The gift for Shen Yuchen ultimately wasn’t delivered to his house by the clerk. The next day, on his way to work, Yu Yan picked it up himself and brought it to the company.

It was a sapphire-blue tie with white stripes, perfectly suited to Shen Yuchen’s style.

When Shen Yuchen saw the gift, his brow arched slightly, and the annoyance in his heart instantly dissipated. He handed the tie back to Yu Yan.

“You don’t like it?”

Originally, Yu Yan had planned to buy Yu Chen a tie as well, but remembering how Shen Yuchen had left a previously gifted watch gathering dust in a drawer, he decided to diversify the type of gifts.

This tie was a high-end luxury limited edition, quite expensive, and unlikely to clash with anyone else’s.

Shen Yuchen slowly unfastened the tie he was wearing, took Yu Yan’s hand, and placed it against his collarbone. “Help me put it on.”

When his fingers brushed against Shen Yuchen’s Adam’s apple, Yu Yan’s fingertips instinctively curled slightly. Clumsily, he draped the tie over Shen Yuchen’s neck and began to knot it.

His movements were slow, and to see better, he leaned closer to Shen Yuchen’s neck.

“Have you been smoking again?”

That familiar faint scent of mint and tobacco clung to Shen Yuchen. It wasn’t unpleasant.

“Just one this morning.”

Yu Yan couldn’t help muttering, “It’s not exactly a good thing. You should cut back.”

“Mm, I’m quitting.” Shen Yuchen felt a slight tightening around his neck and glanced down. “Have you ever tied a tie before?”

Thinking he wasn’t satisfied, Yu Yan immediately retorted, “Who says I haven’t? Not only do I tie my own, but I’ve tied ties for other people too—lots of them! Everyone said I’m good at it. Be grateful I’m doing it for you and stop being picky.”

“I’m not being picky. It looks great. It’s just…” Shen Yuchen couldn’t help but chuckle lightly. “This looks like a red scarf knot.”

Yu Yan stiffened. “Yeah, so what?”

“Nothing. I’m just curious—were you tying red scarves or ties for others before?” Shen Yuchen casually tossed the tie he’d removed earlier into a drawer.

“Red scarves, I guess. Back when I was at the orphanage, there were often donations of money or supplies, and the director would have the well-behaved kids tie red scarves for the donors. But not everyone got the chance—I managed to grab several opportunities and even made it into the newspaper.” Yu Yan’s eyes curved happily, reminiscing about how, even though the newspaper only featured his back, it had made him proud.

Shen Yuchen chuckled lightly. “That’s impressive.”

“Of course it is.” Yu Yan noticed the heavy red veins in Shen Yuchen’s eyes, guessing he hadn’t slept well last night. He wasn’t sure if it was due to work or something else. “Your eyes are bloodshot. Why don’t you take a nap?”

It happened to be lunchtime, with no pressing tasks scheduled.

“It’s fine,” Shen Yuchen replied, wanting to spend more time talking to Yu Yan.

Noticing that the cot in the lounge was clean and tidy, Yu Yan pulled Shen Yuchen by the hand. “Get some rest—I’ll stay with you.”

Shen Yuchen didn’t refuse this time. He lay down on the cot and closed his eyes to rest.

Though Yu Yan had always known there was a small lounge in Shen Yuchen’s office, this was his first time inside.

The lounge was simple, containing only a 1.2-meter single bed and a wardrobe. A nearby cabinet was stacked with unopened gift boxes, piled to the brim, likely presents from business associates.

Yu Yan curiously took a couple of steps toward them, but his wrist was grabbed before he could get close.

Without opening his eyes, Shen Yuchen said, “Those are gifts from clients. Look at them later—stay with me first.”

Yu Yan mumbled an “oh” and didn’t say anything else. The room returned to silence.

In less than ten minutes, steady breathing came from beside him.

