PB - Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Shen Shoucheng’s twenty-fourth birthday banquet was a grand affair. As she had recently taken on a high-level position at Changfa for the first time, the Shen family was also using this opportunity to reintroduce her in her new capacity. The evening banquet was attended by numerous figures from both political and business circles, creating a scene of splendor and lively conversation.
Shen Shoucheng was chatting with Jin Zhilan and Qi Simiao, who had traveled a long way to be there. Beside them was Gu Jianchu, who was being passionately pestered by Qi Simiao. Gu Jianchu held a wine glass, her expression unsmiling and somewhat cold. Shen Shoucheng’s spirits weren’t high either; Qiao Qi was ill, and though she had anticipated she wouldn’t attend, she still felt a sense of disappointment.
“Thank you so much, Miss Jin and Miss Qi, for attending my party. Please forgive me if my hospitality has been lacking.”
“You’re too kind, Miss Shen.”
“Jianchu,” Qi Simiao said, linking her arm intimately with Gu Jianchu’s. “Who made our Miss Gu unhappy?” Gu Jianchu curved her lips into a smile, a sight that left Qi Simiao mesmerized, her heart fluttering. She leaned in closer. “Have you been too tired lately?”
Just then, a slight commotion stirred at the entrance to the hall. From the look of bright surprise in Shen Shoucheng’s eyes, Gu Jianchu knew Qiao Qi had arrived. She had seen Shen Shoucheng’s disappointment earlier but had been certain Qiao Qi would come in person. Sure enough, the woman hadn’t let her down.
“Shoucheng, happy birthday.” Qiao Qi walked over, a smile touching the corners of her eyes and brows. “I hope you like it.” She took a gift from Yao Qiu and handed it over.
Shen Shoucheng beamed at the exquisitely wrapped box. “I’m sure I’ll love it.”
Qiao Qi’s tone was one of fond exasperation. “How can you know you’ll like it when you haven’t even seen what it is?”
Her ivory silk chiffon gown was adorned with classical-style lace embroidery, and the shoulders and sleeves were embellished with layered details. Qiao Qi was tall, and the dress accentuated her elegant temperament. To conceal her haggardness, her makeup was heavier than usual, yet it lent her a unique charm. Gu Jianchu didn’t realize she was staring intently at Qiao Qi, but Qi Simiao did.
“Are you feeling better?” Shen Shoucheng asked with concern. Seeing Qiao Qi nod with a smile, she added, “Dad has been saying he wants to have a drink with you when you arrive. I’ll take you to say hello to him first.”
Qiao Qi turned to the other three and said, “Excuse me.”
Qiao Qi’s coldness toward Gu Jianchu was no illusion. Gu Jianchu felt something she couldn’t quite name. Anger or annoyance seemed unnecessary for a relationship that was neither here nor there, but it was impossible to say she wasn’t bothered at all. After spending a few days together, she had developed a favorable impression of Qiao Qi, and receiving the cold shoulder now left her feeling rather unbalanced.
Gu Jianchu was proud. She also said, “Excuse me,” and walked off in another direction.
Qi Simiao had been in a foul mood for days, ready to explode at the slightest provocation. With Jin Zhilan backing her up, her dislike for Qiao Qi intensified. Moreover, tonight Qiao Qi seemed to have become the center of attention, with an endless stream of people approaching to talk to her as she stood with President Shen. Qi Simiao gritted her teeth and glared at Qiao Qi from afar, her jealousy burning hot enough to incinerate someone.
Jin Zhilan appeared outwardly composed, but inwardly she was annoyed, hating that Qiao Qi was stealing the limelight in such a setting—just like at home. Wherever Qiao Qi was, the spotlight was always on her. She couldn’t let Qiao Qi’s momentum grow any stronger; it concerned who would ultimately become the president of Ruifeng.
Qiao Qi wasn’t naturally skilled at socializing, unless she was in work mode. In her daily life, she usually dispatched small talk with just a few sentences. But she couldn’t refuse President Shen’s enthusiasm, especially now that they were business partners. Left with no choice, she had to engage earnestly. Fortunately, Yao Qiu had managed to deflect most of the offered drinks with various excuses, and the wine in her glass was still not empty.
