Becoming the Caged Canary of a Forced Love - Chapter 32

“Don’t agree to it! I hate him! I hate him!!!”

Gu Nian snapped his eyes open. It was 3:00 AM once again. He sat up, carefully moving Pei Jichuan’s arm from where it draped across his waist, and headed into the bathroom. He splashed his face with water twice to steady his nerves.

Leaning his weight on the sink, he stared at his reflection in the mirror. After his recent period of training, his physique was finally beginning to resemble his former self. He retrieved his device from the ceiling and connected it to his phone; the crow icon expanded, and the screen turned jet black. The files sent by Zhou Yi left him in deep thought for a moment before his finger tapped the screen to issue a command:

‘Kill Li Yong.’

The dim light reflected off his face, making him look exceptionally cold and detached. He then shut down the phone and hid the device.

With the end of the year approaching, all business had to be settled as quickly as possible. According to his recent probes, Zhou Yi would likely arrive this month.

A private jet touched down at the airport. Zhou Yi descended the stairs with measured steps, where the Tianyu reception team was already gathered and waiting. Beside them stood a fleet of cars and bodyguards prepared by Tianyu long ago.

Secretary Han stood at the front of the line. As the breeze blew, she tidied a stray strand of hair. When the cabin door opened, the high-profile figure they were there to receive finally made his appearance.

The man wore a custom-tailored suit, its hem swaying gently in the wind. His golden hair was meticulously slicked back. Thanks to his heritage, his eye sockets were deep and his nose bridge high; in his silent observation, he possessed an air of soulful melancholy. Secretary Han was visibly stunned, pressing her hand to her lips to swallow a gasp.

As Zhou Yi approached, she snapped back to reality and stepped forward with a professional smile. “Hello, President Zhou. I am Secretary Han, the Pei Group representative assigned to receive you. President Pei is already waiting for you in the conference room. Please follow me.”

“Very well,” Zhou Yi replied with a polite smile, following her lead.

The motorcade set off, with the Tianyu drivers trailing closely as they headed toward the Pei Group headquarters. Secretary Han pushed open the conference room doors to find Pei Jichuan, who had been waiting for some time.

“President Pei, President Zhou has arrived.”

Pei Jichuan was sitting at the table, twirling a fountain pen. The metal body of the pen traced a silver arc in the air. Upon hearing the announcement, he stood up, straightened his lapels, and looked toward the door.

The mysterious head of Tianyu finally showed his face. The moment the man entered the room, he commanded the attention of everyone present. He possessed all the finest features of his race, and even the sunlight seemed to grant him a unique filter. He looked like an elegant, noble gentleman; it was hard to imagine he controlled Tianyu and navigated the world’s largest triad Black Crow without ever losing the upper hand.

A flash of surprise crossed Pei Jichuan’s eyes. The man’s appearance was indeed unexpected; were it not for this setting, Zhou Yi’s face would have looked more at home under the spotlights of a movie set.

“President Zhou, I have long looked forward to meeting you.” Pei Jichuan politely extended his right hand.

Zhou Yi’s gaze, however, landed on the ring on Pei Jichuan’s left ring finger. He pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth. It felt as though a wound had been ripped open in his heart, allowing an uncontrollable surge of hostility to spill out. He reached out, gave a brief handshake, and let go.

“President Pei is too kind.” Beneath his polite smile was a man of few words, creating a fractured persona that invited unwanted curiosity.

The discussion didn’t last long, as most details had been finalized beforehand; the signing was merely a formality. After the session, the assistants gathered the scattered files while the two leaders engaged in casual small talk. Neither was particularly warm, and Pei Jichuan vaguely sensed an inexplicable hostility coming from the man.

“It seems President Zhou intends to stay in Country Z for a while,” Pei Jichuan noted, his voice characteristically cold and emotionless. According to Secretary Han’s reports, President Zhou’s arrival had been a massive affair; he had brought so many supplies—including his own cooks and butlers that it didn’t look like a short trip.

“Yes. I have some matters to settle, so I will be staying for a while,” Zhou Yi replied openly, making no attempt to hide it.

Pei Jichuan checked his watch. Someone was delivering his lunch today. He stood up with a polite nod. “My wife is coming to join me for a meal, so I won’t take up any more of your time. I hope you have a pleasant stay in Country Z.”

Zhou Yi rose in response. “Many thanks, President Pei.”

The two men walked out side-by-side, followed by their respective secretaries and assistants. Just as they reached the lobby, they ran into Gu Nian, who had arrived to deliver the meal.

Gu Nian instantly captured the entirety of Pei Jichuan’s attention. After giving Zhou Yi a brief explanation, Pei Jichuan stepped forward quickly.

“Why are you here so early today?” Pei Jichuan’s pupils brightened slightly.

“Little Wang drove a bit faster this time,” Gu Nian said, pointing to the driver behind him, who was carrying the lunch boxes.

“Pr—President Pei.” Little Wang felt nervous under Pei Jichuan’s gaze. He forced out a greeting and lowered his head, trying to pretend he didn’t exist.

Gu Nian had learned from Butler Zhao that the contract signing was today and had intentionally left thirty minutes early. Faced with Pei Jichuan’s question, he shamelessly shifted the credit to the driver.

From the moment he saw Gu Nian, Zhou Yi froze in place. His ears seemed to ring with a deafening roar; he barely heard a word Pei Jichuan said, his eyes fixed entirely on the person he thought of day and night.

It was the same face—though this version of Gu Nian was even more captivating than before.

Pei Jichuan took Gu Nian’s hand. A gesture so common between them caused Zhou Yi’s eyes to instantly redden. He forced down his inner rage and took a deep breath. Zhou Yi felt as though his entire being was being torn apart; his hands slowly clenched into fists, and his expression flickered with a hint of distortion.

Gu Nian seemed to sense Zhou Yi’s state. He swept a covert, warning glance over him, and Zhou Yi’s fury was instantly extinguished.

Pei Jichuan turned and led Gu Nian closer. Zhou Yi opened his mouth silently but closed it futilely under Gu Nian’s warning gaze.

“President Zhou, this is my wife, Lin Nuo. We will be going to Country F to marry after the New Year. I hope President Zhou will look after us on Tianyu’s home turf when the time comes.”

To outsiders, Pei Jichuan appeared humble and polite, but his inner violence was known to only a few.

An inexplicable bitterness surged in Zhou Yi’s heart. He struggled to find his voice, eventually responding steadily, “Then I must congratulate you, President Pei. I look forward to hosting you properly in Country F next year.”

Zhou Yi feigned checking the time to hide his strange expression. “It’s getting late. I’ll take my leave.”

Zhou Yi led the Tianyu team out in a grand procession. As he left, he couldn’t help but look back at their tightly joined hands. Something had clearly spiraled out of control, and he could no longer bear to watch.

The moment he sat in the car, his polite mask vanished. His smile remained, but the light in his eyes was as cold as the edge of a blade.

Pei Jichuan…

Blood surged in his chest. The hostility that Gu Nian’s gaze had suppressed could no longer be contained.