Yang Zi and Shi Wang navigated the congested thoroughfare of the university parking lot.
After few steps,their movement was halted, their eyes fixing on a commotion ahead.
Li Hao was the epicenter of a human storm—a dense swarm of students elbowing and pushing each other for a single, or even blurry selfie with Li Hao.
Yu Han stood a few feet away, firmly rooted to the ground, watching the chaos and frowned.
And immediately a sudden, high-pitched shriek pierced the noise. "Hey... that's... that's Shi Wang!"
The declaration acted like a siren. In an instant, the entire focus abandoned Li Hao and swung violently toward Shi Wang.
Shi Wang stood there and offered a nervous, self-deprecating chuckle and a tentative wave. Within a single breath, the majority of the mob pivoted and surged toward him.
"Mr. Shi! We love you! You're our idol!" they screamed, their voices reaching an unbearable pitch.
The surge was immediate and forceful, catching Yang Zi completely off guard. He was roughly jostled aside, stumbling backward and catching his balance just before he hit the ground.
Yu Han immediately spotted Yang Zi's distress. He abandoned Li Hao without hesitation and rushed toward his best friend. "Yang Zi! Yang Zi!" he called out.
Yang Zi merely cast a dismissive glance over his shoulder, refusing to respond, and quickened his pace, heading straight for the exit of the parking lot.
"Geez! These fans are literally crazy, what is he? Just a businessman and look at them, crazy bastards.... it's better that I should leave!"
Shi Wang, trapped by a wall of adoring hands, saw Yang Zi leaving. He struggled to push his way free,he immediately shouted,"Yang Zi, wait up! I'll meet you tonight. Don't forget to eat!"
Yang Zi didn't stop, but he shot a lethal glare over his shoulder. He hissed the words under his breath, venom coating every syllable. "Don't fucking dare care about me. Enjoy your time with those screaming girls, you bastard." He was clearly jealous.
Yu Han, ran behind Yang Zi , he was slightly breathless, and gave Li Hao a quick backward glance and waved at him, signing quickly that he was following Yang Zi. Li Hao gave him a casual thumbs-up.
Li Hao, reclaiming a sliver of composure, maintained his celebrity facade for the remaining few. "I appreciate the attention, but I must leave now. Please you guys return to your classes."
The remaining students erupted in knowing giggles. "Are you going to see Yuna, Li Hao? We know it! We're waiting for the wedding—congratulations!"
Li Hao's smile didn't waver, but his eyes noticeably darkened behind the façade. He clearly resented the unsolicited congratulations, yet he managed a faint grin before sliding into the passenger seat of his car.
The moment Li Hao closed the door, Shi Wang broke free from his fans, and sprinted the distance. Without a word, he yanked the rear door open and shamelessly threw himself onto the expanse of the backseat.
Gang Zi, immediately snapped his head back, his eyes wide with alarm. Li Hao's expression was murderous. "What the fuck are you doing in my car?" he demanded, his voice was dangerously low.
"We're going to the same office, aren't we?" Shi Wang countered, settling comfortably. "I thought I'd hitch a ride."
"You have thirty cars, Shi Wang," Li Hao sneered. "Why do you want to ride with me?"
Shi Wang smirked. "Who said I was here for you? I'm here for Gang Zi. I heard he's the best driver in the city."
Hearing the compliment, Gang Zi blushed furiously. "Ah, Mr. Shi, that's truly too kind!"
Li Hao shot a scathing look at both of them. "Then you take him with you. I'll drive myself. I don't need a chauffeur."
Shi Wang ignored the threat, leaning forward to casually dip his hand straight into Li Hao's jacket pocket, retrieving a packet of cigarettes. "We're running late. Don't waste time here bickering."
Had Li Hao been holding his gun at that moment, Shi Wang would undoubtedly be nursing a fatal wound, such was the audacity of this trespass into his personal space.
Shi Wang pulled out a cigarette stick, lit it with a practiced flick, and took a deep drag. "I needed that kick after such a hectic morning. Only because of you, Li Hao. What the hell were you doing at a public university?"
