Is the ancient iron tree about to bloom?

The flickering light on the screen reflected on Meng Yihe's peacefully sleeping profile, making her appear completely unguarded. Her long eyelashes cast soft shadows beneath her eyes, and her lips were slightly pursed.

Cui Yu maintained his original posture, not daring to move an inch, and even his breathing became much lighter, for fear of disturbing the sudden "burden" on his shoulders.

The final climactic battle is unfolding in the movie, accompanied by intense sound effects.

To Cui Yu, all sounds seemed to be separated by a thick layer of glass, becoming blurry and distant. His world consisted only of the warm weight on his shoulder.

Cui Yu slowly raised his hand, hesitating for a very brief moment.

Finally, she gently brushed away a stray strand of hair that had fallen across Meng Yihe's forehead with her fingertips.

Meng Yihe seemed to sense something in his sleep. He unconsciously moved slightly, rubbing his forehead against his shoulder more closely, finding a more comfortable position, and then fell into a deep sleep again.

This unconscious act of dependence made Cui Yu's lips involuntarily curl upwards, and a tremendous sense of satisfaction and protectiveness instantly filled his heart. He remained in that position, letting the movie play its final credits and the room lights slowly come on.

Meng Yihe's eyelashes trembled a few times, as if disturbed by the gradually brightening light, and she groggily opened her eyes.

For the first few seconds, Meng Yihe's eyes were still hazy from just waking up.

Then, he suddenly realized where he was and... what he was leaning against.

Meng Yihe jerked back as if burned, sitting up abruptly, her face flushing red, her eyes filled with shock and unconcealed panic.

"I...I'm sorry!" Meng Yihe's voice was a little hoarse, with a sticky feeling from just waking up.

"I didn't mean to..."

"The movie just ended." Cui Yu interrupted him, stretched his shoulders, and looked at him with a smile. "Looks like this movie wasn't exciting enough for you?"

The blush on Meng Yihe's face hadn't faded yet. He avoided Cui Yu's gaze and looked at the screen that had already started playing the end credits, abruptly changing the subject: "...The murderer is that judge."

"Hmm, unexpected, but reasonable." Cui Yu stood up. "Let's go upstairs for some fresh air. If we sleep through it, we won't be able to sleep tonight."

Cui Yu went up the stairs first, leaving Meng Yihe some space to compose herself.

Meng Yihe watched his retreating figure, then raised her hand to touch her forehead, where she could still feel the touch and warmth of his shoulder.

Just now... he actually fell asleep leaning against Cui Yu?

Still sleeping so soundly?

Meng Yihe took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, and then went upstairs.

"What do you want to eat tonight?" Cui Yu asked, standing by the kitchen island while pouring water. "We still have some ingredients at home, or we can order takeout."

Meng Yihe could no longer stay there naturally; he needed space and to process these overwhelming and unfamiliar emotions on his own.

"No." Meng Yihe's voice was a little dry as she tried to sound calm.

"I... I should go back now. I've bothered you all day."

Cui Yu paused in his pouring of water, turned around and looked at Meng Yihe, without forcing her to continue.

"Alright." Cui Yu put down the kettle, his tone still gentle. "Then wait a moment, I'll drive you there."

“No need!” Meng Yihe immediately refused. “I drove here myself, it’s very convenient.”

Cui Yu looked at him for two seconds and nodded: "Alright then, be careful on the road." He escorted Meng Yihe to the door, where Meng Yihe hurriedly changed his shoes and opened the door.

"Meng Yihe." Cui Yu called out to him from behind.

Meng Yihe paused, but did not turn around.

"I'm very happy today," Cui Yu's voice, filled with laughter, came through clearly.

Meng Yihe's heart clenched suddenly. Without responding, she hurried towards her car as if fleeing in panic.

The last day of the holiday.

Meng Yihe practically slept in his apartment. He drew the curtains shut, cutting off all light and sound, and silenced his phone, truly isolating himself from the world. His body and mind were screaming for complete rest and relaxation.

He ate a simple meal and then spent most of his time sleeping, as if trying to make up for all the energy he had overdrawn over a long period of time.

Meanwhile, Cui Yu drove to her grandfather's house.

The car drove into a quiet, heavily guarded traditional courtyard. My grandfather had lived here since he retired, cultivating his mind and spirit.

He had just parked his car when a figure rushed out of the yard like a cannonball and pounced on him.

