Early the next morning, as Ning Zhiyuan just woke up, he heard a faint argument coming from the study downstairs.

After freshening up and changing, he went downstairs to see. As expected, it was the uncles and aunts from the Cen family, having a heated argument in the study. They accused Cen Shengli of secretly distributing the family assets to his own children without their knowledge, not even giving them a share of the soup.

“For so many years, we treated you like an elder brother, helped you in various ways, and even contributed to Cen An. It’s not like we’re just taking money without doing anything. Now that your family is large and prosperous, you just kick us out, giving all the benefits to your own children. Isn’t this completely disregarding us, your brothers and sisters?”

“If it weren’t for our parents taking you in back then, you would have starved to death. How could you have what you have today? Now that you’ve become successful, you forget all the past favors, turning your back on those who helped you. Our parents were really shortsighted back then.”

“Not to mention other things, when you were starting your business outside, we helped you take care of your children. We may not have achieved much, but we’ve worked hard. Now, you’re reluctant to share money with us but are willing to give it to that illegitimate child. Isn’t it a matter of conscience?”

Cen Shengli initially remained silent, listening to their accusations. However, he couldn’t hold back any longer and retorted, “Enough! Zhiyuan is not an illegitimate child! I have raised him for over twenty years, and he is no different from my biological son. I willingly give my property to whomever I want. This is my family matter, and it has nothing to do with you!”

“Biological son?” The second uncle from the Cen family sneered, “He messed around with your biological son. Everyone outside is talking about the shame our Cen family is facing. If you call him your biological son, it would sound even worse.”

Cen Shengli’s face turned dark, looking exceptionally displeased.

“What’s so bad about it? Why don’t you tell me more?” Ning Zhiyuan, who had been quietly observing the commotion, finally spoke with a cold tone. As the gaze of those people shifted towards him, he sneered, “There aren’t many people poking at our Cen family’s backbone. It seems like you, Uncle Cen, are afraid that others don’t know about my relationship with my brother. You’re trying to help us publicize it. Why not bring a loudspeaker to Cen An’s door and broadcast our love affair?”

He spoke the phrase “love affair” with particular openness, looking into their resentful eyes. “I tell you, always finding fault with us, constantly nitpicking at me and my brother, is it fun?”

Infuriated, they exclaimed, “You’re talking nonsense! How can a young person like you dare to speak in front of your elders?”

Others chimed in, “Exactly! You’re becoming more and more outrageous. Look at your attitude towards the elders. Even if you were a girl, it would be inappropriate to have a love affair with your brother. People gossip behind our backs about our Cen family lacking manners.”

“You keep calling me ‘illegitimate,’ so don’t call yourselves elders in front of me,” Ning Zhiyuan showed no mercy, retorting, “And don’t talk about doing things for our good. Do you really care about us, or do you just want to enjoy the show, watching my brother get criticized and questioned in the company? You know in your hearts that all these years, what has made the Cen family unable to have peace is not outsiders, but you.”

“What are you saying!” Angered by the exposure of their intentions, several people were getting furious and questioned Cen Shengli, “Look at his attitude. Is this the good son you raised? When he was a child, we all took care of him. Now, he mocks and ridicules us, showing no respect. Do you still think he has no problem at all?”

Cen Shengli, however, didn’t buy into their arguments, “Think about how you treated Zhiyuan when he was a child. You know what you did. I was busy with work at the time, and I asked you to take care of him. I never shortchanged you, but what did you do? You resorted to cold violence against a child, falsely accused him of imaginary crimes, and tried to sabotage his relationship with his brother. Zhiyuan is right. You people have indeed failed as elders.”

Suddenly, Cen Shengli brought up old accounts, and it seemed like he was truly going to break ties with them.

These people, being scolded so harshly, had guilty expressions. Although they refused to admit it, they were caught off guard. “Nothing like that happened, Big Brother, don’t listen to his nonsense…”

“Whether it happened or not is in the past,” Cen Shengli interrupted them, “but it ends here. I consider myself fair to you. I have never mistreated anyone. Your current wealth is something others couldn’t earn for several lifetimes. Be content with what you have, and don’t think about anything else. I’ve worked hard for most of my life to earn this wealth for my own children. If you think I, Cen Shengli, am ungrateful, I have nothing to say. That’s it.”

These people still wanted to argue, but Cen Zhisen, who entered a bit later, interjected, “It’s getting late. We still have to accompany Dad to visit Mom’s grave later. Uncles and aunts, if you have nothing else, please leave.”

