Cheng Xu was not exactly cautious in his business dealings, but he was never reckless either. Their business was in new energy, which required a longer-term vision than most. The Cheng family’s rise to wealth began when Cheng Zheng’s father bought an obsolete planet and discovered special minerals there, catapulting the Cheng family to the position of the wealthiest family in the world.

When the business fell into Cheng Xu’s hands, he didn’t advance it further, but he definitely maintained the family’s fortunes well. He wasn’t one to make investments lightly. He usually invested only after thorough research and preparation, especially for big investment projects.

When the investment proposal reached his hands, Cheng Xu was immediately interested. He spent a lot of time researching to ensure all the conditions matched the planning proposal before he finally made up his mind. His father had advised him against it, noting that while the returns could be significant, the risks were substantial too, particularly if the government didn’t grant mining permissions within the expected timeframe, posing a huge risk.

“This could ruin the Cheng family,” Cheng Zheng had said with a somber tone.

Cheng Xu dismissed the concern, “I’ve checked with reliable sources. It will get approved for sure. Even if there’s a delay, we can hold out for a while.”

The profits were too tempting, and Cheng Zheng eventually agreed.

Unfortunately, they were incredibly unlucky as a massive accident occurred at the mining site. Although there were no casualties, it resulted in the extinction of several local species besides humans, with seven endangered species wiped out completely.

The incident was exposed before they could cover it up, and the Cheng father and son were thrown into jail. After nearly a month in prison, they were finally sentenced.

A hefty fine!

That led them to their current predicament.

Cheng Xu had always thought it was just bad luck that led to their downfall until he saw the planning proposal taken from Yan Qi’s safe. It was almost identical to the one he had received, which sent shivers down his spine as he flipped through the pages. By the time he reached the last page, he was nearly unable to stand, clutching the edge of the desk to support himself.

Was all this Yan Qi’s doing behind the scenes? What was his motive?

Cheng Xu’s mind was in turmoil, but he quickly figured out Yan Qi’s motive—it was to have him.

And he had even drugged him for that purpose, hadn’t he?

Taking a deep breath, Cheng Xu was contemplating his next move when the door to the room was pushed open. Yan Qi entered, whistling cheerfully and carrying a cake, looking in high spirits. “Xu Ge, guess what I brought back for you—”

His words halted as his gaze fell on the planning proposal in front of Cheng Xu, then at the open safe, his expression changing abruptly, agitatedly saying, “Who gave you permission to open my safe?”

“You did,” Cheng Xu replied coldly.

Yan Qi then remembered last night. Indeed, he had agreed during their intimate moment. Cheng Xu had asked him if he could give some blue crystal beads to Cheng Jin earlier since he seemed unhappy during their last video call. Yan Qi, though reluctant to see Cheng Jin happy, had been too pleased at the moment, cajoled by Cheng Xu’s intimacies and had agreed somewhat reluctantly after calling him “husband” a few times, even giving him the safe’s combination.

Realizing his oversight now, Yan Qi was immediately annoyed, remembering that this plan was also inside. He tossed the cake on the table and raised his voice, “That was given to me by someone else. I saw it and thought it was too risky, so I didn’t go through with it. Who knew it would end up with you.”

“Is that so?” Cheng Xu’s tone remained icy. He flipped open the planning book, pointing out a page with manually altered traces, the blue ballpoint pen’s marks especially clear. He held it up to Yan Qi, “This is your handwriting, and the changes are identical to the planning proposal I received. This is so detailed, I’ve read it word for word more than thirty times; I could recite every word perfectly by now. I didn’t know that a planning proposal from my department manager would be with you, and modified by you in the same way.”

They had been getting along well for three months, living harmoniously and intimately, to the point Yan Qi felt Cheng Xu really liked him and would eventually accept him as a partner. Yet now, seeing the coldness in his eyes, Yan Qi panicked and quickly grabbed the planning book and tossed it aside, his tone softening considerably, trying to appease, “I admit, I did place someone by your side. The planning proposal was actually written by me.”

Hearing this, Cheng Xu felt a chill, “Your purpose?”

“To have you! What else?” Yan Qi grew agitated, unable to bear Cheng Xu’s gaze, he stepped closer.

Cheng Xu stepped back, avoiding his touch, his tone as cold as ever, “To have me? So you set this trap, destroying my business and family?”

