When Qin Si pushed the door open, Zhao Yayuan hadn’t left yet.

Lu Zhihong’s study was originally spacious, with mostly decorative books on both sides, a deep red solid wood desk, curtains half-drawn, and the dim winter sunlight streaming in, giving the entire room a sense of lingering twilight.

Originally, Zhao Yayuan was sitting opposite Lu Zhihong.

At this moment, with three people inside, the room inexplicably felt a bit cramped.

The young man stood straight, not looking at Zhao Yayuan.

His features were cool and restrained, never showing emotions, and this time was no exception.

“Xiao Qin,” Lu Zhihong smiled, “I was just thinking of calling you these days, but I didn’t expect you to come on your own today.”

“Let me introduce you?” Lu Zhihong gestured. “This is Yayuan, Zhao Yayuan. And this is…”

“I know him,” Zhao Yayuan said.

He was still sitting, raising his eyebrows lightly as he looked at the incoming young man.

How could he not know?

Is this the one Lu Nian is interested in?

He and Qin Si had never met directly.

This time, he took a look and felt that Lu Nian might only have a vague fondness for him because of his appearance.

“You both graduated from the same school, I seem to have forgotten,” Lu Zhihong said.

Zhao Yayuan shrugged. “Yeah, Senior Qin’s grades are too good. It’s hard not to know him.”

Qin Si’s voice was indifferent. “We’ve met a few times on the way.”

Obviously, he didn’t give Lu Zhihong the impression that they were very familiar.

“Uncle, I don’t have anything to do today,” Zhao Yayuan said, “so I’ll leave first and not disturb your conversation.”

Lu Zhihong nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll chat with Xiao Qin.”

“Is Tingyuan at home now?” Zhao Yayuan got up, but Lu Zhihong suddenly remembered something and asked casually.

Before socializing, it was common for the younger generation to visit each other for New Year’s greetings in their circle. But during the previous New Year’s, it was usually Zhao Tingyuan who represented the Zhao family visiting the Lu family. This year, it was Zhao Yayuan instead.

“My brother temporarily went back to Haicheng,” Zhao Yayuan said. “He went to greet our relatives over there. I came back first.”

After all, Zhao Yayuan was currently in his senior year of high school, and as the younger son, it wasn’t a big deal if he didn’t attend some occasions.

He said, “Originally, my family wanted my brother to come, but he couldn’t spare the time. My grandparents on that side haven’t seen their eldest grandson for too long, so they wouldn’t let him go.”

Lu Zhihong’s expression remained unchanged, smiling. “It’s okay. I think Nian Nian prefers you anyway. You have a good relationship. If you come instead of your brother, she might be even happier.”

The young man beside him remained silent throughout, his expression plain. When he heard this, there was no change in his expression.

It seemed that none of this concerned him, as if he was listening to completely unrelated discussions.

He quietly waited for them to finish.

As the two passed each other, Zhao Yayuan paused at the door and confirmed once again, “By the way, Uncle, Nian Nian should be at home now, right?”

This time he came to the Lu family, deliberately paying attention, but he didn’t see Lu Nian show up at all.

Lu Zhihong said, “She’s feeling cold. She’s been drowsy these days, and her spirits haven’t been good. I don’t know if it’s because of too much studying.”

“You go see her. She should be in the study reading now,” Lu Zhihong said. “See if she can muster up some energy.”

Finally, the door was closed.

The room once again fell into silence.

Lu Zhihong picked up his teacup and took a sip, neither hurried nor slow.

The initial bitterness of the black tea appealed to him. He enjoyed the taste of tea.

There was a special small stove on his desk used for brewing tea. The tea fragrance was slowly roasted out, gradually spreading throughout the study.

The study remained silent.

The young man’s back remained straight, his beautiful features devoid of any impatience.

The fierce stubbornness and hostility from his childhood seemed to have been collected and converged, making him appear even more refined and compelling, his temperament akin to that of a cedar tree.

“Nian Nian has made great progress this time,” Lu Zhihong finally said, “especially in mathematics.”

“This is all thanks to you,” he said.

“I’m honored,” the young man said, his long lashes drooping. “It’s the result of her own efforts.”

