Chapter Thirteen

Yi Xiaoyu left the hot springs first, driving straight home. With the car gone, along with his wallet and phone left inside, Boss You had no choice but to borrow a phone from an employee at the hot springs to call Xiao Zhou for a ride.

Xiao Zhou pulled up in the latest sports car, his hair slicked back with gel, his whole appearance radiating energy and confidence. Seeing him in such high spirits only made Boss You, already in a foul mood, want to punch him.

Without much ado, Boss You told Xiao Zhou that he’d had a minor disagreement with Yi Xiaoyu, who left early and took the car. Xiao Zhou understood immediately—if someone left you in the middle of a snowstorm, it was certainly more than a “minor” spat.

Once in the car, Boss You asked, “What’s got you so happy? Look at you grinning—makes me want to knock your teeth out.”

Xiao Zhou could tell Boss You was on edge, but he couldn’t hide his grin. As the car started, he replied, “Xiao You’s back from his hometown.”

Xiao You was one of Xiao Zhou’s lovers, four or five years his junior. Xiao Zhou had paid for his university, then pressured him into being his lover. Xiao Zhou rarely brought Xiao You around the group—Boss You had only seen him once, vaguely recalling that his surname might be Chu, that he was short, with delicate features and an expressionless face.

Xiao Zhou’s fondness for him surpassed anyone he’d met since.

“Is that so,” Boss You replied, indifferent. He had always turned a blind eye to the private affairs of his men, as long as no one ended up dead.

Xiao Zhou was keen to continue, talking as he drove. “At first he said he wanted to help build a house in his hometown. I gave him half a million without a word. He promised to be back in two weeks—damn it, he dragged it out for a whole month.”

Boss You leaned back, eyes closed. “He probably didn’t want to come back.”

“That’s exactly what I thought,” Xiao Zhou said. “I’d long suspected that little rabbit had ideas of his own. So I told him if he didn’t come back soon, I’d take people to his hometown and tear the house down. Only then did he obediently return.”

“You scared him off.”

“You don’t get it, Boss. Guys like him need a firm hand. If he gets out of line, a couple of slaps will make him toe the line. Treat him too gently, and he’ll walk all over you. Last time, I caught him having dinner with some loser senior. I brought some guys, cornered the fool in an alley, taught him a lesson. After that, Xiao You never got too close to anyone again. I told him, if he ever dares eat out with anyone behind my back—man or woman—I’ll break his arm.”

Xiao Zhou talked on, almost boasting.

Boss You, listening, completely disagreed with Xiao Zhou’s approach. Even though he wasn’t married and had once been that lecherous, awkward fat man two years ago, he’d always cherished those he cared for, tempting them with kindness rather than force.

He loved to see the ones he cherished smile in happiness; any trace of resistance or hidden resentment in their eyes made him incapable of lifting a hand against them.

He suspected Xiao Zhou’s beloved Xiao You must harbor a great deal of resentment toward him. If Xiao Zhou didn’t have the power to dictate his destiny, the boy would have left long ago.

But Boss You kept these thoughts to himself. Xiao Zhou’s attitude toward love was as stubborn as his character—until he hit a wall and cracked his head open, he’d never change.

When they reached the gates of the residential complex, Xiao Zhou’s phone rang.

Boss You, sitting in the back, caught a glimpse of the caller ID: “Baby.”

The only person who’d earned that name in Xiao Zhou’s phone had to be Xiao You.

“What? You have class? Damn it!” After three seconds, Xiao Zhou erupted. “You took a whole month off, what’s two more days... I’m not arguing with you. I’ll be at your school in half an hour. If you’re not there, forget about graduating college.” He hung up.

Xiao Zhou scratched his head and grinned, “Don’t laugh at me, Boss.”

Boss You didn’t respond, just asked for a hundred yuan and got out.

“Boss, listen to me,” Xiao Zhou called out seriously, leaning out the window. “Show some authority, or you’ll always be under Brother Xiao’s thumb.”

“Watch your damn mouth and get lost.”

“Take care, Boss.”

