Cen Wei found it very difficult to stay quiet, so he simply lowered his head and took a sip of the lotus root soup.

Perhaps it was because his mind was in disarray, but Chu Lai’s implication made him choke violently on the soup. Even Chu Lai, sitting next to him, couldn’t bear to watch and reached out to pat Cen Wei on the back, helping him calm down. The young man’s gentle expression of sympathy only made Cen Wei more convinced that Chu Lai had misunderstood.

The man’s sweater was thin and Chu Lai’s back-patting action was unexpectedly skilled, as if soothing a child. He even handed Cen Wei a tissue.

Cen Jiansun’s question was too blunt, leaving both Grandma and Xuan Rongqing momentarily speechless.

Even though the old man was seriously ill, his wife’s pinch made him yelp in pain, and he muttered, “What’s wrong with asking?”

Since the housekeeper wasn’t present, it was just the family gathered in the dining room.

Cen Wei took a deep breath and said, “Grandpa, this is my privacy. Can you please respect that?”

Chu Lai, who had almost finished eating, sat at the table, casually playing with a glass cup. He responded in a low voice, “Very capable. I’m very satisfied.”

Cen Wei was just about to take a sip of water but stopped just in time, fearing he might choke again. The young man next to him even winked at him, his eyes filled with obvious teasing, “Grandpa, don’t worry.”

“I get along really well with Cen Wei.”

In terms of hugs, Chu Lai truly didn’t have any further intentions. Both of them were self-proclaimed asexuals who found contentment in each other’s company. Being together felt more fulfilling than being alone.

There was no need to fake satisfaction to meet a partner’s needs, nor would there be arguments over a lack of passion. They each fulfilled the other’s needs, and Chu Lai was more than happy to build this persona for Cen Wei.

Xuan Rongqing couldn’t help but smile at this rare scene. In her memory, Cen Wei was always polite and outwardly composed. Even to his own mother, he was distant, making it hard to get close to him.

It was as if, after that incident, her son had turned into a doll locked in a closet—still warm but with no hope for the future.

But in this moment, Cen Wei seemed more alive than ever.

The two elders of the Cen family were not young. Old age came with its share of illnesses. Cen Jiansun had been deeply affected by his son’s death years ago. If it weren’t for the business that needed his support, he might not have lasted this long.

After losing face from being pinched by his wife, Cen Jiansun finally turned to Chu Lai after several minutes and asked, “And is Ah Wei good to you?”

Chu Lai hadn’t visited relatives in many years, but at this moment, he felt like he was being interrogated by nosy aunts, similar to how they would ask about his exam scores when he was younger. Back then, he was always average—not at the top, but never at the bottom either. His response was always a vague “It’s okay.”

But this time, he couldn’t just answer with “It’s okay.”

He gave a serious reply, “He’s really good.”

Cen Jiansun was the most surprised by Cen Wei’s sudden marriage. The old man had been firm before, saying that if Cen Wei didn’t marry by the age of thirty, he’d find him a suitable male spouse from a family of equal standing.

The list had already been made. It was a collection of names recommended by friends who had previously cried about their sons or grandsons coming out. The candidates ranged from 18 to 28 years old, from students to the sons of real estate tycoons.

The photos had been organized into a gallery album, and Cen Jiansun had pressured his grandson to go on blind dates with the threat of not resting in peace unless he saw him married.

However, even after being publicly betrayed by his childhood friend, Cen Wei hadn’t shown a hint of anger. His emotions remained stable as he calmly told his grandfather that if he wanted to see him married, he should live a few more years.

Survival is a natural instinct, and although Cen Jiansun wanted to live longer, he had lived a long life already. The family business, “Lianxin” had been founded by his father, growing from a humble umbrella shop into a national enterprise under Cen Jiansun’s leadership.

No one wants their efforts to be in vain, and he had finally come to terms with his son’s death and his grandson’s coming out a few years later.

Contrary to what many believed, Cen Jiansun was not the traditional, rigid patriarch everyone thought him to be. In fact, he was rather open-minded about such things.

He wanted his bloodline to continue and also wished for his grandson’s happiness. It wasn’t about avoiding relationships; it was about giving his grandson the chance to heal and move forward.

Cen Wei wasn’t a true advocate of remaining unmarried; he was just overshadowed by the consequences of his father’s scandalous life, forcing him into the opposite position.

Barely half a month had passed since the “Thirty and Thriving” deadline, and Cen Wei had already gotten married.

