Fu Yan grabbed Gu Zhan’s arm, refusing to let him leave. Gu Zhan was truly furious this time and kicked him hard in the shin. As Fu Yan hissed in pain, Gu Zhan took the opportunity to wrench his arm free.

The kick had not been light. With the hard sole of Gu Zhan’s dress shoe, pain twisted in Fu Yan’s expression. If he had not braced himself against the wall behind him, he might have fallen.

“Ge Zhan!”

Du Zhe emerged from the hotel and spotted Gu Zhan’s car parked outside. He was calling out while looking around.

Gu Zhan glanced at Fu Yan again. Fu Yan was leaning against the wall, one hand clutching his shin, his face contorted with pain. Upon hearing Du Zhe’s voice, he glared at Gu Zhan with reddened eyes, as if issuing a warning.

Gu Zhan ignored him completely and walked toward the entrance.

“Du Zhe, are you all done?”

“Mm.”

Du Zhe looked at him through bleary eyes. The moment he recognized Gu Zhan, a grin spread across his face.

“Ge Zhan, you came. I drank them all under the table. Pretty amazing, right?”

Gu Zhan laughed.

“You’re the most amazing.”

He stepped forward to support Du Zhe’s swaying body and glanced up toward the private room on the second floor. Most of the guests had already left. There was little point in staying; anyone worth talking to was probably gone.

“Du Zhe, how about I take you home?”

“Okay. I’m exhausted.”

Du Zhe rested his head heavily on Gu Zhan’s shoulder like a giant koala begging for affection.

“I’ll take Du Zhe home.”

At some point, Fu Yan had walked over and promptly pulled Du Zhe away from Gu Zhan.

There was no way he was letting Gu Zhan take Du Zhe home. Who knew whether this drunken fool might take advantage of the situation?

As he dragged Du Zhe away, he called his driver.

Gu Zhan shot him a look and pulled Du Zhe back.

“President Fu has been drinking too. No need to trouble yourself.”

“No trouble at all. My driver will be here any moment.”

Fu Yan immediately tugged Du Zhe back to his side.

Gu Zhan pulled on Du Zhe’s arm, and Du Zhe toppled back onto his shoulder. Gu Zhan said pointedly,

“President Fu has had too much to drink tonight. You should go home and cool off. I’ll handle it.”

“Du Zhe got drunk drinking with us. I’m responsible for getting him home safely.”

Fu Yan pushed Du Zhe’s head off Gu Zhan’s shoulder.

Neither man was willing to give way. They tugged Du Zhe back and forth like a giant rag doll. His stomach was already overloaded with alcohol, and the jostling made everything churn.

“Blergh—!”

Unable to hold it in, Du Zhe vomited into a nearby flowerbed.

“Du Zhe, are you okay?”

Gu Zhan rubbed his back with concern.

Fu Yan anxiously kept looking down the road. The moment he saw his family’s car arrive, he immediately grabbed the still-dazed Du Zhe and stuffed him into the vehicle.

“Uncle Jin, please take Mr. Du home. He’s drunk. Drive carefully.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Uncle Jin had worked for the Fu family for most of his life and had practically watched Fu Yan grow up. Tonight, Fu Yan’s behavior was nothing like his usual composed and elegant self.

He had also noticed that Fu Yan seemed to be limping.

“Young Master, is your leg injured? Should I take you to the hospital?”

“No. Just take Mr. Du home.”

“Very well.”

Uncle Jin cast another worried glance at Fu Yan’s leg.

“Hurry up and go.”

“Alright.”

The car drove away with Du Zhe.

Seeing Du Zhe taken away, Gu Zhan decided there was no point fighting over him in public. He got into his own car, ready to leave this troublesome place.

But the moment he backed out of the parking space, the passenger door opened.

Fu Yan sat down in the front seat.

Without the slightest sense of awkwardness, he said,

“I’ve been drinking and can’t drive. President Gu, would you mind giving me a ride home?”

Gu Zhan closed his eyes and silently repeated three times in his head:

Don’t get angry. Don’t get angry. Don’t get angry.

