The office fell into a stretch of silence. Leonard Sterling and Caleb Montgomery watched the three of them sink into their own little moment of self-induced sentimentality, completely baffled.
"Wait…" Caleb, always the lively one, of course wouldn't let the atmosphere stagnate for long. He raised his hand and looked at the two of them. "Isn't the fee for terminating a contract with the previous company supposed to be paid by the future company?"
Everyone stared at Caleb in a daze. Leonard, standing beside him, also lifted his head and glanced at him.
Adrian Carter looked at Leonard with a meaningful expression, his gaze direct and unrestrained.
Leonard met his eyes and immediately pushed back. "What? You shoved him at me and still expect me to pay?"
Leonard raised his hand and lightly knocked Caleb on the forehead. "Is the mighty Adrian Carter really that short on money?"
Hearing this, Caleb grew puzzled. He reached out and grabbed Leonard's tie, locking eyes with him. The distance between them was so close that they could almost feel each other's breathing.
"Leonard Sterling, that's where you're wrong. What do you mean by 'shoved'? Even though Yudy Palmer isn't a big name yet, his ability is no worse than mine. Being able to sign him is already a bonus for your company. Besides, you're sitting on so many resources—why give them to outsiders instead of your own people? Your company can't possibly only have me as an artist forever, right?"
As Caleb spoke, he slowly released his grip. Leonard's burning heartbeat seemed to amplify endlessly.
The words he desperately wanted to say were forced deep down.
He knew from the beginning that Caleb was not… He wouldn't force him, and he didn't want to.
Adrian watched Leonard standing there in a daze. He gently kissed Riley Palmer beside him, then spoke slowly, "Caleb, it's fine. This is something I should handle anyway. After all, he's my own brother-in-law."
The corner of Adrian's lips lifted slightly. He looked at the faint flush on Leonard's ears, raised his brow, and silently provoked him.
"…Alright, you're not wrong either."
Caleb lifted his phone to check the time, and joy instantly appeared on his face. "Three o'clock."
His gaze swept over Leonard and Adrian. The corners of his mouth tilted upward as his eyes narrowed slightly.
Both Leonard and Adrian knew exactly what he was thinking. The only one completely in the dark was Riley.
Riley lifted her head, looking at Adrian's slightly odd expression, and gently touched his face. "What's wrong?"
"Bring them in."
Before Adrian could answer, Riley saw garment racks being carried in one after another.
The clothes on the racks were all extremely bright—vivid, colorful, and completely mismatched with the bearing of two CEOs.
"What are you standing there for? Come pick something," Caleb said cheerfully as he flipped through the neatly arranged rainbow-colored clothes.
He picked up a red silk piece with lace and repeatedly held it up against Leonard.
Leonard's look said everything. He coughed a few times in a hurry. "I'm not wearing that."
It was far too provocative—a deep V-neck with an entire lace panel on the back.
In private, maybe Leonard could cooperate.
But not today. Adrian was here. Riley was here too.
As President Gu, he still needed to preserve some dignity.
Caleb's face fell with disappointment. He lowered his head, pouted slightly, then turned to look at other clothes.
Riley walked over to Caleb and looked at a few dresses on the women's rack.
She took one out and held it up to herself. "Adrian, what do you think about this?"
White base, with blue embroidered flowers on the fabric—a halter dress.
The smile on Adrian's face stiffened instantly. Seeing Caleb watching Riley with great interest, he shot Leonard a glare.
Leonard hurriedly grabbed Caleb by the collar and dragged him away.
"Hey, Leonard—"
"Shut up."
Leonard pulled Caleb to the other side, standing behind him and firmly blocking any chance of Caleb seeing Riley.
Leonard lowered his gaze, looking down at Caleb in front of him, his throat rolling.
The peach-blossom scent on Caleb gently lingered around Leonard's nose.
"Leonard Sterling, what do you think of this one?" Caleb lifted his head, holding two light shirts with almost identical patterns.
They looked a bit like couple outfits.
Leonard's eyes curved slightly as he said in a low voice, "Up to you."
"Adrian."
Riley had already turned away, carefully flipping through dresses with increasingly lower necklines.
"Cough." Adrian, cheeks flushed, walked behind Riley and stopped her hand. "The one just now is fine."
He averted his gaze, avoiding her eyes. "Oh, alright then."
Riley turned to the men's shirts. "What about you? What are you going to wear?"
The colorful shirts piqued her curiosity—she wondered what Adrian would look like in them.
Adrian gently held Riley's hand, reached toward a blue shirt with white patterns, and took it out. "This one's fine."
"Have you two finished choosing?" Caleb had already transferred the shirts into Leonard's hands.
He walked up to Riley and looked at the two shirts she was holding. "Hmm… they look kind of like couple styles. Nice taste."
Caleb's eyes lit up as he looked at Leonard. "Let's go—we'll change."
Adrian raised an eyebrow at the shirt in Leonard's hand but said nothing.
He lightly pointed toward the lounge room. "You two go first."
"Let's go." Caleb grabbed Leonard's empty hand.
Caleb's palm was cold. When it touched Leonard's warm hand, all he felt was a familiar sensation.
Caleb was Leonard's sun—and in Leonard's heart, it was the same.
Adrian and Riley watched the two of them walk away together, both narrowing their eyes slightly.
Smiling, without a word.
Riley returned to her seat and went through the files on her laptop one by one, nodding frequently.
From behind, Adrian wrapped his arms around her. "Still looking?"
