[I can give more]

Chen Zemian didn’t think anyone would bully him, but apparently, some people disagreed.

Like his good boss, Xiao Kesong.

Xiao Kesong still remembered the “coffee incident” between Chen Zemian and Liu Yuebo at the shooting range. When he saw Liu Yuebo’s elder brother at the birthday party, he subtly brought it up.

Liu Yuebo’s elder brother, Liu Hao, was the lead person in the cooperation between the Liu and Xiao families. After hearing Xiao Kesong’s words, he immediately found Liu Yuebo in the corner to demand an explanation.

Liu Yuebo looked at Liu Hao, indignant. “Brother, who told you that I bullied Chen Ze?”

Liu Hao raised an eyebrow and glanced at his foolish younger brother, retorting, “Who do you think?”

Liu Yuebo finally realized. “It was Xiao Kesong!”

“Don’t cross paths with Xiao Kesong and his group,” Liu Hao said earnestly. “When you graduate, these friends will be your connections in the future. The Xiao family has a partnership with us, and the Lu family is currently at its peak. Be smarter; getting along with them won’t hurt you.”

“Is it that I don’t want to?” Liu Yuebo leaned against the wrought iron railing, his tone helpless. “Everyone in the circle follows Lu Zhuonian’s every move. Have you seen him pay attention to anyone? He still only hangs out with the Xiao and Ye families’ two scions, doesn’t he? They’re childhood friends, a lifelong bond. I can’t squeeze in.”

Liu Hao’s words were scathing. “Then how did Chen Ze squeeze in?”

Liu Yuebo: “…”

“Is Chen Ze also a childhood friend of theirs?” Liu Hao continued to twist the knife. “He met Lu Zhuonian later than all of you, and he’s only known Xiao Kesong for less than half a year. How did he manage it?”

Liu Yuebo took a hard drag from his cigarette. “He’s shameless.”

Liu Hao slapped the back of Liu Yuebo’s head.

Liu Yuebo covered his head and looked up. “Why did you hit me? He is shameless. He’s practically duped Xiao Kesong into idiocy. He splashed coffee on me, then turned around and said his hand slipped, and Xiao Kesong actually believed such an outrageous lie! He even thought I bullied him and went to you to complain. I’m practically dying of injustice. In ancient times, this kind of person would be a corrupt official, twisting black into white, calling a deer a horse.”

Liu Hao asked, “Anything else?”

Liu Yuebo gnashed his teeth. “He even threatened me! He said if he ever heard me swearing again, he’d scald me to death with hot water.”

“No wonder you haven’t been swearing much lately.” Liu Hao’s eyebrows subtly raised, thoughtful. “This person is even more formidable than I imagined.”

Liu Yuebo said unconvinced, “What ability could he possibly have? He just has an impressive face!”

With such a beautiful and innocent face, even if you knew he was spouting nonsense, you couldn’t help but make excuses for him in your mind.

Liu Hao had met Chen Ze and knew that Liu Yuebo’s words were true.

Chen Ze possessed an exceptionally beautiful and refined appearance. Being that good-looking certainly gave him the capital to do as he pleased.

What was most unique was that he was beautiful, but not fragile; difficult to pluck and even harder to bully, more prickly than a rose, like a shimmering poppy swaying on its stem, its entire plant containing highly toxic alkaloids—a touch could be deadly.

Liu Hao pondered, “If you were acting like a bully and Xiao Kesong reported you to me, that would be one thing. But what I’m hearing is that you got the worse end of the deal with Chen Ze, and then Xiao Kesong turned around and thought you bullied Chen Ze?”

Liu Yuebo let out a very exasperated and humiliated “Mm,” two streams of smoke puffing out from his nostrils, like an angry bull.

“Let it go—stop picking on him,” Liu Hao flatly stated. “You can’t win against him.”

Liu Yuebo also felt he couldn’t win against Chen Ze.