He tilted his head, seeming to smile but not really. “Or should I call someone to escort you out?”

Finally, they managed to send away the grumbling crowd. Cen Zhisen and Ning Zhiyuan approached to help Cen Shengli sit down and handed him a cup of tea.

Cen Shengli took a few sips of tea, gradually calming down. His eyes showed weariness, as if deeply disappointed by those people.

“Dad…”

Ning Zhiyuan wanted to comfort him, but Cen Shengli interrupted him, “Forget it. In the future, don’t bother with them.”

He patted Ning Zhiyuan’s back, “Don’t take those words to heart. Let them say whatever they want.”

Ning Zhiyuan responded, “I know, Dad. It’s okay. What they say doesn’t affect me.”

Cen Shengli nodded, then signaled to Cen Zhisen, “From now on, I won’t intervene in their affairs. Handle things at the company fairly.”

Cen Zhisen assured him, “I understand.”

Later, they followed Cen Shengli to the outskirts of the city to sweep the grave and returned to the city near noon.

Cen Shengli suggested having lunch outside before going back. The chosen restaurant was an old-established place that had been open for more than twenty years, located near their former home.

Back when Cen Shengli was just starting his business, he often entertained clients here. The restaurant owner was an old friend, personally helping them order dishes and exchanging greetings with Cen Shengli.

Ning Zhiyuan stopped by the window of the private room, looking outside. Across the street was their childhood home—some of the earliest high-end residential buildings in the 1990s. Over the years, the building’s facade had aged, leaving behind traces of the passing years.

Cen Zhisen approached, placing a hand on his shoulder. “What are you looking at?”

“This place hasn’t changed much since childhood,” Ning Zhiyuan said. “I remember when you started elementary school, I couldn’t follow you. Every afternoon, I would squat at the door, waiting for you to come back and play with me. At that time, there was still a row of large trees outside the neighborhood. I always hid in the shade of the trees, eagerly waiting for you to return.”

Cen Zhisen said, “You still remember such small things?”

“Anything related to you, I remember,” Ning Zhiyuan smiled. Regardless of whether it was good or bad, memories associated with Cen Zhisen were always the most vivid.

Cen Zhisen remembered too. At that time, emerging from the shade of the trees, Ning Zhiyuan, smiling and calling “Ge,” jumped into his arms, becoming his entire world.

Coincidentally, Cen Zhisen had brought a camera. He went to fetch it and pressed the shutter button, capturing the view outside the window.

“Unfortunately, there aren’t many trees left at the entrance now,” Cen Zhisen looked at the developed photos as if glimpsing some shadows of the past in the imprints of those years, making the memories more vivid.

“This one turned out quite well,” Ning Zhiyuan said satisfied.

They returned to their seats, and the restaurant owner continued chatting with their father. When he noticed the camera in Cen Zhisen’s hand, he suddenly said, “Speaking of which, I remember when the restaurant celebrated its anniversary a few weeks ago, your family came here to eat. We took a photo that day. Let me find it; I should be able to locate the picture taken back then.”

Cen Shengli asked eagerly, “That was more than twenty years ago. Can you really find the photo?”

“I can find it,” the owner affirmed. “It was an anniversary celebration day, and we must have kept the photos. You eat first, and I’ll look for them. Once I find them, I’ll show you.”

By the time they almost finished their meal, the owner returned excitedly, presenting them with yellowed photos he had unearthed. “I told you we kept them. It was the seventh anniversary celebration of my restaurant that day. You happened to move that day, and you came here for the last meal. We took a photo together.”

There were a total of four photos: one of the owner with their father, a family photo, a picture of the father and sons together at the dining table, and the last one, Cen Zhisen and Ning Zhiyuan sitting side by side at the dining table, looking up at the camera.

The photos were handed to Ning Zhiyuan, and as soon as he saw them, he smiled, passing them to Cen Zhisen beside him.

It was indeed them, still children at that time. The bottom right corner of the photo showed the date it was taken: 2002.7.12.

It turned out they had a solo photo together even in their childhood. Many years later, it reappeared before their eyes in such an unexpected way, as if it had been destined.

They took the photos back with them and inserted them into the other side of the crystal frame on the bedside table.

Their past and present, over twenty years of time, overlapped in the same frame, forever preserved.

In the afternoon, Ning Zhiyuan helped Cen Zhisen pack his luggage. He was going on a business trip to Europe to negotiate a large-scale project and wouldn’t be back until next weekend.

