He Thought His First Love Was My Wife - Chapter 1

The cold silver fork paused in Lu Chen’s fingers. Its tip pierced the carefully pan-fried wagyu, drizzled with black truffle sauce. The dark brown sauce slowly seeped out, like an ugly, unhealing old scar. In the vast restaurant, only the overly ornate crystal chandelier above buzzed, pouring down an excessively bright light. The other end of the long dining table was empty. Three sets of bone china tableware, rimmed with gold, two of them untouched, starkly white, while only the set in front of him bore traces of sauce. The air was filled with the unique, slightly fishy scent of expensive ingredients after they had cooled.

Today was the third anniversary of his marriage to Su Wan. It was also the third year he had been the Su family’s “live-in son-in-law,” openly and secretly mocked by everyone.

The phone screen lit up without warning in the silence, the news headline a poisoned needle, piercing his retina: “Su Group’s Heiress Su Wan Appears at Top Jewelry Salon, Accompanies Lin Group’s Young Master Lin Zhe the Entire Time Choosing a Wedding Ring! Intimate Gestures, Good News Coming Soon?”

The accompanying picture was a candid shot. The photo was a bit blurry, but Su Wan’s profile as she slightly turned her head to look at Lin Zhe was still clear. Today, she wore a sharply tailored off-white cashmere coat that accentuated her long neck, and her expression was focused. Lin Zhe was beside her, leaning slightly, his finger pointing at a dazzling object in the counter, his face wearing a triumphant, determined smile. The background was the iconic blue sign of “Tiffany,” like a huge, cold plaque of irony.

Lu Chen’s gaze lingered on that photo for a few seconds. His fingertips unconsciously tightened, the cold fork handle digging painfully into his palm. Something in his chest felt like it had been stuffed with cotton soaked in ice water, cold and heavy, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. He tried to force a smile, but it only made his tense facial muscles twitch rigidly.

He put down the fork, the silver clinking against the edge of the porcelain plate with a crisp, abrupt clang. He picked up the cup of coffee beside him, which had long gone cold. The dark brown liquid swayed in the cup, reflecting a profound, bottomless stillness in his eyes.

“Buzz… buzz…”

His phone vibrated again; this time, it was a call. Two words flashed on the screen—”Weiwei.”

Lu Chen stared at the name, momentarily lost in thought. Lin Weiwei. This name was once the only light in the barren sky of his youth, the warmest, most unattainable dream throughout his bleak adolescence. The girl who held an umbrella for him in the rain, who stood in front of him when everyone bullied him, her eyes bright as stars.

The phone continued to ring persistently, an insistent summons impossible to ignore. He finally swiped to answer.

“Hello?” His voice was a bit hoarse, as if he hadn’t spoken in a long time.

On the other end of the line, a clear female voice, tinged with barely suppressed excitement and a hint of coquetry, instantly cut through the static, remarkably clear: “A Chen! It’s me! I’m back! Just landed!”

It was Lin Weiwei. Her voice still had that unique penetrative quality he remembered, just a little less childish, more polished and confident.

“Weiwei?” Lu Chen held the phone, his knuckles pale. He subconsciously looked up, gazing at the deepening night outside the restaurant window, as if trying to discern something in the darkness.

“Yes! Surprised?” Lin Weiwei’s voice was as cheerful as a [CENSORED] bird. “Just got off the plane, I’m exhausted! But as soon as I breathed the air here, I felt completely alive again! A Chen, where are you? I have so much I want to tell you! And…” She paused, her tone laced with a subtle hint of probing and a certain assured intimacy, “I heard… you haven’t been doing so well these past few years?”

She spoke the last few words softly, but they were like tiny grains of sand, grinding against Lu Chen’s already dusty heart. The light from the huge crystal lamp in the restaurant seemed to become unusually dazzling at this moment, making his vision blur.

“It’s fine,” Lu Chen lowered his gaze, his eyes falling back on the cold steak on the dining table, the sauce solidified into unsightly dark brown clumps.

“What do you mean ‘it’s fine’?” Lin Weiwei’s voice rose slightly, clearly dissatisfied and distressed. “I heard everything! Those people in the Su family… and Su Wan! How could she treat you like that? Let you suffer such humiliation?” Her tone suddenly became resolute, with an undeniable declaration. “A Chen, don’t stay there anymore! Come with me! Now, immediately!”

Come with me!

These three words, like a sudden clap of thunder, split the solidified, suffocating air in front of Lu Chen. A fragmented image of that rainy day from his youth flashed through his mind—the girl stubbornly stood in front of him, shouting at those boys much taller than him: “Try bullying him again!” At that time, Lin Weiwei was the only light source in his world, with the posture of a savior.

The restaurant was deathly silent, with only his own slightly heavy breathing. The crystal lamp’s light fell coldly on him, casting a long, solitary shadow on the polished marble floor. The cold steak, with its congealed sauce emitting a nauseating fishy smell, silently mocked this so-called “anniversary.”

The silence on the other end of the phone seemed to make Lin Weiwei uneasy. “A Chen? Are you listening?” Her voice carried a hint of subtle urgency. “I know you must be feeling terrible right now. Su Wan… she doesn’t care about you at all! She even went with Lin Zhe to buy a wedding ring today, the whole city knows! What are you still waiting for? Come with me, let’s leave this place and start over!”

Su Wan… Lin Zhe… wedding ring…

These words, like poisoned needles, pierced Lu Chen’s heart again. His knuckles, gripping the phone, turned completely bloodless from the force, a pallid green. Every word of Lin Weiwei’s precisely hit the most humiliating wounds he had accumulated over the past three years. Humiliation, anger, the cold feeling of being abandoned by the whole world… and that distant longing and expectation for his “first love,” reawakened by Lin Weiwei’s sudden appearance. All these emotions, like surging undercurrents, frantically tore at his crumbling reason.

Come with me.

This seemed like the simplest choice. Escape this humiliating cage and run towards the girl who had once given him his only warmth and shelter in his memories. A readily available opportunity for salvation lay before him.

He took a deep breath, the cold, perfume-scented air stinging his lungs. He slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the empty long table towards the entrance, as if he could penetrate the thick door and see the unknown exit that might lead to liberation.

Time seemed to stretch, each second thick and suffocating.

Finally, he spoke into the phone, his throat working, producing an extremely dry but remarkably clear syllable:

“Okay.”

As the lights began to illuminate, the shimmering glass curtain walls of the “Cloud Top Club” reflected like a giant crystal palace. Luxury cars streamed in front of the entrance, their low engine hum blending with the laughter of finely dressed guests, weaving a superficial net. Lu Chen got out of the taxi’s back seat, his slightly faded ordinary jacket looking out of place amidst the glittering opulence, like an old newspaper forcibly pasted into a magnificent oil painting.

The doorman’s gaze swept over him, carrying a professional yet not entirely concealed hint of disdain. Lu Chen ignored it, walking directly towards the revolving, gleaming glass door. His push was steady, but a subtle chill still spread from his fingertips as they touched the cold, smooth glass.

Inside, a hot wave of perfume, cigar smoke, and expensive alcohol assailed him. The enormous crystal chandelier illuminated the entire hall like daylight. Men and women in splendid attire clinked glasses, each smile seemingly calculated. This was Cloud City’s top social arena, and one of the Su family’s important venues for showcasing their status. Tonight’s banquet, celebrating the launch of a new Su Group project, had gathered more than half of the city’s prominent figures.

Lu Chen’s appearance was like a small pebble dropped into a calm lake, instantly stirring a ripple among the small group of people near the entrance.

“Oh, look who it is?” A man holding a champagne glass, dressed in a flashy wine-red velvet suit, was the first to scoff, his voice not loud, but clear enough for the surrounding few to hear. He was Su Wan’s distant cousin, Su Mingzhe.

“Tsk, Young Master Lu? A rare guest!” Beside him, a young woman in a brightly [CENSORED] dress with delicate makeup exaggeratedly covered her mouth, her eyes practically overflowing with scorn. “What wind blew you here today? Our Su family’s threshold isn’t just for anyone to casually step over, is it?” She was Su Wan’s cousin, Su Qian.

“He wouldn’t be here to find Sister Wanwan, would he?” Another voice carried undisguised malice. “Doesn’t he even look at the occasion? Sister Wanwan is currently entertaining Young Master Lin; how could she have time for him?”

“Exactly, no self-awareness at all. Eating the Su family’s food, drinking the Su family’s drinks, and he really thinks he’s something important?”

“I heard Sister Su Wan went with Lin Zhe to buy a wedding ring today? Tsk, what a slap in the face…”

Those deliberately lowered murmurs, like countless tiny poisoned needles, pricked Lu Chen’s senses. Contempt, ridicule, gloating pleasure… these gazes and words were the air he had grown accustomed to over the past three years. His face was expressionless, his eyes calmly sweeping over the malicious faces, as he walked directly towards the deeper part of the hall. His steps were steady, his back straight, as if the poisoned words were merely dust brushing past his ears.

In the center of the hall, where the crowd was densest, Su Wan stood like a star surrounded by planets. She wore a charcoal gray strapless gown tonight, its hem flowing like mercury, outlining her slender and elegant waist. Her smooth black hair was styled into a slightly loose but alluring bun, revealing her long, graceful swan-like neck. Her skin glowed like cold jade under the dazzling lights, and her face wore the impeccable, perfect smile of the Su Group heiress as she conversed with several business magnates.

Standing half a step beside her was Lin Zhe. He wore a perfectly tailored dark blue bespoke suit, which accentuated his tall and straight figure, and the priceless platinum watch on his wrist reflected sharp light. He was slightly turned, his posture intimate and natural as he shielded Su Wan from a waiter carrying a tray, a silent display of possessiveness and superiority. The two stood together, he handsome and wealthy, she radiant and noble, like a perfect couple, the dazzling focus of the entire event.

Lu Chen’s gaze pierced through the shifting figures, landing on Su Wan. From a distance, he couldn’t see the emotions in her eyes, only her flawless profile and the precisely curved smile on her lips. That smile seemed especially soft when directed at Lin Zhe. An indescribable sense of dullness, like cold vines, quietly wrapped around his heart.

Just then, a small stir arose around the periphery of the crowd. Accompanied by a few muffled gasps, everyone’s gaze was instinctively drawn to it.

At the entrance, a dazzling red figure, like a burning flame, forcefully burst into the lavish scene. Lin Weiwei wore a fiery red Valentino bespoke strapless gown, its hem swaying like blooming roses. Her makeup was striking, her red lips like fire, her meticulously styled curly hair cascading over her shoulders, and a strikingly designed diamond necklace sparkled at her neck. Her beauty was bold and aggressive, instantly capturing everyone’s attention, even momentarily overshadowing Su Wan and Lin Zhe in the center of the hall.

Lin Weiwei’s gaze scanned the entire room precisely, almost without pausing, before firmly locking onto Lu Chen’s position. A large, radiant smile instantly blossomed on her face, filled with the wild joy of a long-awaited reunion and a certain confident determination. She completely ignored the astonished, scrutinizing, or surprised gazes directed at her, walking with steady and swift steps on her ten-centimeter Jimmy Choo red-soled heels, like a red battleship sailing through the waves, heading directly towards Lu Chen.

The click of her heels on the marble floor was crisp and rhythmic,嗒,嗒,嗒… Each step seemed to land on everyone’s heartbeats. The murmuring instantly died down, and countless eyes darted back and forth between Lu Chen and Lin Weiwei, filled with shock and disbelief.

Lu Chen stood still, watching the burning flame approach him. He clearly felt the sudden rise in the surrounding air temperature, and the sharp increase in the complex emotions in those gazes—shock, anticipation of a show, gloating, and boundless expectation for the “good show” about to unfold.

Lin Weiwei finally reached him and stopped. She tilted her head slightly, her red lips curved, her eyes shimmering with undisguised triumph and disdain for everything around her. She extended a hand adorned with bright red nail polish, her gesture intimate and natural, carrying an undeniable forcefulness as she directly linked her arm through Lu Chen’s.

Her voice was clear and high-pitched, carrying a triumphant penetration that echoed clearly throughout the suddenly quiet hall:

“A Chen! I’m back! Come with me!”

The moment Lin Weiwei tightly linked her arm through his, Lu Chen clearly felt his arm muscles stiffen. The searing warmth and undeniable force were like an invisible rope, trying to drag him out of this [CENSORED]. Lin Weiwei’s strong perfume assailed his nostrils, sweet and aggressive like tropical flowers, almost overpowering all other scents in the venue.

