In a daze, the scene instantly fell silent. The people who had been socializing moments ago stopped talking altogether, all turning their heads to gaze at the figure stepping out of the car, murmurs of astonishment rippling through the crowd.
The most stunned were the Li siblings. They stood frozen in place, as if petrified, unable to move a muscle.
To encounter the last person they ever expected to see—here, at this event, at this moment—felt like being struck by lightning. They couldn’t believe their eyes.
Was that… Gu Zhaoping? It had to be her, right?
They hadn’t seen her in just a few days; there was no way they could mistake her.
But that wasn’t the issue. The real question was—why was Gu Zhaoping here?!
Their minds went blank. No matter how many possibilities they scrambled to consider, none explained her presence in that car.
Hadn’t she said she was taking leave? What was she supposed to be doing? If she was on leave, why was she here?
Wait—had she come with Shen Yifeng? Did Shen Yifeng actually bring her along to this summit?!
That possibility, absurd as it seemed, was the only one they could grasp at. They shot disbelieving glances at Shen Yifeng, a thought flashing through their minds: Why is he still so attached to her?
But the next second, reality crashed down on them. No, that couldn’t be it!
If she had come with Shen Yifeng, why was she stepping out of the car with another man?
That was the young master of the Laroche family—they recognized him from the news, a remarkably accomplished figure.
Even if Gu Zhaoping wanted to avoid suspicion, she shouldn’t have ridden alone in a car with him to attend Shen Yifeng’s event. Wasn’t this just a blatant slap in Shen Yifeng’s face?
Their expressions shifted rapidly. Without wasting another thought, they turned to Shen Yifeng and blurted, “Yifeng, what’s going on? Why did she come with someone else? Isn’t she your fiancée?!”
Shen Yifeng’s expression darkened further at their words.
But the Li siblings were utterly inept at reading the room. Oblivious, they pressed on, “Does she have no sense of boundaries? How could she do something like this? And how does she even know Valentin de Laroche? Wasn’t she supposed to be with you?”
You’re the ones with no sense of boundaries.
Shen Yifeng’s face turned ashen.
If his displeasure at seeing Gu Zhaoping arrive with someone else had been an 8 out of 10, hearing their comments now cranked it up to a 20.
His grip tightened around his wine glass, his mind momentarily blank. He needed time to process what was happening.
He hadn’t even seen or contacted Gu Zhaoping since their last explosive argument. After things had ended so badly between them, why would he ever invite her to this gathering? He wasn’t that shameless.
But then his gaze landed on Valentin—the young master’s bright, cheerful smile—and realization struck him like a physical blow.
Oh. Right.
It was because of his own offhand invitation that this young master had gotten the idea to invite her.
Valentin had seized the opportunity to ask Gu Zhaoping to accompany him as his plus-one.
Maybe she hadn’t planned on attending at all. But the chance to bring her along as his date had been too tempting to pass up. So he’d agreed—and boldly gone through with it.
……
It didn’t make sense. He couldn’t wrap his head around it.
Shen Yifeng turned the question over and over in his mind: Why would Gu Zhaoping agree so easily?
Was Valentin really her type? Or… had part of her decision been influenced by the fact that this was his event? Was she trying to provoke him?
Was that even a possibility?
Shen Yifeng didn’t know what he was hoping for.
But the Li siblings, with their spectacular lack of tact, were right there to remind him—No.
Because Gu Zhaoping and Valentin were so engrossed in conversation that they didn’t even glance in his direction after stepping out of the car. They hadn’t noticed the host standing there, hadn’t spared him a single thought.
“Yifeng. Yifeng.” Li Xunxi called his name several times before he finally snapped back to reality, the scene before him sharpening into focus.
His gaze lingered on the two retreating figures. Never before had he felt the phrase hoist with his own petard so acutely.
“I mean, Gu Zhaoping—”
“Drop it.”
Shen Yifeng interrupted her with a tone that could only be described as cold and rigid. He found the entire situation absurd, even questioning why he had bothered to host this banquet in the first place. The way things were unfolding felt like a slap to his own face.
"She didn’t come with me. We’re not that close."
Unable to tolerate another word from the Li siblings and lacking the energy to engage further, Shen Yifeng turned and walked away.
The Li siblings exchanged bewildered glances. What was going on?
Was Shen Yifeng admitting that he and Gu Zhaoping weren’t close at all? Did that mean he didn’t care who she arrived with?
Was their relationship really that strained?
Under normal circumstances, they would have been pleased by the apparent distance between the two. But the thought of who Gu Zhaoping had brought with her left them uneasy, even incredulous.
