As expected of President Chu, even the gifts he gives are uniquely extravagant.

“Do you like it?” Chu Shangluo observed Ren Jiaoming’s expression and said, “I thought long and hard about it—you lack nothing. So, I came up with the idea of a boxing gym. The gyms in Beijing are crowded and messy, and the smell must put you off. So, I prepared a private gym just for you. I even hired a few clean, professional boxers. If you ever feel like sparring, you can do it whenever you want. But constantly fighting random thugs is too dangerous. If you end up in real trouble…”

Chu Shangluo smiled and nudged Ren Jiaoming lightly, winking playfully. “Wouldn’t it still be me worrying about you?”

Ren Jiaoming gazed into Chu Shangluo’s sincere, smiling eyes. A fleeting, unreadable emotion crossed his usually calm expression.

Seeing that Ren Jiaoming didn’t reject the gift outright, Chu Shangluo took it as a sign he liked it. His face lit up with a smile, expecting Ren Jiaoming to say something sweet in gratitude. But Ren Jiaoming’s expression returned to normal as he said, “I don’t need to fight, so I can’t accept this.”

Chu Shangluo’s smile vanished instantly. “What’s wrong with you, Ren Jiaoming? I’m giving you something; just take it! Forget saying something nice—fine—but do you have to coldly reject me? Did I get the gift wrong?”

He clenched his jaw, trying to suppress his frustration and not ruin the mood. After all, things had been harmonious between them since the banquet.

Chu Shangluo had been holding Ren Jiaoming’s hand, but now, irritated, he tried to let go. Why hold hands when he was this annoyed?

Ren Jiaoming, however, noticed how Chu Shangluo’s eyes reddened at the corners when he was upset and saw that his tie was crooked. Surprisingly, Chu Shangluo hadn’t managed to pull his hand away. His grip was slack, and now it was Ren Jiaoming holding onto him.

The cool touch of Ren Jiaoming’s hand against his skin made Chu Shangluo momentarily freeze. It was the first time Ren Jiaoming had taken the initiative to hold his hand.

Ren Jiaoming used his free hand to straighten Chu Shangluo’s tie. His warm breath brushed against Chu Shangluo’s ear, and his tone softened slightly. “I appreciate the thought, but I really don’t need it.”

Ren Jiaoming was always like this—unyielding in front of him. Yet, seeing Ren Jiaoming holding his hand and hearing his gentler tone, Chu Shangluo couldn’t even muster the anger to lash out.

He took a deep breath and muttered, “Fine, let’s go home.”

His frustration didn’t dissipate, leaving him even more aggravated. How could anyone be as maddening as Ren Jiaoming?

But as they left, Chu Jiaoming brooded over the rejection. Ren Jiaoming clearly liked the gift, so why refuse it? After pondering, Chu Shangluo arrived at a seemingly logical conclusion: Ren Jiaoming still viewed him as an outsider. Ren Jiaoming was still trying to keep his distance and wouldn’t accept a gift worth 700,000 to 800,000 yuan as a potential “debt.”

The realization made Chu Shangluo’s frustration flare up even more. Ren Jiaoming might treat him as an outsider, but Chu Shangluo didn’t see Ren Jiaoming that way!

This cold-hearted, ungrateful man!

Chu Shangluo returned home with a stomach full of thoughts, and when he reached the living room, both of them stopped in their tracks, gazing at the house that was different from usual today.

On the dining table were fresh flowers, red wine, and flickering candlelight. The vibrant rose petals covered the entire room, and the scent of the flowers blended with the romantic atmosphere. Chu Shangluo, enraged by Ren Jiaoming, completely forgot that Lin Zhi had prepared a candlelit dinner and a bed covered in petals for them. He wasn’t very romantic, and the idea was Gu Yao’s, saying that beautiful women loved romance.

To warm up their emotions and make the night memorable, President Chu had really put in a lot of effort. After preparing for so long, the atmosphere was perfect, and it would be a pity if it was ruined. Since the gym gift hadn’t worked out, he needed to make something happen. President Chu decided not to beat around the bush, kissed Ren Jiaoming on the lips, placed his hand on his belt, and whispered, “You should make me happy, right?”

On the bed covered with petals, Chu Shangluo sat on Ren Jiaoming’s lap, holding onto his tie with one hand and kissing Ren Jiaoming’s pale lips. Ren Jiaoming, looking at the flushed Chu Shangluo as if he were drunk, gently placed his hand on Chu Shangluo’s waist.