“I didn’t fucking think of it that way!” Yan Qi’s face was full of irritation, “I admit it’s a trap, but it really could make money, and the government would indeed grant the mining permissions! Just half a year later than you expected. I know your family’s financial situation; the Cheng family relies on real assets, not having much liquidity. It would be easy to last two or three months longer than planned, but half a year would be impossible without financial injections. My plan was to approach you and your father for negotiations just as you were about to collapse, offering money.”

His gaze intense, “My demand was that you marry me, and I believe, if the plan had gone smoothly, I would have succeeded!”

“You…” Cheng Xu bit his lip, his upbringing preventing him from speaking harshly, but his face could not hide his fury.

Yan Qi approached him further, smiling strangely, “My plan was good, wasn’t it? But I never anticipated something would go wrong during the mining! And it was something that couldn’t be concealed! By the time I found out, you had already been arrested. I tried everything to get you out, but then I thought, perhaps this outcome was even better than my original plan.”

His eyes gleamed with madness, Cheng Xu startled, backed into a wall with no escape. Yan Qi leaned in, his smile eerie, “You only truly belong to me once you’ve lost everything. No money, no one else to compete for you! Whether you’re exiled or stay, it benefits me either way, wouldn’t you agree?”

“You’re really… a madman!” Cheng Xu’s heart pounded with anger and shock.

Yan Qi chuckled lowly, leaning to gently kiss Cheng Xu’s lips, softly saying, “Yes, I’ve become a madman because of my unrequited love for you. I want to be close to you, you keep me at a distance with your adult status, and your father warns me. I hate all the barriers between us. This past year, while you’ve been bankrupt, has been the most patient year for me. I watched you, monitored you. Every time you were humiliated or rejected, I knew my chances increased. I’ll wait until you’re absolutely desperate before I show up again, and then you definitely won’t refuse me. Do you know? If you hadn’t ended up in my hands, what else I might have done?”

Cheng Xu shivered, his voice breaking, “What else do you want to do?”

Yan Qi reached out to touch Cheng Xu’s face, which he dodged, but Yan Qi persisted, “Of course, I’ll target the people you care about most, what else?”

He smiled pleasantly, “Isn’t that the best way? They’re weak and foolish; I have thousands of ways to make you yield.”

Cheng Xu felt a chill down his spine, realizing what people said about the Yan family.

Unscrupulous.

“Now do you hate me to death?” Yan Qi kissed him again, his manner tender and passionate, “Don’t forget, you were the one who ultimately approved the plan. I could set up many schemes, but if you hadn’t risked it for fear of the Cheng family’s decline, you wouldn’t have ended up here today.”

Cheng Xu looked at him coldly, allowing the caresses on his face, dispassionately stating, “It’s already done; I won’t dwell on the past. Just over eight months left in our contract, and once it’s up, I’ll stay far away from you.”

“Is that so?” Yan Qi’s eyes narrowed slightly, then he smiled again, leaning close to Cheng Xu’s ear, whispering softly, “Xu Ge, did you forget you still have something in my hands?”

Cheng Xu’s face changed, even the most patient man losing his temper at this point, “You promised! That video won’t be shared!”

“That video won’t, but what about the others?” Yan Qi smiled even more delightedly, “Over these three months, we’ve been intimate almost every day, in the room, in the car, in the kitchen, even on the desk in your office, Xu Ge, do you realize how much material I’ve collected?”

Cheng Xu trembled with anger, “Yan Qi! You’re not trustworthy!”

Yan Qi chuckled lowly, “It’s you, Xu Ge, who are too naive. You’ve always been seen as secure and dependable, but you have one flaw—you’re too soft-hearted when you shouldn’t be.”

He pinched Cheng Xu’s chin, “Like when I wanted to give up on you, the first time, after my confession failed.” Yan Qi remembered that night, the pride and ego of a young man being too strong, only wanting to cry and then abandon his love after being rejected so harshly, “Why did you come to bring me an umbrella then?”

“The second time, was after my attempted assault on you.” He had been drunk enough to make a move on Cheng Xu, despondent when caught, not drunk enough to pass out, just wanting to use the drunkenness as a cover for his failure.

“But you didn’t expose me, instead, you gently and carefully helped me to bed and tucked me in.”

“How can I give up on you when you’re this good?” Yan Qi gazed at him steadily, “So a year’s contract means nothing to me. You’re mine for a lifetime.”