In the meeting room, Zhen read the message. There was a strange glint in his eyes—less anger, more interest. He glanced at his watch and suddenly closed his file. The direction of the air shifted abruptly, and with it, the temperature of the room. Zhen Yan, whose smile had surfaced just moments ago at the thought of Anya, had now turned into a statue of stone. His nostrils caught a familiar, expensive, and sharp fragrance—the same perfume that reminded him of that suffocating hospital corridor.
Shenzhen's veteran businessmen sat holding their breath. The silence around the table was so deep that even the ticking of the clock echoed like a hammer. All eyes were on Zhen, who rested his fingers on the table as if waiting for an invisible signal.
Then—click.
The door opened. No dramatic noise, just a soft echo, but enough to draw the entire hall's attention.
The Arrival of a Presence
A tall, well-built shadow stepped inside. There was a carefreeness in his stride that only those possess who do not fear losing. Wrapped in a charcoal suit, the man—Ruan Jisan—walked in as if this were not a corporate meeting but his own living room.
Zhen's eyes narrowed. Qian, standing beside him, also straightened slightly, his protective instinct awakening. This man was not ordinary; there was a gleam in his eyes that belonged to a predator.
Mr. Liu broke the silence with a frown.
"Mr. Ruan, you are late."
A smile floated onto Ruan's lips—one that neither apologized nor challenged. It was simply… indifferent. He pulled out his chair and sat down without the slightest hesitation.
Ruan Jisan said, "Is that so? I believe the real game hasn't even begun yet, Mr. Liu."
A nervous murmur rippled through the room. Zhen leaned back in his chair, his cold, discerning gaze fixed on Ruan. Those two seconds of silence felt like a declaration of war.
Zhen said in an icy tone, "…Mr. Ruan seems quite confident today."
Ruan did not lower his eyes. Instead, a strange amusement flickered within them.
Ruan Jisan replied, "Confidence is the shield that proves useful once the game begins… Mr. Yan."
Second Shock: The Real Identity
The meeting ended, but the tension did not fade. As soon as Zhen and Qian stepped into the corridor, a calm yet authoritative voice came from behind.
Ruan Jian, smiling, said, "Mr. Zhen Yan… I had heard a lot about you. Meeting you today is truly a pleasure. It's rare to find such a powerful competitor."
Zhen looked into his eyes—there was less respect and more challenge there. Zhen shook his hand, but his grip was as firm as iron.
Zhen said coldly, "Hm… Ruan Jian. I've heard the name."
Ruan Jian's gaze shifted to the phone in Zhen's hand, whose screen was still on.
Ruan Jian said sideways, "By the way… what is the emperor watching on his phone today instead of focusing on his meeting? Is there something slipping beyond your grasp?"
For a moment, Zhen looked Ruan Jian up and down, as if measuring his worth. He slipped the phone into his pocket and stepped closer.
Zhen said flatly, "What is it to you? Where my gaze rests and what lies within my grasp… you still do not have the standing to know."
With that, Zhen walked away without looking back, leaving Ruan Jian standing there as he moved toward another client. A chilling smile spread across Ruan Jian's face. Adjusting the button of his coat while watching Zhen's retreating back, he thought:
Zhen Yan… you're busy looking at your wife's snacks, while I have my eyes set on your entire empire. Keeping Anya in a cage will be your biggest mistake.
Meanwhile, Anya and Huan Jing were getting bored. Suddenly, a wicked idea flashed through Huan Jing's mind. Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she grabbed Anya's hand.
"Anya! Now that Mr. Zain and Qian aren't here, I want to see Mrs. Yan's room. I want to see how one of the richest men in the world has decorated his wife's room!"
Smiling, Anya led her into her suite. The moment the door opened, Jing's eyes widened. The room was extremely modern and luxurious. Glass walls surrounded the space, offering a breathtaking view of Shenzhen. One wall was decorated with large posters and merchandise of Anya's favorite K-Drama celebrities and Jungkook.
Huan Jing teased playfully, "Wow! Mr. Zain is so possessive, yet he still allowed you to put up Jungkook's posters? He doesn't tolerate another man's photo in this room!"
Part 2: Zain's Room and Anya's Hesitation
While laughing, Jing's gaze fell on the connected door beside it.
"And Mr. Zain's room? Can I see it?"
Anya paused for a moment.
"Jing, I don't think he would like it. He is very strict about his privacy."
But after Jing insisted repeatedly—and thinking Zain would take a long time to return—Anya reluctantly agreed.
Part 3: The Broken Glasses and an Old Memory (The Discovery)
Zain's room was quiet, dominated by a gray and black theme. It looked like a royal chamber. Jing was examining everything when Anya's eyes fell on the bedside drawer, which was slightly open.
Inside, in a velvet box, lay Anya's old broken glasses—the same ones that had shattered the day Zain saved her for the first time.
