In Fu Yan’s office, Fu Chuyin sat slumped on the sofa, looking dejected.

The technical director beside him flipped back and forth between two documents.

“Slungshot’s second-round technical proposal really did overlap with ours. Every key technical point was hit precisely, and the feasibility solutions they proposed were all solid. They even carried out preliminary technical research. We can’t really complain about being eliminated in the second round.”

Fu Chuyin snatched the documents away in disbelief and rapidly flipped through them, comparing each item one by one.

Fu Yan sat beside him and held his somewhat trembling hand.

“Chuyin, I know you put a lot of effort into this proposal. You’ve also been very interested in Youfan’s technical architecture. But winning and losing are part of the game. There will be many more challenging projects waiting for you in the future.”

“Brother, you used his computer that night, didn’t you?” Fu Chuyin asked coldly.

Meeting his younger brother’s reddened eyes, Fu Yan suddenly thought of an unpleasant possibility.

His first instinct was to reject it.

But when reason caught up with him a moment later, he hesitated.

His expression steadied.

Turning to the technical director, he said, “You can go back to work now.”

“Yes, President Fu.”

The director quietly left.

Fu Chuyin’s voice was calm but sharp.

“You have computers at home and in your apartment. You never bring your laptop home after work. That night at his place, the only computer you could have used was his.”

“The proposal I sent you—did you delete it after reading it? Or did you leave it on his computer?”

“I...” Fu Yan gently rubbed his brother’s shoulder.

“Chuyin, I believe he isn’t that kind of person. Slungshot is capable of producing a proposal like this on their own. It’s only Youfan. We’re not people who can’t afford to lose.”

“Lose? I can accept losing. But I can’t accept losing without knowing why!”

Fu Chuyin’s voice rose uncontrollably as he sprang to his feet and headed for the door.

Fu Yan quickly grabbed him.

“Where are you going?”

“To get an answer.”

The young man’s eyes could not tolerate even a grain of sand.

Fu Yan firmly guided him back onto the sofa and smoothed his hair.

“Don’t rush. Leave this matter to your brother, okay?”

Fu Chuyin stared at him.

His eyes carried anger, disappointment, and even suspicion.

As though he were looking at an emperor so blinded by love that he had lost all principles.

“Brother, I honestly never understood how you ended up with him.”

Fu Chuyin had met many of Fu Yan’s previous boyfriends.

They were either innocent and easygoing, or gentle and caring.

In his mind, someone who could take care of his brother should be that kind of person.

No matter how he calculated it, a calculating businessman like Gu Zhan shouldn’t have made the list.

How much genuine affection could someone like that possibly have for his brother?

Yet Fu Yan had even brought him home to meet the family.

Fu Chuyin was convinced his brother had been bewitched by a cunning fox spirit.

Fu Yan laughed.

“Little Chuyin, we shouldn’t always judge people through colored lenses.”

“Gu Zhan is a respectable opponent in business, and an adorable lover in life.”

“I like him very much.”

“If you keep speaking badly about him, your brother will be very sad.”

Fu Chuyin lowered his head.

His eyes were red like an angry rabbit’s.

The grievance in his heart only deepened.

It’s over. My brother is completely hopeless.

Fu Yan pinched his soft cheek.

“Enough. Don’t be upset.”

“I know you stayed up for several nights working on this proposal.”

“I already think you’re amazing.”

“When you stood on that stage giving your presentation, you were shining. Everyone applauded for you.”

“But bidding results depend on many factors. You’ve already done everything you could for the company.”

“The company can go to hell.”

Fu Chuyin rubbed his nose and stormed out.

Watching his retreating figure, Fu Yan smiled helplessly.

Perhaps it was best to let him cool down for a while.

That evening, after returning home, Fu Yan felt he needed to talk to Gu Zhan about the matter.

Deep down, he trusted Gu Zhan.

But reason prevented him from completely separating Gu Zhan from the reality that he was also a shrewd businessman.

For people like them, many things were considered reasonable compromises with reality—normal business tactics.

Moreover, this situation was partly caused by Fu Yan’s own carelessness.

He owed Fu Chuyin an explanation.

But he waited and waited.

President Gu still hadn’t come home from work.

Recently, Gu Zhan has been working overtime constantly.

No sooner had he finished dealing with Youfan than he launched straight into a new project.

He worked as though his life depended on it.

Several times, Fu Yan had wanted to cook him something nice, but Gu Zhan never had the leisure to enjoy it.

The clock ticked past midnight.

More than half an hour had passed since Gu Zhan had sent a WeChat message saying:

𓉘 Heading home now. 𓉝

Fu Yan lay half-asleep on the living room sofa, ears alert for any sound outside.

Ding—

The elevator stopped.

The building only had two apartments per floor, and the neighboring unit had been vacant for years.

At this hour, almost nobody used the elevator.

Hearing the sound, Fu Yan immediately slipped into his slippers and walked to the door.

Strangely, after waiting several minutes, he still didn’t hear anyone unlocking a door.

He peered through the peephole.

No one.

Yet the hallway motion-sensor light was on.

Opening the door quietly, he stepped outside.

The elevator doors were already closed.

The floor indicator showed it was still stopped on this level.

So he hadn’t imagined it.

Someone had definitely arrived.

Looking around and seeing no one, he pressed the down button.

The elevator doors slowly slid open.

Inside stood a tall figure leaning elegantly against the elevator wall, bathed in silvery-white light.

It was Gu Zhan.

His broad back rested lightly against the wall.

His head drooped.

His long lashes lay quietly against his cheeks.

His suit jacket hung casually over one arm.

Three buttons of his white dress shirt were undone.

His crimson tie hung loosely around his collar, making the pale skin beneath look almost dazzling.

