Gu Zhan fixed his gaze on the man before him.

A year had passed, yet Fu Yan looked much the same as ever. His features seemed even sharper and more defined, though he appeared slightly thinner.

What? Did Wang Yanqiao not take good care of him? Then again, completing three years’ worth of KPIs in a single year must have taken a tremendous amount of effort.

The corners of Fu Yan’s lips curved into a gentle, reserved smile.

“President Gu, would you mind returning my phone?”

Gu Zhan lowered his eyes to the phone in his hand. The screen lit up, revealing a photo of himself.

It was clearly a candid shot—only a side profile was visible. The background appeared to be an airport somewhere in China. He was wearing a dark navy overcoat from this year’s autumn-winter collection, meaning the picture must have been taken recently.

The strangest part was that even Gu Zhan himself didn’t remember ever posing for such a photo.

Frowning, he looked up at Fu Yan.

Fu Yan met his gaze calmly and openly, seemingly finding nothing inappropriate about having Gu Zhan’s photo as his lock screen. He simply extended a hand toward him, waiting for his phone.

Gu Zhan avoided the hand, set the phone back on the counter, and turned to leave.

Seeing this, Fu Yan grabbed his arm.

“It’s been a long time. President Gu isn’t even going to say hello before leaving?”

Gu Zhan slowly turned around, his expression cold as he glanced at the hand gripping him.

“It has been a long time. Could President Fu please let go?”

With an awkward smile, Fu Yan released him.

“What brings you here? Watching the fashion show next door?”

Straightening the sleeve that had been wrinkled by Fu Yan’s grip, Gu Zhan replied coolly,

“I don’t think I’m obligated to report my itinerary to you.”

Fu Yan continued,

“Interested in Brand C?”

“That’s none of your business.”

Fu Yan smiled and said nothing more, simply staring at him with unwavering black eyes.

For a moment, time seemed to slow.

Perhaps it was the dazzling crystal chandelier hanging in the hotel lobby, but Gu Zhan felt those eyes shimmered with affection under the shifting light—filled with unspoken emotions, as if they wanted to say something but held back.

He quickly looked away and left, refusing to let his imagination run wild.

Over the next few days, Gu Zhan had his team continue trying to contact Brand C’s representative, but there was little progress.

Just as he was growing frustrated, Du Zhe called and invited him to dinner.

The designer from Brand C, Chris, happened to be in China, and Du Zhe offered to introduce them.

Gu Zhan readily agreed.

That day, Du Zhe had a photoshoot scheduled, so he asked Gu Zhan to wait for him at the studio first. They would go to dinner together afterward.

As soon as Gu Zhan arrived, Du Zhe’s assistant greeted him with a smile.

“You’re President Gu, right? Brother Zhe is still shooting. Things haven’t been going very smoothly today.”

“I’ll wait for him, then.”

Gu Zhan glanced around the modern, post-industrial-style villa.

“Is Mr. Chris here?”

Chris was the designer Du Zhe planned to introduce him to.

“He’s upstairs, but he’s meeting with someone right now.”

“I see.”

A little disappointed, Gu Zhan had hoped to meet Chris while waiting.

The assistant added enthusiastically,

“If you’re bored, why not come watch the shoot?”

“Would that be appropriate?”

“It’s fine. We’re pretty relaxed around here. The photographer is still trying to get the right shots. No telling how long it’ll take.”

She led him inside.

“Besides, Brother Zhe looks incredibly handsome today.”

“All right.”

The shoot appeared to be for Brand C’s new collection—an antique woodland theme.

The studio had been transformed into a miniature forest.

Du Zhe wore an embroidered vintage-style suit with no shirt underneath. His hair had been extended, curled into loose waves, and dyed a natural flaxen-brown color. Amber-green contact lenses completed the look.

The overall styling gave him the appearance of an elven prince from a primeval forest.

“A little farther out. Watch your eyes—your expression!”

The photographer snapped away.

“Still not quite right. Try that expression again...”

“Oh, that’s good! That’s it! Bring it out!”

While lying on the floor as part of the pose, Du Zhe spotted Gu Zhan entering.

His lips curled into a smile.

Gu Zhan nodded politely.

The smile immediately deepened.

Though still in the middle of shooting, Du Zhe’s alluring eyes kept drifting toward Gu Zhan.

The staff quickly noticed.

Whispers and knowing smiles spread through the studio.

Gu Zhan narrowed his eyes and coughed lightly, signaling him to tone it down.

Instead, Du Zhe became even more blatant.

His gaze clung to Gu Zhan shamelessly.

Wherever Gu Zhan looked away, Du Zhe’s eyes followed.

He practically demanded that Gu Zhan look back at him.

Openly.

Unashamedly.

“Perfect! That’s exactly the feeling I want!”

Ironically, the photographer loved it.

Now the atmosphere became awkward for Gu Zhan.

The onlookers were already exchanging amused glances.

A makeup artist teased,

“No wonder our ‘Elf Prince’ couldn’t get into character earlier. His princess hadn’t arrived yet.”

