"Eliza, get up first."
"Fyren, I like you. So much. Take Qianfeng!"
Eliza's eyes burned with determination—sharp, unyielding.
"Once you take it, I can keep managing Qianfeng for you. I'll pour everything I have into making it grow, turning it into the most profitable branch under Dasheng Group."
"Eliza, you—"
"And take me too! I, Eliza, was once a petty, self-righteous woman. But now I see clearly. I love you—truly, sincerely, deeply… forever—"
"Stop, stop!" Fyren cut in. "Get up first."
Eliza studied him. Nothing she said had sparked even a flicker of interest.
Not in Qianfeng.
Not in her.
For a woman drowning in love, nothing was more terrifying than realizing the other person felt nothing.
He didn't care. Not at all.
That was the horror of it.
And what Eliza feared most.
Outwardly cold and untouchable, she was starved for affection inside.
Her childhood had been rigidly controlled under her family's strict discipline. As an adult, she was betrayed—by her best friend, her first love, even cast out by her father…
By all accounts, she was a pitiable woman.
One who had nothing.
Except money, beauty, and a perfect figure.
Of course, most people would kill to be in Eliza's position.
They thought she had everything.
But Eliza knew the truth:
She had nothing.
Fyren was her last hope.
After waking up, she had begun talking to him frequently, tracking the business war's developments.
She'd wanted to invest her own money, but Fyren stopped her.
A few billion wouldn't even make a ripple.
Yet Fyren was throwing money into the fight for her.
Watching those frantic transaction records fluctuate, Eliza felt utterly powerless.
She could only watch—helpless—as everything unfolded.
And behind those manic numbers, charts, and data points stood one man.
Every digit, every curve, every mark… was a shadow of Fyren's desperate struggle for her.
Eliza mocked herself inwardly—yet she wasn't angry.
She was happy.
She felt like she'd won.
In business, she'd lost completely.
But with Fyren?
She was always the victor.
Because he loves me!
More than Xena! More than Cora!
I'm the one he loves most!
He's been obsessed with me, spending without a second thought, fighting like mad—all for me!
So when Xena sneered at her, Eliza only smiled.
Xena stormed off, scowling.
But now, when she was ready to give him everything…
He refused.
What was this man thinking?
Why did he keep toying with her like this?!
If you don't love me…
Why did you chase me for three years?!
"You don't love me. Then why have you done so much for me?"
"You don't love me. You're a miser who values money above all else. So why have you been helping me so desperately to stabilize the situation and keep Qianfeng Group?"
Eliza's voice trembled on the verge of tears. "Are you still holding a grudge against me? Resenting my coldness and arrogance during those three years? I've already apologized!"
Fyren said, "Would you please get up first?"
"No! Explain this clearly! Even if I die, I want to know the truth!"
Eliza, this strong-willed woman, suddenly seemed utterly broken. "You clearly said you liked me. Now why... I've given you my life, and you don't even care! When did you start disliking me? When exactly did you stop loving me?"
Fyren felt his head might explode.
This woman's approach completely overwhelmed him.
Fyren possessed the wisdom, character, vision and bearing of a true leader.
Yet he also retained the memories and nature of an ordinary man - something hard to change.
Any other wealthy scion would have happily lifted Eliza's chin by now, comforting her while accepting everything she offered.
But Fyren stood utterly at a loss, unsure how to respond.
In this moment, he was still just that simple deliveryman at heart.
"Eliza, don't... Please get up first."
"I won't get up!" Eliza was nearly crying now. "I have nothing left! Qianfeng is gone, my home is gone. No friends, no confidants, no lover, no family... You're all I have left. How could you stop loving me? Tell me!"
Fyren never imagined a woman like Eliza could speak such vulnerable words.
His heart ached even as panic set in.
"It's not that I don't like you. I'm just..."
"Then accept me! Accept everything I'm offering!"
Fyren's expression shifted. "Everything?"
"Yes! Everything!"
Eliza continued, "My dreams, my heart... my very self."
Fyren sighed. "Get up first."
When Eliza remained motionless, Fyren suddenly turned stern. "Get up!"
Eliza slowly rose to her feet.
Fyren spoke calmly. "I've transferred all the Qianfeng Group shares I acquired back to you..."
"But—"
"Hear me out first."
Fyren continued, "If you truly intend to follow me wholeheartedly, then what difference does it make whether something is mine or yours? Does it matter whether Qianfeng Group remains independent or becomes a Dasheng Group subsidiary?"
Eliza was stunned.
Any major corporation would have seized complete control without hesitation.
Maintaining independence meant preserving absolute autonomy - saying "you belong to yourself." Becoming a subsidiary meant being under Dasheng Group's umbrella.
This was akin to making a transaction without transferring funds, keeping the money with the seller while retaining withdrawal rights.
Any rational person would have claimed full ownership and control.
