Jiang Shao quickly pulled off his shirt and jumped into the pond. His long arms cut through the water, and he soon reached the child.
He wrapped an arm around the wildly struggling boy from behind and brought him back through the water. Qi Mu stood at the bank and hurriedly reached out to take the child, checking his condition while repeatedly asking, “How are you?”
The boy had probably swallowed a great deal of water. He kept coughing and could not speak. Qi Mu immediately helped him stand properly and made him bend forward to cough the water out.
“Cough, cough, cough—ugh—”
After expelling the water, the boy looked much better. Seeing that he remained conscious and appeared to be in no serious danger, Qi Mu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The child shivered violently from the cold. Soaking wet, he looked at Qi Mu with tear-filled eyes. “Uncle Qi—”
Qi Mu stroked his head and gently comforted him. “All right, all right. You’re safe now.”
He looked at the boy’s drenched clothing. The water was freezing in winter, and the child would probably catch a cold if he remained like this. Qi Mu helped him remove the wet clothes and prepared to take off his own coat for the boy to wear. But before he could do so, Jiang Shao suddenly reached out and stopped him. He glanced indifferently at Qi Mu, picked up the coat he had removed earlier, and tossed it over the child’s head, wrapping him into a bundle in a few swift movements.
Qi Mu looked somewhat surprised. “You—”
Jiang Shao lowered his gaze toward Qi Mu, wearing a roguish smile as he teased, “What? Is President Qi worried about me?”
Qi Mu did not want to answer.
Jiang Shao raised an eyebrow and gave a low laugh. He picked up his shirt, casually wiped some of the water from his body, then stretched out his arms and began putting it on.
Now that the child was no longer in danger, Qi Mu finally had time to look at Jiang Shao properly.
Jiang Shao was soaked from head to toe. Water dripped from his hair, sliding down the side of his face and neck toward his chest. Because he had removed his shirt to enter the water, his lean, powerful upper body was fully exposed. His shoulders appeared even broader as he stretched out his arms, his chest rising and falling slightly with each breath. A perfectly balanced layer of muscle covered his frame, his pectorals and abdominal muscles sharply defined, while blue veins stood out along his arms, radiating untamed strength.
Qi Mu’s gaze settled on Jiang Shao’s body. In his distraction, fragments from the previous night suddenly flashed through his mind. It had been arms like these that held him firmly trapped in this man’s embrace, while Qi Mu had pushed against his chest and found it hard as stone, impossible to move…
So this was the chest he had touched through the fabric at the time…
Qi Mu abruptly drew in a deep breath and secretly resented himself for remembering neither sooner nor later, but precisely after seeing this. His ears grew hot, and he unnaturally lowered his gaze.
Only to see that Jiang Shao was wearing a pair of black trousers. The soaked fabric clung tightly to his body, outlining his long, powerful legs, and even there, his impressive endowment was unmistakable.
Qi Mu froze again. Perhaps men naturally compared themselves to one another. Remembering the countless members of Jiang Shao’s harem in the dream, Qi Mu thought that he clearly was not all show and no substance, and felt inexplicably jealous.
Qi Mu silently turned away and stopped looking at him.
Jiang Shao slowly put on his shirt and buttoned it, his gaze brushing over the reddened tips of Qi Mu’s ears.
How could Qi Mu’s tiny movements possibly escape his notice?
He became shy over something like this?
That did not seem to suit his supposedly flirtatious nature…
Jiang Shao suppressed the upward curve of his lips.
He reached out, directly hoisted the child onto his back, then looked at Qi Mu and raised an eyebrow with a smile. “Let’s go.”
Only then did Qi Mu secretly glance at Jiang Shao. Seeing that he was fully dressed again, Qi Mu released an almost imperceptible breath of relief. He struggled to banish those fragments from his mind and quickly walked ahead.
Jiang Shao followed several steps behind. Watching Qi Mu’s slightly hurried pace, he felt inexplicably pleased.
They walked for approximately an hour and crossed another hill before finally reaching the school.
