Chapter 75: CH 72

Chapter 72: I want to kiss you

One hour before boarding, Meng Yuan was comfortably using a U-shaped travel pillow to take a nap. Shi Rou had her earphones plugged in, engrossed in watching a drama, while Yu Nian carefully examined each checker piece from his box. He felt like he had heard Xie You calling him “Nian Nian” thirty times.

After he put away the checker pieces and the checkerboard, a middle-aged man with a briefcase sat down not far from Yu Nian, still talking on the phone in Chinese. A few phrases faintly reached Yu Nian’s ears.

“…Let’s discuss this matter when I return to Suizhou… The items in the library all have catalogs, so nothing should be missing. Don’t worry unnecessarily.”

Due to the connection with the “Insomniac Scroll,” Yu Nian was extremely sensitive to the name “Suizhou” and instinctively tensed up upon hearing it.

When he heard the words “library,” Yu Nian held his breath and continued to listen quietly.

“…I suggest not contacting foreigners. Before Uncle Yang left, the thing he was most reluctant to part with was the library’s items, saying that they were all priceless treasures. But if both of you, big brother and little sister, don’t mind, I won’t say anything… That piece of paper? Wasn’t it bought back home by our ancestors for five hundred taels of gold? It was that expensive back then, and it certainly won’t be any cheaper now…”

Yu Nian sat in his seat, feeling sweat form in his palms.

Suizhou, library, five hundred taels of gold. Yu Nian’s breathing trembled, and he almost wanted to get up right away and ask that person if he was talking about the “Insomniac Scroll.”

He remembered clearly that the last piece of news about “Insomniac Scroll” was that it was bought by someone surnamed Zhen for five hundred taels of gold and hadn’t resurfaced for over a hundred years.

Rong Yue had also mentioned in his information that they speculated the buyer of “Insomniac Scroll” came from the Zhen family in Suizhou.

The person on the phone continued with a lower voice.

“…Many buyers have their eyes on that piece of paper… We can’t offend anyone; the highest bidder will get it.”

Hearing this, Yu Nian let out a sigh of relief. At least if it goes to the highest bidder, there won’t be anyone purchasing it beforehand and preventing “Insomniac Scroll” from being auctioned.

The conversation continued for a couple more sentences before the person on the other end hung up. Yu Nian thought for a moment and sent a message to Rong Yue, briefly explaining the information he had just overheard.

Rong Yue replied quickly, “You really bumped into someone? What a coincidence! I only knew that the Zhen family’s younger generation had immigrated abroad; I wasn’t sure which country. I never expected you to encounter them in Paris.”

Yu Nian also found it quite coincidental and asked, “Uncle Rong, do you have any news about the Zhen family’s auction?”

Rong Yue responded, “There is some news; it hasn’t been finalized yet, so I didn’t tell you earlier. The latest information is that the Zhen family’s younger generation isn’t familiar with the situation in China and is considering entrusting Yuan Jia Auction House to handle the auction. My friend at Yuan Jia said it’s still being discussed. If it’s confirmed, they will organize a special event titled ‘Zhen Family Library Collection,’ and ‘Insomniac Scroll’ will be the grand finale of the auction, with exclusive invitations.”

Yu Nian recalled the fragments of the conversation he overheard and asked, “Are the Zhen siblings not getting along?” That was also the reason he didn’t approach them immediately. When family situations are complicated, people tend to be cautious. If he were to inquire right away, it might not be worth the trouble.

“There’s a rumor that the Zhen family’s eldest son’s wife is eager to liquidate their collection and divide the money. She has been pushing for a quick sale. The Zhen family’s youngest daughter doesn’t have strong opinions and listens to her older brother. The Zhen family’s second son is more easy-going, so it seems this matter won’t be prolonged for much longer, and they’ll probably entrust it to Yuan Jia Auction House.”

After connecting the pieces of information he heard earlier, Yu Nian had a better understanding. He glanced at the person who was on the phone earlier and then averted his gaze.

When the plane landed, it was eight o’clock in the morning in Ning City. The sun had just risen, piercing through the morning mist, and there was a gentle warmth in the air. Yu Nian leaned his head against the car window, and his delicate jawline was clearly outlined. The sunlight added a halo to his profile.

Quick-witted, Shi Rou snapped a photo and showed it to Meng Yuan, saying proudly, “Brother Meng, look at this picture. I don’t even need to edit it to post it on Weibo, right?”

Meng Yuan praised, “It’s indeed a great shot. You can use it as a picture for your Weibo update, Yu Nian.”

Lost in thoughts about the “Insomniac Scroll,” Yu Nian was brought back to reality when he heard his name mentioned, “What are you guys talking about?”

“Rou Rou took a photo of you when you were daydreaming just now. It’s great, and you can use it as an image for your Weibo update.”

Prompted by Meng Yuan, Yu Nian realized he hadn’t updated his Weibo yet. He asked Shi Rou for the photo, logged into Weibo, and posted, “Safely landed, happy to be back home! [Picture].”

His fans, who were eagerly waiting on Weibo, quickly flooded the comments section.

[Niab Nian, you’ve worked hard! Welcome back! Also, who took this photo? Give them a thumbs up! So handsome!]

[Aaaaah, why am I awake so early in the morning! Look at this side profile, is this an angelic face? Nian Nian has long eyelashes and beautiful eyes! So warm!]

