PB - Chapter 20
Chapter 20
This year marked a milestone birthday for Old Master Jin. Although the banquet was held at home, it was lavish enough. The event was scheduled for the evening, and while the number of invited guests was not large, they were all of distinguished status.
Affected by a cold vortex in the upper atmosphere to the northwest, a heavy rain had started falling over the city in the morning and only began to taper off in the afternoon. When Gu Jianchu emerged from the Rongfang Group building, a fine drizzle was still drifting from the lead-gray sky. She drove while listening to a call from Gu Fanchu in the United States.
“Witton’s board is now split into two factions. The one led by the Lin family supports continuing the acquisition, while the one led by George demands an immediate halt to cut their losses. But from the looks of it, Lin Zhi has no intention of giving up. The two sides are still at a stalemate, and the board hasn't reached a clear decision.”
Gu Jianchu had anticipated this outcome within Witton. Although the stock price of the South African TIE Company had not stopped rising, it was still within a reasonable range. Lin Zhi’s current plan was likely to raise a large amount of capital in a short period to secure a swift victory.
“You keep George steady over there. I’ll handle the rest.”
Gu Jianchu’s voice, traveling across the entire Pacific, was devoid of any warmth. Hearing it, Gu Fanchu couldn’t feel that the person on the other end was his own sister, and any thought of casual chatter was suppressed. “Alright. Call me if you need anything.”
Gu Jianchu hung up and focused on driving. In the time it took to finish the call, the light drizzle had disappeared. From her few interactions with Lin Zhi, she knew he wasn't a fool and would have a plan to deal with the trouble ahead. But she had more faith in Qiao Qi. By the time her car neared the Jin family’s old residence, the sky had grown completely dark. The brilliant lights spilling from the mansion were like a fallen star, dazzlingly bright.
Jin Zhilan had called Gu Jianchu on her way, so she timed it perfectly to wait outside and greet her. Before the car had even come to a complete stop, she was already walking over, with Qi Simiao inevitably trailing behind her.
Gu Jianchu smiled teasingly. “You’re quite the thoughtful host, waiting outside to greet me.”
Jin Zhilan responded with a smile of her own. “How could we dare to neglect the great President Gu of Rongfang?” She then added, “If the rain hadn’t stopped, I wouldn’t have bothered coming out to get you.”
Qi Simiao noticed Gu Jianchu wasn’t wearing a coat over her dress and said, “It’s chilly out here. Hurry inside.”
“Zhilan, take me to see your grandfather first. I’ve prepared a birthday gift for him.”
Only then did Jin Zhilan notice the small velvet box in Gu Jianchu’s hand. “Grandpa will definitely be happy to see your gift. Come on, he’s over there catching up with some old friends.”
The moment Old Master Jin saw Gu Jianchu, he said, “Why are you only just arriving? Were you working late at the office again? Work is endless; you have to remember to rest, you know?”
“I know, Grandpa Jin.” Although the Gu and Jin families were business rivals, they had many private dealings, and Gu Jianchu had grown up calling him grandpa along with Jin Zhilan and the others. “I’ve prepared a birthday gift for you. I hope you like it.”
Old Master Jin’s smile widened. “Jianchu, you’re so thoughtful.” He opened the velvet box to reveal a plain white jade pendant, clearly an antique. “Jianchu, if there’s anything you want, just tell Grandpa. You’re still young, don’t be so extravagant next time, remember?”
“When a junior comes to celebrate an elder’s birthday, of course I must give a gift you’ll like. As long as Grandpa is happy, it can’t be considered an extravagance.”
Old Master Jin’s laughter boomed. “Good! Jianchu still knows best how to make an old man happy. You’re much more sensible than the girls in my own family.”
Gu Jianchu had been scanning the room for Qiao Qi ever since she arrived, but she couldn’t find her. After chatting a while longer with Old Master Jin, he finally let her go. The moment she was free, she was pulled away by Jin Zhilan. All their usual friends were there, and she had to exchange a few words with them before they would let her be.
Besides, they had come armed with gossip. “I heard that Mr. Lin from the US flew back while you were there a while ago. What’s going on? Are you planning to get serious this time?”
Gu Jianchu said, “We just happened to be in the US on business at the same time.”
Another friend was clearly skeptical. “What a coincidence. I heard the flowers he sends every day arrive at your company even before you do. And Zhilan and Simiao caught you two on a date, didn’t they?”
Qi Simiao still couldn’t bear to hear gossip about Gu Jianchu and someone else. “Jianchu didn’t go to the US alone. That Qiao Qi was with her, so it was obviously for business.”
“That’s right, Jianchu. We haven’t seen you in a while. How did you get so close with this Vice President Qiao?”
Gu Jianchu’s mind was no longer on the group in front of her. The Jin family home had an open staircase between the first and second floors. Qiao Qi was descending, her head slightly tilted as she listened intently to the person beside her. She was the picture of elegance. Gu Jianchu’s peripheral vision caught it all. She set down her wine glass, murmured her excuses, and was already walking toward Qiao Qi.
As Qiao Qi stepped onto the last stair, she sensed someone blocking her path. She looked up, puzzled. The moment she saw Gu Jianchu, her eyes visibly brightened, and her expression softened. Tonight, Gu Jianchu was as she always was—beautiful, dazzling. They were standing very close, and the shift in her emotions did not escape Gu Jianchu’s notice. Gu Jianchu felt her own heart skip a beat and returned a gentle smile.
