The study at Lan Ruo Pavilion was a restricted area.

When Xiao Zong was younger, he often played there. Old Master Xiao, being sentimental, hadn’t changed much of the decor over the years, except for a newly hung painting on the wall, which had been gifted by Zhou Hengqing.

There were two photos on the desk: one of his eldest son alone and another of Xiao Yan, Luo Yun, and a young Xiao Sinian. Xiao Yan had lived a life of great influence, but in his old age, he didn’t even have a proper family photo.

Xiao Yan was still the same, liking to pile up documents on his desk. Despite the rapid advancement of technology, with most companies going paperless, only critical archival documents were printed. But with the internet so widespread, Old Master Xiao believed that traditional methods were the safest.

During the recent cyberattack, only the confidential information stored at Xian Yun Manor remained intact. Outsiders thought Xiao Yan was just overly cautious, turning his retirement home into an impenetrable fortress. In reality, Henghua’s most vital data was stored in these mountains, guarded by militarized equipment.

Most of the data in Henghua’s internal systems were incomplete experimental results. The projects involved investments of over billions of yuan, and no one would want to take over these costly developments or sell them for a low price, risking being traced by the military.

Even Leng Haiyun, who frequented Xian Yun Manor, didn’t know about this.

Xiao Yan was practicing calligraphy, with a large sheet of Xuan paper spread out on his spacious rosewood desk. When he heard a sound, he didn’t even look up. “Find a seat for yourself.”

Xiao Zong sat down.

The air still had a faint smell of gunpowder — the lingering scent of Xiao Jingchuan’s pheromones.

Xiao Yan didn’t beat around the bush and asked directly, “Have you made up your mind?”

The old man spoke slowly, giving off an oppressive vibe.

“Yeah.”

“Hmph, reckless.”

After the scolding, there was silence.

Xiao Zong was long used to his grandfather’s habit of scolding him, even when there was nothing to scold about. As Xiao Yan got older, his pheromone glands had degenerated, and old injuries had worsened. Ever since Luo Yun passed away, the old man had become increasingly irritable.

Dr. Lu had privately mentioned that Old Master Xiao’s cardiovascular system was already quite fragile, and with his inability to control his temper, it was only a matter of time before something happened.

“Still following your father’s old path, huh?” After a long pause, Xiao Yan stopped writing and sighed heavily, letting the ink drip onto the paper, spreading out like a spiderweb.

Xiao Zong said nothing.

He hadn’t consulted his family before making the decision. Xiao Zong wasn’t the type to act passively; he liked being in control, much like Xiao Sinian.

“What information was lost?”

“Fourteen financial companies under the group were affected, and the systems of three technology companies experienced a 3.5-second crash.”

“The network was cut off quickly. Given the current computing speed of the fastest computers, if their target was new energy, they wouldn’t have been able to access the experimental data yet. However, they could infer from the records which stage the new energy universe testing was at and the location of the main laboratory.”

In this collaboration, the military provided testing conditions and equipment, while the Xiao family supplied energy technology.

Historically, dealing with the government required some tricks up your sleeve. Although the project was a joint venture with the military, the Xiao family had its own set of research and testing standards, which focused on different indicators than the military.

When the collaboration started, Xiao Zong had voluntarily given up some profits to protect the Xiao family. But now, the old energy source used in interstellar travel was classified as a top-secret strategic asset by the military, and Xiao Zong suspected that the original energy veins were running out. That’s why the federal military was in such a hurry to find a cheaper, more stable alternative, while still aiming to monopolize it.

The Xiao family, however, insisted on making new energy accessible to the public and disclosed the progress of their research at every stage.

There was a fundamental conflict of interest in the collaboration. The federal government would surely find an excuse to act, but this time, Xiao Zong planned to strike first.

The old man asked, “Do you think [UNNAMED] is a dog raised by the federal government?”