Silence hung for a moment.

Then, as if a ladle of cold water had been suddenly poured into a boiling oil pot, the entire hall erupted!

“Oh my God! It’s Lin Weiwei!” “She… she actually has Lu Chen’s arm?” “What did she say? ‘Come with me’? What’s going on?” “Big news! Absolutely huge news! Lin Weiwei openly stealing Su Wan’s husband?!” “Look at Su Wan over there!”

Countless gazes, like searchlights, swiveled in unison to focus on Lu Chen and Lin Weiwei, then quickly darted towards Su Wan and Lin Zhe in the center of the hall. Shock, bewilderment, disbelief, and then an overwhelming wave of excitement and avid anticipation for a show swept through the entire space. Whispers merged into a low hum, everyone’s faces filled with boundless expectation for the upcoming drama among the wealthy elite.

“Heh, this is interesting,” Su Mingzhe swirled his wine glass, his face openly gloating. “Now this will be a good show! Where will Su Wan put her face?” Su Qian was so excited she almost jumped up. “That Lu Chen, how did he manage to hook up with Lin Weiwei? What kind of [CENSORED] luck did he get?” “Why even choose? He’ll definitely go with Lin Weiwei! Only a [CENSORED] would stay here and suffer this humiliation!”

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Lu Chen, like waiting for the final verdict of a judgment. The air was stretched to its limit, as if a pin drop could pierce it.

Lin Weiwei felt the pressure of all eyes on her, but she didn’t care. Instead, she clutched Lu Chen’s arm even tighter, her body pressing closer. She looked up, her eyes amazingly bright as she gazed at Lu Chen, with a confident, triumphant glow. She lowered her voice, yet it clearly reached Lu Chen’s ear: “A Chen, don’t hesitate! Look at Su Wan, does she deserve this from you? She’s still with someone else buying a ring today! Come with me, let’s leave this fake, disgusting place! I’ll take you to see a better world!” Her voice was alluring, urgent, and carried a hint of subtle command.

Lu Chen could feel Lin Weiwei’s arm trembling slightly, not from nervousness, but from extreme excitement. He slightly lowered his gaze, sweeping his eyes over Lin Weiwei’s carefully drawn brows and eyes. The flames burning deep in her eyes were so hot they almost scorched him.

At this suffocating, critical moment, Lu Chen slowly, almost imperceptibly, moved. He didn’t immediately respond to Lin Weiwei, nor did he pull his arm free. He simply turned his head slightly.

His gaze pierced through the noisy crowd, past countless curious or malicious eyes, like a calm and sharp beam of light, steadily landing on Su Wan at the other end of the hall.

Su Wan still stood there, her charcoal gray gown flowing with quiet luster under the brilliant lights. The perfect smile on her face seemed to freeze for an instant. Though extremely brief, Lu Chen caught it. Her gaze was no longer the formulaic, distant calmness from before, but instantly stirred. In those eyes, always as calm as a deep pool, there was now clear shock, disbelief, and a hint of… a nearly shattering panic Lu Chen had never seen in her eyes before? Though she tried to control it, her jawline was tightly clenched, but that momentary sense of being struck down, like a stone thrown into a deep pool, spread an undeniable ripple in her eyes.

Lu Chen’s heart felt as if it had been tightly clenched by that invisible hand, then suddenly released.

He saw it. He saw that slight crack in her perfect mask, that momentary panic. It wasn’t indifference, it wasn’t a lack of care, but… a genuine tremor from being caught off guard.

It was enough.

Just that one glance, that momentary panic, was like a faint spark, barely enough to ignite a fire, falling into the cold ashes that had accumulated like mountains in his heart.

The next second, Lu Chen moved.

His movement was light, yet it carried an undeniable resolve. He raised his other hand, the one not held by Lin Weiwei, and gently placed it on the back of Lin Weiwei’s hand that gripped his arm.

Lin Weiwei’s triumphant smile instantly widened, and her eyes erupted with joyous light! The onlookers, anticipating a show, also let out suppressed gasps. Many faces showed an “of course” understanding, and Su Mingzhe even let out a silent whistle.

However, Lu Chen’s hand on the back of Lin Weiwei’s did not return her intimacy. His fingers were slightly cool, carrying a polite but distant force, steadily and slowly, pushing Lin Weiwei’s hand, adorned with bright red nail polish, away from his arm.

This action was extremely slow, but it was as if a pause button had been pressed, making Lin Weiwei’s triumphant smile instantly freeze and shatter, and bringing all surrounding murmurs to an abrupt halt.

The entire world seemed to be muted.

Under the gaze of countless eyes that seemed to freeze, Lu Chen didn’t look at Lin Weiwei again. He took a step, his stride steady, his goal clear, walking directly towards Su Wan at the other end of the crowd, the slender figure in the charcoal gray dress.

His leather shoes struck the mirror-like marble floor, making clear and firm taps. Tap, tap, tap… Each step crushed the frozen air, crushing all the noise and speculation.

The crowd parted automatically and silently, like the Red Sea parted by Moses, making a straight path for him. All eyes followed him, filled with extreme shock and disbelief.

Lin Weiwei froze in place, her face turning from red to white, then from white to green, her retaining hand still stiff in mid-air, like a statue instantly drained of its soul. She watched Lu Chen’s retreating back, her gaze rapidly shifting from initial shock to overwhelming rage and malevolence at being publicly humiliated.

Lin Zhe’s composed smile also vanished, his brows tightly furrowed, his eyes grimly fixed on Lu Chen, then sweeping over Su Wan’s pale face, his gaze complex.

Lu Chen was oblivious to everything around him. In his eyes, at this moment, there was only the woman standing in the center of the crowd, gazing at him with eyes filled with astonishment, panic, and a hint of something complex he couldn’t decipher.

He walked to Su Wan and stopped.

They were very close. He could clearly see her slightly trembling eyelashes, her lips pale from being tightly pressed together, and the uncalm tempest still raging deep in her eyes.

The hall was eerily silent, even breathing was clearly audible.

Lu Chen lowered his head slightly, looking into Su Wan’s eyes. There was no ripple on his face, as calm as a deep autumn lake. Then, slowly and very naturally, he reached out, gently brushing away a stray hair near Su Wan’s cheek that had been stiffly held by hairspray.

This intimate gesture made Su Wan’s body tremble violently, her pupils contracting sharply.

Lu Chen’s lips finally curved into an extremely faint but clear arc. There was no triumphant show, no deliberate tenderness in that smile, only the peace after the dust had settled and a hint of indescribable warmth.

His voice wasn’t loud, yet in this deathly silent hall, it clearly reached the ears of everyone straining to listen, like a huge stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up thousands of waves:

“Wife, it’s time to go home.”

“Wife, it’s time to go home.”

These five words, like a magic spell, clearly penetrated the deathly silent air, and heavily struck Su Wan’s heart. Her body trembled violently, as if struck by an invisible current, her fingertips instantly turning cold. She looked up, meeting Lu Chen’s calm eyes. There was no teasing, no questioning in them, only a kind of assured calmness she had never seen before, as if stating the simplest fact.

This calmness made her more flustered than any question. How could he… how could he say such a thing at a time like this?

The surrounding air seemed to be completely drained. Countless gazes, like tangible needles, pricked her exposed skin, causing waves of stinging pain. She could clearly hear her heart pounding wildly in her chest, thumping, deafening. Lin Zhe stood beside her, his face so grim it could drip water, his sharp eyes scanning between her and Lu Chen, filled with cold scrutiny and suppressed anger.

And Lin Weiwei, the woman who had burst in like a flame, was now pale, her carefully applied eye makeup unable to conceal the ferocity and disbelief in her eyes. She stared fixedly at Lu Chen’s hand gripping Su Wan’s wrist, her bright red nail polish digging deeply into her own palm.

“Lu Chen!” Lin Weiwei’s voice suddenly rose, sharp with the sting of complete betrayal and humiliation, like broken glass, instantly tearing through the stagnant air. “Are you [CENSORED]?! Look clearly! Who is she? She’s Su Wan! The Su Wan who made you a [CENSORED] for three years, suffered countless slights, and is still buying a wedding ring with another man today!”

She lunged forward, her heels clicking loudly on the floor, her finger trembling violently with anger as she pointed at Su Wan: “She doesn’t care about you at all! She treats you like a dog she can summon and dismiss at will! Only me! Only I have always remembered you! Only I feel for you! Only I truly want to take you away from this [CENSORED] place!” Her voice cracked with emotion, tinged with a sob, tears swirling wildly in her eyes but stubbornly refusing to fall. Her distress and anger were highly inflammatory.

“A Chen! Look at me!” Lin Weiwei’s gaze was fixed on Lu Chen, carrying a final, almost desperate accusation. “Have you forgotten? Have you forgotten everything?! That summer, behind that abandoned warehouse in the west of the city! It was raining heavily! You were beaten to a pulp by those punks, huddled in the corner! Who rushed over to protect you? Who threw their schoolbag at them? Who helped you up in the rain and held an umbrella for you? Who told you over and over again, ‘Don’t be afraid, I’m here for you’?”

Her voice grew higher and higher, every word like a poisoned knife, ruthlessly stabbing at Lu Chen, and at everyone present:

“It was me! Lin Weiwei! I saved you! I pulled you out of that [CENSORED]! You said it! You said you’d never forget me! You said I was your light! The most important person in your life! Have you forgotten it all?! Lu Chen! Answer me!”

Lin Weiwei’s shouts echoed through the hall, filled with hysterical sorrow. The scene she described was so vivid, the emotions so intense, instantly pulling everyone back to that rainy day. Many faces showed a touched expression, and their gazes towards Lu Chen carried doubt and accusation—yes, a life-saving grace, a profound first love, how could he be so ungrateful?

Su Wan’s face turned completely pale amidst Lin Weiwei’s accusations. She felt Lu Chen’s grip on her wrist suddenly tighten, with a force that caused her pain. She instinctively wanted to pull her hand away, to escape this suffocating confrontation, to escape those humiliating past events. She didn’t even dare to look at Lu Chen’s expression at this moment. Every word of Lin Weiwei’s was like a heavy hammer striking her heart. That rainy day… that warehouse… that boy covered in blood… and that brave girl…

Fragments of chaotic memories surged wildly in her mind, carrying the damp scent of rain and the rusty smell of blood.

“Don’t go! Lu Chen!” Su Wan blurted out, her voice sharp and panicked in a way she herself hadn’t noticed. She abruptly reversed her hand, grabbing Lu Chen’s arm with all her might, her fingernails digging deeply into his flesh through the thin shirt fabric. She looked up, her eyes filled with an urgent, almost pleading light, and a hint of deep-seated pain and determination, “Don’t listen to her! That girl back then… the one who saved you… it wasn’t her! It was—”

Su Wan’s voice cut off abruptly. The name that was about to escape her lips was stuck in her throat like a burning hot iron, making her unable to utter any sound. Her lips trembled violently, her face ashen, and deep in her eyes surged immense pain and struggle. She couldn’t say it! At least… not here!

“Who was it?” Lu Chen’s voice was low, unusually calm. He lowered his head slightly, his deep gaze fixed on Su Wan’s panicked and helpless eyes, as if trying to pierce through all her disguises and fears, reaching the secret she fiercely guarded deep in her soul.

Su Wan felt a chill spread through her as he looked at her, her fingers clutching his arm, her knuckles white from the force. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. The immense psychological pressure and the countless burning gazes around her almost made her collapse.

Just as Su Wan felt she was about to be crushed by this silent pressure, Lu Chen suddenly moved.

He didn’t press, didn’t force her. His arm, which she had been holding tightly, slowly lifted. Under Su Wan’s astonished gaze and the bated breath of everyone present, his palm, with a heart-stopping tenderness and undeniable force, gently covered her hand that was tightly gripping his arm.

His hand was large, his palm slightly calloused, a bit rough, but exceptionally warm. That warmth instantly transmitted through her cold skin, carrying a strange, reassuring power.

Then, under Su Wan’s completely stunned gaze, under the focus of countless eyes that seemed to freeze, Lu Chen leaned in slightly.

He lowered his head, and his warm, clean-scented lips incredibly gently, carefully, and reverently, landed on her fingertips, which were slightly trembling from tension and cold.

Time, at this moment, seemed to completely stand still.

