Chapter 84

Chapter 84

"084"

The next day, Xiao Lancui received a call from Sun Xiao right on schedule.

"Mr. Xiao, I'm in the parking lot."

Xiao Lancui asked, "Did you bring a mask?"

His voice was a bit raspy, so Sun Xiao asked, "Yeah, have you caught a cold?"

"Yeah." Xiao Lancui replied casually, "Make sure you put on your mask. I'll be down soon."

Sun Xiao was about to say he didn't mind, but since his employer had spoken, he still pulled out of the parking spot, grabbed a box of masks at a nearby convenience store, put one on, and quickly returned to the parking lot.

Xiao Lancui was already waiting. Sun Xiao parked and rushed out, only to find Xiao Lancui was also wearing a mask.

Sun Xiao had assumed Xiao Lancui didn't like wearing masks, which is why he'd been told to wear one. He hadn't expected Xiao Lancui to wear one himself.

Sun Xiao figured Zhou Sizhe had been overthinking things.

Before coming, Zhou Sizhe had repeatedly urged him, "This Mr. Xiao is a big deal. Stay sharp these next few days, be on high alert, and don't make any mistakes."

In the auction business, especially with antiques, clients were all rich and powerful. Honestly, most were hard to please, so Sun Xiao had prepared himself mentally.

The pay matched the pain—the higher the pay, the harder the client.

If he wanted that money, he'd give perfect service!

But this time, Sun Xiao was wrong.

Xiao Lancui was super easy to deal with. This job was like money raining from the sky.

In the morning, he took Xiao Lancui to the old imperial palace, narrating along the way. Xiao Lancui never interrupted, just listened silently.

In the afternoon, he set up a walk through the old royal garden. Xiao Lancui didn't object either, just strolled along with him.

It was only at dinner that Xiao Lancui asked for something.

"I don't like eating out. Can you cook?"

Sun Xiao nodded eagerly, "Yeah, I can cook pretty well." He caught on fast, "Then let's grab some groceries, and I'll cook at your place?"

Xiao Lancui casually listed a few dishes. "Three portions."

"You got it!" Sun Xiao didn't ask who else was coming. The client's guests—he'd just do his job and get paid.

Sun Xiao drove to a big grocery store. He glanced at the rearview mirror—Xiao Lancui had his eyes closed, probably asleep—so he kept the AC on and quietly slipped out to shop.

Xiao Lancui heard Sun Xiao leave. Just then, his pocket vibrated.

He cracked an eye open, pulled out his phone, and saw a WeChat notification on the screen.

Lu Ao had sent a message: "Bro, you're going to eat food he cooks? [pouting]"

Xiao Lancui coughed a couple of times and texted back, "Yesterday you took me to eat someone else's cooking too. Same thing."

"It's different. Yesterday I was with you."

Xiao Lancui replied, "You can come up and join us for dinner today. Just don't let Xiao Jingli's people find out."

"They won't find out, guaranteed!"

Xiao Lancui added, "Go home first and grab a change of clothes."

He knew Lu Ao was close by.

Lu Ao: "I get to stay the night?"

Under his mask, Xiao Lancui smiled, "Sun Xiao will be here too, so you won't have to play the poor-me card."

Sun Xiao only had one small duffel bag, and Xiao Lancui helped him carry it. Sun Xiao felt especially embarrassed, "Sorry for the trouble, Mr. Xiao."

Xiao Lancui nodded slightly without a word.

Sun Xiao silently complained to himself—this Mr. Xiao was perfect in every way, except... extremely cold.

Once they got to 2701, Sun Xiao didn't change into slippers, just put on shoe covers and carried the ingredients to the kitchen.

Xiao Lancui was drinking the rest of today's medicinal soup. He'd just finished when the doorbell rang.

Xiao Lancui was a bit speechless and replied directly via phone: "Open it yourself."

A reply came instantly: "Are we at the stage where I can just let myself in, bro? Won't it mess up your plan?"

Xiao Lancui didn't respond.

He capped his drink and turned on the TV to a sci-fi channel.

