Chapter 63: The CEO Who Binges Dramas

""Of course! My wife is smart and beautiful—her vegetables are definitely something special! I bet we can trade them for even more meat and dry goods.""

Li Shihan couldn't help but laugh through her tears. ""You smooth talker!""

As she spoke, she shooed him off to rest.

""This doesn't need you anymore. I'll call Xiaobao over to help me move things in a bit. You go back and take care of yourself—don't do any more work.""

The villa on the mountainside was still relatively safe for now, so Long Cong'an didn't insist.

""Alright, I'll leave this to you. I'll take some of the goods and pick some fresh vegetables to bring to President Gu.""

If President Gu hadn't lent him a villa to stay in and given him so much support, he wouldn't be where he was today.

Even though President Gu didn't really need these meager offerings, it was only right to show some appreciation.

The mountainside villa complex was built along the slope of the mountain.

Long Cong'an's place was the second-to-last villa from the bottom; to get to his boss's villa, you had to walk all the way up to the very top.

It was not only the highest but also the most luxurious villa in the area.

In the past, there were always plenty of servants and security guards around, but now they'd all been sent home, leaving the villa quiet and still.

Long Cong'an scanned his face at the grand entrance and walked inside, thinking of An Xiaobei's smug expression.

Tch, what's she got to be so proud of?

Our boss's business is number one in Linbei City—she's got nothing to brag about.

He stepped into the villa and faintly heard a woman's tearful voice coming from the home theater:

""It was all a mistake! I gave my heart to the wrong person!""

Long Cong'an dropped off the goods in the kitchen, then followed the sound to the theater room.

He pushed open the door to find a man inside, dressed in loose black loungewear, sleeves casually rolled up and collar slightly open, lounging lazily on a leather sofa.

It was none other than their wise and imposing President Gu.

He was holding a glass of red wine with elegance...

Watching ""Empress Huanhuan.""

Long Cong'an: ...

What does a CEO usually pay attention to at home?

Financial news?

Current affairs?

Global warming?

Nope. Sometimes, it's a seventy-six-episode palace drama.

Long Cong'an could understand, though. Unlike himself, President Gu didn't have a wife and kids to keep him company.

A single guy, all alone in a thousand-square-meter mansion—how lonely must that be!

Watching ""Empress Huanhuan"" was perfect. One concubine after another parading across the screen, scheming and fighting—so lively!

Long Cong'an stood there for a while, but seeing how absorbed his boss was, he had to interrupt:

""President Gu, I brought you some things.""

Gu Zhiyu glanced up and saw Long Cong'an standing at the door, covered in blood and looking a mess.

He paused the show and frowned. ""What happened to you?""

Long Cong'an grinned. ""I'm fine, President Gu. I just went out to sell some vegetables and ran into a few robbers.""

""Sell vegetables?"" Gu Zhiyu's frown deepened. ""Did you take on a side job?""

""No, President Gu. My wife grew some vegetables at home, so I took them out to trade for fresh meat and dry goods. It feels safer to have more supplies on hand. I brought some for you, too.""

Gu Zhiyu said, ""No need to give me any. Keep it for yourself.""

After a moment, he asked, ""What's the situation outside now?""

Long Cong'an answered honestly, ""It's a mess. It's like a different world compared to our side of Luo'an Mountain.""

He pointed to his wounds. ""Robbery and murder are everyday occurrences now. If I hadn't run into someone who saved me today, I wouldn't have made it back.""

""A savior?""

""Yes! My lifesaver. She took out four guys in an instant!""

Talking about An Nan, Long Cong'an's face was full of admiration.

""She's beautiful and kind! She helped me out at the market, then saved me from a dozen bandits! You might have met her before—her name's An Nan. She used to live here in the villa district.""

""An Nan..."" Gu Zhiyu repeated the name softly.

""Never heard of her.""

Long Cong'an said, ""There are a lot of people in the villa district, and she's already moved away. It's normal if you don't know her. Anyway, I really owe her and her friends today.""

Whenever Long Cong'an mentioned An Nan now, his face was full of respect.

Gu Zhiyu was a little surprised to see him so impressed.

After all, in the past, Long Cong'an only looked at his boss this way.

""By the way, boss,"" Long Cong'an said carefully, watching his expression, ""I also gave that thumb ring you gave me to Miss An Nan. She really liked it...""

""If I gave it to you, it's yours. No need to report to me.""

Long Cong'an nodded, relieved.

He knew his boss was generous and wouldn't care about something so small.

Gu Zhiyu didn't mind, but he was a little curious.

Long Cong'an used to treat that thumb ring like a treasure, showing it off to everyone, saying it was a sign of his boss's approval. He even wore it to sleep and wouldn't let anyone touch it.

Now, he'd given it away so willingly.

""You said that woman took down four people in an instant?""

That's pretty impressive.

Thinking back to the scene, Long Cong'an's face lit up with excitement.

""You have no idea—there were over a dozen guys with machetes coming at me! I was in real danger, thought I was a goner! Then, out of nowhere, this heroine single-handedly piloted a boat, did a drift, and swooped down from the sky...""

Long Cong'an animatedly recounted the whole thing.

He got so worked up that his wounds reopened, making him wince and stop.

Gu Zhiyu saw him clutching his injury in pain and said,

""Since you've brought the supplies back safely, go home and rest up.""

Long Cong'an scratched his head. ""There's still some goods I haven't traded yet. I need to go out again tomorrow.""

Gu Zhiyu seemed to think of something and paused for a moment.

""I'll go with you.""

Long Cong'an was stunned.

Was he really that important to his boss now? The boss was personally going to accompany him, worried for his safety?

Long Cong'an was moved to tears. ""President Gu, you don't have to go out of your way for me—I can handle it myself!""

...

Gu Zhiyu looked up. ""You're overthinking it.""

He'd just been cooped up at home for over three months and was a bit bored—he wanted to get out for some fresh air.

Besides, he needed to see with his own eyes what the world outside had become.

Before leaving, Long Cong'an reported on the latest happenings in the villa district.

""As you expected, more and more of the servants and security guards are getting restless. Most families have sent their staff home for now—only the You family is still operating as usual.""

""Everyone's supplies are still sufficient, so there's no sign of trouble in the villa district yet.""

""The floodwaters outside have receded a bit, so things might be improving.""

Gu Zhiyu listened silently, nodded, and turned ""Empress Huanhuan"" back on.

...

Long Cong'an said, ""President Gu, I'll head back now. I'll come pick you up tomorrow.""

When he got home, his wife had already moved all the supplies inside.

Their five-year-old son, Long Xiaobao, was solemnly helping his mom.

When he saw his dad come home, he immediately ran over crying and threw himself into his arms. ""Daddy! Mommy said you got hurt?"""