After entering December, the weather became colder day by day. When Ning Zhiyuan came out of the Ning family’s house after dinner, he received a call from a former classmate he knew from studying in the United States. The classmate was currently on a business trip to China and had finished work these past two days. He asked if Ning Zhiyuan had time to meet up.

“Perfect timing. I’m free too. Let’s find a place to hang out,” Ning Zhiyuan agreed, and after ending the call, he sent an address, a private club nearby.

When he arrived, his old classmate greeted him with a warm hug, saying, “You look much more relaxed than the last time we met.”

Ning Zhiyuan smiled, “I resigned. It’s been almost two months of rest. How could I not be relaxed?”

Surprised, his friend asked, “Resigned? Weren’t you working in your family’s company?”

Ning Zhiyuan sat down and raised his chin slightly, “I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Ning Zhiyuan now.”

He briefly explained his dramatic background, and his old classmate, amazed, said, “Such things happen? It’s unbelievable. Are you content with this?”

“I have no choice. I’m not the kind of person who forces things. I need the capital for that,” Ning Zhiyuan chuckled.

“Well, that’s true,” his friend agreed. “So, what are your plans for the future?”

Having been asked the same question by countless people, Ning Zhiyuan sipped his coffee calmly and replied, “I’m thinking of going to New York, maybe after the Chinese New Year.”

“Why didn’t you mention it before? If you go there, you can look me up. But have you really thought it through?”

His old classmate, named Zhou Haocheng, was an ABC (American-born Chinese) who had been working at a major fund on Wall Street since graduation. The last time they met, Ning Zhiyuan represented Cen An to negotiate an acquisition case there. At that time, Ning Zhiyuan was still full of energy and ambition, but now he seemed much calmer.

His friend earnestly advised him, “The global financial markets are not doing well, especially there. There are more opportunities and better prospects for development in China. You need to think carefully. Even if you leave your family’s company, you can easily find a job here or move to the southern regions for a change of environment. Even I, plan to come back here if things don’t work out there in a couple of years? Why are you thinking of leaving?”

Ning Zhiyuan lowered his gaze, staring at the slightly swaying transparent liquid in his glass. His thoughts were somewhat elusive.

He knew these truths, but even he couldn’t explain why he insisted on leaving—leaving the Cen family, leaving Cen An, and even going to a foreign land. Avoiding troubles was one thing, but more likely, he wanted to bid farewell to the past twenty-plus years of his life, no longer chasing others as a goal. He just wanted to be his true self again.

“Let’s talk about it later. I haven’t fully decided yet.”

Leaning back into the sofa, Ning Zhiyuan let out a sigh, and his eyes revealed a rare hint of melancholy.

His old classmate examined him and suddenly said, “With that look on your face, I would have thought you had a heartbreak.”

Ning Zhiyuan was startled, and he laughed, resting his chin on his hand. “Impossible.”

“Take a look in the mirror yourself,” his friend insisted.

Ning Zhiyuan shook his head, “Don’t tease me.”

After having a cup of coffee, playing two rounds of pool, his old classmate received a call from his boss about an unexpected work matter and had to leave in a hurry.

Ning Zhiyuan bid farewell and, seeing that there was still time, decided to stay and continue playing pool alone, passing the time.

Soon, someone arrived at the adjacent table. Hearing the voice, Ning Zhiyuan turned around and looked. There was a translucent screen between the two tables, and he could only see the vague silhouette of the person on the other side.

But just by hearing the voice, he almost immediately recognized who it was. The person at the next table was Cen Zhisen, with him was the older brother of Tang Shiqi, Tang Shujie.

Ning Zhiyuan knew that Tang Shujie was also a member of this club. They had met a few times before. As for Cen Zhisen, he and Tang Shujie were close friends, so it wasn’t surprising to see them here together.

The last time Cen Zhisen left, he said, “See you next time.” In the past couple of weeks, Ning Zhiyuan had visited the Cen family villa twice but hadn’t seen him again. He didn’t expect to encounter him here today.

He had no intention of revealing himself. He came here to relax and unwind, not to engage in unnecessary socializing.

Cen Zhisen hadn’t come out to play for a long time. On a rare free weekend afternoon, he made plans with an old friend, but he seemed a bit absent-minded.

“You don’t seem to be in good spirits,” Tang Shujie pushed the ball into the pocket, looking at him. “Are you still tired lately? Your fake little brother has left. You should be happy; everything is under control, worry-free.”

Cen Zhisen touched his cue, not liking Tang Shujie’s choice of words. “I’ve been brothers with him for over twenty years. Where’s the fake part?”

Tang Shujie rolled his eyes.

He didn’t believe it at all and thought Cen Zhisen was being sarcastic.

Cen Zhisen had never spoken negatively about Ning Zhiyuan in front of him, but anyone with eyes could see that the two brothers didn’t get along. With conflicting interests within the Cen family, he had heard about the internal matters involving Cen An.

“If you want to think that way, go ahead.” Cen Zhisen exchanged cues with Tang Shujie. When he said this, his face showed little emotion, perhaps a bit of teasing, but it didn’t look entirely like it.

