Chen Lang worked efficiently. Within two days, he had managed to get in touch with people inside Brand C and even arranged a party with some of their senior executives. Gu Zhan was naturally on the guest list.

The venue was a club owned by one of Chen Lang’s relatives. Gu Zhan had been there a few times before. The place offered certain borderline forms of entertainment, and Chen Lang loved bringing business partners there as a quick way to build rapport.

When Gu Zhan entered, an intense boxing match was underway in the main hall. Bronze-toned muscles, sweat flying through the air, the fighters’ roars, the crowd’s cheers—everything assaulted the senses with a raw, primal energy.

Chen Lang was in a VIP box on the second floor, his few wisps of hair fluttering as he enthusiastically chatted with his guests, his large belly stretching against his suit.

Led by a server, Gu Zhan entered the private room.

“Ah, Brother Gu, you finally made it!” Chen Lang warmly introduced him. “This is my good friend, President Gu of Slungshot. Quite handsome, isn’t he?”

“President Gu, I’ve heard so much about you.”

The group exchanged pleasantries. Two of the guests were familiar faces from Chen Lang’s side, likely brought along to help entertain. From Brand C, Chris was present, along with a middle-aged man wearing glasses and drinking baijiu—the head of Brand C’s China division. Chen Lang was mainly focused on building connections with those two.

And, true to Chen Lang’s style, there was no shortage of attractive companions in the room.

Both Chen Lang and the Greater China director had a beautiful woman seated beside them.

Chris, according to rumors, liked both men and women. Gu Zhan didn’t care much for gossip, but he did know that Du Zhe had briefly dated him before. At that moment, a stylish young man sat beside Chris. Tall, well-built, and attractive.

Still, the two weren’t sitting particularly close. It was obvious Chris wasn’t interested in him and was merely being polite.

Gu Zhan originally wanted to sit beside Chris, but since the seat was occupied, he settled nearby with the young man between them.

The moment he sat down, Chen Lang shot a glance toward one of the boys pouring drinks. Receiving the signal, the boy immediately moved over and sat beside Gu Zhan.

“President Gu, do you remember me? We played bridge together last time.”

The boy had a pleasant voice, but Gu Zhan honestly didn’t remember him. These social occasions were all just business anyway.

Seeing Chen Lang deeply engrossed in conversation with the executive, Gu Zhan took the initiative and clinked glasses with Chris.

“Mr. Chris, what fine wine are you drinking today?”

Chris swirled the wine in his glass. He already seemed slightly tipsy. Patting the young man beside him on the shoulder, he sent him off to fetch a salad, clearing the seat between himself and Gu Zhan.

Squinting at the wine, he said, “This wine has a fascinating flavor. It reminds me of the cheap red wine my first boyfriend bought me with his very first paycheck.”

“Haha, Mr. Chris, you’re quite the storyteller.”

But Chris didn’t laugh.

His gaze grew distant.

“I’ve always loved wine. He hated how much I drank. That was the one and only time he ever bought me a bottle. It’s been almost twenty years now.”

“Twenty years? You’re a very devoted man.”

Gu Zhan lightly tapped his glass against Chris’s.

Chris took a deep drink.

“Unfortunately, we lost contact. I never saw him again.”

“Lost contact?”

“Yes. We met in a small town in Suzhou. Later I moved to Paris. I don’t even know if he’s still in Suzhou.”

“Suzhou? I’m from Suzhou myself. Have you ever tried looking for him?”

“Really? President Gu, you’re from Suzhou?”

“I grew up there. Some of my old classmates have done quite well locally and know a lot of people.”

Chris immediately grabbed Gu Zhan’s hand.

“Then could I trouble you to ask around? I have a photo of him—I’ll send it to you later.”

“Of course.”

Gu Zhan smiled and patted his hand.

“What’s got you two talking so happily?”

A deep male voice interrupted them as Fu Yan strode into the room.

“Oh? President Fu, you’re here too? What a coincidence.”

Seeing someone he didn’t particularly want to see, Chen Lang’s tone turned slightly sarcastic.

“I heard there was a boxing match here tonight. Quite the coincidence indeed.”

