Riding the elevator to the top floor, Cen Zhisen’s residence was on the 58th floor, the penthouse.

Ning Zhiyuan silently watched the numbers ascend floor by floor. Unable to resist, he asked, “Why buy such a high-rise property? And why the penthouse?”

Cen Zhisen replied, “You’ll know when you see it.”

The entire top floor belonged to a single household. Upon entering, a vast living room of over two hundred square meters unfolded before their eyes. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls provided a 180-degree panoramic view of the sparkling city beneath.

Ning Zhiyuan was somewhat astonished, halting his steps. Cen Zhisen reminded him, “Go and take a look.”

Ning Zhiyuan asked, “Is this really your home? Do you live alone?”

Cen Zhisen questioned, “who would I be living with?”

Seeing a hint of amusement in his eyes, Ning Zhiyuan didn’t press further and walked towards the glass wall. Placing his palm on it, he pressed lightly. The cool touch was dangerous yet alluring.

Below the sweeping view, it was as if one could overlook everything.

No wonder Cen Zhisen chose this place. Ning Zhiyuan thought that if it were him, he wouldn’t be able to resist this temptation either.

“How do you feel about this place?” Cen Zhisen, by the liquor cabinet, took off his coat and suit jacket, tossing them onto the sofa.

Ning Zhiyuan turned around, facing hi’s slightly inclined figure by the liquor cabinet. His black shirt accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist. Ning Zhiyuan visually measured it and said, “It’s quite nice.”

Cen Zhisen selected a bottle of wine, and Ning Zhiyuan’s gaze returned to the outside scenery.

This building was the tallest in this city area. Standing here, all the city lights were visible at a glance. A bit further, there was a bustling downtown area with towering buildings and layered lights and shadows.

In this city, stars were rarely visible, but at this moment, under the night sky, the city was aglow with flowing lights, resembling drifting stars.

Similar scenes could be seen from the high-rise offices of Cen An Tower. On countless nights working overtime, Ning Zhiyuan would occasionally glance outside and see the neon lights shining. However, at that time, he mostly lacked the mood to patiently appreciate the view.

Not to mention, the limited view from the office window could not capture a broader world.

Tonight, at this moment, standing here, he suddenly realized that he had been chasing what he thought was his goal, but he might not truly understand what the other person could see.

When Cen Zhisen approached, Ning Zhiyuan was still immersed in his own world, lost in thought.

Cen Zhisen stopped behind him, and their faint shadows were reflected on the glass wall. Ning Zhiyuan’s expression seemed somewhat lonely, similar to that night when he learned about his identity, but it also seemed different in some way.

Ning Zhiyuan, lost in the view outside, while Cen Zhisen was watching him.

Seemingly aware of the person’s gaze behind him, Ning Zhiyuan’s thoughts withdrew, turning around. Leaning against the glass, he faced Cen Zhisen.

“What are you thinking?” Cen Zhisen asked him.

Ning Zhiyuan didn’t want to say much, “Nothing.”

Cen Zhisen handed him a glass of wine, “Try it.”

A Burgundy white wine with a platinum color, mixed with the aromas of dried fruits, spices, and honey, fragrant and rich.

Ning Zhiyuan took it, swirled the wine glass gently, tilted his head slightly, and let the wine flow into his mouth.

The mellow and delicate liquid swirled on his tongue twice before slowly going down.

Cen Zhisen watched his movements, feeling an inexplicable dryness in his mouth, and took a sip of the wine.

“Chevalier-Montrachet,” Ning Zhiyuan said, even stating the exact year accurately, “not bad.”

Cen Zhisen affirmed, “You know your wine.”

Ning Zhiyuan poured himself another sip, “Just scratching the surface.”

With half a glass of wine in his stomach, he became more talkative, “Did you specifically instruct someone to make this glass wall? Isn’t it intimidating? It’s quite dangerous in such a high place. What if there’s a typhoon or something?”

Cen Zhisen countered, “If it scares you, why are you still leaning against it?”

Ning Zhiyuan slightly turned his head, looking behind him. A glance revealed an abyss that seemed bottomless. If he fell, it would be bone-shattering.

“You’re not afraid of anything, are you?”

Ning Zhiyuan’s words seemed illogical, and his posture became even more casual. He shifted his weight entirely to his back, leaning against the glass wall. His long legs crossed, one hand in his pocket, and the other holding the half-filled glass of wine, with a faint smile on his lips.

Cen Zhisen wondered if he was drunk, but Ning Zhiyuan’s alcohol tolerance shouldn’t lead to such a state.

“What’s the story behind your previous breakup?” Cen Zhisen asked.

Looking at him, Ning Zhiyuan seemed surprised that he would suddenly bring this up. “Curious, aren’t you?”

When Cen Zhisen asked, he was prepared to hear a “no comment,” but he still asked, “Just curious, let’s call it my curiosity.”

Ning Zhiyuan didn’t answer immediately. He lowered his eyes, looking at his right hand holding the wine glass. The scar from the burn on the back of his hand was already faint but still visible.

Cen Zhisen also looked over. Ning Zhiyuan spoke, “This scar has been here for ten years.”

Seemingly unrelated words, yet possibly a prelude, Cen Zhisen listened quietly.