“Secretary Zhang said you returned the salary he gave you in full?” Lu Zhihong asked.

He replied calmly, “We had already agreed beforehand that I wouldn’t need payment.”

Indeed, when he first approached Lu Zhihong, that’s what he had said—that he didn’t want payment, but rather an internship opportunity at Lu Corporation if possible.

Lu Zhihong smiled.

His vision was broad. Compared to some small amount of money, in the long run, an internship opportunity at Lu Corporation was naturally more valuable.

“I promised,” Lu Zhihong said, “and I will definitely fulfill it.”

“You’ve been in university for half a year now,” he suddenly changed the topic, “How do you feel?”

“Very busy. I’ve taken on some extra credits,” he said.

“I visited your school when I was studying,” Lu Zhihong said with nostalgia. “It’s indeed a good place for learning.”

“Unfortunately, my daughter isn’t as capable as you, so it’s basically impossible for her to get in,” Lu Zhihong said, “But I don’t have high expectations for her either. She’s had poor health since she was young, and as a father, I can’t bear to push her too hard.”

Qin Si didn’t react much, just quietly listening to Lu Zhihong speak.

He managed his attitude and demeanor too well.

It was a subtle and polite attitude, whether listening to the ordinary matters of a high school junior he had only taught for a few days, or listening to an industry elder discussing his physically weak daughter.

Lu Zhihong blew away a tea leaf.

The afterglow of the setting sun was gradually becoming apparent.

He admired this young man. Lu Zhihong stood up. “Come intern at Lu Corporation headquarters next year.”

He still needed to grow a bit more; he was still too young. Although sometimes when Lu Zhihong talked to him, he forgot that the person standing in front of him was just a teenager under twenty.

“And there’s also a branch of Lu Corporation in the capital. Go find this person, Ding Kaihua. He will arrange a suitable position for you. If you’re willing to go, it’s better to start early,” he said.

Qin Si took the business card. “Thank you for your kindness.”

“Don’t mention it,” Lu Zhihong smiled.

“I like young people like you who are full of vitality,” he said, looking into the distance.

If, back then, Ajue had survived.

But Ajue’s temperament was too gentle, his abilities adequate but lacking in boldness and determination, clearly not as good as the person standing before him now.

As for Lu Nian… he didn’t even consider it.

Lu Zhihong’s phone vibrated slightly. He picked it up and glanced at it. “I need to go back to the company immediately.”

“You rarely come by,” Lu Zhihong said, “Have them take care of you a bit and rest for a while before you leave.”

He said, “After all, you’ve lived in this house before, so feel free, don’t be too formal.”

…

Zhao Yayuan was wandering around the Lu residence.

His own home was also large, but compared to the Lu residence, it was still relatively small.

This was just the main house; outside, there was a vast and beautifully landscaped garden, with lights twinkling inside the surrounding buildings.

Large landscape paintings hung near the spiral staircase, all tastefully done but perhaps a bit too old-fashioned.

There wasn’t much fun to be had at the Lu residence. The servants were like robots, few words spoken, doing their own tasks after receiving their pay, not uttering a word about the affairs of the master’s family.

If Qiuli were to come back…

He found it hard to imagine what it would be like for him to be trapped in this mansion. After all, he was used to the freedom of the outside world, with its green hills and flowing waters, unlike this oppressive and gloomy mansion. It was like two different worlds.

The master bedroom of the Lu family was on the first floor, while Lu Nian’s room was on the second floor.

He stopped in his tracks, looking towards the direction of the third floor. The end of the stairs was pitch black, without a hint of light.

He remembered what Qiuli had said.

Their childhood room, where he and his sister used to stay, was on the third floor. When he was young, he lived with his sister, eating and sleeping together. Being twins, they were naturally closer than ordinary siblings.

Qiuli had said a lot when he was young.

About how his sister took care of him.

It was hard for Zhao Yayuan to connect this luxurious and inexplicably eerie mansion with the happy memories of the siblings he described.

Qiuli always talked about how good his sister was to him.

When Zhao Yayuan was young and had a bad temper, he got tired of hearing it and casually said, “If your sister is so good to you, why did she abandon you back then? Why did she want to harm you? Which part of what you said was true?”

Qiuli didn’t answer for a long time.

