CFRFGC Chapter 63

⌈It seems that Ji Min will appear not so good.⌋

When Lu Ran woke up, he was still in the car.

He was groggy from sleep and immediately reached for his phone, thinking he was late.

Seeing the pitch-dark car interior and the curled-up Da Huang under the seat, he still didn’t realize where he was.

“Awake?”

Ji Min’s voice came from beside him.

Lu Ran lifted his head and saw that the car had already stopped.

His boss opened the car door, seemingly about to get out.

Not understanding why Ji Min was getting out of the car, he asked in confusion, “Are we at the Shen family’s house?”

The man didn’t answer. He just turned to look at him and said, “Put on your jacket.”

Lu Ran was particularly obedient when he had just woken up.

Whatever he was told to do, he would do.

Because of this, he was well-liked by the teachers and caretakers back in the orphanage.

At this moment, he mumbled a subdued “Mm”, reached for the oversized jacket draped over the seatback, and slipped it on.

Once he was dressed, he sat quietly in place.

Ji Min glanced at him and said, “Get out of the car.”

Only then did he nod again and slowly maneuver himself out of the back seat.

Once he stepped out, the cold wind hit him.

He woke up completely and stared at the unfamiliar villa in front of him for a good two to three minutes before asking, “Where is this?”

“My place.” Ji Min tossed out the two words, remote-controlling his wheelchair as he headed straight into the villa.

Lu Ran stood there.

He still hadn’t figured out why Ji Min had suddenly brought him to his house.

He looked down at the yellow dog at his feet, then checked his phone and suddenly realized—

It was almost one in the morning.

At this hour, going through all the trouble to send him back to the Shen family’s place…

It would make Ji Min seem incompetent.

And wouldn’t that completely undermine what he¹Lu Ran had said at the party earlier?

The soul of the corporate worker within Lu Ran instantly came online.

He crouched down and noticed that the corners of Da Huang’s mouth still had cake crumbs.

He wiped them off with his hand and sighed, “Come on, son. The boss threw you such a grand birthday. Working a bit of overtime tonight is only fair.”

Lu Ran was deeply grateful to Ji Min.

Today’s birthday party surpassed all of Lu Ran’s expectations in terms of scale.

Yet, it somehow perfectly matched the hopes he’d held for every birthday during his childhood.

Lu Ran never imagined that, at nineteen years old, he would still get to experience something like this.

And Ji Min had been genuinely good to Da Huang.

Because of this, any lingering resentment Lu Ran felt towards his boss for not giving him a raise faded away completely.

In some ways, Ji Min was truly an impeccable boss.

Leading the dog carefully, Lu Ran stepped into Ji Min’s villa.

The experience reminded him of the first time he entered Ji Min’s company.

It was like venturing into a dragon’s lair.

But as soon as he crossed the villa’s threshold, Lu Ran sensed how different it was from the office.

Although the chairman’s office of the Ji Corporation belonged solely to Ji Min, it was still a workplace meant for conducting business.

That office was ordinary—similar to any other staff member’s workspace.

But this villa was different.

It was Ji Min’s personal domain.

The layout of the villa’s ground floor was unlike the Shen family’s.

There was no guest sofa in the living room, nor was there a coffee table.

Apart from a few storage shelves, a small table by the balcony, and a Go board, it was uncomfortably spacious—allowing Ji Min’s wheelchair to maneuver freely.

Every area with steps inside the villa had wide, gently sloped ramps.

Only when Lu Ran truly set foot inside did he become profoundly aware—Ji Min, the head of the Ji family, who had assumed the position of chairman at a young age, was a physically disabled man.

Lu Ran didn’t let his eyes wander, nor did he loosen his grip on the dog’s leash.

He reminded himself that he was here for work, and his gaze remained fixed on his boss.

Ji Min’s wheelchair stopped in the living room.

He had his back to the door, staring down at the Go board.

In the overly spacious, cool-toned room, the heavy black wheelchair stood out, exuding loneliness.

A tangible sense of isolation surrounded him, unreachable by others.

Suddenly, Lu Ran understood why this man stayed at the office until eleven or twelve every night, unwilling to go home.

Ji Min’s villa appeared to have no facilities meant for guests.

Lu Ran hesitated for a moment.

But feeling tired today, he took the initiative to ask, “Where will I be sleeping tonight?”

Having spent a lot of time at the Shen family’s house, he was used to such questions.

As he spoke, his eyes instinctively swept over the rooms on the first floor.

Ji Min glanced at him and called for Butler Chen.

Butler Chen appeared and smiled at Lu Ran. “Please, follow me.”

Lu Ran followed him and was surprised to find himself led to an elevator.

Large family villas often had elevators.

The Shen family’s elevator was rarely used, reserved mainly for elderly guests or children during special events.

However, the elevator in Ji Min’s villa was placed prominently.

With the dog in tow, Lu Ran entered the elevator alongside Butler Chen.

He watched as the butler pressed the button for the second floor.

Lu Ran was a bit surprised.

“Am I staying on the second floor?” he asked.

Butler Chen nodded. “Of course.”