Just then, Sun Xiao came out of the kitchen in his apron and said, "Someone's at the door, Mr. Xiao. I'll get it."

Xiao Lancui didn't stop him. Sun Xiao hurried to the entryway, his hand about to reach for the handle—

"Password correct. Welcome home!"

The voice announced, and the door swung open from outside.

The tall, handsome guy didn't even look at Sun Xiao. He walked in with a big paper bag, shut the door, casually opened the shoe cabinet, grabbed some slippers, and headed for the living room.

"Bro, what are you watching?"

The cheerful voice snapped Sun Xiao back to reality. It was hard to match that warm tone with the cold face he'd just seen.

Mr. Xiao's brother?

Sun Xiao felt a bit uneasy. His gut was usually right—this brother of Mr. Xiao didn't like him.

Sun Xiao hurried back to the kitchen to keep cooking.

In the living room, Lu Ao was practically glued to Xiao Lancui, glancing at the documentary on TV and saying, "What's quantum mechanics?"

Xiao Lancui had a human furnace clinging to him. Lately, he'd been feeling warm a lot. He pushed at Lu Ao but couldn't move him, so he let it go. "Watch it yourself."

Lu Ao only wanted to watch Xiao Lancui. He looked at him, still picking up a few words here and there—time tunnel.

Lu Ao's dark eyes darkened slightly.

Xiao Lancui never did anything without a reason. Was he still trying to find a way back to Dali?

Or some other time and place?

A place where he doesn't exist.

Lu Ao gazed at Xiao Lancui's profile, swept his long arm around him, and pulled him fully into his embrace. "Ge, wherever you go, I'll follow. You can never shake me off."

Lu Ao's embrace was like a furnace, warmly wrapping around him, cozy and comfortable, so Xiao Lancui stayed put, still watching the documentary. "Mm."

Lu Ao nuzzled into Xiao Lancui's shoulder, his voice low and heavy. "I'm serious."

Xiao Lancui finally turned his head, just as he opened his mouth, the smell of food and Sun Xiao's voice came in together. "Mr. Xiao, dinner is ready."

Xiao Lancui used the moment to stand, picked up the remote, turned off the TV, and said, "Let's eat."

Sun Xiao had set aside his own meal separately. He didn't want to disturb Xiao Lancui and Lu Ao, but he also worried Xiao Lancui might think he was avoiding the virus. "Mr. Xiao, you have a guest. Take your time, eat and chat. I'll eat in the kitchen."

And there was something else.

He shot a quick glance at Lu Ao—that man scared him. If he actually sat at the same table, he'd eat like it was cardboard.

Xiao Lancui nodded and let him go. Sun Xiao breathed a sigh of relief and hurried to the kitchen, smiling.

Once Sun Xiao was gone, Lu Ao dropped the earlier topic. He carefully served Xiao Lancui and asked the question he cared about most. "What time's your check-up tomorrow?"

Xiao Lancui swallowed his rice. "I moved it. Next week instead."

Lu Ao put down his chopsticks. "Because of whatever you're working on?"

The Xiao father and son weren't worth thinking about; only Xiao Lancui's health mattered.

His brow furrowed. "Ge, I'll go along with anything, but not this."

Xiao Lancui looked at him, picked up a peppered beef cube, and held it to Lu Ao's lips. Lu Ao opened his mouth and took it without a word.

A faint smile played on Xiao Lancui's lips. "Bribe accepted, so let it go this time."

Lu Ao chewed the beef, looking indignant. "Next week, no more delays!"

Xiao Lancui nodded, fed him another shrimp, and said, "Promise."

After dinner, Sun Xiao cleaned up and made a quick exit to the guest room. Before he left, he told Xiao Lancui about tomorrow's plans.

"The tombs of Dali's ten emperors."

The place had four bedrooms, but only two had beds. Sun Xiao took the second bedroom, so Lu Ao grabbed some bedding, brought it to Xiao Lancui, and said, "Ge, I'll take the couch."

Xiao Lancui looked down, scrolling through his phone.

