"Chaomu, you're back?" Su Chenzhu pushed the door open, his gaze landing on the spoon in Chao Musheng's hand.
"Sorry, this cutlery set is so adorable—I couldn’t resist picking it up to take a look." Chao Musheng suddenly realized he had casually handled Su Chenzhu’s belongings and began mentally scolding himself. How could he commit such a basic social faux pas?
This shouldn’t have happened.
"It’s fine. This set was meant for you anyway." Su Chenzhu took off his coat and walked over to Chao Musheng. "At lunch, I noticed you liked this style, so I had someone prepare a full set."
"For me?" Chao Musheng picked up the spoon again, arranging the cups, bowls, and plates on the table one by one, turning each piece to admire it. "They’re really cute."
"As long as you like them."
The young man’s attention was entirely absorbed by the dishes. Watching his delighted smile, Su Chenzhu unconsciously took a few steps closer.
"Thank you, Mr. Su." Chao Musheng carefully stacked the dishes together. "I’ll use this set every day once I’m back home."
Su Chenzhu chuckled. At twenty, happiness could still be so pure.
He fetched a gift box and lined it with cushioning. "Shall we pack them up for now?"
"Yes, they deserve careful storage." Chao Musheng took the box, wrapping each piece meticulously before glancing worriedly at Su Chenzhu. "What if rough seas damage them on the voyage back?"
"They won’t." Su Chenzhu reassured him. "They’ll return home with you, completely unharmed."
"Alright." Chao Musheng fastened the lid. He trusted Su Chenzhu’s word without question.
Secretary Liu was baffled. It was just a set of dishes—if they broke, they could always buy another. Why were the boss and Xiao Chao treating this so solemnly?
Both men had their backs to him. He opened his mouth to speak but promptly shut it upon seeing his boss casually drape his coat next to Xiao Chao’s.
People subconsciously maintained personal space. In such a large room, only those exceptionally close would place their coat beside someone else’s worn clothing.
Secretary Liu wondered if he was imagining things he shouldn’t. Hugging the sorted files to his chest, he quietly retreated to the door, stealing one last glance.
Xiao Chao was searching for a spot to store the gift box, while the boss held a cup, watching him with a tenderness usually reserved for priceless treasures.
He slipped out, closing the door softly behind him. Back in his own room via the elevator, he took two deep breaths before pulling out his phone and logging into an anonymous forum.
[Serious question: A ridiculously talented new hire joined our company. Every department he’s assigned to suddenly operates flawlessly, even solving a long-standing technical hurdle. Since his arrival, the boss has been unusually attentive—pouring his water, handing him utensils, even gifting him entire sets of items he merely glances at. Is this normal?]
It was mid-afternoon, peak time for office workers slacking off online. Secretary Liu’s post quickly drew replies.
[#1: Totally normal. If my company had someone like that, the boss would call him "Dad" if it kept him around.]
[#5: Your boss is smart—he knows how to retain talent. You’re lucky. Mine’s a fossil, and the heir’s a wannabe tyrant with zero competence.]
The comments soon devolved into workplace rants until #158 posed the pivotal question:
[#158: OP, are your boss and this superstar single? And are they hot?]
Though puzzled, Secretary Liu replied.
[Both are single. The boss is filthy rich, handsome, and never parties. The new guy? Stunning—puts celebrities to shame.]
[#158: Case closed. This is love.]
[OP: ?]
A refresh later, dozens of new replies flooded in.
[#208: A young, wealthy, handsome boss + a brilliant, gorgeous employee? Fanfic writers are salivating already.]
[#210: Too late, I’m here. #158 is right. Don’t overthink it, OP. This. Is. Love.]
[OP: But they’re both men.]
[#210: OP, don’t be archaic. Gender’s irrelevant. Even if one’s a shapeshifting fox spirit, it’s still love.]
Secretary Liu: "…"
Modern netizens were unhinged.
Love?
He mulled it over. It wasn’t that the idea hadn’t crossed his mind—it’s just that the boss’s usual demeanor was the antithesis of romance.
As for Xiao Chao, he seemed utterly oblivious.
Unless… the boss was pining alone?
Secretary Liu shook his head violently. What a terrifying thought! Those internet randos had corrupted him.
"Where’s Secretary Liu?" Chao Musheng asked after storing the dishes, noticing his absence.
"He went back to his room to rest." Su Chenzhu turned from the coffee machine. "Do you need him for something?"
Chao Musheng shook his head. "Just wanted to thank him properly for helping me earlier."
