55: A treat for everyone

Shen Lian remained clear-headed throughout the journey home.

Even after returning home, taking off his suit, changing into pajamas, washing up, and lying down, he didn't complain of being tired.

Chu Yilan felt it was necessary to have a serious talk.

He sat down by Shen Lian's bedside; the ceiling light was turned off, leaving only the small bedside lamp on, casting a warm, orange glow that made one's nerves involuntarily relax.

Just as Chu Yilan was gathering his thoughts, he didn't expect Shen Lian to speak first.

"Boyfriend, can you tell the difference between what liking is now?"

Chu Yilan was silent for two seconds, then nodded.

Shen Lian continued, "From now on, don't believe a single word others say; only believe what I say."

Chu Yilan tried his best to piece together the shifts in Shen Lian's thinking from his fragmented words.

"Did you hear me?"

"I heard you," Chu Yilan said. "From now on, I will believe everything you say."

Having received the answer he wanted, Shen Lian pursed his lips into a smile. He reached a hand out from under the covers, took Chu Yilan's, interlaced their fingers, and then closed his eyes, falling asleep in peace.

It was rare for Chu Yilan to feel something akin to "unease," but that changed when Sun Binghe sent a text message; everything had been investigated clearly.

This included every word Zheng Ge had said at the dinner table at the time.

Sun Binghe was always efficient in his speech and actions, without any embellishment, but as Chu Yilan held his phone, reading word for word, he couldn't stop his heart from aching.

So it was…

He felt heartache for him.

The intense emotion that erupted in an instant engulfed Chu Yilan completely. Even though it was quiet all around, a buzzing, trembling sound emerged from his very bones and blood, finally vibrating until his brain felt numb.

Chu Yilan stared at the text message repeatedly. The more he read, the more he understood why Shen Lian had been so dejected.

Because if it were him, it would likely be the same.

When Zheng Ge appeared, it happened to be right after Chu Yilan's grandfather had passed away—the last relative he had in this world. The intense world-weariness made it impossible for him to live like a normal person. For a whole week, he went to his mother and grandfather's graves every day, feeling a strong urge to buy a resting place for himself right next to them and just stop caring about everything else.

Even if Chu Yilan didn't desire it himself, his instincts were still craving for someone to appear and tell him, "There are still things in this world worth cherishing."

It sounds truly ridiculous, but the one time Chu Yilan showed vulnerability, it was witnessed by Zheng Ge.

A beam of light in a dark abyss—no matter what its essence is, people will subconsciously look up to it.

Chu Yilan believed Zheng Ge's words, "I will always be with you," and naturally and stubbornly believed that this person was his.

But that wasn't liking. If Chu Yilan had to describe it, Zheng Ge's existence was closer to that of an emotional support dog.

It wasn't that Chu Yilan was insulting him, but there was a huge difference between the two. When Zheng Ge rejected him to agree to Zhou Tangsi, and then asked for his help because of another man, Chu Yilan would relent and help. But if Shen Lian were to make even half a request for another man, Chu Yilan would instantly go mad, willing to perish together with him if necessary.

"It's not a grievance," Chu Yilan said in a low voice. He leaned over and kissed Shen Lian's forehead, full of smiles and satisfaction. "Things as they are now, it's no longer a grievance."

Half an hour later, under the bombardment of messages from Sun Binghe, Yang Bin saw CEO Chu raining red envelopes in the Hengtai executive group chat.

But no one dared to claim them.

Sun Binghe urged Yang Bin to go first.

Yang Bin grumbled and replied to the message very cautiously: "CEO Chu?"

CEO Chu: "Hmm, everyone has worked hard recently. This is a reward for everyone, claim them based on your speed."

Sun Binghe immediately clicked from start to finish and snatched over three thousand yuan!

The executives in the group were all going crazy. It wasn't about being short of that little bit of money, but such activities never appeared in the internal group chat of Hengtai. CEO Chu didn't like messy things flooding the screen and required work reports to be concise. Yet today, it was like Chinese New Year—what happened?

CEO Chu naturally wouldn't explain. That wasn't all; he turned and went to the brothers' group chat to continue raining red envelopes.

Feng Yueshan and the others were polite, but also found it very novel.

Feng Yueshan: "Master Chu, send a voice message. Has your account been hacked? We'll help you claim the money first, and then we'll call the police."

CEO Chu actually sent a voice message.

Feng Yueshan immediately clicked on it. It was CEO Chu's voice, still carrying a smile, sounding with a tenderness that made one's scalp tingle, "Feng Yueshan, if you ever seriously dated someone, you wouldn't be unable to keep up with my rhythm forever."

Feng Yueshan: "? ? ?"

Ning Sixian: "He's gone mad."

Zhou Yuanlin: "He's gone mad."

Ning Sixian was the first to realize it. Shen Lian! It must be because of Shen Lian!

He had hooked CEO Chu like a big fish!

Shen Lian knew nothing about this. He was dug out from under the covers by CEO Chu at eight o'clock the next morning.

When he opened his eyes, Shen Lian was still dazed: "No, Master Chu, I'm off today."

"I know," CEO Chu said, already dressed neatly. "We're going to the hospital. I've scheduled a full-body checkup with Si Xian."

"Ah! Okay!" Shen Lian had originally planned to lie back down at any moment, but hearing this, he quickly got out of bed, his eyelids still slightly swollen. After washing his face and brushing his teeth, Shen Lian poked his head out while fixing his hair: "Does scar repair require a full-body checkup? Truly a professional team."

CEO Chu paused and said, "It was arranged for you."

Shen Lian widened his eyes slightly, "For me? I don't need it…"

Before Shen Lian could finish, CEO Chu stepped forward, cupped his face, and kissed him proactively.

Holy crap!

What kind of day is it today?

Shen Lian thought it was for CEO Chu's checkup, so he was enthusiastic. How could this not make Master Chu ecstatic?

Added to last night's double "buff," someone was in an excellent mood!

To what extent?

After going downstairs, CEO Chu hugged Chu Zhumi proactively for the first time, then instructed Aunt Fen: "It's too light, feed it more goat milk powder."

Aunt Fen: "I've already fed it one bottle."

CEO Chu: "Feed it another one."

Shen Lian approached Aunt Fen with a strange expression. While CEO Chu wasn't paying attention, he asked in a low voice: "Aunt, what's going on?"

"I don't know," Aunt Fen said, pulling open her pocket to show Shen Lian. Inside lay a red envelope: "Xiao Lan gave it to me this morning, saying I've worked hard lately."

Shen Lian couldn't figure it out no matter how hard he thought—what exactly was going on?

"Oh right," Master Chu said while changing his shoes. "Don't send pothos to my office tomorrow; change it to roses."

Shen Lian: "No problem!"

Arriving at the hospital, Ning Sixian had been waiting for a long time. Today, he shouldered the heavy responsibility of clearing the fog to see the truth, carrying the hopes of his brothers. He had to ask clearly: what kind of methods did Shen Lian use!

As a result, CEO Chu personally followed the doctor to confirm the procedures, while Shen Lian asked Ning Sixian with an expression of having seen a ghost: "Did Hengtai's stock price double? Why is Master Chu in a good mood?"

Ning Sixian: "?"

"You're asking me?" Ning Sixian was incredulous. "Isn't it because of you?"

"What the hell does that have to do with me!" Shen Lian continued: "I finished the wrap party yesterday, drank some alcohol, and fell asleep as soon as I got home."

Ning Sixian: "…"

Finished. It seemed both the heavy responsibility and the hope were gone.