The warm light clicked on, illuminating an empty, lonely home.

After returning home, Gu Zhan loosened his tie with one hand and wandered aimlessly through the living room, study, and bedroom.

Over the past few days, this had become his routine after work.

Fu Yan hadn't come home for three days.

More accurately, ever since Gu Zhan returned to the capital, he hadn't been able to reach him at all.

He had sent people to the Fu Corporation offices, but Fu Yan was never there.

Since their unhappy parting in Suzhou, they hadn't contacted each other once.

Gu Zhan had countless problems to deal with, and Fu Yan was surely overwhelmed as well. Yet the man he once couldn't bear to go a single day without seeing had suddenly vanished from his life. It left him with the strange feeling that something essential was missing.

As Gu Zhan reached into the wardrobe for his loungewear, he suddenly froze.

Then he yanked the closet doors wide open.

With growing agitation, he searched through the wardrobe.

All of Fu Yan's clothes were gone.

He rushed to the bathroom, the study, the living room, opening cabinets and drawers one after another.

Fu Yan had left.

He had taken everything that belonged to him.

The household items they had bought together later—the game console, the scented candles he liked, the various shared belongings—he hadn't taken a single one.

Gu Zhan collapsed onto the sofa, all strength draining from his body. He leaned back and stared blankly at the ceiling.

So empty...

It had been a long time since this three-bedroom apartment had felt spacious.

What was this supposed to mean?

Was Fu Yan breaking up with him?

Because the partnership between their companies had fallen apart?

Because they were both being ridiculed online?

Because of his mother's hostility toward Fu Yan?

Thinking about it, there have indeed been many problems between them recently.

He had been so busy dealing with company affairs that he had neglected their relationship.

But did having problems mean they should immediately break up?

After lying quietly on the sofa for a while, Gu Zhan called Fu Yan again.

As expected, the line was busy.

After some thought, he dialed Fu Hongping instead.

"Hello?"

"Chairman Fu." Gu Zhan's voice was tight. For once, he abandoned all the polished business formalities and got straight to the point.

"I heard there have been issues with Fu Corporation's factories. Previously, Fu Yan and I signed a deal with an Australian skincare brand, but production can't begin as scheduled now."

"Mm, I know about it. The Australian company has already contacted us. If they want compensation, then so be it. Our factory problems have delayed the project. If they seek damages, that's perfectly reasonable."

Fu Hongping sounded exhausted.

"Chairman Fu, the main reason I'm calling is to confirm something. The contract language regarding this issue is somewhat vague. The Australians have made it clear that if Slungshot doesn't stand with them, they'll sue Slungshot as well. To be honest, this project is extremely important to us. It's not a small contract. I..."

Fu Hongping interrupted before Gu Zhan could struggle through the rest.

"Gu Zhan, I've always admired you because you remind me of myself when I was younger. I know exactly what someone has to sacrifice and carry on their shoulders to build a company from nothing.”

"I won't use our personal relationship to morally pressure you.”

"And Fu Corporation doesn't need any special favors.”

"Let's handle this strictly as business."

"Chairman Fu..."

Gu Zhan fell silent.

After a moment, he carefully asked:

"Has Fu Yan been doing alright lately? We haven't been able to reach him."

"Oh, that kid's always running around without explaining himself. I'll talk to him later."

Fu Hongping chuckled, then sighed.

"What a pity.”

"It seems we weren't destined to become family."

Gu Zhan froze for a moment.

After an awkward laugh and a few more polite exchanges, he hung up.

Inside the entryway shoe cabinet sat a pair of camel-colored slippers that matched the ones he was currently wearing.

Their owner, however, was gone.

Fu Yan had really left.

And he had left so easily.

Without a single word.

Just as he had once barged into Gu Zhan's life without warning, becoming a natural part of it, he had now quietly withdrawn from it.

Gu Zhan hadn't been mentally prepared at all.

Ever since returning from Gusu, he had been working around the clock searching for factories. He hadn't even noticed that Fu Yan had already moved out.

