Chapter 45

Chapter 45

After taking a few days off as a hands-off boss on the cruise ship, Lu Ge returned and immediately got back into the swing of things, handling the backlog of reports and meetings from the past three days.

After a hectic week, he finally returned to the Lu family home on the weekend to have dinner with his parents.

The mood at the dinner table was a bit strange.

Lu Ge raised his eyes and looked at his usually talkative parents, who were unusually quiet and reserved today.

"What, is our family going bankrupt?"

Father Lu: "..."

This kid.

He coughed into his hand and said, "Well, son, you’re not exactly young anymore..."

Lu Ge interrupted him, "In your eyes, should I be six feet under by twenty-five?"

"...Cut it out."

Lu Ge then closed his mouth.

"You’re not exactly young anymore, it’s time to find someone to settle down with. We won’t stand in your way if you’re into men, but you should find someone to settle down with, right?" Father Lu sighed, "I can’t stand how you young people date nowadays—it’s all so shallow!"

Lu Ge sighed and looked down, guessing what was coming next.

Mother Lu took over, "You like the clean-cut type, don’t you? Mom found someone for you—good-looking and from a good family, see if it’s a good match..."

Lu Ge picked up a bite of food and said indifferently, "If you keep this up, I’m heading back to my place tonight."

His tone wasn’t heavy, but the two at the table knew their son was serious.

Father Lu muttered unhappily, "Fine, suit yourself."

Mother Lu nodded in agreement, "Don’t blame us if you miss out."

They backed off too easily today, which surprised Lu Ge.

After dinner, Mother Lu brought out an exquisitely wrapped box from the bedroom and handed it to Lu Ge. "Head over to the Xu family tomorrow."

The Xu family... Lu Ge couldn’t help but think of a certain frail person who was light to carry but whose bones were uncomfortably prominent.

"What’s this about?"

"The youngest son of the Xu family is turning twenty tomorrow, drop this off for him after work."

Lu Ge frowned slightly, "How come I never knew we had ties with the Xu family?"

Father Lu cleared his throat and said seriously, "A while ago, Xu Yujiang did us a favor on a project. So, we owe them one."

The Lu family’s business interests are pretty diverse, and Lu Ge is currently only responsible for the media market, so although he hadn’t heard of the so-called "favor" owed to the Xu family that his father mentioned, he didn’t doubt it.

He casually agreed and took the box.

*

On Xu Zhixia’s birthday, the Xu family was buzzing with activity.

People came to the Xu family one after another, handing their prepared gifts to the birthday boy in person. Though Xu Zhixia didn’t even know most of them.

Qin Yan arrived early and was the first guest to present Xu Zhixia with a gift.

He handed Xu Zhixia a small box tied with a ribbon, then gave him a hug.

"Happy birthday, Zhixia," he said softly.

Xu Zhixia accepted the gift with a smile for Qin Yan.

Inside the box was an antique men's brooch featuring a delicate feather design, perfectly complementing Xu Zhixia's style.

"It's beautiful," came a soft voice from the side.

Xu Zhixia looked up. Ji Mian was smiling faintly, gazing at the feather brooch in his hand.

"It suits you," Ji Mian added.

Xu Zhixia's expression froze; he swiftly clenched his fingers around the brooch, hiding it from Ji Mian's sight.

"Affection Points increased by 80 (40x2), with Xu Zhixia as the contributor."

Ji Mian subtly shifted his gaze away.

Clearly, Xu Zhixia was aware of the original host's affection for Qin Yan.

If Xu Zhixia had indeed drugged him on the cruise, was it because he too had feelings for Qin Yan?

Ji Mian observed his younger brother's elegantly curved profile, feeling a sense of disbelief. He couldn't imagine Xu Zhixia stooping to such vile tactics for something like this.

"First impressions matter, but don't judge a book by its cover," the system cautioned.

Xu Zhixia expressed his gratitude, "Thanks, Brother Yan."

He then returned the brooch to its box and tucked it away.

Qin Yan was momentarily surprised.

He had expected Xu Zhixia to wear it immediately.

In past celebrations with Xu Chiqiu, Xu Zhixia had always donned his gifts right away. Why the hesitation this time...

He considered Xu Zhixia's outfit and mused, "Maybe the brooch doesn't go with this attire."

