He stole his best friend's photos and fell for a tycoon's heir through online dating.

Xia Ruo was taken aback by her sudden seriousness: "What's wrong? Why are you suddenly bringing this up?"

"Look at this house—" Lin Wanzhi spread her arms and spun around, then leaned closer and took a deep sniff.

"Smell it, there's still the scent of air freshener in the air! And look at these bedding and cushions!!! It means Mr. Huo specifically had them tidied up beforehand."

She straightened up and placed her hands on Xia Ruo's shoulders:

"I've made up my mind—Ruoruo, go ahead and develop your relationship with President Huo. I've given my approval for you two!"

Xia Ruo's lips twitched as she looked at her "I'm your parent" expression.

"...You gave me permission? When did you become my parent/guardian?"

"From this moment on," Lin Wanzhi patted her shoulder, her face solemn,

"I've officially upgraded from best friend to guardian. Don't worry, I won't interfere too much with you two."

"Lin Wanzhi!!!"

Assistant Zhang, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but cover his mouth and chuckle.

Lin Wanzhi suddenly noticed the closed door next to the stairs. "Hey? Assistant Zhang, is that room over there on the stairs occupied?"

"That was Mr. Huo's room before, but he hasn't stayed here for a long time."

"Oh~" Lin Wanzhi drawled out the last syllable, turned her head to look at Xia Ruo, and found that Xia Ruo was staring at the door in a daze.

"Ruoruo~ Your eyes are practically glued to the screen~ Do you want to go inside and take a look?"

"I didn't—"

Before she could finish speaking, Lin Wanzhi pulled her directly to the door of the room.

"Oh dear, he hasn't lived here in a long time. It's not like there's anything wrong with just looking. Everyone has a bit of curiosity, right, Assistant Zhang?"

Assistant Zhang stood still, nodding without changing his expression: "That's right, Secretary Lin is absolutely right."

After saying that, he silently added in his mind: But it doesn't seem to make much sense for Secretary Xia to go in and take a look... I've already stayed at Yujing Mansion twice.

-

The Zhou family's old residence.

"Siyan, when did you return to China? Why didn't you go home?" Zhou Xiangsong rubbed his hands together, his tone filled with tentative concern.

"I have something to do." Zhou Siyan sat on the sofa, looking at her phone without looking up.

"Why did you drive home by yourself today? Where's Assistant Zhang?"

"He has something to do."

"Then I'll pick out a few drivers for you. Driving yourself is too tiring. There's already a lot going on at the company."

"unnecessary."

Zhou Xiangsong was silent for a moment:

"Okay... I'll do as little work as possible at the company; my health is more important."

Zhou Siyan's fingers, which were gripping the phone, suddenly clenched, and his knuckles turned white.

"There's something I'd like to ask you about."

Your Uncle Song came by yesterday, wanting to introduce you to a girl. You're getting on in years, would you like to meet her?

Zhou Siyan finally raised his head and glanced at his father. His cold gaze made Zhou Xiangsong's heart tighten.

"You don't need to worry about my affairs. I know what I'm doing."

After saying that, he got up and walked towards the door. "Don't make me come back unless it's absolutely necessary."

The front door closed behind him, and the living room remained quiet for a while.

"Master, the young master may be in a bad mood today, please don't take it to heart," the butler said softly as he stepped forward.

Zhou Xiangsong did not respond.

He stood there, looking at the closed door, as if he were looking at someone he had been chasing for many years but could never catch up with.

After a long silence, he spoke in a low voice, his tone weary and worn down by time: "He's still blaming me."

"Sir, we had our difficulties back then. There were too many complicated matters at the company, and we also had to keep an eye on people from all the families. And then there was Madam's illness—"

"No," Zhou Xiangsong interrupted him, his voice suddenly sounding a little hoarse.

"These are all excuses. Yiyao told me she wasn't feeling well, but I... I didn't take her words to heart."

I even blamed her, saying she wasn't understanding enough. As a result, she... and her unborn child, both died.

His voice was so low by the end that it was almost inaudible, and tears silently streamed down his weathered face.

"It's my fault. I'm the one who let them down."

The butler stood to the side, his lips moved, but he ultimately did not utter any more words of comfort.

"Siyan hates me, but I don't blame him." Zhou Xiangsong raised his hand and slowly wiped the corner of his eye. "I'm content as long as he still acknowledges me as his father."

"master……"

"Come with me to offer incense to Yiyao."

The light in the mourning hall was soft, and the ash in the incense burner was still warm.

Zhou Xiangsong stood in front of his wife's photo. The woman in the photo had gentle features and a faint smile on her lips.

He looked at it for a long time before whispering:

"I didn't raise my son well, nor did I take good care of you. Even after all these years since you left, he still remembers and hates me."

The butler stood at the door for a while, and only after Zhou Xiangsong came out did he step forward and whisper:

"Master, someone from the Huo family will be coming soon. We don't know exactly who it is yet."

"What happened?"

"The company's annual banquet is coming up soon; it should be the young master who invited you. Would you like to inquire about it at the company headquarters?"

Zhou Xiangsong shook his head, his voice carrying a calm acceptance of what he had seen through: "Absolutely not. If I get involved, Siyan will only go further astray with me."

He paused, his gaze falling on the closed door: "Moreover, it involves the Huo family... The company's affairs have been completely handed over to him. What he wants to do and how he does it is entirely up to him."

-

Zhou Siyan sat in the car.

The old houses outside the car window were shrouded in twilight. He gripped the steering wheel, the phrase "health is important" echoing repeatedly in his mind.

When his mother was seriously ill and died in her hospital bed, where was he? He was at the company, in meetings, socializing, busy with those never-ending important matters, and he didn't even get to see her one last time.

Now I know how important health is.

Zhou Siyan leaned back weakly in the chair, closed his eyes, and placed the back of his left hand on his forehead.

The carriage was so quiet that the only sound was the faint hum of the air conditioning vents, while the chirping of cicadas outside the window annoyed him.

My phone suddenly rang.

Two words popped up on the screen—Wife.

He stared at the two words for two seconds, then slid his fingertip to his ear.

"Feed." Zhou Siyan was very happy. This was the first time Xia Ruo had taken the initiative to call him, but he couldn't smile now.

"Zhou Siyan, Wanwan and I have arrived at the apartment. Thank you for making such a thoughtful arrangement."

"It's what I should do, baby, don't be so polite with me." He tried to make his voice sound more relaxed, but he just couldn't bring himself to smile.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

Xia Ruo's brows furrowed slowly; she could clearly sense that the person on the other end of the phone was acting strangely.

"What happened?" she asked, her voice softening. "Your voice sounds very off."

"Baby, are you worried about me?"

"I was so worried about you," she said, her tone unwavering. "What happened at home?"

Zhou Siyan remained silent.

"...Did you have a fight with your dad?"

Zhou Siyan tapped his fingers lightly on the steering wheel.

"No. He didn't argue with me. He just... said a few words of concern."

His voice became hoarse towards the end, and he himself felt that those few words sounded absurd.

Xia Ruo was silent for a few seconds before speaking, her voice light and cheerful:

"Mr. Zhou, could you come to my apartment? Wanwan and I are planning to cook hot pot ourselves. Would you do us the honor of joining us?"

Zhou Siyan was stunned for a moment.

The night breeze blew in through the half-open car window, dispelling the suffocating atmosphere that had lingered in the carriage for so long.

He held his phone, and the corners of his mouth slowly curved into a smile.

"……good."