Exclusive Model for the Top Painter Chapter 45

Mature and Youthful Love

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Since the kidnapping, Ji Xiuyuan's level of protection for Liang Jin's personal safety has been exaggerated to the point of being frightening.

First of all, he had six bodyguards who travelled with him: one who drove, one who accompanied him, and the remaining four in plain clothes who followed him in the crowd.

Liang Jin once wondered about their backgrounds. The driver said: "I'm an ex-soldier." The bearded bodyguard accompanying him said: "I used to be a mercenary in Iraq, throwing hand grenades and carrying rocket launchers."

What left Liang Jin most speechless was that Ji Xiuyuan had actually installed a camera on him!

In fact, it wasn't really a camera, but some kind of high-tech product. It was disguised as an earring and was worn on his right ear. It had GPS positioning, recording, camera and alarm functions, and was also solar powered with unlimited battery life.

In truth, Liang Jin didn't much like the feeling of being watched, but it came from Ji Shen's love: one should always spoil their wife. Liang Jin thought that if this would give him some peace of mind, he would be able to accept it no matter what.

The night he returned from the police station, Ji Xiuyuan kept hugging him and said many touching words of love. During the night, if he rolled over, Ji Xiuyuan would immediately wake up, grab his wrist and ask nervously, "Xiao Jin, where are you going?"

Liang Jin could only helplessly kiss his face, "I'm not going anywhere, I'm right next to you."

After a week, this situation finally improved a little.

It was because Kotter Art had finally declared bankruptcy and its owner, Zhang Yuanqing, had been jailed for his involvement in unfair competition and a number of criminal cases.

When Liang Jin asked Ji Xiuyuan how many years Zhang Yuanqing had been sentenced to,

Ji Xiuyuan sipped his coffee, his tone calm and indifferent: "He'll never get out."

Silently lighting a candle for Zhang Yuanqing in his heart, Liang Jin said, "Ji Shen, I have something I want to discuss with you."

"Hmm?"

"Since the crisis has been resolved, the bodyguards and such can be removed, right?"

"No."

"Can I take off the earring? I feel a bit weird wearing it! It's like being live 24/7!"

"It's okay, I'm the only one who can see it."

"But!" Liang Jin persuaded, "I think lovers should maintain a sense of mystery between them, is it fun to watch me every day?"

"Xiao Jin, watching your daily routine is my favourite pastime after work. Saying it like this, can you understand?"

"... I can't!"

Ji Xiuyuan laughed softly and changed the subject, "Xiao Jin, I recently received an offer for a new painting that I think is quite interesting."

"What kind of painting?"

"Platonic love." Ji Xiuyuan said, "In ancient Greece, homosexual love was a fashion and was considered a noble pursuit. Plato wrote in the 'Symposium' that men in love are willing to do anything for the teenager they are infatuated with, no matter what the cost."

"I think you're well suited for living in ancient Greece."

"I think so too," Ji Xiuyuan said against his ear, "in Crete, the law even allows adult males to abduct teenagers for love. Would you like to be abducted by me, Xiao Jin?"

"Be serious, why do I get the feeling that you're making this up to trick me?"

Ji Xiuyuan sat him on his lap, "Xiao Jin, when have I ever lied to you? Hmm?"

Liang Jin bit him on the chin, "Ji Shen, I have one more thing I want to discuss with you!"

"Hm."

"That is! When my dad and I were on a video call yesterday, he saw the ring on my hand and then found out about our marriage. Then, he said that according to our old Liang family's tradition, when we get married, we have to have a banquet in our hometown!"

"So?"

"So, he wants to have a Chinese-style wedding in our hometown, C City. Actually, it's just inviting people for a meal and a good time. Of course, there's no need to invite people who aren't involved, it's mainly because he wants to make a show of it."

"Okay."

Liang Jin was immediately baffled, he did not expect Ji Xiuyuan to agree so quickly. In theory, what he disliked the most was that kind of frenzied occasion and the trivialities of parents: "You... don't need to think about it again?"

"Why do I need to think about it? Has the hotel been confirmed?"

"Not yet."

"One of Tian Han's subsidiaries happens to be in hotel management, based in A City, with a branch in C City as well. I'll ask them later if they can arrange it."

"Ah, that's great!" Liang Jin threw his arms around Ji Xiuyuan's neck and said excitedly, "Ji Shen! I can finally bring you home!"

———

Ji Xiuyuan called and asked Wu Yongyan, the director of Donghuai Hotel, about making arrangements for the wedding banquet. The latter did not expect to hear from him at all, and answered his questions in detail and assured him that if Ji Xiuyuan chose their hotel, all services would be perfect.

The Donghuai Hotel was only one of the subsidiaries controlled by Tian Han Group, and it would normally be very difficult for Wu Yongyan to meet the chairman. This time, he caught such an opportunity and naturally, he would not let it go easily. On the pretext of discussing the matter, Wu Yongyan insisted on inviting them for dinner, and the time was set for this evening.

Ji Xiuyuan was also very keen on this matter, so he agreed.

That night, the dinner was held at a famous restaurant in A City.

Wu Yongyan warmly received the two and professionally listed a dozen wedding banquet proposals for Ji Xiuyuan to choose from. Liang Jin couldn't really see the point, he felt that as long as the event went smoothly, it would be fine.

