After Tang Shujie’s wedding, a sudden rumor began to circulate, claiming that Ning Zhiyuan, the pseudo crown prince of the Cen family, had hooked up with Miss Tang. After being kicked out of the Cen family, he was now planning to become the son-in-law of the Tang family.

After hearing about the rumor belatedly, Ning Zhiyuan’s first reaction was laughter. “Tang Shiqi? Why would they spread rumors about her and me? Do we look like a couple?”

Tang Shiqi, on the other hand, was furious. She called him and cursed directly, “Ning Zhiyuan, you bastard! Why did you use me as a shield when you and your brother are hooking up? I’m facing these rumors because of you!”

The whole thing started at Tang Shujie’s wedding. That day, when Ning Zhiyuan casually mentioned “childhood sweetheart” while chatting with Miss Tian, she later told her best friend about it. Ning Zhiyuan was quite famous in their circle, and the news of him having a girlfriend spread.

As for his childhood sweetheart, it was obvious that it was Tang Shiqi. The story spread like wildfire, and in the mouths of those who loved to gossip, it turned into Ning Zhiyuan wanting to climb the high branch of the Tang family.

Ning Zhiyuan didn’t care much about what others said. After all, he rarely hung out with those rich young masters and misses. The girl from earlier, Miss Tian, apologized to him after asking for his contact information, and that settled it. It wasn’t a big deal to begin with.

Of course, Tang Shiqi was the one who suffered the most. After being questioned by her family, she couldn’t hold it in and confessed that she had a boyfriend, and he was her bodyguard.

After that, chaos ensued in the Tang family, and Ning Zhiyuan expressed his sympathy, but there was nothing he could do.

As for his side of the story, Cen Shengli asked him once, and he denied it. The matter was not brought up again.

“I just went home to see dad, and he asked about this,” Cen Zhisen called and talked about these things. “He asked if you and Tang Shiqi really had something going on.”

Ning Zhiyuan chuckled, “I already said no. Dad doesn’t believe me? What did you say?”

“I said it was fake,” Cen Zhisen said. “I told him I’m your partner.”

“Cen Zhisen,” Ning Zhiyuan reminded him, “Don’t play around.”

Cen Zhisen said, “I really said that.”

Ning Zhiyuan just got into the car, tilted his head at the words, hesitated for two seconds, and sounded somewhat uncertain, “Did you really say that?”

“If I said it?” Cen Zhisen asked.

“Oh, then you didn’t say it.” Ning Zhiyuan had already figured it out; he was deliberately teasing him.

“Do you not want me to say it?” Cen Zhisen asked.

“It’s not that,” Ning Zhiyuan slowly twisted his wrist. “After all, Dad is not in good health. I’m afraid he can’t bear such news. Let’s try to keep it from him if possible.”

Cen Zhisen made a sound of agreement, but it was unclear whether he agreed or not. “Can you come tonight?”

“I can’t.” Ning Zhiyuan directly refused.

“Really not coming?” Cen Zhisen asked.

“Really can’t come,” Ning Zhiyuan said, “I’m on a business trip.”

“You’re going out again?” Cen Zhisen seemed a bit incredulous. “I didn’t hear you mention it before.”

“Ge, we haven’t seen each other for several days. You don’t report every itinerary to me, right?” Ning Zhiyuan said and casually took a picture of the city outside the car window.

“Take a good look. I’m in Hongcheng.”

Cen Zhisen was puzzled. “Why are you going to Hongcheng?”

“A friend invited me to watch the race,” Ning Zhiyuan said. “It’s rare to come out and relax.”

Cen Zhisen said, “You’re going to Hongcheng to watch the race? Which friend? Kuang Yaoting?”

He was referring to the owner of Hui Zhan Shipping. Ning Zhiyuan did not deny it. “Yes, him.”

“He invited you to watch the race, and you went?”

“Can’t I go?”

“Zhiyuan,” Cen Zhisen’s voice sank, “tell the truth.”

“Okay,” Ning Zhiyuan honestly confessed, “I just said, I came for a business trip. It’s not just me; Liu Lu and others are also here. In fact, we plan to establish a new dollar fund and raise funds here. Mr. Kuang said he could introduce some family office investors to me, so there should be some gains.”

He even mentioned the family office managers, not just the person in charge. Cen Zhisen understood, “Wish you good luck. When will you be back?”

“Don’t know, it’s uncertain.”

That’s how Ning Zhiyuan put it.

After hanging up, Liu Lu asked him curiously, “Was it President Cen on the phone?”

Ning Zhiyuan nodded with a smile, “It was him.”

Liu Lu sighed, “You two have a really good relationship.”

It wasn’t apparent back when he was with Cen An. They were already surprised when Cen Zhisen invested in their fund. Perhaps they had misunderstood the relationship between these two brothers.

