After The Domineering Boss Went Bankrupt, The Ungrateful Wolf Was Buried In The Crematorium

Chu Shangluo is a self-made billionaire and the head of Chu Corporation, a man known for his ruthless business tactics and volatile temper. Despite his immense wealth and striking appearance, he is viewed with suspicion and disdain by Beijing’s old-money elite, who resent his rise from a poor background. His family originates from an isolated island, and while his older brother Chu Shangyue was the capable heir apparent, a car accident two years prior left Chu Shangyue with severe brain damage. This tragedy thrust Chu Shangluo into leadership, isolating him from his family who moved abroad for his brother’s treatment, leaving him to navigate corporate politics alone.

The narrative shifts when Chu Shangluo encounters Ren Jiaoming, a remarkably competent and cold secretary serving the incompetent Jiang Jia, heir to the Jiang family. Ren Jiaoming is described as aloof, clean-freakish, and intensely loyal to his late father’s memory, having saved the Jiang company from collapse after his boss proved useless. Intrigued by Ren Jiaoming’s elegance and strength, Chu Shangluo aggressively pursues him, eventually buying out enough of the Jiang company’s stock to force Jiang Jia to hand over his secretary. Ren Jiaoming agrees to the transfer only after extracting strict contractual boundaries, insisting their relationship remain purely professional and threatening to leave if Chu Shangluo crosses any lines.

As Ren Jiaoming integrates into Chu Corporation, the two engage in a tense dance of power and attraction. Chu Shangluo, accustomed to getting what he wants, is frustrated by Ren Jiaoming’s emotional distance and refusal to reciprocate his advances. However, Ren Jiaoming’s competence proves invaluable; he efficiently handles crises, such as investigating a stolen shipment linked to Jiang Jia’s subordinates, and manages Chu Shangluo’s demanding schedule. A pivotal moment occurs during a business trip to Yun City, where a skydiving accident forces Ren Jiaoming to save Jiang Jia, revealing a lingering sense of duty despite having paid off his debt to the Jiang family. During this trip, Chu Shangluo discovers that Ren Jiaoming is searching for a lost younger brother, indicated by a missing half of a red jade pendant.

The dynamic between the two men begins to thaw during the Chinese New Year. Chu Shangluo, lonely and rejected by Ren Jiaoming’s coldness, attempts to bridge the gap by visiting his home, only to find Ren Jiaoming hosting Wen Yan, a member of the elite Wen family and Ren Jiaoming’s former classmate. Hurt and jealous, Chu Shangluo investigates Ren Jiaoming’s past and learns that his birth surname was Ruan. Armed with this knowledge and the realization that he possesses the matching half of the jade pendant, Chu Shangluo makes a proposition: he will help Ren Jiaoming find his brother in exchange for Ren Jiaoming’s continued service and a deeper personal commitment, a deal Ren Jiaoming silently accepts.

The story escalates when Jiang Jia, having lost his company to Chu Shangluo due to sabotage by the Su family, begs for help. Chu Shangluo agrees to assist, but only on the condition that he acquires the Jiang company outright, effectively declaring war on the Su and Wen families who have long opposed his rise. Ren Jiaoming plays a crucial role in this corporate battle, using his insider knowledge to counter the Su family’s schemes. The acquisition solidifies Chu Shangluo’s power but deepens the conflict with the established elite. Meanwhile, the personal relationship between Chu Shangluo and Ren Jiaoming evolves from transactional to something more complex, as Ren Jiaoming begins to show subtle signs of care, such as preparing coffee and offering medical attention, challenging the strict boundaries he initially set.

The narrative concludes with Chu Shangluo having secured the Jiang company and intensified his rivalry with the old-money families, while simultaneously gaining the loyalty and presence of Ren Jiaoming. The jade pendant mystery remains a central thread, linking Ren Jiaoming’s past to his present, and serving as the leverage that binds him to Chu Shangluo. As the external threats from the Su and Wen families grow, the two men are forced to rely on each other, blurring the lines between boss and secretary, hunter and prey, setting the stage for a deeper entanglement in the high-stakes world of Beijing’s business elite.