The air in the Gu residence was unusually quiet that evening, the kind of silence that felt heavy, loaded with unsaid words and emotions unspoken. Gu Chenyan sat alone in the study, the city lights outside casting long shadows across the room. His silver hair shimmered faintly under the soft golden chandelier light, giving him an almost ethereal, yet distant aura. His tailored suit was still impeccable, his tie still fastened — as though he hadn't left the day's war behind.
But inside, there was a storm brewing.
The memory of Lin Nian'an's trembling voice from earlier that morning replayed in his mind on a loop. He hadn't meant to raise his voice. He hadn't meant to frighten her. But seeing her hesitate, seeing her eyes shift away when he asked where she had been the night before — it had ignited something dark inside him.
Possessiveness. Fear. Helplessness.
Gu Chenyan didn't know how to deal with emotions that weren't clean and controllable. With business, he had strategies. With rivals, he had counterattacks. But with Lin Nian'an… she was never a problem to be solved. She was a universe he didn't know how to navigate, full of gravity and softness and wild stars.
Downstairs, Lin Nian'an sat curled on the velvet couch, wearing one of his dress shirts over her silk slip dress. Her red hair was loosely tied up, strands falling along her delicate collarbone. She held a mug of warm milk, untouched.
She didn't know why his outburst earlier had unsettled her so deeply. It wasn't the tone, not really. It was the flicker of vulnerability she had seen in his eyes — something between desperation and anger. A man like Gu Chenyan wasn't supposed to show weakness. And yet, she had seen it.
And she couldn't stop thinking about it.
The door creaked open behind her. She didn't turn around, but she knew it was him. His footsteps were heavy, slower than usual. He stood behind the couch for a long time before speaking.
"I shouldn't have shouted at you."
His voice was quieter than usual, almost hoarse.
She set the mug down and turned slowly, looking up at him. "No, you shouldn't have."
A beat passed between them.
"I just…" he exhaled, sitting down beside her, though not too close. "When I didn't see you last night, and your phone was off… I thought something had happened."
Lin Nian'an blinked. "You thought I left?"
"I thought I lost you," he said quietly.
That made her chest tighten. For all his cold exterior, Gu Chenyan had never truly hidden his fear of losing her. And she hadn't helped, disappearing without warning. But she hadn't done it out of malice — she had needed space. Needed to think.
"I went to Auntie Chen's place," she said finally. "I needed air. Time."
He nodded, as though he understood. Maybe he did.
"I'm not good at this," he admitted, surprising both of them. "Relationships. Emotions. You… matter more to me than anyone ever has. And that terrifies me."
Her eyes softened. "Then let me help you learn. We're not rivals here, Chenyan. We're partners."
He looked at her, really looked. And for the first time that day, he smiled — just a small curve of his lips, but it reached his eyes.
"Stay with me tonight," he said, almost like a plea. "Don't go anywhere."
Lin Nian'an nodded. "I'm not going anywhere."
The next morning came quietly, the storm between them having passed. Sunlight spilled into their bedroom, golden and soft. Lin Nian'an lay curled under the sheets, her breathing even, her hand resting lightly over Gu Chenyan's chest.
He watched her sleep for a long time, brushing her hair behind her ear. Peaceful moments like this — he wanted to collect them, preserve them like rare gems.
But peace didn't last long in their world.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand. He reached for it reluctantly, trying not to wake her.
A message from Assistant Zhang:
"Young Master Gu, the board meeting has been moved forward. They're discussing the overseas merger. And there's a leak — someone inside the group might be feeding info to the media."
His eyes narrowed. The quiet was over.
Later that day, Lin Nian'an stepped into her own office, which was located in a chic building downtown. The newly opened gallery she had been curating was finally complete, and her schedule was packed. But she couldn't help feeling that something was coming. A shift. A ripple beneath the surface.
She shook off the feeling and focused on the exhibits. A new client was arriving today — someone who had shown interest in hosting a private art showcase. Lin Nian'an had built a reputation not just for her taste, but her eye for emerging talent. This showcase could elevate her gallery into the international spotlight.
But when the client walked in, her heart skipped a beat.
It was Ji Yiran.
From London.
From the past.
Gu Chenyan walked into the boardroom like a storm in a suit. The directors went silent, each of them straightening in their chairs. He scanned the room, his sharp eyes catching the tension immediately.
"Let's not waste time," he said. "Tell me who leaked the data."
One of the executives stammered, "We… We're still investigating—"
"I don't want investigations," he cut in, cold and controlled. "I want results."
The pressure in the room rose. This wasn't just about business — this was about trust. And Gu Chenyan didn't tolerate betrayal.
Meanwhile, Ji Yiran's presence in the gallery sent Lin Nian'an into a spiral. He was still the same — calm, gentle, but with a calculating glint in his eye.
"I heard you opened your own gallery," he said with a polite smile. "Congratulations, Nian'an."
"What are you doing here?" she asked, folding her arms.
"I'm hosting an exhibition. I want it here."
She narrowed her eyes. "Why? There are bigger venues."
He leaned closer. "Because none of them have you."
It was a line meant to charm, but it didn't land. Not anymore.
"I'm with someone now," she said firmly.
"I know," he replied. "That doesn't change the past."
"No," she said. "But it changes the future."
That night, Gu Chenyan returned home later than usual. Lin Nian'an was already waiting, wine glass in hand. She looked up at him as he entered, his expression unreadable.
"Tough day?" she asked.
He nodded.
"And you?" he returned the question.
"An old ghost stopped by the gallery."
He stiffened. "Who?"
"Ji Yiran."
Silence fell between them.
Gu Chenyan moved closer, took the wine from her hand, and placed it aside. "Are you okay?"
She nodded. "I handled it."
"I'll have someone look into him."
She smiled. "I figured you would."
They stood there for a long moment, the city lights flickering behind them through the window. Two people surrounded by storms, holding onto the quiet they had built together.
And somehow, it was enough.