The banquet continued to glow around them, golden light reflecting off crystal chandeliers and polished marble floors. To everyone else, it was simply another night of networking and exchanging polite smiles.
For Gu Anqi, it felt like walking through a minefield while pretending to be calm. For Shen Zhi, it felt like trying to maintain composure while his attention kept drifting toward someone he should not be looking at.
Shen Zhi had resumed his conversation with the chairman, but his eyes betrayed him every few minutes. They shifted, almost involuntarily, toward the corner where Gu Anqi stood with Li Feng. He tried to ignore it. He tried to focus on business. He tried to remind himself that she was merely a stranger who had fallen into him. None of it worked.
Li Feng handed her a small dessert with a polite smile. She accepted it with shy gratitude. She nearly dropped it, caught it in a panic, apologized, laughed nervously, and wiped her fingers on a napkin. Shen Zhi watched the entire sequence without meaning to. His jaw tightened when Li Feng chuckled at her nervousness.
It irritated him.
He did not understand why.
He only knew that it did.
Xu Chen continued to speak quietly beside him. Shen Zhi heard none of it.
On the other side of the hall, Anqi felt Shen Zhi's gaze again. It was impossible to miss. His attention felt like a physical presence, subtle yet unmistakable. Each time she glanced his way, his eyes were already on her. She looked away quickly each time, cheeks warm with something she refused to analyze.
Li Feng continued his conversation, unaware of the storm brewing across the hall. He pointed toward a decorative ice sculpture near the buffet.
"They spent weeks sculpting that. It looks impressive, but I bet it will melt before the night ends. Just like my confidence when talking to attractive women."
Anqi choked on air. She coughed and waved her hand in embarrassment. "Please do not say things like that. My heart cannot handle it."
Li Feng laughed. His smile was bright and genuine. "You are easy to fluster. I think it is charming."
Shen Zhi's fingers curled.
Several guests noticed his reaction.
One whispered to her friend. "He looks bothered. This is incredible."
Another murmured. "The young man should run. He has no idea he is standing in front of a volcano."
Meanwhile, Gu Yuwei approached Shen Zhi with careful grace. She had reapplied her lipstick and reset her expression into one of poised sweetness.
"President Shen, the media will arrive shortly. May I escort you? There are several guests who wish to greet you personally."
Shen Zhi did not even look at her. He replied without hesitation. "No. I am occupied."
Her smile froze. "Occupied with what?"
He did not answer. He did not need to. His gaze drifted again toward Anqi, and Yuwei followed it. The moment she saw where he was looking, her expression cracked with thinly veiled irritation.
For the first time in her life, Gu Yuwei felt overshadowed inside her own home by her sister who she always considered a loser. A girl in a simple dress. A girl she had always dismissed. A girl her mother tried to hide. She could not accept it.
She spoke softly, almost too softly. "President Shen, she is not suitable for your attention. She is not used to high society. She tends to embarrass herself."
Shen Zhi's eyes flicked toward Yuwei with a coldness that made her fall silent.
"She is doing nothing wrong," he said.
Yuwei lowered her gaze, hiding her resentment.
Li Feng continued chatting with Anqi, growing more animated the more comfortable she became. She found herself laughing without worry. No family watching her. No criticisms. Just simple, harmless conversation.
"I want to start my own company someday," Li Feng said. "I was inspired by President Shen actually. He built an empire so young. Though I suspect he does not smile much."
That made Anqi smile. "He looks like he rarely smiles."
"You think so too? At least we agree on something."
They shared another light laugh.
Shen Zhi saw it.
The chairman approached again with excitement. "President Shen, we would like you to meet the Minister of Finance. He is very eager to discuss a partnership with your foundation."
Shen Zhi nodded politely, but his attention wandered again.
He saw Li Feng leaning in slightly. He saw Anqi laugh softly. He saw her tuck a strand of brown hair behind her ear with a shy gesture. Something inside him shifted with unfamiliar heat.
Xu Chen noticed. His voice dropped to a whisper. "Sir, you are staring. People will notice."
"I am simply observing."
"Observing one person repeatedly is not observing, it is focusing."
Shen Zhi did not respond because he knew Xu Chen was right.