Only then did he press the accelerator.

Originally, he had no intention of caring about Fu Yan. But when he glanced at the man’s left leg, bent awkwardly in the seat, he could not help feeling a trace of guilt.

He knew exactly how hard he had kicked.

After a moment, he cleared his throat.

“Do you need to go to the hospital?”

“No. Some medicated oil will do.”

Fu Yan smiled.

“You were worried about me?”

“I’m worried you’ll try to sue me.”

“If that were enough to sue you, you could break my leg completely.”

Gu Zhan had no interest in joking around.

“Fu Yan, let’s talk openly. Do you want Brand C, or do you want... me?”

He paused.

“If it’s the latter, then let me be clear. Everything between us ended a year ago. Whether you’re acting cheap or feeling nostalgic, I’m not interested.”

A muscle jumped in Fu Yan’s jaw. He loosened his tie, forcing himself to remain calm.

“Why?”

“There is no why.”

Gu Zhan glanced at him.

“If you insist on a reason—first, I don’t lack sex partners. Second, I’m not interested in being the third wheel.”

“You’re talking about Xiao Wang?”

Fu Yan’s clenched fist relaxed slightly.

“What if I told you there is no Xiao Wang? What if our relationship isn’t what you think it is?”

His voice softened.

“Gu Zhan... would you come back to me?”

His dark eyes fixed intently on Gu Zhan.

Gu Zhan’s eyelids trembled. His hands tightened around the steering wheel to keep himself focused on driving.

He turned away coldly.

“Not interested.”

A smile tugged at Fu Yan’s lips.

He had seen it.

The hesitation in Gu Zhan’s eyes.

The momentary wavering.

The panic of someone afraid their true feelings might be exposed.

The stubborn pretense of indifference.

It was all so very Gu Zhan.

Deep down, Fu Yan felt a burst of joy.

Gu Zhan had not forgotten him.

“Fu Corporation will probably invest in Brand C soon. If you want the exclusive rights next year, I can give them to you.”

He paused.

“But first, keep your distance from Du Zhe. Second, stop standing with Chenglang.”

“Haha.”

Gu Zhan laughed coldly.

After a year apart, Fu Yan had certainly grown more capable.

Now Gu Zhan could no longer tell whether Fu Yan was genuinely pursuing him or simply playing a game for Brand C.

On one hand, Fu Yan relentlessly courted Brand C’s executives.

On the other, he tried to drive away competitors.

When he spoke those sweet words, his gaze was so focused, so affectionate.

But hadn’t that always been Fu Yan’s greatest skill?

He had whispered countless sweet nothings when they were together.

And in the end, he still left.

Fu Yan’s smile faded.

“You think I’m manipulating you?”

“Should I trust you instead?”

Gu Zhan scoffed.

“Just moments ago you were using Brand C to threaten me. Now you’re trying to persuade me to abandon Chenglang’s side?”

“Right now Chenglang and Fu Corporation dominate the market and are fighting each other nonstop. Last year, President Chen helped me out on the Australian-brand project. If Slungshot betrays him, the consequences will be ugly.”

He added,

“And I hate being threatened. I don’t want to cooperate with someone who threatens me.”

“I only said that because of Du Zhe!”

Fu Yan clenched his teeth.

“I don’t like seeing you so close to him—”

“You don’t have the right to like it or dislike it.”

Gu Zhan cut him off sharply.

He slammed on the brakes.

“We’re here. Get out.”

Unwillingly, Fu Yan glanced toward the apartment building where Gu Zhan lived.

“Even though I’ve been drinking tonight, I wasn’t joking about a single thing.”

His voice turned cold.

“Gu Zhan, I’m telling you—if you don’t keep your distance from Du Zhe...”

A dangerous look entered his eyes.

“I can’t bear to touch you. But him?”

“Don’t end up hurting him because of you.”

Gu Zhan met his gaze head-on.

“Then let me tell you something too, Fu Yan. Stop playing games.”

“I’m not some soft target you can push around.”

He turned away and pressed the door unlock button.

Left with no choice, Fu Yan reluctantly got out.