Fu Yan nodded at Chen Lang before looking toward the Greater China director.

“Director Aaron, fancy seeing you here too.”

“Haha, yes, quite the coincidence.”

Aaron smiled awkwardly.

After all, Brand C had already signed a letter of intent with the Fu Group regarding investment. Meeting Chen Lang behind their backs made it painfully obvious what was going on.

No one here was stupid.

Gu Zhan sighed inwardly.

President Fu had indeed grown sharper. The moment Chen Lang made a move, he had shown up.

But just as Gu Zhan was feeling a trace of admiration for that growth, Fu Yan plopped himself directly between Chris and Gu Zhan.

“No one’s sitting here, right?”

“Nope.”

Chris smiled knowingly at him, then glanced at Gu Zhan and even shifted over a little to make more room.

After thanking him politely, Fu Yan turned to Gu Zhan with a smile.

“President Gu, you’re here too?”

“Mm.”

Gu Zhan replied indifferently and turned to drink with the young man on his other side.

Fu Yan joined the conversation between Chen Lang and Aaron.

Not enthusiastically—just enough to insert a comment every now and then, constantly reminding everyone of his presence.

As a result, Chen Lang and Aaron couldn’t discuss anything substantial. Every attempt at business talk got derailed into harmless small talk.

Meanwhile, Fu Yan sat there with a glass of wine, smiling pleasantly.

Chen Lang wanted to throw him out but couldn’t very well drive away someone who was being perfectly courteous.

The boxing match reached its climax, and the crowd erupted.

Fu Yan had always enjoyed sports and knew far more about them than most people. Soon Aaron and Chris were captivated by his near-professional commentary, and the three chatted enthusiastically.

That irritated Chen Lang even more.

While everyone was enjoying themselves, he suddenly asked:

“By the way, President Fu, how is Chairman Fu doing lately? I heard he was hospitalized not long ago.”

The timing was deliberate.

On the surface, it sounded like concern.

In reality, it was a jab at Fu Yan.

His father was sick, yet the son was out partying.

Fu Yan clenched his fist but maintained his composure.

“He’s much better. He’s already been discharged.”

“That’s good. You should encourage him to take it easy. Nothing is more important than good health. Work shouldn’t be everything.”

Chen Lang grinned.

Fu Yan wanted to punch that smug expression right off his face.

After all, Fu Hongping’s hospitalization had partly been caused by Chen Lang stealing a major project from the Fu Group and then rubbing it in his face at a banquet.

Still smiling, Fu Yan’s eyes grew colder.

“My father’s stubborn. He only knows how to work hard. Not everyone is as skilled at maintaining a healthy work-life balance as President Chen.”

He deliberately emphasized the last phrase while glancing meaningfully at the beauty in Chen Lang’s arms.

“Though, President Chen, you don’t seem much younger than my father. Don’t say I didn’t warn you—men of a certain age should take things a little easier.”

The room burst into laughter.

Chen Lang instinctively loosened his arm around the woman.

Of course, a veteran like him wasn’t going to lose a war of words so easily.

His gaze shifted toward Gu Zhan and the boy beside him.

“True enough. I’m getting old. Unlike energetic young men like President Fu and President Gu.”

His grin turned somewhat suggestive.

Then he slapped his thigh.

“Ah! President Gu already has company. President Fu just arrived—I completely forgot. We can’t have President Fu pouring his own drinks.”

He signaled another handsome young man standing by the wall.

The boy approached Fu Yan with a sweet smile and reached for the bottle.

Fu Yan snatched it away coldly.

“No need. I can pour my own.”

His expression darkened so much that the boy immediately retreated.

Throughout the evening, Fu Yan’s attention had never really left Gu Zhan.

Chen Lang, sitting opposite, caught every stolen glance.

After Fu Yan poured himself a drink, Chen Lang raised his glass.

“It’s rare for all of us to drink together like this. Last year at this time, President Gu and President Fu were deeply entangled with each other. Who would have thought that one year later, we’d all be sitting here peacefully sharing drinks? What a remarkable twist of fate.”

Chris had interacted with both men enough times to suspect something.

Aaron, however, was hearing this for the first time.

Male gossip was every bit as intense as female gossip.

