TMWTGD CH63

Xie Jianwei slept until the sun was high in the sky. Waking to find that Lu Li had not left yet, he asked with some surprise, “Nothing on your schedule today?”

Lu Li said, “Sun Qinghai’s residence was torched last night.”

Xie Jianwei sat up, his flimsy sleepwear failing to conceal the view across his chest.

Lu Li added, “Sun Qinghai’s whereabouts are unknown.”

Xie Jianwei curved his lips, continuing, “And the records of his smuggling were delivered right in front of you?”

Lu Li pointed toward the coffee table, where a stack of documents lay.

Xie Jianwei did not even need to look to know what was written inside.

Lu Li said, “Zhou Quan came to lodge a complaint with me, claiming Sun Qinghai broke the rules by moving smuggled goods. All the records are laid out right there. He also alleged that Sun Qinghai was so brazen only because someone backed him from behind, though he didn’t name that backer explicitly.”

Yet everyone knew that Xie Jianwei had recently accepted both money and a person from Sun Qinghai.

Xie Jianwei said, “Mosen truly is impatient.”

Lu Li looked at him and said, “Zhou Quan claimed that the incident at Sun Qinghai’s house happened because someone had a guilty conscience, fearing Sun Qinghai would rat them out, so they killed him to silence his mouth.”

Xie Jianwei chimed in, “Did he also say that this matches my style completely? After all, I am notorious for being ruthless.”

Lu Li remained noncommittal.

Mosen had calculated his moves brilliantly. He smuggled goods to rake in fortune, found a scapegoat to take the fall, and once trouble struck, slaughtered the scapegoat to walk away entirely clean. Along the way, he could even seize the opportunity to drag Xie Jianwei into the mud.

Unfortunately for him, while the mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole lurks behind.

Xie Jianwei said, “Father, put on a show with me.”

Lu Li asked, “Hm?”

Xie Jianwei leaned close to him, whispering, “Like this…”

He gave a general outline, and Lu Li glanced at him, asking, “You know where Sun Qinghai is?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Yes, I placed him under protection early on.”

Lu Li looked at him again, asking, “And keeping that person by your side was just to make me angry?”

Xie Jianwei offered a cunning smile, asking, “Did you get angry?”

Lu Li scoffed cold, “Why would I be angry? When my son wants to show filial respect, how could I have the heart to get angry?”

Xie Jianwei’s eyes curved. “True filial respect is shown like this as well.” His nimble fingers loosened Lu Li’s belt, kneeling before him to take the giant thing into his mouth.

Lu Li looked down at him, his burning palm pressing against the back of his head.

Xie Jianwei choked, coughing repeatedly.

Lu Li said, “Don’t make this a habit.”

“Mm-hmm,” Xie Jianwei responded haphazardly, his thoughts drifting elsewhere. “It’s still not soft.”

Lu Li remained speechless.

Xie Jianwei pulled off his pajama pants, leaning across the edge of the bed as he murmured, “Don’t… don’t let it go to waste.”

This little brat!

Even if Lu Li had gone soft, he would still harden into an iron pillar.

It was not wasted; not a single drop went to waste.

Lu Li did not leave until the afternoon, specifically glancing toward the phone in the corner before stepping out.

Xie Jianwei woke to find that the man was gone, feeling rather displeased.

They hadn’t eaten dinner yet. No cuddling to sleep, no morning kiss, no breakfast, no lunch, and no next dinner either. Why run off so fast?

Unhappy, Military Advisor Xie only wanted to cling to Lu Li around the clock.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help smiling softly.

This dream world was truly effective; he would never have been this clingy to Lu Li before.

Xie Jianwei took a shower in the bathroom, and when he stepped out, he suddenly remembered something.

Didn’t he have a date with Lu Yan today?

Xie Jianwei hurried to look for his phone, finally discovering it tucked away in an obscure corner.

Excellent, it was powered off just as expected.

Connecting the dots, Xie Jianwei held the phone and chuckled.

Tossing and turning all day, it turned out the whole point was to prevent him from keeping the appointment?

