Lin Chu had a simple meal with her.

She was a woman in her forties who took amazing care of herself, with an elegant demeanor and an intellectual way of speaking.

’Still, I’m really not that interested in older women.’

’A teenager until I die, forever loving eighteen.’

’Or maybe my tastes just haven’t matured to that point yet.’

Lin Chu even felt he still had a bit of a thing for being a girl’s first. ’I’m getting way ahead of myself. I never would have dared to even think about something like this before.’

’Besides, even now, if I count them up, there’s only Jiang Ya... who is a good little sister to me.’

’A very gentle, very sweet kind of little sister.’

Lin Chu believed that a woman could never forget her first man. It was inevitable.

Just as he could never forget his own first love.

’But my first love isn’t exactly some idealized "one that got away" for me anymore.’

’Back in school, I was the one who got dumped. She met someone better, someone more handsome, and broke up with me without a second thought.’

After that, Lin Chu stopped being so fixated on relationships.

’She doesn’t belong to you; it’s just your turn.’

Later, he dated two or three more. He’d enter each relationship full of passion and emerge emotionally battered with an empty wallet. That made him even more jaded and cynical, and that’s how it’s been until now.

Until now.

After the meal, she went to pay the bill. When she returned, Lin Chu said, "Sister Tang, I have something to take care of this afternoon. Is it alright if my lawyer comes to handle the standard paperwork with you? I’ve seen the house, and it’s perfect. I can transfer the funds for the title transfer whenever you’re ready."

"Okay, that’s fine," she replied. "You go do what you need to do. I have time, so I’ll just wait here for the lawyer."

Her tone was warm, and she seemed very patient.

And with that, Lin Chu decisively walked out the door, got into his car, and left in one smooth motion.

He was heading to the gym.

...

When he arrived, the receptionist, Cui Xiaodan, greeted him with a smile. "President Lin, a large package came for you. I put it over here for you to take a look at."

Lin Chu glanced over. It was quite large, and the return address was a small city in the Northeast that he’d never heard of.

After a moment’s thought, it clicked.

’It must be from Tangtang. The ginseng, antler, and other things for infusing in wine. The really potent stuff.’

Tsk.

’Just thinking about it is enough to give me a nosebleed.’

"Just leave it there for now," he said. "I’ll grab it on my way out."

’Perfect timing, now that I’ve bought the house. I can just store it all there. A hotel room, even a presidential suite, isn’t really the right place for this kind of stuff.’

After saying a few more words, Lin Chu went to start his workout.

Having kept up his routine for a while now, Lin Chu was gradually starting to experience the joy of strength training.

When you’re exhausted, your brain gives you a little reward—dopamine, endorphins, that sort of thing. It gives you a taste of the good stuff, and you gradually get used to it, until you’re addicted.

Recently, the fat on his stomach had started to firm up.

Lin Chu was looking forward to the day his abs would be clearly defined.

According to Wang Lei’s estimate, if he trained every day, it would take three months at a minimum, and six months at most.

And that was without any changes to his diet.

...

「In a one-bedroom rental.」

When Wang Zhefei walked in the door holding a property deed, he saw his younger sister mopping the floor.

The tile floor was mopped so clean you could almost see your reflection in it.

"Xiaoya, stop mopping. Pack your things. We’re getting ready to move."

’When I lived by myself, well, I’m a guy. I wasn’t too particular and just did whatever was comfortable. But after my sister moved in, this place has started to feel a bit more like a home.’

’My sister is hardworking, too. She handles all the laundry, cooking, and chores.’

’She’s a good kid.’

’Of course, I give her an allowance, too—a hundred a day.’

’A young lady should have some money in her pocket. You have to provide for them properly.’

Huh?

Wang Shiyi stood up and turned to her brother, a hint of nervousness on her pretty face.

"What’s wrong, is the landlord kicking us out?"

That was her first thought.

"Not at all. I bought a house, so we’re getting ready to move in. I’ve had enough of this dump anyway."

"Wow!"

She cried out in excitement. Seeing the little red booklet in her brother’s hand, she rushed over. "Let me see!"

