When President Chu was helped back to his room by his secretary, he was already too drunk to keep his eyes open. Ren Jiaoming had just guided Chu Shangluo to the bedside and was about to let go of his hand resting on Chu Shangluo’s waist when Chu Shangluo collapsed onto the bed.

Chu Shangluo’s eyes were smiling. Although he was drunk, his mind was still clear. He remembered that tomorrow was his birthday, and Ren Jiaoming would cook for him. Ren Jiaoming had no choice but to lift the limp Chu Shangluo back up, take off his jacket, and remove his tie. Chu Shangluo leaned softly into Ren Jiaoming’s arms, obediently letting him take care of him, his drunken eyes gazing at Ren Jiaoming with a smile.

Ren Jiaoming started unbuttoning Chu Shangluo’s shirt, revealing a large area of delicate skin. He paused for a moment, noticing a bruise on Chu Shangluo’s side, the dark mark standing out against his pale skin. Without thinking, Ren Jiaoming reached out to touch the bruise, and Chu Shangluo shuddered. He immediately grabbed Ren Jiaoming’s hand, his head resting heavily on Ren Jiaoming’s shoulder. “I bumped into something by accident. It’s nothing, men have tough skin and muscles, it’s fine.”

Ren Jiaoming withdrew his hand and removed Chu Shangluo’s shirt. The sudden exposure to the cool air made Chu Shangluo shiver, and Ren Jiaoming could feel him trembling in his arms. He turned up the air conditioning. Chu Shangluo’s body gradually warmed up, and Ren Jiaoming lifted his arm, helping him into clean pajamas.

“Ren Jiaoming…” Chu Shangluo smiled, reaching up to touch Ren Jiaoming’s face. “You’re so gentle when you look at me like this.”

Ren Jiaoming tied the drawstring of the pajamas and looked at Chu Shangluo, whose eyes were clouded with drunkenness. He asked, “Do you want some hangover soup?”

“I’m not drunk,” Chu Shangluo said, wrapping his arms around Ren Jiaoming’s neck and asking with a smile, “My good secretary, can you guess what I’m happy about?”

Ren Jiaoming assumed it was just drunken talk and helped Chu Shangluo lie down on the bed. “I can’t guess.”

Chu Shangluo’s heart swelled with happiness as he leaned in close to Ren Jiaoming’s ear and whispered, “Tomorrow is my birthday, of course, I’m happy that you’re cooking for me. Hey, what are you going to make me?”

Ren Jiaoming picked up a light blanket and covered Chu Shangluo with it, casually asking, “What does President Chu want to eat?”

Chu Shangluo thought for a moment, then shook his head. “Forget it. I’ll eat whatever you make.”

He paused, then reached out to pinch Ren Jiaoming’s cheek, his tone full of affection. “When it’s your birthday, I’ll definitely give you a very, very big gift. So… just stay with me. That, what’s-his-name Wen Yan or whatever—stay away from him. I’m sick of him, got it?!”

Chu Shangluo didn’t let go until Ren Jiaoming replied with a faint “Hmm.” Only then did he release his grip and fall asleep. He turned his head to the side, his soft hair partially covering his eyes. The warm air he exhaled brushed against Ren Jiaoming’s chest, making his heartbeat slow for a moment. Ren Jiaoming’s birthday was still three months away, and by then, Ren Jiaoming might not even be at Chu’s company anymore.

The next day, Chu Shangluo arrived at the office in a good mood. Lin Zhi was absent, and Lu Wen was temporarily filling in for him.

Seeing that Chu Shangluo, who was usually irritable, seemed so happy today, Lu Wen smiled and asked, “President Chu, what’s making you so happy today?” Chu Shangluo glanced at Ren Jiaoming beside him and raised an eyebrow. “It’s a secret.”

Lu Wen noticed the look Chu Shangluo gave Ren Jiaoming and paused for a moment before taking out a card and handing it to Chu Shangluo.

Chu Shangluo, confused, asked, “What’s this?”

