BIAC CH 37

Chapter 37: Who Forgot Their Place?

As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, Tang He’s secretary quickly approached and reported, “President, Mr. Du is waiting in your office.”

Su An gestured for Tang He to return to his office first, intending to give these two doomed lovebirds some time alone—ten minutes would be enough, she thought, for them to hug, kiss, and soothe the longing in their hearts. She herself went off to make a few calls to Lawyer Wang and other relevant parties to prepare for the upcoming crisis meeting.

Tang He pushed open the heavy doors of the CEO’s office—and simultaneously shut the door to his own heart.

He would not soften.

He sternly warned himself: the man in front of him was nothing but a loathsome liar.

Without glancing at or acknowledging the person waiting quietly in the corner, Tang He headed straight to his desk, sat down, and got to work.

Du Jianyou saw Tang He walk in—his tall figure, steady stride, and resolute expression. This was the man he’d been yearning for day and night—his man.

Carrying the cake, he stepped forward, expecting a tight, aching embrace… a passionate kiss that stole his breath.

To his surprise, Tang He didn’t even look at him. He went straight to his desk and sat down, treating Du Jianyou as if he didn’t exist.

He must’ve already read that ridiculous story, Du Jianyou thought.

He’s sulking now… how cute.

Du Jianyou chuckled to himself. Nothing could ruin his good mood right now—he was finally reunited with his lover after such a long time apart.

“Okay, okay, don’t be mad anymore. It’s not that big of a deal. Anyone can see it’s a made-up story—no one’s going to believe it,” Du Jianyou said, standing in front of the desk and trying to comfort him.

“Not that big of a deal? You really are taking this lightly,” Tang He replied in a flat tone.

“Exactly! What’s the big deal? Worst case, we come out together—officially announce to the world that we’re in love.” Du Jianyou emphasized the last three words playfully, trying to coax a smile out of Tang He.

“We’re in love? Come out together? That’s what you think this is? That’s why you let me get exposed?” Tang He finally looked up, arms crossed tightly over his chest, coldly glaring at Du Jianyou.

“Huh? What are you saying?” Du Jianyou finally realized something was wrong—he had never seen Tang He’s eyes look this cold before.

“I said: Is that why you schemed so hard to get close to me—so you could out me? What exactly do you want from me?” A cold laugh escaped Tang He’s lips. His long-suppressed rage was on the verge of erupting. His clenched fists trembled uncontrollably.

“I didn’t… Ge, how could you think that? It wasn’t me…” Faced with this version of Tang He, Du Jianyou felt fear creeping in. He tried to defend himself, but clearly, Tang He wasn’t interested in hearing it. Looking at Du Jianyou still trying to explain, Tang He felt nothing but disgust. He could no longer control himself.

“Don’t call me Ge. Look at the mess you’ve made.” He roared furiously and lost it—grabbing the rolled-up magazine beside him and hurling it at Du Jianyou with all the force of a grenade. It hit Du squarely, knocking the cake from his hands. Cream splattered across his body, and the cake tumbled to the floor, box and all—his effort from last night rolling around in ruins.

A lifetime of love, traded for a scene of total humiliation.

Su An was just about to knock when she heard the shouting and the sound of something crashing inside. Alarmed, she pushed open the door without thinking about protocol—only to find Du Jianyou covered in cream, the cake he had carefully made lying in shambles on the floor.

Du Jianyou was stiffly picking up the cream-smeared magazine that had landed near his feet and flipping through it.

“If it wasn’t you, then who? Who else could have had that photo? You really think I’m stupid enough to let you fool me? You’re good, I’ll give you that—running me in circles these past few months. Do you really think that just because a magazine caught us, I’d come out with you and run off into the sunset? That’s ridiculous. From the beginning, I made it very clear: this was temporary. I’m going to marry a woman and have kids. There’s no future for us. I told you clearly, and you agreed. Now you’re pulling this stunt behind my back—what is that supposed to mean? Did you really get so drunk on pleasure in bed that you forgot your place? ‘I wish they all knew’—how dare you say that? God, I must’ve been blind… I completely misjudged you…” Tang He ranted, unrestrained, reckless with his words—startling Su An.

She looked on anxiously as Du Jianyou frowned at the magazine’s photo. Hearing Tang He air their private moments in front of others—even repeating the words he’d whispered during a moment of intoxicated intimacy—made Du Jianyou’s face go pale, drained of all color… except for his eyes, which were now tinged red with shame.

He kept silently flipping through the magazine—the same one he had read countless times yesterday. Staring at the photo now, he couldn’t believe it. How did it get out?

He always kept his phone on him. That photo shouldn’t have leaked. How did it get out?

