After ninety-nine online romances, I finally met my ex in person when school started.

"But as long as you're holding my hand at this moment, you're with me."

Gu Qinghan gripped Zhu Xunchuan's fingers tightly, her nails almost digging into the back of his hand.

"I can pretend I didn't see anything."

The sea breeze howled.

Zhu Xunchuan's heart suddenly clenched.

This young lady, born into a scholarly family in Beijing, is a specially appointed professor who is always aloof and unapproachable on the Peking University campus.

She possesses extremely high intelligence and keen psychological insight.

She understands everything and sees everything.

But she chose to keep quiet and back down.

Because she knew that once that thin veil was broken, the game would be over.

She was willing to swallow all her grievances and break all the rules and bottom lines she had upheld for more than 20 years, just to gain this moment of tenderness.

This extreme retreat after the iceberg melts is more lethal than any frantic entanglement.

Zhu Xun Chuan threw away the cigarette in his hand.

He turned around and cupped Gu Qinghan's face in his hands.

Under the moonlight, two lines of clear tears hung on that aloof and exquisitely beautiful face.

Her gold-rimmed glasses were also wet with tears.

Zhu Xun Chuan took off her glasses and casually placed them on the reef.

He lowered his head and kissed away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

Gu Qinghan did not dodge; she tilted her head slightly, responding to Zhu Xunchuan's movements.

Zhu Xun Chuan held the back of her head, pulled her tightly into his arms, and lowered his head to kiss her cool red lips fiercely.

There was no probing, no pulling.

This was an extremely tender yet deeply affectionate kiss.

Gu Qinghan wrapped her arms around Zhu Xunchuan's neck.

On this vast beach, in the deserted night, she completely shed all pretense and defenses, passionately responding to the man for whom she was willing to succumb.

The waves crashed against the rocks again and again, masking the heavy breathing of the two men.

Gu Qinghan almost melted in Zhu Xunchuan's arms.

Her breathing became increasingly erratic, and her rationality crumbled little by little.

At the very peak of this extreme romance and tenderness.

Just as Gu Qinghan was about to completely surrender himself.

"Boom—Boom—Boom—"

A deafening roar suddenly came from the distant night sky.

The deafening noise of the propellers tearing through the air instantly shattered the tranquility of the beach.

Zhu Xunchuan suddenly raised his head.

A sudden gust of wind arose, whipping up sand and gravel that filled the sky.

Gu Qinghan gasped in surprise, instinctively shrinking into Zhu Xunchuan's arms and closing her eyes tightly.

Zhu Xunchuan shielded Gu Qinghan beneath him and looked up at the sky.

A heavy, all-black helicopter was hovering less than thirty meters above their heads.

A huge gold logo is printed on the fuselage of the helicopter.

That's a landmark known to everyone in North China—Dinghe Group.

Two extremely dazzling high-powered searchlights shone down from the belly of the aircraft, like two sharp swords, shining directly onto the black reef where Zhu Xunchuan and Gu Qinghan were located.

The bright light was so intense that people couldn't open their eyes at all.

The helicopter landed slowly, and the strong wind it generated stirred up waves in the sea.

Zhu Xun Chuan narrowed his eyes.

The helicopter door was suddenly pulled open.

In the intense halo of the searchlight, a tall and slender figure appeared at the hatch.

Summer Evening Firefly.

This richest woman in North China, who controls billions of dollars in capital, was wearing a black women's belted trench coat and black military boots.

She wasn't wearing goggles.

The strong wind tousled her long, wavy hair, but it couldn't dispel the aura of a powerful, life-or-death authority emanating from her.

Xia Wanying gripped the cabin door handle with one hand, looking down from above.

Those extremely sharp eyes pierced through the bright light, staring intently down below.

Looking down at this reef.

Looking down at Zhu Xunchuan and Gu Qinghan, who were tightly embracing each other.

"Boom—Boom—Boom—"

A fierce wind whipped up sand and gravel. Dinghe Group's heavy helicopter hovered in mid-air. Two beams of high-powered searchlights were fixed on the black reefs by the sea.

The cabin door opened.

Xia Wanying gripped the cabin door handle with one hand. Her black, belted trench coat fluttered in the wind. Without hesitation, she stepped out of the plane in her black military boots and landed steadily on the beach.

The halo was blinding.

Gu Qinghan lifted her head from Zhu Xunchuan's embrace. The blissful infatuation from the kiss vanished instantly. She quickly pulled away, bent down to pick up her red-soled high heels that had fallen onto the rocks, and clutched the men's suit jacket draped over her shoulders tightly.

In just two seconds, the melted iceberg re-frozen.

She pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses, forcing herself to maintain the aloof composure of a Peking University counselor. The strong wind tousled her long hair, but it couldn't dispel the pride etched into her bones.

Xia Wanying strode to the rocks.

