Xuan Yanyu ran a hand through his hair. The fragmented memories in his mind told him — no one had forced him. He had been the one to initiate.

Xuan Yanyu’s silence told Yan Yunning everything she needed to know.

“Let’s break up.” She wiped away her tears and spoke as calmly as she could manage. “I can’t be with you anymore. Separating is for the best. We’ll part on peaceful terms — it won’t affect your relationship with my brother, or with my parents and yours.”

“Yan Yunning, I don’t agree to breaking up.” The man’s eyes were bloodshot, his fingers trembling as he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on the girl’s shoulder. “Please,” he begged softly. “Please don’t break up with me. Punish me however you want — I’ll accept anything.”

“No.” Yan Yunning spoke with absolute finality.

She shoved him away, stepped into her shoes, and got off the bed. Pushing down the sourness and bitterness lodged in her chest, she turned her back to Xuan Yanyu and said in a quiet, hoarse voice, “Don’t bother me anymore from now on.”

“Yan Yunning!” The man moved ahead of her and locked the bedroom door.

Yan Yunning looked at him with calm composure, and let him carry her back to the bed.

“Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something?” Xuan Yanyu seemed to have forgotten the argument that had just happened moments ago, tenderly wiping the tears from the corners of Yan Yunning’s eyes.

Yan Yunning said nothing, choosing to close her eyes and shut him out.

The man kept talking to himself. “Would you like roasted chicken legs? Chicken leg stone-pot bibimbap is also very good — would you like that?”

Seeing that Yan Yunning was ignoring him, Xuan Yanyu continued patiently, “Fluffy white grains of rice, layered with slightly crispy chicken leg meat, topped with a soft-boiled egg, shredded carrots, and strips of cucumber, then drizzled with bibimbap sauce — it’s wonderfully fragrant. How about this: we eat first and talk afterwards, alright?”

Yan Yunning kept her little head drooped and still didn’t say a word.

Xuan Yanyu’s firm-knuckled hands scooped Yan Yunning up and carried her to the room’s landline. He pressed the call button and gave a quiet, measured order. “Prepare some food and have it sent to the room. Also, heat up a glass of milk.”

Whoever answered on the other end must have asked what dishes to prepare, because all that could be heard was Xuan Yanyu saying calmly, “Scallops, crab meat, cumin lamb, lamb chops, spare rib soup, chicken leg stone-pot bibimbap, a few stir-fried vegetable dishes — and send up the after-dinner fruit and desserts as well. For anything else, use your own judgement.”

Listening to the man quietly rattle off the evening’s menu, Yan Yunning’s lashes quivered slightly. It was clear: Xuan Yanyu had no intention of letting her leave.

The man hung up, then walked toward the bathroom, turned on the silver matte faucet, and guided Yan Yunning’s hands close to the sensor light. Delicate liquid soap dropped into her palm, and Xuan Yanyu carefully washed her hands for her.

He dried them with a towel, then carried her back to the bedroom.

An hour later, a knock at the door broke the silence of the room. Xuan Yanyu, refusing to let her go, carried Yan Yunning with him as he went to open it.

The housekeeper laid the food out on the coffee table, then withdrew. The man locked the door behind her before walking to the sofa and sitting down.

“Eat first.” Xuan Yanyu’s voice was gentle. He scooped a spoonful of bibimbap and brought it to Yan Yunning’s lips.

Yan Yunning didn’t make a fuss. She obediently ate it down. Since she couldn’t leave, she wasn’t going to let herself go hungry.

“Is it good?” The man picked up a piece of cumin lamb with his chopsticks and held it to her lips.

Yan Yunning ate the lamb placed before her, but remained unwilling to speak.

Xuan Yanyu was not the least bit put out. He kept up a one-sided conversation as he fed the girl her meal.

The strange, strained atmosphere persisted all the way until eight o’clock that evening, when Xuan Yanyu moved to help Yan Yunning bathe. Only then did she speak. “I’ll wash up myself.”

Naturally, Xuan Yanyu didn’t dare say a word against it. He nodded in agreement. “Alright. I’ll wait for you outside.”

Yan Yunning didn’t look at him. She went into the bathroom to wash up alone.

At nine o’clock, Yan Yunning, lying in bed, was lulled to sleep by Xuan Yanyu’s soft, murmuring voice. She had truly been exhausted lately, utterly worn out — and with her emotions having collapsed on top of that, she fell into a deep sleep.

