Two gazes met in the air, and sparks flew, crackling with tension.

After all, when you’re earning a salary, there’s no twisting your arm. Wei Mian was the first to surrender.

Being a personal assistant is a highly demanding job, requiring strong organizational skills and a good memory.

Although Xiao Zong usually seemed graceful and elegant, he had zero tolerance for mistakes when it came to work. “Boss” wasn’t just a title. From professional fields and company management to daily routines, like arranging the CEO’s schedule and social engagements, nothing could go wrong.

Wei Mian had figured it out—Xiao Zong’s grace was only for those he favored.

— So, would Assistant Wei face Waterloo in his career?

Heh, not afraid at all.

As if he didn’t have a plan B? How else could he have reached his current position at such a young age?!

Aside from the Ming Yan he prepared, he also had a cake of ancient tree tea. This tea came from trees that were thousands of years old, growing on cliff edges. Nurtured by mountain spring water, only the freshest leaves and buds were harvested after the rain. With an annual yield of less than one kilogram, the tea had to be aged for 7-10 years in a ventilated, cool, and humid environment. The market value of this cake was impossible to estimate, specifically reserved for emergencies.

Old Master Xiao was into health and wellness and had a mild interest in tea ceremonies. But that didn’t matter. What couldn’t the Xiao Family buy? As long as the gift was respectful, it was enough. Expecting Gu Yin to spend tens of thousands on a gift was unrealistic from the start.

Yet, Old Master Xiao’s secretary said, “Mr. Gu sent you a pack of cigarettes.”

Wei Mian: “…”

So, Gu Xiao Yin, how exactly did you manage to step on this landmine so precisely?!

Leng Haiyun, with old grudges piling up, immediately attacked Gu Yin, “A pack of cigarettes, ha, how much is that worth? Tens? Hundreds? You really know how to present a gift! Or are these hand-rolled cigarettes, like handmade cards, to show sincerity?”

Xiao Yan’s secretary had seen the gift list and nodded, “Mr. Leng is right, they are indeed hand-rolled cigarettes.”

Leng Haiyun sneered, “Please, it’s the era of galactic exploration! If people are smoking, they’re using e-cigarettes. Nobody even wants to smell tobacco leaves anymore.”

Xiao Jingchuan raised an eyebrow while Zhou Hengqing coldly averted his gaze.

— Traditional cigarettes were still mainstream in the military because all electronic devices had strict usage areas. With short breaks during training, soldiers wouldn’t run to a designated area just for a smoke.

Leng Haiyun’s personality made people like Zhou Hengqing, who came from military families, uncomfortable. Leng Xia was tolerable, but even he didn’t understand why the Old Master tolerated Leng Haiyun. Was it because Leng Xia had advocated for a risky gamble during that incident years ago and had been of help?

Even so, without Xiao Yan’s help these past years, the Leng Family wouldn’t have risen to prominence. Leng Xia had become head of the family in his forties, thanks to his bold choices back then.

Debts of gratitude were the hardest to repay. Zhou Hengqing glanced at Xiao Jingchuan. His husband was still tied up in an old debt, which was why they weren’t divorced yet.

But with Gu Yin’s gift not making the cut, Zhou Hengqing could do nothing. He wasn’t the type to smooth-talk, and if he were, maybe his marriage wouldn’t have been so low-key compared to even Commander Xiao’s adjutant.

Xiao Zong seemed alright, though, just a little helpless—his little secretary sure knew how to cause trouble.

But what could he do? His omega could only be pampered.

However, this time, it was Gu Yin who squeezed his hand. Xiao Zong, confused, saw Gu Yin blink rapidly at him.

Gu Yin was half a head shorter than Xiao Zong. With a slight tilt of his chin, he gave Xiao Zong a sidelong glance. When silent, he was always cool and cautious, behaving so obediently. But when he smiled faintly like that, his lips were a dewy red, and his eyes were a beautiful black, with a hint of innocent tease.

It made Xiao Zong’s heart itch.

The words “I told him to send it” were on the tip of Xiao Zong’s tongue but were blinked away by Gu Yin.

As Xiao Zong struggled in silence, a guest finally couldn’t hold back anymore and approached him.

“Mr. Xiao, do you have a moment to talk?”

