The conference room was bathed in a warm, golden light that reflected off the crystal chandelier, throwing patterns across the mahogany table. Lin Nian'an sat quietly, her red hair cascading over one shoulder, the fitted wine-colored dress hugging her frame with elegance. Across from her, Gu Chenyan leaned back in his seat, his silver hair catching the light, sharp eyes cold and unreadable behind his tailored suit and meticulously knotted tie.
"You didn't have to come in person," Lin Nian'an said softly, breaking the silence that had settled between them like a wall.
Gu Chenyan's lips twitched, not quite a smile. "It's my project. I handle what's important."
Lin Nian'an met his gaze, unmoved. "So is this about business, or something else entirely?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached for the document in front of him, his fingers brushing against hers for a fleeting second. Electricity crackled in that moment, something unspoken passing between them.
The tension in the room was thick enough to slice with a knife. Lin Nian'an had prepared thoroughly for today's presentation. She had expected skepticism, counterarguments, maybe even sabotage—but not Gu Chenyan himself, seated opposite her, watching her every move as though peeling back her layers one by one.
Their partnership, if it could be called that, had always been complicated. Childhood friends turned academic rivals, then reluctant collaborators—fate had always kept their paths intertwined, no matter how far apart life tried to pull them.
He cleared his throat. "Your proposal is solid. It's bold. Risky."
"I stand by it," she replied, her tone firm. "It's the future of sustainable development."
"And it places you in the crosshairs of our competitors." His eyes narrowed. "You're not afraid?"
She let out a soft breath. "Not if I have the right allies."
For a heartbeat, neither of them spoke. Outside the tall glass windows, the city sparkled beneath the night sky. Lin Nian'an's phone buzzed on the table, a reminder that time was moving forward, whether they resolved this or not.
Gu Chenyan stood, walking to the window, hands in his pockets. "You've changed."
"So have you," she replied.
He turned to face her. "I remember the girl who cried when her proposal was rejected in college. The one who stayed up three nights to rewrite it from scratch. You've become stronger."
She raised an eyebrow. "And you became a man who hides behind contracts and strategy."
"Not hides," he corrected. "Survives."
The way he said it, flat and emotionless, made something tighten in her chest. "Is that what this is? Survival?"
He took a step closer. "Maybe. Or maybe it's about finally doing things right. With the right person."
The air shifted. Lin Nian'an blinked, unsure if she'd heard him correctly. She had spent years building walls, mastering the art of detachment. But Gu Chenyan had always been the one exception—the only one who could scale those walls with just a glance.
"What do you want, Gu Chenyan?"
He didn't answer with words. Instead, he placed the signed contract on the table, his signature bold and unmistakable. "I want to be part of your vision. Not just professionally."
Her eyes widened.
He stepped back. "Think about it. You're not alone anymore."
Before she could respond, the door opened, and an assistant stepped in, announcing the arrival of the next delegation.
Gu Chenyan gave her one last glance. "Let's talk again—after dinner."
Then he was gone, his presence lingering in the room like an echo.
That evening, Lin Nian'an stood on the rooftop of her office building, the wind tugging at her hair. The city buzzed below, neon lights flickering like restless thoughts. She clutched the signed contract, still warm from his touch.
What did he mean by "not just professionally"?
Her mind churned. It wasn't like him to be cryptic. But then again, they were both different people now—older, scarred, wiser.
Her assistant's voice crackled through her earpiece. "Miss Lin, Mr. Gu has confirmed the reservation for 8 p.m. at L'Aria."
She stared at the stars. "Understood."
At L'Aria, the ambiance was understated luxury. Gu Chenyan sat waiting, his jacket off, sleeves rolled up. When Lin Nian'an entered, heads turned—not because of her beauty, but because of the unshakable presence she carried.
"You came," he said simply.
"I was curious," she replied, sliding into the seat opposite him.
Dinner passed in a blur of conversation. He asked about her vision, her fears, her motivations. She listened as he spoke of the pressures of inheriting a legacy, the loneliness of power.
Then came the silence again—comfortable this time.
When dessert arrived, he leaned forward. "I want to build something with you, Nian'an. Something real."
She met his gaze, vulnerability flickering in her eyes for the first time that day. "I've been building alone for so long… I forgot what it felt like to be supported."
"You don't have to do it alone anymore."
He reached across the table, and for once, she didn't pull away.
Maybe this wasn't just business. Maybe it was the beginning of something much bigger.