Wen Yan immediately shifted his gaze away from the mirror, biting his lip lightly as he maintained a fake smile. “Chu Shangluo, that doesn’t prove anything. I’m not the one who got betrayed and hurt.”

If Chu Shangluo had heard this two weeks ago, he would have furiously pinned Wen Yan to the ground and beaten him up. But hearing it today, he only felt that Wen Yan’s mindset was truly limited.

Releasing his grip on Wen Yan, Chu Shangluo sneered, “If you think Ren Jiaoming is such a catch, then take him. I’ve already had my turn, and honestly, he’s nothing special.” He glanced at Wen Yan’s livid expression and added, “If you could focus on your career instead of playing dirty tricks, maybe I would respect you. But here you are, bickering with me over a man. Honestly, you’re not even worth my attention. Not just you—your father, your entire Wen family—I look down on all of you.”

“You—!” Wen Yan inhaled sharply, his face turning pale with anger. “Chu Shangluo, doesn’t it bother you that someone you think is beneath you managed to ruin your entire life? I’ve seen plenty like you—pretending to be untouchable, but deep down, you’re just bitter and defeated, aren’t you?”

Chu Shangluo had been about to toss his damp tissue into the trash, but suddenly he paused. Instead, he crumpled it and threw it directly at Wen Yan’s face.

“This tissue suits your mouth better than the trash can.”

Wen Yan was completely enraged now. His façade shattered, and his teeth clenched audibly as he reached out to grab Chu Shangluo’s collar.

But the next moment, a strong hand suddenly grabbed his wrist.

Wen Yan froze when he saw who had stopped him, forcing down his impulse to punch Chu Shangluo in the face.

Ren Jiaoming stood in front of Chu Shangluo, his face cold as he stared down Wen Yan.

“Your driver is waiting outside. You’re needed for a family meeting.”

Seeing Ren Jiaoming so protective of Chu Shangluo made Wen Yan even more resentful, but he couldn’t lash out. Glaring at Chu Shangluo with seething anger, he straightened his back and stormed out in frustration.

Chu Shangluo watched him leave, then turned back to the sink, feeling disgusted from having touched Wen Yan. He turned on the water again, scrubbing his hands thoroughly.

Yet the presence behind him remained, someone silently watching his every move, making him uncomfortable. Without turning around, Chu Shangluo asked casually, “What, you’re not needed at the Wen family meeting either?”

Ren Jiaoming’s gaze shifted toward the watch bag.

“No. It has nothing to do with me.”

“Then you’re quite pitiful, aren’t you still calling Wen Zhengyang your uncle?” Chu Shangluo turned off the faucet. “The Wen family holds a family meeting without you, so why are you still hanging around their house?”

He pulled a tissue, casually wiping his hands before grabbing the watch bag, ready to leave. Suddenly, Ren Jiaoming caught his hand.

Ren Jiaoming took another tissue, carefully wiping Chu Shangluo’s damp, slender fingers, and said softly, “If you don’t dry your hands properly, they’ll crack.” He paused briefly before adding, “Meeting Wen Yan today was just a coincidence.”

Ren Jiaoming was explaining himself.

In the past, Ren Jiaoming never explained anything to Chu Shangluo. Even when questioned or pressured, he would just coldly reply, “Don’t overstep.”

Now, Ren Jiaoming was explaining—but Chu Shangluo no longer wanted to hear it.

He forcefully pulled his hand away from Ren Jiaoming’s gentle grasp, glaring coldly.

“What you do has nothing to do with me. You don’t need to tell me.”

He pushed Ren Jiaoming aside. “Move!”

Ren Jiaoming blocked the exit firmly and took a watch from his pocket.

Looking at the dust-covered watch in front of him, Chu Shangluo couldn’t help but remember—it was the only gift Ren Jiaoming had ever given him during their six months together. He had treasured it carefully, planning to wear it until Ren Jiaoming gifted him a new one.

But before the next gift came, they were over.

Ren Jiaoming gently placed the watch in Chu Shangluo’s hand, saying, “I had it repaired. I’m giving it back to you.”

Chu Shangluo frowned and shook him off.

“I smashed it in front of you that day. To me, it’s just trash. Even fixed, it’s still trash. I already have a new watch.”

He pulled out the newly bought watch and fastened it on his wrist, glancing at Ren Jiaoming with a cold expression.

“Not only will I have a new watch, but I’ll also have someone new—someone with no connection to you whatsoever.”

The sight of the new watch on Chu Shangluo’s wrist stung Ren Jiaoming deeply, making the repaired one in his hand feel unbearably heavy.

Seeing Ren Jiaoming fall silent, his face expressionless as always, Chu Shangluo felt a bitter chill in his heart. He turned to leave.

