Chapter 144
by 雪廊**Chapter 144**
Yu Jingmo had made a last-minute decision to come—not entirely for Tian Ruan’s sake—but because he had heard that three CEOs from China's top ten renowned manufacturers were gathering at the community construction site for an inspection, making it quite a lively event.
Such excitement was rare even once a year, so of course Yu Jingmo wanted to join in.
The community was surrounded by walls, with security guards stationed at both the main and side gates. Anyone wishing to enter had to announce their identity.
Naturally, if someone was determined to find a way in, even a gap in the fence would suffice. A large wetland area bordering the community had been set aside as a natural park. Every spring after rainfall, flocks of gulls and egrets would fly here, creating a natural spectacle.
In winter, the wetland froze hard, making it easy to cross and climb over the community walls.
As the driver navigated through the community, Yu Jingmo checked Tian Ruan’s location on his phone.
“The sightseeing vehicle is over there,” the driver said, pointing ahead to a spot less than a hundred meters away.
Yu Jingmo followed his gaze and saw the sightseeing vehicle stopped, facing off against a group of masked men—like something from a martial arts novel. The most dangerous moment came when one of the masked men suddenly emerged from beneath the vehicle, wielding a knife.
Just as Yu Jingmo’s heart leapt into his throat, he immediately got out of the car and rushed over. The young man deftly kicked the assailant down, sprang off the vehicle, and knocked the man out with a stomp.
“…”
The youth then clung to him like a sloth, whining about how scared he was.
Yu Jingmo let out a relieved breath, patting his thin back to comfort him. “It’s alright now.”
After a long pause, Tian Ruan took a deep breath, inhaling Yu Jingmo’s scent before lifting his face to ask, “Mr. Yu, why are you here?”
Yu Jingmo replied, “I was worried about you.”
Tian Ruan grinned sweetly. “We’re so connected! I was just calling for you in my heart, and here you are.”
“Mm.” Yu Jingmo didn’t mind him thinking that way—in fact, he felt the same at that moment. Business didn’t matter; what mattered most was that the young man before him was safe.
The bodyguards arrived swiftly, restraining the masked men and calling the police.
This time, it was an armed assault—completely different from the previous incident—and wouldn’t be dismissed lightly.
The poor CEOs, who had spent decades navigating the business world without ever encountering violence, were left pale with fright. “Wh-what on earth is going on?”
Yu Jingmo gripped Tian Ruan’s waist and peeled him off.
Only belatedly realizing his posture was inappropriate—blame it on force of habit—Tian Ruan awkwardly adjusted himself.
Yu Jingmo calmly faced the middle-aged men and said, “Gentlemen, I apologize for the disturbance. As a gesture of Wintergreen Group’s regret, you will have priority in selecting villas in Community No. 03.”
“President Yu, good to see you!” The CEOs stepped off the sightseeing vehicle and began making small talk right in the middle of the road.
Yu Jingmo glanced at his watch. “It’s noon. Let me treat you all to lunch.”
They headed to a nearby five-star restaurant, where they drank and talked. They got along well with Yu Jingmo and signed contracts on the spot, agreeing to bring their brands into the community.
China’s business banquet culture still had its uses—it facilitated this perfect exchange of interests.
Tian Ruan focused on eating, drinking, and basking in praise.
Though the CEOs were shrewd businessmen, their compliments were repetitive, and soon made Tian Ruan’s ears tired.
"President Yu, care for one?" One of the CEOs, full and slightly drunk, pulled out a pack of Golden Brick cigarettes and offered one to Yu Jingmo.
Tian Ruan stared at the pack of cigarettes. Come to think of it, he had never smelled tobacco on Yu Jingmo before. “Mr. Yu, do you smoke?”
One of the executives joked, “What kind of man doesn't smoke?”
Yu Jingmo shot Assistant Xu a glance. The assistant immediately understood and pulled a gold-plated case from his briefcase, opening it for the gathered executives.
