Xie Guanyan's striking looks and height made him stand out wherever he went.
The moment he walked in, people noticed him.
Then they spotted the man in the red suit beside him.
The banquet hall hosting the party was massive, so no one could clearly see his face at first.
"Who's that? Dressed in red like a peacock showing off!"
"At Xie Guanyan's wedding, he was singing and dancing!"
"Damn! That's Huo Tingshen!"
"What? I've known him since childhood—I’ve never seen him wear red!"
"Well, he has. Last time, I saw his housekeeper hanging red underwear out to dry!"
"..."
Once people got a clear look at his face, their jaws dropped.
No one expected him to show up, let alone dressed so flamboyantly!
Netizens also noticed Xie Guanyan and Huo Tingshen.
—"Xie Guanyan is ridiculously handsome, and that suit fabric next to him looks expensive."
—"Huo Tingshen is here? A top-tier old-money tycoon who rarely appears outside business reports!"
—"I just saw him mocking Xie Guanyan for being desperate in love—what’s he doing here now?"
—"Breaking news: Zhao Ziling is his ex-wife."
—"No wonder I disliked him at first sight—he’s the ex-husband of my favorite actor’s wife! Infuriating!"
—"Is anyone even listening to the director’s rules?"
The crowd at the venue belatedly registered the director’s instructions.
Since they were all from the same social circle, everyone knew how to play these games without crossing lines. No one left.
Now, all eyes were subtly fixed on Huo Tingshen.
This man had always been untouchable since childhood—there was no way he’d tolerate being ordered around by a woman!
Huo Tingshen felt the weight of their stares, a vein throbbing at his temple.
Never in his life had he been scrutinized like this.
His icy gaze swept across the room.
Instantly, everyone pretended to be busy.
One whipped out his phone. "What? My grandma just gave birth to my dad? What joyous news!"
Another struck up a conversation. "I feel scammed. Three years ago, my boyfriend said he was 17. Today, I found out he’s actually 20!"
The person beside him frowned. "People change. I’ve already taken five dumps today."
Huo Tingshen: "..."
Without hesitation, Huo Tingshen strode toward the director.
The director shivered under the man’s glacial aura—Huo Tingshen was like a walking ice machine.
Why was he here?
Lin Mo nudged Zhao Ziling, who was scrolling on her phone. "Your ex-husband’s here."
Zhao Ziling glanced up, scanning the room. "Where?"
Lin Mo pointed. "The one in the red suit."
Zhao Ziling’s eyes widened. "Who possessed this man?"
Huo Tingshen glanced at Zhao Ziling before addressing the director, his voice low and firm. "Change the rules."
The director, intimidated, stammered, "Ah? What… what kind of changes does Mr. Huo want?"
Huo Tingshen: "Today, women must obey men completely."
—"So domineering! Feels like the type of CEO who’d say ‘cut it off yourself’ mid-poop."
The director’s lips twitched violently. "Th-this…"
His pleading eyes darted to Xie Guanyan, who was approaching.
Save me, save me, save me!
But Zhao Ziling spoke first. "No. If Mr. Huo can’t accept the rules, he’s free to leave."
Huo Tingshen’s gaze locked onto the woman with voluminous wavy hair.
It had been ages since they’d had a civil conversation.
That day at the theater, he’d woken up alone, with only his butler there. The man claimed Zhao Ziling had called him over.
She hadn’t even waited for him to wake up!
In his view, aside from being slightly controlling, he’d treated her well in every way.
Rage surged in his chest, his expression darkening. "Zhao Ziling, must you oppose me at every turn?"
Zhao Ziling’s red lips curled. "Get this straight, Mr. Huo—this is my yacht."
Amid the murmurs, the director pieced together the key detail: the wealthy woman providing the yacht was Huo Tingshen’s ex-wife.
Now, the two were deadlocked.
The director timidly interjected, "Anyone who stays agrees to the show’s rules. The Black-Clothed Persons don’t care about your status—they’ll hit you all the same."
"Viewers know Xie Guanyan took a hundred hammer strikes and nearly got flattened like a shoe sole. So don’t think you’re exempt."
Xie Guanyan: "..."
Huo Tingshen shot Xie Guanyan a look.
Sometimes, he truly admired this man’s ability to bend when necessary.
But he couldn’t. As the head of the Huo family, he would never let a woman command him!
How could he maintain his standing in Jingbei otherwise?
His temple pulsed as he stared rigidly at Zhao Ziling, his voice frosty. "Then I hope Miss Zhao enjoys herself."
