*Plop plop* Gentle fingertips lightly tapped on the water’s surface, creating a rippling sound.

The sound of flowing water, the feeling of fingertips touching the water’s surface, the fleeting coldness then quickly becoming accustomed to the water’s temperature, all were familiar to the point of making Yuri’s heart peaceful. As usual, Yuri caressed the water’s surface, letting heavy and complicated thoughts drift away with the current.

The swimming pool was empty. Also, not unusual. During Yuri’s time at the Ling family’s mansion, despite having swum here dozens of times every morning and evening, the number of times he swam with someone else could be counted on one hand. Even seeing someone use the pool while passing by was rare.

Yuri thought: ‘It seems like the Ling family members don’t like swimming very much.’ Reflecting on distant memories, he remembered going to the beach with Ling Tangwin – and his family – back then, he had once said: “I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve gone swimming.”

He didn’t understand why someone with a private pool in their house would say it had been a long time since they’d gone swimming, but after coming to this house, Yuri realized that practically no one used the pool.

…… Truly incomprehensible.

This semi-outdoor swimming pool had its temperature regulated above 30 degrees so that it could be used even in cold seasons like this. Along with a long roof-like covering and a bathroom right next door, even in winter, just enduring a bit of cold when entering and exiting the pool allowed for comfortable swimming.

Yet it was this deserted.

If no one uses it, why is there a need for such a fully equipped swimming pool?

Yuri sighed, feeling regretful for the Ling’s waste of such a wonderful pool.

The sky had turned completely dark. The clock pointed to a little past 8 PM.

Fei had unexpectedly asked Yuri to teach him the breaststroke, and said he’d eat dinner then meet at the swimming pool; he should have been here by now, yet there was still no sign of anyone.

Ling Xinlu would probably return in about two more hours. That amount of time was enough for Yuri to teach Fei the basic postures of the breaststroke, although not entirely complete.

They returned to the main house near dusk.

Even with a short rest stop, it only took about a few dozen minutes; they arrived back at the mansion on time.

“Ah, so refreshing. I slept really well.”

When getting out of the car at the mansion, Ling Xinlu smiled with a truly satisfied expression. Seeing him stretch and take a deep breath, it seemed like even though he only slept for 10-20 minutes, he slept very soundly.

Seeing him like that, Yuri’s heavy mood from the whole day dissipated, and he also smiled with his eyes curving: “That’s good.”

Ling Xinlu turned back to look at Yuri, smiled brightly, and asked: “Yes, thanks to you. Are your shoulders sore?”, he tilted his head with a look of remorse. Actually, Yuri’s shoulders were still a bit sore, but he shook his head. Seeing such a relaxed expression on Ling Xinlu made him happy.

Ling Xinlu stared at Yuri, who was only slightly smiling, then he chuckled at Yuri. Meanwhile, Yuri’s smile was gradually fading because of being stared at like that.

“Suddenly I’m thinking, Mr. Gable, in your past life, were you the twelfth son of the Loong King?”

“Yes? Loong King?”

“The scent of water, ……”

Ling Xinlu opened his mouth but seemed unable to think of the appropriate words, so he brought his hand to his forehead to think for a moment. But it seemed like no matter what he thought of, it wasn’t quite right, so finally he fell silent.

Before he could come up with the suitable words, a person from the mansion came out to greet them: “Young Master has returned.” Ling Xinlu’s interest seemed to be interrupted, the smile on his face fading slightly as he turned to look at them.

That person said that his father – Ling Houlong – had been waiting for him for a while, Ling Xinlu waved goodbye to Yuri: “See you later then.” and followed that person. Yuri watched his back until he disappeared from sight before turning and walking away.

Every time he came to the mansion, Yuri usually spent time alone. While Ling Xinlu ate dinner and chatted with his family then returned, Yuri would enjoy a quiet time alone in the guest house. That time sometimes lasted until almost midnight, sometimes Ling Xinlu would just have dinner and tea then return immediately, popping his head in the door to say: “Let’s go”, before it got completely dark. But generally, he usually returned around 9 or 10 o’clock.

Yuri intended to walk to the guest house as usual, but halfway there, he stopped.

Perhaps because they had received news of their arrival, his phone suddenly rang. The caller was Fei.

[“Uncle Yuri, I heard you arrived!”]

Usually, if he had free time, Fei wouldn’t call but would come directly to the guest house to chat before going home. But today, strangely, he called Yuri for a simple reason: To ask for breaststroke lessons.

