“Little one, is that you? Finally remembered to call me?”
Shen Yuan’s ears flushed, his heart racing. “Y-You… how do you know it’s me?”
“This is my personal number, not for work. This month, I’ve only given it to one person.” He teased Shen Yuan, feigning sadness: “So heartless—you slept with me and ran off without a word.”
Shen Yuan chuckled and played along, teasing back, “Didn’t I leave you eight hundred?”
Qiao Hailou replied, “I worked pretty hard that night, and you only gave me eight hundred?”
This man was smooth-talking, shameless, and irreverent. Their brief banter eased Shen Yuan’s nerves, and his lips curled into a small smile. Though he spoke sharply, he couldn’t bring himself to be truly gentle with Qiao Hailou, scolding, “You’re old enough—someone willing to be with you should be grateful. Eight hundred’s more than fair, don’t overdo it.”
Qiao Hailou laughed heartily. “True, true. So why did you call me, little one?”
What else could it be? Shen Yuan’s residual shame made him unable to bluntly say, “to hook up.”
The man’s voice dripped with playful seduction. “Little one… are you thinking of me?”
Shen Yuan felt his ears burn. Stammering, he said, “I-I guess so…”
Qiao Hailou pressed shamelessly, “Thinking of which part of me?”
That old lecher! Shen Yuan’s face flamed crimson. He had already embarrassed himself by calling; now this man teased him. Flustered and angry, he blurted, “Just tell me if you’re free! If not, fine!”
Qiao Hailou quickly soothed him, intrigued: “Alright, alright. Being young makes you touchy. So, when and where do you want to meet? You choose; I’ll come to serve, okay?”
Shen Yuan gripped the phone, palms sweaty. Could it really be this simple? He was boldly arranging a meeting without fully knowing this man. Somehow, he trusted that despite the slick words, this man wasn’t dangerous.
He booked a hotel some distance from both home and school. “Are you free now?”
Qiao Hailou paused, impressed: “Wow… you’re quite the little naughty one.”
Shen Yuan blushed, aware he sounded desperate, but in front of this man, he wanted to let go of restraint.
“I just want to know if it’s okay. If not, forget it,” he added.
Qiao Hailou, afraid of losing this amusing little creature, replied honestly: “Not convenient today. I’m on a business trip, returning tomorrow. Already booked for lunch tomorrow, so can’t make it.”
Shen Yuan decided: “Then tomorrow! Tomorrow night. Don’t bail.”
Feigning fear, Qiao Hailou said, “I wouldn’t dare.”
After a few more exchanges, Shen Yuan felt lighter; this old playboy seemed to carry a strange charm that lifted his mood.
“Little one, tomorrow—don’t stand me up?” Qiao Hailou asked.
Shen Yuan confirmed: “Alright, tomorrow—don’t miss it.”
The next morning, Shen Yuan couldn’t stop thinking about the illicit meeting, brimming with anticipation.
At breakfast, Li Lin noticed his unusually cheerful, rosy-faced brother and asked, “Brother, you seem so happy—what’s the good news?”
Shen Yuan couldn’t possibly tell his innocent little brother that he had arranged a night with a well-endowed older man. He improvised: “I saw a really funny joke online.”
Li Lin eagerly asked, “What joke? Let me see!”
Shen Yuan hesitated, pretended to search, then said, “Ah, can’t find it. Never mind, let’s eat.”
After breakfast, he spent the morning idly, then returned to his room to work on design sketches.
His major was jewelry design—not out of passion, but because his mother had been a renowned jewelry designer.
His parents had divorced when he was three; his mother initially didn’t take custody in order to study abroad. Later, circumstances returned custody to her.
In high school, Shen Yuan was solid across subjects—never exceptional, never behind. His uncle enrolled him in a prestigious school among children of the elite. Unlike classmates with family businesses to inherit or limitless resources to chase dreams, Shen Yuan had neither.
After his mother passed, his uncle gave him her old sketches and suggested he learn to draw. Shen Yuan tested the waters: “I want to become a jewelry designer.”
His uncle was delighted. Shen Yuan, too, felt satisfied with the plan.
Studying jewelry design also showed he intended to be self-reliant, with no claim to the Li family fortune. His uncle’s willingness to be his guardian was already generous; Shen Yuan never expected an inheritance.