His spouse was delicate and good-looking, and sitting next to him, they seemed to have a ten-year age gap. Maybe the stark contrast in their demeanors was what made Cen Jiansun feel like his grandson had aged rather quickly.

He asked Chu Lai, “Can you tell me more?”

The old man looked fierce but had kind eyes, reminding Chu Lai of his own grandfather, who had passed away when he was young. His grandfather had also had white hair and a stern face, but none of the kids were afraid of him because he always had candy in his pockets.

Chu Lai looked over at Cen Wei and passed the question back to him. “You say it.”

Then, leaning closer to Cen Wei’s ear, he whispered, “I need to gather my thoughts first. You take this round.”

Cen Wei hadn’t expected Chu Lai to be so smooth with his words. As a show of appreciation, he refilled Chu Lai’s drink before responding, “Me and Bao Bao…”

“Bao Bao?” Cen Jiansun interrupted, shocked. Even Cen Wei himself found it cringe-worthy after saying it, looking startled, as if someone else had taken over his body.

Grandma coughed and said, “What do you know? It’s just a couple’s little playfulness. You’re still calling me by my full name after all these years of marriage.”

Despite the awkwardness, the relationships between the elders in this family were actually quite good.

In the car, Cen Wei had already briefed Chu Lai that his father had passed away in an accident. Now, after just one meal, Chu Lai felt that the atmosphere in the family was quite warm.

It wasn’t like those cold, distant, ultra-wealthy families he had imagined. These people could ask anything, with boundaries that were… surprisingly large.

While being nudged by his wife to drink his soup, Cen Jiansun motioned for Cen Wei to continue speaking.

Feeling the awkwardness himself, Cen Wei found it challenging to come up with a compelling story about their love life. His experiences in relationships were practically non-existent, and his memories with Shen Ke weren’t exactly filled with significant moments, so he struggled to make something up on the spot.

Meanwhile, Chu Lai, not feeling like drinking coconut juice anymore, pointed to an empty bottle on the table and asked, “Is there any more of that soda?”

It was pineapple soda.

Cen Wei stood up and went to the fridge to get more. In a large household like this, the fridge was far from the dining table, giving Chu Lai ample time to fabricate a story.

With the person involved out of the room, Chu Lai relaxed a lot more. “Every time we meet, Cen… Ah Wei hugs me. He’ll eat crispy grilled green peppers with me, and we even play video games together.”

“We also walk the dog.”

Xuan Rongqing was surprised, “Walk the dog?”

When Cen Wei was a child, he had been bitten by a dog, and even as an adult, he didn’t like dogs. This was something Xuan Rongqing knew well.

She realized she knew even less about her son than she thought. The suspicion that Chu Lai might be a rental partner eased slightly, especially after Chu Lai showed some photos and videos of them feeding a dog, which Cen Wei had sent to him earlier.

The elders watched and marveled, “It’s true, falling in love can really transform someone. He’s even forgotten about being bitten by a dog.”

Xuan Rongqing nodded, smiling softly, “When he was little, he used to cry, saying he hated dogs the most.”

When Cen Wei returned with the pineapple soda, he overheard this.

He glanced at Chu Lai, who smiled awkwardly and said, “I told your mom that you walk the dog with me, and she said you cried when a dog bit you as a kid.”

This wasn’t exactly something Cen Wei wanted to brag about. He sighed, “That was a long time ago. I’m an adult now.”

Grandma chimed in, “I still remember when you were scared by the neighbor’s poodle in high school.”

That sounded even more embarrassing. Cen Wei explained to Chu Lai, “That was because the poodle liked to climb up people’s legs.”

Chu Lai, propping his chin on his hand, poured himself some pineapple soda.

The room was warm, and even though Cen Wei only wore a thin black sweater, while Chu Lai had removed his coat to reveal a fleece hoodie with a shirt underneath, it was clear that Chu Lai had overdressed. After drinking hot soup, his pale face flushed red from the heat. The light shone in his slightly smiling eyes, and when he looked at Cen Wei, the man almost got lost in the sight.

His gaze unconsciously lingered on Chu Lai’s upturned lips.

Though he hadn’t known Chu Lai for long, he could tell that the young man rarely smiled. When he did, a faint dimple appeared on his right cheek, softening his otherwise reserved demeanor.

This seemed to set off an alarm in Cen Wei’s body, enough to make him hastily turn his head. Chu Lai didn’t notice and merely commented, “It’s hard to believe someone like you is afraid of dogs.”

Cen Wei was tall and handsome. Even in a simple black turtleneck sweater, you could see the faint outline of his muscles.

