Gu Yunhao furrowed his brows.
In truth, the words he had just spoken were different from what he had prepared before coming here.
Before meeting Ning Yuxuan, Gu Yunhao had resolved that no matter how much this woman begged him, he would never relent and allow the manufacturer to cooperate with her at the original price.
At most, he might reduce the price hike from ten percent to eight—or even five.
This was meant to teach Ning Yuxuan a lesson, to show her that with just a flick of his finger, a couple of phone calls from Gu Yunhao were enough to make her shabby hotel suffer massive losses.
Those who opposed him would never prosper.
Yet after seeing Ning Yuxuan, after just a few exchanged words, Gu Yunhao couldn’t help but offer her a far more tempting condition to force her into submission.
He wanted—no, needed—to see her beg him.
Back when they were together, all of it had been effortlessly within his grasp—
Her docility, her obedience, her pleas—he had taken them all for granted.
Now, the woman before him was just as stunning as he remembered, if not even more radiant. Yet he couldn’t even earn a simple smile from her.
Realizing he had been staring at Ning Yuxuan for too long, Gu Yunhao cleared his throat.
"Ning Yuxuan." He took a step forward. "Did you not hear me clearly? I said, if you’re willing to lower yourself and beg me properly, I might consider helping you negotiate with the factory to secure the original pricing for your order."
Ning Yuxuan suddenly laughed.
For the evening banquet, she had changed into an elegant gown, adorned with exquisite jewelry and flawless makeup.
Gu Yunhao was momentarily stunned.
Then, with a faint smile, she said, "Gu Yunhao, after all this, are you just desperate to hear me grovel at your feet?"
Gu Yunhao: "..."
Even though he knew her words were laced with mockery, he couldn’t stop himself from admitting, "So what if I am?"
"If you just beg me..." His gaze bore into her. "I might spare Huayuan for now."
Ning Yuxuan’s smile vanished as she took a step back. "In your dreams."
Gu Yunhao: "You—!"
He couldn’t understand—where did Ning Yuxuan get such confidence?
Fury burned in his eyes, but mindful of their public setting, he lowered his voice. "Is this arrogance of yours because you’ve latched onto Xie Zhiyan?"
Ning Yuxuan arched a brow. "What if it is?"
That smug look on her face didn’t just infuriate him—it stoked the flames of jealousy.
Gu Yunhao gritted his teeth. "Ning Yuxuan, open your eyes. Right now, you’re scrambling alone at this banquet, trying every means to meet Wu Shangdong over supplier issues. So tell me—where is your precious Xie Zhiyan?"
When she didn’t answer immediately, Gu Yunhao’s lips curled into a sneer.
Just as he expected—everything was still under his control.
With a derisive chuckle, he added, "I’m guessing you already went to Xie Zhiyan before coming here, didn’t you? A single call from him, without even showing his face, could’ve easily solved this for you. Yet he still refused to lift a finger. Don’t you see now how little you mean to him?"
Ning Yuxuan watched him calmly.
When he finished, she ignored his question and instead countered with amusement, "Gu Yunhao, the way you keep bringing up Xie Zhiyan—are you jealous of him?"
Gu Yunhao’s pupils constricted. "...What did you say?"
Ning Yuxuan smiled. "If I recall correctly, Xie Zhiyan is only three years older than you. Yet now he’s the head of Hengjiang Group, one of the most powerful figures in Beicheng, capable of moving mountains in the business world with just a word. And you—"
She gave him a pitying look. "All you can do is throw your weight around as the Gu family’s eldest grandson, play petty games to trip up me and Huayuan, then rush to this banquet hoping I’ll beg you—just to soothe your fragile ego."
Ning Yuxuan refused to follow Gu Yunhao’s script. Proving her worth in Xie Zhiyan’s eyes was meaningless.
Instead of defending herself, she attacked.
If she could redirect Gu Yunhao’s resentment from Huayuan to Xie Zhiyan, even better—it would save her future trouble.
Just as she predicted, Gu Yunhao turned livid, his face paling with rage.
He had been holding a glass of red wine earlier, and now his right hand trembled slightly, causing the wine to swirl unsteadily.
