The banquet should have calmed down after the incident.
It didn't.
If anything, the air grew heavier—charged with suspicion, whispers, and eyes that lingered too long.
Chen Yuxi stood near the balcony, fingers lightly gripping the railing.
System, restore full function.
A pause.
"System stabilizing… partial interference remains."
Her brows furrowed slightly. Interference again? This isn't normal.
For the first time since she created it, her system felt… unreliable.
And she didn't like it.
Behind her—
Footsteps. Slow. Deliberate.
"You're thinking too much."
Lin Guo's voice. Low. Close.
Yuxi stiffened slightly but didn't turn. "Am I?"
Why does he always appear when I'm unsettled…
A faint smirk touched his lips.
Because I hear it all.
"You rely on it too much," he continued calmly.
That made her turn.
"What do you mean?"
Their eyes met.
For a brief second, something unreadable passed through his gaze—something deeper than calm control.
"Your instincts," he said. "You ignored them tonight. Until the last second."
Yuxi's heart skipped.
He's right… but how does he know that so clearly?
Her system hadn't even fully processed it yet.
And yet—he had.
Before she could respond, a sharp voice cut through the air.
"Enjoying yourself?"
Yue Xinyan.
But this time… she wasn't smiling.
She looked furious.
Humiliated.
And dangerous.
"Since you like attention so much," Xinyan continued loudly, drawing nearby guests, "why don't we talk about your background?"
Yuxi's eyes narrowed slightly.
Here it comes.
"An assistant from a nobody family," Xinyan sneered. "Do you even belong in a place like this?"
Whispers spread.
Yuxi felt the pressure—but her mind stayed sharp.
System, pull her recent financial records. Let's see who's really embarrassing.
"Data retrieved."
Her lips curved faintly.
"You're right," Yuxi said calmly, stepping forward. "Background matters."
Xinyan smirked, thinking she had won.
Yuxi tilted her head slightly.
"But so does honesty."
A beat.
Then—
"You want to talk about status?" Yuxi continued smoothly. "Should I mention the hidden accounts linked to your name? Or the way you've been redirecting company funds?"
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Xinyan's face went pale.
"You—!"
"Careful," Yuxi cut in lightly. "We're in public."
That was the real slap.
No hand.
But far more painful.
Around them, the atmosphere shifted instantly.
Judgment. Suspicion. Curiosity.
Xinyan had been completely turned around—publicly.
Lin Guo watched everything, eyes dark with quiet approval.
Sharp. Fast. Merciless when needed.
Exactly what he wanted.
Yuxi turned slightly, her heart still racing. That felt good… maybe too good.
Then—
Without warning—
Lin Guo reached out and pulled her slightly closer.
Not forceful.
But unmistakable.
Possessive.
"Enough," he said calmly, his voice instantly silencing the room. "The banquet is not a place for baseless accusations."
But his hand didn't leave her.
Yuxi froze for half a second.
Why is he… holding me like this?
Her thoughts spiraled—confusion, awareness, a sudden heat rising to her cheeks.
Lin Guo's grip tightened just slightly.
She noticed.
His gaze lowered to her for a brief moment.
And she's not resisting.
Xinyan clenched her fists, her humiliation complete.
"Lin Guo," she snapped, "you're choosing her over me?"
He didn't even look at her.
"I'm choosing competence."
Another slap.
Clean. Final.
Xinyan turned and left, her heels striking the floor like gunshots.
Silence followed.
Then whispers.
Then movement.
The banquet continued—but the power dynamic had completely shifted.
Yuxi slowly stepped out of his hold, her mind racing.
Something is wrong.
Her system wasn't fully stable.
He always knew too much.
And just now—
The way he spoke.
The way he reacted.
It wasn't normal.
She looked at him again.
Really looked.
And this time, the thought came clearer than ever—
What exactly are you, Lin Guo…?
He met her gaze.
And for a brief second—
He smiled.