TLSMLMMM Chapter 21

If clothing represented a sense of security, then Si Yunyi was fully armed while Chu Junlie stood before him completely defenseless.
In such a situation, any negotiation would clearly be to Chu Junlie’s disadvantage. Si Yunyi had no intention of taking advantage of that.

If his memory served him right, “seeing someone’s body means you have to take responsibility” that was a saying from decades ago.

Now, Chu Junlie was clearly gambling everything he had, luring him over on purpose. It was obvious that behind his plea for “responsibility,” there was something more.

Si Yunyi lifted his hand and quietly shut the bathroom door.

After waiting in the bedroom for less than three minutes, he saw the young man walking over in a bathrobe, the warmth still lingering on his face. His head hung low, not daring to meet his gaze.

“What kind of responsibility do you want me to take?” Si Yunyi sat neatly at the edge of the bed, composed and calm.

Chu Junlie’s ears were red enough to drip blood. He reached into the bedside drawer and pulled out a thin little booklet, then, like a child who had done something wrong, handed it to Si Yunyi with both hands.

When he glanced up cautiously to read Si Yunyi’s expression, he was surprised despite his underhanded actions, Mr. Si’s face remained composed, without a trace of anger.

Si Yunyi accepted the booklet and needed only to flip one page to understand what it was.

The Yan family’s hukou (household registration book). Though he didn’t know when Chu Junlie had gotten his hands on it, one thing was certain: it hadn’t been obtained through proper means. Once the Yans discovered it missing, they would immediately report the loss and apply for a replacement.

That was also why Chu Junlie had done what he just did.

“Mr. Si,” Chu Junlie said, mustering all his courage as he looked at the man before him.

“Would you… be my head of household?”

Si Yunyi closed the booklet and looked up at him.

“Have you thought this through?”

“I’ve been sure for a long time.” Chu Junlie’s gaze locked firmly on him, filled with a headstrong determination that would never turn back.

“Do you even know what kind of person I am?” Si Yunyi asked evenly. “We’ve known each other for barely a month. We’ve only met a handful of times. What if I’m not the person I appear to be? What if marriage to me only brings you pain?”

“You’re not like that,” Chu Junlie said stubbornly, eyes unwavering.

“I used to have no say in my life. But this time, this decision is mine. Even if I made the wrong choice, even if it kills me, I won’t turn back.”

Si Yunyi’s gaze softened slightly as he lowered his eyes to the hukou in his hands, saying nothing for a while.

“Mr. Si.”

Chu Junlie knelt down in front of him, looking up with dark, clear eyes full of gentle pleading.

“I’ll listen to everything you say. Whatever you ask me to do, I’ll do it I won’t question you.

Everything I have belongs to you. I’ll hand over all the money I earn. If anything happens outside, I’ll never hide it from you.

I’ll also learn to cook better, to improve my skills. Whatever you don’t like about me, I’ll change.”

Si Yunyi looked down at the young man whose sincerity burned so bright it was almost painful. Droplets of water still clung to Chu Junlie’s damp black hair, sliding down his cheek, tracing his sharp jawline before falling onto the carpet.

That face, fierce and commanding by nature now spoke with the trembling earnestness of a loyal puppy, eyes clear and luminous, hiding a fierce, wordless devotion beneath. The contrast was so striking it stirred something deep within.

“Give me half a day,” Si Yunyi said at last, glancing at his watch. “When I return this afternoon, I’ll give you my answer.”

Chu Junlie opened his mouth, anxiety and worry swelling in his chest, but all he managed to say was a single word: “Okay.”

As Si Yunyi rose to leave, Chu Junlie hurried to follow, sending him to the door with reluctant eyes.

Inside the elevator, Si Yunyi half-lowered his gaze, turning the ring on his finger thoughtfully.

When he arrived at the Si family’s old estate, the family’s private physician had already finished examining the old master. The siblings, three sons and one daughter gathered in the sitting room away from the old man to hear the doctor’s report.