It made sense that Tang He was angry. I took the photo. I didn’t protect it. It’s my fault it got leaked. I can apologize for that.

But this level of misunderstanding… I can’t let it go unaddressed. Even if we’re breaking up, we can’t do it under a misunderstanding. We agreed: a peaceful goodbye.

He still remembered what he’d said: Even if we don’t make it to the end, at least let us walk together for a while. When it’s time to part ways, we should do so gracefully—without resentment.

If he wants to break up, fine… but I have to explain.

“Ge… President Tang, that photo—it really wasn’t me who leaked it. I didn’t plan any of this. Please believe me. I truly don’t know…” Du Jianyou tried to explain, but the man before him only sat in his chair, staring coldly, relentlessly. Tang He hurled every ounce of his icy anger at him—merciless and indifferent. Staring at this almost unrecognizable version of Tang He, Du Jianyou’s eyes turned red, his throat choked up, his body trembling—unable to utter a single complete, convincing sentence.

“Du Jianyou? How is that possible? The article paints him as absolutely filthy. How could he have done this to himself? This kind of slander only drenches him in filth—it hurts him even more than it hurts you. If this gets out, how is he supposed to live with it? How could he write something so vile and frame himself?” Su An couldn’t take it anymore—she stepped in to defend him.

“Hah. Why not? The filthier the story, the more sympathy he wins from you. If I were as weak and muddled as you, I’d probably be rushing over to comfort and coddle him too. Don’t forget: actors are heartless—and he’s the director. That probably makes him king of the heartless. What can’t he do? He’s even won a major award! Self-directing and self-starring in this drama? That’s child’s play to him. What a shame—he underestimated me. Really thought I’d fall for it?” Tang He spat out every cruel thought in his heart. In this moment, he wanted nothing more than to lash Du Jianyou with the sharpest words possible—every sentence aimed to cut deep.

“Tang He! Calm down! I believe Jianyou isn’t that kind of person. Don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment…” Su An hadn’t expected things to spiral so out of control. Looking at Du Jianyou—his face drained of all color—she was about to continue when there was a knock at the door. It was Lawyer Wang. Tang He motioned for him to enter.

“If you’ve got anything to say, say it to my lawyer.” At this point, Tang He had turned his chair away, averting his gaze from the man he once held so dearly—now the one who stabbed him straight in the heart.

Du Jianyou closed his eyes in despair. Tang He was refusing to communicate.

What am I supposed to talk about—with a lawyer?

You’re the only one I want to talk to—about my love.

Du Jianyou looked toward the lawyer. Wang looked every bit the professional, as if he didn’t notice the chaos around him. He stepped over the cream on the floor and sat down on the couch in the small sitting area. He placed his briefcase on the coffee table, pulled out a few documents and pens. After selecting one pen, he lifted it slightly toward Du Jianyou, clicked it, and spoke:

“Mr. Du, we may begin. But first, please allow me to inform you that all of our conversation will be recorded for legal purposes. Now, if you have any requests, feel free to state them directly.”

Du Jianyou stared at the pen in the lawyer’s hand—the exact same pen that had been on his own coffee table last night.

He looked at Su An in disbelief.

So it was you. You don’t believe me either.

Su An saw that Du Jianyou had realized the pen was used for secret recording. She felt a wave of guilt crash over her. She hadn’t done it because she didn’t trust him. She was just being cautious… trying to protect Tang He… and Guangsheng.

She couldn’t bear to look at his wounded expression any longer. She turned away, heart heavy with remorse.

Du Jianyou hadn’t slept all night—baking a cake, stressing over the magazine mess—his mind and body were both at their limit. He closed his eyes again and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

His mind drifted back to last night’s conversation with Su An—how they were discussing solutions, working together like comrades on the same ship. He imagined how Tang He would be distressed, how he’d panic and lose all reason because of worry, how he, Du Jianyou, would play the sensible one—comforting, retreating quietly behind the scenes, never complaining, doing everything in silence for the sake of the man he loved.

But it had only been half a day. And now he had been thrown overboard—abandoned, drifting all alone in the ocean.

Trust? It turns out that’s the hardest part of love. But realizing that now… is it too late? Has it always been just me walking this road? In this relationship—was there never really a we?

He remembered Tang He’s words: “You forgot your place.”

My place… wasn’t I supposed to be your lover? So who’s the one who forgot our place?

Du Jianyou glanced around the room at the other three people:
The man he thought was his lover… wouldn’t even look at him.
The woman he thought was his friend… couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes.
And the unrelated lawyer was just holding a recording pen, staring straight at him, waiting for him to speak—ready to capture his words as courtroom evidence. Evidence of what? That Du Jianyou was just another pretty boy clinging to a rich patron.

