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Lu Li looked down at him from above, remaining silent.

Xie Jianwei said cheerfully, “Even though Bai Song is completely unreliable, Senior is simply too dependable. Arriving so quickly, it’s wonderful.” Saying so, he moved to kiss Lu Li again.

Lu Li stood motionless. With his legs weak and wobbly, Xie Jianwei missed his kiss, collapsing straight into his embrace instead, nuzzling against him before starting to fool around.

Lu Li pinned down his roaming hands, murmuring once more, “Bai Song went to the Victoria.”

Xie Jianwei widened his eyes, seemingly too muddled from alcohol to register what those words meant: “That’s not right. I’m at home, this isn’t the Victoria. That bastard Bai Song didn’t take me to the Victoria at all.”

Lu Li watched him for a while, finally letting out a soft sigh and wrapping an arm around his waist. “Did you want to see me?”

“Of course I did,” Xie Jianwei chuckled softly. “I wanted to see him too.” His mischievous hand gripped the rock-hard Big Li.

Lu Li let him do as he pleased, his voice dropping lower and lower: “Xie Jianwei…”

He seemed to have more to say, but his voice was far too low, rumbling from deep within his throat; even pressed right against his lips, one couldn’t make out what he had said.

The murmur was so indistinct that unless their hearts were pressed against each other, one wouldn’t have noticed it at all.

Xie Jianwei had rubbed half his clothes off, hanging completely off him.

Lu Li felt as if a flooded bellows was wheezing painfully inside his chest, yet he spoke no further, simply satisfying him in that very posture.

Afterward, Xie Jianwei nestled in Lu Li’s arms, mumbling drowsily, “You… are truly my benefactor.”

Those last two words snapped Lu Li’s mind instantly awake. Opening his eyes to gaze at the person in his embrace, he only wanted to crush him tightly against himself.

He didn’t want to be his benefactor; he wanted to be his lover.

Yet Xie Jianwei only ever wanted him as a benefactor.

Still, Lu Li had nothing to grieve over; he had known from the start, and this was merely repeated confirmation. There was no need to feel sorrow.

Wait a little longer, Lu Li thought, pressing a feather-light kiss to his forehead. While he can still tolerate me, let Xie Jianwei have everything he desires. When the day comes that he wants to leave, I will simply have to lock him away.

In any case, he would never let go.

The next morning, Xie Jianwei woke with a splitting headache, and the thought of having to do promotional work for the movie made him completely unwilling to stir.

Lu Li had brewed some hangover soup for him: “Get up and drink a little.”

Xie Jianwei slumped across the bed: “My head hurts so bad.”

Lu Li massaged his forehead for a while: “Don’t drink so much in the future.”

Xie Jianwei mumbled, “I didn’t want to either, but they kept pouring drinks down my throat.”

Lu Li said, “Wouldn’t it be solved if you simply didn’t go?”

Xie Jianwei sat up, taking the hangover soup and sipping in small gulps: “You think everyone is like you, reigning as an undisputed Best Actor without showing up to a single event?” He sighed, murmuring softly, “I have no prestigious lineage, no powerful background. Scrambling to survive on my own in this circle, how could I manage without working hard?”

His words reflected how many people perceived Lu Li.

Very few knew of Lu Li’s status as an illegitimate son; all they knew was that he was a young master of the Lu family who joined the entertainment industry purely out of a passion for acting. Starting from an impossibly high vantage point, he had casually swept up six Best Actor trophies, becoming a living legend while building a staggering business empire.

Nowadays, he had zero need to cater to anyone’s whims in showbiz; after all, Tengfei Media under his control dominated nearly half of the entire entertainment landscape.

“Best Actor Lu” was nothing compared to “President Lu,” who truly drove countless people wild.

Lu Li had no intention of elaborating further, merely stating, “Don’t you have me?”

Whatever Xie Jianwei wanted, he would give him, so there was no need to push himself like this.

Setting down the soup, Xie Jianwei sighed, “My dear patron, don’t forget that you have someone in your heart. You’re good to me now, but the moment your beloved changes their mind, I’ll be tossed into god-knows-which obscure corner.”