Yet Fyren had granted Eliza and Qianfeng Group complete independence!
Meaning Eliza could betray him at any moment!
Fyren concluded, "For now, let's focus on reclaiming Qianfeng. We'll discuss the rest later."
In his heart, he thought:
["Help her get Qianfeng back! She's confused right now, completely overwhelmed and devastated by this blow."] ["When Qianfeng returns to Eliza's hands, she won't be so vulnerable anymore. Then Qianfeng will still be Qianfeng, Eliza will still be Eliza, and there won't be any need for her to consider joining the Zhang family or becoming a subsidiary under their control."]
Eliza understood.
Fyren thought she was at her breaking point, desperate to attach herself to him.
And he believed that after reclaiming Qianfeng, she would regain her status as one of Crystalpeak City's four pillars, no longer needing to seek refuge with the Zhang family or become their subsidiary.
Good!
If you don't believe me! I'll show you!
If we really retrieve Qianfeng! Then you won't be able to push me away!
"Does retrieving Qianfeng mean you'll accept me and my loyalty?"
Fyren thought for a moment and nodded: "Yes! That's right."
"Good! I, Eliza, swear here that whether we retrieve Qianfeng or not, from this moment forward, I belong to Fyren! May thunder strike me if I break this oath!"
Fyren felt utterly exasperated.
[It was touching, but Eliza's behavior wasn't befitting a major corporation's CEO at all. She was acting like a love-struck schoolgirl.]
[She even made such childish declarations and performed this oath ritual.]
[Never mind. She's not in her right state now. Let her be. We'll see how things stabilize first.]
Fyren said: "Have something to eat. You need to eat more. You're too thin."
Eliza sat back down and smiled at Fyren.
"Tonight, I'm staying."
"Ah?"
"I'm staying with you."
Fyren put down his chopsticks, at a loss for how to respond.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Fyren unlocked it with his phone, and his mother entered.
"Fyren, did you know your brother has been detained?"
"Mom, have you eaten?"
"I'm asking you! Do you know your brother was arrested by the police?"
"I know. I heard it was military police who took him away. Several vehicles with machine guns."
Fyren's mother was furious: "You have to go save him!"
Fyren smiled: "Mom, what are you saying? They're handling it lawfully. How could I rescue him? Should I storm in with a machine gun?"
Fyren's mother angrily pinched his ear: "Are you trying to drive me mad? Find him a lawyer and get him out immediately!"
Fyren rubbed his ear: "Mom! Saving him now would only harm him in the long run!"
"What did you say?"
Fyren spoke with conviction:
"Since childhood, you and brother taught me to be kind, righteous, wise and honest. Kind to the vulnerable, righteous to family and friends, respectful to strangers and business partners, and wise in our actions. We must be honest in business."
"That's fine! But every time we make mistakes, you always bail us out with money. Do you know what consequence this has?"
Fyren's mother looked at him: "What?"
"It teaches us that even if we tear the sky apart, someone will cover for us! When we were kids, a broomstick could solve everything. Now that we're adults, that doesn't work anymore! He needs to face the consequences of his actions. He must bear the responsibility and think before he acts."
"When he considers doing dangerous things in the future, he'll have to think for himself. If he causes trouble, he'll have to face the consequences alone. His family won't save him. Then he'll weigh the pros and cons and be more careful."
"I could do it!" Fyren said. "I could hire the best legal team and pay a huge bail. He could be home for dinner tonight! But think carefully - he's now bold enough to manufacture counterfeit medicine! If we get him out this time, next time he might do something even worse!"
Did Fyren's mother understand what he was saying?
In truth, she understood completely. She'd understood for a long time.
But with her son in jail, a mother's heart couldn't bear it. She just wanted to get him out first, then properly educate him at home.
Fyren was right. At this age, if you rescue him, that's all that matters. Your lectures are useless. They go in one ear and out the other. He won't take them seriously.
"Well, what are we supposed to do? Your brother can't handle hardship - how's he supposed to endure prison?"
Fyren replied, "There are thousands of people in prison. They all manage. Why should he be exempt? Shouldn't he face consequences? Their counterfeit medicine operation was outrageous! If you and dad weren't in poor health, I'd be so angry I'd break his legs myself!"
Seeing his mother cry as Eliza comforted her, Fyren softened.
"Mom, this is our last chance to really save him. If we bail him out now, we'll be hurting him. I've already destroyed the medicine. Technically this is an internal management issue within our group, so his punishment shouldn't be too severe. I can consult with lawyers, but I won't - I can't - pull strings or provide special protection anymore. I really can't do that."
Fyren's mother understood, though it pained her.
Eliza could only hold and comfort her, gazing at Fyren and thinking how incredibly handsome her husband was!
So unbelievably handsome!
At that moment, a cold voice remarked, "I didn't expect Fyren to be so principled."