Chu Shangluo was about to put down the photo frame when he suddenly glanced at the picture inside. There was a young boy with an exquisite face, smiling brightly, looking like the happiest person in the world.

Ren Jiaoming, noticing that Chu Shangluo hadn’t moved, walked over to his side and reached for the photo frame. At that moment, Chu Shangluo set the frame down and took hold of Ren Jiaoming’s hand.

“I’ve never seen you smile,” Chu Shangluo said calmly, but his words were laced with deep concern.

“President Chu, let’s go back.” Ren Jiaoming straightened the photo, his expression indifferent, as if he had long forgotten the past.

Chu Shangluo felt sorry for Ren Jiaoming, but he restrained himself from showing it, because someone like Ren Jiaoming definitely didn’t need pity.

That night, after Chu Shangluo finished his bath, Ren Jiaoming was drying his hair. Chu Shangluo’s mind was still lingering on the photo. He couldn’t help but ask, “How old were you when the fire broke out at your house?”

Ren Jiaoming paused slightly, his hands stopping for a moment. “12.”

Twelve… an age when one is old enough to clearly remember things and understand the world. Chu Shangluo thought back to when he was twelve—carefree, with no worries—and yet Ren Jiaoming, in that same year, lost his parents, his brother, and was forced to go from a life of luxury to becoming an orphan. The suffering and pain he endured must have been unimaginable to anyone else.

A feeling of guilt suddenly welled up in Chu Shangluo. Jiang Jia had said that for all these years, Ren Jiaoming had been searching for his brother—finding him was his greatest wish. Yet, Chu Shangluo had hidden that wish from him, forcing him to be with himself. That must have been cruel for Ren Jiaoming.

Taking a deep breath, Chu Shangluo came back to his senses and noticed that Ren Jiaoming had already left. He looked at the closed door, the image of Ren Jiaoming’s cold eyes lingering in his mind. For the first time, he felt an intense desire to make Ren Jiaoming smile.

He grabbed his phone and dialed a number. “Let’s meet tomorrow.”

The next day after work, Chu Shangluo didn’t bring Ren Jiaoming with him but went alone to the cold drink shop they had agreed on. Fan Mo, who had been waiting at the shop, immediately rushed over when he saw Chu Shangluo. “Chu Shangluo, when are you going to take me to see my brother?”

Chu Shangluo motioned for him to sit down and went to the counter to buy a fruit juice. He handed the juice to Fan Mo, who was sweating, and asked, “It’s already evening, why are you still all sweaty?”

Fan Mo didn’t hesitate to take a big gulp of the juice. “I just helped Chu Shen-ge move some fish. Thanks, you’re quite thoughtful.”

Chu Shangluo smiled, and Fan Mo continued to ask, “How’s my brother doing now? What does he look like? What does he do? Has he become a jade sculptor?”

“A jade sculptor?” Chu Shangluo raised an eyebrow. “Why would you think your brother does that?”

“Our family has been in the jewelry and jade business for generations. I remember my brother could easily tell the quality and price of all kinds of jade and jadeite, and his carving skills were exceptional. He’s a rare talent.”

Chu Shangluo understood. No wonder Ren Jiaoming easily beat Su Ran, who had lost quite a bit of money in gambling on jade stones. He must have been exposed to this since he was young. At the same time, Chu Shangluo felt a bit regretful. If Ren Jiaoming’s family hadn’t been hit by misfortune, maybe he would have become a refined jade sculptor by now.

Fan Mo finished the drink in one go and asked, “So what does my brother do now? Is his job tiring? Is he married with children?”

Chu Shangluo snapped back to reality and answered each of Fan Mo’s questions. “Your brother is my secretary now. His work is demanding, but the pay is good. As for marriage and children…” He shook his head. “No, and there won’t be.”

“True, when I think about it, my brother is only twenty-six, so it’s not that early.” Fan Mo looked at Chu Shangluo, who was leisurely looking at his phone. “When are you going to take me to see my brother?”

Chu Shangluo smiled. “I’ll ask you a question. If you answer well, I’ll consider agreeing to your request.”

“Then ask quickly.”

Chu Shangluo propped his chin with one hand, thought for a moment, and then asked seriously, “What do you think your brother likes most? Or what could make him happy and smile?”

Fan Mo frowned. “Doesn’t my brother smile? Has he always been unhappy?”

Chu Shangluo hadn’t expected Fan Mo to be so sensitive. “Well… not really happy.”