“At the very least, they’ve been funded by the privileged class,” Xiao Zong said calmly. “And now the cooperation isn’t going so well. It’s about time they start eliminating us once we’ve served our purpose.”

He briefly explained to the old man about [UNNAMED] reaching out to him.

“They’re talking to you because they think you care deeply for your son, and even after more than twenty years, you’re still willing to stand up for him.”

Xiao Yan put down his brush and gave Xiao Zong a sideways glance. “Weren’t you in their hands at the time too?”

Xiao Zong was momentarily speechless.

After a long pause, he muttered, “As if they could tie me up.”

Old Master Xiao walked out from behind the desk with his hands behind his back, and Xiao Zong instinctively stood up.

When he was young, Xiao Zong only reached his grandfather’s knees. Xiao Yan used to have to lift him onto his lap to teach him. Now, Xiao Zong was fully grown, even taller than most of the generals in the federation.

Xiao Zong had been meeting with the group’s high-level executives in the study since he was under ten years old. Xiao Yan had a habit of working late into the night, and those big shots in the business world would wait in line at Lan Ruo Pavilion to meet with him.

In the beginning, Xiao Zong didn’t understand much, just listened for the excitement. Sometimes, he’d fall asleep in the middle of the night, and no one would notice until the secretary carried him to an inner room to rest.

Xiao Yan had spent his life in the military and hadn’t enjoyed much family happiness before it was taken away from him again. His son and wife passed away, and his grandson was still just a child.

Looking back, that must have been the hardest time for his grandfather.

That’s why Leng Xia targeted this weakness, bringing Leng Haiyun into the family to fill the gap left behind by the lack of companionship.

In the end, it was Xiao Jingchuan and he who hadn’t done enough.

Xiao Yan snorted. “Don’t think you’ve grown wings. I heard that Gu Yin destroyed the control panel to buy you time. Did he come to find you?”

Xiao Zong wanted to improve the old man’s impression of Gu Yin, so he said, “It’s impressive that someone as timid as him would run out to find me.”

After he said that, the old man’s expression changed for a moment, so quickly that Xiao Zong didn’t even notice.

It wasn’t until much later that the old man said, “Oh. Then treat him well, and don’t mess things up like last time.”

“Alright,” Xiao Zong agreed.

After reporting the next steps and potential scenarios, Dr. Lu came by to remind Old Master Xiao that it was time to rest.

Even in retirement, Xiao Yan worked eight hours a day, though the schedule was much more flexible, with 80% of the matters now in his grandson’s hands.

But Xiao Zong was still young. Xiao Sinian was 35 when he formally took over as president of the group, while Xiao Zong was only 27 or 28. He had much to learn and practice.

It got dark early in the winter, and by the time Xiao Zong came out, the sky was already dim. Wei Mian was waiting outside Lan Ruo Pavilion.

“Thanks for your hard work,” Xiao Zong said.

Wei Mian had been to Xian Yun Manor a few times and was mentally prepared for what to expect. He managed the public opinion with the planning and PR department, with much help from Xiao Fang.

What surprised him was how Gu Yin, who had been clueless from the start, managed to hold his own in front of the old marshal from the federation.

“To be honest, I was quite shocked this morning,” Wei Mian said, scratching his nose. “The old man even gave him a military badge — I thought something like that would’ve gone to Mr. Zhou.”

For an omega, shiny, fancy treasures would do just fine. Ms. Fang was in the jewelry business; what did she have to fear about being unable to present something worthy? Military badges were stained with the blood of many, enemies and comrades alike, even Old Master Xiao’s own. Even as an ordinary person, Wei Mian could sense the weight of it.

Xiao Zong simply said, “As long as he likes it.”

Wei Mian wasn’t sure if “he” referred to Old Master Xiao or Gu Yin.

But looking at Secretary Gu’s happy face, it seemed like everything was fine. His grandfather had been a military alpha too, so perhaps he’d seen a military badge before.

