The private restaurant Zhuang Yihan mentioned was actually not easy to find. The owner never advertised its business to the public, and only some regular customers and old gourmands knew the address. The roads in A City were notoriously complex, with numerous overpasses, and if you got caught in a loop, even the GPS would fail.

Zhuang Yihan had originally planned to give Chen Shu directions when they were getting close. However, the other man's driving skills were too good; there wasn't a single jolt from start to finish. Coupled with the fact that he had been staying up all night for meetings these past few days, he leaned against the seat and unexpectedly fell asleep. When he woke up again, the car was parked outside a quiet villa courtyard. A small gravel path led to an archway ahead; they had already arrived at their destination.

Zhuang Yihan, having just woken up, was dazed for a few seconds before coming to his senses. He frowned and sat up, closing his slightly drowsy eyes. When he looked down, he found a familiar jacket draped over him. The car's air conditioning was running quietly, but Chen Shu was nowhere to be seen.

"..."

Zhuang Yihan opened the car door and got out. He looked around and finally found Chen Shu leaning against the back of the car, smoking. The man's handsome profile was hidden in the shadows, making it difficult to see clearly. He could only catch a glimpse of his right hand hanging by his side, holding a half-smoked mint cigarette that was about to burn out. His fingers were long and slender, wreathed in smoke, like a perfect piece of art.

Even with Zhuang Yihan's picky gaze, he couldn't find a single flaw in the man before him. His mood became a little complicated for a moment; he felt that the other person shouldn't have the status of a "little lover" or a "canary."

"When did we get here? Why didn't you wake me?"

Hearing Zhuang Yihan's voice behind him, Chen Shu paused almost imperceptibly. He turned to look at him, his face finally gaining a bit of warm, human presence under the streetlight. His voice was low and gentle, "We just arrived. I got out to have a smoke, so I didn't call you."

After speaking, he straightened up, stubbed out the cigarette, and threw it directly into the trash can beside them. Inside was a messy pile of several identical light-blue mint cigarette butts. It was obvious he had been waiting outside for a long time, which didn't quite match his words.

Zhuang Yihan glanced at the trash can and was inexplicably reminded of that night at the hotel. Chen Shu had also sat outside smoking all night like this. He was at an age where one is most easily tempted by worldly desires, yet he was extraordinarily well-behaved, never crossing the line—

'Am I really that unattractive?'

Zhuang Yihan looked at Chen Shu's indifferent eyes, and this somewhat defeated thought suddenly popped into his head. After all, he had been rejected by Jiang Xi first, and now here was Chen Shu. He couldn't help but question his life.

"Let me ask you a question."

Zhuang Yihan suddenly took a step forward, subtly cornering Chen Shu against the back of the car. Up close, he could even smell the faint scent of mint on the other man's collar. His eyes lowered slightly, staring with interest at the man's slightly prominent, sexy Adam's apple as he asked, "Are you straight or gay?"

Chen Shu: "I'm bisexual."

'Who he liked had nothing to do with gender. Whether they were a man or a woman, in the end, it only depended on their heart. Even if it was a stone on the roadside, as long as he liked it, what was wrong with pocketing it and treating it like a treasure?'

Zhuang Yihan: "..."

'Jiang Xi being straight was tricky enough, but to think Chen Shu was actually bisexual. My taste is really "toxic"; how do I keep picking these thorny types?'

Zhuang Yihan said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "Won't your future partner have it tough, then? Fending off men is one thing, but they'll have to fend off women too?"

Chen Shu's lips curved slightly. "President Zhuang, you worry too much."

'This matter has nothing to do with Zhuang Yihan. It's none of his business.'

Zhuang Yihan's eyes darkened at his words. He pinched Chen Shu's chin and asked in a tone devoid of emotion, "Are you saying that since I'm not your partner, I can't worry about such things?"

Most rich people had a temperamental issue of changing faces faster than flipping a book, and Zhuang Yihan was a prime example. One second he could be laughing and talking with you, and the next he could turn hostile and lay down the rules.

Had it been the Chen Shu from his previous life, he would have probably felt a sting in his heart, thinking Zhuang Yihan only saw him as a plaything. But his mindset was different in this life, so he felt nothing. After all, it wasn't certain who was playing whom.

"President Zhuang, you've misunderstood."

Chen Shu grasped Zhuang Yihan's hand in return and slowly tightened his grip. The position was so close that it almost made one think he would kiss the other's fingertips. However, Chen Shu paused, and in the end, only smiled faintly:

"What I mean is, you don't need to worry about the men and women out there, because while I'm with you, I won't devote my thoughts to anyone else."

Not a single shred of his love and hate had ever been given to anyone else; it was all poured onto Zhuang Yihan. Because it was the truth, there wasn't a hint of hypocrisy or flattery. Even someone like Zhuang Yihan, who had long navigated the world of fame and fortune, couldn't detect the slightest trace of a lie.

It was as if the most despicable person also possessed the most supreme, sincere heart.

Zhuang Yihan was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, his expression playful. "Are you being a little too serious about me?"

He was very rich, rich enough to buy many things. But precisely because of this, he knew better than anyone that some things couldn't be bought with money.

Chen Shu lowered his eyes and tilted his head, ultimately giving him a light kiss. It landed not on him, but on the Blue Phantom watch on Zhuang Yihan's wrist. A cold gemstone watch face, cold lips, and a half-smile. "Do you prefer it when people are perfunctory with you?"

