The garage lighting was dim, barely enough to see the way. When Ji Yuzhou got upstairs, he noticed that Jiang Xunyu didn’t look well.

It was no surprise. The boy had endured years of hardship at the orphanage, leaving him malnourished and vulnerable. Coupled with the emotional strain he’d just experienced, the rain on the way back was the final straw.

Ji Yuzhou handed him a towel. “Dry yourself off first. Then take a hot shower.”

“Thank you, Mr. Ji.”

Jiang Xunyu quietly accepted the towel, rubbing it over his rain-dampened hair. Ji Yuzhou noticed something and chuckled. “Why are you still clutching my coat?”

Jiang Xunyu froze, only then realizing that he was still unconsciously holding onto Ji Yuzhou’s coat. The once-crisp garment was now a crumpled mess. Embarrassment flushed his face as his hands froze mid-air, unsure of what to do.

Ji Yuzhou was amused by his reaction. He ruffled Jiang Xunyu’s hair through the towel and said, “You don’t need to wash the coat. Just put it in the laundry basket. Go take a shower first.”

The gentle touch vanished as quickly as it came. Jiang Xunyu stood frozen in place, watching Ji Yuzhou head upstairs. He listened to the sound of the door closing and, after a long while, let a small smile creep onto his face before heading off to take a warm, comforting shower.

….

The next morning, as expected, Jiang Xunyu woke up with a fever.

Looking at Jiang Xunyu’s flushed face from the fever, Ji Yuzhou requested a sick leave for him and called Lu Hewang over to examine him.

Ji Yuzhou rarely fell ill. Ever since returning from the frontlines, he had hardly been injured, and aside from routine physical checkups, he had little need for Lu Hewang. Used to his leisurely days, Lu Hewang was still half-asleep when he received Ji Yuzhou’s call.

Rubbing his eyes, Lu Hewang entered Ji Yuzhou’s home, then went upstairs to Jiang Xunyu’s room. Seeing the young man lying in bed, he froze for a moment. His drowsiness instantly vanished as his eyes widened in shock. He leaned toward Ji Yuzhou and whispered, “Why are you still keeping this kid at home? Don’t tell me…”

“What nonsense are you thinking? He’s just a kid.” Ji Yuzhou chuckled indifferently and led him over to Jiang Xunyu. “He seems to have a fever today. Check him out.”

Since they were at home, Jiang Xunyu wasn’t wearing a hat. Dizzy with fever, he instinctively looked up when someone sat next to him, locking eyes with Lu Hewang.

Lu Hewang was startled and blurted out, “His eyes…”

Aside from a certain pirate leader whose name was best left unmentioned, Lu Hewang had never heard of anyone else with heterochromatic eyes.

Jiang Xunyu stiffened.

Ji Yuzhou’s seemingly nonchalant gaze swept over, but his eyes carried a heavy chill. Realizing his slip, Lu Hewang quickly tried to amend, saying, “…They’re beautiful.”

Swallowing his curiosity, he refrained from probing further. He measured Jiang Xunyu’s temperature, prescribed some medication, and observed as the boy’s tense body relaxed slightly. Only then did Ji Yuzhou’s expression ease.

The fever medicine caused drowsiness, and Jiang Xunyu soon fell asleep after taking it. Stepping out of the room, Lu Hewang couldn’t help but ask, “About his eyes…”

Having worked with Ji Yuzhou for many years, Lu Hewang was well-acquainted with his ways. When Ji Yuzhou initially mentioned that Jiang Xunyu was the child of an old friend, Lu Hewang had been skeptical. Eye color was often hereditary, yet he had never known Ji Yuzhou to have any acquaintances with such unique eyes. A possibility flashed through his mind…

“They’re beautiful,” Ji Yuzhou interrupted, deliberately evading the question and echoing Lu Hewang’s earlier words.

Lu Hewang was someone Ji Yuzhou trusted, and telling him wouldn’t have been an issue. Yet, he hesitated. He wasn’t sure whether he wanted to send the boy away or watch him grow into a capable adult.

Lu Hewang chose not to press further and, after offering a few instructions, left Ji Yuzhou’s home.

Ji Yuzhou glanced at the sleeping Jiang Xunyu, closed the door, and silently headed to the Corp’s headquarters.

…..

Upon arriving at the sentry post, a junior soldier approached him with a troubled expression. Ji Yuzhou rolled down the car window and listened as the soldier explained, “General Ji, a lady is here with several bags, insisting on seeing you. When we asked for her access pass, she couldn’t produce one. She claims to be the wife of a lieutenant general. We didn’t dare turn her away outright and temporarily kept her at the sentry station.”

Ji Yuzhou frowned slightly. He didn’t recall scheduling a meeting with any lieutenant general’s wife. To be cautious, he got out of the car and instructed, “Let’s go take a look.”

“Yes, sir!”

The soldier led Ji Yuzhou into the station, where a woman immediately approached him. “General Ji! It’s such an honor to finally meet you,” she exclaimed, her tone overly enthusiastic.

Ji Yuzhou subtly stepped back, creating some distance. “And you are…?”

The woman coughed lightly, tugging at her brightly colored dress. “My child was reckless and caused you trouble,” she said hurriedly, pushing the bags in her hands toward Ji Yuzhou. At a glance, they seemed to contain nutritional supplements. “These are for the boy in your care. Please accept them to help him recover.”

Ji Yuzhou quickly understood the situation—this must be the mother of the boy who had fought with Jiang Xunyu.

He didn’t take the bags and replied in a colder tone, “That won’t be necessary.”

His expression was unreadable, his gaze slightly frosty. Without saying whether he forgave or didn’t forgive, he turned to the soldier and instructed, “Escort the guest out.”

“Yes, sir.”

The woman, clearly flustered, tried to say more, but Ji Yuzhou’s demeanor silenced her. Feeling intimidated, she allowed the soldier to lead her away. “I’m truly sorry, General Ji. Please don’t hold a grudge,” she murmured before being ushered out of the station.

Back in his car, Ji Yuzhou had nearly forgotten about the boy until the woman’s visit brought him back to mind. Upon arriving inside his office, he immediately called the head of the school and ordered him to transfer that Xingchang boy to a different class.

Ji Yuzhou was not one to easily let go of grudges. Anyone who bullied the kid under his care didn’t deserve his leniency.