The smile froze on Guan Ciyan’s face, and he quickly composed himself. His mouth straightened, he took a deep breath, and patiently asked, “Why?”

“Assistant Lin has been following you for several years, sir?” Jian Yang asked again.

Guan Ciyan didn’t understand but answered, “Eight years.”

“What about the doctor who treated my eyes? I don’t even know his name,” Jian Yang said quietly, bowing his head.

“Jian Yang…” Guan Ciyan wanted to say it was because they hadn’t done their part.

“How many years has the doctor been working for you?”

Guan Ciyan truthfully replied, “About six or seven years. He’s not qualified to appear in front of me often.”

“And me? Sir, how many years do you plan to use me?” Jian Yang lowered his head even further.

He had been convincing himself that Guan Ciyan was a businessman, a boss, with the responsibility of eliminating unqualified employees. But in the matter of the report, Assistant Lin hadn’t done anything wrong. The orders had come from Guan Ciyan himself, and the report had been altered by the media company’s manager without permission.

If his relationship with Guan Ciyan hadn’t become closer, this report wouldn’t have been an issue. Guan Jingyu stealing his uncle’s lover was enough to make Guan Jingyu stumble in the eyes of the media and the public. Currently, those in Guan Ciyan’s team would never cooperate with Guan Jingyu. Guan Jingyu’s attempt to take away Guan Ciyan’s assets would become even harder.

This was clearly Guan Ciyan’s original intention.

But Guan Ciyan had changed. He didn’t want this outcome, so Assistant Lin had to take the blame. It became his fault for conveying the wrong message, failing in his duties.

Perhaps even Guan Ciyan himself believed it was Assistant Lin’s fault.

But Jian Yang knew that Guan Ciyan was the type of person who would abandon anyone to achieve his goal.

It was good to be by Guan Ciyan’s side, but he didn’t want to become a discarded piece.

Guan Ciyan didn’t answer Jian Yang. When facing the old man, he had blurted out the word “marriage.” But when facing Jian Yang, he couldn’t give a time frame. If he ever decided to give up on Jian Yang, he would make sure Jian Yang left properly, not letting him suffer like Assistant Lin.

Jian Yang kindly answered the question for Guan Ciyan, “Sir, the wind and snow are heavy. You should go back. I won’t go with you this time.”

Jian Yang stood up, stomped his feet a bit since his legs were numb from squatting for too long. When he looked down, he saw Guan Ciyan’s back was covered in snow. The black umbrella in his hand was still tilted forward, completely covering the place where Jian Yang had just squatted.

But he had been under the eaves. Most of the wind and snow were brought by Guan Ciyan.

Jian Yang bent to the right, picked up his cat bag, and turned to leave.

His left hand was tightly held, the cold sensation spiraling from his fingertips up, chilling him to the core. Jian Yang shivered, turned around, and said, “Why are your hands so cold?”

Guan Ciyan’s hands had always been warmer than his, even in winter, always warm and dry.

Now, Jian Yang realized that Guan Ciyan was only wearing a suit, not a coat.

“Jian Yang,” Guan Ciyan stood up, looking at Jian Yang from top to bottom, “Jian Buqing told the old man today that the Jian family will take you away. If you leave now, tomorrow there will be paparazzi reporting your whereabouts. Do you think the Jian family will let you go?”

“Fan Mei and Jian Buqing have been insulted by you twice. At the banquet, you had Jiang Ke throw Jian Mingwu and Fan Mei out.”

“Even with all this, do you still want to leave?”

Jian Yang had forgotten about this. Guan Ciyan’s report had put him in the spotlight. The Jian family wouldn’t let him go. He could hide or escape, but would have to wait until he could protect himself before reappearing. Guan Ciyan shattered his illusions.

“Are you threatening me?” Jian Yang raised his voice.

Guan Ciyan was at a loss for words. That wasn’t what he meant. How had this come out wrong? He licked his lips and said gently, “I just want to tell you that staying by my side is the best choice. I can protect you. I don’t need to resort to threats with you, do I?”

Jian Yang’s anger was blown away by the cold wind. Guan Ciyan was right. To deal with him, there was no need for threats. Moreover, with his earlier actions, using Guan Ciyan’s power to slap the entire Jian family in the face, without Guan Ciyan, he might end up being grabbed by Jian Mingwu and sent off to someone else.

“You don’t have to worry about Director Xu’s film. Once you get the role, the biggest investor will be me. The film will be released on time, and Jiang Ke will handle your publicity. You don’t have to worry about anything, okay?”

He even asked two questions. This was a level of gentleness Guan Ciyan had never shown before.

“Don’t you want Wen Ye’s film? If I were you, I’d grab this role and leave. How rare is this opportunity? Do I need to say more?”

Jian Yang felt a wave of desolation. His efforts over the past few months hadn’t changed his situation. Depending on Guan Ciyan was the best option. But even though he was reluctant, he didn’t want to be a discarded pawn in the plot.

“Go back,” Guan Ciyan tugged at his hand, pulling him in front of himself. “It’s cold. The little cat can’t stand the cold.”

Guan Ciyan believed that by presenting all the benefits, Jian Yang would know how to choose.

Jian Yang suddenly raised his head and shook off his hand. “Guan Ciyan! Is this coercion and inducement fun for you?”

