Jing Mian’s pupils constricted.
He thought he had misheard.
What Mother Ren just said—could it be that Mr. Ren had once been disabled, relying on a wheelchair for years?!
His mind was flooded with intense shock. He had never heard Mr. Ren mention it, nor had he ever come across it in the outside world. Meanwhile, Ren Xingwan was now healthy, leaving him with no clues to follow.
As if sensing Jing Mian’s astonishment, Mother Ren quickly added, “Since Xiao Ren didn’t tell you, I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“You don’t need to worry, MianMian. It’s all in the past now.”
Jing Mian wanted to ask more, but Mother Ren had closed off the topic.
After a moment of contemplation, she spoke again, “MianMian, I came to see you today just to express my stance.”
“Whether out of interest, selfishness, or pure emotion, I have already chosen to stand by your side.” Mother Ren said, “This applies to him and to you as well.”
“I don’t have children; Xiao Ren isn’t my own. But I will never support those two wretched children born of his ex-wife.”
Mother Ren lowered her gaze, a helpless smile on her face. “Although Xiao Ren will never trust me, nor anyone else, no matter how turbulent the family becomes, please don’t see me as an enemy.”
Jing Mian blinked, seemingly pondering the meaning behind her words. The internal family conflicts felt too distant and abstract for a college student like him, but before he could respond verbally, he nodded slightly.
Mother Ren pressed her lips together.
She could already imagine how MianMian would recount her words to the man once Xiao Ren returned home.
That would be good; it would convey her message to both of them.
＊
Ren Xingwan was about to attend a brand event.
The assistant in charge today was Chen Ke, who primarily handled Brother Ren’s various announcements and brand activities.
Everything related to the entertainment industry was under his care.
He often worked in tandem with Manager Yang.
Unlike Yu Nian, who was responsible for personal event schedules, Chen Ke’s work was more meticulous, and he had a keen sense of observation. Usually, with just a glance from Brother Ren, Chen Ke would know what to say next, what not to say, and would politely handle any delicate matters on behalf of Ren Congmian.
Most importantly, Chen Ke didn’t delve into Brother Ren’s private life.
He could write copy, handle public relations, and provide the most reasonable responses or clarifications regarding rumors, but he wouldn’t inquire too deeply into what Brother Ren’s life was really like.
At most, he would be informed of major events to take reasonable precautions in the future.
Recently, however, the man had informed him of something significant.
Brother Ren was married.
To a man.
And it seemed that the two had already registered their marriage before holding a wedding.
The latest intel was that they were living together.
Chen Ke: “…”
All the shocks he had experienced in his life paled in comparison to the intensity of the past few days.
And… it was happening too fast.
Not even a rocket could match this speed, right?
Having witnessed various celebrities in the industry rushing into marriages and secret unions, he found this to be quite absurd.
Just how much did they like each other? How passionate could they be? Even the usually aloof Brother Ren had settled down, marrying at an unbelievable speed. He couldn’t help but wonder who this person was that had captivated him so thoroughly.
He had heard Manager Yang mention that the kid was quite handsome, standing out in the industry, the kind of beauty that would be a waste if not utilized.
It sounded so mystical that even Chen Ke felt a bit curious.
Unfortunately, Brother Ren had rarely mentioned him, keeping the young man well-protected. Chen Ke hadn’t dared to pry.
Chen Ke snapped back to reality as Brother Ren got into the car.
He quickly reported today’s schedule.
At the same time, he handed over the paper detailing the brand partners and positions, today’s process, and points to note for the man to review.
While Brother Ren looked over it, Chen Ke explained, ensuring nothing was delayed.
Ren Xingwan listened, his expression neutral.
However, as they spoke, Chen Ke’s gaze drifted downward, and he suddenly felt that today’s Brother Ren was slightly different from usual.
Not in expression or aura.
If he had to pinpoint it, it seemed to stem from the man’s attire.
……
Something felt off.
Chen Ke’s gaze floated downward, and he suddenly froze.
And it was a prolonged, lingering freeze.
Chen Ke noticed that Brother Ren’s tie today seemed a bit… off?
Was there an extra piece hanging down?