Finding an opportunity, she finally broke away from President Shen, leaving Yao Qiu to handle the socializing. But before Qiao Qi could find a quiet corner to catch her breath, Jin Zhilan stepped forward to block her path, followed by a hostile-looking Qi Simiao.
Qiao Qi’s expression remained composed. “Is there something I can help you with?”
This was the Shen family’s event, so Jin Zhilan didn’t dare do anything too drastic. But her action of blocking Qiao Qi drew the attention of most people around them, and she suddenly found herself in an awkward position.
With the exception of a few individuals, most of the guests believed Qiao Qi was Old Master Jin’s mistress. Seeing her being challenged by Jin Zhilan only confirmed their suspicions. They mistook the scene for a granddaughter confronting her grandfather’s mistress, and they were both excited to watch the drama unfold and preparing to feign intervention at the right moment to leave a good impression on either the Shen family or Qiao Qi.
“Is the cooperation here settled?” Jin Zhilan asked, grabbing a random topic. Her tone was aggressive, her attitude poor. “I heard there’s a problem with the funding for the Lincheng project. How can you be here and let something like that happen? Grandpa didn’t send you here to dress up and attend parties.”
“I will report to the Chairman when I get back. Please step aside.”
Qiao Qi’s expression turned sharp as autumn frost. Jin Zhilan’s arrogance deflated, and she unconsciously took half a step back. But Qi Simiao, still smarting from Gu Jianchu’s earlier coldness and having fewer scruples than Jin Zhilan due to her different status, threw caution to the wind. “Qiao Qi, don’t be so smug. Here—”
“Is this how the Qi family taught you to speak to your elders?”
Qi Simiao’s words were cut short by an icy voice. Gu Jianchu had approached at some point. Her cold gaze swept over Qi Simiao before finally landing on Jin Zhilan.
Jin Zhilan was a little frightened and quickly changed her tune. “Simiao, honestly. Look where we are. Is this a place for you to throw a tantrum?”
Gu Jianchu smiled again, her tone playful. “President Qiao is my good friend. You can’t bully her.” With that, she took Qiao Qi’s hand in a gentle grasp. To her surprise, the woman’s hand was as soft as if it were boneless, slightly cool to the touch, and felt exceptionally good. She found herself reluctant to let go, and acting on the impulse, she pulled Qiao Qi and walked straight away.
Gu Jianchu knew that, given Qiao Qi’s personality, she would have likely just watched Qi Simiao’s tantrum with calm indifference, remaining perfectly still. But if Qi Simiao truly lost control, Qiao Qi would inevitably be at a disadvantage. So, she had stepped in and led Qiao Qi away.
The drama, which had lasted only a few minutes, was over. The ending was not to everyone’s satisfaction—not for those who had hoped to show off or watch a spectacle, nor for people like Qi Simiao who had wanted to humiliate Qiao Qi.
Watching them walk away, Jin Zhilan was still shaken. “What’s wrong with you, going crazy like that? Your jealousy has gone too far. If Gu Jianchu gets truly angry, don’t blame me for not helping you. But it’s strange, how did Qiao Qi get so close to Gu Jianchu that she’d even stand up for her?”
Qi Simiao knew she was being jealous over nothing; Gu Jianchu had never shown any other kind of interest in her. But she understood Gu Jianchu better than Jin Zhilan did. She said angrily, “Didn’t you see how much prettier Qiao Qi is today than usual? Miss Gu is someone who loves to play.” After saying this, she ignored Jin Zhilan and walked off on her own.
Gu Jianchu led Qiao Qi to the wine cellar and let go of her hand. Perhaps still savoring the touch, Gu Jianchu subconsciously rubbed her thumb and forefinger together.
Qiao Qi glanced around the cellar as Gu Jianchu seriously searched the wine racks. She pulled out a bottle, examined it, and said, “You really know how to keep your cool.”
Qiao Qi said, “Jianchu, you seem very familiar with this place.”
“I came here a few times with my family before.” She pulled out another bottle and swirled it lightly in her hand, as if in invitation. She saw Qiao Qi’s eyes instantly light up, a sight particularly noticeable in the dim cellar. A true wine lover, indeed. “Can you drink in your condition?”
Qiao Qi hesitated. Gu Jianchu added, “One glass should be fine. The one I picked is quite mild.”
