The afternoon signing ceremony and KOAO’s new product preview went smoothly.

At the end of the event, Ji Chengyi and Lin Jindudu shook hands and took a photo together.

After the photos, they each gave a brief speech and answered some necessary questions from the on-site reporters, marking the end of the signing ceremony.

Despite the fact that the press conference lasted less than three hours, it stirred quite a wave in the domestic business circle.

However, neither Ji Chengyi nor Lin Jindudu paid much attention to the external reactions.

After wrapping things up, they briefly discussed their future strategic plans before heading back to their respective companies.

Before parting ways, Lin Jindudu said to Ji Chengyi, “Mr. Ji, I’ll pick you up at your company’s entrance around 5:30 PM. Is that okay?”

Ji Chengyi paused as he was getting into his car, thought about the tasks he needed to finish when he returned to his office, and replied, “How about you arrive ten minutes later? I might not be done until around 5:40 PM.”

“Ten minutes is fine,” Lin Jindudu nodded. “Alright, I’ll take my time.”

……

Meanwhile, in the backstage corridor of an indoor variety show recording studio, a slightly overweight woman in brown mid-heeled shoes walked up to a lounge door, turned the handle, and pushed it open.

Inside, Yu Heyan had just finished his makeup. Without looking up at the sound, he continued to scroll through his phone.

Zhou Yu glanced at the three makeup artists and two assistants in the lounge and said, “You all can leave for now.”

They responded and left.

Zhou Yu sat next to Yu Heyan and, with a tone of negotiation, said, “Yu, Director Li is planning a new couple’s reality show and is looking for a guest spot for a practicing couple. Do you want to participate with Mr. Ji?”

Zhou Yu had always wanted to make Yu Heyan and Ji Chengyi’s relationship public.

But Yu Heyan didn’t want to, and he didn’t dare to reveal their relationship without Mr. Ji’s consent.

He was troubled about how to subtly publicize their relationship when he heard that last year’s popular couple’s reality show was going to shoot a new season, so he quickly recommended Yu Heyan.

As a top celebrity, Yu Heyan didn’t care about the show’s popularity and could bring a lot of traffic to it.

Zhou Yu wanted him to participate to use the show to make his relationship with Mr. Ji public, which would benefit his future career.

Zhou Yu’s plan was good, but Yu Heyan shattered her expectations directly, “No, I’ve broken up with Ji Chengyi.”

Zhou Yu was stunned and then looked shocked, “What did you say? You’ve broken up with Mr. Ji?”

Yu Heyan continued lazily scrolling through his phone and replied without looking up, “Yes.”

“Yes?!” Zhou Yu, infuriated by his indifferent attitude, almost exploded, “Yu Heyan, are you out of your mind! Do you know you’re at a crucial stage in your career? Do you understand what Mr. Ji means to you!?”

Yu Heyan raised his eyes, his expression dark and filled with irritation, “What do you mean? Are you saying I can’t make it without Ji Chengyi?”

Zhou Yu didn’t mean that, but he was still furious hearing him say that, “Sure, you can make it without Mr. Ji, but don’t you understand that you can do even better with him?”

Yu Heyan’s eyes were filled with resolve, “I don’t understand. I can do better without him.”

Zhou Yu was speechless, nearly driven to madness.

Yu Heyan ignored him, lowering his eyes to continue fiddling with his phone.

Suddenly, Zhou Yu had a thought and squinted at him, “Yu Heyan.”

Suspicious and almost certain, he asked, “Are you really involved with that young actor?”

Yu Heyan didn’t respond, his eyes fixed in shock on his phone screen.

Zhou Yu, angrier now, said, “Yu Heyan, I’m talking to you… hey? Isn’t that Mr. Lin? He’s collaborating with Mr. Ji?”

Displayed on Yu Heyan’s phone screen was a photo of Ji Chengyi and Lin Jindudu at the signing ceremony.

But Yu Heyan’s gaze wasn’t fixed on Ji Chengyi. Instead, he stared unblinkingly at the person standing beside Ji Chengyi.

The man was tall, with a flawless face.

He stood next to Ji Chengyi, his expression stern and eyes sharp.

The well-tailored black suit and pants amplified his already exceptional aura.

By all logic, anyone standing next to such a striking and charismatic individual should appear overshadowed.

Yet, the refined and cool Ji Chengyi didn’t pale in comparison.

On the contrary, they gave off an impression of being well-matched.

Suddenly, a wave of intense displeasure washed over Yu Heyan.

“Lin Jindudu?” Yu Heyan frowned. “Is he the one who has invested in several entertainment companies?”

Seeing his curiosity, Zhou Yu pursed her lips and said, “More than that. Mr. Lin is a well-known investor in the capital circle. Every company he invests in soars.”

She then looked at Yu Heyan and added, “Yu Heyan, what can I say to you? You had to break up with Mr. Ji just when he was about to form a strong alliance with Mr. Lin! Do you know what you’ve missed out on?”

Yu Heyan said nothing, his gaze slowly shifting from Lin Jindu’s face to Ji Chengyi’s, his initial displeasure turning into frustration.

He hadn’t intended to break up with Ji Chengyi.

That encounter with the young actor was a spur-of-the-moment thing, just unfortunately witnessed by Ji Chengyi.

When he realized Ji Chengyi was in the living room at that moment, his first instinct was to apologize and coax him.

Ji Chengyi had a good temperament; if Yu Heyan acted pitiful and sweet, Ji Chengyi would surely forgive him.

But seeing Ji Chengyi’s calm and indifferent reaction to his infidelity, as if it didn’t concern him, angered Yu Heyan.