Su Wan felt as if her fingertips had been struck by a searing current. That warmth instantly spread from her fingertips to her limbs, making her entire body stiffen, her mind completely blank. She could clearly feel the softness and warmth of his lips, and that careful, cherished touch.

Lu Chen slowly raised his head, his gaze still locked on her. In his deep eyes, her reflection was now clearly visible, with nothing else. His lips curved into an extremely gentle arc, filled with endless tenderness, a hint of pity, and a knowing understanding.

His voice was soft, slow, yet it carried immense weight, clearly striking Su Wan’s eardrums, and shattering the deathly silence in the entire hall:

“My dear.”

He paused, his gaze so tender it could drown a person, stating each word clearly:

“I’ve known all along.”

“I’ve known all along.”

These five words, light as a feather, yet like a silent thunderbolt, exploded in Su Wan’s chaotic mind! She suddenly looked up, meeting Lu Chen’s deep eyes. They were no longer calm as a deep pool, but clearly reflected her image, rippling with a tenderness and understanding she had never seen before, almost drowning her.

He knew? He knew all along? What did he know? That the person who saved him back then… was her? Not Lin Weiwei?!

A tidal wave of shock instantly swept over her, completely paralyzing her ability to think. She stared blankly at Lu Chen, her lips slightly parted, but not a single word could come out. Only the panic in her eyes was replaced by a deeper, unbelievable bewilderment. The spot on her fingertips that he had kissed still bore a burning sensation, now feeling as though it were about to ignite.

“Boom—!”

After a brief, deathly silence, the entire “Cloud Top Club” hall erupted into chaos!

“He… what did he say?!” “I’ve known all along? Known what?!” “Oh my God! Could it be that the one who saved Lu Chen back then… wasn’t Lin Weiwei?!” “It was Su Wan?! How is this possible?!” “This twist… my God! Even TV shows wouldn’t dare to film this!” “Lin Weiwei was just tearfully accusing him, and it turns out… she was a fake?!” “Look at Lin Weiwei’s face! Oh my goodness…”

All eyes, like countless spotlights, instantly shifted from Lu Chen and Su Wan, sharply turning towards Lin Weiwei, who stood rooted to the spot.

Lin Weiwei’s expression was epic. The anger and grievance of being betrayed hadn’t even completely faded from her face before they were utterly shattered by this sudden, earth-shattering reversal! Shock, bewilderment, disbelief… all finally transformed into humiliation and fury at being exposed publicly, leaving her nowhere to hide! Her face turned from red to white, then from white to green, finally swelling to a purplish-red, like a pig’s liver. Her meticulously styled bun seemed to be slightly disheveled due to the violent emotional fluctuations.

“No! Impossible!” Lin Weiwei shrieked, her voice so shrill it almost pierced the eardrums. Like a trapped beast driven to desperation, she abruptly pointed at Lu Chen and Su Wan, her finger trembling violently, “You’re lying! Lu Chen! To protect her, you’re actually lying! Su Wan! It’s you! It must be you! You made up the lie! You want to steal what belongs to me!”

Her voice distorted with extreme anger and panic, her eyes shooting venomous glares at Su Wan, wishing she could devour her alive: “You [CENSORED]! It’s not enough that you took my place! Now you want to steal my past too?! You…”

“Enough!”

A cold, authoritative roar, like thunder, resounded, instantly silencing Lin Weiwei’s hysterical shrieks.

Everyone turned to look, only to see the Su Group’s always dignified and rarely emotional old butler, who had appeared near the edge of the crowd. He was dressed in a crisp dark suit, his eyes as sharp as an eagle’s. He coldly glanced at the frantic Lin Weiwei, then his gaze fell on Lu Chen and Su Wan, lingering for a moment on Lu Chen’s face. Deep in his eyes, a very complex emotion flickered—there was shock, scrutiny, and finally, a subtle… understanding and helplessness?

The old butler ignored Lin Weiwei and stepped forward, bowing slightly towards Lu Chen and Su Wan. His voice wasn’t loud but was clear enough for those nearby to hear: “Mr. Lu, Young Miss, the car is ready.” His posture was respectful, using “Mr. Lu” instead of the occasional distant address he had used privately before.

This was tantamount to a silent declaration.

Lin Weiwei watched this scene unfold, watched the old butler’s distinctly different respectful attitude towards Lu Chen, watched Su Wan still being protected by Lu Chen’s side, watched the scornful, mocking, and suddenly enlightened gazes from those around her… Her last shred of reason completely snapped.

“Ah—!!!” A shrill, inhuman shriek tore through the air. Lin Weiwei suddenly grabbed a glass of champagne from a nearby waiter’s tray and violently hurled it towards Lu Chen and Su Wan!

“Watch out!” Gasps erupted.

Lu Chen’s eyes narrowed, reacting incredibly quickly. The moment the champagne glass flew, his body instinctively moved sideways, completely shielding Su Wan behind him.

“Smash!”

The crystal glass hit the polished marble floor behind Lu Chen, instantly shattering. Golden liquid and glass fragments splattered everywhere, reflecting dazzling light under the brilliant chandeliers. A few drops of cold wine splashed onto Lu Chen’s crisp trouser leg.

“Security! Where’s security?!” Lin Zhe finally reacted after a series of shocks, roaring with a livid face. Immediately, several uniformed security guards rushed forward, trying to control the out-of-control Lin Weiwei.

The scene was a mess. Shrieks, reprimands, security guards’ shouts, and Lin Weiwei’s hysterical cries and curses mingled together.

Lu Chen, however, seemed to be on a tranquil, isolated island at the eye of the storm. He didn’t even glance at the mess behind him or the disheveled Lin Weiwei. He simply lowered his head, his gaze falling on Su Wan’s face, which still showed immense shock and bewilderment.

He reached out, his movements incredibly natural, and with his fingertip, very gently, he brushed away a drop of cold wine that had splashed onto her cheek. The action was tender, almost reverent.

“It’s okay,” he murmured, his voice carrying a strange, calming power.

Then, under the gaze of everyone—shocked, curious, or awestruck—Lu Chen turned slightly, his arm circling Su Wan’s slender waist with an incredibly natural, almost possessive gesture. His movements were firm and gentle, completely ignoring Lin Zhe, whose face was livid and whose eyes were practically spitting fire.

He half-embraced Su Wan, who was still reeling from the immense shock and whose body was still slightly stiff, and took a step.

The crowd again parted like a tide, even more reverent and silent than before. No one dared to comment, no one dared to cast scornful glances. Lu Chen’s eyes were calm, his arm around Su Wan’s waist steady and strong. He led her, step by step, past the shattered glass and spilled champagne, and under the focus of countless complex gazes, calmly and unhurriedly walked out of this messy, humiliating, yet thoroughly subverted battlefield.

The old butler silently and respectfully followed behind, pushing open the heavy club doors for them.

Outside the doors, the cool night breeze, carrying the slight chill of early autumn, instantly surged in.

Su Wan, stimulated by the cool breeze, seemed to clear her chaotic thoughts for a moment. She instinctively turned her head slightly, wanting to glance back at the storm she (or rather, Lu Chen) had personally stirred up. However, Lu Chen’s arm around her waist tightened slightly, carrying an undeniable force and conveying a silent reassurance.

“Don’t look back,” his low voice sounded in her ear, carrying a hint of the night breeze’s coolness, yet strangely comforting her chaotic heart. “Look ahead.”

Su Wan obediently, or rather, instinctively, retracted her gaze and looked forward.

A sleek, understated yet undeniably luxurious black Maybach S680 quietly stopped in front of the club entrance. Its dark tinted windows gleamed darkly in the night. The uniformed driver had already respectfully opened the car door and stood by.

Lu Chen embraced her, his steps unhesitating, walking directly towards the open car door.

“Mr. Lu, Young Miss,” the driver bowed slightly.

Lu Chen nodded slightly, and with a gentlemanly gesture, he shielded Su Wan’s head as she sat into the spacious, comfortable back seat first. Su Wan sat down somewhat mechanically, the soft leather seats enveloping her, and the faint sandalwood scent in the car slightly eased her tense nerves. She watched as Lu Chen also got in and closed the car door.

A soft click of the lock sounded, completely isolating them from the commotion, scrutiny, and the frantic Lin Weiwei outside.

The car interior was completely silent, with only the extremely faint hum of the air conditioning. Outside the window, the dazzling city nightscape of Cloud City sped past, like flowing ribbons of light and shadow, reflecting her pale, dazed face.

Su Wan leaned back against the seat, her body still somewhat stiff, her mind feeling as though it were stuffed with chaotic cotton wool, countless questions churning and roaring. When did he know? How did he know? Why… why didn’t he ever say anything? Lin Weiwei… that rainy day… his kiss just now… and that line, “I’ve known all along”…

She couldn’t help but turn her head again to look at the man beside her.

Lu Chen’s eyes were slightly closed as he leaned back against the seat, the lines of his profile somewhat blurred by the shifting light and shadow outside the window, yet still exuding a calm strength. He seemed a little tired, but beneath that weariness was a bottomless tranquility.

Su Wan’s lips moved, the words she wanted to ask caught in her throat, but she couldn’t make a sound. The reckless impulse and courage she had felt at the club, after leaving that high-pressure environment, seemed to have been drained, leaving only boundless bewilderment and a feeling of… near exhaustion.

Just then, Lu Chen seemed to sense her gaze. He slowly opened his eyes and turned his head to look at her.

Their eyes met.

The car interior was dim, with only the dashboard lights and the fleeting streetlights outside the window casting flickering light and shadow in his eyes. In those deep eyes, there was no longer the imposing penetration from the club, only a calm tenderness that seemed to encompass everything, and a hint of… faint weariness.

He didn’t speak, just quietly looked back at her, as if silently asking: What do you want to say?

Su Wan’s heart began to beat uncontrollably fast again. She took a deep breath, finally finding her voice, though it was a bit dry and tight:

“You…” she struggled to speak, her voice as light as a sigh, “You really… knew all along?”

Lu Chen looked at her quietly, a very faint smile seeming to ripple deep in his eyes, very subtle, yet like a stone thrown into the center of a lake, spreading gentle ripples. He didn’t answer immediately but slowly extended his hand.

His palm was broad, his knuckles long and slender, his palm slightly calloused. Under Su Wan’s somewhat nervous gaze, his hand reached across the not-so-wide distance between them, not touching her, but resting on the leather armrest beside her.

His fingertips, on the smooth leather surface, lightly and slowly, drew something.

Su Wan’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to the movements of his fingers.

Once. To the left, a short, firm arc. And again. To the right, another symmetrical, equally short arc. Finally. Downwards, below the intersection of the two arcs, he drew a small, full circle.

Three strokes. A simple, utterly simple design—a smiley face.

Su Wan’s pupils instantly contracted! This drawing… this drawing she knew so well, etched deep into her memory!

She suddenly looked up, incredulously at Lu Chen. That rainy day… that boy covered in blood, huddled in the corner of the abandoned warehouse… she had helped him up, awkwardly pressing her old handkerchief to his bleeding forehead. Fearing he might pass out, fearing he was scared, she had crouched in front of him and, with a broken piece of chalk she’d found, drew this crooked smiley face on the damp, dirty concrete floor.

She remembered her own voice back then, feigning calmness and childish comfort: “Here, look! Smile! It won’t hurt if you smile! You have to get better quickly!”

That boy, his face covered in blood and rain, his features indistinguishable, only his eyes, in the dim light, fixedly stared at the smiley face on the ground, his gaze empty and bewildered. Later, she took him to the entrance of a small clinic nearby, watched him being taken in by the doctor, and then quietly ran away. She didn’t even know his name…

Lu Chen… that boy… was Lu Chen?!

The immense shock almost suffocated Su Wan. She looked at Lu Chen’s calm face, at his eyes reflecting the flowing light from the window, and those bloodstained yet unusually stubborn eyes from the depths of her memory, finally, at this moment, slowly and clearly overlapped!

“It’s you…” Su Wan’s voice trembled uncontrollably, thick with a nasal tone, tears unexpectedly pouring out, instantly blurring her vision. “That… that rainy day… behind the warehouse… drawing the smiley face…” She choked, incoherent, a huge emotional flood completely breaching her dam.

Lu Chen watched her tears, the gentle smile in his eyes deepening, carrying a sense of relief and satisfaction as if he had finally found a long-lost treasure after many years. He didn’t speak, but simply reached out, and with his thumb, very gently and carefully, wiped away the hot tears streaming down her cheeks.

His movements were so light, so cautious, as if wiping a rare treasure that had been lost and found again.

