Someone picked me up from the couch, muttering nonstop beside my ear.

“Don’t sleep,” “Wake up,” they said?

Bright lights flashed into my eyes. Then, I was poked with a few needles.

Since childhood, I’ve never been too sensitive to pain. If I can endure it, I won’t show it. Because of this, everyone thought I wasn’t afraid of pain and jokingly called me a monster. My family also treated me as if I were an unbreakable weapon.

But tonight, for some reason, my heart felt stifled. A few blood vessels were pricked by the nurse, and I winced, struggling with the pain, letting out a groan.

Suddenly, I fell into a warm embrace.

---

During the days when I was locked in the basement, Gu Shiyan never showed up.

But from Zhou Zhiye, I learned many things.

For instance, the person who initially suggested kidnapping me was Gu Shiyan. The one who knocked me out and brought me to the basement was also him. And the one who arranged for all these torturous methods, trying to break me, was still Gu Shiyan.

When Zhou Zhiye was torturing me, making me wish I were dead, I mocked them. I told Gu Shiyan to come himself if he had the guts, to torment me personally. I thought he wouldn’t dare because he couldn’t even kill a chicken. Because we were competitors, battling for dominance our whole lives. Because once, he had tried to save me from the grip of the Fang family.

He wanted to save me.

But Zhou Zhiye told me that Gu Shiyan would soon bring imported poison to give me a swift death. He knew I didn’t believe him, so he played me a recording.

It was Gu Shiyan’s voice, confirming everything Zhou Zhiye said.

When they forced the bitter poison down my throat, I thought to myself, it’s over.

I wasn’t even trying to resist anymore. After all, dying would bring relief. There’d be no more pain.

---

When I opened my eyes again, I was on an empty street. The person carrying me swayed under the dim streetlights. My head was foggy, and my stomach churned—I felt nauseous. I stayed curled up on his back, not wanting to move.

“Awake?” Gu Shiyan noticed.

I mumbled an acknowledgment.

“Fang Huai, I’m sorry. I think I’ve wronged you many times before.”

“…”

“The male model who disappeared from the bar, I found him later. Someone doctored the surveillance footage to frame you. You’ve never killed anyone, nor have you tortured animals. It was my mistake. I’m sorry. I know saying sorry isn’t enough, so I’ll make it up to you. What kind of compensation do you want?”

He talked so much. He’s never spoken this much before.

I didn’t answer.

Gu Shiyan apologized again.

We walked in silence until we reached a villa, and suddenly, snow began to fall. The world turned white as flakes floated down. I reached out to catch some but almost slipped off his back. Gu Shiyan adjusted his grip on my leg, his voice colder than the snow, “Go ahead, catch it.”

But I didn’t want to anymore. I pulled my hand back and leaned on his shoulder, tears trailing down in my throat.

“Gu Shiyan… you dog.”

---

I spent a week recovering at Gu Shiyan’s place.

On the seventh day, I was finally able to eat fried chicken, burgers, pizza, and ice cream! Though, I wasn’t sure why I listened to him in the first place. He was like a nagging parent, always repeating the doctor’s orders.

My ears practically grew calluses from it!

But that day, when he came back from work, he brought me a cup of milk tea. Was he testing me? I hesitated, unsure whether to accept it.

“Don’t want your first cup of winter milk tea?”

“…”

My appetite won over my logic. “I want it!”

But ever since I took that cup of… thick cream tea? Gu Shiyan kept trying to lift my shirt. I stayed on guard, scared he’d see my waist. That’s my secret weapon! If he ever tries to kill me again…

I’ll reveal it after he does, and he’ll regret it for life.

Suddenly, the system chimed in with a sigh.

【Baby, you’re being a hopeless romantic.】

Me: “What?”

---

Staying at Gu Shiyan’s house was too dangerous, so I moved back. This idiot kept coming over, bringing food and reminding me to eat on time. So annoying.

Two weeks later, the business district of Jiangcheng was in a state of unrest because of an upcoming business banquet.

As the person most likely to inherit the Fang family, I was invited.

At the same time, the male lead, Zhou Zhiye, also made an appearance.

---

What kind of person is Zhou Zhiye?

If I were fifty percent evil, and Gu Shiyan seventy percent, then Zhou Zhiye would be ninety-nine percent.

---

In the grand banquet hall, guests flowed in and out. Without any interference from me or Gu Shiyan, the male and female leads quickly came together.

Three months ago, Zhou Zhiye had come from Yuncheng, bringing with him a major business deal. This deal was shady, so he didn’t approach Gu Shiyan, who had political connections. Instead, he chose me, a person rumored to use dirty tricks and whose position was unstable.

As expected, shortly after the banquet began, Zhou Zhiye approached me with a glass of champagne, initiating conversation. Everything he said sounded like typical business talk, demonstrating his keen insight as a rising star in the business world.

But in reality, the trap was already set, waiting for me to fall into it.

“So, what do you think, Mr. Fang?” Zhou Zhiye asked as we clinked glasses, his cufflinks flashing subtly from under his sleeve. “Interested in partnering with me?”

I smiled and toasted him back.

Zhou Zhiye was a powerful figure in Yuncheng, known for his ability to control and manipulate.

The system advised me not to take any more risks.

But as they say, “You can’t catch a tiger cub without entering the tiger’s den.”

“Alright, let’s—”

“Fang Huai!”

My wrist was suddenly grabbed from behind, and red wine spilled everywhere.

I turned coldly to face Gu Shiyan, who said, “You can’t agree to this.”

---

The word “alright” had already slipped out. Business deals hinge on trust; it’s not something to go back on lightly. Yet Gu Shiyan stubbornly held onto me, addressing Zhou Zhiye.

“If this deal has to go through, I’ll handle it. Fang Huai’s not capable enough and might take things in the wrong direction.”

“…”

Zhou Zhiye watched our tug-of-war with interest and eventually handed his business card to Gu Shiyan.

Clearly, Zhou Zhiye preferred Gu Shiyan if not for his political background.