At this moment, the Chen family members who had been supporting Chen Ran in the living room looked uneasy. Chen Ran’s face was dark, his eyes cold and menacing as he glared at Chu Shangluo and Chen Qing, who had just set him up.

The man Chen Ran had kicked to the ground earlier got up angrily and, in front of everyone, accused him:
“Regardless of what happened, you should still show me respect and call me uncle! With behavior like yours, if you become the head of the Chen family, won’t you completely disregard us elders?”

Chen Ran snorted and smirked maliciously.
“Uncle? When you were begging me for benefits, you sure didn’t act like one.”

The man was so furious he could barely speak. “You—!”

Meanwhile, Chen Ran looked around at the whispering Chen family members behind him, attempting to calm their growing doubts.
“If you follow me, I’ll make sure you have more money than you can ever spend! Chen Qing only cares about reputation, not wealth. What can you possibly gain by siding with him?”

Some of his wavering supporters hesitated once again. The Chen family was large and powerful, but their personal shares of resources were limited. Though Chen Ran was morally questionable, siding with him promised a bigger slice of the pie, while Chen Qing, being too principled, might restrict their opportunities.

Seeing how Chen Ran still acted so arrogantly, Chu Shangluo chuckled.
“President Chen, instead of making bold promises, why don’t you first figure out how to deal with your mountain of debt? Promising unlimited wealth to the Chen family? Where’s the money?”

Chu Shangluo’s words struck a nerve, further shaking the faith of those supporting Chen Ran.

Chen Ran’s expression turned even darker as he glared at his bodyguards.

Three bodyguards stepped forward toward Chu Shangluo.
“Mr. Chu, this is the Chen family’s private matter. Please leave.”

Though their words were polite, their hands were already reaching out to forcibly escort him out.

Chen Qing stepped forward, blocking Chu Shangluo and speaking calmly yet firmly:
“Since everyone is already here, let’s settle this with a vote. We’ll see who the family seal truly belongs to.”

The man Chen Ran had kicked earlier immediately stepped behind Chen Qing and urged the others:
“If Chen Ran can treat me like this today, he can do the same to you tomorrow! He’s a vicious wolf who won’t spare anyone. If you don’t want to be insulted and stepped on like me, then side with him! As for money—Chen Qing won’t leave us empty-handed either!”

Some of the Chen family members, swayed by his words, silently shifted their support to Chen Qing.

However, a portion of the family still hesitated, worrying about the money they had already invested with Chen Ran. Would they be able to recover it if they switched sides now?

Chen Ran coldly observed their hesitation, fully aware of their concerns. He also knew that the situation was turning against him. If he agreed to a vote now, the position of family head would undoubtedly go to Chen Qing.

Clenching his jaw in frustration, Chen Ran took a deep breath and whispered to his assistant, “We’re leaving.”

His assistant began pushing his wheelchair toward the door.

Chu Shangluo smirked and called out mockingly,
“President Chen, leaving already? Not staying for the meal? Oh, and when will you be paying back all the money you owe your relatives?”

Chen Ran glared viciously at Chu Shangluo, who wore a smug expression, his entire body trembling with rage.

Winning the family head’s seal should have been a sure thing today, but this bastard Chu Shangluo had completely ruined it!

At that moment, someone stopped Chen Ran.
“President Chen, what about the one million I invested in you…?”

Chen Ran’s face darkened as he snapped,
“Shut up! If you want your money, then just come with me!”

The front door was pushed open, and Chen Ran quickly left with his supporters. To the remaining Chen family members, his departure looked no different from a disgraceful retreat. He had arrived arrogantly but left humiliated.

It was clear that Chen Qing had won this round. Not only was the family seal now in his hands, but some of Chen Ran’s former supporters had also defected to his side. Meanwhile, Chen Ran was drowning in debt—enough to keep him too busy to flaunt his power for a while.

Chu Shangluo felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Losing the strawberry farm was finally repaid through Chen Ran’s defeat.

Chen Qing patted Chu Shangluo’s shoulder in a silent gesture of celebration between friends.

Soon after, many younger Chen family members approached Chu Shangluo, eager to build rapport. Some did it out of respect for Chen Qing, knowing they would benefit from aligning with him. Others were simply captivated by Chu Shangluo’s charisma. Though the Chu family had gone bankrupt, and he lacked the financial power to directly challenge Chen Ran, he had still managed to humiliate him with just a few sharp words. Such fearless confidence was undeniably attractive.

