After being reborn, the aloof female CEO became a paranoid.

However, Xu Xinran in her arms did not let go; instead, she tightened her arms as if trying to embed Zhou Yu into her body.

"Zhou Yu, your performance just now showed me a different side of you. You were really cool."

Zhou Yu frowned, his tone devoid of any warmth, "Xu Xinran, let go! I'm going back."

He deliberately lowered his voice to avoid being overheard by passersby, but the determination in his eyes was as icy as ice.

The atmosphere inside the meeting room instantly became tense, and the two figures stood out clearly in the dim light.

Xu Xinran finally slowly loosened her grip, but her gaze remained tightly bound to Zhou Yu like chains, unwilling to relax even slightly.

She knew all too well what an exceptional man she had missed in her past life, and this time, she was determined to hold on tight.

"Brother Yu, the second half is about to start, are you ready yet?"

Outside the door, Mu Tianze's voice rang out at just the right moment, bringing a glimmer of hope to the stalemate.

Zhou Yu had intended to use this opportunity to escape, but Xu Xinran suddenly appeared and blocked the doorway, her smile carrying a hint of mockery and provocation.

"why are you laughing?"

Zhou Yu was somewhat annoyed. Was this woman mocking him?

"I'm laughing at you. You look so adorable, all anxious."

As she spoke, she grabbed Zhou Yu's hand again and cornered him without a word. Her warm lips then covered his lips, gentle and lingering, as if to melt away all his resistance in the kiss.

But Zhou Yu's heart was as hard as iron; he could only resist.

Xu Xinran finally let go of him and sighed, "Zhou Yu, what do I have to do for you to open your heart to me?"

Zhou Yu remained silent, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Just then, the competition organizer came outside looking for Xu Xinran. The stalemate between the two finally eased.

"Leave me? Don't even think about it in this lifetime." Xu Xinran's voice suddenly became obsessive. "Zhou Yu, whether in life or in death, you are mine."

Zhou Yu felt a wave of powerlessness wash over him.

In his past life, he willingly stayed by her side, content even if he could only watch her from afar. But now? Staying by her side has become a form of mutual torment.

"What are you doing? I still need to watch the game..." He tried to break free from her grasp.

"go home."

Xu Xinran gripped Zhou Yu's hand tightly, uttering two simple words that carried an undeniable force.

"No, I haven't..."

"The match is over, and there's nothing else going on with Mu Tianze."

She interrupted him, her tone tinged with displeasure: "You have completed your task. From now on, you belong to me."

Zhou Yu was torn; he really wanted to stay with Mu Tianze and wait for the result of the competition.

But looking into Xu Xinran's deep eyes, he ultimately chose to compromise.

He knew that if he didn't go with her, she might do something here that would leave him with no way to recover.

The two walked one after the other through the corridor to the parking lot.

Throughout the journey, Zhou Yu's face was gloomy, his gaze vacantly sweeping over the scenery rushing past the window, and he didn't want to say a word.

As soon as he stepped into the house, Xu Xinran pulled him into the room without saying a word, pushed him to the window, and made him sit down.

A faint smile played on her lips as she spoke softly, "Sit still, I have a special gift for you today."

In the past, Zhou Yu would have been overjoyed, but at this moment, his heart was as calm as a stagnant pool.

He saw Xu Xinran's transformation, but it didn't touch his heart.

The shadows of past lives are like nightmares, impossible to shake off.

Xu Xinran turned around, faced the easel, and with a few strokes, a portrait gradually took shape.

Her eyes shone with a light Zhou Yu had never seen before, causing him to be momentarily stunned. However, this momentary wavering was quickly covered by the icy chill of reason.

"Look, this is what I drew for you."

She gently turned the easel, revealing the portrait of Zhou Yu. A slight ripple stirred in his heart, only to be swept back to shore by the cold reality.

"Mr. Xu is truly multi-talented, but I am unworthy of this painting."

Zhou Yu's words were laced with sarcasm, and his gaze was cold.

"I just want to draw you, to draw the you in my heart." Xu Xinran's tone held a subtle sadness.

“But I don’t want you to draw me.” Zhou Yu’s tone was resolute. He turned to leave, but was stopped by Xu Xinran’s voice.

"Zhou Yu, is being with me really that painful for you?"

Her voice was low and trembling, as if she were questioning someone, or perhaps feeling sorry for herself.

He turned his back to her, remaining silent as if it were golden, refusing to answer this unsolvable question.

"How can I make you happy? Tell me, and I'll do anything for you."

Her voice was filled with helplessness and longing, yet she still received no response from Zhou Yu.

In the end, Xu Xinran had no choice but to leave. Zhou Yu lay in bed, closed his eyes, trying to shut out all his troubles, but found it difficult to fall asleep.

A sudden ringing of the telephone pulled him back to reality from his reverie.

It was already dark when he glanced at the time and realized that more than an hour had passed without him noticing.

It was Mu Tianze calling. The results of the match were in: they won!

"Brother Yu! We won... We got first place!"

Mu Tianze's excitement came through the telephone line and infected Zhou Yu.

"Well done, Tianze! You deserve it." Zhou Yu was genuinely happy for him.

"Brother Yu, you deserve credit for this too. Zhou Ze's face turned green, and he even questioned the fairness of the competition. He almost got kicked out, haha!"

Mu Tianze's hearty laughter cheered Zhou Yu up.

This scene was witnessed by Xu Xinran, who was standing by the door.

In this lifetime, she had never seen Zhou Yu laugh so heartily. The smile was so sincere and so dazzling, yet it was directed at anyone other than her.

Her heart ached slightly.