It was dinner time. The old man didn’t eat dinner, so Xian Yun Manor didn’t hold formal banquets, but the secretaries and servants would make all the necessary arrangements.

Xiao Zong knew it would be best to seize the opportunity to engage with the group of entrepreneurs, but after some thought, he decided to return to the villa with Wei Mian.

**

The villa wasn’t tall, standing three stories high, with a basement that housed a media room, bar, and indoor pool.

The standalone villa retained Second Master Xiao’s design on the outside, but the interior had been completely redone. The third floor was entirely used as the master’s living quarters, where only Xiao Zong stayed. The servants lived on the first floor, while the assistants and secretaries stayed in the guest rooms on the second floor.

It was a renovated design. Years ago, the garden had been turned into a small playground, but that was over 20 years ago.

Xiao Zong was familiar with the place. He had lived there since he could remember, witnessing every change firsthand.

Before entering, Xiao Zong stood at the door for a while, watching the warm light from inside the villa spill out.

This time was truly different. He knew there was someone inside waiting for him.

For the first time in over 20 years.

Just the thought of it brought a flutter of anticipation to his heart.

Xiao Zong liked to keep the lights dim and had a habit of reading a little before bed. The books had to be physical copies, so he could hold them and feel at ease.

He smoked occasionally, though not heavily, and rarely in front of others.

Xiao Zong was a light sleeper and could only sleep on his side. He also didn’t like taking medicine since he was young.

These were all little habits Gu Yin didn’t know yet.

But in time, he would know them all.

Maybe, while Xiao Zong read, Gu Yin would sit nearby holding a cat. Or perhaps, when he took out a cigarette, Gu Yin would snatch it away.

And Xiao Zong would want to learn about Gu Yin’s preferences too.

The contact between two people, with the excitement of exploration, was an essential element in heating up a relationship.

Although the little secretary was timid and a bit troublesome, it didn’t seem too bad after all.

When he opened the door, he saw Gu Yin had indeed made a pot of pigeon soup with Poria, along with a few side dishes.

The room was filled with a pleasant aroma.

“You’re back.” Gu Yin looked up at him, his face bright with pure joy.

Wei Mian, seeing this, chuckled. “Is this a celebration feast, Gu Yin? Should I call Xiao Fang to join us?”

Xiao Zong said, “Fang Chi is at the leopard enclosure.”

Felines were more active at night, so Fang Chi was probably busy filming more #RichGuyBigCats videos to post online.

Dinner was prepared with a portion for Wei Mian as well, and Gu Yin cheerfully invited him to sit. “Brother Wei, come sit.”

Gu Yin wasn’t very skilled at cooking, and he was slow, clearly a beginner. But he was willing to learn, and even though he was slow, he made sure to finish everything properly. His understanding was pretty good too.

Tonight’s meal was a bit complicated for him, and he’d only managed to finish it on time with the help of the servants. The indoor temperature was comfortable, but he still worked up a sweat.

Wei Mian peeked into the pot and said, “Wow, pigeon soup with Poria. Why’d you make this?”

Xiao Zong answered, “I requested it.”

Wei Mian nodded seriously. “Ah, Poria for replenishing energy, pigeon for… kidneys. Boss, impressive!”

Xiao Zong: ???

If he’d known Wei Mian was going to ask so many questions, he would’ve sent him off with Fang Chi to watch the leopards in the cold.

Xiao Zong’s ears turned a faint shade of red. After a long pause, he straightened his face and sternly said, “Stop studying mystical health trends like the old man. You’d be better off cutting back on energy bars.”

Wei Mian quickly nodded. “Yes, yes. I’ll just drink two more bowls of soup. Gu Yin, make sure to give the boss more pigeon meat, okay?”

Gu Yin’s face turned red, possibly from the steam, his face glowing in the rising mist.

