Chu Shangluo stared at Shen Jue, repeatedly confirming that he truly hadn’t seen this person in his memory before.

Shen Jue’s appearance bore no resemblance to Ren Jiaoming whatsoever. Shen Jue turned his head aside, avoiding Chu Shangluo’s gaze.

“Mr. Chu, please keep your distance. I have a lung condition, and—”

Before he could finish, Chu Shangluo reached out and pinched Shen Jue’s cheek hard, turning it bright red. The force made Shen Jue gasp.

“Mr. Chu, what are you doing?”

Chu Shangluo silently withdrew his hand. The face was real, not makeup. And that strong sense of familiarity he had felt with Shen Jue earlier was completely gone now.

He turned and sat back down on the sofa, watching as Shen Jue rubbed his sore face.

“The contract needs to be signed now. I’ll be leaving now—I won’t stay for dinner.”

Shen Jue said nothing more and had his assistant bring the contract. Chu Shangluo briefly reviewed the content before signing it without hesitation. He set down the pen, feeling as though the last remaining connection he had with Ren Jiaoming had finally been severed.

After all the back-and-forth, buying the villa for 300 million and selling it for 500 million, no matter what kind of plan Shen Jue was scheming, a clean profit of 200 million was a win.

After signing, Chu Shangluo left. On the way to the pier, he chose not to take the car. Instead, he lit a cigarette, smoking quietly as he walked along the shoreline.

The winter sea was calm, with slow, gentle waves. His footsteps slowed to match the rhythm of the waves.

His mood was calm—strangely calm.

Logically, he should feel pleased after making such a large profit, but from the moment he signed the contract until now, he felt nothing, as if it were just another routine business deal.

Lin Zhi, watching him closely since they left the Young Master’s villa, finally asked cautiously, “Boss, is something wrong? You’re in a bad mood?”

Chu Shangluo exhaled smoke, glancing at Lin Zhi with an unusually serene expression.

“I’m not upset, but I don’t feel much of anything else either.”

Lin Zhi felt that having no emotions at all meant something was definitely wrong but didn’t dare press further.

When they disembarked from the boat, Chu Shangluo looked up and immediately saw Ren Jiaoming standing beside his car, waiting.

Even in the biting cold wind, Ren Jiaoming didn’t shiver like the other passersby. No matter what he did, he always looked composed—like now, his exposed hands were red from the cold, yet he stood tall and graceful, as if he didn’t feel the chill at all.

Chu Shangluo met his gaze, and a ripple finally disturbed his previously calm mood.

Without acknowledging Ren Jiaoming, he got into his car with Lin Zhi.

Lin Zhi glanced at him, realizing that his boss’s mood had worsened—and he was sure it had everything to do with Ren Jiaoming.

That made Lin Zhi feel a bit sour, because no matter how much he tried, he could never affect Chu Shangluo’s emotions the way Ren Jiaoming did.

Chu Shangluo glanced at the rearview mirror, noticing a car following them.

Suddenly, he felt that he had been far too soft on Ren Jiaoming. It was the only reason Ren had been able to linger around him for so long. Worse yet, Ren was becoming more brazen, even tracking his whereabouts.

Every time he visited the Yu family, Ren Jiaoming somehow found out and appeared.

Even if Ren Jiaoming wasn’t Shen Jue, there was definitely a connection between him and the Yu family.

Ren Jiaoming was hiding far too much.

But what truly upset Chu Shangluo was not this.

It was the ripple in his heart when he saw Ren Jiaoming while disembarking from the boat. That fleeting emotional stir made him realize he was still drawn to Ren Jiaoming. It was a feeling completely beyond his control.

This realization made him even more irritated. He hated such emotions. One heartbreak was enough for a lifetime.

*

When Chu Shangluo and Lin Zhi returned to the fields, they saw the Chu family picking strawberries in the greenhouse.

The strawberries were fully ripe now, and the fresh, sweet aroma filled the entire space. The berries were large, round, and vibrantly colored, with tiny dewdrops still clinging to their surfaces—truly irresistible.