"You two get along well?" Su Chenzhu asked, the rich, bitter aroma of coffee filling the air.
"He’s been very supportive at work." Chao Musheng admired Su Chenzhu’s hands—even brewing coffee looked elegant with those fingers.
"Secretary Liu is always kind to newcomers." Su Chenzhu handed him a cup. "Try it?"
Chao Musheng accepted it reluctantly. Coffee wasn’t really his thing.
"Not a fan?" Su Chenzhu took the cup back and retrieved a cold soda from the fridge. "How about the balcony?"
"Perfect." Chao Musheng grinned, clutching the can. Youth demanded sweetness—why suffer bitterness?
The sky was a clear blue, dotted with thick white clouds.
Chao Musheng lounged on a deck chair. "The ship was exciting at first, but now I just miss home."
Even breathtaking views grew dull after days at sea.
"You’ll have a two-day break after this trip, plus the weekend—four days off." Su Chenzhu glanced at the increasingly relaxed young man beside him. "Any plans?"
"Not sure what’s fun around here." Chao Musheng tilted his head. "Are you taking time off too?"
Su Chenzhu smiled. "Naturally."
"If you’re free, join me somewhere." He sipped his coffee. "General Manager Chen has a private garden in the suburbs, modeled after historic landscapes. He invited us today. Interested?"
"A private garden?"
Chao Musheng widened his eyes at the obscure phrase: "Is it beautiful inside?"
"Passable, but a reconstructed garden can't compare to the charm of an authentic old one," Su Chenzhu replied calmly. "I own two private gardens in the south, both centuries-old. I’ll take you there during the next long holiday."
"Mr. Su, please don’t talk about two private gardens as casually as if they were just two loaves of bread," Chao Musheng sat up cross-legged, swaying slightly on the lounge chair. "I’m still young—my envy might flare up easily."
Su Chenzhu: "Then I’ll give you one."
Chao Musheng’s eyes went even wider: "Give me what?"
"A garden," Su Chenzhu said, his tone still even. "Don’t you like them?"
Was this really about whether he liked it or not?!
Clutching his chest, Chao Musheng exclaimed, "Mr. Su! Boss! Brother! Please don’t joke like that. I know exactly how much those things are worth."
Su Chenzhu wanted to say he wasn’t joking, but seeing Chao Musheng’s utterly disbelieving expression, he lowered his gaze slightly.
He didn’t like him. Nor would he ever accept his gifts.
"Mr. Su, do you not joke around much with people usually?" Chao Musheng pressed a hand to his pounding heart. Who wouldn’t be tempted hearing an offer like that?
"Why do you ask?" Su Chenzhu seemed puzzled.
"Because ordinary people don’t joke about private gardens," Chao Musheng flashed a wry, poverty-stricken smile. "It’s just too out of touch."
Su Chenzhu’s eyes flickered with something like unease. "Did my words offend you?"
"Huh?" Noticing the rare hint of flustered panic on Su Chenzhu’s face, Chao Musheng studied him with amused curiosity. "No offense taken. It just made me crave wealth even more. Mr. Su, with all your money, do you wake up every day on a two-hundred-meter-wide bed?"
A two-hundred-meter bed?
Su Chenzhu shook his head blankly. Did Chao Chao like that sort of thing?
Should he go ahead and order one in advance?
"Pfft—HAHAHAHA!" In Su Chenzhu’s bewildered gaze, Chao Musheng actually found a trace of adorableness. He shook his can of cola, bubbles crackling inside, releasing a sweet, fizzy scent. "I’m just teasing you. Haven’t you heard that overused CEO trope before?"
"No," Su Chenzhu admitted, but seeing Chao Musheng laugh so freely, the corners of his lips curled up too. "I apologize. I never attended school, had no friends, so I’m not familiar with popular memes."
Chao Musheng’s laughter died instantly.
As someone who’d been the life of every childhood gathering since he could walk, he could hardly imagine the stifling environment Su Chenzhu must have grown up in.
No school, no socializing, no friends—that wasn’t raising a person. That was forging a work machine.
Noticing Chao Musheng’s smile fade, Su Chenzhu set down his coffee cup. "My apologies. Is spending time with me too dull?"
"How could it be dull?" Chao Musheng forced his grin back. "Where else would I find a big-shot boss willing to sit here patiently drinking cola with me?"
He might be young, but he wasn’t blind. He’d noticed every bit of Mr. Su’s patience and care for him, storing each gesture in his heart.
If his boss lifted him toward the clouds, he’d repay him in gold—he’d work hard to create value for him!