Wei Mian thought to himself, nothing beats watching couples interact! Especially when it’s rare to see the boss blush and get flustered. It’s way more fun than watching those grumpy snow leopards.

Maybe it was because of Wei Mian’s words, but as Xiao Zong drank the soup, he felt like he’d either recovered too quickly from his injuries or that his pheromone imbalance was acting up. His body seemed to be stirring with energy.

Of course, it could also be that he was just restless.

One thing Xiao Zong was most grateful for in his previous relationship was that he had resisted the urges of his teenage transformation period and hadn’t marked Ye Yumeng.

At that time, he had romantic feelings, and it would be a lie to say he wasn’t tempted. But Ye Yumeng had a heart condition and couldn’t handle intense emotions. Moreover, Xiao Zong’s future was uncertain, and he didn’t know how long his conflict with the family would last. Even if things settled down, if the old man didn’t approve of Ye Yumeng, who knew what other troubles would arise?

Ye Yumeng was scared, and Xiao Zong was cautious. The two never crossed that line during their youthful confusion.

Xiao Zong wasn’t as impulsive as he had been ten years ago, but it turned out he wasn’t as proactive as an omega.

The pigeon soup with Poria was both savory and sweet, and the pigeon meat was tender and soft. Gu Yin was quiet during dinner, behaving obediently. The three of them chatted about the past, with Wei Mian sharing some embarrassing stories about Xiao Fang during school, and even Gu Yin opened up a bit, talking about how he had once participated in a challenging off-road race and won first place.

“Off-road racing? That’s impressive. What was the reward for first place?”

Gu Yin smiled and said, “It was several years ago. I think it was just some prize money, which I gave to my mom.”

Back then, Gu Yin hadn’t even attended the awards ceremony for the King of Soldiers competition. As soon as the race ended, he rushed back to Lin City to see his father one last time.

His father was lying in a hospital bed, tubes everywhere, emaciated to the point of being unrecognizable, too weak even to speak. But when he saw Gu Yin, he still smiled.

His mother said that his father had been following the competition closely and, when he heard that contestant 770 had won first place, he said, “Good kid.”

But Gu Yin didn’t hear that. In the end, he never got to hear his father say another word.

The prize money was used to cover his father’s funeral expenses.

After all that, the Commander of the Southeast Military District offered to introduce Gu Yin to the Federal Military Department, asking if he was interested. The federal government and military headquarters were located on Colonial Star 2.

Gu Yin declined, saying he wanted to stay on the main planet to be with his mother and grandfather.

After every mission, he’d have a short break. But if he were stationed on a colonial planet, he might not come back for three or five years.

That trace of melancholy in Gu Yin’s eyes didn’t escape Xiao Zong’s notice. Xiao Zong reached out and ruffled his hair, and Wei Mian, perceptive as ever, quickly changed the subject.

As soon as they finished dinner, the sky had completely darkened, and the servants began cleaning up.

Wei Mian took a few calls during the meal but didn’t mention anything until the cozy dinner was over. Then, he told Xiao Zong that President Li and a group of business leaders were waiting for him.

They were eager to probe for more information.

Although Xiao Zong would’ve preferred to stay at the villa and watch Gu Yin play with the cat, work was more urgent. He was about to go head-to-head with the federal government, and the Xiao family alone wasn’t enough.

Before leaving, Xiao Zong reminded Gu Yin to finish his review and go to bed early, telling him not to wait up. Gu Yin, holding the cat, nodded and agreed.

Xiao Zong wondered why he was being so obedient all of a sudden.

But he didn’t have time to dwell on it. He put on his coat and left, reminding Gu Yin to keep an eye on the cat and make sure Commander didn’t run off. If Hades caught its scent, it might try to drag it back.

Xiao Zong’s nagging made him seem like a husband busy running a household.

(Scratch that, let’s redo it.)

——A young master busy running a household.

