Chapter 9
1445 Words
Returning to the company, Gu Beixian worked until dusk.
Loosening his tie, he glanced coolly at his assistant, “Did you find out what I asked you to investigate?”
The assistant replied, “Mr. Gu, Shen Huai has no childhood nickname. His family calls him Shen Huai or Xiao Huai.”
The coldness in Gu Beixian’s eyes softened slightly, as if he had expected this.
Ah Yao was a man buried deep in Su Hua’s heart. Before the divorce, she wouldn’t openly be with him.
Despite her youth, she had always acted with decorum.
Pushing back his chair, Gu Beixian stood up and buttoned his suit jacket, “Send someone else to tonight’s engagement with Mr. Huo. I have other matters to attend to.”
“Yes, Mr. Gu.” The assistant tidied up the files on the desk.
Leaving the Gu Corporation building, Gu Beixian drove to Antique Street.
The sun was setting, and the sky was gradually darkening.
Sitting in his car, he called Su Hua, “I’m outside your shop. Come out.”
Su Hua’s slightly surprised voice came through the phone, “We’re out for dinner, a company gathering.”
“Who’s there?”
“All the colleagues from the shop.”
“Is Shen Huai there too?”
“Yes, he’s the young owner of the shop.”
Recalling their cheerful conversation at noon, an undercurrent of displeasure rose in Gu Beixian’s heart, though his voice remained calm, “Call me when you’re done. I’ll pick you up.”
“Thank you.” Her tone was restrained and distant, as if deliberately keeping him at arm’s length.
Gu Beixian felt a twinge of discomfort, tightening his grip on the phone.
Hanging up, he dialed Xiao Yi’s number, “Come out for a drink.”
“My man, it’s so early for drinks.” Xiao Yi’s voice was languid, as if he hadn’t yet gotten out of bed.
Gu Beixian’s tone was sharp and commanding, “Bring the company seal and the land sale contract. Be at Jin Zhao Zui within half an hour, or forget it.”
Xiao Yi’s sleepiness vanished, “Alright! I’ll be there!”
Half an hour later, at Jin Zhao Zui, in the Drunken Fragrance Room.
The room was bustling with people, signing contracts, processing paperwork, and transferring funds.
Once the business was concluded, everyone left, leaving only Gu Beixian and Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi, a handsome man with fair skin, lounged in his chair, his arm draped casually over the backrest. His beautiful almond-shaped eyes studied Gu Beixian, “Bad mood?”
Gu Beixian took a sip of his drink, his tone indifferent, “Not particularly.”
His long, fair fingers grasped the glass elegantly, almost too beautifully.
“Come on, you wouldn’t be out drinking if you weren’t. Most people go find women when they’re upset, but you buy land instead. Impressive. Next time you’re in a bad mood, remember to come to me. My family has a few more plots of land.” Xiao Yi teased.
“Don’t treat me like a fool. I was going to sign this contract anyway, just a week earlier.” Gu Beixian put down his glass.
Xiao Yi poured more wine, “I heard Chu Luoluo is back in the country. You two seem close lately?”
Gu Beixian’s eyes flickered, “If you have something to say, just say it.”
“Su Hua is a good woman. Don’t hurt her.” Xiao Yi’s eyes were unusually serious.
Gu Beixian’s fingers tapped the table lightly, a faint smile on his lips, “You used to think she was beneath me. What’s changed?”
“I thought she was a gold-digger who’d marry anyone for money. But she’s been genuinely good to you. Any gold-digger would’ve taken the money and run, not stayed to take care of you.”
Gu Beixian’s dark eyes deepened, “She is good.”
“Then why…”
Gu Beixian looked down at the clear white wine in his glass, his voice soft, “She’s an outstanding young woman. Three years ago, she married me out of financial necessity, though she never admitted it. She must have felt aggrieved. I don’t want her to feel that way any longer.”
Xiao Yi was surprised, “So you’re divorcing her because of that?”
“More or less.”
