⌈Should I take him in?⌋
Lu Ran hadn’t “shown up for work” for several days now.
Every morning and evening, he only came by to drop off and pick up Da Huang, exchanging barely a few words with Ji Min.
The boy left each day brimming with excitement and returned the same way. When he had a bit of spare time, all he talked about was experiments.
At first glance, Ji Min didn’t seem to be acting any differently.
He wasn’t angry; everything seemed normal.
Compared to when Lu Ran was around, his moments of irritation had decreased significantly.
He appeared even calmer.
But the tranquility was so pronounced that it didn’t seem quite right.
Sometimes, while working, he would suddenly lift his head and stare blankly at the empty small desk across from him.
There were moments when Butler Chen thought Ji Min might be on the verge of asking, “How many classes does that kid have?”
Or, “Are university students always this busy?”
But Butler Chen couldn’t tell if these were just his own musings or if Ji Min actually wanted to say it, only to swallow the words at the last second.
It seemed he had suddenly taken a liking to spending time with Da Huang.
In the past, Ji Min rarely left his office or even stepped out of the office building.
Due to his health, someone would always follow him whenever he went out.
But now, he’d set an alarm, making time specifically to take Da Huang for walks.
With the little bunny leash in hand, he would sit in his wheelchair, quietly strolling in the sunlight.
Ji Min usually didn’t talk much.
Being a nearly ten-year-old dog, Da Huang wasn’t lively except when around Lu Ran.
So, the atmosphere was stiflingly silent when man and dog wandered the paths together.
Butler Chen accompanied them a few times. One day, he couldn’t help himself and said, “Do you know what you look like right now?”
Ji Min raised his head and silently looked at him.
He didn’t have the usual expression of exasperation that he would have when Lu Ran drove him up the wall.
Butler Chen sighed and said, “You look like an empty nester whose kid has left for school or work and is now just lonely at home.”
Ji Min: “…”
That evening, Lu Ran came to pick up Da Huang.
The boy, familiar with the routine, pushed open the office door and immediately began complaining, “One of my professors is so weird; they’re doing roll call in reverse…”
Ji Min raised an eyebrow at him. “So, you skipped class and got caught?”
Lu Ran: “…”
Suddenly, he felt the guilty panic of being caught by a parent.
Feeling such emotions was rare for him in his lifetime.
“I didn’t skip class.” Lu Ran ruffled Da Huang’s head as he explained, “I just ran over from the lab building and was a bit late, that’s all. Luckily, I didn’t lose any credits!”
He was clearly in the mood to keep talking, eager to say more.
But after checking the time, he said, “I have to head back. There’s a class tomorrow morning, so I need to be up early.”
He stood up and clapped his hands toward Da Huang, “Come on, Da Huang!”
One person and one dog left the office again.
Ji Min didn’t ask him to stay.
The office, which had briefly been lively, fell silent once more in an instant.
Because of that brief moment of noise, the ordinary quiet now felt even more irritating.
Ji Min glanced at the sky outside and called the driver, asking him to drop Lu Ran off.
After all, the entire capital city now knew about his “certain connection” with this kid, so there was no need to hide it.
That night in the office, Ji Min didn’t say much.
Butler Chen almost thought Ji Min would continue to endure—or rather, that there was no “endurance” at all.
However, on the way back, the man sitting silently in the backseat suddenly spoke up.
“Is there something wrong with everyone in the Shen family?”
“Hmm?” Butler Chen leaned in to listen.
He saw Ji Min frowning seriously as he continued, “I won’t even mention the parents. But that adopted son… living with people like that is hardly ideal.”
Butler Chen wasn’t sure why Ji Min suddenly brought this up.
Ji Min was genuinely worried.
After all, Shen Xingran belonged to a “special group”.
He would likely bring various questionable people into the house.
Even without any outsiders, Lu Ran living at the Shen family home inevitably meant sharing meals and space.
Even if they didn’t eat together, they’d still breathe the same air.
