Reluctantly Willing

“It’s almost New Year’s. You have to go back for the first shareholders meeting, so you should prepare for it.”

“Okay,” Gu Jun answered while flipping through the documents. He wasn’t very interested in the position of the Gu family’s head. It was useless to him. Once he became the head, he would have a lot of responsibilities. Most of his time would get taken up, and he could achieve the same status with his own abilities.

However, if Gu Jing got this position, there would be no place for him in this city.

“Also, the medical books that you had me buy have arrived. They have both English and the corresponding Chinese versions. They’re the most esteemed books on the market.”

Gu Jun thought a bit. “Have people send them back to the house. Oh, don’t let An Xiaoyan see.”

Chen Chen nodded. Gu Jun really was hurt this time. This batch of books had cost a lot of money.

An Xiaoyan never dreamed that Gu Jun would ask about his relationship with Dnog Zi, so he replied honestly.

“We’re just friends. We met in prison. I guess we’re prison mates.”

They’d known each other since four years ago and lived together for so long. Gu Jun continued asking about the man without changing his expression. “Did you do it with him?”

An Xiaoyan froze. Realizing what Gu Jun met, he shook his head. “He was released a year later. We’re just friends, really. There’s nothing more.”

“Really?”

An Xiaoyan nodded.

“Then why did you hug?”

“Because he’s leaving.”

This was the truth. Gu Jun had already checked. “Come. I’ll show you something.”

An Xiaoyan had never been to the library on the second floor. The only room he’d been to in this house was the one he slept in. He didn’t even know where Gu Jun’s bedroom was.

The library was very big and the shelves of books emitted a nice fragrance. Gu Jun brought him to a shelf. Pointing at the books, he said, “You can read these. You can come here when I’m not home. I’ll calibrate your fingerprint to the lock later. There are some other books too. That side is literature. This side is economics.”

An Xiaoyan stared at the books. Dissection, biology, pathology…these were books from his university days, as well as some English ones.

“This is your reward for speaking the truth and not liking anyone else.”

He’d planned on letting An Xiaoyan use the library if he said that he hadn’t had sex or liked anyone else. If he said anything else, Gu Jun didn’t mind making things hard for him.

Fortunately, he got the answer he wanted. If he’d gotten anything else, he might not be able to handle it.

An Xiaoyan realized that Gu Jun did all this so he couldn’t like anyone else. He couldn’t have feelings for anyone else.

Gu Jun waited for An Xiaoyan to thank him, but was only asked, “Why?”

“No special reason.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Xiaoyan, don’t go out anymore. Just stay here and read.”

“Okay.”

“If you’re tired, you can play on the laptop. There are a lot of games on it.”

“Okay.”

Gu Jun looked at An Xiaoyan, who was wearing uncomfortable clothes, and suddenly felt a bit of pity. He walked over and realized that something was off with An Xiaoyan’s right arm.

“What’s wrong? Your right arm.”

“I fell when going downstairs,” An Xiaoyan lied. “It was an accident.”

“Be more careful in the future.”

The gentle tone confused An Xiaoyan. Was Gu Jun being caring? No, he couldn’t. Gu Jun hated him so much. He was probably just worried that An Xiaoyan would damage the stairs.

“I’ll take you out tomorrow.”

An Xiaoyan shook his head. “No, I’ll just stay here.”

“I’m giving you permission this time.”

“It’s okay. I don’t need to go out.”

Should Gu Jun be satisfied or hurt? He really didn’t want to restrict An Xiaoyan’s freedom. He just wanted An Xiaoyan to tell him before doing anything. He wanted to hear about the good, the bad, the happy, and the unhappy.

“I won’t go to work tomorrow afternoon. I’ll come get you.”

I’ll come get you. I’ll come get you? What did Gu Jun mean? Was it because An Xiaoyan’s injury had healed and Gu Jun wanted to take him to the Night Charm to work as a male hostess? Or make him kneel on the bridge and beg for money?

But he still said, “Okay.”

This was the only way to keep Gu Jun from getting angry—to keep himself from getting hurt too badly.

The “okay” sounded like a plead to Gu Jun. An Xiaoyan agreed and countless chirping birds flew out of his heart.

After An Xiaoyan got out of the car, he looked at the empty mall in confusion.

“Choose whatever you like.”

“I don’t like anything.” He didn’t recognize these brands. He couldn’t afford them either.

“It’s okay. Tell the truth. If you like something, try it on.”

The salesperson enthusiastically pushed a bunch of clothes on An Xiaoyan, moving him around like a puppet.

“This, this, and this. Take it all.”

The salesperson was totally excited. She’d met a rich man today who was generous with money. She started calculating how big of a bonus she could earn this month.

“Sir, hurry and try it on. It’s our new style for the season. Your skin is pale, so this light-colored sweater suits you.”

An Xiaoyan held the sweater and glanced at Gu Jun. He didn’t go into the fitting room until Gu Jun nodded at him.

Gu Jun picked up a magazine from the table. He kept flipping the pages, but he didn’t register a single word. He was imagining how An Xiaoyan would look in these clothes. He must look great.

He waited a long time, but no one came out. Gu Jun started getting worried, but he felt like he shouldn’t just barge in. Five more minutes later, he couldn’t take it anymore and went to knock on the door.

