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ntranslator: baumkuchen editors: serefina, glitterypanda

nBy the time the stock market closed that day, Zhou Kai’s company’s shares had plummeted all the way to green, dropping to a record low. They had black employees resigning one after another in protest, and amongst them, there were even three young white people and two Asians.

nThe whereabouts of Simon, the vice head of the department of public relations, were unknown, leaving the department head so busy he practically became a spinning top.

nHe contacted Zhou Kai and pleaded warily, “Mister Zhou, the current situation is very grim. You can’t just keep hiding. Your only way out now is to personally appear and publicly apologise.”

nZhou Kai instantly blew up. “Apologise? What for? For that group of n*****s? Can they keep complaining until their voices reach the heavens? I don’t think so!”

nThe department head’s face turned the same shade of miserable green as the company’s stocks.

nZhou Kai slammed his hand on the table and started cursing in anger, “Each and every one of those n*****s are always acting like everybody owes them something! It’s not like I’m white, I’ve never killed their ancestors, I’ve never did them any wrong. Who’s it hurting if I talk a little about not liking them in private?”

nThe department head’s body was drenched in sweat. He didn’t at all know what to say.

nZhou Kai of course knew that in the white man’s world, political correctness was everything. No matter how much he disliked black people in private, he absolutely could not say that in public.

nHe had always been cautious, never even toeing that bottom line. Who knew that the one time he did, it would be broadcast to the entire country. He had practically hopped back and forth across that bottom line. No, not just a hop, it was a striding step, a huge leap across.

nZhou Kai’s skin prickled with that thought, cold and hot sweat mixing as they dripped down his body.

nBut the more it was like this, the less he was willing to admit his wrongs, and also, the less he could actually admit his wrongs.

nThe department head, both mentally and physically exhausted, put forward a suggestion, “If you’re not willing to come forward, I think you could ask Mister Shen for help. After all, Mister Shen is also involved in this matter. If Mister Shen is willing to say some good things on your behalf, perhaps he could divert the public’s attention……”

nIf the department head hadn’t mentioned it, Zhou Kai would really never have thought that this matter also involved Shen Changqing.

nWhen he tried to think about it carefully, he felt his head throb. Carelessly waving his hand, he said, “Go contact him then.”

nAfter years of observation, he had a lot of faith in Shen Changqing. He knew there was a door on his mouth and he wouldn’t blindly say just anything.

nAnd so, the department head contacted Shen Changqing.

nIn the department head’s mind, Shen Changqing was a reticent and passive young man, a dodder flower raised by Zhou Kai.

nSo his objective for this phone call was simple: Persuade Shen Changqing to cooperate with him, have him hold a press conference following a script he wrote and express his support and understanding for Zhou Kai.

nAfter the call connected, he skipped over any superfluous conventional greetings and went straight to the point, asking, “Mister Shen, have you seen the video being spread around the internet?”

nThe voice from the other end of the call was a little hoarse, “En, I’ve seen it.”

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nInwardly, the department head thought, sure enough, he’s long since found out.

nHe asked, “What do you think about this matter?”

nShen Changqing asked, “Which one?”

nThe department head’s voice stuttered. He vaguely felt like there was something a little strange, but still replied in a warm voice, “It’s the matter of Mister Zhou’s improper conduct. I hope you can offer some assistance. I have here a draft of a speech……”

n“Is this matter very important?” Shen Changqing sniffed his nose, then asked.

nThe department head was slightly stunned.

nShen Changqing said worriedly, “Compared to this matter of Mister Zhou having an affair, the other issue is probably more important.”

nThese words directly jabbed at the department head’s concerns. But he wasn’t at all planning on discussing this matter in detail with a dodder flower that wasn’t of great use to him. “Mister Shen, you’ll only be responsible for the part you can be responsible for. We are enough to manage everything else, please don’t worry.”

nShen Changqing’s voice was slightly hesitant, “Really?”

nThe department head hurriedly enforced his point, “You may rest assured.”

n“When will the conference be held?”

n“Soon.”

nShen Changqing said obediently, “I’ll listen to you then.”

nThe department head let of a sigh of relief, “Then Mister Shen, I’ll fax you the rough draft of my speech. Please familiarise yourself with it as soon as possible, as well as the questions that the reporters may ask. I’ve prepared everything for you already.”

