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

"Oh, you're pretty tough!" Zhou Ming curled his lip in disdain. "President Liu has now hooked up with the film and television city project, and I heard it's going to be a huge money-maker. If you hadn't gotten divorced back then, you could have gotten some of the benefits too. Why did you do this?"

Ye Feng clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

He saw Liu Qingyi not far away, dressed in an elegant evening gown, but looking somewhat lonely.

People around her kept their distance, as if she were a carrier of the plague. He recalled what Qi Xue had told him before: Liu Yunfei had been spreading rumors behind Liu Qingyi's company's back that Liu Qingyi's company had been terminated; it seemed to be true.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Did I hit the nail on the head?" Zhou Ming approached Ye Feng smugly, his tone full of provocation. "I advise you to be smart and leave here as soon as possible, instead of making a fool of yourself."

Ye Feng suddenly turned around, grabbed Zhou Ming by the collar, and forced him close, his eyes sharp as a knife: "I'll say it one last time, my affairs are none of your business."

Zhou Ming was intimidated by Ye Feng's aura, his face turned pale instantly, and he tried to struggle but could not move.

The surrounding rich kids were also silent and dared not take a step forward.

Ye Feng released Zhou Ming's collar, and Zhou Ming staggered back a few steps, his face still pale. He stared at Ye Feng, still shaken, but dared not say anything more.

The surrounding rich kids didn't dare to breathe too loudly, for fear of getting into trouble.

The music and laughter in the banquet hall sounded particularly jarring to Ye Feng at that moment, like countless fine needles pricking his nerves.

He felt a dry mouth and a churning stomach; the champagne he had just drunk felt like a fire burning his esophagus.

Just then, a waiter walked up to Ye Feng and bowed respectfully: "Mr. Ye, President Liu invites you to the Bauhinia Pavilion for a chat."

Ye Feng nodded slightly, said nothing more, and turned to leave with the waiter.

As he passed by Liu Qingyi, he paused slightly, his gaze lingering on her for a second, but ultimately he remained silent.

He could feel Liu Qingyi's gaze following him, like an invisible thread tightly binding his heart, making him feel suffocated.

As Liu Qingyi watched Ye Feng's figure disappear at the end of the corridor, her heart sank.

She wanted to go up and say hello, thank Ye Feng for helping her clarify the rumors, and also explain her relationship with Liu Yunfei.

But she hadn't expected Ye Feng to be so cold to her, not even sparing her a glance. A strange sense of loss welled up inside her, making her feel a pang of sorrow.

The luxurious decorations, exquisite desserts, and expensive champagne in the banquet hall lost their appeal at this moment; she felt as if she had chewed on a bitter herb.

"Mr. Liu, all alone?" A greasy voice rang in my ears.

Liu Qingyi turned her head and saw Qian Yu standing next to her, holding two glasses of red wine, with a fawning smile on his face.

Qian Yu was wearing a royal blue suit today, his hair was slicked back and shiny, and he looked particularly greasy.

Liu Qingyi felt a surge of disgust, but at the moment she was feeling down and just wanted to find something to numb herself, so she nodded almost unconsciously: "President Qian".

Seeing this, Qian Yu immediately handed a glass of red wine to Liu Qingyi: "Come on, President Liu, let me toast you."

Liu Qingyi took the wine glass, said nothing, and drank the red wine in one gulp.

The spicy liquid slid down her throat into her stomach, bringing a burning sensation, but it also cleared her muddled mind somewhat.

She looked at Qian Yu, her eyes unfocused, lost in thought. She couldn't understand why Ye Feng was suddenly so cold towards her. Was it because of Qi Xue?

Thinking of Qi Xue, Liu Qingyi felt another sharp pain in her heart, as if she had been pricked by a needle.

She felt like a discarded toy, having lost all value.

Seeing Liu Qingyi's distraught appearance, Qian Yu was secretly delighted, thinking that his opportunity had come. So he became even more attentive and urged her to drink: "President Liu, don't think too much. Come on, have another drink."

In the noisy banquet hall, Liu Qingyi mechanically raised her wine glass, one glass after another, as if trying to swallow all her troubles.

She didn't know how much she had drunk; she only felt that everything in front of her became blurry, and the sounds around her grew more and more distant. Finally, she lost consciousness and collapsed softly into Qian Yu's arms.

Inside the Bauhinia Pavilion, Liu Yunfei sat on the sofa, holding a glass of red wine, quietly waiting for Ye Feng's arrival.

The room was filled with a faint sandalwood scent, and several paintings and calligraphy works by famous artists hung on the walls, giving the room an antique feel and an elegant style.

Ye Feng pushed open the door and entered, and the waiter quietly closed it.

"Mr. Liu, you're in a good mood, choosing a place like this. Anyone who didn't know better would think you're keeping a mistress hidden away." Ye Feng's tone was slightly teasing as his gaze swept over the room's furnishings before finally settling on Liu Yunfei.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yunfei stood up with his signature smile on his face, walked up to Ye Feng, and gestured for him to sit down: "Mr. Ye, you're too kind. This is just a formality. Please, have a seat."

Ye Feng sat down on the sofa opposite Liu Yunfei, leaning back slightly, his posture languid but alert.

Liu Yunfei took a cigar from an exquisite wooden box and respectfully offered it to Ye Feng: "Brother Ye, would you like one?"

Ye Feng waved his hand: "No need, Mr. Liu, please speak frankly." Although his tone was calm, it carried an undeniable authority.

Liu Yunfei looked at Ye Feng, a barely perceptible glint in his eyes. He put the cigar back in the wooden box, lit one for himself, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled the smoke. Amidst the swirling smoke, his expression appeared somewhat inscrutable.

“Brother Ye is a straightforward man, so I won’t beat around the bush.” Liu Yunfei put down his cigar, leaned forward slightly, and stared intently at Ye Feng. “Regarding the film and television city project…”

Ye Feng listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously tapping the sofa armrest, making a soft "thump-thump" sound, each tap seeming to strike Liu Yunfei's heart.

The sandalwood scent in the room seemed stronger, mingling with the tobacco aroma of cigars to create a peculiar atmosphere that was both oppressive and tense.

Ye Feng's gaze was sharp as a knife, as if he could see through Liu Yunfei's thoughts.

"Regarding this matter, let's hold back for now and figure out a solution when the time is right. You don't need to worry about the rest."

Liu Yunfei nodded respectfully, indicating that he had kept it in mind.

An awkward atmosphere filled the air as Liu Yunfei slowly stood up, his attitude respectful.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now. Please make yourself at home."

Just as Liu Yunfei was about to get up, Ye Feng stopped him and turned to look at him.

"Go keep an eye on someone for me and see what he does tonight."