Chapter 8

7:00 a.m.

When Xu Zhou woke up, Shen Yan was already gone.

The curtains were drawn just enough to let in scattered streaks of light. He blinked a few times, still groggy, before sitting up. Memories of last night flashed through his mind, filling him with an unprecedented warmth.

After quickly tidying up, he opened the door to the resting room.

Just then, Lu Feng came in, placing the financial reports on Xu Zhou’s desk. “Pulling another all-nighter at the office last night? Qin Shu said a super handsome guy came out of your office early this morning. Who was that?”

Xu Zhou stretched and sat down in his chair, resuming last night’s unfinished report. “Not really an all-nighter… just too lazy to go home so late.”

Lu Feng chuckled, used to it, but still curious. “Still haven’t told me who the handsome guy was.”

“Here for a business meeting.”

“What company…” Before Xu Zhou could answer, Lu Feng’s eyes caught faint marks along his collarbone, darker than before. “Your allergies… not better yet?”

Immediately realizing how foolish his question sounded, Lu Feng gasped. “Y-you… you’re telling me you called him to the office for a business meeting, not… you know… romance?!”

Xu Zhou’s expression froze. He looked up at Lu Feng and noticed him staring at his neck, words unspoken.

A sudden memory from last night came rushing back—he’d been dizzy, barely able to breathe, and Shen Yan had… bitten his neck.

He tugged at his collar, paused for a moment, then feigned casualness.

“Just another allergic reaction…”

Lu Feng chuckled dryly, thinking, I treat you like a brother, and you treat me like an idiot.

Coming in early at the office, he’d just witnessed a jaw-dropping scene. Xu Zhou had finally let his guard down.

After all these years, Lu Feng knew Xu Zhou had always been cautious with others. Back in school, he preferred to be alone, renting a room nearby during holidays, working part-time. His posture always carried a quiet loneliness beneath a proud exterior.

Now, Xu Zhou no longer bothered to hide anything.

Lu Feng relaxed and continued typing. This was a lot to process.

“So… that wasn’t the guy who left your office this morning, right?”

His mind briefly recalled a male classmate confessing to Xu Zhou back in college, though that situation had been… different.

Lu Feng pulled a chair across from Xu Zhou, crossing his legs, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

“You never said you liked guys before?”

“That was just an excuse to reject someone.”

Lu Feng clicked his tongue. Alright then.

“So, what’s your relationship now? Flirting? Or actually together? How long? Did he pursue you or vice versa? How old is he? Personality? Company? …”

Xu Zhou pinched the bridge of his nose, headache brewing from all the questions.

At that moment, Qin Shu knocked and entered.

“Boss, the materials for the meeting are ready, and everyone’s here. Do you want to go now?”

Xu Zhou sighed deeply in his mind.

“Go now.”

Lu Feng folded his arms, a mixture of surprise and curiosity on his face.

——

Top floor, Lingqi Group, CEO office

“Mr. Shen, the Yunmeng executives are holding a dinner at Yihai Restaurant tonight. The invitation has been delivered.”

“Postpone it.” Shen Yan didn’t even look up, focused on his work. Early finish, early leave.

Knock knock knock.

“Enter.”

Lin Feng began to speak. “Mr. Shen, the Yunmeng CEO has arrived—”

Before he could finish, the door opened.

The voice arrived first, playful, teasing.

“The meeting the day before yesterday got postponed, fine. But now you can’t even find time for dinner? I turned down another invitation just to come see you personally at the office.”

Shen Yan glanced at him briefly, handing files on his left to Lin Feng to handle.

“No evenings free from now on.”

He was going to pick up his boyfriend after work.

Zhou Xingyu, walking over, sat on the sofa by the floor-to-ceiling windows. “Why? You’re usually free in the evenings. You always refuse invitations for dinners and banquets, and now suddenly ‘no time’? Are you… dating?”

“Yes.”

“I… you…”

Zhou Xingyu’s eyes widened; his crossed leg fell to the floor.

“You… what did you just say?”

“Really dating? No way, you’re not joking, right?” Realizing Shen Yan never jokes, his shock was like a flood.

He knew Shen Yan’s temperament well after years of collaboration—cold, precise, and unyielding. Even a joke becomes cold in his presence.

A memory surfaced.

“I remember you liked someone before… so now you finally gave up?”

He remembered a time in college when he invited Shen Yan out for drinks. Expectedly, Shen Yan would have declined, busy as always. But that day, he agreed. Drunk, holding his phone, mumbling someone’s name… The shock of seeing the usually cold Shen Yan care for someone deeply was unforgettable.

Shen Yan rejected everyone else not because he had no desire, but because his heart was already occupied.

Shen Yan briefly lifted his eyes to Zhou Xingyu but continued working, saying nothing about the past.

Zhou Xingyu stood, eager to gossip. “Could it be that person? Xu… Xu…” He didn’t catch the full name, only knew the surname.

Shen Yan’s lips twitched slightly, but he didn’t respond, returning to his work.

A silence settled in the office.

Zhou Xingyu eventually patted his head in frustration. Even someone as cold and unfeeling as Shen Yan had found a partner first. Whoever warmed Shen Yan’s stone-like heart must be remarkable.

——

8:00 p.m.

Shen Yan called on schedule.

Lu Feng, sitting nearby, craned his neck.

Xu Zhou: “…”

“Could it be that handsome guy?”

Xu Zhou glanced at him and cleared his throat.

“The guy who said he wanted to pursue you the other day… is it him too?” Lu Feng realized too late and gaped. “You guys… progressed that fast?”

“Yes.” Xu Zhou said, picking up his phone and heading to the resting room, closing the door behind him.

