The rain poured heavily, the cold droplets hitting his skin and seeping into his heart.

After hanging up the call, Chu Shangluo remained standing on the balcony, unwilling to leave. He hadn’t properly celebrated his birthday for a long time. He thought this time he could finally have a good one, but it had all been ruined by Wen Yan, that troublemaker. His chest felt tight. It was strange—he clearly had everything, yet it felt like he had nothing at all.

His phone rang again. Chu Shangluo numbly answered the call.

“So? Was the maple rice Secretary Ren made delicious?” Gu Yao’s cheerful voice came through the line.

A bitter taste filled Chu Shangluo’s mouth. Of all days, people just kept calling, each one poking at his wounds.

The rain was too cold. Shivering, Chu Shangluo headed for the bedroom. On the other end, Gu Yao could only hear the heavy sound of his footsteps.

“Chu Shangluo? What’s wrong?”

Exhausted, Chu Shangluo collapsed onto the bed, snapping, “It’s just that I didn’t get to celebrate my damn birthday, and now everyone keeps calling and asking!”

Gu Yao stopped joking. “What happened?”

“Nothing really. Ren Jiaoming went out to buy groceries, and Wen Yan showed up. That troublemaker admitted to instigating the accident where Lin Zhi’s leg got broken. So, we started fighting, and ended up in Ren Jiaoming’s white rose garden. When Ren Jiaoming came back and saw the destroyed roses, he just sent me home. That’s it.”

Even though Chu Shangluo sounded indifferent, Gu Yao knew him too well—this guy was just acting tough.

“Come on, they’re just flowers. Are they really that precious? Just replant them!”

Chu Shangluo thought for a moment and said, “They seem important. He takes care of them often.”

“Well… listen, I think you’ve got it bad, man. Love’s got you deep, huh? You’re even defending him now? What if he’s not upset about the roses but about Wen Yan? Think about it—don’t you think you and Wen Yan kinda look alike? What if he’s actually into him and you’re just a stand-in?”

Chu Shangluo frowned. “Stop talking nonsense. What is this, some trashy romance novel? I’m way better looking than Wen Yan. Ren Jiaoming’s not blind.”

“But what if?”

Chu Shangluo imagined the possibility for a second, and his voice instantly turned icy. “If he’s really using Wen Yan to disgust me, I’ll kill him and turn myself in after.”

“Whoa, whoa! Chill, man! Don’t say scary stuff like that. But seriously, you don’t have to fall this deep. In relationships, the one who stays calm and gives less has the upper hand. You’re completely passive now, dude. He’s got you wrapped around his finger.

“And think about it—he didn’t really care about your birthday. I told this cute guy I was seeing about my birthday, and he prepared everything the night before. When I showed up, the drinks and food were all ready. Now compare that to your guy. See what I mean?”

There was a long silence before Chu Shangluo finally muttered irritably, “Yeah, yeah, you’re the relationship expert. Whatever. I’m going to sleep.”

He tossed his phone onto the nightstand and buried himself under the blanket.

He understood everything Gu Yao had said. But after giving so much, he just couldn’t bring himself to let go.

The next morning, Chu Shangluo got up to drink water. As soon as he stepped out of the bedroom, he saw Ren Jiaoming entering the door.

Trying to stay calm, Chu Shangluo asked, “How are the flowers?”

“Mm.” Ren Jiaoming’s response was cold and indifferent, a vague sound that answered nothing.

Seeing the conversation going nowhere, Chu Shangluo suppressed his anger and went to freshen up, even forgetting his thirst. Looking into the mirror, he saw his bloodshot eyes and wondered if he should apologize for the roses. However, he quickly dismissed the thought. He could tolerate Ren Jiaoming, compromise with him, even speak softly—but apologize? Never. First, he wasn’t in the wrong. Second, the great President Chu never apologized.

On the way to the office, the silence between them was palpable. Ren Jiaoming was quietly driving while Chu Shangluo remained speechless, his mind occupied. His palm throbbed with pain. When he opened it, the wounds from the rose thorns were still visible—red, swollen, and slightly infected with traces of pus. To Chu Shangluo, such injuries were insignificant. However, the burning pain and persistent pulsing made it irritating.

Ren Jiaoming’s gaze briefly lingered on Chu Shangluo’s scarred hand before he quickly looked away, his grip on the steering wheel tightening for a moment.