His skin was quite fair too. As a terrible drinker who turned red after just one glass, his flushed face didn’t quite fit the polished, elite image he usually gave off, making handsomeness seem less important.

They both alternated between staring and avoiding each other, while the three elders at the table watched with great interest.

Xuan Rongqing and Grandma exchanged glances, their smiles wide. Meanwhile, the old man asked while sipping his soup, “Have you met Xiao Chu’s parents? Let’s all have a meal together sometime.”

Cen Wei’s smile froze, and though Chu Lai wasn’t as nervous as he had been at the start, he explained openly, “My dad passed away. My mom remarried and doesn’t live around here.”

“As for family…”

“There’s no one. It’s just me, so we’re not planning on holding a wedding.”

Feeling hot, Chu Lai rolled up his sleeves as he spoke, revealing his slender wrists.

His frame was thin, though he was tall. However, perhaps due to his slight build, he still gave off a sense of boyishness, even though a simple conversation could reveal his maturity.

Cen Jiansun discreetly glared at his grandson.

Cen Wei took a sip of water and agreed, “That’s right.”

Cen Jiansun couldn’t hold back anymore, “What do you mean, ‘That’s right’?! Don’t tell me you don’t want a wedding. Xiao Chu’s family isn’t around, so not having a wedding isn’t fair to him, is it?”

He looked at Chu Lai again. With same-sex marriage now legal, the old man had attended several same-sex weddings in recent years. He thought weddings between women were quite pleasant, while those between men didn’t always invoke the same “heavenly couple” feeling.

He was also aware that Cen Wei had an ex-boyfriend, and his daughter-in-law had even shown him pictures of the guy. But now, it was clear that Chu Lai was more in line with his preferences. Knowing that this kid lived alone only made him want to protect him even more, to the point of wanting to distribute his inheritance right away.

Stunned, Chu Lai hurriedly said, “Grandpa Cen, the wedding was my…”

But Cen Jiansun cut him off, “Call me Grandpa! Why are you being so formal? You’ve already got the marriage certificate.”

The old man’s voice was loud and commanding, making Chu Lai quickly correct himself. But before he could continue, Grandma interrupted him.

With a loving look, she said, “Xiao Chu, what about me?”

Even Xuan Rongqing’s eyes sparkled as she chimed in, “And me! You better not call me Auntie.”

Flustered, Chu Lai looked toward Cen Wei for help, while Cen Wei was already feeling the onset of a headache.

The next second, Chu Lai stepped on Cen Wei’s foot, prompting him to lean over and whisper in his ear, “It’s fine, just call them that. When we get home, you can ask me for a hug as much as you want.”

Chu Lai wasn’t interested in Cen Wei’s wealth; he just had a strong desire for affection.

Cen Wei realized that the only way to deal with this was to let himself be physically available.

This answer seemed to satisfy Chu Lai.

He smiled and called out “Grandpa” and “Grandma” but when he looked at Xuan Rongqing, he hesitated for a moment before calling her “Mom.”

Cen Jiansun was very pleased and pulled a red envelope out of his wheelchair’s side pocket, handing it to Chu Lai.

Chu Lai was stunned.

Even Xuan Rongqing was taken aback, “Dad, what are you doing?”

The old man, acting rather childish, looked at his wife and said, “Xiaohong, didn’t I prepare well?”

Grandma Hong gave him a dismissive glance, then, not wanting to be outdone, pulled out an even larger red envelope from a drawer under the table.

Chu Lai was at a loss for words.

Cen Wei, by now, couldn’t even look at Chu Lai. He covered his face, feeling a long-forgotten sense of shame, like being punished by standing in the hallway in elementary school.

But this time, Chu Lai wasn’t just a passing classmate; he was a legally registered partner.

The marriage was real, but the relationship was fake.

However, Chu Lai couldn’t avoid accepting the red envelopes, and after the meal, the only one who hadn’t prepared a red envelope, Xuan Rongqing, called him aside.

As Chu Lai kept glancing back at him with every step, Cen Wei reassured him with a look before being pulled aside by his grandfather for a heart-to-heart.

In the quiet tea room, Xuan Rongqing brewed a pot of red tea and handed Chu Lai a card.

Smiling kindly, she said, “There’s only about five million in there, but don’t worry. In a few days, I’ll gift you a house.”

Just as Chu Lai was about to refuse, Xuan Rongqing added, “I have something to tell you.”

Her expression grew sorrowful. “It’s about Ah Wei’s father and… his issues with relationships.”