Lu Li’s heart hitched. Words that rose to the tip of his tongue were forced back down. What was the point of saying anything? Xie Jianwei didn’t care in the slightest. Being able to utter such words in such a breezy tone proved he truly saw him as nothing more than a “patron.”

Noticing his grim expression, Xie Jianwei quickly added, “Let’s not dwell on that. Have you eaten breakfast? I’ll make some for you.”

Climbing out of bed, he took two steps before clutching his head: “It feels awful.”

Lu Li said, “Don’t bother.”

Xie Jianwei said, “You rarely ever come to my place. I should at least show some courtesy.”

Lu Li said, “I already had my assistant order food. It will be delivered shortly.”

“I see.” Xie Jianwei breathed a sigh of relief, sitting back on the bed and looking at Lu Li. “Is my apartment too small?”

Lu Li paused briefly before saying, “I have a duplex at Gongyuan. In a few days, I’ll have someone handle the deed transfer for you.”

In City S where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, a duplex in Gongyuan—a development legendary for its exorbitant prices—would cost… anyone poor at math wouldn’t even dare to calculate it.

Pitiably, Xie Jianwei truly had no concept of how much money that was, but whenever his husband made a move, it was bound to be extraordinary. He only needed to act delighted: “Really?”

Lu Li answered, “Mm.”

Xie Jianwei hopped up, wrapped his arms around him, and planted a kiss on his cheek: “Thanks a ton!”

His smile was too genuine, which only made Lu Li completely joyless. A smile purchased this way was like a candy laced with poison: swallowed in desperate haste, sweet on the tongue, but corroding every internal organ.

Xie Jianwei was genuinely quite pleased. While eating breakfast, he asked Lu Li again, “I’ll go check out Gongyuan in a couple of days. If it’s suitable…” He blinked with a smile, “Let’s meet there from now on!”

Lu Li’s hands holding the cutlery paused slightly.

Xie Jianwei said, “Although the Victoria is nice, it’s still a hotel after all. Once I get it sorted out, we…”

Before he could finish, Lu Li cut in, “No need.”

Xie Jianwei looked at him: “Hm?”

Lu Li wiped his hands with a warm towel and said, “We’ll switch hotels. Go to the Wenlier from now on.”

Xie Jianwei explained, “No, what I mean is that there’s no need for us to keep throwing money away on hotels when there’s an apartment… and that place is huge, too.”

Lu Li said, “I’m used to hotels.”

Puzzled, Xie Jianwei asked, “Does Xie Zhiwei live in a hotel as well?”

Lu Li fell silent.

Xie Jianwei paused, then wore a face of sudden realization: “Silly me. That makes sense, of course. A home is for one’s beloved; a kept lover naturally ought to meet in hotels.”

As he said this, Lu Li stared at him unblinkingly. He didn’t know what he was trying to find, but in the end, there was nothing to see.

Xie Jianwei even quipped playfully, “I really don’t understand the world of the wealthy. I thought I’d save you some money, but since you don’t need it, never mind then!”

Lu Li lowered his eyes, suddenly feeling the food he had just eaten turn into knives, stabbing ruthlessly into his stomach over and over.

How was he supposed to tell Xie Jianwei?

Could he say he only dared stay in hotels because the rigid decor, the ubiquitous service staff, and the exquisite yet soulless meals kept him sober—sober enough to see their relationship clearly?

Or tell him that he dared not live under the same roof with him because he wouldn’t be able to resist locking that front door, ensuring he could never step out of it again?

He could say nothing; not a single word.

After breakfast, they went their separate ways to work.

Xie Jianwei dozed off in the van while Yan Ke briefed him on his upcoming schedule.

Xie Jianwei said to the Yan Ke in his head, “I really wish I’d get locked up sooner.”

Yan Ke: “…” Mind your character persona, Military Advisor!

Xie Jianwei said, “Running back and forth every day is such a hassle. Why would anyone ever want to be an entertainer?”

Yan Ke paused before saying, “My Lord, not everyone can simply become whatever they please like you.”