After a few kisses on Ren Jiaoming’s lips, Chu Shangluo couldn’t help but notice the red mole at the corner of his eye, lightly pressing and rubbing it with his fingertip. Ren Jiaoming had a good appearance, but he was usually cold and distant, making it hard for others to approach him. This red mole, however, seemed to diminish his coldness, adding a touch of allure. The combination of chastity and icy beauty was very high-end. Even Gu Yao, who had seen countless beauties, praised Ren Jiaoming for having a beauty that was both unique in appearance and temperament.

Thinking about how so many people coveted Ren Jiaoming and how he could now embrace and kiss him, Chu Shangluo’s original anger nearly dissipated.

After a while, Chu Shangluo, still angry, grabbed Ren Jiaoming’s tie. “It’s not that you… At least give me some response! We’re not at work. You always keep a straight face, it’s making me lose my mood!” Chu Shangluo rubbed Ren Jiaoming’s face, trying to make that pale skin turn red. “We don’t do this often. Can’t you give me some reaction? Besides, back then, I saw you liked it too, right?”

His words were abruptly cut off as Ren Jiaoming covered his mouth and pinned him down on the bed, scattering petals everywhere. The sky had completely darkened, and a sweaty arm hung limply from the nearly petal-less bed, only to be tightly grasped and pulled back to the head of the bed by another pale, slender hand.

Night fell, and the lights of the city began to glow.

President Chu barely propped himself up, leaning against the headboard, his hands weakly reaching into his pocket for a cigarette. After a while, he fumbled out a lollipop instead. Ren Jiaoming came out of the bathroom, saw Chu Shangluo staring blankly at the lollipop, and walked over to the bed, lifting the covers off him. Chu Shangluo had a faint blush on his skin. He tossed the lollipop aside, grabbed Ren Jiaoming’s wrist, and glanced at the clock.

“…It’s already eleven,” he said.

Ren Jiaoming applied some force and lifted the exhausted President Chu into his arms. Chu Shangluo hooked his arm around Ren Jiaoming’s neck, thinking about what had just happened, his fingers lightly caressing Ren Jiaoming’s soft lips. “Weren’t you so unwilling with me before? Why aren’t you sticking to your original stance? Hmm?”

Ren Jiaoming completely ignored Chu Shangluo’s words. He walked into the bathroom and bent down to place Chu Shangluo in the bathtub.

Chu Shangluo continued, “I’m so tired! Actually, I heard that this kind of thing can be fun, so how about we watch some instructional videos? I still feel like there’s something missing between us.”

The showerhead suddenly turned on, and the water splashed down, causing Chu Shangluo to cough twice.

Ren Jiaoming reminded him, “Don’t talk.”

Chu Shangluo fell silent, staring at Ren Jiaoming for a long while. It seemed like he started to understand. “You don’t seem to want to listen to me, do you?” He teased with a smile. “Is this pure, Secretary Ren? Or…”

His words were abruptly cut off as he coughed again, warm water streaming into his nose and eyes.

“You’re coughing… can you not do that so suddenly when you’re running the water?” Chu Shangluo complained.

Ren Jiaoming lowered his indifferent eyes and gently rubbed Chu Shangluo’s hair dry.

President Chu took a deep breath. Ren Jiaoming must have done that on purpose!

After the bath, Ren Jiaoming carried Chu Shangluo back to the room and dried his hair. Chu Shangluo looked at the patient and meticulous Ren Jiaoming. It was this thoughtful gentleness that always made him feel conflicted, falling again and again when he was ready to give up on Ren Jiaoming.

Ren Jiaoming’s collar was slightly open, revealing the bite marks left by Chu Shangluo in moments of anger. In contrast, Chu Shangluo’s body remained completely clean.

Even in critical moments, Ren Jiaoming remained composed. Chu Shangluo wished Ren Jiaoming would leave some mark on him, but Ren Jiaoming had never made the first move, not even for a kiss. How could there be traces of love?

Ren Jiaoming fastened the buttons on Chu Shangluo’s shirt and pressed gently on his shoulder. Chu Shangluo immediately understood and laid down on the bed.