Could his Big Li be any more adorable?

Xie Jianwei powered on the phone and soon received several messages, one of which was from Lu Yan.

Xie Jianwei called him back.

“I’m so sorry, something came up today and my phone was off the whole time.”

“Did something happen?”

“Nothing serious,” Xie Jianwei said gently, “I’m just really sorry for standing you up.”

“It’s quite alright, we can reschedule whenever you’re free.”

“Sounds good, let’s keep in touch.”

In truth, Xie Jianwei could have scheduled dinner with Lu Yan tonight, but he didn’t want to. There was no rush anyway, so he decided to slack off for now; all he wanted was to see Lu Li.

He texted Lu Li, “What are we having tonight?”

Lu Li replied, “Don’t you have a date?”

Xie Jianwei sent, “I do.”

Seeing this made Lu Li’s chest ache, and he had no desire to reply.

Xie Jianwei hurriedly sent another message, “Aren’t I asking Father out right now?”

That single line cleared the gloom from Lu Li’s mood, making everything around him look far more pleasant. “What do you want to eat?”

Xie Jianwei replied, “Haidilao, extra spicy hotpot.”

Right as Lu Li was about to call him, Xie Jianwei’s message flew in again, “But my backside hurts, so I don’t dare eat spicy.”

In the end, Lu Li could not stop his lips from curving upward. “See if you dare fool around again.”

Xie Jianwei replied in a flash, “It’s only because Papa is too big.”

This flirtatious line sent Lu Li’s blood surging. Though they had just done it, he craved it again; though they had been apart for less than an hour, he longed to see him already.

Exhaling softly, Lu Li replied, “Aren’t you putting on a show tomorrow? Is it appropriate for us to meet now?”

Xie Jianwei said, “In secret.”

With the corners of his mouth tilted up, Lu Li said, “Don’t blame me if you blow your cover.”

“We won’t blow it.”

On some bizarre whim, Lu Li texted back, “Miss me that much?”

The moment he sent it, regret set in, but the text was already gone, and regular SMS offered no unsend option like other apps.

To his astonishment, Xie Jianwei replied with utter directness, “Miss you terribly.”

Lu Li’s hand twitched, nearly dropping the phone.

Although he knew this was likely just practiced sweet talk from Xie Jianwei, considering he had a flock of little lovers to coax, warmth still pooled comfortably in his chest. Of course, he had to keep up his aloof facade, secretly grateful that this was only a text exchange. “Alright, save your flowery words to coax someone else.”

On the other end, Xie Jianwei held his phone, eyes curving with laughter.

A bashful, prickly Lu Li was truly entertaining.

Xie Jianwei sent him another message, “I only ever want to coax you.”

Lu Li shot back, “Today doesn’t seem to be Father’s Day.”

Xie Jianwei laughed out loud. “When Father’s Day arrives, I will definitely give you a grand gift.”

“Heh,” Lu Li returned with just one word.

“Truly!” Xie Jianwei promised, “I know what you want.”

If you truly knew, you would probably have fled to the ends of the earth long ago. Lu Li shook his head, unwilling to pursue this topic further.

Not knowing what had gotten into him today, Xie Jianwei’s mood was exceptionally high. “Let’s go to the revolving restaurant for a candlelit dinner.”

Lu Li was rendered speechless.

Xie Jianwei sent a blushing emoji, followed by a line, “And then make love on the hotel’s top floor.”

Someone truly shy would never utter such words.

Rationally, Lu Li felt he should decline. Xie Jianwei was merely playing around on a whim, but he would take it to heart.

A romantic revolving restaurant, an exquisite candlelit dinner, and making love to Xie Jianwei beneath the canopy of stars; not a single one was something Lu Li could refuse.

Yet what about afterward? Once the beautiful illusion dissolved, how brutally cruel would reality seem in comparison?

But… if he missed this opportunity, would there ever be another?

When he grew old and solitary, perhaps he could savor this memory as the brightest slide in the lantern of his life.