His mother had industry contacts, offering a potential shortcut. Teachers aware of his mother’s reputation held him in high regard.
Though his uncle offered to fund international studies, Shen Yuan didn’t feel right asking. He had inherited a decent legacy from his mother, but he cared more about his uncle than the money.
His sketches were for a national-level jewelry design competition. He had previously won school- and province-level awards, showing he had some inherited talent.
Initially he hadn’t wanted to study abroad, but now his mindset had changed. He was already an adult—his uncle had no obligation to care for him. To avoid going insane under his own impulses, leaving the Li family seemed inevitable.
Shen Yuan spent the entire morning immersed in sketches.
After lunch, his uncle returned.
After his uncle returned, he went to take a shower and change clothes. Li Lin complained, “Just got back and you’re going out again? That… Miss Lin is really clingy, huh? Is she that fragile? Why don’t you get a nurse for her instead of personally taking care of her?”
Li Chen’s face flushed. “No, Dad’s going out on business.”
He turned to Shen Yuan. “Xiaoyuan, change into something sporty. I’ll take you to play golf. Remember last time I mentioned an old friend of mine in the jewelry business? I’ll take you to meet him. He knew your mom and will definitely welcome you for an internship at his company.”
Shen Yuan’s heart warmed. He knew his uncle still cared. He figured his uncle had genuinely been overwhelmed and distracted a few days ago, which was why he had forgotten Shen Yuan’s birthday and skipped a gift. Now, this was his way of making it up. His uncle was always like that.
“Thanks, Uncle. I’ll change right away.”
Shen Yuan changed into a neat, modest outfit, simple and clean, clearly marking him as a student without drawing attention.
On the way, Li Chen gave him a brief introduction. “That uncle’s surname is Qiao, full name Qiao Hailou. When you meet him, just call him Uncle Qiao.”
Hearing the surname, Shen Yuan recalled Student Council President Qiao Jun and wondered what connection this Qiao Hailou had to the family. The Qiao family was in the energy business, far from jewelry—maybe a distant relative?
Li Chen explained, “You know Qiao Jun, right? This is his younger uncle.”
“!” Shen Yuan was surprised. “I’ve never heard Qiao Jun mention him.”
Li Chen nodded. “Yeah. The Qiao family doesn’t like to talk about him. When he was young, he was rebellious. In his twenties, he broke with the family, dropped out, and started his own business abroad, never relying on them. His business grew steadily. A few years ago, he entered jewelry, and ‘Brilliant Jewelry’ is his brand.”
It was a popular new brand in recent years. Shen Yuan mentally noted this impressive uncle. “Got it, understood.”
He knew he had to behave and make a good impression.
At the golf course, Shen Yuan followed Li Chen in a golf cart. Uncle Qiao seemed to be waiting.
The sun was strong. Squinting, Shen Yuan saw a man’s back from afar and felt… the silhouette was oddly familiar. Like his uncle. But no—his uncle was sitting right beside him.
A cold premonition rose in Shen Yuan’s chest. No way…
Li Chen pointed. “There—Uncle Qiao.”
The staff stopped the cart. Li Chen got out; Shen Yuan followed. The man swung his club efficiently, and the ball traced a perfect arc into the hole.
When Shen Yuan saw his face, his heart plummeted, as if dropped into an ice cellar.
Damn it! This was the same uncle he had spent the night with and was planning to meet again tonight!
Li Chen greeted warmly, “Uncle Qiao, your shots are still perfect as always.”
Qiao Hailou turned and smiled at Li Chen. “President Li, long time no see.”
Shen Yuan lowered his head, pressed himself behind his uncle, desperately hoping not to be noticed. This was mortifying! And this man actually knew his uncle?
What terrible luck! Couldn’t they have played golf tomorrow or the day after? Tonight’s meeting was ruined.
Not just tonight—he might never see this man again…
Shen Yuan’s mind raced.
Li Chen pushed him forward. “Come, let me introduce you. This is my son, Shen Yuan.”
Shen Yuan’s scalp tingled. He couldn’t look up, cheeks burning. “U-Um… h-Hello, Uncle Qiao.”