"Zen, you can back out and let me bid.” Hayden smacked his lips together and raised his head to stare at Zenos seriously; his actions of helping Zenos fix the apron came to a pause.Hayden saying this… It's not that Hayden looked down on or underestimated Zenos' ability to make a turducken. After all, Zen is the best, and Zen is a multi-talented genius.It's just that Zenos has been busy dealing with company work since the past week, and Zenos doing this means that Zenos won't be able to complete the work he had to do during this time.This means that Zenos has extended his work, and the time Zenos is supposed to spend resting will be spent completing the work.Furthermore, judging by the details on the web and cooking recipes, Turducken requires focus and patience, which means that at the end of the day, Zenos will be tired.Zenos is already busy dealing with work, and Hayden has been trying to make Zenos rest; the thought of adding Turducken to all this chaos doesn't sit well with H
The Heart product that the sweet tongue Hayden was completely obsessed with was a completely new product and brand Zenos created solely because of Hayden's sweet tongue. Months ago, when Zenos first presented the new product to the shareholders, the product idea was completely opposed by a lot of shareholders. After all, the company has always done something different, so why would their company stoop so low to do something risky and low like creating junk like chocolate, cookies, etc.? What if it doesn't sell? Regardless of the shareholders' disgruntlement and rejections, Zenos went on to launch the product with his resources. Even though Heart was just a product that was launched in less than one month with no advertisement made, it broke world record sales and became the nation's favorite and the most expected snack brand in the country in less than a month! By then, the shareholders who all went against it could only bite their fingers in regret. Seeing the huge profits that
The sensor-activated range hood and air purifiers already began to operate after detecting the exuding smoke. Due to the fact that he had returned to the study, Zenos hadn't heard the timer finish its timer countdown, so the oven continued to work. Zenos pulled open the oven, and his expression changed upon seeing the Turducken's current state. The expected crispy brown turkey is now burnt and dark, its edges slightly blackened. A sense of dread hit Zenos immediately. The boy already warned Zenos not to mess things up, or else he'll be really infuriated. The boy's infuriated expression immediately appeared in Zenos' mind, and his heart sank. If the turkey skin is burnt, then the inside…Zenos grabbed a knife and sliced the turkey, clearly hoping that the damage was minimal. His expression slipped upon noticing that the turkey meat was dry around the edges, its moisture beginning to evaporate. The outer layer of the duck is overcooked and drier than it should be. However, th
PROLOGUEYears back On the outskirts of the city, the road was deserted with hardly any cars passing by except an expensive car that was parked near the road. Heavy rain was falling, and it was very chilly that late afternoon. “Mom! Please don't leave!” A little boy of 6 years who was just dropped from an expensive car cried out, he was afraid of the things to come if his mother dumped him in an unknown and deserted place where there appears to be no signs of humans. The little boy was a bit thin and malnourished, he was dressed in dirty and worn-out clothing from head to toe, but that couldn't even hide his handsome and noble expression. He cried out pitifully with tears streaming down his handsome little face. He was trying to pull the woman's gown, but the woman looked unfazed, dressed in expensive luxury from up to down, she coldly pushed the small boy away with contempt and disgust written on her face while the guards watched everything nonchalantly. The woman pushed the boy
“When is that little doctor coming back?” Zenos questioned as he made his way to the club's private lobby calmly amidst ambient lighting, blasting music, making out couples, dancing and sweating bodies, etc. He coldly ignored the people who were batting their eyes at him seductively. Thinking that it would help Zenos relax and let out steam as the search engine said; Zenos's friends decided to drag him to a popular club in the city to make him lose his composure and probably act like the teen he is or hopefully finds someone who'd catch his eyes.“Michael is older than you!” Jude interrupted with amusement, making Zenos scoff at him. A dancing girl passed by them while throwing a flirtatious gaze.“He should be back before next week, his seminar has been extended,” Sean said calmly while eating a banana. David and Jude shook their heads at Sean's eating fruit habit, but it's known among them that messing with Sean's fruit is equal to looking for death, which made them unable to do a
The loud noise didn't resonate well with Hayden, but the excitement pictured on Andy's face made him keep his shut. Besides, he'll be meeting Rose, the girl he has been courting for almost 2 weeks in a few minutes which made him a little eager. Suddenly, Hayden's whole body screamed alert as he felt like he was being watched by an intense gaze. After being occasionally targeted, he tends to know when danger is near, but subconsciously he found himself relaxing because the gaze doesn't mean danger, instead it kind of brings a safe feeling to him. Hayden lifted his head to look in the direction of the intense gaze, but seeing numerous people and the inability to see those people's faces, he turned and walked away while holding Andy's hand.“Invite to the dancing room. Mr., be my partner!” Andy said with a laugh as he bowed playfully. Hayden smacked Andy's hand away. “Be serious”. Hayden warned coldly and then dragged him towards the bartender amidst dancing bodies and a flirtatio
