Shen Yifeng recognized that man—he had just seen him moments ago while talking outside.
He was the young master of the Laroche Group.
Still young, but already making a name for himself in the group’s venture capital division.
Shen Yifeng had heard that he wasn’t the primary heir to the family, so after returning from his studies, he had been working hard, seizing every opportunity to shine—and had indeed achieved impressive results.
It was said that he had taken the lead on several projects with returns as high as 200%.
Even more striking than his career was his appearance.
Beneath his high brow bones were eyes as deep blue as the Mediterranean Sea.
His side-parted, slightly wavy blond hair was exceptionally pure in color, neatly revealing his temples.
Because of his youth and sharp features, his cheeks still bore the slight hollows of adolescence.
He had clasped his hands and listened intently earlier, seemingly even a little entranced.
At first, he had simply been focused on the project, but when he raised his hand to ask a question, it no longer seemed to be just about the project.
Looking at the subtle brightness in his eyes, Shen Yifeng didn’t know why, but his hand slowly tightened around the pen he was holding, his gaze fixed on the young man, unable to look away.
The young man stood up, dressed in a deep sapphire-blue bespoke suit.
His well-trained physique gave the suit a strong, structured silhouette.
He had unbuttoned it when seated for comfort, and now, as he stood, he fastened the buttons with one hand and picked up the microphone with the other, bowing his head slightly to speak—polite and respectful to the speaker on stage.
Buttoning a suit is an ordinary, habitual action—but when done by such a young and strikingly handsome man, it somehow became extraordinarily captivating.
Shen Yifeng watched as he engaged attentively in conversation with Gu Zhaoping.
“I’m Valentin de Laroche. It’s an honor to meet you, Ms. Gu. After hearing your proposal, I have a question: from the perspective of energy storage technology innovation, how can we overcome the current bottleneck in battery energy density to meet the range demands of new energy vehicles and the stability requirements of distributed energy storage?”
Gu Zhaoping looked over at him.
She was delighted that someone wanted to discuss this topic—she had been prepared for this.
She began,
“Regarding innovation in energy storage technology, researchers are currently exploring new battery materials. Solid-state batteries, for instance, hold great promise in significantly improving energy density. Meanwhile, using nanotechnology to optimize electrode structures can also enhance performance…”
Gu Zhaoping was always well-prepared and thorough in her technical discussions.
The young man named Valentin grew visibly more intrigued as he listened, even nodding along as she spoke.
“Any more questions?”
Gu Zhaoping asked, looking at the young man.
He held the microphone as if wanting to speak again but simply inhaled and then lowered it, saying,
“No, please continue, Ms. Gu.”
Gu Zhaoping turned her attention back to the audience, scanning their expressions and reactions to gauge their reception of the presentation.
Most were whispering excitedly about the exchange, clearly intrigued.
One person, however, sat perfectly still, and no one knew where his gaze was fixed.
Shen Yifeng was still watching the young foreign man who had just conversed with Gu Zhaoping.
As he chatted with the people next to him—an elder, it seemed—the topic turned to the person on stage.
The young Laroche man gave a slightly embarrassed smile and scratched his nose lightly.
His face was excessively handsome, like an ideal answer that exceeded the standard.
Youthful, magnetic—he radiated enough charm to make anyone feel a sense of threat.
Shen Yifeng wasn’t sure what he had perceived, but he tightened his grip on the pen again, his knuckles paling slightly, unable to look away.
Only then did he recall why that familiar business associate outside had mentioned Gu Zhaoping to him—said she was extraordinary.
Perhaps the man had already met her before the forum.
No, he had said Old Master Gu hosted a tea gathering—he was probably invited.
Shen Yifeng hadn’t been on the guest list.
Neither Old Master Gu nor Gu Zhaoping herself had thought to invite him.
Just a fiancé about to be cast aside—nothing more.
Not worthy of a significant role in her bright and brilliant life that was about to unfold.
When the conference ended, Shen Yifeng watched as the young man politely took leave of his elders and friends, then quickly descended the steps and headed straight toward the stage.
He began talking with Gu Zhaoping.
The cap of Shen Yifeng’s pen, which he’d been fiddling with, finally fell to the ground with a flick of his thumb.
The chubby middle-aged man seated beside him glanced at him hesitantly but said nothing in the end.
This man…really was strange.
The scene on stage was harmonious—
Gu Zhaoping stood at the lectern, and Valentin stood a step below.
She leaned slightly on the podium, tilting her head as she spoke with him.
Valentin stood below, gazing up at her slightly, without stepping forward to her level.
From time to time, he even laughed.
She had hated Shen Yifeng so much, said so firmly,
“Don’t think so highly of yourself”—yet here she was, chatting with someone else, smiling warmly.
