BPTCMW : Chapter 21

 

Han Yi was momentarily stunned by the message, then turned to look at Xia Yang, who just happened to glance back and raise an eyebrow at him.

 

Han Yi: “…”

 

He pursed his lips and typed back.

 

[Han Yi]: No need.

 

[Yang]: Are you sure? This service is provided only once as a value-added service. If you request it later, there will be an additional charge.

 

[Han Yi]: I won’t request it. As long as we don’t mention it, no one will find out.

 

[Yang]: 🙏 Let’s hope so.

 

By the time they returned to the villa, it was already noon.

 

Mrs. Tang instructed Fang Ming to prepare a guest room for her on the first floor as a temporary bedroom.

 

“My room isn’t above yours, is it?” she asked, pointing at the ceiling. “I sleep lightly and don’t want to be disturbed.”

 

This subtle yet direct comment made Xia Yang think for a moment before he got it.

 

“No, it’s not our room, Grandma,” he said with a smile, waving his hand. “Above is a storage room. Xiao Yi and I rarely go there.”

 

Mrs. Tang was relieved by this assurance and settled down to rest. Fang Ming called them for lunch shortly after.

 

The chef had prepared an especially sumptuous meal today, with the butler specifically instructing him to make some medicinal dishes to nourish the old lady.

 

Xia Yang, holding a large bowl, ate more enthusiastically than anyone. Seeing this, Mrs. Tang even suspected that Han Yi wasn’t feeding his wife enough.

 

But the family’s financial situation was quite robust…

 

As she pondered, she leaned over and asked Han Yi in a low voice, “Xiao Yi, do you prefer your wife to be thin?”

 

Han Yi: “?”

 

“Look at how hungry the child is,” Mrs. Tang reproached gently. “Don’t impose your preferences on others.”

 

“…This has nothing to do with me,” Han Yi rubbed his temples. “He just can’t see food without being hungry.”

 

Mrs. Tang was about to say more when Xia Yang’s phone, placed on the table, rang.

 

Immersed in eating, Xia Yang reluctantly put down his bowl and grabbed his phone.

 

It was Yuka.

 

“Sorry, I need to take this call,” he said with his cheeks still full.

 

He walked into the living room and answered the call. As soon as the connection was made, Yuka got straight to the point, “Bro, have you thought about what we talked about before?”

 

Xia Yang was momentarily confused but then realized Yuka was talking about signing with “Karman Studio.”

 

Yuka had mentioned it when they were shooting the magazine cover.

 

Xia Yang had already made up his mind but hadn’t had the time to contact Yuka because of all the recent events.

 

“Kaka, I really appreciate it, but I have other plans.”

 

He cherished Yuka as a friend and understood a universal truth: Pure friendships might sour when mixed with interests.

 

He didn’t want to witness their pure friendship turning sour.

 

Moreover, with Han Yi going to Country D for surgery discussions, if the plan was viable, someone needed to be by his side. As a top-notch service provider, this was his chance to demonstrate his quality service.

 

Additionally, he had promised to show more care for the plus-plus version of the beautiful and tragic big boss, as a form of humanitarian concern.

 

After hearing him out, Yuka sighed, “What a pity. Are you sure about this? I really hoped you could join us, bro.”

 

“I’m sure. Sorry, Kaka.” Xia Yang was resolute.

 

“Alright,” Yuka respected his decision, “if you ever change your mind, just call me anytime. My studio’s doors are always open for you!”

 

“Okay, I will!” Xia Yang gripped his phone, moved.

 

Just as he was about to end the call, Yuka suddenly remembered something.

 

“Oh, bro, our joint magazine cover will be out soon. My agent will still buy trending topics for me. It’s necessary for marketing, you know.”

 

Xia Yang understood. 

 

For a newly popular idol, marketing was indispensable. He understood and accepted it, even if he didn’t like being in the spotlight.

 

“Rich guy, I’m envious,” he joked lightly.

 

The living room was close to the dining room, and Mrs. Tang’s gaze shifted from the young man’s back to Han Yi, giving him a nudge. “Did you hear what Yang Yang just said on the phone?”

 

Han Yi: “I did.”

 

“Then I have to ask you,” Mrs. Tang’s expression turned serious as she set down her chopsticks, “what kind of husband are you, making your wife envy other wealthy people!”

 

Han Yi: “…”

 

“Our family has a world-class cruise company and various flourishing investments. The last thing we lack is money.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Then I have an idea. Let Fang Ming open an account and give Yang Yang a monthly allowance. This way, he won’t be lured by other wealthy people. Sweet temptations are the sweetest!”

 

Han Yi admired Mrs. Tang’s foresight and her method of countering potential threats.

 

“No problem. I’ll have Fang Ming handle it.”

 

When Xia Yang returned from his call, Mrs. Tang had already finished her meal and was being assisted to rest by the maids.

 

Sitting back at his place, Xia Yang had just taken a sip of the freshly served crab soup when Han Yi spoke beside him.

 

“From now on, you’ll get 200,000 yuan a month. Is that enough?”

 

Pfft—

 

Xia Yang spat out the soup. “200,000? A month? Are you joking?”

 

“Then 300,000.” Han Yi calmly sipped his soup.

 

Xia Yang: “…”

 

Xia Yang: “???”

 

He seriously wondered if there was something in the food or if Han Yi’s brain had been pinched by crab claws.

 

300,000 a month… 300,000…

 

“Wait, you’re not talking about 300,000 Q coins, are you?” he guessed, trying to find another explanation.

 

Han Yi took a deep breath, maintaining his patience. “It’s 300,000 RMB, your monthly allowance. Understand?”

 

“!!!” Xia Yang almost dropped his jaw into the soup bowl.