Ji Xiuyuan once again brought out that cautious attitude of choosing a ring and carefully examined them. Liang Jin was bored of listening, and Ji Xiuyuan wouldn't let him drink, so he kept drinking his drink and had to go to the washroom afterwards.

To his surprise, he actually ran into Shu Yue in the washroom.

"Brother! Why are you here?"

"I came with Ji Shen to discuss some matters, what about you?"

"I'm following Zhou Hai to a dinner party!" Shu Yue suddenly lowered his voice: "Brother, do you remember the plan I told you about last time?"

"What plan?"

"To put something in his wine!"

"Are you really going to do it?"

"It's not nonsense, I've got all the materials!" Shu Yue took out a small packet of white powder from his pocket, "It's colourless, tasteless, without any added preservatives, safe and non-toxic..."

Liang Jin interrupted him, "Are you advertising here?"

Shu Yue smiled, "I'm just a bit nervous."

"What the hell is this stuff?" Liang Jin said, "Don't do anything illegal, or it will be confiscated from you."

"How can it be!" Shu Yue emphasised, "It's just that stuff from the adult shop, you know! Put a whole packet of it in him, and then he won't be able to feel comfortable all night, ha ha ha ha!"

Liang Jin: "I think this idea of yours is very dangerous."

Shu Yue: "Dangerous? I think it's exciting! I'm already itching to try it out! Brother, wait for my good news!"

After saying goodbye to Liang Jin, Shu Yue went back to the room and sat next to Zhou Hai.

Zhou Hai was having a drink with Mr. Li, the head of the other company.

With a big belly, Mr. Li said proudly, "Mr. Zhou, if this project is handed over to you, we will be friends for life, and we will share all the blessings and difficulties. I've heard that you're a big drinker, so let's test it out tonight and see who gets knocked out first! If you can get me drunk, I'll sign a contract with you right away!"

Zhou Hai raised his glass to him, "A gentleman's word is a promise, Mr. Li, you have to keep your word."

Mr. Li smiled and said, "Naturally!"

Zhou Hai put his glass down on the table and said to Shu Yue, "Pour the wine."

Shu Yue coughed and deliberately raised his voice, "Mr. Zhou, Mr. Li, don't you think this glass is a bit small? Since we are brothers, we should drink to our heart's content! It's no fun to have such a small glass, if you are a man, you should drink from a big bowl and eat meat in big mouthfuls!!!"

Mr. Li was already a bit drunk, so he immediately agreed, "Okay! That's a good point!" He turned to his assistant and said, "Go over there and give me that big bowl to fill with wine!"

Zhou Hai looked at Shu Yue with a meaningful gaze. Normally, such a look would mean a deduction of salary.

But Shu Yue ignored it and said with a smile, "Mr. Zhou, I'll get you a bowl to fill with wine too, we can't lose our momentum!"

He ran to the cupboard and grabbed a huge bowl from inside. Turning his back on the group of people talking and laughing over the meal, he quietly poured in the white powder. Afterwards, he quickly poured in the wine and stirred it.

After waiting for the substance to completely dissolve in the wine, he brought it to Zhou Hai with a cheerful face: "Mr Zhou, your wine is here!"

Zhou Hai said, "Mhmm, put it aside for now."

"Ah, aren't you going to drink it?"

"You really want me to drink it?"

"No, no, no, no."

The wine was also poured on Mr Li's side, and he said to Shu Yue, "This little brother, I admire you very much. What you said just now was so wonderful! I must have a bowl of wine with you!"

Zhou Hai smiled and whispered to him, "Did you hear that? Quickly toast Mr. Li."

"Oh, then I'll get another bowl."

"No need, just drink from the bowl on the table."

Cold sweat broke out on Shu Yue's forehead and he hastily refused, "No, no, this is specially prepared for you!"

Zhou Hai frowned, "I haven't drunk it yet, what are you talking about?"

Shu Yue reluctantly picked up the bowl of wine with the drug powder, thinking to put it in his mouth and spit it out later in the bathroom, "Mr. Li, thank you for admiring me! Thank you so much!"

Mr. Li tilted his head back and finished a large bowl of wine, showing the empty bottom of the bowl to Zhou Hai's side.

With a pained expression, Shu Yue took a small sip and held it in his mouth, intending to find an excuse to go to the washroom.

Zhou Hai ordered, "Finish it."

Shu Yue internally complained: ! Zhou Hai! I cannot exist together with you!!!

Under the collective gaze of the whole table, Shu Yue had to drink the bowl of wine with tears in his eyes. Afterwards, he silently prayed that the drug would take effect very slowly!

During the second half of the banquet, Shu Yue stayed quietly in the corner, as if he was a transparent person.

After the dinner, on the way to the underground garage, he followed behind Zhou Hai without saying a word.

As his assistant, Shu Yue took on the task of carrying his boss's bag. After getting into the car, when Zhou Hai took the briefcase from Shu Yue's hand, he touched his palm and it was unusually hot.

He was surprised and held Shu Yue's wrist: "You have a fever?"

Shu Yue violently shook him off: "Get off! Don't bother me! Hurry up and take me home!"

Zhou Hai seemed to have suddenly understood something: "You're like this, how can you solve it at home?"

"None of your business!!!"

At around eleven o'clock at night, Liang Jin sent a message asking about Shu Yue's progress.

Shu Yue replied, "From now on, I don't want to live under the same sky as him!!!!

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

Please feel free to comment any mistakes I made so I can improve and do better as I go through the book.

Translated: June 26, 2023