Hayden can't help thinking if that man was the real predator and just pretended to be his knight last night. Hayden's brows soon furrowed at his stupid thought. What was he thinking? How can a man be a man's knight? He started scolding himself inwardly.“You've forgotten?” The stranger finally replied to the blond with a pale face question but with a chilling voice, furrowed brows, and a cold expression that made no sense to Hayden. Why is he annoyed at him? Hayden thought. Shouldn't he be the one who should be angry that he was taken advantage of when he was drunk? He glared at the stranger. Zenos solemnly stared at the boy who they had both rolled around in the sheet last night, to think that the boy did not remember everything he said and did, annoyed and pained him even if they just met last night, and it was a one-night stand. Hayden's mouth turns dry, and shivers run through his spine with the cold tone the stranger uses to talk to him. Just two words sent chills down Hayd
Zenos scoffed in amusement. “Unbeneficial to you? You're the one at a loss? When did it become your turn to claim those words? Who was the one crying, begging, and panting for more, faster while I do the work?”. Zenos accused, making the multiple feelings coursing through Hayden disperse as he began to blush in embarrassment.“Never, I didn't say it!” Hayden cried out in denial, flustered. He glared at Zenos for making him lose the composure he was trying to gather easily.“You don't like to admit it, do you?” Zenos was able to point out Hayden's behavior easily.“It's true that it was not beneficial to me. My back was the one not functioning now, not yours.” He complained in annoyance.“Unbeneficial to you, you said again?” Zenos strides toward Hayden, who's glaring at him, and holds his (H) chin with a dark expression. “You have lots of courage, young boy.”“Stop calling me a young boy,” Hayden said irritatedly and smacked Zenos's hand away. “Don't act as if you're that much older
The sensor-activated range hood and air purifiers already began to operate after detecting the exuding smoke. Due to the fact that he had returned to the study, Zenos hadn't heard the timer finish its timer countdown, so the oven continued to work. Zenos pulled open the oven, and his expression changed upon seeing the Turducken's current state. The expected crispy brown turkey is now burnt and dark, its edges slightly blackened. A sense of dread hit Zenos immediately. The boy already warned Zenos not to mess things up, or else he'll be really infuriated. The boy's infuriated expression immediately appeared in Zenos' mind, and his heart sank. If the turkey skin is burnt, then the inside…Zenos grabbed a knife and sliced the turkey, clearly hoping that the damage was minimal. His expression slipped upon noticing that the turkey meat was dry around the edges, its moisture beginning to evaporate. The outer layer of the duck is overcooked and drier than it should be. However, th
The Heart product that the sweet tongue Hayden was completely obsessed with was a completely new product and brand Zenos created solely because of Hayden's sweet tongue. Months ago, when Zenos first presented the new product to the shareholders, the product idea was completely opposed by a lot of shareholders. After all, the company has always done something different, so why would their company stoop so low to do something risky and low like creating junk like chocolate, cookies, etc.? What if it doesn't sell? Regardless of the shareholders' disgruntlement and rejections, Zenos went on to launch the product with his resources. Even though Heart was just a product that was launched in less than one month with no advertisement made, it broke world record sales and became the nation's favorite and the most expected snack brand in the country in less than a month! By then, the shareholders who all went against it could only bite their fingers in regret. Seeing the huge profits that
"Zen, you can back out and let me bid.” Hayden smacked his lips together and raised his head to stare at Zenos seriously; his actions of helping Zenos fix the apron came to a pause.Hayden saying this… It's not that Hayden looked down on or underestimated Zenos' ability to make a turducken. After all, Zen is the best, and Zen is a multi-talented genius.It's just that Zenos has been busy dealing with company work since the past week, and Zenos doing this means that Zenos won't be able to complete the work he had to do during this time.This means that Zenos has extended his work, and the time Zenos is supposed to spend resting will be spent completing the work.Furthermore, judging by the details on the web and cooking recipes, Turducken requires focus and patience, which means that at the end of the day, Zenos will be tired.Zenos is already busy dealing with work, and Hayden has been trying to make Zenos rest; the thought of adding Turducken to all this chaos doesn't sit well with H