—

On the way back, Lin Zhi drove with a beaming smile.
“Boss, a bunch of the younger Chen family members just asked to pre-order our fruits and vegetables. Both the price and volume are in our favor. You’ve really made a name for yourself today—our sales channels are practically secured now.”

Seeing how Lin Zhi couldn’t hide his happiness, Chu Shangluo leaned closer with a teasing smile.
“So, how does it feel seeing Chen Ran stuck in a wheelchair? Satisfying, huh?”

The sudden warmth of his breath brushing against Lin Zhi’s ear made him freeze. Feeling embarrassed, he rubbed his nose awkwardly and replied,
“Yeah… super satisfying!”

Chu Shangluo leaned back, sighing dramatically.
“Too bad I wasn’t the one who kicked him. It would’ve felt even better.”

Lin Zhi instinctively touched his ear, speaking absentmindedly,
“It’s better you didn’t… You know he’ll definitely seek revenge. With his personality, today’s defeat won’t be the end of it.”

Chu Shangluo narrowed his eyes slightly and pulled out a cigarette box.
“Exactly why we need to crush him completely—make sure he never gets back up.”

Suddenly, he noticed the pink flush on Lin Zhi’s ears.
“Hey, what’s up with your ears? Why are they so red?”

Hearing this, Lin Zhi’s ears turned even redder, as if they were about to drip blood.
“N-Nothing…” His heart pounded wildly. He couldn’t possibly admit it was because Chu Shangluo had gotten too close earlier.

“Oh.”

Chu Shangluo glanced out the window, not thinking much of it.

The two returned to the fields in the afternoon. After the heavy snowfall, the farmland was blanketed in white, peaceful and serene.

Chu Zong and Lu Wen were leading a group of workers installing alarm systems in each greenhouse. With his hands tucked in his pockets, Chu Shangluo strolled leisurely forward and immediately noticed the two large wolfdogs Lu Wen was holding on leashes.

The wolfdogs had sleek, shiny black fur and powerful limbs. Their dark eyes stared at Chu Shangluo and Lin Zhi with a serious, watchful gaze. Standing upright, they were nearly half as tall as a person, exuding a commanding presence.

Seeing the dogs, Lin Zhi instinctively slowed his pace.

Chu Shangluo, however, showed no fear and walked straight over. The two wolfdogs instantly fixed their wary eyes on him, baring sharp teeth.

“Where did these dogs come from?” he asked.

Lu Wen chuckled, “A friend of mine runs a kennel. I bought them for you, to guard the property. The darker one is called Da Hei (Big Black), and the lighter one is Da Huang (Big Yellow).”

“Wow, you really put a lot of thought into naming them,” Chu Shangluo said dryly, staring into the eyes of the dogs for a moment before suddenly reaching toward the larger one, Da Hei.

Lu Wen immediately warned, “Mr. Chu, they’re a bit aggressive. You should let them get used to you first—”

Before he could finish, Da Hei lunged at Chu Shangluo, jaws wide open.

Chu Shangluo stepped back swiftly, gripping the dog’s collar tightly with one hand while pressing the other firmly on the dog’s neck.

The wolfdog struggled furiously, thrashing to break free, but with its throat restrained, all its efforts were in vain.

Chu Shangluo, cigarette dangling from his lips, held control of the massive dog for a full ten minutes. The dog’s fierce howls gradually softened into whimpers, the sound weakening until it fell completely silent.

Seeing their leader subdued, Da Huang also stopped barking, watching Chu Shangluo warily but no longer aggressive.

Lu Wen let out a relieved breath. “Mr. Chu, I didn’t know you could handle dogs like this!”

Chu Shangluo finally released his grip, patting Da Hei’s head. He flicked the nearly burnt-out cigarette to the ground and sighed,
“Training dogs is easy. People… now that’s hard.”

Lu Wen and Lin Zhi exchanged glances, sensing a deeper meaning behind his words.

Lu Wen offered, “Mr. Chu, do you want to hold the leash?”

“Sure.”

Chu Shangluo took Da Huang’s leash. Just as he reached for Da Hei’s, the large wolfdog suddenly broke free and charged toward Lin Zhi.

Their expressions shifted drastically.

