After the Young Master’s Death, He was Kissed by His Mortal Enemy! (BL) - Chapter 9

Shen Ran had expected Cheng Yi to flat-out reject his last-minute scheme.

Instead, Cheng Yi agreed without hesitation.
“Sure.”

“…You agreed?” Shen Ran blinked in disbelief. “You really agreed?!”

It was only 4 PM, way too early for dinner. Plus, Cheng Yi had been in the middle of a meeting—a meeting Shen Ran had literally dragged him out of.

“If you’re not deaf, I think it’s pretty clear I just agreed.”

That familiar snark made Shen Ran feel oddly emotional. He pretended to wipe away nonexistent tears and tried to be polite.
“You’re sure this isn’t messing up your schedule?”

“You already messed it up. Might as well go all the way.”

Shen Ran was speechless. …Crude, but not wrong.
Poisonous tongue, soft heart. Typical Cheng Yi.

Still, his level of sarcasm was as deadly as ever.

On the other end of the line, Cheng Yi chuckled.
“Alright, if you’re inviting me to dinner, get downstairs already.
Lucky for you, I’m still parked outside your building.”

The car came to a smooth stop outside the Shen family estate.
Cheng Yi glanced at the grand house ahead, then turned to look at someone who was pretending nothing was wrong.

“Shen Ran. This your idea of treating me to dinner?”

“Yup,” Shen Ran said confidently. “What else would it be?”

Cheng Yi raised a brow.
“Do you bring every man you treat to dinner back to your parents’ house?”

“What? No, of course not!” Shen Ran hurriedly explained,
“I told my parents I’d bring my boyfriend home for dinner…”

“Boyfriend? Then shouldn’t you be bringing Chen Xu instead of me?
What, you two had a fight?”

“Chen Xu? He’s garbage. Like hell I’d have dinner with him. I’d lose my appetite.”

Just hearing Chen Xu’s name made Shen Ran bristle.

Now that his head was clear, he despised Chen Xu from the bottom of his heart.

But in Cheng Yi’s eyes, Shen Ran’s reaction looked more like a lover’s quarrel.
With an amused smirk, Cheng Yi teased:
“Oh? I thought you were head over heels for that Chen Xu guy.
Didn’t expect you two to be fighting already.”

“We’re not fighting!” Shen Ran huffed.
“We’re just not the same kind of people. He’s no good!”

For once, Cheng Yi nodded seriously.
“Tch, I told you that ages ago. If you finally get it, I’d say you’ve grown up.”

“I told you Chen Xu wasn’t any good.”

That line struck Shen Ran—so familiar.

He suddenly remembered a scene from the past, one of their many verbal spats.

It was at an auction. To keep a low profile, Shen Ran had picked a remote seat.

He thought he could finally enjoy the event in peace, but before it began, someone took the seat next to him.

He hadn’t cared at first… until he glanced over and saw a very familiar profile.

The man sat elegantly relaxed, legs crossed, head slightly tilted, gaze fixed on the stage with a faint smile.

Who else could it be but Cheng Yi?

“…Cheng Yi? What are you doing here?”

“What, your family owns this auction now?
You’re allowed here but I’m not?”

“…Tch!” Shen Ran turned away, annoyed.
“There’s tons of seats. Why sit next to me?”

Cheng Yi replied lazily,
“Why? Obviously for the great view.”

Great view, my ass!
Shen Ran had picked this secluded corner for privacy—there wasn’t a worse view in the room.

Cheng Yi’s comment nearly choked him, but Shen Ran ignored the pest and focused on the auction.

Retail therapy would distract him.

But the moment he stopped bothering Cheng Yi, Cheng Yi started bothering him.

The auctioneer announced the next item:
“A bottle of 1926 Macallan. Starting bid: two million yuan.”

“2.1 million.”

“2.2 million.”

“2.5 million.”

Shen Ran’s eyes lit up at the sight of the bottle.
He loved fine liquor, but since bidding was still climbing, he decided to wait and see.

Suddenly, a wave of sandalwood fragrance drifted over.

Cheng Yi’s voice, with a smile hidden in it, murmured beside him:
“Heard you got together with that Chen kid. He confessed to you?”

“Yeah.” Shen Ran didn’t even look at him.
“I like him, he likes me—mutual affection, what about it?”

“That Chen kid’s not worth it. He’s got a bad character, can’t be trusted.”

“You don’t even know him.
Besides, everyone agrees he’s got a great character, alright? President Cheng, stop making things up.”

As Shen Ran spoke, he slammed the bid button.
“Four million.”

“This isn’t making things up—it’s called stating facts. Anyway, just don’t be with him.”

Cheng Yi replied coolly and… pressed his bid button.
“Five million.”

“?!” Shen Ran’s head snapped toward him, eyes wide.
“Hey, we can bicker all we want, but why are you bidding against me?!”

Cheng Yi’s lips curled.
“No reason. I’m interested in that bottle too. Is that a problem?”

Fuming, Shen Ran smacked the button hard.
“Fine! But don’t get your hopes up. The wine and Chen Xu—I’m not giving up on either!
Six million!”

“There’s plenty of good people in the world.
Why cling to Chen Xu, of all people?
Seven million.”

The price was skyrocketing at an alarming rate, leaving the audience in shock.

These two were seriously just throwing money at each other.
Rich guy battle alert.

“If I’m not with Chen Xu, then who? You?!”
Shen Ran scoffed.
“Ridiculous.
Eight million!”

Cheng Yi didn’t reply right away. The pause stretched until finally—
“Nine million.”

“You…!”

Shen Ran gritted his teeth. This guy was impossible.
Totally shameless, no reasoning with him, and he kept pushing the price higher!

But Shen Ran had to win this—so…

“Ten million!”

Cheng Yi’s smile turned a little mocking.
“Shen Ran, you’ve really got terrible taste in men.
You just had to fall for that kind of guy.
Eleven million.”

Shen Ran glared daggers at him.
“Even with bad taste, I’m still better than you! The person you like isn’t any better!
Twelve million!”

“…True.” Cheng Yi replied softly,
“You’re right.
The person I like is a clueless idiot who doesn’t know how to read the room.”