It resembled a retro pendulum, the dark tie being the clock, and the extra piece acting as the pendulum.
It had a strangely adorable seriousness.
But paired with the cold, aloof Mr. Ren, it felt somewhat mismatched.
After all, they were about to attend a major event, so Chen Ke quickly reminded the man:
“Brother Ren, um… there’s an extra piece hanging from your tie.”
Ren Xingwan lowered his gaze, his long fingers sliding down to grasp the extra piece of tie. “This?”
Chen Ke nodded.
Ren Xingwan replied, “It’s tied beautifully.”
Chen Ke blinked, feeling that it didn’t quite seem like Brother Ren’s style, and he agreed, “Uh, yes, it’s very beautiful, but that extra piece…”
Ren Xingwan interjected, “It was tied by my child.”
“…”
Chen Ke was stunned.
The child he referred to was probably Brother Ren’s partner.
He swallowed hard.
Although previously, Ren Xingwan had only told him that they had registered their marriage, were living together… these were just routine statements devoid of warmth. Besides his shock, he felt a significant lack of reality.
Until today, when Brother Ren wore a tie tied by his partner as he left.
……
The cold slap of reality hit him, making that once-abstract story feel tangible.
A tie tied by his wife that he wouldn’t let go of.
Was Brother Ren always like this?
Wait.
Chen Ke felt as if he were hallucinating.
He couldn’t help but cough lightly, recalling that he had asked Brother Ren… who tied it? Had he… asked or not?
He should have asked.
It couldn’t be that Brother Ren brought it up out of nowhere.
After Mother Ren left.
Jing Mian tidied up the teacups and fruit plate, clearly lost in thought and reflection.
Though he hadn’t understood the disputes within the Ren family, the reality must be even more brutal and exhausting. He had heard of it, even witnessed bloodshed.
But today, he learned many shocking things about Mr. Ren’s past.
Jing Mian couldn’t help but suspect that if Mother Ren hadn’t appeared today, Mr. Ren might never have told him these things in his lifetime.
He was merely a childhood companion who had appeared in Mr. Ren’s life, akin to a ‘bamboo horse,’ yet he was so far removed from the man’s life that he had to learn about many past events through strangers.
If only Mr. Ren could confide a little more to him.
Jing Mian couldn’t help but have such thoughts.
But upon reflection, Mr. Ren didn’t know much about him either, as he had never mentioned his own matters.
It seemed they both only showed each other their most beautiful and unscathed sides.
Two people hiding unutterable bitterness and secrets had yet to attempt to reach out and touch the soft inner shell.
＊
Jing Mian changed into slightly more formal attire and, as agreed, headed to the headquarters of the Radiance Game company.
The originally scheduled time of ten o’clock had become a bit tense due to Mother Ren’s sudden visit.
Although Jing Mian had Mr. Ren’s driver’s number, he didn’t call. After all, it was the weekend, and he felt it would be inappropriate to drag someone over without prior notice.
So, he took a taxi near the community instead.
With the experience from last time, Jing Mian felt more at ease when he arrived at the company.
He reported his appointment with Mobo at the front desk, and after the receptionist made a quick confirmation call, Jing Mian was soon directed to take the elevator straight to the 12th floor.
However, upon reaching the twelfth floor, he didn’t see Mobo.
Jing Mian searched around the walls outside the elevator, confirming that Mobo was nowhere to be found. He then opened WeChat and sent a message:
【Senior, I’ve arrived. Where are you?】
After a long wait, there was no response.
Jing Mian sat down on a nearby bench, holding his phone in confusion, as it had been a full fifteen minutes since he sent the last message.
During that time, he also tried calling on WeChat, but there was no answer.
Jing Mian typed again:
【Are you busy?】
【Should I come back another time? Sorry to bother you.】
To his surprise, after sending those two lines, he quickly received a response:
［Sorry, Jing Mian, I just saw your message.］
［No need to leave yet; you should be able to see me today. I’m just a bit busy at the moment. How about you take a look around for now? The 12th floor has many entertainment projects that are new gameplay for functional testing.］
After reading this, Jing Mian hesitated about whether to agree.