Lu Wen smiled. “President Chu, isn’t today your birthday? This is a card for an extreme sports club run by a friend of mine. You can do whatever you want with this card.”

Chu Shangluo thought to himself that he wouldn’t have time to play, but still accepted the card, not wanting to ruin Lu Wen’s good intentions.

“I’ll get you something when my birthday comes,” Lu Wen added with a smile as he refilled Chu Shangluo’s coffee. “For my birthday, would it be possible to treat you to a meal, President Chu?”

Chu Shangluo asked, “When is your birthday?”

Lu Wen replied, “It’s still a while away, but it would be an honor if you could make it.”

Chu Shangluo realized that he hadn’t had a meal with Lu Wen yet and readily agreed. “If I’m not busy, I’ll have a drink with you.”

At that moment, Ren Jiaoming’s computer screen displayed Lu Wen’s personal details, including his birthday, which was in three months. The thought of Chu Shangluo celebrating Lu Wen’s birthday made Ren Jiaoming’s expression turn a little colder.

During the lunch break, the office, usually quiet, suddenly became lively. One after another, members of the Chu family came to deliver gifts to Chu Shangluo’s office. Jiang Jia, upon hearing this, also brought a pile of gifts to join in. But as soon as he entered, the security guard stopped him, scolding, “Leave quickly, President Chu doesn’t accept gifts from anyone.”

Just as Jiang Jia hesitated, wondering whether to force his way in, a member of the Chu family quickly ran past, throwing the gift into the office while the security guard wasn’t paying attention, then turned and ran off.

Jiang Jia was left stunned. “What… they can do that?”

Learning quickly, the young master Jiang Jia also tossed his gift and turned to run. However, he was grabbed by the frowning Chu Shangluo and pulled into the office.

Jiang Jia’s eyes widened in shock as he saw a corner of the office filled with all kinds of gift boxes.

“Wow, Chu Shangluo, you really have too many birthday gifts!” Jiang Jia wasn’t the only one surprised; even Lu Wen and Ren Jiaoming were a little taken aback.

Chu Shangluo rubbed his forehead in frustration. “This is the downside of having too many relatives. They don’t listen to anything I say, and it’s like this every year. I can’t stop them.”

Jiang Jia, eager to please, massaged Chu Shangluo’s shoulders. “It’s a good thing. It means they care about you.”

Chu Shangluo shoved Jiang Jia aside. “Perfect. I’ve got something for you to do. Take a look at the surveillance footage of these gifts and return them. I’ve got something to do this afternoon. You’ll get a reward if you handle it properly.”

“What kind of reward?” Jiang Jia stared at Chu Shangluo’s lips, thinking he might ask for a kiss.

Chu Shangluo, not really thinking about any reward, casually said, “Anything you want.”

Jiang Jia’s eyes lit up, and he eagerly replied, “Alright!”

Fan Mo had something to discuss with him, so Chu Shangluo took the afternoon off, which was also a good excuse to avoid his relatives. To prevent Ren Jiaoming from becoming suspicious, he came up with a perfect reason for taking leave.

When he arrived at the construction site, Fan Mo, dressed in dirty clothes and wearing a safety helmet, ran over to Chu Shangluo. He shoved the safety helmet into Chu Shangluo’s hand. “Put it on, let’s talk outside the construction site, so you don’t get hurt like yesterday by steel bars.”

Chu Shangluo waved his hand. “No need, yesterday I just slipped. I’m not the kind of person who falls in the same place twice.” He frowned and looked at Fan Mo’s clothes. “Go to the finance department and get some money, buy a few good outfits.”

Fan Mo smiled, revealing his small tiger teeth. “Chu Shangluo, are you this nice to everyone?”

“Nice?” Chu Shangluo thought for a moment. “Isn’t this a normal thing?”

“Is it normal to build a house for my brother?” Chu Shangluo sensed there was more to Fan Mo’s words. “What are you trying to say?”

Fan Mo shrugged and sat down on the ground. “I’m not trying to say anything, just that I think my brother is lucky to have a friend like you…” He tilted his head, looking at the handsome man in the sunlight, and said, “I think my brother must like you a lot, right?”

