Chapter 63 - Asking Again

When Lu Ran woke up, he was still in the car.

He was dazed from his sleep and immediately reached for his phone, thinking he was late.

Upon seeing the darkened car interior and Big Yellow curled up beneath the seat, he still didn't realize where he was.

"Awake?"

Ji Min's voice echoed beside him.

Lu Ran lifted his gaze to see that the car had already come to a halt.

Their boss had opened the car door, preparing to step out.

Not quite understanding why Ji Min wanted to get out, Lu Ran asked in confusion, "Have we arrived at the Shen family residence?"

The man didn't respond but turned his head to glance at him, saying, "Put on your coat."

When Lu Ran just woke up, he was particularly well-behaved.

He would do anything he was asked to.

That's why back when he was in the orphanage as a child, he was very popular with the teachers and caretakers.

This time, he grunted softly in response and reached for the oversized coat hanging on the back of the chair before pulling it over himself.

After putting it on, he sat obediently where he was.

Only when Ji Min looked at him again and said, "Get out," did he nod and slowly slide down from the backseat.

The cold wind that greeted him outside instantly roused him fully. Staring at the unfamiliar villa in front of him, he stood there in a daze for a good two or three minutes before asking, "Where is this?"

"This is my home," Ji Min replied with two words, controlling his wheelchair as he went straight into the villa.

Lu Ran stood rooted to the spot.

He still didn't understand why Ji Min had suddenly brought him back to his own home.

He looked down at Big Yellow by his feet and then checked his phone, finally realizing the situation.

It was almost one in the morning.

If Ji Min went through all this trouble to send him back to the Shen residence at this hour, it might imply that Ji Min wasn't up to the task.

Wouldn't that contradict what he said at the banquet today?

Lu Ran's salaryman spirit kicked in instantly.

He squatted down and noticed a trace of cake residue on the corner of Big Yellow's mouth.

After wiping it away, he sighed. "Come on, boy. Your boss threw you such a grand birthday party, so it's only right for us to put in some extra work tonight."

Lu Ran was deeply grateful to Ji Min.

The scale of today's birthday party surpassed Lu Ran's imagination.

Yet, it seemed to perfectly fulfill every expectation he had for his birthdays during his childhood.

Lu Ran never would have imagined that at the age of nineteen, he would still have such an experience in his life.

Moreover, Ji Min genuinely treated Big Yellow well.

This made all the resentment Lu Ran had towards Ji Min for not giving him a raise fade away.

In some aspects, as an employer, Ji Min was impeccable.

Lu Ran held the little dog's leash and cautiously entered Ji Min's villa.

This experience was quite similar to his first time entering Ji Min's company.

Both felt like embarking on an adventure into a dragon's lair.

But the moment Lu Ran stepped into the villa, he sensed a distinct difference from his office.

Although Ji Min's chairman's office was also a personal space for him alone, it was, after all, situated within the company, a professional setting.

That office was plain and ordinary, resembling any typical employee's workspace.

This villa, however, was different.

It was evidently Ji Min's private domain.

The layout on the ground floor of this villa contrasted greatly with the Shen family's residence.

There were no guest sofas in the living room, nor was there a coffee table.

Aside from a few shelves, a small table by the balcony, and a Go board, the space was excessively spacious.

It allowed Ji Min's wheelchair to move about freely without obstruction.

In every part of the villa where steps were present, there were wide and gently sloping ramps for accessibility.

When Lu Ran truly stepped into the villa, he realized with profound clarity that—

Ji Min, the young patriarch of the Ji family who had already taken the position of chairman, was a disabled person with difficulty walking.

Lu Ran didn't look around aimlessly nor did he loosen Big Yellow's leash.

He still remembered why he was here, so his gaze followed his boss closely.

Ji Min's wheelchair was parked in the living room.

He sat with his back to the door, intently studying the chess game on the Go board.

Amidst the spacious and coldly toned surroundings, his heavy black wheelchair seemed exceptionally solitary.

An aura of untouchable aloofness surrounded him.

Suddenly, Lu Ran understood why this guy would stay in the company until eleven or twelve at night and not want to return home.

In Ji Min's villa, there seemed to be no facilities for entertaining guests.

Lu Ran hesitated for a moment.

But he was rather tired that day, so he took the initiative to ask, "Where will I sleep tonight?"

He had grown accustomed to staying at the Shen family's residence.

As he asked, his eyes subconsciously swept across the rooms on the first floor.

Ji Min glanced at him and called for Manager Chen.

Manager Chen emerged, smiling as he said to Lu Ran, "Follow me."

As Lu Ran followed, he realized that Manager Chen was actually leading him to an elevator.

Elevators were commonly installed in villas of such prominent families.

The one in the Shen family's residence was seldom used, typically only during events to accommodate elderly or young guests with mobility issues.

In Ji Min's villa, the elevator was situated in the most prominent location.

Lu Ran, accompanied by his dog, followed Butler Chen into the lift.

He watched as Butler Chen pressed the button for the second floor.

Lu Ran was slightly surprised.

He inquired, "Am I staying on the second floor?"