"My flight was canceled at the last minute." Xia Wanying stared sharply at Zhu Xunchuan's open shirt collar. "I flew over here personally to check the accounts. Look at these books, are they balanced?"

The sea breeze howled. A sense of oppression pervaded the air.

Zhu Xun Chuan stood still. He didn't back down, nor did he feel embarrassed about being caught. He reached out his left hand and put his arm around Gu Qinghan's waist, pulling her half a step behind him to protect her.

"President Xia, you've certainly made quite a grand entrance." Zhu Xun Chuan said calmly, looking directly into Xia Wan Ying's eyes. "You've used air traffic control to fly to Tianjin in the middle of the night just to hear my social practice report?"

Xia Wanying narrowed her eyes. Her gaze swept over Gu Qinghan and landed on the oversized suit jacket slung over her shoulders.

"Social practice?" Xia Wanying sneered. "Mr. Zhu's practice is quite extensive. He even put his suits on other people as a practice."

"The sea breeze is strong. Teacher Gu is not in good health, so I'll borrow it for a moment." Zhu Xun Chuan said calmly, "President Xia is even jealous of a piece of clothing?"

Xia Wanying was speechless at his words. The intimidation of the female tycoon had no effect on this man.

Gu Qinghan stood behind Zhu Xunchuan. She felt the strong hand around her waist and smelled the tobacco on his suit. She didn't take advantage of his misfortune or assert her dominance. She was an extremely intelligent woman who knew how to leave Zhu Xunchuan room to maneuver in this deadly situation.

"Buzzing—"

Gu Qinghan's phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket. It was the official ringtone for the Peking University Academic Affairs Office.

She pressed the answer button.

"Teacher Gu, a serious student affairs incident has occurred. Education Bureau leaders will be inspecting the school tomorrow morning. Please return to school immediately to handle the relevant documents." The director of the Academic Affairs Office said anxiously.

"Received. I'll be back at school right away." Gu Qinghan's voice was cold.

She hung up the phone. That was the perfect excuse to leave.

Gu Qinghan put on her high heels, took off her suit jacket, and handed it to Zhu Xunchuan. In the strong wind, she turned to look at him. Behind her gold-rimmed glasses, her gaze held resentment, compromise, and a deep affection only the two of them understood.

"Zhu Xunchuan," Gu Qinghan resumed her counselor's tone, "submit your social practice report to my office tomorrow morning."

She walked past Xia Wanying in her high heels, heading straight away from the rocks. Her back was straight, and her steps were composed.

Gu Qinghan had just left.

From the other end of the wooden boardwalk came a series of stumbling footsteps.

Pei Yanyu's assistant ran over, covered in sweat.

"Sister Pei! Sister Pei!"

Pei Yanyu had emerged from the restroom sometime earlier. She stood at the edge of the wooden walkway, wearing a burgundy haute couture gown, her face terribly grim. She had just been interrupted by Gu Qinghan and was about to demand an explanation when the helicopter descended.

"What are you yelling about!" Pei Yanyu snapped.

"The Golden Rooster Awards organizing committee has issued a strict order!" The assistant was almost in tears. "You're a judge for the main competition; you must be back in Kyoto within an hour for a closed-door meeting! Not a second can be wasted. The car is already waiting over there!"

Pei Yanyu's chest heaved violently with anger.

The absolute privacy she had painstakingly created, the ambiguous tension she had so carefully cultivated, were all disrupted by these uncontrollable forces. She looked at Zhu Xunchuan on the reef, her peach blossom eyes filled with resentment.

That look in his eyes was both crazy and alluring.

Across the beach, she mouthed five words to Zhu Xun Chuan: "You just wait."

Then, Pei Yanyu turned and got into the Ferrari parked by the roadside. The engine roared furiously and sped away.

The helicopter engine noise decreased slightly.

Suddenly, the roar of a military-grade Mengshi off-road vehicle echoed from the outskirts of the resort. One Mengshi, bearing a white license plate with red lettering, crashed through the internal roadblocks and came to a stop in front of the main building.

"Let me go! I'm not going back!"

Shen Tianxi's scream pierced the night sky.

Two fully armed female guards grabbed Shen Tianxi. Their movements were swift and ruthless. One of Shen Tianxi's Lolita-style leather shoes even fell off.

"Brother Xun Chuan! Wait for me!" Shen Tianxi struggled frantically, tears welling up in her eyes.

A major-ranking officer strode to the front of the plank road. He looked at Zhu Xunchuan and gave a crisp military salute.

"Mr. Zhu. The commander has given a direct order to escort the young lady back to the compound tonight. We apologize for the inconvenience." The major's face was expressionless, but his tone was respectful.

Zhu Xunchuan nodded.

He keenly sensed something amiss. The military region never acted so brutally. For Old Master Shen to send men to forcibly abduct Shen Tianxi in the middle of the night—this wasn't just breaking up a loving couple; it was something he was guarding against.