Shen Duoyi had just turned off his computer and was writing tomorrow's work overview when he picked up the phone: "Hello, Consulting Department, Shen Duoyi speaking."

Qi Shi'an said: "Team Leader Shen, could you come up for a moment?"

"Sure," Shen Duoyi replied without hesitation. "Give me three minutes."

Spinning halfway in his chair, Qi Shi'an gazed out the floor-to-ceiling windows into the heights. He was going back to the military retirement community for dinner, where he would tell his parents and elders about his lifelong partnership, and face everyone's unpredictable reactions.

Three minutes passed quickly, and there was a knock at the door, followed by Shen Duoyi entering. He walked straight to the desk, saw the packed bag on it, and asked: "Are you about to leave too?"

"Mm, soon." Qi Shi'an turned around, stood up, and opened his arms toward him.

Shen Duoyi asked: "What are you doing?"

Qi Shi'an requested: "Give me a hug."

Although it made him nervous to do so in the office, Shen Duoyi still stepped forward toward him. He wasn't sure if it was his imagination or what, but he felt that Qi Shi'an seemed troubled at this moment.

Having reached him, he raised his arms to encircle Qi Shi'an's waist, comfortingly stroking his back. Qi Shi'an held him tightly, even lowering his head to smell his hair, as if drawing energy from it.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, just wanted some encouragement from you."

Shen Duoyi laughed: "I thought you were capable of anything, but it turns out you need encouragement too. Well, whenever you need encouragement or comfort in the future, just call me, I'll come right away."

Qi Shi'an nodded and said "thank you."

When he arrived at the military retirement community, dinner was already prepared. The dining room was lively, with Grandpa Huo's robust laughter echoing, barely allowing Qi Jingtang's medium-low voice to be heard.

Everyone took their seats, and Qi Shi'an focused on eating, not speaking for a long while. Huo Xin couldn't hold back anymore and asked: "Shi'an, didn't you say you had something to tell us? What is it?"

Qi Shi'an took a sip of soup: "Let's eat first, we'll talk after."

Huo Xuechuan nodded vigorously, afraid his brother would speak and Grandpa Huo would flip the table, agreeing: "Right, one shouldn't talk while eating or lying down. Noble families never talk during meals."

"Building suspense," Qi Jingtang muttered.

After dinner, the table was cleared, and Qi Shi'an personally brewed a pot of tea. Grandpa Huo wandered around with a palm leaf fan, remarking with curiosity: "The young master who never does any work is making tea. Don't tell me the company went bankrupt and you're coming home to borrow money?"

Qi Shi'an sneered: "As if you have much money."

Grandpa Huo was stunned for a moment, then struck Qi Shi'an's spine hard with the fan handle. However, Qi Shi'an didn't even flinch, his straight back not even wavering, which made Grandpa Huo happy again: "He's a tough one, should have joined the army back then!"

One pot of Tieguanyin tea, a plate of salted plums, and Qi Shi'an had Grandpa Huo, Huo Xin, and Qi Jingtang sit on one side of the dining table while he sat alone on the other side. It looked like a job interview, or perhaps a one-versus-three negotiation.

Huo Xuechuan asked: "Brother, where should I sit?"

"Anywhere, you're not important." Qi Shi'an filled tea for the elders.

Huo Xuechuan sat on the opposite side too, right next to Grandpa Huo, saying: "Brother, my body may be in Cao's camp but my heart is with Han. I'll always support you."

Huo Xin asked puzzled: "What's going on here? What are we doing?"

The tea was poured, and Qi Shi'an leaned back in his chair, beginning: "Grandfather, Dad, Mom, do you remember that friend I mentioned last time? The one who married someone of the same sex and had a falling out with his family."

Qi Jingtang nodded: "I remember, your mother and I discussed it, thinking there was still a way out."

Qi Shi'an asked: "If someone is willing to back down, there's a way. Do you think it should be my friend who backs down, or his parents?"

"Obviously his parents," Huo Xin chimed in. "You said he was born this way, so what else can he do? His parents can only try to accept it. Though it's not easy for parents either - tell your friend to be filial to his parents."

Qi Shi'an lowered his gaze to the table: "What if I'm the same?"

"You're the same what?" Huo Xin didn't catch on.

But then she did.

