69: I'm on vacation.

Once Chu Yilan left, Shen Lian, enduring the lingering soreness, rolled around on the bed for several laps.

This life, hey! Shen Lian was feeling smug.

Chu Yilan arrived at the company; Yang Bin and Sun Binghe were both there.

Today was the quarterly work summary report, quite important. Various data increases would appear before Chu Yilan's eyes without any concealment. If you did well, fine; if not, you'd better hope your heart wouldn't tremble.

What was even more terrifying was that Special Assistant Sun was actually fucking there today too!

Sun Binghe wasn't as good at hiding it as Yang Bin; his disdain for "idiots" was clearly written on his face. In fact, after being looked at by him once, one would more or less start to doubt their own IQ.

However, luck seemed to be on their side today, because CEO Chu didn't speak much, and the two special assistants also seemed disinterested.

When the meeting ended, everyone was in such disbelief that no one moved for a long while.

Everyone looked at each other, thinking, *Is that it?*

"What," Chu Yilan said indifferently. "Do you need Special Assistant Sun to give you some feedback?"

Instantly, the sounds of chairs and benches moving rose and fell within the conference room. Everyone hurried out with their documents and water cups, clearing the room in less than half a minute.

After everyone left, Chu Yilan looked at Sun Binghe. "Is your mouth sealed with wax today?"

Sun Binghe acted as if he hadn't heard and dumped out everything he had investigated.

"Boss, regarding the previous mountain villa accident, when we screened suspicious persons, the reason we didn't suspect Wei Fanchen was because he wasn't invited at all. He sneaked in midway using a boss's name as cover, so his name wasn't on the entrance register."

Chu Yilan didn't keep idlers; he had a group of capable men who could pry the truth out. Not to mention someone like Wei Fanchen, who couldn't stand being scared at all. Sun Binghe pieced the details together and threw them in his face, and Wei Fanchen confessed faster than anyone.

After all, Wei Fanchen was truly afraid that the burly Bodyguard at the door would step forward as ordered and break his legs.

"Does Wei Fanchen have a grudge against Zheng Ge?" Chu Yilan asked.

"Yes. Wei Fanchen likes Zhou Tangsi. That night Zhou Tangsi was drunk, and he originally wanted to take advantage of the situation to have something happen with him. However, Zhou Tangsi belittled him as worthless. Wei Fanchen was driven mad with rage, and in a moment of malice, he impulsively decided to start the fire."

Chu Yilan: "I see."

Sun Binghe: "Looking at it this way, Mr. Shen has suffered a great grievance."

Chu Yilan: "..."

Indeed. At that time, all fingers were pointed at Shen Lian. That night in the private room, after Chu Yilan poured a glass of wine over him, he had intended to completely ruin Shen Lian.

Who would have thought that in just a few months, he would become the apple of his eye.

"You guys arrange the work from now on." Chu Yilan stood up.

Sun Binghe and Yang Bin exchanged a look. Yang Bin asked hesitantly, "CEO Chu, are you not participating?"

"Participating in what?" Chu Yilan looked back. "Did I hire you two at a high price, along with those managers, just to spend money while doing everything myself? Am I crazy? Special Assistant Yang, you just finished your break a while ago, but you should know, I haven't had a single vacation in two years."

Yang Bin: "..."

Chu Yilan turned around gracefully. "I'm on vacation."

Yang Bin looked shocked, but Sun Binghe accepted it quickly. It seemed the Boss and Mr. Shen... must have made substantial progress.

When Chu Yilan got home, Shen Lian was playing games. The controller had just arrived at noon. Several shooting games were recommended by Feng Yueshan; Shen Lian trusted him unconditionally when it came to entertainment and enjoyment.

"You're back?" Shen Lian took a moment to look back. Chu Zhumi was curled up on his lap, the kitten's eyes slightly narrowed, looking quite mystical.

Chu Yilan didn't say anything and went upstairs to shower.

Shen Lian comfortably played two rounds. Just as he was about to start the third, the controller was confiscated.

