Cen Zhisen’s bedroom door was indeed slightly open. Ning Zhiyuan walked in barefoot, and in the darkness, the familiar scent drew closer as he was pushed against the door.

A corner of the wooden door slid over the thick carpet, hooked onto the door frame, and the muffled and dull sound quickly vanished into the silence of the night.

Cen Zhisen’s warm and humid breath sprayed on Ning Zhiyuan’s neck. Ning Zhiyuan tilted his head slightly and couldn’t help but smile, “Are we really doing this here? Ge, doesn’t it feel weird?”

Cen Zhisen’s nose lightly grazed his neck, “Are we doing it or not?”

“I didn’t bring anything. How are we going to do it?” Ning Zhiyuan reminded him, “If we do it on the bed, we’ll get caught.”

“I brought something,” Cen Zhisen said, his palm pressing against Ning Zhiyuan’s lower back, clearly having planned this for a while. “In the bathroom?”

Ning Zhiyuan’s laughter grew lower, “Fine.”

Even inside the bathroom, they didn’t turn on the lights. Cen Zhisen pushed him against the wall, covering him with kisses.

Heavy breathing and moans intertwined, sticky and intimate tongue kisses, things getting out of control.

Cen Zhisen did what he had always wanted to do, stripped Ning Zhiyuan of his clothes, and couldn’t get enough of caressing him all over.

Outside the window, the rain poured down heavily. There was a faint glow from a street lamp in the rain, casting a blurry scene.

In that faint light, Ning Zhiyuan saw Cen Zhisen’s eyes, intoxicated and infatuated, with only his own reflection in those eyes.

The heat inside their bodies kept rising, and the sound of their heartbeats couldn’t be masked even by the rain. Ning Zhiyuan was immersed in the excessively hot pleasure, unable to extricate himself.

His desire for Cen Zhisen used to be direct and pure. It had changed at some point, perhaps when he noticed Cen Zhisen’s transformation and allowed him to indulge.

Easily provoked by Cen Zhisen’s physical desires, satisfying Cen Zhisen was also a way of satisfying himself.

He was an accomplice to Cen Zhisen, no longer able to remain indifferent or selfish.

“Don’t get lost.”

Cen Zhisen’s hoarse voice reminded him as he pinched Ning Zhiyuan’s firm thigh, squeezing it until he hooked one leg over his waist, “Am I not working hard enough? Do you have time to think about other things now?”

“How do you know what I’m thinking?” Ning Zhiyuan, with his back against the wall, struggled to stabilize his body. The leg he was supporting independently trembled, and he occasionally took a deep breath. “Maybe I’m thinking about you?”

“Are you?” Cen Zhisen’s kisses grazed the area behind his ear and his neck. “Just hold me and stop thinking about unnecessary things.”

Ning Zhiyuan chuckled softly, tightened his embrace, and groaned under Cen Zhisen’s actions.

The sounds gradually shifted their tone, blending in more passion and desire, becoming increasingly viscous and enticing.

There was a large floor-to-ceiling mirror on the opposite wall. At one moment, a car passed by the villa outside, and the headlights swiftly glided over the mirror’s surface. Ning Zhiyuan clearly saw their entwined bodies reflected in the mirror.

The most ardent longing, the most primal desire.

It was him and Cen Zhisen.

Around three in the morning, Ning Zhiyuan sat on the edge of Cen Zhisen’s bed, smoking a cigarette, with only one bedside lamp turned on.

Cen Zhisen stood in front of him, took away his cigarette, and extinguished it directly.

“I told you to smoke less. You forgot again,” Cen Zhisen scolded.

Ning Zhiyuan looked up. Cen Zhisen’s upper body was steaming hot, water droplets rolled down his chest, and there were some marks left by his recent biting.

Staring for a while, Ning Zhiyuan’s fingers touched his well-defined abdominal muscles one by one, inadvertently recalling some past events.

It wasn’t anything remarkable. When he was studying abroad, there was a man who ardently pursued him, using various means. However, he remained indifferent, not even giving the guy a chance for a one-night stand. It wasn’t that he found the man unpleasant; on the contrary, the Asian-looking man bore at least a seventy percent resemblance to Cen Zhisen, especially when not smiling or speaking. He actually had a favorable impression of him.

—A man who looked like Cen Zhisen, overly enthusiastic about him, with eyes only for him. He couldn’t help but have a good impression.

However, this goodwill wasn’t in a romantic sense, and it didn’t involve any physiological desires. So, he wouldn’t give the guy any possible chances.

He thought that his feelings for Cen Zhisen were the same, but now, they had developed into a relationship beyond ethics.

It was indeed absurd, yet it seemed strangely reasonable.

“I’m going back to sleep,” Ning Zhiyuan said.

Cen Zhisen watched him for a moment, suddenly bent down, and kissed him again.

This kiss carried a bit of tenderness, even the intensity of tongue sweeping through the mouth was much gentler.

Ning Zhiyuan was getting a bit impatient, raised his hand to cup the back of Cen Zhisen’s neck, and slowly rubbed it.