The private detective, tailing the guys Xiao Jingli sent, had been hanging around nearby. He gave a small "mm" in acknowledgment.

He zoomed in on a photo. Xiao Jingli was really desperate—he'd sent four guys to follow him.

Once he confirmed "Xiao Anfeng" was stashed away by Xiao Liqin, he'd go ballistic.

Suddenly, the smell of the same body wash washed over him. Fresh out of the shower, Lu Ao's breath was still warm and damp. "Ge, the couch is too short. I can't stretch out."

Xiao Lancui put his phone away and looked up, almost bumping into Lu Ao's nose. He didn't move back, saying flatly, "You chose the couch. I just said okay."

"I changed my mind." Lu Ao leaned in and pulled Xiao Lancui into a tight hug.

He always hugged like this—so tight. He whispered, "I swear I'll be good. I won't do anything."

Wrapped up so tight, Xiao Lancui's thoughts went soft, and he gave a quiet "Mm."

In bed, Lu Ao was true to his word—he behaved.

Except...

Xiao Lancui made the first move.

After a while, Xiao Lancui suddenly curled into Lu Ao's arms. Lu Ao went stiff and whispered, "A Lan?"

All he got back was Xiao Lancui's even breathing.

Lu Ao finally looked down. The bedside lamp was on, casting soft shadows over half of Xiao Lancui's face. Xiao Lancui was out cold, his face pressed into Lu Ao's chest, one hand on Lu Ao's lower back.

Lu Ao let out a helpless, wry smile. He bent down and pressed a soft kiss to Xiao Lancui's hair. "Don't blame me if I mess up."

But in the end, Lu Ao did nothing—just held Xiao Lancui all night. The next day, once Xiao Lancui left for sightseeing, Lu Ao finally hit the bathroom.

Xiao Lancui knew the imperial tombs pretty well.

After a quick tour with Sun Xiao, he told him at dinner, "I've got a dinner thing at the Golden Diamond Hotel. It's not a good idea to bring you along, so I'll get you your own private room. Eat up and wait for me."

Sun Xiao was a little embarrassed—the Golden Diamond Hotel was crazy expensive! "Getting a private room just for me is a waste. I can just grab a bite somewhere cheap..."

"It's no big deal." Even with his mask on, you could hear the smile in Xiao Lancui's voice. "You've been working hard, and I'm happy with it. Think of it as a little bonus."

"Okay, thanks, Mr. Xiao!" Turning it down again would be rude, so Sun Xiao agreed right away.

On the way to the hotel, Xiao Lancui got a photo from Lu Ao.

The guys Xiao Jingli sent were still following Sun Xiao's car.

Xiao Lancui didn't call—he just texted Xiao Liqin. "Golden Diamond Hotel, Room 1602, 6:30. Don't keep me waiting."

At 6:30 sharp, Xiao Liqin walked into Room 1602.

The food was already on the table, and Xiao Lancui hadn't waited—he was eating slowly by himself. Xiao Liqin didn't sit down; he just stood across from Xiao Lancui.

He'd confirmed through Xiao Jingli's bodyguards that Xiao Anfeng had really gotten away.

He'd tried everything to find him and failed—Xiao Anfeng had gone into hiding, refusing to see Xiao Jingli or him.

The only person who could draw Xiao Anfeng out now was Xie Jingfang, and the only one who could get Xie Jingfang to play along was Xiao Lancui.

Even if Xiao Lancui hadn't come to him, he would've gone to Xiao Lancui.

"Find a way to get Anfeng back," Xiao Liqin said first. "The moment he shows up, I'll hand over all my shares."

He was disgusted—all of Xiao Lancui's little games were just a grab for the Xiao Corporation. Fine, he'd give it to him.

Xiao Lancui chewed slowly, and only when he was full did he put down his chopsticks and say flatly, "Deal."

Xiao Liqin sneered. "It's not that simple. I've got a deadline—"

"Five days," Xiao Lancui cut in. "This Saturday, the Lu family's throwing a charity gala on a boat. I'll find a way to lure Xiao Anfeng out. You come take him yourself."