Chen Ze was like some male vixen, having already enchanted everyone. His elder brother had only met Chen Ze from afar once, and after just a few words, he concluded that Chen Ze was formidable.

This was quite rare.

Liu Yuebo was utterly annoyed and lit another cigarette. “He’s so close to Lu Zhuonian and them now. If I don’t mess with him, how am I going to get close to Lu Zhuonian?”

Liu Hao occasionally wondered if their mother had been drinking when she was pregnant with Liu Yuebo, otherwise, how could this younger brother be so utterly clueless.

“Were you able to get close to Lu Zhuonian when he wasn’t on good terms with Chen Ze?”

Liu Yuebo: “…”

Liu Hao realized that the possibility of inspiring his brother to think for himself was slim, so he directly told Liu Yuebo what to do: “I’m taking you to apologize to Chen Ze now. From now on, you’ll hang out with him.”

Liu Yuebo was shocked. “I hang out with him? We have the worst relationship in this whole circle. How can we hang out?”

Liu Hao took a deep breath. “Have you ever thought about why you’re the only one whose relationship with him is bad? It’s because you’re the pawn being used. Now that he’s so favored by Lu Zhuonian, maybe others have already gone to actively try to befriend him.”

Liu Yuebo subconsciously retorted, “No way.”

Liu Hao said meaningfully, “If you don’t believe me, let’s go see.”

A few minutes later, the Liu brothers returned to the banquet hall.

As soon as they entered, they saw Young Master Xue Duo of the Xue family standing with Chen Ze, both of them laughing and talking.

Clearly, some people had already realized that they could approach Lu Zhuonian through Chen Ze.

Liu Hao glanced at Liu Yuebo. “See?”

Liu Yuebo had nothing to say and had lost his temper. He looked down and asked his elder brother, “So what now? Even if I apologize to him, he won’t hang out with me. I was the one who targeted him the most before.”

“You have me, your brother.” Liu Hao motioned for a passing waiter to stop, took two glasses of champagne, and handed one to Liu Yuebo. “Besides, he’s a smart person; he won’t hold a grudge against you.”

‘Because he knows you’re foolish.’

—-

Chen Zemian felt a bit sleepy after eating his fill.

Suddenly, Xue Duo nudged his arm and said, “Liu Yuebo is coming over.”

Chen Zemian followed Xue Duo’s gaze.

Liu Yuebo followed behind his elder brother. Seeing the champagne glass in Chen Zemian’s hand, he couldn’t help but recall that head-drenching coffee incident.

Chen Zemian put the champagne glass aside.

Liu Hao stopped in front of Chen Zemian, saying warmly, “Hello, you must be Mr. Chen Ze.”

Chen Zemian: “And you are?”

Xue Duo introduced him from the side, “This is Liu Yuebo’s elder brother, Liu Hao, Vice President of Shangbo Pictures.”

Chen Zemian smiled and nodded, politely saying, “Mr. Liu.”

Liu Hao smiled and got straight to the point: “Mr. Chen, this younger brother of mine has been good-for-nothing since he was little. I heard he had some friction with you before. Kids can be thoughtless; please be more understanding.”

Chen Zemian was a bit surprised. “CEO Liu, you flatter me. It was all just a joke; it wasn’t really friction.”

Liu Hao nodded, “Mr. Chen is magnanimous and certainly wouldn’t fuss over a child. I’ve spoken to him about it at home, and he’s realized his mistake. It’s just that he hasn’t had a chance to apologize in person. Meeting you today is an opportune moment. I hope you don’t find this sudden intrusion rude.”

His posture was humble enough. Liu Yuebo knew his elder brother was doing this to set him up, so no matter how unwilling he was, he couldn’t let his elder brother’s good intentions go to waste.

Liu Yuebo took a deep breath, silently repeating “Chen Ze can be shameless, and so can I” three times, finally getting his mental preparation in order. He forced out a smile: “Yes, Chen Ze, I was wrong before. I’m truly sorry.”

