1.15 Jealousy is a state of mind

Shu XinYi got out of the shower to find LiFeng in an apron cooking breakfast for him, he must've showered in a different washroom. He went to the kitchen to admire him doing housewife stuff. "Mr.Ken Arai the mastermind CEO of JJ group huh? You cook too well to be a CEO."

"So what CEO's can't cook then? Also is that the way you look at me bunny? "the mastermind CEO" hmm?"

"Well that is the first thing I heard about you soo.."

"It's a meaningless title for me. Leave that, tell me do you want to do an Ad for an energy drink. I am not asking you this as a sponsor. The photographer from that shoot had shown your pictures to someone he knew who called me asking if you are free to be in his ad. So this is not a project related to me but it will help you with your popularity." LiFeng said.

"Hmm.. tell me more about it." Shu XinYi moved to take out the plates from the cabinets to set the table as he heard LiFeng tell him about it "It's a good company I have worked with them before on a project. They are also in partnership this time with the championship organizers so they will have advertisements directly playing in the arena in between matches and also on the broadcast of matches on TV. I think it's a good opportunity for you."

"Okay then I will do it. It's an ad right, so don't I have to audition then?"

"No, in the AD you will be playing basketball and they have already seen your matches. There will be two more players from your team that will be working with you in the Ad. This is not only good for you but for the whole team. We can go today to the set to get the script and signing stuff. The Ad will be completed in the next two days so you will not be able to go to see the matches on those days."

"Okay then that's no problem for me, will you come with me today?"

"Naturally, I'll pick you up from the training arena today so wait for me. Also eat slowly the food is not going to runaway." LiFeng had to comment.

Shu XinYi slowly ate and then went for training after saying good bye and kissing LiFeng. While training he was thinking of how surreal it is that LiFeng and him had started to be together. Although they were together for a little more than 2 months they had already started to understand each other well and the time spent together was too serene like they had already known each other for a lifetime. His whole heart was smiling when he thought of this. He loved that he could be with LiFeng like this was their normal.

He changed into formal clothes that he bought with him after shower and waited for LiFeng outside the arena. Mr.Asahi had already taken his cycle back to the hotel. While he was waiting Shu XinYi felt a hand around his shoulder and heard a carefree voice say "Look at my dear Haruto, isn't he growing up too fast. Hehe you and Mr.Arai are already together right?"

It was Nomura. Shu XinYi flinched a little as he said in a low voice "Tch. do you want to announce that to the world huh. Such a big mouth I wonder how Mr.Kenjiro even puts up with you."

"My Aki is soo gentle with me ofcourse he puts up with my everything patiently. Aah but he is too ruthless in bed, I had literal cramps in training today."

"Good for you, didn't ask that, don't ever wanna know that. Why are you not going back to the hotel?"

"Tch so rude, can't I talk with my dear Haruto for a while (T⌓T). okay okay Mr.Kenjiro is taking me for this Ad shoot so I am waiting for him."

"The energy drink one are you coming too?"

"No no It's for something of Mr.Kenjiro's company. Are you going to for an energy drink Ad shoot. It is not Mr.Arai's company right, it's an other one. I know they asked Mr.Kenjiro for a player too so he gave Akihiko's name ONLY because I said no first humph."

"Oh, so Mr.Kenjiro didn't offer it to you at all right, heh. Don't eat vinegar Nomura, obviously he did that to book you for his own company's shoot so don't be too bothered."

"Yeah yeah whatever humph. I'll serve you some vinegar too. Miss Anzu, she will be coming to this shoot too with both Akihiko and her own sponsor player. She is set on getting Mr.Arai not only because she really does like Mr.Arai but also because it is important for her career and company. Did you know Miss Anzu and Mr.Arai have spent a night together before as well, so who knows what feelings they share no, Also don't ask me how I know this I have my sources."

Shu XinYi kept quiet and thought of LiFeng kissing Miss Anzu. His blood began to boil. No. He can't have that. LiFeng is mine. They spent a night together? okay well that was in the past but I can't allow this to go on. Shu XinYi was a very rational person but at moments like this he will become a petty lover. Finally LiFeng showed up in his black mercedes, Shu XinYi had to admit that his LiFeng was a rich and handsome young man and many would want to covet him just for various purposes, he can't allow that.