Before Lu Li could reply, Xie Jianwei sent another update, “Reservation confirmed!”

Lu Li could only stare at the screen.

Xie Jianwei asked, “Where are you? I’ll come find you.”

Lu Li’s heart pounded furiously. “Wait at home, I’ll pick you up.”

Xie Jianwei replied sweetly, “Alright.”

A mountain of work still lay before Lu Li, yet he did not wish to touch a single piece of it.

Seeing him rise to put on his coat, the assistant said anxiously, “Sir, these documents…”

Lu Li said, “Leave them for tomorrow.”

The assistant protested, “However, this was supposed to be on the morning schedule.”

In the end, Mr. Lu had disappeared for the entire morning, and if matters were continually postponed, they would only pile up higher!

Yet the workaholic Lu Li had been acting outrageously willful these past few days.

The assistant could not stop him. After he left, he complained to Assistant B, “What is going on with the Young Master recently? He hasn’t gone to favor his little beauties at all.”

Assistant B shot him a side-eye.

Assistant A muttered resentfully, “What are you staring at? Don’t you think so too? Every time the Young Master visits his lovers, Sir works with inhuman efficiency.” His record was three straight days and nights without resting.

Assistant B looked pale. “Don’t remind me of those three days and nights.” When the boss worked, they couldn’t exactly skip out, and pulling that marathon alongside him had nearly killed them.

Assistant A sighed, “That’s true. Now is much better; when the boss is in high spirits, we can slack off a little too.”

Leaving aside how the assistants turned into idle salted fish, Lu Li was already on the road to pick up Xie Jianwei.

Xie Jianwei texted him again, “Send me a photo.”

“What for?” Lu Li couldn’t understand.

Xie Jianwei sent, “Just take one for me, anything will do.”

Lu Li had no clue what he was plotting.

Xie Jianwei simply sent a voice note, “Hurry up, hurry up, I want to see you.”

That soft, wheedling voice made Lu Li’s heart tremble. He didn’t want to take photos, he only wanted to pin him underneath his body.

Naturally, the person was somewhere else and out of reach, so he sent a picture after all.

With a whoosh, Xie Jianwei received Lu Li’s photo.

Lu Li had likely snapped it casually, yet handsome looks could not be suppressed; any angle turned out striking.

Xie Jianwei had a motive for requesting the picture. He wanted to see what Lu Li was wearing so he could match him in the same style.

Watching the Military Advisor search for clothes, Yan Ke mused solemnly, “Some say my name looks like someone obsessed with good looks.”

Xie Jianwei smiled, “A little bit, yes.”

Yan Ke said with utter seriousness, “I’m not obsessed with looks, but I’m definitely a single dog…” After finishing, he whimpered as he swallowed a mouthful of couple’s PDA.

Amused by him, Xie Jianwei searched for clothes with even greater vigor.

Although these were limited-edition bespoke suits, the perk of both being men was on full display.

Lu Li had always ordered two sets of each design, the larger size for himself and the smaller for Xie Jianwei.

Therefore, Xie Jianwei easily located the matching suit.

Just as he finished changing, Lu Li arrived.

Xie Jianwei was tying his necktie before the mirror. Hearing the door open, he did not turn around, merely watching Lu Li through the reflection.

The expansive full-length mirror held two men.

Both were handsome and striking, dressed in identical suits, looking every bit like grooms about to step into a wedding hall.

Lu Li’s breathing hitched abruptly. He had considered many possibilities for why Xie Jianwei wanted that photo, but never imagined it was for this.

Xie Jianwei winked at Lu Li’s reflection. “Does it look good?”

Lu Li did not answer, merely striding forward to kiss him from behind.

Xie Jianwei whispered, “Don’t wrinkle my clothes.”

Lu Li’s voice was raspy, thick with desire. “Can I have you right here?”

Xie Jianwei was momentarily stunned.

Yet Lu Li could hold back no longer. He didn’t even want to step out of the dressing room; he wanted to watch Xie Jianwei, dressed in this suit, weeping passionately before the mirror.