Why?

Because he had been too preoccupied with work and his mother?

Or because Fu Yan had never kept many belongings here in the first place, making his departure difficult to notice?

As though he had always been prepared to leave at any moment.

Of course.

What kind of person was Fu Yan?

For a wealthy heir with an extensive romantic history, this was probably routine.

When adults part ways, there doesn't always need to be dramatic fights or tearful confrontations.

When it's time to leave, both sides are simply supposed to understand.

Quietly.

Gracefully.

Gu Zhan pressed a hand over his chest, where his heart seemed to have plunged into an abyss.

But he wasn't used to it.

Even now, he still hadn't fully processed it.

He and Fu Yan had already broken up.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

That night, Gu Zhan barely slept.

The following afternoon, he went to the teahouse Chen Lang had designated.

The moment he entered the private room, he realized the "execution ground" had already been prepared.

Eight professional lights.

Audio equipment.

4K cameras.

And sitting nervously in the center was Yao Jing.

The moment Yao Jing saw him, his eyes turned red.

"President Gu, I know I was wrong. Please... please show mercy."

Across the room, Chen Lang smiled as he poured Gu Zhan a cup of tea.

"President Gu, does this count as sincerity?"

"President Chen—!"

Yao Jing suddenly screamed in fury.

He tried to stand but was immediately forced back into his chair by the bodyguards beside him.

"When you took me away from that event, you didn't say any of this!”

"You promised you'd help me make a comeback!”

"You promised resources!”

"You can't go back on your word!"

Gu Zhan accepted the tea with a smile and took a sip.

"Not bad."

"Waaah—!"

Yao Jing broke down completely.

"President Gu, President Chen, please! Please! President Gu, I'm sorry! I really know I was wrong! Please leave me a way out!"

His tears and snot streamed freely, but no one pitied a liar.

Chen Lang waved a hand.

His people immediately activated Yao Jing's livestream.

As the camera lights switched on, Yao Jing burst into uncontrollable sobs.

The viewers couldn't see it, but two large bodyguards stood on either side of him.

He had no ability to resist.

There was no need to pretend to be weak anymore.

He genuinely was helpless.

The only choice left was obedience.

Because Chen Lang possessed his nude photos.

For someone as vain and image-conscious as Yao Jing, having those leaked would be worse than death.

Chen Lang was ruthless.

After using him, he kicked him aside without hesitation.

But Yao Jing couldn't blame anyone else.

Had he not chosen to slander others, he never would have become a tool for someone like Chen Lang.

Working with a man like Chen Lang was like bargaining with a tiger.

The moment he boarded that ship, he should have known there was a good chance it would sink.

While crying, Yao Jing was forced to tell the entire truth on camera.

How he had slandered Fu Yan.

How he had tried to blackmail Gu Zhan.

How everything had happened.

The livestream exploded.

Everyone had assumed the famous "little fairy" was about to expose someone else again.

Instead, he exposed himself.

The original hotel incident had been captured on video.

To prevent misuse, Gu Zhan had deleted every copy except one stored on a personal hard drive.

He never expected it would become crucial evidence against Yao Jing.

Gu Zhan had the PR department release audio clips of Yao Jing admitting he had deceived both Fu Yan and Gu Zhan, along with supporting photographs.

It completely shattered Yao Jing's carefully crafted image.

Even though Yao Jing kept blinking frantically during the livestream—trying to signal that something was wrong—nobody believed him anymore.

The livestream audience soared.

At one point, it surpassed the peak popularity he had once dreamed of achieving.

The irony was painful.

The "little fairy" had always craved traffic and followers.

Yet now that he finally stood at the peak of attention, he hated every second of it.

The comments flooded with insults from people who realized they had been manipulated.

Looking at those vicious messages, Yao Jing was overwhelmed with regret.

Rumors were living things.

Anyone who tried to weaponize them would eventually be devoured by them.

When the livestream ended, Yao Jing slumped weakly in his chair.

His face was soaked; it was impossible to tell whether it was sweat or tears.