No wonder, the second time he’d met Lu Ran, the boy hadn’t even recognized a condom.
Now, he’d casually rattle off terms like king oyster mushrooms and golden needle mushrooms.
It was all due to the negative influence of his environment.
Ji Min analyzed everything carefully.
President Ji, in an utterly fair and elder-like manner, without a hint of personal interest, said, “For the sake of his development, should I consider bringing him over to live here?”
Butler Chen: “…”
Goodness, so this whole elaborate setup was leading to this?
All because the kid didn’t get to chat with you last night?
He really thought Ji Min might hold back. Who knew he’d aim straight for the big prize—essentially planning to bring the boy home?
Butler Chen turned and carefully observed Ji Min.
Ji Min’s expression was calm and earnest.
There wasn’t the slightest hint of guilt on his face.
It seemed as if he had already made complete peace with this idea in his mind.
He genuinely believed he was merely concerned about Lu Ran’s living environment and growth.
Butler Chen fell silent.
He suddenly started to question the Ji family’s method of upbringing.
How did it lead to this kind of… unique result?
“As long as it makes you happy…” Butler Chen sighed.
By Friday, Butler Chen realized Ji Min’s determination was even stronger than he’d assumed.
In the past, Ji Min didn’t observe weekends.
His schedule was packed, moving nonstop from one place to another.
This time, when his assistant confirmed the itinerary with him, Ji Min glanced at it and said nothing at first.
But as the assistant was about to leave, he called them back, took the schedule, and casually crossed out a few entries.
Leaving only one event at the golf course.
On the weekend itself—
Lu Ran arrived at Ji Min’s place early.
After a week of classes, he was finally back to “work”.
In a flash, Lu Ran slipped into full corporate-drone mode, brimming with enthusiasm.
He even rubbed his hands together. “I went to bed super early last night, so I’m feeling great today. Where are we headed?”
Ji Min glanced at him silently. “We’re going golfing.”
When he heard they were going to a golf course, Lu Ran let out a disappointed “Ah.”
Ji Min’s eyebrows shot up instantly.
He asked coldly, “You don’t like it?”
“It’s not that I don’t like it.” Lu Ran thought it over carefully. “It’s just… isn’t the golf course kind of empty? That seems inefficient.”
Ji Min blinked, puzzled. “Inefficient at what?”
“The efficiency of work, of course! Since my job is to help you dispel rumors, it’s obvious that events like banquets are where I can be most effective,” Lu Ran declared confidently.
His dedication to his “work” and his serious attitude in analyzing it would move any boss to tears of pride.
But when Ji Min thought about what exactly Lu Ran considered “work”, he couldn’t muster a smile.
He paused and, after a brief hesitation, lightly cleared his throat and gently reminded, “Actually… it’s okay not to push yourself so hard.”
Yet, as soon as he spoke, the boy’s excited gaze dimmed slightly.
Lu Ran replied with genuine concern, “But I haven’t properly worked for an entire week. Isn’t it a waste for you to pay me so much?”
Ji Min turned his head to look at him.
He could tell that the boy truly felt troubled.
It was the kind of discomfort that came from not wanting to accept something he didn’t feel he’d earned.
Lu Ran thought for a moment and began, “Otherwise…”
Ji Min instantly guessed what he was about to say.
Otherwise, let’s forget it. I can help you for free.
But Ji Min had no intention of ending their employer-employee relationship.
Almost the moment he realized Lu Ran’s intent, he cut him off.
He blurted out without thinking, “Quality of work is more important than quantity.”
The moment he said it, Ji Min nearly bit his own tongue.
What was he doing?
Encouraging this boy’s “work”?
To Lu Ran, though, it made perfect sense. He nodded earnestly, “You’re right.”
Ji Min: “…”
He shifted his gaze away from the boy, silently staring out the window, reflecting on the nonsense he’d just spouted.
