Admittedly, Si Qiuyi was absolutely right.

Ever since the hospital incident, Qin Cheng’s behavior had grown unusual—his mannerisms, demeanor, even the subtlest gestures were worlds apart from the man he used to be. Those closest to him felt this shift most keenly.

Si Qiuyi was no exception. Though she rarely saw her fiancé, their engagement made understanding him essential. So she noticed the inconsistencies. After waking in the hospital, her once-playboy fiancé seemed like a completely different person—a stark contrast to his former self. It piqued her curiosity. She’d even briefly wondered if Qin Cheng had been body-snatched… but dismissed the thought as far too absurd.

The most dramatic change came when Qin Cheng knocked out his younger brother, Si Weimao, and had him carried out of Azure Cloud Group. The incident stirred whispers. Shadowy figures tried exploiting it to sow discord between the Si and Qin families—but failed. The elders of both clans remained silent, as if they’d seen nothing. Since the seniors chose not to pursue it, Si Qiuyi wouldn’t either. She never intended to discuss Si Weimao with Qin Cheng. Harmony was paramount, after all~

Qin Cheng’s transformation was so profound it invited suspicion. Yet he disdained pretense. He was who he was. Mimicking the “original” Qin Cheng? He’d be blunt—he simply couldn’t. So he never hid it. Always showed up as himself. No one could force an arrogant madman to play a role he refused to embody.

“What do you think of Pinghai City’s current landscape?”

From afar, Si Qiuyi blinked, a playful smile gracing her face. Qin Cheng found it mildly intriguing. Ignoring Cheng Yu An beside him, he lounged casually in his chair. “I’m no expert, but I see a thing or two. Pinghai’s a decent economic hub. Not on Shanghai’s level, sure—but competition here is sparse. Compared to other cities’ economic pyramids, Pinghai’s is odd. It lacks a solid middle tier—the pillar-like backbone. Business titans monopolize the top *and* middle layers, leaving only scraps at the bottom for small enterprises.”

Si Qiuyi was slightly surprised he could articulate this.

“Exactly. Other cities have dozens of notable conglomerates. Here? Only a handful dominate: Liuxing, Azure Cloud, Sili… The strong rank nationally—even at the forefront. The weak? Barely a name.”

She’d only meant casual chatter. Yet Qin Cheng not only answered—he pinpointed the issue. Genuine surprise flickered within her. For the first time, she truly began to see him differently.

*Maybe… my fiancé isn’t who I thought?*

*Perhaps~ I’ll test him someday.*

*If he passes… maybe I could even try…*

*…that legendary thing called love?*

*chuckle*

But first—her career came first.