Chapter 32: The Ring. Their hands were tightly held together.

When He Guan was taking the invitation back, Lou Dong was just about to descend the stairs, asking, “Who came?”

He Guan replied, “To deliver the invitation for the day after tomorrow, two of them.”

Lou Dong nodded and said, “I’ve made up my mind.”

He Guan: “Hmm?”

Lou Dong: “For the banquet, I’ll go with you.”

He Guan: “Alright.”

He Guan waited for him to descend and asked, “After dinner, can you tell me about your family? We’ll certainly meet them, better to prepare in advance.”

Lou Dong: “Hmm.”

After dinner, Uncle Yue would return to his own room in the front yard, leaving just the two of them in the two-story building.

Lou Dong heard He Guan close the door of the small building and said, “I have... two elder brothers and one elder sister.”

He Guan sat down next to him with a smile, “Hmm, I’ve met your eldest brother.”

Lou Dong, feeling He Guan grasp his hand, asked softly, “What are you doing?”

He Guan: “Your nails have grown. Let me trim them for you. Continue talking.”

Lou Dong: “...Hmm.”

Starting from the edge of the pinky, the cold nail clipper touched his nail and snipped it with a crisp sound.

"Does it hurt?"

"No."

"Why did you stop talking?"

"Finish trimming first."

"Alright."

When He Guan was trimming the ring finger of the left hand, he deliberately glanced and didn’t see what should have been on the finger, he questioned, “What’s going on? Where's your ring?”

Lou Dong: “I... I don't know where it is.”

He Guan: “Just kidding.”

He continued trimming, then candidly said, “Anyway, I only wear it outside. I don't like wearing it at home. The ring is quite large, it has poked me several times while sleeping. Since you don’t wear yours either, can I remove it?”

Lou Dong retracted his hand when He Guan finished trimming one finger and moved to the next, asking, “Can I... feel it?”

He Guan: “Sure.”

He put down the nail clipper, threw the clipped nails into the trash, and extended his left hand.

Lou Dong took it with both of his hands.

He Guan: “What are you doing? Paying me some grand respect? It’s not necessary. It's just a ring...”

Lou Dong's touch was slow and meticulous.

His fingers were cold, which could have been perceived as a cooling patch during the afternoon. But by evening, they felt as chilly as silverfish.

He Guan's voice gradually faded under such a touch.

Lou Dong traced the shape and size of the ring without retracting his hand. He maintained his grip and apologized, “I’m sorry.”

He Guan immediately understood what he was referring to.

Lou Dong wasn't wearing the ring.

He could certainly argue that since he was staying at home and not going out, there was no need to wear it.

But in truth...

From the beginning, he had not acknowledged their marriage.

So now...

He was apologizing.

He had been looking down, focusing on He Guan’s hand. Now he lifted his face, revealing eyes hidden beneath slightly overgrown bangs.

Pallid and melancholic.

When he first met He Guan, there didn't seem to be much difference in their appearances. But now, it felt... something truly had changed.

He Guan: “Do you know how I left the group?”

Lou Dong: “?”

He Guan: “I wore this to a press conference.”

Without pulling his hand away, while it was still held, he continued, “This diamond ring isn't a wedding band. Someone figured out it was a solitaire, so there are people online claiming... our marriage... is fake.”

He Guan had come across such comments that day.

But these kinds of comments were minimal, quickly overshadowed by fans praising him, so he hadn’t mentioned it.

Thinking about it now, he felt a pang of sadness.

Lou Dong: “Let's get it replaced.”

He Guan: “Where should we replace it? Should we buy one now or tomorrow? I’ll ask my father-in-law...”

Lou Dong: “No need to consult him.”

He Guan: “?”

He Guan: “Do you have one?”

Lou Dong: “Although it was a rush, I had it custom-made before the wedding.”

Only then did He Guan release his hand, saying, “Impressive. Testing me for so long, others might think I’m navigating challenges.”

Lou Dong pressed his lips together: “...I was wrong.”

He Guan: “Is it at home? Can you show me?”

His tone was no different from usual, leaving Lou Dong uncertain if he was upset.

Lou Dong: “It’s with my father.”

He Guan: “What do you mean? Are we supposed to get it from him on the day of the banquet?”

Lou Dong: “Probably.”

Only then did He Guan understand.

If someone with ill intentions had come, they wouldn't bring Lou Dong to the banquet, nor would they know about their actual wedding rings.