Though Yu Yan had shared a bed with Shen Yuchen several times, this was his first time seeing him asleep. Shen Yuchen always had excellent sleep quality, falling asleep after Yu Yan and waking up earlier.

Shen Yuchen’s face had sharp contours, slightly sunken eye sockets, and thick eyebrows. His narrow, almond-shaped eyes always glimmered with a certain brilliance, something he inherited from Zhang Shujun.

Yu Yan gently placed his fingertip over Shen Yuchen’s brow, sliding down to his eyelid and finally resting on the area beneath his eyes, where a faint mole sat atop the curve of his lower eyelid.

Why had Shen Yuchen kissed his eyes yesterday? Was it because he liked them?

Yu Yan thought Shen Yuchen’s eyes were the most beautiful of all. Though he rarely showed his emotions, his eyes often betrayed him, revealing coldness, darkness, guardedness, and a deep, unresolved sorrow.

A flurry of Shen Yuchen’s expressions flashed through Yu Yan’s mind. As if bewitched, he leaned in and kissed him.

His lips were brushed lightly by long lashes, disrupting Yu Yan’s thoughts. For a moment, he was at a loss. Just as he was about to get up, a pair of strong arms wrapped tightly around him.

Caught off guard, his gaze met a pair of deep, penetrating eyes. Their eyes locked, and the emotions in Shen Yuchen’s eyes were so intense that they seemed impossible to dissolve.

Yu Yan intended to get up, but the hand on his waist tightened.

“Don’t go!”

“I… I won’t go.” Yu Yan lost his strength and awkwardly stayed in that position, lying on Shen Yuchen’s body.

A large hand slid up along his arched back, brushing against the skin on the nape of his neck before suddenly gripping the back of his head and pressing him down.

Their lips met, breaths intertwined. A foreign aura invaded his mouth with a commanding presence, exploring every corner as if surveying its territory without leaving anything untouched.

That aura felt like thick molten lava, gradually engulfing both him and Shen Yuchen, sealing them in a world isolated from noise and air.

“Breathe,” Shen Yuming reminded as he let go.

Yu Yan made a sound of acknowledgment and instinctively licked his lips.

Still lying awkwardly on Shen Yuming, Yu Yan didn’t move, waiting for Shen Yuchen’s next move.

“Knock, knock—” Two raps sounded at the door of the lounge.

“President Shen, sorry to disturb you, but President Yu of Chaoxing has arrived. He’s already in the elevator,” Zhao Chi’s voice came from outside the lounge.

Upon hearing that Yu Chen had arrived, Yu Yan jolted up from the bed as if startled.

“I’ll head back first. Don’t say anything.”

After leaving the lounge, he merely nodded in response to Zhao Chi’s greeting, then quickly escaped back to his office.

Why did it feel more and more like an affair?

Shen Yuming had just sat in his chair for less than ten seconds when Yu Chen walked in.

Yu Chen casually dragged a swivel chair to the desk. “That overseas project got stuck again—this time because of unmet testing standards. Damn their ‘unmet standards.’ Chaoxing’s smart home products are produced entirely according to international standards. When I asked for the testing report, they couldn’t provide one. Isn’t it just an excuse to squeeze money out of us?”

It was common for exported products to be delayed, as every country prioritized its own enterprises.

But with all documents and certifications in order, it was clear someone was trying to exploit the situation. Yu Chen had already paid a sum to smooth things over before, and he wasn’t inclined to do so again.

“Did you file a complaint?” Shen Yuming frowned.

“Of course I did. Their response was to ‘wait.’ Who knows how long that’ll take,” Yu Chen replied irritably. “I’m done waiting. I remember S.Y. had projects there before. You should have connections. Help me out, and I’ll give you a share based on market value.”

Shen Yuming contemplated briefly. “I can handle it, but no need for a share.”

Yu Chen was surprised. “So generous? You’ll owe favors to get this done. You should at least take something. Better me than them.”