"And how can you say you have no friends, Mr. Su?" Chao Musheng placed his cola beside Su Chenzhu’s coffee cup and extended a hand. "Don’t I count as one?"
Su Chenzhu reached out, their hands clasping together. "You do."
Through the warmth of their palms, he could feel the vibrant pulse of blood beneath Chao Musheng’s skin.
"So remember to take me along to General Manager Chen’s private garden party," Chao Musheng tugged Su Chenzhu’s hand closer, grinning playfully. "I’ve never stayed in a private garden before."
"Alright," Su Chenzhu’s voice came out rough.
Was his palm sweating?
Would Chao Chao notice his unease?
When Chao Musheng finally released his hand, a pang of loss hit him. He wished they could’ve held on a little longer.
"Oh, Mr. Su, I have other plans for dinner tonight, so don’t wait for me," Chao Musheng added, remembering his promise to treat Secretary Liu.
Su Chenzhu glanced at the sky, heavy with clouds. "Come back early."
Chao Musheng nodded obediently. "Got it."
Evening.
15th Floor Music Restaurant.
Chao Musheng handed the menu to Secretary Liu with a flourish. "Order whatever you want, Liu-ge. My treat."
"Such generosity—your savings must be thriving," Secretary Liu teased, ordering several lavish dishes without hesitation.
"Heh," Chao Musheng didn’t deny it. "Helped Lian Hai with a minor issue and got a fat red envelope out of it."
Secretary Liu knew Lian Hai—a notorious rich-kid playboy who’d used his parents’ money to start an entertainment company.
"Ah, right, your mother’s the chief editor of Time Magazine. You’ve got connections in the industry too," Secretary Liu added another dish to the order. "Xiao Chao, honestly, your only flaw is having no flaws. Must be tough."
"Plenty of troubles, actually, and this had little to do with my mom," Chao Musheng shrugged. "Lian Hai’s company wanted to collaborate with a trending VFX studio, but couldn’t secure a slot. I just introduced them."
"Not bad, Xiao Chao. Your network’s impressive."
"Eh, the studio’s boss is my senior. Lian Hai’s willing to splurge, and her team’s skills are top-notch. Win-win." Chao Musheng grinned. Besides, he’d invested seed money in that studio—this was just him earning his own keep.
When the food arrived, Chao Musheng noticed the waitress’s slightly swollen hand as she served them.
"Your dishes are all here. Enjoy your meal," she said.
As she moved, her sleeve slipped, revealing foundation-stained cuffs.
"Thanks," Chao Musheng caught her wrist through the fabric just as it nearly dipped into the scalding soup. "Careful."
"I’m so sorry, sir!" The waitress paled, horrified at almost ruining their food.
"No harm done. Just glad you didn’t burn yourself," Chao Musheng murmured, suspecting the makeup hid bruises.
Meeting his gaze, she whispered her thanks before retreating, eyes reddening.
Funny how people could endure life’s harshest blows with steel resolve, yet crumble at the slightest kindness.
Soft music filled the restaurant, but Secretary Liu grew uneasy under the odd glances from nearby diners.
"Xiao Chao, have you noticed… everyone here seems to be in pairs?" Secretary Liu’s tone turned grave.
"Really?" Chao Musheng scanned the room. "The crew recommended this place for its ambiance. Guess couples like it too."
"Have you ever considered the possibility that this might be a couples' restaurant?" Secretary Liu finally understood why they kept getting odd glances from the surrounding tables.
"There are same-sex pairs eating in the corner too. It’s not exclusive to couples. Who cares what kind of restaurant it is? As long as the food’s good." Chao Musheng couldn’t be bothered, lowering his head to continue devouring his meal.
Secretary Liu turned and saw the boss standing outside the window, staring right at him.
"Brother Liu, try this prawn. It’s really fresh." Chao Musheng used serving chopsticks to place a shrimp into Secretary Liu’s bowl.
Secretary Liu: "..."
Talk about feeling like sitting on pins and needles.
"Brother Liu, what’s wrong?" Chao Musheng noticed Secretary Liu suddenly freeze. "Why aren’t you eating?"
"Haha." Secretary Liu didn’t dare turn around. "Xiao Chao, doesn’t that person outside look like the boss?"
Chao Musheng glanced out the window—wasn’t that Su Chenzhu?
He waved at him, then said to Secretary Liu, "Not just similar. That’s definitely him."
Secretary Liu stiffly, inch by inch, turned his head and met the boss’s icy gaze behind his glasses.
He understood now—the boss’s eyes were practically daggers.