After a while, their lips and tongues separated. Cen Zhisen gently touched his lips, “Go back.”

Ning Zhiyuan made a clicking sound, stood up, and before leaving, as if remembering something, he turned back against the wall, crossed his arms, and said to Cen Zhisen, “When I used to sneak into your room in the middle of the night when I was a kid, I always had to find various excuses, afraid that you’d chase me away. At that time, I never thought that one day I’d come to your room in the middle of the night for a secret affair.”

“This isn’t called a secret affair,” Cen Zhisen disagreed. “Male love is open and aboveboard.”

Ning Zhiyuan laughed, “Praising love?”

Cen Zhisen also laughed, asking him, “Zhiyuan, is it love?”

Ning Zhiyuan said, “I’ll have to think about it. I might not know.”

He was no longer certain that he didn’t love Cen Zhisen. As Cen Zhisen said, perhaps even he didn’t know.

“Yeah,” Cen Zhisen wasn’t in a hurry, “go back and get a good night’s sleep. Good night.”

Ning Zhiyuan casually nodded, “Good night.”

A night of sound sleep.

Early in the morning, after having breakfast with Cen Shengli, the two of them left the Cen family villa together around nine in the morning.

“Today is Saturday, where do you want to go?” Cen Zhisen asked, driving the car with Ning Zhiyuan beside him.

Ning Zhiyuan leaned against the seat, feeling lazy all over, “Just take me back. I have work to do.”

Cen Zhisen turned his head to look at him. His shirt collar was unbuttoned, and the marks left by him from the previous night were clearly visible around his neck.

Cen Zhisen’s gaze withdrew, “So, this weekend is ruined again.”

“There’s nothing I can do,” Ning Zhiyuan shook his head. “How can I sue Cen An without evidence?”

“I thought you could leave these things to the lawyer, especially in terms of professionalism. The founder of the opposing company and the technical team know more than you do,” Cen Zhisen reminded him.

“Just consider me ambitious,” Ning Zhiyuan smiled. “After all, this is the first project I invested in, and I invested a considerable amount. If Cen An crushes me, it would be quite embarrassing.”

Cen Zhisen didn’t persuade him anymore and just drove him back.

When getting out of the car, Ning Zhiyuan turned back, gesturing towards the person in the driver’s seat, “Cen Zhisen, I promised Dad to keep an eye on you. Behave yourself, or I won’t be able to help you with Dad.”

Cen Zhisen leaned against the seat, one hand resting on the steering wheel, looking at him. “Is my current behavior not good enough?”

“Just so-so,” Ning Zhiyuan waved. “I won’t say more. I’m leaving.”

Just as he pushed open the car door, he was pulled back by Cen Zhisen’s hand. Cen Zhisen’s kiss came again, and Ning Zhiyuan responded as if he had expected it long ago.

After entangling for a while, finally, Ning Zhiyuan licked his lips and stepped back slightly, “Dear brother, we’ve been too sticky. I’m really leaving now.”

“Okay,” Cen Zhisen nodded. “See you next week.”

He watched Ning Zhiyuan walk into the elevator lobby. When the person went in, he smiled helplessly, started the car, and left.

Cen Zhisen also had plans for today. He went straight to the company and stayed there until evening, preparing to attend a charity cocktail party.

While resting in the lounge before the event, his assistant came over and said that a journalist wanted to interview him. “She has some connection with the organizer, and she seems to be the daughter of some leader. The organizer just came over and hoped that we could give face, answering a few questions won’t waste much time.”

Cen Zhisen frowned, but he agreed, “Let her come.”

The other party was a journalist from the financial channel of a portal website. Although young, her questions were quite professional. Cen Zhisen answered each one politely. After about ten minutes, when the cocktail party was about to start, the interview came to an end.

“Last question,” the female journalist smiled, holding up the microphone. “The recent patent dispute between Cen An and IC Technology has attracted much attention. It is rumored that the major shareholder behind IC Technology, Zhiyuan Venture Capital, is a new venture fund founded by Mr. Zhiyuan and several former high-level executives of the investment department after Mr. Zhiyuan resigned as the executive vice president. IC Technology is the first project invested by Zhiyuan Venture Capital, and its significance is significant. Now that Cen An has initiated a patent lawsuit against IC Technology just as its core product is about to be launched, does it intend to suppress Zhiyuan Venture Capital?”

Cen Zhisen raised an eyebrow. His assistant wanted to interrupt the interview, but he stopped her with his eyes. Looking at the camera, he answered the journalist’s question, “Cen An is just trying to defend its legitimate rights and interests. As for other speculations, they are pure nonsense.”

The journalist asked, “So Cen An’s lawsuit against IC Technology is not deliberately targeting Zhiyuan Venture Capital?”

“Why would Cen An target Zhiyuan Venture Capital?” Cen Zhisen looked directly into the camera, suddenly smiled, a smirk playing on his lips. “Publicly, Cen An wouldn’t be small-minded enough to be bothered by such a small fund as Zhiyuan Venture Capital. Privately, I myself am a partner in Zhiyuan Venture Capital. Even the name ‘Zhiyuan’ was my suggestion. Why would I have a problem with my own money?”