“You all have some medical knowledge,” said the private doctor, looking at them with visible helplessness. “You should understand that Alzheimer’s disease is incurable. We’ve tried to slow its progression, but by the time it was discovered, it was already too late. The optimal treatment window has long passed.”

The siblings sat in silence, their faces shadowed with guilt.

“I’d noticed Dad getting forgetful before,” said the third sister, Si Yiyi, eyes full of remorse. “I just thought it was normal memory decline with age, I do that too sometimes.”

“Dad gets two full check-ups every year, and you’re supposed to give him a comprehensive assessment every quarter,” said the eldest brother, Si Yuntian, looking at the doctor with barely restrained grief. “How did it reach this point without us knowing? How could it already be mid-stage?”

“This is a neurodegenerative condition,” the private doctor replied calmly. “It’s not something that shows up in regular tests.”

“Don’t avoid the real question,” Si Yunyi said suddenly, his gaze sharp as it met the doctor’s. “It’s true that ordinary check-ups might not reveal it but during quarterly cognitive evaluations and early-warning screenings, you’re telling me you never noticed anything unusual?”

“What do you mean by that, Yunyi?” the second brother, Si Yundi, asked in confusion.

“After Father turned sixty-five, I instructed the doctor to conduct memory assessments every quarter,” Si Yunyi said, turning to the physician. “Did you actually perform them properly?”

“Of course I did,” the doctor answered quickly, feeling all eyes turn toward him.

“But you all know the old master’s pride. He would never admit to forgetting anything in front of me. If I asked him questions, and he couldn’t remember, he’d make something up on the spot. How was I supposed to detect that?”

They all knew that about their father — his pride, his stubbornness.

As the siblings withdrew their accusatory stares, the doctor exhaled quietly, glancing back at Si Yunyi.

“To be honest,” he said at last, “I never imagined the old master could hide his condition for this long, to the point it’s developed this far.”

“What do you mean, ‘this far’?” Si Yuntian demanded, hearing the weight in the doctor’s tone.

“Based on my observations and his recent test results,” the physician said regretfully, “I’m afraid the old master may not survive this year.”

“What?” Si Yiyi stood up, her eyes welling with tears. “What do you mean he can’t make it through this year?”

“Based on Mr. Si’s coronal examination results, I’ve found that he’s very likely suffering from multiple system atrophy. Later on, he may experience muscle atrophy, difficulty swallowing, episodes of sleep apnea, or breathing problems.”

The private doctor sighed. “If there’s even a small oversight in the future, the old master could…”

Si Yiyi covered her mouth, trying hard not to sob aloud. Si Yuntian and Si Yundi fell into silence.

Si Yunyi closed his eyes briefly, he knew exactly what was unfolding; it was just as the book had described.

The others would suffer only from Long Aotian’s wrath; as long as Chu Junlie safely got through the next three years, they would all be fine. But the old master’s death was due to illness, and his own death to a car accident, his father’s and his own fate were nearly impossible to change.

“I’ve been Mr. Si’s private doctor for so many years, and now that things have come to this point, I truly feel ashamed.” The private doctor pulled out a tissue and dabbed the corners of his eyes.

“I’m not like Fourth Young Master, he can see through any lie people tell. If I had that ability, maybe I could have discovered Mr. Si’s condition earlier, and things wouldn’t have dragged on to this point.”

At those words, the three siblings couldn’t help but look toward Si Yunyi.

After a brief pause, Si Yiyi turned back to the doctor.

“We pay you an annual salary of over 1.8 million, give you bonuses, and even allow you to take on side work yet you didn’t do your job properly. And now you’re trying to sow discord among us siblings? What’s your motive?”

The private doctor froze, stammering, “I—I just spoke out of emotion.”

“You’re upset because my brother questioned you earlier, so now you’re trying to pick a fight, aren’t you?” The second brother caught on quickly. “Do you think just because our father is sick, we’re about to start fighting among ourselves?”

“I swear I’m not!” The doctor took a step back, never having expected the situation to turn on him like this.