The internet was right. This was love.
Su Chenzhu strode into the restaurant and took a seat beside Chao Musheng. "What a coincidence."
Secretary Liu smiled, more bitter than a bitter melon. No, not a coincidence—he was the third wheel here.
No, he had to stay strong.
"Boss, here to pick up Xiao Chao?" Secretary Liu set down his chopsticks. "I’m about done anyway."
"Brother Liu, you’re eating so little today?" Chao Musheng used the serving chopsticks again to place a morel mushroom in Secretary Liu’s bowl. "I’m still hungry."
Su Chenzhu: "Take your time. We’re in no rush."
Secretary Liu: "..."
The food tasted like cardboard. Every second was agony.
Xiao Chao, say something! Quick, tell him you had no idea this was a couples' restaurant!
"Halfway through the meal, Brother Liu and I realized this was a couples' restaurant," Chao Musheng whispered to Su Chenzhu. "Good thing you showed up, or people would’ve started giving us weird looks."
Secretary Liu was deeply moved. Thank goodness Xiao Chao had a functioning mouth.
But before his gratitude could last three seconds, someone nearby muttered, "Damn, a three-man version of Burn in Winter?"
Secretary Liu: "..."
Could the world just cut him some slack?
"Waiter, pack this up." Secretary Liu’s face was numb. Enough. Any more and he’d simply cease to exist.
Su Chenzhu: "What’s Burn in Winter?"
"Heh." Secretary Liu forced a smile. "Probably means something passionate and heartwarming in winter? I’m not sure either."
"Really?" Su Chenzhu shot him a skeptical look that made Secretary Liu break out in cold sweat.
Three hours ago, he’d been a happy, diligent secretary. Now, everything had changed!
All because of damn love.
He glanced at Chao Musheng, who was blissfully oblivious, and felt an inexplicable pang of envy.
His fault for knowing too much.
"I think I get it now."
When Xiaojuan spotted Su Chenzhu, he was already standing outside the couples' restaurant. Who knew how long he’d been there? The moment Chao Musheng waved, he’d rushed right in.
A boss wouldn’t act like this toward an employee—but a man would act like this toward the one he loved.
Emotions were like coughs. No matter how hard you tried to hide them, they’d slip out eventually.
Once the leftovers were packed, Secretary Liu bolted out of the restaurant at sprinting speed, vanishing from Chao Musheng and Su Chenzhu’s sight.
"Brother Liu seemed in a real hurry." Chao Musheng carried the takeout bag. "If I’d known this was a couples' place, I’d have picked somewhere else. Would’ve saved him the awkwardness."
"No one said only couples can eat here. You didn’t do anything wrong." Su Chenzhu took the bag from Chao Musheng’s hands. "Let’s go back."
After a few steps, Chao Musheng spotted Xiaojuan crouching alone in a corner.
Xiaojuan hadn’t expected to be found despite hiding so well. She forced a grin as she stood up. "Chao… Chao-ge, having dinner?"
What a pointless question.
When embarrassed, people really did resort to awkward small talk.
"Yeah, just finished." Chao Musheng glanced at the darkening sky outside. "If you’re not working overtime tonight, head back to your room early."
A strange intuition told him the storm might arrive tonight.
"Got it, Chao-ge." Xiaojuan never ignored Chao Musheng’s warnings. The moment he left, she immediately relayed the message to Xiao Liu and the others.
After some thought, she sent a heads-up to Brother Hu too.
There were still three days left in the instance. Was the storm coming early?
Late at night, Chao Musheng was jolted awake by violent shaking. Sitting up, he nearly tumbled off the bed from the force.
"Chao-chao."
A knock sounded in the darkness. Struggling to keep his balance, Chao Musheng opened the door.
Su Chenzhu stood outside, his expression unreadable in the dark.
"Hold out your arms." The turbulence seemed to have no effect on him. Steady as a rock, he slipped a life jacket over Chao Musheng.
Outside, the balcony’s emergency seal had activated, turning the suite into an airtight container.
"Don’t be afraid. Everything will be fine."
Chao Musheng felt Su Chenzhu’s warm hand ruffle his hair.
"I’m not scared." The ship’s power might have been affected—the lights wouldn’t turn on. Chao Musheng glanced around. "Are the bodyguards in the hallway okay?"
"The weather was bad, so I sent them back to their rooms early." Su Chenzhu guided Chao Musheng to the sofa, his footing unshaken even as the cruise ship rocked violently.
Outside, angry shouts echoed—likely wealthy passengers berating the crew.
