MSRBMH Ch 22

  Song Yanchu hesitated, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.

Seeing his reluctance, Su Yu stepped in. 

"The sea breeze is strong. Yanchu hasn’t been well lately—better not risk him catching a chill."

Lin Yanjun and Shen Le exchanged a glance at this.

Shen Le blinked. "What, Su-ge, you don’t want him to come?"

The question was pointless. While Su Yu wouldn’t mind Song Yanchu joining, he wasn’t the type to force things. Whether Song Yanchu came or not made no difference to him—he could enjoy himself either way.

"Shen Le. Come here."

Su Yu beckoned with a smile, ready to teach his idiot friend a lesson.

Shen Le, predictably, took the bait and leaned in.

Su Yu’s arm was already tensing, poised to lock him in a headlock—when a cold, commanding voice cut in from behind.

"What are you talking about?"

Having already experienced this once tonight, Shen Le instinctively straightened up like a soldier at attention.

Through the gap between his two friends, Su Yu caught sight of Ji Yanli.

He had removed his suit jacket, leaving only a thin white dress shirt. The top two buttons, previously undone, were now fastened halfway, his collarbones faintly visible beneath the fabric.

"P-President Ji, you walk so quietly! Hahaha…" 

Shen Le forced a laugh, slapping Lin Yanjun’s back so hard the latter stumbled forward.

"Laugh all you want, but why the hell are you hitting me?"

The two idiots were on the verge of another pointless squabble. 

Su Yu cleared his throat and waved at Ji Yanli. "Come here."

He’d only meant to make conversation easier, but the moment he extended his hand, he realized something was off.

This was how he usually summoned Shen Le and Lin Yanjun—and somehow, after just a few days of Ji Yanli’s amnesia, he’d let his guard down enough to instinctively treat him the same way.

But Ji Yanli, oblivious to Su Yu’s internal crisis, obediently stepped closer, his gaze never leaving Su Yu’s face—ignoring everyone else entirely.

His eyes flicked to Song Yanchu, who was still seated beside Su Yu, watching him intently. Ji Yanli’s brows furrowed in irritation.

"Get up."

Don’t sit next to Song Yanchu.

Su Yu was about to snap "What’s your problem?" when he met those dark, unreadable eyes—and found himself standing up on reflex.

Song Yanchu, still seated, looked utterly lost. He reached out to tug at Su Yu’s sleeve, only for Ji Yanli to shoot him a warning glare. "Don’t touch him."

The sharp tone made Song Yanchu’s eyes redden. His lips trembled. "Yanli-ge… what’s wrong with you today?"

Su Yu’s temple throbbed.

Everything felt the same yet completely different. The only change was that the hostility had shifted from being between him and Ji Yanli—to now being between Ji Yanli and Song Yanchu.

And Song Yanchu had no idea why.

Shen Le and Lin Yanjun, witnessing this, wore equally bewildered expressions.

Shen Le, never one to hold back, blurted out, "President Ji, did you and Yanchu have a fight?"

In his memory, Ji Yanli, though cold to most, had always been at least polite to Song Yanchu—distant, but still notably softer.

The rumor mill had even speculated that Ji Yanli might eventually fall for Song Yanchu.

"You seem to have many misunderstandings about me."

Ji Yanli’s face darkened instantly at the question. He opened his mouth, ready to clarify his relationship with Song Yanchu—

Only for Su Yu to cut him off with a cough.

Lin Yanjun frowned. "Su-ge, you catching a cold?"

Cold his ass! These two morons!

Su Yu rubbed his temple. "Ji Yanli, any work this weekend?"

He wasn’t a free man anymore. As an assistant, his schedule depended on his boss’s whims.

"Nothing urgent."

The company observed weekends, meaning even the boss had no reason to work—and if the boss wasn’t working, neither was his assistant.

Su Yu grinned at his friends. "Then let’s go fishing this weekend."

Lin Yanjun nodded eagerly. "Perfect! This time, I’m reeling in a big one!"

Shen Le scoffed. "Yeah right. You’re the king of empty buckets. Always come back with nothing."

Ji Yanli, watching the three banter, looked increasingly displeased. "I’m coming too."

This was unprecedented. Shen Le stiffened. "P-President Ji… you’re coming?"

If he joined, the whole vibe would be ruined.

"Is there a problem?"

Of course they didn’t dare say no. They shook their heads rapidly.

Su Yu had expected this. He didn’t react much—maybe some fresh air would do Ji Yanli good. Might even help his recovery.

"Can I… come too?"

Song Yanchu’s timid voice piped up after a long silence.

A complicated emotion twisted in Su Yu’s chest. He wasn’t stupid—Song Yanchu was only asking because Ji Yanli was going.

Shen Le, oblivious to the undercurrents, beamed. "Sure! The more, the merrier! Let’s meet at the dock Saturday morning?"

Shen Le was always the one organizing their fishing trips. His father had gifted him a yacht for his birthday.

With plans settled, the banquet wound down as night fell.

The Xie family had prepared guest rooms for those who couldn’t return home immediately.

When Song Yanchu heard Ji Yanli and Su Yu were staying, he wanted to as well—until his mother arrived to take him home, citing a hospital checkup the next morning.

Shen Le and Lin Yanjun, loudly proclaiming they’d "drink till dawn," slung their arms around each other and stumbled off—leaving Su Yu and Ji Yanli alone.

"Let’s turn in early. Work tomorrow."

Su Yu recalled Mia’s instructions—if Ji Yanli stayed overnight, he needed to inspect his room for any issues.

As if he’s some priceless treasure everyone’s fighting over.

"I got two room keys from the butler earlier. Let’s go."

"Two?"

Ji Yanli’s tone was displeased.

Su Yu, already walking ahead, ignored him and pressed the elevator button. With most guests gone, it arrived quickly.

Their rooms were at the end of the hallway, side by side.

Su Yu unlocked one door and stepped inside, giving it a cursory glance before tossing the other key to Ji Yanli.

"No issues. Stay here. I’m heading back too."

He was exhausted—all he wanted was sleep.

"Back where?"

Ji Yanli grabbed his wrist. "Wife. Aren’t you sleeping with me?"

The banquet was over.

Which meant the rules no longer applied.

He was back to doing whatever he wanted.

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