Yet, beyond his silent standoff with Ren Jiaoming, a stronger fury simmered within Chu Shangluo—toward the person who broke Lin Zhi’s leg. With his vengeful nature, he had to uncover the culprit.

He dialed Gu Yao. “Do me a favor. You know the owner of Maple Night, right? Find out who was drinking with Wen Yan the night Lin Zhi got hit.”

After a brief pause, Gu Yao responded cautiously, “Chen Ran, one of Mr. Chen’s grandsons. Don’t even think about it, okay? He’s probably the heir to most of Mr. Chen’s businesses now. He holds significant power, and he’s been close with both the Su and Wen families lately. He’s already not too fond of you.”

“I know what I’m doing,” Chu Shangluo replied coldly, gripping his phone as he stared out the window. They were passing by a university where students were gathered at the gate, their faces full of youthful energy.

When he first met Lin Zhi, he had been just like those students—young, reserved, with a gentle personality. Chu Shangluo had once helped him fend off some bullies, and Lin Zhi had been so grateful that he insisted on following him around ever since. From school to the company, Lin Zhi had become more than just a subordinate; he was a loyal companion and friend. Now, someone had broken his leg, and Chu Shangluo was supposed to back down just because of the culprit’s background?

His fist clenched tighter. No, he wouldn’t let Lin Zhi suffer injustice.

At the office, Ren Jiaoming brought him coffee as usual. When Chu Shangluo reached out to take it, his hand trembled from the pain, nearly spilling the drink. Ren Jiaoming glanced downward but made no comment.

Lu Wen, noticing something was off, frowned and looked between Chu Shangluo’s injured hand and Ren Jiaoming’s indifference. Finally, he asked, “President Chu, what happened to your hand?”

Chu Shangluo shook his head. “It’s nothing, just a small scratch. Doesn’t matter.”

“How can it not matter? Last time I had a minor burn on my hand, you made me go to the medical room. You should get it checked out.”

“I’m fine. I’m busy,” Chu Shangluo replied stubbornly, too preoccupied with investigating Chen Ran to care about his injury.

Seeing he couldn’t convince him, Lu Wen could only sigh. Why did this man have to be so reckless with himself?

That evening after work, Chu Shangluo and Ren Jiaoming visited Lin Zhi again. Lin Zhi’s complexion had improved significantly, but the attending doctor mentioned that even after his leg healed, it would never be as agile as before.

Watching Lin Zhi eat an apple on the hospital bed, Chu Shangluo didn’t have the heart to break the news to him. For a young man with a promising future, such a blow would be devastating. The thought of Lin Zhi becoming permanently disabled only fueled his anger further.

Seeing Chu Shangluo’s grim expression, Lin Zhi smiled and asked, “What’s wrong? I’m fine, aren’t I? Cheer up.”

Chu Shangluo felt a pang of sadness but forced a smile. “I’ve already found out who hit you—it was Chen Ran. I spent the whole afternoon thinking about how to deal with him. Coincidentally, Qian Xiaosi, back when he worked at a gay bar, knew someone who had some dirty dealings with Chen Ran. They even recorded a video of it. I bought the footage.”

Lin Zhi put down the apple and grabbed Chu Shangluo’s hand. “Boss, please don’t cause trouble. I’m really fine.”

“Fine? How is being bullied considered fine?” Chu Shangluo interrupted sharply. “I’m heading back now. Just wait for good news.”

Lin Zhi lowered his head, staring at his leg wrapped in a cast, his eyes turning red. The more protective Chu Shangluo acted, the deeper he felt trapped in his feelings.

*

Upon returning home, Chu Shangluo ignored Ren Jiaoming completely and went straight to his study, fully focused on how to take Chen Ran down. Ren Jiaoming quietly watched him for a moment before picking up his phone to order dinner.

Inside the study, Chu Shangluo was researching Chen Ran’s weaknesses. He reached for his phone to make a call, only to find it had run out of battery. Since there was a spare charger in the study, he opened his drawer but couldn’t find it. Frustrated, he opened Ren Jiaoming’s drawer instead.

Inside, a sleek watch box lay neatly placed.

Chu Shangluo opened it and was stunned to find a brand-new watch identical to the one he had lost earlier. As he stared at it in surprise, Ren Jiaoming entered the room. His gaze fell on the watch in Chu Shangluo’s hand, and the words he had planned to say paused briefly before he finally spoke, “President Chu, dinner is ready.”

Snapping out of his daze, Chu Shangluo looked at Ren Jiaoming’s calm face. “Was this meant to be my birthday gift yesterday?”

