It's just a toy, why would you care if it breaks?

The next morning at seven o'clock, Qinglin arrived at Huayao Mansion's villa.

She needed to pick up Wei Xun to meet a client in a neighboring city to discuss an important cooperation project. The journey would take two hours, so she had to leave early.

Upon entering, Qinglin only saw Nanyan in the restaurant.

He had finished washing up and was sitting at the dining table eating breakfast, wearing a light-colored crew neck T-shirt.

"Good morning, Sister Qinglin." Nan Yan looked up and smiled, her eyes clear.

Qinglin's gaze inadvertently swept over his collarbone, and her pupils contracted slightly.

There was a noticeable red mark there, like a hickey, which stood out starkly against her fair skin.

She paused for a moment, then realized what she meant, and an embarrassed look appeared on her face.

She walked up to Nan Yan and said, "Young Master Nan Yan, why don't you go change your clothes? Wear something with a collar."

Nan Yan stopped what she was doing and looked at her in confusion: "Why? This dress is very comfortable."

Qinglin pointed to his collarbone: "It's not easy to explain if others see this, it would be embarrassing."

Nan Yan subconsciously touched the red mark on her collarbone, even more puzzled: "This was left by the master, a mark of honor, why should I feel embarrassed?"

He grew up in the Thorn Rose Club and was taught to cherish everything his master left on him. It was proof that his master had enjoyed him, something to be proud of, and there was never any sense of "embarrassment" about it.

Qinglin was speechless at his question and didn't know how to explain.

After all, such overly intimate traces are inconsistent with Nan Yan's identity as an "orphan raised at home," which would make people overthink and thus affect President Wei's reputation.

Just then, Wei Xun came downstairs, dressed in a neat shirt and trousers, clearly having finished washing up.

Qinglin looked at Wei Xun with pleading eyes, as if she had found a savior: "Mr. Wei, just now, I suggested that Nan Yan change her shirt..."

Wei Xun's gaze fell on Nan Yan, and with just one glance, he understood Qing Lin's meaning.

His eyes darkened, and he said to Nan Yan, "Nan Yan, listen to Qing Lin."

Nan Yan said, "Okay."

He put down the spoon in his hand, got up and walked towards the bedroom.

Only Wei Xun and Qing Lin remained in the living room. Qing Lin lowered her voice and said to Wei Xun, "President Wei, after all, everyone says that Young Master Nan Yan is an orphan you raised. If others see those traces outside and say something, it will affect your reputation and the company's reputation. The stock price has just stabilized, and we can't afford any mishaps."

Wei Xun remained silent and did not speak.

He leaned against the dining table, his expression complex.

Qinglin is right. His public image directly affects the Wei Group's stock price and cooperation. He cannot let the group fall into a passive position because of his own selfishness.

"Understood." Wei Xun's voice was deep. "Go wait for me in the car, I'll be right there."

"Yes, Mr. Wei." Qinglin turned and left respectfully.

Not long after, Nan Yan came downstairs wearing a light blue shirt, the collar of which just covered the hickey on her collarbone.

He walked up to Wei Xun and asked in a low voice, "Sir, where is Sister Qinglin?"

"She's waiting for me in the car." Wei Xun looked at him, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Nan Yan, there's something I want to ask you."

"Sir, please speak." Nan Yan raised her head and looked at him with clear eyes.

"Have you ever told anyone about our... intimate behavior?" Wei Xun tried his best to keep his tone calm so as not to frighten Nan Yan.

Nan Yan frowned: "What intimate behavior?"

Wei Xun sighed inwardly. He had forgotten that Nan Yan's upbringing was different from that of ordinary people, and that her moral understanding and sense of boundaries were also different from those of ordinary people.

He patiently explained, "It's about us kissing... (deleting some verbs from memory), and... those things."

Nan Yan then realized what was happening and said, "No, sir."

"So how did you explain our relationship to others?"

Nan Yan said, "I am an orphan you took in and raised at home. You told me that a long time ago."

Looking at his innocent and naive appearance, Wei Xun felt even worse.

"Nan Yan," his voice softened further, "my public image is very important; it affects the group's stock price. From now on, you can't tell anyone about what happened between us, and you can't let anyone see the marks I left on you, understand?"

Nan Yan's smile vanished.

He lowered his head: "Sir, has my presence caused you any trouble?"

Seeing him like this, Wei Xun's heart softened immediately.

He quickly picked up Nan Yan and sat her on his lap: "No, Nan Yan, I like you very much, really."

He paused, then said helplessly, "But I'm the president of the Wei Group, and many eyes are on me. If others knew I had unusually high feelings for you, it would cause me a lot of trouble, and might even affect the company's operations. Do you understand?"

Nan Yan raised her head and nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

He didn't understand anything about group operations or stock prices; all he knew was that his husband couldn't let others know about their relationship.

It turns out that his existence was a secret that the gentleman could not reveal.

It turns out that he was not worthy of having his husband's love openly and honestly, and even the traces left by his husband had to be carefully covered up.

The grievances in his heart surged up like a tide, almost drowning him.

But he knew he couldn't put his master in a difficult position or cause him any trouble.

Nan Yan sniffed hard, holding back her tears, and forced a smile: "It's alright, sir. This shirt is very nice, I like wearing it. And I promise I won't say anything, Bai Sha Tan."

Upon hearing the words "Baisha Pool," Wei Xun felt a pang of unease, as if something had tugged at his heart.

He lowered his head and gently kissed Nan Yan's cheek: "Nan Yan, I'm sorry you had to suffer."

"I'm not wronged." Nan Yan wrapped her arms around Wei Xun's neck. "As long as I can stay by your side, I'm happy."

Wei Xun hugged him tightly, his heart filled with heartache and helplessness.

He longed to openly and honestly hold Nan Yan's hand in front of everyone.

But he can't.

Nan Yan is too young and has no official status; she cannot withstand investigation by media reporters and gossip from the public.

"I'm going to a neighboring city for business today. I'll bring you some famous glutinous rice cakes from there when I get back tonight. Don't you like sweet things?" Wei Xun changed the subject, trying to cheer him up with some food.

Nan Yan said obediently, "Thank you, sir."

Wei Xun glanced at the clock on the wall; it was getting late.

He gently removed Nan Yan from his lap, picked up his suit jacket from the sofa, and said, "I'm leaving."

"Yes, goodbye, sir." Nan Yan saw him to the door.

Wei Xun got into the car, and the driver started the engine.

He looked out the window and saw Nan Yan still standing at the villa entrance, her small figure still watching him go.

Wei Xun felt a pang of pain in his heart and said to Qing Lin, "Cancel tonight's social engagements. I need to be back early. Also, order me the largest size teddy bear..."