Come on, What Kind of CEO Chases His Roommate Back to the Country? - Chapter 18

A commotion erupted ahead as a motorcycle lost balance at a turn, sending two thieves crashing to the ground.

They scrambled to their feet, ready to run, but Shi Yancheng had already cornered them in a dead-end alley.

“The bag,” he said coldly.

Intimidated by his presence, the two thieves trembled as they handed over the stolen bag. Shi Yancheng took it without another word and turned to leave. The thieves felt relieved, until they heard him casually add in Italian, “If I see you again…”

Terrified, they nodded frantically.

Pei Song arrived just in time to witness this scene. With the light behind him, Shi Yancheng’s tall figure looked like a warrior straight out of a sci-fi movie.

“Here.” He handed the bag back to Pei Song, casually pushing back the strands of hair that had fallen over his forehead during the chase. For once, there was a hint of exhilaration on his face.

Pei Song was both angry and touched. “Do you realize how dangerous that was? What if they had knives—”

“They didn’t.” Shi Yancheng dismissed the concern lightly. “I’ve trained in combat.”

Somehow, Pei Song found the courage to blurt out, “Leon, whoever marries you in the future is gonna be really lucky. You were ridiculously boyfriend-material just now!”

Shi Yancheng, who was adjusting his cuff, paused for a second.

The setting sun cast a warm glow on his ears, slightly reddening them. But all he said was a simple, indifferent, “Mm.”

Pei Song wanted to say more, but Shi Yancheng cut him off. “Your passport and ticket, are they still there?”

Pei Song quickly checked his bag. “Yeah, everything’s here.”

“Good.” Shi Yancheng exhaled slightly before frowning. “Your bag is too old. Let’s get you a new one.”

“No need…” Pei Song instinctively touched his worn-out bag. “It still works.”

Shi Yancheng said nothing. Instead, he hailed a taxi and gave the driver an address.

Half an hour later, Pei Song found himself standing in a luxury leather goods store in Italy, feeling completely out of place.

“This is way too expensive…” He looked at the exquisite bags surrounding him. “And I’m graduating soon anyway…”

“Perfect timing for a graduation gift.” Shi Yancheng cut him off and signaled for the clerk to bring out a dark brown leather briefcase. “How about this one?”

The design was understated, but the craftsmanship and material screamed high-end. More importantly, it suited Pei Song’s style perfectly.

“I really don’t need…” Pei Song started to refuse.

“Try it.” Shi Yancheng shoved the bag into his hands, leaving no room for argument.

Standing in front of the mirror, Pei Song had to admit, it fit him ridiculously well. The compartments were practical, the leather soft, and even the shoulder strap length was just right.

“This one, then.” Without hesitation, Shi Yancheng pulled out his card and handed it to the clerk.

“Wait!” Pei Song tried to stop him, but Shi Yancheng had already signed the receipt.

“Besides being a graduation gift,” Shi Yancheng said nonchalantly, “consider it a thank-you for all the work you put into the restaurant this past year.”

Walking out of the mall, Pei Song still felt uneasy. “This is really too much…”

Shi Yancheng glanced at him. “You deserve better.”

The words were spoken so naturally, but Pei Song froze for a moment.

On the flight back, he kept touching the new bag absentmindedly, feeling a mix of emotions. This past year, working with Shi Yancheng had gone far more smoothly than he’d expected.

From the initial chaos to now being able to manage the restaurant on his own, every step had been guided by Shi Yancheng’s support.

For someone so seemingly indifferent, he always found the perfect way to help, without ever making it feel overbearing.

Shi Yancheng noticed how much Pei Song liked the bag. His lips curled slightly, but the expression faded quickly.

After returning from Italy, Pei Song threw himself into writing his thesis.

Every morning, he’d go to the restaurant to set up for the day before heading to the library, where he’d stay for hours on end.

Shi Yancheng made a habit of showing up at 10 PM sharp, carrying food prepared by the restaurant’s chef.

“A thesis isn’t written in a day,” he said, closing Pei Song’s book. “Don’t burn yourself out.”

Pei Song rubbed his tired eyes. “I’m almost done. Just need to finalize this financial derivatives pricing model…”

“I’ll look over that part for you,” Shi Yancheng said. “You focus on empirical analysis.”

With his help, Pei Song’s thesis progressed surprisingly well. Whenever he got stuck on a mathematical model, Shi Yancheng would provide precise advice.

“You know a lot,” Pei Song couldn’t help but comment one day.

Shi Yancheng chuckled faintly. “Studied a bit.”

The night before his defense, Pei Song was too nervous to sleep. Sitting on the balcony, he went over his PowerPoint slides again and again.

“Still up?” Shi Yancheng approached with two cups of hot milk.

“A little anxious.” Pei Song accepted the cup. “Feels like there’s always more to improve…”

“Don’t overthink it.” Shi Yancheng sat beside him. “Your thesis is solid. And your pricing model, it’s beyond the typical master’s level.”

Pei Song blinked. “Really?”

“Mm.” Shi Yancheng nodded. “Your integration of machine learning with traditional models is quite forward-thinking.”

The next day, the defense finally arrived.

Walking into the room, Pei Song spotted Shi Yancheng seated in the back row, dressed in a dark gray cashmere sweater, casually looking at his phone.

Hearing the door open, he lifted his head and gave a small nod. That simple gesture somehow calmed Pei Song’s nerves completely.

The defense went smoother than expected. The professors praised his work.

“Your model is highly innovative,” the panel chair said. “The way you incorporated machine learning is particularly impressive.”

Pei Song instinctively glanced toward the back of the room. Without Shi Yancheng’s guidance, he never could have produced a thesis like this.

Shi Yancheng still wore his usual indifferent expression, but there was a trace of approval in his gaze.

When the panel officially announced that Pei Song had passed with distinction, he let out a long breath of relief. At that moment, the past few years of his journey as an international student flashed before his eyes.

The uncertainty at the beginning.

The steady progress over time.

And now, the impending farewell…