Night fell, and light snow began drifting from the sky.

Gu Zhan sat by the window, watching the crowds moving through the streets below.

There were families of three walking hand in hand, excitedly talking about the snow. Couples huddled together for warmth. Others hurried home, perhaps eager for a bowl of hot soup waiting for them.

It was impossible to say who looked first.

But at that moment, as if summoned by something unseen, Gu Zhan, sitting by the second-floor window, suddenly found himself looking directly across the street into the eyes of Fu Yan, who had just stepped out of the tea restaurant.

Beside Fu Yan was Wang Yanqiao.

Wang Yanqiao was holding Fu Yan's arm intimately as they chatted and laughed.

The moment they noticed the gaze from the second floor, the smiles on both their faces froze and slowly faded.

Seemingly unsettled by Gu Zhan's stare, Wang Yanqiao instinctively tried to withdraw his hand.

But he had barely moved before Fu Yan caught it and firmly tucked it back into the crook of his arm.

Like a gentleman, Fu Yan opened the car door for him. A gentle smile curved his lips as he carefully shielded Wang Yanqiao's head with one hand to keep him from bumping it on the frame.

Wang Yanqiao only reached Fu Yan's shoulder.

With their height difference, the gesture looked surprisingly picturesque.

No wonder people online shipped them together.

Gu Zhan mocked himself inwardly.

Perhaps this was what people meant by a perfect match.

When he and Fu Yan stood together, they were just two CEOs in expensive suits.

People only thought of business partnerships.

The car door slammed shut.

The sound seemed to strike directly against Gu Zhan's heart.

The street was wide enough that he shouldn't have been able to hear it clearly from the second floor.

Yet for some reason, the instant the door closed, his chest felt unbearably heavy.

As though what had been shut wasn't merely a car door—

but the last barrier between him and Fu Yan.

A few snowflakes drifted through the open window and landed on his pale face.

The cold seeped into his skin.

It was the year's first snowfall in the capital.

He wondered whether Fu Yan still remembered promising to watch the snow with him.

How could something that happened so recently already feel so distant?

Gu Zhan could still clearly remember Fu Yan's expression and tone when he said those words.

Yet Fu Yan seemed able to forget them so easily.

Just over a week ago, they had attended the product launch together, standing shoulder to shoulder.

How had the person at his side suddenly become someone else?

Gu Zhan had never experienced such overwhelming helplessness before.

No matter how difficult a project or business challenge had been, he always found a solution.

He had never been someone who gave up easily.

That was how he had become the President Gu everyone knew today.

But what about the person he loved?

Had he ever fought with everything he had for love?

Outside, the Bentley turned into the traffic lane.

The engine started.

Suddenly, Gu Zhan sprang to his feet.

Without thinking, he charged downstairs.

Clenching his fists, he sprinted into the street and chased after the car with reckless determination.

Pedestrians stared.

Who runs down the street in a tailored suit and dress shoes?

Gu Zhan knew he must look ridiculous.

Pathetic.

But he didn't care.

He couldn't allow Fu Yan to leave like this.

He couldn't allow their relationship to end without an explanation.

For once in his life, he wanted to give everything he had for love.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

Inside the car, Wang Yanqiao kept glancing through the rear window.

"Brother Fu, is this really how things end between you and President Gu?"

Fu Yan said nothing.

Eyes closed, he leaned against the leather seat.

His face was as dark as the night outside.

Noticing unusual reactions from pedestrians, Wang Yanqiao looked back again.

Then he cried out:

"Ah! That person—it's President Gu! He's chasing us!"

The driver instinctively slowed down and glanced in the rearview mirror.

Fu Yan remained motionless, eyes closed, as though he hadn't heard a thing.

"Stop the car! Stop the car!" Wang Yanqiao shouted.

The driver started to brake.

"Keep driving."

Fu Yan spoke calmly, without even opening his eyes.

"Brother Fu, it's President Gu! He's chasing our car!"

Wang Yanqiao grabbed his arm urgently.

For a moment, Fu Yan seemed frozen.

