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

After saying that, Jiang Qi turned around and left the R&D department with a flourish, leaving Mu Tianze standing there with a helpless expression.

Zhou Yu's gaze swept around the empty office before he realized that Zhou Ze was not there.

"Where's Zhou Ze? Why didn't that kid come today?" he asked casually, his tone tinged with doubt.

"I heard he took leave. Maybe he lost to us in the last competition and felt embarrassed, so he's avoiding it."

Mu Tianze wore a smug look, a victor's smile playing on his lips. "But then again, with his mediocre skills, it was expected that he would lose to us. We're an invincible duo, who can compare?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu smiled faintly, but a deep look flashed in his eyes.

His understanding of Zhou Ze far surpassed that of Mu Tianze, and he knew that this kid would never easily admit defeat.

"Zhou Ze is not as simple as you think. You'd better be careful when dealing with him in the future."

Zhou Yu earnestly advised him, as the grudges from their past life made him more wary of Zhou Ze.

Mu Tianze patted Zhou Yu on the shoulder and laughed, "Don't worry, Brother Yu, I'll be careful. You deserve a lot of credit for winning this competition. How about... I give you my opportunity to study abroad?"

Mu Tianze's words carried a hint of sincerity, but also a touch of selfishness—he really didn't want to go abroad with Jiang Qi.

But more than anything, he wanted Zhou Yu to also enjoy the fruits of victory.

Zhou Yu shook his head gently, a hint of indifference in his eyes.

"No, you should go. You missed the opportunity to study abroad because you came to New Generation. This is a rare opportunity to study and exchange ideas, so you should cherish it."

Knowing Zhou Yu's temperament, Mu Tianze didn't insist any further and nodded, saying, "Don't worry, I will definitely make the most of it."

Zhou Yu nodded, but a hint of bitterness flashed in his eyes.

He envied Mu Tianze for being able to pursue his dreams without any constraints, while he himself... was tightly bound by the shackles of reality.

Thinking of Xu Xinran, and of his current identity and situation, Zhou Yu felt a deep sense of helplessness and despair.

Perhaps, this is the only way I can live my life in this torment.

Mu Tianze looked at Zhou Yu in silence, and his worry deepened.

"Brother Yu, this marriage between you and President Xu... do you not want to go through with it?" he asked cautiously, afraid of touching Zhou Yu's sore spot.

Upon hearing this question, Zhou Yu's lips curled into a self-deprecating smile.

"What can you do if you don't want to get married? We've already got the marriage certificate, and that's an unchangeable fact. Go to work, I don't want to discuss this anymore."

Seeing that Zhou Yu was unwilling to bring it up again, Mu Tianze could only sigh helplessly and return to his workstation.

The morning passed quickly. Zhou Yu didn't have much work to do, mostly just finishing up trivial matters, which allowed him to enjoy a moment of peace.

Just as he was about to go out for lunch with Mu Tianze, the door to the R&D department was gently pushed open, and Xu Xinran walked in.

Zhou Yu frowned, and gasps of surprise rose and fell from his colleagues.

Xu Xinran walked straight up to him, her gaze gentle and tender, and the envy of those around her was palpable.

Let's go have lunch together.

Xu Xinran's voice is clear and cool yet gentle, as if it has a kind of magic that can bewitch people's hearts.

However, Zhou Yu showed no surprise on his face; the sweetness that should have been present on a newlywed couple was nowhere to be seen.

Xu Xinran was already used to this, and her beautiful eyes always held a smile.

She noticed that one side of Zhou Yu's hair was sticking up, and naturally reached out to gently smooth it down.

This gentle gesture drew envy from the male colleagues around him, but Mu Tianze read a different message into it.

As Zhou Yu's friend of many years, he keenly sensed Zhou Yu's resistance to Xu Xinran.

Recalling Zhou Yu's words in the elevator, Mu Tianze's heart couldn't help but stir.

Amidst envious glances from the crowd, Zhou Yu and Xu Xinran left the R&D department together.

Xu Xinran had booked a French restaurant with a romantic atmosphere. The ambiance was elegant, and the air was filled with the scent of bamboo that Zhou Yu liked.

But no matter how elegant the environment or how delicious the food, Zhou Yu couldn't muster any appetite when faced with a woman he found repulsive.

After the two sat down, the waiter placed the lunch they had ordered in advance on the table.

Xu Xinran skillfully cut the steak for Zhou Yu and placed it in front of him.

However, Zhou Yu merely glanced at it indifferently, showing no intention of picking up his chopsticks, silently rejecting the other party's gesture of goodwill.

Xu Xinran was not angered by this, and a gentle smile remained on her lips.

She sipped her red wine gracefully, her red lips parting slightly: "Xiao Chuan has recently become very interested in painting. He knows you can, so he wants to learn from you. If you have time, you can teach him."

Zhou Yu's expression was indifferent, but his tone carried a hint of aloofness.

"I'm not a professional teacher and I'm not qualified to teach him. You should find him a professional teacher."

Xu Xinran raised an eyebrow slightly: "The little guy usually loves to pester you and insists that you teach him. Can you really bear to refuse him?"

Zhou Yu's hand holding the knife and fork paused slightly as the image of Xiao Chuan's innocent face flashed through his mind. Thinking of Xiao Chuan's tragic end in his past life, a pang of pity flickered in his eyes.

Xu Xinran had been secretly observing Zhou Yu's changing expression. When she saw the hint of heartache in his eyes, she knew she had won her gamble again.

It seems that Xiao Chuan, Zhou Yu's brother-in-law, holds a much more important place in his heart than his wife.

"Next week I will have the driver pick up Xiaochuan from the kindergarten and take him home. Let him spend some quality time with you."

After hesitating for a moment, Zhou Yu nodded.

Perhaps with Xiao Chuan around, he could spend less time alone with Xu Xinran.

……

At the same time, at the exit of Yuncheng International Airport, a stunningly beautiful woman wearing a trench coat and with long, flowing hair slowly walked out.

She had delicate features, fair skin, and a curvaceous figure, which attracted the attention of passersby.

The men who passed by couldn't help but steal a few more glances, secretly admiring the sight.

But the woman seemed to be used to such stares. A faint smile appeared on her lips, but her eyes held an imperceptible coldness and arrogance that inspired awe and made people hesitant to approach her.

Suddenly, she stopped, took out her phone, and answered a call: "Father."

"Don't worry, I will definitely bring him to your side when I come back this time."

Her words were resolute and domineering, as if no hardship or obstacle could deter her determination.

After hanging up the phone, her beautiful eyes gazed ahead, and the corners of her lips turned up slightly again, as if she were expecting something.

"Zhou Yu, I'm here."