“My brother studied psychiatry not neurology, not Alzheimer’s disease.” Si Yuntian spoke up too. “We’re all Father’s children. None of us noticed his condition, so we all share the blame. Besides, my brother has been the busiest of us all, always working for the family’s sake. Just recently, he even took in that—”

Si Yuntian stopped himself, thinking of that country boy standing beside his younger brother, and redirected his anger back at the doctor.

“You were hired and paid to look after our father’s health. Don’t act like you bear no responsibility.”

The private doctor opened his mouth but couldn’t find any words.

He had never realized before how united the Si family could be against outsiders.

After a moment of silence, Si Yunyi stood and walked toward the doctor.

“Since you know I can tell when someone’s lying,” his voice was calm but sharp, “why don’t you tell me how the Yan family got hold of my father’s medical records?”

“T-that really has nothing to do with me.” The doctor met Si Yunyi’s cold gaze and instinctively stepped back.

“Today is your last day working for the Si family,” Si Yunyi said coldly. “I suggest you leave Hong Kong City as soon as possible.”

“Don’t even think about using my father’s illness for profit again. I hold leverage over the Yan family, they won’t dare to say a word. That leaves only you, the one who knows.

If this information ever leaks, I’ll know exactly who to find to settle the score.”

The doctor swallowed nervously and nodded again and again.

Moments later, he fled the house. The remaining family members exchanged glances before heading to the old master’s room. They tried hard to hide their grief as they looked at the frail man lying in bed.

The old master opened his eyes, gazing at the people surrounding him, confusion flickering across his face. His voice was weak.

“Who are you people?”

Si Yiyi almost burst into tears. Si Yuntian and Si Yundi looked equally stricken. Si Yunyi watched quietly and gave a faint smile.

“Ah.” Seeing his youngest son, the old master took a pillow and propped himself up, pretending to sit comfortably.

“Yunyi, can’t you at least pretend a little?”

“Dad!” Si Yiyi was stunned. Her tears stopped instantly.

“Look at you all,” the old master said lightly, tapping Si Yuntian’s forehead. “You’re acting like I’m about to die this instant. I already asked I still have quite a bit of time left. I can keep you company for a few more months.”

“Dad…” Si Yuntian’s voice trembled.

“Everyone dies eventually. I’ve lived past seventy; that’s long enough. Besides, your mother’s still waiting for me.” His eyes reddened, though his tone remained gentle.

“When you were young, I often taught you about death, it’s just the natural order of things. Everyone must face it someday.”

Si Yunyi sat by the bed, quietly holding his father’s hand as he rambled on.

The old master addressed each of his children in turn. None of them were as sharp or proud as usual; they simply listened with bowed heads.

“Yiyi,” he said, “divorce isn’t the end of the world. Stop thinking about that heartless man. Look at Beixin ever since he’s been in our family, he’s been much more obedient.”

Then he turned to his youngest.

“And you, Yunyi.”

Si Yunyi looked up at his father.

“I used to worry you’d never marry, that your aloof nature would leave you without anyone to rely on in the future. But now, by some twist of fate, that Chu Junlie appeared.

Yes, he’s a bit simple and rough around the edges, but even the Yan family admitted he’s sturdy, hardworking, and can take a beating. Having him by your side isn’t such a bad thing.”

The old master squeezed his son’s hand. “Though I know it’s been a bit unfair to you.”

“He’s the one I chose,” Si Yunyi said calmly. “There’s no talk of unfairness.”

“The Si family’s future will rest on your shoulders,” the old master said softly. “I’ll draft my will while I’m still lucid. When I’m gone, no matter your disagreements, you’ll all follow what’s written in it.”

“We understand,” the second brother replied, instinctively glancing at Si Yunyi.

Even if their father hadn’t said it aloud, everyone knew that Si Yunyi would inherit the largest share in the will.

The eldest brother, Si Yuntian, was mild-mannered and disliked crowds; he wasn’t suited to leading others, let alone taking over the Si family business.

The second brother, Si Yundi, had been mischievous as a child and never cared much for studying. He didn’t even want to attend university, choosing instead to open an entertainment club that he only visited from time to time.