Chu Shangluo was momentarily stunned. “Why do you say that?”

Fan Mo drew lines on the ground with a small stick. “I don’t know, just a feeling, the kind of tacit understanding between brothers. I feel like my brother would definitely like you.” When he didn’t hear a response from Chu Shangluo, he asked, “Am I wrong? If my brother didn’t like you, why would you be so good to him?”

Chu Shangluo smiled. “Hmm, you’re right.”

Fan Mo seemed quite pleased, happy that his brother was so lucky, making money and having such a good partner. He took out a blueprint and handed it to Chu Shangluo. “This is a sketch of the furniture and antiques from my family. Take a look and see if you can find anything. A lot was sold before the fire, but maybe we can track some down. If not, then forget it.”

Chu Shangluo took the blueprint. “Hmm? You’re pretty good at drawing. Did you study art?”

Fan Mo lowered his eyes and shook his head. “No, I didn’t even finish middle school.”

Chu Shangluo ruffled his hair. “Don’t be sad, your good days are coming.”

In the evening, Chu Shangluo left the construction site. According to the current pace of construction, it should be finished in time for Ren Jiaoming’s birthday. He arrived at Ren Jiaoming’s house and knocked on the door. Ren Jiaoming opened the door. This was Chu Shangluo’s third time visiting Ren Jiaoming’s house, so he was already familiar with the routine. He put on shoe covers, took off his dusty coat and placed it by the door, shaking off the dust from his pants before walking in.

The living room was still spotless. As he passed the kitchen, Chu Shangluo glanced inside, but it was pitch black with no signs of life. A flash of disappointment crossed his eyes, which Ren Jiaoming noticed. He spoke up, “We’re out of ingredients. Sit down for a bit. I’ll water the plants and then go buy some.”

The unruly Chu Shangluo couldn’t sit still, especially with Ren Jiaoming’s sofa covered in plastic that made a rustling sound when he sat down. Bored, he unrolled the blueprint Fan Mo had drawn for him. Comparing it to the items in Ren Jiaoming’s house, he realized that some of the furniture had already been retrieved by Ren Jiaoming. It seemed that if he could find the remaining pieces, it would be a good way to please Ren Jiaoming.

Chu Shangluo walked from the first floor to the second floor. After turning around a few times, he finally pushed open Ren Jiaoming’s bedroom door. It was his first time in Ren Jiaoming’s bedroom, and it was neat and clean. The desk was adorned with small jade trinkets, each exquisite, but the most delicate was a white jade Pixiu placed at the highest point. The Pixiu was carved so vividly that it almost seemed alive. Chu Shangluo looked at the blueprint, and saw that this Pixiu had also been drawn by Fan Mo.

He picked up the Pixiu and held it in his palm, inspecting it closely. It was truly beautiful. Although Chu Shangluo had seen many pieces of fine jade, none of them compared to the quality of this white jade Pixiu. The jade felt warm to the touch and comfortable to hold, and it was rare for Chu Shangluo to admire a piece of jade this much. Just as he was thinking of examining it further, someone grabbed his wrist, and the Pixiu was taken from him.

Ren Jiaoming carefully placed the white jade Pixiu back into the display cabinet, his tone cold. “Mr. Chu, how many times do I need to remind you? Don’t randomly enter other people’s rooms, and don’t touch other people’s things.”

Chu Shangluo could tell that Ren Jiaoming was displeased. He knew Ren Jiaoming didn’t like anyone touching his things, yet he had done so. He was in the wrong. But at the same time, he felt uncomfortable. As he followed Ren Jiaoming downstairs, Chu Shangluo couldn’t help but ask, “Am I just ‘someone else’?”

Ren Jiaoming paused for a moment but didn’t answer. Chu Shangluo, perhaps because it had been a long time since he had lost his temper, felt anger bubbling up inside. He tried to suppress it and walked down the stairs, his steps growing faster and heavier, completely unaware that he had missed a step. Before he could realize it, he lost his balance and fell.

