Lu Chengxuan didn’t get out of the car. He gave a look, signaling for him to get in.
Lin Wangye’s heart jumped into his throat as he opened the door and slid into the back seat. He buckled his seatbelt, then lifted his arm to sniff his own clothes. After Lu Chengxuan pressed the accelerator, he asked cautiously, “Brother Lu… when did you get here?”
“When you were just leaving the hotel,” Lu Chengxuan said.
Lin Wangye felt a chill crawl up his spine and nervously swallowed.
“Please, don’t tell Shi Yuan I’ve started smoking…”
As usual, Lu Chengxuan didn’t make any promises about comments like that. Instead, he asked, “Aren’t you worried Lin Shen will find out?”
“He… he smokes too, and he promised he wouldn’t anymore,” Lin Wangye muttered quietly. “I’m just afraid Shi Yuan will think I’m going down the wrong path if he’s not around.”
Lu Chengxuan paused for a moment, then said, “Just be careful not to get caught.”
Hearing this, Lin Wangye finally felt a little relieved.
Thankfully, Lu Chengxuan wasn’t one to chatter. Otherwise, when he had made such a big deal about Lin Shen quitting smoking but then secretly smoked himself, anyone else would have spread the story all over town. No one could have kept it quiet.
Leaning back in the seat, Lin Wangye tried to relax and sort out his jumbled thoughts. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a stack of documents on the passenger seat.
“Brother Lu… why are you here? Did my dad call you?”
“Mm,” Lu Chengxuan replied. “He was worried someone might give you trouble, so he called me to check on you. I was in a meeting, so I arrived a bit late.”
“I see… thanks for this, Brother Lu,” Lin Wangye exhaled softly. “He had a meeting about investments today, but suddenly felt unwell and had to cancel. The people I met were a little upset, but the boss is understanding. They gave me a chance for another meeting.”
“That’s how business works. Always leave some room—keeps things smooth for later.”
Lin Wangye nodded, understanding that Lu Chengxuan’s perspective was different from most people’s.
Resources in this circle were limited. Everyone was fighting tooth and nail to get ahead. But most of them shared an unspoken understanding: even if they secretly looked down on each other or stabbed each other in the back, they always acted civil on the surface.
Because they left some room for maneuver, even tough situations could still be negotiated.
It’s always safe to smile at someone while keeping your hand to yourself.
The only difference was that Lu Chengxuan’s position allowed him to decide whether others got that room at all. He didn’t need to smile or please anyone.
That’s the class difference—only a select few held true power.
In his past life, ever since Lin Wangye could remember, he’d been considered someone above the rest. Protected like a flower in a greenhouse, he had no idea how uneven the world really was.
It wasn’t until he returned to the starting point that he realized Lin Shen and Lu Chengxuan had been dealt completely different hands from the very beginning.
Lu Chengxuan was born with the advantage—all good cards.
Lin Shen, on the other hand, started with a terrible hand. Winning felt harder than a pilgrimage to the West.
Only by walking in their shoes could Lin Wangye truly understand just how tough Lin Shen’s path had been in his past life. Yet in the end, he even managed to play against Lu Chengxuan, finding countless chances to turn the tables.
Not sure if it was the few drinks he’d had earlier, but after sitting in the car for a while, Lin Wangye started to feel a little woozy. His eyes grew heavy, his mood sinking.
Thinking about how, in his past life, things had turned out far from satisfactory no matter how much he struggled, Lin Wangye felt a bitter weight in his chest. Quietly, he called out, “Brother Lu…”
Lu Chengxuan glanced at the drooping head reflected in the rearview mirror and replied softly, “Mm.”
“Give Lin Shen… a little more leeway…”
Lin Wangye knew that Lu Chengxuan hadn’t actually done anything yet, but he couldn’t stop himself from recalling the ruthless reputation he’d had in the business world in his past life. His words slipped into a careful, almost pleading tone.
“Even though he always goes against you, it’s just his stubborn mouth. He doesn’t really mean it in his heart. If you really can’t take it, take it out on me… don’t hold a grudge against him… he doesn’t do it on purpose…”
The light turned red, and Lu Chengxuan gently pressed the brake.
He looked at Lin Wangye and noticed him staring through the rearview mirror. His eyes were slightly red, his gaze pitiful—like a little dog that had been kicked and was now returned home, desperately looking for reassurance.
“I’ve never held a grudge against him,” Lu Chengxuan said firmly, meeting Lin Wangye’s eyes. “Not before, and not in the future.”