He entered the car and didn't say anything indicating he was in a bad mood. LiFeng instantly understood asking him gently "How was your day? Did the training go well?"

Shu XinYi just hummed saying it was okay. LiFeng couldn't find the answer he needed so he just tried to improve his mood.

LiFeng handed Haruto a report saying "The new collection was officially launched today, you got amazing response. The online store has sold 1000 articles in the first hour especially the one's you wore. I guess you managed to impress a lot of people while playing. Good work little bunny."

Shu XinYi's heart skipped a beat he finally couldn't hold back anymore saying "Did you and Miss Anzu sleep together previously?"

LiFeng paused his movements a little, he was not startled he was just touched. Is bunny .. jealous? "It was two years ago, I have no excuse. I don't share any sort of feelings for her, not then and nor now."

Shu XinYi was a bit relieved but then he said in a low voice almost to himself "Then what sort of feelings do you have for me?" LiFeng really was taken aback this time. He didn't say anything not because he didn't have an answer but because he was not sure if he had it in himself to say it. Shu XinYi didn't question him again and gave him some time and let him be. He doesn't want to force a confession out of LiFeng.

They reached the shoot location. The set was unsurprisingly a basketball court. They met the director, who was infatuated with Haruto on the first meeting. He took them to a meeting room where they will be discussing the script. Miss Anzu, Akihiko and an other player from their team was already present.

They greeted each other and started to discuss. The director was very strict and made sure that every detail was written down in their heads. After discussing with them he said he will leave for a while to bring the contracts, leaving the room up for drama to ensue.

"Ken aren't you very leisurely, personally accompanying your sponsor here. Is it that the CEO of JJ group has no work to do or do you believe that your sponsor doesn't even know how to handle a little Ad by himself?" Miss Anzu always maintained her manners but at this moment she was really irritated. For the past two months she hadn't spent even 2 hours with Mr.Arai, while for this boy he accompanied him himself all the way to a mere Ad shoot.

LiFeng looked at Miss Anzu leisurely replying "Do you have a problem with me accompanying my person?"

Miss Anzu made a pained face for a second but then she said calmly "Your person? Isn't he just your sponsor client why call him "my person?"

Shu XinYi looked at her with a raised eyebrow and then looked at the script in his hands as he heard LiFeng say in a calm voice "He is my person so naturally I will call him that. He can be my person and my client at the same time."

Shu XinYi's face turned red and his heart beat fastened. Akihiko's face was also red but from anger, he looked at Haruto for him to refute his statement but he saw a shy blushed face further confirming Mr.Arai's words.

Miss Anzu looked at the embarrassed boy and then at Mr.Arai who was looking at the boy with a gentle smile. She said with a shaky voice "So are you two together?"

Mr.Arai looked at her with sharp eyes and a really cold face saying "Yes, He is mine. None of us here is a child so you should know what to speak and what to not." Everyone in the room, even Shu XinYi, shuddered at his words. His face was flushed hot and his breathing had become difficult. He looked up to LiFeng only to find gentle eyes looking at him. His heart settled a little as LiFeng held his hand and told him to relax.

Akihiko was in a daze, he wanted to burn this entire room including himself. This shouldn't happen, Haruto is mine. His mind was going blank. He said "Huh look at you Haruto, always so efficient in getting what you want. Mr.Arai don't be too optimistic he has a use for you right now. Once you are useless he will break up with you over anything."

Shu XinYi saw as LiFeng's hand tightened in anger, he didn't want Akihiko to get what he wanted and right now he wanted to be reprimanded to be hated especially by Haruto. So Shu XinYi said before LiFeng could say anything "Yes I do want Mr.Arai and you have no say in what kind of future we hold Akihiko. I will let you know that whatever we do, will have it's consequences, so I will not do something that will harm me or my relationship."

Shu XinYi felt LiFeng calm down at his words. He held his hand firmly and sat silently. Akihiko's face burned , he felt like he had been slapped a thousand times. If only he was vary of his actions and consequences then Haruto would be sitting with him holding his hand. He wants Haruto to hate him but Haruto only makes him hate himself even more. Not even blaming him. It's pathetic. Too pathetic.

