him with now.
His heartbeat calmed.
Leaning gently against Shen Yizhou's chest, Ephraim tilted his head up and peeked at the man above him."I'm okay now, Mister Shen…" he murmured. Then, his voice dropped into a playful whisper. "Hey… Mister Shen… if I ask you for a kiss again, will you give me one?"
Shen Yizhou's fingers slid slowly through his hair, indulging in the silken softness of his natural strands, hidden away for so long under wigs and pretense.
"Yes," he replied.
"Anytime I want?"
"Any time Little Yu wants."
"…What about more than that?"
Shen Yizhou paused. His gaze searched Ephraim's eyes for a long, silent moment before he leaned down and pressed a kiss to his forehead.
"Mister Shen sounds a bit distant, doesn't it?"
Ephraim's body trembled lightly in delight. He grinned. "Then… Yizhouzi~?"
Shen Yizhou's face went blank.
Ephraim giggled at the reaction, unbothered, before softening his voice again.
"…Zhou-ge."
The name hung sweetly in the air like a drop of honey.
He felt the man freeze, just for a second, before another kiss was pressed to his forehead.
They stayed like that in silence. Ephraim nestled in Shen Yizhou's arms, warm and content.
Then, Shen Yizhou's voice rumbled softly above him."Do you want me to take care of the news online?"
At that moment, a soft ding echoed in Ephraim's ears, and a translucent virtual window appeared before his eyes, titled: [Mission Completion Rate].
Beneath the header were two glowing progress bars.
The first read Main Mission, currently filled up to 66%.
The second, labelled Sub Mission, was now at a full 100%, with a faint golden button beside it:
[Claim Mission Completion Reward]
Ephraim's eyes widened slightly at the sight.
He looked up at Shen Yizhou. The completed mission confirmed what had only been a quiet suspicion before:
—This man… he had truly fallen for him.
The realization made his heart tighten in his chest for a brief moment.
But Ephraim pushed it down, letting his head rest once more against Shen Yizhou's chest, lost in thought.
He was pulled from his daze when he heard Shen Yizhou speak, his voice calm and low,
"Little Yu… do you want me to handle the media and the news?"
Ephraim didn't respond right away. He took a breath, gathering himself, then forced a bright smile onto his face.
"It's alright, Mister Shen. I'll take care of it myself. I already have a plan in place.
But thank you… really."
Shen Yizhou looked at him for a moment. There was hesitation in his gaze before he slowly nodded.
"I understand… but if you need me, even a little, you must tell me immediately."
Ephraim nodded with a grin. He stretched his arms lazily, then looked up at the taller man, locking eyes with him before playfully wiggling his brows.
"Mister Shen, are you free today? Or is your Sunday fully booked as well?"
He tilted his head, feigning innocence.
"I wouldn't be surprised if it is. But… I was just wondering...
when exactly do you plan on putting that gym membership to use?"
Ephraim could almost spot a trace of doting in the man's otherwise composed gaze before Shen Yizhou spoke softly,
"Let's have breakfast. We can head out together afterward."
"Okie dokie~ See you at breakfast then, Mister Shen~!" Ephraim chirped, throwing him a playful salute.
But just as he turned to leave, his hand was tugged once more. This time, a kiss landed lightly on the back of his hand… and then another, right in the centre of his palm.
He blinked, stunned.
By the time he processed it, Shen Yizhou was already gone, leaving Ephraim standing there like a statue with his palm stretched out… as if begging for alms.
[Ephraim: Rachel… I think I just awakened a beast. That's just my imagination… right? Right?!]
[Rachel: Hmm~ Who's to say?]
[Ephraim: Don't say that! You're making me nervous, Miss!]
With a heart full of complicated emotions—giddy, flustered, dazed, and just a touch of overwhelmed—Ephraim returned to his room to get ready for the day.
…Only to be wrenched out of his thoughts by a phone call.
One glance at the caller ID, and his exhaustion deepened. A sliver of fear even crept up his spine.
It was Ling Jialei.
She definitely saw the news.
'Ugh… Deng Hongjie, you overachieving tattletale of a manager. Just how fast do you report things?!'
What followed was an intense hour of coaxing, placating, and emotional damage control. His sister's wrath was mighty. She seemed one phone call away from flying over and strangling half the industry.
She wouldn't stop talking either, so Ephraim brought his phone along to the dining room, letting her endless scolding, peppered with hints of doting, accompany him all the way to breakfast.
