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

Liu Qingyi abruptly stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked out at the brightly lit city. She clenched her fists, her eyes flashing with unwavering determination. No matter what, she would fight with all her might to protect the Jinxiu Group! Even if there was an abyss ahead, she would never back down!

Liu Qingyi dialed one last number, only to receive another polite but cold rejection. The dial tone on the other end was jarring, like hammer blows to her already taut nerves. She slumped onto the table, the smooth metal casing making a dull thud on the surface—a sound that, to her, was like the death knell for the Jinxiu Group.

The cold air from the office air conditioner brushed against her cheeks, but it couldn't cool the burning anxiety in her heart. She irritably tugged at her collar; the expensive silk shirt now felt like rough linen, rubbing against her skin and causing her a stinging sensation.

"Still busy?" Su Hao's voice came from the doorway, tinged with a hint of nonchalance.

Liu Qingyi looked up abruptly and saw Su Hao leaning against the doorframe, a mocking smile on his face. He was still wearing that well-tailored suit, his hair was perfectly styled, and he looked radiant, a stark contrast to her disheveled state.

"You still have the mind to dress up?" Liu Qingyi's tone was icy, carrying a hint of suppressed anger.

Su Hao shrugged, walked in, and casually picked up a crystal ornament from the table, playing with it nonchalantly. "This isn't about dressing up; it's about respecting your work." He paused, his tone becoming slightly sarcastic. "Unlike some people who are so busy they don't even care about their appearance."

Liu Qingyi clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles turning white, her nails almost digging into her flesh. She took a deep breath, trying to control her emotions. "Is this the time for sarcastic remarks? The company is about to go bankrupt!"

"Bankruptcy?" Su Hao chuckled, as if he had heard a joke. "President Liu, you are the president of Jinxiu Group. How can you say such discouraging things?"

"You!" Liu Qingyi stood up abruptly, pointing at Su Hao, her chest heaving violently. "Besides making sarcastic remarks, what else can you do? Have you ever thought of a solution for me? Have you ever done anything useful?"

Su Hao put down the crystal ornament in his hand, his smile vanishing and replaced by a cold indifference. "Why should I help? If the company goes bankrupt, I can just find another one. It won't cost me anything."

His words struck Liu Qingyi like a thunderbolt. She stared in disbelief at the man before her, the man she had once trusted and even relied on, who was now uttering such cold and heartless words.

“You…” Liu Qingyi felt a lump in her throat, unable to speak. She slumped back into her chair, leaning weakly against the backrest, and closed her eyes. The office was silent, save for the hum of the air conditioner and Su Hao’s soft breathing.

Su Hao watched Liu Qingyi's retreating figure, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He walked up to her, looking down at her, his tone icy. "Liu Qingyi, I told you long ago not to put all your eggs in one basket. You wouldn't listen, and now look what's happened: Baye Group has withdrawn its investment, Qi Xue has terminated her contract, and Jinxiu Group is on the verge of collapse. Who can you blame?"

Liu Qingyi suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze filled with pain and despair. She looked at Su Hao, her lips trembling, but she couldn't say a word.

Su Hao turned to leave, but stopped at the door, his back to Liu Qingyi, his tone icy. "You'd better watch yourself."

The office door closed again with a soft click. The sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet office, like the last straw that broke the camel's back, completely shattering Liu Qingyi's last glimmer of hope.

She slumped helplessly into the chair, tears streaming silently down her face, staining the cold desk. An atmosphere of despair filled the office, like a gaping black hole swallowing her whole.

Liu Zhengfei stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the bustling city below. As night fell, the lights of countless homes shone like scattered stars. He turned and respectfully handed a document to Ye Feng, who was seated on a black leather sofa. "Mr. Ye, this is detailed information about Jinxiu Group and the industrial layout of Baye Group."

Ye Feng took the documents, his long, slender fingers flipping through them, his eyes deep and unfathomable. The office was filled with the faint aroma of cigars mixed with the scent of leather, creating a calm and reserved atmosphere.

“Baye Group…” Ye Feng murmured, his gaze falling on the dense text and charts on the document. Every investment, every project, demonstrated the formidable strength of Baye Group. “It seems Liu Qingyi still underestimated me.” A barely perceptible smile curved his lips, his tone tinged with coldness.

Liu Zhengfei nodded slightly and added, "Baye Group's reach extends to every field, from real estate to finance, from technology to entertainment; there's almost no industry we don't operate in. Jinxiu Group is like a drop in the ocean compared to Baye." He paused, observing Ye Feng's expression, and continued, "Withdrawing investment is only the first step. Next, I will make Liu Qingyi fully understand what a vast business empire she is facing."

Ye Feng closed the file and placed it on the coffee table with a soft click. He stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and gazed at the dazzling night view, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. "Has the matter of Captain Zhao's daughter been arranged?"

“Everything has been arranged. She can register at the art school tomorrow, and we will cover all the expenses,” Liu Zhengfei replied respectfully.

Ye Feng nodded, a barely perceptible hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes. "Don't let anyone know about this, especially Captain Zhao."

"Understood," Liu Zhengfei said in a low voice.

Meanwhile, a grand fashion gala was underway. Qi Xue, dressed in a dazzling gown, stood elegantly under the spotlight, facing questions from numerous reporters.

"Ms. Qi Xue, is your sudden termination of your endorsement contract with Jinxiu Group due to Mr. Ye Feng?" a reporter boldly asked.

Qi Xue smiled slightly, her eyes firm and composed. "My decision has nothing to do with anyone else; it's purely for personal reasons. My cooperation with Jinxiu Group has always been pleasant, but now I need to focus more on my acting career." She paused, her tone becoming more serious, "I hope everyone won't overinterpret or speculate." She glanced at the camera, as if conveying a message to someone, "Mr. Ye Feng is a respectable friend, and I don't want anyone to misunderstand him because of this."