Fei had confessed his hidden intentions with an innocence mixed with a bit of calculation, saying that he had joined the company’s swimming club when he started working there, and next month there would be a swimming competition. He drew lots and got the breaststroke, and wanted to perform well in front of a girl he was interested in at the club.

[“I’m on my way home. Almost there. I’ll eat quickly then come, meet you at the swimming pool next to the Peony Garden.”]

Fei said he would arrive within 30 minutes then hurriedly hung up. Yuri didn’t have time to tell him: ‘Why breaststroke? No matter how good a swimmer you are, that stroke is hard to make look good’, he could only think to himself that Fei probably didn’t know what the breaststroke was, and would be very disappointed later when they met.

But anyway, no matter what stroke it was, sitting at the pool waiting for Ling Xinlu was more interesting than reading in the guest house. Therefore, after a light meal, Yuri went to the pool to wait.

Yuri pulled a chair close to the edge of the pool, then gently stirred the water with his feet, gazing towards the Peony Garden right next to it.

At the beginning of summer, the peonies bloomed brilliantly and beautifully. But now, instead, there were shy camellia blossoms on the rows of trees planted like a wall separating the flower garden and the pathway.

Swimming in the warm water, amidst the cool air, gazing at the winter flowers, was truly a wonderful enjoyment.

While soaking his feet in the water, smiling as he admired the camellias, Yuri suddenly felt someone walking past behind the row of camellias and looked up.

Ling Tangwin seemed to be coming home late today, being escorted by two or three people towards the main building.

When he noticed someone looking at him, Ling Tangwin also looked up, and saw Yuri. His stiff and serious expression suddenly relaxed, a friendly smile briefly appearing.

“You’ve arrived. Ah, that’s right, I’m home late today. Are you planning to swim?”

“Fei asked me to teach him the breaststroke. He should be here soon.”

“Breaststroke?”

Ling Tangwin chuckled: “That kid must be getting used to his work and now has free time to cause mischief. Next week I’ll have to make him train harder.” He let the escorts go ahead then walked past the row of camellias to where Yuri was.

Perhaps he intended to smoke a cigarette and rest before going home, so he took his cigarettes out of his pocket and lit one. Seeing him like this, just like an ordinary family father, Yuri couldn’t help but smile.

“Ah, how is Xinlu doing lately? Is everything alright?”

“Yes……. It seems he said that starting next week he’ll begin his apprenticeship, so it’s been decided?”

“Yes, probably. It won’t be delayed any further.”

Ling Tangwin took a drag of his cigarette, slightly narrowing his eyes.

Even if many people didn’t want Ling Xinlu involved in the business, once it was decided, the plan had to be implemented. Doing so ensured everything went smoothly, without interruption. But in Xinlu’s case, his mother had objected and obstructed, causing the matter to be delayed many times.

But Ling Tangwin, while exhaling a puff of smoke, said that it couldn’t be delayed any longer. It seemed he had finished discussing the issue with his relatives.

Yuri nodded. He was silent for a moment then looked up and asked: “So……”

“Ling Xinlu will still apprentice with his Youngest uncle, correct?”

Previously, Ling Xinlu had said that among those in the industry, only his Youngest uncle had enough time and ability to guide him.

Yuri had also met this Youngest uncle a few times. Although they had never spoken or interacted closely, he had seen him conversing with people on a few occasions. Unlike Ling Houlong, he was a very unassuming person.

Yuri thought if he was guided by that person, it would be somewhat reassuring, so when he heard Ling Xinlu say he would apprentice with his Youngest uncle, he had been relieved.

But upon hearing Yuri’s question, Ling Tangwin raised his eyebrows, then shook his head: “Ah, no.” Yuri looked surprised, tilting his head.

Ling Tangwin tapped the ash from his cigarette into a small dish on the table and was silent for a moment. His expression was a little unpleasant, as if he was holding something back. Yuri looked at him curiously.

An uneasy feeling crept into his heart. Ling Tangwin only spoke in circles like this when something was bothering him.

Ling Tangwin chuckled: “That kid must be getting used to his work and now has free time to cause mischief. Next week I’ll have to make him train harder.” He let the escorts go ahead then walked past the row of camellias to where Yuri was.

Perhaps he intended to smoke a cigarette and rest before going home, so he took his cigarettes out of his pocket and lit one. Seeing him like this, just like an ordinary family father, Yuri couldn’t help but smile.

“Ah, how is Xinlu doing lately? Is everything alright?”

