Thunderstorms were like this—wind and rain arrived without warning.
By the time Gong Hengye reached the entrance of the clubhouse, it was already a downpour with flashes of lightning and rumbling thunder, the roar behind the clouds like the mournful cries of wild beasts.
His fingers curled slightly, his heart inexplicably heavy.
Feng Yang, who had been waiting outside, drove the car over.
After getting in, before Feng Yang could ask where to return to, Gong Hengye spoke up, “Back to the company.”
Feng Yang was taken aback. “It’s so late, Ninth Brother. Is there something else you need to do?”
Besides, the rain was so heavy that the road ahead was almost impossible to see.
As he started the car, he said, “If there’s something, why not let Li Rui—”
“Back to the company.”
Gong Hengye cut him off, saying no more, and closed his eyes to rest.
He had indeed drunk a bit too much, and as soon as he sat in the car, he felt dizzy again.
But even with his eyes closed, the image of the little frog looking wronged and innocent still swayed before him.
It was so late, and no one would be left at the company.
She must be terrified.
Fortunately, the company wasn’t too far from the clubhouse. Although the rain made driving difficult, there was no traffic, and they arrived in just ten minutes.
Before Feng Yang could open the car door for him, Gong Hengye had already stepped out.
As Feng Yang was about to follow, Gong Hengye added, “Wait here.”
“…Alright.”
Feng Yang reluctantly returned to the driver’s seat, watching his Ninth Brother stride urgently toward the elevator, his steps so large it seemed as if he wanted to cover three steps in one.
If Feng Yang hadn’t been watching from behind, Ninth Brother might have already broken into a run.
This frantic demeanor was as if he had forgotten to handle a hundred-billion-dollar contract, and if he didn’t take care of it tonight, the Gong Corporation would go bankrupt.
But even if a hundred billion were lost and the Gong Corporation went bankrupt, the Gong family wouldn’t collapse.
And for Ninth Brother to make a comeback would be a simple matter.
After all, four years ago, before Ninth Brother took over the Gong Corporation, he had started from scratch and built his own business outside.
Though it couldn’t compare to the century-old accumulation of the Gong family, in just three years, it had become a well-known enterprise in Country Y.
Now that Ninth Brother had returned to Country F, that company was temporarily managed by Xie Yun.
So Feng Yang couldn’t figure out what could make Ninth Brother so anxious that he’d rush back to the company on a thunderous night, unafraid of being struck by lightning. What exactly was it?
While he was guessing wildly, Gong Hengye had already entered the elevator.
In the quiet elevator car, he could hear his own heartbeat and rapid breathing.
Watching the changing floor numbers, he couldn’t help but frown, feeling for the first time that the elevator was moving far too slowly.
What brand was this?
It seemed it needed to be replaced!
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the top floor, and the elevator doors opened.
The office lights were already off, with only the occasional flashes of lightning from outside the glass windows illuminating the workspace, dazzlingly bright one moment and plunging into even more terrifying darkness the next.
Gong Hengye turned on the lights.
At a glance, the CEO’s office was empty—no ghost in sight.
During the day, Wen Yue had been curled up in the office chair next to Li Rui, but now that chair was empty.
Had she already left the company?
Of course, she had legs and could float.
He had told her not to follow him, so she wouldn’t be foolish enough to stay alone in this office without moving.
He was the foolish one.
Maybe when he wasn’t around, she had taken the chance to go to the hospital to find her fiancé.
After all, that little frog was all about putting on one face in front of him and another behind his back.
But it was thundering now.
If she was floating around outside on her own, what if she got struck?
Was she really not afraid of having her soul scattered and spirit dispersed, all for Gong Chen?
Gong Hengye frowned, his thoughts growing even more unsettled.He turned around, took out his phone, and wanted to call Li Rui to ask which hospital Gong Chen had been taken to. Before he could press the call button, his figure suddenly paused again. He turned his head and looked toward his office.
The office was also pitch black with no lights on, but he suddenly thought of something and strode over.
Fingerprint unlock, the glass door opened, and his gaze fell directly on the sofa in the middle of the office.
Sure enough, the little frog was hugging her knees, tightly pressed against the corner of the sofa, burying her head and trembling.
Perhaps she still didn’t know he had arrived.
Gong Hengye’s eyes flickered slightly.
The restlessness that had been tormenting his nerves all day inexplicably dissipated completely in that instant.
She really was this foolish.
He told her not to follow, and she couldn’t find somewhere else to play?
Besides, wasn’t she thick-skinned earlier, saying that even if he didn’t want her, she would stick with him?
Why was she so obedient now, doing exactly as he said and not following?
Perhaps his gaze was too oppressive, as Wen Yue, immersed in fear, finally noticed.
She looked up in panic, opened her mouth, but before she could let out a scream, she met Gong Hengye’s deep eyes.
Wen Yue froze, and her just-opened mouth closed tightly.
Her face was pale, but in Gong Hengye’s eyes, it wasn’t frightening. Instead, it made her appear exceptionally fragile and pitiful.