—"Huo Tingshen seems calm, but he’s actually out of options."
—"Old-money families like his care most about face. Born into power, he’d never lower himself."
Zhao Ziling smirked. "Don’t let the door hit you on the way out."
Furious but unwilling to show it, Huo Tingshen clenched his fists inside his suit pockets.
He turned and marched away.
Wherever he passed, people bowed their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.
They loved gossip, but no one wanted to offend Huo Tingshen.
Watching his retreating figure, Zhao Ziling was puzzled.
Why had he come here just to embarrass himself?
Lin Mo whispered, "He’s following the ‘Chasing the Ex-Wife Through Hell’ script!"
Having read enough romance novels, Zhao Ziling understood the trope. She shook her head. "He’s just unwilling to lose. Anything requiring real humility is beyond him."
"With that attitude, he can keep the script. I’m not interested."
Huo Tingshen soon exited the yacht.
His assistant, waiting ashore, was surprised. "Mr. Huo, are we leaving?"
Huo Tingshen exhaled sharply. "Give me your suit jacket and a mask."
Huo Xiaoming could obey women—that had nothing to do with Huo Tingshen!
A stretch limo pulled up to the dock.
The door opened, revealing a man in a sleek black suit, Buddhist prayer beads around his wrist.
Next emerged a woman in professional attire, cool and poised.
Then came a silver-haired youth, a buzz-cut teenager, and a guy with bleached hair.
A middle-aged woman in simple clothing followed.
Another car arrived, and a short-haired girl stepped out.
"Zhao Zixin," Shen Ji'an called instinctively.
Zhao Zixin’s eyes lit up. "Wow! Shen Sizhan, you’re so handsome!"
Shen Sizhan, in his usual rebellious demeanor, smirked faintly, his blue earring glinting in the sunset.
Shen Ji'an’s face fell.
Hadn’t Zhao Zixin once called him handsome?
Now she wouldn’t even acknowledge his greeting.
Zhao Zixin wasn’t a big fan of celebrities, but many of her friends adored Shen Sizhan.
She rushed over excitedly. "Mr. Shen Sizhan, can we take a photo? I love you!" (…as an older sister.)
She left the last part unsaid—better secure the selfie first.
Shen Sizhan gave a cool nod. "Sure."
Zhao Zixin handed her phone to Shen Ji'an. "Help us take the picture."
Shen Ji'an: "..."
He passed the phone to the bleached-hair guy. "You do it."
Bleached-Hair: "…Yes, boss."
Once the photo was taken, the group headed for the yacht.
Shen Sizhan was allowed in.
The others were stopped by staff. "Sorry, we’re filming. The director’s rule today is ‘women’s word is law.’ If the ladies command it, the men must obey. If you can’t accept that, you can’t enter."
Shen Yihan rotated the beads on his wrist. "Fine."
Modern society had its boundaries, after all.
Jiang Tang found the rules quite amusing. "Alright," she agreed.
Zhao Zixin couldn't hold back a giggle. "Hehehe."
Shen Ji'an glanced at her before responding to the staff, "I don’t mind."
Auntie Zhen chimed in as well, "I don’t mind either."
No one wanted Auntie Zhen to stay home alone—her condition had stabilized enough by now.
The blond-haired guy had never seen such a massive yacht before and was grateful to his boss for bringing him along to witness such luxury. "If my boss doesn’t mind, then neither do I."
The group stepped into the yacht’s banquet hall together.
There, they spotted Lin Mo chatting with Xie Guanyan, their eyes brimming with laughter over some shared conversation.
Shen Yihan fiddled with his prayer beads, his heartache rendering him speechless.
Shen Ji’an averted his gaze.
Meanwhile, Shen Sizhan dashed over and planted himself squarely between the two. "Sis! I’m here!"
Li Huanyu, dressed in a flowing white gown, weaved through the crowd, greeting influential figures she recognized.
Opportunities for upward social mobility like this were rare.
She had to seize it.
Gu Jingchuan was a lost cause—it was time to find a new target.
Then, she turned and caught sight of a tall, imposing figure with an icy aura.
Li Huanyu’s heart skipped a beat. Shen Yihan!
Back then, she’d been too blinded by Gu Jingchuan’s celebrity status and wealthy background to see reality clearly.
But Shen Yihan was actually the best choice!
Generous, devoted—unlike Xie Guanyan!
After all, Shen Yihan had once had feelings for her. If she made a move now, he’d surely take her back.
Swaying gracefully, she approached him and murmured sweetly, "Brother Yihan, it’s been so long."