Just then, a strong hand grabbed his waist and steadied him. Ren Jiaoming wrapped his arm around Chu Shangluo’s waist, silently guiding him downstairs. Chu Shangluo, now held by Ren Jiaoming, felt somewhat deflated. He sighed and sat down on the sofa. Fine, today was his birthday, so there was no need to argue.

After Ren Jiaoming left to buy groceries, Chu Shangluo didn’t wander around. He didn’t want Ren Jiaoming to think he was shameless. Just thinking about it, Chu Shangluo wanted to curse himself. If it weren’t for his feelings, he wouldn’t have been so shameless. Just as he was lost in thought, the doorbell rang. Chu Shangluo walked over and opened the door.

“Ruan ge, I came to get…” His voice trailed off.

Chu Shangluo and Wen Yan stood facing each other, both with grim expressions. Wen Yan spoke first, his smile hiding malice. “Mr. Chu, how come you’re here? Ruan ge doesn’t like outsiders coming.”

Chu Shangluo smiled coldly, replying without hesitation, “It’s simple. I’m not an outsider.”

Wen Yan’s smile faded significantly as he chuckled lightly. “Mr. Chu, your self-esteem is really impressive. Well, your assistant, Lin Zhi, is just like you. I heard my friend talk badly about you, and he had the audacity to step in and say he was slandering you. Who does he think he is, trying to control my friend’s words? So I said, Lin Zhi really needed a lesson, and look, didn’t he end up with a broken leg?”

Chu Shangluo’s face darkened, his expression grim. Wen Yan spoke so casually, as if talking about a trivial matter, his eyes filled with pride and superiority.

“Young Master Wen,” Chu Shangluo grabbed his collar, “Can you take a hit?”

Wen Yan’s eyes flashed with provocation. “Maybe I’m sturdier than your assistant.”

Chu Shangluo didn’t want to fight in Ren Jiaoming’s house. He shoved Wen Yan outside the door and punched him in the face.

Wen Yan, his eyes reddened from the punch, wasn’t willing to back down. He quickly grabbed a stick from the ground and swung it at Chu Shangluo. Chu Shangluo was taller than Wen Yan by a head, and he caught the stick with one hand, kicking Wen Yan in the stomach. His tone was cold as he said, “I said I’d catch the person who broke Lin Zhi’s leg, and make him taste the same thing.”

When Ren Jiaoming returned, the sky was overcast and muggy, as though a heavy rain was coming. He entered the yard and was about to open the door when he suddenly stopped. Frowning, he quickly walked toward the garden. In the white rose garden, two men were wrestling with each other. A large patch of roses had been trampled and ruined. Both of them were badly scratched. Chu Shangluo was sitting on Wen Yan, whose previously gentle face was now twisted in rage. He grabbed Wen Yan by the collar and dragged him out of the rose garden.

Wen Yan was gasping for breath, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. “Chu Shangluo, let me tell you, Ren Jiaoming doesn’t like you. You can only rage helplessly, you worthless fool.” Chu Shangluo threw Wen Yan to the ground, bent down, and slapped him. He scoffed, “Whether he likes me or not, he’ll still be with me. If your mouth is so sharp, why not take a message to your friend who caused the accident, tell him to protect his legs.”

After saying that, Chu Shangluo looked at the scattered roses, his brow furrowed. When he turned around, he saw Ren Jiaoming standing there, his face as cold as frost. Wen Yan saw Ren Jiaoming too, his presence exuding a sharp, icy aura. Any words he was about to say to mock Chu Shangluo vanished. Trembling, he slowly got up and limped toward Ren Jiaoming. “Ruan ge, I…”

Ren Jiaoming kept his gaze fixed on the roses on the ground. Wen Yan gritted his teeth, snorted, and stumbled out.

Chu Shangluo looked at Ren Jiaoming, who was silent, still holding the vegetables for dinner. But now, Chu Shangluo knew that the dinner he had been looking forward to was ruined. Chu Shangluo wiped his sticky hands on his clothes, unwilling to meet Ren Jiaoming’s eyes. He hadn’t seen that icy look in Ren Jiaoming’s eyes for a long time. Turning toward the rose garden, he frowned, “I’ll get some gardeners for you right away. We can save them. If we can’t, we’ll just buy some new flower seeds and plant them again.”

