When Lu Jiayan saw his WeChat message, he could almost picture the little fox’s smug smile. He put his phone away and didn’t reply further.
When the press conference ended, Lu Jiayan checked his phone and found that Sheng Mingzhi hadn’t stopped at just those two mocking lines. Likely because it was rare to see Lu Jiayan at a loss for words, Sheng Mingzhi had seized the moment to send three more follow-up messages:
【No need to force yourself to fit into the world of young people.】
【90s generation. [Aged]】
[“Blooming Wealth and Prosperity” Old-fashioned Elder Emoji.jpg]
Lu Jiayan let out a dry laugh. Initially, he didn’t care much. However, upon returning to the company, he suddenly asked a question as if nothing were the matter.
“Yao Shen.”
Having just returned from the conference, Yao Shen naturally assumed his boss wanted to review the event. Holding all the materials in his hand, he was prepared to hand them over respectfully.
Instead, Lu Jiayan continued: “Do you think I look old?”
…?
Yao Shen quickly retracted the documents, struggling to keep his expression from twisting in shock. As the head of the Shengjia Group’s secretariat, Yao Shen had followed Lu Jiayan for years and thought he understood his boss well. But today, he felt his judgment might be flawed.
Since when did the boss… become so concerned about his looks?! Even when young girls in the office used to flock to bring him coffee, he had never seemed to care about his appearance!
Because Yao Shen stayed silent for too long, Lu Jiayan raised an eyebrow slightly and said slowly, “Well?”
His tone became almost ominous. Though he was still smiling politely, there was clearly a knife hidden in that smile. “Am I really old?”
“No!” Yao Shen snapped out of it instantly. “How could that be? President Lu, you are so young. You don’t look aged at all!”
“Is that so?” Lu Jiayan twirled his pen idly. “If that’s the case, why did someone say I look like I have a hard time fitting into the world of young people?”
…
…
After a moment of awkward silence, Yao Shen thought to himself despondently: Who else could it be? Besides that little ancestor in the boss’s home, who else in this world would dare say such a thing to Lu Jiayan’s face?
He understood now. This was a spat between the boss and the “Little Lady of the House,” and he, the innocent bystander, was caught in the crossfire.
Fortunately, Lu Jiayan didn’t grill him further. Instead, he recalled the screenshots of a variety show Sheng Mingzhi had sent him today. He became interested: “What’s the name of the variety show Sheng Mingzhi is participating in?”
Yao Shen broke into a cold sweat. “President Lu,” he said nervously, “it seems the Second Young Master is in a dating show.”
“Mhm. I know,” Lu Jiayan replied coldly. “Do you think I’m the type to get jealous like a child?”
Yao Shen: “…I wouldn’t dare [think so].”
Why is it so hard to earn my year-end bonus!
________________________________________
Please Be Enchanted by Me was currently a hit variety show on Fruit TV. The promotional image was right on the homepage. Yao Shen opened the computer, and with a click of the mouse, the show began.
Lu Jiayan sat lazily in his office chair, hands folded over his lap, looking relaxed. Sheng Mingzhi didn’t have much screen time; given his status in the industry, he was just a side character even on variety shows. Since the show focused on romance and he was already married, he acted as a guest assistant, paired up with a male idol who was also a minor guest.
Fruit TV’s games were mostly competitive: grabbing pillows, balancing balloons, and “Cops and Robbers.”
When watching the pillow grabbing, Lu Jiayan’s expression remained unchanged. But by the time they reached the balloon balancing—where two people press their foreheads against a balloon—the remaining smile on his face had vanished completely.
Then came “Cops and Robbers.” In the process of running away, Sheng Mingzhi accidentally crashed right into the young idol’s arms. To prevent Sheng Mingzhi from falling, the idol held him tightly.
The two coordinated perfectly, looking intimate. On the faces of these two similarly aged youths, youthful smiles and energy overflowed.
Meanwhile, there was no sign of life left in the CEO’s office. Yao Shen felt he was on the verge of suffocation.
After a long while, Lu Jiayan picked up his water glass and took a sip. As if moistening his throat, his words came out like ice shards, yet seemingly calm:
“Who is responsible for investing in this variety show? Tell them that since this is a broadcast show, single artists and married artists should maintain proper distance. If they can’t manage that, Hemu’s remaining investment shouldn’t be wasted on such ‘indecent’ programs.”
Yao Shen bowed his head in terror. “Understood, President Lu.”
He said he wouldn’t get jealous like a child… the boss’s mind is too hard to read.
“Also,” Lu Jiayan suddenly paused and spoke slowly, “Go and custom-order a diamond ring. Sheng Mingzhi’s wedding band is too small.”
His voice was cold. “I’m afraid some people are blind and can’t see it.”
The conversation ended there.
________________________________________
Lu Jiayan had two international meetings in the afternoon and a dinner with friends in the evening. Afterward, as Yao Shen opened the car door for him, he asked perceptively: “President Lu, are you staying at the Jinmao Tower tonight?”