Shen Yifeng’s pupils contracted.
He saw them take out their phones, seemingly exchanging contact information.
He stared at them intently, unable to look away, and could even guess what they were saying.
Valentin looked genuinely pleased and said something to Gu Zhaoping before she packed up her materials to leave.
At that moment—just as she turned—
Shen Yifeng realized the room had thinned out.
Few people were left.
He was one of the last still sitting there, suddenly feeling out of place.
If she turned, she would definitely see him.
His movement froze slightly.
For a moment, an undignified thought crossed his mind: to bend down and pick up the pen cap, using the motion to avoid being noticed by her.
But then, for reasons unknown, a surge of determination or impulse stopped him.
He remained stiff and still, silently watching Gu Zhaoping.
He was ready to meet her gaze.
Even planned to count how many seconds they would hold eye contact.
But—
Gu Zhaoping’s eyes merely swept past the audience like a bird skimming the water—light and fleeting.
So many people there, and not one caught her eye.
Shen Yifeng included.
She picked up her documents and left.
Shen Yifeng gripped the armrest of his chair, half-risen in slow motion—but never quite stood.
The man beside him finally understood what he was doing and shook his head with a click of his tongue.
‘So he’s fallen for the brilliant speaker, huh?’
He thought.
But look at him—nothing like that Laroche heir, bold and straightforward.
If you’re taken by someone, then go introduce yourself, get to know her!
What’s he so afraid of?
Pathetic.
As the crowd thinned further, Shen Yifeng sat there, quietly watching the Laroche heir return to his seat to converse with a few remaining companions.
In the empty hall, Shen Yifeng could faintly hear him say: “Yes, she’s excellent. Truly outstanding.”
“Hope to talk more in the coming days.”
His tone was sincere, his eyes sparkled with genuine interest.
Shen Yifeng knew he hadn’t misread it.
There was no doubt.
No need to question it.
He was attracted to Gu Zhaoping.
And honestly—how could he not be?
When she stood on that stage, it was nearly impossible to look away.
But her gaze hadn’t landed on anyone else—only on that Laroche heir.
He wore a youthful, even somewhat pure smile on his face.
Shen Yifeng didn’t even know why, but a surge of impulse rose in his heart—he wanted to go over and interrupt them, to join their conversation, and tell him that Gu Zhaoping wasn’t the kind of person he imagined.
If he was some kind of playboy, he should not use his usual tricks on her—she wouldn’t be attracted to that.
Guys like him—young masters from rich families—weren’t her type at all.
She liked delicate, obedient people, the kind who would stay by her side, always gentle and well-behaved.
By the time Shen Yifeng realized it, he had already stood up.
There weren’t many people below the stage, so his movement was rather noticeable.
The few people chatting over there also heard it, paused, and turned their heads.
Shen Yifeng’s throat moved slightly.
He didn’t know why he had thought so much, but his mind still maintained a kind of blank calmness.
It was as if he had shut down completely, and was simply acting on instinct.
When they looked over, he nodded politely and said,
“Hello.”
That young Lord Laroche looked a bit surprised, but also politely nodded in return.
He really had an outstanding face, and with his status, he shone even more brilliantly.
But the next words didn’t come.
Shen Yifeng couldn’t speak.
He knew Gu Zhaoping well enough—after all, for more than a decade, he had always known that Gu Zhaoping was to become his wife in the future.
But now all of it seemed absurd.
The woman he had once arranged to be his future wife…he was only now starting to understand the kind of young man she liked.
He had once let such a young man stand before him and challenge him, and now he stood there, watching another young man—one who had no idea who he was—gaze at Gu Zhaoping with a subtle, almost tender fascination.
And he couldn’t say a single word that would seem justified.
Valentin, noticing he was staring, looked a little puzzled.
Still polite, he tilted his head slightly and asked:
“Hello, was there something you needed from me?”
After a long silence, Shen Yifeng replied mechanically, almost numbly: “No.”
Then, somehow, driven by an automatic instinct, he continued, not even knowing how the words formed: “I’ll be hosting a party tomorrow night. You may bring a female companion—anyone you like. Would you like to come?”
He didn’t know what he was hoping for.
It was only after the words slipped out that he realized: If this young Lord Laroche needed to find a date, then it was very likely he already had someone close to him, or he’d need to approach someone at the party.
Either of these outcomes would prove that he wasn’t someone who could end up by Gu Zhaoping’s side.
But unexpectedly, this Lord Laroche froze for a moment, looked around at his friends, and they all started to laugh teasingly.
His ears turned a bit red, and he laughed too, somewhat sheepishly.
“Sorry, Mr. Shen, I don’t have a date.”