She had struck a nerve.
Gu Yunhao had never lacked material comforts growing up; what he craved most was recognition.
Yet under the shadow of the Gu family elders, while people showed him surface-level respect, behind his back they dismissed him as the Gu family’s "good-for-nothing eldest grandson."
If not for the surrounding guests, Gu Yunhao would have exploded on the spot.
"Ning Yuxuan, you—"
Before he could finish, an older man’s voice cut in beside them.
"Isn't this little Ning... and Gu Yunhao?" A kind-faced man in his mid-fifties approached.
The man was named Guo Zhihong, a building materials businessman whom others respectfully addressed as "Chairman Guo."
Guo Zhihong was on good terms with Wu Shangdong, and the two families had collaborated frequently in recent years. His attendance at the banquet was to show support for the Wu Family.
However, unlike Wu Shangdong’s notorious reputation for being difficult to deal with, Guo Zhihong presented himself as humble and courteous in public, never putting on airs around younger generations.
With a smile, Guo Zhihong gestured to a waiter, instructing him to hand Ning Yuxuan a glass of red wine.
"Little Ning," Guo Zhihong said warmly. "I saw you at Old Gu’s birthday banquet last time, but unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to formally greet each other. Do you remember me?"
Ning Yuxuan wasn’t sure of his intentions, but she accepted the wine politely and replied, "Of course, Chairman Guo. The ‘Five Blessings Surrounding Longevity’ painting you gifted Old Gu was something he couldn’t stop praising."
Guo Zhihong laughed heartily. "Hahaha, you flatter me, little Ning. Young people these days have such sharp memories—even after so long, you still recall what I presented that day."
He raised his glass slightly toward Gu Yunhao. "I noticed the two of you here and thought I’d come say hello. What were you chatting about?"
Gu Yunhao’s expression darkened slightly, but he forced a smile. "Chairman Guo, Yuxuan and I were just catching up on casual matters."
He had already been provoked by Ning Yuxuan earlier, leaving him emotionally unsettled. Now, seeing Guo Zhihong show Ning Yuxuan more attention than himself, he felt even more uneasy.
Though he had long known these people didn’t hold him in high regard, Ning Yuxuan was merely Xie Zhiyan’s temporary girlfriend. Why did she deserve Chairman Guo’s special treatment?
Guo Zhihong nodded with a smile. "You youngsters always have so much to talk about. Yunhao, send my regards to your grandfather and father."
Gu Yunhao replied, "Of course! I—"
Before he could say more, Guo Zhihong had already turned back to Ning Yuxuan.
"Little Ning, I just heard from Shangdong that he and your company—what was it called again?"
Ning Yuxuan smoothly supplied, "Huayuan."
Guo Zhihong chuckled. "Ah, yes, Huayuan. Shangdong mentioned he just finalized a collaboration with them and even praised your negotiation skills! Earning a compliment from him is no small feat—I’m quite impressed."
Ning Yuxuan exchanged a few more pleasantries with Guo Zhihong, who politely expressed his interest in potential future collaborations with Huayuan.
Given Huayuan’s current scale, partnering with Guo Zhihong would indeed be an honor for Ning Yuxuan.
But for Guo Zhihong, Huayuan was just one of many potential business partners. He had only approached her because he’d heard Wu Shangdong spoke favorably of her. If Huayuan failed to thrive later, it wouldn’t affect him in the slightest.
Their conversation lasted only a few minutes, but one sentence echoed relentlessly in Gu Yunhao’s mind—
Wu Shangdong had already agreed to supply goods to Huayuan?
This was the Wu Family’s territory. Nearly every guest here had to vie for a moment of Wu Shangdong’s attention. Given Ning Yuxuan’s status, securing a private conversation with him should have been nearly impossible.
And how could someone as discerning as Wu Shangdong take an interest in Huayuan’s modest operations?
How was this possible?
Yet no matter how much Gu Yunhao refused to believe it, he knew someone of Guo Zhihong’s stature wouldn’t spread baseless rumors.
If Chairman Guo mentioned the collaboration, then the Wu Family becoming Huayuan’s new supplier was undoubtedly a done deal.
