Contract Over: Heiress Unmasked

Chapter 11: Renting for the ‘Gram?

The Glacier Blue Bentley Continental GT was a goddamn masterpiece. Its sleek curves shimmered under the light, a color so unique it felt like staring into the heart of an arctic ice shelf. Ruan Chutang’s pulse skipped. She was in love.

A man in a sharp suit stepped out of the vehicle, his movements disciplined and deferential. He extended the key fob toward her with a slight bow. "Ms. Ruan, this is a gift from Mr. Jiang."

As she took the keys, a flicker of warmth stirred in her chest. Jiang Shixu didn't do things by halves. This car cost upward of four million yuan—not exactly a casual party favor.

"Thank you," she said, her voice soft but steady.

"It was my pleasure, ma'am. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave." He bowed again and disappeared as quickly as he’d arrived.

Before the engine had even cooled, Chutang’s phone vibrated. It was Jiang Shixu.

"Do you like the ride?" His tone was effortless, laced with a casual indifference that suggested he was asking about her lunch rather than a multi-million-dollar machine. To him, a Bentley was a grocery getter; to her, it was a statement.

In their world—the world she had stepped away from for three years—such gifts were standard for a fiancée. But after three years of playing the "ordinary girl" for Gu Zechuan, she felt a strange friction between her old life and her new reality.

"I love it. Thank you, Shixu-ge."

"Good. I remembered you had a thing for blue," he murmured, his voice dropping an octave into a low, intoxicating hum.

Chutang blinked, genuinely stunned. "How did you know that?" She couldn't recall ever telling him.

A low, melodic chuckle vibrated through the line. "Back when I used to tutor you, your notebooks, your pens... everything was baby blue. I pay attention, Chutang."

The revelation hit her harder than she expected. He had noticed. He had remembered the girl she was before she tried to fit into someone else’s mold.

"The moment I saw this car, I knew it had your name on it," Jiang Shixu continued warmly. "Why don't you take it for a spin? It’s a smaller frame, perfect for you."

"I will. In a bit."

She hung up and slid into the driver’s seat. She didn't start the engine immediately. Instead, she gripped the leather-wrapped steering wheel, her mind a chaotic blur of emotions.

Chutang was no stranger to driving. Over the last three years, she’d spent plenty of time behind the wheel—but always Gu Zechuan’s wheel. Her own luxury fleet was currently gathering dust in a garage in Jiangcheng.

With Gu Zechuan, she wasn't a girlfriend; she was a glorified designated driver. He’d go out, get trashed with his buddies, and one call later, she’d be expected to navigate the city to pick him up. She’d heard the whispers from his friends—how he’d dropped nearly a million on a BMW for his ex-girlfriend just because they broke up.

He knew Chutang’s job as a lawyer required her to be constantly on the move—court dates, client meetings, depositions. Yet, in three years, he had never once offered to buy her a car.

It wasn't about the money. It was about the crushing realization of where she stood in his life. Comparing Gu Zechuan to Jiang Shixu was like comparing a flickering match to the sun. Gu’s "love" was cheap, hidden, and ultimately, nonexistent.

Chutang’s bitter train of thought was derailed by a sudden, high-pitched gasp outside.

"Oh my god! This car is gorgeous! I was literally just looking at this model, but I couldn't justify the price tag."

Chen Wan.

Through the window, Chutang spotted Chen Wan and Gu Zechuan approaching. Chen Wan’s eyes were practically glued to the Bentley. It was her dream car—the kind of luxury her family’s dwindling "upper-middle-class" status could no longer afford. Her father’s business was hemorrhaging cash, and her only hope of staying relevant was snagging Gu Zechuan.

Chen Wan reached out, her fingers stroking the cold metal with a desperate sort of hunger.

"Zechuan, take a picture of me with it!" Chen Wan chirped, stepping toward the driver's side window to use the glass as a mirror, fussing with her hair.

The windows were one-way tint. From the outside, it was a mirror; from the inside, Chutang had a front-row seat to the performance. She watched Chen Wan preen like a bird in a cage.

Just as Chen Wan leaned in to check her lipstick, Chutang hit the toggle. The window slid down with a smooth, expensive hum.

"Hello there," Chutang said, her smile sugary-sweet.

Chen Wan froze, her face turning a ghostly shade of pale. "Ruan Chutang? What the hell are you doing in there?"

Gu Zechuan stepped up to the car, his brow furrowed in a deep, judgmental V. "Why did you rent a Bentley?"

He didn't even ask. He simply assumed she was playing pretend.

Chen Wan recovered quickly, her lips curling into a sneer. "Are you renting this for your social media, Ms. Ruan? I heard these daily rates are insane. One photo probably costs you an entire month’s salary, doesn't it?"

Gu Zechuan’s expression shifted from confusion to blatant disgust. "Ruan Chutang, have you lost your mind? You're renting a car just to take a few pictures?"

"Exactly," Chen Wan added, her voice dripping with pity. "Everyone knows what you actually make. Posting this on WeChat is just... well, it’s desperate. Why bother?"

Chutang tilted her head, watching Chen Wan with amused detachment. "You seem to know a lot about the rental process. Done it often?"

Chen Wan’s smirk faltered. She had. She’d spent her father’s last few dimes on a Lamborghini rental just to stay competitive with the "it-girls" in her circle. But she wasn't about to admit that to Gu Zechuan.

She tossed her hair back, her chin lifting with fake bravado. "I don't need to rent. When I was living abroad, my Lamborghini was worth twice as much as this little thing."

"Oh? Then why aren't you driving it?" Chutang asked innocently.

"I got bored of it," Chen Wan lied through her teeth. "Supercars are so tacky for daily use. I actually just picked up a Panamera. Maybe I’ll let you take a picture with it later—free of charge."

She failed to mention it was a third-hand wreck she’d bought to keep up appearances now that her family’s villa was being foreclosed on.

"I see," Chutang drawled, letting the silence stretch between them. "Well, since you were so eager for a photo, do you want to use mine? I don't mind."

Chen Wan’s face darkened. "No thanks."

Gu Zechuan finally snapped, his voice sharp and laced with disappointment. "Ruan Chutang, I never realized you were this shallow."

Chutang’s grip tightened on the wheel as she looked him dead in the eye, the engine finally roaring to life with a predatory growl.