Her eyes were bright, as if they could speak, gazing at him with grievance and accusation.
Gong Hengye often felt that she was a crying ghost.
Otherwise, why were her eyes always brimming with tears?
Gong Hengye sighed inwardly.
He walked to the sofa and looked down at her. “What are you doing here?”
Wen Yue’s eyelashes trembled slightly. His eyes, as always, were unreadable, and his tone remained indifferent.
She couldn’t tell what he meant, only thinking he was going to chase her away again.
After all, during the day, he hadn’t allowed her into his office.
But it was thundering.
She was already scared alone in the dark company, terrified that a ghost face even more frightening than hers might suddenly appear somewhere.
When the lightning flashed, she was utterly terrified.
Without thinking, she ran into his office.
Even though he wasn’t there, it seemed that any place he had been carried his presence, making her feel much safer.
Who knew she’d get caught by him again?
Wen Yue bit her lip, lowered her head, and buried her face between her knees again like an ostrich. “I only came in because you weren’t here. Besides, when you left, you didn’t say I couldn’t come in even if you were gone.”
After a pause of two seconds, she added gloomily, “I’ll leave once the thunder stops.”
Gong Hengye frowned, looked at her for a few seconds, then crouched down in front of her and called her, “Wen Yue.”
It was that seemingly gentle tone again.
Wen Yue hated it when he called her like that. Couldn’t he just say whatever he wanted to mock directly?
Her temper flared up, and she raised her head. “What?”
Then she met his deep eyes.
Wen Yue was slightly stunned.
He was looking up at her, his expression helpless. “Am I really that scary?”
Wen Yue: “Huh?”
She clearly didn’t understand why he was asking this.
Gong Hengye sighed softly, his voice low and lazy with a hint of intoxication. “I’ve actually always wanted to ask you, where exactly am I fierce?”
Four years ago, he had wanted to ask her.
But back then, she was drunk.
She wouldn’t have answered him anyway.
And after waking up, she had unethically forgotten everything, completely unaware that she had stolen his first kiss.At this thought, Gong Hengye’s gaze suddenly fell on her lips.
She was lightly biting her lower lip, its already pale color growing even whiter, making one want to stain it red.
Just like that year, when her lips had met his, they were like delicate pink petals, tender and sweet.
Gong Hengye pursed his lips slightly.
At twenty-seven years old, he never knew his memory could be this sharp. How could he remember such trivial details so clearly?
As he hesitated, Wen Yue leaned down, bringing her small face close to his, her nose twitching slightly.
With her movement, her lips drew even nearer.
Gong Hengye’s fingers curled slightly, his throat tightening abruptly.
Perhaps, when drunk, one really could do something they desired.
After all, he was only learning from her.
It wasn’t a big deal.
Just as he tilted his chin up slightly, before he could do anything, she suddenly asked, “Uncle, have you been drinking?”
She couldn’t smell anything now, but he seemed rather odd to her.
The light filtering in from outside illuminated his slightly flushed face, and the way he looked at her was strange, his voice sounding odd too—truly as if he were drunk.
Gong Hengye’s brow twitched slightly. “I had two glasses.”
Wen Yue let out an “oh” and leaned back, sitting upright. “No wonder.”
She pouted, her gaze carrying a hint of temper. “So drunk you’ve lost all self-awareness.”
How dare he ask her why she was being so fierce?
It had only been a few hours since he told her to “get lost,” and he’d already forgotten.
Gong Hengye: “…”
He thought he might really have had too much to drink.
Otherwise, why did his head hurt so much?
He stood up and sat on the sofa, leaning back with his eyes closed, massaging his temples lightly as he asked in a low voice, “While I was away, shouldn’t you have sneaked off to the hospital to see Gong Chen?”
Wen Yue sat beside him, pouting. “I don’t even know which hospital he’s in. How could I sneak off?”
Gong Hengye: “…”
He felt he was just asking for trouble out of boredom.
But before that frustration could settle in, Wen Yue added, “Besides, I have nothing to do with him anymore, and I don’t want to see him.”
Gong Hengye opened his eyes. “Is that so?”
Wen Yue didn’t answer. Instead, she asked him, “Uncle, will you like Wen Xi?”
“Wen Xi?”
Gong Hengye thought of the things he’d seen after being struck by lightning, and his head ached even more. “Why would I like her?”
Wen Yue hugged her knees, murmuring softly, “Because everyone likes her.”
Him included.
Or rather, he should be the one who liked Wen Xi the most.
After all, he was Wen Xi’s male lead.
Wen Yue felt that her once-named jealousy and possessiveness were stirring again.
Why?
Ever since Wen Xi appeared, everyone liked her, everyone loved her.
And what about her?
Why was she just trash to be discarded at will?
The more Wen Yue thought about it, the sadder she felt. Unable to help herself, she turned toward him. “Uncle, please don’t like her, okay?”
Suddenly, a flash of lightning lit up outside the window. In that brief light, Gong Hengye saw the glint in her eyes—a clear desire for possession.