He was the chairman of an online financial group. Xiao Zong remembered he had attended a banquet at the Fu Hua Hotel. The man had been waiting for a long time, but since the start of the banquet, Xiao Family relatives had dominated the scene, leaving no space for outsiders to speak.

Seeing that Old Master Xiao wouldn’t be free anytime soon, Xiao Zong, as the legitimate heir, was the right person to ask about certain matters.

Xiao Zong glanced at Gu Yin, who seemed less nervous than before. “Go ahead, business is more important.”

“I’ll call Fang Chi over.”

Xiao Zong ruffled Gu Yin’s hair, then signaled to Fang Chi.

Young Master Fang, like a radar, received the signal and swiftly made his way over.

Among the younger generation, Fang Chi was Old Master Xiao’s favorite. First, Fang Runjin had been with the Xiao Family for over thirty years and was treated like half a daughter. Her nephew Fang Chi, who was around the same age as Xiao Zong, had grown up under the old master’s watchful eye.

Second, Fang Chi knew his place. Growing up in a business family, he was adept at reading people’s faces. Though he appeared carefree, when something serious happened, he was reliable for handling matters discreetly and keeping secrets.

That’s why Old Master Xiao was always kind to Fang Chi and even agreed when Fang Chi suggested live-streaming the leopards’ daily activities.

Elders liked this kind of young person—sweet-talking and energetic. Whether they achieved much wasn’t as important because they were someone else’s child, after all.

And so, silly Fang Chi had always liked to show off to Xiao Zong about how favored he was.

Meanwhile, Leng Haiyun indeed launched his attack, one harsh word after another. Leng Xia didn’t stop him. On the contrary, Leng Xia wanted to see Xiao Zong’s reaction before deciding how to deal with Gu Yin next.

But Xiao Zong left at that moment.

No emotional foundation between them, huh? Leng Xia was relieved. That child Xiaotong was still useful—at least there wouldn’t be a conflict if the Leng Family brought in one child, and Xiao Zong’s was born later. Otherwise, that move would have been foolish.

Leng Xia fully understood why Xiao Zong refused blind dates. When Xiao Zong admitted Gu Yin was his fiancée, Leng Xia’s first reaction was disbelief. With such wealth and power, who would settle down in their twenties? Only Old Master Xiao, always thinking of succession, would be eager for such things.

Leng Haiyun’s words were unpleasant, but he had a point—who shows up to meet their in-laws for the first time with a pack of cigarettes? Even if Gu Yin was personally chosen, the impression wasn’t good.

The old master’s face visibly darkened. In the end, the difference in background was too great. He couldn’t hold up in public.

People are like that—at first, thinking a high pheromone match would suffice, ignoring other concerns as long as the grandson agreed. But once Xiao Zong really agreed, they started to nitpick.

After pondering for a moment, Xiao Jingchuan ordered, “Bring it out.”

The secretary quickly fetched the item, stored in Lanruo Pavilion, only a few minutes away.

Commander Xiao’s words carried weight. If he spoke, the old master rarely overruled him.

Unlike Xiao Zong, Xiao Jingchuan was the commander of a military district. He could no longer be reprimanded like when he was a child.

Leng Haiyun’s smile deepened.

This was no different from a public execution. It would only embarrass Xiao Zong further.

Xiao Zong took a few steps aside with Li, but not too far. “Go ahead.”

Mr Li, looking weary, sighed and said, “I think you’ve guessed by now. Most of the people visiting Old Master Xiao recently are here because of the information leak.”

The police hadn’t reported the kidnapping at Fuhua Hotel, and most people assumed it was just a hotel facility accident. What really troubled them was the cyberattack on the company’s system, leaking confidential information. Companies faced potential blackmail, yet the government was pressuring them. A few who tried to raise concerns online were taken away.

Many were waiting for the Xiao Family to take the lead. If even the Xiao Family couldn’t withstand the pressure, the rest would have to accept defeat.

Mr Li was their representative, merely probing for information.

After hearing this, Xiao Zong lifted his eyes slightly, noticing several people craning their necks toward them.

He lowered his gaze and smiled softly, offering no clear answer, “No rush.”

**

Roasted tobacco leaves had an even stronger scent than traditional cigarettes.

Xiao Yan was stunned when he saw the brown paper packaging.

During wartime, conditions were harsh, and soldiers often had to make short-distance jumps between planets—a dangerous endeavor sixty years ago. More than 130,000 soldiers had died during jumps alone.

