PB - Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Gu Jianchu was surrounded by a throng of brightly dressed, varied individuals, all vying to speak with her. She was inundated with compliments, interspersed with tentative inquiries about project intentions. Clutching a wine glass with elegant posture, she listened more than she spoke, eventually finding herself an amused bystander to others’ gossip.
“Did you guys see that Qiao the Third just now?” The conversation had, at some point, turned to Qiao Qi. “She’s average-looking, but has a great figure. I don’t see anything that special about her.”
“Her skills are the kind you can’t see.” In a circle like this, Qiao Qi’s rapid ascent and high position inevitably attracted envy and resentment, so sharp, biting commentary was to be expected. “No matter how high people like that climb, they have no class. A sparrow is just a sparrow.”
“Just wait and watch the show.”
Gu Jianchu had no interest in such talk. She couldn’t care less how Qiao Qi rose through the ranks or how high she went. She took a sip of wine, and her peripheral vision happened to catch Su Jiayin, who hadn’t been seen for some time, making a graceful entrance. Her gaze followed as Su Jiayin headed for the second floor. Excusing herself from the group, Gu Jianchu followed her up.
Qiao Qi was half-reclining on a sofa in the cocktail party’s lounge, sipping milk from a glass. A file she hadn’t finished reviewing rested on her lap. Just as she reached a critical point, someone suddenly closed the file. Then, Su Jiayin’s voice drifted down from above her. “I’ve discovered the only time you’re awake is when you’re working. Can’t you finish your milk before doing anything else?”
Qiao Qi was pleasantly surprised. “What are you doing here?”
Su Jiayin reached out to test the temperature of the glass, first speaking to Yao Qiu. “Get another glass, a little warmer this time.” Only then did she sit down beside Qiao Qi. “The news that President Qiao was personally attending a cocktail party is practically all over the city. I managed to get off work early today, so I came to see what big business deal our President Qiao made this special trip for.”
A smile touched the corners of Qiao Qi’s lips. “You came for nothing. Has it been busy at your hospital lately?”
Su Jiayin teased, “No matter how busy I am, I can’t be busier than President Qiao of Ruifeng Group.”
Qiao Qi was about to speak when she was interrupted by the uninvited arrival of Gu Jianchu. The first thing Gu Jianchu said upon entering was to Su Jiayin. “It’s getting harder and harder to see you, Miss Su.”
“Jianchu.” Su Jiayin was a little surprised. “I didn’t expect such a coincidence. I came to one party and managed to get two meetings out of the way.”
Gu Jianchu walked over and sat in a single armchair. “I saw you come up just now and thought you were looking for me. I didn’t realize you came specifically for President Qiao.” As she spoke, she extended a hand toward Qiao Qi and introduced herself. “Gu Jianchu. I didn’t get a chance to greet President Qiao downstairs.”
Qiao Qi extended her own hand, lightly grasping the tips of Gu Jianchu’s fingers. “You’re too kind, President Gu. I was just hiding up here to rest because I’m not feeling well.”
Gu Jianchu was beautiful. Her meticulously applied makeup and perfectly chosen attire elevated her beauty to a higher plane. Her straight hair was lightly curled, and even the way her slender arm rested on the sofa’s armrest seemed deliberately choreographed. She propped her temple with three curved fingers, her smiling face giving people the disarming illusion of a warm spring breeze as she spoke.
Seeing their pleasantries conclude, Su Jiayin looked at Qiao Qi and asked, “Not feeling well? Did you drink again?”
Qiao Qi only smiled without answering. Just then, Yao Qiu returned with the hot milk. Qiao Qi deflected the question to her, but Yao Qiu didn’t answer either. She placed the milk in Qiao Qi’s hand and quietly returned to her original spot.
Su Jiayin laughed. “Truly President Qiao’s good secretary. Without President Qiao’s permission, your lips are sealed tighter than anything.”
Seeing Yao Qiu being put on the spot, Qiao Qi finally took up the conversation and answered, “Not much. Three glasses.”
“The wine here is quite good. A few more glasses wouldn’t hurt,” Gu Jianchu said. “Are you busy at the hospital? It’s usually impossible to get ahold of you. How did you have time to come over tonight?”
“I came to see if my patient was following doctor’s orders to drink less and rest more.” After saying this, Su Jiayin shook her head in disappointment. “This is the most disobedient patient I know.”