Who could have guessed his Big Li was so easily provoked by teasing…

By the time they tidied up and left the room, it was already eight o’clock, and Xie Jianwei was forced to change into another outfit.

The previous clothes were covered in white, sticky fluid; how could they still be worn!

If the designer master knew, they would probably burst into tears. Such an immaculate suit had ended up being treated as bedroom roleplay gear!

Although they failed to wear the matching couple’s suits out, the candlelit dinner at the revolving restaurant was enchanting enough to intoxicate the senses.

Lu Li didn’t ask what had gotten into him today; perhaps he didn’t dare ask.

He wholeheartedly savored this unprecedented night and day.

It felt as though he and Xie Jianwei shared mutual feelings, as though they were sweet lovers, as though the crimes they carried had completely evaporated, leaving behind only each other, possessing only each other.

The next day, Xie Jianwei felt somewhat drained.

Classmate Lu Li already possessed monstrous stamina, and within his own dream, he was even more formidable, maintaining an unyielding erection through round after round all night long without batting an eye.

Pitiably, Xie Jianwei was still an ordinary Xie Jianwei, so it was truly a blissful torment.

After finishing breakfast, Lu Li said, “I’ll head back to Shennan first.”

With an aching waist, Xie Jianwei didn’t want him to leave, but considering today’s performance, he had to endure it. “Alright…”

Before Lu Li left, Xie Jianwei reminded him once more, “You must act truly furious today.”

It had always been difficult for Lu Li to be angry at him, and after yesterday and last night, all he wanted was to cradle Xie Jianwei gently in his arms, unwilling to see him furrow his brow even once.

Xie Jianwei had no choice but to douse him with cold water to cool him off. “Take the rear left exit in a bit. That’s my private passage.”

This hotel was not their private property, yet Xie Jianwei had a private passage. Why? Naturally because he had visited so often that the hotel provided this exclusive service for major VIP clients like him.

This bucket of cold water hit the mark perfectly.

Fast, accurate, and ruthless, instantly making Lu Li experience a bone-chilling freeze right to the core.

Xie Jianwei was doing this out of necessity. He didn’t want to torment his husband, but what could he do when his husband seemed addicted to this flavor?

Lu Li departed with a gloomy expression, his wild imagination filling in details the entire way.

Thinking of Xie Jianwei wearing matching suits with others, having candlelit dinners with others, and doing intimate things with others…

Excellent; far from merely angry, he was ready to detonate!

Xie Jianwei arrived at headquarters close to noon.

He maintained that brazen demeanor, flirting along the way. Fortunately, he didn’t encounter anyone especially striking, otherwise he would probably have taken them back on the spot.

Yet someone was gloating, waiting to watch a good show.

For instance, the simpleminded Comrade Zhou Quan.

Xie Jianwei mocked him as usual.

Zhou Quan proved unusually magnanimous this time, choosing not to argue and merely smiling with loaded significance.

Xie Jianwei said, “Had a stroke?”

Zhou Quan fired back, “You’re the one who had a stroke!”

“Then why are you smiling like you’re having a seizure?”

Zhou Quan raged, “You’re the one having a seizure!”

Xie Jianwei chuckled, then asked the elevator attendant, “Do I look handsome?”

The elevator attendant’s heart fluttered under his smile, stammering nervously, “H-H-Handsome.”

“Handsome is enough, no need to stammer it out.”

The attendant’s face flushed even deeper red.

Zhou Quan scoffed with contempt, “What bloody use is being good-looking? Do you really think you can do whatever you want just because of that face?”

Xie Jianwei said, “I wouldn’t claim I can do whatever I want, but at least I’m not an eyesore.”

Green smoke practically puffed from Zhou Quan’s bald head. “Keep acting smug, your day to cry is coming!”

Just as he threw down that threat, the elevator doors slid open.

Lu Li strode out, and Zhou Quan went silent in an instant, meek as a quail.

Xie Jianwei’s eyes lit up. “Father!”

