I Didn't Treat Him as a Bargaining Chip

Lu Wen set breakfast on the table and took a seat across from Zhong Mohan.

"Then tell me, what exactly is your relationship with that young man? He stayed the night, and you two were so close. As far as I remember, your cousin doesn't look like that."

Besides, when it came to that blood-related cousin of his, Zhong Mohan's principle had always been to take advantage wherever he could. He had never treated him this gently.

"Just ordinary friends." Zhong Mohan took a sip of porridge and finally felt a little better. Then he remembered something. "Did he eat before he left?"

"Heh, ordinary friends? I'm sitting right across from you, and you haven't even asked whether I ate breakfast. He's already gone, yet you're still worried about him. He didn't eat. He left a note and went straight out."

Zhong Mohan paused. Skipping breakfast was not a good habit.

"Look at you spacing out again. With my gossip instincts, there's definitely something going on between you two."

Today, Lu Wen seemed determined to dig up their entire story.

Zhong Mohan raised a brow. Suddenly remembering what he had considered last night, he looked at Lu Wen and decided there was no harm in telling him.

"Yes, there is something. He feels different to me. Lately, I've been getting distracted by matters concerning him."

Lu Wen's eyes widened. He had only been teasing Zhong Mohan for fun. Even if there was something between the two of them, he had assumed it was business-related. He had never considered anything else, because just as Zhong Mohan himself had said, romance was not something that seemed likely to have anything to do with him.

He simply could not imagine Zhong Mohan dating someone, fussing over another person's every need—especially when that other person was a man!

"What do you mean?" Even Lu Wen could hear the tremor in his own voice.

"Sometimes I think of him. Last night, there was no particular reason for me to bring him back. I simply wanted to bring him back. What do you think that means?"

At first, Zhong Mohan had genuinely found Wen Chengze interesting. He was unlike anyone Zhong Mohan had met before. But after thinking it over calmly last night, he realized that it was not merely Wen Chengze himself that he found interesting. It seemed he was interested in Wen Chengze.

This time, it was not only Lu Wen's throat that trembled—his pupils practically shook.

"You fell for him?"

"Not that far." Love was too much to call it. At most, he liked him a little and wanted to keep him by his side.

Lu Wen swallowed. "But even liking him is too unbelievable. That Second Young Master Wen has only been back in the country for a few days. And he has parents and an older brother who adore him so much. Would they agree to him getting involved with you?"

"Who said I wanted to be with him?"

Looking at the man calmly eating across from him, Lu Wen let out a derisive laugh. "Heh, keep pretending. Since you've set your sights on him, you expect me to believe you won't make a move? I wouldn't believe it even if you beat me to death."

Zhong Mohan said nothing.

"But let me remind you of something. This is the first time you've liked someone, and he isn't exactly an ordinary person. Watch how you behave. Don't let things turn sour later; it won't do you any good. Of course, if you really do end up with him, the Wen Household will definitely become an asset to you. It would bring you nothing but benefits."

"I didn't treat him as a bargaining chip."

This time, Lu Wen fell silent.

Was this an old house on fire? Had Zhong Mohan really fallen hard?

Still, thinking of that cool and distant Second Young Master of the Wen Household, Lu Wen silently lit a candle for him in advance. Being noticed by Zhong Mohan—who knew whether that was a good thing or a bad thing?

"Anyway, it's your private matter, and I can't meddle too much. I'm just a little curious. By the way, do you want me to find you some dating guides or instructional videos? You can work on your technique. Otherwise, if your skills get criticized, you might get dumped."

Zhong Mohan narrowed his eyes. "No need."

But Zhong Mohan thought of that night. Wen Chengze had left after just once. Could it be that he really thought Zhong Mohan's technique was lacking?

Lu Wen still boldly continued to stroke the tiger's whiskers. "Why be embarrassed? You've been single since birth, after all. As your brother, it's my duty to support you if you want to date."

"Is that so? I heard Auntie has been having tea with quite a few distinguished young ladies every day lately. Should I tell her that you'd also like to attend?"

Lu Wen: ...

"You win!"

The world was finally quiet again, and Zhong Mohan continued eating.

"You didn't come here today just to pry for gossip, did you?"

"Of course not. I came with serious business."

"Didn't Zhong Corporation recently order a batch of materials? They're being transported through my channels, but the people below inspected them and said there was something wrong with the batch. You've only been the head of the Household for a few days, and they already can't hold themselves back?"

"Don't bother with them. They can't stir up much trouble."

"I understand that, but I still wanted to give you a heads-up. Also, about the overseas side—weren't you planning to go take a look yourself? Are you still going?"

According to their original plan, Zhong Mohan would go abroad for a few weeks, giving those in the country with differing agendas time to make their moves and choose their sides. But with things as they were now, was Zhong Mohan still going abroad?

"I'm going."

"Huh? You're not going to pursue that young master from the Wen Household?"

"Does liking him conflict with pursuing my career?"

He could balance love and his career. Of course, if he absolutely had to choose between the two, his career would probably still be more important. So nothing could interfere with his plans.

Lu Wen gave him a thumbs-up, silently chanting to himself, Brother, you really aren't worried about ending up kneeling on a remote control.

Wen Chengze called the driver in the morning. After returning to the Wen Household, he went back to sleep. He had not been able to fall asleep at all at Zhong Mohan's place last night. If he had known, he would not have sought convenience and slept at Zhong Mohan's house in the first place.

He and that man were probably just destined to clash.

Wen Chengze did not wake until noon, but the moment he did, he received a call from his manager.

"Xiao Ze, I've arranged several acting instructors. Come to the company at two-thirty this afternoon to meet them. Although you have your own plans, the variety show you'll be participating in next is team-based in its early stages. You probably aren't the type who likes dragging others down, so you still need some basic preparation."

"Understood."

After hanging up, Wen Chengze got out of bed, washed up, changed clothes, and went downstairs to eat.

Seeing the entire family gathered downstairs again, Wen Chengze was a little surprised.

"None of you went to the company today?"

"You didn't come home last night. Even though you sent a message, we were still worried about you." Mother Wen's gaze swept up and down him. Only after finding not the slightest suspicious trace on her son did she relax.

It was not a big deal for a grown son to stay overnight at a friend's house, but Wen Chengze had gone straight back to his room to sleep after returning. The more Mother Wen thought about it, the more uneasy she became. Father Wen and Brother Wen tried to reassure her, only to be snapped at by Mother Wen.