Chu Shangluo, holding Da Huang back, couldn’t intervene in time. Lu Wen sprinted toward Lin Zhi, yanking him into his arms and quickly grabbing Da Hei’s collar, delivering a firm slap to the dog’s head to stop it.

Chu Shangluo tied Da Huang to a post and rushed over to take control of the agitated Da Hei from Lu Wen.

“This dog’s temper is something else,” he muttered.

Breathing heavily, Lu Wen turned to Lin Zhi. “Are you okay?”

Lin Zhi’s eyes were red, unable to speak. He had been terrified of dogs since childhood, especially fierce, large breeds like these.

Lu Wen observed him closely for a moment before gently patting his back. He then pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Lin Zhi.

“Here, wipe your cold sweat.”

Lin Zhi accepted the handkerchief, taking a long moment to regain his composure. He finally stepped away from Lu Wen’s embrace, still wiping the sweat from his forehead, visibly shaken.

Chu Shangluo looked at Lin Zhi with concern, noticing his pale face.
“You didn’t get bitten, right?”
“N-No…I didn’t.”
“Good. Listen, you can’t fear dogs. The more scared you are, the more they’ll try to bite you.”

Chu Shangluo led Da Hei back.
“I’ll tie them further away so they won’t be able to reach you.”
“Okay… Thanks.”

Lin Zhi felt a bit embarrassed—his fear of dogs was now exposed to his boss.

That night, Chu Shangluo and Chu Zong stayed behind to keep watch. The alarm system and guard dogs were all in place, ensuring they wouldn’t be caught off guard by intruders again.

Initially, Chu Shangluo didn’t want Chu Zong to stay since the small earthen hut only had a single bed, far too cramped for both men. However, Chu Zong, worried about Chen Ran seeking revenge, insisted on staying. Embarrassed, he didn’t dare share the bed either and instead made a makeshift sleeping area with a sleeping bag and wooden planks on the floor.

The hut’s walls were thin, offering poor insulation. To combat the cold, Chu Zong had bought a small coal stove. The two huddled around it, sipping hot water and chatting.

“Cousin, I think those two dogs outside are warmer than us in here,” Chu Zong said, shivering.

Chu Shangluo glanced at him trembling and laughed.
“Why don’t you go squeeze in with them then?”
“Yeah, right. If I do that, you probably won’t see me alive tomorrow.”

Suddenly, an idea struck Chu Zong. He retrieved two large potatoes from a sack in the corner, grabbed a metal basin, and set it on the stove. Placing the potatoes inside, he said,
“Cousin, these are from the field. Want to try some roasted potatoes?”
“I’m not picky. Sure, why not?”

Rubbing his hands together for warmth, Chu Zong observed his cousin. Once always impeccably dressed, now wearing a military coat under the dim light, he resembled a rich city boy experiencing life in the countryside.

“Cousin, do you remember that winter you visited my house? I think you were in middle school back then. I roasted potatoes for you too.”

Chu Shangluo took a sip of tea and suddenly slapped Chu Zong’s shoulder.
“Of course, I remember! Your place nearly froze me to death, and that potato you roasted was completely burnt!”

Chu Zong chuckled.
“Yeah, but I remember you still ate it. You were all pale and delicate back then, looking even more like a rich young master than now. I thought you’d be too spoiled to eat something like that.”

“I’m not that fussy. It’s you guys who always assume I am.”

“Maybe it’s just because you look like the fussy type.”

Just as they were talking, the two guard dogs outside suddenly started barking wildly. A moment later, the alarm system blared, echoing sharply through the silent, snowy night.

The cozy atmosphere shattered instantly.

Chu Shangluo’s expression turned serious as he checked the surveillance feed. His brows furrowed, and he grabbed a flashlight, heading outside.

Chu Zong snatched up a shovel and followed closely behind.

Outside, the moon was partially obscured by clouds, plunging the area into darkness.

Chu Shangluo reached the dog kennel and unleashed the aggressive Da Hei, his eyes fixed on the nearby greenhouse where rustling noises echoed.

Chu Zong, staying close, whispered nervously,
“Cousin, be careful. We don’t know how many people might be out there.”

“Not many people, don’t be afraid.”

Chu Shangluo was led by Da Hei to the greenhouse. The large black dog growled fiercely, trying to squeeze inside.

