After being dumped by the diva, I was picked up by her arch-enemy.

"The power's out?" Gu Ruanxing's voice trembled slightly, carrying a hint of barely perceptible panic.

"It must have been Xu Zhiyou who did it." Jiang Yichen sighed, his tone full of helplessness.

Aside from that eccentric young lady with a wildly unconventional way of thinking and no taboos, no one would do something like unplugging the main power switch of the top-tier suite.

Gu Ruanxing lay on his chest, her body slightly stiff, but she didn't move.

The room was eerily quiet.

Only the faint neon light filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows barely outlined the intertwined silhouettes of the two. Ambiguity festered in the darkness.

Jiang Yichen could clearly feel the warm and soft body pressing against him, and he could even feel her heartbeat through the thin fabric of her dress, which was fast and erratic.

"Get up first." Jiang Yichen patted her shoulder, his voice a little hoarse.

Gu Ruanxing didn't get up; instead, she seemed to have found an outlet, burying her face deeply in his neck and breathing warm air onto his skin.

"I don't."

At this moment, alcohol completely overwhelmed reason.

The emotions that had been forcibly suppressed at the banquet surged forth like a flood breaking through a dam, under the cover of darkness.

"Jiang Yichen." Gu Ruanxing's voice was muffled, with a hint of grievance in it.

"Um."

"As the saying goes, 'Don't let the good stuff go to outsiders.'"

Jiang Yichen felt his head throb even more. What kind of bewitching potion had this girl given Gu Ruanxing?

"That's just her talking nonsense. You, a dignified CEO, actually believe that?"

"But I took it seriously."

Gu Ruanxing suddenly raised her head.

By the faint light from the window, Jiang Yichen could see her eyes, which were shimmering with tears.

Those beautiful eyes, which usually radiated shrewdness, sharpness, and competence, were now devoid of all defenses, revealing only unreserved affection and a hint of desperate courage.

"Let me ask you," Gu Ruanxing leaned closer, her warm breath carrying the scent of alcohol, gently brushing against Jiang Yichen's face, "at the Xu Group's shareholders' meeting, you said you had feelings for me."

Is it true?

Jiang Yichen looked at her red lips so close to his own, at the expectation and unease in her eyes, and the softest part of his heart was deeply touched. This woman, who was always as proud as a queen, could also have such uncertain moments.

His Adam's apple bobbed, giving the only answer.

"It's true."

The voice just fell.

Gu Ruan-Xing kissed her directly.

Without the slightest hesitation or retreat.

With the strength and domineering presence unique to female CEOs, yet mixed with a hint of awkwardness and tentative probing, as if she were using all her strength to confirm an answer.

Jiang Yichen's mind went blank for a moment.

He was neither a man of unrequited love like Liu Xiahui, nor a saint who could remain unmoved by a woman in his lap.

When faced with a woman he has truly cared for and been attracted to for a long time, in such a closed, dark space fueled by alcohol, any rational defense becomes weak and vulnerable.

He suddenly took the initiative, grabbing Gu Ruanxing's head with one hand and wrapping his other arm around her slender waist, deepening the kiss with a fierce yet tender touch.

Gu Ruanxing let out a soft moan, her tense body instantly softening, and she awkwardly reached her hands up to Jiang Yichen's neck.

The two rolled around on the sofa, their breaths mingling.

The air temperature is rising rapidly.

The zipper of Gu Ruanxing's dress was smoothly and firmly pulled open.

The silky fabric slid off her smooth shoulders.

Jiang Yichen stopped, panting, and scooped her up in his arms, striding towards the bedroom. The person in his arms was like a docile cat, burying her face in his chest.

At this moment, all hesitation and entanglement vanished.

Screw guilt, screw balance.

This woman is what he wants.

The bed was so soft it felt like it would swallow you whole.

The river view outside the window is bustling and dazzling, yet no one appreciates it.

The night is still long.

……

The first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the luxurious bedroom in a warm golden glow.

Jiang Yichen slowly opened his eyes.

The person in his arms stirred, letting out a satisfied hum, and found a more comfortable position, snuggling closer to him like a cat.

Gu Ruanxing's long, flowing hair cascaded across the pillow, a few strands playfully clinging to her smooth cheeks. Her fair shoulders were exposed outside the covers, bearing faint red marks left from the previous night's passionate encounter.

Jiang Yichen rubbed his slightly swollen temples and turned his head to look at her peaceful sleeping face.

Last night was crazy.

Alcohol, combined with their long-suppressed emotions, caused them to erupt completely out of control, as if they wanted to make up for all the regrets and tests of the past in one night.

The phone screen on the bedside table lit up.

The time is 8:05 AM.

**"drop"**--

A very faint sound came from outside the door as the electronic lock unlocked.

