A few days later, in the afternoon, at a private boxing gym.
Zhou Yu'an had already changed into his workout clothes and was wearing boxing gloves, practicing on a heavy bag.
Footsteps sounded from the entrance.
Zhou Yu'an stopped his movements and turned around.
Gu Chengyu walked in, dressed in casual clothes, his face expressionless but his eyes icy cold.
He didn't even change, just leisurely took off his wristwatch, tossed it onto a nearby chair, and then began methodically wrapping his hands.
"You're here," Zhou Yu'an spoke, his voice calm, betraying no emotion.
News of the incident at Yunque had reached him a few days prior. Knowing he couldn't just sit and wait, he had specifically arranged to meet Gu Chengyu.
Gu Chengyu didn't respond. After finishing his wraps and putting on his gloves, he rolled his wrists and stretched his neck.
Then, he looked up, his gaze sharp as he glanced at Zhou Yu'an and tilted his chin towards the ring.
The two men stepped into the ring, one after the other.
No unnecessary words were exchanged.
Gu Chengyu immediately launched a swift and fierce punch straight at Zhou Yu'an's face.
It was fast, powerful, loaded with long-suppressed anger and a sense of betrayal.
Zhou Yu'an swiftly sidestepped and blocked, his arm going numb from the impact.
His eyes narrowed, and he stopped holding back, immediately counterattacking.
On the ring, two figures moved and clashed rapidly.
This wasn't sparring; it was the most direct form of confrontation and venting between two men.
Zhou Yu'an dodged nimbly, looking for openings to strike back.
But Gu Chengyu's assault was too ferocious, a no-holds-barred style that forced Zhou Yu'an to defend with everything he had.
"Thud!" A heavy punch grazed Zhou Yu'an's jaw, leaving a clear red mark.
Zhou Yu'an staggered back a step, wiped the corner of his mouth, and tasted blood.
He looked at Gu Chengyu and suddenly gave a wry smile.
"Gu Chengyu, you're really going this hard on me, all for a woman?"
The words carried a double meaning, referring both to Gu Chengyu's recent ruthlessness towards the Zhou family and today's fight.
Zhou Yu'an remembered the old days, when they used to hang out as brothers. Gu Chengyu had always been the most fastidious and picky one.
Towards the women who threw themselves at him, he was always indifferent, never showing much fondness. Zhou Yu'an had never even seen him initiate a kiss.
But given his top-tier prowess in that department and his vigorous youth, he naturally enjoyed the pleasure of being served in various ways, which earned him his playboy reputation.
Back then, Gu Chengyu would probably forget the face of a woman he'd been with just a couple of days later.
Yet now, for the sake of this Su Qianqian, he seemed like a completely changed man.
Gu Chengyu, breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his jawline, spoke coldly, "So you do know she's my woman?"
"Zhou Yu'an, when you were scheming behind my back, why didn't you think about brotherhood?"
Before the words fully landed, another punch came flying.
Zhou Yu'an barely dodged it, his own breathing becoming ragged.
He wasn't entirely surprised that Gu Chengyu had found out, but he hadn't expected his reaction to be so intense.
"I admit, my approach to her did have ulterior motives."
"But Gu Chengyu, search your conscience. Given how you treated your previous companions, how could anyone believe you were being serious?"
This struck an even deeper chord with Gu Chengyu.
"It's not your place to judge!" Gu Chengyu roared, unleashing punch after punch, venting the fury of betrayal and the underlying guilt stemming from his past.
Zhou Yu'an gradually began to struggle, falling into a disadvantage.
Finally, a powerful punch from Gu Chengyu landed squarely in Zhou Yu'an's abdomen.
"Ugh!" Zhou Yu'an grunted, doubling over in pain, unable to straighten up for a long moment.
Gu Chengyu also stopped, panting heavily. Sweat soaked his black hair, a few strands falling across his forehead, making him look even more wild and untamed.
He looked down at Zhou Yu'an, his eyes showing no trace of victorious pleasure, only warning.
"Zhou Yu'an, this is the first time, and the last."
"Don't touch her again. Don't pull any more stunts."
"Otherwise, next time it won't be just a few punches."
Zhou Yu'an, clutching his abdomen, slowly straightened up.
Looking at this ruthless version of Gu Chengyu before him, and thinking of the feelings he himself had been forced to extinguish, he suddenly felt a mix of absurdity and sorrow.
He had genuinely developed some real feelings for Su Qianqian.
What a pity.
Heaven had blessed him with excellent family background and intellect, placing him in a high position to strategize and maneuver.
Yet it had given his rival in love, Gu Chengyu, the very best of everything, overshadowing him at every turn.
He drew a clear line between family and women.
Even if there was some genuine affection, it meant nothing in the face of the Zhou family's interests.
He could afford to lose in matters of the heart, but he couldn't afford to lose when it came to his family.
Zhou Yu'an raised a hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth. His voice returned to its usual calm, even carrying a note of weariness. "Alright, I understand."
He glanced at Gu Chengyu, his expression complex before finally settling into indifference. "As for the woman, I've lost interest."
With that, he slowly stepped down from the ring and left the boxing gym without looking back.
Gu Chengyu stood alone in the ring, watching Zhou Yu'an's retreating figure disappear.
He had won.
Using the most primal method between men, he had driven off the threat.
Yet he felt no sense of relief whatsoever.
He needed to think of a way to make her stay.
In the evening, when Gu Chengyu returned to the Gu residence, the doctor had already been waiting for a long time in the private medical room.
He was preparing a syringe, slowly drawing liquid into the needle.
This was the contraceptive injection Gu Chengyu required every three months, ensuring absolute prevention at the source.
"Young Master Gu, please relax." The doctor's needle was about to pierce his arm.
But Gu Chengyu withdrew his arm, avoiding the needle.
The doctor paused, looking at him with surprise. "Young Master Gu?"
"Not this time," Gu Chengyu said calmly, pulling down his rolled-up sleeve and fastening his cufflinks with elegant, unhurried movements.
The doctor was stunned; this had never happened before.
Moreover, for a family like the Gus, surely they wouldn't allow any illegitimate children before a formal marriage alliance was confirmed, right?
"Young Master Gu, this..." The doctor looked troubled.
"My body, my decision."
Gu Chengyu looked up, his gaze sweeping over the doctor with the natural authority of one in power. "Keep your mouth shut."
The doctor immediately fell silent, lowering his head. "Yes, Young Master Gu."
Gu Chengyu stood up and walked out of the medical room, his expression unchanged.
Only he himself knew how fast his heart was pounding in his chest at that moment, filled with a base sense of anticipation.
Yes, he was doing this on purpose.
He was too unsettled.
She was always like this, unwilling to rely on him.
So he would make her pregnant with his child. That way, they would be inextricably bound together.
He knew it was selfish, even somewhat despicable.
But he couldn't help himself.