After that, he became more and more silent, and spoke less and less about his past.

As Zhao Yayuan grew older, he regretted thinking about this incident.

Qiuli cared deeply about family.

Just like now, he treated Qiulan and him as his family, going all out to be good to them. And at that time, the only family he had left by his side was his sister.

Anyway, it wouldn’t be long now.

Zhao Yayuan thought, if Lu Nian really found out Qiuli’s identity…

Qiuli would probably get what he had always dreamed of. Knowing Lu Nian’s character, once she knew the truth, whether out of guilt and a desire to make amends, or out of genuine affection, she would only treat Qiuli well.

After circling around, he planned to go to the study to find Lu Nian.

But to his surprise, there were five or six study rooms in the Lu residence alone, and he wasn’t familiar with the layout of the Lu family’s home.

Only in the end did he finally see a familiar figure, Lu Nian’s closest nanny, looking to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years old.

“Where is Lu Nian now?” he asked as he approached. “I’ve looked in several study rooms, but she’s not there, and she’s not answering her phone either.”

Miao Miao recognized him and knew he was an important guest who needed special treatment.

“She was just in the study,” she said. “But where is she now?” Zhao Yayuan’s temper was starting to rise.

After all, he had come all the way to her house, and yet it was so difficult to find her.

Miao Miao said, “Miss Lu Nian has returned to her room.”

“She should be sleeping,” she continued.

Zhao Yayuan remarked, “Is she okay? She’s been sleeping all day, even though she didn’t wake up particularly early this morning.”

“After spending the winter, is she going into hibernation?” He reached for the door handle, intending to go in and check on Lu Nian.

But Miao Miao quickly stopped him.

“I can’t go in?” Zhao Yayuan asked.

With a slightly narrowed gaze, resembling a smirk, Zhao Yayuan was known for his unruly and arrogant behavior.

Miao Miao, aware of the relationship between the Zhao and Lu families, was in a difficult position.

Just as the tension was building, another tall figure appeared at the end of the corridor.

Miao Miao visibly relaxed.

“I still have some unfinished tasks,” she hurriedly said. “You two can keep talking. I’ll go to the kitchen to prepare dinner. If you need anything, just let us know.”

Feeling relieved, she quickly walked away and disappeared at the end of the corridor.

With few words, Qin Si seemed taller than Zhao Yayuan, his frame elongated, his shoulders broad, and his legs long.

He was gradually transitioning from youth to adulthood, though his expression remained subdued.

Zhao Yayuan asked with a half-smile. “Finally, you have time to come out and wander around?”

“Luo Zhihong has left,” Qin Si said.

Zhao Yayuan wasn’t surprised. “Well, then, why are you here? To see Lu Nian, too?”

Arching an eyebrow, Zhao Yayuan teased, “Or are you here to meddle in my affairs again?”

Qin Si’s tone was indifferent. “It’s none of my concern.”

“However, now, Lu Zhihong favors your brother more,” Qin Si stated as if stating a fact unrelated to himself. “Your current behavior will only deduct points from you.”

His gaze shifted towards Zhao Yayuan’s hand still gripping the door handle, his expression cold and his eyes icy.

Zhao Yayuan slowly let go of the handle. “Uncle Lu has already left.”

This time, Qin Si’s lips curled into a sneer, cold and mocking. “Do you think he wouldn’t know?”

Zhao Yayuan became more interested. “I thought you had feelings for her.”

From this perspective, Lu Nian seemed naive.

Before her awakening, she fell in love with someone. It’s a pity that the relationship ended before it even began.

With a frosty tone, Qin Si replied, “Think about your position and what you’re considering.”

“I’m just a dog they picked up to do their bidding,” he continued, his eyes as cold as ice and his gaze piercing. “Do you know about my childhood at the Lu household?”

Zhao Yayuan indeed knew.

Qin Si’s background and his experiences at the Lu household were not secrets, and with a little investigation, everything was known.

Money, power, and emotions are different things.

People seek gain and avoid harm.

In a rational person’s assumption, you may set aside hatred or any other feelings for the sake of money or power.

Choosing to cooperate with an enemy for mutual benefits is not impossible.

But you can never develop any surplus emotions towards your enemy.