Ren Jiaoming nodded without hesitation—after all, he had indeed bought it for that reason.

The anger in Chu Shangluo’s chest eased considerably, but he still felt a trace of regret. If only Wen Yan hadn’t shown up yesterday… If they had shared dinner and then he received this thoughtful gift, it would’ve been a perfect birthday.

He took the watch from the box and fastened it around his wrist—it fit perfectly. Smiling slightly, he asked, “How did you know I lost my watch? I thought you didn’t notice things like that.”

Ren Jiaoming, being naturally reserved, indeed wasn’t one to pay much attention to such details. But that day, while passing a luxury watch store, he had remembered how long Chu Shangluo’s wrist had been bare.

Seeing Ren Jiaoming remain silent, Chu Shangluo didn’t press further. Though late, the gift still made him happy. After a day of awkward tension, he finally wanted to break the ice. Grasping Ren Jiaoming’s hand, he asked, “Have you seen my charger?”

The rough texture of Chu Shangluo’s palm made Ren Jiaoming frown slightly, but he let him hold his hand while searching for the charger. After finding it, he suddenly turned back, holding Chu Shangluo’s hand more firmly. Carefully, he spread open Chu Shangluo’s palm, revealing red, swollen wounds, scabbed over yet still raw. The sight was startling, and when his fingers brushed the injuries, Chu Shangluo flinched in pain.

A quiet, helpless sigh seemed to echo through the room.

Chu Shangluo looked at Ren Jiaoming, but his face remained as calm and unreadable as ever, showing no trace of the sigh he thought he heard.

Without a word, Ren Jiaoming pressed his hands on Chu Shangluo’s shoulders, guiding him to sit back down. He fetched the first aid kit and began tending to his wounds carefully.

As Ren Jiaoming silently cleaned and bandaged his hand, Chu Shangluo’s irritation melted away completely. Watching the other man’s lowered head, focused on his care, he whispered, “It’s really nothing… Just some scratches. It’s no big deal.”

President Chu was being stubborn, but the disinfectant stung so much that he kept wanting to pull his hand away, thinking it hurt so badly that he might as well skip the treatment altogether.

Ren Jiaoming, however, gave him no chance to avoid it. Left with no choice, Chu Shangluo picked up his phone to distract himself and hide the fact that he was struggling with such a minor injury.

“Chu Zong, I’ll send you a video in a bit. Find a way to get it to Miss Lin without letting her know it’s from us,” he said over the call.

Suddenly, Ren Jiaoming took his phone and ended the call.

Chu Shangluo looked puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

While calmly wrapping the gauze around Chu Shangluo’s hand, Ren Jiaoming asked, “You’re planning to use that video of Chen Ran’s scandal to make Miss Lin break off their engagement, aren’t you?”

Chu Shangluo replied, “Yes.”

Ren Jiaoming shook his head. “It won’t be enough. You’re being too kind. You’re trying to protect Miss Lin’s dignity by secretly giving her the video, but have you considered that this could backfire?”

“How so?”

Ren Jiaoming explained, “Miss Lin already knows about Chen Ran’s wild behavior but still wants to marry him. She’s blinded by love and willing to do anything for him. If you expose this to her privately, not only will she refuse to thank you, but she’ll tell Chen Ran, making him more cautious and harder to deal with.”

Finishing the bandaging, Ren Jiaoming continued, “The best approach is to release the video publicly. Chen Ran’s control over most of Mr. Chen’s assets depends heavily on the Lin family’s support. Once this scandal breaks out, the engagement will fall apart. And with so many ambitious younger family members waiting for a chance, they’ll seize this opportunity to suppress Chen Ran. Recovering his position will be nearly impossible.”

Chu Shangluo had considered this method before but had held back, wanting to spare Miss Lin from public embarrassment. Even if she didn’t cancel the engagement, he had a backup plan to deal with Chen Ran, though it was more complicated and time-consuming.

Raising an eyebrow, he asked, “And what if Miss Lin is so in love that she stays with Chen Ran even after we expose this?”

“I don’t believe in love. I believe interest—personal gain.” Ren Jiaoming’s voice was calm yet firm. “The Lin family won’t let their reputation be tarnished. For the sake of family honor and influence, they’ll break off the engagement regardless. In a way, this would be forcing Miss Lin to cut her losses—it’s not a bad outcome for her.”