As the Chu family picked, they also ate—grabbing two and eating one. The strawberries were nearly the size of half a palm, making it easy to feel full after just a few.

Chu Shangluo didn’t mind them eating the strawberries. They had plenty anyway. He crouched down, picked one, wiped it casually, and took a bite. The juice was abundant, the texture balanced between crisp and soft, and the sweetness was perfect.

He bent down again and picked one for Lin Zhi.

“Try it.”

Lin Zhi took it, carefully wiped it, and then took a bite. His eyes instantly lit up.

“Boss, these strawberries will definitely sell for a high price! Not sour at all—just pure sweetness!”

“You like sweet things?”

Lu Wen walked over, handing Lin Zhi a few freshly washed strawberries and passing the rest to Chu Shangluo.

Chu Shangluo waved his hand. “He likes them. Give them all to him. By the way, those orders we signed with the Chen family’s younger generation—have they come to pick up the strawberries yet?”

Lu Wen replied, “They’re on their way.”

Chu Shangluo glanced outside and noticed the plastic crates being used to pack the strawberries.

“Don’t use those plastic crates. Switch to foam insulated boxes. Strawberries can’t handle the cold. If they freeze even a little, they’ll rot completely by the next day. Also, prepare some thick military blankets. The Chen kids aren’t fruit sellers—they’re just playing around because of my connection with Chen Qing. Their transport probably isn’t insulated either, so cover the strawberries with the blankets.”

Lin Zhi nodded. “Boss, you’re so thoughtful. If the strawberries got ruined, the Chen family might even blame us and cancel future orders.”

While they talked, Ren Jiaoming stood silently at the entrance, watching Chu Shangluo the entire time.

Chu Shangluo could feel the intense gaze practically burning a hole into his back but chose to completely ignore Ren Jiaoming, continuing his work.

Not far away, Chu Zong was stacking the freshly picked, large strawberries neatly in the insulated boxes while Su Ran devoured strawberries nearby.

Chu Zong looked up, noticed Ren Jiaoming standing by the door, and sighed, feeling secondhand exhaustion for his cousin.

He nudged Su Ran and whispered, “Hey, you know that guy, right? He’s been stalking my cousin every day. Doesn’t he get it? If he actually helped out a bit, maybe my cousin would treat him better. But no, he just stands there with that stiff face like we owe him something. Not the least bit sympathetic.”

Su Ran glanced at Ren Jiaoming, smirking.

“What are you thinking? He’s a brainworker. Plus, he’s a clean freak. You expect him to farm?”

Chu Zong pushed Su Ran.

“Don’t talk to me in that sarcastic tone. So what if he’s privileged? So what if he’s a germaphobe? Why can’t he help with farming? My cousin’s privileged too, and he still works in the fields!”

Su Ran shook his head, giving up trying to argue with someone so straightforward.

Meanwhile, Chu Shangluo, overhearing the conversation, actually agreed with Chu Zong. If someone came all the way out here and didn’t help at all, it was definitely irritating.

Once his crate was full, the truck arrived to pick up the strawberries.

Chu Shangluo wiped his hands casually and followed Lu Wen out through another door.

The moment the large truck stopped, Chen Ke got out and approached him, extending a hand.

“Mr. Chu.”

Chu Shangluo glanced at the truck. As expected, it wasn’t insulated at all.

Catching his look, Lu Wen immediately signaled the workers to start loading the strawberries carefully—placing wooden boards under the crates and covering them with thick blankets.

Chen Ke was momentarily surprised by all the precautions.

Chu Shangluo shook his hand and then pulled a few large strawberries from his pocket, handing them to Chen Ke.

“Mr. Chen, try these.”

Chen Ke wasn’t particularly fussy. Since Chu Shangluo offered him the strawberry, he ate it and immediately praised, “Mr. Chu, this strawberry is delicious!”

Chu Shangluo smiled and replied, “That’s why such high-quality strawberries need proper insulation, so the customers can enjoy them as well.”