A group of children was playing in the yard. When they saw Qi Mu, they happily swarmed toward him. “Uncle Qi, you came!”
Then they noticed the boy on Jiang Shao’s back and cried out in surprise, “Xiao Jun, when did you sneak out? What happened to you?”
Principal Zhang came out after hearing the commotion. The elderly principal had graying hair and looked to be in his sixties. After retiring, he had come here to serve as the principal. He was not only the principal, but also a teacher. Including him, the entire school had only three teachers.
Principal Zhang was delighted to see Qi Mu and clasped his hand. “President Qi, you finally found time to visit.”
“I’ve been too busy lately.” Qi Mu shook Principal Zhang’s hand, then said, “On our way here, we found Xiao Jun after he had fallen into the water. He may have caught a chill. Please have someone take him to wash up.”
Principal Zhang looked toward the boy on Jiang Shao’s back.
The child lowered his head guiltily and did not dare look at him, but his body betrayed him with a sneeze, followed by mucus running down his nose.
Principal Zhang raised a hand as though preparing to hit him and scolded, “You disobedient brat!” Yet he still turned and called out, “Xiao Jiang, take Xiao Jun to wash up and give him some cold medicine.”
A young woman soon emerged from the classroom. She had a sweet, round face and wore simple clothes, but appeared lively and energetic. She was a university graduate who had come here to volunteer as a teacher. After smiling and greeting Qi Mu, she took the child from Jiang Shao and led him away.
Only then did Qi Mu introduce Jiang Shao to Principal Zhang. “This is Jiang Shao, an employee at my company.”
Principal Zhang looked Jiang Shao over. Seeing that his clothes were wet, he immediately realized Jiang Shao had entered the water to save the child. He tightly clasped both Jiang Shao’s hands. “Thank you so much for today.”
Jiang Shao was somewhat unaccustomed to such enthusiasm and replied indifferently, “It was nothing.”
Principal Zhang said apologetically, “Our school only has one simple shower room, which I use while staying here. Xiao Jun is bathing right now, so I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a little. Come inside with me first. It’s too cold out here.”
Principal Zhang led Qi Mu and Jiang Shao to his office and poured them hot tea.
Qi Mu looked at Jiang Shao sitting beside him. His hair was still wet, dripping water after being casually swept back to reveal his forehead and sharp brows. His clothes also clung to his body. He appeared perfectly fine, but in weather this cold, remaining like that must have been uncomfortable…
Fortunately, the shower room was soon free. Teacher Jiang called from the doorway, “President Qi, your employee can go wash now.”
Jiang Shao stood.
Principal Zhang rose at the same time. “I’ll find him a clean set of clothes.”
In an instant, everyone had left the room.
With nothing to do alone, Qi Mu also went outside to check on the children. If anything else was lacking, he could arrange for it to be delivered next time.
…
The school had only one teaching building.
Behind it stood a row of single-story rooms. Usually, only Principal Zhang lived there. As he led Jiang Shao toward the dormitory shower room, he smiled and said, “President Qi must trust you greatly.”
Jiang Shao raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Why do you think so?”
Principal Zhang said, “I remember that apart from the first one or two visits, President Qi always came alone afterward. He never brought anyone else.”
Jiang Shao looked thoughtful. “He always comes alone?”
Principal Zhang said, “Yes. At first, this Hope Primary School was built with funding donated by President Qi’s company. But over the following years, all the supplies and equipment were donated personally by President Qi. He said using the company accounts was troublesome, so he simply paid for everything himself. I once asked why he always came alone. He said this was his personal matter, and it would be inappropriate to trouble people from the company.”
After a moment of silence, Jiang Shao asked, “Does he come often?”
Principal Zhang smiled. “Not particularly often. He’s busy with work and usually cannot get away, so he only visits whenever he has time. But the supplies never stop throughout the year. Look, winter is nearly here, so he purchased another batch and had it delivered for me to distribute among the children.”
They reached the shower room after only a brief conversation. Calling it a bathroom was generous—it was merely a simple partitioned cubicle connected to hot water.