Gu Yunhao’s face paled, then flushed with anger.
No wonder Ning Yuxuan had been so composed earlier—not only had she not begged him, but she’d even mocked him.
She had already secured victory.
Guo Zhihong had many guests to greet at the banquet and couldn’t linger too long with a junior like Ning Yuxuan. After a brief exchange, they swapped contact information before he moved on with his wine glass in hand.
Gu Yunhao stared at Ning Yuxuan, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
He wanted to hurl more insults at her, but the thought of her silently watching him gloat while she’d already resolved the supplier issue left him speechless.
Had she been laughing at him the whole time?
And now, of all moments, Ning Yuxuan wasn’t in a hurry to leave.
She swirled her wine glass leisurely, taking a slow sip as if waiting for him to continue.
Gu Yunhao burned with fury and resentment.
Gritting his teeth, he finally spat out, "These people are only humoring you because of Xie Zhiyan. The day he dumps you for good, let’s see if they still bother with you."
Ning Yuxuan chuckled. "Anything else? If you’ve got more to say, now’s the time to get it all out."
After the earlier blow, Gu Yunhao had lost all his initial arrogance.
Faced with Ning Yuxuan's provocation, Gu Yunhao still couldn't suppress the fury in his heart.
Gritting his teeth, he spat out, "Ning Yuxuan, you might be able to gloat for a little while, but mark my words: within six months, you and that shabby little hotel of yours will hit rock bottom. By then, even if you come begging, there won’t be a chance left for you."
Ning Yuxuan simply replied, "Oh?" Then, with a faint smile, she added, "Since you’re so concerned about my family’s hotel, let me leave you with a little advice too."
Gu Yunhao frowned. "...What?"
Ning Yuxuan tilted her head slightly. "Make sure to keep up with the news lately."
With that, she turned and walked away, the click of her heels echoing behind her.
Finding a quieter corner in the banquet hall, Ning Yuxuan glanced at her phone.
There was a message from her mother.
Ning Fei: Xuanxuan, I support you getting more experience. But don’t push yourself too hard—don’t drink too much, and try to come home early.
Ning Yuxuan hadn’t gone into detail with Ning Fei about tonight’s events, only mentioning that she’d be attending a banquet and might return late.
But she hadn’t deliberately hidden anything from her mother either, so Zhou Lin had likely already reported everything in full detail.
Ning Yuxuan could tell—her mother was worried but didn’t want to add to her stress.
That’s why she hadn’t asked for specifics, just urged her to come back soon.
Ning Yuxuan wanted to tell Ning Fei in person the good news—that Wu Shangdong had agreed to supply Huayuan at a low price.
So she simply replied: Don’t worry, Mom. I haven’t had much to drink. I’ll definitely be home before 10:30!
There was also a message from Ning Shiyue, updating her about his filming schedule.
The crew had finished shooting in Haicheng. The main team would be taking a late-night high-speed train to Jiangcheng, resting on Tuesday, and resuming filming on Wednesday.
Since the shooting schedule was constantly changing, the final arrangements had only just been confirmed.
Ning Shiyue: I already called Mom, but I’m texting you too. She said she’s booked her flight for tomorrow noon—you already knew, right?
Ning Shiyue: I’ve reserved a table at the restaurant. See you then.
Ning Yuxuan remembered—she and Ning Shiyue had made plans to go for spicy food together.
But Ning Fei hadn’t mentioned the flight yet, probably not wanting to add pressure in case things at the hotel didn’t go smoothly.
Ning Yuxuan sent back a "Got it" sticker in reply.
Finally, she opened Xie Zhiyan’s message.
Xie Zhiyan: Liu Cheng mentioned you went to Wu Shangdong’s banquet. Need a ride?
He didn’t ask why she hadn’t invited him along.
Ning Yuxuan had actually considered it—just asking Xie Zhiyan to solve the problem for her.
Gu Yunhao wasn’t wrong—this was something Xie Zhiyan could handle with a single phone call.
If she really asked, Xie Zhiyan wouldn’t refuse.
But Ning Yuxuan couldn’t shake her reluctance.
Relying on Xie Zhiyan for everything was the easiest way, but what would happen once their contract expired?