"Brother! You've finally come to pick me up!" The boy's clear voice was full of excitement. "Grandpa's place is nice, but it's so stuffy! I'm so bored I'm about to grow mushrooms!"

Cui Yu smiled and caught her younger brother, gently rubbing his soft hair.

"You seem to have a lot of energy. Have you caused Grandpa any trouble?"

"No, I'm a good girl!"

Cui Xuyue looked up, eagerly asking, "Brother, how is Brother Meng? Did you chase that bad guy away? Is he alright?"

Cui Yu put her arm around her younger brother's shoulder and walked into the house, her tone smiling: "Yeah, they chased them away. Your brother Meng is fine now, he was just too tired the other day and is resting at home."

"That's great!" Cui Xuyue breathed a sigh of relief, then blinked her big eyes and asked curiously, "Brother, do you really like Brother Meng?"

The teenager's questions are direct and pure, without any of the complexities of the adult world.

Cui Yu paused, looked down into his younger brother's innocent eyes, and his smile deepened. He asked, "What? Is your brother Meng a bad person? Can't I like him?"

"No, no!" Cui Xuyue quickly waved her hand.

“Brother Meng is great! He’s amazing and handsome! It’s just… it’s just that I feel like you treat him very differently!” Cui Xuyue said intuitively.

"Oh? What's different?" Cui Yu teased him.

“Hmm…” Cui Xuyue tilted her head and tried to think.

"You look at him differently! And you even bring him delicious food! You didn't bring me any!" The little guy couldn't help but complain at the end.

Cui Yu was amused by his younger brother's words and chuckled softly. He then ruffled his hair and said, "You little ingrate, I'm here to pick you up, aren't I? I'll take you to eat something even better later." He avoided giving a direct answer, but the joy in his tone was undeniable.

Just then, a loud but cheerful voice rang out: "You brat, what are you whispering about in the yard? Hurry up and bring my grandson in so I can see him!"

Cui Yu laughed and called out, "Grandpa's here! Your grandson is just teaching another heartless little grandson a lesson." With that, he led Cui Xuyue into the house.

Grandpa Cui was sitting in front of the rosewood tea tray, leisurely brewing tea.

"Grandpa," Cui Yu said respectfully, his joking demeanor subsiding.

"Grandpa!" Cui Xuyue greeted him obediently and ran over to sit down next to her grandfather.

"Hmm." Old Master Cui poured tea for the two children with a smile. He glanced at Cui Yu's face and slowly said, "Looks like the storm has passed? You didn't bring shame to our Cui family, did you?"

"Look at what you're saying." Cui Yu sat down opposite him, picked up his teacup and took a sip, his tone relaxed. "With your grandson in charge, how could we let outsiders take advantage of us? Of course, we'd get our money back with interest."

"Hmph, quite the boast." The old man chuckled, but his eyes held admiration.

"That little iceberg from the Meng family, didn't hold you back this time? I heard he almost got roasted over a fire?"

"Your information network is quite impressive." Cui Yu put down his teacup, his expression becoming more serious. "Yihe not only didn't hold us back, but he was also very reliable at crucial moments. He deserves much credit for our swift and successful counterattack this time."

"Oh?" The old man raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "There aren't many people who would earn such praise from you, young man. It seems that the child is more than just good-looking?"

"Grandpa," Cui Yu smiled helplessly, "Can you please stop focusing on people's faces? They make a living with their brains."

"Food and sex are human nature, what's wrong with looking?" the old man said matter-of-factly, stroking his non-existent beard, his eyes turning teasing.

"Speaking of which, you've been going to their place quite often lately, haven't you? Driving them home and having meals with them. What's wrong? Is the iron tree finally blooming?"

Cui Yu was both amused and exasperated by his grandfather's bluntness, but he showed no embarrassment. Instead, he readily admitted, "Yes, I'm working on it. Your grandson has finally found someone he likes, so I have to put in extra effort."

Upon hearing this, the old man's eyes lit up, and he immediately became even more interested.

"Really? Which family's Alpha is so unlucky... no, so lucky? Is it really that kid from the Meng family?" He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice, "Tell Grandpa, how far have you progressed? Do you need your family to back you up?"

Cui Xuyue, standing next to him, also stared at her brother with wide, curious eyes.

Cui Yu looked at his grandfather's gossipy expression and shook his head with a smile.