Before Tang Shujie could ask, he bent down, legs arranged in a stance, shirt sleeves rolled up to reveal muscular and beautiful forearms. With distinct joints, he lightly gripped the cue, glanced at Tang Shujie, and made a shot.

A loud “bang,” the target ball went into the pocket, and the white ball subsequently knocked away Tang Shujie’s ball from the pocket.

“Hey!” Tang Shujie protested, unhappy. That glance from Cen Zhisen seemed like he was looking down on him. “I’ve been working on that shot for half the day, and you just knocked it away. What’s wrong with you?”

Just playing around, and this guy was taking it seriously?

Ignoring him, Cen Zhisen didn’t even lift his eyelids, continuing to make the next shot.

Tang Shujie lost interest in the game and brought up another topic. “Speaking of your little brother, what is he up to? I heard Shiqi and her friends were fooled into giving him five million.”

Another ball went into the pocket, and Cen Zhisen diverted a bit of attention. “Five million?”

“Well, it’s called an investment,” Tang Shujie explained. “Shiqi said it’s a social app gathering place for the second dimension that your brother’s friend created. They needed angel investment, and your brother helped connect Shiqi and her friends. Those girls didn’t understand anything at all. They were easily convinced by your brother and eagerly handed over the money. It happened last week, and when Shiqi told me, the money had already been transferred.”

Cen Zhisen chuckled. “That’s not bad. Let them earn some pocket money on their own, so they won’t always be asking for money from home.”

“How do you know for sure it will make money?” Tang Shujie challenged. “In ten of these social apps, not even one might succeed. What’s the difference between investing in them and throwing it into the water?”

“When he was studying abroad, my dad gave him some money to have fun with . He invested in a few projects and made money. He has a keen eye. If it’s not a project he truly believes in, he won’t casually deceive your sister. Relax.” Cen Zhisen reassured casually, “And it’s just five million. It’s not like we can’t afford it. If, by any chance, it really goes wrong, I’ll compensate your sister and her friends.”

“Why would I need you to compensate?” Tang Shujie spoke and suddenly realized something was wrong. “What does your brother’s good deed have to do with you?”

Cen Zhisen aimed at another target ball, paused for a moment, and lightly exhaled, “You already said it; he’s my brother.”

Meanwhile, Ning Zhiyuan, with one leg supporting him, sat halfway on the edge of the pool table, his body tilted, aiming at the target ball.

Behind the light-colored glass screen, a vague shadow was cast. The person bent down, from the neck to the slightly curved back, down to the waist and hips. The lines were smooth and sharp, with a graceful posture, displaying agility without any stiffness.

His gaze lingered for a second before returning to the table. In Ning Zhiyuan’s mind, the countdown began.

Three, two, one—

In the next instant of hitting the cue, the impact sounded simultaneously on both sides of the screen, precise to the second.

Tang Shujie, as if hearing something very amusing, said, “Strange, I didn’t know you and him were so close?”

Cen Zhisen stood up, pinching the cue with a chalked tip, his movements somewhat casual. “It’s none of your business.”

“Hey!” Tang Shujie was a bit annoyed. “Alright, alright, it has nothing to do with me and you two. But let me tell you, I don’t object to Shiqi being friends with him, but when it comes to dating, no way.”

Cen Zhisen glanced at him. “Dating?”

“I want to clarify, not because he’s no longer part of your Cen family, that I’m against it,” Tang Shujie clarified his stance. “Before, it was my parents who wanted to set them up. I’ve never approved. You also know what kind of person your brother is. Every time I see him, he has a different female companion. This playboy, who is flirtatious by nature, is not a match for Shiqi. I think they are not suitable, so it’s better to break it off early.”

“Are you talking about yourself?” Cen Zhisen mocked.

“Cen Zhisen!” Tang Shujie was about to burst into laughter. “Are you doing this on purpose? What’s the meaning of always going against me?”

“If he has nothing with Shiqi, and if you really want to look after your sister, keep a closer eye on the people around her.”

Throwing out this sentence, Cen Zhisen’s attention returned to the table. He began a flawless clearing of the table, with graceful and decisive movements, leaving no chance for Tang Shujie.

When the final black ball fell into the pocket, he put down the cue, supported the table with one hand, and looked up. “You’re right, they’re not suitable.”

Tang Shujie was about to say something more, but Cen Zhisen didn’t give him a chance. “My brother is indeed precious and very cherished. Your sister is willful and arrogant, a spoiled young lady who does whatever she wants. Indeed, not suitable for my brother.”

Tang Shujie: “…?”

Is this really the same Cen Zhisen as before?

A sudden burst of laughter came from the other side of the screen. Tang Shujie became alert. “Who’s over there?”

Cen Zhisen’s gaze flickered, looking over.

Ning Zhiyuan walked out from behind the screen, hands in pockets, in a relaxed posture, smiling and greeting them, “Sorry, coincidentally overheard a bit from the corner.”