The braised pork that Xu Xiaoyue had been craving for so long finally made its way into her stomach.  

Yan Ye sat quietly across from her, watching indifferently as Xu Xiaoyue stuffed her cheeks until they bulged.  

Yet, she was so naturally lovely that even this ravenous eating style didn’t seem the least bit crude—instead, it came off as oddly endearing.  

He picked up a piece of meat and gently placed it into her bowl, his voice warm as he said, “Take your time.”  

Xu Xiaoyue was petite, and right now, she was clearly starving. Without needing his reminder, she kept her head down, focused solely on devouring her food.  

When she noticed the extra piece of meat in her bowl, she looked up and met the man’s calm gaze. Only then did she realize how unladylike her eating must have seemed. For once, she showed a hint of embarrassment and explained softly, “I haven’t eaten all day. I’m just really hungry right now.”  

Hearing this, Yan Ye glanced at his watch and frowned slightly. “Your family doesn’t feed you?”  

Xu Xiaoyue quickly shook her head, as if suddenly remembering something. Her eyes flickered with guilt as she looked at him and hurriedly added, “They treat me very well, really.”  

The man’s index finger tapped rhythmically against the table. His gaze swept over her face, as though he could see right through her, and he said meaningfully, “Is that so? Weren’t you just saying before that your brother-in-law didn’t treat you well?”  

“That was all a misunderstanding, a huge misunderstanding.” Her voice grew smaller and smaller as she desperately tried to backtrack.  

The Xu Xiaoyue of before had thought that in this lifetime, she must sever all ties with the Yan family and rely solely on herself.  

But after experiencing the harsh realities of the workplace today, she realized just how naive that idea had been.  

Without some kind of backing, she was like a helpless lamb thrown into a den of wolves—anyone could trample her to death.  

Since that was the case, she might as well shift her mindset and actively cling to the thigh of the big shot in front of her, working hard to build a good relationship and live comfortably.  

As the saying goes, as long as your mindset doesn’t falter, there’s always a way to overcome difficulties.  

The man’s dark eyes swept over her, but he didn’t press further about her inconsistent words. Instead, he silently ladled a bowl of soup and placed it by her hand.  

A handsome man and a beautiful woman—such a pairing was always bound to attract attention.  

Lu Yi looked at the man across from him, a mischievous grin playing on his lips as he teased, “Gu Yichen, there’s good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?”  

Gu Yichen raised an eyebrow, unsure what nonsense this guy was spouting now.  

He leisurely picked up a bite of food and said casually, “I don’t want to hear either.”  

Undeterred by the rejection, Lu Yi leaned forward eagerly. “You sure? Don’t blame me if you regret missing out later.”  

Gu Yichen paused, his eyes scanning the surroundings briefly before quickly understanding what the other man meant.  

“Tsk tsk, what a shame. You finally develop feelings for someone, only to find out she’s already taken.”  

He observed the man sitting across from Xu Xiaoyue—his demeanor was extraordinary.  

Even the watch on his wrist, with its chain design, was likely a foreign brand.  

If this were an ordinary person, Gu Yichen wouldn’t have given him a second glance. But this man was different. He sat there with an air of ease, yet the posture of his waist and legs suggested a disciplined bearing. His sharp eyebrows and bright eyes alone made it clear—his status was anything but ordinary.  

“I told you before, when you meet someone you like, you’ve got to seize the opportunity and act fast. Now it’s too late.” Lu Yi sighed, his face a picture of regret.  

Gu Yichen narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing in the direction of Xu Xiaoyue and Yan Ye. He set down his chopsticks and said, “It doesn’t matter. This just proves our tastes align.”  

“Or perhaps, when someone is outstanding, everyone will want to pursue them.”  

As soon as the words left his mouth, Gu Yichen stood up and walked toward the two.  

“Hey, hey—are you crazy?” Lu Yi quickly rose to his feet, reaching out to pull him back.

He had never noticed before that Gu Yichen had this contradictory side—claiming not to care with his words, yet his legs seemed to move of their own accord, striding purposefully toward them.  

“We meet again, little comrade.”  

Xu Xiaoyue looked up at that handsome face. “It’s you.”  

She set down her bowl and stood. “I haven’t had the chance to thank you for this morning—”  

Before she could finish, Gu Yichen interrupted with a smile. “It was nothing, hardly worth mentioning.”  

The two men’s gazes collided midair, neither speaking first.  

After a few seconds, Yan Ye finally turned to Xu Xiaoyue beside him. “And this is…?”  

Xu Xiaoyue briefly explained the situation, her eyes filled with gratitude as she looked at Gu Yichen.  

Yan Ye noticed her expression, and an inexplicable displeasure stirred in his chest. “You don’t seem like a local, sir. How should I address you?”  

Gu Yichen wore his usual smile, as if completely oblivious to the other man’s irritation. “No need for formalities—my surname is Gu, Gu Yichen. Just call me Xiao Gu.”  

“Indeed, I’m not from here. I’m from Hong Kong.”  

“Hong Kong? That’s quite far. Business in Hong Kong not enough for you, Mr. Gu? Going out of your way to come all the way here—now that’s dedication,” Yan Ye remarked, his tone light but laced with sarcasm as he glanced at the man.  

“Not at all. I don’t mind the distance.”  

“After all, my life motto is that if you want something, you have to go after it yourself. As long as the reward is worth it, any effort expended is justified.”  

The two exchanged words, neither yielding an inch.  

Xu Xiaoyue, still oblivious to the undercurrents, brightened as she looked at Gu Yichen. “You’re from Hong Kong—do you speak Cantonese?”  

“Cantonese? Naturally, a little,” Gu Yichen replied with a chuckle.  

“Let’s go. The police station has waited long enough.”  

Seeing the two chatting so amiably, Yan Ye stood up, his tone icy.  

“Ah, right, right.” Xu Xiaoyue wiped her mouth and hurriedly bid farewell to Gu Yichen before following.  

Watching their retreating figures, Gu Yichen’s eyes darkened, the smile fading from his face.  

Lu Yi, who had disappeared earlier, now reappeared beside him. “Met your match, huh?”  

He looked at Gu Yichen with an expression of amused anticipation.  

Gu Yichen let out a soft laugh. “Just a case of proximity favoring the moon. Hardly what I’d call a real rival.”  

Meanwhile, in the car, Xu Xiaoyue had already fastened her seatbelt, yet the man beside her showed no sign of starting the engine.  

She looked up at him in confusion. “Aren’t we leaving?”  

Yan Ye’s expression was serious, as if deep in thought. Hearing her question, he turned to her and, after a moment, said, “That man earlier…”  

Xu Xiaoyue perked up, waiting.  

The man slowly finished, “He’s no good. Stay away from him.”  

“Huh?” Xu Xiaoyue wondered if she’d misheard. Back at the restaurant, hadn’t the two of them been getting along just fine? How could he turn around and say this now?  

“Why? I thought Gu Yichen was quite nice.”  

Yan Ye’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, then loosened. He shot her a look.  

Perhaps because she was full, Xu Xiaoyue’s cheeks were flushed, her almond eyes glistening, an unconscious allure radiating from her.  

The problem was, she had no idea the effect she had.  

A vein throbbed at Yan Ye’s temple as he wondered how this woman had managed to survive this long unscathed.  

She probably hadn’t even realized that Gu Yichen’s interest in her was anything but innocent.  

“No reason. Just remember—stay away from him.” His commanding tone made it sound like he was lecturing a soldier under his command.