Hayden hummed rhythmically and shook his perky butt to the tune, his hands drawing and painting and his eyes fixated on the drawing.Suddenly, Hayden's phone alarm rang, interjecting Hayden's actions.Upon hearing the alarm sound, Hayden straightened his back, carefully took the painting, and hid it at the back of the shelf.Immediately, Hayden returned to the board and took out another paper. He began to doodle on the paper and resume his humming and shaking.Zenos silently opened the door and stepped into the gallery in order not to disturb someone. Upon seeing the enticing sight of Hayden shaking his butt while humming rhythmically, Zenos paused and gulped.Immediately, Zenos strode toward the boy and smacked his perky butt, albeit gently.Hayden's face flushed, and his ear turned red. He straightened his back and turned back to glare at Zenos fiercely. "What was that for?" He uttered with a harrumph.Zenos extended his hands and hugged Hayden from behind, his hands slowly massagin
“Hm.” Hayden stroked his chin, his green eyes darting about his big gallery. Hayden had done today's part of the painting, which means he’s halfway done. Upon seeing the slowly forming Zenos sitting majestically, his upper body bare while holding a flushing Hayden in his embrace, Hayden’s eyes turned red, and he lowered his head bashfully as if he were in Zenos' presence. Suddenly, Hayden shook his head and snapped out of it. His eyes darting around the room Where to put it? Zenos can’t see this painting. Certainly, can’t. Once Zenos sees it, Zenos will poke Hayden’s waist cruelly and call Hayden the little-dirty thinker. Huff. As if he ever thought dirty. Maybe he did once. Not certainly once. Twice… Not.Hayden snapped out of his thoughts and puffed his cheeks out. Not againSo… Yes, he has to hide this gift from Zenos.Moreover, this is a gift, so Zenos can’t see it so early, or else how will it be a surprise?Upon thinking like this, Hayden narrowed his eyes and brushed the
The minute Hayden finalized his words, Hayden’s little heart was caught in his throat. He eyed Zenos’s expression and body reaction, and when Hayden saw Zenos very calm, Hayden’s little heart regained its calmness, and Hayden exhaled in relief.Wanting to clear himself off, Hayden pressed his lips and wrinkled his brows in grievances. He uttered with a wrinkled frown, "I didn't know he had those thoughts and obsessions toward this young master. Zen, I’m just being good.” He finalized.Even after warning that bastard, who knew Justin would be too confident in his thoughts and continue with his stupid chasing—almost leading Hayden into trouble?Zenos is Hayden’s life, and Zenos is everything better than Justin; why will Hayden dump his lovely and straightforward Zenos for that sly Justin? Hayden isn’t blind at all!It's just like Mason, Caleb, Craig, Simon, and Philip warned. That Justin is indeed a snake! This young master has to endure a painful bath because of Justin, that scum! Huff
Justin paused in front of the jock’s allocated classroom while carefully holding a lunchbox in hand. Seeing nobody in the classroom, his eyes lit up, and he strode toward the door to twist the doorknob. Unfortunately, before he could...“Hey. What are you doing?” The sudden, cold voice of Craig made Justin freeze and pause in his tracks. Justin turned toward the person, and a trail of chills coursed down his spine when he saw the cold expression of the person who had just spoken.Craig ran his hand through his hair and eyed the punk coldly. "Get lost.” He asserted.Justin lowered his head and pushed the lunchbox forward, his hands trembling and his breath shaky. He stuttered, “I. I…”Hayden, who had just returned from the football field, arched his brows upon hearing the sudden bellowing from Craig. He jogged toward Craig and threw his hands around Craig’s shoulder. Without paying attention to other things, he queried, "What's up, Craig?""Nothing." Immediately, Craig pointed his ch
Before the man's punch could successfully touch Hayden’s face, a bodyguard suddenly grabbed the uncouth hooligan's fist. Immediately, the bodyguard threw a punch at the hooligan's stomach. His actions resulted in the hooligan collapsing onto the floor, blood spilling heavily past his mouth. Immediately, the hooligan fainted.Hayden clicked his tongue and shook his head while sighing dramatically. “Haha. You'll beat this young master to death? With that meager strength? This young master is truly impressed.” Immediately, Hayden cupped his fist and faked a bow as if to convey how impressed he was.The other hooligans' expressions changed immediately, and traces of fear flickered past their eyes. It turns out that this brat's actions weren’t just done randomly; the brat had always had backing!In fact, none other than the three of them knows about each other's strengths so well. Yet the formidable number 3 was knocked down by just a punch. Even without thinking, they knew that they coul
"Punk, do you want to die? I'm telling you, if you and that asshole of your father don’t pay up our money, we'll bundle you up and sell you off. You look so useless; your face will certainly make money." A rough and harsh voice uttered in a cocky and unruly-threatening voice.The instant the words were uttered, the repeated sound of kicks and punches reverberated in the air. The victim let out pained winces.Justin grimaced and held his stomach, his person curled into a fetal position.The impact of the loan sharks’ fierce actions resulted in swollen black eyes, broken noses, split lips, a mosaic of purple and blue bruises, and a deep gash cut through his brows. Justin's white shirt and pants were already stained with dirt on the floor.Justin gasped and let out a painful wince when a fierce kick hit his arm.Despite Justin's struggle to stand up, he was unable to move a bit or escape from the fierce beating.Justin's eyes turned teary, and his lips trembled, his balled hand gradually