HSS CH4

Chapter 4: You Agreed

Little Zheng showed no reaction and simply said, “No.”

“Why not?” Lin Miao didn’t believe it. “He might get married in a couple of years!”

Little Zheng still said, “He won’t sleep in the middle.”

So Huo Yuchuan would be in the middle, Lin Miao thought resentfully. Flanked by people on both sides? He’s really living the dream!

He glanced at the contract term again and seriously doubted that Huo Yuchuan had gone sleep-deprived for two days and was just confused—would he really sell himself for twenty years even if he were desperate?

Also, by this calculation, he was worth only 50,000 a year? Lin Miao was even more upset—was he really that cheap?

When the car stopped outside the villa, Lin Miao looked at the luxurious building in front of him and finally believed that a million might really be nothing to Huo Yuchuan.

He had never seen such a large house before. The off-white style was spacious and exquisite; he probably couldn’t afford even a single brick if he tried to buy it.

Little Zheng entered a password on the electronic screen at the entrance, opened the door for Lin Miao, and stepped aside to let him in. “Mr. Huo is waiting for you inside.”

Lin Miao changed his shoes in the foyer and saw that the living room was sparsely furnished, a bit empty. On the sofa, Huo Yuchuan was leaning against one side with his hand supporting his head, eyes closed as if he were asleep.

But Lin Miao remembered what Little Zheng had said—he couldn’t sleep.

So he took a few steps closer and called out softly, “Huo Yuchuan?”

Huo Yuchuan’s eyelids fluttered, and he opened his eyes to look at him.

Lin Miao, holding his school bag, looked back at him.

Huo Yuchuan looked very tired, but he didn’t have dark circles under his eyes, probably because he was used to staying up late.

“Haven’t you slept these past two days?”

Huo Yuchuan’s voice was a bit hoarse as he whispered, “Come here.”

Lin Miao walked over with his school bag.

Huo Yuchuan glanced at the spot beside him and said, “Sit.”

Lin Miao put his school bag aside and sat down. As soon as he did, Huo Yuchuan leaned over and pillowed his head on Lin Miao’s lap.

Lin Miao: “……Can you really sleep like this?”

Huo Yuchuan mumbled an indistinct “Mm,” and asked with his eyes closed, “Did Assistant Zheng tell you about the contract?”

Lin Miao nodded and then asked curiously, “Assistant Zheng? Isn’t he the driver and bodyguard?”

Huo Yuchuan replied, “He’s also an assistant.”

So many jobs for one person? Lin Miao wondered, “How many salaries do you pay him?”

Huo Yuchuan looked like it was obvious, “Why would a worker need multiple salaries?”

So stingy, Lin Miao thought to himself. No wonder he wanted a twenty-year contract—who would be so nice as to ask someone to commit for twenty years?

Huo Yuchuan’s breathing grew deeper, and he was about to fall asleep.

Lin Miao thought for a moment and whispered, “Huo Yuchuan… Twenty years is a bit long. Could we make it shorter?”

Huo Yuchuan might not have heard clearly and just mumbled another “Mm.”

Lin Miao felt a glimmer of hope. “I know a million is a lot, and you’re a good Samaritan for helping me pay it off. But really, we can’t sign for twenty years.”

He continued, “I can work to pay you back. Let’s shorten the contract, and it can offset some of the money. The rest I’ll pay back over time, okay?”

Huo Yuchuan mumbled something like he was talking in his sleep, “How many years…”

Lin Miao took a bold step and bargained like a pro, “Two, two years, is that okay?”

Huo Yuchuan didn’t respond, and it was unclear whether he was asleep or just didn’t agree.

Lin Miao whispered to him, “After two years, I’ll be close to graduation and can earn money on my own. These two years can offset 400,000. The remaining 600,000, I’ll consider it a loan from you, and I’ll pay you back.”

He felt a bit guilty and said, “I’m a student at A University, the most prestigious one in A City. Even if I work, I should be able to make 200,000 a year… right?”

His voice got quieter as he spoke, as if he himself wasn’t quite convinced.

Huo Yuchuan’s breathing grew even deeper, and he mumbled another “Mm.”

Lin Miao’s eyes lit up—Huo Yuchuan was probably asleep and couldn’t hear clearly, so he just kept saying “Mm.”

He quickly took out his phone, cursed himself under his breath, “How despicable!”

Then he turned on the voice recorder and asked Huo Yuchuan again.

As expected, Huo Yuchuan mumbled another “Mm.”

Lin Miao listened to the recording twice, making sure both of their voices were clear, before he sneakily put his phone away.

Huo Yuchuan was completely unaware, and Lin Miao felt a little guilty. He took the blanket from the sofa and covered Huo Yuchuan to make him more comfortable.

The living room was quiet, and Lin Miao wondered, Does Huo Yuchuan live alone in such a big house? Where’s his family?

Lin Miao looked down at him and felt a mix of familiarity and strangeness. After so many years, Huo Yuchuan seemed to have changed a lot. The mature aura was far from the middle school student he remembered. But they were still so similar—sharp features, and a “don’t mess with me” look the moment he opened his eyes.

It was just an act, though. Lin Miao reached out and gently poked his arm.

Yep, his muscles were definitely harder now.

Lin Miao didn’t know when he fell asleep. When he woke up again, he hadn’t even opened his eyes when he felt like someone was watching him.

But when he opened his eyes, Huo Yuchuan was still asleep with his eyes closed.

Maybe it was just a hallucination, and he didn’t pay much attention. He stretched his sore neck, took out his phone, and saw it was already after eight in the evening.

Little Zheng came in with a few takeout boxes and put them on the table. “Sorry to keep you waiting. Have dinner first.”

Lin Miao glanced at Huo Yuchuan, who was still asleep. “But he hasn’t woken up yet.”

As if hearing their conversation, Huo Yuchuan’s eyelids fluttered, and he opened his eyes.

He threw off the blanket, sat up, and asked, “What time is it?”

Little Zheng replied, “Eight twenty-three.”

Huo Yuchuan stood up and let Lin Miao eat first.

He went to the bathroom to freshen up. When he came back, Little Zheng had left, and Lin Miao was eating like a little squirrel, looking very satisfied.

Huo Yuchuan sat down beside him and started eating as well.

Lin Miao wasn’t sure if he remembered agreeing in his sleep and tentatively said, “We should change that contract, right?”

Huo Yuchuan: “Change what?”

Lin Miao: “Reduce the twenty years to two.”

Huo Yuchuan turned to look at him.

Lin Miao quickly said, “You agreed.”

He took out his phone and played the recording for Huo Yuchuan.

He played it twice.

Huo Yuchuan was silent for a moment.

A few seconds later, he confidently went back on his word, “300,000.”

Lin Miao was confused. “What?”

Huo Yuchuan: “Two years for 300,000.”

Lin Miao was shocked. “We agreed on 400,000! How can you go back on your word?”

Huo Yuchuan said indifferently, “Can you really earn 200,000 a year?”

Lin Miao: “Why, why not?”

Huo Yuchuan: “You might not even earn that much after graduation,” let alone now when you’re still a student.

Lin Miao was unconvinced: “Don’t underestimate me. I’m from A University……”

Huo Yuchuan: “A college student, 3,500 a month.”

Lin Miao: “……”

That was a real heartbreaker.