Ren Jiaoming placed a warm towel on Chu Shangluo’s waist. Chu Shangluo lay with his head on the pillow, sighed deeply, and said, “Next time, how about we try a different position? Face to face, we could even kiss.”

Ren Jiaoming hadn’t thought about such things. His desire was faint, and for him, any position would do. “It’s up to you.”

Chu Shangluo was a bit pleased, and despite the pain in his waist, he turned over, hooked his arm around Ren Jiaoming’s neck, and kissed him lightly on the lips. Ren Jiaoming removed Chu Shangluo’s hand and stood up to walk out.

“It’s getting late. Let’s sleep.”

Chu Shangluo quickly grabbed Ren Jiaoming’s wrist, patting the space beside him on the bed. “Secretary Ren, why not sleep here? I don’t snore, and I sleep well. It’s warm to be held. Isn’t that tempting?”

In response to Chu Shangluo’s boastful invitation, Ren Jiaoming simply turned off the lights. The room plunged into darkness, and Chu Shangluo couldn’t see where Ren Jiaoming was anymore.

Chu Shangluo felt his hand being pried off, and Ren Jiaoming’s voice sounded: “No, I’m not used to it.”

The sound of footsteps gradually faded, the door opened and then closed.

Chu Shangluo, left in the dark, was a bit stunned. Then, he irritably scratched his head and lay back down on the bed. “Whatever! Who cares! Two grown men, I don’t even mind the space!”

The next day, Chu Shangluo woke up half an hour later than usual. It wasn’t until Ren Jiaoming knocked on the door that Chu Shangluo groggily sat up.

At first, he didn’t feel anything particularly wrong, just a bit dizzy, thinking it was low blood pressure and not paying much attention. Ren Jiaoming found the clothes Chu Shangluo was supposed to wear today. Seeing that Chu Shangluo had not moved, he walked over to the bed and unbuttoned his pajamas. The moment his fingers touched Chu Shangluo’s skin, he was shocked by his higher-than-usual body temperature.

Ren Jiaoming glanced at Chu Shangluo’s face and saw that his cheeks were flushed, his eyes dull, and his breath unusually hot. “Hurry up, you’re going to be late for work.”

Chu Shangluo’s voice was hoarse. He felt his head heavy and his body hot, needing something cool against his skin. “Where’s the ice pack? Take one to the office.”

Soon, a cool hand was placed on Chu Shangluo’s burning forehead. He felt relief and instinctively nuzzled into the hand. Ren Jiaoming let him nuzzle while he picked up his phone and called the family doctor.

Chu Shangluo barely lifted his heavy eyelids, removing the hand from his forehead that had already grown warm. He asked, confused, “What’s going on? Why aren’t you leaving? If you don’t go, you’ll be late.”

Ren Jiaoming hung up the phone and pressed Chu Shangluo’s shoulder, pushing him back onto the bed. Chu Shangluo tried to struggle but his body ached and was too weak. That’s when he realized something was seriously wrong with his body.

Ren Jiaoming adjusted the air conditioning to a higher temperature. “You have a fever. I’ve called the doctor. Don’t worry about the office, I’ll handle it.”

Chu Shangluo thought for a moment, his responses slower because of the fever. “Alright, by the way, today is Chu Zong’s birthday. The gift is in my car. Can you deliver it to him? I won’t go.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Shangluo frowned and curled up, clutching his stomach.

Ren Jiaoming had been about to leave but, seeing how pale Chu Shangluo looked, he immediately lifted the blanket to check on him. “Where does it hurt?”

Chu Shangluo’s voice trembled, “My stomach… Damn! I’ve never felt pain like this before…”

Ren Jiaoming stared at Chu Shangluo’s pale face for a while before turning and leaving the room. Chu Shangluo, seeing him leave, felt a chill in his heart. This bastard was going to leave him alone when he was in so much pain?

The door opened again, and Ren Jiaoming entered, holding a cup of hot water in one hand and a bottle of mineral water in the other. Chu Shangluo, drenched in sweat from the pain, vaguely saw Ren Jiaoming bringing him a cup of water. He shook his head. “Forget it, I can’t drink anything.”

Ren Jiaoming sat on the edge of the bed and forced Chu Shangluo, who could hardly sit up straight from the pain, to sit up. Chu Shangluo broke out in a cold sweat, and in frustration, he cursed at Ren Jiaoming, “Can you be a little gentler?!”