Lu Li didn’t spare him a glance, walking straight past the elevator.

Xie Jianwei furrowed his brows slightly, hurrying several steps after him. “Where are you going, I…”

Lu Li stopped abruptly in his tracks.

Xie Jianwei said with slight nervousness, “Father…”

Lu Li had planned to head out, but seeing Xie Jianwei now, he seemed to change his mind. Turning around, his voice was chillingly cold, “Come upstairs with me.”

Xie Jianwei followed behind him with apparent trepidation, stepping into the elevator together.

Once the two disappeared, Zhou Quan smirked, “Arrogant brat, let’s see how you handle this!”

The surrounding onlookers exchanged glances in silence.

Although they had heard that Sir was rather displeased with the Young Master recently, nobody expected the tension had escalated to such an extent.

Far from mere displeasure, those eyes were clearly brimming with revulsion.

Could the tides truly be turning?

Even after heading upstairs, the performance had to continue. Lu Li pretended to consider Xie Jianwei’s pride by bringing him upstairs for a reprimand. Yet assistants and secretaries bustled on the top floor, and he had deliberately left those informants around, so news of him lecturing Xie Jianwei spread like wildfire.

The rumors were remarkably vivid.

Supposedly, Xie Jianwei had dissolved into tears, only for Lu Li to kick him right over.

Supposedly, Xie Jianwei repeatedly denied his involvement, but Lu Li raged that the older he grew, the less sense of accountability he possessed.

Reading these rumors, Xie Jianwei only wanted to laugh.

What was the reality?

In reality, once inside the office, Xie Jianwei nibbled on fresh fruit fed to him by Lu Li, sipped aromatic fruit tea, stole kisses from Lu Li, and listened to Lu Li bark out a few furious shouts for the benefit of the hallway.

When it was all done, Xie Jianwei walked out of the top floor looking dejected, even taking the private passage to leave.

One had to realize that Eldest Young Master Xie had always entered and exited through the front doors, terrified that anyone might miss his grand entrance.

Yet this time he took the private passage, and people whispered that his face was swollen, likely having taken a beating.

Talk of the falling out between Lu Li and Xie Jianwei reached a fever pitch.

Xie Jianwei had previously trained a beauty to please Lu Li, but in a fit of rage, he allegedly threw that beauty out.

When his confidants urged him to keep his temper in check, Xie Jianwei supposedly snapped recklessly, “So what if he is Father? What right does he have to lecture me like that!”

Those words crossed the line.

Reading the intelligence placed before him, Mosen smiled with supreme confidence.

Young and hotheaded indeed. Did he truly believe an intimacy built in bed could last forever?

Xie Jianwei possessed some skill, but his mental fortitude was far too weak. He was no match for him.

After a moment of thought, Mosen ordered, “Bring the man Xie Jianwei trained here.”

If Xie Jianwei would not present him, then Mosen would.

Less than a week remained before Lu Li’s birthday banquet.

Throughout this period, Lu Li never met Xie Jianwei.

Rumors of the estrangement between father and son were taken as settled fact. Some even claimed that Xie Jianwei had no intention of attending the banquet.

Mosen felt that his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had finally arrived.

Everything progressed smoothly.

With Sun Qinghai’s “death,” the smuggling matter became a dead end without a witness. Sun Qinghai had lived up to expectations by running straight to Xie Jianwei. Given Xie Jianwei’s arrogant temper, getting dragged into a mess for nothing would naturally make him resentful. However, the evidence was too clear; fond as Lu Li was of him, he would not indulge him blindly.

Consequently, Lu Li scolded him, Xie Jianwei rebelled further, and the two clashed until a rift formed. Then Mosen would present an even better bedmate to Lu Li.

That annoying little brat Xie Jianwei could finally be tossed aside.

Mosen’s mood was better than ever. Looking at the beauty who bore a slight resemblance to Xie Jianwei, an itch stirred in his chest.

So Lu Li liked this type? Still, Xie Jianwei seemed fairer, delicate like tender tofu.

A perverse flame suddenly flared within Mosen.

