At three in the morning, someone knocked on Lu Jin Wen’s door.
He opened it with a deeply resentful expression. Seeing Jiang Shao outside did not surprise him in the slightest. He remarked sarcastically, “Why didn’t you simply wait until dawn to come?”
Caught off guard by the opening attack, Jiang Shao coughed lightly. “You weren’t asleep anyway.”
Lu Jin Wen gave a dry laugh. “I suppose being woken up counts as not sleeping.”
He had known Jiang Shao would come looking for him and had waited all night, but Jiang Shao never appeared. Thinking he had miscalculated, Lu Jin Wen finally went to bed. Who would have guessed that Jiang Shao would still come in the end—
Just after he had fallen asleep.
Jiang Shao refused to discuss the matter. His expression turned serious as he seized the initiative and sharply questioned Lu Jin Wen, “Why did you approach Qi Mu?”
Lu Jin Wen raised an eyebrow at him. “I thought you would ask about Li Xin first. So Qi Mu’s priority has already risen this high.”
Jiang Shao said, “…I trust you to handle matters, so there was no need to ask.”
Lu Jin Wen drew out an understanding “Oh.”
Jiang Shao remained expressionless. “Then tell me about Li Xin first.”
Lu Jin Wen snorted. “What else could have happened? The moment he saw me making contact with someone else, he panicked. He has already accepted my terms and signed the valuation-adjustment agreement.”
Jiang Shao said contemptuously, “Still as incapable of keeping his composure as ever.”
Lu Jin Wen clicked his tongue and sighed with false concern. “You’re being awfully ruthless. Aren’t you afraid Mr. Jiang will find out and truly throw you out of the family?”
Jiang Shao replied indifferently, “Oh? Haven’t I already been thrown out?”
Seeing how little Jiang Shao cared, Lu Jin Wen silently gave him a thumbs-up. What he admired most was Jiang Shao’s complete disregard for family ties. With that mentality, how could he possibly fail at anything?
Jiang Shao was clearly uninterested in Li Xin’s affairs. He looked at Lu Jin Wen and asked solemnly once again, “You still haven’t explained why you approached Qi Mu. I never told you to do that.”
Lu Jin Wen replied meaningfully, “I was merely curious about the sort of person who could make you change your mind.”
Jiang Shao remembered how Lu Jin Wen had previously invited him to attend, only for him to refuse. Feeling slightly guilty, he looked away. “He’s my boss. I couldn’t refuse when he told me to go on a business trip.”
Lu Jin Wen nodded in sudden understanding. “So you’re such an obedient employee.”
Jiang Shao: “…”
Lu Jin Wen studied him curiously and teased, “There’s something I don’t understand, though. When did you become so close to your boss that you can even share a room with him?”
With a calm and indifferent expression, Jiang Shao repeated Qi Mu’s explanation. “There were no other rooms available at such short notice.”
Lu Jin Wen remarked as though casually, “But he may very well be gay. Don’t you find that disgusting?”
Jiang Shao nearly choked and coughed several times before saying with a dark expression, “It was only one photograph. What could that possibly prove? Stop making baseless assumptions… Besides, it’s a suite. We aren’t staying in the same bedroom!”
Lu Jin Wen smiled faintly. “Speaking of the photograph, aren’t you curious about who that man was?”
Jiang Shao snorted coldly. “What does it have to do with me whom he spends time with?”
Lu Jin Wen nodded. “True. It’s perfectly normal for childhood sweethearts to be together. There really is nothing worth paying attention to.”
Jiang Shao’s gaze immediately changed. “You investigated him.”
Lu Jin Wen shrugged and sighed. “I thought you wanted to know. Since you don’t, I won’t concern myself with it in the future.”
Jiang Shao: “…”
He felt that Lu Jin Wen was deliberately targeting him, but he had no evidence. After a long silence, he stiffly said with a stern expression, “Using ‘childhood sweethearts’ to describe two grown men isn’t very appropriate, is it?”
Lu Jin Wen said, “Then childhood bros?”
There was absolutely no way to continue this conversation. Jiang Shao abruptly stood and left, unwilling to discuss such pointless matters any longer.
Lu Jin Wen watched Jiang Shao’s retreating figure. Just as he reached the door, Lu Jin Wen suddenly asked, “Are you certain Qi Mu doesn’t know your identity?”