Ren Jiaoming took the water cup and brought it to Chu Shangluo’s lips. Chu Shangluo was both in pain and angry. “I told you I don’t want to drink… You…”

The warm water flowed into Chu Shangluo’s mouth. Ren Jiaoming steadied Chu Shangluo’s chin to prevent him from choking. Chu Shangluo reluctantly drank the warm water, his chest tightening from both the pain and the frustration.

Ren Jiaoming wiped the water from the corner of Chu Shangluo’s mouth and helped him lean against his chest, forcing open the hands that Chu Shangluo had placed on his stomach. Chu Shangluo gasped for breath, suspicious that Ren Jiaoming might be taking the opportunity to take revenge on him.

Ren Jiaoming tightly fastened Chu Shangluo’s open pajama, then placed the mineral water bottle on his abdomen, gently massaging. He then pulled the blanket over him. The bottle’s temperature was very high, and even through the pajamas, Chu Shangluo could feel the heat almost burning his skin, though it was still bearable.

The usually quiet and practical Secretary Ren finally spoke, “There’s no hot water bag at home, so we have to use this.”

Chu Shangluo frowned and weakly leaned against Ren Jiaoming’s shoulder, gasping as he said, “Is it because of you that I got sick after what happened last night?”

Ren Jiaoming didn’t respond.

After that, no one spoke. Ren Jiaoming had nothing to say, and Chu Shangluo was too hurt to speak.

Gradually, the pain started to subside, but Ren Jiaoming’s hand remained gently rubbing his abdomen. Chu Shangluo felt warmth flowing from his abdomen to the rest of his body, and his heart began to beat wildly at Ren Jiaoming’s tender care.

He didn’t care whether Ren Jiaoming’s tenderness was real, fake, or simply out of concern as a secretary or lover. At that moment, all he wanted was to kiss Ren Jiaoming.

Chu Shangluo’s sweaty hand slipped under the blanket and took hold of Ren Jiaoming’s warm hand. Ren Jiaoming’s hand, usually cold, was now warmed by the bottle. The warmth made Chu Shangluo’s heart race. He realized that Ren Jiaoming’s hand could warm him, and his heart was willing to accept it.

He looked up at the calm-faced Secretary Ren. He used to dislike how clear-headed Ren Jiaoming always seemed, but now, lying in Ren Jiaoming’s arms, their fingers intertwined, he felt an indescribable atmosphere.

Chu Shangluo smirked. “How about a kiss?”

Ren Jiaoming glanced at Chu Shangluo’s pale face, not understanding why, despite being in so much pain, he still wanted to do this.

Chu Shangluo had already grown accustomed to taking the initiative in such matters. He grabbed the back of Ren Jiaoming’s neck and kissed his lips. With that kiss, Chu Shangluo didn’t know what Ren Jiaoming thought, but it felt sweet—sweeter than the candy in his pocket. He couldn’t help but savor it a few more times. To his surprise, Ren Jiaoming didn’t push him away. When they finally separated, all of Chu Shangluo’s earlier frustration vanished. Smiling, he toyed with Ren Jiaoming’s fingers and said, “If you don’t want the boxing gym, that’s fine. But if you want to go, feel free to anytime. It’s close to both home and the company, and the location is great—it’ll only appreciate in value.”

Ren Jiaoming looked at the somewhat lively Chu Shangluo and asked, “You’re not in pain anymore?”

“Much better,” Chu Shangluo said. His heart still felt full, and he knew that if he said he was completely better, Ren Jiaoming would surely pull away, but he couldn’t bear to lose his tenderness. “Ren Jiaoming, if you keep being like this, I’ll give you anything you want, and I won’t let you feel wronged. I’ll make sure everyone recognizes you. Anything you want, you can have.” Then he added, “Except the jade pendant. You’d better not bring up the jade pendant. When you really fall in love with me, I’ll give it to you. Until then, forget about taking it.”

Ren Jiaoming: “…”

He pulled his hand away and walked toward the door. “Chu Jiaoming, take care and rest well. I’ll go to the company.”

Watching Ren Jiaoming walk away so decisively, even though the jade pendant wasn’t given, Chu Shangluo felt a bit of pain in his stomach again, perhaps from anger. After the private doctor arrived, Ren Jiaoming also prepared to leave.