When he entered, he found Shen Yizhou already seated, bored expression in place as he half-listened to someone on his own call.
Ephraim plopped into his seat and sighed into the phone, "Jiejie, I got this. I promise. Phantom pinky swear. I ain't lying. I never lie. May lightning strike me if I ever do."
Her voice came sharp, "Xiaoyu, don't say such ominous things! Have you been struck yet?"
He rolled his eyes. "Ha ha. Very funny. But seriously, Jie, I sweeeear. I'm fine. Really. And I've got a plan."
"…Okay," she finally relented, albeit reluctantly.
Ephraim had actually been prepared to launch into an entire monologue of coaxing and sweet-talking, but the sudden, simple "Okay" caught him off guard.
He blinked, stunned.
"Okay? That's it? You're… surprisingly easy today, Jiejie."
"I'll fly over there just to smack you, brat."
Ephraim chuckled, tone playful. "Okay, okay. Sorry~ But really, you didn't say much this time. That's new."
After a pause, her voice came through the speaker, oddly calm, unusually quiet.
"I am a little worried, yes. But… you've shown me enough times now that you can handle things. Even if you're the one walking into trouble with both eyes open. Still, whether it's getting into fights at a KTV or throwing yourself into chaos... you've changed, Xiaoyu. You're not the same as before."
She paused for a moment, before speaking softly, "You're more reliable now."
Ephraim fell silent for a second.
He wasn't sure why… but hearing that made him feel a little strange.
Uncomfortable. Maybe even a bit… out of sorts.
They talked a little longer, exchanging bits of banter here and there, and eventually ended the call just as Shen Yizhou ended his own.
Ephraim, curious as always, tilted his head toward him. He'd seen Shen Yizhou on calls before, but they rarely lasted more than a few moments. This one had gone on a little longer than usual.
"…Family?" he asked.
"Secretary," came the succinct reply.
Ephraim raised his brows and leaned in slightly, playful interest lighting up his face.
"The same one who helped you pick an outfit for our date yesterday?"
"Yes. Him."
"…Oh." Ephraim paused, expression a little unreadable. "You two… seem pretty close."
Just then, a maid approached and politely handed Ephraim his usual morning glass of milk. He accepted it with a soft "thank you," using the moment to shift the focus… but he still couldn't help casting a sideways glance at Shen Yizhou.
"Don't worry, Little Yu," Shen Yizhou said softly, voice carrying a gentle warmth. "I was just confirming whether he's single."
Ephraim's smile froze. He blinked at Shen Yizhou, as if he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.
'… "Don't worry," you say? Right after checking if the man's single?'
[Rachel: Sweetheart, he's just… really bad at this thing called informal human interaction. Give him a moment.]
Shen Yizhou did continue after a beat, "Since you were interested in setting him up with that gentleman beside Wang Jianyuan."
"Oh… Ohhh~" Ephraim's expression brightened as he clapped his hands in realization, grinning. "Why didn't you say so? But no, I wasn't actually setting them up. It was just a joke- wait." He leaned forward slightly. "Your secretary... Is he the one you told me about? The guy who's nosy, single, low-key simp for faces like mine, suspiciously well-versed in the entertainment circle, and has a fine eye for talent?"
"Yes," Shen Yizhou answered without hesitation.
Ephraim let out a soft chuckle, eyes twinkling. "What a small world, huh. So? Is he a fan of Ling Xiaoying too?"
"He is, actually."
"Oof," Ephraim winced in sympathy. "Then he must be super disappointed with today's scandal, huh?"
"The conversation did not reach that point so I never asked."
Shen Yizhou lied.
What Shen Yizhou didn't say was this: when he'd called Zhou Gao earlier, the man had clearly been crying. His voice was stuffy, hoarse, and cracked mid-sentence. He kept sniffling and stumbling over honorifics, so distracted he could barely form coherent thoughts.
But the moment Shen Yizhou asked, completely out of the blue, "Are you single?"
…Zhou Gao had gone completely silent.
And after he mumbled his answer, Shen Yizhou had hung up without another word, leaving the poor man in his already tragic spiral of overthinking, to upload another dose of overthinking onto his brain.
By then, though, Shen Yizhou had already shifted his full attention back to the person in front of him. His thoughts, tone, and focus had all returned to Ephraim, as if no one else existed in his world.