"Misunderstanding?" Gu Chengyu finally spoke after a long silence.
His voice was quiet, even carrying a hint of careless languor, yet it instantly dropped the temperature in the entire office.
He lifted his gaze, those phoenix eyes cold and mocking, as if they could pierce through everything, locking onto Lin Shu.
"Lin Shu, you couldn’t wait to hand over that script—was that just 'mentorship,' a 'misunderstanding'?"
He turned to Qiao Xi. "Qiao Xi, you leaked information to Li Jinfu, telling him there was a fresh-faced newcomer who fit his 'preference,' hoping for his 'guidance'—was that also a 'misunderstanding'?"
"Are you trying to say all of this was just coincidence?"
Lin Shu and Qiao Xi both paled.
Gu Chengyu gave them no time to recover. With a slight tilt of his chin, he signaled to his assistant, Zhao.
Expressionless, Assistant Zhao stepped forward and tossed a folder onto the coffee table beside them.
The folder fell open, revealing several screenshots of clear communication records—timestamps, phone numbers, and damning content.
It was undeniable evidence of Qiao Xi’s messages with Li Jinfu’s assistant, explicitly hinting at arranging a "meeting" for the newcomer, Su Qianqian.
Qiao Xi swayed on her feet as she stared at the screenshots, her sweet facade crumbling into sheer terror.
"It’s not what it looks like, Young Master Gu!"
"Li Jinfu twisted my words, I—" She stumbled over her excuses.
"Twisted?" Shen Que’s voice was icy. "Anyone in this industry would know exactly what those words meant."
"Qiao Xi, do you really think everyone else is a fool?"
Shen Que’s fury burned hotter.
On one hand, these two idiots had dared to pull such a dirty trick right under his nose, provoking Gu Chengyu and dragging him into this mess.
On the other…
The thought of Su Qianqian—that pure, delicate girl—almost being touched by those filthy hands, the fear that might have flashed across her face… It sent a surge of rage straight to his skull.
That girl—the one he’d wanted at first sight but could never have—how dare they target her?
"Lin Shu."
Gu Chengyu’s gaze returned to that beautiful face, his voice deceptively calm, yet heavy with impending storm.
"Your timing for 'mentorship' was truly impeccable."
Lin Shu’s palms were slick with cold sweat.
She knew denial was useless now.
Lifting her head, tears welling in her eyes, she trembled out, "Chengyu, I admit it—I was jealous of Su Qianqian."
"I hated her for stealing you away. I lost my mind, I was wrong!"
She stumbled forward, her posture collapsing, almost dropping to her knees.
"I swear! I, Lin Shu, swear on my life!"
"From now on, I’ll disappear from Su Qianqian’s sight completely."
"I’ll leave the entertainment industry voluntarily, never to return!"
"Please, for the sake of our past… show me mercy. Let me go."
She wept pitifully, trying to bargain with whatever remnants of affection might remain.
It was her last desperate play.
"Leave the industry?"
Qiao Xi was aghast, panic swallowing her whole.
"Shu-jie, have you lost your mind?"
"Why? All for that nobody?"
"Young Master Gu, Young Master Shen, you can’t do this!"
"We’ve made so much money for Shen Corporation. We’re your cash cows—"
She couldn’t comprehend why Gu Chengyu would go to such lengths for a mere newcomer.
Even Shen Que stood firmly on Su Qianqian’s side, ready to crush them without hesitation.
This defied all logic.
"Cash cows?"
Shen Que smirked as if hearing a joke, his icy gaze raking over Qiao Xi’s terrified face.
"Does Shen Corporation lack for your kind?" His disdain was palpable.
"You messed with my brother’s woman and still expect to walk away unscathed?"
Gu Chengyu rose slowly to his feet.
His towering presence exuded absolute dominance as he stepped toward Lin Shu, looking down at her tear-streaked face.
"Mercy? Let you go?"
He repeated her words, his lips curling into a cold sneer.
"Lin Shu, from the moment you plotted against her, you forfeited any chance of survival."
Gu Chengyu turned away, his gaze shifting to Shen Que, his tone leaving no room for argument:
"Shen Que, clean up your own mess."
"I don’t want to see or hear about these two ever again. Anywhere."
He paused.
A memory surfaced—Su Qianqian’s pouty complaint days ago, upset that he’d spent money on other women.
At the time, he’d brushed it off with empty reassurances.
But now it struck him: his money wasn’t meant for just anyone.
So what if Lin Shu had been his past lover? She’d dared to lay hands on his Qianqian. She deserved to lose everything.
Gu Chengyu added, coldly, "Make sure Lin Shu returns every cent she shouldn’t have. You understand, Shen Que?"
Shen Que arched a brow, then nodded. "Understood."
Petty revenge wasn’t Gu Chengyu’s usual style.
But then again, there was no way Lin Shu could hurt his woman and still enjoy the spoils.
Lin Shu crumpled to the floor, her eyes hollow with despair. Every scheme, every shred of hope shattered under the weight of absolute power.
Qiao Xi, too, collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut, muttering numbly, "It’s over… all over…"
Gu Chengyu didn’t spare them another glance.
Adjusting his cuffs with aristocratic grace, he strode out of the office without looking back.
The chasm of class, the crushing weight of authority—it was laid bare in this moment.
The stardom and status they’d once prided themselves on meant nothing before true power.
Reduced to nothing more than a dismissive command: "Clean it up."