Jiang Shao’s footsteps stopped. He turned back and asked solemnly, “What do you mean by that?”
Lu Jin Wen had been the one who originally said Qi Mu did not know, yet now he was also the one questioning him.
Lu Jin Wen put away his teasing, relaxed expression. His gaze became serious, and he slowly said, “He was quite wary while speaking to me today.”
There was no reason for that.
Lu Jin Wen never believed anything in this world happened without a reason. If it seemed otherwise, it merely meant he had not yet discovered that reason.
Jiang Shao fell briefly silent.
He had been present at the time and had naturally noticed it as well. But… just as Lu Jin Wen thought, there was no reason for it.
Lu Jin Wen stared steadily at Jiang Shao. “What do you think?”
Unless Qi Mu knew about the relationship between Lu Jin Wen and Jiang Shao, as well as what they were planning, he should not have appeared so nervous and guarded. Yet even if Qi Mu truly knew something, neither of them harbored any hostility toward him, so there was still no reason for Qi Mu to behave that way…
Moreover, Lu Jin Wen’s relationship with Jiang Shao was highly secretive.
There was absolutely no possibility that Qi Mu could know.
Lu Jin Wen could not understand it no matter how he considered the matter. He had initially approached Qi Mu merely because he was curious about what sort of person could make Jiang Shao change his mind. He had not expected Qi Mu’s reaction to be so surprising.
Jiang Shao contemplated the matter gravely for several minutes. Finally, he raised his eyes and replied with equal seriousness, “Could it be because you look like a treacherous villain?”
Lu Jin Wen: “…”
Was this retaliation for what he had said earlier?
Lu Jin Wen smiled without warmth as he looked at Jiang Shao. “No matter how bad I am, could I possibly be less human than you?”
…
Qi Mu slowly opened his eyes. His gaze had not yet focused after waking, and he stared blankly at the chandelier overhead.
His head still ached faintly from the hangover. His memories of the previous night were fragmented, and much of it was unclear. He only vaguely remembered a chaotic scene in which Jiang Shao had nearly confronted Fang Ming Qian…
He also seemed to have vomited. How had he returned to bed last night?
Qi Mu shook his head and looked down at himself. He discovered that he was still wearing yesterday’s clothes, but his jacket and shoes had been removed. Had Jiang Shao taken them off for him?
The Long Aotian knew how to care for someone?
Qi Mu found the idea far too frightening. In the dream, the Long Aotian had only known how to show off and slap people in the face. He could barely be bothered to pay attention even to his harem and was an utterly insensitive straight man. When had he ever cared for anyone?
That must have been another nightmare.
Qi Mu had drunk alcohol and sweated considerably the previous night. His wrinkled clothes clung uncomfortably to his body, so he got up, showered, and changed into fresh clothes. He immediately felt much better.
Since he had nothing scheduled today—
Qi Mu emerged relatively late.
Jiang Shao sat on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other. When he saw Qi Mu come out, he said calmly, “I ordered breakfast. Eat now that you’re awake.”
Only then did Qi Mu notice the breakfast laid out on the table. It consisted entirely of bland, stomach-soothing congee and side dishes, making him feel even more uneasy.
What did the Long Aotian mean by this?
Qi Mu’s memories were a complete mess. The occasional fragments that surfaced made his face grow hot. He did not dare look at Jiang Shao again and pretended to be calm as he sat down and lowered his head to eat.
He struggled to remember whether he had offended the Long Aotian while drunk the previous night…
Jiang Shao, meanwhile, stared openly at the man before him.
Qi Mu had returned to his usual clean and immaculate appearance today. There was no trace of his disheveled state from the previous night, nor any indication of how much he remembered.
Jiang Shao lightly rubbed his thumb against his index finger, the expression in his dark eyes constantly shifting.
There were far too many suspicious things about Qi Mu.
Qi Mu must have seen the conflict between Jiang Shao and Li Xin and therefore discarded Li Xin’s business card. But Qi Mu knew nothing about their plans. Faced with a potential major client like Li Xin, he had no reason to abandon the connection. To claim it was for Jiang Shao’s sake would be far too self-important.
Moreover, Qi Mu had behaved strangely when Lu Jin Wen extended his goodwill. They had only just met, and becoming acquainted with Lu Jin Wen could bring Qi Mu no disadvantage. Why would someone who treated everyone with warmth and courtesy be so guarded specifically toward Lu Jin Wen?