Lin Wangye’s eyes instantly stung, and he stared at him, unblinking. “You promise…”
“I promise,” Lu Chengxuan said.
Lin Wangye had no reason to doubt that once Lu Chengxuan said something, he wouldn’t go back on it. The moment the words left his mouth, he broke into a smile through his tears and quickly added,
“Then you also promise not to tell Shi Yuan about me smoking, drinking, tattoos, or dyeing my hair.”
The light turned green, and Lu Chengxuan silently withdrew his gaze and pressed the accelerator.
Seeing that Lu Chengxuan hadn’t made any promises about this matter, Lin Wangye felt even more at ease, realizing his guarantees were selective.
His mood brightened. He pulled out his phone and, almost on autopilot, searched Shi Yuan’s name online. Soon, among countless posts, he found a video clip he’d watched many times before—but still clicked to watch again.
The clip was just over ten minutes long, a focused interview with new designers from a famous international fashion brand. Shi Yuan’s segment had been edited separately and circulated widely on the Sigwell social platform.
Sigwell was a beautiful place, with a slow-paced lifestyle. It was internationally recognized for having one of the highest happiness indexes.
Beyond its scenery, the country was best known for a world-class design school.
Maybe people outside the circle didn’t pay much attention to it, but in Sigwell, the school drew a lot of notice. Every year, a few outstanding designers would emerge.
Two years ago, the most famous of that class was Shi Yuan.
Even before completing his studies, Shi Yuan’s unique style, exceptional skill, and striking appearance had caught the attention of countless top brands, all eager to reach out to him.
Not everyone could understand design.
But the world’s obsession with looks was universal.
Since enrolling, Shi Yuan had attracted countless admirers. Even though he rarely appeared in the media, he still amassed a huge fanbase. With the rise of the internet, he even sparked small discussions in his home country.
To Lin Shen, all of this seemed almost unreal.
But Lin Wangye, who was closest to Shi Yuan, wasn’t surprised at all.
No one understood Shi Yuan’s abilities better than him.
Shi Yuan was a work of art in himself, priceless in value. When he shone depended entirely on when he was put on display—the only difference was timing.
In the video, Shi Yuan wore a perfectly tailored black suit with subtle pleated details, paired with a simple white shirt underneath.
The outfit was formal, yet the silver-rimmed glasses perched on his nose amplified his refined, almost ascetic elegance. The glasses made him look mysterious, elevating his aura without effort.
He sat on a high stool in a cafe, not stiff or posed for the camera. Instead, he looked relaxed, responding to questions with ease. His lips curled in a faint, calm smile, his manners impeccable, his pace deliberate.
Shi Yuan’s rare media appearances were usually like this—polished, composed, almost untouchable.
But the reason this video stayed so popular wasn’t just his usual elegance.
It was one small detail: when he casually lifted his arm to adjust his glasses, a ring sparkled on his ring finger.
Many people wore accessories, but the meaning of a ring on the ring finger was universally recognized.
Shi Yuan knew his fans and admirers were only increasing.
So he deliberately announced, in his own subtle way, that he already had someone special.
After all prepared questions had been asked, the host ended the interview with a playful tone:
“Mr. Shi Yuan, we noticed a new ring on your hand today, very visible on your ring finger. May I ask—on behalf of a few anonymous ladies—are you seeing someone?”
Shi Yuan smiled, looking directly at the camera.
“Yes. We’re very much in love.”
The first time Lin Wangye saw the interview, he was so overjoyed he rolled around in bed like a flipping fish, twisting under the covers more than twenty times.
Not just because Shi Yuan had publicly confessed his love in front of the world.
But because, until then, Lin Wangye hadn’t known about this interview. The ring wasn’t even from him.
Shi Yuan knew he would search online for news about him, knew that although Lin Wangye never admitted it, he’d be secretly jealous of all the admirers who could easily see him without distance restrictions.
So he went ahead and bought the ring himself, planning this huge surprise for Lin Wangye to discover.
No matter how many times Lin Wangye watched the video, he never grew tired of it. Whenever he was bored or in a bad mood, he’d pull it up again—and because he wanted someone to share it with, he’d tell Lin Shen about it constantly. Lin Shen, listening to the endless chatter, was almost driven crazy.
Dragging the progress bar and happily watching the video twice, Lin Wangye felt that urge to share bubbling up again.