The car interior was completely silent, with only Su Wan’s suppressed, faint sobs, and the fleeting city lights outside the window. All questions, all past events, all grievances and struggles, at this moment, seemed to melt into the warmth of his fingertips and his silent tenderness.

The Maybach smoothly drove through the heavy carved iron gate of the Su family’s old residence, rolled over the crushed stone path, and finally stopped in front of the brightly lit steps of the mansion. The driver silently got out and respectfully opened the rear passenger door.

A cool night breeze filled the car, dispelling the heavy sandalwood scent and the thick, unyielding emotions within. Lu Chen exited first, then turned, naturally extending his hand into the car.

Su Wan looked at the well-defined hand extended before her, her fingertips still retaining the cool touch from when he wiped away her tears. She hesitated for a moment, her heart still filled with a profound sense of unreality—the dying boy behind the warehouse that rainy day, the stranger who left a burning gaze on her handkerchief, was actually the husband she had deliberately ignored, and even unknowingly hurt, for the past three years? The feeling was like an absurd, bizarre dream.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions, and gently placed her hand into his palm. His fingers immediately closed, with a firm yet gentle strength, steadily leading her out of the car.

The grand entrance of the Su mansion was open, bright light spilling out, illuminating the gleaming marble steps in front of the door. The butler stood respectfully to the side, his expression more solemn and deferential than ever before. Seeing them exit the car, he immediately bowed: “Mr. Lu, Young Miss.”

Lu Chen merely nodded slightly, his gaze not lingering on the butler. He held Su Wan’s hand, his steps steady as he ascended the steps.

Just as the two were about to step into the warm, bright glow, a slightly sharp voice broke the night’s tranquility:

“Stop right there!”

Su Wan’s steps faltered, her body instinctively tensing. Lu Chen’s grip on her hand tightened almost imperceptibly, with a reassuring touch.

At the foot of the steps, in the shadows, stood Su Wan’s mother, Liu Ruoyun. She was wearing a well-tailored dark green velvet cheongsam, her well-preserved face now clouded with frost. Her meticulously drawn willow-leaf brows were tightly furrowed, and her eyes, like ice-cold knives, shot directly at Lu Chen, filled with undisguised scrutiny, questioning, and a hint of offended annoyance. Her gaze swept over Lu Chen’s ordinary jacket, which looked out of place in the Su mansion, finally landing on his and Su Wan’s tightly clasped hands, her disdain almost unconcealed.

“Lu Chen!” Liu Ruoyun’s voice carried the usual oppressive tone of someone in power, sounding particularly harsh in the silent night. “You must explain what happened at the Cloud Top Club tonight! And give the Su family an account!” She took a step forward, her high heels clicking crisply on the stone steps. “I don’t care what old scores you have with that Lin Weiwei, but you publicly humiliated Wanwan, turning the Su family into the city’s laughingstock! How do you account for this?”

Her gaze turned to Su Wan, her tone softening slightly, yet still carrying an undeniable firmness: “Wanwan, you’re being foolish too! Letting him carry on like this? Hurry up and come inside! Don’t make a scene out here!”

Su Wan’s face instantly paled a few shades. Her mother’s attitude was like a basin of cold water, dousing most of the warmth that had just risen in her heart. She instinctively tried to explain: “Mom, it’s not what you think…”

“An account?” Lu Chen spoke at that moment. His voice wasn’t loud, in fact, it was quite calm, yet it clearly interrupted Liu Ruoyun’s reprimand and Su Wan’s defense, carrying a strange penetrative quality that instantly drew everyone’s attention.

He slowly turned, facing the imperious Liu Ruoyun at the foot of the steps. He stood in a higher position than Liu Ruoyun, the light from behind him outlining his tall figure, casting a small shadow on his face, making his expression somewhat inscrutable between light and dark. He didn’t release Su Wan’s hand; instead, he gently drew her closer to his side, a protective gesture.

“What kind of account does Madam want?” Lu Chen’s gaze calmly met Liu Ruoyun’s sharp stare. No emotion, only a profound, bottomless calmness, could be detected in his tone. “Is it an account of why I didn’t abandon my wife and leave with another woman, as everyone expected? Or is it an account of why I existed like a shadow when the Su family needed it, but must disappear immediately when the Su family feels ‘disgraced’?”

Liu Ruoyun was momentarily choked by his calm yet sharp retort, her face turning even uglier: “You… you’re [CENSORED] confusing the issue here! For three years, you’ve lived off the Su family, eating and drinking for free. The Su family provided for you, gave you dignity! But what did you do tonight? You made Wanwan the talk of the town! You brought shame upon the Su family! Is this how you repay the Su family?!”

“Dignity?” Lu Chen’s lips curved into an extremely faint, yet chillingly cold arc. “The ‘dignity’ the Su family gave me was the pervasive coldness and mockery of these three years? Was it that the collateral descendants of the Su family could order me around freely? Was it that even a butler could privately talk about ‘that live-in gigolo’? Or was it like today, on our wedding anniversary, my wife had to ‘accompany’ another man to pick out a wedding ring, while I faced a table of cold food alone?”

His pace was still slow, but every word was like ice shards, clearly striking the silent night, and striking Liu Ruoyun and Su Wan’s hearts. Su Wan suddenly looked up at him, her heart clutched by an invisible hand, hurting so much she could barely breathe. So all those grievances he never spoke of, he knew them all along, and had been enduring them all along.

Liu Ruoyun’s face alternated between green and white, her hypocritical veil ruthlessly torn away by Lu Chen, leaving her speechless for a moment. She could only bluster with false courage, “Quibbling! Without the Su family, what are you, Lu Chen? You…”

“Without the Su family,” Lu Chen’s voice suddenly rose a notch. A ripple finally surged beneath the calm surface of the lake, bearing a sharpness that had finally broken through after years of suppression. “I am still Lu Chen.”

He paused slightly, his gaze like electricity, sweeping over Liu Ruoyun’s face, slightly twisted with shock and anger, finally returning to Su Wan’s eyes, which were filled with shock and pain. His gaze instantly softened again, carrying a soothing power.

“As for repayment…” Lu Chen’s voice returned to that low, steady tone, yet it held even greater power. “Tomorrow, I will personally go to the Su Group headquarters. At that time, Madam will naturally understand what the Su family has been ‘providing for’ these past three years.”

With that, he no longer looked at Liu Ruoyun, who was trembling with anger at the foot of the steps, nor did he say another word. He held Su Wan’s hand, his grip gentle yet firm, carrying an undeniable meaning. He turned and walked directly into the brightly lit entrance of the Su mansion.

The heavy carved wooden doors slowly closed behind them, making a dull thud that completely sealed off the cold night outside and Liu Ruoyun’s almost spitting-fire, venomous gaze.

Inside, it was the familiar, grand and empty space of the Su family’s old residence. The enormous crystal chandeliers cast a brilliant yet cold light. The air was filled with expensive perfume, yet it still couldn’t dispel the invisible sense of oppression.

Lu Chen led Su Wan, not towards the main living room, nor did he acknowledge the servants who stood to the side with complex expressions. He expertly walked through the carpeted hallway towards the spiral staircase leading to the second-floor bedrooms. His pace wasn’t fast, but it was very steady, as if this wasn’t the Su family mansion, but his own domain.

Su Wan passively followed him, her thoughts still a chaotic battlefield. Her mother’s harsh questions, Lu Chen’s calm yet thundering counterattack, and his final declaration about “tomorrow”… everything made her dizzy. She could only feel the continuous warmth and strength emanating from his palm, leading her, step by step, up the stairs covered in dark red carpet.

Footsteps echoed in the empty stairwell.

Finally, they stopped at the end of the second-floor corridor. It was Su Wan’s room. A heavy, intricately carved walnut door.

Lu Chen released her hand and took something out of his pocket—a very plain and simple brass key. Su Wan recognized it as her room key; she rarely used it herself, usually just leaving it in her dressing table drawer.

Lu Chen held the small key, not immediately opening the door. He turned slightly, his gaze falling on Su Wan’s face. The soft light from the corridor wall sconce illuminated a deep, gentle sea in his eyes.

“Do you remember it?” he asked softly, his fingertips tracing the cold key teeth marks.

Su Wan looked blankly at the key and shook her head. It was just an ordinary spare key; what could be special about it?

Lu Chen didn’t explain. He simply took the key and, with the end of the key handle, lightly tapped three times on a very inconspicuous spot on the doorframe, near the top corner.

Tap, tap, tap.

The sound was very soft.

Su Wan watched his actions with confusion. The next second, her eyes widened abruptly!

She saw that the small piece of wood, thin as a cicada’s wing, covering the tapped spot on the doorframe, which was the same color as the doorframe, actually popped inward slightly in response! Revealing an extremely tiny, almost imperceptible groove inside!

Lu Chen extended his little finger, probed into the groove, and very carefully hooked out something from inside.

It was a small square, folded from ordinary white Xuan paper. The edges of the paper were already somewhat yellowed and worn, clearly quite old.

Lu Chen’s fingertips very gently unfolded the small, folded square of Xuan paper, layer by layer.

Under the light, on the yellowed paper, were clearly three strokes clumsily drawn with a pencil—two short arcs, and a downward-curving circle.

A crooked, small smiley face.

Exactly like the one Su Wan had drawn on the concrete floor of the warehouse that rainy day!

Su Wan’s breath instantly hitched! She suddenly covered her mouth, the immense shock making all the blood in her body seem to rush to her head! She stared incredulously at the small piece of paper, then abruptly looked up at Lu Chen, tears once again uncontrollably welling up in her eyes.

“You…” her voice was broken and shaky. “When… when did you put it in there?”

Lu Chen gazed at the childish smiley face on the paper, his eyes so tender it was as if he was looking at the most precious treasure in the world.

“Three years ago,” he murmured, his voice seeming to traverse a long stretch of time, husky with a settled quality. “The night we got married.”

He raised his eyes and looked deeply into Su Wan’s tear-filled eyes, each word clear and solemn:

“From that day on, this ‘smiley face,’ and the person who drew it, became the only light I had to protect.”

“Goodnight, my moonlight.”

His voice was low and gentle, like a quiet stream flowing under the moonlight. After saying this, he didn’t linger or wait for Su Wan’s response. He carefully and reverently refolded the yellowed Xuan paper with the smiley face, meticulously placing it back into its hidden crevice, and then gently pushed the thin piece of wood back into place.

Having done all this, he cast one last deep glance at Su Wan, his eyes as complex as the deep night sky, containing a myriad of unspoken words, which ultimately transformed into a quiet tenderness. Then, he turned and walked steadily towards the other end of the hallway—to his own room, the guest room in the farthest corner.

His figure, under the slightly dim light of the hallway, appeared tall and solitary, step by step, gradually merging into the shadows at the end, finally disappearing behind the closed guest room door.

Click.

A faint sound of the lock clicking, especially clear in the silent hallway.

Su Wan stood alone in front of her room door, like a statue. His palm’s last warmth lingered on her fingertips, and the spots on her cheek where he had kissed her and brushed away her tears seemed to still burn with their marks. His last words echoed repeatedly in her ears—”Goodnight, my moonlight.”

Moonlight… he called her moonlight?

The immense shock and the belated, dull ache, like surging tides, finally completely overwhelmed her at this moment. Three years of deliberate neglect, cold distance, those self-righteous “for his own good” alienations… all now turned into countless poisoned daggers, fiercely backfiring, stabbing her heart full of holes, paining her so much she could barely breathe.

She leaned her back against the cold, hard door, her body slowly sliding down, finally collapsing weakly onto the soft carpet. Cold tears poured out like broken pearls, instantly soaking her clothes. She bit her lower lip tightly, preventing herself from whimpering, only her shoulders trembling violently from suppressed sobs.

So he knew all along. Knew that it was her who saved him that year. Knew about the smiley face she drew. He even hid that “smiley face” in the closest place to her on their wedding day.

So his silence and endurance these past three years were not weakness, not incompetence, but… protection?

And what had she done?

Su Wan buried her face deep in her knees, cold tears soaking the silken hem of her dress. In the darkness, only that hidden, small “smiley face,” and the tumultuous pain, regret, and bewilderment in her heart, silently spread.

The morning sun, with the unique crispness and penetration of early autumn, effortlessly pierced through the gaps in the curtains of the spacious yet cold guest room on the second floor of the Su family mansion, casting several long, bright streaks of light on the dark wooden floor. Tiny dust motes danced silently in the light beams.