Ning Zhiyuan just smiled and had no intention of explaining.

In the next few days, they were all in Hongcheng. Introduced by Mr. Kuang from Hui Zhan Shipping, they met several well-known local tycoons and had detailed discussions with several family offices about the investment plan, achieving considerable success.

On the last night of the arranged itinerary, Mr. Kuang hosted a dinner at an upscale Chinese restaurant halfway up the mountain.

Everyone enjoyed themselves.

At the end, Mr. Kuang asked Ning Zhiyuan, “Are you interested in taking a stroll at the mountaintop?”

He only invited Ning Zhiyuan. Initially indifferent, Ning Zhiyuan realized something from his gaze and thought it over, “No, I’m too tired these days. I want to go back to the hotel and rest early.”

The other party expressed understanding with grace, arranged for a driver to take them back, and, before getting in the car, reminded Ning Zhiyuan to come early tomorrow. They could have morning tea together and watch the horse race.

Ning Zhiyuan thanked him. This time, Mr. Kuang really helped a lot, and everything went smoothly.

Back at the hotel, it was only a little past eight.

Ning Zhiyuan took a shower first. When Cen Zhisen’s call came in, he was drying his hair with a towel. The phone was placed on the sink, and he casually turned on the speaker.

“The work schedule is over. Liu Lu and the others still have other work, and they will return tomorrow.”

“And you?”

“As I mentioned before, I’ll be watching the horse race. I told in the morning.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then he called out, “Zhiyuan.”

Ning Zhiyuan responded, “Yeah?”

“Is it appropriate for you to go watch the horse race with another man?” Cen Zhisen’s tone sounded a bit sour.

“You got it wrong,” Ning Zhiyuan corrected him, “He’s accompanying me. I’m more interested in the horse race.”

Cen Zhisen asked, “You’re interested in the horse race?”

“I feel lucky lately, so I want to try my luck. But sitting directly at the gambling table seems a bit vulgar, so I thought horse racing might be interesting.” Ning Zhiyuan said with enthusiasm.

Cen Zhisen reminded him, “Be careful not to gamble away your belongings.”

“It won’t happen,” Ning Zhiyuan said, “Although I like gambling, I’m not an oblivious gambler. Regardless of what I gamble on.”

Remembering several “bets” they had between them, Cen Zhisen laughed, “Okay.”

Ning Zhiyuan continued to dry his hair in front of the mirror, staring at the water droplets rolling down his neck. Slowly, he said, “Today, when I met someone, I witnessed an interesting soap opera.”

Cen Zhisen asked, “Oh?”

Ning Zhiyuan reported a name that belonged to a famous tycoon in Hongcheng, “We met at the golf course, played a round of golf together. When we were having tea later, his original wife suddenly rushed in, causing a scene. She accused him of having ten or eight illegitimate children outside, and even though he had a bunch of illegitimate children, she had turned a blind eye. However, she couldn’t tolerate those illegitimate children from outside harming her children. At that time, Mr. Kuang and I quickly found an excuse to leave. We didn’t want to hear about other people’s family affairs, but that lady seemed to be stimulated. In just a few words, she spilled all the family secrets. She said—”

He seemed to deliberately tease Cen Zhisen’s curiosity, but Cen Zhisen wasn’t in a hurry. “What are you talking about?” he asked.

“She said her husband’s illegitimate child, who returned, harmed her son by seducing him into bed, and she caught them in the act,” Ning Zhiyuan’s voice was full of sarcasm.

Cen Zhisen was slightly surprised, “Illegitimate child and biological child? Brothers?”

“No,” Ning Zhiyuan explained, “that lady said her son was born with a man outside, and then her husband went crazy too.”

“Zhiyuan,” Cen Zhisen asked him, “What are you trying to say?”

“Don’t you find it interesting?” Ning Zhiyuan continued, “According to that lady, both her son and the illegitimate child know very well that they are not biological brothers. Who seduces whom is not certain yet.”

Ning Zhiyuan went on, changing the subject, and asked Cen Zhisen, “If our father knew about our relationship, do you think he would think I seduced you, or you seduced me?”

Cen Zhisen slowed his breathing, “What do you think?”

“I think,” Ning Zhiyuan pondered for a moment and said, “I think my parents might not be very happy. The fact that Cen Zhe is not their biological child is already a big blow to them. If they find out that their biological son, who returned unexpectedly, is involved with his used to be brother, they might be very disappointed. But they probably won’t react as hysterically as that lady. Maybe they’ll just act as if I’m no longer their son.”

Cen Zhisen asked, “So do you regret it?”

“No regrets,” Ning Zhiyuan still looked at himself in the mirror, his eyes calm. “Ge, I’ve told you before, it’s only you.”

Cen Zhisen understood. On that evening in his office, Ning Zhiyuan sat on his desk in front of him and looked into his eyes, telling him that everything could be given to others, except him.