Hearing this, Chu Shangluo found himself dwelling on just one thing—Ren Jiaoming’s statement: ‘I don’t believe in love, only Interest.’

“So… do you believe in my love for you, Ren Jiaoming?”

Chu Shangluo stared into his cold, emotionless eyes, hoping to see even a trace of affection. Yet, there was nothing—only indifference.

Ren Jiaoming looked away, shifting the subject. “Are we going with my plan, then?”

Feeling stifled, Chu Shangluo reluctantly responded, “Fine. We’ll do it your way. Let’s see which wins—love or Interest.”

One week later, Chen Ran’s scandal exploded publicly. The Chen Corporation’s stock plummeted, dragging the Lin family’s shares down with it. The Lin family immediately announced the termination of the engagement with Chen Ran. Furious, Mr. Chen revoked many of Chen Ran’s business holdings and placed him under house arrest for reflection.

Clearly, Interest(Personal gain) had won.

September, the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. Lin Zhi could finally get out of bed and move around. However, every time Chu Shangluo saw him, he still felt guilty. If Lin Zhi weren’t his assistant, Chen Ran wouldn’t have shifted his hostility toward Lin Zhi.

Though Chen Ran’s future was ruined after being exposed, he still lived comfortably with no physical harm. Meanwhile, Lin Zhi had lasting damage, limping with every step, unlikely to recover fully.

Over the past two months, Beijing’s business scene had shifted. Chu Shangluo, through strategic business moves, had suppressed Wen Yan’s market value, allowing the Chu Corporation’s value to surpass the Wen Corporation for the first time in over twenty years. Many who knew the Wen family’s aggressive style were expecting a counterattack, but surprisingly, the Wen family remained silent, which even made Chu Shangluo a bit wary.

Now was the most critical time for the Chu Corporation. For years, it had been suppressed by Su and Wen but had finally surpassed both major rivals. The only thing holding them back was their internal financial structure. The company had long maintained a profit-sharing system where every employee held shares, which reduced motivation, as many employees just waited for dividends without putting in effort.

Chu Shangluo decided to reclaim those shares and tasked Chu Zong with the responsibility of managing this major restructuring.

—

That night, under the city lights.

Sweaty and exhausted, Chu Shangluo turned over in bed and watched as Ren Jiaoming prepared to leave right after their passionate time together. Reaching out, he grabbed his wrist and pulled him back under the covers, wrapping an arm around his waist. He pressed a kiss to Ren Jiaoming’s cool lips and smiled, “It’s been over two months since we last did this. Can’t you stay a bit longer with me?”

Ren Jiaoming looked at Chu Shangluo’s slightly longer hair and gently brushed the damp strands from his face, revealing his eyes full of playful affection. “You need a haircut.”

Yawning, Chu Shangluo caught his hand and replied lazily, “I know, I just keep forgetting. Tomorrow—I’ll cut it tomorrow.”

Ren Jiaoming pulled his hand back and sat up. “You forgot. You’re leaving the country tomorrow.”

Chu Shangluo bit into a lollipop and sighed, “Right, tomorrow night’s flight to send Chu Shangyue back.”

Ren Jiaoming leaned down and carried the exhausted Chu Shangluo into the bathroom. Soaking in the bathtub, Chu Shangluo still felt completely drained. Though their moments together were rare, why did it leave him so exhausted?

Chu Shangluo complained, “Can you be a bit gentler? I’m human, my waist feels like it’s breaking!”

Ren Jiaoming’s fingers slid through his damp hair. “There’s a solution.”

“What solution?”

Ren Jiaoming replied flatly, “Stop doing it.”

Chu Shangluo: “…”

There was no way President Chu would let Ren Jiaoming have the last word. He teasingly winked, “I’m not leaving tomorrow morning. Want to go again later?”

Ren Jiaoming, expressionless, responded, “No.”

Chu Shangluo smirked. He had just been teasing Ren Jiaoming anyway, not really planning for a second round.

Later, as Ren Jiaoming dried his hair back in bed, Chu Shangluo watched him silently. Ren Jiaoming was becoming more and more accustomed to caring for him without complaints. Smiling, he said, “I won’t let you be with me for nothing. You’ve done a lot—being both my secretary and taking care of me. For the recent share buyback, I’ve allocated 15% for you.”

Ren Jiaoming’s hand froze briefly.

—

The next day, just before boarding his flight, Chu Shangluo visited the construction site again. The house was almost finished. Once he returned, he would finally be able to give it to Ren Jiaoming.