In such environments, soldiers faced immense psychological pressure, often needing distractions to relieve their tension. Smoking was the easiest and quickest method. But with their homes and planets destroyed, where could they find cigarettes?

They found a substitute plant in the wilderness, roasting and rolling it in dirty brown paper. Often, several soldiers shared a single cigarette, and fights even broke out over it.

Those times seemed like a distant lifetime ago.

When Xiao Yan met with Old Gu earlier, they had talked about how such plants were nowhere to be found anymore.

The old master had long since stopped smoking, but memories of old comrades remained vivid.

Back then, all his war buddies were alive, Luo Yun was still around, his eldest son was a hero on the battlefield, and Xiao Sinian had just been born. Now… so much had changed.

Gu Yin spoke gently, “My grandpa asked me to bring this as a gift for you.”

The old master, his voice hoarse, asked, “Where did you find this?”

“Wild tobacco from the Xiandu Mountains. It was brought back by active soldiers during their training. The craftsmanship is crude, but the method of rolling the cigarettes remains the same as before.”

Xiao Yan glanced at Gu Yin.

Xiandu Mountain was a rugged region in southeastern H Nation, with extremely harsh conditions. The local military district had designated it as a survival training base, where soldiers often trained for over half a month.

Gu Lin couldn’t have reached that far. It was likely Gu Yin had asked a comrade to bring it from the mountains.

This kid had really gone the extra mile.

The young man’s brows were clean and tidy, his figure tall and slender, reminiscent of bamboo. The first time Xiao Yan had seen his file, Gu Yin had been wearing a military uniform in the photo.

He looked just like Old Gu in his youth, only more delicate.

Xiao Yan was skilled in military base defense, while Gu Lin had been a renowned sharpshooter in the neighboring brigade. But they had both aged, and the world now belonged to the younger generation.

The old master rarely showed emotion in public. Even though waves of emotion surged inside him, he remained outwardly composed.

A subordinate of Leng Xia chimed in, “Mr. Gu, are you giving this gift on your own behalf or for your family? Why does the story keep changing?”

Before the words could fully land, Xiao Yan sternly interrupted, “Who do you think you are? Do you think you can butt into a conversation between me and my junior?!”

The subordinate was instantly stunned.

Xiao Yan’s face was cold as he pointed at the man and then turned to Leng Xia, “Is this your man?”

Leng Xia’s heart sank.

Leng Haiyun, who had been eager to add more sarcastic remarks, now stood speechless in shock.

Leng Xia immediately scolded, “Even if the junior has made a mistake, it’s up to the elders to correct it. Watch your mouth!”

The subordinate quickly bowed and apologized, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I spoke out of turn.”

Leng Xia, usually mild-mannered, wasn’t harsh, but the subordinate had turned pale. He knew his career was over. Making such a mistake at this event meant Leng Xia would never trust him again.

Anyone else would have collapsed under the pressure, but Gu Yin remained as calm as before.

Gu Yin continued, “The cigarettes were rolled by young soldiers. They were thrilled to know that their handmade gifts would reach you. My grandpa prepared this gift because you two had talked about it last time.”

“—Even though time has passed and people have changed, the military spirit remains. No matter how many years go by, comrades-in-arms never forget their initial intentions. As long as you give the order, soldiers will always press forward!”

After Gu Yin finished speaking, Xiao Yan remained silent for a long time.

It was difficult for ordinary people to understand the deep bond formed when entrusting your life to a comrade during perilous times. Business, on the other hand, was full of selfishness and scheming.

Zhou Hengqing frowned slightly.

Gu Yin’s words seemed to convey Old Gu’s feelings, but coming from an omega, they carried an indescribable sense of weight. It was as if he had lived through that brutal era, emerging from a hail of bullets. Yet, he was so young, exuding the gentleness unique to a peaceful time.

After a long pause, Gu Yin quietly added, “But grandpa said these cigarettes are for collection only, not for smoking. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.”

The old master suddenly burst into laughter, his emotions so visible that even Xiao Zong, who was not far away, turned in surprise.

“…” Zhou Hengqing immediately felt like he was overthinking it. This was just a young boy after all.

“Good, good, good!” Xiao Yan said “good” three times.

“Military spirit endures, never forget your initial intentions. Yin, your grandfather has high hopes for you!”