The patient in question, Qiao Qi, lowered her eyes and said softly, “Jiayin, you’re so troublesome.”
This was the second time today Gu Jianchu had heard Qiao Qi say someone was troublesome with lowered eyes. She had overheard it once on the terrace, spoken with the same soft, low murmur. It was an extremely intimate tone, like a subtle, almost imperceptible pout. Hearing it again now made the memory from the terrace even more vivid.
Gu Jianchu casually studied the woman. A floor lamp was on above where Qiao Qi lay, casting her profile in its dim yellow light. She had a high-bridged nose, and the atmosphere, perfectly set, revealed an unexpected beauty. The soft light made her skin appear even more delicate, as if glowing. All of this deepened the impression in Gu Jianchu’s memory.
Qiao Qi spoke very little. For most of the time, she simply held her milk and listened to Gu Jianchu and Su Jiayin chat, only occasionally adding a word or two. She and Gu Jianchu were only acquainted with Su Jiayin, and this was their first time speaking to each other. The conversation wasn’t warm, but it wasn’t awkward either; after all, they had both mastered the art of small talk.
Su Jiayin glanced at her watch and said to Qiao Qi, “Shall we go back together?” The smile on Qiao Qi’s face clearly faded a few degrees. Su Jiayin understood at once. “He wants you to go back tonight?”
Qiao Qi nodded. “Let’s meet up again when we have time.”
Gu Jianchu also keenly sensed the change in Qiao Qi. The sudden chill in her expression usually signified strong rejection. Thinking back to the phone call she had inadvertently overheard not long ago, the relationship between Qiao Qi and Old Master Jin was becoming more and more interesting. Since Su Jiayin was leaving, she didn’t want to stay long either. After bidding Qiao Qi farewell, she rose and left the lounge with Su Jiayin.
After they were gone, Qiao Qi set down her glass and returned to her unfinished work. It seemed Su Jiayin had been right; the only time she was awake, she seemed to be working.
As soon as Gu Jianchu and Su Jiayin descended the stairs, people who had been waiting for them swarmed over. The eldest daughter of the Su family, from a thousand kilometers away, had suddenly graced the party, accompanied by the young lady of the Gu family. Everyone scrambled to make an impression.
After a few perfunctory exchanges, Gu Jianchu and Su Jiayin left the party together. Although Su Jiayin held the status of a young lady from a prominent family, she currently worked as an ordinary doctor. After her shift, she naturally wanted to go home and rest. But Gu Jianchu was different; her nightlife was just beginning. After they parted ways, Gu Jianchu’s sports car sped toward her private clubhouse.
Her private clubhouse was a converted grand traditional courtyard home she had purchased. It had everything one could want. Aside from the north courtyard, which was her private space, the rest was open to the public. The standard of the facilities was much higher than elsewhere, and many people in the city loved to spend their money there. Partying there was one thing, but it also allowed them to curry favor with her. Over time, it had actually become a profitable venture.
The clubhouse manager had been waiting for some time. The moment her car stopped, the door was opened for her. The manager led her inside. The party in the private room grew even livelier upon her arrival. Though Gu Jianchu was formidable in the business world, when it came to having fun, she was equally adept and at ease.
“Jianchu, you’re finally here! Weiwei just snatched my guy away. You set up this party, so you have to compensate me.” The speaker was Qi Simiao, a young lady from the Qi family’s Guangming Group, and one of the few people who could speak to Gu Jianchu with such familiarity.
Upon first meeting Gu Jianchu, one might think she was no different from these other young ladies. If one had to point out a difference, it would be her stunning beauty. In truth, the biggest difference was in their work. Gu Jianchu’s outstanding abilities and unique vision were as astonishing as her looks, especially her unbelievably accurate predictions of market prospects. At the negotiating table, no one had ever been able to figure Gu Jianchu out.
The “people” they were talking about were just a few handsome young celebrities. Gu Jianchu smiled. “How can I compensate you? I don’t have the person you want. Go find A-Fen. Doesn’t her family own several entertainment companies?”
“That won’t do. You set up this party. You have to pay me back.”
“How should I pay you back?”
Qi Simiao moved closer to Gu Jianchu and blew a breath of air by her ear. “Pay me back with you.”
Taking liberties with Gu Jianchu was a matter of luck. If she was in a good mood, she might actually flirt back. But if her mood was just average, you would be the one to lose out.