This reasoning eased Qin Yan's mind.

Just then, another guest entered the Xu residence's first-floor hall.

The newcomer's entrance hushed the hall momentarily, prompting Ji Mian to turn and unexpectedly lock eyes with him.

Lu Ge wore a sharp business suit, his tie perfectly knotted at his collar.

For a second, Ji Mian doubted whether the man in the patterned T-shirt from the cruise was the same person standing before him.

Lu Ge noticed him as well.

Their gazes met briefly before both averted their eyes.

Despite their past meeting on the cruise, they silently acknowledged their 'acquaintance' was superficial.

Whispers rippled through the hall. The hall was adorned with elegant decorations, setting a festive tone for the celebration.

"Is that Lu Ge? What’s he doing here?"

"I don’t know. I’ve never heard of any connection between the Lu and Xu families."

"Is he here to stir up trouble?"

"Who knows? It’s Lu Ge, after all."

Another person fell silent.

Well, it’s Lu Ge… You never know what he’ll do.

Qin Yan’s good mood evaporated the moment he saw Lu Ge.

What’s he doing here?

Lu Ge scanned the room, spotted Xu Zhixia beside Ji Mian, and walked straight over.

"Here’s a gift." He tossed the gift box to Xu Zhixia without any extra words.

The room fell silent as everyone’s eyes locked onto the plain black gift box in Xu Zhixia’s hands.

Xu Zhixia’s face flickered with confusion, but he managed, "…Thanks."

He hadn’t forgotten what Lu Ge had said to him on the cruise.

Why would he give me a gift?

All eyes were glued to the box in his hands. Xu Zhixia hesitated, then opened it.

Inside the black velvet box lay a watch, its silver and blue design gleaming.

The sky-blue dial sparkled like the finest aquamarine, a tiny ocean captured in time. The strap’s intricate craftsmanship mirrored the dial’s beauty, as if it held the Milky Way itself.

Someone gasped, realizing the watch was worth at least two million.

The Lu family was rich, but they didn’t just hand out million-dollar gifts.

Besides, the Lu and Xu families weren’t close.

So, there was only one explanation.

The guests exchanged knowing glances, some recalling Lu Ge’s dating preferences, their expressions turning curious.

Wasn’t Lu Ge’s ideal type the Xu family’s young master? Who knew Lu Ge was such a romantic?

Lu Ge’s eyes dropped, his eyelid flickering.

This was the first time he’d seen what was inside.

What kind of favor called for this kind of repayment?

It wasn’t the price—it was the flashy, attention-seeking way the gift was given.

Lu Ge furrowed his brows, thinking of the identical calm expressions of his parents before he left, and the so-called "favor" that now sounded full of holes.

Tsk, he had been tricked. He sighed inwardly.

He’d wondered why they’d agreed so easily—now he knew they’d set him up.

The person they wanted to introduce during dinner must be Xu Zhixia, without a doubt.

However, Lu Ge was already accustomed to the strange looks from others.

As for what Xu Zhixia thought, that was none of his business.

If anyone should be blamed, it’s that impulsive couple with no sense of boundaries.

It was none of his concern.

Lu Ge calmly looked away and even had the mood to pick up a couple of small snacks from the nearest shelf to satisfy his hunger.

He had come directly from the company and hadn’t had time for dinner.

Because of this unexpected turn of events, the hall instantly became too noisy.

Ji Mian couldn’t stand the noise, nor did he have the energy to chat with the crowd. The commotion inside the villa was unbearable to him, the air conditioning was set too cold, and seeing Xu Zhixia being the center of attention also irritated him.

After a while, he just walked out of the villa to find some peace outside.

Ji Mian didn’t notice that Xu Zhixia’s gaze had been fixed on him since he left, with an unusual sparkle in his eyes.

...

Lu Ge took his time selecting on the dessert shelf, finally picking a mini fruit tart from the array of fancy desserts.

"What exactly are you trying to do?" A low, tense voice came from beside him.

Lu Ge didn’t even glance up.

Qin Yan’s voice grew even icier: "Are you trying to pursue Zhi Xia? Zhi Xia isn’t familiar with you, and you have no reason to give him such an expensive gift."