And they certainly wouldn't retrieve it from Lou Yingjie.

He Guan: “If it wasn't for trimming nails today, you wouldn't have told me?”

Lou Dong: “I would have told you tomorrow after work. I didn't expect you'd trim my nails tonight.”

He Guan: “Oh... well, let's finish cutting the nails then.”

Lou Dong: “Are you upset?”

Weighing his feelings, He Guan replied: “Does it sound like I am? I am a bit, to be honest. It's something I can understand, yet it still upsets me. So yes, I am indeed upset right now.”

Before Lou Dong could respond, He Guan continued, “I just feel like I've been played. It might take a moment to process. Let me think it through.”

From his words, there didn’t seem to be any anger, and his precision while trimming Lou Dong’s nails remained.

Approaching the tip of his finger, he positioned the clipper.

Snip.

He clipped just right, not too much to hurt, and not too little as if nothing was trimmed.

Following this rhythm, He Guan quickly set down the nail clipper, threw the clippings into the trash, and said, “All done. Let's wash up and get some sleep.”

They always went to bed early.

Their place was far from the city. To get to work on time, He Guan had to wake up nearly two hours earlier than scheduled. That way, he could reach the company punctually.

Hence, on many prior days, he left at the crack of dawn.

This led to their early bedtime.

Lou Dong: “Alright.”

As He Guan put away the nail clipper and led Lou Dong upstairs, he kept pondering the root of his discontent.

Even after washing his hands in the washroom, changing into his nightwear, and lying down, his mind still raced.

It took a while for He Guan to pinpoint why he was upset.

It boiled down to...

His kindness to others...

Seemingly being quantified.

In Lou Yingjie’s eyes, only if you treat Lou Dong well and gain his trust, will your marriage be recognized.

Only then would you have a place in the Lou family.

This position mattered more than any corporate role, as family demands stricter standards.

In other words, the underlying logic of the situation is...

If you excel, you can receive something from me, whether it be emotional or material.

He Gu did not consider the ring as the final instance.

Perhaps... whatever he does next, he would receive something in return from Lou Yingjie.

Very realistic, very rational.

It does seem to go against human nature.

That was not He Gu's original intention.

From the beginning to the end, he simply acted according to his heart. These actions weren't meant to gain rewards; they were choices he would naturally make.

The choice to help Lou Dongcang, to live with him, to care for him as if he were family.

This seemed like reaping the rewards of finally obtaining the Lou family's admission ticket...

It makes him appear as a self-serving individual.

He Gu understood and prepared to sleep, lying on his back.

As soon as he lay down, he felt someone move closer beside him.

The rustling of the other's pajamas against the quilt stood out in the silent night.

He Gu: "What's wrong?"

Lou Dongcang paused: "Haven't you slept? You usually are asleep by this time."

He Gu: "So, every time I fall asleep, you move closer?"

Lou Dongcang: "Yes."

He Gu: "? I was just joking. Did you seriously just admit that?"

Lou Dongcang: "It's the truth."

He Gu, not misunderstanding at all: "Are you checking on my wound? It's okay, it's starting to scab over. It'll heal soon."

Lou Dongcang: "Yes."

He hesitated for a moment, seemingly pondering how to phrase his next words.

He Gu waited patiently, growing sleepier by the second.

Lou Dongcang: "Can I hold you?"

He Gu snapped to attention: "Cold?"

Lou Dongcang: "Mhm."

He Gu didn't decline: "Move closer. I'm quite sleepy. I might doze off while talking..."

Quickly, Lou Dongcang leaned in, carefully avoiding He Gu's forearm, resting lightly against his shoulder.

Silence enveloped them again.

He Gu, gazing at the ceiling, suddenly asked, "Has it always been like this in your family?"

Lou Dongcang: "Like what?"

He Gu: "Like today's situation."

"I'm not sure whether to call it a protective mechanism or a reward system, but it's the first time I've felt unsatisfied after doing something good."

"Either don't give it at all, or just give it from the start. What's the point of giving me the ring at such a crucial moment?"

A faint smile touched Lou Dongcang's lips.

Being close, the breath from Lou Dongcang's laughter brushed against He Gu's ear.

Lou Dongcang: "Because I didn't expect you to be this outstanding."

He Gu turned to face him, asking, "What?"

Lou Dongcang repeated: "I didn't expect you to be this outstanding."

He Gu didn't respond.

Lou Dongcang: "Before you arrived, I thought of many ways to deal with you."