Chen Zemian didn’t know what the Liu brothers were up to. He glanced at Liu Yuebo: “It’s all minor stuff, no need to take it to heart.”

Liu Hao said, “Yuebo has always been thoughtless. Our parents are abroad, and I’m busy with work and don’t have time to constantly manage him, which is why he developed such an unruly personality.”

Hearing that, Chen Zemian politely offered a faint smile.

Liu Yuebo’s spine tingled when he saw Chen Ze smile. All the terrifying memories of being pinned down on the sofa and threatened by Chen Ze resurfaced, and he unconsciously swallowed.

“This kid fears nothing,” Liu Hao feigned amazement. “This is the first time I’ve seen anyone who can control him. It’s good that someone can manage him outside; our family can rest assured and he won’t cause trouble everywhere.”

Chen Zemian calmly replied, “Mr. Liu, you flatter me. How could I manage Young Master Liu?”

“Mr. Chen is too modest. I see he’s quite well-behaved in front of you,” Liu Hao chuckled heartily, then suddenly changed the subject. “Coincidentally, I’ll be going on a business trip for two months next month. During this time, I’d like to ask Mr. Chen to look after Yuebo. Just treat him like your own brother. Speak to him, scold him as needed. If he’s stubborn with you, just tell me, and I’ll deal with him.”

Chen Zemian had no desire to babysit and immediately politely declined, “Young Master Liu and I don’t see each other often. Even if I wanted to look after him, it would be beyond my reach. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be up to the task.”

Liu Hao had anticipated this and brought out his prepared spiel: “I wouldn’t dare trouble Mr. Chen too much. I’ll have him follow your arrangements; wherever you go, he goes. Of course, I can’t ask for your help for free. I have a house in Nanshan Villa. If Mr. Chen doesn’t mind, you can move in.”

Chen Zemian directly refused, “Mr. Liu, I still don’t think it’s very convenient.”

Liu Hao wasn’t discouraged; he just kept increasing the stakes: “Besides the house, I’ll pay you an additional six hundred thousand in salary, just consider it payment for hiring you to discipline my brother. Do you think this arrangement works?”

Chen Zemian really wanted to stick to his principles and not be swayed by money.

But that was six hundred thousand!

Two months, six hundred thousand – that’s ten thousand a day. It was much more profitable than making games, especially since his game was still in the development phase, a time when money was being burned through.

Just a few days ago, the production team contacted him, saying that to achieve the 3D effects he requested, the budget might need to double again.

If he had that six hundred thousand, his 3D could be even more exquisite.

It’s just two months of dealing with a troublesome kid.

For the sake of his game not having glitches, he’d take it!

Liu Hao fully demonstrated the essence of a capitalist. After reaching an agreement with Chen Zemian, he immediately handed Liu Yuebo over to Chen Zemian, claiming he had to leave for urgent business, leaving the two to stare at each other.

The last time these two met, sparks were flying. Today, they were suddenly forcibly bound by Liu Hao’s “money power,” and the atmosphere was inevitably a bit awkward.

Over the next few hours, Liu Yuebo deeply appreciated his elder brother’s foresight.

Just by being by Chen Ze’s side for a short while, his interactions with Lu Zhuonian and the others were more frequent than in the past six months combined.

Chen Zemian was always a lone wolf, so having the tall and imposing Liu Yuebo suddenly appear behind him was quite odd and attention-grabbing. Not only did the other second-generation elites frequently glance over, but even Lu Zhuonian came over and asked about it.

After Chen Zemian briefly summarized the situation, everyone showed speechless expressions.

Opinions on the matter were mixed.

Xiao Kesong was furious: “Are you really that short on money? Why are you taking any money you can get? Can I give you six hundred thousand? Just send him back; he’s an eyesore.”

Ye Chen’s words were fair: “It’s not bad; it’s more profitable than working for Zhuonian.”

Lu Zhuonian’s expression was indifferent: “I can give more.”

Chen Zemian: “?”