Even though Lu Ran had initially been a bit disappointed to hear they were going to a golf course, once they arrived and he saw the vast green expanse, his eyes lit up.
Ji Min hid the smile that flashed in his eyes.
Today’s meeting was with a CEO who had already heard about Ji Min’s protective stance toward the Shen family’s young master.
When he saw Lu Ran, he greeted him warmly and with genuine kindness.
There was no hint of inappropriate familiarity in his expression.
It truly seemed as though he was meeting a familiar junior.
Ji Min was satisfied.
He let Lu Ran take Da Huang out to play, with Butler Chen keeping watch.
Meanwhile, the CEO sitting across from Ji Min observed him discreetly.
Rumor had it that Ji Min doted excessively on this long-lost Shen family boy.
But at first glance, it wasn’t so obvious.
The young man stood to the side, examining the golf club, while Ji Min remained the same sharp and unyielding presence he was in the business world.
Not an ounce of his focus wavered.
He continued to find flaws in the other party’s arguments and pushed back relentlessly on every aspect of their negotiation.
The CEO across from him sighed internally.
Rumors were often misleading. How could someone like Ji Min, so meticulous and driven, genuinely care for someone else?
He picked up his water glass, contemplating his next move to find a gap in Ji Min’s defenses.
But suddenly, Ji Min spoke, “Your posture is wrong.”
The CEO blinked, startled. “Huh?”
He glanced down at how he was holding the glass, wondering if Ji Min was being nitpicky about even that.
He was about to ask what Ji Min meant when he noticed the young man behind Ji Min, who had been practicing his swing, turn around and ask, “What’s wrong with it?”
“Your waist and arms are so stiff; it’s no wonder you keep missing,” Ji Min explained. “Look how many times you’ve hit the ball so far.”
The listening CEO: “…”
Lu Ran adjusted his stance again.
But his movements became even stiffer. When he swung, he missed the ball entirely.
The man who had been negotiating flawlessly a moment ago sighed.
He turned his wheelchair and reached out, intending to correct the boy’s posture.
His fingers were about to touch Lu Ran’s waist and arms but hesitated. Instead, he picked up a magazine from the table, rolling it into a makeshift teaching pointer.
“Here, and here. Don’t be so tense.”
The rolled-up magazine gently tapped Lu Ran’s waist and arms over his clothes.
The touch brought a light, teasing tickle.
“And here too.”
The makeshift pointer moved to tap near his leg. “Relax those muscles.”
Lu Ran couldn’t help but flinch.
He turned to glance at Ji Min’s rolled-up magazine.
They were both grown men. Giving golf pointers out in public like this… Ji Min could have just corrected him directly.
Yet he went through the trouble of using a magazine.
Something about it seemed… oddly off.
Under Ji Min’s guidance, Lu Ran finally managed to hit a ball successfully.
Instead of letting the caddy retrieve it, he enthusiastically set off with Da Huang to find it himself.
Ji Min watched him for a while and only withdrew his gaze once the young man had gone some distance away. Turning back, he noticed the CEO opposite him staring at him with a complex expression.
“What is it?” Ji Min asked, setting down the magazine.
The CEO hesitated. “…Nothing.”
Just feeling the sting of embarrassment.
Also feeling like a glaringly unwanted presence in broad daylight.
And, honestly, the scene was really something else.
Lu Ran wandered around and eventually found his ball, asking for his score.
As he was preparing to head back, a small cart pulled up nearby.
Out stepped an unexpected visitor.
Looking up, Lu Ran saw none other than Jin Lino, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.
Since the Lino family had been turned away by Ji Min last time, they’d tried again several times.
But to no avail.
Now, judging by Jin’s renewed swagger, it seemed the Lino family might have found another opportunity.
Jin maintained his usual playboy demeanor.
He scanned Lu Ran from head to toe, his gaze lingering, before greeting him in his less-than-fluent Mandarin.
“Hey, honey, long time no see. Ever since I tasted that drink you poured, I just can’t stop thinking about that flavor.”