Outside, the streetlights flickered on.

Gu Zhan pumped his long legs desperately, chasing the car several meters ahead.

Snow blurred his vision.

The wind cut through his body.

The car was gradually pulling farther away.

But he refused to give up.

His fitted suit restricted his movements.

His handcrafted leather shoes were never meant for running.

The weather was freezing.

Yet his heart burned hot.

He ignored the stares of strangers.

He wanted only to break free of every restraint and run toward the hand that had once reached out to him in the darkness.

Then—

Thud.

The snow-covered pavement was slippery.

His dress shoes lost traction.

Gu Zhan crashed hard onto the ground.

Inside the car, Wang Yanqiao pressed himself against the window.

"President Gu fell!"

"Brother Fu, President Gu fell!"

"Stop the car!"

Fu Yan's eyes flew open.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door and walked back.

Fu Yan crouched down beside him.

A strong hand gripped Gu Zhan's arm.

"Get up."

Half sitting on the ground, Gu Zhan slowly raised his head.

Snowflakes clung to his eyelashes.

Truthfully, he hadn't even figured out what he wanted to say after catching up.

The words simply poured out.

"Fu Yan... my mom isn't as angry anymore."

"I'll keep working on the Australian project."

"If there's anything I can do to help with Fu Corporation..."

"I'll help."

"So..."

His voice trembled.

"Don't leave."

"Please don't leave."

Fu Yan stared silently into those bright eyes.

His hand trembled as though it wanted to move closer.

Immediately, Gu Zhan grabbed it.

Then both hands clasped around Fu Yan's hand tightly, as though afraid he might disappear.

"I'm already in my thirties."

"It's ridiculous, but this is my first relationship."

"Maybe there were a lot of things I didn't handle well."

"Maybe I didn't consider your feelings enough."

"I wasn't good enough..."

"No."

Fu Yan shook his head.

"You were very good."

The streetlights were dim, but they still illuminated Gu Zhan's reddened eyes.

He wasn't crying.

Yet somehow he looked even more heartbreaking than if he were.

Fu Yan gently touched his cheek.

His expression seemed full of tenderness and pain.

But the words he spoke were the ones that truly hurt.

"Gu Zhan."

"I don't love you anymore."

"What?"

The light vanished from Gu Zhan's eyes.

His grip loosened instantly.

During all the time they had spent together, Fu Yan had never actually said "I love you."

Gu Zhan had thought about it before.

It didn't matter.

The word "love" should only be spoken once.

And only at the most important moment.

What a pity.

The first time he heard the word from Fu Yan's lips—

it was attached to "don't."

The capital's first snowfall arrived later than usual this year.

As though all its coldness had been saved for this night alone.

Unable to look into Gu Zhan's eyes any longer, Fu Yan turned away.

Then he slowly stood and walked off.

Gu Zhan watched his snow-dusted figure beneath the streetlights.

The retreating silhouette looked unbearably cold.

Cold enough to pierce the heart.

Yet his gaze remained fixed upon it.

There would never again be someone to watch the snow with him.

Snowflakes settled on Fu Yan's hair and melted away.

Perhaps this was the closest they would ever come to growing old together.

Fu Yan returned to the car.

Wang Yanqiao's eyes widened.

He looked back and forth between Gu Zhan sitting in the snow and Fu Yan's emotionless face.

"You really broke up?"

He grabbed Fu Yan's arm.

"Why?"

"Are you worried that Fu Corporation's problems will drag President Gu down?"

"No."

Fu Yan's voice was as cold as the winter air he had brought inside.

"We're not suitable for each other."

"President Gu is such a proud person!"

"He chased after you like that!"

"Is your heart made of stone?"

Wang Yanqiao huffed and folded his arms.

"You'd better not regret this!"

Turning away, he refused to speak to him anymore.

"Drive."

After giving the order, Fu Yan closed his eyes again.

He leaned back against the seat, looking exhausted.

Hidden inside his coat pocket, his hand clenched so tightly that his knuckles hurt.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

The next day, Gu Zhan still went to work.