Li Hao also pulled out a cigarette and lit it, taking a long drag before exhaling the smoke directly into Shi Wang's face. "Don't be nosy. It's my business."
Shi Wang chuckled, watching the smoke dissipate. "Oh, I know all your businesses. Is Yu Han your newest acquisition?"
"And you?" Li Hao asked sarcastically, leaning back. "Did you enjoy last night... with Yang Zi?" The mocking tone was unmistakable; he knew perfectly well Yang Zi would not have permitted any intimacy. He wanted to watch Shi Wang react to the psychological torture.
Shi Wang erupted in hearty laughter. "You know me too well, huh." He took another drag. "Well, to be honest, I enjoyed last night with him, thanks for helping me!"
Li Hao scoffed, utterly fed up.
Shi Wang was older, yet he perpetually acted like a troublesome younger brother—a parasitic presence Li Hao had tried hard to shake off for years. This bastard always managed to get under his skin.
"You have the nerve to lie about that," Li Hao stated, shooting him a deadly look.
Shi Wang caught off guard, he lifted a brow. "I'm not lying, huh. I literally slept with him." "Of course," he thought," I 'just' slept with him. In the same bed. Fully clothed. Unfortunately."
Li Hao understood the deeper, and painful double meaning hidden in Shi Wang's words, but he managed to act nonchalant, even letting a slight, cynical laugh escape.
"So, he's the only one who got a chance to 'just' sleep with the great Shi Wang?" he teased, aiming for the chink in Shi Wang's playboy armor.
Shi Wang scoffed. His carefully maintained image was at risk; he still hadn't managed to top Yang Zi. He took another deep drag, desperately trying to formulate a stinging comeback that would save face and puncture Li Hao's composure.
Then, he found his opening. A slow, devious smile spread across his lips. "You should focus on something productive, like preparing for your wedding with Yuna. Stop fiddling around with people who aren't yours, Li Hao."
The mention of Yuna and the impending marriage darkened Li Hao's face with unreadable expressions. He looked at Shi Wang, his voice dropping to a dangerous register.
"It would be better if you stayed away from my life, and I don't need your fucking advice. Worry about your own train wreck."
Before Shi Wang could respond, Li Hao snatched the cigarette stick from his hand and flung it out of the car's window, extinguishing it instantly on the street below.
He continued, his eyes narrowed into cold slits. "And I'm warning you: don't you dare fuck around with Yu Han, or even Yang Zi. I know how much of an asshole you are, the type who just wants to play with others purely for entertainment."
Shi Wang chuckled softly, but deep down, Li Hao's words felt like a physical stab. He struggled to remain cool and said in a low, even voice, "Yang Zi and I are dating."
The announcement was delivered with such sudden, flat seriousness that Li Hao was momentarily stunned. This bastard had just blurted out something monumental with zero expression.
Li Hao stared at him, incredulity warring with alarm. "That Yang Zi... how could he agree to date this reckless narcissist?"
Li Hao searched Shi Wang's eyes and was genuinely taken aback to see they were shining with what looked suspiciously like genuine affection.
"Is he even serious about Yang Zi?"
In truth, Li Hao had no inherent problem with Yang Zi's relationship status, but the implication was dangerous. Yang Zi was extremely close to Yu Han. If Yang Zi truly dated Shi Wang, Shi Wang would automatically gain access and proximity to Yu Han. That was the one thing Li Hao couldn't allow. He knew they were enemies, and Shi Wang was capable of crossing any limit to degrade or harm him—and he wouldn't hesitate to drag Yu Han into his dirty, corporate politics.
"You can't date him," Li Hao said with a straight face.
"Why?" Shi Wang challenged.
"Because I said so, that's why."
Shi Wang scoffed, having no intention of obeying. "We are already in a relationship. It's better if you think about your impending wedding. You are wasting your time with Yu Han."
Li Hao wanted to shove him out of the moving car. He could not tolerate another second of Shi Wang's presence.
Remaining silent, he reached out and slowly pulled down his own window, desperately seeking some fresh air as the toxic atmosphere inside the car began to suffocate him.