The director came back with the contract to see an odd mood in the room. The other player was desperately trying his best to forget whatever happened today to avoid getting in unnecessary trouble. They signed the contract and settled the shooting times for the next two days. Shu XinYi was in a very good mood in the car so was LiFeng. Both of them had assured each other about their insecurities today.

"Do you not like wearing rings?" LiFeng asked while they were driving.

"Huh, no I do just that I have training everyday and I am playing so I don't wear it on my finger but around my neck."

"Then did you really bought this one for me?"

"Yes, A few days after I met you, I went for shopping and saw this ring and I thought I want to see that on my lover's hand. So I bought it. It was so bloody expensive I had to make them save me the ring for a day before I arranged the money. So you better like it. Aah! what if it doesn't fit." Shu XinYi had started to panic.

LiFeng laughed a little and pinched the boy's ear saying "Then let me try right now then we'll know won't we?"

Shu XinYi nodded and asked for his hands. first finger no , second finger obviously no, third finger goes in smoothly. Shu XinYi was a little shocked. It went in too perfectly like he had the bought the ring specifically for this finger on LiFeng's hands. He looked up to LiFeng who said to him "This fits really well, I like it. Do you?"

Shu XinYi looked at the hands that were bigger than his own but still had slender well defined bone structure. The jade white skin, The firm fingers, blue veins travelling across. The black ring with blue stones contrasted too well. Beautiful to look at. Shu XinYi kissed the place just below the ring and said in a low voice "Looks good."

He let go of LiFeng's hands to let him drive properly and looked out the window. He didn't take the ring back. As he said he wanted to see the ring on his lover's hands and he liked it there.

For the next two days LiFeng accompanied him to the shoots. The three players had to inform the coaches about their shoot and that they will not be going to see other teams's matches. The Ad was pretty simple to shoot where they had to play a little bad and be in a losing situation then they drink the energy drinks then they play good. A pretty easy very generic Ad but it was just this that is able to catch eyes. Especially in this scenario.

Both Akihiko and Miss Anzu saw that Mr.Arai was wearing a ring that the boy previously wore around his neck. Akihiko remembered the day they broke up and Haruto had shown him the same ring saying he wanted to see it on his lover's hands. His heart hurt too much. His face felt hot with anger, shame and guilt. He can't even reach Haruto much less make Haruto love him again. that day he cried again in his room like a lost puppy.

After the shooting was finished they had a match next day.

The coaches had improved their training by a lot after their last game pointing out all inconsistencies. The match went pretty smoothly, Haruto played for the whole first half and had firm control over the court and they had an easy victory. The opposite team was losing their patience and tried very hard, this made them make silly mistakes and fowls.

The Ad for the energy drink was played in the break not only that but they had stalls selling the energy drinks on location. Half of the audience had already bought the energy drinks, this also showed that they supported their team. Shu XinYi was happy to play today as LiFeng had come to watch him. They looked at each other form time to time and smiled.

Shu XinYi showered and changed then walked back to the court. He took the lychee flavored energy drink and went to the VIP sitting area where LiFeng was sitting after the match. They would stay to watch the second match of the day.

He sat down beside LiFeng drinking the energy drink then offered it to LiFeng saying "This product is actually good wanna drink."

LiFeng took the bottle from his hands and drank saying "Hmn it's good."

They silently watched the match, well Shu XinYi was watching the match while LiFeng was watching him. The second match also ended and everyone went back. Shu XinYi entered the pent house. He was really tired today since the last 3 days had been very buzy. So he directly went to lay on the bed. Almost all his things had been transferred to the penthouse from his room one by one. Now he didn't even go to his room except to bring things out.

LiFeng went to make dinner and let the boy have some rest. He made some beef burgers that were not high fat. He woke up the boy and told him to wash his hands and face and then come to eat. Even though they were just beef burgers Shu XinYi ate mouthful after mouthful enjoying every bit of taste. LiFeng really does have some talent for cooking. For a glutton like himself this was the best selling point.

After dinner Shu XinYi watched some shows on the TV while LiFeng answered some emails. Shu XinYi felt that he had eaten a lot so he said he was going out side to take a walk. LiFeng got up asking "Can I come too?" Shu XinYi nodded and both of them went out of the hotel for a walk. After coming back Shu xinYi slept as soon as he hit the bed.