Huo Xuechuan immediately hugged Grandpa Huo tightly: "Grandpa! Don't hit him! Don't hit my brother!"

Grandpa Huo scolded him: "Let go of me! I haven't even moved!"

Huo Xuechuan reluctantly released his grip, and sure enough, Grandpa Huo remained seated in the same position. He questioned like an idiot: "Why aren't you moving?! You hit me just for teasing a parrot, but when he comes out, you're completely unmoved!"

The atmosphere around the entire dining table had been disrupted by Huo Xuechuan. Qi Jingtang and Huo Xin looked at Qi Shi'an, still processing bit by bit. Qi Jingtang interlaced his fingers on the table, then separated them, showing his agitation: "Shi'an, this kind of thing isn't something to joke about."

Qi Shi'an raised his gaze: "I'm very serious. I've known my orientation since middle school, but I never said anything because I didn't know when I would find my love."

Huo Xin finally spoke: "So you're telling us now..."

"Yes, I've found him." Qi Shi'an smiled slightly. "Barring natural disasters or death, we probably won't separate. I love him very much, so I can't wait to have him enter my family, and then form a family with me."

Huo Xin tugged quietly at Qi Jingtang's sleeve: "Say- say something."

Qi Jingtang said: "Although you gave us hints and laid groundwork, this is still very sudden for us. Since you've already considered building a family with him, have you thought about all the problems you'll face?"

Qi Shi'an calmly took a sip of tea, officially beginning his defense for the evening: "Of course. Let's talk about work first. He works at Ming'an, technically we're superior and subordinate, so the biggest problem we face at work would be other colleagues finding out about our relationship."

Huo Xin exclaimed: "He works at Ming'an? That's too dangerous. If other colleagues find out, the gossip alone could crush someone."

Qi Shi'an said: "Mom, don't worry. I'm the boss - before they gossip, they need to think about whether they want to keep their jobs. He's very capable and will eventually become an executive. One boss, one executive - who has time to care what people making under a million a year are gossiping about? Caring about them would be like poverty relief, we're too busy for that."

Huo Xin was speechless. Qi Shi'an added: "Besides, that's the worst-case scenario. At the company, we're just like normal colleagues. The chance of being discovered is tiny."

Qi Jingtang asked: "So what kind of person is he? Is he serious about you?"

Qi Shi'an couldn't help but smile, his eyes full of happiness: "He's a graduate from a top university, previously a senior actuary at an insurance company, now he's the senior planner with the highest transaction volume in Ming'an's consulting department. He loves his work and is studious, knows a lot but talks little. Actually, I could write three thousand words about this question, and praise him all night long."

Huo Xuechuan chimed in: "And he's so good-looking, really talented and handsome."

Grandpa Huo snorted: "You've met him?"

"He has," Qi Shi'an said. "It's Team Leader Shen who came to tutor him last time, Shen Duoyi."

Everyone was shocked again. Qi Jingtang and Huo Xin didn't need to ask what kind of person he was anymore, since they had all seen him. Huo Xuechuan gazed at Qi Shi'an adoringly - he hadn't realized coming out could be so... well-reasoned.

Being good at studying really helped.

Qi Shi'an began his conclusion, speaking exactly like he did in meetings: "I originally made a plan, wanting to take it step by step, to make it easier for you to accept. But I really like him too much, so I couldn't wait anymore."

"Dad, Mom, Grandpa, take some time to process this. Tell me any concerns or thoughts you have, don't keep them bottled up. I'll explain everything properly, but I definitely won't back down. Since childhood, I've learned many things, from studying to working, and never complained about it being hard. Now my career is stable, there's nothing to worry about. There's no reason I should go against my heart in my love life, right?"

Qi Jingtang and Huo Xin said nothing, unable to form any counterarguments.

It was getting late, and going from the military retirement community to the company was somewhat out of the way, plus there was still lots of work unfinished. Qi Shi'an finished the last of his tea, grabbed his jacket, and prepared to leave.

Before leaving, he saw Grandpa Huo going upstairs alone, moving slowly, so he couldn't help but go forward to support him.

"Grandfather, you really didn't want to hit me earlier?"

Grandpa Huo said: "No, really didn't."

Qi Shi'an asked: "You're too calm, that's pretty cool."

"Cool my ass," Grandpa Huo said. "Been waiting over ten years for you to come clean, already prepared myself to be lenient."