Xie Jianwei said, “…I only want to stay in the Marshal’s Manor.”

Although Yan Ke had long deduced that the grand, ambitious Military Advisor of public acclaim possessed the soul of a homebody, hearing him voice it aloud still brought a slight collapse of his worldview: “Pull yourself together, My Lord!”

Sure enough, Xie Jianwei pulled himself together: “Once I cure Lu Li’s illness, I’ll retire and live in leisure.”

Yan Ke: “…”

Reckless Love blew up completely, becoming an undisputed dark horse of the spring season.

And Shen Li, played by Xie Jianwei, predictably became the cinnabar mole in the hearts of countless girls—the kind that brought a sharp pang of heartache every time they thought of him.

The upside was that Xie Jianwei shot to fame, catapulting overnight into the ranks of second-tier leading men; the downside was rather awkward, as the male and female leads of Reckless Love, who were supposed to receive blessings, were roasted to oblivion instead.

The male lead was melodramatic, the female lead was fickle, and a perfectly aesthetic romance was dissected into an unrecognizable mess.

What people found most unbearable was that the aloof, artsy female lead was actually labeled a two-faced schemer simply for choosing the male lead in the end.

Regarding this… Xu Fei was completely speechless.

Xu Fei, the actress who played the female lead, was on good terms with Xie Jianwei in private. Although she had been heavily criticized, she wasn’t angry, even posting a Weibo update: “I wanted to love Shen Li too.” Followed by an @ to Xie Jianwei.

Before Xie Jianwei could respond, the actor playing the male lead replied with a sobbing emoji.

This banter between the two instantly amused the fans.

The actors were innocent, after all; they merely acted according to the script, and they had delivered great performances. There was truly no need to flame them.

Then the wind shifted. Fans turned their crosshairs directly onto Li Dongxing, bombarding Director Li relentlessly. Then someone tried to defend him, claiming he was merely the director and any grievances regarding the script should be directed at the screenwriter—whereupon someone leaked that Li Dongxing had written and directed the film himself!

So the crowd swarmed to denounce Li Dongxing again. Yet as the scolding went on, a different voice emerged: “Hey, come to think of it, Director Li is actually quite talented! His recent films were all written and directed by himself—solid scripts, vibrant characters, and most importantly, wonderfully shot. The man’s a real gem!”

At first, when such opinions surfaced, ordinary netizens were unconvinced, insisting on picking bones and claiming his script for Reckless Love was poorly written. But someone quickly retorted, “If it were bad, why did you all watch it? Don’t forget that Shen Li is also Li Dongxing’s own creation! Without this plot, could we ever love Shen Li this much?”

This argument enlightened the peanut gallery. A chorus of voices chimed in: “Holy crap, that’s true! Without Li Dongxing, where would Shen Li come from? It’s precisely because of Reckless Love that we got our beloved treasure!”

Just like that, Li Dongxing was squeaky-clean in the public eye again, inexplicably becoming a director more famous than third-tier actors.

The upside of blowing up was that sponsors offering investments practically kicked down the door of his tiny apartment.

Li Dongxing had initially been furious at Xu Fei for stirring up trouble, but now he wanted to visit her in person to express his gratitude.

What high-level maneuvering—in a flash, the entire cast and crew of Reckless Love rode the wave of popularity.

Xu Fei was thoroughly impressed as well. She had merely followed instructions; the person who had actually orchestrated it was someone else entirely.

Meanwhile, Xie Jianwei, having hidden his accomplishments and fame away, was busy tossing scripts aside: didn’t want to act in this one, didn’t want to act in that one. Why hadn’t Lu Li locked him up yet? He desperately wanted to be a salted fish that never had to work.

Yan Ke was powerless to roast him: It must be so exhausting for you, Military Advisor Xie.

Checking the time, Xie Jianwei intended to look for Lu Li, but the moment he stepped out the door, in-dream Yan Ke blocked his path.

“My living ancestor!” He held a script in his hand, waving it around like a madam soliciting business in a red-light district.

Xie Jianwei looked at him: “What is it?”

