After the divorce, the aloof CEO begged me not to withdraw my investment.

The surrounding guests also stopped dancing and turned their gazes to them. Whispers surged in like a tide, enveloping them.

Qi Xue lowered her head shyly, not daring to look Ye Feng in the eye. She could feel the gazes around her shining on her like searchlights, making her feel even more ashamed.

"Are you... alright?" Ye Feng's voice was a little hoarse, with a hint of barely perceptible panic.

Qi Xue gently shook her head. She dared not speak, afraid that her voice would reveal her nervousness and shyness.

Ye Feng's hands were still tightly wrapped around her waist, as if he wanted to pull her into his embrace.

"I'm sorry." His voice was low and gentle, carrying a hint of apology.

Qi Xue took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She raised her head and met Ye Feng's deep gaze.

"I...I'm fine." Her voice was soft, but it carried a tremor that she couldn't hide.

The two embraced quietly, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding noise.

The melodious music started again, but this time, to Qi Xue, it sounded like a sweet love song, echoing in her heart.

The sweet aroma of champagne filled the air. Liu Qingyi stood alone in a corner of the banquet hall, her glass already empty, but she was completely unaware of it.

The light from the crystal chandelier cast dappled shadows on her face, reflecting her complex expression.

She looked at Ye Feng and Qi Xue in the center of the dance floor; their figures were intertwined, like a perfect couple.

Qi Xue's skirt billowed as she twirled, like a blooming white rose, while Ye Feng's gaze was gentle and focused, as if the whole world consisted only of Qi Xue.

Liu Qingyi's heart clenched, a bittersweet feeling welling up inside her. She gripped the empty wine glass tightly, her knuckles turning white.

Just now, Ye Feng was holding Qi Xue, and their lips were lightly touching... That image was like a sharp thorn, piercing her heart.

“They…they actually…” Liu Qingyi murmured to herself, her voice barely audible.

She remembered what she had said to Ye Feng in the coffee shop that afternoon, asking him to start over.

At the time, Ye Feng didn't refuse, but he didn't immediately agree either. Now, however, he and Qi Xue are kissing passionately in the middle of the dance floor…

Liu Qingyi felt a wave of dizziness. She grabbed the table next to her and barely managed to steady herself.

Regret overwhelmed her like a tidal wave. If only she hadn't done those things, if only she hadn't hurt him like that, wouldn't she be the one standing beside him now?

The flames of jealousy burned within her, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

Looking at the happy smile on Qi Xue's face, the bitterness in her heart intensified. She didn't understand why, why Ye Feng would choose Qi Xue instead of her? What did she lack compared to her?

"Miss Liu, are you alright?" A waiter noticed Liu Qingyi's unusual behavior and asked with concern.

Liu Qingyi snapped out of her daze and forced a smile. "I'm fine, thank you."

After the waiter left, Liu Qingyi looked again at Ye Feng and Qi Xue in the center of the dance floor. They were still tightly embracing, as if the whole world had nothing to do with them. Liu Qingyi could no longer bear this torment, and she turned and left the banquet hall.

The night was deep, and the streetlights cast long shadows of Ye Feng and Qi Xue. Ye Feng's car was parked downstairs at Qi Xue's house.

"Thank you for today." Qi Xue's voice was soft, with a hint of indescribable shyness.

In the dim light inside the car, Qi Xue's cheeks were still flushed, like a ripe apple. She recalled the scene that had just unfolded on the dance floor, and her heart began to race involuntarily.

"It's nothing." Ye Feng's voice was as calm as ever, but his eyes were gentler than usual.

Qi Xue gently bit her lower lip, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I'm sorry... just now, on the dance floor."

Ye Feng turned to look at her, a slight smile playing on his lips. "It's really nothing, don't worry about it."

A warm feeling welled up in Qi Xue's heart. She looked up and met Ye Feng's deep gaze, her heart filled with gratitude and... a touch of indescribable sweetness.

Only after watching Qi Xue walk into the building did Ye Feng start the car and leave.

The night breeze brought a touch of coolness, but it couldn't dispel the flutter in his heart.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, night had fallen over City A, and the dazzling neon lights, like flowing lava, reflected on the floor-to-ceiling windows of the top-floor president's office of the Baye Group.

Ye Feng stood by the window, gently swirling the glass filled with amber-colored liquor in his hand. His gaze, however, was not focused on the scenery outside the window, but rather on the swirling liquid in the glass, as if it held some unsolvable mystery.

"Boom boom boom——"

A knock on the door interrupted Ye Feng's thoughts.

"Come in."

Mr. Zhang pushed open the door and entered, his face beaming with smiles, holding several documents in his hand.

"Mr. Ye, this is our company's final proposal for cooperation in new energy. Please take a look and see if there is anything that needs to be added or modified."

Ye Feng took the document, flipped through it casually, his eyes still showing a hint of detachment.

"I have seen Mr. Zhang's sincerity, and I am generally satisfied with the cooperation."

He paused, placed the file on his desk, and tapped his fingers lightly on the surface, making a crisp sound. This subtle sound seemed to carry immense power, pressing down on everyone present.

"However, I need some time to carefully consider such a large project."

Mr. Zhang's smile froze for a moment, but quickly returned to normal.

I understand, I understand. It's a big project; being cautious is understandable.

He rubbed his hands together and asked tentatively, "Mr. Ye, how long do you think you need to consider this?"

Ye Feng raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, staring directly at President Zhang, making him feel a chill run down his spine.

"About a week. I'll give you an answer in a week."

After seeing Mr. Zhang off, Ye Feng walked to the window again. The night breeze, carrying a hint of early autumn coolness, blew through the half-open window and caressed his cheeks.

He took a deep breath, but the night view appeared to him as a blurry patch of light.

He picked up his phone and dialed his assistant's number.

"Could you check which companies Jinxiu Group has been collaborating with recently, with a focus on the new energy sector?"

The assistant's respectful voice came from the other end of the phone: "Yes, Mr. Ye."

After hanging up the phone, Ye Feng's unease grew stronger.

He had a feeling that this matter was probably not as simple as it seemed.

The next day, the assistant placed the investigation results on Ye Feng's desk.

Ye Feng flipped through the documents, his face gradually darkening.

As he expected, Jinxiu Group had a deep cooperation with this internationally renowned company, and the cooperation terms clearly involved some of Jinxiu Group's interests.