The person inside, hearing the barking, froze. Chu Shangluo shone his flashlight on the figure, then released the leash. Da Hei dashed in, pouncing on the intruder and pinning him to the ground, biting his sleeve without letting go.

The person cried out, struggling desperately to free himself.
“Damn it! Get off me! Let go, you beast! Stop biting me!”

Chu Shangluo stepped inside, his flashlight illuminating the intruder’s face as he spoke coldly.
“Stealing? You’ve resorted to robbing my place now?”

The man continued to struggle against the dog, retreating while pleading.
“I just ate some strawberries! Please, let me go! I’m starving! Don’t call the police!”

Something about the voice sounded familiar to Chu Shangluo. Frowning, he aimed the flashlight directly at the man’s face. It was a young face, covered in dirt, looking utterly miserable.

He hesitated for a moment.
“You? What are you doing here?”

“Who are you? Do I know you?” The young man shielded his eyes from the light, barely making out the tall figure before him.

Chu Zong whispered cautiously,
“Cousin, do you know him?”

“Turn on the lights.”

Chu Shangluo patted Da Hei’s head. The dog obediently released the young man’s sleeve and licked Chu Shangluo’s hand as if seeking praise before sitting back down.

With the greenhouse lights switched on, the entire scene was revealed.

Chu Shangluo turned off the flashlight and asked again,
“Why are you here?”

Su Ran blinked, recognizing the man in front of him—someone he had once resented. Shocked and embarrassed, he patted the dirt off himself but remained silent.

Losing patience, Chu Shangluo grabbed Su Ran by the collar and began dragging him out.
“Not talking? Fine. I don’t care. Get out.”

Su Ran, still wearing only a thin autumn coat, began trembling the moment he was exposed to the freezing wind. He had no pride left but nowhere else to go. Desperate, he pleaded,
“I just need a place to stay for one night. I’ll leave tomorrow. Please!”

Chu Shangluo paused, silently staring at Su Ran.

Chu Zong, noticing his cousin’s expression and then glancing at the young man, couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. Su Ran looked barely eighteen or nineteen, his face dirty, clothes thin, and cheeks sunken with hunger. Considering how he had devoured the strawberries earlier, he had likely been starving for days.

Not fully understanding the history between the two, but seeing how poorly dressed Su Ran was in the snow, Chu Zong hesitated.

“Uh… maybe… just let him stay in the greenhouse for the night? It’s warmer there…”

Chu Shangluo shot a glance at Chu Zong, making him shrink back with an awkward smile.

Su Ran’s hands and feet were slowly going numb in the icy wind. Clenching his teeth, he shoved Chu Shangluo’s hand away.
“Feeling proud now, huh, Chu Shangluo? I used to go against you all the time, and now you must be thrilled to see me like this, right? Fine, I won’t stay! Let me go, I’ll leave!”

Chu Shangluo let go, and Su Ran staggered back, falling into the snowbank.

Chu Zong, watching Su Ran struggle to climb out of the snow, whispered again,
“Cousin… maybe we should…”

Chu Shangluo turned and started walking back, saying, “Bring him inside. If he freezes to death, I won’t be able to explain it.”

Chu Zong knew his cousin was soft-hearted and quickly helped the boy up, pulling him toward the house. He whispered to him, “Don’t provoke him, don’t say anything. He won’t kick you out.”

Su Ran snorted, muttering, “No need for him to act like a good person.”

Chu Shangluo heard him but didn’t bother to argue with Su Ran. What was the point of arguing with a homeless man?

The three of them entered, and the smell of baked potatoes filled the room. Chu Shangluo returned to the stove to warm his hands, while Chu Zong gave up his spot for the shivering boy to sit. Su Ran immediately focused on the potatoes on the stove.

Chu Zong gave Chu Shangluo a look. Chu Shangluo saw but didn’t respond, and Chu Zong understood. He picked up a baked potato and handed it to the boy, saying, “Here, eat.”

Su Ran hesitated, then took the potato and bit into it, wincing from the heat.

Chu Zong handed him a bottle of water. “Be careful, it’s hot!”

The potato was sweet, soft, and fragrant. Su Ran hadn’t eaten anything warm in so long, and the potato tasted better than any delicacy he had ever had. He was willing to endure the heat rather than spit it out.