Wait! Shen Lian's heart skipped a beat; this scene looked so familiar!

"Aunt Fen, make dinner light tonight," Chu Yilan instructed, then pulled Shen Lian upstairs.

If Shen Lian still couldn't guess what was going to happen next, he would have lived his life in vain.

"No, Chu Yilan, CEO Chu, Master Chu!" Shen Lian's voice trembled involuntarily. "This is unnecessary, isn't it? I just recovered."

Chu Yilan threw him into the room and closed the door behind him. "Didn't you say it yourself? You have high standards and eat well."

Shen Lian: "..."

Clothes were tossed haphazardly on the floor, from the door to the inner room, with one finally hanging half-dead on the bedside. Veins bulged on Shen Lian's long, pale knuckles, looking startling against the dark gray sheets. He exhaled a breath of hot air, his eyes unfocused, thinking: *Is this the return of the humid south wind?*

The air was full of damp humidity. With just a slight movement, it would fall onto his body, sweaty and sticky. He couldn't avoid it, couldn't run away.

Shen Lian didn't expect that Chu Yilan really "hadn't had his fill."

Or rather, this man had finally tasted sweetness after twenty-odd years of bitterness, and now he couldn't get enough.

Shen Lian's consciousness was pushed into the deep sea again. In the end, he simply stopped struggling, adopting a "let it be" attitude: *How long can this last?*

Hu Kailan hadn't been able to contact Shen Lian for three whole days.

This time, he tentatively dialed one during a break from work, and Shen Lian actually answered: "Mm."

Hu Kailan blinked. "Shen Lian?"

"Mm," Shen Lian responded.

Hu Kailan: "What's up? What have you been busy with lately?"

Shen Lian: "Mm."

Hu Kailan: "..."

After a full half-minute, just as Hu Kailan was wondering if Shen Lian had lost his phone, the man seemed to turn over and let out a sigh comparable to an overburdened eighty-year-old. "Brother Hu, go ahead."

"Holy shit! What's wrong with your voice?"

"Sick," Shen Lian replied. "I'm dazed from sleeping."

"Oh, then be careful. Drink more water and get more rest."

Mainly, Hu Kailan had been too busy lately, his feet barely touching the ground, so he hadn't had time to worry about Shen Lian. Contacting him a few days late didn't feel off. "Has Director Zhao contacted you yet?"

"No. Agreeing on a filming location and then setting it up takes time," Shen Lian said. "I don't have many scenes left."

"Alright, then keep it in mind. I'll see if I can negotiate an advertisement for you."

"Thanks for the hard work, Brother Hu."

At that moment, Chu Yilan was right behind Shen Lian, hearing the conversation clearly. *What, is filming an advertisement that much of a struggle?*

After hanging up the phone, Chu Yilan spoke: "I..."

Shen Lian suddenly moved, scrambling to leave this "danger zone." Midway, he grabbed his bathrobe and threw it on. Because of the soreness, he waddled like a zombie entering a city, but he didn't stop, rushing out the door without looking back.

He can actually still run, Chu Yilan thought.

But Chu Yilan didn't mind. He also knew that these past few days had been a bit excessive; Shen Lian hadn't even left the bedroom to eat or drink.

After that, Shen Lian didn't give Chu Yilan any good looks, cold-snorting whenever he saw him. Aunt Fen was confused, while Chu Yilan took it all in stride. His hands were also quick; he built a small cat bed for Chu Zhumi and threw in a soft cushion, which the little cub quite liked.

Shen Lian leaned against the side with his arms crossed. Due to his mood, even his words of praise sounded sarcastic: "Nice craftsmanship."

"Mm, my maternal grandfather taught me," Chu Yilan replied. "Before he passed away, I often spent time with him working with wood."

Shen Lian's tone straightened, and he gently leaned on Chu Yilan's back. "It's okay. I'll work on it with you from now on. I'm a fast learner."

He's so easy to coax, Chu Yilan thought.