FSGOR Ch105 – Extra Anchor

Jiang Tian should have reflexively refused, like he usually did.

But for some reason, a voice surfaced in his mind:

[Just meet up and have a proper conversation.]

[He really seems to like you. If you explain it clearly, he’ll take the money back.]

[He doesn’t feel like the others who’ve pursued you. You don’t hate the idea of meeting him… do you?]

That inner voice startled Jiang Tian.

Alone in his room, with no one around, he had no idea what possessed him , like a kidnapper had burst in and dragged him onto a pirate ship. Ridiculous as it sounded, it actually… kind of made sense?

This must be what people online meant when they described romance as a home invasion.

By the time he snapped out of it, Jiang Tian had already agreed to the meetup, though he tried to buy some time first:

“I’m taking my driving test soon. I should get my license by the end of the month. Can we meet then?”

Chu Xuyu’s smile could be felt through the phone:
“Alright. Then I’ll take you out to celebrate when you pass.”

“…Okay. Thank you, ge.”

Still slightly dazed, Jiang Tian hung up the phone in a daze, remembering to murmur a quiet “Good night.”

Lying in bed, he kept replaying the conversation in his head.

He remembered seeing the man once , when he was outside on the swing. That face, that voice , there was a mature, magnetic quality to him, a kind of charm none of his peers had. Even though Jiang Tian was usually dense when it came to feelings, now that he thought about it, he realized:

He didn’t hate the idea of meeting up with his top donor.

And since the man refused to take the money back no matter what, maybe talking face-to-face would be more effective. Plus, there was no rush to meet right away. That thought helped him sleep peacefully that night.

In the month that followed, whenever Jiang Tian had time, he offered “sleep-aid services” over the phone to his donor. Most of his time was spent studying for his driving test. Once he passed, they finally set a date to meet , only for something unexpected to happen.

Friday.

Less than 24 hours before the agreed meetup.

Jiang Tian had just finished a game of soccer with his friends and was about to grab dinner with them. His friend Lu Qiao, who had borrowed his phone to order their usual artificially creamed milk tea, scrolled through his own feed while waiting.

Then he tugged Jiang Tian’s arm urgently.

“Tian-Ge,” Lu Qiao said, showing him the screen. “That guy you took a commission from… his online name was Simon, right?”

Standing at the entrance of the milk tea shop, Jiang Tian was lost in thought and replied offhandedly, “Yeah.”

“Top donor guy is Simon’s boss?”

“Right.”

“……!”

Lu Qiao immediately shoved the phone at him.
“Dude , Simon just liked your sister’s post. What the hell is going on?!”

“……?”

Jiang Tian stared at the screen in silence, thinking maybe he was seeing things.

“???”

What the hell?
Why would his donor’s employee know his sister?

The two of them stood in the corner of the shop like scheming puppies, glancing around nervously. Then, using clues from mutual likes and interactions, they started piecing things together.

“Simon’s one of my sister’s coworkers,” Jiang Tian muttered, rubbing his temples. “What are the odds?”

Lu Qiao, hitting the nail on the head, practically shrieked:
“So your top donor is also your sister’s boss?!”

“Looks like it…”

“This is crazy! What kind of insane coincidence is this?!”

Jiang Tian felt the same.
All the information clicked together in his mind:
His sister’s boss had been flirting with him online.
And now it looked like that boss was seriously trying to pursue him.

It was too much.

Lu Qiao scratched his head like a madman, then remembered the drama Empresses in the Palace that he’d been watching with his older sister recently.

“It’s all a conspiracy!” he declared.

“What if Simon and your sister don’t get along and this is some evil workplace revenge plot?”

“Like , he wants the boss to fall for his rival’s little brother, then force your sister to resign!”

“He’s playing the long game!”

“……”

Jiang Tian could barely keep a straight face. He patted his childhood friend on the shoulder, exasperated.

“Jie actually gets along really well with her coworkers.”

Still… maybe it was all just a big misunderstanding.

Jiang Tian preferred to believe that the city was just small and coincidences like this happened all the time. Even so, this sudden twist was enough to shake him.

He was already starting to regret agreeing to the meetup.

But a promise was a promise , he couldn’t just cancel last minute.

That thought alone was enough to torment his overthinking brain.

By the time they were at the restaurant, Jiang Tian was so distracted he couldn’t focus on anything. As his teammates happily dug into grilled fish, he clutched his phone and sent a message to his top donor… proactively.

KIRA: Ge, are you free tonight?

At that same moment.

Chu Xuyu, who had an evening banquet scheduled, was standing in his walk-in closet at home. The warm winter sunlight filtered through, casting a golden glow over his cold and handsome features. The sound of a familiar notification rang , he paused while picking a suit and glanced at his phone.

His lips tugged into a faint smile.
He misunderstood , assuming the boy wanted to meet earlier than planned.

Afternoon Tea: Want to change the time?

KIRA: …Mm. Sort of.

KIRA: Just a little bit.

Afternoon Tea: Tonight?

KIRA: Yes, are you free, Ge?

Afternoon Tea: I have something tonight.

