The board meeting began at exactly 10:00 AM.
Guàn Jǐngchén sat at the head of the long table like a king facing rebellion. The twelve board members watched him with varying degrees of discomfort and determination. Li Wei sat near the front, calm and composed, but his eyes held quiet triumph.
The chairman cleared his throat. "CEO Guàn, the independent audit has raised serious concerns. We have undeniable patterns linking recent financial activity to the old Eclipse case. Combined with your… personal involvement with the individual in question, the board believes your judgment is compromised."
Guàn Jǐngchén's expression remained icy. "Your 'concerns' are based on speculation and old data. I have reviewed the findings myself. There is no conclusive evidence."
Li Wei spoke up. "With respect, the patterns are too consistent to ignore. We recommend you publicly distance yourself from Lin Yuè and suspend his access immediately. If you refuse, we will proceed with a vote of no confidence."
The room fell silent.
Guàn Jǐngchén leaned forward, eyes sharp and dangerous.
"I built this company," he said, voice low and lethal. "Every system, every success, every breakthrough — it was because of my decisions. And now you want to undermine me over a personal relationship?"
"This is not just personal," the chairman replied. "It's a security risk."
Guàn Jǐngchén's gaze swept across the table.
"Then vote," he said coldly. "But know this — if you force my hand, I will not go quietly. I will fight every single one of you."
The vote was called.
Six in favor of the motion.
Five against.
One abstention.
The motion passed.
Guàn Jǐngchén was to publicly announce his separation from Lin Yuè within 48 hours, or face removal as CEO.
He stood up without a word, expression unreadable, and walked out of the boardroom.
---
In the penthouse, Lin Yuè paced restlessly.
He hadn't slept properly in days. The silk shirt he wore felt like a cage. Every minute that passed without news from Guàn Jǐngchén tightened the knot in his stomach.
When the door finally opened, Lin Yuè froze.
Guàn Jǐngchén stepped inside, coat still on, face dark and exhausted. He looked at Lin Yuè for a long moment, then closed the door behind him.
Lin Yuè's voice was small. "How did it go?"
Guàn Jǐngchén crossed the room slowly and pulled him into his arms without speaking. The embrace was tight, almost crushing. Lin Yuè clung to him, burying his face in his chest.
"They voted against me," Guàn Jǐngchén said finally, voice low. "I have 48 hours to publicly distance myself from you… or they will remove me as CEO."
Lin Yuè's breath caught. He pulled back slightly to look up at him.
"You can still save everything," he whispered. "You can announce the separation. I'll disappear. I won't fight it. I won't—"
Guàn Jǐngchén cut him off with a hard kiss, hands cupping his face almost too tightly.
"No," he growled against his lips. "I'm not doing that."
Lin Yuè's eyes widened. "But your company… everything you built—"
"I don't care." Guàn Jǐngchén's voice cracked with raw emotion. "I built it once. I can build it again. But I can't lose you twice."
He kissed Lin Yuè again — desperate, angry, and full of love. His hands moved urgently, shoving the silk shirt off Lin Yuè's shoulders and pushing him toward the bedroom.
They didn't make it to the bed.
Guàn Jǐngchén pressed him against the wall in the hallway, lifting him and thrusting inside with one rough stroke. The rhythm was hard and emotional — deep, claiming thrusts mixed with fierce kisses and whispered words.
"You're mine," Guàn Jǐngchén panted between thrusts. "I don't care what the board says. I don't care what the world thinks. You're mine."
Lin Yuè clung to him, moaning softly, tears slipping down his cheeks. "I love you… even if this destroys everything."
They came together hard, clinging desperately to each other.
Afterward, Guàn Jǐngchén carried Lin Yuè to the bed and held him close, refusing to let go.
"48 hours," he whispered into Lin Yuè's hair. "Then I'll make my choice official. I'm not distancing myself. I'm standing with you."
Lin Yuè buried his face in his chest, heart aching with love and guilt.
"Thank you," he whispered.
In the quiet penthouse, with the board's decision looming and the future uncertain, they held each other through the longest night yet — two broken souls choosing each other despite the cost.
The war with the board had only just begun.
But for the first time since the reveal, Guàn Jǐngchén had chosen love over power.
And Lin Yuè had never loved him more.
End of Chapter 62