The “Detective” CEO

“President Shen.”

The driver in the car was momentary stunned when he saw his boss return with a strange man in his arms. He looked back at Shen Que: “This is…”

Shen Que set Chu Nian down, nudged him further into the seat, and closed the door. He didn’t answer the driver’s question. Instead, he grabbed Chu Nian’s shoulder and shook him: “Where is your home address?”

Chu Nian had fallen back into a deep sleep after his brief bout of drunken madness. No matter how Shen Que called out, there was no response. Resigned, Shen Que looked up at the driver: “Find the nearest hotel.”

Though confused, the driver didn’t dare ask more. He stepped on the gas as soon as the order was given. Shen Que leaned back against the headrest, weariness etched between his brows. The streetlights flashed past the window, leaving only dappled flickers of orange light inside the car.

He quietly turned his head, his gaze lingering on the profile of the man beside him. Long lashes were lowered, covering his eyelids like raven feathers.

Shen Que retracted his gaze and turned back to the window. The midsummer wind was lingering, making the dense night feel even longer.

Just then, the driver glanced at the rearview mirror and noticed a black car tailing them closely. He hadn’t paid it much mind at first, but it was becoming increasingly suspicious.

That car was clearly following them, maintaining a steady distance of about ten or fifteen meters.

The driver frowned and spoke in a low voice: “President Shen, someone is tailing us. It might be…”

Shen Que snapped out of his thoughts and turned to look behind. His eyes sharpened as he recognized the black car.

“Drive faster. Shake them off.”

“Yes, sir.”

With that, the driver floored the accelerator, speeding up on the empty road.

Seeing the vehicle ahead accelerate, Zhou Ze sensed something was wrong and immediately told Lu Jinnian: “President Lu, they’re speeding up.”

Lu Jinnian propped his arms on the back of the front seat, staring intently at the car: “They noticed us that quickly? Guilty conscience, much?”

“Speed up too. Stay on them.”

His tone was exceptionally cold.

The night was too dark for Lu Jinnian to see what was happening inside the car ahead.

Zhou Ze’s driving was steady; no matter how fast Shen Que drove, he kept pace.

Shen Que’s palms began to sweat. The wind howled outside. His gripped knuckles were white. The driver checked the mirror again: “Boss, they’re sticking to us too closely.”

“I know,” Shen Que said with a frigid expression. “Do you think it’s my father’s people?”

The driver nodded: “They’re likely the only ones who would chase us this far.”

“They just won’t let me go…” Shen Que murmured. Then he pointed: “There’s a side road ahead. We’ll take the shortcut.”

“Got it.”

At the same time—

Lu Jinnian’s expression changed. The vehicle that had been in his sight suddenly vanished!

“President Lu, what do we do now?” Zhou Ze slowed down.

Lu Jinnian gritted his teeth and slammed a fist into the seat: “Trying to shake me off… it won’t be that easy.”

“Zhou Ze, they must still be nearby. Turn this area upside down if you have to, but find them!”

***************************************

Chu Nian woke up from the heat.

Frowning, he grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled off the only short-sleeved top he was wearing. Immediately after, a cool breeze brushed against his skin. Chu Nian froze, slowly opening his eyes.

The surroundings were completely unfamiliar.

The chandelier hanging above was piercingly bright. Chu Nian squinted at the room, realizing he was lying on a large double bed.

It looked like a hotel room.

He propped himself up, the blanket sliding down. His head was spinning violently, so he massaged his temples while trying to recall what had happened.

Fortunately, his memory didn’t black out when he was drunk. He vaguely remembered running into Shen Que and calling him a “silly boss” to his face.

He was too tired to worry about how Shen Que would treat him later. He was likely here because Shen Que had brought him in, but there was currently no one else in the room.

Chu Nian thought for a moment; since he was mostly sober now, it was better to go home.

He reached out to grab his clothes, which had been kicked to the foot of the bed. He clearly remembered wearing a jacket, so why was there only this short-sleeved shirt?

Suspicion filled his mind, and his body felt weak from the alcohol. He was slowly tidying his clothes, preparing to put them on, when several loud bangs suddenly came from the door.

THUD—

THUD—

Chu Nian stopped moving and looked toward the door. It sounded like someone was kicking it in.

BOOM!!!!

The third kick was significantly more forceful. The door lock snapped, and the door burst open. Chu Nian stared at the entrance as if someone had hit a pause button on him.

A man in a black suit walked in.

Chu Nian recognized him; it was Lu Jinnian’s driver, Zhou Ze.

Then Zhou Ze stepped aside. Behind him came a man hobbling on a crutch, accompanied by a deafening inner roar—

[WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!]

Lu Jinnian’s face was filled with warmth and fury, but his expression shifted the moment he saw Chu Nian. Chu Nian could feel the man’s gaze freeze on him. Then Lu Jinnian’s grip loosened, letting his crutch clatter to the floor. With a dazed look, he reached out and felt the doorframe, then the wall, and finally Zhou Ze standing next to him.

“Zhou, Zhou Ze!” Lu Jinnian shouted. “I’ve suddenly gone blind! Hurry up and help me!”

Zhou Ze looked bewildered but obediently supported Lu Jinnian.

