Di Mingjue felt an overwhelming urge to transform himself into him, his heart consumed by a frenzy to obtain Ye Ziyu.
The driver pulled the car to a stop in front of them. Gu Xiuyu stood motionlessly in his spot.
"Mr. Gu." The driver opened the rear door. Seeing that Gu Xiuyu was not entering the car, he spoke up to remind him.
Gu Xiuyu walked past the driver and blocked Ye Ziyu and Di Mingjue as they approached.
"Miss Ye, I didn't expect to see you before my departure."
Hearing the voice, Ye Ziyu shifted her gaze from Di Mingjue to Gu Xiuyu.
She was somewhat surprised. Their scandal had been resolved, and the project was still in its preliminary stages. Did he have any other reason to seek her out specifically?
Gu Xiuyu: "Would it be convenient to talk privately?"
Di Mingjue, standing beside her, was ignored.
A noble man would rather die than be disgraced. Di Mingjue felt an unprecedented rage.
"She is not available."
Di Mingjue pulled Ye Ziyu into his embrace.
Gu Xiuyu's gaze remained fixed on Ye Ziyu throughout, never leaving her. "It won't take long, and it's about the project and the scandal between us."
What had been dismissed at the beginning turned out to be what he wanted to discuss.
After a moment of thought, Ye Ziyu broke free from Di Mingjue's embrace. Through her actions, Di Mingjue understood her answer.
Fine!
Di Mingjue turned and left.
Ye Ziyu watched his sulking figure depart. However, she knew that she would inevitably have to interact with Gu Xiuyu in the future for the project. Did she have to refuse contact with all male collaborators just to stop him from being jealous?
Such thoughts were unrealistic and impossible to implement.
"Is Mr. Di upset because of the online comments? Shall I go and clarify, after all, the two companies have a partnership, and we will inevitably meet often."
What Gu Xiuyu said was precisely what Ye Ziyu was thinking. Was she supposed to abandon the collaboration just to avoid suspicion?
Ye Ziyu looked back and saw that Di Mingjue had already walked to the other side of the road. "No need. Didn't you have something to tell me just now? Go ahead, I'm listening."
Internally elated, Gu Xiuyu maintained a facade of concern. "Do you really not need me to clarify? I'm worried that it might affect your relationship."
"He has something to attend to and doesn't need special clarification."
Sensing Ye Ziyu's low spirits, Gu Xiuyu did not press the issue of clarification.
The two walked side-by-side towards the Ye Corporation building.
On the other side of the road, Di Mingjue stopped, his body radiating anger. Looking back, he could no longer see Ye Ziyu through the crowded street.
Wouldn't she explain anything to him?
Filled with resentment, Di Mingjue kicked a nearby concrete block. The pain from the impact made him gasp. In his rage, he pointed at the stone block and cursed, "Even you are against me?"
His angry outburst attracted the attention of passersby.
Some recognized Di Mingjue and couldn't resist pulling out their phones to take pictures of him. Click—the sharp sound was not drowned out by the surrounding noise.
Following the direction of the sound, Di Mingjue stared at the person.
Taking a photo without consent was considered surreptitious photography. If Di Mingjue pursued legal action, the photographer would face criminal charges and have to compensate him.
The man hastily pocketed his phone and continued walking forward as if nothing had happened.
Di Mingjue was already agitated, and then someone deliberately bumped into him, providing an outlet for his frustration.
"Stop!"
The man who had taken the photo acted as if he couldn't hear, lowering his head and quickening his pace.
"I said stop, can't you hear me?"
Before the man could take a few more steps, Di Mingjue grabbed him by the back of his collar. With Di Mingjue right behind him, the man truly panicked.
"I didn't, I didn't take your picture."
"Did I say you took my picture?"
Upon hearing this, the man realized he had let it slip. His body went limp with fear. At a height of 1.7 meters, he looked like a tiny shrimp in front of Di Mingjue.
Di Mingjue released his collar and extended his palm towards him. "Phone!"
The man obediently handed it over.
The photos, still warm in the album from just being taken, were completely erased.
"If I see the same photos appear online, I will find you again."