The Jinmao Tower was a hotel-style business skyscraper right next to the Shengjia headquarters, currently owned by Sheng Mingzhi. The ten floors starting from the 20th were a hotel, costing 150,000 per night. Because of its proximity to headquarters, Lu Jiayan kept a permanent presidential suite on the top floor for work. When he first returned to the country, he would go back to Jinmao almost every day after work, treating it as a second office.
Lu Jiayan said, “Back to No. 1 Xishan.”
Yao Shen nodded and closed the door.
By the time they reached No. 1 Xishan, it was completely dark. As the Maybach slowly drove into the villa, Lu Jiayan instinctively rolled down the window, his gaze lingering on the second floor. It was pitch black; no lights were on.
He didn’t know when returning to No. 1 Xishan had become a habit. Usually, when he returned, Sheng Mingzhi would have already finished washing up and be preparing for bed. Tonight, it was almost ten o’clock, and there was no sign of him.
Lu Jiayan laughed softly to himself. Sheng Mingzhi was busier as a celebrity than he was as a busy Chairman. He didn’t know what kind of schedule the boy was rushing through every day, earnestly earning a salary that wouldn’t even buy a button, yet he felt more “alive” than the version of Sheng Mingzhi Lu Jiayan had imagined.
Just as he took off his suit jacket, there was movement at the door. Sheng Mingzhi pushed the door open and was stunned to see Lu Jiayan. This was the first time the couple had returned home at the same time.
Sheng Mingzhi, who had been ready to walk in confidently, suddenly felt a bit guilty for some reason upon seeing Lu Jiayan. It felt like being caught by parents after staying out at a club until midnight.
“Why are you back so early today?” Sheng Mingzhi broke the silence first, his tone surprised. After all, he had been mocking the older man all afternoon; he hadn’t expected to run into him so soon.
“Is this early?” Lu Jiayan glanced at the time and spoke indifferently. “It’s already eleven.”
His tone sounded strangely accusatory, as if it were wrong for Sheng Mingzhi to be back late. Sheng Mingzhi was speechless. Given their “plastic” marriage, did this dog man actually expect him to uphold some strict “manly virtue”? Besides, is eleven o’clock late? For the Gen Z crowd, nightlife starts at eleven, okay?
Lu Jiayan could have spoken normally, but he chose to trigger Sheng Mingzhi’s rebellious streak.
Sheng Mingzhi talked back defiantly: “Of course it’s early. Oh, I forgot, the 90s generation has a different schedule than us.”
Seeing that he wouldn’t let go of the age joke, Lu Jiayan simply leaned against the entryway, blocking his path.
Sheng Mingzhi: “…”
So petty. I can’t even say a couple of things anymore?
Lu Jiayan looked down at him and laughed. “Then tell me, what is the schedule of you… Gen Z-ers like?”
“Anyway, nobody comes home before eleven,” Sheng Mingzhi raised his voice. “The nightlife of us young people starts at eleven.” He blurted out instinctively: “And people who go to bed at eleven are people with no sex life, understand?”
…
…
The moment the words left his mouth, Sheng Mingzhi realized what he had said. He had gotten into the habit of talking trash and making dirty jokes with Shen Ling and the others, forgetting who was standing in front of him. He had just blurted it out!
His face instantly turned pale from embarrassment, and his mind went blank.
Lu Jiayan raised an eyebrow. Hearing such a “colorful” topic was a bit surprising. Perhaps because he had watched Sheng Mingzhi grow up, the boy had always been a child in his eyes. And Sheng Mingzhi knew his place well; he never spoke about such topics in front of him.
By the time Sheng Mingzhi snapped out of it, his ears were red with embarrassment. Like a child who had done something wrong, he retracted his claws and became instantly obedient: “…Sorry, Jiayan-ge.” After a few more seconds, he added quietly, “I shouldn’t have said that just now.”
At most, he’d just get lectured by the old man. Wasn’t Lu Jiayan obsessed with acting like his father? Real fathers weren’t even this controlling.
Sheng Mingzhi expected a lecture on “Eight Honors and Eight Shames” or etiquette. He was ready to hear a bunch of nagging, but instead, he heard Lu Jiayan laugh. It was a soft laugh, almost flirtatious.
Lu Jiayan recognized that as an elder, he indeed had an undeniable responsibility to guide Sheng Mingzhi. But just because he was a few years older, did the boy really have to treat him like a father?
Lu Jiayan suddenly realized that their marriage existed in name only. Three years after marriage, they lived in separate rooms and beds, interacting like strangers just as they had before the wedding. Sheng Mingzhi hadn’t even adapted to the change in roles. To this day, he still felt that in front of Lu Jiayan, he would always be a junior, a child.
Their marriage wasn’t as indestructible as imagined. It could be called precarious; they might split up any day and go their separate ways. By then, he really would just be Sheng Mingzhi’s elder. He might even have to offer blessings for the little ancestor’s second marriage.