This beauty was meant for Lu Li, but before handing him over, why not sample the taste himself?

Besides, with men, there was no concept of losing virginity anyway.

Mosen grew excited. The thought of Lu Li favoring someone he had already used, coupled with the fact that this person shared a forty-to-fifty percent resemblance with Xie Jianwei, gave him a thrilling sense of taboo insolence that proved irresistible.

He should not have done it, yet he did.

After tasting sweetness the first time, he indulged several more times in succession.

Xie Jianwei looked at the photos in his hand without an ounce of expression. “What a delightful surprise.”

He had thought Mosen was a sharp man, never expecting him to be stupid to this degree.

To take a gift meant for his superior and sneak a taste for himself first.

It was like a delicious pastry meant to curry favor with the higher-ups; unable to resist, he licked it all over, smeared his own saliva on it, and then served it to his boss? What brazen nerve.

Bai Yun murmured, “Mosen will likely swap the birthday gift for something else.”

Xie Jianwei said, “He won’t swap it.”

Mosen had never been attracted to men to begin with. What he relished was the secret thrill of degrading his superior. Therefore, he would definitely present him to Lu Li, eagerly anticipating Lu Li doting on him. Only that way would his satisfaction reach its peak.

The night before the birthday banquet, Xie Jianwei quietly slipped into Lu Li’s bed.

“A pity about your birthday banquet tomorrow.”

Lu Li said, “I never cared to celebrate with them anyway.”

Xie Jianwei said, “I’ll make it up to you tomorrow night.”

Lu Li asked, “How will you make it up to me?”

Xie Jianwei blinked teasingly. “How would you like me to make it up to you?”

Lu Li rolled over and pinned him beneath him. “I’d better satisfy you first.”

The two who were supposedly locked in a feud were as tightly entwined in bed as two people could be.

The next day, Lu Li’s birthday banquet unfolded in lively splendor.

Many former loyal followers traveled thousands of miles back from other cities.

Old acquaintances attended as well, including Loren, the head of the Italian mafia.

Loren burst into hearty laughter. “Where is little Jianwei?”

Hearing that name, everyone nearby fell dead silent.

Loren added, “On such a momentous day, as his son, he isn’t even out here helping to host?”

The people receiving him could only offer awkward smiles.

Loren continued, “Doesn’t your Country Z place the highest value on filial piety? That brat…” He chuckled slyly. “Could it be he was taken so hard in bed that he can’t get up?”

He understood the relationship between Xie Jianwei and Lu Li perfectly, and his standing allowed him to say whatever crossed his mind.

Yet the others truly could not stomach this brand of humor.

Later on, Mosen stepped up to host him.

With Xie Jianwei absent, Mosen was undoubtedly the second-in-command, orchestrating the banquet with practiced efficiency, carrying himself as half the master of the house.

Once the guests were assembled and the banquet commenced, Loren still saw no sign of Xie Jianwei, realizing something was brewing.

He kept quiet, watching with an amused smile.

The gifts Mosen prepared for Lu Li were remarkably lavish.

Rare antique paintings, precious gems from South Africa, and various auspicious trinkets symbolizing long life. Naturally, the most eye-catching item was the refined, graceful beauty he had trained.

Lu Li spared the youth several glances.

Mosen knew this meant the boy had caught Lu Li’s eye.

Just as Mosen was basking in triumph, a commotion arose outside.

Frowning in annoyance, Mosen turned to see who dared make trouble, only for his legs to give out beneath him the moment he saw the newcomer.

Sun Qinghai?

Hadn’t Sun Qinghai been burned to a crisp?

Sun Qinghai glared at him with burning hatred.

Panic seized Mosen, and he moved to have guards throw him out, but Sun Qinghai spoke first. “Sir, I am guilty of disturbing you on such an auspicious day.”

Lu Li paused visibly, rising to his feet. “Qinghai, you…”

News of Sun Qinghai’s death had spread long ago, known to most present. Who could have imagined that a dead man would walk again?