However, after only a few steps, he was suddenly pulled back by a firm arm wrapped around his waist.

Chu Shangluo stared at the arm tightly encircling him and swung his fist back angrily.

“What are you, some kind of clingy pest?”

Ren Jiaoming caught his fist mid-air and, with his other arm, pulled Chu Shangluo even closer, holding him tightly against his chest.

Looking into Chu Shangluo’s furious, tear-filled eyes, Ren Jiaoming felt a sharp pain in his heart.

“If you don’t like the repaired one, I’ll buy you a new one.”

Staring at Ren Jiaoming’s serious gaze so close to his, Chu Shangluo’s anger and helplessness intertwined. His body went numb as he let Ren Jiaoming hold him.

“Was our problem really the watch, Ren Jiaoming? Stop pretending to be clueless. We can’t be together anymore.”

“I don’t love you anymore. Do you understand?”

Ren Jiaoming tightened his hold on Chu Shangluo’s arm even more.

“That doesn’t matter. I won’t let go.”

“You—damn it…”

Chu Shangluo had never encountered someone so clingy in his life. If Ren Jiaoming were the type to cry, apologize, and beg for forgiveness while holding him, he might actually have softened.

But Ren Jiaoming kept his face cold, using brute force to restrain him, making it impossible to leave or even move. It was irritating to the extreme.

And saying things like “I won’t let go” with such righteousness—if someone overheard, they’d think Chu Shangluo owed him money and Ren Jiaoming was here to collect a debt.

Frustration boiled up inside Chu Shangluo.

Ren Jiaoming gently stroked his back, trying to calm him down.

“Don’t be mad. I don’t want to upset you. Come back with me and celebrate my birthday, okay?”

“No. I’m spending Lu Wen’s birthday. If you don’t want to make me angry, let go of me.”

Chu Shangluo’s icy gaze pierced straight into Ren Jiaoming’s heart as he rejected him without hesitation.

Ren Jiaoming flinched at that look, his grip on Chu Shangluo loosening just a bit.

Seizing the moment, Chu Shangluo pushed him away forcefully and strode off.

Lu Wen had been waiting for a while. When he saw Chu Shangluo still hadn’t returned and was about to go check, he noticed him storming toward him, fuming with anger.

Puzzled, Lu Wen approached. “What’s wrong, President Chu?”

Chu Shangluo shook his head. “Nothing. Let’s go.”

Lu Wen glanced behind Chu Shangluo, spotting Ren Jiaoming standing at a distance with a grim expression, and instantly understood the situation.

—

The restaurant they chose was a newly opened steakhouse. After they were seated, Chu Shangluo downed two full glasses of red wine just to cool his temper.

Seeing his flushed cheeks, Lu Wen chuckled. “President Chu, it’s my birthday today. Cheer up a little, won’t you?”

Chu Shangluo nodded, then generously said, “Of course. Order whatever you want.”

Lu Wen smiled, picked up the menu, and ordered a few dishes when the waiter arrived.

While Lu Wen was ordering, Chu Shangluo’s phone rang. It was Shen Jue calling.

Chu Shangluo frowned, wondering why Shen Jue would be calling him.

He answered, and Shen Jue’s deep, smooth voice came through the speaker.

“President Chu, did you like the gift I sent you today?”

Chu Shangluo, still annoyed, didn’t feel like making small talk.

“Young Master Shen, what do you want?”

“Can’t a friend just check in?”

Chu Shangluo resisted the urge to snap, ‘If you have something to say, just say it.’

Sensing the silence, Shen Jue continued, “I heard you’re planning to renovate the market on Ping’an Street?”

Chu Shangluo replied with a simple “Mhm.”

Shen Jue’s tone remained calm.

“I was wondering if you’d be willing to sell it to me. Money won’t be an issue.”

“Why do you want to buy it?”

“The reason is inconvenient to explain, but if you’re willing to sell, Yu Corporation is offering 500 million.”

500 million…

Chu Shangluo was tempted. Business was all about profit, and selling for 500 million would be a huge gain. Plus, he wouldn’t have to keep seeing that property that constantly annoyed him—truly a win-win situation.

But that price… In Beijing, 500 million could buy prime property anywhere. Why did Shen Jue specifically want his?

Chu Shangluo didn’t want to agree so quickly. It was better to wait and see what Shen Jue was really up to.

“Young Master Shen, let me think about it.”

“Alright.” Shen Jue’s tone was calm, not sounding particularly urgent about acquiring the market.

“President Chu, we’re friends. Most of your family members are already working at Yu Corporation. To outsiders, Yu and Chu practically look like one entity. You don’t need to be so guarded with me.”