How had they even met? Was the Gu Family collaborating with the Laroche Group?
And how had Gu Zhaoping managed to attend this summit? Was she just tagging along for fun, or had she persuaded Old Master Gu to let her participate in these social circles?
The Gu Zhaoping of the past wouldn’t have been capable of such maneuvering, but the current version of her gave them pause. After all, she had driven their first venture into bankruptcy—if she had some scheme up her sleeve now, it wouldn’t be surprising.
Suddenly, a possibility struck them.
Could it be that Gu Zhaoping was deliberately trying to provoke Shen Yifeng because their relationship had soured recently?
Otherwise, they couldn’t think of any reasonable explanation for why a woman already engaged would show up at Shen Yifeng’s party with another man—one who was young and strikingly handsome, no less.
They wanted to say more, but in the blink of an eye, Gu Zhaoping and her companion had vanished.
The realization left them frantic.
Shen Yifeng set down his wine glass and strode into the restroom. Standing before the brightly lit mirror, he washed his hands, only then noticing the spilled wine stains—had he really been so careless?
Since when had he become so unsteady?
He needed a moment to collect himself before facing the situation outside.
For a brief instant, Shen Yifeng questioned himself—what exactly was this emotion gnawing at him?
Why did it unsettle him so deeply?
Did he actually have feelings for Gu Zhaoping?
The question lingered in his mind.
No, he didn’t think so. Their interactions had been sparse, their memories together so faint he could barely recall them. How could such shallow encounters have fostered any real attachment?
Was it resentment, then? Or confusion?
If Gu Zhaoping had never mentioned ending their engagement, never clashed with him so fiercely, but simply drifted away silently, perhaps Shen Yifeng wouldn’t have cared at all. He might have spared her no more than a passing glance, scoffing lightly at her antics—just as he had always done when she indulged in her carefree lifestyle.
But humans were fickle creatures.
What they possessed was easily dismissed; what they stood to lose became all-consuming.
Maybe her words had cut too deep.
No one had ever spoken to him like that before—Gu Zhaoping was the first. It was only natural that the memory lingered.
Just as he finished washing his hands and prepared to leave, voices drifted in from outside.
Someone called out Valentin’s name, and Shen Yifeng froze mid-motion, his hand still hovering over the faucet. The water continued to run, splashing against the sink as he listened.
"I didn’t expect you to actually come. So, you managed to find a date?"
"Yes." Valentin’s voice carried a hint of shyness, though pride was evident. "This is my first time attending an event that requires a companion. I’m honored to have Miss Gu with me."
"Congratulations. I’ve heard her speak—she’s truly remarkable."
"She has insights beyond just that one topic," Valentin replied enthusiastically, though he kept the rest to himself.
"I always wondered what kind of woman would captivate you. I never imagined it would be someone so brilliant."
Valentin chuckled, likely recalling his conversation with Gu Zhaoping in the car. "I consider myself fortunate."
As Valentin stepped into the restroom, he paused in surprise upon seeing Shen Yifeng standing there. "Mr. Shen? Oh—Mr. Shen! So this is where you’ve been."
He said, "Your faucet has been left running."
Shen Yifeng snapped out of his daze. Only then did he notice the faucet before him had been flowing unnoticed for who knows how long. Stiffly, he reached out and turned it off.
In the lavishly decorated mirror, he caught sight of the strikingly handsome face of the young man. Shen Yifeng forced a stiff smile at him. "Welcome."
Valentine smiled back. "The party you organized is wonderful. My companion and I both thought the desserts you arranged were delicious. Thank you for the invitation."
Shen Yifeng kept his hand on the faucet, not lifting his head, merely curving his lips into something resembling a smile. "Mm."
No one could tell how much effort it took for him to muster even that single syllable.
Fortunately, Valentine was an amiable and considerate young man. To express his gratitude to the host—though they had never met before—he politely extended an olive branch, speaking warmly and humorously:
"To be honest, this was my first time inviting a companion. I was terribly worried she might refuse, but thankfully, Mr. Shen’s gathering gave me the perfect excuse to ask her. If there’s ever a chance, I’d like to thank you properly."
Shen Yifeng stared at the brass faucet handle, frozen for a long moment, unable to move. His eyes, reflected in the mirror, were fixed intently on Valentine’s face.
The brass handle creaked under his grip, as if it might snap at any second.
Finally, he managed to force out a few words: "No need for thanks."