Qi Mu had even been willing to flatter and befriend Fang Ming Qian. Why, then, had he behaved so indifferently toward Lu Jin Wen and Li Xin?
On the surface, there appeared to be nothing wrong with Qi Mu’s actions, but they could not withstand deeper scrutiny.
The matters Lu Jin Wen had mentioned were also things Jiang Shao himself suspected. However… this was between him and Qi Mu. Jiang Shao would uncover the truth personally. There was no need for a third party to interfere, which was why he had ended the conversation with a joke.
Moreover, after what happened the previous night…
Jiang Shao had to admit that he was not completely unaffected by Qi Mu, but he did not believe that meant he liked him.
Although Jiang Shao had avoided entering any intimate relationship over the years for personal reasons, he was still ultimately a man, and sex was a man’s instinct. He understood perfectly well that a momentary impulse meant nothing. He certainly would not allow a brief stirring of desire to rob him of his reason and judgment.
Qi Mu drank some warm congee to soothe his stomach. Feeling much more comfortable and refreshed, he finally raised his head to look at Jiang Shao again.
Jiang Shao was finally not wearing a cold expression today. Had the person who offended him already been eliminated?
Considering that the Long Aotian’s revenge plots in the dream never lasted longer than three chapters, that seemed highly possible.
Moreover, Jiang Shao appeared to be in a fairly good mood. In that case, Qi Mu probably had not offended him the previous night, right?
At the thought, Qi Mu breathed a sigh of relief.
Although there had been several unexpected complications along the way, the summit had gone smoothly overall, and Qi Mu had gained a great deal from it. Thinking of that, his mood improved as well.
Everything had advantages and disadvantages. Although the Long Aotian was indeed troublesome, Qi Mu ought to focus on the positive side.
At least this auspicious mascot was useful.
Qi Mu looked amiably at Jiang Shao. “I still have some personal matters to handle. You can return to the company first. Ask the Finance Department to reimburse your travel expenses.”
Jiang Shao raised an eyebrow. “You don’t need me to accompany you?”
Qi Mu nodded. He no longer required the Long Aotian for what came next. Why would he bring this formidable ancestor along for no reason?
Jiang Shao did not become angry this time. He merely looked at Qi Mu with an ambiguous smile, the corner of his mouth rising. “Could President Qi be hiding some shameful secret?”
Those words crossed the line slightly.
They were not that close.
But Jiang Shao had spoken as though making a joke. If Qi Mu took it seriously, he would appear guilty instead.
Qi Mu smiled faintly and ignored him.
Jiang Shao sighed in apparent distress. “I came on this business trip with President Qi. If I abandon my boss and return alone, Sister Xiao Hui will probably accuse me of lacking initiative again.”
Qi Mu looked at Jiang Shao in surprise. He finally understood that Jiang Shao wanted to accompany him.
There was nothing particularly wrong with bringing him along. Qi Mu was not doing anything shameful. He merely thought taking Jiang Shao was unnecessary…
Since the young master insisted on seeking hardship where none existed, there was no reason for Qi Mu to stop him, was there?
Qi Mu smiled. “All right. Then we’ll go together.”
…
On a rugged mountain road—
Qi Mu sat in the rear seat of a jeep.
The driver and Jiang Shao sat in front.
They had already been traveling along the mountain roads for more than two hours. Because it had recently rained, the road was muddy and slippery, forcing them to drive more slowly for safety. Qi Mu gripped the handle above the window to keep himself barely steady, but even so, the ride was extremely bumpy.
Qi Mu discreetly looked toward the front.
Seeing Jiang Shao’s calm and unruffled profile, Qi Mu thought he had underestimated the Long Aotian. Jiang Shao seemed to accept the conditions perfectly well, without the slightest complaint or dissatisfaction.
Qi Mu’s plan to make the Long Aotian retreat in the face of hardship had failed. He quickly stopped thinking about it. Whether Jiang Shao came or not made no difference to him anyway.
Winter had recently begun, and the temperature had dropped sharply. With New Year’s Day approaching, Qi Mu had donated another batch of winter supplies to the Hope Primary School he sponsored. The principal had invited Qi Mu to visit long ago, but he had never had time. Now that the summit was over and he had a little free time, and since the school was not far from City D, Qi Mu had decided to stop by.
