My father's inheritance is my mortal enemy.

Ning Zhi explained, "I'm sorry, I just hope we can be like before..."

Li Bo smiled and said, "People are always moving forward; you can't always look back. You've always wanted to make something of yourself, to establish yourself in a big city, and to give your aunt and uncle a better life. Staying in Beijing would be better for your future. I don't want you to give up such a good job in Beijing. I'll help you with Wan Shi."

Ning Zhi understood Li Bo's unspoken meaning: he didn't really need Li Bo to solve anything for him. Although he had lost a good job, Ning Zhi didn't want Li Bo to become a puppet of the Zhou family again.

When he was a child, he often saw Li Bo alone on the rooftop watching the moon.

Although Li Bo didn't say it, he knew that Li Bo wasn't very happy.

He sat on the next step of the stairs, looking up at Li Bo, looking at the "moon".

Ning Zhi wanted to gain a foothold in the big city for another very important reason—he hoped he would have the ability to help Li Bo regain his freedom.

"I've thought about going solo these past two years, but I've always lacked the courage. Perhaps this is a good opportunity, and you don't need to feel guilty. Although you've never mentioned what happened five years ago... since you chose to leave the capital, you shouldn't have come back."

"I don't want you to be in danger. That fire five years ago... I still feel a bit scared when I think about it now."

"I understand what you mean," Li Bo said. "Of course you have the right to leave the law firm and go solo, but I can't just cut off your escape route. Reputation is very important to a lawyer."

"Ningzhi, your aunt and uncle are getting old, you should settle down and start a family soon."

Li Bo spoke earnestly.

This urging made Ning Zhi's heart ache.

Ning Zhi changed the subject and talked about the changes in Beijing in recent years. He asked Li Bo when he planned to leave, saying that he had found a few good restaurants and since he had some free time now, he could take Li Bo to try them.

Li Bo simply nodded. After finishing his meal, Li Bo returned to the hotel, washed up, and lay down. The doorbell rang, and his secretary delivered a document.

"Mr. Yue, there's been a family emergency at headquarters. Tomorrow morning, Wanshi, the construction company, and Dafeng are having a three-way meeting. Mr. Liu said he couldn't get through to you on the phone, so he asked me to ask if you'd be willing to represent the planning team at the meeting?"

"Oh... I was showering and didn't hear you. What time is the meeting tomorrow morning?"

"The meeting starts at 9:00, so we need to leave the hotel no later than 8:40."

"Okay," Li Bo agreed.

He closed the door, finished flipping through the documents, lay down, and looked at the painting on the bedside table. He felt particularly at ease and fell asleep soon after.

On his way to the meeting the next day, a small accident occurred. Li Bo arrived just in time, and everyone in the conference room was already there, waiting for him.

"Sorry, there was a bit of traffic on the way." Li Bo, carrying his laptop, quickly glanced around the room and spotted Zhou Yanshao at a glance.

Inside the meeting room, there was only an empty seat to Zhou Yanshao's right.

Today, Zhou Yanshao represents all generations.

Li Bo strode over and sat down next to Zhou Yanshao. He turned on his laptop, looked up, and asked, "Would you like some coffee? It's on me."

The secretary noted down the quantity and type of coffee. When asked about Zhou Yanshao, Li Bo said, "He doesn't drink. I'll have a hot Americano."

Everyone looked up, somewhat alarmed, at Li Bo.

Even Wan Gong couldn't make decisions for Zhou Yanshao, so how could Li Bo, as the branch president of the partner company, make those decisions for Zhou Yanshao?

Secretary Li Bo glanced cautiously at Zhou Yanshao, who looked up at Li Bo but didn't say anything, which was considered tacit approval.

The secretary suspiciously added a hot Americano to Li Bo's cup and placed the order.

Zhou Yanshao's arrogant nature was well-known in the capital, and no one dared to offend him. The secretary wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt that... this powerful young master Zhou seemed... a little different in front of their CEO.

The secretary couldn't explain exactly how it was different.

Halfway through the meeting, the secretary suddenly had an idea!

He felt that Young Master Zhou was a bit too obedient in front of Li Bo, as obedient as... a dog?

Today was a joint tripartite meeting, and it lasted a long time. After Li Bo finished speaking, he sat down, rubbed his lower back, which was a little sore.

As Li Bo rubbed his lower back, the shirt on his chest was slightly wrinkled, and the opening was facing Zhou Yanshao's direction, where Zhou could see a red mole on Li Bo's chest.

Li Bo also has a mole on his leg, which is very beautiful. Especially when combined with the slightly pained expression on Li Bo's face, it is even more beautiful.

The staff brought in the coffee, and while they were distributing it, the meeting paused for a short break. Li Bo got up and went to the restroom, still rubbing his back as he went.

Zhou Yanshao found it annoying.

As Li Bo walked towards the restroom, a figure appeared beside him, standing to his left.

Li Bo was about to speak.

Zhou Yanshao explained: "Smoking."

Li Bo saw Zhou Yanshao take out a cigarette and stop at the toilet door, then heard a crisp click of a lighter.

When Li Bo came out of the restroom, Zhou Yanshao was leaning against the window smoking. His tall figure, with a cigarette between his fingers and a wisp of smoke rising from his mouth, was striking. Li Bo walked over and asked, "Any more cigarettes?"

"I don't know, it's in my pocket."

Zhou Yanshao didn't move, which meant he would take it himself.

Li Bo reached out and touched Zhou Yanshao's suit, but couldn't find it.

Zhou Yanshao said, "Next."

The cigarette pack wasn't in the suit jacket, it was in the trousers.

Li Bo glanced around and confirmed that the cigarette pack was in his right pocket. He gently reached in, his knuckles holding the pack, and as he reached up, his hand bumped into Zhou Yanshao, startling Li Bo so much that he dropped the pack.

Zhou Yanshao raised an eyebrow: "What are you touching?"

"No, it was from the cigarette pack."

Zhou Yanshao reached his large hand into his pocket. The pocket entrance was very small, and both hands were completely stuck together inside, trapping Li Bo's hand and preventing him from getting it out.

He felt Zhou Yanshao's long, warm fingers hold the cigarette case, pick one out and hold it between his knuckles, and when he pulled it out, Li Bo's hand came out with it.

After Li Bo took his hand out, he first looked at his wrist.

My wrist was chafed red from the edge of my trousers.

Zhou Yanshao held a cigarette between his fingers and offered it to Li Bo's lips.

Li Bo subconsciously opened his mouth, and Zhou Yanshao shoved a cigarette into it. Li Bo bit down on it and said, "Thank you."

Zhou Yanshao didn't say anything, but lit a cigarette for Li Bo.

The two men smoked by the window. Li Bo didn't dare look down, staring at Zhou Yanshao's deep, sculpted profile, and asked, "Are you free tonight?"

Zhou Yanshao flicked his cigarette ash. "What is it?"

"I'd like to talk to you about something, and I'd like to ask you out for dinner." Li Bo added, "Is that convenient?"

Zhou Yanshao said coldly, "It's inconvenient. I don't eat out."

"That restaurant you and Sun Shengyang ate at last time was good..."

"Li Bo!" Zhou Yanshao was furious. How dare Li Bo mention that restaurant!

Li Bo was yelled at, but he didn't say anything.

Zhou Yanshao glanced at him and softened his tone: "If you want to invite me to dinner, you can only cook for me."