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Gu Jiuque frowned slightly. He had not expected Bai Yuesheng to turn his attention toward an unrelated outsider. "You burned down my house. Don't drag other people into this. You have no reason to make a stranger you don't even know repay your debt, and don't slander—"

At the same time, Shen Heng's leisurely voice rang out. "How did you know my surname is Shen?"

Shen Heng suddenly recalled Bai Yuesheng's expression when he saw him standing together with Gu Jiuque. It had not looked like the expression of someone seeing a stranger.

"You know me!" Shen Heng wore an amused expression, his question casual, but the hidden meaning in his eyes sent a chill down Bai Yuesheng's spine.

Chapter 17

Unlike Gu Jiuque, who preferred to discuss matters based on their merits, the domineering and self-centered Shen Heng was clearly not the type to let others lead him around by the nose. He only cared about people and things that interested him. As for what others thought or said, it was never within Shen Heng's consideration.

So Bai Yuesheng's unreasonable pestering, smears, and rumors could not provoke Shen Heng in the slightest. He could not even be bothered to explain himself, only fixating on the topic that interested him and pressing for answers.

Bai Yuesheng's mind went blank under the questioning. He did not even dare look Shen Heng in the eye.

He had originally intended to frame Shen Heng's doubts as jealousy and rivalry between suitors. In fact, his scheme had more or less worked on Gu Jiuque. Gu Jiuque was not the sort of person who would watch someone suffer criticism because of him while hiding behind the scenes without stepping forward. As long as Gu Jiuque came forward to defend Shen Heng, and Shen Heng explained himself a little, Bai Yuesheng would have a way to keep entangling them through that topic until he turned the situation around.

But Bai Yuesheng had not expected Shen Heng to be so difficult to deal with. Not only had he refused to fall into Bai Yuesheng's trap of forcing him to prove his innocence, he had also seized on the loophole in Bai Yuesheng's words and relentlessly pursued it.

For a moment, Bai Yuesheng's heart pounded like thunder. He could only pretend not to have heard Shen Heng, turning his red-rimmed eyes toward Gu Jiuque as he said in disbelief, "You're actually scolding me for an outsider? Was I wrong? Do you dare say he doesn't like you? Do you dare say he—"

"How did you know my surname is Shen?" The next second, Shen Heng interrupted Bai Yuesheng's accusations again. Only this time, Shen Heng's voice was noticeably colder, and the inscrutable smile on his face vanished completely.

He had seen through Bai Yuesheng's intentions.

Shen Heng did not object to people playing games in front of him. Whether subordinates or business partners, Shen Heng had always considered himself a very generous boss and partner. As long as everyone worked hard to make money for him, he was willing to respect each person's little schemes.

But that did not mean any idiot could put on a clumsy performance in front of him. Much less when that idiot wanted to use him as a tool to attack someone else... Did he really look that easygoing?

Shen Heng stroked his chin thoughtfully. His dark eyes blended into the gloomy night, and for the first time, his gaze settled seriously on Bai Yuesheng. At a full one meter ninety, Shen Heng exuded an oppressive presence in the dim twilight. When he put away his somewhat frivolous smile and looked down at Bai Yuesheng, Bai Yuesheng clearly saw the coldness and displeasure hidden in his eyes. That overwhelming sense of intimidation made Bai Yuesheng's breath catch.

Bai Yuesheng forced a smile, though his mind was racing wildly. In a flash of inspiration, he actually came up with a very fitting explanation. "I not only know your surname is Shen, I also know your name is Shen Heng, and that you're the president of Dongyi Group..."

Bai Yuesheng laid a little groundwork before giving the excuse he had just come up with. "There's a financial interview with you on Fuxi Network, along with a photo of your profile! It was because I saw that report that I applied to study finance in college. I'm actually one of your fans."

Fuxi Network was Huaxia's largest social media platform. Its largest shareholder happened to be an investment company under Dongyi Group. That was also why Shen Heng, who had never accepted media interviews, had agreed to a financial interview. And the only profile photo of Shen Heng available online came from that very financial interview on Fuxi Network.

As Bai Yuesheng spoke, he could not help admiring his own memory. He let out a quiet breath of relief, wrinkled his nose, and huffed adorably. "...I recognized you the moment I saw you. But I never expected my first meeting with my idol to happen under these circumstances. You're actually so sharp-tongued. I almost went from being a fan to an anti-fan."

Bai Yuesheng acted coquettishly toward Shen Heng. He knew that many powerful men fell for this sort of thing—who could refuse a youthful, lively fan who admired them so much? Besides, Bai Yuesheng was not bad-looking himself.

With that thought, Bai Yuesheng immediately turned the tables. He looked curiously between Gu Jiuque and Shen Heng. "How did you two end up together? I was startled when I first saw you. I thought I was seeing things!"

This also indirectly explained why his expression had looked so bad when he had first seen Gu Jiuque and Shen Heng together.

Bai Yuesheng felt that this explanation should be enough to dispel Shen Heng's doubts.

Bai Yuesheng's expression suddenly changed. He frowned at Shen Heng and blustered, "No matter what you're planning, you'd better give up on it immediately. Gu Jiuque will never like you. He'll definitely become my boyfriend. I was the one who confessed to him first. You should know that a gentleman does not take what another man loves."

Bai Yuesheng warned Shen Heng fiercely, but his expression was full of lively innocence, and a trace of natural allure shone through his guileless eyes. Like a cat baring its claws, he seemed less like he was declaring sovereignty over a romantic rival and more like he was acting cute with his own boyfriend.

Shen Heng smiled faintly. "I'm no gentleman."

Bai Yuesheng: "..."

Shen Heng glanced at Gu Jiuque again and drove the point home. "And I don't think Mr. Gu would like someone like you."

Bai Yuesheng instinctively looked at Gu Jiuque and asked indignantly, "What makes you say that?"

Bai Yuesheng glared angrily at Shen Heng, puffing out his cheeks. Shen Heng's answer was highly subjective. "He's not blind."

Even he could see through Bai Yuesheng's clumsy act, let alone Gu Jiuque, who had suffered from it firsthand.

Thinking of this, Shen Heng leisurely reminded Gu Jiuque, "Don't let lust cloud your judgment. If you really agree to date him, your sixteen million will be gone."