“?” Lu Feng raised an eyebrow. Forgetting his brother, huh?

“Finished working?” Shen Yan’s pleasant voice came through the phone.

Xu Zhou, sitting on the bed, held the phone to his ear. “Not yet.”

Shen Yan frowned. “Feeling better? I’ll come get you later.”

“All better. No need tonight; I have something else to do.”

Shen Yan’s brow furrowed slightly, guessing Xu Zhou might stay at the office again. “Have you eaten dinner?”

“Going to a dinner event later for work.”

Two seconds of silence. Shen Yan asked, “What dinner? Mandatory?”

Xu Zhou nodded. “Hosted by Yunmeng. A project meeting—several previous attempts failed, so I need to go in person.”

Upon hearing Yunmeng Group, Shen Yan raised an eyelid but said nothing. “You just recovered. Don’t drink. I’ll come in an hour and a half. If someone toasts you, refuse.”

Xu Zhou nodded.

After chatting briefly, the call ended around 8:30. Outside, Lu Feng began knocking. “Hurry up! Tonight’s our chance with Xingchen depends on this dinner.”

——

X City, a high-end restaurant

Elegant chandeliers, shining silverware, spotless table settings—all spoke of luxury.

The restaurant, named Yihai, exuded an artistic atmosphere.

Soft music floated through the air, creating a relaxed, romantic ambiance.

About a hundred guests were present: some catching up at tables, some clinking glasses, some scanning the room for potential connections.

Upon entering, Xu Zhou immediately drew attention.

The restaurant was large; scanning the visible area, they couldn’t spot the person they were looking for. Probably Li Xu hadn’t arrived yet.

Only invited guests could enter. Xu Zhou and his companion were able to come through connections with Yunmeng executives.

Xu Zhou found a secluded sofa, picked at a plate of fruit, eyes fixed on the entrance.

Lu Feng wandered off with a wine glass.

The atmosphere reached its peak; Li Xu still hadn’t arrived.

Xu Zhou finished his plate, sighed, and reached for his phone to pass the time. Before long, two voices pierced the noise—remarkably clear.

Nearby was a large vase, shielding Xu Zhou from view.

“Just agree to be with me, and I’ll help you deal with Gu Cheng. Everything in the Gu family, I can get for you…”

Gu Yu pushed away the hand holding his own. “I only see you as a brother I grew up with. I won’t let Gu Cheng take anything from the Gu family. I can handle it myself.”

Chu Hanyu stepped closer. “Gu Yu, how do you plan to stop him? Do you even understand your situation? Your father sent you to a small company to fend for yourself. You can’t even enter your family company. If not for your mother’s divorce condition, you wouldn’t even control this small company. Without me, you’d be stuck here forever…”

“Chu Hanyu! My family’s business is none of your concern. I’ll do what I decide, and I hope you stop interfering.”

He didn’t want to owe anyone favors, and he didn’t like Chu Hanyu. He couldn’t meet that request.

Chu Hanyu smiled bitterly. “Can’t you try to like me?”

Gu Yu shook his head. “Sorry. You can’t force feelings.”

Chu Hanyu walked away. Gu Yu noticed a handsome young man sitting on a sofa nearby, head down on his phone, hair falling to partially cover his dark eyes. Under the lights, his skin looked pale and flawless.

Sensing someone looking at him, Xu Zhou lifted his head. They exchanged a polite nod before he returned to his phone.

Gu Yu inwardly groaned—how unlucky that this beautiful youth overheard everything.

Shaking his head, he moved toward the crowd. His phone buzzed; he pulled it out, and while typing, collided with someone. Dizzily, he almost dropped the phone, muttering an apology as he steadied himself.

Zhou Xingyu watched Gu Yu leave, noting the slightly shorter, flustered figure looked somewhat cute.

——

Neck stiff from looking at his phone too long, Xu Zhou prepared to stand. At that moment, Li Xu entered with his assistant.

He sent Lu Feng a message, unsure where he had gone; he hadn’t seen him for a while.

Li Xu approached Zhou Xingyu, courteously taking a seat and raising his glass.

“Mr. Zhou, thank you for inviting me. I originally wanted to schedule a separate lunch, but knowing how busy you are…”

Zhou Xingyu barely reacted, legs still crossed.

With hundreds of invitations sent, he didn’t know who received them.

Before Li Xu could continue, Zhou Xingyu left to take a call in a quieter spot.

Xu Zhou observed everything, smirking slightly—but recalling he was about to discuss a collaboration with him, the smile faded.

Li Xu appeared polished, but he was notoriously difficult. One of the hardest people Xu Zhou had ever dealt with.

Xingchen Group ranked among the top three transportation companies in X City. Xu Zhou wouldn’t approach him if it weren’t crucial for Qingchuang’s growth.

Li Xu sipped his wine alone. Xu Zhou sat beside him, forcing a smile. “Mr. Li? Fancy meeting you here.”

Li Xu set down his glass, glanced at him, and gave a polite, habitual smile. “Mr. Xu. Been busy with work, so…”

Before he could finish, Gu Yu arrived.

He froze seeing Xu Zhou—he hadn’t expected such a handsome young man to target the same goal.

Li Xu’s eyes flickered with complexity. He had heard about Xu Zhou’s recent financial troubles, hence the previous refusals. Yet here Xu Zhou was.

Gu Yu managed only a small advertising company now; he had no intention to cooperate with either.

Xu Zhou didn’t know Gu Yu personally, but he had heard of the Gu family’s nationwide enterprises.

Remembering the conversation he overheard earlier, Xu Zhou realized Gu Yu’s current position wasn’t easy.