The journalist didn’t catch on immediately, “Zhiyuan?”

Cen Zhisen nodded, “Yes.”

The female journalist looked surprised, wanting to ask more, but Cen Zhisen didn’t give her the chance. He glanced at his watch, indicating that he had to go to the venue.

The assistant immediately understood, smiling as she said to the journalist, “Sorry, we agreed on fifteen minutes, and the time is up. Let’s wrap up the interview here.”

Regretfully, the journalist put down the microphone, and the nearby cameraman turned off the camera. She then asked, “Mr. Cen, can I ask you privately? There are rumors outside that you and your brother don’t get along, is it actually false?”

Cen Zhisen could have ignored it altogether, as it was crossing into personal territory. Moreover, the journalist was someone he didn’t know. However, he tilted his head slightly and said, “Of course, it’s false.”

At ten o’clock, Ning Zhiyuan looked up from the computer screen, picked up eye drops to moisten his slightly dry eyes, rubbed his neck, leaned back in his chair, and checked his phone.

Tang Shiqi had sent a message over half an hour ago: “Your brother just confessed to you in front of the camera. It’s so cheesy.”

Ning Zhiyuan was a bit puzzled. He clicked on the link she sent, and it turned out to be a video interview with Cen Zhisen – uploaded just two hours ago, tonight’s interview.

Ning Zhiyuan watched the entire video, and his gaze stopped at Cen Zhisen’s seemingly smiling eyes on the screen. His fingers touched his lips, and he slowly lifted the corners of his mouth.

It turned out that Cen Zhisen was aware of the recent rumors and gossip in the outside world.

He replied to Tang Shiqi, “Is he not speaking in normal human language? How is it a confession or cheesy, as you said?”

The young lady replied instantly, “Come on, I’ve never seen Brother Sen make that expression. It seems like he’s conveying affection to you from a distance, especially emphasizing that ‘Zhiyuan’ is a name he suggested. Dog brotherhood, showing off their love so explicitly.”

Ning Zhiyuan found it amusing, “Well, if you insist on thinking that way, I can’t help it.”

Tang Shiqi knew about him and Cen Zhisen, having figured it out herself before confirming with him. He was too lazy to lie and admitted it. At that time, this young lady was silent for a moment and sighed, “If I weren’t my parents’ biological daughter, I would never have developed such a relationship with my brother.”

He laughed for a while and answered, “Unfortunately, you are biological, and I am not.”

Then Tang Shiqi asked him, “Doesn’t it feel awkward?”

This question Tang Shuojie had asked Cen Zhisen, and he had asked himself. Cen Zhisen said he had gotten used to instinctive obedience, so it wasn’t awkward. What about him? Ning Zhiyuan thought about it; he had never felt awkward about this matter. Perhaps there was surprise, stolen joy, and going along with the flow, but never an emotion called awkward.

So, the reason he and Cen Zhisen had come to this point was probably destined.

Tang Shiqi sent several screenshots, “Take a look at these comments from netizens. More than just me feel this way.”

Ning Zhiyuan casually opened them and scanned through. Unexpectedly, all were comments fantasizing about his and Cen Zhisen’s relationship, and some even exclaimed that they had “hit the jackpot.”

[Twenty-seven years of brotherhood, returning to become a younger daughter-in-law/doge]

Ning Zhiyuan couldn’t help but chuckle, forwarding these screenshots to Cen Zhisen.

A few minutes later, Cen Zhisen called.

“Didn’t we agree to focus on real work? Why are you indulging in gossip?”

“One has to take a breather even when hanging themselves,” Ning Zhiyuan said. “I’ve been researching data all day.”

“Any findings?” Cen Zhisen asked.

“Mr. Cen, probing the enemy’s situation? I won’t tell you,” Ning Zhiyuan chuckled. “I also need to protect my own legal rights, right?”

Cen Zhisen understood, “Did you also watch that interview?”

“I did,” Ning Zhiyuan’s voice was very relaxed. “Just saw it.”

Cen Zhisen asked, “What are your thoughts?”

“Very handsome,” Ning Zhiyuan straightforwardly commented.

The last time Cen Zhisen asked him about his impressions of listening to his speech, his answer was also these two words. It seemed that his focus was on Cen Zhisen, always off-topic.

But for Ning Zhiyuan, that was his main point.

As Cen Zhisen just entered the house, he heard this and laughed, “Zhiyuan, what does the screenshot you just sent me mean?”

“Just making fun,” Ning Zhiyuan shrugged. “Take a look if you want.”

Cen Zhisen glanced over those nonsensical comments, “Younger daughter-in-law?”

He chuckled at the remarks, “Younger daughter-in-law?”

Ning Zhiyuan replied, “Ge.”

Cen Zhisen asked, “Hmm?”

Hearing the uplift in his tone, Ning Zhiyuan felt a bit mischievous, “Just kidding, don’t take it seriously.”

“I think it’s quite fitting,” Cen Zhisen said, letting out a laugh from his throat.