 

Something was definitely off.

 

Unusual circumstances usually signal something sinister. Was the fierce big boss plotting some inhumane scheme?

 

After a mental pep talk—

 

“Boss… just say what you want. Do you want a kidney, an eye, or perhaps an artificial womb to bear children for you?!”

 

Han Yi: “…”

 

Han Yi: “You have a persecution complex. It needs treatment.”

 

Xia Yang: “…”

 

Fang Ming was efficient and quickly set up the account, transferring the money into it.

 

Han Yi handed the card to Xia Yang. “You’ll get 300,000 yuan monthly. The card currently has a year’s worth, totaling 3.6 million yuan.” He spoke as if the amount was mere pennies.

 

Xia Yang gaped, speechless. Even though he wasn’t as shocked as when he first heard the amount, holding such a large sum in his hands felt unreal.

 

This was pocket money, to be spent casually. Many hard-working people would never earn 3.6 million in their lifetime.

 

Mrs. Tang came over and, seeing him standing there, took the card from Han Yi and handed it to him. “Take it. You helped a lot when I had the accident, and Grandma wants to thank you.”

 

Xia Yang stepped back, waving his hands. “No, no, it’s my duty.”

 

“Listen to me,” Mrs. Tang said, holding his wrist. “Xiao Yi and I don’t like showing off, but our family is genuinely wealthy. What others have, you will have. What others don’t, you will also have. No need to envy other rich people.”

 

Xia Yang: “…”

 

“Use this few million as you like. Next year, Xiao Yi will double it for you.”

 

Xia Yang: “!!!”

 

He never expected a casual comment to spark such “wealth warfare.”

 

What an awkward situation!

 

With such a generous offer from the client, refusing would be ungrateful. Xia Yang decided to accept the 3.6 million for now, planning to use it to offset part of the divorce settlement.

 

He was a well-regarded service provider, never taking more than he deserved.

 

* * *

 

The next day, the new issue of MAN magazine was released.

 

Xia Yang saw his and Yuka’s names trending in the real-time hot topics—#YukaXiaYangWSSDAtmosphericCover#.

 

Clicking into Weibo, he saw the high-quality nine-photo grid, including still shots and GIFs, looking stunning.

 

The cool tones of light and shadow, the semi-transparent white curtains, the misty bathtub, and two men full of sexual tension.

 

Yuka in a black suit looked both cool and alpha, his masculine pheromones almost palpable through the screen.

 

Xia Yang, dressed in white, exuded a silent yet alluring purity.

 

With his lips slightly parted, wet black hair, small droplets sliding down his cheeks, and fingers lazily resting on the bathtub edge, the atmosphere was perfect.

 

The comment section was abuzz, and for the first time, he felt like a true idol.

 

[@BigHat]: Handsome, handsome, handsome, handsome, handsome, handsome, handsome, handsome, handsome!

 

[@Happy]: Who’s the beauty in white? Dancing wildly on my aesthetic senses.

 

[@GoCheckYourBrain]: Oh my, isn’t this Yuka and Xia Yang from that disbanded small group? Didn’t recognize them.

 

[@AlwaysHungry]: Bathtub photoshoot, love it, love it. These two hotties have stolen my heart~

 

[@IamTheMaster

 

]: Kaka is so alpha, a total top, while Summer is a baiting pure beauty. They’re both my husbands!

 

[@HaveYouPoopedToday]: Xia Yang finally found his niche. Stick to beautiful photoshoots, forget acting or singing and dancing—they don’t suit you.

 

Many others were shipping him and Yuka as a couple.

 

During the last livestream, the Kayan CP (couple pairing) had emerged. Despite their efforts to emphasize their brotherly bond, the CP fans’ enthusiasm had been curbed. 

 

Today, with the new photoshoot, the flames of this ship seemed to rekindle.

 

[@Noodles]: The way Yuka looks at Xia Yang is everything. They’re a bit too fitting—what’s going on? The atmosphere is perfect [hehe].

 

[@Beans]: Kayan CP forever! Kaka’s famous quote: “Xia Yang is my bro, we only have brotherly love.”

 

[@IDontWantToFail]: Responsible! Responsible! Responsible!

 

[@Monkey]: Oh, my god, heavenly brotherhood. I want to ship it~

 

[@WhoWantsToRaiseTheirHandNotToWork]: +10086 for shipping.

 

Xia Yang scrolled through the comments, stopping abruptly when one unusual ID caught his attention.

 

The ID was long and read, “Your Grandma Won’t Allow Xia Yang to Be Paired with Anyone Else.”

 

Curiosity piqued, he wondered: Was his fanbase so large now? Even grandma fans?

 

But the comments from this ID among the CP fans seemed off!

 

[@YourGrandmaWontAllowXiaYangToBePairedWithAnyoneElse]: What you’re doing is wrong. People are independent individuals. Just because they took a photo together doesn’t mean they should be paired up.

 

[@YourGrandmaWontAllowXiaYangToBePairedWithAnyoneElse]: Did you ask for their consent? Do you know him? How do you know Xia Yang doesn’t have someone he likes in the real world?

 

[@YourGrandmaWontAllowXiaYangToBePairedWithAnyoneElse]: If you have the guts, ship them in real life!

 

Other netizens: “???”

 

Shipping them in real life? Who are you??

 

…Xia Yang’s eyelid twitched, and suddenly, he had a guess about who this ID belonged to.

 

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Author’s Note:

Xia Yang: I’ve come up with a CP name for Han Yi and me, called: Two Sculptures CP, one ice sculpture, one sand sculpture.

Han Yi: Rejected because it’s ugly (Reason: The CP name is inappropriate).

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R: This grandma is too active hahaha

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