“Uh, just a bit longer.”

Gu Jun was reassured after hearing from him. He continued to wait, but the salesperson got worried. It had been enough time to try on ten pieces of clothing, let alone one.

“Open up!”

When there wasn’t a reply, Gu Jun started pounding on the door. Was An Xiaoyan not even willing to try on some clothes? Gu Jun had nicely taken him out to buy clothes. Why couldn’t An Xiaoyan understand this?

“If you don’t come out, I’m going to kick the door in.”

The salesperson was terrified. They’d seemed like a loving couple earlier, but now they were like enemies.

With a click, the door opened. An Xiaoyan only poked his head out. Gu Jun saw his bare shoulder and stepped into the fitting room, closing the door.

“What’s wrong?”

An Xiaoyan hung his head and said helplessly, “My arms don’t have strength. I can’t put it on.”

Gu Jun finally noticed his hanging right arm. His upper body was bare of clothing.

An Xiaoyan’s arm still hadn’t healed. He should’ve told me. Why does he keep it to himself?

“I’ll have Zhang Zilan take a look when we go back. I’ll help you put it on today.”

By the time An Xiaoyan understood what he meant, Gu Jun’s hands were already wandering across him. Gu Jun lifted his right arm and slowly passed it through the sleeve. He even remembered to help An Xiaoyan straighten the clothes at the end.

When the salesperson saw An Xiaoyan walk out, her eyes brightened. If An Xiaoyan had a bit more meat, he could be a model. His pale skin suited this style perfectly too.

“Looks great.”

“No, Mr. Gu. It doesn’t look great and it’s too expensive.” An Xiaoyan had looked at the price tag when he got the sweater. It was four digits. He didn’t have a cent to his name now. How could he buy it?

Gu Jun lowered his eyes to hide his faint sadness. “It’s not expensive as long as it looks good.”

An Xiaoyan insisted on taking it off, but Gu Jun pressed down on his shoulder. “If I tell you to wear it, you wear it. If I say it looks good, it looks good, got it?”

An Xiaoyan didn’t refuse this time. He stopped struggling and smoothed the clothes. “It looks good.”

After a pause, Gu Jun said, “Pick out some more.”

“Okay.”

In the end, An Xiaoyan chose a few pieces. When Gu Jun saw An Xiaoyan in the new clothes and a new temperament, his mood lightened.

As soon as An Xiaoyan got home, he put the clothes in his room and then searched every room for Gu Jun. Finally, he found Gu Jun in his room, freshly showered.

He was drying his hair when An Xiaoyan went to his side. An Xiaoyan dropped to his knees and tried to take Gu Jun’s towel. He didn’t even touch it before Gu Jun stopped him.

“What are you doing?”

“Paying you back.”

Gu Jun remembered that he’d said that An Xiaoyan could pay his debt with sex. Was he trying to use this method now?

“I’ll help you. Those clothes today…”

An Xiaoyan, why do you interpret everything as me wanting to f*ck you and make you pay me back? You don’t owe me money. You owe me a person, your body, and your heart.

“No need. No need today. Go rest.”

Gu Jun avoided An Xiaoyan. He took out some clothes from the closet and went downstairs. He didn’t want to face An Xiaoyan like this, but if he didn’t imprison An Xiaoyan like this, Gu Jun had no chance to see him.

Left alone, An Xiaoyan kept kneeling on the ground. Did Gu Jun not even give him the chance to repent now? It wasn’t bad though. He owed so much. This was just a bit more.

Gu Jun drove aimlessly through the city and arrived at the Night Charm. It was still filled with music and revelry. When he entered, the hostess on the side went to welcome him.

“Get me a drink.”

Gu Jun sat in the room alone. The screen played a song, but he’d never thought love songs could be so sad.

After he finished the glass, the door opened. Gu Jun glanced over and saw the man he’d stolen from Gu Jing.

“President Gu, why are you drinking sadly here alone? Want to drink together?”

Gu Jun didn’t reply, so Nan Qiang sat down anyway.

“You’re busy recently, huh? You haven’t come to have fun in a long time. It seems that your company is really busy.”

“And you aren’t busy? It’s almost the end of the year. President Nan, if you have anything to say, just say it. I don’t like beating around the bush.”

Nan Qiang stopped pretending. He picked up his glass and clinked it against Gu Jun’s. Smiling, he said, “The boy you brought last time was quite good. He could really take it and didn’t make a single sound in bed. I thought I could move on after playing with him once, but it’s been so long, and I still think he was great. I’ve never met anyone else who’s so obedient.”

Gu Jun’s eyes hardened. Thankfully, Nan Qiang couldn’t have sex. If he’d really touched An Xiaoyan, the man wouldn’t be standing here right now.

“What, you want to try again?”

Back in the day, Gu Jun wouldn’t pass up this chance to levy a debt on someone. Now, he wouldn’t allow anyone else to touch An Xiaoyan.

His words were casual, but his tone showed that he wouldn’t allow it.

“That’s not nice. We’re partners, after all.”

“If we’re not partners, you wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”

Nan Qiang vaguely felt that Gu Jun seemed to care about that man, but it might be his mind playing tricks. Who would care about a prostitute? Since he wasn’t getting his way, he didn’t have to stay here anymore. He would meet many people in the future. There was no need to get caught up on this one.