“Yes……. It seems he said that starting next week he’ll begin his apprenticeship, so it’s been decided?”

“Yes, probably. It won’t be delayed any further.”

Ling Tangwin took a drag of his cigarette, slightly narrowing his eyes.

Even if many people didn’t want Ling Xinlu involved in the business, once it was decided, the plan had to be implemented. Doing so ensured everything went smoothly, without interruption. But in Xinlu’s case, his mother had objected and obstructed, causing the matter to be delayed many times.

But Ling Tangwin, while exhaling a puff of smoke, said that it couldn’t be delayed any longer. It seemed he had finished discussing the issue with his relatives.

Yuri nodded. He was silent for a moment then looked up and asked: “So……”

“Ling Xinlu will still apprentice with the youngest uncle, correct?”

Previously, Ling Xinlu had said that among those in the industry, only his Youngest uncle had enough time and ability to guide him.

Yuri had also met this youngest uncle a few times. Although they had never spoken or interacted closely, he had seen him conversing with people on a few occasions. Unlike Ling Houlong, he was a very unassuming person.

Yuri thought if he was guided by that person, it would be somewhat reassuring, so when he heard Ling Xinlu say he would apprentice with his youngest uncle, he had been relieved.

But upon hearing Yuri’s question, Ling Tangwin raised his eyebrows, then shook his head: “Ah, no.” Yuri looked surprised, tilting his head.

Ling Tangwin tapped the ash from his cigarette into a small dish on the table and was silent for a moment. His expression was a little unpleasant, as if he was holding something back. Yuri looked at him curiously.

An uneasy feeling crept into his heart. Ling Tangwin only spoke in circles like this when something was bothering him.

“Is something wrong?”

Yuri asked seriously. Ling Tangwin waved his hand: “Ah, no, nothing.”

“Xinlu’s youngest uncle had a stroke last weekend. Fortunately, it wasn’t too serious, but he’ll probably have to rest for a while. I visited him a few days ago, he said he was considering retirement.”

Ling Tangwin fiddled with his cigarette case while speaking, seemingly hesitant about whether to have another cigarette or not: “Well, it’s true, he’s getting on in years, it’s understandable that he wants to rest.”

“Then Ling Xinlu……”

“Yes, so the order of his apprenticeship will have to change a bit. There’s no one free to guide him in the area of alcohol anymore. So he’ll probably have to learn other things first.”

When he said that, he paused. Then he changed the subject to Yuri: “If he’s busy, you’ll be busy too”, it seemed like he didn’t want to delve deeper into the matter.

Yuri became pensive.

He quickly understood the meaning behind Ling Tangwin’s words, and the reason why he didn’t want to be explicit.

Matters related to alcohol.

Even if implicitly understood, those matters couldn’t be spoken of to outsiders, and Ling Tangwin was saying that Ling Xinlu would have to learn those things first.

Ling Tangwin probably also knew Yuri would figure it out from his attitude and brief words. He understood Yuri well enough, and also trusted Yuri enough to say these things.

Yuri was silent for a moment, lost in thought, then murmured:

“Ling Xinlu will have a hard time.”

“Ah, yes. He has to learn a lot of things, so it will be tough. But he learns quickly, it probably won’t be that bad. Just think of it as working at a busy company.”

But it wasn’t just about the workload being tough. Yuri didn’t think Ling Xinlu would find it difficult to have a lot of work.

Rather, in a way, Ling Xinlu probably wouldn’t find it difficult. No, he definitely wouldn’t find it difficult. He might say it’s ‘troublesome’, but he’d never say ‘don’t want to do it.’

In that case, Yuri shouldn’t interfere. He knew that.

And if he were the usual Yuri, he would never intervene in someone else’s affairs like this.
He should have just kept it to himself, since it was a matter that had already been decided.

However, Yuri spoke up. An intervention that shouldn’t have happened.

“If he were to learn the things related to alcohol—the legal things—first, he’d have time to gradually acclimate. But this way, he has to learn the illegal things first, like being thrown directly into boiling water. I don’t think that’s good. Both for Mr. Ling Xinlu, and for the business.”

As soon as Yuri finished speaking, Ling Tangwin’s expression hardened. He looked at Yuri as if, for a moment, he didn’t understand what he had just heard. His expression showed that he had never thought Yuri would say such words.

Their relationship always had certain boundaries. Even though they were close like family, there were lines that couldn’t be crossed, and they both implicitly understood and adhered to that.