He paused the video at the part where Shi Yuan showed the ring and confessed. Then he shifted toward the middle of the back seat, eyes glued to the traffic light ahead. After waiting what felt like forever, a red light finally appeared. As soon as Lu Chengxuan stopped the car, Lin Wangye eagerly leaned forward.
“Brother Lu! Look at this!”
Usually, in moments like this, Lin Wangye would be holding some data from the Shilin Esports Hotel or puzzling over some complicated problem. Lu Chengxuan didn’t overthink it and looked seriously at the phone for about twenty seconds. When Lin Wangye dragged the video back twenty seconds and replayed it, Lu Chengxuan’s expression flickered slightly.
“That ring… he bought it himself. Hehehe.”
Lin Wangye couldn’t see Lu Chengxuan’s face. Leaning forward in the seat, phone raised, he grinned like an idiot and kept explaining.
“So many people like him, now they’ll all back off! He must really love me—look, after I saw this video, I called him, and a few days later he sent me the same ring! Look!”
He tugged at the platinum necklace he always wore around his neck.
After it had broken once at Yingtian Mountain, Lu Chengxuan had someone replace the clasp with a brand-new one. Now, even if someone tried to snatch it on the street while riding a motorcycle, it probably wouldn’t break—sturdy enough to pull Lin Wangye along with it.
Lu Chengxuan lowered his eyes and saw that next to the shattered-diamond bell pendant, there was a ring hanging as well.
Lin Wangye, caught up in excitement, began babbling.
“So romantic, Brother Lu! If you learned a trick like that, you’d probably charm my dad to death!”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the green light flash outside the windshield. The light turned green, and Lu Chengxuan twisted the wheel and gripped the steering. Only his muscle memory kept him from confusing the accelerator with the brake.
Lin Wangye sat back properly, and the cold air from the AC hit him, waking him up instantly.
He cautiously glanced at the rearview mirror, only to catch Lu Chengxuan’s gaze directly.
Thinking Lu Chengxuan wouldn’t respond to such nonsense, Lin Wangye avoided eye contact and sheepishly tucked his phone into his pocket.
After a moment, Lu Chengxuan suddenly spoke:
“Exchanging rings represents an important commitment… and you two aren’t married yet.”
“What’s up?” Lin Wangye scratched his head. “In Sigwell, we can register. I’ll go find him, and we’ll just do it with our passports.”
Lu Chengxuan fell silent for a long time.
It wasn’t until the car stopped and Lin Wangye opened the door that he realized they weren’t at the Linhong headquarters—but at his grandparents’ house. He immediately sat back down in the car.
“What… we’re home already? My dad’s still sick! I need to go to the company—he even asked me to get him some late-night food.”
“Go home and rest. I’ll go over there.”
Lin Wangye blinked a couple of times in the back seat. When he came to his senses, he immediately made an ‘OK’ gesture.
“Got it! I’m going!”
With that, he jumped out of the car and headed straight into the neighborhood without looking back.
Lu Chengxuan drove to the Linhong headquarters. By the time he arrived, it was already late. The last batch of overtime workers had left, and only the security guard did a double take at the sight of the golden hair. Seeing Lu Chengxuan had a pass, he let him through.
On the top floor of the Linhong building, as soon as Lu Chengxuan stepped out of the elevator, he heard Lin Shen’s voice.
Carrying the late-night food that Lin Shen had ordered, he walked over and noticed the lounge door wasn’t closed.
Peeking inside, he saw Lin Shen leaning against the bed, holding a controller, while Xu Ziqian sat sideways on the edge of the bed. The two were playing a two-player mini-game on the screen.
Lin Shen had lain down for a while after his IV was finished, but he already looked much better.
Seeing Lu Chengxuan, he froze for two seconds. He paused the game and scratched his face, as if trying to figure out how to explain himself.
“You…”
Lu Chengxuan’s first instinct was to ask some questions.
But he wasn’t really good at questioning, and his words immediately got stuck.
Lin Shen looked toward the doorway, hoping Xiao Lin, the ‘atmosphere fixer,’ would rush in to save this awkward moment. He waited a long time—but only Lu Chengxuan was standing there. Panic set in.
In desperation, the passive ‘finding trouble when there’s none’ instinct kicked in.
Lin Shen dropped the controller and skillfully turned the tables.
“What do you mean, I asked you to pick up the kid, and where did you bring the kid?”
*
Lin Wangye: Your kid already left!!! What are you doing?!
Lin Shen: Who would believe I was just playing a game?
Lu Chengxuan: 6
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
