That day, Gu Zhan and President Liu were visiting an acquaintance near Cultural Street. Calling him an acquaintance was generous—he was really just a wealthy man President Liu happened to know.

The first phase of the self-owned brand project Gu Zhan and Liu had launched together, starting with home furnishings and textiles, had achieved decent results. Encouraged by the success, Gu Zhan planned to strike while the opportunity was available and expand into the apparel market for phase two. Preparations were underway, but they were still short on funding, so the two had recently been searching everywhere for suitable partners.

The man they were meeting today was already the fourth company they had approached.

As it turned out, there weren't many rich people with more money than sense. The reality was that the wealthier people were, the shrewder they tended to be. Every one of them said the same thing: they needed to review the business proposal and evaluate the project first.

But Gu Zhan couldn't afford to wait through endless rounds of evaluation. Slungshot's cash flow had been stretched thin after securing exclusive domestic distribution rights for several imported affordable luxury brands. They urgently needed capital to launch phase two.

The two men emerged from the company looking dejected.

Patting his large belly, President Liu cautiously suggested once again,

"What about asking President Fu—"

"No."

Gu Zhan rejected the idea immediately.

"Fu Group participated in phase one, but only under a phase-one contract. Slungshot's trying to build its own brand. Having a giant like Fu Group involved isn't ideal. Sure, at the moment they probably aren't interested in snatching up someone else's scraps, but simply investing doesn't earn them much either. Phase one was small. Who knows how much phase two and phase three will require? Fu Group isn't stupid. Why would they keep pouring money into building someone else's brand?"

"But if you don't even ask, how do you know they wouldn't be willing?"

President Liu smiled meaningfully.

Gu Zhan paused.

Looking back now, the reason Fu Yan had invested so readily in phase one was probably due, at least in part, to personal reasons involving him.

Ever since their unpleasant parting that night, the two of them had become busy with their own lives and rarely contacted each other. Gu Zhan still couldn't figure out exactly what Fu Yan's attitude toward him was. He didn't want things to remain this vague forever.

Seeing the dark expression on Gu Zhan's face, President Liu joked,

"Oh? Did you two have a falling out? A little friction is normal—"

Gu Zhan shot him a warning look that cut off the rest of the sentence.

Lately, President Liu had repeatedly hinted about Fu Yan, clearly hoping Gu Zhan would improve their relationship and persuade Fu Yan to join the project. And every time, Gu Zhan felt as though Liu knew something.

But how?

He and Fu Yan had always been extremely careful in public.

How had Liu found out?

Without realizing it, Gu Zhan straightened his shoulders, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

President Liu was an expert at reading people. Seeing the embarrassment flicker across Gu Zhan's face, he quickly changed the subject.

"Conflicts happen. Business is never smooth sailing. Is there really someone President Gu can't handle?"

Gu Zhan lowered his head and smiled.

President Liu slapped his belly.

"It's lunchtime. Why don't we call President Fu and have a meal together?"

"President Gu—!"

A young man in a beret came bouncing up from behind them.

"I thought that looked like you from the back. It really is you!"

"Hua Jiu."

Gu Zhan smiled in greeting.

"You're looking for Brother Yan for lunch? He's been really busy lately. I've tried inviting him several times and our schedules never lined up."

Hua Jiu had overheard them talking about Fu Yan from a distance.

"And this is...?" President Liu asked with a smile.

"Oh, he's..."

For a moment, Gu Zhan didn't know how to introduce Hua Jiu. After all, they'd only met once.

"My name's Hua Jiu. President Gu and I just met recently too. I'm pretty close with Brother Yan."

"Oh, nice to meet you."

President Liu exchanged a few pleasantries, his gaze darting between the two.

Something about the atmosphere felt strange.

And this young man kept calling him "Brother Yan," sounding awfully familiar with Fu Yan.

President Liu was no fool.

His instincts immediately told him this was not a place to linger.

Pretending to check his phone, he said,

"President Gu, a friend, just invited me to lunch. Sorry, I'll have to excuse myself."

"Of course. Go ahead."

Once President Liu left, only Gu Zhan and Hua Jiu remained.

It wasn't that Gu Zhan didn't know how to interact with energetic young men like Hua Jiu.

Quite the opposite.

Hua Jiu was exactly the type he'd preferred in the past.

But for some reason, he felt an uncomfortable heaviness in his chest. He didn't particularly want to continue chatting warmly with Hua Jiu. Unfortunately, they were headed in the same direction, making avoidance impossible.

So he politely asked,

"What brings you here?"

"I'm setting up my gallery exhibition."

Hua Jiu pointed ahead.

"That section, and a few exhibition halls over there too—they're displaying my paintings."

"That's impressive."

Gu Zhan was genuinely surprised.

The galleries in this district were quite famous in the capital. Wealthy collectors often spent fortunes buying artwork here.

Who would've thought that someone as young as Hua Jiu was already holding exhibitions in such a place?

"Brother Yan helped me."

Hua Jiu lowered his head.

"He knew I needed money."

For a brief moment, his usually cheerful face carried a trace of melancholy, but it vanished almost instantly.

"Don't misunderstand, though. I already have a boyfriend. Brother Yan and I are just friends now. I wanted to invite him to dinner to thank him and repay the favor."