The instant the door shut, Gu Zhan sped off.

Startled, Fu Yan had to hop backward on his injured leg.

The usually refined and elegant President Fu limped home through the freezing night.

Just as he reached the entrance of his building, another car pulled up.

Fu Chuyin rolled down the window.

“Bro? Your leg really is hurt?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Uncle Jin called. He said your leg seemed injured and asked me to check on you.”

“It’s nothing. Just a bump. I’ll put some medicine on it.”

Fu Chuyin glanced toward the car disappearing into the distance.

“Who gave you a ride?”

“A friend.”

“Some friend. Your leg’s injured, and they didn’t even walk you upstairs?”

He studied his brother carefully.

“That car looked familiar... Don’t tell me it was Gu Zhan?”

Fu Yan shot his younger brother a look but said nothing.

“Let’s go home.”

As Fu Chuyin started the car, he noticed something else.

“Bro, what happened to your mouth?”

He leaned closer.

“You didn’t get into a fight with President Gu, did you?”

Fu Yan shoved his head away.

“Kids shouldn’t ask so many questions.”

Fu Chuyin pouted unhappily and started driving.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

The next day, Gu Zhan immediately had his staff verify the situation.

Sure enough, Fu Corporation was investing in Brand C.

The letter of intent had already been signed.

Fu Yan had not been bluffing.

If Fu Corporation was truly investing in Brand C and planning to expand its international platform, there was no logical reason for Fu Yan to hand over the domestic exclusive rights.

Which meant...

Was Fu Yan really doing all this just to pursue him?

The young master had certainly become more capable after a year away in Shanghai.

But his nature had not changed.

No matter how much money he made or how successful his career became, none of it seemed more important than whoever had caught his eye.

The young master is still as passionate as ever, Gu Zhan thought.

Unfortunately, passionate people rarely stay devoted.

This time, no matter what, he refused to play along.

Since Fu Corporation and Brand C had already partnered up, there was little point in continuing the project.

Better to cut losses immediately.

That would also reduce his contact with Fu Yan and save him from endless entanglements.

However, the moment Chen Lang learned Gu Zhan wanted to abandon the project, he called immediately.

“Brother Gu! Brand C is a major international brand entering China’s e-commerce market. Such a rare opportunity—how can you give up so easily?”

Over the past year, Gu Zhan had sided with Chen Lang’s camp.

Though he did not agree with all of Chen Lang’s methods, business was business. They each benefited from the arrangement.

Gu Zhan helped challenge Fu Corporation’s international market share, and Chen Lang helped him when profits were involved.

Gu Zhan sighed.

“I know Fu Corporation is counting on Brand C to make a big splash. If they win this battle, they’ll be showing off in front of you again. And if they move into imported appliances afterward, that could hurt your business.”

“But what can I do? Slungshot is a small company compared to Fu Corporation. They’re investing directly in Brand C. How can I compete?”

“Don’t worry about that.”

Chen Lang sounded confident.

“If they can invest, so can we. I’ll send people to contact Brand C immediately.”

“But Fu Corporation has already signed a letter of intent.”

“That’s not the final contract. If Fu Corporation has the money to invest, Chenglang does too.”

He continued:

“Leave the investment issue to me. You focus on negotiating the exclusive rights.”

“Alright then.”

Gu Zhan deliberately sounded hesitant.

“Brother Gu, you know it’s not easy for an old man like me to push Chenglang into e-commerce. Slungshot is our gatekeeper to the international market. Help me hold the line, and I won’t forget you when profitable opportunities come around.”

Gu Zhan laughed politely.

“You’re too kind, President Chen. I’ll do my best.”

“Good. I’ll have people investigate Brand C’s investment plans immediately.”

“Sounds good.”

After hanging up, the professional smile gradually disappeared from Gu Zhan’s face.

If Slungshot could secure Brand C with Chenglang’s support, it would undoubtedly be a huge benefit to the company.

But it would also mean frequent meetings with Fu Yan.

And endless entanglement with him.

Leaning back in his office chair, Gu Zhan closed his eyes.

A headache. What a headache.