HSS CH5

Chapter 5: Shall We Hold Hands?

Lin Miao stood dizzily in front of Huo Yuchuan’s large and soft bed, unsure how he had ended up signing the contract. Huo Yuchuan even mentioned that the remaining 700,000 would accrue interest, just like a bank loan. Lin Miao felt a wave of despair—how could he have just paid off one debt only to find himself in another mountain of obligations?

Well, at least he didn’t have to rob a bank.

The contract took effect as soon as it was signed. He wouldn’t be able to return to his dormitory tonight; he had to stay here to help Huo Yuchuan get a good night’s sleep. He called his roommate, He Yu, to let him know he wouldn’t be coming back tonight.

Before He Yu could respond, another roommate, Jiang Leming, shouted from the other end of the line, “Alright, Lin Miao, daring to stay out all night? Spill the beans, where are you sneaking off to?”

Lin Miao thought for a moment and said, “I found a part-time job.”

“What kind of part-time job requires you to stay out all night?” Jiang Leming asked in surprise. “Is it legitimate?”

“Legitimate… I guess,” Lin Miao replied.

He Yu was still worried. “Are you facing some difficulties?” Why would he take up a job in the middle of the night?

Jiang Leming also advised, “Miao, if you’re in trouble, talk to us. We’ll figure something out. Don’t get involved in anything shady!”

“No,” Lin Miao said, not wanting to mention his father’s debt. “The boss is an old classmate of mine. He’s a good person.”

Jiang Leming remained skeptical. “Reliable? I’ve heard of plenty of old classmates who turn out to be scammers.”

Lin Miao glanced at the bathroom where water was running and said, “He’s not like that.”

He thought to himself, I don’t have anything worth scamming anyway.

Jiang Leming continued to ask many questions, and Lin Miao reassured him multiple times that his old classmate was indeed a good person, though perhaps a bit stingy.

He Yu remembered that they had class early the next morning. “If you’re working all night, how are you going to manage class tomorrow? You won’t have any energy.”

“It’s fine,” Lin Miao said. “I can rest here.” It was just a matter of getting some sleep.

Jiang Leming asked him to send his location so that if anything happened, they could rush over with their other roommate who was still at the gym.

However, after Lin Miao sent his location, Jiang Leming fell silent.

It was the most upscale villa district in A City, where even digging up a tree would probably cost more than Lin Miao’s entire net worth.

“Lin Miao,” Jiang Leming said calmly, “I guess I was overthinking it. Ask your old classmate if he needs more part-time help.”

Lin Miao: “……”

Lin Miao imagined the three of them sleeping in the same bed. “……No, thanks.”

After hanging up the phone, Lin Miao saw that Huo Yuchuan still hadn’t come out of the bathroom. He turned back to stare at the soft, inviting bed in front of him. A few seconds later, he couldn’t resist and threw himself onto it, rolling around and hugging the blanket.

So soft, Huo Yuchuan’s bed was incredibly soft…

At that moment, the bathroom door opened, and Huo Yuchuan leaned against the door frame, his hair damp and his gaze fixed on Lin Miao.

Lin Miao: “……”

Lin Miao quickly sat up, pretending nothing had happened.

Huo Yuchuan walked over, his robe loosely draped over his body, revealing just a hint of his well-defined chest. He lay down on the other side of the bed.

Lin Miao lay there, motionless, clutching the blanket.

Huo Yuchuan spoke indifferently, “Aren’t I supposed to have some of the blanket?”

Lin Miao let out an “Ah!” and hurriedly shared the blanket with him.

He didn’t have any pajamas, so he had to wear Huo Yuchuan’s. They were a bit too big for him, and his collarbone, partially exposed, had a tiny mole on it.

Huo Yuchuan averted his gaze, turned off the light, and left only a warm yellow glow from the bedside lamp.

Lin Miao also got under the blanket, peeking out from under it to look at Huo Yuchuan.

“Huo Yuchuan.”

Huo Yuchuan responded with a low “Mm.”

Lin Miao asked, “Have you ever slept with someone else?”

Huo Yuchuan: “……”

Lin Miao realized a moment later that his question might have sounded a bit off and quickly clarified, “I mean, have you ever tried having someone else around to see if it would help you sleep?”

Huo Yuchuan replied, his eyes still closed, “I have.”

Lin Miao: “And it didn’t work?”

Huo Yuchuan gave a faint “Mm.”

“So strange, it only works with me?” Lin Miao paused, then asked, “Has Little Zheng ever tried it?”

Huo Yuchuan’s forehead twitched, as if his patience had finally run out. “Go to sleep.”

Lin Miao thought to himself, people have all sorts of quirks. He remembered hearing before about guys who were allergic to all girls except for one specific girl. Maybe Huo Yuchuan was like that.

After a moment of silence, he remembered the contract mentioning that the ways of accompanying him included, but were not limited to, holding hands and hugging…

He hesitated and asked, “So… shall we hold hands?”

Without opening his eyes, Huo Yuchuan asked, “Do you want to?”

“No,” Lin Miao whispered, “I’m just worried you won’t be able to sleep.”

Huo Yuchuan paused, then said, “Not necessary for now.”

No need to hold hands, no need to hug, and with such a soft bed, Lin Miao felt at ease and fell asleep, thinking it was a pretty good deal.

The next morning, when Lin Miao woke up, Huo Yuchuan was already downstairs having breakfast. The housekeeper, upon seeing Lin Miao come down, beamed with a smile and prepared a large breakfast for him. “Eat more, you’re so thin it’s heartbreaking.”

Lin Miao felt a bit embarrassed and said, “Thank you… Auntie.”

The housekeeper’s expression softened even more. “Just call me Aunt Chen.”

Lin Miao obediently called out, “Aunt Chen.”

“Ah,” Aunt Chen smiled warmly and sighed, “After all these years, this is the first time Mr. Huo has brought someone home.”

Huo Yuchuan nearly choked on his milk. “Cough, cough, cough…”

Lin Miao: “……”

Huo Yuchuan wiped his mouth with a napkin, stood up to leave, and turned back to Lin Miao. “After you finish eating, have Assistant Zheng take you back to school.”

Lin Miao nodded, watching Huo Yuchuan walk out. He curiously asked Aunt Chen, “Why do Huo Yuchuan’s ears seem a bit red?”

Aunt Chen still smiled warmly. “That’s just how young people are.”

Lin Miao was puzzled. What did this have to do with being young?

On the way back to school, Lin Miao curiously asked Little Zheng, “You’re the driver, bodyguard, and assistant all in one?”

Little Zheng replied, “Yes.”

Lin Miao said, “You have to do all these jobs by yourself?” Working so many roles for just one salary—Huo Yuchuan was really stingy.

“Not just these,” Little Zheng said. “I’m also the butler, gardener, electrician, plumber, and family doctor…”

Lin Miao was astonished. “You can do a doctor’s job?”

Little Zheng said, “I know a bit. I fill in when there’s no doctor around.”

“Amazing,” Lin Miao said admiringly. “Is there anything you can’t do?”

“Cooking,” Little Zheng replied. “If I go get a chef’s license, my mom says she’ll disown me.”

Lin Miao was confused. “Why?”

Little Zheng explained, “She says I’m stealing her thunder.”

Lin Miao asked, “Is she a chef?”

“No,” Little Zheng said. “She’s the housekeeper at Mr. Huo’s place, in charge of cooking.”

Lin Miao: “……”

So Aunt Chen is your mom.