Their sister, Si Yiyi, had loved dancing since childhood. She studied dance in school and had even been recommended by her mentor to study abroad. But she fell in love and decided to stay for the sake of that love. After marriage and childbirth, her unfaithful husband fell for another young woman.

It took Si Yiyi a long time to recover. Her messy and public breakup had once been the talk of Hong Kong City, but in the end, she divorced and won custody of her child.

Now, only the youngest son, Si Yunyi, was left. Although he had previously offended the Li family, that wasn’t much of a concern anymore, the Lis were under investigation by the Hong Kong City police and didn’t dare to make any moves.

The old master’s meaning was clear to all his children. As long as things didn’t go too far, there was nothing worth arguing about.

After explaining everything, the old master grew visibly tired, and his children quietly left to let him rest.

“Oh, right—Yunyi,” the second brother suddenly remembered something and turned to him.

“You said before that you’ve got something on the Yan family. So doesn’t that mean you don’t have to bring that Chu Junlie into the family anymore?”

Si Yunyi paused for a moment, looking calmly at his siblings.

“I plan to continue with him.”

“What?” The eldest brother’s eyes widened. “Yunyi, have you lost your mind? You really want to be with that Chu Junlie?”

“Brother, you’re the one who’ll be managing the Si family in the future,” Si Yiyi said worriedly, frowning. “Chu Junlie can’t help you with anything. Don’t be fooled by love, be realistic. I’m the best example of what happens when you aren’t.”

“Exactly,” added the second brother. “If you’re really looking for someone, think about the Shen family’s eldest son, or the Bai family’s youngest, or even the Sun family’s only heir, aren’t all of them better than Chu Junlie? If you’re interested, I can introduce you.” He patted his chest proudly.

“No need.”

Si Yunyi couldn’t help recalling what had happened earlier that day. He rubbed his brow lightly.

He had to admit, Chu Junlie had left quite a deep impression on him.

After Si Yunyi left the room, Chu Junlie, anxious and uneasy, went back to the bathroom to finish washing the dog.

The dog, Lie Feng, had nearly dried up in soap bubbles by the time his owner returned to rinse him off. Perhaps because Lie Feng had been a stray for so long, his fur was badly matted. When Chu Junlie tried brushing it, clumps of fur came off.

Lie Feng stared blankly at the pile of fur his owner had brushed out. Then he stood before the trash can and began tossing the tufts of fur in one by one, muttering softly as he went:

“Say yes… don’t say yes… say yes…”

When he got to the last tuft and stopped at “don’t say yes,” Chu Junlie’s eyes dimmed. He plucked another bit of fur from Lie Feng and began again.

Si Yunyi still hadn’t come back. Every passing minute felt unbearably long Chu Junlie felt as though he were waiting for a verdict, but the judge never struck the gavel.

All he could do was silently pray, pray that the judge would show mercy, just this once.

Opening his phone, he looked at the pinned chat at the top and carefully scrolled through their past messages, as if he could draw strength from every short reply that Mr. Si had ever sent him.

Then, as if struck by an idea, he opened a search engine and typed in the name “Si Yunyi.” Within seconds, search results appeared.

Seeing the familiar face on the screen, Chu Junlie sat up straight and began scrolling carefully.

The internet seemed to know Mr. Si far better than he did. The page listed Mr. Si’s date of birth, hometown, and professional background. His biography included a long list of academic papers published in national journals and mentions of his participation in numerous domestic and international conferences.

Chu Junlie’s eyes widened as he read. He couldn’t understand the technical terms, but even so, he could tell how remarkable Mr. Si was.

Further down was an old photograph of Mr. Si in a white lab coat, standing with other doctors.

Chu Junlie enlarged the photo. Beneath the lab coat, Mr. Si wore a pale blue shirt and a light-colored tie, with two pens neatly tucked into his chest pocket. He looked immaculate—refined, calm, and professional.

Chu Junlie saved the picture to his phone, staring at it for a long time before a small, helpless smile appeared on his face.

If he ever got sick and happened to meet Mr. Si as his doctor… he thought, there’d be no way he could recover.

