A few days later, the Chen family turned against Chen Ran, allowing Chen Qing to firmly take the position of family head. The first thing Chen Qing did was to reclaim control over the family’s financial assets from Chen Ran. Once the financial power was taken back, Chen Ran’s debts became impossible to repay, landing him on the credit blacklist.

Chu Shangluo and Chen Qing had no intention of letting Chen Ran off easily. They exposed all the shameful things he had done in the past, leading to his arrest for questioning. His reputation within the social circles was utterly ruined, and no one was willing to extend him a helping hand. Having lost everything, Chen Ran could no longer live up to his name, which meant “rebirth from the ashes,” and he disappeared completely from the public eye in Beijing.

At the same time, Chu Shangluo contacted a friend in the police force and handed over evidence of the Wen family’s illegal pharmaceutical activities. The sanatorium was investigated, and Wen Yan, the legal representative of the facility, was summoned for questioning. News of these events quickly spread within the business world. Although most people didn’t know who was pulling the strings behind the scenes, a few smart individuals managed to figure it out.

Meanwhile, the Yu Corporation had completely taken over the seafood industry in Beijing. The previously sealed market spaces owned by the Chu family were reopened and subsequently acquired by the Yu Corporation, making it the largest seafood supplier in the city. All these events were linked to one name: Chu Shangluo. Though he had once gone bankrupt and had yet to make a full comeback, his association with Chen Qing and the Yu Corporation made him a controversial figure. Rumors swirled that he had only risen again by relying on his “charm.” When word spread that Chu Shangluo was romantically interested in men, part of the community began assuming he had seduced both of his powerful allies for support.

At this moment, Chu Shangluo was sitting next to a stove eating a boxed meal, listening to Chu Zong reading these rumors aloud. He snorted with laughter, “Can they get any more ridiculous? I’ve only met the young master of the Yu family twice, and Chen Qing? That guy’s as straight as an iron rod. I highly doubt my charm could bend a straight guy.”

Chu Zong burst into laughter. “Cousin, you’re being modest! Maybe you could.”

Chu Shangluo kicked him lightly. “Get lost. Should I test it by bending you instead?”

Su Ran, who was idly picking his teeth nearby, added, “Didn’t you already bend Ren Jiaoming?”

Hearing Ren Jiaoming’s name made Chu Shangluo pause for a moment. Ever since they’d fallen out, his friends had carefully avoided mentioning him. Clearly, Su Ran didn’t care. He was bold and outspoken even when living under the roof of a former rival.

Chu Shangluo’s smile faded. “What do you know, kid? He was already into men from the start. I didn’t bend him.”

Su Ran clicked his tongue. “Oh yeah? And how can you be so sure?”

Chu Shangluo raised an eyebrow. “And how can you be so sure he wasn’t?”

Su Ran lazily lifted his gaze and replied, “Because he used to like women.”

Chu Shangluo’s smile vanished. “Do you have proof?”

“Of course,” Su Ran said, scrolling through his phone. “Since you’re so interested, I’ll show you. You probably don’t know this, but the Wen family has always had a weird attitude towards Ren Jiaoming. So when I first met him, I looked into his background. Turns out, he used to frequently meet up with a woman. If he wasn’t attracted to her, why would he keep seeing her so often? I even took some photos back then and uploaded them to my cloud album. Let me dig them up for you.”

Chu Shangluo scoffed, eyes flicking away. “Who cares? Even if he was into women back then, he clearly isn’t straight if he could bend. What does that have to do with me?”

Su Ran smiled. People often say the opposite of what they feel when it comes to love— the more they claim not to care, the more they actually do. But he didn’t expose Chu Shangluo’s true feelings, knowing full well he’d probably get kicked out if he did.

Chu Shangluo watched Su Ran still flipping through the photos. He didn’t really want to see them. What was the point? Who Ren Jiaoming used to like had nothing to do with the present. But Chu Zong became curious about something else. “You said the Wen family’s relationship with Ren Jiaoming is complicated—what do you mean? I thought they treated him well. Otherwise, why would they team up to trap my cousin?”

“Good? Not really,” Su Ran replied after thinking for a moment. “I don’t know what Ren Jiaoming feels, but I do know that neither Wen Zhengyang nor Wen Yan fully trusts him. For example, Ren Jiaoming is never invited to their confidential family meetings. Wen Zhengyang initially approached him for profit, specifically for the Ruan family antiques. Do you really think the ones they placed in your house were all they had? No. The Ruan family has been in the antique business for generations, and there are still countless valuable pieces left. But only the head of the Ruan family knows their whereabouts. As for Wen Yan, even if he likes Ren Jiaoming, he wouldn’t give his whole heart to him. Not everyone is as foolishly devoted as you, Chu Shangluo.”

Su Ran continued, “But Ren Jiaoming is sharp and subtle. I’m sure he already knows how the Wen family views him. So why hasn’t he left? He must be after something too.”