Fan Mo didn’t speak. The small face, often tanned from fishing, was now clouded with sadness. After a long pause, he slowly spoke. “With our background… the happiest thing should be family reunification, but our parents have been gone for so long, it’s impossible. It should be a family… I think my brother, like me, probably also wants a family.”

Looking at Fan Mo’s sad expression, Chu Shangluo took a lollipop from his pocket and handed it to him. “You’re right. Your brother wants the same thing as you. He wants a family.”

Ren Jiaoming cared so much about the soft couch and often returned home to tend to the flowers and plants. He was the most family-oriented man Chu Shangluo had ever seen. Perhaps deep down, he truly longed for a family.

Fan Mo stared at the lollipop in his hand, puzzled by how such a high-ranking CEO would carry around something a child would like. He unwrapped the lollipop, put it in his mouth, and as the sweetness spread, his mood lightened.

After thinking for a while, Chu Shangluo smiled at Fan Mo. “I can’t take you to see your brother for now, but how about we prepare a big gift for him?”

When Chu Shangluo got home, it was already nine o’clock. The light in the study was on, and steaming hot food was laid out on the dining table. The CEO was so happy his heart nearly melted. He felt that the most fulfilling life was just like this—working all day, returning home to a warm meal on the table and people to love him. The thought that this kind of life might last a lifetime made Chu Shangluo feel that the big gift he had prepared for Ren Jiaoming was worth it, and he didn’t regret it at all.

In the study, Ren Jiaoming was focused on a stack of contracts. The soft light from the desk lamp cast a gentle glow on Ren Jiaoming, adding a touch of warmth to his otherwise cold demeanor. Chu Shangluo quietly stood at the door, watching Ren Jiaoming, thinking that indeed, a serious man was the most attractive.

When Ren Jiaoming closed the files, Chu Shangluo walked over. Upon hearing the sound, Ren Jiaoming spoke, “The food is on the table.”

Chu Shangluo’s lips curled into a smile. These few words made him feel like they were an old married couple. “Did you make this?” he asked. “If you made it, I’ll eat it.”

“It’s ordered.”

Chu Shangluo, of course, knew it was ordered. He put his hand on Ren Jiaoming’s shoulder and leaned close to his ear. “It’s fine, don’t forget, you’re going to make it for me on my birthday.”

Ren Jiaoming glanced at Chu Shangluo and replied casually with a neutral “Hmm.”

The CEO was delighted and continued to stick closer to Ren Jiaoming. Then, he was suddenly surprised. “Eh?”

Chu Shangluo looked at Ren Jiaoming’s face. “You’re wearing glasses now? You’re nearsighted?”

Ren Jiaoming took off his glasses. “Just a little, it’s not serious.”

“Don’t take them off.” Chu Shangluo picked up the gold-rimmed glasses and put them back on Ren Jiaoming, carefully observing his face. “Has anyone ever told you that you look very different with glasses on and off?”

Ren Jiaoming hadn’t really paid attention to such things. “What do you mean?”

“Well…” Chu Shangluo leaned in closer, noticing that the glasses frame just covered the red mole at the corner of Ren Jiaoming’s eye, and also softened the cold and aloof aura he usually gave off. It was strange—Ren Jiaoming’s face was still exceptional with the glasses on, but somehow, he wasn’t as captivating as without them.

After staring for a while, Chu Shangluo felt a little distracted. He removed Ren Jiaoming’s glasses and kissed his lips.

Since Ren Jiaoming said no to French kissing, President Chu has stopped trying to pry open Ren Jiaoming’s mouth. Their kisses have always been just a simple touch of lips, and sometimes, when Chu Shangluo is happy, he might linger a bit longer. He decided not to attempt French kissing anymore, though he was curious about what it might feel like. After multiple unsuccessful attempts, Chu Shangluo thought it probably wasn’t all that great, maybe just like chewing soft candy.

Although Ren Jiaoming no longer pushes him away, he doesn’t initiate either. So, Chu Shangluo always takes the lead, making it seem like he’s the one with unfulfilled desires. After a kiss, Chu Shangluo exhaled softly, caressed Ren Jiaoming’s soft lips, and kissed the corner of his mouth. He put Ren Jiaoming’s glasses on his face, then took them off repeatedly, exclaiming, “Wow… this is amazing! You look so much more approachable with glasses on! You should wear them every day! I won’t worry about others staring at you anymore!”

