Xie Chengnan was unusually silent throughout the New Year's Eve dinner. Lin Yin teased him, asking if his heart had already flown off to be with Jiang Yuan. Xie Chengnan simply smiled and didn't argue as he drove them back to their hotel.
After seeing the Xies off, Xie Chengnan pulled over to the side of the road. He rolled down the window and lit a cigarette. The biting night wind brushed against his weary eyes, which reflected the flickering glow at his fingertips.
Fu Chuanming’s words were like an inescapable high wall standing between him and his past, severing the tenderest memories of his youth.
From an emotional standpoint, Xie Chengnan could not accept this outcome. He preferred to believe that any conclusion based on mere speculation could still be overturned.
His well-defined fingers tapped rhythmically against the car door. Closing his eyes, he meticulously combed through every known clue and detail, eventually locking onto the only lead that had hit a dead end.
Xie Chengnan dialed Shen Qinian’s number. "Do you know any of the executives at Taikang Nursing Home?"
"Taikang? Hang on a sec." The background on Shen Qinian’s end was noisy, clearly in the middle of a family gathering. Once things quieted down, he spoke again. "I thought that sounded familiar. Yao Duo’s new employer is Taikang. You want me to put you in touch with him?"
Xie Chengnan’s eyes flickered as he slowly exhaled a plume of smoke. "When are we signing the contract with Taikang?"
"Next week." Shen Qinian sensed something was off. "Why are you suddenly asking about Taikang? It’s not another trap, is it?"
"Personal business." A plan was beginning to take shape in Xie Chengnan’s mind. "Tell Yao Duo that after the signing, we’ll provide a batch of medical robots for a seven-day free trial. If he asks, tell him it’s a thank-you gift from me."
"The profit margin we conceded to Taikang was already sincere enough." Shen Qinian stopped joking and turned serious. "Give me the bottom line, otherwise my heart’s going to be in my throat worrying that something’s about to go wrong."
Xie Chengnan didn't hide it from him. "I’m looking for someone. That person is inside Taikang Nursing Home. Fu Chuanming’s people can’t get close to him, so I want to let Freesia try."
"Who is this guy that he's so special?" Shen Qinian clicked his tongue. "Are you trying to get in touch with some high-ranking official or a mob boss?"
Xie Chengnan flicked his ash and said helplessly, "I’ll explain it to you when I have time. Alright, go back to your family dinner."
"What about you?" Shen Qinian asked. "A-Yuan went back to the Jiang family estate, right? You want to come over to my place for a few drinks?"
"No." Xie Chengnan checked the time. "A-Yuan said he’d be back after dinner. I’m going home to wait for him."
Shen Qinian didn't push. He hung up quickly, feeling like his concern had been wasted.
Just as the call ended, a message from Jiang Yuan popped up.
**Your Darling A-Yuan:** Conrad Hotel, Room 3301~ Waiting for you.
Xie Chengnan raised an eyebrow.
**Nan:** Why did you go to a hotel?
**Your Darling A-Yuan:** To give you a surprise~
Looking at the brief exchange on the screen, Xie Chengnan let out a low laugh. The heavy weight of the past was finally swept into a corner of his mind, replaced by the fluttering excitement of heading to a rendezvous.
The moment he swiped into the presidential suite, even the well-traveled Professor Xie was stunned for a moment by the extravagant sight before him.
Under the dim lights, massive bouquets of roses and scented candles were scattered everywhere. The fragrance of flowers mingled with the crisp scent of cedar, weaving an intoxicating atmosphere into the winter night.
A woman’s soft, lingering voice sang low—it was the song that had been on repeat in his playlist. The music teased out memories of his heart skipping a beat, causing Xie Chengnan’s steady pulse to gradually quicken.
The living room was empty, but a small path paved with rose petals led all the way to the bedroom.
Xie Chengnan set his coat aside and stepped onto the petals, slowly pushing the door open. The room was a sea of roses, layer upon layer, with a subtle fragrance floating in the air.