Meanwhile, Anqi was oblivious to the building storm. She was simply enjoying a few minutes of normal conversation. She told Li Feng about her small streaming hobby. He seemed genuinely interested.
"So you play games?" he asked.
"Mostly badly," she admitted. "But people like watching me fail. It boosts their confidence."
He laughed. "I would watch."
She blushed. "You say that now, but when you realize I cannot survive the tutorial stage, you may cry."
Li Feng smiled warmly. "I think I would enjoy it regardless."
Anqi hid her face behind her hands for a moment, overwhelmed.
That was exactly when someone bumped into her intentionally.
Gu Yuwei.
She stood there with a polite smile plastered across her lips, but the edge in her eyes was unmistakable.
"Anqi. How interesting to see you speaking so freely with our guests. Remember to behave yourself. This is not your streaming room. Do not embarrass the family."
Anqi froze, her blush collapsing into dread.
Li Feng frowned. "She is not embarrassing anyone. We were just talking."
Yuwei ignored him. She reached out to adjust a non-existent wrinkle on Anqi's dress. Her touch was gentle but humiliating.
"Do not forget your place. People are watching."
Shen Zhi saw it.
He excused himself from the chairman without offering a reason. His steps were quiet but purposeful. Guests parted naturally as he walked, his presence creating space around him. The crowd fell silent when they realized he was moving toward something. Or rather, toward someone.
Yuwei straightened excitedly when she noticed him approaching. She lifted her chin, preparing her sweetest smile.
"President Shen, I was just assisting my sister—"
"No."
The single word froze her in place.
He stepped between them, positioning himself in front of Anqi without touching her. He did not raise his voice. He did not glare. Yet the atmosphere around him shifted into something powerful and protective.
His eyes rested on Yuwei.
"Do not speak to her like that."
Yuwei opened her mouth, stunned. "I only meant to remind—"
His gaze sharpened.
"Do not."
The rejection was so clear that several guests exhaled at once. Yuwei stepped back, face pale.
Shen Zhi finally turned to Anqi.
"Are you alright."
Anqi stared at him, stunned. Her voice came out very small. "Yes. I am alright."
Li Feng watched silently, trying to understand the sudden tension. He recognized Shen Zhi, of course, but he did not understand the dynamic. He glanced between them, confused.
Shen Zhi noticed him. His attention shifted for a moment, eyes assessing, calm but firm.
"Did he distress you," he asked Anqi softly.
She shook her head fiercely. "No. He did nothing wrong. He was kind."
Shen Zhi held her gaze for a moment. He accepted her answer, but not happily.
Li Feng stepped forward. "President Shen. I apologize if I approached without permission. I only wished to keep Miss Gu company."
Shen Zhi's tone remained polite, but cold enough to chill the air.
"You have kept her company long enough."
Li Feng blinked. Then he smiled slightly in understanding. "I see."
He excused himself gracefully, leaving the two of them standing in the center of a hall filled with whispers.
Anqi suddenly felt the weight of all the attention. She looked down, cheeks flushing again.
Shen Zhi spoke quietly.
"You are shaking."
"I am overwhelmed," she admitted.
He lowered his head slightly to meet her eyes. "You did nothing wrong."
His voice was steady. Warm in a way it had never been for anyone else.
Anqi swallowed. Something in her chest softened.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Shen Zhi straightened. His gloved hand twitched slightly, as if he wanted to touch her but stopped himself. His expression shifted for the briefest moment, as though he was fighting something unfamiliar inside him.
"Stay where I can see you," he said quietly.
She blinked. "Why?"
He looked away for a moment before returning his gaze to hers.
Because I do not like it when other men stand close to you.
Because I do not know why I feel this way.
Because I am not ready to let you out of my sight.
None of those were spoken aloud.
Instead, he said, "It is crowded. It would be safer."
Anqi nodded gently. "I understand."
She did not understand.
Not really.
But her heart understood enough.
And across the hall, people whispered with excitement.
He is protecting her.
He is jealous.
He is attached.
This is no longer an accident.
Something is happening.
Shen Zhi stood beside her. Not touching, yet impossibly close.
And for the first time all night, he felt calm.
Something had begun.
Something he could not name.
Something neither of them were prepared for.
Something that would change everything.