Afternoon Tea: But I can meet you afterward.

At that moment…

Jiang Tian was seated around the dinner table with friends. But the message on his phone made his cheeks flush , like the heat from the grill had reached his face.

The man he was texting… was likely President Chu, the one his sister had mentioned , the heir of a multibillion-dollar empire, a man with power and status. Naturally, such a person would have proper business to attend to. Yet he was still willing to meet with Jiang Tian afterward.

That alone made everything feel… strangely ambiguous.

Maybe it was the man’s special identity.

Maybe it was Jiang Tian’s complete cluelessness about romance.

Whatever the reason, he decided to just go for it , to return the money as soon as possible.

He sent a long message:

KIRA: Ge, something came up over the weekend. I’d like to bring you a gift and meet with you early tonight , even if we don’t have time to eat, is that okay with you?

The so-called “gift” was a bank card.
He’d already deposited all the money in it and set the password to a simple “123456.” Once he handed it over, things would be done between them.

Honestly, it felt like repaying a shady online loan.

Sure enough, the other party didn’t seem to catch on to his intentions.

He just sent over the address of a five-star hotel and said they could meet at 8 PM.
He also added:

“Dress a bit more formally.”

Jiang Tian: “…”

A hotel? Seriously?

Something felt off.

He quickly messaged his sister and learned she had to attend a banquet that night , with her boss.

Jiang Tian: “…………”

Whew.

So it really was just him overthinking.

Normally so cold and quiet, Jiang Tian’s heart was now racing. He felt like he’d been caught doing something shady. He barely touched the grilled fish, muttered something about having to go home early, and even paid the bill at the front desk.

He just wanted to get it over with.
Meet up, return the money, and make it clear he didn’t want more of it.

Teenagers like Jiang Tian either can’t imagine a plot… or let their imaginations run way too wild.

Since he’d been sweating from playing soccer, Jiang Tian hurried home, took a shower, changed into something simple, and threw on a puffy winter jacket before heading out. Before leaving, he messaged his sister:

“I’m coming to pick you up from work tonight.”

,

At the same time…

In the luxury villa’s parking garage, Jiang Jing sat in the driver’s seat, totally confused:
“???”

She was wearing a sharp, professional suit, having just picked up her boss , Chu Xuyu. The man looked regal and restrained as always. Every detail from his watch to his accessories screamed wealth. His entire presence radiated power.

But Jiang Jing had no time to admire.

Her mind was still on her brother’s message.
She reminded him to be careful driving , since he was still new on the road , then tucked her phone away and forced herself to focus.

From the back seat, Chu Xuyu crossed his legs and asked:

“Judy, something wrong?”

“Nothing.”
Jiang Jing smiled up at the rearview mirror like usual, hiding any sign of personal matters.

“President Chu… are you meeting someone important tonight?”

She glanced at him again.
Was it her imagination, or did he seem especially well-dressed today?

The normally reserved workaholic CEO looked sharper than usual , his side-parted hair perfectly styled, tailored British-style suit, the whole nine yards. He looked…

Date-ready.

Her thoughts were interrupted by his deep voice:

“More or less.”

“I am looking forward to this meeting.”

His tone was laced with a subtle satisfaction, making his secretary’s thoughts drift even further: Could the boss be… in love?

She started the car and pulled out.

Tonight’s banquet required VIP-level invitations , the kind only elite families could afford. She wondered which wealthy heiress would be lucky enough to win the heart of her extremely picky boss.

“Oh, right.”

Just as Jiang Jing was focused on the road, Chu Xuyu added casually:

“No need to wait for me tonight.”

That kind of banquet , one without business negotiations , was usually one he brought Jiang Jing to. Naturally, it was his car she was driving. He would normally arrange for someone to send her home afterward.

But tonight, he had another engagement.
He might even be staying at the hotel overnight.

All of it would depend on whether the little streamer had that kind of intention.

So rather than complicate things, he hinted she should just drive herself home after the event.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Jing answered with a smile:

“No worries, President Chu. My little brother’s coming to pick me up tonight.”

“Oh?”

Chu Xuyu raised an eyebrow.

“He’s the one attending that top high school, right?”

Jiang Jing was surprised , she didn’t expect her boss to remember.

“That’s right. He just became an adult, and I don’t know why he insisted on coming to pick me up tonight.”

“Maybe he just got his license and wants to practice driving.”

Chu Xuyu paused:
“……”

A birthday gift from his sister.
A new driver’s license obtained recently.

It was getting harder and harder not to connect the dots.

He drummed his long fingers on his knee, took a moment, then asked:

“His birthday was recently, wasn’t it?”

“President Chu, how’d you guess?!”

Jiang Jing laughed with genuine surprise, not hiding the pride in her tone.

“His birthday was at the beginning of the month. And now he’s already passed his driving test. Isn’t that impressive?”

Chu Xuyu lowered his eyes and smiled lightly.

“Very impressive.”

Impressive?

That didn’t even begin to cover it.

His sweet little thing… was not only capable but so incredibly lovable.

What he hadn’t expected , was that the boy would turn out to be his secretary’s younger brother.