“Ah, found it!” Su Ran finally located the photo and handed his phone to Chu Shangluo. “It’s a bit blurry, but good enough.”

Chu Shangluo noticed the photo was taken years ago when Ren Jiaoming was still in school, wearing a blue and white uniform. He looked clean and youthful, his face so tender it seemed you could squeeze water from it.

Su Ran teased, “Stop staring at your husband and look at the woman instead.”

Chu Shangluo kicked Su Ran lightly. “Why are you still here? Haven’t you hung around long enough?!”

Chu Zong whispered to Su Ran, “How can Ren Jiaoming be my cousin’s husband? He’s obviously his wife!”

Su Ran shrugged. “I don’t see it that way.”

Chu Zong sighed. “Whatever, there’s no point arguing. They’re already broken up anyway. Just don’t bring up Ren Jiaoming again.”

Chu Shangluo, however, wasn’t paying attention to their banter. His full focus remained on the woman in the photo. She looked extremely familiar—he was certain he’d seen her recently. After thinking for a while, it finally clicked. She was the assistant of the young master of the Yu family.

Chu Shangluo frowned. What was going on? Could it really be a coincidence?

—

That afternoon, Chu Shangluo and Lin Zhi visited the Yu residence. After much consideration, Chu Shangluo had agreed to sell his villa to the young master, and the contract signing was scheduled for today.

On the way there, Chu Shangluo stared silently at the sea. Lin Zhi could tell his boss had something weighing on his mind. The island was warmer than Beijing, though a recent snowfall had left the landscape covered in white, making the atmosphere feel peaceful and quiet.

Upon arriving at the island, a car was already waiting for them at the port. As soon as he got in, someone served him hot tea with meticulous care, almost as if he were the owner of the island himself.

When they arrived at the young master’s villa, the assistant Meng Yu led Chu Shangluo to Shen Jue’s study. Meng Yu handed him a cup of hot water and said politely, “Mr. Chu, please wait a moment. The young master will be here shortly.”

Chu Shangluo took the cup, glancing at the capable and professional Meng Yu. He then asked casually, “Assistant Meng, how long have you been working for the young master?”

Meng Yu answered confidently, “Six years.”

Chu Shangluo calculated the timeline. This meant that when Su Ran took the photo of Ren Jiaoming meeting Meng Yu, Meng Yu was already working by Shen Jue’s side.

Meng Yu continued, “Mr. Chu, is there anything you prefer to eat? The young master would like to invite you to stay for dinner.”

Chu Shangluo seemed distracted. “Anything is fine. I’m not picky.”

Just as he finished speaking, the door to the study opened, and Shen Jue was wheeled in by someone. Chu Shangluo turned to look. Shen Jue was wearing a mask, with only a pair of pale blue eyes visible. He approached Chu Shangluo and extended his hand.

“Mr. Chu, long time no see.”
Chu Shangluo shook his hand. Despite its slender appearance, the grip was firm and strong. As their palms pressed together, he faintly felt some roughness—almost like calluses, yet not quite. When he instinctively tried to take a closer look, Shen Jue quickly withdrew his hand and rested it on his knee, concealing his palm before anything could be seen.

“I haven’t used it yet.”(T/L: Chu Shangluo is talking about the skateboard)

“It’s alright. A new ski resort just opened on the island, though it’s not open to the public yet. Would you be interested in being its first guest?”

Shen Jue’s voice was calm, his tone polite, yet something about it felt purposeful, though Chu Shangluo couldn’t quite figure out what. Shen Jue locked eyes with him, unwavering.

“Mr. Chu, would you?”

Unable to refuse such a sincere offer—and because he genuinely enjoyed skiing—Chu Shangluo agreed.

When they arrived at the ski resort’s changing room, the assistants handed them ski suits and left, leaving only the two of them in the room.

As Chu Shangluo removed his coat and unbuttoned his suit jacket, he glanced back. Shen Jue, with his back turned, was also undressing. His white dress shirt clung closely to his well-defined, muscular back.

Shen Jue’s physique surprised him. With several layers of clothing, he seemed ordinary, but now, with just the shirt on, his broad shoulders and powerful frame were evident. It was difficult to reconcile this strong-looking figure with a man who had supposedly been bedridden for years.

“Young master, are you skiing too?” Chu Shangluo asked.

Shen Jue pulled on his thick ski jacket and secured his helmet. “How could I ski like this? It’s just to stay warm.”

“Oh,” Chu Shangluo responded while putting on his ski gear. The buttons on the outer coat were particularly tricky, and after several failed attempts, Shen Jue stepped forward.

“Let me help you, Mr. Chu.”

Grasping the collar, Shen Jue tugged him slightly forward, making their faces come unexpectedly close. For a brief moment, their eyes locked. Shen Jue’s gaze was deep and calm, as still as an undisturbed lake.