Lu Chen was already fully dressed. He stood in front of the dressing mirror, meticulously fastening the top button of his shirt. The man in the mirror still had calm features, but the layer of gloom and suppressed emotion that had accumulated for three years, like deep-water algae, seemed to have been completely washed away by last night’s storm, leaving behind only a nearly sharp clarity.

He was no longer wearing that faded old jacket, nor the “live-in son-in-law” attire with invisible labels prepared by the Su family. Instead, he wore a perfectly tailored dark gray bespoke suit. Its sleek lines outlined his broad shoulders and narrow waist, and the expensive fabric flowed with a low-key, understated sheen in the morning light. Every detail was impeccable, and a simple platinum cufflink at his cuff occasionally flashed with a cold, sharp gleam under the sunlight.

He picked up the watch placed on the bedside table. It was a Patek Philippe Calatrava series, with a platinum case and a pure black dial, without any superfluous decorations, only the purest time and precise mechanical beauty silently at work. He put the watch on his wrist; the cool touch conformed to his skin, making a soft click.

Finally, his gaze fell on the frameless glasses beside it. The lenses were thin and clear. He picked up the glasses but didn’t immediately put them on. Instead, he gently wiped the lenses with his finger, the movement carrying an almost ritualistic solemnity.

The moment he put on the glasses, the look in his eyes behind the lenses subtly changed. The calmness belonging to “Lu Chen” was still there, but it was now imbued with an indescribable sharpness and sense of control that comes from a long tenure in power, like a sheathed sword, its edge hidden, yet still conveying its unmatched quality. It was as if these glasses were the key to his change in identity.

He picked up a black briefcase without any branding, its touch exceptionally fine. He turned and didn’t spare a glance for the room he had lived in for three years but had never felt a sense of belonging to.

Downstairs in the dining room, the atmosphere was as oppressive as the dead calm before a storm.

The long dining table was laden with exquisite breakfast items, and vibrant roses, still dewy from the morning, graced the crystal vase. Yet, they couldn’t dispel the invisible low pressure. Su Wan sat beside the head of the table, dressed in an off-white cashmere sweater, her face pale, with faint shadows under her eyes, clearly having not slept all night. She lowered her head, mechanically stirring the coffee in the bone china cup with a silver spoon, but hadn’t taken a single sip.

At the head of the table, Su Hongyuan, the chairman of the Su Group and Su Wan’s father, had a livid expression. He wore dark loungewear and clutched a freshly printed financial newspaper in his hand. The front page featured a large headline and photos of last night’s chaotic scene at the Cloud Top Club. The veins on his forehead pulsed slightly, clearly suppressing his fury.

Liu Ruoyun sat opposite Su Wan, her makeup still meticulous, but the gloom and anger in her eyes were almost palpable. She coldly swept her gaze over Su Wan’s disconsolate appearance, then looked towards the restaurant entrance, her eyes like poisoned ice picks.

The servants stood by, not daring to make a sound.

When Lu Chen’s figure appeared at the restaurant entrance, all eyes, with varying expressions—scrutiny, anger, disdain, and a hint of subtle surprise—instantly focused on him.

He was wearing his priceless bespoke suit, frameless glasses, and carrying the understated yet exceptionally refined briefcase. His whole demeanor was composed, his steps calm, completely out of place in this oppressive environment, yet at the same time, as if he were the true master here.

Liu Ruoyun was the first to lose her composure, slamming her silver fork onto the plate with a sharp clatter.

“Lu Chen! You still dare to show your face?” Her voice was sharp and biting, filled with undisguised disgust. “Look at the mess you’ve made! You’ve completely shamed the Su family! Front-page news! The whole city is laughing at our Su family! Are you satisfied now?!” She pointed at the newspaper on the table, her finger trembling with anger.

Su Hongyuan heavily slammed the newspaper onto the table with a thud, his sharp gaze, like a hawk’s, fixed on Lu Chen, carrying heavy pressure and cold scrutiny: “I need an explanation. An explanation that can restore the Su family’s dignity. Otherwise…” He didn’t finish, but the unspoken threat filled the air.

Su Wan suddenly looked up at Lu Chen, her pale lips trembling, her eyes filled with worry, pain, and a hint of pleading.

Lu Chen’s gaze calmly swept over the enraged Liu Ruoyun, then over the heavily oppressive Su Hongyuan, finally resting on Su Wan’s worried face. His eyes lingered on her face for a moment, his gaze calm and gentle, with an invisible soothing power that miraculously somewhat calmed Su Wan’s frantic heartbeat.

He didn’t acknowledge Liu Ruoyun’s shouting, nor did he respond to Su Hongyuan’s questions. He didn’t even pause his steps. He simply nodded very slightly towards Su Wan, his lips curving into a nearly imperceptible yet incredibly firm arc.

Then, under Su Hongyuan and Liu Ruoyun’s astonished, then furious gazes, and under Su Wan’s worried yet subtly hopeful watch, Lu Chen walked directly through the tense dining room.

His back was as straight as a pine tree, his steps steady and strong, as he headed towards the entrance hall. A servant had already silently opened the heavy carved front door for him.

Outside the door, the morning light streamed in, bathing him in a dazzling golden halo.

A sleek, imposing black Bentley sped up, like a dormant beast, quietly stopping at the foot of the steps. The driver, in a crisp uniform, respectfully opened the car door.

Lu Chen didn’t hesitate, bending down and getting in.

The car door closed, sealing off all the commotion, anger, and scrutiny within the Su mansion. The dark car windows slowly rose.

The engine let out a low, powerful roar, and the black Bentley smoothly drove away from the Su family’s old residence, merging into the morning traffic, disappearing into the distance towards the Su Group headquarters building.

The Su Group headquarters building, like a cold, silver giant sword, pierced the sky, reflecting dazzling and arrogant light under the early autumn sun. This was one of Cloud City’s symbols of wealth and power, and everyone who entered or exited carried an inherent sense of superiority and urgency.

Lu Chen’s black Bentley silently glided into the underground private tunnel, finally stopping in front of an elevator marked “President’s Exclusive.” The driver quickly got out and respectfully opened the car door.

Lu Chen stepped out, adjusted the cuffs of his suit, his movements meticulous. He looked up at the flickering floor indicator lights above the elevator. The gaze behind his lenses was calm, with only a very faint, almost imperceptible sharp glint flashing and disappearing.

The elevator doors silently slid open to either side. The space inside was spacious, carpeted with thick wool, and the walls were reflective mirrors. Lu Chen walked in and pressed the top floor button.

The elevator ascended smoothly and quickly, a faint sense of weightlessness settling in. His tall figure was reflected in the mirror, his dark gray suit perfectly ironed without a single wrinkle, and his eyes behind the frameless glasses were deep and calm. He was like a peerless sword returned to its scabbard, its sharpness contained, yet still exuding a chilling sense of pressure.

“Ding.”

A crisp chime. The elevator stopped steadily on the top floor—the core decision-making level of the Su Group.

The moment the elevator doors opened, an invisible wave of the busy, high-pressure atmosphere of a top commercial empire rushed out. The expansive view, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking half of Cloud City’s prosperous landscape. The air was filled with the scent of high-grade carpet, coffee, and a hint of tense busyness.

A capable female secretary in a well-tailored dark suit, around her thirties, with exquisite makeup and sharp eyes, was already waiting outside the elevator. The moment she saw Lu Chen, her professional smile instantly gained an extra twelve points of respect and a subtle hint of nervousness.

“Good morning, Chairman Lu,” she bowed slightly, her voice clear and respectful. “The directors and senior executives are already waiting in the first conference room. Also, Mr. Lin Zhe from the Lin Group has arrived and is currently in the second reception room.”

Lu Chen nodded slightly, his steps not faltering, walking directly towards the heavy, double wooden doors at the end of the corridor, symbolizing the group’s highest authority. His stride was steady and powerful, each step carrying an aura of overall control. The female secretary hurried to catch up, half a step behind him, reporting in a low, rapid voice: “The morning briefing is on your desk. Regarding the preliminary letter of intent for deep collaboration with ‘Shenzhou Technology,’ the legal department has reviewed it, and the core terms have been adjusted according to your previous instructions. The other party’s representative will arrive in ten minutes…”

Lu Chen didn’t respond, merely glancing at the tablet screen the secretary handed him, which was filled with dense schedules and pending documents.

Just then, hurried footsteps and a voice clearly tinged with anger and sarcasm came from around the corner of the corridor:

“Oh! Look who it is? Isn’t this our Su family’s ‘hidden talent’ good son-in-law?”

Su Mingzhe stood with his hands in the pockets of his flashy wine-red suit pants, his face bearing undisguised mockery and an expression of anticipating a show. He casually blocked Lu Chen’s path. Behind him followed a few other collateral descendants of the Su family, also dressed in expensive suits, their eyes filled with levity and malice.

“What? You caused such a big scene at Cloud Top last night, and you still have the [CENSORED] to come to the company today?” Su Mingzhe surveyed Lu Chen’s obviously expensive suit, his eyes even more contemptuous. “Tsk, tsk, did you rent this outfit? How much did it cost? Just to put on a show today? Save it, Lu Chen, this isn’t where you belong! If you’re smart, get lost immediately, don’t make a [CENSORED] of yourself here!”

The few people behind him also joined in the laughter, their eyes assessing him like an offensive piece of trash.

Lu Chen’s steps halted. He calmly looked at Su Mingzhe, who was blocking his path. There was no ripple in his eyes behind the lenses, not even a hint of offended anger, only a bottomless stillness.

The female secretary behind him frowned, stepped forward, and was about to reprimand, but Lu Chen stopped her with a very slight gesture.

Lu Chen’s gaze bypassed Su Mingzhe’s noisy face and landed on the large, tightly closed conference room door behind him. Inside, the true power core of the Su Group was waiting.

He ignored Su Mingzhe’s provocation, as if the other party was merely annoying air. He turned his head slightly and, speaking to the female secretary beside him, his voice not loud, but clearly echoing in the silent corridor, carrying an undeniable command:

“Notify the security department.”

His gaze finally returned to Su Mingzhe’s face, which had turned red from being ignored. His tone was as calm as stating the weather:

“Remove unauthorized personnel.”

“Yes, Chairman Lu!” The female secretary immediately responded, without hesitation, and quickly picked up her intercom.

Su Mingzhe’s mocking expression instantly froze, then turned into furious rage at being completely humiliated: “Lu Chen! How dare you?! What are you?! This is Su’s! You [CENSORED]…”

His shouts hadn’t finished before hurried and uniform footsteps came from the other end of the corridor. Several security guards in black uniforms, tall and grim, quickly appeared, heading directly towards Su Mingzhe and his companions.

“What are you doing?! Let go of me! My dad is Su Hongyuan! How dare you touch me?!” Su Mingzhe was grabbed by the arms by two security guards, one on each side, and immediately struggled and cursed, his wine-red suit stretched out of shape, looking utterly disheveled. His few followers instantly panicked and fell silent under the security guards’ stern gazes, being pushed towards the elevator.

The cursing and struggling quickly faded into the distance.

Silence returned to the corridor. The female secretary stood respectfully, her eyes filled with awe as she looked at Lu Chen.

Lu Chen’s face still bore no superfluous expression. He raised a hand and lightly pushed his frameless glasses up his nose. The lenses reflected the bright daylight streaming in through the top-floor windows, a cold metallic glint flashing across them.

He didn’t linger, taking a step towards the grand conference room door, which symbolized the highest authority.

The heavy double wooden doors were silently pushed open by the assistants standing on either side.

Around the large circular conference table, people were already seated. The directors of the Su Group and core executives, all in suits and ties, had serious expressions, and the atmosphere was tense. Su Hongyuan, seated at the head of the table, had a face so grim it could drip water. Seeing Lu Chen enter, his eyes were as sharp as knives, filled with scrutiny and suppressed fury. Liu Ruoyun also sat among the directors, her face ashen, her eyes venomous.

Even more striking was Lin Zhe, seated at Su Hongyuan’s right-hand side. He wore a perfectly tailored dark blue suit, his posture seemingly relaxed, but the slight tension in his jawline and the hint of陰鷙 in his eyes betrayed his inner turmoil. His gaze towards Lu Chen was filled with cold hostility and probing.

The moment Lu Chen’s figure appeared at the doorway, all eyes instantly focused. Surprise, doubt, disdain, solemnity… various complex emotions silently intertwined in the conference room.