Chu Shangluo sipped his tea while observing Su Ran, who looked like he hadn’t eaten potatoes in centuries. The last time he saw Su Ran was when he and Ren Jiaoming went to Yu Family Island for Old Chen’s birthday. At the casino, Su Ran had insisted on gambling with him, dressed in a formal suit, looking like a self-important man. Now, he had fallen so low. It seemed the rumors were true: because of his extreme actions, Su Ran had tarnished the reputation of the Su family, and they had abandoned him. But even so, he shouldn’t have ended up a homeless man. Didn’t he have a good relationship with Wen Yan? If Wen Yan was willing to help him, it would be enough for him to live comfortably for the rest of his life.

Su Ran finished the first potato and eyed the second one in the bowl.

Chu Zong said, “That one’s for my cousin. You’ll have to ask him.”

When Su Ran heard it was Chu Shangluo’s, he fell silent again.

Chu Shangluo wasn’t in a hurry. He was waiting for Su Ran to speak. From what he knew of Su Ran, no matter how stubborn or prideful he was, he knew when to be pragmatic.

Su Ran took a deep breath and reluctantly picked up the second potato, saying, “Chu Shangluo, I won’t eat your food for nothing. If you have something to ask, just ask. It doesn’t matter now; I’m in this state, there’s nothing left to hide.”

“You’re of no use to me.”

Chu Shangluo walked to the bed, glancing at Chu Zong. “You had to bring him back. Let him sleep with you.”

Chu Zong looked at his narrow sleeping bag and thought, This doesn’t make sense. It was obviously you who agreed, so I brought him back! How come you’re blaming me now?

Chu Shangluo turned over, ignoring Chu Zong’s innocent look.

Chu Zong sighed and patted him. “Alright, let’s make do with it.”

“No thanks…” Su Ran refused. “I’m not used to it. You sleep, and if you give me your military coat, I’ll manage.”

Chu Zong sighed, “Alright then…”

In the quiet little house, accompanied by the crackling sound of the fire, the three of them gradually fell asleep.

Chu Shangluo woke up in the middle of the night. He put on his cotton jacket and got up to find some water to drink, only to notice Su Ran curled up next to the stove, shivering. The fire in the stove was almost out. Chu Shangluo walked over and added coal to the stove, and the flames reignited. Su Ran’s body slowly began to relax. Chu Shangluo sighed softly, picked up a cup of herbal tea, and took a sip.

“Chu Shangluo…” Su Ran called out.

Chu Shangluo turned around. Su Ran had woken up, slowly sitting up and staring at the cup in Chu Shangluo’s hand. “Is there any more water?”

Chu Shangluo pulled out a bottle of mineral water and tossed it to him. He watched as Su Ran drank the entire bottle in one go, then placed the cup down and returned to his bed. In a low voice, he asked, “Aren’t you close with Wen Yan? Why hasn’t he helped you?”

“He?” Su Ran sneered, a look of resentment filling his eyes. “He discarded me once I was of no use to him, and even made me take the fall for him. If I ever get the chance, I’ll make sure to destroy him!”

“Cut it out! Look at you now, who can you even destroy?” Chu Shangluo was annoyed by these kinds of empty threats from young brats. “So, how did you end up here with me?”

Su Ran was silent for a moment. “I heard there was an orchard here, and I thought there might be food, so I came. I didn’t expect it to be your orchard.”

Chu Shangluo didn’t respond, just lay back on his bed. But Su Ran, having held his words in for so long and finally having someone to talk to, continued, “Chu Shangluo, even though I really hate you, you’re someone Wen Yan dislikes, and right now, I hate him more than anything. So I’m willing to tell you a secret about the Wen family that I know.”

Chu Shangluo yawned, closed his eyes, and thought to himself that Wen Yan had always used Su Ran as a tool. What useful secret could he possibly know?

“This secret is something Wen Yan doesn’t know I know,” Su Ran continued. “I found it out myself. The Wen family has a secret base in a remote location, guarded by specialized personnel. They’re developing a drug—a drug that can be used to drug someone. It’s colorless and tasteless, and once it enters the body and starts to take effect, it decomposes, so it can’t be detected. They use it to entertain the men in their circle who like to play around. There’s another drug they put in alcohol, which makes the person who drinks it lose control of their emotions. Even the most mild-mannered person becomes irritable and impulsive, doing things out of character. For example, driving drunk and causing an accident.”

Chu Shangluo’s eyes suddenly snapped open.