Su Pu’s frame was thin, yet he always managed to give Li Jichuan the softest, most comforting hug in the world.
After a long while, the two slowly relaxed. Su Pu straightened, then looked at Li Jichuan—
It turned out he wasn’t the only one blushing.
The ice in the glass had melted considerably, the remaining liquor mingling with the water, glowing a faint golden hue.
Li Jichuan swirled the glass and glanced at Su Pu. “Want a drink too?”
Su Pu leaned over and sniffed along the rim, only catching the bitter scent of pine nuts.
He shook his head in refusal. Alcohol—what was so good about it?
Suppressing a smile at his expression, Li Jichuan said, “You used to like it… Did you not really enjoy it?”
Used to like alcohol?
Su Pu, skeptical, leaned closer to inspect the glass, still unable to understand.
Li Jichuan didn’t press—he had just been teasing him. “It’s fine.”
He then switched glasses, refilled with ice, poured the drink, and made himself a fresh one.
Returning to his previous spot with the glass, Li Jichuan noticed Su Pu’s gaze fixed unwaveringly on him.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
The little mute shook his head, silently asking himself, Do you prefer the old me or the present me?
Clearly, both were him, yet Su Pu somehow felt they were different.
“I like both,” Li Jichuan said, reading his mind as if he could. He clasped Su Pu’s hand.
“Whether it’s the old or the new you, I like you. You’re all you—and you captivate me entirely.”
One sat, one stood; Li Jichuan’s eyes lifted to the little mute, slightly glassy under the influence of alcohol.
They gazed at each other, and by some instinct, Su Pu leaned forward, planting a gentle peck on his lips.
A flash of surprise crossed Li Jichuan’s eyes. The next moment, warmth flowed through Su Pu’s wrist, his body twisting naturally as he slid smoothly into Li Jichuan’s lap.
Li Jichuan cupped his chin and kissed him.
Su Pu tasted the occasional pine-nut notes on his tongue, yet found a trace of sweetness.
Perhaps, alcohol wasn’t that bad after all.
“Focus.”
Sensing his distraction, Li Jichuan paused briefly, lips still pressed to his, his husky voice sending shivers down Su Pu’s spine.
Opening his eyes slightly, Su Pu noticed how Li Jichuan would squint while kissing, observing him, and when he became engrossed, he took his breath away entirely.
The small pool of light soon filled with the soft clinking of ice and liquid.
After the long kiss, Li Jichuan sobered slightly, while Su Pu remained dazed, pleasantly tipsy.
Li Jichuan wiped the moisture from his lips with his thumb, holding him tightly.
“You once said you wanted to see me drunk… Now you have.”
The words Su Pu left in his memo were one of Li Jichuan’s worries.
He didn’t know how to help the little mute recover, nor was he certain whether he should.
He simply felt Su Pu’s current state was fine—he was finding his own rhythm again, no longer clinging to anyone, moving at his own pace.
“But you also said you liked it when I’d suddenly kiss you… Is that still true?” Li Jichuan asked with a smile.
Su Pu thought for a moment and nodded.
He liked kissing!
“Good. Then we’ll kiss every day from now on,” Li Jichuan said, demonstrating, kissing him again.
They locked eyes for a few seconds. Su Pu reached out, gently touching his eyelids, then rubbing the pale blue skin under his eyes.
The old Su Pu must have been heartbroken seeing Li Jichuan so exhausted and overworked.
Would he have understood his loneliness?
Watching the little mute quietly radiate warmth again, Li Jichuan, smiling, asked, “Xiao Pu, what do you think family means?”
“I drank today because a family member once treated me very badly. But now I understand her hardships…”
“Even so, no matter how much suffering she endured, it doesn’t erase the harm she caused others, right?”
Su Pu nodded.
Exactly.
Li Jichuan raised an eyebrow, testing: “So, you won’t forgive her?”
Su Pu nodded again.
Good.
With that affirmation, Li Jichuan finally relaxed.
Even with his abilities, he was still young, emotionally immature. Rumors about his ruthless hands and cruel treatment of his aunt could shake him.
After his grandfather passed, aside from Su Pu, Li Shuwen was one of the few family members left; moreover, they shared blood.
Two months earlier, during the fiercest power struggle, he occasionally reflected. Had his grandfather’s leniency toward his younger daughter, allowing her to profit from official business, been a form of indulgence or forgiveness?
If his grandfather could see them fighting now, would he feel disheartened?
Yet Li Jichuan had no choice but to forge ahead. Any lapse, and Li Shuwen would exploit it, harming everyone he cared about.
Su Pu gave him just the right support, affirming the voice inside his heart.
People are complex; notions of good and evil depend on perspective.
Li Jichuan understood that to truly take over the group and climb to the top, these sacrifices were inevitable.
At his most uncertain, Su Pu found him. Su Pu held him.
Years later, Li Jichuan would lead the Li Group into a new business era, surpassing even the achievements of the legendary Li elder, becoming a sensational figure in the industry.
People called him a ruthless, ambitious wolf—but they didn’t know that, many years ago, this wolf had held his personal knight in his arms, his heart brimming with love.
Life forks in many directions. Ambition sharpened his teeth, but love gave him bone and blood.
After that day, Li Jichuan dove back into fierce competition.
Fortunately, he didn’t allow temporary compassion to give Li Shuwen a chance. In subsequent projects, he encountered every trap she had set.
Half a month later, with 45.4% support, Li Jichuan was elected interim chairman of the Li Group for a two-year term.
A brilliantly executed victory.
The new role made him even busier.
When delivery-boy Su brought coffee, he found Li Jichuan’s desk buried under stacks of documents, with no space even for a cup.
Su Pu sighed softly, placing the coffee on a display shelf, rolling up his sleeves to help tidy up.
Li Jichuan returned in his wheelchair, a Bluetooth earpiece on, muttering in English.
Seeing his spouse, he wisely ended the call, smiling as he squeezed over.
Su Pu’s expression betrayed his reproach. The desk was a mess; Li Jichuan probably hadn’t even eaten or drunk anything.
Guiltily, Li Jichuan laughed it off. “The meeting ran long. Echo bought lunch for everyone; I had mine there too.”
Su Pu glared, eyes filled with quiet accusation. Li Jichuan’s breath caught—being scolded felt oddly satisfying.
He loved it when Su Pu got upset; it inexplicably thrilled him, impossible to suppress his smile.
Leaning closer, Li Jichuan looked at the neatly organized piles of documents, with sticky notes marking each section for easy reference next time.
Su Pu had studied business management in college, probably hoping to join Su Fengxian’s company to help his family.
Yet his father and brother had never treated him as family.
Watching the little mute work diligently, a thought crossed Li Jichuan’s mind.
“Xiao Pu…”
When Su Pu looked up, Li Jichuan met his gaze steadily.
“Have you considered opening your own café?”