A bottle of red wine sat in an ice bucket by the bedside, and two wine glasses stood pristine and clear, showing no signs of use.
Xie Chengnan’s gaze slowly shifted, landing on the slightly ajar bathroom door. The light inside was even dimmer, and if he listened closely, he could distinguish the faint sound of water beneath the music.
He pushed the door open gently.
In the double bathtub, the youth slowly opened his eyes. His slender neck rested against the rim of the tub, leading down to beautiful collarbones and a straight shoulder line. Rose petals obscured the body submerged beneath the water, swaying gently with the ripples, revealing only glimpses.
The flickering candlelight illuminated only half of the youth's face. He curled his lips into a smile at the edge of the shadows and reached out a hand, inviting his knight.
The entire world seemed to shift into slow motion. A stray petal clung to the youth’s fair forearm, and water droplets rolled down the smooth lines of his muscles, creating tiny ripples as they fell.
Xie Chengnan took his hand and stepped slowly into the water. The moment they came together, the curtains over the floor-to-ceiling window opened automatically. Outside, the city lights glowed like neon jewels, and fireworks erupted in a brilliant display.
Xie Chengnan was momentarily dazed by the sudden explosion of color, surprise surfacing in his eyes.
Jiang Yuan’s damp fingers brushed lightly against his cheek, his voice cool yet alluring. "The firework feast I promised you. Is it beautiful?"
"It is..." Xie Chengnan looked down at the youth beneath him, whose eyelids were half-closed. His Adam's apple bobbed as a thick, undeniable desire colored his eyes. He sighed softly, "But not as beautiful as you..."
In the night sky beside them, fireworks burst in a kaleidoscope of colors, blooming across the black horizon.
Xie Chengnan lowered his head to kiss his lover’s lips—devoutly, passionately, with a heart full of love. His burning breath lingered over his delicious prey. The roses, the candlelight, and the fireworks were all inferior to the magnificent sight before him at this moment.
The youth’s slender fingers suddenly pressed against the window. Steam dampened the glass, leaving a winding trail. The vibrant petals against his back were crushed, their juice dripping down his fair shoulders and back, staining them a tempting red.
The warm water washed over them repeatedly as the rose petals rose and fell, swirling like a vast red sea in the dead of night. The waves surged and tossed, soaking the floor tiles.
As Xie Chengnan lowered his head to inhale the lingering, rich fragrance of the person beneath him, the clock struck twelve.
Outside the window, the LED screens of every skyscraper lit up simultaneously, and the scheduled greeting arrived: *Happy New Year, my Mr. Xie. Signed: Your A-Yuan.*
The youth by the window turned his head, his eyes still misty with vapor. In a raspy voice, he said, "I made a New Year's wish."
His smile was as bright as the fireworks. "I hope that every New Year's Eve from now on, you'll be the one watching the fireworks with me..."
Xie Chengnan leaned down to embrace his beloved little lover, pressing soft kisses to his flushed cheek. Amidst the shimmering lights and shadows, he offered his promise: "Alright. Every New Year's Eve from now on, I will watch the fireworks with you..."
***
The next day, Weibo exploded again.
The video of the Jiang family’s young master spending a fortune to book the commercial district’s LED screens to wish his boyfriend a Happy New Year hit the trending searches in minutes.
[Baby A-Yuan is way too smooth!!!]
[The world of the ultra-rich... even a New Year's greeting is done in 'whale' mode...]
[A friend of mine who does flower wholesaling said that every rose in Nancheng was booked last night. The boss who placed the order was surnamed Jiang...]
[Holy crap! I didn't expect Baby A-Yuan to be such a flirt! I’m switching my CP positions!!!]
[Roses are nothing! I got inside info that the firework show last night was also ordered by Baby A-Yuan! The company that took the job submitted the application to the city a month ago!]
[With this kind of move, are we sure this wasn't a proposal??]
