Ren Jiaoming’s arrival could mean only one thing: it was almost time for work.

Chu Shangluo realized there was a chance Ren Jiaoming might have overheard his earlier curses. However, since Ren Jiaoming didn’t react, Chu Shangluo naturally acted as though nothing had happened. What was there to explain? Wasn’t everything he said true?

Ren Jiaoming glanced at his watch. “President Chu, time is running out.”

“I know. I’ll be out soon. Go find me a bathrobe,” Chu Shangluo replied.

Ren Jiaoming left to get the bathrobe, while Chu Shangluo tried with all his might to stand up. Unfortunately, the bathtub was too slippery, and his legs were still numb. By the time Ren Jiaoming came back, Chu Shangluo was still stuck in the cold water.

Ren Jiaoming stood by the bathtub, looking at the unmoving Chu Shangluo. “Do you need help?”

“No need.” Just seeing him irritated Chu Shangluo. “Get out. I’ll be out in a moment.”

Ren Jiaoming didn’t move. He glanced at his watch again and said, “You’re going to be late.”

Punctuality was certainly an admirable trait in the workplace, but Ren Jiaoming’s adherence to schedules was almost robotic—down to the second. On more than one occasion, his insistence had pushed Chu Shangluo to the brink of telling him to go home and stop bothering him.

“I know! I’ll be out soon. You—” Before Chu Shangluo could finish, Ren Jiaoming leaned down and draped the bathrobe over him.

“What are you doing? It’s all wet, damn it… you—” Chu Shangluo started, only to feel a pair of hands wrap around his waist.

The next moment, his body was lifted off the ground. Before he could fully process what was happening, Ren Jiaoming was carrying him, and when Chu Shangluo looked up, he found himself staring into Ren Jiaoming’s calm, emotionless eyes.

Chu Shangluo froze, his mind blank as the two of them stood so close he could hear their breaths. Water dripped rhythmically from the wet bathrobe onto the floor, perfectly in sync with the rapid thudding of Chu Shangluo’s heart. The atmosphere grew incredibly intimate in an instant.

Ren Jiaoming kept his gaze ahead as he said, “President Chu, put your arms around my neck.”

The words sounded like a spell to Chu Shangluo. Without thinking, he reached out and looped his arm around Ren Jiaoming’s neck.

Ren Jiaoming carried him out of the bathroom, and it took Chu Shangluo a long moment to snap out of his daze. When he looked at Ren Jiaoming’s expression—calm, detached, as if carrying him was just another task—he couldn’t quite describe the feeling in his chest.

“Do you think I’m heavy?” Chu Shangluo asked.

Ren Jiaoming replied, “Not really.”

“Not really?”

Chu Shangluo couldn’t help but admire Ren Jiaoming a bit. No wonder he was so good at fighting. At 1.83 meters tall, with a physique honed through regular workouts, Chu Shangluo was definitely not light. Yet, Ren Jiaoming had effortlessly picked him up, walking without breaking a sweat. With that kind of superhuman stamina, it made sense that few could ever hope to beat him.

Ren Jiaoming carried Chu Shangluo to the bed, removed the damp bathrobe, and replaced it with a fresh, dry one. Chu Shangluo maintained a nonchalant expression—after all, they’d already seen each other before, so it shouldn’t be a big deal. But the pale skin of his neck was tinted with a faint blush. Noticing the hint of embarrassment, Ren Jiaoming tugged the bathrobe higher, covering it.

It took a while for Chu Shangluo to shake off the numbness in his legs, and he managed to put on his pants by himself. However, with his injured arm, he couldn’t manage the shirt or jacket. Ren Jiaoming had to help him dress.

Watching Ren Jiaoming carefully assist him, Chu Shangluo realized he couldn’t quite figure this man out. How could someone be both so proud and yet so willing to serve another? Pride and submissiveness were traits that should have clashed, yet they coexisted seamlessly in Ren Jiaoming.

If his submissiveness was an act, then his performance was flawless—without the slightest crack. Someone who could completely suppress their true nature was truly terrifying.

—

In the office, Chu Shangluo had just sat down when Ren Jiaoming brought him his coffee. Not long after, Lin Zhi entered, placing a résumé on the desk. Glancing briefly at Ren Jiaoming, Lin Zhi said, “Boss, the new secretary who meets the requirements has arrived. Do you want to meet them?”

Chu Shangluo stared at the résumé in a daze. The warmth of the morning had just passed, and now the person set to replace Ren Jiaoming had already shown up. Everything seemed to be a reminder that Ren Jiaoming was leaving, and it was time for him to wake up.

“The qualifications are excellent…” Chu Shangluo hesitated, then noticed something. “Hmm? They went to the same school as Ren Jiaoming?”

Lin Zhi nodded. “Yes, and apparently, they were university classmates. A top graduate. They’ve been working at Yu Corporation, and their credentials and track record are excellent. Yu Corporation has been a business legend in Beijing these past few years, with much to learn from. We can’t let such talent slip away.”

Chu Shangluo took a deep breath and nodded. “I’ll meet them.”

As Ren Jiaoming looked at the name on the résumé, his gaze gradually darkened.