Du Jianyou pulled himself together. This wasn’t the time to crumble. The storm outside was fast approaching—there was no escaping what lay ahead.

He raised his voice, aiming his sharp tone directly at the lawyer:

“Fine! Since you’ve already seen through my game, there’s nothing more for me to say. What do I want from you? Just the perks—good food, good drink, money, fame. But after all this time, I still couldn’t get you. You really are something—not as easy to fool as my previous sugar daddies. But I’m no pushover either. Now that things have come to this, let me tell you: If I can’t have you, I’ll destroy you.”

Du Jianyou declared coldly.

Tang He spun around in shock, staring at the man he now barely recognized.

This… this is who I loved? I actually loved this man? I must have been blind—completely out of my mind.

“You’re threatening me?” Tang He roared, his voice cracking with pain. “I treated you like…” He couldn’t even finish the sentence. He couldn’t admit—especially not now—that he once thought of him as a lover. He refused to let anyone see Tang He as a pitiful fool.

Du Jianyou didn’t look back.

“Treated me like what? A friend?” He scoffed coldly.

“And you talk about conscience? How much is a kilo of that worth? Can conscience pay for my HERMÈS? Givenchy? Christian Dior? Jean-Paul Gaultier? Don’t be naive.”

He continued with venom in his voice, “In this matter—someone has to pay the price of utter ruin.”

With that, he turned around, opened the door, and walked out—not with the light, careless swagger his words suggested, but with staggering, broken steps.

It was the first time he didn’t say goodbye.

Su An sat in stunned silence. Her mind was completely blank. She couldn’t believe what had just happened.

She couldn’t believe Tang He’s accusations.

She couldn’t believe Du Jianyou’s explosive “confession.”

No… something was off. That line—“I still couldn’t get you”—the phrasing wasn’t right.

Su An looked over at Lawyer Wang, who was tucking the recording pen away with a satisfied smile. And in that moment, the string that had just snapped in her heart suddenly snapped back into place.

This time, what she couldn’t believe… Was Du Jianyou’s strength.

Without a second thought, she ignored Tang He, who was now fuming and ready to flip a desk. She rushed out of the office and chased after Du Jianyou. Along the way, she snatched a pack of wet wipes off a colleague’s desk.

She caught up to him just as he reached the elevator. As expected, that lone figure stood there—his back straight, his expression stiff, but his hand pressing the elevator button frantically, fingers trembling uncontrollably.

“Jianyou… I’m sorry…” Su An stood behind him, unsure how to begin. She could only offer the wipes. She could only apologize—for herself, for Tang He.

Du Jianyou didn’t respond. He lowered his head, refused to look at her, refused to acknowledge her.

“Please don’t be like this… I really am sorry about the recording. I just… I just…” She couldn’t justify it. Not in front of someone this devastated. She couldn’t pretend to be innocent.

“I’ll talk to Tang He. I’ll explain everything. Don’t worry, he was just blinded by anger. I know he doesn’t really believe—”

At the mention of Tang He, Du Jianyou finally reacted. He shook his head and turned slightly, eyes still fixed on the ground.

“No need, Su An. What’s most important right now isn’t explaining this. It’s facing the public’s accusations.” His voice was calm, almost too calm.

“I’m sure President Tang is in no state to handle it. If you still trust me, I’ll handle the press conference. I have some industry contacts—I can pull something together by tomorrow.”

“As for the recording… You don’t need to apologize. I understand it’s your job to protect him. To protect the company. With someone as loyal as you by his side… I can rest easy.”

Du Jianyou stepped forward and lightly gripped her arm. “Don’t worry. Everything we discussed yesterday still counts. Nothing has changed.”

He hesitated, then carefully asked, “If… if you still see me as a friend, could I ask you for one favor?”

“Tomorrow at the press conference… don’t let him come. I don’t want him to see me—not like this.”

His voice cracked—a quiet plea, heavy with grief.

Before Su An could respond, Du Jianyou dropped her hand—and transformed again. With cold sharpness, he snapped:

“Don’t beg me! I’ve already said I’m holding that press conference. Don’t think just because your Guangsheng Group has money and lawyers, you can scare me. I’m not afraid of any of you. Go ahead, send your precious attorney—I’ve got nothing left to lose!”

He snatched the wet wipes from her hand, turned abruptly, and stormed into the elevator.

As the doors slowly closed, he lifted his chin and glared—not at Su An—but at the person behind her: Lawyer Wang.

(To be continued…)

T/L: He didn’t say goodbye. He was heartbroken, misunderstood, and still chose to protect the one who hurt him. This one really hurts. Oh Du Jianyou… </3