The Fourth Brother hesitated to speak, and the Third quickly pulled him back. Quietly, the three of them left and went to Secretary Wen.
At Secretary Wen’s desk, he pulled out three thick leather envelopes and handed them over.
The Fourth Brother opened one, and sure enough—money.
He blurted out, “There’s a mistake, right? Why are we getting money? Weren’t two months’ wages deducted?”
“They were,” Secretary Wen adjusted his glasses. “But this money is also from President Huo. No mistake.”
The three of them exchanged puzzled looks.
Meanwhile, Jiang Luo, in high spirits, arrived at Shengfei Factory. Before even sitting down, he called over Xiao Lu, instructing him to get finance to distribute bonuses to the whole factory—two hundred per person.
Xiao Lu was stunned. “W-what? Why?”
Jiang Luo flopped behind his desk, grinning: “Holiday bonus.”
Xiao Lu frowned: “What holiday?”
“Just a ‘boss-in-a-good-mood’ holiday,” Jiang Luo replied.
Xiao Lu could only shake his head and leave.
Soon after, Zhang Ningfu came in, fumbling in his pocket, and handed something to Jiang Luo with a smile: “Mr. Jiang, I’m finally divorced.”
Jiang Luo’s eyes lit up. “Excellent! Perfect timing!”
Double celebrations, indeed.
Jiang Luo hurried to the safe, opened it, pulled out stacks of cash, and dumped them on the desk: “As promised, divorce payout—take it.”
Zhang Ningfu froze, surprised at the amount. Last time, it was only three thousand.
Waving his hand, Jiang Luo said, “Take it all. I’m in a good mood. Don’t refuse, or you’ll anger me.”
Just then, Wang Chuang walked in. Jiang Luo grabbed a few more stacks from the safe and tossed them onto the desk for him too, giving Wang Chuang a knowing look.
Wang Chuang gaped. “What the hell is going on?”
He asked Jiang Luo, “Why did you have Xiao Lu distribute bonuses to the whole factory?”
“Just in a good mood,” Jiang Luo replied, popping a lollipop in his mouth.
Wang Chuang and Zhang Ningfu exchanged confused but respectful glances.
Zhang Ningfu collected the divorce money and left.
Once the office door closed, Wang Chuang leaned over the desk, spinning a stack of cash in his hands. “Where have you been these past few days? No one could reach you.”
“Couldn’t get through to you either,” Jiang Luo said casually, feet resting on the desk corner, lollipop in mouth.
“Called President Huo—he told me you were busy.”
“What busy? You didn’t come to the factory for days. Zheng Bin and You Junyu asked too. That night, you vanished after going to the restroom. We thought something happened!”
“Nothing happened,” Jiang Luo said, tone lazy, “just… slept with President Huo.”
“Cough!” Wang Chuang choked.
“R-really?” he asked, incredulous.
Jiang Luo nodded, calm and unbothered: “Really. We’ve been together the past few days.”
Wang Chuang’s jaw dropped. “You two… together?”
“Yes,” Jiang Luo admitted, smug.
“No wonder you’re so generous with the money,” Wang Chuang laughed, collecting the stacks, thinking, This money should be mine anyway.
“Enjoy yourself,” Jiang Luo said, content.
Wang Chuang left, and Jiang Luo leaned back, savoring his lollipop and the sweet afterglow.
A moment later, Wang Chuang returned, whispering: “So… uh… how does… a guy sleep with a guy? Do they… use the…? Doesn’t it hurt when you go to the bathroom?”
To hell with that! Jiang Luo grabbed a folder and tossed it at him.
Wang Chuang laughed, slamming the door as he ran.
Jiang Luo, still excited, barely calmed down enough to start work.
Not long after, Huo Zongzhuo appeared at the door.
“Why are you here?” Jiang Luo asked, surprised, setting things down and standing.
Before he could move, Huo Zongzhuo pushed him against the wall by the window, leaned in, and kissed him softly: “I keep thinking about you at work… can’t concentrate.”
Jiang Luo laughed, grabbed Huo Zongzhuo’s collar, pushed him against the wall in turn, and kissed him back.
Their lips and tongues entwined, breaths mingling, lost to the world, until they finally parted.
Jiang Luo pressed his hands to Huo Zongzhuo’s chest, lightly sucking a kiss, whispering: “I’ve been thinking about you too. Just finished looking at some things.”
“And I’m so happy I made finance distribute bonuses to the whole factory,” he added.
Huo Zongzhuo smiled—typical Jiang Luo.
He lifted a hand to Jiang Luo’s waist. “Remember to put up curtains at the window.”
Jiang Luo pouted: “Are we having an office affair?”
Huo Zongzhuo smirked: “Let’s call it that.”
They kissed again, lips lingering, then Jiang Luo explored his jaw, chin, and throat.
Their hands were not idle—buttons undone, wandering, eliciting immediate reactions from Huo Zongzhuo.
“Getting restless, huh?” Jiang Luo teased.
Huo Zongzhuo took a deep breath: “Don’t move around.”
“Or what?”
Jiang Luo wasn’t afraid.
Huo Zongzhuo flipped him, pressing him against the wall, chest to back, the lower body fitting tightly, making Jiang Luo feel the closeness.
Jiang Luo turned his head back, whispering: “You’re not planning…”
Huo Zongzhuo kissed him, but didn’t do anything further.
Like a secret affair, they lingered by the window in the shadows, affectionate for a long while.
Later, Jiang Luo left the office, fetched a large piece of cloth, and stuffed it into the window gap to block the view.
Huo Zongzhuo reminded him: “Next time, draw the curtains when I arrive. People might get suspicious.”
Jiang Luo pulled him onto the sofa: “Relax, I’ve got it covered.”
“We should have someone install proper curtains.”
“From now on, my office will be covered 24/7.”
Now completely distracted, Jiang Luo lounged with Huo Zongzhuo on the sofa, chatting.
“Let’s go back to Su City,” he said, “visit my mom.”
“Good,” Huo Zongzhuo agreed. “She’ll be so happy.”
Jiang Luo blinked, surprised: “She knows about you? She doesn’t… know you like me, does she?”
“She does,” Huo Zongzhuo replied. “I told her a long time ago. She’s always wanted me to settle down, and she knows I like you.”
Jiang Luo was amazed: “She accepts that?”
“She’s open-minded. She thinks it’s fine whether I like men or women.”
“And she’s known I like you, encouraging me all along?”
“Exactly.”
Jiang Luo’s eyes lit up. He wrapped Huo Zongzhuo in his arms. “Let’s go tell her the good news!”
“Alright,” Huo Zongzhuo murmured, eyes full of warmth.
Back in Su City, Jiang Luo’s feelings had changed.
Before coming here with Huo Zongzhuo, Su City was just a city he liked.
Now, it felt like a second home—because it was the home of the one he loved, Huo Zongzhuo, and where Huo Zongzhuo’s beloved mother lived.
“Mom~~ Mom~~” Jiang Luo called as he entered the old residence, arms open, playful and teasing as usual.
His mother’s face lit up, and she embraced him warmly.
Jiang Luo hugged her, then said: “Mom, let me show you something.”
He released her, grabbed Huo Zongzhuo, and planted a quick kiss on his face.
His mother was utterly surprised.
Jiang Luo turned to her, smiling: “Now you understand?”