Gu Yin had told Xiao Zong not to worry, but his whole body was tense.

He hadn’t known he would be attending this event, and his preparations were rushed. The cigarettes had been rolled overnight, and he would have to thank his comrades for their help later.

As for those 600g of study materials…

After chatting with  Mr Li for a few moments, the man’s expression noticeably softened. Xiao Zong seized the moment to slip away and walked over, wrapping an arm around Gu Yin’s shoulders. He interrupted their conversation, “What’s all this about? You all seem to be having fun.”

He had heard most of it, but he still had no idea why the old master was in such a good mood.

Wei Mian, standing next to him, whispered, “The boss wife is leading you to an easy victory.”

He sure switched up that title quickly. Fang Chi rolled his eyes inwardly.

Fang Chi wasn’t even sure why he had been asked to help out in the first place.

Apparently, just to witness… a pack of cigarettes?

Gu Yin smiled and squinted at Xiao Zong.

Xiao Zong noticed that whenever Gu Yin was near him, that cold, distant aura would fade away, replaced by a mischievous, obedient expression. It was as if Gu Yin was silently saying, aren’t I amazing?

Xiao Zong suddenly realized how little he actually knew about Gu Yin.

Most of the time, it was his little secretary running around him, but Xiao Zong had no clue what Gu Yin liked to eat, who his friends were, or whether he had any unique experiences growing up.

— He didn’t even know what Gu Yin’s pheromone smelled like.

Xiao Zong felt an itch in his heart again.

He began to regret reminding Gu Yin to take enough suppressants.

Zhou Hengqing cleared his throat lightly and said, “Grandfather gave him a bit of a test. He had to respond in kind, otherwise how will Xiao Gu know when to change how he addresses people?”

This was to help Gu Yin get his “red envelope” for changing how he addressed the elders, and also to push him to take advantage of the moment.

Zhou Hengqing was thanking Gu Yin for the hint earlier—though he wasn’t sure if this omega had understood or not.

Xiao Yan was straightforward and immediately ordered the secretary to bring the items out.

The event was so lively that people had already stopped their conversations and gathered around. Not long after, someone recognized the item and gasped in astonishment.

Even Xiao Jingchuan was surprised.

The old master’s gift wasn’t something of great material value, but the meaning it held was profound—it was his military identification tag from when he enlisted.

Made of iron, the tag had the soldier’s name engraved on it. In wartime, finding this tag meant finding the soldier.

Xiao Yan’s tag bore the scars of war and time. Only soldiers understood the significance of such an item.

Gu Yin blinked, accepting the tag with both hands, then promptly changed how he addressed the old master, “Thank you, Grandpa.”

The old master grunted, “Children grow up and leave. Are you leaving your grandpa and mother behind to celebrate the New Year by themselves?”

Gu Yin blushed.

Well… knights had to make some sacrifices when chasing princesses, right?

The old master’s next words were, “I’ll have someone ask if they’re willing to come over. Fang Runjin will be back in a couple of days anyway, so the two families might as well meet formally. After the New Year, we’ll set a date for the engagement.” He paused and glanced at Xiao Zong, who looked innocent, before adding in a serious tone, “In my Xiao Family, a daughter-in-law has to be recognized formally.”

The old master’s word was final, so this matter was practically settled. Amid the guests’ congratulations, the Leng Family found themselves out in the cold.

Earlier, Leng Haiyun’s “even dogs won’t sniff it” had been heard by many. Even if no one mentioned it, the old master certainly remembered.

For years, the Leng Family had endured whispers and judgments, all to give Leng Haiyun some legitimacy, which would give them enough leverage to compete with Xiao Zong.

But all that effort couldn’t compare to Gu Yin’s simple words: “Never forget your initial intentions.”

Leng Xia wouldn’t be defeated so easily, his mind racing as he searched for a way to turn the tables. But at that moment, more bad news arrived. His private assistant whispered a few words, and Leng Xia’s expression toward Xiao Zong changed instantly!

Leng Haiyun also overheard and exclaimed, “What is that madman up to?!”

In just two days at the manor, the situation outside had undergone a drastic change.

What started as gossip about a wealthy family’s inheritance battle took a sharp turn when photos of Xiao Zong and Ye Yumeng at Fu Hua Hotel were leaked.

