Hearing this, Zhou Kai's friends instantly became excited enough to want to cheer but seeing the look on their boss's face turn even more ugly, none of them dared to celebrate.
'What does he mean by he won't bother with me? I started smoking to get his attention in the first place! I also don't even do drugs! The alcohol was because that's how you socialize in high society!' Zhou Kai thought with a gloomy face. However Xie Yang was not finished yet.
The next thing that came out of his mouth made the Kai's entire body let out a dangerous aura with his eyes filled with icy anger.
"In return, you are not to stop me from trying to do the same things. Alright?" Xie Yang finished and felt the atmosphere around Kai immediately become cold.
However, he wasn't the slightest bit scared. Even if Kai hurt all the people in the world, Xie Yang was the only one he couldn't bear to see face the smallest grievance.
"What is that supposed to mean, Pres?" Zhou Kai asked with gritted teeth.
"Hmm? Didn't I make myself abundantly clear?" Xie Yang replied while tilting his head unbothered by the atmosphere.
All the others there could feel the cold aura around Zhou Kai. It felt as if they were in the presence of a predator. The most minute moment would give away their place of hiding. They didn't dare to lift their head for fear of getting caught up and eaten.
They were amazed to see Pres still maintain eye contact with the scary beast and even reply so perfunctorily.
The situation had come to a standstill with neither side willing to give up. The others thought that Xie Yang might comprise once again to keep the peace but this time however, Xie Yang didn't back down.
He stared straight into Zhou Kai's eyes with what seemed like an eternity before lowering his eyes and gently pushing away to create some distance. It looked like he was just going to walk away.
"I will take your silence as acquiescence."
Hearing this, Zhou Kai immediately grabbed his arm to stop him but he didn't dare hold on too tightly for fear of hurting him. Xie Yang didn't try to struggle out of his grip but he once again resumed eye contact with him.
Xie Yang hoped to hear a good argument against his decision but Zhou Kai could not muster up any sound reasoning to be against his decision.
He could only explain himself and apologize repeatedly hoping that Xie Yang would trust his words once again. He didn't care whether he seemed desperate or embarrassed.
"Pres, I'm sorry. I was smoking just to seem cool. I promise, I won't smoke ever again. I have never and will never touch drugs. I cannot promise against the alcohol because that's how you socialize in high society." Zhou Kai said with worry and regret apparent on his face.
Zhou Kai's friends and the bunch on the ground were stupefied at the sight of such humbleness. If one didn't know they'd think that he was trying to coax his wife after having been caught doing what he shouldn't.
This was especially shocking considering that it was coming from THE heir of Zhou Conglomerate. The same heir who was infamous for his arrogant attitude and for not giving face to anyone who he doesn't deem worthy.
'Even though he's the least pitiful guy out there he still has a strange way of eliciting pity from others.' Xie Yang thought with an unchanging expression.
"Cut the guy some slack. Look, he sounds so honest." Leo spoke with a clearly amused face.
He was enjoying this.
'Shut up. So what if he sounds honest? He never listened before.' Xie Yang answered, disdain apparent in his tone.
"Oh, come on. Don't act like you're never going to forgive him." Leo snorted.
'I am going to forgive him, EVENTUALLY. Until then let him suffer a bit.' Xie Yang replied with a serious face but the clear amused tone betrayed his real emotions.
He was also enjoying this.
"Fine then, do whatever you want." Xie Yang replied rather perfunctorily to Kai.
It was apparent to everyone present that he didn't believe Zhou Kai in the slightest and was only saying that to get him off his back.
Zhou Kai felt as if his heart was being squeezed when he acknowledged Xie Yang's bored look and flat voice. His beloved didn't believe him.
Though he was well aware that there was no one except himself to blame. It was him who always acted sincere when listening to him yet went and did the thing he was warned against.
The grip on Xie Yang's had tightened silently showing the reluctance of its owner to let go.
"Pres, does that mean you won't ignore me and will continue to lecture me?" Zhou Kai asked with some trepidation in his voice.
It was clear that he was asking Xie Yang to continue to check up on him but somehow such an innocent sentence seemed to be filled with implications.
"Does he have a humiliation kink?" Leo asked clearly taken aback by Zhou Kai's attitude.
'I don't think that he even noticed what he said could be interpreted another way. Just look at him, still so worried that I'll say no.' Unlike Leo, Xie Yang thought that this was pretty normal for Kai.
'Doesn't he look so cute?' Xie Yang was looking at Zhou Kai with rose tinted glasses. Just the youthful appearance of Kai was enough to make him swoon not to mention when he's clearly making a worried face.
Leo shot a disgusted look at the love sick Xie Yang before turning and walking away. He felt that his IQ would be in danger if he continued to stay near the mentality ill Xie Yang.
He seemed to have conveniently forgotten that Xie Yang being mentally ill was literally the reason for his presence.
All's well that ends well I guess? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