Tang Yueru sat by the window of Lu Shenyan's penthouse, watching the city blur beneath rainfall. Her phone lay silent beside her. The message from Zhou Linwei had been deleted. But not forgotten.
The past was clawing at the future — and this time, she wasn't sure if Lu Shenyan could shield her from the fallout.
Or if he even should.
---
At Lu Corporation headquarters, a storm brewed — not outside, but in the boardroom.
Twelve men in dark suits. One woman.
And one file folder sitting at the center of the long polished table like a live grenade.
The lead director tapped the folder. "Is this true?"
Lu Shenyan didn't blink. "That file is an illegally leaked draft. The marriage is real."
"It's a contract, Mr. Lu."
He didn't deny it.
Silence spread like a virus.
"We can't have a CEO embroiled in scandal during the merger," one man said.
"It raises questions about judgment," another muttered.
A third: "The shareholders are panicking. Our reputation—"
Shenyan raised a hand.
Just once.
Silence fell.
---
His voice was calm. Cold.
"If anyone here believes a personal matter will affect how I run this empire, then I'll have your resignation by end of day."
His gaze swept across the table.
No one spoke.
Because no one had the spine to challenge him — yet.
But the air had shifted.
Doubt was a whisper now. Soon, it would be a roar.
---
That night, Tang Yueru met him on the rooftop garden.
He didn't speak right away.
Instead, he handed her the folder.
She opened it.
Board Memo: Unauthorized Marriage Agreement Circulation – CEO Lu Shenyan
"It's official now," he said. "They know."
"And?"
"And they're watching. One mistake, and I'm out."
She closed the file gently.
"I never wanted to ruin you," she whispered.
"You didn't."
His voice dropped.
> "But this marriage might."
---
He turned to leave.
But she grabbed his hand.
"I won't be the reason you fall."
His eyes met hers.
"You're not," he said. "But the fact that I want to keep you… is."
Silence.
Thunder in the distance.
Yueru stepped forward.
"Then let me fall with you."
And before either could stop it—
She kissed him.
Not soft.
Not gentle.
This kiss burned.
Like everything she'd held back. Every fear, every denial, every moment she told herself it wasn't real.
And this time… he kissed her back.
As if all those walls he'd built had finally, finally cracked.
---