Chu Shangluo wasn’t used to Shen Jue’s politeness and deflected the conversation.

“I have things to do. Goodbye.”

—

By this time, the steak had been served.

Lu Wen handed Chu Shangluo a plate of sliced steak, smiling gently.

“President Chu, try it. The temperature’s just right now.”

Chu Shangluo picked up a piece with his fork and ate it. But his mind was still on Shen Jue, leaving him unable to fully appreciate the steak’s flavor.

Lu Wen watched him closely. Noticing a bit of sauce on the corner of Chu Shangluo’s lips, his gaze lingered on the spot before shifting to those slightly parted red lips.

Before he even realized it, his body had already reacted.

He picked up a napkin and gently wiped the sauce from Chu Shangluo’s lips.

The sudden intimacy jolted Chu Shangluo back to reality.

Lu Wen tucked the napkin into his pocket and asked with a soft smile, “What were you thinking about, President Chu?”

Chu Shangluo took a sip of red wine, then looked at Lu Wen.

“The year you graduated from university, Yu Corporation wasn’t that well-known yet, right? Why did you choose to work there? I remember you were exceptional at skateboarding—so good you were selected for the national team. Why didn’t you pursue that path?”

Lu Wen hadn’t expected this question. He silently raised his glass, downed his drink, and gave a bitter smile.

“Well, it actually has something to do with Ren Jiaoming.”

“Oh? How so?”

Lu Wen exhaled deeply, leaning his head on his hand as a trace of intoxication clouded his eyes.

“The night before my national team tryouts, I was on my way back to the dorm when I heard a fight in an alley. I stopped to check what was going on. Suddenly, a group of people rushed out. It was dark, and I got knocked over, hit my head on a stone, and passed out. I didn’t wake up until the third day—missed the tryouts completely.”

He looked at Chu Shangluo, bitterness flashing in his gaze.

“The one fighting that night was Ren Jiaoming. After he scared them off, he accidentally knocked me over. I had no choice but to find a job after that. Sent out countless resumes. Eventually, Yu Corporation hired me.”

Seeing the disappointment on Lu Wen’s face, Chu Shangluo clinked his glass against his.

“That’s some serious bad luck.”

Lu Wen chuckled bitterly.

“Yeah, but I guess it was fate. At least things turned out okay. Yu Corporation’s treated me well.”

He smiled, then took another sip of his wine.

The two of them had dinner for over two hours. By the time they finished, both were slightly drunk.

Lu Wen had drunk more than Chu Shangluo. He was not only staggering as he walked but also kept insisting he wasn’t drunk while staring at Chu Shangluo.

Chu Shangluo hailed a taxi, helped Lu Wen into it, and instructed the driver to take him home.

After the taxi drove away, Chu Shangluo stood by the roadside, pulling his jacket tighter.

The late autumn air was chilly, yet he was still wearing a thin blazer from early fall. His cold hadn’t fully recovered, and the gusts of wind made his nose sting. He sneezed, shoved his hands into his pockets, and started walking back.

Under a streetlamp not far away stood a figure.

The man had been standing there for a long time. His usually neat hairstyle had been tousled slightly by the wind, with soft black hair falling over his forehead. It softened his typically aloof and unapproachable appearance, making him seem more human.

Chu Shangluo frowned, clearly unwilling to engage with Ren Jiaoming.

Ren Jiaoming had been waiting outside for as long as Chu Shangluo and Lu Wen had been dining. He leaned despondently against the streetlamp, his gaze distant and hard to read.

But when Chu Shangluo approached, a glimmer of light finally appeared in Ren Jiaoming’s eyes. He straightened up and walked toward him with renewed energy.

“I was waiting for you to come out.”

Chu Shangluo looked at Ren Jiaoming’s face, the lamplight casting a silver glow over his features. He appeared even colder and more striking than usual, exuding a lonely elegance like a distant moon.

Chu Shangluo rubbed his temples and averted his gaze. Even now, Ren Jiaoming’s face still stirred something deep inside him.

“What are you waiting for me for?”

Ren Jiaoming replied, “I was waiting to have dinner with you.”

Chu Shangluo held up his watch to Ren Jiaoming’s face.

“Are you kidding me? It’s past nine o’clock. I’ve already eaten—what’s the point of waiting for dinner now?”

Ren Jiaoming answered, “You promised Fan Mo you’d come. He’s been waiting for you.”

Chu Shangluo: “…”

Ren Jiaoming handed over Fan Mo’s ID, clearly prepared for every possible excuse and rejection.

“I share the same birthday as Fan Mo.”

Chu Shangluo: “…”

Ren Jiaoming lowered his gaze.

“I know you don’t want to celebrate my birthday, but you promised Fan Mo.”