Designer Ye had recently announced a high-profile return to the H Nation market. Once the timing and location were confirmed, news of the police lockdown at Fu Hua Hotel couldn’t be hidden any longer.

A large-scale data leak was a public safety issue. Business owners, already furious, had wanted the federal government to intervene, but instead, they faced suppression. Now, seeing the Leng Group leading a charge against the government, they hailed them as saviors and rushed to join the fray.

The Leng Group, which had been stirring public opinion, was now being pushed into the fire.

Leng Xia’s mask of a smile seemed to crack, and the curve of his lips grew colder.

Xiao Zong had quietly shifted the blame onto the Leng Family.

Now, netizens had turned into detectives, digging layer by layer into the connections, with some opportunists stirring the pot even further.

Wasn’t this the same tactic Leng Haiyun had used against Xiao Zong not long ago?

Surrounded by congratulatory guests, Xiao Zong wore a faint, professional smile.

How could the two sons of Xiao Sinian turn out so differently?

Leng Haiyun turned to complain, “No way, Grandpa would never—”

“Don’t bother,” Leng Xia interrupted him. “Xiao Zong is targeting you.”

Shocked, the third young master turned back to look at his older brother, “But you said Grandpa wouldn’t hold a grudge!”

“Maybe not him, but do you think he’d stop Xiao Zong from giving you trouble?”

Leng Xia said sternly, “Look at what you’ve done! All this over a control panel? How much is that worth? You had to make it personal and use this as a chance to step on Xiao Zong, and now you’re tangled up in it!”

Leng Haiyun finally calmed down and realized the gravity of the situation.

He didn’t know who had leaked the photos online, but Leng Entertainment had indeed conducted Ye Yumeng’s interview. Leng Haiyun had further exploited his position to stir up the situation for more attention.

The authorities had ordered a media blackout, but Leng Entertainment kept pushing the story to the top of the trending lists through entertainment gossip, openly defying the higher-ups.

Hiring a bodyguard was one thing, but Xiao Zong chose to expose everything all at once. Now, rumors were flying about Leng Family’s third young master bribing bodyguards with malicious intent, followed by claims that Xiao Zong had been the most injured that night.

To the H Nation police, the Leng Family was now even linked to [UNNAMED] entities.

Xiao Zong seemed to have done nothing on the surface, but every twist and turn in this crisis could be traced back to his decisions.

Leng Xia felt completely overwhelmed, unable to handle even the social niceties. That very night, he humbly requested permission from Old Master Xiao to return to the company and deal with the situation.

Whether the old master truly didn’t understand or pretended not to, he waved it off and agreed without a second thought.

Once aboard their private jet, Leng Haiyun was still fuming, “Why didn’t big brother help me?”

Leng Xia glanced at him, “That whole money laundering incident wasn’t small, and you still expect his help?”

“I’ve told you countless times, their sibling rivalry is your best shield, and yet you just had to stir things up.”

Leng Haiyun was left speechless.

Leng Xia stared at his brother’s face for a long time before letting out a heavy sigh, “I spent so many years grooming you, but you’re still nothing like Second Master.”

Leng Haiyun’s looks had taken after their father, which was a natural advantage.

For the old master, what was lost always seemed to be the best. Whether it was Luo Yun or his two sons, they were his untouchable white moonlight.

Xiao Zong and Xiao Jingchuan were both too rigid by nature to offer the companionship the old man craved, so Leng Xia had tried to use Leng Haiyun to fill that void.

But unfortunately, Leng Haiyun lacked the decisive courage that Second Master had, the kind that would go all-in when necessary.

Leng Haiyun was scrolling through the reports, his inbox filling up with more and more emails, and his face grew darker. “Does Xiao Zong really think he can wash his hands clean of this?”

“You’re wrong. Xiao Zong planned to step into this from the very beginning.”

He merely dragged the Leng Family down to act as cannon fodder.

The cabin fell into a long silence.

“Do you know the one trait Xiao Zong shares with his father?”

Leng Haiyun remained silent; he had no idea what Xiao Sinian had been like.

“It’s that, despite having the envy of the entire world, every time he makes a decision, he acts as if he has nothing.”

A person fighting alone has no weak points.

Love is his weakness. Xiao Zong… is really not suited for being with anyone.

How long could that omega named Gu Yin, along with his initial intentions, last?