It was only a breakup.

The sky hadn't fallen.

Ever since returning from Suzhou, he had spent all his time running around outside.

He hadn't properly been at the office.

That wouldn't do.

He needed to rally everyone's morale.

The moment he entered the company, however, he sensed something was wrong.

People looked at him strangely.

Some avoided him altogether.

Others watched him secretly from corners.

What was going on?

Hadn't Richard said the employees had been reassured?

Why were they still acting this way?

If even the people whose salaries he paid began looking at him differently, dealing with future business partners would be even harder.

Gu Zhan pressed the intercom.

"Send Richard in."

When Richard entered and saw him, his expression immediately turned odd.

Then he lowered his head without speaking.

"What's wrong?"

Gu Zhan snapped a folder onto the desk.

"Do I look like a ghost?"

"President Gu..."

Richard swallowed nervously.

"Did you look in a mirror today?"

Gu Zhan glared at him.

Richard shrank back.

"President Gu, you've been running around nonstop because of the factory issue."

"You've really been working too hard."

Gu Zhan cleared his throat.

"The factory problem has been resolved."

"I'll send you the contract."

"President Gu..."

Richard blinked.

"You already emailed me Chen Lang's contract last night."

"You forgot?"

"Oh."

Gu Zhan clicked his tongue awkwardly.

"I've been so busy I've lost track."

"I reviewed it already. No major issues."

"Discuss it thoroughly during the meeting."

"Understood."

While speaking, Gu Zhan suddenly felt his head grow heavy.

Without realizing it, he rested his forehead against his hand on the desk.

He was drifting off.

"President Gu?"

Richard hesitated.

"If you're not feeling well, you should go home and rest."

"I'm fine."

Gu Zhan waved him away.

He wasn't unwell.

Why would he be?

Fu Yan had lost him and moved on immediately.

If Fu Yan could do that, then surely he could survive without Fu Yan too.

He forced himself to work as usual.

In the process, he approved two documents incorrectly.

Knocked over a cup of coffee.

Nearly deleted an important proposal permanently.

Near quitting time, he jerked awake once again to find himself asleep in his chair.

At last, he admitted it.

He couldn't keep pretending.

Walking into the restroom inside the executive lounge, he splashed water on his face.

Then he looked up at the mirror.

And nearly jumped.

What the hell?

His normally immaculate hair, usually styled with gel, looked like an exploded plush toy.

His tie—something he could knot blindfolded—was tied into something resembling a bow.

His shirt was inside out.

Worst of all...

The dark circles under his eyes were more dramatic than a panda's.

Gu Zhan slumped onto the bed in the lounge.

He ripped off his tie.

Then buried his face in his hands.

He couldn't keep pretending.

Couldn't keep lying to himself.

He was miserable.

His head hurt.

His heart hurt.

Everything hurt.

In the end, he had been shut outside that magnificent palace.

Surrounded by darkness.

By coldness.

Not only did Fu Yan not want him anymore—

His mother didn't want him either.

Once again, he felt like the abandoned little boy from the orphanage.

No one loved him.

No one wanted him.

In his world, there was only himself.

Alone.

That very night, Gu Zhan bought a ticket back to Suzhou.

When he arrived home, it was well past midnight.

A small nightlight glowed from inside Gu Ru's room.

This time, he had brought his key.

But he didn't want to wake her.

More importantly...

Given her previous attitude, he didn't know whether she still wanted him as her son.

So he sat on the steps outside the door.

The freezing wind battered his body.

He wanted to think.

How had his life ended up like this?

How could he stop feeling this pain?

Lost in thought, he didn't notice the passing hours.

By the time he looked up, dawn had already arrived.

The door creaked open.

Gu Ru stepped outside.

There she saw her tall son curled into a small ball on the doorstep, hugging his knees like he had frozen there overnight.

Slowly, Gu Zhan turned his head.

Hot tears spilled from his eyes.

"Mom..."

His voice cracked.

"When you picked me up from the orphanage all those years ago..."

He looked at her helplessly.

"Can you pick me up one more time?"