"Don't trust me?" His lips brushed lightly against Riley's ear.
Riley's body stiffened as she shifted slightly away, only to be pulled back by a warm hand.
"Where do you think you're going?" Adrian's voice was low, breath warm as it stirred the hair by her ear.
"Adrian… this is the office." Riley's voice was soft, sweet, with a faint bitterness of medicine.
Soft orange light spilled across the desk. The diamond ring on Riley's finger reflected brilliant, multicolored light, scattering across the office.
"Riley… you smell so good…" Adrian's lips traced every inch of the skin at her neck.
"Bang—"
"Clang, clang—"
Caleb bounced out of the lounge, wearing a red light shirt, looking lively and energetic.
Behind him, Leonard leaned against the wall, dressed in a blue light shirt that made him look refreshed.
Different from his usual mature, steady attire, today he looked more suited to his age—youthful, vibrant, yet still charming.
Riley froze, her body stiffening.
"Adrian…"
"Mm, I know." Adrian slowly turned to look at his friends. "Changed already?"
He stood behind Riley, firmly shielding her slightly weakened posture.
"Hurry up and change—we're heading out soon." Caleb pulled out his phone and snapped a picture, completely ignoring Leonard behind him.
Leonard glanced at Adrian's flushed face, then at Riley who had turned away.
He lowered his head and sighed, grabbing Caleb by the collar and dragging him out. "Alright, let's go."
"Hey, Leonard, I wasn't done yet—" Caleb struggled as he was dragged along. "Riley, see you later."
"Bang—"
Adrian slowly closed the office door, then turned to Riley at the desk.
"Let's go, Riley." He gently took her hand. "We'll change too."
"Vroom—"
A black Mercedes pulled up beside a Bentley. Adrian held Riley's hand as he looked at the two figures on the yacht and smiled softly.
The figure further back seemed to be watching the one in front, his movements as if recording something.
"Adrian, Riley." The shorter figure on the yacht waved excitedly. "Hurry up and get on."
The setting sun was gradually blocked by another shadow. As the features came into view, it was Leonard.
Leonard looked calmly toward Adrian and Riley, a stark contrast to the lively Caleb beside him.
One mature, one youthful.
Adrian stepped onto the yacht first, then carefully helped Riley onto the plank.
Caleb hopped down and headed straight for the cockpit, tapping twice on the window. "Let's go."
"Vrrr—"
Caleb lowered his head, his gaze darkening as he looked at the name on his phone screen.
Leonard stepped forward, noticing his dim expression. "What's wrong?"
"You guys chat first."
Caleb tucked his phone away and turned to the front, fiddling with it.
Leonard's gaze followed him, growing heavy.
"Leonard." Adrian wrapped an arm around Riley and looked toward Caleb.
Leonard turned his head, silent, waiting.
"What's going on with Caleb?" Adrian nodded in his direction.
Leonard shrugged and turned back toward Caleb.
Adrian didn't press further and led Riley upstairs.
Second deck of the yacht.
Leonard stood by the BBQ, tending to the skewers already prepared, his eyes constantly drifting toward where Caleb was below.
"Stop staring—it's about to burn." Adrian came over, took the nearly charred meat from his hand, and sat beside him.
Leonard ignored him, still focused on Caleb.
Adrian rolled his eyes repeatedly and kept turning the skewers.
"What are you doing?" Adrian slapped the large hand beside him, rough with calluses.
"Shut up." Leonard squeezed in closer, helping him turn the skewers.
"Tap, tap—"
Adrian glanced toward the stairs and saw the approaching figure, immediately understanding.
Caleb silently glanced at them, then walked toward Riley. "Riley, sorry to keep you waiting."
He forced a smile, though fatigue lingered in his eyes.
Caleb opened a drink and gulped down several mouthfuls.
"Ha—" He exhaled, crushed the empty bottle, and tossed it into the trash.
Riley looked at him with concern. "What's wrong, Caleb?"
Caleb showed a trace of embarrassment, scratching his head. "Nothing much… my family's been urging me to get married."
"Clang—"
The sauce ladle slipped from Leonard's hand, red sauce splashing onto his chest like fate itself.
Leonard struggled to lift his head, staring at Caleb, his pupils widening.
Adrian quickly took the remaining ladle from Leonard's hand and crouched down to clean the mess.
Riley glanced at Leonard's trembling eyes, then quietly looked at Caleb, who knew nothing.
Leonard's voice shook as he stood up. "I'll… go take care of something."
His eyes were panicked. He only glanced at Caleb before hurriedly leaving.
Riley helped Adrian wipe the floor. "What's wrong with Leonard? He seems distracted."
Caleb looked after Leonard, then turned away.
He took Leonard's phone from his coat pocket.
The wallpaper was a photo from two years ago—Leonard, Caleb, and Adrian traveling abroad together, back when Caleb wasn't overwhelmed with schedules.
They used to gather whenever they had time, sightseeing, traveling overseas.
Caleb quietly changed the wallpaper to a photo of the four of them watching the sunset in the countryside.
Four people—lifelong friends and the people most important to them.
He put the phone down, gazing at the surrounding bay, and slowly closed his eyes.
"Alright, I won't be a third wheel." Caleb stood up briskly and went downstairs to find Leonard.
Adrian looked after him, then gently took Riley's hand and stood up.
"Adrian, do you think President Sterling and Caleb…" Riley spoke softly, watching Caleb's retreating figure.
"They…" Adrian shook his head gently, looking toward the room Caleb had entered. "They still have a long road ahead."