One of his friends joked,
“He’s never once successfully had a romantic encounter. A workaholic with no sense of romance!”
Valentin’s cheekbones turned a little red.
He nudged the guy with his arm wrapped in a deep sapphire-blue suit sleeve and insisted with unexpected seriousness,
“I do.”
To him, being called unromantic was an insult.
He just hadn’t met the right person to fully spread his peacock tail.
Watching the energetic interaction between the two young men, Shen Yifeng didn’t know why, but he felt a chill settle in his chest.
His brain cooled down too.
He didn’t?
The young master of the Laroche family—he really didn’t have a date?
He’d never had a romantic relationship?
That couldn’t be true.
It didn’t make sense.
And yet, here it was.
This young master seemed to think for a moment, then politely turned to Shen Yifeng and said: “Mr. Shen, thank you for the invitation. If I can get someone to agree to go with me, I’ll attend.”
He even exchanged contact information with him.
Shen Yifeng was bewildered.
He didn’t know how it had come to this.
Then he watched him leave, surrounded by his friends, still smiling with a youthful sharpness at the corners of his mouth.
It was then that Shen Yifeng suddenly realized—he was 30 years old.
A wave of powerlessness overcame him.
It was so strong that he almost sank back into his chair and couldn’t get up for a long time.
Today’s forum was an internal one.
Though it was recorded, it wouldn’t be reported to the public.
In a few days, the real forum would take place—the one broadcast worldwide through major media outlets.
Old Master Gu came out leaning on his cane, exchanging pleasantries with others.
He was clearly very pleased with Gu Zhaoping’s performance today.
“Zhaoping, let’s have you do the speech again at the next forum for the Gu family. How about it?”
“No problem, Grandpa. I’ll need to revise my speech draft,”
Gu Zhaoping replied calmly, walking beside him without a hint of pressure.
The old man beamed.
With just today’s appearance, many people had taken notice of this promising junior of the Gu family.
Plenty had come to talk and test the waters, making inquiries both overt and subtle.
Outwardly, he remained composed, but inwardly he was almost laughing with pride.
Who wouldn’t be proud of a granddaughter like that?
Who could resist showing off?
If it had been one of those useless, disappointing Gu family boys, who among them could’ve taken the stage like that?
Who could’ve stood before all those global industry giants, fluently presenting a project proposal, not stumbling once, flowing from start to finish—and even responding to their questions with composed answers?
Just from that 20-minute presentation, many had already expressed interest in her proposal.
Once they presented the full data in a few days, and investment decisions could officially begin…who knew what kind of grand scene it would be!
Old Master Gu’s blood was pumping just thinking about it.
His old body, pushing ninety, felt like an old car suddenly refueled and ready to burn again.
The two had barely walked a few steps and were about to get in the car when someone seemed to spot them.
Valentin stopped, quickly bid farewell to his companions, and ran over before Gu Zhaoping got in, standing by the car door and saying,
“Miss Gu.”
Gu Zhaoping paused mid-movement, straightened up and looked at him.
She had a good impression of him—he had asked just the right questions earlier during the forum—so she asked politely:
“Mr. Laroche, is there something else?”
On that strikingly handsome, youthful, aggressive yet vibrant face, he gave a slightly embarrassed but bright smile.
His deep blue eyes looked at her intently: “I’m very sorry—this is a bold request. May I ask you a personal question? If not, please feel free to say no.”
Sitting in the car already, Old Master Gu finally caught this part of the conversation.
He froze, then stuck his head out, looking foolishly curious.
Oh my god!
Such a handsome young lad!
Wasn’t this the one who asked the questions earlier?
Even more dazzling up close!
In the sunlight, his face almost glowed!
And his granddaughter—elegant and regal—was resting a hand on the car door, her aura overpowering the entire scene.
She simply nodded and said,
“Go ahead.”
Valentin’s bone structure was exceptional.
His thick brows shaded his eyes, and his long eyes slanted slightly—but his facial features were too perfectly arranged, and the more one looked, the more mesmerizing he became.
Despite his calm appearance, the young man seemed shy as he spoke to her, his ears slightly red.
Though composed on the outside, he seemed nervous, as if anxiously awaiting her answer.
“Miss Gu, this may be presumptuous, but I’d like to ask: if one were to attend a party meant for young people…would it be alright if I invited you to go with me?”
Silence fell.
Then came a sharp gasp from inside the car.
Old Master Gu clutched his thigh and started slapping it in silent excitement!
What a scene was this?
What was this??
A young, handsome lad, standing shyly before his granddaughter, asking her to a party!!
The old man didn’t even know why he was so amused—maybe at his age, this kind of scene was just heartwarming.
The more he heard, the more delighted he became!