nAfter he hung up, Yi Song went to receive the fax.

nAs for Chi Xiaochi, who was regarded as a puppet by everyone, he dutifully played the part of a qualified puppet, going off to pick out the clothes he was going to wear, then turning and going to the bathroom to wash up.

nUnder 061’s daily treatment, his fracture had recovered quite well. As long as he didn’t press on it, it wouldn’t hurt.

nHe began to remove the brace, then put it to the side before moving to a stool to sit down, so as to not slip and fall.

n061, seeing Chi Xiaochi busily setting about on his task alone, couldn’t quite bear it, “Call Yi Song over to help you wash up.”

nEvery day, Yi Song would help him scrub his body clean. Every time he did so would cause incredible discomfort to Chi Xiaochi, and after just ten minutes of washing, he would need half an hour to recover. It was really miserable.

nChi Xiaochi turned on the tap for hot water. Hot water surged down from the shower head.

nHe said confidently, “I’ll do it myself.”

nImmediately after, he choked, getting water up his nose.

nEach cough could be said to be etched into his bones and inscribed on his heart.

nIt was not until energy filled his chest and the pain subsided that Chi Xiaochi was finally able to catch his breath.

nCleaning his body was still alright, it was just that hair was too difficult to manage. No matter whether he used shampoo or just rinsed his hair with water, the action was too difficult for the current Chi Xiaochi.

nNoticing the rare frustrated expression on Chi Xiaochi’s face, 061 let out a helpless laugh, saying, “Just wash your body first. I’ll help you wash your hair.”

nAfter a simple wash, Chi Xiaochi returned to lay the bed according to 061’s instructions, closing his eyes to rest.

nAfter all, this body was injured. Even a simple shower would tire it out.

nHe heard the sound of slowly approaching footsteps. The man locked the door, brought over a stool, put down a basin of warm water and a bottle of shampoo and sat down by the head of the bed.

n061 whispered, “Don’t move.”

nChi Xiaochi really didn’t move, letting a wave of energy wrap him up and smoothly move him to the side of the bed, just nice exposing a small half of his head.

nShen Changqing’s hair hadn’t been cut in a long time. It felt very soft, and was a little long.

n061 gathered up his hair, picked up the comb he’d prepared, and after teasing the knots out of his hair little by little, he lifted up the basin of warm water, dampening the dry tips of his hair bit by bit.

nAs 061 began to massage the shampoo in, Chi Xiaochi, whose scalp was being touched, huddled away uncomfortably for a moment.

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n061 asked, “What’s wrong, did I pull too hard?”

nChi Xiaochi instinctively opened his eyes.

nThe face that appeared in his vision gave Chi Xiaochi a shock. “You……”

nUnexpectedly, 061 was wearing Chi Xiaochi’s own original face. He smiled at him.

nHe asked, “Like this, it’s like you’re washing yourself. Does it feel a little better?”

nChi Xiaochi stared at that face, and gave his comment, “……It’s even weirder now.”

nBut although he didn’t say it, he indeed didn’t feel any of the usual resistance or disgust.

n061 laughed, “Then just close your eyes, and pretend you can’t see.”

nChi Xiaochi closed his eyes.

nWithout his sight, he could feel the warm water flowing through his hair even more clearly, as well as how 061 was massaging shampoo through his hair as lightly as possible. He felt like he had fallen into an old dream.

nHe felt like he had been very fortunate lately.

nWith 061 around, he would often think of Lou-ge, of that distant, happy time.

n……It was satisfying just to think about it.

nUnexpectedly, Chi Xiaochi, who hated people touching his body the most, fell asleep under 061’s slow and careful massage. He woke up to the gentle sound of air blowing out of the hair dryer.

n061 looked down and asked, “Awake?”

nHe’d unexpectedly slept for a while, how nice.

nChi Xiaochi didn’t say anything. 061 also didn’t continue asking any more questions.

nThe warm wind, combined with the feeling of 061’s soft, slender fingers, created a sleepy atmosphere in the room. His other senses were magnified by leaps and bounds. The smell of the Yi Song’s freshly-mown lawn drifted in through the window. The sunlight shone onto the sheets, relaxing his four limbs and muscles.

nOne person and one system spent an hour of quiet and peaceful time together.