Yan Ke’s face was flushed red with excitement: “Are you going to see Best Actor Lu?”

Xie Jianwei nodded, “Yes.”

Yan Ke said, “There’s great news, monumental news!”

Xie Jianwei waited for him to finish. After buzzing with excitement for a moment, Yan Ke said, “I got insider info: Best Actor Lu invested in Director Hosenfeld’s new production!”

Xie Jianwei pretty much understood what he was angling for.

Yan Ke continued, “Why don’t you go snag a role? Even just a brief cameo! That’s Hollywood! If you manage to hop on board, your prestige will blast straight through the roof!”

Xie Jianwei refused to acknowledge his terrible choice of words.

Yan Ke added, “This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It won’t be too tiring, and with Best Actor Lu looking out for you, nobody will push you around. It’s an absolute windfall!”

Thinking it over, Xie Jianwei realized he hadn’t asked Lu Li for much lately. Snapping alert to his persona, he said, “Fine, I’ll go give it a try.”

“Don’t just give it a try!” Yan Ke’s eyes shone like little suns. “You must nail it down! Put your stellar bedroom skills to work and blow Best Actor Lu’s mind! When that happens, hehehe…”

Real Yan Ke wailed in his head: “My Lord, that really isn’t me! I’m truly not this… this… waaah…”

Xie Jianwei was rather amused by him: “Do you think this Yan Ke is you in Lu Li’s eyes, or…”

Yan Ke blurted hurriedly, “It’s definitely not me in the Lord Marshal’s eyes! It must be that wicked entity playing dirty tricks!”

Xie Jianwei said with a smile, “Perhaps…”

Yan Ke wanted to weep, secretly vowing that upon returning to reality, he would definitely put on a stellar performance in front of the Lord Marshal!

Yan Ke in the dream was bursting with enthusiasm, offering repeatedly to drive Xie Jianwei to meet Best Actor Lu.

Xie Jianwei couldn’t be bothered to drive anyway, so he agreed.

In the car, Yan Ke rattled off an eight-hundred-word speech on the topic of “A Glorious Future.” Xie Jianwei listened quite attentively; it was an educational opportunity after all. He genuinely had no experience being a kept lover, and Yan Ke clearly understood the trade better than he did.

Finishing his rambling, Yan Ke lowered his voice conspiratorially: “I wonder who Bai Song managed to offend…”

Xie Jianwei knew.

Yan Ke said, “Clips of him acting as a homewrecker were leaked. He can’t scrub himself clean no matter what he tries. The kicker is that he went after a married woman—cuckolding the chairman of Wanjia was bad enough, but he nearly saddled the man with another guy’s child! If I were the chairman of Wanjia, I’d crush him into dust.”

Xie Jianwei didn’t care much about that; now that Bai Song had crossed Lu Li, living in peace was out of the question.

Yan Ke sighed, “Thank goodness we didn’t introduce him to Best Actor Lu back then, or we would have been dragged down with him. I truly misjudged him; I never expected him to…”

Before he could finish, Xie Jianwei turned to look at him: “Not another word about that from now on.”

Yan Ke froze.

Xie Jianwei enunciated each syllable: “Do you hear me?”

Yan Ke answered in a flurry, “Understood, understood! I definitely won’t bring it up, that would get us killed!” As he spoke, cold sweat drenched his palms on the steering wheel.

He wasn’t terrified by the fallout of the scandal, but by Xie Jianwei just now.

That chilling glance genuinely set his guts trembling. Was Xie Jianwei always this terrifying?

Yan Ke suddenly felt that he might not understand the man beside him at all.

Arriving at the Wenlier, Xie Jianwei didn’t see Lu Li.

Presumably still busy, Xie Jianwei paid it no mind, heading straight into the kitchen to bustle about.

Never mind how his culinary skills fared; it was one of the methods to butter up his patron, and Lu Li genuinely loved eating what he cooked.

Xie Jianwei seared the steaks in high spirits.

Yan Ke deeply sympathized with the Lord Marshal: What else could he do? It was made by his wife. Never mind beef steak, even if it were cardboard steak, he’d have to swallow it down with a smile.