Butler Chen nodded at him. "Of course."

Lu Ran didn't respond.

At the Shen residence, he had stayed on the ground floor.

The layout of the Shen family's villa was strictly defined: the first floor was for the servants, while the second and third floors were occupied by the masters, each with their own guest rooms.

Lu Ran had the opportunity to stay on the second or third level.

Back then, he'd been kicked out of the house and had to sleep in a sleeping bag at the entrance of the Shen family's residence.

Shen Hongyuan had humbly welcomed him back.

Also, when Shen Hongyuan publicly announced that he would reclaim Lu Ran as a member of the Shen family, Lu Ran could have taken the opportunity to request to live on the second or third floor.

He could even have used the chance to push Shen Xingran from the third floor down to the second.

But the mere thought of sharing the same level with the Shens, or occupying a room where Shen Xingran had once stayed, made Lu Ran feel uneasy for some reason.

It was his own choice, after all.

Yet, the division of floors still separated him from the Shens, creating two distinct groups.

Now, Lu Ran was genuinely surprised.

He hadn't expected to end up living on the second floor at Ji Min's place.

Lu Ran looked down at Big Yellow.

He recalled that Big Yellow had played on the lawn and hadn't wiped its paws. So, he crouched down, took out a wet wipe from his bag, and thoroughly cleaned the dirt and grass fragments from Big Yellow's paws before stepping out of the elevator. Butler Chen watched this scene with a hint of affection for the younger generation in his eyes. Lu Ran thought that since Ji Min allowed him to enter the second floor, perhaps this floor of the villa was meant for entertaining guests. But upon exiting the elevator, he realized it wasn't the case. Unlike the spaciousness of the first floor, the second floor was equipped with more accessibility features. The long corridor was decorated with Ji Min's distinct personal style. It felt as if Lu Ran had stepped into the private lair of some large animal the moment he exited the elevator. What confused Lu Ran even more was that most of the floor and corners of the second floor corridor were covered in a layer of soft gray carpet.

Such tender furnishings were typically found in the intimacy of private bedrooms.

Now, their presence in the corridor seemed like an extension of that intimate space.

Lu Ran was still wearing Ji Min's coat.

The standing collar brushed against his cheek, while the scent of Ji Min lingered around his nose.

The man had pale skin, giving him the appearance of a delicate ice sculpture.

One might easily assume that his aura was just as cool and distant, subtle and faint.

But Lu Ran knew better.

Just like his broad shoulders, the man exuded a dangerous and intensely assertive aura.

This was even more pronounced within his personal domain.

As a result, Lu Ran hesitated by the elevator door for a moment, not daring to step forward.

He lifted his gaze to secretly glance at Butler Chen.

To his surprise, Butler Chen also paused and smiled, addressing him, "Your room is the first on the left. It has an ensuite bathroom with unopened toiletries, and there are clean clothes in the wardrobe. Take a good bath and rest."

Surprisingly, Butler Chen didn't seem to have any intention of leading Lu Ran to the room.

Nodding, he was about to leave.

Lu Ran was briefly bewildered for two seconds.

Fortunately, just as Butler Chen mentioned the room, its door happened to open.

Two staff dressed as housekeepers emerged from inside.

They greeted Lu Ran respectfully and then reported to Butler Chen, "Everything has been placed as instructed."

After Butler Chen and the two staff had left.

Lu Ran exchanged a glance with Big Yellow, cautiously stepping around the floor cushions before entering the room.

As Lu Ran entered, he couldn't help but feel a sense of irony.

Sure enough, it was an adventure to the Dragon's Den.

The room appeared spacious in Lu Ran's eyes.

There was no sound from Ji Min outside; it was uncertain if he had fallen asleep.

Lu Ran didn't bother checking.

He was genuinely exhausted today.

First, he spent the afternoon getting styled, then at the banquet, he confronted numerous people.

And at midnight, he even went on a frenzied run with Big Yellow across the lawn.

Thus, after a quick freshening up with Big Yellow, Lu Ran sprawled onto the bed.

It was a large bed with an incredibly soft mattress.

Lu Ran desired for Big Yellow to try the bed as well, but considering that the dog hadn't taken a bath, he allowed Big Yellow to remain on the floor mat.

Never before had Lu Ran slept on such a soft bed.

The mattress was pillowy, like a cloud or the velvety cream that melted in his mouth from the cake he had tonight.

His limbs were enveloped in a fine, tender embrace, bringing a near-unconscious sense of comfort.

He could almost feel no fatigue in his limbs and joints...

Suddenly.

Just as Lu Ran was about to drift off, he leaped off the soft bed with a start.

Barefoot on the floor mat, he reached out haphazardly to pinch and massage his limbs, then pounded his knees.

He even lightly jumped twice on the carpet.

Only after confirming that he still had full control over his body did he heave a sigh of relief.

He wiped the cold sweat off his forehead.

Big Yellow, who had been sleeping, was startled by Lu Ran and now stood aside, watching him curiously.

Lu Ran crouched down and hugged the puppy into his arms. "That scared me to death."

He thought he was paralyzed again.