By afternoon, Mr. Si still hadn’t returned. Instead, the housekeeper arrived with groceries. When she saw someone inside, she nearly jumped but upon hearing that Chu Junlie was Mr. Si’s fiancé, she gave him a few puzzled and uncertain looks.

Without comment, the housekeeper put on her apron, gloves, and hairnet, and began her work.

Chu Junlie followed right behind her, phone in hand, carefully taking notes on everything she did.

For some reason, the housekeeper felt an intense gaze on her back and a creeping sense that she might be training her own replacement.

When it came time to cook dinner, Chu Junlie stood behind her, serious and attentive, jotting down notes.

Mr. Si preferred lighter flavors less oil, less salt and vegetables like chili, scallion, and ginger should only be used in moderation.

By the time the meal was done, the housekeeper was so tense she could barely relax.

Then, the sound of the front door opening broke the silence. Before she could even react, the young man dashed toward the entrance, his eyes gleaming.

“Mr. Si, you’re back!”

Si Yunyi entered holding a black folder. Seeing the eager, anxious look in Chu Junlie’s eyes, he knew the other was waiting for his answer.

“Mr. Si, dinner’s ready,” the housekeeper said quickly, following behind and setting the dishes on the table. She then took the grocery receipt from her pocket and, out of habit, tucked it neatly under the vase on the dining table.

“Thank you for your hard work,” Si Yunyi said with a small nod.

“Mr. Si, I’ll be going then.” The housekeeper glanced at the man hovering eagerly beside Si Yunyi, quickly took off her apron, grabbed her bag, and left.

“Mr. Si,” Chu Junlie called softly, watching the housekeeper leave as he trailed after Si Yunyi. His gaze was filled with anxiety and unease, unable to contain his impatience.

“Eat first,” Si Yunyi said, setting down his black folder and heading to the dining room. He looked over the dishes on the table and, as usual, picked up his chopsticks to start eating.

Chu Junlie took his seat and tasted a bite of the food the housekeeper had made, tears instantly welled up in his eyes.

The housekeeper’s cooking was far better than his own. Mr. Si didn’t need someone like him to wait at home and cook warm meals every day.

He wasn’t as skilled at housework as the housekeeper, and now that he was no longer part of the Yan family, he couldn’t even be of the slightest help to Mr. Si.

He asked himself over and over again what benefit he could bring to Mr. Si and no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t find a single answer.

He had nothing to offer. He only caused Mr. Si trouble.

From the day they met until now, Mr. Si had helped him countless times — spent time, energy, and money on him. He hadn’t been able to repay any of it, yet he’d still dared to dream of marrying him.

Chu Junlie lowered his head, pushing the rice around in his bowl, trying to hide the redness in his eyes.

He wasn’t fit to be anyone’s partner.

After finishing dinner, Si Yunyi looked up and saw Chu Junlie hunched over his bowl, shoveling rice into his mouth. His broad shoulders trembled slightly, he looked just like a child who had been scolded by his parents but was still made to finish his meal, sniffling as he swallowed his tears along with the food.

“Chu Junlie?” Si Yunyi asked, his tone tinged with confusion.

Chu Junlie froze mid-bite. Holding his chopsticks tightly, he slowly raised his head. His face was streaked with tears, his eyes rimmed red, his thin lips pressed into a line as if he were trying hard not to make a sound.

After a moment of silence, Si Yunyi pulled out two tissues and handed them to him.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Si,” Chu Junlie said hoarsely, taking the tissues and quickly wiping his face dry.

“Is the food not to your taste?” Si Yunyi asked, noticing that he’d barely touched the dishes, a sharp contrast to his hearty appetite that morning.

“It’s—it’s too good,” Chu Junlie said, voice breaking. “I probably… can’t make food this delicious.”

One of the dishes was something he had cooked before, yet he’d never managed to make it taste like this.

Understanding dawned on Si Yunyi. He lifted his gaze and gestured toward the grocery receipt pinned under the vase on the dining table.