The only thing Ning Zhiyuan truly cared about was him.

“Zhiyuan, are you deliberately saying these things to make me love you more?”

“Will you?”

“When you also say that you love me, I’ll love you even more then.”

“Haha,” Ning Zhiyuan burst into laughter.

Indeed, Cen Zhisen was truly formidable, actually thinking of such a way to tempt him.

The person on the other end of the phone sounded a bit helpless, “Zhiyuan, stop laughing.”

After a moment, Ning Zhiyuan finally stopped, paused, and said seriously, “Ge, just wait a bit more. That day will come.”

“Okay, no rush,” Cen Zhisen reassured him, “It’s not as bad as you think. Do your best, and you might be able to have both.”

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” Ning Zhiyuan raised his voice, “Turn on the camera.”

Cen Zhisen casually opened the video call mode.

The first thing that caught the eye was Ning Zhiyuan’s body from the chin to the neck, even to the chest, a white and muscular physique, fair and robust, with water droplets rolling after a shower. Even through the phone screen, one could perceive the enticing heat emanating from his body.

Cen Zhisen’s gaze slowly wandered, “Want to play?”

Ning Zhiyuan’s face appeared on the camera, smiling like a demon, “Miss you a bit.”

“Miss what?”

“Miss doing it with you.”

Cen Zhisen lowered his eyes and chuckled, “Do you know what I’m thinking right now?”

“What?” Ning Zhiyuan asked.

“Want to cum on your face,” Cen Zhisen calmly said, “and inside your body.”

When it comes to being explicit, Cen Zhisen was indeed one step ahead.

Ning Zhiyuan conceded.

But indeed, each time they used protection, and the two things Cen Zhisen mentioned were things they hadn’t tried before. This person probably had been thinking about it for a long time.

They played afterward, but it wasn’t satisfying. Ning Zhiyuan stood in front of the sink, washing his hands, and the restlessness in his body not only didn’t subside but seemed to be escalating.

“Cen Zhisen.”

“Still want more?” the voice in the video asked.

“I’m coming back the day after tomorrow,” Ning Zhiyuan changed his tone, no longer mentioning an indefinite return.

Cen Zhisen smiled, “Let’s talk about it the day after tomorrow then.”

The next morning, around ten o’clock, Kuang Yaoting arrived at the hotel and joined Ning Zhiyuan to go to the racetrack.

Kuang Yaoting was a senior member of the Jockey Club, and someone came to greet them as soon as they arrived at the racetrack, escorting them to the VIP box upstairs.

The first horse race wouldn’t start until after noon, giving them plenty of time to leisurely have brunch.

While eating and drinking tea, Kuang Yaoting and Ning Zhiyuan shared the follow-up of the gossip from yesterday.

“Liu Tai had already consulted a lawyer before coming to us yesterday. They are getting a divorce, but the division of property is still a source of contention. Liu Tai’s younger son is indeed born with someone else. The illegitimate child of Liu Sheng is quite capable; otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of acknowledging him. Liu Tai intentionally made a scene in front of us to let the family scandal spread, sacrificing her younger son to clear the way for her older son.”

Ning Zhiyuan was not surprised. Women like Liu Tai, wealthy wives of prominent families, wouldn’t reveal family scandals without calculated intentions.

“Although they are not blood-related,” Kuang Yaoting said, “they have been treating each other as brothers for so many years. Do you think Liu Tai’s younger son and Liu Sheng’s illegitimate child are suitable for each other?”

Ning Zhiyuan remained calm, unsure if Mr. Kuang had figured out his relationship with Cen Zhisen and was subtly implying something. Even though Cen Zhisen hadn’t met him, such a question wouldn’t trouble him.

Taking a sip of tea, he calmly replied, “Since there’s no blood relation, it’s up to them if they’re willing.”

Kuang Yaoting seemed to ponder for a moment, smiled, and didn’t pursue the topic further.

As the horse race was about to start, Kuang Yaoting’s assistant reminded him that a big shot called Mr. Shibai had also arrived. Kuang Yaoting nodded and asked Ning Zhiyuan, “Do you mind having a few more people?”

Ning Zhiyuan came here to expand his network, so he didn’t mind, “Feel free.”

A few minutes later, Kuang Yaoting’s assistant brought the person over. When the door to the private room opened, Ning Zhiyuan stood up with Kuang Yaoting to greet the newcomer. The next second, a rare surprise appeared in Ning Zhiyuan’s eyes.

The distinguished elder who entered with the imposing big shot turned out to be Cen Zhisen. He stood beside the man, with a smile on his lips, graceful and confident, lowering his posture without appearing weak.

When Cen Zhisen’s gaze fell on him, Ning Zhiyuan had already understood. He raised an eyebrow and smiled.

He lightly opened his lips, forming words with his mouth, “Bastard.”