Anya's heart pounded.
He had kept them instead of throwing them away?
Part 4: The Incident Five Years Ago (The Dark Memory)
Beneath the glasses was a small old photograph. The moment Anya saw it, the ground seemed to slip beneath her feet. It was from five years ago—the day of that horrific incident.
That day, while trying to save Zain's sister Fengning, Anya herself had been kidnapped. The thugs had tied her up in a dark warehouse. She had believed she would die… until a shadow tore through the darkness.
It was Zain.
That day, Zain had risked his life to save her. The moment he freed her chains, Anya had clung to him and burst into tears. That moment had embedded itself into her soul.
Yet Zain had always behaved as if he did not know her.
Anya whispered, tears in her eyes,
"Mr. Yan… you saved me twice. Five years ago, it was you too… Why did you never tell me?"
A playful atmosphere began to swirl inside the mansion bedroom. Just as Anya was about to open Zhen's drawer, Huan Jing stopped her. A mischievous sparkle danced in Jing's eyes. She quickly opened Zhen's wardrobe and pulled out an extremely expensive black suit.
Then she took another suit out of her bag—Qian's suit—which she had cleverly stolen from Qian's car.
Huan Jing teased, "Anya, I'm so bored. Come on—today we role-play these two 'dangerous' men. You'll be 'Emperor Zhen Yan,' and I'll be his loyal 'Qian'!"
At first, Anya refused, but when Huan Jing called her a coward, Anya's ego flared.
Scene: Dress-Up and Swagger (Webnovel Style)
Anya wore Zhen's white oversized shirt and his black blazer. The coat hung slightly loose on her shoulders, yet an unusual authority radiated from her presence. She set her shoulder-length hair to one side, adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose, and styled the white bandage on her forehead like a warrior's crown.
On the other side, Huan Jing wore Qian's suit. She tied back her curly hair and rolled up her sleeves.
The two descended into the living room.
There was now the same royal walk in Anya's stride that Zhen had. She went straight to the sofa, opened her laptop, and held a coffee mug in one hand—exactly the way Zhen sat in the mornings.
Scene: The Living Room Spectacle
Huan Jing, fully immersed in Qian's role, stood beside Anya with her hands clasped behind her back. She lowered her voice slightly.
"Boss… the Shenzhen deal is secured. But the Liu Group is fluttering a bit. What are your orders?"
Anya lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes as if contemplating a major business decision. She took a sip of coffee and slowly pushed her glasses up with one finger.
In Zhen's voice, she said,
"Qian… those who flutter are meant to be crushed. Tell the Liu Group who the real king of this city is."
Huan Jing struggled to hold back her laughter and bowed dramatically. With the stern expression on Anya's face and the fake anger in her eyes, she truly looked like Zhen's miniature copy.
Anya pretended to type on the keyboard. Suddenly, she stopped and shot Huan Jing a 'serious' look.
"Qian! Where are the chips for my wife? Didn't I forbid giving her junk food?"
Huan Jing burst into loud laughter and collapsed onto the sofa.
The madness in the mansion's living room was now crossing every limit. Fully immersed in her role as Qian, Huan Jing brought out Zhen's most expensive bottle of red wine from the kitchen. She had no idea how strong the alcohol content of this vintage wine was.
In the name of showing 'swagger,' the two gulped down two to three glasses one after another.
Scene: Intoxication and the Emperor's Dance (Webnovel Style)
As the alcohol took effect, Anya and Huan Jing's cheeks turned tomato red. Anya, still wearing Zhen's precious blazer, had completely lost her senses. She climbed onto the sofa and spread her arms wide.
Shouting loudly, she declared,
"I am Zhen Yan! I am stone! I don't know how to laugh… look at my face!"
She tried to make her expression extremely stiff and serious, which made her look more funny than frightening. Then she waved her hand in the air and began singing Jungkook's song Seven terribly off-key.
"Weight of the world on your shoulders… I kiss your waist and ease your mind!"
Huan Jing joined in, and the two began doing K-pop dance steps together. Anya spun in circles inside Zhen's oversized coat when suddenly the wine glass in her hand wobbled—and the expensive red wine spilled over Zhen's white shirt and coat.
Staggering drunkenly, Anya slurred,
"Oops! Blood on the clothes… I mean wine spilled! It's okay, the emperor is rich—he'll buy a new one!"
Scene: Loyal Qian's Theatrics
Huan Jing straightened her collar like Qian and bowed before Anya, though she nearly stumbled herself due to the alcohol.
"Boss! I am your loyal Qian. I… I won't even let a leaf move without you! If you order, I'll arrest even this wine bottle!"
The two clung to each other, dancing like complete lunatics. Anya had Zhen's glasses hanging halfway down her nose and was signing imaginary files in the air.