Chapter Text
Poverty wasn't just a lack of money for Gaotu; it was a relentless, suffocating shadow that haunted his every move. He was drowning in a sea of exhaustion, his life measured in the grueling increments of four back-to-back part-time jobs. Every cent he earned was a drop of water cast into the inferno of his sister’s mounting medical bills—a mountain of debt so steep he could no longer see the summit.
Despite his brilliance, his world felt precarious; he had fought to secure a prestigious scholarship, but now he was white-knuckling his way through his studies, struggling to maintain the grades required to keep it while his body withered from overwork. On the worst nights, when his bones ached with a deep, hollow fatigue, dinner was nothing more than a cup of lukewarm tap water—a "warm meal" meant to trick his stomach into silence so he could steal a few hours of fitful sleep before the cycle of survival began again.
Then he met Shaoyou, a walking contradiction who appeared in Gaotu’s life like a fever dream during a sociology project. Shaoyou claimed to be just another scholarship student from a remote, rural village in China, yet the reality of him told a far more expensive story. He carried fountain pens that cost more than Gaotu’s monthly rent and disappeared into the driver’s seat of a sleek, obsidian sedan at the end of every lecture.
Despite the blinding glare of his hidden wealth, Shaoyou was disarmingly humble. He never flaunted his status; instead, he was the first to offer a genuine, warm smile, often slipping his meticulously organized notes or high-end snacks onto Gaotu’s desk with a casual grace. To Gaotu, Shaoyou was a mystery wrapped in silk—a glimpse into a world of comfort he couldn't begin to imagine.
One rainy evening, the dam finally broke. Under the rhythmic, oppressive drumming of a downpour, Gaotu crumbled. He confessed everything—the bone-deep exhaustion, the paralyzing fear of his sister being evicted from her hospital bed, and the suffocating hopelessness that made every breath feel like a chore.
Shaoyou listened with a stillness that was almost eerie, but then he let out a soft, dramatic sigh and reached across the table to pat Gaotu’s hand.
"Oh, honey, stop," Shaoyou said, his voice dropping to a smooth, clinical whisper that was punctuated by a playful little wink. "You’re far too pretty to be this stressed. It’s bad for the skin, and we simply can’t have that."
He leaned in closer, his eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint. "I can recommend a job. Think of it as a...High-Level Social Liaison? It’s for men who are so powerful they’ve forgotten how to walk into a room alone. They don't need a boring bodyguard; they need an intellectual equal. You’d be his shadow in the boardroom and his voice at the gala—essentially, you’re the 'brainy arm-candy' they can actually talk to."
Gaotu’s tired mind jumped to high-stakes PR or executive assisting, his heart leaping at the chance for a dignified escape. Shaoyou giggled, a bright, bubbly sound that felt strangely out of place in the gloomy cafe.
"Exactly!" Shaoyou chirped, painting a picture of elite networking and international trade discussions. He spoke of the pay in vague but staggering terms—a single 'retainer' fee that eclipsed what Gaotu earned in half a year of back-breaking labor. "You'll be swimming in cash, Gaotu. You can buy your sister the whole hospital if you want!"
"It’s a world of extreme privacy, of course," Shaoyou added, his smile flickering with a hint of something hidden as he leaned back and twirled a expensive-looking pen between his fingers. "You have to be eloquent, polished, and ready to adapt to whatever the client requires for his... public image. The downsides? Just some long hours and being very, very quiet about it all. But the security it provides? Absolute."
Gaotu clung to the words 'Social Liaison' like a life raft, never noticing the predator-like gleam behind Shaoyou’s playful grin as the omega began to mentally catalog Gaotu’s measurements.
"Don't look so worried!" Shaoyou teased, poking Gaotu's cheek. "With that face and my coaching, you'll have them eating out of the palm of your hand. Now, let's get you some real food—tap water isn't a personality trait, babe."
For the next week, Shaoyou transformed into a relentless, high-fashion drill sergeant. He spent hours teaching Gaotu how to walk with a rhythmic, measured grace and how to discuss complex market trends with a quiet, alluring confidence that felt more like a flirtation than a lecture.
"No, no! Stop looking like you’re calculating a tip," Shaoyou laughed, playfully slapping Gaotu’s hands away from his fidgeting buttons. "You’re an intellectual luxury, Gaotu. Look at me—tilt your chin up. There. That’s the 'I know your net worth and I’m unimpressed' look I want!"
Through Shaoyou’s own benefactor—the terrifyingly powerful S-class Alpha Hua Yong—an interview was finally secured with the legendary Shen Wen Lang. As they stood in the sleek, intimidating lobby of the Alpha's headquarters, Gaotu felt his heart hammering a frantic rhythm against his ribs. His hands were ice-cold, and his breath was coming in shallow hitches.
"I can't do this, Shaoyou," Gaotu whispered, his voice cracking. "I'm just a student. What if he sees right through me?"
Shaoyou let out a bright, bubbly giggle and reached over to adjust Gaotu’s tie with a playful tug. "Oh, hush! You look delicious. He’s going to be too busy looking at your bone structure to worry about your resume."
But as the elevator chimed, Shaoyou’s expression turned mischievous. He leaned in close to Gaotu’s ear, his voice a teasing purr. "Oh, I almost forgot a tiny detail! He’s in his fifties. A bit of a classic vintage, you know?"
Gaotu’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head. "Fifties?! Shaoyou, you didn't say—"
"Shh!" Shaoyou pressed a finger to Gaotu’s lips, winking as the doors began to slide open. "Just ignore the age, babe. Close your eyes and think of the mountain of cash. Focus on the paycheck, and remember: Daddy—I mean, Mr. Shen—likes a good listener. Now go get 'em, bunny!"
With a final, playful shove, and almost shameless Go! Go! Go! from Shaoyou, Shaoyou sent a terrified Gaotu stumbling out into the plush, silent corridor of the penthouse office.