Sun Qinghai dropped straight to his knees. “I may be guilty, but someone carries sins far darker than mine! Since he left me no way to live, he shouldn’t dream that I’ll keep his secrets safe either!”

Every word was laced with venomous hatred, demonstrating that he cared nothing for his own life, seeking only vengeance against the culprit.

Lu Li frowned. Seeming to believe that Sun Qinghai was about to drag Xie Jianwei down, he moved to intervene, “Say no more…”

Before he could finish, a clear, ringing voice cut him off, “Father, why not let him speak? Let us see who has been sowing discord between father and son!”

The speaker was none other than Xie Jianwei, who had remained silent for days.

Lu Li narrowed his eyes.

Sun Qinghai took a deep breath, reciting the words he had rehearsed hundreds of times. “I did indeed break the rules by moving smuggled goods, but I was merely an accomplice. The real mastermind pulling the strings is someone else!”

Shocked, Mosen could not help shouting, “You know you can’t survive, so you want to drag someone down with you!”

He should not have spoken, but the turn of events had exceeded all expectations. In this state of total collapse, all his cautious restraint vanished.

Xie Jianwei sneered, “What are you nervous about, Mosen?”

“I…” Mosen caught himself, forcing a calm front. “What do I have to be nervous about?”

“Then don’t interrupt Sun Qinghai. He managed an escape from death after all, and now that Father is here to preside over justice, he deserves to speak his piece.”

Sun Qinghai glared viciously at Mosen, continuing, “The person who directed me from behind the scenes was Mosen! If not for his instigation, how would I dare violate the rules? Yet he played one game in the open and another in the dark. I handed over most of the money to him, only for him to turn around, frame me, and attempt to silence me with murder!”

Uproar swept through the entire hall.

Lu Li said coldly, “The ledger entries bear your signature in full.”

Sun Qinghai was prepared. “I received the payments, but Sir can review my personal accounts over this period to see whether I took in such massive sums!”

Mosen argued desperately, “You wouldn’t use your own accounts, obviously!”

Sun Qinghai looked right at him. “Every account belonging to the people around me can be audited without restriction.”

Mosen was left speechless.

Sun Qinghai pressed, “What about you, Mosen? Do you dare? Let us audit your records together. Such massive transactions couldn’t possibly be settled entirely in cash!”

Lu Li’s expression turned grim as he looked toward Mosen.

Xie Jianwei chuckled softly. “No need to go to so much trouble. Having been slandered so terribly recently, I felt deeply aggrieved, so I decided to investigate who was wicked enough to take the cash and frame someone else. And upon looking into it…”

He handed a stack of files to Lu Li.

Lu Li flipped through them with a rustle. After a few glances, he slammed them furiously against Mosen. “Well done, Mosen, very well done!”

Mosen went dead pale. From the moment Sun Qinghai and Xie Jianwei entered together, he should have realized that he had walked right into a deadly trap.

Whether by design or accident, as the papers hit the floor, a stack of photographs scattered across the ground like falling snowflakes.

The photos were remarkably crisp, enlarged to letter size, easily legible even from a distance.

The images captured two bodies passionately entwined. One was Mosen, while the other…

Someone gasped in shock, “Isn’t that…”

Everyone recognized him instantly. The other person in the explicit photos was the delicate beauty Mosen had prepared as a gift for Lu Li.

Shock rippled through the room at Mosen’s unfathomable audacity.

To dare pull such a stunt… with just a bit more nerve, would he dare cuckold Mr. Lu directly?

Unbelievable.

Everyone saw it, and Lu Li saw it as well.

He rose abruptly, a frigid aura radiating from him. “Mosen, I held you in such high regard, and this is how you repay me?”

Mosen could not squeeze out a single syllable. Collapsed on the floor, he knew he was finished, utterly finished.

Xie Jianwei was smarter than he had imagined.

Lu Li treasured Xie Jianwei far more than he could fathom.

Terror filled Mosen’s mind. Had they been putting on a show for him all along? Had Xie Jianwei and Lu Li known everything from the start, orchestrating this trap just to watch him expose himself?