The young man knelt on the carpet, reaching out to touch the soft mattress longingly.

Yet, there was a mix of desire and fear in his eyes.

After a long internal struggle,

Lu Ran still gave up the comfortable bed and slept on the carpet with Big Yellow.

It was already dawn when they returned.

Or perhaps it was because they were too exhausted last night, and the room was too quiet.

When Lu Ran woke up, it was almost nine o'clock.

Big Yellow was eagerly tugging at his hair due to hunger.

Lu Ran rolled around on the clean and soft carpet.

Then, he quickly got up.

He fed Big Yellow some dog food.

Afterward, he went to the bathroom to freshen up but encountered an issue when it came to changing clothes.

Yesterday, he had worn that bespoke outfit out with Ji Min.

Such attire was all style and no substance, and coupled with the commotion of the night before, it was now terribly wrinkled.

Lu Ran wasn't keen on wearing yesterday's dirty clothes.

Recalling the butler Chen's words, his gaze slowly fell upon the wardrobe beside him.

The wardrobe was small, yet it was packed to the brim with clothing when opened.

Lu Ran initially assumed that they belonged to Ji Min.

Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the colors and styles were different from what Ji Min usually wore.

These clothes seemed to belong to a teenager around eighteen or nineteen years old.

The fabrics were soft, showing no signs of wear, yet there were no price tags attached.

Lu Ran picked out an inconspicuous hoodie and tried it on, finding it surprisingly fitting.

It fit so well that it felt as if it had been tailor-made for him.

Tugging at the hoodie, Lu Ran glanced at the full wardrobe, frowning as something didn't quite feel right.

He then proceeded to open the shoe cabinet nearby.

The shoe cabinet was also lined with shoes.

If a teenager of the same age were standing in front of it, they would probably be ecstatic.

That's because the cabinet was filled with brand-new luxury shoes and some precious limited-edition sneakers.

Men's love for shoes and cars is innate.

Boys in their late teens are particularly fascinated by such things; no boy could resist the allure.

But Lu Ran merely looked at them without much emotional fluctuation.

That's because he didn't recognize any of these shoes.

In high school, while his peers were comparing and envying each other over their footwear,

Lu Ran's mind was preoccupied with how to cover next month's living expenses and tuition fees, as well as how to find another part-time job if he lost the current one.

He was clueless about thenumbers of shoes that his contemporaries could recite by heart.

In Lu Ran's perspective, shoes and clothes served only their most basic functions.

Now, he merely took one out to compare it against his own foot.

He found that it perfectly matched his shoe size.

But Lu Ran put the shoe back and only retrieved a pair of socks.

He hadn't been barefoot the day before, so there was no need to touch these shoes.

When Lu Ran left his room, the second floor corridor remained eerily quiet.

Descending to the first floor, he discovered Ji Min already seated in the dining room, having breakfast.

Upon seeing him, the man set down his spoon and nodded towards the seat beside him. "Come over for breakfast."

Lu Ran was famished; his eyes lit up as he approached the table and caught sight of the meal.

This emotional reaction far surpassed his earlier response to the clothing.

"Thank you, Boss!"

Lu Ran took his seat unreservedly and picked up the porridge from the table.

Ji Min's eyebrows lifted at the boy's use of "Boss."

He had nearly finished eating, so he leaned back in his chair and watched the child eat.

The kid didn't fuss over food; he approached everything with a look of delight and ate with earnestness.

He seemed easy to please.

As he ate intently, his cheeks puffed up like a hamster's.

Ji Min watched for a while before realizing he had unconsciously started eating again.

He quietly put down his chopsticks and pushed the plate away slightly.

Lu Ran ate quickly.

Partway through the meal, his pace gradually slowed down.

Recalling something, he sipped on his milk and said to Ji Min, "I wore the clothes from your wardrobe."

Ji Min had noticed it a long time ago.

The teenager donned a light rose-colored, thick hoodie that accentuated his fair complexion, making him appear incredibly delicate.

The garment fitted him perfectly.

It was worth it for him to have stealthily checked the label on his collar while he was asleep yesterday to find out his size.

Ji Min's gaze swept over the child from head to toe.

Observing Lu Ran, dressed in the attire he had chosen, sitting at his dining table and enjoying the meal he had prepared, a sense of fulfillment washed over him.

For some inexplicable reason, this scene brought a sense of satisfaction to Ji Min.

Extremely satisfied.

Yet, upon noticing Lu Ran's footwear, the man frowned and asked, "Why aren't you wearing the shoes from the shoe cabinet? Are they not fitting?"

"I have my own shoes. Why would I wear those?" Lu Ran inquired.

Ji Min felt a strange lump in his throat.

He couldn't possibly say that he wanted to see the boy clad head to toe in items he had provided, even down to the shampoo and body wash.

For once, Ji Min had a modicum of self-awareness.

He knew how obsessive such a statement would sound.

Struck speechless, he found himself unable to utter a word for a while.

As Lu Ran gazed into his eyes, his expression gradually shifted.

After studying the man for a moment, Lu Ran sighed and set down his chopsticks.

He asked seriously, "Ji Min, do you have feelings for me?"