Naturally, Military Advisor Xie’s culinary skills were improving by the day; steaks worth several thousand yuan at least tasted like they were worth a few hundred now, plenty edible.

Lu Li returned right on time. Smelling the aroma the moment he walked in, he took off his coat and spotted Xie Jianwei bustling in the kitchen.

Lu Li’s gaze dimmed slightly, and he walked into the adjacent study.

Hearing the sound, Xie Jianwei poked his head out: “Senior, you’re back?”

Lu Li said, “I still have some matters to attend to.”

Xie Jianwei called out cheerfully, “Alright, I’ll prepare another dish.” He had studied beef bourguignon, and it didn’t seem too difficult. Whatever, time to test out these pots and pans.

Lu Li indeed had work, but sitting in the study, he couldn’t absorb a single word.

The black ink on white paper before him couldn’t compare to a single strand of hair belonging to the person outside.

Xie Jianwei, Xie Jianwei, Xie Jianwei.

Lu Li loosened his tie, leaning back against his chair, staring blankly at the ceiling.

What should he do? Growing more infatuated by the day, longing to possess him more by the hour—craving him so intensely that the mere thought of him made everything else in the world fade into insignificance.

How could one fall so deeply in love with a person?

It was beyond comprehension.

Lu Li tossed aside his work and headed into the shower.

When he stepped out, Xie Jianwei was just bringing the food to the table. “Come taste it quickly. I think it turned out pretty well.”

Lu Li had half a mind to keep a stern face and say: Don’t cook in the future, just order from the kitchen downstairs. Yet those words had lingered on the tip of his tongue for days, and he still couldn’t bring himself to utter them.

Sitting across from him, Xie Jianwei watched him unblinkingly. “Is it good?”

Lu Li couldn’t taste any distinct flavor at all; whether it was delicious or not, his entire mind was filled with only one thought—it was good.

The person was simply too good, so whatever he made was good.

Yet how could such words be spoken aloud? Lu Li said in a low voice, “Not bad.”

Xie Jianwei said, “Then next time I’ll try out other dishes.”

Moved by a subtle thought, Lu Li looked up at him. “I have a role on hand that suits you quite well.”

Xie Jianwei asked, “What is it?”

Lu Li said, “Director Hosenfeld needs an Asian face for his new film. Do you want to try out for it?”

Xie Jianwei’s face immediately lit up with surprise. “Director Hosenfeld?!”

Lu Li’s heart sank slightly. “Mm.”

Xie Jianwei said, “Of course! Given an opportunity like that, I definitely have to try!”

Lu Li lowered his head to eat. “I’ll arrange it for you.”

Thinking for a moment, Xie Jianwei decided to clumsily cover his tracks. “Um… I didn’t cook for you just to get a role.”

Lu Li: “…”

Clearing his throat, Xie Jianwei continued, “I… I actually quite enjoy cooking for you.”

Lu Li asked him, “Why?”

Curving his eyes into a smile, Xie Jianwei said, “Because I think you like eating it.”

Lu Li clamped his teeth together abruptly, looking away from his gaze.

Liking to eat it was because he loved the person who made the food.

Did Xie Jianwei truly not understand? Perhaps he did, but simply refused to accept it.

The beef, which already had little distinct flavor, tasted all the more like chewing wax.

Even so, Lu Li polished off every single bite.

Naturally, Xie Jianwei attended to him thoroughly that night.

Lu Li worked with astonishing efficiency. Within two days, Yan Ke received the news, even more ecstatic than Xie Jianwei. “Good heavens, A-Wei, it’s not a walk-on, not cannon fodder, and not some expendable extra, but a supporting male role with significant screen time!”

Xie Jianwei said, “Pretty good.”

“What do you mean pretty good? This is a monumental blessing, alright!” Yan Ke paced in circles around the room as though the person about to hit it big was him rather than Xie Jianwei. “Best Actor Lu is truly generous, far too generous!”

Xie Jianwei, however, felt somewhat troubled. “With so many scenes for this supporting role, wouldn’t I have to stay in Country M for half a year?”