Wang Zhefei handed it to her with a grin.

She opened it. When she saw the name and the square footage listed inside, Wang Shiyi looked up in utter shock. "Bro, did you win the lottery?"

She had a pretty good idea of her brother’s financial situation. His salary was high, but it definitely wasn’t enough to buy a house in Peng City.

And now...

There was no other explanation besides some incredible stroke of luck that made him rich overnight.

"Don’t ask. We’re living there, and that’s that. Come on, let’s pack. Once we’re ready, I’ll call a moving truck."

Wang Zhefei said with a smile, ruffling her hair.

"Okay!"

"Then I’ll go pack."

"Come on, just tell me! How did you actually buy it?"

she pouted, her curiosity practically bursting.

Wang Zhefei hesitated for a moment, then said, "A friend bought it. It’s probably a way to hide assets, so he’s putting it in my name for now. But we get to live in it."

’I can’t really hide this from her.’

’It’s better to just be straight with her.’

Huh?

"A girlfriend? Did you find yourself a sugar mama? A divorced one?"

Wang Zhefei: ...

"I’m going to kick you!"

"Then what is it? What kind of friend is that generous? I’ll take a dozen of those, please!"

"You know him, actually. It’s Lin Chu. He’s being kept by a sugar mama. She’s in her fifties—super old, but super rich. Got it? He might come over for dinner sometime, so don’t you dare say anything to his face."

Wang Zhefei said with a grin, shamelessly slandering Lin Chu in front of his sister.

’I have no choice. That bastard is a menace, so I have to protect my little sister.’

’The worse Lin Chu’s reputation is, the safer my sister will be.’

"Whoa! That’s so juicy! I’m not an idiot, of course I won’t say it to his face."

"Alright, I’m going to go pack."

She hurried off to the bedroom and started packing everything up, humming happily to herself.

As she packed, she thought more about it and felt that something wasn’t quite right. She suddenly ran back out, staring at her brother in disbelief.

"Bro, wait. Why would he buy *you* a house?"

"You... and him..."

"Just to be clear, I’m not judging! I’m actually kind of excited!"

Wang Zhefei put on his ’big brother’ voice. "I’m gonna kick you! Get out of here! We’re just good friends. God, you’re so annoying! Hurry up and pack!"

"Oh."

She started walking back to her room.

Suddenly, she poked her head back out, a mischievous grin on her face. "Bro, I really don’t mind, and I won’t tell Mom and Dad! But I’m sure there’s something going on between you two! Ooh... It’s pure love."

Wang Zhefei glared at her.

But then again, on second thought... ’Her thinking Lin Chu is gay isn’t a problem at all.’

’It’s even better, actually.’

"Don’t talk nonsense. I’m not. I’m definitely straight. As for him... well, that’s hard to say."

Wang Shiyi didn’t believe him for a second.

"Hee hee, oh, please. Then why haven’t you had a girlfriend all these years? Were you waiting for him?"

"What is wrong with you? And stop watching so much of that BL stuff!"

"Pbbbt, I’ll watch it if I want! *That’s* what you call pure love!"

Looking at his sister, Wang Zhefei sighed, at a loss for words.

’Kids these days really think differently.’

’There’s already a generation gap between me and the kids born after ’05.’

’What does she even mean, "BL is the only pure love"?’

’It’s like they’ve got something seriously wrong with them.’

...

After his workout, Lin Chu received a WeChat message from Li Haohong.

"Brother Chu, the property title is clean. No mortgage, no loans, no lease. I did a little digging... Sister Tang’s husband passed away. It happened last year. He was the chairman of a company, but it was sudden. A heart attack, and he was gone."

Lin Chu: "Got it. I’ll give her a call, then. Good to know there are no issues with the house."

Li Haohong: "Roger that! The house is definitely fine, and so is the owner. (smirk)"

Lin Chu: ...

Li Kai’s previous assessment of him really had been spot on... A hoodlum lawyer.

When they first met, he’d been relatively professional. Now, he was starting to show his true colors.

Utterly flippant.

...

...