Lu Ge raised the corner of his mouth and said lightly, "It’s just a few million. So what? Is it really that pricey?"

"..."

"What, could it be that the gift President Qin gave isn’t as expensive as that watch?" He let out a mocking laugh of disbelief, "Really?"

Qin Yan: "..."

Qin Yan was full of unspoken curses.

The brooch he gave Xu Zhixia had an auction price of nearly a million, which was precious, but compared to Lu Ge’s watch, it paled in comparison.

He said coldly, "I’m warning you, don’t get any funny ideas about Zhi Xia."

Only then did Lu Ge bother to give him a glance, saying, "President Qin doesn’t seem to care so much about that frail one, why are you reacting so strongly when it comes to Master Xu?"

"Could it be that the one with the wrong ideas is President Qin?" Lu Ge nonchalantly sneered.

"You!"

Lu Ge ignored Qin Yan’s anger, popped the fruit tart into his mouth, slowly finished it, and finally felt somewhat satisfied. It was about time to leave.

"Goodbye, President Qin." As he walked past Qin Yan, he deliberately slowed his steps a bit.

"A friendly reminder, when you’re pursuing someone, don’t be so stingy," he shook his head, "A gift less than a million, I’d be embarrassed to give it. How cheap."

Qin Yan: ...

Lu Ge was talking out of his ass. Sure, the Lu family was loaded, but Lu Ge himself had never bought a watch worth millions. Firstly, it was unnecessary, and secondly, he was way tighter with his money than Qin Yan.

But that didn’t stop him from shooting his mouth off in front of Qin Yan.

With that, Lu Ge strolled out coolly of the Xu family’s door.

The Xu family’s villa was surrounded by a semicircular flower bed, with lush trees framing the outer edge.

The moon hung full and bright in the sky, drenching the densely leafed branches in silver light and casting dappled shadows below.

Lu Ge’s car was parked in the backyard. He followed the winding path between the flower bed and the trees, circling around the side of the villa.

After leaving the main entrance, the light faded into near darkness, with the glow of the full moon overhead being the only source of illumination.

The moonlight had a strangely calming effect.

Suddenly, a rustle above shattered the quiet.

Lu Ge looked up and saw a small white figure nimbly darting along the eaves of the second floor—turned out to be a cat.

It was jumping up and down on the tiles, having the time of its life.

Lu Ge had never seen Xu Duoduo before, but he guessed it must be the Xu family’s cat.

There were quite a few people today, and some kid probably left the window open, letting the white cat slip out.

The cat amused itself for a while, then sauntered leisurely along the second-floor eaves, circling the villa.

Lu Ge kept pace behind the cat, maintaining a position where he trailed slightly behind.

They soon reached the side of the villa, where the light from inside vanished completely, leaving only the tiles and untrimmed plants—a rare break from the modern world.

At one point, the white cat suddenly stopped, tilting its head to peer down from the second floor, its round head poking out curiously.

Lu Ge was indifferent to most animals people adored, but he had a soft spot for cats.

Sometimes, when he saw cats catching insects or birds on the roadside, he’d stop and watch, mesmerized.

He noticed the white cat gazing down at the ground and initially thought it might be eyeing the flower bed or a butterfly fluttering among the blooms.

But as Lu Ge took a few steps forward, the trees blocking his view fell behind, and he saw: the cat wasn’t looking at a butterfly, but at a slender young man standing below, lost in the moon’s glow.

Lu Ge suddenly smiled.

—Calling it a butterfly wasn’t far off. It’s just that here, it was a fragile butterfly that couldn’t take flight.

Xu Duoduo stared at the person below for a moment, then suddenly moved its paws, aimed, and leaped down, landing precisely on the back of the young man’s neck.

On the ground, the young man’s body, supple as a willow, bent slightly to cushion the cat’s weight.

Ji Mian, who had been lost in thought, was startled by the sudden “heavy blow” on his head.

The cat’s claws gripped his hair, and its round body pressed against his slender neck.

The warmth and soft fur on his neck made Ji Mian relax—it wasn’t some strange object pressing down on him.

He wasn’t the least bit annoyed, only slowly straightened up and reached out to lift the white cat from his neck.

Xu Duoduo let out a couple of soft meows, almost like a purr, then snuggled into a ball in Ji Mian’s arms.