Shen Yuming had initially signed a profit-reducing contract with Yu Chen out of disdain for Yu Yan, but the situation was different now.

“Really eager to give me money?” Shen Yuming raised an eyebrow.

“You gave me such a hefty wedding gift. I have to return the favor, don’t I?” Yu Chen replied matter-of-factly. Their relationship didn’t require excessive formalities, which was why he’d come straight to Shen Yuming without even treating him to a meal. “Can this be resolved in three days? The cargo ship is stuck at sea, and every day of delay adds to the losses.”

“I’ll resolve it by tomorrow,” Shen Yuming replied with certainty.

Yu Chen breathed a sigh of relief. “Then I’ll wait for your update. By the way, has my brother been to the company today?”

Shen Yuming paused for a moment. “Not sure.”

“Alright, I’ll check next door. Good brother, I owe you one.” Yu Chen hummed a tune as he headed next door.

Meanwhile, Yu Yan had opened and closed the group chat “Nothing Is Impossible (7)” five or six times in a row.

Suddenly, the office door was knocked on. Startled, Yu Yan rubbed his face and glanced in the mirror. Apart from slightly reddened lips, there didn’t seem to be any noticeable changes. He reassured himself it wasn’t obvious.

“Come in—”

“Yo, still busy during your lunch break?” Yu Chen glanced at the script on the table.

Yu Yan’s face lit up with joy. “Brother, what brings you here?”

“Just came to discuss something with Shen Yuchen and decided to check on you while I was here.” Yu Chen didn’t have anything serious to discuss; after all, the two brothers saw each other at home almost daily.

“By the way, brother, the movie is about to start filming soon. I might stay on set for a few days,” Yu Yan preemptively informed him to avoid being checked up on later.

Yu Chen frowned slightly in disapproval but didn’t want to interfere with his work. Ever since Yu Yan started working at Minghua, his condition had visibly improved. “Stay safe and take two bodyguards with you.”

“No problem, no problem.” Yu Yan made an “OK” gesture with his hand.

Yu Chen had plenty of work to do and had only stopped by Minghua on the way. After chatting briefly, he left.

The office fell quiet again. Yu Yan was tempted to go next door and see what Shen Yuchen was doing, but the memory of the earlier kiss stopped him.

Shen Yuchen actually kissed him. A French kiss, no less!

Did Shen Yuchen think they were together now because he had initiated it?

Having no experience in relationships, Yu Yan could only turn to his friends for advice.

Summoning his courage, he opened the “There’s No Problem That Can’t Be Solved (7)” group chat.

[Yu Yan: You there?]

[Song Yunjing: 1]

[He Zhiyu: Please address me as the emotional master. State your emotional problem.]

Since most of them had wrapped up their filming and were just handling promotional work, it was a relatively relaxed time, and replies came quickly.

[Yu Yan: How do you know if you’re together with someone? Does kissing count?]

[He Zhiyu: Are you saying you and Shen kissed? But he didn’t confess to you?]

[Yu Yan: I didn’t say it was me…]

[Yu Yan: Fine, it was me. So, does this mean we’re together?]

[Song Yunjing: Definitely not!]

[He Zhiyu: What an irresponsible bad man.]

[Chen Qingyu (He Ge’s Little Bro Edition): There has to be a confession first. Men can be scoundrels. If he hasn’t said it outright, he might just be toying with you.]

[Yu Yan: I’m also a man.]

[Gu Yingying: There needs to be a sense of occasion.]

Yu Yan could tell this time everyone was more about teasing than offering clear advice, unlike before.

[He Zhiyu: Little Yan Yan, are you at the office now? I’ll come to find you. We can chat about the new script and give you some emotional guidance.]

[Yu Yan: I’m not here, not chatting, no guidance, don’t come.]

Recalling the last time He Zhiyu called him “husband” in the hospital, Yu Yan felt goosebumps all over.