The familiarity of the moment struck Chu Shangluo. If Shen Jue hadn’t been wearing his helmet, he would have pulled down his mask to get a clearer look at his face.

Breaking eye contact, Shen Jue lowered his gaze and patiently fastened the complicated buttons on Chu Shangluo’s coat. Looking down at him, Chu Shangluo asked, “Young master, aren’t you being a little too kind to me?”

Shen Jue withdrew his hands. “I’m always kind to my friends.”

Chu Shangluo’s eyes narrowed, scrutinizing him closely.

At that moment, the door opened, and the assistant returned, pushing Shen Jue’s wheelchair out of the room.

“Mr. Chu, please follow me.”

Chu Shangluo followed them to the ski resort. The vast ski area was completely empty, with no one else around.

He stood at the highest point of the slope, from where he could take in the entire view of the Yu family’s island. The calm sea stretched far in the distance, while beneath him lay the steep, winding ski trail. Exhaling deeply, his breath turned into a misty cloud. As he gazed at the endless slope before him, his eyes sparkled with joy.

Seeing the undisguised excitement in Chu Shangluo’s expression, Shen Jue remarked, “I knew you’d like it.”

Chu Shangluo didn’t respond. Instead, he gripped his ski poles and forcefully pushed off, launching himself from the summit.

Shen Jue watched as his figure grew smaller in the distance, yet even from tens of meters away, he could sense the man’s enjoyment. Agile and graceful, Chu Shangluo maneuvered skillfully through the snow, sending plumes of powder into the air as he seemed to merge with the wind.

Shen Jue observed him for a while, his gaze calm yet tinged with admiration, until Chu Shangluo finally disappeared from sight. The light in his eyes faded, returning to its usual tranquility.

“We’ll wait for him at the finish line,” Shen Jue said.

Meng Yu nodded and pushed Shen Jue onto the cable car. Throughout the ride, Shen Jue’s eyes never left Chu Shangluo, who was skiing far below them.

Meng Yu glanced at her intensely focused boss and spoke. “You’ve changed.”

When Shen Jue remained silent, she added, “What Chu Shangluo has been doing lately has completely disrupted our original plans. The sanatorium holds what we need, but since it’s now under investigation, the Wen family will definitely tighten their security. We’ve waited so long already…”

Shen Jue snapped out of his thoughts. “We’ve waited this long. Waiting a bit longer won’t matter.”

Meng Yu sighed. “Fine. If making him happy is what you want, so be it.”

When Chu Shangluo finally reached the bottom of the slope, exhilarated, he saw Shen Jue waiting for him. Shen Jue picked up a cup of water and was about to remove his mask.

Fixated on Shen Jue, Chu Shangluo didn’t want to miss the rare chance to see his face. However, in his distraction, he failed to notice a small snow mound beneath his feet. The momentum from his descent was too strong, and he stumbled forward, losing balance.

Reacting swiftly, Shen Jue caught him. The wheelchair tipped over, and Chu Shangluo ended up falling on top of him. His hand landed directly on Shen Jue’s leg—long, straight, and surprisingly firm. Out of reflex, he gave it a gentle squeeze. The muscle felt tight and well-toned.

Chu Shangluo stared at Shen Jue in shock. ‘Was this really a paralyzed leg?’

Meng Yu and several others rushed over to help them up. Shen Jue coughed lightly and said, “Mr. Chu, I’m feeling a bit unwell. I’ll be leaving first. See you later.”

Still suspicious, Chu Shangluo watched Shen Jue closely. He suddenly recalled their earlier handshake—how Shen Jue’s palm had felt rough with small hardened patches. ‘How could someone as privileged as Shen Jue have calluses?’

And then there was Ren Jiaoming—his palm had been scraped just yesterday. If Shen Jue’s hand was scabbed over from a similar injury… it would all make sense.

After changing his clothes, Chu Shangluo immediately went to see Shen Jue. However, Meng Yu blocked the doorway.

“Mr. Chu, I’m sorry. After the fall earlier, the Young Master was injured and is not in a condition to see anyone right now.”

Chu Shangluo, his face dark with frustration, ignored Meng Yu’s attempts to stop him and forcibly pushed his way into the room.

Shen Jue was lying on the bed with his back to him, coughing softly.

“Mr. Chu, I’m sorry. I’m not feeling well,” Shen Jue said weakly.

Chu Shangluo, his head pounding with anger, strode over and forcefully turned Shen Jue’s shoulder, yanking the mask off his face.

The next second, Chu Shangluo froze.

Before him was a beautiful, yet completely unfamiliar face.

He grabbed Shen Jue’s hand, checking his palm. It was smooth and unblemished, with no sign of any injury.

Shen Jue’s light blue eyes curved slightly as he smiled faintly.

“Mr. Chu, what’s wrong?”

Chu Shangluo: …Damn.