Lu Ran said nothing.

At the Shen family’s villa, he stayed on the first floor.

The layout of the Shen family home was strictly divided—servant rooms on the first floor, while the second and third floors were for family members, with guest rooms on each level.

Lu Ran had opportunities to stay on the second or third floors.

There was that one time he was kicked out and slept at the Shen family’s front door with a sleeping bag.

Shen Hongyuan had welcomed him back with deference.

And when Shen Hongyuan publicly announced his intention to formally bring Lu Ran back into the family, he could have taken the chance to ask for a room on the second or third floors.

He even could have taken the opportunity to bump Shen Xingran down from the third floor to the second.

But the thought of living on the same level as the Shen family, or in a room once occupied by Shen Xingran, always made Lu Ran feel uneasy.

Even though it had been his choice to refuse.

Still, the division of floors felt like a barrier, separating him and the Shen family into two distinct groups.

So Lu Ran was surprised.

He hadn’t expected to be staying on the second floor of Ji Min’s house.

Lu Ran looked down at Da Huang.

He remembered that Da Huang had been playing on the lawn and hadn’t cleaned its paws.

Crouching down, he took a packet of wet wipes from his bag and carefully wiped away the dirt and grass clinging to Da Huang’s feet before stepping out of the elevator.

Butler Chen watched this scene, a hint of fondness for the younger man flickering in his eyes.

Lu Ran thought that since Ji Min had let him onto the second floor, perhaps the villa’s second floor was meant for guests.

But as soon as he exited the elevator, he realized that wasn’t the case.

Unlike the spacious first floor, the second floor was equipped with even more comprehensive accessibility features, and the long hallway was decorated with Ji Min’s distinct personal style.

Stepping out of the elevator, Lu Ran felt as though he had entered the private lair of a large and powerful creature.

What puzzled Lu Ran even more was that most of the hallway floor and corners on the second floor were covered with a layer of soft gray carpet.

This kind of plush material was usually reserved for more private spaces like bedrooms.

Now appearing in the hallway, it felt like an extension of a bedroom’s territory.

Lu Ran was still wearing Ji Min’s coat.

The raised collar brushed against his cheek, while the scent of Ji Min lingered around his nose.

That man had pale skin, resembling a piece of ice sculpture.

It was easy to assume his scent would be cool and faint.

But Lu Ran knew otherwise.

Like the breadth of his shoulders, Ji Min exuded a dangerous and intensely assertive aura.

In this private space, it was even more palpable.

So much so that Lu Ran hesitated in front of the elevator, unable to take a step forward.

He raised his eyes and sneaked a glance at Butler Chen.

To his surprise, Butler Chen also stopped, smiling as he said, “Your room is the first on the left. It has a private bathroom with unopened toiletries and there are clean clothes in the wardrobe. Take a nice bath and rest well.”

With that, the butler showed no intention of escorting him any further.

He nodded and was about to leave.

Lu Ran stood dumbfounded for a couple of seconds.

Fortunately, the door to the room Butler Chen had mentioned was open.

Two housekeepers, dressed in uniform, stepped out.

They greeted Lu Ran respectfully and reported to Butler Chen, “Everything has been set.”

Once Butler Chen and the two staff members left, Lu Ran exchanged a glance with Da Huang. Carefully, he stepped around the soft carpet and entered the room.

As he walked in, he couldn’t help but reflect.

It really felt like venturing into a dragon’s lair.

The room was, in Lu Ran’s view, quite large.

There was no sound from Ji Min outside; whether he had gone to sleep was unknown.

Lu Ran didn’t concern himself with it.

He was utterly exhausted today.

First, he had spent an afternoon styling himself, then dealt with numerous people at the banquet.

And late at night, he had run wildly across the lawn with Da Huang.

So now, after a quick wash with Da Huang, he collapsed onto the bed.

The bed was spacious and the mattress incredibly soft.

Lu Ran wanted to let Da Huang try it too, but remembering Da Huang hadn’t bathed, he had it sleep on the rug instead.

Lu Ran had never slept on such a soft bed before.

The mattress was soft and plush, like a cloud, or perhaps like the creamy frosting of the cake he had eaten tonight, melting upon contact.

The delicate softness enveloped his body, bringing a sensation so comfortable it bordered on numbness.

It nearly erased the weariness in his limbs and joints…

Abruptly.

Just as Lu Ran was on the verge of falling asleep, he suddenly sprang off the soft bed.

Barefoot, he stood on the carpet, frantically squeezing his arms and legs, then patting his knees.

He even bounced lightly on the rug.

Only after confirming he still had control over his body did he breathe a heavy sigh of relief.

He raised a hand to wipe the cold sweat beading on his forehead.

The already-sleeping Da Huang was startled awake by Lu Ran’s sudden movement, standing nearby with a curious gaze.

Lu Ran squatted down and scooped the small dog into his arms. “I’m sorry, I scared you.”

He really thought he’d become paralyzed again.

The young man knelt on the carpet, his hand lingering on the soft mattress.

His eyes reflected a mix of longing and fear.