Sniffling, Chu Junlie followed his line of sight, picked up the paper, and unfolded it.

As he read through the list of ingredients and the prices beside them, his expression shifted slowly. He looked at Mr. Si, then back at the receipt, his eyes widening in disbelief.

What kind of tomatoes cost over twenty yuan per catty?!

And what kind of carrots, still covered in dirt, sold for thirteen yuan and sixty cents per catty?!

Noticing his shock, Si Yunyi explained evenly, “They’re organic, naturally ripened vegetables grown outdoors. The price is higher.”

Chu Junlie took another large bite of food and suddenly felt… maybe he could make something this good after all.

The breakfast he’d made that morning, the millet porridge and bread had been brought from his rented apartment. Though he’d used some ingredients from the fridge, the mix definitely couldn’t compare to what the housekeeper had made.

He unconsciously relaxed a little, but when he remembered that Mr. Si would never marry him just because he could cook, his spirits sank again.

Seeing that Chu Junlie’s mood had steadied, Si Yunyi gathered his empty bowl, placed it in the dishwasher, and washed his hands. When he came out of the kitchen, he found Chu Junlie watching him with red-rimmed eyes.

Mr. Si didn’t even need anyone to do housework for him.

That damned automatic dishwasher!

Not understanding the reason behind Chu Junlie’s emotional swings, Si Yunyi raised an eyebrow slightly. After washing his hands, he sat down in the living room and opened the black folder again, continuing to review the documents inside.

Seeing him like that, Chu Junlie slowly finished his meal, eating each bite as if it were his last. He sadly savored the ridiculously expensive carrots, the kind that cost only a fraction of this price at the supermarket.

When he was done, he reluctantly put the dishes into the dishwasher, staring gloomily at the sleek machine that even had a “sterilization” function.

No wonder Mr. Si didn’t need him, he couldn’t even compete with a machine.

“Xiao Chu,” came Mr. Si’s voice from the living room.

Chu Junlie’s nose stung. He dragged his feet heavily toward the living room.

“I’ve thought about your proposal from this morning,” Si Yunyi said, picking up a pen and sliding the folder toward him, his voice steady and calm.

Chu Junlie kept his head down, his muscles tensing instinctively. His vision blurred as all his senses focused on that one moment waiting for the judge to announce the verdict.

“I can become your partner in the legal sense,” Si Yunyi said, his tone composed, the light behind his glasses cool and rational, “but you’ll need to sign these agreements.”

The examples from the Si family’s extended branches were enough warning. When those relatives learned Chu Junlie’s true identity, they’d been shocked yet instead of reflecting on how they had treated him, or even investigating who he had been before his amnesia, they’d threatened him with divorce to demand half his assets.

They thought he was a naive fool they could manipulate but he had taught them a lesson with his life.

Si Yunyi had no intention of taking advantage of Chu Junlie. His assets were his own, unrelated to the Si family, and unrelated to himself.

When the day came that Chu Junlie found his destined partner, these agreements would allow them to part peacefully, without any financial entanglements and the divorce procedures would be simple.

Chu Junlie’s ears perked up.

When he heard “I can become your partner in the legal sense,” his whole body froze.

He replayed those words three, four times over and over until he was sure he hadn’t misheard.

Then, as if a volcano erupted in his chest, sweetness burst out like molten sugar; fireworks exploded in his head, bright and dazzling, leaving him dizzy with joy.

Chu Junlie couldn’t help but suspect he’d misheard, but when he saw the prenuptial agreement in front of him, he took several deep breaths in quick succession. Then, grabbing the pen from the table, he swiftly found the spot where he needed to sign. His fingers went numb and trembled slightly as he wrote his name.

“You’re not even going to read it?” Si Yunyi asked, watching as Chu Junlie hurriedly signed his name without glancing through a single clause.

“I trust you.” Chu Junlie’s face lit up with a cheerful smile; the joy in his heart seemed to shine right through his eyes, bright and full of warmth.

Si Yunyi folded the signed agreement, his gaze lingering on the messy pen strokes that betrayed excitement, saying nothing.