Red-eyed, he glared at Gu Zhan.

"President Gu, I really don't understand.”

"I'm just a small influencer who sells products online.”

"Why the hell have you been trying so hard to destroy me?"

Gu Zhan gripped his teacup so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Then he answered:

"Because you crossed my bottom line.”

"Again and again."

First, Yao Jing had threatened to expose his sexuality.

Then he disrupted the launch event.

Then he had maliciously attacked Fu Yan online.

Every single action had stepped directly onto Gu Zhan's most sensitive boundaries.

He would never allow anything that threatened Fu Yan—or threatened their relationship—to exist.

Only now did Gu Zhan finally realize something.

He always claimed that work was important.

That the company was important.

But deep down, his relationship with Fu Yan had already become the one thing he considered untouchable.

At last, he understood just how important Fu Yan was to him.

But...

Where was Fu Yan?

The bodyguards dragged Yao Jing away, and the room fell silent.

Chen Lang smiled.

"President Gu, satisfied now?

"Can we discuss our cooperation?"

Gu Zhan slowly lifted his half-lowered eyelids and fixed him with a sharp gaze.

"Did I ever say I was going to work with you?"

Chen Lang laughed coldly.

"I helped you solve the Yao Jing problem. You're not planning to go back on your word, are you?"

"Trust," Gu Zhan replied calmly while straightening his cuff, "is something you discuss with people who actually have it."

"You and Yao Jing caused all of this.”

"I came today simply to take back what belongs to me."

Chen Lang sipped his tea leisurely.

"President Gu, surely you're intelligent enough to see the situation clearly.”

"When gods fight, mortals suffer.”

"If you don't choose a side carefully, it would be a shame if the Slungshot you built from scratch ended up destroyed."

Chen Lang's company was partnering with Dingding Network to transition from traditional retail into e-commerce.

It also marked an official declaration of war against Fu Corporation.

When giants clashed, they inevitably recruited smaller companies as allies.

Anyone who failed to choose sides might be swallowed whole by the coming corporate war.

"Do you really think Fu Corporation is still on the same ship as you?"

Chen Lang smirked.

"Your relationship with Fu Yan became public knowledge.”

"Now he's found someone new.”

"Why would he stay entangled with an ex?"

"What do you mean?"

Gu Zhan's eyes sharpened instantly.

"You haven't heard?"

Chen Lang laughed.

"The whole circle is talking about it.”

"The Fu family and the Wang family have always been close.”

"Now they're becoming even closer."

For several seconds, Gu Zhan's expression went blank.

Fu Yan and Wang Yanqiao?

The Wang family held government connections.

Given Fu Corporation's current troubles, it made sense that Fu Yan would interact frequently with Wang Yanqiao to gather information.

But Gu Zhan still couldn't believe they were together.

It had only been a few days.

Has he already become part of Fu Yan's past?

Has Fu Yan completely moved on?

Did he already have someone new?

Chen Lang chuckled.

"You think I'm lying?”

"Funny enough, I ran into them on my way here."

He pointed across the street.

"There. Having afternoon tea together."

Following his gaze, Gu Zhan looked toward a Hong Kong-style tea restaurant opposite the teahouse.

Parked outside was a dark brown Bentley Flying Spur.

When Fu Yan drove himself, he usually used his Bentley Mulsanne.

When meeting clients with a driver, he used this Flying Spur.

"I heard Madam Wang has always been very fond of Fu Yan and simply never had an opportunity before.”

"The two families know each other well.”

"And both sons are..."

Chen Lang smiled.

"A perfect match.”

"Equal status.”

"A powerful alliance."

No matter how composed Gu Zhan usually was, his face darkened visibly.

Seeing that business was no longer worth discussing, Chen Lang rose to leave.

Before departing, he patted Gu Zhan's shoulder and said confidently:

"I'll be waiting for you to come find me."

Soon, Gu Zhan was alone in the private room.

He moved to a seat by the window.

Silently.

He stared across the street.

The expression on his face was impossible to read.