It felt a bit strange that Mobo hadn’t replied until he mentioned leaving, yet suddenly responded quickly, saying he was busy on the same 12th floor but had time to type out a lengthy reply.
It was odd, but he couldn’t pinpoint why.
At that moment, Jing Mian didn’t have much interest in exploring, but since he had come all this way and had already waited so long, going back felt like a waste of time and effort.
Jing Mian lowered his gaze and typed:
【Then please call me when you’re done.】
The other party replied: ［Okay.］
Jing Mian stood up and strolled around the 12th floor.
What caught his attention the most was the new technology area on the 12th floor, which represented the integration of visuals from Glory with holograms. Wearing special team uniforms and headsets, one also had to don special holographic glasses.
Under the guidance of the staff, Jing Mian played through the first level of Glory.
This time, he woke up from the Ferris wheel in the amusement park.
When the small compartment descended to the ground, he opened the door and began to gather supplies and equipment.
Compared to the visual effects created by computers in the past, what he felt now was both immersive and vivid, overturning all previous experiences.
The nearby staff member introduced that this holographic mode had already been introduced into domestic and international competitions, with many advanced teams and clubs starting to train their players to adapt to the experience.
The first level was manageable.
But a wave of silent worry surged within Jing Mian.
The haunted house wouldn’t be too realistic, would it?
The familiar map was fine, but if he encountered the cruise ship… Jing Mian wasn’t sure if he could handle it.
However, he soon discovered that the first level of this experience device was different from the countless previous ones that required defeating enemies.
This time, it seemed he had only one opponent.
And that opponent was extraordinarily formidable, likely a professional-level player.
For the first time, Jing Mian was headshot three times in the first level.
Each time, he hadn’t even completed a counter-kill before the red door appeared.
And the opponent had only used one gun throughout.
Jing Mian suddenly froze.
His heart leaped to his throat and then began to race uncontrollably.
There was someone who was also accustomed to using just one gun in the first level of Glory, and whose aim was incredibly precise, hitting headshots every time.
It couldn’t be…
When he snapped back to reality, he was headshot from the position of the distant carousel, and the match ended.
Jing Mian took off the holographic glasses and headset, removed the gravity suit he had on, and handed it to the staff member. He looked around and found that this area had no one else battling with him.
Jing Mian asked, “Was there someone else… who played in the first level with me, in the amusement park?”
In his urgency, Jing Mian felt his question was somewhat incoherent, and the staff might not even understand.
To his surprise, the staff member paused for a moment, then smiled and said, “Are you referring to the gentleman who just battled with you? He finished and went to the restroom.”
Jing Mian pressed his lips together, feeling an inexplicable tightness in his throat.
He thanked her, stood up, and headed toward the restroom.
Upon entering, although it looked empty from the outside, Jing Mian knew someone was inside.
He turned around, leaning against the wall by the sink, and lowered his head, waiting silently.
Before long, he heard a faint sound behind him.
Jing Mian immediately tensed up.
Should he contact Mobo first? Would it be too abrupt to meet like this?
Wait.
He couldn’t be sure that the person inside was Ash, after all, the only basis for his assumption was that identical gun.
Just as Jing Mian was lost in thought, he suddenly heard a voice near his ear:
“Excuse me, could you step aside?”
The voice came from right behind him, clearly belonging to someone much taller than him.
Jing Mian’s heart began to race uncontrollably.
He turned slightly, and inevitably raised his eyes, seeing a man wearing a black mask, slightly lowering his gaze, his dark eyes glimmering.
Jing Mian’s throat moved slightly, just as he was about to speak.
At that moment, Mobo’s voice suddenly echoed from the restroom entrance, drawing closer:
“Before I could introduce you, you two have already met.”
Mobo walked closer to the two, smiled, and said, “This is Jing Mian, whom I mentioned before. His ID is Sheep, and he’s a newcomer who just joined his own team.”
Jing Mian nodded slightly, instinctively greeting the man.
The man lowered his gaze, seemingly looking at him.
Before Mobo could introduce further, the man suddenly raised his hand, pulling down the black mask, his slightly cool, magnetic voice saying, “Hello.”
…
“I am Ash.”