For a brief moment, the air inside the room seemed to freeze.
"Why did you stop?"
Fan Bingbing's voice carried both confusion and a hint of disbelief. From her perspective, everything had already crossed a certain invisible boundary—one that neither of them had bothered to define clearly. And yet, just when things were about to go further, Luo Zheng pulled back.
Outside the slightly open window, Liu Yan—who had been watching with far more focus than she would ever admit—also frowned. This wasn't like him. Not at all. Based on everything she had seen so far, Luo Zheng was not the type of man to hesitate once he had made a move. If anything, he was the opposite—decisive, relentless, and dangerously confident.
So why stop now?
Inside, Luo Zheng exhaled slowly, releasing his grip and helping Fan Bingbing sit upright again. His expression had changed—less teasing, more serious, as if he had suddenly stepped out of a different state of mind.
"I'm afraid you'll do something you might regret," he said calmly.
That only made things more confusing.
"Something foolish?" Fan Bingbing repeated, brows knitting slightly. "What do you mean?"
Luo Zheng didn't dodge the question. Instead, he met her gaze directly, his tone steady but sharp.
"How do you plan to tie me down?"
The bluntness of the question hit harder than anything else he had done so far.
For a second, Fan Bingbing froze.
She opened her mouth, then closed it again. There was no easy answer to that—because the truth was, she had thought about it. Not in detail, not with a clear plan, but the intention was there. Strong, undeniable, and growing by the minute.
"I… haven't thought that far yet," she admitted after a pause, her voice softer now.
But that admission was already enough.
Outside, Liu Yan's eyes widened in shock. She had seen many women approach Luo Zheng—some cautiously, some boldly—but this was the first time someone admitted it so openly. No pretense, no delicate games. Just a raw, honest ambition.
Inside the room, Luo Zheng lit a cigarette, the faint glow of the flame briefly illuminating his eyes. Smoke curled slowly into the air between them, adding a layer of distance to the already complicated atmosphere.
"I'm not a good man," he said quietly. "I don't control my emotions well. I don't pretend to be gentle or responsible. If you get too close… it won't end the way you think."
There was no arrogance in his voice—just a matter-of-fact warning.
"I'm dangerous."
The words lingered.
But instead of stepping back, Fan Bingbing leaned forward slightly.
"I know," she said.
No hesitation.
"No illusions."
"And I don't care."
Her eyes didn't waver. If anything, they grew sharper, more determined.
"And I'm confident," she continued, her voice gaining strength, "that in the end, the one who stays by your side… will be me."
It wasn't a confession.
It was a declaration.
Luo Zheng studied her silently through the drifting smoke. There was no panic in her expression, no second thoughts. Whatever she had decided, she had already accepted the consequences.
"Have you decided?" he asked.
"Yes."
She didn't even pause this time.
"I—"
Her words were cut off, not by hesitation—but by action.
Outside, Liu Yan turned away almost instantly, her heart pounding harder than she expected. Without making a sound, she reached out and gently closed the window.
Some things didn't need witnesses.
After that day, the atmosphere between them subtly changed.
Not dramatically, not in any obvious way—but enough for someone observant to notice.
Liu Yan, of course, noticed immediately.
She had been with Luo Zheng long enough to understand his patterns, his moods, and the way he treated people differently depending on what they meant to him.
And Fan Bingbing… was clearly different.
It bothered her more than she expected.
So one day, unable to hold it back any longer, she asked him directly.
"Why are you treating her differently?"
There was no accusation in her tone, just curiosity—and maybe something else she didn't want to name.
"Different how?" Luo Zheng asked casually.
"You explain things to her," Liu Yan said. "You warn her. You even… hesitate."
She paused, then added, "You didn't do that with Dong Jie."
That comparison wasn't random.
Dong Jie had been pulled into Luo Zheng's world almost effortlessly, shaped into a role that suited him. There had been no warnings, no discussions—just quiet acceptance and gradual surrender.
But Fan Bingbing?
That was something else entirely.
Luo Zheng leaned back slightly, thinking for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"She's different."
Three simple words.
But they carried weight.
Liu Yan stared at him, stunned.
For a split second, she actually believed it meant something deeper—that maybe, just maybe, Luo Zheng had finally found someone who made him reconsider things.
But that illusion didn't last long.
Because not long after…
She heard him say the exact same words again.
To someone else.
And then again.
At that moment, realization hit her.
"She's different" wasn't special.
It was universal.
A phrase he used for every woman who caught his attention.
Even her.
Even she had heard it once.
The shock faded quickly, replaced by a helpless sense of understanding. That was just who he was.
And yet…
Knowing that didn't make it easier.
Not long after, business matters pulled Luo Zheng's focus away from personal entanglements.
Inside a conference room at China Film Group, a very different kind of tension filled the air.
Han Sanping sat at the head of the table, his presence steady and commanding. Beside him was Luo Zheng, relaxed but attentive. Across from them were Wang Zhonglei and Feng Xiaogang—both clearly invested in the outcome of this meeting.
"President Luo," Wang Zhonglei began, his tone carrying both relief and anticipation, "it hasn't been easy getting a chance to sit down with you like this."
That wasn't an exaggeration.
In recent days, Luo Zheng's schedule had been unpredictable, and every delay had made Wang Zhonglei increasingly anxious. Opportunities like this didn't come often—and missing one could mean losing far more than just a project.
Luo Zheng smiled faintly.
"A good meal is worth waiting for," he replied. "And the cooperation that's meant to happen… will happen."
It sounded casual, but there was meaning beneath it.
Han Sanping glanced at him, clearly amused.
The discussion quickly shifted to the project itself.
Originally, Luo Zheng hadn't planned to invest heavily in a mainland film. Compared to Hollywood, the returns were limited, and the risks weren't always worth it.
But circumstances had changed.
With China Film Group involved—and Huayi Brothers eager to cooperate—this was no longer just a simple project. It had become something larger.
When Luo Zheng suggested a youth campus film, however, both Han Sanping and Wang Zhonglei exchanged awkward looks.
"That kind of project…" Han Sanping coughed lightly, "we don't need to save money."
"Exactly," Wang Zhonglei added quickly. "Huayi can handle a bigger investment."
The message was clear.
They wanted scale.
They wanted impact.
They wanted something that could stand alongside major productions—not a small, sentimental piece.
Luo Zheng sighed slightly, then nodded.
"Alright," he said. "If we're doing this… we'll do it properly."
That was all it took.
Both men lit up instantly.
"Do you have something in mind?" Wang Zhonglei asked eagerly.
Luo Zheng paused, thinking.
Then—
"Yes."
The room fell silent.
"There's a story," he said slowly, "that could work very well. If adapted properly… it could become something special."
"What story?" Han Sanping leaned forward.
"A World Without Thieves."
The name alone carried weight.
"There's just one issue," Luo Zheng added. "The rights aren't with us."
Han Sanping waved his hand immediately.
"That's not a problem. Leave it to me."
Simple.
Direct.
Decisive.
Wang Zhonglei smiled broadly, already imagining the possibilities.
Only Feng Xiaogang sat quietly, an odd feeling creeping into his mind.
For the first time…
He felt like he might not be the center of this story anymore.