Chen Die refused to pay attention to him.

She had seen his fierce look many times before. A mere frown couldn’t frighten her. She raised her hand and knocked away his grip on the back of her neck.

Her neck felt burning hot—it must have turned red. Her skin was thin; with a bit more force, it would probably leave fingerprints visible the next day.

Today, Wen Liang was unusually clingy, unlike his usual self. His gaze swept to her neck, his brows furrowing slightly as he raised his hand to brush aside her black hair, pressing his palm against the spot.

“Does it hurt?” he asked.

It didn’t hurt anymore. Chen Die raised her eyelids and said, “Obviously.”

Wen Liang replied, “If you had spoken to me properly, would I have hurt you?”

“I didn’t say anything. You just grabbed my neck,” Chen Die reminded him.

Wen Liang’s patience ran out. He removed the cigarette from his mouth and asked, “Why did you come here?”

A couple walked past them, laughing. Chen Die moved aside to let them through, then glanced around—she didn’t want her friends to know about her complicated relationship with Wen Liang.

Chen Die smoothed her hair. “Celebration party.”

Wen Liang checked his watch. “What time are you going home?”

“Don’t know.” Chen Die shrugged, catching a whiff of his familiar scent. “Probably soon.”

Wen Liang gave an “Mm” and walked away.

When Chen Die returned to her seat, there was an additional person at their table.

He was noticeably older than their group, looking quite out of place among them, and sporting a beer belly.

Chen Die sat down next to Xia Ying and leaned over to ask, “Who’s that?”

“An investor,” Xia Ying cupped her hand to whisper in her ear. “Seems like he was also from our school before. He sponsored part of the funds for this promotional video.”

Chen Die nodded and commented, “He certainly looks like an investor.”

Xia Ying burst into a light laugh and slapped her arm. “You’re too mean.”

As the two were huddled together whispering, Beer Belly turned his face toward them and asked with a smile, “Is this our leading lady?”

“Yes, yes, yes,” the young man next to Beer Belly responded. “Our campus light, the beauty queen for four consecutive years.”

Chen Die put away her previous mocking demeanor and smiled modestly, “I’ve never heard that the school selected any beauty queen. That’s just everyone’s casual talk.”

Beer Belly stood up, leaning across half the coffee table to extend his hand to her. “I’ve long heard that the campus beauty was filming the anniversary video. Indeed, seeing is believing.”

Chen Die shook his hand briefly before quickly letting go and sitting back down.

Xia Ying clicked her tongue twice, holding Chen Die’s right hand and rubbing it while lamenting in a low voice, “What a sacrifice for that hand.”

Chen Die gave her a sidelong glance. “You can say it louder.”

She scanned the surroundings and asked, “Where’s Senior?”

Xia Ying replied, “He just took a call and left. He’s extremely busy these days.”

“And Chen Shuyuan didn’t leave with him?”

That wasn’t like her.

“Who knows.”

Chen Die glanced to the side. Chen Shuyuan used to be the head of the external relations department and had many contacts with businesses, so she knew this Beer Belly.

Beer Belly said, “I’ve already seen the initial edit. It’s well done.”

Chen Shuyuan tucked her hair behind her ear. “The school specially invited Senior Lu Chuan back to film it. Of course, it’s much better than what we amateurs could do.”

She was clearly showing off her boyfriend.

“You have good taste, finding such a boyfriend,” Beer Belly said.

“We’re not officially together yet,” Chen Shuyuan replied with a red face, understanding him perfectly. “Senior is at the peak of his career right now, so we haven’t focused on our relationship.”

Xia Ying couldn’t help but roll her eyes upon hearing this.

Everyone present knew that Chen Shuyuan had brazenly pursued Lu Chuan for four years. Lu Chuan had rejected her countless times. If not for his good temperament, who could tolerate someone like her bouncing around all day?

Yet she could still describe it like this.

Unbelievable.

The others at the table were meeting Beer Belly for the first time. The previously lively atmosphere had dropped to freezing point, with everyone looking confused.

Yet those two continued chatting as if no one else was there.

“Does our campus beauty have a boyfriend?” Beer Belly suddenly changed the subject, looking toward Chen Die.