Xiao Yi sighed, “She’s such a good woman. Can you really let her go?”
“What else can I do?” Gu Beixian’s face remained impassive, but a shadow darkened his eyes.
He couldn’t keep her trapped, watching her suffer from nightmares, calling out for her Ah Yao.
He couldn’t bear to see her in pain.
Nor could he endure the humiliation. He was a man who couldn’t tolerate such disgrace.
Yet, he was reluctant to let her go.
A contradiction.
Gu Beixian raised the glass to his lips, downing the remaining wine.
The fiery spirit burned like a blade down his throat.
It didn’t settle the heaviness in his chest, burning fiercely.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
Xiao Yi called out, “Come in.”
A woman with delicate features and an elegant figure entered, dressed in a white blouse and tight skirt, adorned with Cartier jewelry, carrying a Chanel coat and a Hermès ostrich leather bag.
It was Chu Luoluo.
Seeing her, Gu Beixian’s eyes cooled slightly, “What are you doing here?”
Swaying her hips, Chu Luoluo walked up behind him, draping an arm over his chair, her red lips brushing his ear, her breath warm, “I heard you were dining here, so I came to say hello.”
Gu Beixian felt her warm breath tickling his ear, making him shift uncomfortably. Seeing she had no intention of leaving, he said flatly, “Sit down.”
“Thank you, Brother Beixian.” Chu Luoluo took a seat, hanging her coat on the chair.
A waiter promptly brought her place settings.
Gu Beixian pushed the menu towards her, “Order whatever you like.”
Chu Luoluo glanced at the table full of dishes, then pushed the menu aside with a sweet smile, “No need to order. Whatever Brother Beixian likes, I like too.”
Xiao Yi rolled his eyes, rubbing his arm as if to ward off goosebumps.
Chu Luoluo pulled a plate of Arctic shrimp towards her, her large eyes sparkling as she looked at Gu Beixian, “Brother Beixian, I want some shrimp.”
Xiao Yi sneered, “Don’t you have hands?”
Chu Luoluo pouted, “I’ve never peeled shrimp myself. At home, my parents did it for me. When I used to dine out with Brother Beixian, he would do it for me.”
She clung to Gu Beixian’s arm, her voice sickly sweet, “Brother Beixian, please peel the shrimp for me.”
Gu Beixian glanced at her, then pulled his arm away, donned a pair of disposable gloves, and picked up a shrimp to peel.
For some reason, an image of Su Hua peeling shrimp for him came to mind.
Her hands were deft, removing the shrimp meat without breaking the shell.
He had tried and failed to do the same.
Peeling a shrimp, he placed the meat on Chu Luoluo’s plate.
Suddenly, Chu Luoluo lowered her head, catching the shrimp with her mouth, intentionally sucking on his fingers.
Her tongue swirled around his fingertips, and she kissed them lightly.
Her eyes were filled with desire, her expression seductive.
Releasing his fingers, she bit into the shrimp, her voice soft, “Shrimp peeled by Brother Beixian tastes the best.”
Gu Beixian’s expression stiffened slightly, uncertain of his feelings.
He removed the disposable gloves and tossed them aside.
He picked up a disinfectant towel and wiped the finger she had kissed.
Xiao Yi, feeling increasingly uncomfortable, wanted to slap her. She was behaving outrageously, not considering that he was still married.
Sending a text to Su Hua, Xiao Yi wrote: “Sister-in-law, your husband is drunk and causing a scene. He’s not thinking clearly. Please come and get him. We’re at Jin Zhao Zui, Drunken Fragrance Room on the third floor.”
Su Hua was at a company dinner at the Kyoto Hotel when she received the message. She called Xiao Yi, wanting to clarify.
In her experience, Gu Beixian never behaved like that when drunk.
The phone rang once before Xiao Yi hung up.
Su Hua looked at Gu Beixian’s number and was about to call him.
Another text from Xiao Yi popped up: “Sister-in-law, hurry! It’s urgent!”
Su Hua’s heart skipped a beat.
- Writer
