Gu Yifan immediately blocked the line of sight, pulling Du Yue behind him, yet he sneered coldly: "Kindness? I wouldn't be so sure about that."
"Gu Yifan." As his voice faded, a man sat elegantly at the edge of the couch, partially concealed in shadow. His obsidian eyes bore into Du Yue, who was now shielded by Gu Yifan, exuding icy menace: "We're all adults here. Choose your words carefully. Know when to hold back. Don't spout baseless assumptions."
His tone was measured, neither too loud nor too soft, but the weight behind it pressed down like an unyielding mountain, forcing everyone to hold their breath.
Behind Gu Yifan, Du Yue lowered her gaze silently, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
She had been forced to kneel and beg for forgiveness, while Chen Ze had acted as though nothing mattered. When Gu Yifan saved her and demanded apologies from the crowd, Chen Ze remained indifferent. Yet, the moment Gu Yifan even slightly questioned Shen Ya's integrity, he stepped in without hesitation!
Because someone had hurt the woman he loved. Because someone had tarnished the woman he cherished...
Du Yue couldn't stop trembling. The pain in her heart swelled, layer upon layer, until it coursed through her veins like poison.
But Chen Ze—how could you love Shen Ya so deeply and yet show no emotion back then? Why did you let her believe the two of you shared mutual affection? Why!
Isn't life's cruelest joke the illusion of mutual love, only to realize it meant nothing to the other person?
"Without evidence, I'll reserve my doubts. If I've offended the one Mr. Chen holds dear, then my apologies." Gu Yifan's tone was deceptively mild, but his words dripped with biting sarcasm.
No one dared to speak. The rivalry between these two men dated back to their university days—it was old news by now.
Still, compared to before, Chen Ze had since absorbed the remnants of Du's family business. With unmatched skill and ruthless tactics, he ascended swiftly to dominate Starlight City's commercial chain. Meanwhile, Gu Yifan, who had spent years abroad, was already at a disadvantage.
Du Yue understood this all too well. She tugged gently at his sleeve, meeting Gu Yifan's gaze with a pleading shake of her head, urging him to stop.
She was already grateful that Gu Yifan had saved her, that he believed her. She didn't want him to provoke Chen Ze on her behalf and invite unnecessary trouble.
Others might not know the depths of Chen Ze's ruthlessness, but she did. If Gu Yifan crossed him, there would be no favorable outcome.
This attempt to intervene only fueled Chen Ze's fury. To him, it looked like flirtation between lovers. His dark eyes burned with rage as he clenched his fists tightly, shards of broken glass grinding deeper into his palm, sending jolts of pain through him.
What made Du Yue think she could dare to entice another man right under his nose? Or had Gu Yifan's intervention today filled her with misplaced gratitude, making her consider repaying him in such a vulgar way?
The two stood so close, oblivious to everyone around them. To an outsider, they might have appeared like a married couple, while he—the man who truly loved her—was nothing more than a bystander.
Anger surged in his chest, scorching and suffocating. Chen Ze's eyes narrowed dangerously, and in the next moment, he turned sharply to Wang Siwei, his gaze icy and unrestrained. His thin lips parted to deliver a chilling command: "Weren't you going to make someone kneel? Everyone's waiting for the spectacle. Why are you still standing there?"
"Ah? But..." Wang Siwei hesitated, then suddenly understood. Chen Ze's words weren't just permission—they were backing him to punish Du Yue however he saw fit.
Of course. Deep down, Chen Ze still hated Du Yue. As long as he supported Wang Siwei, it wouldn't matter if it was Gu Yifan opposing him—or even Gu Yifan's father from the older generation. Nothing would change.