After a long, conflicted pause, in the end, Lu Ran abandoned the enticingly soft bed and chose to sleep on the carpet with Da Huang.

It was past midnight when he’d come back.

Or maybe he’d simply been too exhausted the night before and the room was too quiet.

When Lu Ran woke up, it was almost nine o’clock.

Da Huang, hungry, was pawing at his hair.

Lu Ran rolled across the clean, soft carpet.

Then he scrambled to his feet.

He fed Da Huang some kibble.

After washing up in the bathroom, he faced a dilemma as he tried to change clothes.

He had gone out yesterday with Ji Min wearing tailored formalwear.

That outfit, impressive as it looked, wasn’t exactly practical. After the night’s activities, it was now crumpled beyond recognition.

Lu Ran didn’t want to put on yesterday’s dirty clothes.

Recalling what Butler Chen had said, he slowly turned his gaze toward the wardrobe.

The wardrobe wasn’t large, but when opened, it was packed with neatly hung clothes.

At first, Lu Ran assumed they belonged to Ji Min.

Upon closer inspection, he realized the colors and styles were quite different from what Ji Min usually wore.

These clothes clearly belonged to an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old boy.

The clothes were soft, showing no signs of being worn but also without tags.

Lu Ran picked out an inconspicuous hoodie to put on and was surprised at how well it fit him.

It fit so perfectly that it seemed as if it had been tailored specifically for him.

Frowning, Lu Ran tugged at the hoodie on his body and glanced back at the wardrobe full of clothes. Something felt off.

He moved to open the nearby shoe cabinet.

Inside, rows of shoes were neatly arranged.

For another boy his age, standing in front of this collection would likely have sparked excitement and joy.

The cabinet was filled with new releases from high-end brands and rare, limited-edition sneakers.

There is a natural attraction for men to shoes and cars.

Boys of eighteen or nineteen were especially fascinated by these things and few could resist such temptations.

But Lu Ran merely observed without much emotion.

He wasn’t familiar with these shoes.

Back in high school, when his peers were busy showing off and envying one another’s footwear, Lu Ran was preoccupied with how he’d pay for the next month’s living expenses, school fees, and how to find a new part-time job if one ended.

He had no clue about the specific models and brands that other boys his age could recite by heart.

To Lu Ran, shoes and clothes served their simplest purpose.

Now, he merely picked up one shoe, placed it next to his foot, and found that it matched his size perfectly.

However, Lu Ran put the shoe back into the cabinet and simply took out a pair of socks.

After all, he’d worn shoes yesterday, so there was no need to touch these new ones.

When Lu Ran left his room, the second-floor hallway was still silent.

He descended to the first floor and saw Ji Min already seated in the dining area, having breakfast.

When Ji Min noticed him approaching, he set down his spoon and gestured with his chin toward the chair beside him. “Come and eat.”

Lu Ran, feeling famished, brightened at the sight of breakfast on the table.

This reaction was far more enthusiastic than his response to the clothes earlier.

“Thank you, Boss!”

Lu Ran sat down without hesitation and picked up the bowl of porridge.

Ji Min raised an eyebrow at the casual “Boss”.

He had nearly finished his meal and leaned back in his chair, watching the boy eat.

The boy wasn’t picky about food; everything seemed to delight him and he ate with focused intensity.

Clearly, he was easy to please.

As he ate, his cheeks puffed up like a hamster’s.

Ji Min watched for a while and then realized, to his surprise, that he had unconsciously taken a few more bites himself.

He quietly set down his chopsticks and pushed the plate away.

Lu Ran’s eating pace was quick.

After eating until he was about half full, Lu Ran’s pace gradually slowed.

He seemed to recall something, took a sip of milk, and said to Ji Min, “I wore the clothes from the wardrobe.”

Ji Min had already noticed.

The boy was wearing a light peach-pink hoodie, making his pale skin appear even fairer and giving him a soft, almost delicate aura.

The clothes fit him perfectly.

It hadn’t been in vain when Ji Min, taking advantage of the boy’s sleep the night before, had checked his collar for size measurements.

Ji Min’s gaze swept over the boy from head to toe.

Seeing Lu Ran wearing clothes he had picked out, sitting at his dining table, eating the food he had prepared—for some reason, the sight deeply pleased Ji Min.

It pleased him immensely.

But when his gaze fell to Lu Ran’s feet, Ji Min frowned and asked, “Why didn’t you change into the shoes from the cabinet? Did they not fit?”

“I have shoes. Why should I wear those?” Lu Ran replied.

Ji Min: “…”

He couldn’t very well say that he simply wanted to see the boy wrapped from head to toe in items he’d chosen—even down to using the shampoo and body wash he’d selected.

Ji Min, for once, had a rare moment of self-awareness.

He knew that if he voiced such thoughts, it would sound… unhinged.

Stuck on his words, he stayed silent for a while.

But Lu Ran’s gaze shifted, gradually changing as he observed him.

He stared at Ji Min for a moment, then sighed and set down his chopsticks.

With a serious expression, he asked, “Ji Min, do you like me or something?”

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