Ren Jiaoming wasn’t very concerned about this. He took off his glasses and said, “Lin Zhi called in sick for a week.”

Chu Shangluo was confused. “What’s wrong with him? Does he need a whole week off?”

“He didn’t say.”

Chu Shangluo didn’t tease his secretary anymore and immediately called Lin Zhi, forcing him to give the address of the hospital.

The next day, Chu Shangluo bought Lin Zhi’s favorite fruit to visit him. Lin Zhi was lying on the hospital bed, bruised and swollen, with a cast on his leg, looking weak. When he saw Chu Shangluo, he tried to sit up. Chu Shangluo quickly stopped him. “Don’t get up. What happened? Did you get into a fight?”

Lin Zhi shook his head weakly. “I’m fine.”

Lin Zhi’s older brother, Lin Yujie, angrily spoke up, “What do you mean ‘fine’?! Tell Chu Shangluo to help you!”

“Ge! Don’t!” Lin Zhi hurriedly grabbed his brother’s sleeve. “I’m fine, don’t say anything.”

Chu Shangluo frowned and gave Lin Zhi a stern look. “What happened? You’d better not hide it from me.”

Lin Zhi, intimidated by Chu Shangluo’s sharp look, bit his lip and turned his head away, unwilling to make eye contact.

Seeing that his brother wouldn’t speak, Lin Yujie took over. “Mr. Chu, last night, Lin Zhi went to a bar to meet some friends. He ran into a drunk man who insisted on buying him a drink. When Lin Zhi refused, the drunk man spilled his drink, and when he recognized Lin Zhi as your assistant, he started badmouthing you. Lin Zhi got angry and argued with him. The drunk man then took the opportunity to retaliate by running Lin Zhi over with his car! Can you believe that?!”

Chu Shangluo looked at Lin Zhi’s leg in a cast, and a surge of anger rose within him. “Do you know who did this?”

“I don’t know. The guy ran off.”

“Damn it.” Chu Shangluo slapped Ren Jiaoming’s shoulder. “This is your job now. Find that person, and I’ll break his leg myself!”

Lin Zhi sighed. “It’s not a serious injury, and the police are already looking for him. Don’t cause trouble for me.”

Chu Shangluo looked displeased. “Stop talking. I’m going back to work.” Obviously, he wasn’t persuaded.

Once Chu Shangluo left, Lin Zhi turned to Ren Jiaoming and begged him, “Can you stop him? It’s enough if the police find the guy. Breaking someone’s leg is too much, isn’t it?”

Ren Jiaoming listened but neither agreed nor refused.

For the next few days, with Lin Zhi absent, Chu Shangluo felt uncomfortable without his assistant. But the leads Ren Jiaoming had uncovered were few, and every time work frustrated him, he thought about how he might break the man’s leg. The workload at the company was overwhelming. He was also negotiating with developers in the old district, and on top of that, he had to secretly meet with Fan Mo to prepare a gift for Ren Jiaoming. He was so busy, he felt like he was losing his mind. When Gu Yao called to ask him out for drinks, he realized that tomorrow was actually his birthday.

Chu Shangluo arrived at the bar, and Gu Yao was sitting alone at the counter, drinking. He walked over and sat down, laughing. “How come there’s no little beauty by your side today?”

Gu Yao shrugged. “What little beauty? Recently, I’ve been dealing with a tough situation, too much to handle. I’ve called you a few times to go out and drink to relax, but you keep making excuses, saying you’re busy. Didn’t Ren Jiaoming help you a lot? What exactly are you so busy with?”

Chu Shangluo fiddled with his glass, downing the whiskey in one go. He pushed his hair up and tugged at the neat tie Ren Jiaoming always ties for him, then mysteriously said, “I’m preparing a big gift for Ren Jiaoming. I can tell you, but you can’t tell anyone else.” Gu Yao clinked glasses with him. “I’m all ears. Let’s see how big of a gift you’re giving to the little beauty.”

Ten minutes later, Gu Yao stared at Chu Shangluo in shock, reaching out to touch his forehead. “What the hell… Chu Shangluo, are you running a fever? Are you even sober? Have you lost your mind?” Chu Shangluo brushed away Gu Yao’s hand, his eyes full of laughter. “Is it really that shocking? I want to spend time with him, and recently, he’s been treating me much better. Tomorrow, he’s even cooking for me.”

