Fang Yaowei could not fathom what was happening. It was a sheet of white in his mind and the indifferent look on Chen Jinxuan’s face smothered him. What did all this mean? Did he lose Chen Jinxuan’s trust? Did he make a mistake?

“Xuan-ge…” Fang Yaowei muttered. In his eyes was a mix of many things. He stared unblinkingly at Chen Jinxuan, seeking for answer, seeking for consolation, and seeking for salvation. He found none.

“Mr. Fang, we are in the office.” Liu Mingsi reminded.

“Director Chen, I do not understand.” Fang Yaowei’s eyes were fixed on Chen Jinxuan. “Do you think I will commit the said crimes? Director Chen, like you, I have been working here for seven years. This company is as dear to me as it is to you.”

Chen Jinxuan sat motionlessly as he stared back at Fang Yaowei.

Fang Yaowei felt a tight squeeze on his heart, suffocating him. Anger and disappointment got a hold of him. He could not comprehend what Chen Jinxuan meant by this. Was six years of commitment not enough to earn Chen Jinxuan’s trust? Was the six years of companionship for naught? Had he always been mistaking Chen Jinxuan for a man when in truth, he was made of ice?

Why didn’t he talk to me beforehand? To prepare a demand letter… Why didn’t he give me a chance to justify myself?

Liu Mingsi took another folder from her briefcase and laid the content out. “We have an accountant firm to calculate the inflow and outflow from all projects tracing to two years ago. We discovered there was an imbalance compared to the financial report that you submitted.”

“There must be a misunderstanding, lawyer Liu—”

“Are these not your signatures?”

“I—” Fang Yaowei shifted his eyes from Chen Jinxuan to look at the laid-out documents. He skimmed them and saw they were indeed his signatures. They were proof that he was the person in charge of the projects Xiuyan Real Estate had in the past two years. He could not wrap his mind around this. Was he being investigated in secret? Did Chen Jinxuan order an internal investigation on him? On him?

Has our bond always been so fragile? Does he have not an ounce of trust for me? What about the warmth we shared the past week? Was it all a lie too? Fang Yaowei felt everything in his sight spin and his breathing became shallow.

Seeing that there was nothing but astonishment on Fang Yaowei’s face, Liu Mingsi pushed one of the documents forward. “We conducted an investigation into your bank account and found there were multiple transfers to-and-from someone named Ning Jinhai and Fang Ronghua.”

“I believe the reason why your mother rushed you to buy a condominium is not because she wants to boast to her neighbours. It is because she has never held so much money that she feels unsettled, am I wrong?” Chen Jinxuan finally spoke.  There was no change of expression. His voice sounded distant and foreign, so cold that it sent shivers down Fang Yaowei’s spine.

Fang Yaowei subconsciously grasped the hem of his blazer, looking at Chen Jinxuan with disbelief. The look on his face twisted. “Why are you doing this, Xuan-ge? You know me… I will never do this. There must be a misunderstanding!”

“Will you admit to the accusations?” Liu Mingsi straightened her back, tilting her chin slightly.

“Of course, no. These data can be falsified—”

“Just like how you falsified many of the account books?” Liu Mingsi retorted.

Fang Yaowei glared at the lawyer, but he could not make any argument. He clenched his fists as he gritted his teeth. “I will not accept this. Xiuyan Real Estate is as important to me as it is to you, Director Chen. I will never harm my own future.”

“Future…?”

Fang Yaowei glanced at Liu Mingsi whose face remained stoic. He turned his gaze back to Chen Jinxuan and said, “Our future.”

Chen Jinxuan gestured towards Liu Mingsi. She procured an envelope from her briefcase and handed it to the CEO.

Seeing that envelope, Fang Yaowei’s scalp went numb. He had a bad feeling.

Next moment, Chen Jinxuan took a heap of photos from that envelope and tossed them on the table, scattering them all over. Fang Yaowei was seen in those photos with a man. It was the man he was seen going to the supermarket with. “Ning Jinhai… Jin-ge?”

Fang Yaowei was aghast. His mouth became dry. “You… You stalked me?!”

Chen Jinxuan shifted in his seat so that he could lean his elbows on his knees. He picked one of the photos and showed it to Fang Yaowei, pointing at the date. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known that you have been lying to me since last year February 13th.”

“These photos do not prove anything. He is just a college friend. The one I told you about.” Fang Yaowei seized Chen Jinxuan’s hand, pulling it close to his chest. “The one I love is you, Xuan-ge. Have I not shown it through the past six years? Xuan-ge, we have been together for six years. Do they mean nothing to you?”