Lu Chen ignored all gazes. He walked with a steady stride towards the only empty seat—the very head of the conference table, the chairman’s position.

His movements were natural and fluid, without any hesitation or awkwardness, as if that seat was inherently meant for him.

Under Su Hongyuan’s suddenly constricted pupils, Liu Ruoyun’s incredulous shock and anger, Lin Zhe’s abruptly darkening face, and the astonished gazes of all the directors and executives, Lu Chen calmly sat down in the chair symbolizing the Su Group’s highest authority.

He slightly adjusted his posture, his hands naturally clasped on the smooth tabletop. His gaze calmly swept across the room. Every person his gaze touched felt an invisible pressure.

The conference room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; the air seemed to solidify.

Lu Chen didn’t look at Su Hongyuan’s almost spitting eyes, nor did he acknowledge Lin Zhe’s hostile stare. His gaze finally rested on an assistant standing by the projection screen at the far end of the long table.

He spoke. His voice wasn’t loud, yet it carried a strange penetrative power, clearly echoing in every corner of the silent conference room, steady, powerful, like a stone thrown into a deep pool, instantly shattering all the dead silence:

“Let’s begin.”

In the conference room, a deathly silence, like a solidified ice sheet, hung heavy enough to crush one’s breath. Every gaze was fixed on Lu Chen, fixed on the position they had never imagined, and believed impossible, for him to occupy. Shock, bewilderment, disbelief, all ultimately transformed into a cold scrutiny and silent questioning.

Su Hongyuan’s face turned from green to white, then flushed to a ghastly purplish-red. His hands on the table clenched tightly, knuckles cracking, as if he would pound the table the next second. Liu Ruoyun gasped, her hand, adorned with bright red nail polish, abruptly pointing at Lu Chen, her voice shrill and distorted:

“Lu Chen! How dare you! Is that a seat you can sit in?! Get down from there!”

Lin Zhe’s face was so grim it could drip water. He leaned forward slightly, his sharp gaze like a viper’s tongue, sweeping over Lu Chen, trying to find any flaw in his composure or a hint of guilt, but only finding a calmness as deep as the ocean. This calmness, more than any provocation, filled him with a rage born of being utterly disregarded.

Lu Chen seemed not to hear Liu Ruoyun’s shriek, nor did he feel Lin Zhe’s cold stare. He slightly adjusted his posture, his movements carrying the poise of someone long accustomed to a position of authority. He raised his hand and lightly tapped the smooth mahogany tabletop twice with his knuckles.

Tap, tap.

The sound was crisp, carrying a strange penetrative quality, instantly silencing Liu Ruoyun’s hysterical lingering notes and the faint gasps in the conference room.

The female secretary standing behind Lu Chen immediately stepped forward, placing a few thin documents, already prepared, precisely in front of him. Lu Chen’s gaze fell on the documents; he didn’t open them, merely tapping the cover lightly with his fingertip.

“Before anyone questions my presence here,” Lu Chen spoke, his voice not loud, yet clearly resounding in the silent space, each word carrying immense weight, “perhaps you should look at this.”

His gaze calmly swept across the room, finally resting on Su Hongyuan’s ashen face: “Chairman Su, you should be clearer than anyone present about the current predicament of the Su Group.”

Su Hongyuan’s pupils suddenly constricted. An ominous premonition, like a cold vine, instantly tightened around his heart.

Lu Chen didn’t give him time to think, continuing to state in a calm, almost ruthless tone: “The Su Group’s core pillar industry, high-end precision manufacturing, has seen its market share continuously decline by 17.8% in recent years. Its main competitor, ‘Tiangong Technology,’ relying on its independently developed ‘Starlight’ series intelligent control system, is now eroding Su’s last stronghold—the high-end medical equipment processing market. Su’s proud ‘Bedrock’ production line is severely outdated in terms of technology iteration, with high energy consumption and a yield rate hovering at the edge of the industry benchmark.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over several pale-faced technical executives.

“More critically,” Lu Chen’s tone remained unruffled, yet every word was devastating, “the Su Group’s proud ‘never-dry’ capital pool—the ‘Golden Bay’ real estate project in the south of the city—has been ordered to suspend work indefinitely due to prior irregular operations and a sudden shift in policy direction. The nearly 5 billion in initial investment is turning into a bottomless debt black hole, accruing hundreds of thousands in interest every day.”

“Clamor—!”

The conference room instantly erupted! Directors and executives could no longer maintain their composure, whispering to each other, their faces filled with shock and panic! These core secrets, some of which even these senior executives hadn’t fully grasped, were now laid bare before everyone by a man they considered a “useless live-in son-in-law,” in such a calm, precise, and even somewhat cruel manner!

Su Hongyuan’s body swayed, his face ashen, fine cold sweat instantly beading on his forehead. Liu Ruoyun was completely silenced, her eyes filled with incredulous fear. Lin Zhe’s brows furrowed into a knot; he stared fixedly at Lu Chen, realizing for the first time that this man was far more dangerous than he had imagined.

“[CENSORED]!” an old director loyal to Su Hongyuan suddenly slammed the table, pointing at Lu Chen and rebuking, “You, a [CENSORED] gigolo, where did you hear such alarmist rumors?! Su’s foundation is deep; how dare you spread lies here!”

“Rumors?” Lu Chen’s lips curved into an extremely faint, cold arc. He slightly raised his hand.

Behind him, the female secretary immediately understood. She walked to the enormous floor-to-ceiling window and quickly operated the intelligent control panel a few times with her fingers.

Swoosh!

The entire wall on one side of the conference room instantly lit up, transforming into a huge, high-definition screen. The screen clearly displayed a series of complex charts, data flows, scanned copies of official red-headed documents, and even high-definition aerial photos of the “Golden Bay” project site, showing its complete stillness and idle cranes! The evidence was irrefutable, shocking to the eye!

The old director looked at the ironclad facts on the screen, his mouth agape, the rest of his words stuck in his throat. His face instantly turned ashen, and he slumped back into his chair.

“You… how do you have these?!” Su Hongyuan’s voice trembled uncontrollably, his pointing finger also shaking. These core data and confidential documents required multiple levels of authorization even for him to access!

Lu Chen didn’t answer his question. He calmly looked at the grim-faced Lin Zhe: “Young Master Lin’s personal visit today, I presume, is also due to having heard about Su’s current predicament, or rather… having certain intentions?”

Lin Zhe’s eyes narrowed. He forcefully suppressed the tumultuous waves in his heart, scoffing: “Lu Chen, even if what you say is true, what does it matter? Su’s difficulties are undeniable, but what does that have to do with you sitting here? Do you think just knowing these things qualifies you for the chairman position of Su’s? That’s a huge joke!”

“Of course not,” Lu Chen’s voice remained calm, yet it carried a confidence that commanded the entire situation. “Knowing these things only means I understand Su’s well enough. As for sitting here…”

He paused slightly, his gaze, like a tangible force, swept across the room, finally resting on Su Hongyuan’s pale face, each word clearly stating:

“It’s because I hold 31.7% of the Su Group’s shares.”

“Boom—!”

If the previous data were bombs, this statement had just detonated a nuclear bomb directly in the conference room!

“What?!” “31.7%?! Impossible!” “He’s the largest shareholder?! More than Chairman Su’s 25%?!” “How is this possible?! Su’s circulating shares…” “Where did he get the money?!”

The entire conference room completely erupted! Gasps, questions, and chair-scraping noises mingled together in a chaotic mess. Su Hongyuan suddenly stood up, his body shaking violently, almost unable to stand steady. He glared fixedly at Lu Chen, his eyes practically bulging out: “Impossible! You’re lying! I’m clear about Su’s shareholding structure! Where did you get 31.7%?!”

Lin Zhe also completely lost his composure, abruptly standing up, his eyes sharp as knives: “Lu Chen! Share transfers require registration and public disclosure! We’ve never seen any record of you holding such a large stake in Su’s! This is blatant fraud!”

Facing the entire room’s questions and the nearly out-of-control situation, Lu Chen’s face still showed no ripple. He didn’t even raise an eyebrow, merely nodding slightly towards the female secretary beside him.

The female secretary immediately picked up a tablet, rapidly scrolled with her finger, then turned the screen towards the crowd, simultaneously connecting it to the large screen.

On the screen, a scanned legal document issued by “Shenzhou Capital” was clearly displayed. The document’s header bore a prominent title: “Explanation Regarding Shenzhou Capital’s Holdings in Su Group Shares and Confirmation of Equity Transfer.”

The document’s content was clear: over the past three years, through extremely complex and covert secondary market operations and large off-market transactions, “Shenzhou Capital” acted as the nominal holder, continuously acquiring and ultimately consolidating a staggering 31.7% of the Su Group’s shares. And the actual controller and sole beneficiary of this capital was precisely Lu Chen!

At the bottom, in addition to Shenzhou Capital’s vivid red official seal, there was also Lu Chen’s personal electronic signature, certified by an authoritative institution!

When the words “Shenzhou Capital” appeared on the screen, a collective gasp echoed in the conference room! This name, in the capital market over the past two years, had risen like a comet, becoming a mysterious force feared yet desired by countless giants for its precise and ruthless investment style and unfathomable background! No one had ever imagined that its controller was actually the live-in son-in-law, who had been regarded as useless by the Su family and mocked by the entire city for three years!

Su Hongyuan looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar electronic signature on the screen, at the chilling symbol of “Shenzhou Capital.” He felt a chill rise from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, his vision blurring. He understood! He finally understood why Su’s had repeatedly suffered setbacks in the capital market over the past few years, why some key projects were always targeted by mysterious forces! It turned out… that unseen hand had been right under his nose all along!

Lin Zhe’s face also became extremely ugly. Shenzhou Capital! His Lin family had also tried to contact this mysterious capital, but couldn’t even meet the core figures! It turned out… it was Lu Chen! A tidal wave of anger at being fooled and a sense of powerlessness from being utterly crushed instantly swept over him.

“Now,” Lu Chen’s voice sounded again, like a judge’s final verdict, carrying an undeniable authority that completely suppressed all the clamor, “does anyone else have a question about me sitting here?”

Silence. Absolute silence.

No one dared to speak again. All the questioning, contemptuous, and angry gazes now transformed into deep reverence and fear. Liu Ruoyun had already collapsed in her chair, her face drained of color.

Lu Chen’s gaze slowly swept over Su Hongyuan, who looked as if he had been struck by frost, and finally rested on Lin Zhe, who stood nearby with a complex expression, his tone calm but carrying an invisible pressure:

“Young Master Lin just mentioned Su’s cash flow difficulties. Yes, Su’s indeed needs a huge cash injection, at least 15 billion, to avoid bankruptcy and liquidation.”

Lin Zhe’s eyes narrowed. He forcefully suppressed the shock in his heart, trying to regain some initiative: “Hmph, even if you control it, so what? 15 billion in cash, no matter how mysterious Shenzhou Capital is, they might not be able to come up with it in a short time, right? Su’s is a boiling oil pot right now; whoever jumps in will die! The Lin family can offer a helping hand, but the conditions are…” His gaze swept over Su Wan, who was still in immense shock and whose face was pale, with a hint of grim determination.

“No need,” Lu Chen interrupted him, his voice as cold as ice.

He turned his head slightly, looking at the female secretary who had been standing respectfully behind him: “Notify the Shenzhou Technology representatives waiting outside that they can come in.”

The female secretary immediately picked up the internal phone and clearly issued the command.

The heavy double doors of the conference room were silently pushed open again.

This time, it wasn’t security guards who entered, but three people. The one leading them was tall and composed, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, none other than the driver who had opened the car door for Lu Chen at the Cloud Top Club entrance last night. He was now dressed in a well-tailored dark suit, his stride steady, his eyes sharp. Behind him followed a man and a woman, both with extraordinary demeanors, each holding thick document folders.

The three walked directly to stand behind Lu Chen, their posture respectful.

The “driver” at the front stepped forward, placed an exquisitely bound document in front of Lu Chen, and spoke in a clear, resonant voice: “Chairman Lu, this is Chen Feng, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Shenzhou Technology, reporting to you. The detailed plan for Shenzhou Technology’s full acquisition of Su Group’s high-end precision manufacturing business segment, as well as its technical equity investment in Su Group for a deep strategic restructuring, is complete. The first phase of 18 billion cash has entered the escrow account and can be injected into Su’s at any time to resolve its urgent needs.”

“Shenzhou Technology”?!

