At the same time—
On the top floor of Tiansheng Group's headquarters, Ethan Jiang returned to his executive office after wrapping up a routine meeting. Eric Chen followed close behind, dutifully reporting the rest of Ethan's schedule.
After he was done, Ethan made no comment on the itinerary. Instead, he leaned back slightly in his chair and asked in a calm, measured voice, "Have you finished looking into Miles Chi's background?"
Eric paused for half a second before quickly recovering. From the stack of documents in his arms, he pulled out a slim folder and handed it over respectfully.
"All done, Mr. Jiang. Here's everything we could find on Miles Chi. Also, I've already reached out to the overseas research institutions you mentioned."
Ethan accepted the file with a quiet hum, dismissing Eric with a nod.
Miles's background was fairly simple.
His personal information took up only a few pages. The rest of the file was filled with research projects and academic papers he had contributed to over the past few years.
Ethan had little interest in Miles's achievements as a student. He flipped to the last page, found the listed phone number, and dialed it without hesitation.
The call was answered swiftly—barely two rings before the other end picked up.
"Hello, who's speaking?"
Ethan closed the folder, his voice steady and composed. "Hello, this is Ethan Jiang."
—
Two hours later.
Nerves churning, Miles Chi arrived outside the towering glass edifice of Tiansheng Group.
He stepped out of the cab and looked up at the high-rise—a fortress of power and prestige. An invisible weight settled on his shoulders. His gaze dropped instinctively to his own modest shirt and slacks, his every step into the building filled with quiet dread.
Even at his best, this was not a place he could ever imagine reaching.
Eric Chen was already waiting at the reception.
"Miles Chi?" Eric asked, rising to greet him. "Please follow me."
Miles followed him into the elevator, up to the executive floor where every surface whispered of authority and restraint. They stopped at the president's office.
Eric knocked once. Upon hearing permission to enter, he pushed open the door and gestured for Miles to step in.
Miles's nerves twisted tighter.
He had only seen Ethan Jiang in financial magazines and news channels—always from afar, always unattainable. Standing here in the heart of the Tiansheng empire, he felt the distance between them more sharply than ever.
Eric did not enter the office. As soon as Miles stepped inside, the door clicked shut behind him.
Ethan Jiang sat behind his desk, pen set down, studying Miles across the wide expanse of polished wood.
His expression betrayed no emotion—cool, unreadable, and yet deceptively unthreatening.
"No need to be nervous," Ethan began, his tone as smooth as still water. "I invited you here for a simple conversation."
Miles tried to steady his breath. "Yes, Mr. Jiang. Please go ahead."
He had spent the entire ride wondering why someone like Ethan Jiang would reach out to someone like him. Their lives existed on opposite sides of an invisible line—one that Miles had never dared to cross.
But now, face to face, the answer began to form.
And Ethan didn't make him wait.
"I've heard that you and Elena Shen have been getting quite close lately," Ethan said, tone neutral but gaze unwavering.
Miles's fingers curled slightly.
He had guessed as much. Now, it only confirmed his suspicions.
"I…"
He hesitated, not sure how far to go with the truth. But before he could speak, Ethan's gaze sharpened, the next question coming like a blade sheathed in silk:
"You like Elena, don't you?"
There was no accusation in his voice. No anger.
But under Ethan's calm stare, Miles felt as though every part of him—every buried thought—was laid bare.
The denial that had hovered at the tip of his tongue faded. Slowly, he nodded.
"…Yes. I do. I really like Elena. Mr. Jiang, I hope you can give me a chance. I'll prove to you that my feelings are sincere."
"Prove?" Ethan echoed, the corner of his lips curving faintly.
He let go of the pen in his hand, letting it drop onto the desk with a crisp sound that sliced through the silence.
"And how do you plan to prove that?"
"Elena is the treasure of the Jiang family. If you want to stand beside her—what are you prepared to offer?"
There was no overt aggression in Ethan's voice.
But the weight of his words struck Miles like a blow to the chest.
His fists clenched at his sides, the truth bitter on his tongue.
No matter how much he wanted to deny it, he couldn't ignore the gap between them.
There were things he would spend a lifetime reaching for—things men like Ethan Jiang were born into.
Then Ethan slid a sealed envelope across the desk toward him.
"This is a direct PhD admission letter from an overseas university," he said flatly. "You can choose: go abroad and pursue your future, or stay here and continue chasing Elena."
Miles's fingers trembled.
He looked down at the envelope, the university's emblem shining faintly under the lights.
He was a senior now, and postgraduate study had always been the next step. He had researched this particular university before, and knew how impossible it was to get in—especially with direct doctoral admission.
And yet, here it was, laid out before him like a golden ticket.
His hands balled into fists, then loosened, then clenched again.
Finally, with a silent breath, he reached out and accepted the envelope.
Ethan showed no reaction. As if it had all gone exactly as expected.
"Since you've made your choice," Ethan said coolly, "I expect you to keep your distance." I don't ever want to see you around Elena again."
Miles's face had lost all color.
He clutched the envelope tightly and gave a quiet, solemn nod.
"…Understood, Mr. Jiang. I'll keep my word."
—
News of Miles Chi's international PhD offer spread like wildfire across Huaihai University.
As whispers of admiration circled the campus, Annie Gu stood by a window in one of the academic buildings, peeking over at Elena Shen, who was quietly replying to a message.
She blinked. Then they frowned in confusion.
Something wasn't adding up.