As if he made contact with fire, Chen Jinxuan yanked his hand back. As a result, the photo was ripped in two. Two leaves of the photo fluttered as it fell onto the floor.

Chen Jinxuan sighed as he shut his eyes. “When will you stop pretending?”

“Xuan-ge?”

“You think you can fool me easily?” Chen Jinxuan opened his eyes, frowning at Fang Yaowei.

“Xuan-ge, listen to me. I am certain there are other photos of me with someone else. Xuan-ge, I was only hanging out with my friends! You can’t condemn me just by the frequency I meet with Ning Jinhai!” Fang Yaowei subconsciously leaned forward, looking at Chen Jinxuan with desperation. However, when he saw no turbulence on Chen Jinxuan’s expression, he knew there was no use of explaining. Chen Jinxuan would not believe a word from him.

Fang Yaowei raked his hair with his fingers in frustration. He huffed a heavy sigh before he scoffed, “You treat me indifferently… I did my best. I gave my everything. I chased after you every day but what do I get in return? All I get is your tempting yet cold face. I want to be with you in all seriousness, but you do not even have the courage to admit it to your father! Even your sister is looking down on me… I look for someone else, is it wrong? If we do not have a future together, why must we torture ourselves with meaningless companionship? Have you considered my feelings?”

“How did you know I never mentioned to my parents about you?” Chen Jinxuan’s frown eased, returning to his stoic face.

“…You did?” Fang Yaowei raised his head.

“I was supposed to.”

“Then… What about your older brother? What about your sister?” Seeing a straw of hope, Fang Yaowei missed no chance to chase after it.

Unfortunately, Chen Jinxuan would not allow it. “You think you have the right to ask?”

“Xuan-ge… If we truly have a future together, I will immediately leave him and go with you! Xuan-ge, tell me, do we have a future? Can we truly be together?”

Chen Jinxuan could not help but chuckle at Fang Yaowei’s remarks. He snarled, “Fang Yaowei, do you not think that you are funny? You want to dump him the way you dump me? When our relationship meets problems in the future, will you once again dump me to be with him?”

Fang Yaowei frowned as tears welled up his eyes. “…Xuan-ge, the one I love is you. He is nothing but–”

“Nothing?” Chen Jinxuan took a deep breath. “Last year February thirteenth, I initially planned to confess to my family about our relationship. Whether we were acknowledged or rejected, I planned to take you overseas to get married.” 

“You were busy going outside that day and refused to meet the elders with me. On that day, I saw these photos…” Chen Jinxuan spoke calmly and firmly. He cast his eyes downward, avoiding Fang Yaowei’s pleading eyes. 

Unable to hold the overwhelming emotions in, Fang Yaowei stood up abruptly. “You told someone to stalk me and you have the nerve to lecture me?! How upright do you think you are?”

“You think no one will know that you have been warming someone else’s bed?” Chen Jinxuan scoffed as he leaned forward. He took out the red flash drive and connected it to his notebook. A few clicks later, he turned the notebook around and a video played.

Fang Yaowei went mute when he saw the image of a familiar bedroom. It was the bedroom in Chen Jinxuan’s condominium. Seeing two men entering the bedroom, Fang Yaowei’s legs went numb as he fell back onto the sofa. 

‘Ah… Jin-ge, you are so tight… Relax.’

‘Yaowei, slow down… Fuck, how long have you endured this to… be this wild?’

‘That Jin-ge… He has been busy and he hasn't been satisfying me at all... One round is all he gives. Ugh, I’m telling you to relax. I can’t go in. Raise your buttocks.’

‘Ah! Ugh… ah!”’

Amorous groans and moans rang from the notebook computer, filling the office with air of indecency. However, there was no reaction coming from Chen Jinxuan nor from the lawyer. The screen turned black when the video ended and subsequently, another video continued. This time, it was the living room.

Two men touched each other ardently as they fell onto the sofa. It did not take long for them to toss away their attires and start their physical intercourse. In between gasps of hot air, they conversed.

“Will he not catch us like this?”

“No… He will be away until night. We have plenty of time to enjoy ourselves…”

“You promised me to… buy an apartment for me… When will you fulfil it? Ah! Slow down.”

“Stop asking questions. Next year… When the executive apartment project is done, I can easily get one for you.”

Fang Yaowei slammed the notebook shut. Breathing heavily, he growled. “You… You are watching my every move?!” 