Ji Mian’s lips curved slightly.

Lu Ge suddenly stopped in his tracks, too stunned to speak.

The young man holding the cat lowered his eyes, his expression calm. Under the moonlight, his pale skin and plain white shirt faintly enveloped a layer of hazy silver light, almost like... an otherworldly being.

Lu Ge had never believed in "love at first sight," and to be precise, this wasn’t his first meeting with "Xu Chiqiu."

But now, he couldn’t think of any other way to describe the electric sensation coursing through him. His limbs stiffened, and his ears tingled strangely.

Lu Ge touched his ear. It was hot.

"How pathetic."

He couldn’t tear his eyes away from the figure bathed in moonlight.

"Cough..."

The ethereal figure holding the white cat suddenly coughed twice, his back arching slightly, shattering the quiet.

As he straightened, Ji Mian finally noticed the tall figure nearby. His grip on the cat tightened, but no one seemed to notice.

He reassured himself: Lu Ge doesn’t know Xu Chiqiu well, so he wouldn’t notice anything, right?

"Mr. Lu," he spoke softly.

Lu Ge gave a reserved nod and stepped closer.

His expression was unreadable, but he seemed composed.

To be honest, the young man before him was far from Lu Ge’s ideal type. He was lean, with features that were almost too striking. Personality-wise: terrible judgment, hypocritical, and downright malicious.

He was the opposite of Lu Ge’s ideal type in every way.

Lu Ge scrutinized him but couldn’t find any redeeming qualities. Yet, his ears remained burning hot.

Ji Mian thought Lu Ge’s gaze lingered a little too long.

He frowned slightly and broke the silence. "Mr. Lu, are you interested in Zhi Xia?"

Lu Ge’s lips twitched. He’d been asked this question countless times in the villa and was tired of answering.

Ji Mian, though, stepped closer. "If Mr. Lu needs assistance, I might be able to help."

"Help?" Lu Ge raised an eyebrow.

Lu Ge knew exactly who he was. This person had seen his true nature, yet he still thought of matchmaking him with his own younger brother?

"Zhi Xia listens to me the most. With my help, Mr. Lu’s pursuit of Zhi Xia would be much easier," Ji Mian said with a smile, though the cold malice in his tone was hard to conceal.

Then, as if thinking of something, Ji Mian’s smile widened slightly, appearing somewhat twisted on his pale, sickly face, shattering the previous tranquility.

It was clear his "help" wasn’t exactly aboveboard.

"......"

"You really are," Lu Ge paused, "heartless."

Ji Mian looked at him and suddenly smiled faintly.

"Mr. Lu, you're joking."

"Someone as outstanding as Mr. Lu must have many admirers... It's only natural for me to choose an excellent partner for my younger brother. I don't deserve to be called heartless."

Lu Ge, however, looked at him in disbelief, wondering if the beautiful figure he had just seen under the moonlight was the same person standing before him now.

Ji Mian looked back at him coldly, unflinching.

After a moment, Lu Ge replied, "Thanks, but I don't need your help."

After speaking, he noticed Ji Mian's slender shoulders under the moonlight.

Hadn't this person been coughing earlier?

"You cold?" Lu Ge suddenly asked out of the blue.

Ji Mian: "...What?"

But Lu Ge said nothing more.

"Since Mr. Lu isn't interested, let's just pretend I never brought it up," Ji Mian said with a tired wave of his hand.

He didn't want to stay any longer and turned to walk in the direction Lu Ge had come from, preparing to leave.

The white cat nestled in Ji Mian's arms restlessly peeked out with its furry head.

Lu Ge turned slightly, couldn't help but watch Ji Mian walk away.

At that moment, the moonlight seemed to turn into a silver veil. As the young man's figure disappeared into the shadows of the trees, the soft silver light faded from him with each step, as if reluctant to leave.

Lu Ge had watched many videos of his artists' performances.

But even with the best equipment and lighting experts, none could match the 'curtain call' scene Lu Ge saw now.

He watched the retreating figure of this cold-hearted beauty for a while.

It was a contradiction to see such different sides in one person.

Lu Ge looked away, touched his hot ear, and sighed softly. The night was quiet, the only sound the rustling of leaves.