nAn hour later, the department head arrived with his assistant outside the villa in his car.

nAfter their experience that day, Yi Song and the rest had already experienced being harassed. Upon receiving the call, they opened the metal gates, allowing the car to directly drive in all the way to the villa’s doorstep.

nThe crime of trespassing wasn’t a small one. The journalists squatting outside didn’t dare to act blindly. They could only stretch out their necks like geese and raise the cameras in their hands, hoping to catch a glimpse of Zhou Kai’s figure.

nThe department head entered the villa and saw Shen Changqing.

nAt first inspection, the department head was extremely satisfied with Shen Changqing’s condition.

nHe was a lot slimmer than the last time he’d seen him. His slender waist was outlined exceptionally clearly by his suit. The colour of the clothes he was wearing was low-key, making his complexion seem even more pale in contrast. He was the very image of a victim disturbed and tormented by the earth-shattering news.

nThe department head seated him in the car and directly drove away.

nThis was Chi Xiaochi’s very first time leaving that beautiful cage since coming to this world.

nShen Changqing sat upright, the speech draft clenched tightly in both hands, “Will it really be okay like this?”

nThe department head comforted him, “Don’t be nervous.”

nHe also asked a few pre-prepared questions. Shen Changqing answered, stuttering, but in any case, it could still be considered appropriate. Despite this, the department head was a little dissatisfied. However, matters had already reached this point and there wasn’t any spokesperson more fit to saving the show than Shen Changqing.

n061, looking at Chi Xiaochi whose ears were red from nervousness, said, “You really like this kind of plot.”

nChi Xiaochi said, “I hate it, this one is incredibly nervous, alright?”

n061 laughed out loud.

nHe couldn’t imagine how Chi Xiaochi could still perfectly maintain the innocent, nervous face of a newbie as he said those kinds of words.

nThe reporters were all already seated, just waiting for Shen Changqing’s arrival.

nAs soon as Shen Changqing took his place on stage, the magnesium lamp lit up in a flash, startling a loud noise out of his throat. He turned a pleading gaze towards the department head.

nThe department head also knew that even though this Mister Shen had started out as a model, he had already been retired from the circle for many years and it had been a long time since he last faced so many reporters. In addition, the situation he had to face could be said to be very important. Him being a little nervous was only natural.

nThe department head pulled the microphone over to himself, cleared his throat and gave a simple pre-conference speech.

nNo one cared at all about what he said. Soon, it was time for the eagerly-awaited section where reporters got to ask questions.

nThis news conference was being broadcasted live on TV and streamed on the internet. At the beginning, the number of real-time viewers was over two hundred thousand. The moment the segment where reporters could ask questions began, it soared all the way to around the four hundred thousands.

nAfter all, while Shen Changqing hadn’t made any racist remarks, he was one of the one of the leads in this sensational news story. People were more concerned about what attitude he was going to take towards Zhou Kai. Would he choose forgiveness, or would he draw a clear line between them?

nSure enough, the first reporter’s question was rather pointed, “Have you seen the sex tape starring Mister Zhou that’s been spreading around the internet?”

nShen Changqing answered in a soft voice, “Yes, I have.”

nThe reporter asked, “Did you know Mister Zhou was bisexual?”

nThis question was within the list of questions prepared by the department head.

nHe looked towards Shen Changqing, his gaze filled with encouragement.

nShen Changqing’s eyes reddened almost instantaneously. “He, he…… I, I didn’t know, he’s been really busy as of late and I, I’ve been injured, no, sick, so I haven’t been together with him for a long time now.”

nThe department head’s face turned green.

nAccording to his prepared answer, Shen Changqing just needed to say he didn’t know.

nThe latter half on his answer was totally drawing legs on the snake!

nAnd the reported immediately caught onto that bit of information from his stammered answer, “You mean that, he, while you were injured, engaged in an improper relationship with Miss Lily? How did you become injured?”

nThe author has something to say:

nChairman Chi: I’m a cute newbie, I don’t know anything, this one is utterly terrified, alright?

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nsere: freedom of speech means no legal repercussions not no repercussions dumbass. ALSO THEY WERE SO CLOSE GDI SO SO SO CLOSE

nbaum: lmao time to start getting used to this orz The tension…

nthanks to Nyurr and Kimikat21 for the ko-fis~

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