Yan Ke said, “Oh dear, I have to go with you! No time to chat, I need to go pack my gear right now.”

Xie Jianwei: “…”

At the thought of being separated from Lu Li for so long, Xie Jianwei suddenly found the whole thing rather dull.

Still, the plot demanded it, so there was no helping it.

Before he had even left, Xie Jianwei was already beginning to taste the sorrow of longing.

As it happened, Lu Li visited Feihuang that day on business. Seeing Xie Jianwei’s car parked in the underground garage, he knew he was at the agency.

Checking the time and seeing it was late, Lu Li intended to pick him up so they could leave together.

Yet the moment he stepped out of the elevator, he saw Xie Jianwei walking alongside Yan Ke.

Yan Ke had calmed down somewhat over the past few days; while he was still daydreaming about Hollywood, he wasn’t quite as frantic.

Seeing Xie Jianwei in low spirits, he asked, “Having managed to land such an incredible role with so much effort, why are you still unhappy?”

Xie Jianwei shot him a glance. “I don’t want to go to Country M.”

Yan Ke said, “Why? How many actors in Hua Country dream day and night of going there!”

Xie Jianwei said, “If I go, how am I supposed to see Senior every day?”

The moment those words left his mouth, Lu Li happened to overhear them, his heart suddenly leaping violently.

Yet immediately after, Yan Ke chimed in, “True enough. If you leave, you won’t see Best Actor Lu for nearly half a year. What if he finds someone new…”

Lu Li’s pounding heart chilled halfway through.

Playing along with him, Xie Jianwei said, “Exactly. Especially now that he has his heart’s desire. Once I leave… sigh…”

Yan Ke worried on his behalf as well. “That really is hard to say. By the time you return, Best Actor Lu might have forgotten who you even are.”

Xie Jianwei sighed. “Yet with such a great opportunity, I can’t just give it up.”

Yan Ke patted his shoulder. “Look on the bright side, don’t put the cart before the horse. You approached Best Actor Lu for resources in the first place, so now that such a prime opportunity has presented itself, how could you just drop it?”

Xie Jianwei appeared hesitant and conflicted.

Yan Ke added, “Don’t be too greedy either. Being able to secure this script means Best Actor Lu has done everything humanly possible for you—it’s more than worth it as a breakup settlement. Besides, this is an incredible opportunity. Once you return from Country M, you’ll be a changed man. Even if Best Actor Lu doesn’t want you anymore, so be it, it’ll be time for you to establish your own footing…”

Yan Ke spoke with heartfelt earnestness, and Xie Jianwei seemingly took it to heart, murmuring softly, “It can only be like this.”

That evening, Lu Li naturally didn’t pick him up.

Yet the very next day, a bombshell headline hit the top of the entertainment sections.

Best Actor Lu, who hadn’t taken on a single acting project in nearly a year, decided to star in Director Hosenfeld’s new film, playing the third male lead!

Looking at this news, Xie Jianwei wore a smile that practically screamed just as planned.

Now things were secure. He wouldn’t have to part from Lu Xiaoli. And if they spent half a year away together, whoever was hiding in the shadows was bound to grow impatient.

Yan Ke in his mind: “…” What could he even say? Lord Marshal, just how did you manage to marry such a calculating wife! Downright terrifying!

Having “heard” the news, Xie Jianwei naturally went to find Lu Li in high spirits.

“Senior, we can go to Country M together!”

Lu Li said, “Mm.”

Xie Jianwei let out a visible sigh of relief. “I was genuinely terrified of being separated from you.”

Lu Li didn’t want to know the underlying meaning behind those words in the slightest.

Immediately after, Xie Jianwei asked with concern, “If you go to Country M, what will happen to your heart’s desire?”

Lu Li knitted his brows. He hadn’t seen Xie Zhiwei in a long time and had no idea what his current state was.

Xie Jianwei asked again, “Um… he won’t be going to Country M too, will he?”

Lu Li said, “What would he go there for?”