"Why would I misunderstand?"

Gu Zhan immediately objected.

Yet if Hua Jiu hadn't brought it up, he wouldn't have realized how far his thoughts had already drifted.

Inwardly, he was cursing Fu Yan:

President Fu sure is busy.

Sweet-talking adorable young men on one hand, helping his ex-boyfriend's career on the other.

No wonder he doesn't have time for me anymore.

"Hahaha!"

Seeing Gu Zhan's stiff expression, Hua Jiu burst out laughing.

"President Gu, want me to show you around and look at some paintings?"

Gu Zhan hesitated.

"Oh, come on. Just a quick detour. It won't take much time. There's an exit over there that leads directly to the underground parking garage. You're heading to your car anyway, right?"

Before he could refuse, Hua Jiu dragged him along.

Though Hua Jiu claimed he wanted to show him paintings, he barely introduced any.

Instead, he constantly steered the conversation back toward Fu Yan.

"Brother Yan is seriously one of the best people I've ever met. He's the most handsome and cultured rich kid I've ever known. People say you learn someone's character after a breakup. It's not just me—every single one of his exes says he's a good person."

Realizing what he'd just implied, Hua Jiu hurriedly covered his mouth.

"I don't mean he has tons of exes! It's just that someone like Brother Yan has always been popular. But he's not the type to fool around. Once he's with someone, he's absolutely loyal."

"Kid."

Gu Zhan finally couldn't take it anymore.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

"I want to say that Brother Yan likes you."

Hua Jiu's bright eyes blinked innocently.

Gu Zhan froze for several seconds.

"Ridiculous."

Then he resumed walking.

"It's true."

Hua Jiu hurried after him.

"I dated him for less than a year, but I've seen him date other people afterward. I know exactly how he looks at someone he likes. The first time I saw you two together at that Japanese restaurant, I thought there was something there."

"Now you're really exaggerating."

Gu Zhan laughed and shook his head.

At the restaurant?

He'd have to be insane to believe Fu Yan could be furious with him over Yao Jing one moment and interested in him the next.

"No, seriously. I'm really good at reading people."

Hua Jiu kept talking.

"You aren't still trying to act straight in front of me, are you? I've been around this scene since I was a little kid. You think I can't tell whether someone's gay or straight?"

Then, walking backward, he suddenly leaned close and asked:

"President Gu... what about you?"

"Do you like Brother Yan?"

Gu Zhan stopped in his tracks.

At the exit not far away, Fu Yan was leaning casually against a car, his long legs crossed.

Hua Jiu glanced back and explained,

"I actually managed to make plans with Brother Yan today. If you don't mind, you can join us."

Gu Zhan said nothing.

His gaze simply met the man standing in the distance.

Hua Jiu tugged on his sleeve.

"Come on. Didn't you have something you wanted to talk to Brother Yan about? Besides, I'd love to have dinner with two handsome guys."

Yes.

Only now did Gu Zhan silently answer the question Hua Jiu had asked.

Yes. He liked Fu Yan.

How desperately he wished that question had come from Fu Yan himself.

But Fu Yan wouldn't ask.

At some point, Fu Yan had stopped pursuing him with the same relentless persistence.

He no longer came running to him at every opportunity.

No longer revealed his desire so openly.

Was it because Fu Yan was tired?

Or because he'd grown weary of trying?

Truthfully, Hua Jiu didn't need to tell him anything.

Gu Zhan had spent years navigating the business world and reading people.

If he couldn't tell that Fu Yan liked him, then all his emotional intelligence had gone to waste.

Fu Yan had never treated him like a mere bed partner.

Otherwise, why would the proud heir of the Fu family constantly come to his apartment to cook for him?

Why would he take care of him over and over again?

And what kind of casual sex partner brings someone home to meet their parents?

The real issue was that Gu Zhan had never dared face it.

He'd never dared acknowledge Fu Yan's feelings.

Because once he did, he'd have to confront his own.

And for him, that meant stepping into an entirely new world—a door he still wasn't sure he was ready to open.

It felt as though Fu Yan had been pulling him forward this whole time.

And he had never managed to keep up.

Now Fu Yan was tired.

And only now was Gu Zhan finally realizing that he liked him too.

Was it too late?

Would Fu Yan still be willing to stop and wait for him?

Would he still be willing to turn around one more time?

That night when Fu Yan had flown all the way back from another city...

Had he come back for him?

Then why hadn't he said anything afterward?

Was he upset because Gu Zhan had gone out drinking late at night?

Or jealous because of the lipstick mark on his collar?

But Fu Yan never mentioned any of it.

He'd acted so composed.

So gracious.

Not even a hint of dissatisfaction escaped him.

Maybe it was because Fu Yan had already made his decision.

Without warning, he'd silently sentenced their relationship to death in his heart.

They were both intelligent people.

Some things were understood without being spoken.

Once said aloud, they lost their meaning.

Gu Zhan stared into those dark eyes for a long time.

Sometimes they seemed deep as the sea, hiding endless affection.

Other times they felt impossibly distant.

The two men stood there in silence, separated by neither too much nor too little distance, gazing at one another.

Their feet felt both heavy and light.

Neither knew whether they should take the next step forward.