Chen Ke instantly understood what Chu Shangluo was implying. He had indeed not taken this deal seriously, figuring the strawberry quality didn’t matter since he was just planning to distribute them to his staff. The whole deal was really just to curry favor with Chen Qing. Clearly, Chu Shangluo understood that too and was subtly reminding him to take the business more seriously.

Observing Chen Ke’s expression, Chu Shangluo continued, “I’m confident in the quality of my strawberries, and the customers will love them too. It’s a win-win situation.”

Feeling a bit ashamed, Chen Ke realized how carelessly he had approached the deal while Chu Shangluo took it so seriously. He immediately shook Chu Shangluo’s hand firmly.

“To be honest, Mr. Chu, this is my first time buying strawberries, and I don’t know much about them. I’ll be more careful next time—and I’ll definitely place more orders with you in the future.”

This time, Chu Shangluo’s smile was more genuine.

“Lu Wen, take Mr. Chen to inspect the goods.”

Chen Ke waved his hand. “No need, no need. I trust you, Mr. Chu.”

Chu Shangluo shook his head firmly. “No, it’s part of the process. Inspection is mandatory.”

Chen Ke was briefly stunned but then laughed. “Alright, I like how you handle business, Mr. Chu. We’ll do it your way.”

Later, when other younger members of the Chen family arrived, Chu Shangluo used the same approach on them. These younger members, who had been pampered since childhood, quickly realized they were being subtly called out. If it had been anyone else, they might have gotten offended—thinking, ‘I’m paying you for strawberries, why should you care if I take the deal seriously?’

But because it was Chu Shangluo, they couldn’t get angry. Instead, they found him completely different from his rumored reputation.

The stories they had heard painted him as ruthless and profit-driven. Yet, the person standing before them was professional, open, and genuinely dedicated to his work. If they treated the deal carelessly, it felt like they were disrespecting his sincerity.

Plus, he was so good-looking—it was hard to stay upset with him.

After the Chen family members left, Chu Shangluo stayed in the greenhouse, busy for the rest of the morning. He chatted with the workers, joked around, and even scolded a few when they got too cheeky—never once acting like an arrogant boss. The greenhouse was lively and warm, while outside remained cold and quiet.

Ren Jiaoming stood silently outside, watching Chu Shangluo.

Chu Shangluo could laugh with Su Ran, who had hurt him before. He could joke with Jiang Jia, who had insulted him. He could be friendly with everyone here—except Ren Jiaoming.

Ren Jiaoming took a deep breath, the dull ache in his chest intensifying.

Chu Shangluo ignored Ren Jiaoming the entire day. He had made up his mind this time. He couldn’t allow himself to soften toward Ren Jiaoming again, or he knew he’d fall into the same painful cycle.

The next day, Chu Shangluo didn’t go to the fields. He stayed at the company handling orders.

It was still early. Lu Wen and Lin Zhi hadn’t arrived yet.

Chu Shangluo sat at his desk, sipping his own terrible coffee, when he heard the door open.

It wasn’t Ren Jiaoming—it was Jiang Jia.

Jiang walked in, locked the door behind him, and approached Chu Shangluo with a mischievous grin.

“I brought you a gift. Guess what it is?”

Chu Shangluo didn’t feel like playing games but noticed Ren Jiaoming standing outside the door through the glass. Since the door was locked, Ren Jiaoming couldn’t come in and could only watch them.

Suddenly more interested, Chu Shangluo propped his chin on his hand and teased, “I can’t guess. What is it?”

Jiang chuckled and pulled out a fountain pen from his pocket.

“I noticed your old pen has been broken for a while, and you haven’t replaced it. So, I got you a new one. Not cheap—solid gold!”

Chu Shangluo took the fountain pen, weighing it in his hand. “Well, look at you, being so thoughtful.”

Jiang Jia stared at Chu Shangluo, who was only wearing a white dress shirt without a jacket. The shirt was unbuttoned low enough to reveal a hint of his firm chest muscles. His skin was so pale that it looked like a single pinch could leave a red mark. Suddenly, Jiang lunged forward and hugged Chu Shangluo, his hand sneaking toward Chu Shangluo’s chest.