He Gu chuckled: "Deal with me? It felt more like you were pacifying me."

Lou Dongcang: "..."

He Gu, previously jesting, now noticed Lou Dongcang's hesitation. He smiled and urged, "Are you continuing? If not, I'm sleeping."

Without delay, Lou Dongcang answered, "I'll continue."

Gently, he tugged on the sleeve of He Gu's pajamas.

He Gu lifted his hand, curling a finger around one of Lou Dongcang's, signaling he was listening.

He had recently realized that physical touch spoke louder than words. As long as it was within his comfort zone, He Gu was receptive.

Lou Dongcang: "You've met my father and elder brother."

He Gu: "Yes, are the second brother and third sister the same?"

Lou Dongcang: "They haven't been back for a long time. Their return now... maybe because our father is aging, they've come to take care. It might also make the inheritance division seem more justifiable."

He Gu: "I heard one is a lawyer and the other an engineer. I thought they'd be the type to not care about money."

Lou Dongcang: "Our father has too much money, and he refuses to let go of it, holding it all closely. It's impossible for him not to be coveted."

He Gu: "Mhm."

Lou Dongcang: "He Gu, don't be too... too sympathetic towards him. The closer you get, the more he'll control you."

He Gu: "It's alright, I'm not close to him."

Lou Dongcang: "In our family, the concept of blood ties is rather weak. My father had me only because he was in a rush to find an heir for his empire. That's also why he promotes Lou Jun Du—and the same goes for you. He merely seeks a convenient tool. He doesn't care who the tool is."

"He Gu, don't become a pawn in his hands."

He Gu was silent for a moment, subconsciously reaching for his eyes: "Did you understand all this because you can't see?"

His hand was warm, while the exposed skin of Lou Dongcang was cold. Warmed by He Gu, Lou Dongcang instinctively trembled, stopping shortly after, turning his face to press against He Gu's palm.

Lou Dongcang gripped his wrist, saying, "I learned from past experience."

He Gu's fingers rested on his cheek, tracing slow circles near his temple: "I'll take care of you."

Lou Dongcang: "Have you considered how the one being taken care of feels?"

Yet his voice lacked any hint of tension; it was just a casual remark.

He Gu chuckled softly against him: "You don't have a choice; you only have me."

Lou Dongcang: "His value system is different from ours. Everyone in this family has been influenced by him to some extent, making it hard for you to fit in. He Gu, I can't help you. I'm sorry."

He Gu spoke breezily: "It's okay."

"I'm just leading a group on the side. I'll let go soon and won't have much involvement."

"I thought..."

"You thought I'd continue in this role indefinitely?"

"Yes."

"I don't like this position. I took it because it's more convenient for leading the group. In a couple of years, once the group is on track, I'll likely switch."

"That's good to hear."

He Gu suddenly raised his voice in realization: "Oh my god, seriously, our conversation right now really feels like..."

“？”

"Like a wife advising her husband on how to deal with his father... It's a first for me..."

"It's been days since I've teased you. Thought I'd forgotten where your ticklish spot is?"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Hahaha, don't pin me down!!! Lou Dongcang, I don't...hahaha..."

*

The day of the longevity feast.

The Lou family's main mansion.

The mansion boasted a distinctly European architectural style, comprising six to seven interconnected buildings. The main structure, maintained at great cost, resembled a European castle, standing in majestic and serene opulence under the gleaming moonlight.

A vast lawn and floral walls stretched ahead. The pointed iron gates swung open, welcoming a procession of luxury cars that entered. Waiting attendants parked each vehicle methodically.

Descending from the vehicles, pairs of men and women emerged. The women's dresses shimmered under the lights, while the men's lapel pins twinkled delicately.

The scene was orderly. Guests entered the splendid hall, congregating and laughing by the dance floor.

A Raoying car entered the estate, its black contours notably understated.

The figures alighting from the car caught the attendants' attention.

Two gentlemen.

They were of similar height. One sported a vibrant Hawaiian suit, exuding youthful exuberance, especially complemented by his warm smile.

The other wore a traditional dark suit, adorned with a unique silver chain where a pocket square usually rested, showcasing tasteful flair.

But this wasn't what piqued the attendant's interest most.

Being new and young in his job, he was quite nervous. As the key was handed to him, he hastily lowered his gaze.

—Their hands were tightly intertwined.

It was unmistakably more intimate than a mere handshake between friends.