[A proposal would have to wait for CEO Gege to do it, right?!]
[Baby A-Yuan has set the bar so high... how is CEO Gege supposed to top this for a proposal??]
[Pitying CEO Gege for a second. Feels like this is going to be hard to beat...]
Since his little boyfriend was so generous, President Xie naturally had to "work diligently" as a return gift.
Thus, the still-sleeping Young Master Jiang was teased awake. Before his sluggish senses could even return, his body was plunged into a boundless sea of pleasure.
The red wine by the bed was half-finished, and the unburnt candles emitted a faint fragrance. A cluster of roses lay tumbled by the pillow, trembling rhythmically with the movement.
Neither of them managed to wake up early on the first day of the New Year. It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky that they woke up in each other's arms once more.
"Mmh." Jiang Yuan rubbed his eyes and let out a soft hum. "What time is it?"
Xie Chengnan reached down to grab his phone from the carpet. "Twelve-thirty." He scrolled through his notifications and saw two missed calls from his parents. Likely because he hadn't picked up, they had sent a text saying they had gone out for a stroll on their own.
Jiang Yuan was still a bit dazed. Fearing he would feel unwell from sleeping too long, Xie Chengnan insisted on carrying him into the bathroom to wash up.
"Let's get something to eat first." Xie Chengnan helped Jiang Yuan dress. "You can sleep more after you're full."
Jiang Yuan tilted his head against his shoulder, mumbling, "I want abalone over rice."
"Alright." Xie Chengnan wrapped an arm around his shoulder and pressed a kiss to his temple. "Shall I carry you down?"
Young Master Jiang shoved him away with a palm, successfully defending General Manager Jiang’s dignity.
Their cars were parked together, but Jiang Yuan was too tired to move. He called Xiong Zhipeng to come and drive his car away, then climbed into Xie Chengnan’s passenger seat.
"What's this?" Jiang Yuan pulled out the object he had sat on. "Company files?"
Xie Chengnan glanced at the envelope in Jiang Yuan’s hand and spoke truthfully. "The private investigator found some things. It’s all in there."
Jiang Yuan froze for a moment. His fingertips brushed against the seal for a while before he finally turned to ask, "Can I see?"
Xie Chengnan nodded and said nothing more.
The car fell silent, save for the sound of Jiang Yuan flipping through the pages. His expression was calm, showing no emotional fluctuations that would reveal what he was thinking.
When he reached the last page, he looked up in surprise. "Uncle Fu is still in Nancheng?"
"Yes." Xie Chengnan nodded. "Jiang Kunbo’s people have been watching him. Fu Chuanming tried several times but couldn't get a word in."
"There’s definitely something wrong." Jiang Yuan frowned at the data on the paper. "I need to see him."
"Meeting him will likely be difficult." Xie Chengnan explained his plan. "I’m going to let Freesia try first. If he isn't being held there voluntarily, he’ll definitely seize the chance to send a message out. But if he is there by choice..." Xie Chengnan looked at Jiang Yuan silently, leaving the sentence unfinished.
Jiang Yuan naturally understood what he meant. If it was voluntary, then Uncle Fu was likely an accomplice. However, the matter he was an accomplice to might not necessarily be the Xie family's downfall; he certainly held a secret that Jiang Kunbo cared deeply about.
"We have to try regardless." Jiang Yuan put the documents back into the envelope. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "Have you... told your parents yet?"
"Not yet." Xie Chengnan squeezed his hand. "Until there’s definitive evidence, this is all just speculation. There’s no need to tell them yet."
Jiang Yuan squeezed back firmly and said calmly, "Whether it’s speculation or fact, tell them once the matter with Uncle Fu is settled. No matter what their attitude is, I won't let go."
The youth’s voice was steady, carrying a fearless courage.
Xie Chengnan nodded and smiled in agreement. "Alright. If you ever want to let go, I’ll just have to chase you all over again."
***