"Please don't ask any more questions. It's not even close to being confirmed yet. He's shy, and you might scare him away." He paused, his tone becoming more serious. "However, he is indeed a very good person. His abilities and character are top-notch."

The old man observed his grandson's expression. Seeing the seriousness in his eyes, he nodded in satisfaction, leaned back in his chair, and resumed his leisurely tone: "Alright, you've always had good taste, so anyone who catches your eye can't be bad. I haven't had much contact with that kid from the Meng family, but I've heard he's a man of action, much better than those slick-haired pampered types. You handle it yourself; just let us know if you need the family's help."

This is already the maximum support and recognition the old man could give.

"Thank you, Grandpa," Cui Yu said sincerely.

Cui Yu chatted with the old man for a while longer, mainly as Cui Xuyue chattered on about her experiences over the past few days. It was a little later when Cui Yu and her younger brother finally said goodbye and left.

The holiday is over, time to return to work.

Cui Yu continued to implement "health management" without fail, reminding Meng Yihe to rest, delivering meals on time, and even more confidently attributing the credit to her "effective supervision" because Meng Yihe's complexion was much better than before the holiday.

A deeper smile, a meaningful glance, and a document that was "just right" handed to him.

These things silently remind us of those shared moments.

Just then, the CEO delivered a transfer order to the two of them. The group planned to develop a new high-end commercial complex project in Bincheng, a major coastal economic city, and preliminary investigations and initial contacts with the local government were crucial.

Given the outstanding performance and impeccable cooperation of the "Star Twins" during the crisis of the Linan project, this task fell to them without any doubt.

Meng Yihe looked at the notice and realized he needed to be away from Cui Yu for a whole week, away from the familiar office environment.

“Bincheng is a good place, and this season is perfect.” Cui Yu walked into his office with the same notice in hand, a businesslike smile on his face. “I’ve had Lin Xueyue organize the project materials. I’ve already booked the plane tickets and hotel; we’re leaving tomorrow.”

Cui Yu was as efficient as ever, and arranged everything directly, giving Meng Yihe no chance to raise any objections or make her own arrangements.

“I can book the hotel myself…” Meng Yihe tried to argue.

“It’s already booked.” Cui Yu waved his phone, his tone relaxed. “It’s a contracted hotel, so it’s easy to get reimbursed, and also…”

He paused, then his smile deepened.

"To facilitate our work discussions, we booked adjacent suites. I hope Director Meng won't mind?"

Meng Yihe: "...Whatever you say."

When the plane arrived in Bincheng, it was evening. The hotel was luxurious and grand, facing the azure bay.

While Cui Yu was checking in, Meng Yihe stood to the side. Upon receiving the room key, it was indeed as Cui Yu had said: their suites were on the same floor, and their balconies were adjacent.

As soon as Meng Yihe entered the room and put down her luggage, the doorbell rang. It was Cui Yu outside. He had already taken off his suit jacket, wearing only a shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his muscular forearms.

"Shall we grab something to eat first? The seafood restaurant on the hotel's rooftop has great reviews, or would you like to take a walk on the beach first?" Cui Yu suggested.

"Let's eat first," Meng Yihe suggested, opting for the more conventional option.

"After meeting with the planning bureau tomorrow afternoon, I don't have any plans. I heard there's a cultural district nearby that's been transformed from an old wharf, it's quite unique, should we go check it out? Just consider it a field trip to see what kind of business it is."

"We'll see," Meng Yihe gave a vague response.

After dinner, the two returned to their respective hotels. Not long after, Cui Yu sent a message.

Breakfast tomorrow morning at 7:30? See you at the restaurant.

The balcony door lock seems to be faulty; it can't be opened from the outside. Could you try opening it from your side?

Meng Yihe frowned, walked to the balcony, and tried opening the door; it opened smoothly.

He replied: "Everything is normal on my end."

Cui Yu quickly replied: "Oh, that's probably a problem on my end. It's alright now, get some rest."

However, when Meng Yihe finished washing up and was about to draw the curtains to go to sleep, she saw that the sliding door of the balcony next door was open, and Cui Yu was standing by the balcony railing with a glass of water, looking at the distant sea view.

Hearing the noise, Cui Yu turned around, smiled at Meng Yihe, and raised the cup in his hand.

"The night view is nice." His voice came clearly from a short distance away.

Meng Yihe hummed in agreement, then swiftly pulled the curtains shut, blocking the smiling gaze.