Chu Shangluo was diagnosed with a stomach flu. The air conditioner had been set too low during summer, and he hadn’t covered himself with a blanket at night, which caused him to catch a chill. It had nothing to do with what happened with Ren Jiaoming. But still, Chu Shangluo couldn’t help but ask. Since he had known the private doctor for many years, there was no need for any formalities, and the doctor just spoke frankly.

“Technically, if things were done incorrectly, it could cause a fever and stomach pain,” the doctor said.

Chu Shangluo took a sip of warm water. “What do you mean by ‘incorrectly’?”

“If the bodily fluids are left inside or too deep, and not fully cleaned out, that can happen.”

Chu Shangluo choked on the water, coughing. “Cough, cough, cough.”

“What happened?” The doctor handed Chu Shangluo a tissue. “Your secretary looks fine, so he probably isn’t sick, but precautions must be taken.”

Chu Shangluo feigned innocence, “I know. Do you need to remind me?” In fact, he had never taken precautions with Ren Jiaoming, and he was considering learning more about this matter in the future.

The stomach flu wasn’t a minor issue. The doctor gave Chu Shangluo an IV drip and told him to rest for the day. Even though Chu Shangluo didn’t go to the company, he wasn’t idle and attended an online video conference.

Lin Zhi, initially unaware of why Chu Shangluo was taking leave, knew now that Ren Jiaoming’s position was much higher than his, and with everyone aware of the close relationship between Secretary Ren and President Chu, he didn’t ask any further.

When the video conference started, Lin Zhi could clearly see the IV drip, making it obvious what had happened to Chu Shangluo.

Before leaving work, Ren Jiaoming took the gift he was supposed to deliver to Chu Zong, handed it to Lin Zhi, and said, “Please give this to Chu Zong.”

Lin Zhi took the gift and glanced at it, helplessly saying, “Another apple.”

When Lu Wen came to find Chu Shangluo and saw he wasn’t there, he casually asked, “What’s with the apples?”

Lin Zhi smiled and said, “Tonight is Chu Zong’s birthday. The boss knows he loves apples, so he gives him apples every year without any variation. Chu Zong says he almost gets sick of them. But it’s not just him; it’s everyone. The boss remembers what everyone likes and keeps sending it for their birthdays. He even does it himself sometimes, and if he’s too busy, he sends someone else.”

Lu Wen was confused, “Everyone?”

“Yes, the boss remembers the preferences of every relative, and then, on their birthdays, he personally delivers gifts or has someone from HR deliver them if he’s busy.”

Lu Wen was surprised. He had visited other family-owned businesses before, but he had never seen anyone personally handle something as small as birthday gifts.

Lin Zhi understood why Lu Wen was surprised. “But Chu’s family isn’t like other families where the personal ties are distant. Everyone in the Chu family shares the same blood, and decades ago, they all lived on the same secluded island. After leaving the island, they continued to live in the same area of the city, and they all started from scratch to build Chu’s business. So, the bonds within the Chu family far exceed any other family-run businesses.”

Lu Wen thought for a moment and asked, “Does that mean I’ll get a birthday gift too?”

“Yes,” Lin Zhi said with a smile, “Didn’t you fill out a preference survey when you joined the company?”

Lu Wen joked, “So if I put down Rolls-Royce, would President Chu send it to me too?”

Lin Zhi answered seriously, “He would.”

He then glanced at Ren Jiaoming, who had already closed his computer and was about to leave, and added, “As long as you’re good to President Chu, he will never treat you unfairly. But sometimes, he can be a bit stubborn, always trying to do things his way, without considering whether others need it. Sometimes, it might even become a burden to others.”

Lu Wen laughed, “I’m willing to bear that burden.”

Lin Zhi smiled too, “Me too.”

Ren Jiaoming passed by them, ignoring their conversation.

After the video conference, Chu Shangluo fell asleep, and he slept straight through until now. He woke up to the smell of food. He touched his forehead and found it wasn’t as hot anymore, but his stomach still felt uncomfortable. He hadn’t eaten anything all day. He walked out of the bedroom, following the smell to the kitchen. There, he saw the kitchen, which hadn’t been used in a long time, now filled with the scent of cooking. The clay pot on the stove was bubbling away. Chu Shangluo was a little dazed—had Lin Zhi come to cook for him after learning he was sick?