As soon as Xiao Zong stepped outside into the cold wind, the warm and fragrant atmosphere from inside the house dissipated. His mind, foggy from being full and cozy, cleared up almost immediately, and he found it amusing.

The relationship had only just begun to take shape.

**

Gu Yin watched as the budding relationship left the house. His face was slightly flushed, and he whispered to Commander, “You’ll have to sleep on your own tonight.”

The short-legged cat didn’t understand. It liked warm places, and after eating and sleeping well, it was happy to be held, its fluffy tail swishing back and forth as it purred contentedly.

The cat had a one-sided grudge against Xiao Zong, but Xiao Zong pampered it. It had its own little room, complete with a bed and a playground. Everything was there, though its supply of fish snacks was limited — Second Master Xiao had ordered that they couldn’t let this beautiful face turn into a round pancake.

Gu Yin tried reading for a while, but he couldn’t focus.

Xiao Zong’s embrace was warm and comforting. He wanted… someone to hold him too.

Gu Yin reached for his phone, his hand stopping mid-air before slowly pulling back.

After a while, he repeated the motion.

After doing this two or three more times, he suddenly snapped the book shut, stood up from the desk, and headed straight for the bathroom. Ten minutes later, the sound of running water echoed from the shower.

This bath took an unusually long time. When Gu Yin finally emerged, his skin was flushed, and his eyes were misty. His movements had a subtle sluggishness, though he didn’t notice it himself.

**

By the time Xiao Zong returned, it was almost midnight.

In the business world, the Xiao family had a reputation for being straightforward, getting straight to the point without the unnecessary pleasantries or atmosphere-setting that usually accompanied such occasions. This made everything more efficient.

[UNNAMED] had caused such a big stir, partly using the entrepreneurs as pawns, but the timing had been just right, allowing Xiao Zong to turn it into a weapon against the privileged class.

During this time, Xiao Zong had been planning how to launch his attack under the guise of taking time off.

Starting a war without a clear cause wouldn’t work, and even Old Master Xiao, who rarely left the house, knew that waiting for the federal government to make the first move would only lead Xiao Zong to the same fate as his father, Xiao Sinian.

If anything happened to him, Xiao Jingchuan wasn’t cut out for business, and the Xiao family would likely fall into Leng Xia’s hands.

After entering the house and taking off his suit jacket, Xiao Zong was about to turn on the lights when he heard something outside on the balcony.

Commander couldn’t jump that high. Could it be Hades?

Felines didn’t like sleeping at night. In his younger days, Hades had a reputation for running around and scaring people. It wasn’t until he got older that he became more composed, exuding a commanding presence.

Xiao Zong casually tossed his jacket on the sofa and pulled open the curtains, just in time to see a white figure flipping over the balcony.

The night sky was clear, filled with stars, and the distant mountains cast dark shadows.

The mountains were especially quiet at night. In winter, the insects, birds, and animals hid away, leaving only the endless howling of the cold wind.

First, a hand appeared over the marble railing.

The wrist was slender and long, but the fingers were distinct, not the soft, delicate hands of someone pampered. These hands had just made him a pot of soup a few hours ago. The owner of these hands had a harmless, babyish face, making him look innocent and youthful.

If it had been anyone else, they’d have been scared to death in the middle of the night.

“What are you doing?” Xiao Zong’s voice carried a hint of anger.

Gu Yin’s hand slipped, and he nearly fell back.

This was the third floor!

Xiao Zong took two quick steps forward and pulled him back into his arms, his heart pounding.

“Gu Yin, what were you doing up there? You got an immunity token today, and now you’re trying to make me angry at night?”

“I wasn’t asleep yet. I heard you come back,” Gu Yin explained, “so I came for a goodnight kiss.”

Xiao Zong’s heart almost jumped out of his chest. He held Gu Yin tightly, still shaken. “You nearly scared me to death.”

Gu Yin snuggled affectionately into his arms, like a kitten, as if he could grow a big tail and start wagging it.