Nobody expected that attending a birthday banquet would treat them to such high drama.

Xie Jianwei bowed deeply to Lu Li. “Father, I was wrong the other day. I shouldn’t have spoken back to you. Please forgive your son.”

Lu Li’s gaze softened completely. “It was I who blamed you unjustly.”

Xie Jianwei looked up, his eyes glistening with mist. “Your son will never betray you.”

“I know.” Lu Li beckoned to him. “Come here.”

All talk of a rift, all rumors of Xie Jianwei falling from favor, shattered into dust in an instant.

A rift? Ridiculous. Fallen from favor? Laughable.

Anyone perceptive had caught it clearly.

When Sun Qinghai first began speaking, Lu Li’s attempt to halt him had been unmistakable. He feared Sun Qinghai would implicate Xie Jianwei, dreading that Xie Jianwei was truly involved.

Yet his attitude proved that even if Xie Jianwei had taken part, he would likely have let him off the hook.

This was not falling from grace.

He was being spoiled rotten to the heavens!

With internal trouble settled, they could focus on external threats.

Because his memories were so complete, Xie Jianwei knew this dream world involved a long and arduous road ahead.

The ultimate mastermind remained hidden in the shadows.

Not to mention “it,” who maintained extraordinary patience.

Loren observed with great amusement, “Are you father and son playing a double act?”

Xie Jianwei did not feel like talking to him.

Calling Lu Li “Papa” was one thing, but why should he call Loren “Uncle”?

Yet Loren insisted on teasing him. “Little Jianwei, you don’t even greet your uncle when we meet? Where are your manners?”

Call you uncle my foot!

Xie Jianwei turned his head away, ignoring him.

Yan Ke chimed in quietly, “Admiral Loren really gets quite the perk here.” Actually getting Military Advisor Xie to call him uncle!

Xie Jianwei paused. “You accidentally said your inner thoughts out loud.”

Yan Ke went, “Huh? Did I say something? Nothing at all!”

Xie Jianwei said nothing.

Yan Ke quickly begged for mercy, “I never wanted you to call me uncle, I swear!”

His voice practically had the words ‘guilty conscience’ written all over it.

Xie Jianwei remained speechless.

Loren continued teasing Xie Jianwei.

Xie Jianwei glared at him. “What kind of uncle are you anyway?”

“Your father and I are sworn brothers!”

“Never witnessed it, don’t believe it.”

“You little brat.” Loren looked toward Lu Li. “Tell him, aren’t the two of us sworn brothers?”

Lu Li smiled. “If he doesn’t want to call you that, he doesn’t have to.”

Loren sighed at this unprincipled elder.

Xie Jianwei gloated, “Hear that?”

Unwilling to concede, Loren decided to dangle bait. “I have a few fine toys here. Call me uncle once and I’ll give them all to you.” He swiped on his phone, showing off his private armory.

Xie Jianwei thought to himself that there was nothing to show off. If war broke out, he could build a starship and blast the globe without a match.

On the surface, however, he had to feign envy.

Loren beamed proudly. “Call me uncle.”

Xie Jianwei turned his head away.

In high spirits, Lu Li asked, “Why refuse to call him that?”

They were old acquaintances with Loren. Xie Jianwei had met him when he was very young, so they were thoroughly familiar with one another.

Xie Jianwei said, “I don’t want to, that’s all.”

“There must be a reason.”

Xie Jianwei looked at Lu Li, speaking half-seriously, “Because… I don’t want to call you Father.”

Lu Li froze.

Loren whistled. “The boy is growing up, looking to seize power!”

Xie Jianwei said, “Not at all!”

Lu Li’s voice trembled slightly. “Then…”

Xie Jianwei wanted to take a risk and test the waters, testing Lu Li’s bottom line while probing for reactions from “it.”

So he averted his eyes, murmuring, “I… how do I look anything like your son?”

Loren finally did something constructive for once, chiming in, “That’s true. You don’t look like a son, but like a lover.”