The bathroom door opened, and Ren Jiaoming walked out, drying his hair. He glanced into the kitchen, and Chu Shangluo came to his senses and looked at Ren Jiaoming, who was fresh from a shower, carrying a light fragrance. “Did you make this?”

Ren Jiaoming answered, “There’s a new congee shop near the company. I bought some, but it’s gotten cold, so I’m just heating it up for you.”

Chu Shangluo felt a bit disappointed, but then he remembered he was sick today, and Ren Jiaoming had already been much better to him than before. He couldn’t be too greedy; good things take time. He still felt a little dizzy and staggered back to the bedroom. “I’ll lie down for a bit more. Wake me when it’s ready.”

“Okay.”

When Ren Jiaoming came to call Chu Shangluo again, he saw Chu Shangluo drinking the cool water on the table. Seeing Ren Jiaoming enter, Chu Shangluo put down the water, his face pale as he asked, “Is the congee ready?”

“It’s ready.”

Chu Shangluo stood up and casually grabbed the IV drip bottle on the side. He noticed that the IV line still had a long section with blood in it and couldn’t help but look at it twice.

Chu Shangluo shrugged nonchalantly. “I fell asleep while getting the IV. When I woke up, I found there was some blood in the line, but it’s no big deal. There wasn’t much blood, and it’s not more than when donating blood.”

Ren Jiaoming frowned slightly.

During the meal, as Chu Shangluo ate the congee, he looked at Ren Jiaoming across from him and asked, “Can you cook?”

Ren Jiaoming replied with a simple “Mm.”

“My birthday is this Friday, and for my birthday present…” Chu Shangluo raised an eyebrow. “I’ll go to your place, and you make me a meal.”

Ren Jiaoming hesitated for a moment. Seeing the expectation in Chu Shangluo’s eyes, he found himself unable to refuse.

“Then I’ll take that as a yes.”

That night, Chu Shangluo was in a surprisingly good mood. He felt like he might actually be in a relationship with Ren Jiaoming.

The next day, Chu Shangluo was back at work, full of energy. However, the first thing that happened on his first day back was something that put him in a bad mood. Chu Shangluo naturally had a higher body temperature than most, and he was especially sensitive to heat. In summer, he always cranked the air conditioning to a very low temperature. At this moment, he was enjoying the cold air while sipping some iced tea, but the next moment, Ren Jiaoming adjusted the air conditioning to a normal temperature, and his iced tea was poured out.

Chu Shangluo was a little displeased. “What’s the deal? It’s the middle of summer. Do you think everyone is as cool as you?”

Ren Jiaoming brought over a cup of hot coffee and also opened a drawer to take out a bottle of Lafite wine that was hidden there.

Chu Shangluo blinked. “?”

Ren Jiaoming said, “Don’t drink alcohol while you’re sick.”

Chu Shangluo: “…”

This made Chu Shangluo feel conflicted. He was happy that Ren Jiaoming was showing concern for him, but taking his wine away was a bit much, wasn’t it? However, Chu Shangluo could only bear with it. If he showed dissatisfaction and it caused Ren Jiaoming to withdraw, and everything returned to how it was before, that would be even worse.

So Chu Shangluo spent the day being controlled by his secretary, feeling in a bad mood. Ren Jiaoming noticed Chu Shangluo’s sour expression and suggested, “How about we go to a vegetarian restaurant tonight?”

Ren Jiaoming’s suggestion actually lifted Chu Shangluo’s spirits. After all this time, it was the first time Ren Jiaoming had actively offered to take him out for a meal. He smiled, “It’s too bland. Let’s have some Sichuan food.”

Ren Jiaoming didn’t respond.

About ten minutes later, Ren Jiaoming parked in front of the vegetarian restaurant.

Chu Shangluo: “…”

This time, Chu Shangluo finally understood why Jiang Jia had complained to him before about how Ren Jiaoming managed people so strictly that it almost made him depressed.

At the time, he had only let Ren Jiaoming work as his secretary for half a month and didn’t feel that Ren Jiaoming was strict with anyone—in fact, it seemed like he didn’t manage anything at all. But now… Chu Shangluo could understand Jiang Jia’s frustration, no wonder she had cried and caused a scene, wanting Ren Jiaoming to leave.

There was still some time before the dishes would be served, so Chu Shangluo thought about visiting the seafood market, which was right nearby.