Xie Jianwei said considerately, “If you leave him in City S for half a year, when you return, he…”

Lu Li understood what he meant. An irritation welled in his chest; he wanted to tell him that things between him and Xie Zhiwei were nothing like what he imagined, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

What was the point of explaining? If Xie Jianwei cared even a fraction, he wouldn’t discuss this matter with such breezy detachment.

There was only one reason someone didn’t feel jealous—they simply didn’t care about you at all.

Unwilling to continue the topic, Lu Li pulled him into a kiss, making love in a way whose emotional taste he couldn’t even describe.

He adored Xie Jianwei’s body, yet he was growing increasingly unsatisfied with mere physical union.

No matter how compatible their bodies were, it was futile. Fleeting pleasure gave way to a vast emptiness, expanding like an inflating balloon, swelling larger and larger, threatening to burst at any moment.

After the news of Lu Li heading to Country M spread, Xie Zhiwei contacted him once more.

Lu Li answered the phone, and Xie Zhiwei asked, “Can we meet?”

By all rights and courtesies, Lu Li ought to bid him farewell, so he said, “I’ll come see you tonight.”

Xie Zhiwei said, “I booked a table at Qingde.”

Lu Li thought for a moment. “Alright, see you tonight.”

Coincidentally that evening, Xie Jianwei texted him: “Tonight I want to try baked king prawns!” Get two big lobsters and give it a shot, hopefully without burning them!

Unexpectedly, Lu Li replied: “I have plans tonight, let’s do tomorrow.”

Xie Jianwei asked: “Will you still come back to sleep?”

Qingde was in the northern suburbs of City S, while the Wenlier was in the southern suburbs. The two locations spanned the entire breadth of the city, and right after dinner was peak traffic hour; driving back from Qingde to the Wenlier would take at least an hour and a half.

By rights, Lu Li shouldn’t return to the Wenlier, yet he still replied: “Okay.”

Xie Jianwei said: “I’ll wait for you.”

Lu Li loved hearing those words most. They always brought an inexplicable sense of peace, as if Xie Jianwei were genuinely at home, waiting for him with single-minded devotion.

Having drifted through his entire childhood and half his youth, what Lu Li wanted above all was a home, and that home could only be given to him by the person he loved.

Sadly, Xie Jianwei had no desire to give it to him.

When Lu Li arrived at Qingde, Xie Zhiwei was already waiting there.

Though the aristocratic gentleman of the past had “fallen to the mortal realm,” his elegance remained undiminished.

His bearing endured, every gesture graceful and captivating.

Shen Lei had claimed Xie Jianwei and Xie Zhiwei looked remarkably alike, yet in Lu Li’s eyes, aside from a slight similarity in their names, they shared no resemblance whatsoever.

If he had truly wanted to find a substitute for Xie Zhiwei, it certainly wouldn’t have been Xie Jianwei.

Xie Zhiwei cut straight to the chase: “I asked to meet today because I have a favor to ask of you.”

Lu Li said, “Go ahead.”

Xie Zhiwei swirled his teacup, a few tender leaves drifting in the pale green water like a small boat bobbing in the waves, unable to find a shore to dock upon.

After what felt like a long silence, he finally made up his mind and spoke: “Could you break things off with Xie Jianwei?”

The moment those words were uttered, Lu Li’s eyes narrowed sharply.

Xie Zhiwei said softly, “I know you two are… well… together.”

Lu Li said, “Why are you interfering in what happens between him and me?”

There was distinct displeasure in his tone. Why did everyone want him and Xie Jianwei to part ways? Shen Lei did, and now Xie Zhiwei did as well. Why?

Xie Zhiwei hesitated: “By right, I truly have no authority to pry. But… could you choose someone else instead?”

Lu Li caught the deeper meaning in his words. “You know Xie Jianwei?”

Xie Zhiwei stared at the table full of dishes without moving his chopsticks, as though the food before him weren’t delicacies, but a pit of venomous vipers ready to bite.

“He is my younger brother,” Xie Zhiwei closed his eyes and whispered.

Lu Li’s brows knitted tightly, his voice instantly turning frigid: “The Xie family only ever had three…” He caught himself mid-sentence, pausing.