He thought Ji Chengyi didn’t love him and didn’t care about him.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so calm and wouldn’t have broken up with him so decisively.

So, out of a rebellious impulse, he said hurtful things and even threw away the cake Ji Chengyi had gone out of his way to buy…

When wrapped up in emotions, one doesn’t consider the consequences.

Looking back now, Yu Heyan realized he might have been wrong.

However, he didn’t feel that sleeping with Xing Yao was a mistake—he didn’t even like Xing Yao.

He just thought he shouldn’t have let his emotions lead him to say those hurtful things, nor should he have let Ji Chengyi break up with him so easily.

But now…

Yu Heyan’s grip on his phone tightened, “I’m stepping out for a bit.”

Zhou Yu, seeing him get up and thinking he was going to find Ji Chengyi, quickly stood up, “Where are you going? To see Mr. Ji?”

Yu Heyan walked towards the door without looking back, “No, to make a call.”

……

At the entrance of KOAO Company.

Ji Chengyi’s timing was precise. He finished his work and came downstairs exactly at 5:40 PM.

Lin Jindu’s car was parked in the company’s drop-off area.

Ji Chengyi walked over and knocked on the car window.

Lin Jindu had a laptop on his lap, clearly working.

Hearing the knock, he looked up from the screen and rolled down the window.

Ji Chengyi spoke through the window, “Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Lin.”

Lin Jindu looked at him, “No problem, I just arrived two minutes ago.”

Ji Chengyi suggested, “Mr. Lin, why don’t you lead the way? I’ll follow you in my car.”

Seeing his earnest expression, Lin Jindu felt a bit helpless, “Mr. Ji, it seems we’re going home together to meet the parents.”

It struck Lin Jindu then that while Ji Chengyi was usually well-mannered, he was somewhat slow when it came to family matters.

Lin Jindu thought that perhaps Ji Chengyi’s slight social awkwardness was due to the early passing of Mrs. Ji, which deprived him of a complete upbringing and guidance.

For someone as demanding of perfection as Lin Jindu, this was the only flaw he found in Ji Chengyi’s character.

But it was a minor imperfection.

Lin Jindu easily accepted this negligible flaw.

Ji Chengyi didn’t notice Lin Jindu’s thoughts. After a brief pause, he quickly understood and said, “Alright.”

Then he added, “Mr. Lin, could you open the trunk?”

Before Lin Jindu could respond, the driver in the front seat had already opened the trunk.

Ji Chengyi motioned for his driver to place the gifts he had prepared for Lin Jindu’s parents into Lin Jindu’s car.

Then he walked around and got into the car.

As soon as he sat down, Ji Chengyi’s phone rang in his pocket.

“Sorry,” Ji Chengyi said to Lin Jindu while taking out his phone.

Seeing the caller ID, Ji Chengyi’s light brown eyes showed a hint of confusion.

But he still said to Lin Jindu, “Mr. Lin, I need to take this call.”

Lin Jindu gestured with his hand, “Go ahead, Mr. Ji.”

Ji Chengyi answered the call, “Hello.”

His voice was calm, without any hint of surprise.

On the other end, Yu Heyan hadn’t heard Ji Chengyi’s voice for several days. Upon suddenly hearing this familiar and pleasant voice, his first reaction wasn’t to complain about Ji Chengyi’s coldness but to blurt out, “Yi Ge, I miss you so much.”

Usually, if the phone volume isn’t turned down deliberately, another person in the same space, not too far away, can also hear the voice from the call.

Lin Jindu wasn’t surprised and didn’t react. He focused on his laptop screen.

Ji Chengyi looked out of the window, not responding to Yu Heyan’s declaration of longing. He simply said, “Mr. Yu, have you forgotten that we no longer have any relationship?”

There was a moment of silence on Yu Heyan’s end, his voice then sounding a bit aggrieved, “Yi Ge, don’t you miss me at all?”

Ji Chengyi remained calm, “If Mr. Yu has nothing else, I will hang up now.”

Yu Heyan became anxious, “Yi Ge, don’t hang up! I…”

Despite the impoliteness, Ji Chengyi decisively ended the call.

“Sorry, it was my ex-boyfriend,” Ji Chengyi said as he put away his phone, turning to explain to Lin Jindu.

Lin Jindu had investigated Ji Chengyi and knew that Ji Chengyi had just broken up with his boyfriend the day before they started their partnership. However, Lin Jindu wasn’t concerned about Ji Chengyi’s past romantic experiences or how many ex-boyfriends he had. His main interest was ensuring that Ji Chengyi could bring the anticipated benefits during their collaboration.

“Okay,” Lin Jindu said, looking up at him. “If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.”

Ji Chengyi smiled faintly, “Thank you, Mr. Lin, but I can handle it myself.”

Lin Jindu believed in Ji Chengyi’s ability to manage the situation and didn’t pursue the topic further. Instead, he started talking about his parents’ personalities and the unexpected situations Ji Chengyi might encounter.

Ji Chengyi, who rarely heard such everyday topics, found himself becoming engrossed in the conversation. His light brown eyes involuntarily became distant and unfocused.

“Mr. Ji?” Lin Jindu noticed that Ji Chengyi was lost in thought and called him softly.

Ji Chengyi slowly returned to his senses.

Lin Jindu asked, “Are you alright, Mr. Ji?”

Ji Chengyi shook his head, “I’m fine.”

He then laughed lightly, “I understand. I’ll handle it properly, don’t worry, Mr. Lin.”

Lin Jindu looked at him for a moment before nodding, “Okay.”