'Like Jiang Xi?'

'Asking for it...'

"I didn't say that."

Zhuang Yihan stared at Chen Shu's bright red lips, finding them exceptionally alluring. He wondered what it would feel like to be kissed by them. Unfortunately, that kiss had landed on his watch, inexplicably leaving him with a sense of loss. He composed himself and said, "Let's go in and eat. It's getting late. They'll close in another two hours."

Leaving the quiet outer courtyard, a waitress greeted them as they reached the inner door. She was dressed in an antique-style horse-face skirt, looking quite elegant. The tables on the first floor were separated by carved panels. There were many customers, but it wasn't noisy. They were brewing tea and eating, without the clamor of clattering bowls and chopsticks found in ordinary restaurants. The second floor offered more privacy, with tables by the railing, veiled by a gauze curtain that obscured the view, making things hazy and indistinct.

Zhuang Yihan was a regular customer. After taking a seat, he directly ticked off a few signature dishes, then asked Chen Shu if he had any dietary restrictions. After receiving a negative reply, he immediately had the waitress place the order.

"It's quiet here, and the food is light. But the owner doesn't like to advertise, so it's mostly friends who come to show their support. Outsiders need to make a reservation half a month in advance. Next time you want to come, just use my name to put it on my tab."

Chen Shu knew everything Zhuang Yihan was saying, but he had learned it much later. In his past life, it took him two or three years of being by Zhuang Yihan's side to gradually get to know this place. The owner and Zhuang Yihan were very good friends.

'And in this life? It seems like he and Zhuang Yihan had only confirmed their relationship less than a day ago?'

Perhaps the stark difference in the trajectory of fate between his past and present lives made Chen Shu feel a hint of mockery, though it didn't show on his face. He lowered his eyes and looked through the gap in the gauze curtain, noticing that many of the customers eating below were familiar faces. Some he had seen on antique collection shows, others in financial magazines, and there was even a celebrity. The restaurant clearly provided an excellent private experience; no one would inexplicably approach for an autograph or to strike up a conversation. Everyone ate their own meal in peace.

Chen Shu withdrew his gaze. "Aren't you afraid of running into acquaintances, President Zhuang?"

The act of keeping a little lover was more or less unseemly. Although Zhuang Yihan's personality disdained hiding things, getting him to proactively bring someone out for introductions was no easy feat. The chances of meeting an acquaintance at this private restaurant were quite high; Chen Shu himself could remember at least three or four.

Zhuang Yihan picked up his teacup and took a sip, raising an eyebrow nonchalantly, seemingly unconcerned. "If we run into them, we run into them. What, are the two of us so shameful?"

'Yes, it is quite shameful. Two dog men.'

Chen Shu smiled and said nothing. Perhaps Zhuang Yihan was still acting out of spite. Jiang Xi had gotten engaged openly, so why should he have to hide?

Before long, the waitress came up with the dishes. Four dishes and a soup, all extremely elegant. There was nothing overly heavy or greasy. Even a seemingly ordinary White Jade Soup held a hidden mystery, with an untold amount of sea cucumber and abalone used to create its umami flavor.

The dishes were slightly different from what they had ordered the first time they came, but it was hard to say whether it was because of the season or a change brought about by the butterfly effect.

Chen Shu had eaten here many times in his past life. He quite liked it, but it was just an ordinary fondness. He ate a little less than half and then put down his chopsticks, not showing the surprised, praise-filled, ravenous appetite a normal customer would have on their first visit. This prompted Zhuang Yihan to look at him with slight confusion. "Is it not to your taste?"

Chen Shu: "It's very good."

Zhuang Yihan: "Then why are you eating so little?"

Chen Shu looked at him strangely upon hearing this, feeling that Zhuang Yihan might really have some issues. In his last life, he had wolfed down his food, and Zhuang Yihan had disdained him for being an unsophisticated country bumpkin. In this life, eating too little was also not acceptable. Nothing was ever right.

Chen Shu said faintly, "I'm not very hungry."

Zhuang Yihan didn't say anything more after hearing that. After he had eaten and drunk his fill, he finally had the mind to ponder what was off about Chen Shu today. The last time he rejected him, it was so decisive. Why did he suddenly change his mind today?

Zhuang Yihan never hid his thoughts. Thinking this, he asked directly, "Weren't you unwilling to be with me last time? Why did you agree this time?"

Chen Shu didn't really want to talk about his family matters. Or rather, he felt those things had nothing to do with Zhuang Yihan. Each person should handle their own troubles; there was no need to involve each other. "Didn't I say? I'm short on money."

Zhuang Yihan: "What do you need money for?"

'Or rather, why would a student urgently need a million?'

Chen Shu: "For everything."

Zhuang Yihan's voice grew heavy. "Are you playing games with me?"

Chen Shu wasn't afraid of him at all. "I'm telling the truth. Poor people are short of money for everything. President Zhuang is a capable man. Even a little bit that leaks from between your fingers is enough for someone like me to live on for half a lifetime. Is it so strange that I agreed to be with you?"

He looked at Zhuang Yihan, speaking very bluntly, yet it made it impossible for one to tell if he was being truthful or not:

"I like money. A lot. Is that good enough for you?"

"..."