No One Else Will Do But You - Chapter 89

The news of his mother’s acceptance kept Shu Luo in a state of high spirits for days. “Brother, we’ve finally cleared the clouds to see the moon!” he cheered, throwing himself playfully at Jiang Mu.

Jiang Mu caught him, laughing. “Does your leg not hurt anymore?”

“Pain is a secondary concern now! My mom agreed!” Shu Luo leaned back in his embrace. “But seriously, what did you do while I wasn’t looking?”

“A secret,” Jiang Mu teased.

“Oh, I see how it is! Your wings are strong now, you’ve got secrets…” Shu Luo grumbled with mock sadness.

Jiang Mu pinched his cheek. “I just spent some time with my ‘Godmother,’ accompanying her on shopping trips.”

Shu Luo winced, imagining the endurance required to survive his mother’s shopping marathons. “You actually went shopping with her? Alone?”

“Women have a bit of vanity,” Jiang Mu explained. “Seeing others with their children—especially sons—accompanying them makes them feel a bit lonely if they don’t have the same. You haven’t exactly been the most attentive son lately.”

Shu Luo felt a pang of guilt. “I guess I haven’t.”

“Don’t worry,” Jiang Mu comforted him. “You can make it up to them after graduation. For now, you have me.”

The High School Reunion

A week before Zhang Feiyang and Zhong Qing’s engagement, the old “High School Genius Class” held a reunion at one of Jiang Mu’s five-star hotels.

When Shu Luo and Jiang Mu entered, the cheers were deafening. Shu Luo, now a “walking hormone” thanks to his years abroad, was immediately surrounded by old classmates. Meanwhile, Jiang Mu, a verified successful businessman, exuded a cool authority.

An old classmate, Huang Wenyu, handed Jiang Mu a photo from their graduation banquet six years ago. It was a candid shot of the two of them looking at each other. Even through the lens of a camera from years ago, the gaze between them was thick with an undeniable, natural chemistry.

“So that’s how I looked at him,” Jiang Mu murmured.

Suddenly, a loud thud came from the main table. A “drunk” Shu Luo stood up, his face flushed.

“I’m not drunk! I trained in Canada!” Shu Luo waved off Zhang Feiyang’s help. Then, he shouted to the room: “I like Jiang Mu! So what? I love him! Who’s gonna stop me?!”

The room went silent.

Jiang Mu calmly stepped forward and put an arm around Shu Luo’s shoulder. “Luo Luo, you’re drunk.”

“I’m not! I only had a little bit!” Shu Luo insisted, though he leaned into Jiang Mu’s touch as Jiang Mu tenderly adjusted his collar.

The silence broke not with judgment, but with realization. “Man, the Class Monitor kept that deep! We always knew you guys were close, but this? This is legendary!”

Jiang Mu didn’t care about the shock or the gossip. Their love was beyond gender; it was about the person standing right in front of them. As he led a “sleeping” Shu Luo to the car, he looked at the boy’s peaceful face in the rearview mirror and whispered, “Thank you, Luo Luo.”

“I’m not drunk,” Shu Luo whispered back, opening his eyes which were shimmering with tears. “I did it on purpose. Why should we hide? We’re excellent, and our love is brave.”

The Formal Negotiation

The next day, under the bright sun, both families gathered for a formal “summit” regarding the couple’s relationship.

“Jiang Mu,” Mrs. Shu began sternly. “You can’t marry here. The law doesn’t recognize it. How do you guarantee a future? When you’re middle-aged, won’t you regret not having a family with children?”

Jiang Mu smiled and laid out his four-point defense:

Financial Security: He had already transferred 15% of his company shares and a luxury villa to Shu Luo’s name.

Children: He had raised Shu Luo like his own “child” for years; one “child” was enough for him.

Legality: They would marry in Canada as soon as Shu Luo graduated.

Devotion: He had chosen Shu Luo for life, period.

The parents were speechless. Even Carlos, Jiang Mu’s father, looked on with pride at his son’s formidable genes.

Father Shu, still a bit hesitant about the “dynamics” of the household, asked, “And what about the hierarchy in the home?”

“Dad, obviously I’m the boss!” Shu Luo chimed in.

Jiang Mu gave a helpless, indulgent smile. “I’ll listen to you.”

The meeting ended not with an argument, but with Father Shu throwing his hands up in defeat. “Fine! You young people have your own world. We’ll handle the wedding preparations.”

Shu Luo gave his father a massive hug. “I love you, Dad! Best choice ever!”

The first formal meeting was a success. It hadn’t been easy, but the ending was beautiful. Jiang Mu leaned down, kissed Shu Luo’s forehead, and pulled him into a warm, permanent embrace.