Chen Jinxuan shrugged. The unconcerned look on Chen Jinxuan sparked the rage in Fang Yaowei. Fang Yaowei rose from his seat once again and stomped towards Chen Jinxuan, grasping the CEO by his collar. “Are you mad?!”

“Mr. Fang, please watch your conduct. We can add physical assault into the allegation and increase the amount of fine or years in prison.” Liu Mingsi warned as she stepped in between them, peeling away Fang Yaowei’s hands.

Fang Yaowei grimaced as he let go reluctantly.

Chen Jinxuan tidied up his collars, “You think you are the only one lovesick? You think you are the only one who gave it all?”

Fang Yaowei subconsciously took a few paces backward. “Xuan-ge, it does not make any sense… If you love me so much, why are you doing this? Why won’t you let me go, give me a chance? Xuan-ge, I am wrong! Forgive me, will you?”

“You think you deserve it?” Chen Jinxuan crossed a leg over the other as he tilted his chin. “I thought it was enough for me to be the embarrassing and pathetic one among us in front of my family. This is originally my family affairs; you should not shoulder this burden… Alas…”

Fang Yaowei went on his knees hastily. He crawled to Chen Jinxuan’s feet. “Xuan-ge! Xuan-ge… forgive me, will you? Can we go back? I swear I will not make any mistakes! Xuan-ge, there is no need for all this because we love each other.”

It was that feeling again. The numbness that always surfaced in his heart whenever he faced his father. This numbness had never appeared when he faced Fang Yaowei because he had been the one to dispel the numbing sensation. He used to be the source of solace, but no more. This time the numbness emerged from the depth of his heart alongside grave disappointment.

“Xuan-ge, tell me. What do I need to do for you to forgive me… tell me!” Tears poured from Fang Yaowei’s eyes. He tried to wipe them off, but they kept blurring his vision. His lips trembled as he begged. He held onto Chen Jinxuan’s hand, rubbing his cheek to the warm palm.

“Give me the five percent of shares that you own.” When Chen Jinxuan said so, Fang Yaowei’s shoulders drooped down. As if there were boulders on him, he staggered as he got back on his feet.

“Dream on!” Fang Yaowei hissed. “It is what I earned through my blood and sweat.”

“Through illegal means?” Chen Jinxuan smiled. The smile was rare and sincere, but to Fang Yaowei, it was the greatest derision. The image was etched into his mind, he found Chen Jinxuan exceptionally blinding. If only it was a smile shown on a different occasion…

“These data are not true. These papers do not prove anything… I may have been disloyal to you, but I have not committed any crimes!” Fang Yaowei barked. Subsequently, he softened his tone and expression, “Xuan-ge, I will not accept this. You cannot leave me.”

Chen Jinxuan threw a glance at Liu Mingsi who procured a thick hole-punch folder with detailed records of the bookkeeping for the last two years. Liu Mingsi explained, “These are the proofs of revenue embezzlement, falsifying book accounts and money laundering you committed, Mr. Fang. You may take your time identifying them.”

Fang Yaowei scowled, “Chen Jinxuan!”

“If you want to make excuses, tell them to the court. Either way, you cannot stay, and you cannot keep your five percent share.” Chen Jinxuan stood up and took two ring boxes out of his pockets, putting them forward to Fang Yaowei. “These are my gifts to bless you and your Jin-ge for your future engagement.”

Fang Yaowei slapped his hands, letting the rings fall out of its boxes. Disbelief was plastered on his face. He did not think that Chen Jinxuan would be this undisturbed. He did not think Chen Jinxuan would be this calm in this situation.  “I do not need it.”

He did not need it. He did not need Chen Jinxuan’s blessing for his infidelity because not only was it a derision to him, but it was also a knife to his heart. He may have been unfaithful, but he truly loved Chen Jinxuan. He thought he could be forgiven because he knew for sure Chen Jinxuan loved him as much as he did. He thought he could be given another chance to compensate for his mistakes. Who wouldn’t make mistakes in their life? Did he not deserve any chance to redeem himself?

“I give you three weeks to transfer your work to your deputy and transfer your five percent share to me. After that, you can leave.”

With agony in his eyes, Fang Yaowei set his eyes on Chen Jinxuan. “Xuan-ge, do you not want me anymore?”

Chen Jinxuan bent down to pick up the fallen rings. He pulled Fang Yaowei’s hand and placed the platinum rings in his palm. “No, I don’t.”