And one of those boundaries was precisely this matter. The things the Ling family was doing, the things that couldn’t be revealed—the things they didn’t want others to mention.

No matter how close they were, Yuri was still an outsider.

“……I didn’t expect to hear such words from you.”

Ling Tangwin spoke softly, not showing any displeasure. But Yuri felt an invisible wall rise between them, causing him to fall silent.

If it weren’t for Ling Xinlu, he wouldn’t have said anything. If it weren’t for his worry for him, his worry that he would be thrown into boiling water without any preparation.

“I just thought that if he were to learn the other things first, it would be better……”

“You could say that. Like throwing a child who knows nothing about the business into the most dangerous place.”

“But look, Yuri. Do you think Xinlu is someone who’s easily bullied? You’ve been by his side for so long, haven’t you?”

Ling Tangwin even had a smile at the corner of his eyes. His voice was unexpectedly gentle as he continued, while taking out a second cigarette and putting it in his mouth.

“As you’ve also noticed, I don’t like Xinlu very much. He doesn’t have any of the innocence of a child his age. Although he’s still childish now, often making a mess of things, in just a short time, he’ll become a very formidable opponent. That’s why I don’t like him. I’m not strong enough to deal with him. Do you understand what I mean?”

Ling Tangwin, already over fifty, frowned as usual when speaking about his youngest brother, who was less than half his age. It seemed to have become a habit of his.

He was silent for a moment, gently tapping to shake off the ash, then calmly continued.

“No matter what pit he’s thrown into, he’ll quickly climb back out. Moreover, the place he’s going isn’t even a pit. Although he has to deal with troublesome and risky matters in distribution, what he’ll learn is work meant for the ‘brains’……. In other words, while he’ll have to witness more dirty and despicable scenes, sooner or later it’s one of the things he has to learn.”

When he said that, Ling Tangwin took another drag of his cigarette. The conversation paused. He exhaled the smoke, then extinguished the cigarette, a long portion still unsmoked. An indirect way of showing he didn’t want to continue this topic any further.

Ling Tangwin tilted his head, looking at Yuri. His narrow, long eyes held a slight smile.

“It seems you’re very worried about Xinlu. As his older brother, I find that very dependable. Thank you for caring about our youngest brother.”

“……It’s nothing. It’s what I should do.”

Yuri shook his head. But Ling Tangwin chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.

“No, if you’ve said that to me, then you must be very worried about Ling Xinlu. You’re someone who understands better than anyone what should be said, what shouldn’t be said, who to say it to, who not to say it to, yet you said that to me.”

Ling Tangwin’s voice was the same as always. It was gentle and rounded like a kind uncle. But at this moment, he was making it clear to Yuri that what he had just said had touched a boundary that shouldn’t be crossed. He wouldn’t do anything to Yuri right now. Everything would be overlooked as if it never happened.

But Yuri had overstepped, and Ling Tangwin was warning him: Don’t take another step.

“But anyway…… I sincerely thank you for caring about Xinlu. Moreover, I didn’t expect you to be someone who would speak up like that; seeing a different side of you is quite interesting.”

Ling Tangwin spread a bright smile on his lips. He finished his warning and returned to the guise of a close friend.

Then Yuri also had to return to being an ordinary friend.

“I didn’t expect to say such words myself……. I just wish Mr. Ling Xinlu a happy life.”

“Oh my. Look at me, I’m also living a happy life.”

Ling Tangwin feigned a wry smile, patting his stomach lightly. The slightly bulging belly of a middle-aged man jiggled.

‘Yes, a life like that is also good.’

Yuri looked at Ling Tangwin and thought.

Although Ling Tangwin was a cold, selfish, and ruthless person to outsiders, he himself lived a life without regrets or suffering. Yuri thought: ‘That’s not bad either.’

Beside Yuri, Ling Tangwin turned to walk away, saying: “Oh dear, I’ve lingered too long. I have to go.” But then he abruptly stopped, and stared behind Yuri.

“Why are you standing there like a statue? You should say something when you arrive. And what are you wearing?!”

Yuri turned his head in the direction Ling Tangwin was looking. Fei, who had been standing there for who knows how long, was huddled up in a bizarre appearance with a thick life jacket over his swimsuit.

His face, usually cheerful and mischievous, now clearly showed an innocent worry, blinking slightly.

“Because I saw you two were having a serious conversation. I was afraid that if I spoke up, I’d get caught in the crossfire. Are you two done talking?”