He had actually fallen asleep standing in the elevator.

Fu Yan smiled and stepped closer.

“Tired?”

Gu Zhan’s eyes flew open.

Seeing it was Fu Yan, he immediately relaxed and slumped against his shoulder.

He muttered something unintelligible and stopped moving, seemingly unaware he was still inside the elevator.

His body tilted awkwardly.

Accidentally brushing the floor buttons, he sent the elevator moving downward again.

Wrapping an arm around his waist, Fu Yan sighed.

“I don’t have ambitions as grand as President Gu’s.”

“You’ve already earned enough money for you and your mother to live comfortably for several lifetimes.”

“So why are you still working this hard?”

“Hm?”

Half asleep, Gu Zhan mumbled,

“Getting... married.”

“Wasn’t it you who said it?”

“Can’t keep my boyfriend waiting forever...”

“Need to work hard... earn enough to marry you sooner...”

At that moment, something struck Fu Yan straight in the heart.

Looking at Gu Zhan’s exhausted face, dark circles faintly visible beneath his eyes, he suddenly felt that all his doubts had vanished.

Gu Zhan was exhausting himself for their future.

Yet he had still been harboring suspicions.

Seeing him this tired, Fu Yan couldn’t bring himself to ask a single question.

Wasn’t it only Youfan?

Whatever Gu Zhan wanted, couldn’t he provide it?

Looking down at the man in his arms, who had completely dropped his guard and leaned all his weight against him, Fu Yan thought he looked incredibly soft.

Gu Zhan’s reddish lips moved slightly, as if uncomfortable.

“Did you forget to drink water today?” Fu Yan asked.

“Hm?”

“Let me check.”

Before Gu Zhan could react, warm lips pressed against his.

His exhausted brain barely functioned anymore.

But he knew it was Fu Yan kissing him.

He was too tired to respond much.

He simply parted his lips slightly and allowed Fu Yan to deepen the kiss.

Fu Yan pressed him gently against the elevator wall.

The more he kissed him, the more emotional he became.

Their bodies brushed against the control panel, unknowingly pressing a whole row of buttons.

By the time Gu Zhan felt almost unable to breathe, he gradually came back to his senses.

He pushed lightly at Fu Yan’s shoulder and touched his own face.

“Ah. I forgot to take off my glasses after work.”

His prescription was mild.

He usually only wore glasses while reading documents.

The gold-rimmed pair gave the young CEO a more scholarly and dependable appearance.

At home, however, they were usually more trouble than they were worth.

He reached to remove them, but Fu Yan caught his hand.

Fu Yan’s gaze traveled over his rumpled shirt before settling on the elegant gold-rimmed glasses.

Lowering his voice, he murmured something suggestive that made Gu Zhan laugh tiredly.

“If you want that, just say so.”

Their flirtation continued as the elevator traveled up and down.

Lights brightened and dimmed.

Even though they both knew nobody was likely to appear at this hour, each time the elevator doors suddenly opened at a floor, they instinctively tensed.

Not knowing when the doors would open—or whether someone might see them—was strangely thrilling.

Eventually Fu Yan muttered,

“I want you.”

Gu Zhan smiled weakly.

His eyes could barely stay open.

“You don’t want me.”

“You want my life.”

Seeing how exhausted he looked, Fu Yan finally softened.

Regaining a little clarity, Gu Zhan glanced at the floor display, pressed the correct button, and then pointed meaningfully toward the blinking security camera overhead.

Fu Yan pouted unwillingly.

When they finally left the elevator, he even glared fiercely at the camera.

He truly wished he could dismantle the thing.

The hardworking elevator camera seemed to say: I didn’t do anything to any of you…

After all the excitement, Gu Zhan was more awake than before.

But he was still exhausted.

He didn’t want to move another step.

“Once this busy period is over, let’s take a vacation,” Fu Yan said, supporting him by the waist.

“Where do you want to go?”

“Anywhere.”

“How about Hakone?”

“Sounds good.”

“We can soak in hot springs and watch the snow.”

“Relax a little.”

“Hot springs are great,” Fu Yan agreed.

“Let’s find an outdoor one.”

Collapsing onto the bed, Gu Zhan yanked off his tie.

“You pervert.”

“What kind of censored fantasies are you having now?”

Fu Yan sat beside him.

“What do you mean I’m having them?”

“You aren’t?”

Squinting sleepily, Gu Zhan muttered,

“I just want to see snow.”

“People from the south don’t get much of that.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll go with you.”

Fu Yan gently played with his hair.

“Sigh...”

“I still need a shower.”

Once he had collapsed onto the bed, Gu Zhan had no desire to get up again.

“If you don’t want to shower, then don’t.”

Gu Zhan shook his head.

Looking at Fu Yan’s spotless pajamas, he said,

“You’re all clean and neat.”

“I can’t have you looking down on me.”

“Then I’ll help you.”

“Okay.”

Gu Zhan nodded with his eyes closed.

Fu Yan happily began unbuttoning his shirt.

One button.

Two buttons.

When he reached the sleeves, Gu Zhan obediently rolled onto his side to make things easier.

To be fair, President Fu genuinely had intended to help his exhausted boyfriend change clothes.

But President Gu, with his sleepy eyes and completely relaxed posture, letting himself be handled however Fu Yan pleased...

It was simply too tempting.

Practically entrapment.

Before long, things started heading in a very different direction.

Half asleep, Gu Zhan murmured:

“Mm... weren’t you helping me take a shower?”

Fu Yan nuzzled against his neck.

“We’ll shower together later.”

Resigned, Gu Zhan thought:

Fine.

Fu Yan got worked up a lot tonight.

He probably really can’t hold back anymore.

I’ll just lie here and treat it like relaxation.