Smiling, Chen Lang turned to Aaron.

“You probably don’t know this, Director Aaron. These two used to be a couple.”

“What?!”

Aaron nearly dropped his glass.

“Then why did they break up? And isn’t President Gu...”

His gaze bounced between Chen Lang and Fu Yan.

Wasn’t Gu Zhan aligned with Chen Lang’s camp now?

They had gone from lovers to rivals?

Chen Lang crossed his arms and leaned back, clearly enjoying the show.

Gu Zhan calmly took a sip of wine.

Fu Yan curled his lips into a smile.

“President Chen’s information is out of date.”

He grabbed Gu Zhan’s hand and looked directly at Chen Lang.

“I’m currently pursuing President Gu again.”

Aaron’s jaw practically hit the floor.

That was an incredibly bold declaration.

Wasn’t he openly trying to poach Gu Zhan into the Fu Group’s camp?

Chen Lang’s smile froze.

His eyes turned serious as he looked at Gu Zhan.

Gu Zhan coughed lightly and slowly withdrew his hand.

“President Fu certainly knows how to joke. Everyone knows you have a handsome little boyfriend studying acting.”

As he said that, he flashed a warm smile at the boy beside him.

The boy instantly looked enchanted and shyly offered him a cherry.

Whether to prove a point or not, Gu Zhan leaned forward and ate it directly from the boy’s hand.

Fu Yan nearly exploded.

He closed his eyes briefly, barely restraining the urge to haul Gu Zhan away on the spot.

Seeing Fu Yan frustrated, Chen Lang finally felt better and resumed chatting with Aaron and Chris.

But Fu Yan’s mood only worsened.

The boy beside Gu Zhan seemed encouraged by the interaction and kept inching closer, practically ending up in Gu Zhan’s lap.

Suddenly, the lights in the venue went out.

After a moment of darkness, the boxing ring was removed. A spotlight illuminated the stage, where an enormous wine glass stood.

Inside, partially submerged in champagne, a stunningly beautiful dancer slowly emerged.

Electronic music filled the room.

The dancer swayed sensually to the rhythm.

The audience erupted into applause and whistles.

The dim lighting and suggestive atmosphere focused everyone’s attention on the performance.

Leaning toward Gu Zhan’s ear, Fu Yan spoke in a low, irritated voice.

“Stay away from him.”

Gu Zhan pretended not to hear and continued watching the show.

The boy beside him offered him another piece of fruit.

Fu Yan ground his teeth in frustration.

Then, unexpectedly, Gu Zhan felt a large hand creeping onto his thigh beneath the table.

Damn!

He nearly cursed aloud.

Turning sharply, he glared at the culprit.

Fu Yan was smiling politely, as though engaged in casual conversation.

The hand hidden beneath the table, however, was far less gentlemanly.

Onstage, the dancer smiled seductively and slowly squeezed a bright red cherry between her fingers.

The stage was the only illuminated spot in the room.

The VIP box sat almost entirely in darkness.

Everyone else was absorbed in the performance.

No one would notice certain private little actions.

Some people looked like gentlemen on the surface.

In reality, they were complete rogues.

Still smiling, Fu Yan leaned close enough for only Gu Zhan to hear.

“Stay away from him. Otherwise...”

The dancer spun gracefully beneath the lights.

The atmosphere grew even more heated.

Gu Zhan clenched his jaw and shot Fu Yan a murderous glare.

Then, before Fu Yan could react, Gu Zhan returned the favor in kind.

Fu Yan stared at him in disbelief.

Gu Zhan refused to back down.

Onstage, the dancer slipped beneath the champagne and resurfaced elegantly, her hand tracing the curve of the giant glass before continuing her performance.

Fu Yan froze.

His Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily.

Leaning close to his ear, Gu Zhan spoke with quiet authority:

“Let go.”

Fu Yan shut his eyes.

After a few moments, he forced himself to regain some composure and replied hoarsely:

“You let go first.”

Gu Zhan leaned even closer.

Fu Yan could practically feel the warmth of his lips brushing near his cheek.

Then he heard Gu Zhan murmur softly into his ear:

“Release your hand first. I promise you’ll feel good.”