Immediately afterwards, Xu Zhiyou's signature, energetic, and light footsteps rang out from outside.

"Xingbao! The sun's shining on your bottom! Get up and have breakfast!"

Xu Zhiyou's voice has a very strong penetrating power, as if it has a built-in loudspeaker.

Gu Ruanxing, who was on the bed, suddenly woke up with a start.

She opened her blurry eyes and met Jiang Yichen's gaze, which held a hint of a smile.

Last night's scalding, frantic memories flooded my mind like a tidal wave.

Gu Ruanxing's face flushed red instantly, turning as red as a boiled shrimp. She screamed, pulled the blanket over her head, and curled herself into a ball inside.

"It's all over, it's all over!" she mumbled from under the covers, her voice filled with despair.

Jiang Yichen chuckled, threw off the covers, got out of bed, and calmly picked up the bathrobe that was scattered on the floor and put it on.

"You can dodge the first day of the month, but you can't dodge the fifteenth. Your best friend clearly planned this for a long time."

He walked to the bedroom door, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

In the living room, Xu Zhiyou was like a little supervisor, placing two large insulated bags on the dining table.

When Xu Zhiyou saw Jiang Yichen come out of the bedroom wearing a bathrobe and with his hair slightly disheveled, her big eyes instantly lit up like a two-thousand-watt light bulb.

She tiptoed and peered into the bedroom.

"Hehe, where's Xingbao? Still not awake?"

Jiang Yichen leaned against the door frame, watching her with a leisurely air.

"Still sleeping."

Xu Zhiyou laid out the breakfast items one by one, smiling like a little fox who had just stolen some cream, her tail practically wagging in the air.

"Oh dear, it seems the battle was quite intense last night. Well done, Jiang, my great hero."

Jiang Yichen was exasperated and walked over to tap her on the head.

"What kind of nonsense are you thinking about all day long?"

"How do you two plan to become a couple and contribute to our great family of three?" Xu Zhiyou said, puffing out her chest confidently.

She walked up to Jiang Yichen and looked up at him with her little face full of "Praise me!"

"How is it? Are you satisfied with my arrangements? Wasn't this assist world-class?"

Jiang Yichen sighed and looked earnestly into her eyes: "Aren't you jealous?"

Xu Zhiyou pursed her lips, her joking expression disappearing.

"If I were really jealous, I would have smashed the door with a fire axe last night."

She took a step closer, lowered her voice, and spoke with a hint of heartache.

"I've said it before, if it's Xingbao, I can totally accept it."

"She's such a proud person, but she got drunk at the karaoke bar and secretly cried to me several times, constantly muttering your name. As her best friend, it was heartbreaking to see."

"Jiang Yichen, I'm entrusting her to you." Xu Zhiyou's eyes became extremely serious. "If you dare to betray her, I guarantee I'll throw you off the Huangpu River Bridge, the kind where you're strapped with concrete blocks."

Just then, the bedroom door was gently pushed open.

Gu Ruanxing walked out wearing Jiang Yichen's oversized white shirt.

The hem of her shirt barely covered her upper thighs, revealing a pair of long, straight, and dazzlingly white legs. Her face flushed, her eyes darted away, and she didn't dare look at anyone as she walked straight to the dining table and sat down.

"Yuzu, don't talk nonsense in front of him."

Xu Zhiyou immediately flew over like a little butterfly, hugged Gu Ruanxing's arm from behind, and rubbed her head against Gu Ruanxing's shoulder.

"I'm not making this up; I'm telling the truth."

"From now on, we're truly family! Am I right?"

Gu Ruanxing's ears almost bled from being called "family" in such a sweet way. She secretly glanced at Jiang Yichen, who was pouring milk, and the huge stone that had been hanging over her heart for so long finally fell to the ground.

The three of them sat at the dining table and ate breakfast.

The sun was shining brightly, and the atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious.

This is an extremely wondrous balance that outsiders cannot comprehend.

After breakfast, Jiang Yichen booked a flight back to Beijing.

The situation in Shanghai has been settled.

The Bai family suffered a major blow, while the Xu Group has been stabilized. He needs to go back and rest for a few days to prepare for the work ahead.

Airport VIP waiting room.

Xu Zhiyou and Gu Ruanxing came to see him off.

"Go back and get some rest, don't stay up all night." Gu Ruanxing stepped forward and naturally straightened his slightly wrinkled collar, her fingertips inadvertently touching his skin.

"Yeah, yeah, don't forget about us! You have to send a message every day to report your schedule!" Hsu Chih-yu said, hands on her hips, like a strict little housekeeper.

Jiang Yichen looked at the two girls in front of him, who were very different in style but equally beautiful, smiled, and placed a light kiss on each of their foreheads.

"understood."

He turned around, waved, and walked into the security checkpoint, his back view dashing.