Inside were five neatly arranged cigars in dark brown packaging. Their premium quality and exclusivity were obvious.
Assistant Xu smiled. “Mr. Yu exclusively smokes cigars. Today we have the pleasure of meeting fellow enthusiasts—please do us the honor of trying one.”
The executives laughed and accepted.
Even Tian Ruan itched to hold one, but they were snapped up too quickly for him to get a good look.
Yu Jingmo noticed and said, “I have more in the office.”
Tian Ruan asked, “Can I try one?”
Yu Jingmo: “No. But you may smell it.”
“Oh.”
“The proper way to enjoy a cigar is through taste and aroma, unlike cigarettes, which are inhaled into the lungs.”
In other words, compared to cigarettes, cigars were healthier and far more refined. Yu Jingmo only brought them out for important occasions—otherwise, he merely savored their scent.
The networking was draining and tedious. The meal dragged on from noon until two in the afternoon.
The executives held forth on national politics, debated the merits and flaws of commercial policies, and waxed dramatic about the nation’s fate—as if the rise and fall of dynasties hinged on their conversation.
Tian Ruan yawned three times in a row, tears prickling his eyes.
Yu Jingmo whispered in his ear, “Take a break for a bit.”
Bored to death, Tian Ruan quickly elbowed the half-asleep Lu Qiuyan to leave with him. Lu Qiuyan nodded sleepily and was led out with his eyes half-closed.
“Isn’t that the Lu family’s young heir?” A previously silent executive sneered. “Another hanger-on to the Yus.”
Yu Shang frowned slightly, his tone displeased. “Boss Niu, Lu Qiuyan is my classmate.”
“I was just making an offhand remark. No need to take it seriously, Young Master Yu,” Boss Niu smirked without warmth.
“If I said Boss Niu is clinging to Boss Ma, I suppose Boss Niu wouldn’t take that seriously either?”
“Boss Ma?”
“Just cattle.”
“…” Boss Niu’s face twisted like a mule’s.
The other executives laughed. “Niu, looks like someone finally shut you up.”
Yu Jingmo glanced at his son, then smiled. “Yu Shang is still young. Boss Niu, pay him no mind. Let me apologize on his behalf.” He raised a glass of baijiu and downed it in one gulp.
Boss Niu’s expression finally softened. “No need to stand on ceremony, Mr. Yu. Why would I mind?”
Outside on the terrace, the cold wind jolted Lu Qiuyan awake with a sneeze. Rubbing his nose, he blankly stared at Tian Ruan’s hand gripping his…
Thunder growled in the distance.
Tian Ruan was startled. Looking again, he realized he was still holding the protagonist's hand and quickly let go.
Lu Qiuyan gazed at the towering skyscrapers. “Even if my family makes a comeback someday, I won’t go into business.”
Tian Ruan nodded emphatically. “Me neither.”
“How boring.” They said it in unison, then started laughing.
“Wanna game?” Tian Ruan suggested.
“Sure.”
They had just finished two matches of *Arena of Valor* when their phones went off, letting them know lunch was over and it was time to leave.
Tian Ruan bid farewell to Lu Qiuyan and left with Yu Jingmo.
Yu Jingmo took out a prized cigar for Tian Ruan to smell.
The scent nearly made him dizzy. Mimicking movie villains, Tian Ruan held the cigar under his nose, closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply. “Pinewood, almond, cinnamon, caramel… Mr. Yu, I want milk tea.”
Yu Jingmo told his secretary to get a cup of caramel milk tea.
As he drank the milk tea, Tian Ruan forgot about the cigar. Suddenly, he noticed Yu Jingmo rubbing his temples at the large black lacquered desk, his brows furrowed and ears slightly red, clearly feeling off.
“Mr. Yu, are you drunk?”
“No.” Not drunk exactly—just a little woozy. Baijiu really was too strong.