Lu Jinnian pointed in a direction: “I want to sit over there—”

Chu Nian followed the direction of his finger; there was a small sofa directly opposite him.

He watched as Zhou Ze helped Lu Jinnian over to sit down.

Chu Nian’s eye twitched.

He had no idea what kind of nonsense Lu Jinnian was playing at now.

Lu Jinnian put on a stern face and looked at Chu Nian, sizing him up from head to toe.

Chu Nian, meanwhile, heard his restless inner thoughts.

[Excellent! The perfect angle! A full, unobstructed view of my wife!]

[Shirtless wife… hehe.]

[So hot!!]

Beside him, Zhou Ze wiped the corner of his eye.

[The boss is so pitiful. Blind and lame. So pitiful.]

Chu Nian: ?

He took a deep breath and quickly pulled his shirt on, gripping the hem tightly as if afraid Lu Jinnian might see even a sliver more.

Lu Jinnian let out a regretful sigh in his heart.

“What are you doing here?” Chu Nian asked with a stiff expression.

Lu Jinnian’s eyes suddenly darted all over the place. His lips moved for a long time before he squeezed out two words: “Passing by.”

Passing by?

Chu Nian laughed.

Passing by and “accidentally” kicking in a hotel room door. The price of the Young Master Lu “passing by” was certainly steep.

“What a coincidence,” Chu Nian said sarcastically.

Lu Jinnian probably realized his excuse was absurd. His cheeks turned red, and though his expression was about to crumble, he forced himself to stay stern: “I saw you come in here with another man.”

“What? Are you tired of me? Found a replacement already?”

Chu Nian froze, staring at Lu Jinnian with a deep frown.

Before he could answer, footsteps sounded at the door. The newcomer seemed to notice the broken lock, paused for a few seconds, and then stepped inside.

It was none other than… Shen Que.

He was wearing a hotel bathrobe, his hair was wet, and he seemed to be radiating steam. Seeing two extra people in the room, Shen Que froze at the entrance.

Shen Que’s gaze darted between Chu Nian, Lu Jinnian, and Zhou Ze. Finally, his eyes settled on Lu Jinnian, and he spoke with uncertainty: “President Lu?”

Lu Jinnian snorted and tried to stand up, but because his fractured leg was still wrapped in bandages and a cast, he couldn’t manage it. He straightened his back and looked at Shen Que with disdain.

“I didn’t expect to run into President Shen here.” Lu Jinnian curled his lips. “I wonder what President Shen is doing here with someone else’s wife?”

His hostility was so obvious that Shen Que was a bit baffled.

“I’m sorry, I don’t quite follow…” Shen Que glanced at Chu Nian on the bed, and then realization dawned. “Oh—President Lu is here because of Chu Nian?”

“He’s your wife?”

Chu Nian gasped, spinning around to stare at Lu Jinnian.

[Yeah! If he’s not my wife, is he yours?!]

Lu Jinnian’s voice was full of righteous indignation.

[But Wife won’t let me admit it in public…]

Lu Jinnian’s voice turned piteously aggrieved.

He thought for a moment and replied: “President Shen might not be aware, but besides being the boss of Lansheng, I have a side job.”

“Oh?” Shen Que tilted his head with mock curiosity. “What side job?”

Lu Jinnian: “Private detective.”

Chu Nian: …

Shen Que: …

“My client told me that someone was trying to make a move on his partner while they were drunk, so he hired me to investigate.” Lu Jinnian seemed to have brainstormed an entire script for himself, getting more ridiculous as he went. “President Shen, you have committed two crimes. First is the crime of taking advantage of a married person…”

“And second…” He paused, his gaze sweeping over Shen Que’s exposed chest. “The crime of lacking male virtue.”

As soon as he finished.

The world went silent.

Chu Nian laughed again.

He was laughed out of pure frustration.

Shen Que regained his composure and shook his head helplessly: “President Lu must have misunderstood. Chu Nian is my employee. He was drunk and happened to run into me. I brought him here out of a noble spirit of caring for my staff.”

“As for the shower…” Shen Que walked to the side and picked up his suit from the floor. “It’s because he just threw up all over me.”

Chu Nian’s eyes widened.

He did seem to remember accidentally vomiting at the hotel entrance.

“As you can see, we have no relationship whatsoever.” Shen Que threw his suit back down. He closed his eyes, suppressing his anger. “Whether President Lu wants to take him away or whatever, please suit yourself.”

Lu Jinnian blinked, silenced by Shen Que’s explanation.

Chu Nian’s headache worsened. He dressed himself in record time, thanked Shen Que, and pulled the man aside: “I’m sorry, President Shen. That man…”

He pointed at his own head.

“He was just diagnosed with some mental issues. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Shen Que let out a cold laugh: “I won’t. We’ll talk about the rest tomorrow.”

Chu Nian nodded repeatedly. He pursed his lips and spoke coldly to Lu Jinnian: “Lu Jinnian.”

“Get over here.”

Lu Jinnian, who had been shrinking back into the corner, was pierced by the anger in Chu Nian’s eyes.

He thought to himself: Crap.

[It’s over…]

[My wife is angry!!!]