The villa’s exterior was made of marble, much sturdier than the wooden structures of Lan Ruo Pavilion. Gu Yin had trained in high-altitude rappelling and free climbing, and during missions, he scaled skyscrapers hundreds of meters high. This retro European-style villa was nothing in comparison.

It wasn’t until now that Xiao Zong noticed Gu Yin was only wearing a bathrobe.

The white bathrobe was loose, and when Gu Yin climbed over the railing, the neckline had slipped, revealing a sliver of his shoulder. The only thing holding it together was the belt tied at his waist, making him appear even thinner, as if one arm could wrap around him.

When Xiao Zong had pulled back the curtains earlier, he hadn’t seen clearly, but now he realized that the move required quite a bit of core strength and flexibility.

Gu Yin, noticing his silence, repeated earnestly, “I came for a goodnight kiss.”

That day, Xiao Zong had kissed him so lightly, like a feather brushing by, that Gu Yin hadn’t even had time to react.

Gu Yin was like a young, unripe fruit — hard on the outside at first, but once you peeled away his cautious exterior, you’d find him sweet and tender inside, just waiting to be savored.

And now, he was presenting himself, all washed up and ready, to Xiao Zong.

Though things had taken a little longer than planned — he’d originally intended to wait for Xiao Zong in bed.

Unfortunately, Gu Yin had been neglecting his training recently, and after dawdling for a while, Xiao Zong had caught him just in time.

Xiao Zong was so amused he almost laughed, but when Gu Yin looked up at him, his expression was so serious.

He seemed like he didn’t know anything, yet at the same time, it was as if he knew everything.

Xiao Zong ran a hand through Gu Yin’s soft hair, lowering his head slightly as he coaxed, “Call me Ge Ge.’”

“Ge Ge…”

Xiao Zong kissed him.

He cupped the back of Gu Yin’s head, deepening the kiss little by little. What started as a gentle touch of lips grew more passionate, their lips and teeth grazing against each other, from soft licks to territorial invasion.

Gu Yin, having never kissed before, was so inexperienced that he almost bit himself. Xiao Zong patiently guided him, causing the long-simmering fire in Gu Yin to flare up once more.

After a long while, Xiao Zong finally let him go, his voice low as he asked, “Did you learn?”

Xiao Zong’s face had always carried a sharp, striking beauty, often giving off an unapproachable vibe. But now, his peach blossom eyes held a trace of lingering desire, and his voice had a husky, magnetic quality.

Midnight had arrived, and during the New Year celebrations, someone in the manor set off fireworks.

Bright, colorful fireworks exploded against the dark blue night sky. Gu Yin, still out of breath, wrapped his arms around Xiao Zong’s neck and leaned in for another kiss.

This time, he took the initiative, but soon lost control under Xiao Zong’s response.

The fireworks lit up the entire sky with beautiful colors.

When they finally pulled apart again, Gu Yin’s lips were slightly swollen, and the lack of oxygen made him look a bit dazed. In his clear eyes, the reflection of Xiao Zong’s face could be seen.

And in Xiao Zong’s eyes, there was only him.

Xian Yun Manor’s climate was mild, not as cold as Lin City’s winter, but the nights were still chilly. The bathrobe was made of high-tech heating fibers, but it was so loose that the cold wind seeped through.

But Gu Yin felt warm.

Xiao Zong lightly brushed his thumb over Gu Yin’s lips. “——You only wanted a goodnight kiss? Hmm?”

Gu Yin’s first thought was that Xiao Zong was telling him to climb back down the way he had come.

But in the next moment, Xiao Zong scooped him up like a cat and held him close.

“Stay here tonight.”

The author has something to say:

Fang Chi, providing commentary from the sidelines: “Since you’re already here…” (just kidding)

Meng: Ahhh~ Secretary Gu and Xiao Romeo… wait, no, Juliet (cross that out)!