“You’re acting like you’re giving me a choice, but when have you ever really given me one? If you truly cared, you’d go and retract the report! Say that I have nothing to do with you, with the Guan family!”

“You invested in Director Xu’s film, didn’t you earn money from it? You talk like it’s all for me. What have I gotten from this?”

“How I get along with the Jian family has nothing to do with you. If I die, it’s none of your business!”

Jian Yang nearly shouted these words, his eyes reddening again. He had tried to leave three times, and each time, Guan Ciyan had given him a way out. As long as he followed Guan Ciyan’s words, it wouldn’t seem shameful to go back.

Who could refuse the benefits handed to them?

He was particularly adept at controlling Guan Ciyan with this point, making him feel completely trapped while pretending to give him a choice. He was always the giver, standing high and steady on his platform, watching him struggle, helpless, and finally succumb.

What a fine director, anyone could be his pawn, anyone could be used by him.

Guan Ciyan was left speechless by his yelling, tightly gripping him. Jian Yang shook his hand and turned, but Guan Ciyan wouldn’t let go, and he couldn’t move an inch.

“Let go!” Jian Yang used all his strength, yanking his hand free, slapping the back of his hand against Guan Ciyan’s right cheek. The black umbrella slipped from Guan Ciyan’s hand and fell into the snow, spinning around.

Jian Yang himself lost his balance and staggered a few steps.

He had lost his mind, he had dared to slap Guan Ciyan.

Despite his rage, Jian Yang still had some rationality left. In the book, he was tortured into an almost unrecognizable state for angering Guan Ciyan.

But now that he had struck, Jian Yang wiped his eyes. If he was destined to die, what difference did it make if he was tortured to death or used as a pawn and died?

If he couldn’t escape the plot, he would end it himself. If Guan Ciyan dared to touch him, he would die clean and simple.

Guan Ciyan touched his face, where the soft back of Jian Yang’s hand had brushed, and it was chilling to the bone. When he had carried Jian Yang to Su Lao’s place earlier, his palm had been burning hot. Now, it was chilled by the wind and snow.

He had encountered his first feeling of defeat with Jian Yang. Apart from the beginning, he had given Jian Yang the best of everything at every step, but Jian Yang seemed always uneasy around him, falling ill.

He couldn’t learn to be clever.

Even now, after guiding Jian Yang to the best path, Jian Yang was furious. Guan Ciyan had no time to think, and Jian Yang was already walking away, holding the cat.

His coat pocket filled with snow, and he didn’t even use the umbrella. He sneezed, pulling his neck deeper into his collar.

Guan Ciyan took a few steps forward and caught up with him.

“What are you doing!” Jian Yang snapped, “I told you to leave.”

Snowflakes fell on Jian Yang’s lashes, disappearing in half a second, the wet lashes sticking to his lower eyelid, making his eyes even redder.

Guan Ciyan didn’t know if it was Jian Yang’s eyes being sensitive, or if he was about to cry. He reached out with stiff fingers and wiped the water from the corner of his eyes, asking, “Does it hurt?”

Jian Yang was irritated and didn’t understand. It hurt, yes, but what did it have to do with Guan Ciyan?

Guan Ciyan ran back to pick up the umbrella, shielding them both from the snow falling above their heads. “I don’t know what you’re angry about, but can we go back and talk slowly?”

“Also, I didn’t mean to threaten you just now, I was speaking the truth.” Guan Ciyan thought for a moment and added, “It’s not entirely like that. If you insist on leaving today, I’ll have people follow you. The Jian family won’t dare to do anything to you, but Jian Yang, why bother renting a place in a slum? I really don’t think it’s necessary.”

Guan Ciyan spoke with a slight frown, his words slow. His deep, inky eyes reflected Jian Yang’s shadow. Jian Yang was mesmerized and suddenly remembered the afternoon when Guan Ciyan had pinned a blue diamond brooch on him.

He was a bit confused now. Guan Ciyan could make him come back in a thousand different ways. At worst, he could send two people to drag him back, and Jian Yang wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

Why bother pleading with him like this?

Jian Yang remained silent but didn’t try to leave. Guan Ciyan, a bit calmer now, cautiously asked, “Can you tell me what you’re angry about?”

“Jian Yang, you’re angry at me, right?”

If Guan Ciyan had confronted him directly, Jian Yang would have fought back fiercely, but Guan Ciyan’s humble approach made Jian Yang unable to be angry. Instead, there was doubt mixed in with his softening heart: Could this be another of Guan Ciyan’s tactics to coax him back?

He was exhausted.

Jian Yang spoke clearly, “I’m not angry. I just don’t want to go back. I won’t rent a place in a slum, and your villa isn’t that great to me either.”

His golden eyes remained clear but no longer shone with warmth for him. Guan Ciyan couldn’t follow Jian Yang’s line of thinking. After Jian Yang turned away again, Guan Ciyan looked at his back and asked, “Don’t you like me?”

“Don’t you like me anymore?”

Jian Yang hesitated. Was this still relevant?

Hadn’t Guan Ciyan never trusted him?

It didn’t matter anymore. Jian Yang mashed his words together. “I don’t want to like you. It’s too exhausting.”

A sour taste lingered in Jian Yang’s heart, a rare feeling. He probably wouldn’t forget when Guan Ciyan had solemnly told him it would be fine, that he would cure his eyes.