Had things been different, he might have appreciated Valentine’s warmth and social grace. But now, even uttering those words felt like a struggle.
He wished Valentine weren’t so adept at conversation, wished he’d drop the politeness altogether.
Wished he wouldn’t thank him—not even once.
Only when Valentine finally left did Shen Yifeng seem to exhale, his body relaxing as he finally stepped out of the restroom.
The Li siblings spotted him then and hurried over, getting straight to the point:
"By the way, Yifeng, did you know Gu Zhaoping sent us a challenge? She wants to compete against Xunwen in a talent showdown—and she even mentioned signing a contract!"
Shen Yifeng’s brow twitched. He didn’t understand why Gu Zhaoping’s name kept coming up everywhere. How many more times would these siblings bring her up?
"I don’t want to hear it. Don’t tell me."
His cold, firm tone finally made them fall silent, though they had been eager to add that Gu Zhaoping had the audacity to challenge Li Xunwen to a chess match—anyone who grew up with Xunwen knew just how prodigious his talent was in that field.
"If there’s nothing else, you should head back and rest. Don’t you have a show to film?" Shen Yifeng cut in, eager to be rid of them. He couldn’t bear to see their faces any longer.
Especially with Gu Zhaoping and Valentine still around. He had no idea what these two might do next, and he wasn’t in the mood to deal with it.
"Alright." Li Xunxi was a little disappointed but also touched that he still cared, remembering their filming schedule.
"We’ll head back to the hotel then, Yifeng. Make sure to tune in to our show when you have time!"
Shen Yifeng took a deep breath.
He wouldn’t. He couldn’t. He had no desire to see a single person from that show. "Go on."
The siblings turned away reluctantly.
But no one expected them to run straight into Gu Zhaoping just a few steps later.
Gu Zhaoping had just finished a conversation.
Having heard her forum speech earlier, the Li siblings were intrigued by her. Seeing her here now, they were stunned, and the crowd quickly gathered around her for conversation.
Gu Zhaoping handled such situations with effortless ease.
Just as she finished chatting, Valentine called her name from a distance. She turned to look.
And in that moment, she spotted two familiar faces.
It gave her pause.
Gu Zhaoping arched a brow. "Li Xunxi? Li Xunwen?"
She glanced behind them. "You followed me all the way here? That eager for the next challenge?"
What kind of nonsense was that? The sheer audacity!
The siblings were momentarily speechless, nearly choking on their indignation.
Follow her? They were just as shocked to see her here!
Shen Yifeng, standing not far away, had thought he’d finally sent off these two nuisances.
But in the blink of an eye, they had somehow crossed paths with Gu Zhaoping—of all people!
He froze, his breath hitching as darkness momentarily clouded his vision. He nearly called out to stop them, but it was already too late.
"You must be joking. We came here for Yifeng. Do you really think this has anything to do with you?"
The words had already been spoken.
Shen Yifeng felt his vision flicker, as if he were on the verge of blacking out.
At first, Gu Zhaoping hadn’t noticed him. He had planned to blend into the crowd, keeping himself occupied with socializing to avoid her. As long as she didn’t think to greet the host, he could stay hidden—unseen by her.
But now, there was no escaping it.
Gu Zhaoping’s gaze swept past the two of them, lifting slightly before landing squarely on Shen Yifeng, who stood stiffly across from her.
It was a devastating sight.
Shen Yifeng went rigid. This was the first time their eyes truly met. He fell silent, unsure what reaction to expect from her.
Would she mock him again? Or would she demand that he rein in the Li siblings, warning them not to provoke her?
But nothing unfolded as Shen Yifeng had imagined.
Gu Zhaoping merely withdrew her gaze calmly and said, "Is that so?"
"You really are everywhere. Don’t worry—you’ll have your chance soon enough. The show’s recording is just around the corner."
The greatest contempt was indifference.
Only now did Shen Yifeng suddenly realize it.
Gu Zhaoping was ignoring him.
His presence didn’t stir even the slightest ripple of emotion in her.
His heart crumpled like a leaf battered by the wind. He didn’t even know why he was still staring at her like this.
Now, the Li siblings were truly furious.
Just then, Valentin approached, smiling as he conversed with someone. Li Xunwen’s gaze locked onto him.
Compared to Li Xunxi, he had always been the quieter one. But at this moment, his anger could no longer be contained.
"Gu Zhaoping," he said coldly, his voice sharp with provocation, "did you come here with that La Roche heir?" His tone dripped with accusation, as if he had uncovered some damning truth. "Does he even know you’re only using him to spite your fiancé?"