“Wait, Chu Shangluo, are you really out of your mind? Just because he’s cooking for you, you’re this happy? I don’t even care when my little beauties offer to cook for me.” Gu Yao took a deep breath, trying to process what Chu Shangluo just said. “Three hundred million! Three hundred million! You’re spending three hundred million to build a house for Ren Jiaoming?! If you want to give him a house, just buy one for him. There’s no need to spend so much on land, materials, and hiring a construction company, right?”

Chu Shangluo leisurely drank his whiskey. “What do you know? I’m building a house for him, exactly like his old home. That way, it’ll be meaningful.”

“Wait, how can you build an exact replica? Didn’t you say you couldn’t find out much about his past?” Chu Shangluo swirled his drink, raising an eyebrow. “I found his brother. His brother remembers the old house, so I’ve asked him to communicate with the architect and follow up on the details.”

Gu Yao frowned. “So you’re going to bring his brother in front of him, and he’ll surely be happy, right? But where are you getting the three hundred million from? Don’t think I don’t know you’ve been supporting your relatives all these years like a walking cash dispenser, and every time you have money, you invest it in your company. You can’t possibly afford that much money.”

Chu Shangluo got a little annoyed. Why was Gu Yao being so persistent today? “I want to give Ren Jiaoming a home. I’ll live there too, so why can’t I build a good house? And as for the money, I’m using the company’s funds. My personal money is mixed with the company’s money. I haven’t even taken a salary in years, so taking this amount isn’t a problem. And once Mr. Chen’s project officially starts, it’ll be fine. Don’t worry about it.”

“Am I worrying for nothing? Three hundred million, Chu Shangluo! What if something goes wrong? You’ll regret it when things fall apart!” Gu Yao didn’t finish his sentence, knowing that if he said any more, Chu Shangluo would throw his glass and storm out. But he also knew Chu Shangluo was deeply involved now, and no matter how foolish it seemed, he was determined. Having been in the game for so long, Chu Shangluo knew people well, and he could tell Ren Jiaoming was a cold, unresponsive person, one who couldn’t be easily warmed up. Even if the three hundred million was wasted, it wouldn’t matter. But if things fell apart this time, whether Chu Shangluo could recover was another matter.

Seeing the troubled look on Gu Yao’s face, Chu Shangluo casually patted his shoulder. “I know what you’re worried about, but I’m doing this because I want to. I’ve been forcing Ren Jiaoming for so long, and that’s unfair to him. I want him to know I’m serious. Even if the house is a waste, I won’t regret it.”

Gu Yao sighed. “I hope so. Fine, want to smoke?”

Chu Shangluo waved his hand, pulling out a lollipop and smiling. “I’m quitting. Ren Jiaoming doesn’t like smoking.”

Gu Yao: “…”

Chu Shangluo must have been drugged, right? Can he still be saved?

Chu Shangluo, drunken and tipsy, was escorted back by Gu Yao. Ren Jiaoming came out to meet them, supporting Chu Shangluo’s waist as they walked back. Gu Yao, holding a cigarette, stared at Ren Jiaoming and suddenly spoke up.

“I don’t care whether you’re genuinely into Chu Shangluo or not, but let me give you a warning. When he’s treating you well, he’s patient, tolerant, and indulgent. But the day he doesn’t want to indulge you anymore, no matter how much you beg him, it won’t matter. He’ll do whatever it takes to bring you down. If you don’t want your former lover to become your enemy, don’t do anything to hurt him.”

Ren Jiaoming gave Gu Yao a cold look. Chu Shangluo, still a little dizzy, heard a few words and immediately hugged Ren Jiaoming, glaring at Gu Yao. “Don’t talk to my secretary like that!”

Gu Yao exhaled a puff of smoke and gave Chu Shangluo the middle finger. Chu Shangluo, holding onto Ren Jiaoming, headed for the door. When they reached the door, Ren Jiaoming opened it, and Chu Shangluo kissed his ear, his drunken voice murmuring in Ren Jiaoming’s ear. “Don’t mind him. He’s just bitter because he’s having trouble with his little beauty. We’re doing just fine.”

Ren Jiaoming turned his head to look at Chu Shangluo, who had already drunkenly fallen onto his shoulder, and his gaze darkened. He gently pushed aside Chu Shangluo’s hair, which was partly covering his eyes.

“Mr. Chu, it’s time for a haircut.”

Chu Shangluo, still a little dazed, mumbled a soft “Oh.”