“Princess?” Du Zhe laughed. “That’s my first love. Don’t disrespect my Brother Zhan.”

Without the slightest embarrassment, he added:

“I chased him back in college, but he ran too fast. Never managed to catch him.”

“Ooooh—!”

The entire studio erupted into cheers.

Now Gu Zhan felt even more trapped.

Brand C’s exclusive Chinese model had just openly confessed his feelings in front of everyone.

If Gu Zhan left out of embarrassment, it would be incredibly disrespectful.

The photographer then turned toward him.

“Mr. College Love, would you mind standing behind me? That way Du Zhe’s emotions will be directed toward the camera.”

Gu Zhan awkwardly shifted a few steps.

“Right there. Thank you, sir.”

Since everyone was being so polite, he couldn’t exactly refuse.

Besides, the sooner the shoot wrapped up, the sooner he could meet Chris.

The photographer resumed firing off shots.

Facing Gu Zhan, Du Zhe alternated between exposing his prominent throat, revealing portions of his sculpted chest, and staring directly at him.

His eyes shifted from seductive to wild.

At times they seemed to lure one deeper in.

At others they burned with undisguised desire.

He truly looked like a jungle prince from some ancient forest—radiating raw, untamed vitality and sensuality.

Anyone with weaker self-control would probably have been overwhelmed.

Standing behind the camera, Gu Zhan simply watched him calmly, revealing none of what he was thinking.

Once Du Zhe found his rhythm, the shoot finished quickly.

Cheers erupted as everyone wrapped up for the day.

Du Zhe walked over with a smile.

“Thanks for helping me earlier, Brother Zhan.”

“It was nothing.”

“Come on, I’ll take you to meet Chris. We can have dinner together and talk.”

“Sounds good.”

The two chatted and laughed as they headed out.

Then suddenly—

They saw someone standing at the entrance of the studio.

Fu Yan.

He stood there with a stern expression.

No one knew how long he had been watching—or how much he had seen.

Gu Zhan paused for only half a second before walking forward calmly.

“What a coincidence, President Fu. Meeting again. Is Fu Group interested in Brand C too?”

“It is quite a coincidence.”

Fu Yan’s expression softened.

“I’m here to see someone upstairs.”

His gaze shifted between Gu Zhan and Du Zhe.

“President Gu, are you here to meet Brand C’s representative as well—or...?”

Before Gu Zhan could answer, Du Zhe grabbed his hand.

“Brother Zhan came to have dinner with me.”

He looked at Gu Zhan with a bright smile.

Gu Zhan returned a gentle look.

Fu Yan quietly clenched his fist.

“Brother Zhan, let’s go. I’m starving.”

“Okay.”

The two started to leave.

Fu Yan stepped sideways, blocking their path.

His eyes narrowed at Du Zhe.

“And who might this be? Aren’t you going to introduce him?”

Meeting Fu Yan’s gaze head-on, Gu Zhan answered evenly:

“Du Zhe. A model. Also my university junior.”

“Oh—”

Fu Yan dragged out the word.

“So he’s that clingy underclassman from back then.”

“Tch.”

Du Zhe laughed disdainfully.

“I'm also Brother Zhan’s first kiss.”

Then he glanced at Fu Yan.

“Are you okay, ex-boyfriend? If you are, stop blocking our way.”

He deliberately emphasized the words "ex-boyfriend."

A reminder that some people belonged firmly in the past.

Without waiting, Du Zhe pulled Gu Zhan forward.

Passing Fu Yan, he casually used his larger frame and muscular arm to bump him aside.

Not enough to be rude.

Just enough to make a point.

The two walked away as though Fu Yan were invisible.

As if he were nothing more than background scenery.

Du Zhe strode ahead with his chin lifted, still visibly annoyed.

Watching him, Gu Zhan shook his head with a laugh.

“You know, I feel like you’re different from when we first met again.”

“That was an act.”

Du Zhe snorted.

“That’s how I behave in front of cameras. Everyone likes mature, elegant men. I thought you did too.”

He paused.

“But I guess you don’t.”

He was still upset by Fu Yan’s remarks.

Gu Zhan smiled.

“I think this version of you is cuter.”

“I think so too.”

Instantly, Du Zhe brightened.

His sunny grin returned.

“And someone with my personality suits you better. If you were with someone like Fu Yan, wouldn’t you die of boredom?”

Gu Zhan thought back.

Were things boring when he and Fu Yan were together?

Not really.

When passion flared, it felt like his whole body was on fire.

After exhausting workdays, simply returning home and holding each other felt warm and comforting.

When they had things to say, they talked.

When they didn’t, they sat quietly together.

Even doing separate things in the same room felt peaceful.

Perhaps when two people truly love each other, everything feels right.

Unfortunately—

They no longer loved each other.

Behind them, Fu Yan watched their retreating figures.

His face darkened like storm clouds.

He pulled out his phone and called his assistant.

His voice was low and icy.

“Investigate someone immediately.”

“His name is Du Zhe.”

“I want everything on him.”