Xie Zhiwei said, “My younger sister was actually a younger brother.”

As everyone knew, the Xie family had three exceptionally brilliant sons, each more formidable and talented than the last, capable of shouldering the heavens on their own.

The eldest and second brothers had successively entered politics, and with Xie Xing’s downfall, they were implicated and imprisoned. The only one fortunate enough to be spared was Xie Zhiwei.

Because although he enjoyed widespread acclaim across multiple fields, he had never dipped his toes into the murky waters of politics from start to finish, so while he had lost nearly everything, he had preserved his personal freedom.

Too many people had focused their attention on the three Xie brothers, overlooking the child in their family who rarely showed his face.

Word had it that she was a daughter who had been born prematurely with frail health, kept inside the household from childhood and rarely brought into public view.

Now, Xie Zhiwei was saying: “When Jianwei was small, he fell ill and was mentally unstable for a long time. Sometimes he was lucid, sometimes confused, unable to distinguish even family members, which was why we rarely brought him outside.”

“As for why we told the outside world he was a girl…” Xie Zhiwei said slowly, “it was out of a mother’s loving heart. She heard from a master that he was fated to be a girl, and being born a boy caused his mental affliction. If raised as a girl, perhaps his illness would heal.”

Hearing this explanation, Lu Li found it utterly inconceivable. “Xie Jianwei is very intelligent.”

Xie Zhiwei said, “Yes, he has recovered now.”

Without waiting for Lu Li to ask, Xie Zhiwei continued, “My mother and father did not get along. After their divorce, mother took Jianwei away with her. For reasons unknown, after leaving the Xie family, Jianwei’s health gradually improved. He could recognize people, remember things, and even attend school…”

Lu Li asked him, “Did your family not look after him after that?”

Xie Zhiwei said, “Mother was angry with us and stayed hidden after leaving. When we went looking for her, she threatened to kill herself. Later on…”

Later on, disaster struck the Xie family, leaving them no leisure to care. Only after the family collapsed, when Xie Zhiwei saw Xie Jianwei on television, did he suddenly realize this was his own younger brother.

And then he discovered… Xie Jianwei had actually become Lu Li’s kept lover.

Even if the Xie family had fallen, even if their mother had passed away, his brother should never have been reduced to such a state, kept by another man.

Having finished speaking, Xie Zhiwei looked at Lu Li: “For the sake of our past acquaintance, let him go.”

Lu Li said, “When I met him, he was nearly carried off by someone else.”

Hearing this, Xie Zhiwei lowered his eyes, remaining silent.

Lu Li said, “He had been drugged, completely unaware of what was happening, being dragged dazed toward a hotel room by that man.” He paused, glaring at Xie Zhiwei. “If it hadn’t been me, it would have been someone else.”

Back then, Lu Li had rescued Xie Jianwei, but had also slept with him, entering into this relationship that had persisted until now.

If Xie Jianwei had always been like this, Lu Li would have had nothing to say. But hearing Xie Zhiwei’s revelations, he…

Taking a deep breath, Lu Li stared at Xie Zhiwei: “What right do you have to say any of this? What right do you have to consider yourself his elder brother!”

How could a family as illustrious as the Xie clan have allowed their own child to fall into such circumstances?!

Grip tightening around his teacup, shame washed over Xie Zhiwei’s face. “It was our family who failed him.”

Fighting to calm his churning emotions, Lu Li’s voice was frigid to the extreme: “His affairs were none of your concern in the past, and they will be none of your concern in the future.” He said in a deep, resolute voice, “I will take good care of him.”

Having said that, he had zero desire to touch the meal, grabbing his coat and turning to leave.

Right before he reached the door, Xie Zhiwei spoke in a low voice: “Do you love him?”

Lu Li’s footsteps halted abruptly.

Staring at his back, Xie Zhiwei asked word by word: “If you love him, why treat him like a plaything?”

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Author’s Note:

Lu Li: It’s not me treating him as a plaything, he’s the one treating me as a plaything. Yes, exactly that kind of thing—a vibrator.