“You stay here and wait for the dishes,” Chu Shangluo said, standing up. “I’m going to the seafood market, I’ll be back soon.”

Ren Jiaoming didn’t object.

After leaving the vegetarian restaurant, Chu Shangluo passed a small stall and bought an ice cream, eating it as he walked toward the seafood market, looking nothing like a CEO with a fortune worth billions.

As soon as he entered the market, members of the Chu family, who hadn’t seen him for a long time, rushed over to greet him. Everyone was talking excitedly and greeting him with smiles.

“Uncle Chu, what brings you here today?”
“Little uncle, you’re here! Come to my place for dinner! I just made it fresh!”
“Ge! Come to my house! My son misses you and is asking for a toy car!”

Chu Shangluo was the senior member of the family, but because there were so many relatives, he himself couldn’t keep track of what rank he was in the family. So, he just responded however they addressed him.

Almost everyone in the market from the Chu family came to greet him, and Chu Shangluo, who hated this kind of scene, immediately put on a stern face, making it a little impersonal. Everyone became more cautious and didn’t dare approach him.

Chu Shangluo threw away the ice cream and said, “Go back, the business still needs to be done.”

One of the Chu family members said, “That won’t do, we can’t neglect you. You pick someone to accompany you.”

Chu Shangluo pointed to a young man with bright, large eyes in the crowd, “Chu Shen, come with me, the rest of you go back.”

The crowd dispersed, and Chu Shen smiled, showing two small white fangs, following Chu Shangluo. “Uncle Chu, want a smoke?”

Chu Shangluo frowned when he saw the low-quality cigarettes Chu Shen had taken out. “I quit. You should quit too. If you really want to smoke, get something good. If you don’t have money, just ask me.”

Chu Shen and Chu Shangluo had known each other since childhood and had always been close. Chu Shen ran a small restaurant that was doing decently well, but later got involved with the wrong people. In order to escape from a love debt, he came to seek refuge with Chu Shangluo. Chu Shangluo treated him well, and despite his fiery temper, he had never scolded Chu Shen. In fact, he sympathized with him.

Chu Shen laughed awkwardly. “This cigarette is fine, I’m not short on money. I still have a few thousand left.”

A few thousand wasn’t much for Chu Shangluo, but for Chu Shen, it was enough to live on for a while. Chu Shangluo didn’t say anything further.

“Alright, just let me know if you’re short on money,” he said.

The two of them walked and chatted about things at home, when suddenly someone called out Chu Shen’s name. The voice sounded familiar to Chu Shangluo. He turned around and saw Qian Xiaosi.

Qian Xiaosi ran up to him with a big smile, “President Chu, you’re here too?”

Seeing that Qian Xiaosi had gained some weight and his face was now rounder, Chu Shangluo smiled, “Looks like life’s been good for you.”

Qian Xiaosi smiled back, “Thanks to President Chu.”

Chu Shangluo instinctively looked at his watch, only to realize that it was missing and he couldn’t find it. He took out his phone and checked the time instead.

“Alright, you guys chat, I’ve got something to do, I’ll head back first,” Chu Shangluo said.

Just as he was about to leave, a boy suddenly rushed up and hugged Qian Xiaosi, “Xiaosi, what are you doing here? Come to find me?”

Chu Shangluo stopped in his tracks, looking at the boy’s outstanding face. He was surprised—it was the same boy he had seen by the sea that day.

The boy noticed Chu Shangluo and smiled widely, “Hey! Chu Shangluo, what a coincidence! Even you, the big CEO, are here at the seafood market?”

As the boy smiled, Chu Shangluo noticed his features, which looked somewhat similar to Ren Jiaoming’s, and instinctively felt that this was more than just a coincidence—he had found the right person.

Chu Shangluo stared at the boy and said, “Come with me, let’s talk.”

The boy looked confused. “Me? What do we have to talk about?”

Qian Xiaosi pushed away the boy who was clinging to him, “If President Chu wants to talk to you, you should go. I’m not leaving, I’ll wait for you here.”

The boy, still uncertain, followed Chu Shangluo into a nearby cold drink shop. He looked Chu Shangluo up and down, unable to figure out why such a wealthy CEO, dressed in brand-name clothes, would want to talk to someone like him, who worked selling fish.

