After the Young Master’s Death, He was Kissed by His Mortal Enemy! (BL) - Chapter 41

Cheng Yi drove off without a second glance, leaving Chen Xu standing frozen in place, fists clenched tightly.

Staring at the car as it disappeared into the distance, Chen Xu lowered his brows, his teeth grinding audibly.

He couldn’t understand it. Just a few days ago, Shen Ran had been wagging his tail like a lapdog, hopelessly ensnared by him — and now, all of a sudden, his attitude had done a complete one-eighty.

What was even more baffling was seeing those two — lifelong enemies — sitting in the same car and even going out for lunch together!

Had Cheng Yi finally lost his mind in his desperate attempt to climb the social ladder? Was what he said earlier actually true…?

All of a sudden, Chen Xu took a deep breath. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted toward the car that was about to vanish from sight:

“No matter what happens, Shen Ran! I won’t give up on you! I love you!”

The car disappeared over the horizon, and Chen Xu’s expression turned stormy.

The curious glances from passersby made him extremely irritated.

He had always cared about appearances and never liked making a fool of himself in front of others.

But if he didn’t make a scene like this, he wouldn’t have another excuse to see Shen Ran again.

No matter how much he resented Shen Ran, the man was still the only son of the wealthy Shen family — a bona fide rich second generation.

Even if it meant setting aside his pride for now and shamelessly clinging on, he had to keep Shen Ran by his side.

Otherwise, everything he had done up to this point would be for nothing.

Shen Ran must have been coaxed by Cheng Yi’s smooth tongue — that had to be it.

He had to come up with a plan. Fast. A way to win Shen Ran back.

Then, a lightbulb went off in Chen Xu’s mind.

That’s right — Shen Ran had already told his parents about them. His parents knew who he was!

Then that meant…

——

Meanwhile, inside the car.

Cold wind howled in through the open window.

Shen Ran stared intently into the rearview mirror, his eyes fixed for what felt like forever.

It got to the point where Cheng Yi finally couldn’t take it anymore and said, “We’ve driven like eight hundred blocks already. Stop looking. Or don’t tell me… are you still hung up on Chen Xu?”

His voice was practically dripping with jealousy.

Shen Ran didn’t respond. He simply shook his head.

He wasn’t watching Chen Xu, that lunatic, through the mirror.

What he was watching was the long-haired woman standing behind Chen Xu.

Shen Ran had seen her clearly. Just as he and Cheng Yi were leaving, the woman had locked eyes with him through the mirror.

Tears shimmered in her eyes as she silently mouthed a single plea:

“…Help me. Please help me.”

Retracting his gaze, Shen Ran rolled up the window — but a look of contemplation still lingered on his face.

The woman, seductive and sorrowful, was a spirit — in other words, she was already dead, just like Xiao Dong.

By logic, he shouldn’t be able to recognize a ghost.

Yet, for some reason, her face seemed strangely familiar.

As if… he had seen her somewhere before.

Shen Ran frowned in frustration. Where had he seen her?

And what did she mean by “help me”?

“If you’re that reluctant to leave Chen Xu behind, do you want me to turn the car around and drop you off?” Cheng Yi’s voice came at just the right moment, tinged with a noticeable sharpness.

Pulled from his thoughts, Shen Ran chuckled helplessly and retorted, “Which of your eyes saw me being reluctant?”

“Both of them,” Cheng Yi snapped. “I saw it clear as day. Your eyes were practically glued to the rearview mirror — don’t even try to deny it.”

“I was just worried he might come back to pester me,” Shen Ran tried to explain. “Didn’t you hear him yelling that he wouldn’t give up? I’m just being cautious.”

“Pester you?” Cheng Yi scoffed, like it was the funniest thing he’d heard all day. “If he wants to mess with you, he’s going to have to get through me first.”

Just remembering the moment earlier — when Cheng Yi slung an arm around his shoulders and casually declared, “I’ve had my eye on Shen Ran for a long time now” — made Shen Ran want to laugh again.

This man, so stubborn and contrary, even his jealousy took the long way around.

Shen Ran made up his mind to comfort this overthinking, easily jealous President Cheng.

Just then, Shen Ran softened his tone, putting on a flattering expression as he said:

“Exactly! Right now, I’m living in President Cheng’s house, eating his food, drinking his drinks, and even sleeping in his bed. How does Chen Xu think he’s going to come between us? Sleep in the middle at night?”

The words carried a double meaning, and Shen Ran clearly saw the corners of Cheng Yi’s mouth curl higher and higher.

Cheng Yi really fell for this kind of talk, so Shen Ran doubled down:

“As for me and Chen Xu, well, the falling flower is willing, but the flowing water is heartless! Wouldn’t you say so, Daddy~~~ Daddy~~~?”

“Good boy. Don’t mess with people like Chen Xu. Daddy will take care of you for life.”

Shen Ran laughed heartily to himself. Then, suddenly, a thought struck him — something about his relationship with Cheng Yi felt… strange.

Like some kind of ambiguous roleplay?

No, no — best not to overthink it!

Lunch went by in a surprisingly harmonious atmosphere. Shen Ran focused intently on the food, never noticing that the usually flirtatious Cheng Yi was uncharacteristically quiet today.

What Shen Ran didn’t know was that the events of the morning had stirred up stormy waves in Cheng Yi’s heart.

——

When Cheng Yi woke up and didn’t see any sign of Shen Ran, he had already prepared himself for the worst — for Shen Ran to break things off and leave for good.

Until that morning, it had never really occurred to him that Shen Ran might actually like him.

No — it wasn’t that he hadn’t thought about it. He simply hadn’t dared to hope.

But everything that happened today lit a tiny spark of hope in Cheng Yi’s heart.

After he’d “acted out of line” with Shen Ran last night, not only did Shen Ran not leave — he even bought Cheng Yi breakfast!

And this was Shen Ran — the pampered young master who had always waited to be served!

Whether he was a foster son or whatever else he might be, the fact remained: Shen Ran had gone out of his way to buy him breakfast!

And it wasn’t just breakfast — Shen Ran even dumped that guy, Chen Xu!

Shen Ran had guessed correctly: when Chen Xu came to the entrance of the gallery that morning to plead for a meeting, Cheng Yi had witnessed the entire scene unfold.

Ever since he learned that Chen Xu was planning to show up at the gallery to win Shen Ran back, Cheng Yi had been on edge all morning.

Every ten minutes, without fail, he would make a trip to the water dispenser outside his office.

“What’s President Cheng doing?” asked Employee A, thoroughly puzzled. “I thought there’s a water dispenser in his office.”

Employee B replied smugly, “You’re so clueless. It’s year-end — bonuses are coming up! President Cheng’s probably checking our work ethic. I haven’t even slacked off today, just staying laser-focused!”

No one knew that Cheng Yi just wanted to stay closer to the entrance.

Closer to Shen Ran next door at the gallery.

He even postponed a scheduled morning meeting to the afternoon — simply because he couldn’t calm down.

Is Chen Xu really going to show up? When is he coming?

When Cheng Yi made his eighth trip to the door with his insulated cup in hand, he finally heard a voice through the thick door that made his skin crawl:

“Ran Ran! Are you there? It’s me, Chen Xu! I’m here!”

Cheng Yi’s previously calm expression froze instantly.

He’s here.