The atmosphere instantly turned icy.
Everyone who heard those words fell silent. Those who hadn’t caught it at first soon noticed the abrupt hush and turned to look, puzzled.
Shen Yifeng was the first to fully grasp the implication. The moment he did, he nearly passed out from sheer rage.
What were they saying? How much more trouble did these two plan to stir up?!
He wanted nothing more than to rush forward and shut them up himself.
Both Valentin and Gu Zhaoping were momentarily stunned.
Valentin had no idea what this was about. Gu Zhaoping, meanwhile, couldn’t fathom how they had arrived at such a ridiculous conclusion.
The sheer absurdity of it made her laugh.
She chuckled, then laughed outright, as if the question was genuinely that amusing.
But her laughter only enraged them further, as if they’d been stepped on.
"Does he know about your relationship with Yifeng?!"
Finally, Gu Zhaoping understood. "So all this time, you’ve been targeting me because of Shen Yifeng?"
She had no memory of these two and couldn’t comprehend why they kept popping up in front of her. Now, it made sense.
Had she been more familiar with entertainment industry culture, she might have recognized the saying: "Only the real girlfriend makes the obsessive fans lose their minds."
How could Gu Zhaoping be so dismissive?
Wasn’t she the least bit ashamed or nervous under their accusations?!
This was outrageous. Did everyone around them hear? She was two-timing her fiancé, flirting openly with Valentin—did she even have the right to act so carefree? She wasn’t single!
Valentin, who had now approached, seemed to have pieced it together.
His expression grew slightly solemn as he stepped forward, parting the crowd. "Excuse me," he said politely but firmly. "May I pass?"
The siblings faltered as he stopped before them. Then, in a calm and deliberate tone, Valentin asked, "Now I understand."
"But may I ask—who exactly is this 'Yifeng' you’re referring to?"
Valentine seemed genuinely intent on asking this question, leaving the two of them stunned. Seriously, how could he be like this? Was now really the time for him to urgently clarify who Shen Yifeng was?
Shouldn’t he be demanding why Gu Zhaoping was getting so close to him despite having a fiancé? Had he completely missed the point? How could this young master be so clueless?
Li Xunxi, growing impatient, turned and pointed at Shen Yifeng. "That’s him right there! The host of today’s gathering is Yifeng—Gu Zhaoping’s fiancé. Now do you understand?"
Valentine’s gaze followed their direction.
The moment his eyes met Shen Yifeng’s, Shen Yifeng wasn’t even tense or stiff anymore—just relieved, as if a weight had finally lifted from his chest. In the end, he had been discovered.
Now, all his previous reactions seemed calculated and awkward. But from what he knew, Valentine might be the one feeling even more embarrassed.
Valentine’s pupils constricted slightly as realization dawned on him.
This was the very person who had invited him to the gathering.
He was Miss Gu’s fiancé? That was downright bizarre.
Yet, no one expected Gu Zhaoping to be the next to speak, as if she had finally had her fill of the drama. Her tone was unhurried as she said,
"Was it Shen Yifeng hiding it from you, or was my attitude too polite, making it seem like our relationship hadn’t already fallen apart?"
"I’ve long since decided to break off the engagement with him. No need to panic on behalf of the people involved—I’ve already informed him."
Gu Zhaoping lifted her gaze, her voice cool. "Shen Yifeng, were you planning to keep this a secret? Or do you just not want it announced?"
Shen Yifeng stiffened.
He stared at her in disbelief.
His entire body was like a bowstring pulled taut. Only the faintest tremor flickered in the muscles of his arms, while the rest of him remained frozen.
She had said it.
Once again, Gu Zhaoping had casually, indifferently, brought up the dissolution of their engagement—just as ruthlessly as before, leaving no room for negotiation.
The Li siblings were dumbfounded, utterly failing to grasp her words. They looked at her as if she’d lost her mind.
What did she just say? Breaking off the engagement? Was this really Gu Zhaoping speaking?
Calling off the engagement with Shen Yifeng?
How could she possibly do such a thing? Did she even realize what she was saying?
Too shocked to react, they stood frozen.
Unbelievable!
Panic-stricken!
And then—
Valentine finally pieced everything together. He steadied himself and turned to Shen Yifeng, Li Xunwen, and Li Xunxi.
His tone was calm, not the slightest bit shaken—if anything, it was solemn. "Now I understand."
He then looked up at the rigid Shen Yifeng and even said, with utmost politeness:
"If you were the fiancé, then…"
"Thank you for stepping aside."