He was somewhat surprised by her possessiveness. Was it directed at him?
Curious, he asked, “Why can’t I like her?”
“I…”
Wen Yue bit her lip, answering honestly in a low voice, “I would be jealous of her.”
Her unhappiness was obvious as she mumbled, “She already has so many people who like her. Why do you have to like her too?”Gong Hengye’s gaze deepened as he looked at her.
He also shifted slightly, and neither of them noticed that the distance between them had already narrowed beyond the usual safe space for a man and a woman.
Their breaths were almost mingling, yet neither could feel the other’s presence.
His voice was hoarse as he asked, “You don’t want me to like her?”
Wen Yue nodded. “I don’t.”
She was honest—so honest that Gong Hengye’s lips curved slightly.
“Alright.”
He raised his hand, gently resting it on her head and ruffling her cool hair, his tone indulgent. “Then I won’t like her.”
Wen Yue was taken aback.
That simple?
Gong Hengye had already taken a step back, his posture much more relaxed. “So from now on, little frog, you’ll stay by my side and be responsible for keeping her away!”
What plot, what female lead.
He would never admit to being that brain-dead male lead.
So having Wen Yue by his side wasn’t such a bad thing.
If the plot really forced him to get close to Wen Xi and like her, he’d just let Wen Yue drive Wen Xi away and, in the process, “snap him out of it” if he was forced to become a lovesick fool.
Wen Yue, however, was confused. “What?”
Gong Hengye: “What I mean is, since you’re staying by my side, you should do something. So from now on, our little frog will be the stick that beats apart the lovebirds… no, the stick that beats apart the wild ducks.”
Wen Yue: “…Huh?”
Frog, wild ducks, stick?
But Gong Hengye didn’t explain further. He had drunk too much and was tired.
He stood up. “Let’s go.”
Wen Yue was puzzled. “Go?”
Gong Hengye: “Of course. If you want to stay here all night, suit yourself.”
Wen Yue’s eyes widened slightly, and she hurriedly jumped off the sofa to follow him.
Her eyes brightened even more as she chased after him, asking, “So, Uncle, did you come back specifically to pick me up?”
Gong Hengye scoffed lightly. “Do you think…”
This time, before he could finish his sarcastic remark, Wen Yue nodded on her own, saying very seriously, “I think yes.”
Gong Hengye: “…”
Wen Yue tilted her head, smiling sweetly at him. “Uncle is so good.”
She said, “After I turned 18, Uncle is the only one who, after leaving me behind, still remembered to come back for me.”
Gong Hengye had already stepped into the elevator. Hearing this, he frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”
Eighteen—wasn’t that the year she got together with Gong Chen?
Wen Yue lowered her gaze. “It’s nothing. It’s just been a long time since anyone cared about me. I’ve gotten used to being overlooked.”
Then she looked up at him again. “So even if Uncle didn’t come back specifically for me, you don’t have to tell me. That way, I can tell myself that someone still cares about me.”
Her eyes were bright, not showing any sadness. Instead, they held a hint of self-deceptive happiness. “Uncle cares about me a lot.”
Gong Hengye met her gaze for a few seconds before looking away.
She was putting on quite the act.
Did she think he couldn’t tell she was playing hard to get?
Truly a little white flower.
The elevator stopped, and the doors opened.
Gong Hengye’s lips curved slightly, his tone half-serious, half-teasing. “Do you think I’d come back so late in a thunderstorm if I hadn’t left a frog here?”
He glanced at her sideways, an inexplicable smile flickering in his usually deep, dark eyes. “Do I look that idle?”
With that, he stepped out, leaving a bewildered Wen Yue behind.
So, did he mean he really did come back specifically for her?
Wen Yue’s gaze trembled slightly.She had deliberately said those words earlier to provoke him, never expecting he would actually respond like that.
If she had a heartbeat, it would surely be racing wildly by now.
She ran to his side and pressed, “Uncle, are you serious?”
Could she really be his white moonlight? Really, really?
No wonder he had told her earlier to take responsibility for scaring away the wild ducks, saying he wouldn’t like Wen Xi.
So, she really was his white moonlight!
Even though being the white moonlight didn’t seem all that important to him—it felt a bit pitiful.
But it was still better than not being it at all.
Gong Hengye’s brow twitched slightly. “Wen Yue.”
She stared at him eagerly, and he replied calmly, “Don’t push your luck.”
Wen Yue: “…Oh.”
She obediently closed her mouth and waited until they were seated in the car before adding, “I know it’s true.”
Gong Hengye: “?”
He turned his gaze to meet her bright, radiant eyes.
Clearly, she was the kind of girl who would shine brilliantly with just a little bit of sunshine.
At that moment, Gong Hengye felt a flicker of doubt.
Why would a girl like this be driven to suicide?
Since she had come to his side, he hadn’t seen any sign that this thick-skinned, self-healing girl was the type to take her own life.
Suddenly, he felt a desire to dig deeper.
He wanted to know just how Gong Chen had treated her over these past few years.