[Where did this melancholic pretty boy come from? Nian Nian’s singing is so good, and he looks so handsome! In the comments section next door, people are raving about how Tang Xiaoke’s looks and temperament far surpass those of Nian Nian. Could it be that when they were born, they forgot to bring their eyeballs?]

Shi Rou scrolled through the reactions in the comments and then checked Tang Xiaoke’s Weibo, chuckling, “What’s up with Tang Xiaoke? Right after you updated your Weibo, he immediately posted a selfie!”

Meng Yuan chimed in, “He feels like he’s the center of the universe and that everyone should cater to him and indulge him. When you retorted to him once, he wanted to suppress you everywhere, causing trouble for you in retaliation. It’s better not to pay attention to such people. The more you pay attention, the higher they’ll jump.”

Shi Rou snapped her fingers, “That makes sense!”

Meng Yuan looked at Yu Nian, “Take a nap in the car while we head straight to the set without going home, is that okay?”

Yu Nian nodded, “No problem. Brother Meng, just wake me up when it’s time.”

“Alright, don’t worry.”

However, before reaching their destination, Meng Yuan woke up Yu Nian. Wrapped in a plain, thin blanket, Yu Nian rubbed his eyes and replied with a hint of drowsiness in his voice, “Brother Meng, what’s up?”

“Hersey has started the process!”

Sleepiness disappeared instantly, and Yu Nian smiled, “Is it confirmed?”

“The process has started, which means it’s 100% confirmed.” Meng Yuan took a deep breath and clapped his hands on his thighs, “Finally, I have the chance to show my skills!”

Not long after, a marketing account named “TrueLeak” posted on Weibo, “Got the latest news! YN is about to endorse Hersey. The fashion resources are really powerful! Actually, I’m not surprised because Hersey’s owner has already released a group photo, but it seems not many people believe it?”

[Can someone confirm if this news is true or false? Is Yu Nian really endorsing Hersey? Oh my God, that’s so impressive! Even I, a bystander who loves gossip, can’t believe it!]

[This account seems reliable, and most of their leaks are accurate. So, is it true that Yu Nian is endorsing Hersey? As someone who loves to eat melons, I just want to know how Tang Xiaoke feels right now!]

[Hahaha, let me laugh three times! Didn’t Tang Xiaoke just say he didn’t know the reason Hersey invited Yu Nian to the show? Well, here’s the reason: they wanted to sign Yu Nian as their spokesperson! Remember how Tang Xiaoke mocked Yu Nian for not being able to afford Hesi’s clothes? Apologies, but Yu Nian doesn’t need to buy them; he’ll get the latest collections as a brand ambassador!]

[Who would believe such fake news? They are praising Yu Nian so highly; aren’t they afraid he’ll fall from such a height and break his neck?]

[Hilarious! So, Yu Nian is endorsing Hersey. I wonder if Tang Xiaoke will still buy Hersey now? If he does, it’ll increase sales with Yu Nian as the spokesperson. How frustrating! But if he doesn’t buy it, there’s no other brand in this world that can match our Young Master Tang’s taste! Sigh, my heart goes out to him!]

Yu Nian was busy all day and didn’t even have time to catch a breath, let alone pay attention to the online gossip. When they finished work, it was already late in the evening. Meng Yuan briefly recounted the reactions on Weibo, and Yu Nian listened quietly, nodding occasionally.

His phone suddenly received a notification from Xie You, “Can I come over to play checker with you?”

Yu Nian smiled and, in front of Meng Yuan, directly called Xie You, “Are you off work?”

“Yeah, I finished everything for today,” Xie You replied warmly, “What about you?”

“I’ve finished work for today too and am on my way home,” Yu Nian invited, “If you’re free tonight, want to come to my place?”

Xie You quickly replied, “Sure!” as if he was afraid that Yu Nian would change his mind.

“Okay, see you later.”

After hanging up the phone, Yu Nian heard Meng Yuan say, “You were just tired and lethargic, but as soon as you took that call, you became energized instantly. How come?”

Yu Nian’s gaze wandered over his phone, and he smiled, “Probably… the power of love?”

Meng Yuan: “…”

Am I just asking for a single dog’s ration of dog food?

Not long after Yu Nian arrived home, Xie You also came over. They brewed a pot of tea, and Yu Nian placed the checkerboard between them, curious, “Are you good at checkers?”

Taking two sips of tea from the celadon cup, Xie You replied, “Not really.”

“That’s good, so I won’t lose too miserably!” Yu Nian was in high spirits, “Come on, let’s start!”

In the first game, Yu Nian quickly secured a victory, and the second game went just as smoothly. However, after winning four consecutive games effortlessly, Yu Nian noticed something was amiss, “Xie Xiaoyou, you’re letting me win!”

“I didn’t—I did,” Xie You sought Yu Nian’s opinion, “really not let you win?”

Yu Nian was firm, “Really!”

Xie You said, “Okay, then, is there a reward for the winner?”

Yu Nian nodded, “A reward? Sure, you can decide.”

Xie You rubbed the patterns on the surface of the checkers with his fingertip and whispered, “How about this? The winner gets to give the other person a kiss. Is that okay?”

“Of course!”

Two minutes later, Yu Nian stared at the checkerboard, feeling like he was in a dream, “How did I lose so quickly? How did you manage to do that?”

Xie You’s gaze swept over Yu Nian’s clearly defined lips; his expression was cold, but there seemed to be an entire season’s worth of melting snow in his eyes.

“Because I wanted to kiss you a little faster.”