Chapter 39: Working for Someone Else’s Love

As the day drew to a close, Yu Ling instructed Zhou Yan to take everyone directly to her place. After providing the address, she struck up a casual conversation with him.

"Li Wan must have spoken to you about signing with Huanxing, right?"

"She has. I look forward to our collaboration."

"Huanxing welcomes you as well."

Every word exchanged between them was marked by a single quality: officialdom. After that, they remained silent for the rest of the journey. As the familiar neighborhood buildings came into view, Yu Ling seized the moment and asked deliberately, "What exactly is your relationship with Qiuqiu..."

She left the sentence trailing, intentionally creating a vast space for speculation, hoping to test Zhou Yan’s reaction. The air thickened for a moment. Privately, Zhou Yan desperately wanted to tell Yu Ling about his relationship with Qiuqiu, but his reason reminded him that he shouldn't disclose their past to her friend without Qiuqiu's consent. After three years of separation, the daily grind of longing and regret had long since worn away his youthful recklessness.

Zhou Yan offered a bitter smile and said, "You’d better wait for Qiuqiu to wake up and ask her yourself."

Yu Ling pursed her lips, choosing not to press further. Soon, the car reached its destination.

"Thank you, Brother Zhou. Sorry for the trouble tonight."

Zhou Yan shook his head. "It’s nothing. Get her upstairs quickly; it’s chilly out."

"What about you?" Yu Ling offered him her car keys. "Why don't you drive my car back? I won't be needing it for the next few days."

Zhou Yan declined. "No need. My friend is already on his way to pick me up."

Yu Ling gave a soft "Oh" and did not insist. "Alright, then."

Just as she was about to step away, her eyes caught the suit jacket draped over Cheng Suqiu’s shoulders. "Brother Zhou, the jacket..."

"Let her keep it on."

With that, Zhou Yan turned and vanished into the boundless night. Yu Ling’s words remained unspoken, lost in the cool breeze of the summer evening. She had wanted to ask if his friend was Chi Ran, as she had always felt she owed him a face-to-face thank you. But Zhou Yan hadn't given her the chance, and the timing didn't seem right anyway.

Cheng Suqiu’s body was hanging precariously over the side, looking as if she might tip over at any second. Yu Ling sighed. Never mind; she would settle this heartbroken drunk first.

***

Zhou Yan lit a cigarette and squatted by a flower bed, waiting for Chi Ran. A man at night, looking decadent, smoking alone—the combination made him feel like a pitiful, homeless soul.

His first meeting with Cheng Suqiu had been through Chi Ran. At the time, Cheng Suqiu worked at a magazine, while Zhou Yan had already spent two years working alongside Chi Ran in the industry, firmly establishing his position. The magazine had a photoshoot contract with Chi Ran; Zhou Yan went to discuss the details, and Cheng Suqiu was the one assigned to the project.

From the first moment he saw her, Zhou Yan thought: This girl is meant for the entertainment industry. She appeared soft and delicate, yet when she spoke and reasoned, she was sharp, capable, and full of poise. When a woman possesses both beauty and wisdom, it is only natural for a man to be drawn to her.

Of the two, Zhou Yan was the first to fall. He pursued her for three years, slowly melting the iceberg that was Cheng Suqiu into a gentle, clear spring. But it was also Zhou Yan who retreated first.

When Cheng Suqiu was twenty-five, he was twenty-seven. That year, she received an offer she had dreamed of—from far-off Paris. Meanwhile, Zhou Yan was being ordered by his grandfather to go on blind dates and marry to carry on the family line. The old man was ill and only wanted to see his eldest grandson settled before he passed.

At that time, Zhou Yan could feel Cheng Suqiu’s heart slowly drawing closer to his, and naturally, he was unwilling to let go. Yet, his grandfather had treated him with nothing but kindness since childhood, and he couldn't bring himself to refuse. He had considered introducing Cheng Suqiu to his grandfather, but the fact remained that she was going to Paris. Zhou Yan never believed he could make her change her mind, and, of course, he had never truly wanted to.

He was three years older than her and held a high position; he felt he should be the more mature one. He fretted over every outcome, but fate had other plans, and things eventually spiraled in a direction he could not control.

The cigarette burned down quickly. Lost in thought, Zhou Yan only snapped back to reality when the embers scorched his fingertips. He released the cigarette, watching the sparks flicker in the air before landing on the ground. He rubbed his stinging fingers, stood up, and crushed the butt. Just as he pulled out his pack to light another, the glare of headlights forced him to squint.

The lights were blinding. He raised a hand to shield his eyes. The car stopped, and the person inside rolled down the window an inch.

"Get in." Chi Ran looked at him with an expressionless face, a faint trace of impatience in his brow.

Zhou Yan didn't dare dawdle and climbed into the car.

***

It was hard enough to get this ancestor to show up; if he were in a bad mood, he might actually leave him stranded on the side of the road. No sooner had Zhou Yan buckled his seatbelt than the car shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.

Chi Ran glanced at him, taking in his disheveled state. "Saw her?"

"Yeah," Zhou Yan replied in a muffled voice. "I saw her."

Chi Ran said nothing more, driving with a cold face. After a long while, he spoke: "Your day off tomorrow is canceled."

Zhou Yan exploded at the words. "Why?"

"No reason," Chi Ran replied flatly. "I came to pick you up tonight; your day off is the payment."

Zhou Yan was so angry he could have laughed. "Then why didn't you say so earlier?" He had been wondering why the man was so easy to talk to today—it turned out he had been waiting to trap him. Had he known that requesting the favor of this "Great Buddha" would cost him his day off, he would have just hailed a taxi. Why would he have bothered this man?

"Typical heartless capitalist," Zhou Yan thought indignantly. "Black-hearted to the core."

Chi Ran answered lazily, "Forgot."

Zhou Yan: "..."

He felt like spitting blood; Chi Ran’s ability to drive people to madness was unparalleled. If not for the fact that his grandfather was still angry with him, he wouldn't have been in this position.

At the thought of something, Zhou Yan sighed and compromised. "Fine, just make sure you give me a raise."

Chi Ran didn't commit, saying instead, "The contract for Yu Ling to join Huanxing has been drafted. Go talk to her manager tomorrow. Once it's settled, announce it on Weibo immediately."

Zhou Yan retorted testily, "Fine, fine, I’ve got it. Don't worry, I’ll get it done for you."

Inside, he was screaming: *You evil capitalist!* He hadn't even reached tomorrow yet, and his workload was already laid out. For a moment, Zhou Yan felt like the most tragic person in the world. His own love life was full of twists and turns, yet he still had to slave away for someone else's.

It was just too hard.