“Damn it! What’s there to think about?! When you think of love, who’s the first person that pops into your head? That’s your answer!”

Chen Feng smacked Gu Xingyi on the shoulder again, completely speechless. Wasn’t Gu Xingyi supposed to be the one comforting him? How did the roles get flipped, and now he was the one giving the pep talk?

That slap snapped Gu Xingyi out of it.

Damn, he really was overthinking it.

He had never been in a relationship before, so when hit with this kind of question, he couldn’t help but overanalyze it.

Did he love Xia Xiyao?

Yes—he did! At first, he only wanted to make up for what had been done to her and Nainai. Then he started to feel this life wasn’t so bad. And then came attraction. As time passed, the little things in everyday life made him truly fall for her. Gu Xingyi was always someone who valued the small, quiet moments over grand gestures.

Just like Chen Feng said—when the word "love" pops into your head, and someone’s face appears, that’s all you need to know.

Gu Xingyi broke into a goofy grin. Chen Feng felt his heart shatter.

He’d just gotten force-fed a mouthful of dog food—during one of the lowest points of his life.

Yep, only a best bro would know exactly how to rub salt in your wounds. But surprisingly, Chen Feng felt the dark cloud in his heart lighten a bit. Still, he really wanted to get up and beat this guy up.

“But I’m guessing… Ruan Qing didn’t know about your family background, did she?”

Gu Xingyi smoothly changed the subject. Unfortunately, it made Chen Feng even more dejected. He shook his head.

“No. I always thought she was a good girl who didn’t care about that kind of thing. Hah… turns out I was wrong.”

Gu Xingyi’s lips twitched. What kind of ‘good girl’ does that?

“Well, well, if it isn’t the infamous domestic abuser from the internet. Chen Feng, no wonder Ruan Qing left you—you keep friends like this?”

Just as Gu Xingyi was about to say more, a mocking voice rang out from the doorway.

Chen Feng's expression instantly darkened. Gu Xingyi turned to look, and saw a man with a fair and handsome face—but his complexion was so excessively pale and delicate that even Gu Xingyi couldn’t help but think: all those times people had called him a "pretty boy"? That was pure slander compared to this guy! This was what a real pretty boy looked like.

Standing beside him was none other than Ruan Qing, dressed in her usual anime cosplay fashion. Compared to last time, her makeup was heavier, her whole vibe more provocative.

“Hah! Who I choose as a friend is none of your damn business. Wang Jun, Ruan Qing—you’ve got some nerve showing your faces here. Don’t tell me you’re here to snatch up this empty studio too?”

Chen Feng growled.

Only now did Gu Xingyi realize—so this guy was Wang Jun.

“Chen Feng, don’t be like this! We came for your own good!”

Before Wang Jun could speak, Ruan Qing chimed in, putting on her best "I'm saying this for your sake" act.

“Bullshit! For my own good? You really think I’m that dumb? You call cheating on me with my partner helping me?!”

“Chen Feng! Wang Jun and I have always had feelings for each other. Even before you came into the picture! We just didn’t realize it before.

We’re not here to argue. Seeing you like this breaks my heart. Why don’t you join our new studio? With your talent, your future will be even better!”

Wang Jun added, “Yeah, we understand you. You've chased your anime dream for so long—you don’t want it all to go to waste, right? Just because you and Qingqing can’t be lovers doesn’t mean you can’t still be friends.”

Gu Xingyi almost laughed. So who cheated on who again?

This—this was the very definition of "shameless," “rats in a sack,” “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” These two brought all those idioms to life!

Chen Feng was shaking with anger. He pointed at Wang Jun.

“Friends? You think I want to be friends with you?! Besides that face of yours, what do you have? The designs? Mine. The money? Mine. That woman standing next to you? Was mine! And now you want me to join your team? I’m not into self-abuse!”

Wang Jun frowned—Chen Feng’s words had clearly hit a nerve—but then quickly smiled again, hiding it.

“Don’t be mad. All of that is mine now.”

That smile… insufferable.

Chen Feng suddenly shot to his feet, ready to explode, but Gu Xingyi quickly held him back.

“Alright, alright, arguing is fine—just don’t get physical. Wang Jun, Ruan Qing, was it? You two know who I am, right?”

Gu Xingyi smiled warmly, his expression calm and polite.

Wang Jun sneered. Even as someone outside the entertainment world, he recognized Gu Xingyi’s name—it had been all over the trending topics recently. Of course, not in a good way.

“So what? You’re the domestic abuser, aren’t you?”

“You son of a…”

Chen Feng lunged again, but Gu Xingyi stopped him with a hand, still smiling.

Chen Feng felt totally stifled—why was this guy still smiling?!

Standing protectively in front of Chen Feng, Gu Xingyi continued, “So you do know I’m a lyricist and composer?”

Wang Jun and Ruan Qing both scoffed. What did that matter to them? In their world of anime and comics, that title meant nothing.

Chen Feng thought so too—what was Gu Xingyi even talking about? Who cared if he wrote music?

Wang Jun looked Gu Xingyi up and down mockingly. “Sure. So?”

“Oh, just thought you should know—I dabble in anime too. Just like I dabble in songwriting. Just a bit.”

Hearing this, Wang Jun’s expression shifted slightly. He frowned and stared hard at Gu Xingyi, something flickering in his eyes.

But then he chuckled and shook his head, brushing the thought aside. Two completely different fields. Unless this guy was a total freak of nature, there was no way he could pose a threat.

“You trying to scare me? A little knowledge won’t cut it.”

Gu Xingyi’s smile suddenly vanished. His eyes gleamed with pity.

“A little knowledge is more than enough. My ‘dabbling,’ plus Fengzi’s expertise? We’ll steamroll two amateurs like you.”

Wang Jun didn’t want to keep talking. This guy’s words were soft yet barbed—nothing like Chen Feng, who only knew how to charge ahead. And it was people like that—calm on the surface, sharp underneath—that scared him the most.

He turned back to Chen Feng.

“So? What’s your decision? Still want to join us? Or are you going to believe his nonsense?”

Ruan Qing also looked at him pleadingly. “Come on, Chen Feng. This is your chance to chase your anime dream! If you work with us, your future will be even brighter!”

Chen Feng had calmed down by now. He stepped forward, stood beside Gu Xingyi, and coldly looked at Ruan Qing.

“Ruan Qing, we were together for a year and a half. I never did anything to hurt you—not even once. And now you dare say this to me? Fine. Let me be clear—I don’t make friends with dogs.”

He then turned to Wang Jun.

“And another thing! Listen up! Gu Xingyi is my brother! I trust him! You think the likes of you are even worthy of being compared to him?”

Their faces darkened. Without another word, they turned and stormed off.

But Gu Xingyi and Chen Feng’s voices rang out behind them.

“Ah? Leaving already? I haven’t even finished what I wanted to say! Ever heard this old saying where I’m from? Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—don’t bully the poor when they’re young!”

“Get lost! I’m not poor! I’m a damn rich second-generation!”

Wang Jun and Ruan Qing’s faces flushed red before they’d even gotten far. Especially when Gu Xingyi added from behind, making Ruan Qing’s expression turn even darker:

“You hear that? A rich second-generation!”