I was criticized on a dating reality show, but I retaliated and became an internet sensation.

"What about me?"

Fang Ran pushed a piece of tiramisu in front of her, raising an eyebrow and saying, "Don't give me that, I heard Gu Yan is back in the country."

Shu Zi paused, her hand holding the spoon still. "You're certainly well-informed."

"The entertainment circle is only so big. Besides, that person already has a lot of buzz in the industry. As soon as there's any news, it spreads like wildfire. I think it would be hard for him not to know."

"Sigh! The Gu family has suddenly become the largest investor in 'For You I'm Moved'. Even a fool could guess that something's wrong."

Fang Ran winked mischievously, "Do you think... it was aimed at you?"

"What?! The Gu family is an investor in 'For You I'm Moved'?!" Shu Zi looked up abruptly, her face full of astonishment.

(O∆O)

Seeing her expression, Fang Ran couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Judging from your reaction, you really don't know?"

Shu Zi looked at him innocently; she hadn't touched the documents at all, so how could she know?

"Sigh! Seriously," Fang Ran nudged Shu Zi, "what's this between you two? A reconciliation after a breakup? Or was it all planned?"

Shu Zi looked at Fang Ran as if she were an idiot: "What nonsense is this?"

She took a bite of tiramisu. "Gu Yan and I have never been together. What's the point of trying to mend a broken mirror? Besides, there's no possibility between us."

Fang Ran didn't believe it. She leaned back on the sofa and shook her puff sleeves.

"Come on, I remember your childhood stories perfectly well. Besides, Gu Yan is top-notch in every way – looks and physique. He seems very reliable."

"What, you're really not planning to win her over on this dating reality show?"

Shu Zi: ? ? ?

"If he were to appear on a dating reality show, I would have bought you that bag you had your eye on last time."

Fang Ran hugged Shu Zi tightly and kissed her on the cheek. "Sister, I knew you loved me! Mwah~"

Shu Zi pushed her away expressionlessly: ...Why was she so sure that Gu Yan would go?

*

Inside a private room at Wuyu Wine Cellar.

Warm yellow light spilled over the dark wood liquor cabinet, and a faint aroma of whiskey floated in the air.

He Yuzhuo, with an unlit cigar between her fingers, leaned back on the leather sofa, looking at the man opposite her with a half-smile.

In the shadows, Gu Yan leaned back on the sofa, the cuffs of his pure black shirt casually rolled up to his forearms, revealing his well-defined wrists with visible veins, adding a touch of inexplicable tension.

"Ayan, you didn't come back to China, but the moment Shuzi got into trouble, you came back. Your intentions are completely out in the open, as if you're afraid no one will know?"

Upon hearing this, Huo Fei, who was sitting to the side, chuckled softly.

He twirled a silver lighter between his fingers, the flickering light reflecting on his face, adding a touch of amusement.

"Ayu is right. You stayed abroad for two years without making a sound. Shu Zi was just splashed with dirty water over there, and you parachuted back into the country, swaggering around like that. This is not like your style, Gu Yan."

"Get to the point." Gu Yan raised his eyes, his dark eyes unfathomable, the corners of his eyes slightly upturned, his tone revealing no emotion.

"The key point?"

He Yuzhu chuckled softly, leaned forward, and rested his elbows on his knees.

"The point is, you clearly faded out of the entertainment industry, but you've gone back because of Shu Zi. You've gotten yourself into this mess..."

He changed the subject abruptly, "You've come back this time to take over the Gu family business, haven't you?"

Gu Yan didn't move upon hearing this. After a long while, he chuckled and said in a low, hoarse voice, "Mind your own business."

"We're doing this for your own good."

He Yuzhuo leaned back on the sofa, shrugged, and said, "You just got back and you're already investigating Tomato Media and then suddenly appearing as a guest on a dating show. Aren't you afraid of scaring the young girl away?"

Huo Fei chuckled and added:

"I still remember how Shuzi cried in a bar until dawn when you went abroad. If you mess things up again this time, you'll have nowhere to cry."

Gu Yan's fingertips gently caressed the inside of the glass, his fingertips touching the cool glass. After a long silence, he whispered, "No."

The two words fell into the air with an undeniable certainty. He Yuzhuo and Huo Fei exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly.

There was a gentle knock on the door of the private room. A waiter pushed the door open, brought in a new bottle of whiskey, and then quietly left.

"Alright, I'm leaving now."

As Huo Fei spoke, he took a long stride to stand up, casually grabbed the black coat draped over the sofa armrest, and still held the silver lighter in his fingertips. The metal casing gleamed slightly under the warm yellow light.

"Where are you going?" He Yuzhuo raised an eyebrow, glanced at the clock on the wall, and said with a hint of teasing, "You just came out, and you're already in a hurry to leave?"

"If we don't leave now, my wife will run away."

Huo Fei tugged at his coat collar, a helpless yet indulgent smile playing on his lips, and walked straight toward the door of the private room without pausing for a moment.

He Yuzhuo: ...

He watched Huo Fei's dashing departure for a long while before muttering, "What a womanizer who neglects his friends."

Gu Yan: ...

*

The next day, in the morning

hum-

buzz-

Another phone rang. Shuzi covered her head with the pillow, trying to play dead.

buzzing-

buzzing-

Shu Zi unleashed a set of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms from afar, then roared in exasperation, "If you don't mute next time, you're a pig!"

"Feed?" she answered the phone, sounding weak and listless.

"Zizi, wake up! I heard you're getting married to Gu Yan, and that Gu Yan has already agreed. Is it true?"

???

Like a bolt from the blue, Shu Zi sat bolt upright in bed once more, her hair a mess, completely bewildered.

Who am I? Where am I?

What kind of marriage alliance?

Who will marry whom?

What? You agreed?

Who agreed?

"What are you talking about?" Shu Zi was questioning her life.

"Huh? You don't know? Could the information be wrong? That can't be." Qiao Yue muttered to herself on the other end of the phone.

"Where did you hear this rumor?" Shu Zi lay back down and pulled the blanket over half of her face.

Fang Ran and Qiao Yueke, these two are really here to bring her bad luck.

"This time is different!" Shu Zi thought to herself, while Qiao Yueke had already convinced herself.

Her voice suddenly rose, filled with absolute certainty.

"I was having dinner at the Gu family's house yesterday when I heard my aunt and uncle talking about how 'the matter with the Shu family has been settled' and 'Gu Yan didn't object.'"

"Think about it, your two families have been friends for generations. Besides a marriage alliance, what else could make your elders take this so seriously?"

Shu Zi's fingers tightened around her phone, and the blanket slipped down to her waist.

Qiao Yueke's aunt and uncle are Gu Yan's parents, there can't be any doubt about that, right?

She suddenly remembered that her grandfather had sent her a message a few days ago, saying that he wanted to have tea with Grandpa Gu to catch up. At the time, she hadn't taken it to heart, but now that Qiao Yueke had brought it up, it seemed like something was off.

So these elders were secretly plotting her marriage?

That bastard Gu Yan! He actually agreed?!