"Mommy!"
A child’s cry reached them, followed by a crew member’s soothing voice.
Chao Musheng opened the door. Emergency lights illuminated the hallway, where he saw Little Wu struggling to keep his balance while holding a sobbing child. With nothing to steady himself, he nearly fell.
Chao Musheng reached out, pulling both of them inside.
"Chao-ge." Little Wu recognized him in the dim light. Once the door closed, plunging them back into darkness, he vaguely noticed another figure in the room.
"What’s happening out there?" Chao Musheng turned on his phone’s flashlight, fastening the life jacket onto the child.
A storm this severe should’ve been avoided. Chief Officer Chao had mentioned possible rough seas yesterday. With the captain’s experience, he shouldn’t have steered the ship into such turbulence.
"Has emergency protocol been activated?" Chao Musheng checked his phone. The signal was nearly gone.
He shook it a few times until a single bar flickered to life, then dialed Chief Officer Chao’s number.
"Chief Officer Chao, the autopilot system in the cockpit has malfunctioned and can't recognize the correct course!"
Amid the roaring waves and pouring rain, the luxurious cruise ship Moonchaser appeared minuscule against the vast ocean.
Chief Officer Chao stared at the sea of red warning lights flashing across the control panel. "Can we reach the captain?"
"All signals on the ship are down. Our calls can't go out, and no outside calls are coming through," one of the crew members said. "I'll go find the captain."
"The storm's too violent—you can barely stand, let alone walk—"
"Ding-ding-ding."
In the midst of this tense and dire situation, Chief Officer Chao's phone rang.
The crew members all turned to look at him. The cockpit fell silent except for the ringing tone.
One sailor hesitantly spoke up, "Chief, is that your alarm?"
Chief Officer Chao pulled out his phone, the caller ID clearly displayed.
The crew was stunned—how was a call even coming through?
This was nothing short of a scientific miracle!
"Uncle Chao." The signal was weak, and Chao Musheng's voice crackled with static. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Chief Officer Chao replied, eyeing the sea of red warnings on the autopilot system. "Just a little storm. Your uncle will personally steer the ship tonight and make sure we break through safely."
"Your steering skills… zzt… I… trust you." Chao Musheng's voice cut in and out. "Uncle… zzt…"
The signal grew worse, and just as everyone thought the call would drop, a clear voice came through again:
"Uncle, you focus on steering. I’ll pray for you from inside."
"Make sure you pray to Mazu—don’t get the wrong deity," Chief Officer Chao reminded him, even now. "When it comes to the sea, Mazu is the only one who can really help."
After hanging up, Chief Officer Chao turned to the crew. "Alright, boys, prepare to switch to manual steering."
On the other end, Chao Musheng set his phone down after the call, pulling up an image of the sea goddess Mazu and placing it solemnly on the table.
"Come here, everyone." He settled a now-quiet child in the middle and waved Su Chenzhu and Little Wu over. "You’re all joining me in praying to Mazu."
The ship lurched violently, knocking over several items on the table—except for the phone, which remained perfectly upright.
Little Wu stared at the benevolent image of the goddess on the screen, wondering if using a hastily downloaded picture was a bit too half-hearted.
"Mr. Su, come over here." Chao Musheng noticed Su Chenzhu still standing apart. "You’re part of this too. More prayers mean more power."
Little Wu was baffled. Was "more power" really the right phrase for this situation?
"Oh merciful Mazu, please guide Moonchaser safely through the storm." Chao Musheng fumbled in the dark, found a bag of snacks, and placed it before the phone, clasping his hands together. "Bless us, bless us."
Su Chenzhu stepped closer, standing beside Chao Musheng. His gaze lingered on the younger man as he bowed his head in prayer, but he said nothing.
Outside, the waves howled, lightning split the sky, and the dark abyss of the ocean seemed to teem with monsters waiting to swallow the lone ship whole.
"Mr. Su, you should ask Mazu for protection too."
In the darkness, Su Chenzhu’s eyes never left Chao Musheng. He closed his eyes, mimicking his posture. "Bless us."
Chao Musheng added another bag of snacks before the phone. "And don’t forget my Uncle Chao, Goddess. Let him ride the waves fearlessly."
"Ha!" Chief Officer Chao gave the wheel a forceful turn—so forceful it nearly spun past the mark.
Strange. Just moments ago, the wheel had been immovable. Why was it suddenly working?
Somewhere in the shadows of the ship, a man laughed in triumph.
The autopilot was sabotaged. The manual steering was compromised. No one could save Moonchaser now.