Principal Zhang told Jiang Shao, “Take a hot shower first. I’ll go get you some clothes.”
Jiang Shao nodded.
He turned on the faucet, and hot water poured down. Jiang Shao closed his eyes, his expression unreadable.
In truth, countless companies had donated to Hope Primary Schools. Many wealthy people gave money to charity, and there was nothing particularly unusual about it. But whenever those business owners did such things, they usually brought secretaries, assistants, and media crews, making an enormous spectacle for fear that no one would learn of it.
They excelled at performing beneath the spotlight, but when no one was watching, they could not conceal the coldness in their hearts.
Their so-called charity was merely a tool for acquiring reputation.
A means of avoiding taxes or earning public praise.
Every good deed they calculated and performed had to yield ten times the benefit, even if they had spent only a single cent.
Then what exactly had Qi Mu gained from doing this?
He came here alone, without media coverage of his actions and without bringing any prestige to the company. What he did could not be quantified.
Just like the private conversation Qi Mu had held with Cai De Hai in the factory workshop.
Jiang Shao had never met anyone like this.
Therefore, he was unwilling to believe it.
Could someone in this world truly do things without seeking anything in return?
Jiang Shao was skilled at using profit to analyze everyone’s motives and predict their behavior. Yet Qi Mu repeatedly caused his calculations to fail, making them seem ridiculous and absurd.
Jiang Shao opened his eyes.
He reached out and took the clothes Principal Zhang had brought from the partition. Lowering his head slightly, he changed into them and walked outside.
His gaze searched for Qi Mu.
Perhaps he wanted to see what Qi Mu actually did when he came here, and what meaning he found in all of this. Jiang Shao walked outside while deep in thought.
Cheerful laughter came from the schoolyard.
Jiang Shao suddenly stopped beneath the shadow of the eaves and looked toward the man standing in the sunlight ahead.
Without the slightest concern for his image, Qi Mu was half crouched on the ground, playing games with the children. The sunset coated him in pale gold. He laughed with genuine happiness, unlike the perfectly courteous yet false smiles he wore during business engagements. This smile came from the heart—relaxed, carefree, and not particularly refined or elegant.
Yet it made him almost impossible to look away from.
The children had dragged Qi Mu into their game, and he had helplessly agreed. Crouching there and playing marbles, he thought that he was already a grown man and was still doing something so childish. Surely no one would see him…
Perhaps because he felt vaguely uneasy, he suddenly raised his head toward one side of the schoolyard and unexpectedly met Jiang Shao’s gaze.
Jiang Shao wore the elderly principal’s clothes. The sleeves and trouser legs were both too short, and the outdated garments did not fit him properly. Yet with his tall frame, excellent proportions, and naturally confident posture, he stood there like a model walking a runway, somehow giving the clothes an unexpectedly stylish vintage appearance.
Qi Mu froze for only a moment before his face reddened.
What he feared had happened.
Although he felt intensely embarrassed and uncomfortable, Qi Mu remembered that if Jiang Shao had not been present today, Xiao Jun might have drowned in the pond.
Jiang Shao had saved Xiao Jun’s life.
Qi Mu had never imagined that Jiang Shao would also step forward to help someone in danger.
Because in his dream, the Long Aotian never acted without profit. He watched everything with cold indifference. Every action he took had a purpose, and everything was done solely for himself.
Every seemingly casual movement ultimately brought him generous returns, carrying him toward an even higher position.
But now, Jiang Shao did not seem to be that kind of person after all. He would also reach out when someone was in danger.
Perhaps Qi Mu should not have allowed a single dream to prejudice him against Jiang Shao.
From across the distance, Qi Mu gave Jiang Shao a genuine smile. His eyes curved as he said, “Thank you.”
Jiang Shao stood motionless and looked at Qi Mu. He heard Qi Mu’s voice cross the empty schoolyard and enter his ears.
Yet it was like the gentle flutter of a butterfly’s wings setting off towering waves—a hurricane sweeping in from across the ocean, making his heart thunder violently within his chest.
For a very long time.
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