Even if he liked her now, what if that changed later?
So she’d gone alone. As for whether Wu Shangdong had agreed to the deal partly because of her connection to Xie Zhiyan—Ning Yuxuan didn’t mind.
Progress had to be made step by step. She couldn’t rush things.
At the very least, she’d secured the deal face-to-face with Wu Shangdong. For now, that counted as a success.
Their contractual marriage had two years left. She had time to grow.
Ning Yuxuan replied to Xie Zhiyan: If you’re nearby, sure.
Xie Zhiyan: Not too far. Twenty minutes.
Ning Yuxuan thought—that wasn’t exactly close.
At this hour, traffic was light. Twenty minutes was enough to drive over ten kilometers.
But if Xie Zhiyan was willing to come, it saved her the trouble of asking Uncle Li.
Ning Yuxuan: Okay.
Eighteen minutes later, Xie Zhiyan arrived as promised.
He didn’t make a grand entrance, dressed in an ordinary suit—slightly less formal than the banquet’s attire.
But his status made true discretion impossible.
When Wu Shangdong heard Xie Zhiyan had arrived unexpectedly, he rushed to greet him at the entrance.
Learning that Xie Zhiyan was only there to pick up Ning Yuxuan and didn’t plan to stay, Wu Shangdong was both stunned and relieved.
Earlier, when Wu Shangdong’s wife had mentioned introducing Ning Yuxuan to him, he hadn’t known she was Xie Zhiyan’s girlfriend.
Though his wife was quite active in social circles, she rarely interfered in the Wu Family’s business matters.
This time, she’d made a rare request—and it wasn’t anything difficult—so Wu Shangdong had agreed.
Only now did he realize the connection between Ning Yuxuan and Xie Zhiyan.
And Xie Zhiyan had come in person to fetch her.
Wu Shangdong quickly chimed in, "What a coincidence! Ning Yuxuan and I just finalized a collaboration. We’ll need your support going forward, President Xie."
He raised his wine glass as he spoke.
Xie Zhiyan returned the toast. "You flatter me, Chairman Wu. I merely provided a small investment to Huayuan—hardly worth calling 'support.'"
Wu Shangdong caught the underlying implication.
But he couldn’t tell whether Xie Zhiyan was trying to elevate Ning Yuxuan’s status or simply distancing himself.
"Of course, of course," Wu Shangdong replied. "Ning Yuxuan is quite sharp. I’m sure our partnership with Huayuan will go smoothly."
Xie Zhiyan didn’t linger long with Wu Shangdong. Networking wasn’t his main purpose for attending tonight.
When others approached to toast him, he politely declined each one.
Xie Zhiyan soon found Ning Yuxuan near the dessert table.
"Eating too many sweets at once isn’t good for you," he said gently. "If the main dishes here don’t suit your taste, we can drive to a nearby restaurant."
Ning Yuxuan and Xie Zhiyan took the elevator downstairs and headed straight to the parking lot.
Xie Zhiyan’s driver had come tonight.
This wasn’t the first time the driver had seen Ning Yuxuan, so he wasn’t the least bit surprised when Xie Zhiyan abruptly left the dinner early, saying he needed to pick someone up.
Ever since the CEO started dating Ning Yuxuan, he’d witnessed more than a few unusual things.
Once in the car, Xie Zhiyan asked where she wanted to eat.
Ning Yuxuan thought for a moment. "I suddenly crave a burger. How about a fast-food place?"
She had promised Ning Fei she’d return home early.
Though it was still well before 10:30 p.m., getting back sooner would ease her mother’s worries.
Xie Zhiyan agreed and directed the driver to the nearest fast-food restaurant.
Soon, the car pulled up in front of the eatery, and the two stepped inside.
The restaurant was open 24 hours, but at this time, there were hardly any customers, and only one staff member stood behind the counter.
Noticing Ning Yuxuan’s formal evening gown and full makeup, the cashier couldn’t help but stare for an extra second.
Ning Yuxuan was well aware her attire didn’t match the setting but remained unfazed under the scrutiny.
Two seconds later, the cashier snapped back to attention. "Hello, miss. What would you like to order?"