Chu Junlie rushed back to his room, pulled out an uncovered household registration booklet, then found his ID card, and carefully laid both in front of Si Yunyi.

Even though he said nothing, his eyes were full of eagerness.

Go get the marriage certificate, the red booklet!

“The Civil Affairs Bureau is already closed,” Si Yunyi reminded him, motioning for him to check the time. “We’ll go get the certificate tomorrow morning. Tonight, go to your rented place and bring the rest of your things back.”

“Okay.” Standing beside Si Yunyi, Chu Junlie couldn’t stop smiling and nodded obediently.

On the way to the rented house, Chu Junlie called the landlord. By the time they arrived, the landlord still hadn’t shown up.

While waiting, Chu Junlie began carrying his things out to the car. Si Yunyi stood at the doorway, watching him move around the room checking for anything he might have missed.

Inside one of the boxes were pots, bowls, even a red plastic dipper, a few pairs of work gloves, and two bundles of discounted toilet paper.

Chu Junlie hadn’t left a single item behind, meticulously packing everything away. There was a certain domestic diligence about him.

As if suddenly remembering something, he opened one of the packed boxes, took out a brand-new juicer, and proudly showed it to Si Yunyi, his dark eyes gleaming.

“Mr. Si, I won this as a second prize in a supermarket raffle!”

“Mm.” Si Yunyi nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Seeing that nod, Chu Junlie happily put the juicer back, sealed the box, and carried it downstairs, deftly loading it into the trunk.

When the landlord finally arrived, Chu Junlie showed him the lease contract, which stated that he had paid a 1,500 yuan deposit.

The landlord glanced at the man standing in the doorway—Si Yunyi and began inspecting every corner of the apartment.

The place looked almost the same as when it was first rented out, even cleaner now. The landlord stared at the polished tiles, amazed at how Chu Junlie had managed to scrub the once-dingy floor back to its original shine.

Everything in the room was cleared out. The landlord poked around for a while until he found a small cabinet that was about to fall apart.

“Look here, you broke my cabinet,” he said unhappily. “I bought this for over 300 yuan. I won’t even ask for that much just deduct 200 from your deposit, okay?”

“That cabinet was already broken when I moved in,” Chu Junlie retorted confidently, bolstered by Si Yunyi’s presence. “You know that perfectly well!”

“Nonsense!” the landlord snapped. “I only bought that cabinet not long ago!”

Standing at the doorway, Si Yunyi lifted his gaze slightly, taking in the cabinet that clearly had over a decade of wear. He spoke in a calm, even tone.

“The condition of your furniture falls under reasonable wear and tear. You have no right to demand compensation from the tenant.

If you insist, we can take this to court you’ll need to provide a receipt or get a valuation report.”

The landlord scratched his head, muttering under his breath, “All this fuss over just two hundred yuan.”

“It’s not just two hundred,” Si Yunyi said, adjusting his glasses slightly, his voice composed and clear.

“You didn’t issue any receipts for rent, your fire safety setup doesn’t meet regulations, and I doubt you’ve filed a rental registration.

“Add all that up you can do the math yourself.”

“Wow, you really know your stuff. You must be his new landlord, huh?” the landlord said, finally catching on. He walked toward the refined-looking man by the door, lowering his tone in mock camaraderie.

“Since you’re in the same line I’ll be honest with you, don’t rent to him. Look at my floor tiles! They were perfectly fine before, and after he lived here for three months, he’s such a big guy he cracked five or six of them!

The cabinet’s nothing. You don’t know the half of it. Once, someone came by urgently looking for him, I helped open the door, and guess what we found? He was keeping a dead rat!”

“I—I didn’t!” Chu Junlie quickly stepped forward, blocking the landlord’s view of Si Yunyi, eyes anxious.

He had just moved into Mr. Si’s home and couldn’t let him think he was clumsy or careless.

Just as he was about to explain, Si Yunyi gently placed a hand on his shoulder and looked at the landlord.

“I’m not his new landlord. I’m his fiancé.”