After Xiao Zhou left, Boss You went to a nearby store to buy a bag of frozen crab roe wontons and spent the rest of the money on a few crabs.

On his way upstairs, he pondered how to apologize to Yi Xiaoyu. If he tried to appease Xiao Yu, he’d be banned from the bedroom for at least half a month, which was unacceptable—how could he get through these cold nights without holding Xiao Yu? He’d shiver until morning.

Standing at his door, he finally had an idea.

As soon as Xiao Yu opened the door, he’d drop to his knees, clutch Xiao Yu’s legs, and beg for forgiveness, refusing to let go no matter how much Xiao Yu scolded or hit him, until he relented.

No one would see—it was worth sacrificing a little pride for Xiao Yu.

With a plan in mind, Boss You took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and rang the doorbell.

His key was in his wallet, so he had to wait for Yi Xiaoyu to open up.

He rang the bell for almost five minutes. Inside, Yi Xiaoyu gave no sign, but Cong-ge kept scratching at the door and howling.

“Xiao Yu, I really know I was wrong.” Boss You pressed the bell over and over. “Open the door, darling, it’s cold out here. Even Cong-ge can’t stand it—he misses me! Come on, open up, Cong-ge wants to see me.”

After a long round of pleading, the door suddenly swung open. Boss You’s heart leapt—before he could kneel, Cong-ge, who had been scratching the door, was shoved out by Yi Xiaoyu, and the door slammed shut.

Boss You stood there, stunned.

So did Cong-ge, who, after a moment, turned back and resumed pawing at the door, howling louder than before, as if to say, “Mom, let me back in!”

After half an hour in the cold, Boss You realized that if he kept making a scene, Xiao Yu would only get angrier. He tugged Cong-ge’s leash. “Come on, son, let’s take a walk instead.”

He patted the door and called out, “Xiao Yu, I’m taking Cong-ge out for some cold air. I bought crab and wontons—they’re at the door, don’t forget to bring them in. I’ll reflect on my mistakes in the bitter wind. When I get back, I’ll write you an apology. Please calm down...”

With that, Boss You led Cong-ge away.

He didn’t go far. He wandered around the complex with Cong-ge, planning to return in ten minutes.

By now, dusk was falling.

Lost in thought, Boss You suddenly noticed a tiny, grimy white kitten crouched beside a stone platform on the lawn ahead.

If not for its filthy coat, he might not have spotted it at all.

The white kitten was curled up over a heating pipe buried underground, but even so, it shivered from the cold, gnawing on a small fish it had somehow procured, trying to stave off its hunger.

Watching it, Boss You recalled what Wen Ming had said that day.

Xiao Yu’s favorite pet was a cat.

Almost instinctively, Boss You strode toward the kitten.

The little white cat, seeing a burly figure coming its way, bristled in terror. As Boss You reached out, it let out a hoarse cry, abandoned the fish, and bolted.

Cong-ge, as if sensing his father’s intent, suddenly broke free and sprinted after the kitten, barking wildly and scaring the little thing half out of its wits.

“Damn it!” Boss You shouted as he chased, “Don’t scare it!”

Soon, Cong-ge returned triumphantly, the kitten gently gripped in his jaws, and dropped it at Boss You’s feet, tail wagging for praise.

Luckily, Cong-ge hadn’t harmed the kitten, only carried it.

The kitten, stunned, didn’t dare move until Boss You scooped it up in his hands. Then it let out a weak mewl, “Meow~”

Boss You gazed at the little creature in his palm, smiling with narrowed eyes. “Don’t be afraid. Help me win back my wife, and I’ll let you be Cong-ge’s bride.”

Cong-ge, not knowing what his father had promised, barked twice in enthusiastic agreement.

Woof woof!

(Yawn Bro: In matters of love, Xiao Zhou here is really the spitting image of Gu Chenhuan. Whatever happens in the end, it’s all his own doing. When it comes to those you love, gentleness is always best—which is why our Boss here is still a fine, top-class man. And so is Cong-ge, in the future. Woof woof!)