For a night-shift worker, this wasn’t even worth three seconds of surprise.
Ning Yuxuan placed her order first—a burger and a Coke.
Then she turned to Xie Zhiyan. "Do you want anything?"
"I’ve already eaten," he replied.
He’d come straight from a business dinner. By the time he left, the event was winding down, and he’d already eaten his fill—along with several rounds of toasts.
Ning Yuxuan glanced at him, then told the cashier, "That’s all."
"Dine-in or takeout?"
She hesitated briefly. "Dine-in."
She did want to get home early, but five minutes wouldn’t make much difference.
Eating in the car risked spills, and while she wasn’t a neat freak, staining an expensive designer gown with salad dressing felt like a crime against fashion.
The food arrived quickly—within two minutes, the burger and Coke were ready on a tray.
Xie Zhiyan picked it up and gestured to a spot nearby. "Here?"
Ning Yuxuan nodded. "Sure."
A window seat, perfect for enjoying the night view outside.
She washed her hands at the nearby sink before sitting across from Xie Zhiyan.
Taking the burger out of its box, she took a big bite and closed her eyes in satisfaction.
Compared to the overly fancy dishes at the banquet, greasy junk food was far more satisfying when hungry.
After swallowing, she looked at Xie Zhiyan. "You’re really not eating anything? Or do you think fast food is beneath you?"
Xie Zhiyan chuckled. "Overthinking it. I just came from a dinner—I’m genuinely not hungry."
Ning Yuxuan shrugged. "Suit yourself."
She picked up her Coke and took a sip.
The cup didn’t come with a straw, just a small opening in the plastic lid.
Finding it unsatisfying, she peeled off the lid and gulped down a mouthful, exhaling contentedly.
Soda was meant to be drunk like this!
Whoever invented burgers paired with ice-cold Coke was a genius.
Still, eating alone while being silently watched felt a bit awkward.
She blinked at Xie Zhiyan. "If you’re not eating, at least have a drink?"
Xie Zhiyan nodded. "Alright."
Just as she was about to tell him he could scan the QR code to order instead of going back to the counter—
Xie Zhiyan picked up her Coke and took a sip.
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
Was this man genuinely misunderstanding her, or was he doing it on purpose?
She studied his face, searching for an answer.
The man's expression remained unchanged as he took a sip and placed the cup of cola back on the table.
Before eating, Ning Yuxuan blotted her lipstick with a napkin, but the matte-textured, deep red shade she wore today wasn’t so easily wiped away.
Eager to dig into her food, she naturally didn’t bother meticulously cleaning it off.
The rim of the cup, facing her side, still bore the faint imprint of her lips from when she’d taken a drink earlier.
For some reason, realizing this made Ning Yuxuan’s cheeks grow slightly warm.
The only small relief was that Xie Zhiyan had sipped from the opposite side of the rim, avoiding direct contact with her lipstick mark.
After hesitating for two seconds, Ning Yuxuan silently picked up the cup and took another sip.
If she acted too flustered, she’d be the one losing this unspoken game!
Still, a tiny trace of awkwardness lingered in her chest, making her movements unconsciously more restrained this time—just a small sip, a far cry from her bold gulps earlier.
A low chuckle came from the man sitting across from her.
Ning Yuxuan lifted her eyes without a sound and glared at Xie Zhiyan.
So he was doing this on purpose!
He knew she’d be bothered, yet he deliberately chose her cup anyway!
Ning Yuxuan: "What’s so funny about me drinking soda?"
Xie Zhiyan’s amusement didn’t fade. "Just admiring how elegantly you sip."
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
Confirmed—this man was absolutely, undeniably messing with her. There was no chance she was misreading him.
Glancing at the half-eaten burger in her hand, Ning Yuxuan suddenly felt the urge to retaliate.
She pushed the burger forward slightly and fluttered her lashes. "I can’t finish this. Wasting food is a crime—how about you help me out and eat the rest?"
She refused to believe Xie Zhiyan could calmly drink from her used cup and then, without batting an eye, take a bite of her half-eaten burger—complete with leftover tomato slices, melted cheese, and smears of mayonnaise.