“The person who made me taste the bitterness of a breakup was once…” Ning Zhiyuan’s gaze stayed on that spot, and his voice was soft, as if speaking to himself, “I hated him for always disturbing my peace of mind. I even tried to burn my hand with a cigarette, forcing myself not to care about his every move. But there was no way. He might be inherently my nemesis.”

Cen Zhisen asked, “What kind of person was he?”

Ning Zhiyuan’s gaze returned to Cen Zhisen’s face, scrutinizing and evaluating as he slowly spoke, “An arrogant, indifferent, annoying guy.”

A smile appeared in his eyes again, and Cen Zhisen couldn’t be sure if his words were true or false. “Is there really such a person?” he asked.

“Yes,” Ning Zhiyuan affirmed, his voice paused, “But not anymore. He dumped me, and I don’t want to chase after him anymore.”

Cen Zhisen seemed to understand something from his eyes. After a moment of silence, he gestured, “Give me your hand.”

Ning Zhiyuan didn’t react, but Cen Zhisen directly took the wine glass from his hand. Along with his own glass, he placed them on a tall cabinet nearby and held Ning Zhiyuan’s right wrist.

As his fingertips massaged the scar, Ning Zhiyuan’s gaze moved slowly.

Cen Zhisen gently rubbed the scar, and the warm touch made Ning Zhiyuan feel a bit itchy.

After a while, he let go of his hand and looked up, saying, “Don’t do such things again in the future.”

Ning Zhiyuan, tilting his head slightly, saw his own reflection in Cen Zhisen’s dark eyes.

His thoughts were momentarily empty, saying, “I won’t.”

Cen Zhisen handed the wine glass back to him, saying, “Drink.”

As Ning Zhiyuan sipped the wine, he changed the subject, “Yesterday, I contacted a professor I knew when I was studying abroad. He’s quite famous, you should have heard of him.”

Ning Zhiyuan mentioned the name, and Cen Zhisen nodded, “Yes, I know, a renowned economist and investment expert.”

“He wanted to keep me there when I graduated. He even said that any major Wall Street company, he could recommend me to any of them. But when I mentioned wanting to go abroad for development yesterday, he suggested I reconsider,” Ning Zhiyuan continued, taking another sip of wine. “Maybe now is not the right time.”

“What do you think?” Cen Zhisen asked.

Ning Zhiyuan, still leaning against the glass wall, tilted his head slightly, looking at Cen Zhisen, “So many people advised me to think more. It seems like I’m being stubborn if I insist on going, or perhaps I don’t know what’s good for me?”

“No, setting aside all that, dad is not in good health. He doesn’t want you to go too far. And Mr. Ning and his wife probably wouldn’t want to see you recognizing them only to leave for a distant country immediately,” Cen Zhisen reminded him.

“Got it,” Ning Zhiyuan said.

Whether it was Cen Shengli or Ning Zheng and Sun Xiaoqing, although they didn’t say it, he knew they didn’t want him to leave.

“I also hope you can stay,” Cen Zhisen said.

This statement seemed to surprise Ning Zhiyuan. He looked at Cen Zhisen as if trying to discern the meaning in his words.

Perhaps for several seconds, an elusive emotion seemed to be gradually brewing, and he asked, “Why?”

Cen Zhisen counter-questioned, “Just leaving like this, don’t you have any regrets?”

Ning Zhiyuan was stunned. Of course, he had regrets, except for the goals he had to give up. All his aspirations were here.

Cen Zhisen continued, “Stay, no matter the reason.”

After a moment of silence, Ning Zhiyuan finally agreed, “Your previous proposal, I accept it. I can contribute more money, I have around three or four million.”

In these years, with his salary and some small investments, he still had some cash, though not much.

“Sure, I’ll also contribute a portion. I’ll figure out a way to help you with the rest,” Cen Zhisen said.

Ning Zhiyuan no longer refused him, saying, “Thanks.”

This time, it was a rare sincerity.

He could indeed go abroad, but there was an indescribable unease.

So he should thank Cen Zhisen, regardless of the man’s intentions. In his dilemma, it was Cen Zhisen who reached out to help him.

“Sure,” Cen Zhisen nodded, finishing the last sip of wine in his glass, “don’t mention it.”

Ning Zhiyuan also put down the wine glass, glancing at his wristwatch, “It’s late. I’m going back. See you next time.”

Nonchalantly saying “goodbye,” Ning Zhiyuan, about to leave, had his arm grabbed by Cen Zhisen. Cen Zhisen pushed him against the glass wall behind him, saying, “Don’t go. You’ve been drinking, and you can’t drive.”

Ning Zhiyuan tilted his head, thinking for a moment, “I’ll call a designated driver.”

“Didn’t you see the social news a few days ago?” Cen Zhisen’s tone became serious. “A wealthy man called for a designated driver late at night, was robbed and killed. If you call a designated driver to leave from here, be careful not to attract attention.”

Ning Zhiyuan chuckled at this statement, “So, you also read this kind of social news? Interesting.”

He obviously didn’t take it seriously, and Cen Zhisen squinted at him for a moment, then laughed, “Maybe you shouldn’t leave. You might be in even more danger than that wealthy person in the news.”

Ning Zhiyuan didn’t understand, “Why?”

Cen Zhisen sneered lightly, his voice carrying a hint of laughter, sounding a bit playful, “Someone like you might be more susceptible to being robbed of more than just money, you know.”