Once the wine was opened, a silence fell between them. The air was filled with the scent of soaked wood. The cellar was clearly designed for wine tasting, furnished with a table and chairs. Qiao Qi and Gu Jianchu sat in the space between two hanging lamps.
“Thank you for just now.”
“Have you counted how many times you’ve said ‘thank you’ to me today?” Gu Jianchu asked her. “If I hadn’t pulled you away, what were you planning to do? Just stand there and listen to her finish saying all those nasty things?”
“It would only have been a waste of a little more time.”
Gu Jianchu let out an exasperated laugh, as if Qiao Qi were implying she had been meddlesome. “Even if you don’t care, you shouldn’t let others make a spectacle of you for nothing.”
Qiao Qi didn’t deny the truth in her words. “I didn’t consider things thoroughly.”
It wasn’t that Qiao Qi hadn’t considered it, but rather that she was used to those two causing trouble for her. The rumor that she was Old Master Jin’s mistress had been fanned into flames by them. She wasn’t unaware; she was simply too lazy to bother with it and had no desire to waste energy on such unreasonable nonsense.
Qiao Qi’s compliance surprised Gu Jianchu, giving her a deeper insight into her personality. “I find you very special.”
A smile touched Qiao Qi’s brow. “It’s not that I’m special, it’s just that I’m different from the people you know.”
“So you’re saying I have too few friends?”
Qiao Qi had originally intended to create some distance, but it seemed her efforts were backfiring. As for Gu Jianchu, her nascent annoyance never had a chance to ferment before it was completely swallowed by the damp air of the wine cellar.
Qiao Qi took a sip of red wine, the velvety smoothness filling her mouth. “Jianchu, you’re very good at picking wine. The wines you choose always taste better than usual.”
“If you drink enough, you naturally learn how to pick.” Gu Jianchu had guessed Qiao Qi’s preference; she had always been perceptive. She turned her gaze to look at her intently.
In the dim light, Qiao Qi’s silhouette became even sharper, like a black brushstroke on white paper. Qi Simiao was right; Qiao Qi was very beautiful tonight.
Qiao Qi’s long hair fell softly over her shoulders, without any other styling. Gu Jianchu thought it would be even more perfect if it were tied up. Faced with Gu Jianchu’s blatant stare, Qiao Qi remained composed. Another long silence followed, until the phone in Qiao Qi’s handbag began to vibrate. She took it out and answered.
“I’m in the wine cellar. Okay, you can come over.”
A few minutes later, the sound of high heels clicking on the floor grew closer, and Yao Qiu’s figure appeared in the cellar. She first greeted Gu Jianchu. “President Gu.” Then, her eyes fell on the red wine in front of Qiao Qi, and she immediately grew anxious. “President Qiao, you’re not even well yet, how can you be drinking? If you keep disregarding your health like this, I’m going to call Doctor Su.”
Qiao Qi pleaded for mercy. “Xiao Qiu, I only had a small glass. Ask Jianchu if you don’t believe me.”
Gu Jianchu came to her aid, pointing to the level of the remaining wine in the bottle. “That’s right, Secretary Yao. Look, there’s still so much left. Your President Qiao really didn’t drink much.”
With Gu Jianchu present, Yao Qiu didn’t press the issue. “President Qiao, it’s getting late. Should we head back?”
Qiao Qi stood up to bid Gu Jianchu farewell. Gu Jianchu rose as well, saying, “It is getting late. I should be going too.” She called Liu Yanyan and told her to bring the car around to the courtyard. Qiao Qi waited for her, and then the two of them returned to the banquet hall together to say goodbye to their hosts. Shen Shoucheng saw each of them off to their cars.
In the car, Qiao Qi asked Yao Qiu, “What time is the flight booked for tomorrow?”
Yao Qiu just then remembered. “It’s been so busy these past few days, and with you being sick, I forgot to tell you. President Gu’s secretary, Secretary Liu, contacted me the day before yesterday. She said it was President Gu’s idea to invite us to fly back with her on her private jet.”
“Okay, got it.”
Yao Qiu observed Qiao Qi’s expression in the rearview mirror. “President Qiao, are you sleepy?”
“A little.” Qiao Qi had thought that after sleeping for most of the day, she wouldn’t feel tired so early. But the wave of drowsiness was undeniable. She figured it was perhaps due to her weakened state, or maybe that small half-glass of red wine.
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