Chen Die was lounging lazily on the sofa. Hearing this, she looked up and smiled. “Yes.”

“Of course, being so beautiful, you must have a boyfriend,” Beer Belly shook his head. “That lucky guy.”

Several people around couldn’t help but frown. These words didn’t sound quite right.

However, with the money man present, they could only keep quiet.

“So many people chase after Chen Die. I bet over these four years, she must have received enough love letters to make her arms ache,” Chen Shuyuan covered her mouth and laughed. “It’s a good thing her boyfriend isn’t from our school, otherwise he’d die of jealousy.”

Beer Belly turned his head. “Not from your school? Then who is this remarkable person?”

Chen Shuyuan raised her chin. “You’ll have to ask her that, but I’ve heard her boyfriend is extremely wealthy.”

After a pause, she nodded to herself. “Well, of course. How could those pursuers at school satisfy her?”

Chen Shuyuan’s words were no longer subtle hints—she was directly putting Chen Die in a bad light.

Chen Die understood.

So she hadn’t left with Lu Chuan because she was waiting for this moment.

Xia Ying couldn’t stand it and argued, “Butterfly and her boyfriend were together before university. What nonsense are you spreading!”

Others also couldn’t help but quietly defend her. “Right, and there are plenty of wealthy students at our school.”

“What’s going on? Why the sudden argument?” Beer Belly mediated, picking up his glass and standing. “Come, let me toast our campus beauty. I brought this up first, so let me apologize.”

Chen Die smiled at the corners of her lips, remaining leisurely motionless. “Sorry, I can’t drink much, and I’ve already had too much.”

“I don’t think you’ve had that much. How can someone entering this circle not know how to drink?” Beer Belly said.

Chen Die had just started to frown when an attendant hurriedly walked over. “Mr. Ma.”

“Hmm?” Beer Belly raised his eyebrows, putting on airs. “You know me?”

“Yes, Mr. Wen from that table requests your presence.”

“Which Mr. Wen?” Beer Belly impatiently sat up, looking in the direction the attendant pointed, and immediately let out an “Oh!” He sprang up from the sofa and rushed over.

Xia Ying was completely confused, watching as Beer Belly ran to the man she had been staring at earlier with a sycophantic smile.

He stood before the man, bowing and scraping, keeping his posture very low.

The man’s face showed no expression. His words couldn’t be heard clearly, but from his slightly raised chin, one could sense his superiority.

“What’s… going on?” Xia Ying nudged Chen Die.

Chen Die replied nonchalantly, “Probably acquaintances.”

“That’s good, that’s good,” Xia Ying patted her chest. “Luckily it worked out, or you would have had to drink with that trash.”

Chen Die pinched her shoulder, silently snickering.

As if he had just happened to be called over.

Most likely, he had never taken his eyes off them.

After this incident, with Lu Chuan gone, no one felt like continuing the celebration. Someone suggested leaving, and everyone began to get up.

Chen Die walked at the back.

Chen Shuyuan, sitting in the innermost seat, was the last to leave. As she walked out of the booth, she saw Chen Die leaning against a nearby wall.

Chen Shuyuan gave a light snort and continued forward in her high heels. But as she passed Chen Die, she was suddenly grabbed by the arm and thrown backward.

Caught off guard, Chen Shuyuan’s head hit the wall. Chen Die raised her hand and pressed against her neck, eyes downcast.

She tilted her head. “Chen Shuyuan, after all these years, you still only know these few tricks.”

“What are you doing? I’m telling you, this is a bar! There are so many people watching—what more do you want to do!” Chen Shuyuan’s voice was naturally high-pitched, and when she got emotional, it became even shriller. “No wonder you were raised by Wen Liang. You only know violence, just like him.”

Chen Die smiled, her eyes upturned, seductive like a fox.

She grabbed Chen Shuyuan by the collar and banged her head against the wall repeatedly.

Word by word, she said, “If I were as violent as him, do you think you’d still be standing here?”

“Besides, Wen Liang is here right now—” she said languidly. “Guess what he would do to you if I called him over?”