For some reason, Lu Jiayan felt a sense of discomfort for the first time. He was uncomfortable with Sheng Mingzhi’s “well-behaved” attitude meant for elders, and uncomfortable with the fact that the boy didn’t perceive their current relationship at all.
Legal husbands in a closed room. Sheng Mingzhi really didn’t guard against him at all? Did he not see him as a man?
Yet the little ancestor looked genuinely innocent, seemingly unaware of why he was laughing.
Lu Jiayan paused and asked knowingly, “What shouldn’t you have said?”
Sheng Mingzhi: “…”
Is he doing this on purpose?
“Just…” Sheng Mingzhi whispered, “When I said that people who go to bed at eleven have no sex life…”
Fine, I shouldn’t have made dirty jokes in front of this ‘Qing Dynasty relic.’ I know I was wrong, okay?
His voice got smaller and smaller until it faded out.
After listening, Lu Jiayan quirked an eyebrow idly. “Do you mean to say that you have one?”
“I don’t!” Sheng Mingzhi replied instantly, then froze. He fumed: Why did I answer so enthusiastically?!
Unexpectedly, Lu Jiayan looked at him meaningfully and said in a slow, drawn-out tone: “Mhm. However…”
“—You could have one.”
________________________________________
Half an hour later, Sheng Mingzhi snapped out of it while brushing his teeth. Looking at himself in the mirror, his movements slowly stopped.
Just now—was I just flirted with by Lu Jiayan?
I was flirted with by Lu Jiayan?!
That old man is so disrespectful to his age.
Sheng Mingzhi gnashed his teeth, but when he caught sight of himself in the mirror again, he was so embarrassed he felt his hair stand on end.
Holy crap?! Why am I blushing?
The only thing that answered him was the cold water he splashed on his face, which failed to reduce the heat.
Likely stunned by Lu Jiayan’s sudden prank, Sheng Mingzhi tossed and turned all night without falling asleep. He even suspected multiple times that he was dreaming. Otherwise, how could Lu Jiayan say such a strange thing to him?!
When he went downstairs for breakfast the next day, Sheng Mingzhi clearly had dark circles under his eyes.
Lu Jiayan had the habit of reading the morning paper. Seeing this, he put the paper down and asked softly, “Didn’t sleep well last night?”
Hehe.
Didn’t sleep well? Who caused it?
He couldn’t be bothered to talk to the culprit.
Sheng Mingzhi had a massive case of morning grumpiness; his face screamed: “Don’t mess with me.” Lu Jiayan didn’t have much patience to coax the ancestor either; it seemed he had only asked out of politeness.
They ate breakfast in peace. At eight o’clock, the doorbell of No. 1 Xishan rang.
The high-end custom suit Sheng Mingzhi had ordered for the “MOMO” gala red carpet was being delivered by a specialized designer. A team of four or five people stood at the door to provide on-site service.
Generally, Lu Jiayan didn’t care what he bought; even if he saw it, he’d pretend he didn’t and just go to work. Thus, Sheng Mingzhi didn’t avoid him and tried on the suit in the house to allow the designer to adjust details.
Surprisingly, Lu Jiayan didn’t leave after he changed into the suit. Instead, he sat composedly on the living room sofa.
Sheng Mingzhi was slightly stunned. …Why hasn’t he left yet?
Seeing Sheng Mingzhi come out, Lu Jiayan’s gaze fell unceremoniously on him. Seeing this, the designer perceptively began flattering Lu Jiayan. Phrases like “The Second Young Master is a perfect fit” and “He looks so noble” flew out.
Sheng Mingzhi: “?”
I’m the one trying on the clothes, not this dog man, right? Why are you sucking up to him?
To his surprise, Lu Jiayan acted as if possessed, exchanging a few words with the designer. This cynical man, who usually treated words like gold, actually nodded and praised him: “It is beautiful.”
Sheng Mingzhi: “…”
What is this ‘Perfect Husband’ image, accompanying his lover to a fitting and dotingly saying ‘Yes, yes, yes, buy it, buy it’? Is this some fancy new persona you’ve dreamed up?! Or has this dog man’s acting become so refined he has to pretend to be a loving couple even in front of strangers?
You’re overacting, brother. Nobody is giving you an award for this performance.
However, for some reason, Sheng Mingzhi recalled what Xiao Wang had said a few days ago. The theme of the MOMO fashion gala was “Golden Anniversary,” and almost all the guests were coming in pairs. Only he was alone.
Perhaps it was because of Lu Jiayan’s praise, but Sheng Mingzhi felt quite pleased. In short, Lu Jiayan looked quite pleasing to his eye right now.
Thus, in a gap during the fitting, Sheng Mingzhi asked impulsively: “Are you free the day after tomorrow?”
Lu Jiayan raised an eyebrow at him. Sheng Mingzhi hesitated and said slowly: “MOMO is having a gala the day after tomorrow. Do you have time to attend?”