There was a certain unspoken truth about relationships between men and women—after a real argument, things never stayed the same. Either everything shattered beyond repair, or something deeper formed, pushing both sides into a new stage.
For Luo Zheng and Liu Yan, it was clearly the latter.
Not a dramatic leap, not a sudden transformation—but a small, undeniable shift.
At this moment, Luo Zheng was holding Liu Yan's hands, turning them slightly as if examining a delicate piece of art. His fingers traced lightly along her knuckles, lingering longer than necessary, clearly enjoying himself.
"Can I get up now, Boss?" Liu Yan asked, her tone calm but carrying a hint of impatience.
"I really don't like that title," Luo Zheng replied lazily, avoiding the question entirely.
Liu Yan shot him a look, her brows tightening slightly. "Can I get up now… you jerk?"
"If someone else called me that," Luo Zheng leaned closer, his voice lowering, "she'd already be begging for mercy by now."
"You—"
Ring, ring, ring!
The sharp ringtone cut through the tension.
Liu Yan instinctively pulled one hand free, grabbed the phone, and held it to his ear.
"Hello, who is this?" Luo Zheng answered casually.
"Director Luo, it hasn't been that long, and you've already forgotten me?" The voice on the other end was soft, teasing, and undeniably seductive.
Luo Zheng smiled faintly. "We've only spoken once. It's normal I don't remember."
"How could that be? Directors are supposed to have excellent memories. You can't just forget someone like me."
"That depends on how impressive you are."
The tone of the conversation shifted instantly into something playful, ambiguous.
Beside him, Liu Yan's expression darkened slightly.
She didn't say anything, but the change was obvious.
Fortunately, after a few flirtatious exchanges, the conversation moved toward business. Otherwise, Liu Yan might have actually thrown the phone out the window.
Flirting with another woman… while she was right there.
This man really had no boundaries.
"My cooperation with Huayi hasn't even been finalized," Luo Zheng said, shifting to a more serious tone. "How did you hear about it?"
"Don't worry," Fan Bingbing replied. "Only our company knows."
Luo Zheng didn't believe that for a second, but he didn't care. Information spreading could sometimes work in his favor.
"The details depend on your Boss Wang's sincerity," he continued. "It could be film, or television."
"Your company also does TV series?"
"Of course. Film, television, artist management—we're building everything. Early artists get better treatment."
He paused slightly, then added casually, "What about you, Miss Fan? Thinking of switching companies?"
On the other end, Fan Bingbing fell silent for a moment.
She was tempted—very tempted.
But reality quickly pulled her back.
"I'd love to," she admitted honestly. "But even if I sold myself, I couldn't afford the penalty fee. And Sister Hua has treated me well."
Luo Zheng wasn't surprised. He knew it wasn't realistic—at least not yet.
But that didn't stop him from wanting her.
A hardworking actress, strong presence, and exceptional beauty—she was exactly the kind of talent he liked.
More importantly, she fit his aesthetic perfectly.
Elegant features, natural charm—not like the overly artificial faces that would flood the industry years later.
Still, timing mattered.
"We can cooperate in the future," he said lightly.
"Why wait?" she pushed. "Why not this time?"
"That depends on the project. Let's talk after negotiations."
His tone made it clear—he wasn't going to promise anything.
Fan Bingbing understood immediately and didn't press further. After a few polite words, she hung up.
But her mind was already working.
If she wanted that opportunity… she would have to earn it.
Back in the U.S., the call ended.
Liu Yan placed the phone down and tried to get up.
But Luo Zheng pulled her back.
"Jealous?" he asked, leaning closer, their faces only inches apart.
"Please don't assume things, Boss," Liu Yan replied coldly.
But her eyes betrayed her for a brief second.
Just as she tried to turn away, Luo Zheng suddenly leaned in.
His aim was obvious.
But he missed.
Liu Yan reacted quickly, her body tensing as she slipped out of his reach and jumped off the bed.
"Hey, quick reflexes," Luo Zheng said with a smirk.
She didn't respond. She just walked out—barefoot, silent.
He watched her go, then shook his head slightly before heading to the shower.
The night before had been… complicated.
Not quite satisfying, not quite frustrating.
Somewhere in between.
By the time they both finished getting ready, they looked completely composed—like nothing had happened.
At Marvel, the atmosphere had returned to normal.
With Luo Zheng personally overseeing things, the executives were visibly more relaxed. The uncertainty from before had completely disappeared.
Kevin stood up first to report.
"Boss, the promotion and distribution plan for Saw has been sent to Lionsgate. They were very impressed and agreed to follow it exactly."
"I'm not worried about that," Luo Zheng replied. "Just make sure they don't get greedy with the costs."
"Understood."
Luo Zheng nodded, then shifted focus. "What about the copyright buybacks?"
Kevin straightened slightly. "The contracts for The Punisher, Blade, and Ghost Rider are entering final stages."
"Tell me something new."
Kevin immediately adjusted. "X-Men and Fantastic Four are stuck. Fox wants to wait for Spider-Man to release before negotiating."
"And Universal?"
"Same strategy."
Luo Zheng nodded slowly.
"Sony, however…" Kevin hesitated slightly. "They're willing to negotiate further on Spider-Man."
That caught Luo Zheng's attention instantly.
"That's unusual," he murmured.
"Sydney from Columbia Pictures wants to meet you personally," Kevin added. "They're interested in your novel—Pirates of the Caribbean."
Luo Zheng laughed.
"So that's their angle."
The bait he had prepared for Disney had attracted Sony instead.
Interesting.
"Set up the meeting," he said decisively. "I'll handle it myself."
After the meeting, everything wrapped up quickly.
Luo Zheng had already streamlined the company's operations—no unnecessary reports, no wasted time.
Efficiency had improved dramatically.
And with that, respect for him had only grown.
The next morning, Luo Zheng finally managed to free himself from Julie's clingy embrace.
He exhaled deeply.
Married women… especially after time apart… were truly exhausting.
When he stepped outside, Liu Yan was already waiting beside the Rolls-Royce.
"I told you, you don't need to wait outside," he said, reaching out.
She ignored the gesture completely.
"You are the boss. I am the secretary. Proper etiquette matters."
Luo Zheng chuckled. "There are still some 'duties' you haven't fulfilled."
He leaned closer, whispering teasingly.
Liu Yan stepped back instantly, her cheeks faintly flushed—but her gaze remained steady.
"Was Miss Julie not enough for you last night?" she asked coolly. "Should I arrange a massage service again?"
Luo Zheng coughed awkwardly. "No need. I'm taking a break today."
Without waiting, he pulled her into the car.
Holding hands—that was already the limit she was willing to accept.
"Boss, where are we going?" she asked.
"St. Patrick's Cathedral."
The driver nodded quickly.
And just as quickly, the partition between the front and back seats slid up—perfectly timed.