Si Yunyi could tell the landlord had failed to find a new tenant and was trying to make trouble so Chu Junlie would stay longer.

By clarifying their situation, the landlord would have no more excuses.

Hearing the calm, poised tone and seeing those steady eyes, Chu Junlie’s ears grew warm. He lowered his head, replaying the word “fiancé” in his mind again and again.

Mr. Si didn’t hesitate to say it in front of others.

Even when people spoke ill of him, Mr. Si didn’t care and even stood up for him.

The landlord froze for a moment, then looked at the elegant, clearly well-off man for a long while. He leaned closer to Chu Junlie, whispering:

“What he said, is that true?”

Snapping out of his daze, Chu Junlie looked at his former landlord with firm pride and nodded.

“You’d better be careful,” the landlord whispered, glancing nervously at the man in the doorway. “I’ve heard stories like this before out of nowhere, some rich, good-looking guy shows up, treats you well, says you’re his fiancé, moves you in, makes you fall head over heels… then one night, he drugs you, and bam—he cuts out your kidney!”

“We already held our engagement banquet,” Chu Junlie said with a bright smile. “Lots of people witnessed it. And besides, Mr. Si would never do something like that.”

The landlord hesitated, glancing at the matching rings on their fingers. They looked like platinum and probably weren’t cheap. Someone who’d spend that much was unlikely to be running a kidney-harvesting scam.

“Well, still… being ‘engaged’ isn’t exactly permanent,” the landlord muttered. “He’s got such good conditions, aren’t you afraid he’ll dump you halfway and you’ll end up homeless?” He nudged Chu Junlie. “How about this I’ll keep the room for you. Just pay me a small reservation fee every month. Five hundred yuan, that’s all, how’s that sound?”

“Sorry, but we’re getting our marriage certificate tomorrow.” Chu Junlie flashed a big grin. “If you try to trick me again, your place won’t get rented out for the next ten years.”

“Ahem.” The landlord coughed awkwardly, realizing this young man wasn’t as easy to fool as when he first moved in.

After glancing between the two again, the landlord’s expression turned conflicted, then curiosity won out. He asked cautiously,

“So, uh, what’s his place like? Bigger than mine?”

“It’s huge—four bedrooms, two living rooms, four private bathrooms, and three balconies!” Chu Junlie lowered his voice, barely hiding his pride. “My fiancé even lets me keep a dog, a big one.”

“Wow, a luxury flat?” The landlord’s eyes widened, then he shot another glance at the man standing by the door before looking back at Chu Junlie with a hint of envy.

“Kid, you’ve got it made, just saved yourself fifty years of hard work.”

Chu Junlie pressed his lips together, smiling faintly, and couldn’t help looking at Si Yunyi again.

“Having a good-looking face sure pays off,” the landlord muttered, his eyes drifting toward Si Yunyi’s chest. “Working out doesn’t hurt either.”

“Do you think I’m good-looking?” Chu Junlie asked eagerly. “How about my figure?”

“If you weren’t, do you think he’d fall for your ‘charming personality’?” the landlord scoffed, rolling his eyes. He sighed at the hopeless state of his old apartment, then pulled out a roll of cash and began counting out the deposit.

“Brother Landlord, let’s use digital payment instead,” Chu Junlie said, taking out his new phone and casually waving it in front of him. “My fiancé bought me this, my old flip phone’s long gone.”

The landlord rolled his eyes so hard it nearly hurt, suppressing the urge to curse as he scanned the code to transfer the money.

The moment the payment came through, Chu Junlie immediately transferred the entire 1,500 yuan plus the small balance left in his WeChat wallet to Si Yunyi.

Standing by the doorway, Si Yunyi’s phone buzzed: 1,581.36 yuan from “菜狗” (Vegetable Dog). Judging by the amount, Chu Junlie hadn’t kept a single cent for himself.

“Brother Landlord, let’s add each other on WeChat,” Chu Junlie said cheerfully, eyes full of confidence. “Tomorrow, once my fiancé and I get our marriage certificate, I’ll send you a photo of the red booklet myself.”

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