Fear is an instinctive reaction.

Chen Shuyuan glared at her fiercely, but her throat emitted only a weak sound.

Chen Die, standing at 1.7 meters and wearing high heels, looked down at her with the advantage of height. “Try gossiping about me again, see what happens.”

Another rain had fallen, making the ground wet.

Xia Ying watched as Chen Die walked out of the bar a step behind, with Chen Shuyuan following.

“Everything okay?” Xia Ying asked.

“Fine.”

“How are you getting back?”

Chen Die’s phone vibrated.

Wen Liang’s message read: Zhu Qicong is outside. Wait for me a while.

Chen Die looked toward the roadside and indeed saw the black Bentley.

Chen Die lifted her chin. “My boyfriend’s assistant is here.”

“I envy you, princess,” Xia Ying pouted. “Your boyfriend takes care of everything for you.”

Someone nearby called Xia Ying to share a ride. After saying goodbye to Chen Die, she ran over.

After everyone who was taking the subway had left, and those taking taxis had all gotten cabs, Chen Die finally turned and walked toward the Bentley.

“Miss Chen,” Zhu Qicong nodded.

“Mm.” Chen Die asked casually, “When did you arrive?”

He answered honestly, “Half an hour ago.”

Even in the evening, the air carried a coolness. Chen Die pulled a thin fleece blanket over her legs and yawned.

After a moment of silence, Zhu Qicong said softly, “Miss Chen, Mr. Wen has had a lot of company matters to deal with these days, so his temper might be bad.”

Bad temper.

When surrounded by beauties earlier, Chen Die thought he looked quite happy.

“What’s happening with the company?”

Zhu Qicong replied, “Mr. Wen is preparing to take control of Director Qu’s shares. There are many complicated matters to handle.”

Chen Die only understood the general idea. The details were beyond her comprehension. She nodded and turned to look out the window, saying nothing more.

About fifteen minutes later, Wen Liang came out.

The man had a rough, roguish air about him, a cigarette between his lips, its flame briefly flaring.

The car window was cracked open slightly, and the voices of several people could be faintly heard.

She heard one man say, “Why is Boss Wen leaving so early today? Could it be that the disgusting fellow surnamed Ma ruined your mood?”

Another laughed heartily, “How could someone like that affect Ah Liang’s mood? He’s rushing home to play with his cat.”

The others understood and teased, “We’ve long heard that Boss Wen’s villa in the western suburbs, where every inch of land is worth gold, is for keeping his precious treasure. Since you cherish her so much, when will you let us meet her?”

Wen Liang gave what seemed like a smile but wasn’t, refusing bluntly: “Get lost.”

So the group dispersed amid laughter.

Wen Liang walked over, opened the car door, and sat inside.

Zhu Qicong respectfully called out “Boss Wen” and steadily drove toward the villa in the western suburbs.

Normally, when Zhu Qicong occasionally drove Chen Die to and from school, he wasn’t so formal and would talk with her to alleviate boredom. But whenever Wen Liang was present, he maintained a completely respectful attitude.

After all, Wen Liang was a madman who had done countless terrible things. Everyone had to be mindful of his mood in his presence, fearing that this unpredictably temperamental master might suddenly flare up.

Wen Liang was accustomed to the quiet in the car. After resting his eyes for a while, he reached for Chen Die’s hand and grasped it.

Recalling her earlier sarcastic comment, “I didn’t want to interrupt Mr. Wen’s good time,” it sounded jarring at first, but it wasn’t hard to detect the jealousy hidden within.

Wen Liang was in a good mood. His fingertips caressed the back of her hand—smooth and tender, truly worthy of being well-raised by him all these years.

“Gone mute?” he asked.

Chen Die glanced at him. “What?”

“How was the filming in Europe these past few days?” he asked casually.

“Just the usual—eating, filming, sleeping. The scenery was beautiful, and the shooting went well. The video should be ready soon,” Chen Die said.

Wen Liang only replied with an “Mm” and ended the conversation, leaning back to continue resting his eyes, though he didn’t stop caressing her hand.

Under the gentle night, the black Bentley steadily drove toward the villa in the western suburbs.