It was still hot and stuffy at this hour, and Chu Shangluo noticed the boy’s tank top was soaked with sweat. He said, “Choose whatever you want to drink, it’s on me.”

The boy looked at Chu Shangluo and replied, “Tell me what this is about first, then I’ll decide if I want a cold drink.”

Chu Shangluo, surprised by the boy’s cleverness, smiled, “What’s your name?”

“Fan Mo.”

Chu Shangluo asked again, “Were you born with the surname Fan?”

Fan Mo, who had been looking at the drink menu, suddenly looked up, asking sharply, “What do you mean by that?”

Chu Shangluo decided not to keep him in suspense and pulled out his phone to show him a picture of the jade pendant. “Have you seen this?”

Fan Mo’s face immediately changed as soon as he saw it. “How do you have this?”

Chu Shangluo saw his reaction and knew he had most likely found the person he was looking for.

“This jade pendant belongs to my friend.”

Fan Mo, excited, grabbed Chu Shangluo’s hand. “Where’s your friend? Take me to find them!”

“Calm down,” Chu Shangluo gently pulled his hand away. “What was your original name?”

Fan Mo didn’t hide anything and replied, “Ruan Zixuan.”

“What’s your brother’s name?”

Fan Mo shook his head. “Ruan Jin.”

So, this was Ren Jiaoming’s real name. Ruan Jin—‘Jin’ meaning jade—truly fitting.

Chu Shangluo repeated the two characters softly, and after a long pause, asked, “What happened between you and your brother’s family? Why did you end up separated and become an orphan? Also, why does the birthmark on your body look exactly like the jade pendant?”

Fan Mo shook his head. “I don’t know, I can’t remember clearly. All I remember about my old home is that my family did jade business, and we were happy back then. Then one day, there was a fire. I managed to escape, and then everything was gone. After that, I was adopted by my current family and grew up. As for the birthmark, it wasn’t a birthmark—it was from the fire. The jade pendant got so hot during the fire, it burned me. My brother and I wanted to reunite by using the jade pendants we each had.”

Chu Shangluo felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. Fan Mo couldn’t remember much about his old home, and even when he did, his eyes were full of sadness. What about Ren Jiaoming, who remembered everything so clearly and gently? Chu Shangluo glanced at his phone and stood up. “I have something to take care of, I’ll head back first. You know Qian Xiaosi, right? I’ll contact you through her later.”

Fan Mo was reluctant. After all these years, he had finally found out about his brother, and he couldn’t let this opportunity slip away. What if Chu Shangluo was lying to him? He grabbed Chu Shangluo’s arm and refused to let go. “No, you must take me to meet my brother!”

Chu Shangluo tried to reassure him, “I promise I won’t lie to you, but I need to make some preparations first. I will definitely contact you. After all, I’m Chu Shangluo. You can reach me anytime.”

Reluctantly, Fan Mo let go. After Chu Shangluo left, he stood there, somewhat dazed. Could he really meet his brother?

When Chu Shangluo returned to the vegetarian restaurant, the four dishes and soup had already been served. He walked over and sat down. “Did you wait long? I ran into an acquaintance and chatted for a while, that’s why I’m late.”

Ren Jiaoming just hummed in response, not particularly interested in whom Chu Shangluo had met. Chu Shangluo didn’t bring up finding Fan Mo.

Tonight was the day Ren Jiaoming went back home to water his roses. Chu Shangluo hadn’t gone with him before because it seemed like too much trouble—having to wear shoe covers, and not being allowed to sit here or touch that. But today, since they were eating out, and there was only one car, he casually mentioned going with Ren Jiaoming to take a look.

Ren Jiaoming didn’t say anything about it.

Ren Jiaoming had a large patch of white roses in his garden, pure and noble, much like his own appearance. Chu Shangluo couldn’t understand how Ren Jiaoming, so busy with work, managed to find time to tend to these delicate flowers.

While Ren Jiaoming was tending to the roses, Chu Shangluo wandered around the house. When he passed a carved soft couch, he took a closer look and noticed burn marks on one of its legs. Chu Shangluo understood then—it must have been something precious left from the past.

He walked into the study, which was immaculate. On the desk was a family photo, the corner of which had been burned. In the photo, the family of four was all smiling, happily together. Chu Shangluo was about to take a closer look when Ren Jiaoming’s voice came from the door.

“President Chu, it’s impolite to just wander into someone else’s study.”