This name, like an even fiercer clap of thunder, again struck everyone in the conference room!

If “Shenzhou Capital” was a mysterious and fierce financial behemoth, then “Shenzhou Technology” was a rising star in the cutting-edge technology field, emerging like a comet in the past two years! Its core “Stardust” artificial intelligence platform and “Deep Blue” series industrial intelligent chips were hailed as revolutionary technologies that would disrupt the industry, and their valuation had already surpassed 100 billion! Countless giants waved their checkbooks, wanting to collaborate, but couldn’t even get their foot in the door!

And the mastermind behind Shenzhou Technology had always been a mystery! Some speculated it was a top scientist who had returned from overseas, others guessed it was an agent for a reclusive tycoon…

Now, the answer was revealed.

He was sitting in the chairman’s position of the Su Group, wearing a bespoke suit, frameless glasses, calmly looking at them.

Su Hongyuan completely slumped in the spacious chair, his face ashen, his eyes hollow. His carefully built kingdom, his proud Su empire, had, without his knowledge, been completely controlled from its foundation to its peak by this son-in-law he had never even given a proper look! His so-called predicament could be solved by the other party with a snap of a finger, and he, he didn’t even have the right to resist!

Liu Ruoyun was trembling like a sieve, her eyes fixed on Lu Chen with extreme fear, as if looking at a demon who had crawled out of an abyss.

Lin Zhe’s face could no longer be described as merely “ugly.” Shock, defeat, jealousy, disbelief… all these emotions intertwined wildly in his eyes. Shenzhou Technology! Lu Chen was actually the founder of Shenzhou Technology! What did this mean? It meant that the technological and capital power Lu Chen wielded was enough to easily crush the entire Lin family! All his previous calculations, all his feelings of superiority, had at this moment become a huge joke! A cold chill instantly gripped him.

Chen Feng ignored everyone’s reactions and continued his steady report: “According to our technical assessment, although Su’s ‘Bedrock’ production line is outdated, its core metal processing technology and some high-precision equipment still hold irreplaceable value. Shenzhou Technology is willing to use its ‘Stardust’ industrial AI platform and exclusive authorization of the ‘Deep Blue VII’ chip, along with deep technical integration, as bargaining chips to acquire 51% controlling interest in Su’s core business segment. At the same time, given the overall debt crisis faced by the Su Group, Shenzhou Technology agrees to inject 18 billion in cash in exchange for 30% of the Su Group parent company’s newly issued shares, and will undertake all debts and subsequent handling of its ‘Golden Bay’ project.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the ashen-faced Su Hongyuan: “This plan will ensure that the Su Group’s core business is preserved and upgraded for rebirth, its overall debt crisis is resolved, and its brand is continued. At the same time,” his gaze turned to Lu Chen, with absolute respect, “Shenzhou Technology will acquire the precise manufacturing physical support we urgently need, completing our industrial chain.”

The terms were extremely generous, even providing timely help in dire need! But for Su Hongyuan, this was tantamount to surrendering the most core control of the Su family’s generations of hard work!

Lu Chen listened, nodded slightly, and his gaze finally truly fell on Su Hongyuan’s face for the first time. His eyes were calm, without any victor’s swagger or deliberate pity, only a detached, condescending indifference, like someone observing a chess game.

“Father-in-law,” Lu Chen’s address remained the same, but its meaning was now worlds apart. “What do you think of this plan?”

Su Hongyuan opened his mouth, a rasping sound escaping his throat, but not a single word came out. Immense humiliation and utter powerlessness almost swallowed him whole. He looked at Lu Chen, at this “useless” man he had never deigned to look at, who now held the power of life and death over him and everyone in the Su family. Could he refuse? Refusal meant immediate bankruptcy and liquidation for Su’s, meaning generations of the Su family’s foundation would be completely destroyed in his hands!

Cold sweat soaked his back. He painstakingly moved his eyes to look at his daughter Su Wan, who was pale and hollow-eyed, then at Lin Zhe opposite him, whose face was livid and whose eyes were venomous. Finally, his gaze returned to Lu Chen’s unfathomable eyes.

Time passed minute by minute; only heavy breathing could be heard in the conference room.

Finally, Su Hongyuan seemed to have been drained of all strength, and he wearily, extremely slowly, nodded his head, which felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

This tiny movement, like a silent signal, declared the end of one era for the Su Group and the arrival of another, personally initiated by Lu Chen.

The dust settled.

Lu Chen’s gaze swept over Su Hongyuan’s defeated face, over Liu Ruoyun’s terrified eyes, over Lin Zhe’s grim expression filled with unwillingness and apprehension. Finally, it landed on Su Wan, who had been sitting there all along, her face ashen, her body trembling slightly.

Her eyes were hollow, filled with immense bewilderment and undigested shock, as if her soul had been completely drained by everything that had just happened. Her “useless” husband of three years had, overnight, transformed into a mysterious magnate controlling the Su Group’s lifeline and wielding a hundred-billion-dollar tech empire? The immense contrast brought about a shock far greater than last night’s drama with Lin Weiwei, making her feel utterly disoriented.

Lu Chen looked at her disconsolate appearance. Deep in his eyes behind the lenses, a very complex emotion flickered—there was tenderness, helplessness, and a subtle sigh. He slowly stood up.

Outside the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, the sun was bright, coating the entire Cloud City in a dazzling golden glow. Lu Chen’s tall figure stood within the halo, like a newborn king, surveying the territory he had just taken over.

He no longer looked at the various expressions of the people in the conference room. He simply addressed Chen Feng, the Chief Operating Officer, issuing his first command as the actual controller of Su’s. His voice was steady and clear, carrying an undeniable authority:

“Chen Feng, you are fully responsible for the subsequent liaison. Ensure that the technical integration roadmap for Su’s core business and Shenzhou Technology is completed within three days. Funding is to be in place immediately.”

“Yes, Chairman Lu!” Chen Feng responded solemnly.

Lu Chen nodded slightly, took a step, and left the chair that symbolized the peak of power. He didn’t head towards the door but walked directly to the other end of the long table, towards the thin figure that seemed to have been forgotten by the whole world.

He stopped in front of Su Wan.

Su Wan seemed to have just regained a trace of consciousness from the immense shock. She looked up blankly, Lu Chen’s figure reflected in her still tear-stained eyes, filled with unfamiliarity and a huge sense of distance.

Lu Chen looked at the panic and fragility in her eyes and remained silent for a moment. Then, he slowly extended his hand.

He didn’t reach for her hand. Instead, with an extremely gentle movement, he carefully, with his thumb, wiped away a lingering cold tear from the corner of her eye. His movement was so tender it was almost cautious, as if touching a fragile, rare treasure.

This subtle movement, in the deathly silent conference room, was more attention-grabbing than any previous business negotiation. Su Hongyuan watched with a complex gaze, Liu Ruoyun’s eyes were filled with venom but she dared not act, and Lin Zhe’s fists were tightly clenched under the table, his knuckles white.

Su Wan’s body trembled almost imperceptibly the moment he touched her.

Lu Chen withdrew his hand, his fingertips seemingly still retaining the faint coolness of her tears. He looked at her deeply, his eyes as profound as the sea, containing a thousand unspoken words, which finally transformed into a low utterance, clearly sounding in her ear, and echoing in the silent conference room:

“Now, we can go home.”

With that, he didn’t linger or wait for her response. He turned and walked steadily away from this power arena that he had just completely subverted.

Leaving behind a deathly silence of shock, and Su Wan, whose soul still reeled in the midst of a huge storm.

The sunlight streamed through the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, bathing his retreating figure, casting a long, solitary and powerful shadow.

Lu Chen’s lingering words, “Now, we can go home,” were like cold stones thrown into a deep pool. They stirred no ripples in Su Wan’s dead heart, leaving only a deeper, suffocating bewilderment and a chilling sense of distance. Home? Where was home? The grand, cold cage of the Su family mansion? Or next to this strange, powerful man who, with a flip of his hand, had completely overturned her family’s fate?

She was like a puppet whose soul had been extracted, led by Lu Chen out of that conference room filled with shock, fear, and humiliation. There was no conversation, only silence growing wildly in the spacious car. Outside the window, Cloud City’s bustling streetscape rapidly receded, blurring into a flowing, grotesque kaleidoscope, reflected in her pale, lost face.

The black Bentley once again drove through the carved iron gate of the Su family’s old residence, rolling over the familiar gravel path. This time, they were met not by Liu Ruoyun’s harsh questions, but by a deathly silence and an atmosphere of reverence and fear. The servants stood at a distance, hands clasped, heads bowed extremely low, not daring to make a sound, as if stepping closer would crush them with an invisible pressure.

Lu Chen was the first to exit the car, still gentlemanly opening her door. Su Wan mechanically stepped out, her steps shaky, each one feeling as if she were treading on clouds, lacking substance. She didn’t look at him, walking directly through the spacious, opulent, yet now particularly cold and oppressive entrance hall, towards the spiral staircase leading to the second floor.

“Wanwan…” Liu Ruoyun’s voice, tearful and cautiously almost fawning, came from behind.

Su Wan’s steps didn’t falter in the slightest; she didn’t even turn around. The voice was like the buzzing of a fly, making her feel a wave of nausea. She quickened her pace, almost fleeing up to the second floor, rushing back to her familiar bedroom.

Bang!

The heavy walnut door closed tightly behind her, sealing off the world that had been turned upside down outside. She leaned her back against the cold door, her body weakly sliding down, collapsing onto the soft carpet. Immense fatigue and a belated, overwhelming wave of grievance and pain, like a surging tsunami, finally completely submerged her.

Tears silently poured out, burning hot on her cheeks. She bit her lip tightly, preventing herself from whimpering, only her shoulders trembling violently from suppressed sobs. The countless small moments of the past three years, the deliberate distances, the invisible hurts, the self-righteous “protection”… all now transformed into countless sharp knives, fiercely retaliating, stabbing her heart full of holes, paining her so much she could barely breathe. It turned out her moonlight had been by her side all along, only she had personally covered it in dust, pushing it into the abyss.

Outside the door, Lu Chen stood quietly in the dim light of the corridor. He could clearly hear the faint, utterly suppressed sobs from within the room, like the desperate whimpers of a wounded animal, knocking against his heart with each sound. He raised his hand, his fingertips almost touching the cold door, but then slowly pulled it back at the last moment. In his eyes behind the lenses, deep pain and a hint of helpless weariness surged.

He knew that at this moment, any words would be pale. She needed time. Needed to lick her wounds alone, to digest this earth-shattering change.

He stood silently for a moment, then finally turned and walked towards his own room, the guest room in the farthest corner of the corridor.

Time flowed in silence. The sunlight outside the window waned, eventually replaced by the deep night. The Su mansion was like a giant tomb, no sounds heard, only a heavy sense of oppression silently spreading.

Su Wan didn’t know how long she had sat on the floor until her legs went numb and her tears dried. She leaned against the door, shakily stood up, and walked to the enormous floor-to-ceiling window. Outside, a cool full moon hung in the inky blue sky, casting a silvery glow over the ground. The moonlight was cold, yet it strangely brought a slight clarity to her tangled thoughts.

She remembered that when Lu Chen was still that “silent waste,” he would occasionally sit alone in the secluded pavilion in the Su family’s backyard late at night, silently gazing at the moon for a long, long time. At the time, she only thought he was burdened with unspoken sorrows and never delved deeper.

A thought, like a match suddenly struck in the darkness, abruptly shot into her mind—that pavilion!

She hardly hesitated, turning and silently opening her room door. The corridor was empty, only the wall sconces emitting a dim yellow light. Barefoot, she moved like a specter, silently crossing the spacious living room and pushing open the side door leading to the garden.

The early autumn night breeze carried a chill, fluttering her thin clothes. She stepped across the cool grass towards the small white stone pavilion hidden by tall trees.

The pavilion was empty, with only a few wind-blown withered leaves remaining on the stone table. Moonlight dappled through the gaps in the branches. Su Wan’s gaze searched the stone table and benches, finally landing on an inconspicuous object in the corner, as if it had been casually discarded there.

It was an old umbrella. Its dark blue canopy was frayed at the edges, and the ribs were slightly bent, clearly a cheap item that had been used for many years.

Su Wan’s heart suddenly pounded! She recognized this umbrella! Or rather, she recognized this style! It was the cheapest kind of folding umbrella sold uniformly at the school store years ago, when she was still in middle school! She even remembered that on that afternoon of torrential rain, she was holding an old dark blue umbrella just like this one…

She reached out with trembling hands and picked up the old umbrella. The umbrella was light, carrying a faint, old scent, like something that had been dried in the sun. She gently opened it.