“Take a few more clothes. It’s cold over there.”

“Call me once you land, anytime is fine.”

Ning Zhiyuan kept advising him, actually struggling to find words.

Cen Zhisen looked at him and smiled, “Will you suddenly come to surprise me again this time?”

“No, don’t even think about it,” Ning Zhiyuan said without hesitation, “I’m busy.”

Cen Zhisen reached out, pulled the person squatting on the floor helping him pack, and embraced him, leaning over to kiss him.

“Cen Zhisen, what are you doing?” Ning Zhiyuan’s lips were sore from the bite, and when he stepped back, he couldn’t help complaining.

“Make love with me,” Cen Zhisen said, “I want to fuck you.”

Ning Zhiyuan frowned, “You’re too vulgar.”

“Hmm.” Cen Zhisen admitted it readily. In matters like this, he never intended to pretend to be refined.

“We’re going to the airport in a while, it’s getting late, only half an hour left,” Ning Zhiyuan reminded him.

Cen Zhisen pushed him onto the sofa, “Half an hour is enough.”

Perhaps due to the urgency, Cen Zhisen was particularly anxious today. From the beginning, he went straight to the point, forcefully pressing Ning Zhiyuan underneath him. The posture, facing away from him, was intense.

Ning Zhiyuan couldn’t bear it, kept moaning, but in this chaotic rhythm, he tasted an unprecedented pleasure.

In the end, the sofa was a mess. Time was already running late, and they hurriedly took a shower before rushing out, without even having time to tidy up.

As they descended the stairs, Ning Zhiyuan was still thinking about what had just happened and couldn’t help but smile.

Cen Zhisen: “What are you laughing at?”

“Laughing that you’re becoming less and less composed,” Ning Zhiyuan clicked his tongue. “Let’s go, I’ll take you to the airport.”

“No need,” Cen Zhisen said, “You go up; the car will be here in a moment.”

Ning Zhiyuan: “I’ll take you. Let me send you off for once.”

Cen Zhisen gave him a meaningful look, reached over, and pinched his butt. “Doesn’t it feel uncomfortable here?”

Ning Zhiyuan patted him, “Stop it.”

Five minutes later, Cen Zhisen’s car arrived.

Ning Zhiyuan followed him into the car, greeted the assistant, and seemed hesitant to say something.

Cen Zhisen gestured, “Just say what you have to say.”

The assistant said, “Many people in the company forum have been discussing your relationship recently. Threads and replies pop up every day. I was thinking if it’s better to delete the posts, but our company forum has always advocated free speech, and we won’t investigate who posts and comments. I don’t know if starting this precedent is okay.”

“Is that so? Let me take a look.”

Ning Zhiyuan became interested, and he logged into the Cen An forum using Cen Zhisen’s account on the tablet.

Indeed, there were many related posts, but they were all speculative comments and not particularly offensive. No harm done.

“Or should I have them deleted?” the assistant suggested, “After all, this involves personal privacy.”

Ning Zhiyuan smiled, nudging Cen Zhisen’s hand next to him, “What do you think?”

Cen Zhisen casually glanced at them and said, “Delete them.”

Ning Zhiyuan took out his phone and typed, “I thought you didn’t care about these things.”

Cen Zhisen took it and replied below, “No need to be the subject of others’ gossip.”

Ning Zhiyuan thought about it, and it made sense. They had no intention of hiding, but they also had no interest in providing entertainment for others.

Due to the late departure, the car arrived at the airport a bit behind schedule. Those traveling with Cen Zhisen had already arrived.

This time, two other Cen An executives accompanied him, along with seven or eight other subordinates.

Seeing Ning Zhiyuan, everyone came over to greet him.

After exchanging pleasantries, when Ning Zhiyuan’s gaze returned to Cen Zhisen, those around them tactfully left.

Cen Zhisen smiled and asked, “Want to hug?”

Ning Zhiyuan took a step forward, straightened Cen Zhisen’s tie, then reached out and hugged his shoulders.

Many eyes were on them, including their own people and passing travelers.

But they paid no mind.

There was nothing to hide; they were just ordinary people, simply dating, nothing more.

Cen Zhisen also raised his hand to return the hug, embracing each other firmly before quickly letting go and stepping back.

As always, they exchanged the words they had said countless times before: “See you next time.”

Ning Zhiyuan smiled and said, “Alright, goodbye. Have a safe journey.”

Goodbye, until next time, my love.