Chapter 20: An Overwhelming Bout of Jealousy

Ji Yunchuan, a top model, was practically made for causing trouble with women. His face was striking, with sharp, sultry features that could make any woman stop in her tracks. Coupled with his sculpted, athletic physique and a notorious reputation for being a relentless flirt, Ji Yunchuan had charmed and left countless hearts shattered.

"Stop right there!" Fu Hanning's voice rang out, his dark, intense gaze hard as ice. It wasn't a suggestion—it was a command.

Ji Yunchuan halted mid-step, turning back with a wicked smirk. "Wow, you sound pretty jealous. Don't tell me you've actually fallen for me? That'd be quite a plot twist. I mean, come on! I thought we were just putting on a show here, playing up the fake boyfriend act to keep people off your back. Now you're starting to make me nervous."

"Get lost!" Fu Hanning barked, his tone sharp as a blade and just as unforgiving.

Ji Yunchuan shrugged, grinning even more. "Why so worked up? Did I hit a nerve or something? Alright, alright, I'll back off. But just so you know, I'm still going to try my luck over there. I mean, look at me. I've got charm for days, and you're not bad yourself, but remember—I'm straight. Don't mess with me, man. You might ruin my chances."

Before Fu Hanning could utter another word, Ji Yunchuan had already made a beeline for Gu Yining, nonchalantly dropping into the seat beside her with a swagger that spoke volumes.

"Hey there, beautiful."

Gu Yining's senses went on high alert. If Fu Hanning's so-called boyfriend was here to confront her, she'd gladly meet him head-on. She had no intention of letting him stand in her way. If she had to, she'd find a way to remove this man from Fu Hanning's life once and for all. After all, she'd already married Fu Hanning; there was no reason to divorce, but if it meant a chance at a happy life, she was more than willing to make an effort to "straighten" him out.

"Hello," she greeted, offering a sweet, demure smile while her mind spun through possible ways to confront him.

Ji Yunchuan studied her with an amused smile, clearly intrigued. "Do you know who I am?" he asked, leaning closer as if testing her recognition.

Gu Yining met his gaze without flinching, letting a small, knowing smile slip. "Of course. You're Fu Hanning's boyfriend."

"Pfft..." Ji Yunchuan spluttered, nearly spitting out the wine he'd just sipped. He quickly turned away, barely managing to avoid making a mess. Fortunately, Gu Yining dodged in time, displaying impressive reflexes. Calm and composed, she pulled a few napkins from the table and handed them over.

"Relax," she said smoothly. "I'm not going to judge your relationship. It's the 21st century. I'm very open-minded."

"Hold on, little miss, you've got it all wrong," Ji Yunchuan sputtered, realizing how deeply he'd dug himself into this hole. If Gu Yining really believed he was Fu Hanning's lover, any chance he had at charming her was as good as dead. He shot a silent curse at Fu Hanning for creating this whole mess.

"Oh? So you're not his boyfriend?" she asked, arching an eyebrow, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes.

"No, I'm—" Ji Yunchuan started, only to freeze when a looming shadow fell over him. A chill crept up his spine as Fu Hanning's dark and dangerous voice sliced through the air: "Ji Yunchuan."

He glanced over his shoulder, and the look in Fu Hanning's eyes was enough to make him swallow. The jealous tyrant had arrived, and Ji Yunchuan's plans were about to go down in flames.

Reluctantly, Ji Yunchuan rose from the sofa, giving Gu Yining a parting smile. "Stay put, beautiful. I'll be back soon," he winked, clearly intending to leave her wanting more.

Gu Yining watched him go, utterly bewildered. What was going on between these two?

Ji Yunchuan, now cornered, tried to reason with Fu Hanning. "Look, I get it. Maybe you have some sort of feelings for me, but that doesn't mean you should stand in my way when I'm trying to talk to a woman. Did you see her? She's a knockout. A perfect ten—gorgeous, confident, and from what I've seen, full of personality..."

Before he could finish, Fu Hanning stepped forward, his polished shoe coming down on Ji Yunchuan's foot with full force.

"Ahhh!" Ji Yunchuan's scream rang through the room, sounding for all the world like someone had just slaughtered a pig.

From her vantage point, Gu Yining could see the two men bickering. To her, it looked suspiciously like a jealous lover's spat. From where she sat, it appeared that Fu Hanning was enraged because Ji Yunchuan had flirted with her, and now he was taking out his wrath on his 'boyfriend.'

Suppressing a grin, she took a sip of her drink. Yes, it certainly seemed that her initial suspicions were confirmed: Fu Hanning was almost certainly gay.