A soft rustle.

The moment the umbrella canopy fully opened, by the faint moonlight, she clearly saw a small pattern clumsily drawn with white correction fluid on the inner lining of the umbrella, near the handle.

Two short arcs, a downward-curving circle.

A crooked, small smiley face, exactly like the one she had drawn on the warehouse floor back then!

And below that smiley face pattern, there was also a line of small text, also written with correction fluid, long dried and yellowed. The handwriting was childish, yet carried a stubborn seriousness:

“Don’t be afraid, I’m here. — Your Moonlight”

Buzz—!

Su Wan’s mind went blank! The immense shock almost made her drop the umbrella! She stared fixedly at the words, each stroke like a burning hot iron, fiercely searing her heart!

“Your Moonlight”… “Your Moonlight”!

So… so he knew all along! When she was still young and innocent, when she didn’t even know who the boy she saved that rainy day was, he had already considered her his moonlight! He cherished the umbrella she left behind, drew that “smiley face” on it, and even wrote such a… clumsy but burning vow!

Tears once again poured out, but this time, it was no longer pain and grievance, but an overwhelming surge of heartache and regret! She remembered how, in the past three years, every time she deliberately avoided him, every time she responded coldly, every time she tacitly allowed her family to treat him with disdain… she had personally pushed away such a sincere and lonely heart!

Just then, very faint footsteps sounded from behind her.

Su Wan suddenly turned around.

Lu Chen was standing under the moonlight at the entrance of the pavilion, unnoticed. He was still wearing his crisp suit, but his tie was loosened, and his glasses were off, held in his hand. The moonlight outlined his tall figure, and also clearly illuminated the undisguised weariness on his face, and the deep, rich complex emotions surging in his eyes—there was heartache, helplessness, the agony of waiting, and a hint of… cautious hope?

He didn’t speak, just quietly looked at her, at the open old umbrella in her hand, at the tears streaming down her face, and at her eyes filled with immense shock and pain.

The air seemed to solidify, with only the rustling of leaves in the night breeze, and their clearly audible heartbeats.

Su Wan opened her mouth, a thousand words caught in her throat, finally transforming into a broken cry, thick with sobs: “Lu Chen…”

Lu Chen’s eyes instantly softened, like a frozen lake touched by a spring breeze, spreading gentle ripples. He took a step forward, entering the pavilion, standing in front of her.

“I’m here,” his voice was low and hoarse, yet it carried a reassuring strength.

Su Wan looked at his handsome face so close, at the deep sea of tenderness in his eyes. A huge emotional flood completely breached all her dams. She suddenly threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly with all her might, as if wanting to melt into his very being!

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” She buried her face deeply in his warm chest, sobbing uncontrollably, her hot tears instantly soaking the front of his shirt. All the grievances, regrets, and belated love poured out in these three words.

Lu Chen’s body stiffened for a moment as she embraced him, then was overwhelmed by a huge wave of warmth and the wild joy of having her back. He slowly, with an unbelievable reverence, raised his arms and tightly embraced the trembling, weeping figure in his arms. His grip was strong, as if to make up for all the missed hugs of the past three years, yet also cautious, fearing he might hurt her.

His chin gently rested on the top of her soft hair, inhaling the familiar faint scent of her hair, his Adam’s apple bobbing, letting out a sigh of contentment mixed with endless bitterness. He closed his eyes, feeling the real warmth and rapid heartbeat in his embrace, feeling the slight coolness of his shirt soaked by tears.

Moonlight, like water, quietly flowed into this small pavilion, casting a soft silver glow on the embracing figures. Time seemed to stand still at this moment; all the past, all the pain, all the misunderstandings, were silently soothed and melted away in this long-overdue embrace.

“It’s okay,” Lu Chen’s low voice sounded in her ear, carrying the relief and certainty of having weathered countless storms. “It’s all in the past.”

He gently released her, cupped her tear-streaked face in his hands, and with his thumbs, gently brushed away the incessantly falling tears. His gaze was deep and focused, like a vast starry sky, reflecting only her image.

“Su Wan,” he called her name, solemnly and tenderly, “It took me three years to finally stand before you with dignity and tell you—”

He paused, each word clear and powerful, like the most solemn vow, resounding under the silent moonlight:

“I have never forgotten that rainy day, the girl who held an umbrella for me, who drew a smiley face for me. You are my moonlight, my only light in the darkness. Protecting you is the only meaning of my life.”

Su Wan looked up, tears blurring her vision once more, but this time, her tear-washed eyes were filled with an unprecedented clarity, love, and immense rediscovered happiness. She looked at the man before her, the man who had endured for three years, who had overthrown a business empire for her, just to be able to openly and righteously protect her. The last trace of gloom and distance in her heart vanished into thin air.

She rose on her tiptoes and initiated a kiss on his lips.

This was a kiss that was three years overdue. It carried the saltiness of tears, the wild joy of reunion, and a boundless, reckless love. It was clumsy, yet incredibly devout.

Lu Chen’s body trembled violently, then he embraced her even tighter, deeply responding to her kiss. Under the moonlight, in the pavilion, two figures embraced tightly, lips entwined, all words rendered pale, only their heartbeats and warmth remaining, the most moving symphony.

One week later.

The deep strategic restructuring between the Su Group and Shenzhou Technology, under Chen Feng’s swift and decisive operations, completed its preliminary framework at an astonishing speed. The massive capital injected by Shenzhou Technology acted like a strong stimulant, instantly revitalizing Su’s dying cash flow. The “Golden Bay” project was taken over by Shenzhou’s specialized asset disposal team, beginning an orderly cleanup. Su’s core precision manufacturing sector, with the support of the “Stardust” AI platform and “Deep Blue VII” chip, burst forth with unprecedented vitality, and its technology upgrade plan had entered an intensive implementation phase.

Su Hongyuan completely retreated behind the scenes, relinquishing all real power. The immense blow and the powerlessness of facing reality seemed to age him ten years overnight. Liu Ruoyun was completely silenced, no longer daring to comment on Lu Chen and Su Wan, spending her days hiding in her room, living in constant apprehension. Those previously arrogant collateral descendants of the Su family now trembled whenever they saw Lu Chen, like mice seeing a cat.

Cloud City’s high society had experienced an unprecedented earthquake. Lu Chen, once mocked as “Cloud City’s number one live-in son-in-law” and the “soft-rice king,” had transformed overnight into a business magnate controlling a hundred-billion-dollar tech empire, capable of turning the tables. The immense contrast left countless people dumbfounded, then filled them with deep reverence and apprehension. Rumors and speculations about him abounded, but no one dared to underestimate Su Wan, who stood by his side, now once again addressed as “Mrs. Lu.”

This afternoon, the sun was just right. In the CEO’s office on the top floor of Shenzhou Technology’s Cloud City R&D Center, the huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the expansive city skyline.

Lu Chen sat behind his spacious desk, reviewing a technical report on the deep integration of the “Stardust” platform with Su’s production line. The sunlight spilled onto his sharply defined profile, and his focused expression held a captivating charm.

The office door was gently knocked.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and Su Wan walked in. She wore a sharply tailored off-white suit, her long hair pulled back, revealing her graceful, slender neck. Her face carried a calm confidence refined by weathering storms, and her eyes sparkled with unconcealed brightness. She was a completely different person from the pale, fragile, disconsolate woman of a week ago.

Lu Chen looked up. Seeing her, a gentle smile instantly bloomed in his eyes, like melting ice and snow: “Done with work?”

“Mhm, just finished the final design meeting for the new series,” Su Wan walked to his desk and placed a document on the corner. “This is the final design draft, would you like to take a look?”

Lu Chen didn’t look at the document. Instead, he reached out and naturally took her hand resting on the edge of the desk, gently pulling.

Su Wan followed his pull, rounded the spacious desk, and was drawn into his embrace, sitting on his lap. This intimate gesture brought a blush to her face, but she didn’t resist. Instead, she relaxed and leaned against his strong chest.

“You decide,” Lu Chen’s chin gently rubbed against the top of her head, inhaling the fragrant scent of her hair, his voice carrying a hint of lazy contentment. He picked up an exquisite photo frame from the desk and handed it to Su Wan.

In the frame was a slightly yellowed old photograph. In the photo, a thin boy in a faded school uniform, with gauze on his forehead and bruises on his face, looked at the camera with an unusually stubborn gaze. In his hand, he tightly clutched a clean but still visibly old blue checkered handkerchief. In one corner of the handkerchief, crudely embroidered with dark thread, was a crooked smiley face pattern.

Su Wan looked at the photo, her heart warmed, and her eyes felt a bit sore again. That was her old handkerchief she had pressed to his wound back then! He actually… kept it all this time?

“He was discharged today,” Lu Chen’s voice sounded above her head, carrying a hint of relieved lightness. “The doctor said he’s recovering very well, and the next steps are regular rehabilitation and psychological counseling.”

Su Wan knew who he was talking about. The other victim of the rainy day warehouse incident, the boy who had been beaten almost to death and left in a coma for years by Lin Weiwei and her then-boyfriend (who was also the ringleader in bullying Lu Chen). After Lu Chen gained control of Su’s, he immediately used his resources and connections to transfer him to the best hospital and arrange the best medical team.

“That’s good,” Su Wan said softly, carefully placing the photo frame back on the desk. She looked up at Lu Chen’s handsome face so close to her, her fingers gently stroking his slightly furrowed brow. “Still thinking about Lin Weiwei?”

Lu Chen took her mischievous fingers and gently kissed them to his lips, his eyes slightly cold: “The police have irrefutable evidence. That incident back then was orchestrated by her and her then-boyfriend to force that boy’s father to sell a piece of land at a low price. Her claiming to be the ‘savior’ was nothing more than a gamble on what she saw as a ‘potential stock’ in me, to easily manipulate me later. She just didn’t expect that I would investigate deeper and faster than she imagined.”

The truth was cruelly chilling. The girl who had once existed like a first love in his bleak memories was, from the very beginning, a meticulously designed deception and exploitation.

Su Wan leaned against him, feeling his steady heartbeat. The last trace of gloom about the past in her heart completely dissipated. She looked up and actively kissed the corner of his lips: “It’s all over now. What goes around comes around.”

Lu Chen tightened his arms, holding her even closer, then lowered his head and kissed her deeply. The kiss was tender and lingering, filled with the preciousness of surviving a calamity and the completeness of being reunited.

Sunlight streamed through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, enveloping the embracing couple in a warm halo. In the small photo frame on the desk, the boy’s stubborn gaze and the crooked smiley face on the handkerchief were particularly clear in the sunlight. They were the scars of the past, and also the faint light leading to the future.

Late night. The master bedroom in the Su family’s old residence, once cold, now filled with warmth.

Moonlight filtered through the thin sheer curtains, gently falling upon the large bed. Su Wan rested her head on Lu Chen’s arm, curled up in his warm embrace, her breathing even, already deeply asleep. Her sleeping face, stripped of all defenses and worries, was serene and beautiful, like a moonlight fairy.

Lu Chen, however, was wide awake. He turned slightly, and by the moonlight, gazed at the quiet sleeping face of the person in his arms. His fingertips very gently brushed her delicate cheek, tracing her refined brows and eyes.

Three years of patience, strategizing, and meticulous planning, all the loneliness and darkness, at this moment, transformed into overflowing warmth and peace in his heart. She was right there, in his arms, her breath warm, her heartbeat real.

His moonlight.

His gaze passed over Su Wan, landing on the bedside table. A very simple yet dazzling diamond ring lay quietly there. On the inner band of the ring, in extremely tiny lettering, was inscribed a line of English: My Moonlight & Lifeline.

He had designed it himself. He planned to re-propose to her tomorrow morning, a morning meant only for the two of them. Not Lu Chen, the live-in son-in-law of the Su family, but Lu Chen, the founder of Shenzhou Technology and the actual controller of the Su Group, making a lifelong promise to his wife, his only moonlight.

Outside the window, all was silent, with only the cool moonlight, quietly flowing, gently enveloping this small, love-filled space. Under the moonlight, Lu Chen lowered his head and imprinted a cherished, silent kiss on Su Wan’s smooth forehead.

His lips slowly curved into an arc of ultimate tenderness.

The moonlight sank, finally docking at the other shore. And his other shore was in his arms.