“If you like it, how about rewarding me?” he teased.

Chu Shangluo curled his lips into a smirk, clearly unimpressed by Jiang’s antics. He grabbed Jiang’s wandering hand and pulled it away from his chest. “Reward? What kind of reward?”

“Really? Can I ask for a reward?”

Chu Shangluo, catching sight of Ren Jiaoming’s icy expression through the glass door, responded casually, “Sure.”

“Then… kiss me, how about that?”

“Alright.” Chu Shangluo maintained a relaxed demeanor, the corners of his eyes lifting in amusement.

Suddenly, a loud rattling sound came from the office door, as if someone was yanking on it forcefully.

Jiang Jia, getting anxious, gripped Chu Shangluo’s shoulders tightly. “Hurry up and kiss me! If Ren Jiaoming comes in, he’ll kill me for sure!”

Chu Shangluo burst into laughter. “If you’re that scared, maybe you should just forget about the kiss?”

“No way! There’s a saying: ‘If I die under the peony flower, I’ll still be a romantic ghost!'”^[1]metaphor for beautiful woman, I will still be charming as a ghost. Jiang Jia quoted dramatically, eyes fixed on Chu Shangluo’s lips as he leaned in closer.

Chu Shangluo found the whole thing amusing. He had no romantic feelings for Jiang—he just saw him as a younger brother. Kissing him felt harmless, like rewarding a playful kid. He pinched Jiang’s chin and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, chuckling, “There, done.”

Jiang was dumbfounded. “That’s it?!?”

“Yeah, what more do you want?”

“No way! Chu Shangluo, I want a real kiss! On the lips!”

The rattling of the door intensified, as though it might be torn off its hinges any moment.

Jiang, realizing there was no escaping Ren Jiaoming’s wrath, figured he might as well get something out of it. “Come on, just kiss me! Maybe it’ll break Ren Jiaoming’s heart, and he’ll stop clinging to you!”

Chu Shangluo glanced at Ren Jiaoming through the glass door again, noticing how furrowed his brows were and how his glare could practically tear Jiang apart.

Amused, Chu shangluo gripped Jiang’s chin again and slowly leaned in. Their faces were so close their breaths nearly mingled when—

The sound of the door rattling suddenly stopped.

Chu Shangluo looked up.

Outside, the hallway was empty.

Ren Jiaoming was gone.

Chu Shangluo’s hand, still holding Jiang’s chin, loosened. He gently pushed Jiang away, grabbed his coffee, and took a sip, momentarily lost in thought.

Jiang was furious. “What the heck, Chu Shangluo! You stopped at the last second?!?”

“Chu Shangluo,” Jiang Jia clung to his arm, sticking close. “You can’t do this. You already promised to kiss me.”

Chu Shangluo, feeling irritated, opened a drawer and took out a few candies, shoving them into Jiang Jia’s hand. “These are called ‘kiss candies.’ Go ahead, kiss them—they’re sweet too.”

Jiang Jia: “…”

Young Master Jiang was surprisingly easy to appease. He unwrapped the candy, rubbed the spot on his face where Chu Shangluo had kissed him earlier, and sighed. Noticing how unhappy Chu Shangluo looked, he headed toward the door. Just as he unlocked it and pushed it open—

*CRASH!*

The entire glass door shattered, collapsing to the ground.

Chu Shangluo hurried over to the doorway, looking Jiang over. “What happened to the door? Are you hurt?”

Jiang stood there, frozen for a long moment before slowly shaking his head. His face was pale. “I’m fine for now… but once I step out of this door, who knows? I’ll probably end up just like this glass—completely shattered by Ren Jiaoming!”

Chu Shangluo: “…It won’t be that bad. Don’t worry, I’ve got your back.”

Jiang’s mood lifted instantly, his eyes sparkling again. “Then let me kiss you for real?”

Chu Shangluo shot him a glare. “Get lost.”

And so, Jiang ended up being ordered to clean up the broken glass, while President Chu sat by the window, smoking leisurely, gazing toward the distant villa, lost in thought.