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Assistant Feng had already fielded no fewer than ten questions like this, and he answered them all truthfully. "There aren't any urgent projects. Mr. Chu is going on vacation in a few days, so we're just finishing everything that needs doing. The employees will get some time off afterward too."

"I haven't heard of Mr. Chu taking a vacation in years. Where's he going?"

"That's Mr. Chu's private business. I don't know," Assistant Feng said.

Manager Su was a longtime employee too, and he seemed to have heard something funny. "There are things even you don't know, Assistant Feng? Didn't Mr. Chu take the whole secretarial office along on his vacations a few years ago? Calling it a vacation was putting it nicely. It was really just overtime in another location. So is it Germany or France this time?"

This time, Assistant Feng genuinely didn't know. Mr. Chu hadn't explicitly told them to pack, either, but everyone in the secretarial office had their luggage ready just in case.

"Assistant Feng, aren't we friends? You're keeping even this little bit of information under wraps. Isn't it my wife's birthday next month? I was hoping you could help me buy a bag, then come over for dinner."

Assistant Feng was an obliging man. Normally, he would have agreed to pick up a bag, but this time, he knew very clearly that they weren't going abroad for a vacation, because Mr. Chu hadn't asked them to arrange visas in advance.

"Sorry, Manager Su. Our secretarial department really doesn't know where Mr. Chu is vacationing this time."

"You really don't know?" Manager Su asked skeptically. "Could he actually be taking a vacation this time?"

Chu Zeshen's meeting ended at seven that evening, and it was also the last day of overtime. For once, he didn't have to work until eleven or midnight. If he went home now, he could still have a hot meal.

Assistant Feng followed Chu Zeshen downstairs, listening as he discussed a few matters.

The driver was already waiting at the entrance. Looking at his iPad, Assistant Feng asked, "Mr. Chu, should we book flights?"

"What flights?" Chu Zeshen asked in return.

"Flights for the vacation," Assistant Feng said.

Chu Zeshen checked the time. "No need. Thank you all for your hard work these past few days. Take some paid leave and get a good rest."

With that, Chu Zeshen got into the car, leaving Assistant Feng standing there, processing the words "paid leave."

After returning from his postgraduate studies, Chu Zeshen had fully taken on the heavy responsibility of running the Chu Group. Assistant Feng had worked by his side for several years.

In the earlier years, even his vacations had come under strict orders from Elder Chu. Mr. Chu had taken the time off, but he had brought the Secretarial Office staff along, and they had worked throughout the entire vacation.

Over the past few years, Mr. Chu's authority had grown to the point that even Elder Chu couldn't persuade him. The matter of vacations had been put off, and there had been no vacations to speak of.

This year, he had suddenly started taking time off again, and this time, he wasn't bringing them along. Mr. Chu was placing unusual importance on this vacation.

Could Mr. Chu finally be taking a true vacation after all these years?

Assistant Feng told the secretarial office the news. At first, everyone thought it was a joke. Their bags were already packed. How could he possibly not take them?

Only after Assistant Feng confirmed it repeatedly did they believe him. They were finally getting some real paid leave.

Everyone agreed that marriage was good, marriage was wonderful, marriage was absolutely fantastic.

It was already half past seven when Chu Zeshen arrived home. Since he had told Uncle Li in advance that he would be home for dinner, the whole household was waiting for him.

Gu Bai was checking the luggage Mocha would need for tomorrow's trip. Having already experienced packing once, Mocha knew exactly what to do and carried his stuffed toy over in his mouth, placing it in the suitcase.

Their trip was planned to last seven days. Gu Bai didn't know the specific itinerary. He was simply tagging along with the group.

A trip with a bunch of wealthy young men and women couldn't be too shabby, so Gu Bai didn't need to worry.

Gu Bai looked at the stuffed toy Mocha had chewed down to a single leg. "Mocha, how about giving it a break while we're away? Bring something else. That little yellow duck looks pretty good to me."

Mocha hesitated for a moment. Looking at the toy in the suitcase, with its stuffing nearly falling out, Gu Bai reckoned it wouldn't survive the night.

"I'll give you some meat later. Go get the little yellow duck."

The moment Chu Zeshen arrived home, he heard Gu Bai coaxing the dog with those words.

At the mention of meat, Mocha turned around and fetched the little yellow duck from the floor. Gu Bai took out the nearly ruined stuffed toy.

Mocha was the first to notice that Chu Zeshen was home. After putting down the toy, he trotted to the door, wagging his tail.

One look at Mocha's excitement told Uncle Li that the young master was home. He hurried into the kitchen to have the dishes brought out.

The living room fell quiet. With the dog and everyone else gone, only Gu Bai remained beside the suitcase.

Gu Bai was already used to this. If he weren't so lazy, he would have gone to welcome Chu Zeshen too. A couple of days ago, Chu Zeshen had readily opened a bottle of fine wine he had kept tucked away for ages, satisfying Gu Bai's craving.

Gu Bai finished packing Mocha's suitcase and set it aside. Mocha had even abandoned the person who fed and clothed him. When he came in, he glanced at Gu Bai, then turned away to fetch his Frisbee.

Chu Zeshen walked in and chuckled at the sight. "Mocha, we'll play Frisbee after dinner."

Gu Bai was beginning to wonder whether the man and dog played Frisbee behind his back when he went upstairs to sleep. Otherwise, why was Mocha so keen to play Frisbee with Chu Zeshen?

Uncle Li came out of the kitchen with a smile. "You're home. Hurry and wash your hands so we can eat."

The two washed their hands one after the other and sat down.

Looking at the lavish spread on the table, Gu Bai instinctively asked, "Uncle Li, what's the occasion?"

Uncle Li sighed. "You're leaving tomorrow, so you need a good meal tonight. Being away isn't like being at home. I'll build you back up with some good food when you return."

To the older generation, no matter how well you lived away from home, it couldn't compare to home. Home was always best.

The five-star hotel they would be staying in wasn't any worse than home, but Gu Bai said nothing. Uncle Li had been preparing this since early that morning.

After worrying about the two of them, Uncle Li began worrying about Mocha. "Oh, you poor thing. Will you get enough good food when you go off with them? Let me get you..."

"Mocha has already eaten," Gu Bai said. "You even gave him an extra steak just now."