More than half a year had passed since his previous visit. He wondered how the children were doing…
Suddenly, the vehicle jolted violently. Inertia threw Qi Mu forward. Had he not been wearing a seat belt, he probably would have kissed the seatback with his face.
“What happened?” Qi Mu frowned.
The driver quickly got out to inspect the situation. When he returned, he told Qi Mu, “President Qi, one of the tires has sunk into a muddy pit.”
Qi Mu asked, “Can we get out?”
The driver was an experienced local whom Qi Mu had hired. He quickly assessed the situation and shook his head. “We can’t drive it out. I’m afraid we’ll need to call a tow truck.”
After speaking, he looked at Qi Mu awkwardly. Qi Mu had paid him, yet an accident had occurred midway, and he probably would not be able to deliver them on time.
Qi Mu saw his difficulty and said, “It’s all right. We aren’t far from the school now. You can stay here and wait for assistance. I’ll walk the rest of the way.”
The driver had not expected Qi Mu to be so understanding. He said gratefully, “All right. Thank you very much, President Qi.”
Qi Mu smiled. “It’s nothing.”
Qi Mu unfastened his seat belt, put on his coat, and got out. Seeing Jiang Shao step out as well, he paused and said, “You can remain here and wait.”
Jiang Shao raised his eyelids and looked at him lazily. “You expect me to sit in the car while my boss walks there alone? You aren’t planning to use that as an excuse to fire me, are you?”
Qi Mu said, “…Suit yourself.”
He had already said what needed to be said. Whether the Long Aotian came was entirely his own decision. He could not blame Qi Mu later.
Qi Mu walked straight ahead.
The Hope Primary School was located deep in the mountains. The area was remote and impoverished, so no concrete road had been built. Once it rained, the dirt road became extremely difficult to traverse. Before long, mud covered their leather shoes and trouser hems.
Jiang Shao followed half a step behind Qi Mu. Lowering his eyes slightly, he watched the immaculate trouser hems of the man ahead become stained with mud, yet Qi Mu seemed not to care at all.
He walked among the trees and vegetation of the mountains, his profile tranquil and peaceful.
Although his meticulous suit and overcoat appeared completely out of place here, he carried himself with such ease and contentment that he instead seemed naturally integrated into the surroundings, without the slightest sense of incongruity.
This was not Qi Mu’s first time visiting. Ordinarily, people considered their responsibility fulfilled after donating money. They would neither return nor check on what happened afterward. Yet Qi Mu had come here more than once.
He greatly enjoyed the quiet natural beauty of the mountains. Here, the busyness of reality, his parents’ expectations, and his employees’ hopes all seemed temporarily distant. He did not need to shoulder anything or pretend to be whatever others imagined him to be. His entire body relaxed, and he needed only to be himself, occasionally setting down his burdens to do something he genuinely enjoyed.
Seeing the children’s happy smiles also brought him joy.
Qi Mu had traveled this road many times and knew it well. Once they crossed the next hill, they would reach the school. However, halfway there, he suddenly heard someone nearby crying for help.
Qi Mu’s ears twitched, and his expression changed. Without hesitation, he turned and hurried in another direction.
He remembered there was a pond nearby.
He broke into a quick jog. In his urgency, he nearly fell along the way, but soon reached the edge of the pond. A child was struggling and thrashing in the water.
Qi Mu recognized him as a child from the village whom he had seen several times at the school. He had probably sneaked away to play near the water, only to slip on the muddy bank and fall in. Such accidents were not uncommon.
Qi Mu desperately wanted to enter the water and save him, but he could not swim. If he recklessly jumped in now, not only would he fail to rescue the child, but he would also lose his own life.
Qi Mu forced himself to calm down and quickly took out his phone to make a call, but the signal was too weak, and the call would not connect. No, he could not waste any more time. Even if he managed to get through, no one could arrive quickly enough.
Qi Mu turned and searched nearby for a branch that he could extend to the child and use to pull him out, but he could not find anything suitable.
What should he do?
Qi Mu’s face was taut with anxiety. His grip on the phone tightened until his fingers turned white and trembled slightly. Just as he stood there at a loss, a powerful hand suddenly pressed down on his wrist. Qi Mu turned his head in helpless confusion.
Jiang Shao’s low voice rang out with absolute certainty.
“I’ll go.”
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