Tian Ruan set aside his half-finished drink and walked over to feel Yu Jingmo’s forehead. No fever. “Maybe you should rest. Don’t overdo it.”
“I’m fine.” Even as Yu Jingmo said this, the words on his computer screen began to float around like fireflies.
Baffled, he looked up and saw the characters growing tiny wings, fluttering onto the young man’s body, shoulders, and head.
“Little… slut… husband?” Yu Jingmo read aloud.
Tian Ruan: “??? Mr. Yu, what’s wrong?”
Yu Jingmo’s gaze remained calm. “Why do you have the words ‘little slut husband’ on you?”
Tian Ruan looked down at his hoodie, shoes, and pants—there wasn’t a single Chinese character anywhere. “No, there’s nothing.”
Yu Jingmo slowly turned back to the screen, where more winged words were hopping cheerfully from the desktop onto the young man. “Wants… a… sugar… daddy?”
Tian Ruan: “???”
“When you put them together, it says ‘little slut husband wants a sugar daddy.’”
Tian Ruan was horrified. “Mr. Yu, what’s happening to you?!”
Yu Jingmo said seriously, “Mm, I’ll be your sugar daddy. Cook for me.”
“…”
Tian Ruan bent down, staring in shock at Yu Jingmo’s deadpan face. His eyes were hazy, unfocused, as if seeing through a fog. Yet his expression was so serious that he didn’t seem drunk—he seemed poisoned.
Suddenly, Tian Ruan remembered the mushroom soup.
At lunch, the hotel had served each guest a bowl of mushroom soup, claiming the mushrooms were freshly airlifted from the mountains of Yunnan—rare and in season now.
Tian Ruan wasn't used to the taste and took just one sip before putting it down—it was Yu Jingmo who finished it for him.
Everyone else at the table, including the main couple, seemed to have eaten everything clean except Tian Ruan.
Mushroom poisoning isn't unusual, but getting poisoned at a five-star hotel probably is.
As Tian Ruan stood there dazed, Yu Jingmo suddenly reached out, grabbed him, and said, "Stir-fry for me."
"…"
Tian Ruan exclaimed in shock, "Mr. Yu, get a grip!"
Yu Jingmo replied, "I'm completely lucid—stir-fry for me."
Tian Ruan covered his mouth, then quickly pulled away and picked up the intercom to call Assistant Xu: "Assistant Xu, Mr. Yu has been poisoned! Call an ambulance—now!"
Assistant Xu: "!!!"
Assistant Xu immediately called an ambulance and rushed over, ready to carry Mr. Yu out, only to find his boss holding his wife tightly in his arms and pinning her to the desk, sucking on her neck.
"Uh… was the poison some kind of aphrodisiac?" Assistant Xu clung to the doorframe, ready to run at any moment.
Tian Ruan struggled and shouted, "Mr. Yu ate poisonous mushrooms! Pull him off me!"
Amid the struggle, Tian Ruan accidentally kicked his dragon.
Tian Ruan clearly felt Yu Jingmo stiffen for a moment and seized the chance to push him away.
Yu Jingmo stumbled back a few steps, his back pressed against the wall, glaring at Tian Ruan with a complicated expression. "You're being naughty."
Tian Ruan felt both guilty and helpless. "Mr. Yu… are you okay… you know, down there?"
Yu Jingmo replied, "Perfectly fine."
Tian Ruan's eyes flicked downward. "…"
Yu Jingmo wasn't lying. After being kicked by Tian Ruan, his dragon had been provoked and now stood half-hard, clearly sizable and bulging.
Assistant Xu hesitated. "Uh… do we still need that ambulance?"
Tian Ruan snapped, "Yes!"
Yu Jingmo watched as more words with wings floated toward the young man and added coolly, "It was your idea—'you little tease who started this.'"
Tian Ruan: "…"
Assistant Xu was completely floored. Was this really their stoic and reserved Mr. Yu?
🍄🍄🍄….?! 🍆🍆🍆…!!!