Gu Jianchu pushed her away and asked casually, “I hear that sister of yours is doing quite well for herself out there.”
Sure enough, at the mention of Qi Sitian, Qi Simiao’s amorous thoughts vanished completely. She said with a look of disgust, “I don’t know how she got so lucky, actually landing a high-level position at Yuanhang.” The mention of Yuanhang Company made Qi Simiao even angrier. It was clearly a company on the verge of bankruptcy. How had it managed to hang on until now, and even gain momentum and thrive?
Seeing she had achieved her goal, Gu Jianchu didn’t press further. She had no interest in the convoluted affairs of the Qi family; if she were to dissect them, how different would they be from her own?
After a while, Qi Simiao recovered from her anger. Remembering where Gu Jianchu had come from tonight, she brought up another piece of gossip. “Did you see that Qiao…” She had intended to use the rumored nickname “Qiao the Third,” but the words caught in her throat. In terms of seniority, Qiao Qi was her elder. She changed her words. “Did you see that Qiao Qi?”
“I did. I went to find Su Jiayin, so I chatted with her for a bit.”
Qi Simiao looked astonished. “It’s damn near impossible to get Su Jiayin to come out in this city. When did those two get so close?” She added in alarm, “No, I have to go back and tell my dad.”
The Qi and Jin families were distantly related, so they naturally had to take sides in the matter of succession. It was no secret that the Qi family sided with Jin Zhihuan, but Gu Jianchu found Qi Simiao’s reaction a bit exaggerated. “So nervous?”
Realizing she had overreacted, Qi Simiao didn’t bother to rein it in and simply moved closer to Gu Jianchu again. “Do you know what Qiao Qi’s relationship with the Jin family is?” She stole a glance at Gu Jianchu’s reaction and saw her expression was placid. Wanting to curry favor, she dropped the pretense of mystery. “She’s the child of Old Master Jin’s bastard from the outside. A genuine, bona fide Jin. The old master has kept it under wraps and won’t let anyone outside know. I only found out because I overheard my dad on the phone.”
After speaking, she pulled back a little, again anticipating Gu Jianchu’s reaction. But the other woman’s expression remained placid, showing neither surprise nor curiosity. Qi Simiao suddenly lost interest. As her excitement cooled, she remembered Old Master Jin’s usually cold and unapproachable demeanor, but the words were already out, and it was too late for regrets.
All she could do was damage control. “Jianchu, you have to keep this a secret, okay?”
Gu Jianchu nodded, agreeing to keep the secret. She hadn’t expected that the “Qiao the Third” of longstanding rumors was actually the Jin family’s granddaughter. Even less had she expected that the subject of such realistic-sounding rumors could remain so composed. Her thoughts returned to the Qiao Qi at the party—the gentle, slightly endearing, real Qiao Qi.
Gu Jianchu had been swamped with work for the past two days, and after sitting for a short while, she found the party dull. Those adept at reading people naturally noticed her increasingly distant expression and knew that Miss Gu was getting restless. In their eyes, Gu Jianchu had always been on a pedestal. When she was smiling, they could joke around with her, but once her expression turned cold, she projected an unapproachable aura that kept everyone at a distance.
“Miss Gu, want to go have some fun?”
Gu Jianchu was tempted for a moment, but then she remembered the meetings, big and small, scheduled for the next day, and gave up the idea. No longer maintaining her initial smile, she said, “You all go have fun. I’m heading home.” When she wanted to leave, no one dared to make her stay. After bidding her farewell, the others either stayed or left, each heading off to their own different nightlife.
On the drive home, Gu Jianchu received a call from Secretary Liu, who informed her that President Qiao’s special assistant, Xu Yangpu, had been in contact with President Shen of Changfa Group. She acknowledged the information. The secretary then reported on a few other matters before ending the call. She glanced at the time; it was almost eleven, yet it felt as if her workday was still not over.
In fact, Qiao Qi had crossed paths with her a few times before tonight, but had never left any impression. Tonight, however, it was as if all their missed past encounters were being made up for at once. Not only had they spoken, but she had also learned one of the other woman’s well-kept secrets. She couldn’t help but chuckle. Su Jiayin must have known about it as well.
And just now, she had figured out the reason for the woman’s proactive appearance at the party. If she wasn’t mistaken, it was for the same project she had her eye on. Towards Qiao Qi, she felt a newfound appreciation and a budding curiosity.
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