Once he was certain Yan Yunning was truly asleep, Xuan Yanyu lowered his head and pressed a kiss to her pink lips. As he rose, the warmth in his eyes gave way to an icy, piercing cold.

He instructed two housekeepers to stand guard at the door, then stepped out of the villa. From the breast pocket of his suit, he produced a cigarette, lit it, and let it hang lazily from his lips. His cold gaze swept over the visibly uneasy Ye Jian.

“Mr. Xuan, I had no idea why Shiyao would suddenly call. I……I……if only I’d known she would call you when I didn’t answer, I would have picked up.”

The man leaned against the car. His handsome features were half-obscured behind a veil of smoke. Without a word, he tilted his head back to look at the sky for a moment, then curved his lips into a faint smile. “Why didn’t you heed the warning?”

Ye Jian jolted and, steeling himself, said, “Stay calm, Mr. Xuan.”

Xuan Yanyu looked at him with an indifferent gaze.

Ye Jian pressed his lips together and didn’t dare make another sound.

——

The private room.

Xuan Yanyu had organised the gathering, yet he himself had yet to appear. After everyone had waited for some time longer, Ye Chen pushed open the door and stepped aside, and the server who followed him in began bringing out the dishes one by one.

Once the food was served, Xuan Zhaoran frowned and asked, “Where are my brother and Ningning?”

“Second Miss, Mr. Xuan is not feeling very well. Miss Yan is keeping him company. Mr. Xuan asked me to pass along his apologies to everyone.”

Jiang Xian, seated beside Xuan Zhaoran, let his eyes flicker with a subtle glint. Not feeling well — excellent. That gave him a reason to go check on Yanyu later, and an excuse to send Zhaoran home in the process.

“Not feeling well?” Yan Jingzhi swirled the red wine in his glass and said with faint sarcasm, “A grown man who needs my little sister to nurse him — how terribly precious.”

Ye Chen: “……”

Xie Yan raised a fist to his lips and cleared his throat. Being bumped up to the rank of older brother-in-law really did make a difference.

“You all go ahead and eat. Mr. Xuan says he’ll make it up to everyone next time. I’ll head back now.” Message delivered, Ye Chen finished speaking, turned, and left the private room.

“Mama, why isn’t Papa back yet?” Qi Xingyou blinked her beautiful eyes and gave Jiang Jin’s sleeve a light tug.

Jiang Jin ruffled her small head coaxingly. “Papa has something to take care of. Mama will eat with Youyou.”

The little girl scrunched up her lips.

Jiang Jin pretended not to notice the child’s disappointment.

Just a moment ago, she had seen it clearly — Qi Qingchen had glanced at a message from a contact saved as “Yaoyao,” and only then made the excuse of having company business to handle before leaving the private room.

She truly didn’t know what to make of Qi Qingchen.

What was so wonderful about that Shiyao, that he was so fixated on her?

If Qi Qingchen were to actually marry Shiyao, she would never again leave Youyou in Qi Qingchen’s custody.

Always putting on that delicate, precious act — showing up when Qi Qingchen had money, vanishing the moment he didn’t. She genuinely feared Youyou would be influenced by that sort of example growing up.

——

Qi Group.

The president’s office blazed as bright as daylight. Xuan Yanyu kicked the door open in a single blow. Qi Qingchen’s lashes didn’t so much as flicker — he continued browsing through electronic documents with quiet composure, though the hand resting on his mouse paused for just a moment.

“Where have you hidden Shiyao?” Xuan Yanyu demanded the moment he stepped in.

“Shiyao?” Qi Qingchen ignored his fury and smiled lightly. “She claimed I had dated her and then broken up with her — and since I’m now the current president of Qi Group, she wants me to pay her one hundred million yuan in breakup compensation.”

“I told her that was extortion and that if she didn’t leave, I’d have her sent in. She panicked and ran. I genuinely don’t know where she went.”

Xuan Yanyu smiled without warmth. “What a coincidence.”

“What kind of coincidence?” Qi Qingchen looked up in puzzlement.

Xuan Yanyu held his gaze, eyes narrowing slightly. “Qi Qingchen, you’re not suited for lying. Where exactly have you hidden Shiyao?”

Qi Qingchen’s expression remained composed and open. “Yanyu, why would I lie to you? Is there something you need from her?”

“Qi Qingchen, you’d do well to keep her hidden. Just make sure I don’t track her down.”

Qi Qingchen’s reply came with a trace of a smile at the end. “Yanyu, I honestly don’t follow what you’re saying.”