As he spoke, Chu Shangluo noticed that one of the roses had drooped. He was about to straighten it when suddenly someone grabbed his wrist and pulled him backward. He stumbled.

Ren Jiaoming closed his eyes for a moment. “Mr. Chu, it’s getting late. Let me take you home.”

On the way back, the atmosphere in the car was heavy and silent. Chu Shangluo looked at the cuts on his hand from the rose thorns, recalling the last time when Ren Jiaoming had been pierced by plum thorns, and how he had sucked out the poison from Ren Jiaoming’s blood. He didn’t know why these two events had crossed his mind. His thoughts were a mess. He had a lot to say, but didn’t know where to start. Ren Jiaoming hadn’t asked him anything. If Ren Jiaoming blamed him or sided with Wen Yan, at least they could argue about the cause and effect. If Wen Yan hadn’t instigated the accident with Lin Zhi, he wouldn’t have fought. Moreover, Wen Yan had run into the rose garden first. He had to drag him out, and Wen Yan had pricked him with the thorns, so they ended up fighting.

But Ren Jiaoming hadn’t asked anything, and Chu Shangluo couldn’t speak. His heart was burning with frustration. He wanted to ask Ren Jiaoming why he still had to see Wen Yan when he had already promised not to. Chu Shangluo’s palm hurt. He took a deep breath. Today, his birthday, had been the worst day.

After Ren Jiaoming dropped Chu Shangluo off at his doorstep, he was about to leave, but Chu Shangluo wanted to speak. However, Ren Jiaoming’s cold eyes stopped him. Chu Shangluo felt frustrated, but he couldn’t keep it inside. He grabbed the car window and yelled, “Wen Yan caused all this today! Can you stay away from him? He’s up to no good. When you’re with me, put your heart here. Stop looking at other things while eating from the same bowl!”^[1]Do not two time, do not entertain others while you are in a relationship.

Ren Jiaoming didn’t say anything. He rolled up the window and drove away as the heavy rain started pouring down.

Chu Shangluo, drenched in rain, went inside and sat down on the sofa, staring blankly. The rain outside grew heavier, and the sound of raindrops hitting the window grew louder. Chu Shangluo snapped out of his thoughts and walked to the balcony, looking out at the cold, rainy night, wondering if Ren Jiaoming’s roses were beyond saving.

Just then, his phone rang. He picked it up, and Fan Mo’s voice came through. “How’s it going? Did you have a good time with my brother on your birthday?”

Chu Shangluo gave a bitter smile. “It was alright, why?”

“Ah, I was just asking, how much furniture did you find?”

“Not much. There’s a soft couch, a vase, and… a Pixiu.”

“Ah!” Fan Mo chuckled mischievously. “Did my brother give you the Pixiu? That’s our family’s heirloom, passed down to the daughter-in-law. Hehe. My brother likes you so much, he must…”

“I’m tired. I’m hanging up.” Chu Shangluo ended the call, thinking about the way Ren Jiaoming had snatched the Pixiu from his hands. He suddenly felt like smoking.

As the clock ticked past midnight, Chu Shangluo’s 27th birthday came to an end.

His phone rang again. Thinking it was Fan Mo, he checked and saw that it was Chu Shangyue. He lowered his head, sighed deeply, and answered the call. Chu Shangyue’s voice was soft. “Luo Luo, happy birthday. My phone broke today, I couldn’t call you. I just borrowed Chu Zong’s phone. Did you have a good time today? Did you eat cake? What about longevity noodles? Did Mom and Dad call you? They’re rushing me to go back, but I… I just want to spend your birthday with you…”

“…”

“Luo Luo? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“Ge, um, I’m fine. It’s nothing.” The cold rain had blown into Chu Shangluo’s eyes, and his eyes reddened as he lowered his gaze. “I’m fine.”