“President Qiao, since you have something to attend to, I won’t disturb you any longer,” said the person who had been descending with Qiao Qi, tactfully taking his leave.
Qiao Qi was wearing a modified cheongsam with a teardrop collar tonight. It was a pale blue, with hand-stitched embroidery decorating only the hem of the skirt. Her hair was pinned up, revealing lustrous white pearl earrings that swayed gently. She looked reserved yet alluring.
“You’re back.”
Qiao Qi’s soft voice slipped into Gu Jianchu’s ear, making it tingle. “Thanks to those news articles of yours, I was able to come back sooner.”
“Isn’t that what you wanted me to do?”
Gu Jianchu’s eyebrows rose slightly. Qiao Qi’s damn bluntness was really ruining the reunion atmosphere. She curved her lips into a smile and said, “Aren’t you going to invite me to see your room?”
Qiao Qi froze for a second, then turned and went back up the stairs. Gu Jianchu stayed two steps behind her, which made the way they held hands rather conspicuous. Qi Simiao’s entire attention was focused on them, and she saw every detail with perfect clarity, even the way Gu Jianchu had reached out her hand first. To her, the sight of their joined hands was nothing short of piercing.
There was nothing particularly special about Qiao Qi’s bedroom, and Gu Jianchu hadn’t really come up for a tour. Qiao Qi knew that, of course. Almost the instant they entered the room, Gu Jianchu pulled Qiao Qi into her arms. Without giving her any time to react, her lips descended. Qiao Qi raised her hands to wrap them around Gu Jianchu’s neck, deepening the kiss.
When the kiss ended, Gu Jianchu lingered, greedily peppering Qiao Qi’s lips with butterfly kisses. “Did you miss me?” she asked.
Qiao Qi reached up to smooth the stray hairs at Gu Jianchu’s temple and answered softly, “Yes.”
Gu Jianchu hugged her even tighter, gave her a rewarding kiss, and then it was time to settle the score. “So why did you run off last time? And come back to the country early?”
Qiao Qi’s fingers slid from Gu Jianchu’s temple down to her chin. She cupped it, creating just enough distance for them to look at each other properly. “Do you just kiss anyone like this without asking first?”
Gu Jianchu was momentarily stunned, but then she said, “But right now, I only want to kiss you.”
An almost inaudible sigh escaped Qiao Qi’s lips. She then yielded to Gu Jianchu’s actions, focusing on responding to her partner’s relentless invasion. Gu Jianchu was enveloped by Qiao Qi’s immense gentleness, a mixture of possession and indulgence that she adored. Both of them retained a sliver of clarity, so they stopped themselves from taking things any further.
After their tender reunion, Gu Jianchu genuinely began to look around Qiao Qi’s room. The computer in the adjoining study was still on. “You’ve been working upstairs this whole time?”
“The Chairman called me over early, so I could only work here.”
Gu Jianchu understood the distance implied by her use of “Chairman.” She turned and leaned against the desk, hugging Qiao Qi from behind with her hands clasped around her waist. Qiao Qi gently stroked her wrists with her fingertips. “How are things progressing?” she asked.
“Witton’s board is divided, but with Lin Zhi in charge, the acquisition is still moving forward.”
“The company in South Africa was short on funds due to rapid expansion, which led to poor management and a drop in stock price. Even with Ruifeng’s intervention, it will take time to fully recover. Have you given Jiayin a heads-up?”
Gu Jianchu’s light laughter tickled Qiao Qi’s ear. She leaned in closer, her lips almost touching Qiao Qi’s ear as she spoke, her voice low and seductive. “Our President Qiao is truly amazing.”
Lin Zhi planned to partner with a financial consortium for a swift resolution. Gu Jianchu had anticipated this, and naturally, so had Qiao Qi. Gu Jianchu had already mentioned it to Su Jiayin; if Lin Zhi chose to approach the Su family for cooperation, it would only be more advantageous for her.
Qiao Qi couldn’t handle this kind of teasing from Gu Jianchu. Her face grew warm, and she instinctively turned her head away. “Have you decided what to do?”
Gu Jianchu wouldn’t let her go. Her lips pressed against Qiao Qi’s ear, her breath as fragrant as an orchid. “I was thinking of inviting you on a trip to South Africa. I just don’t know if President Qiao has the time.”
“I’ve already had Yangpu arrange the trip to South Africa.” Qiao Qi raised a hand, using the back of it to shield her ear from Gu Jianchu’s relentless advances. “Given your current relationship with Lin Zhi, you shouldn’t go. It’s better if your family doesn’t find out you’re involved in this.”
Gu Jianchu’s eyebrows rose in surprise. She hadn’t expected Qiao Qi to have already arranged the trip to South Africa. She pressed a light kiss into the palm of Qiao Qi’s hand, then turned the woman in her arms to face her. “How can you be so good?”
Qiao Qi reached up, her fingertips tracing Gu Jianchu’s bright eyes. Her voice was gentle. “Witton’s acquisition plan predates Ruifeng’s. At the current rate of stock price increase, as long as Lin Zhi can raise enough capital, the acquisition can still proceed smoothly. I can’t think of a better way than to make the stock price skyrocket.”
“How should I compensate President Qiao for all this trouble and exhaustion?”
Qiao Qi’s brow arched slightly. “Treat me to a meal,” she said softly.
“I seem to recall you still owe me a meal.”
“Is there anything in particular Miss Gu would like to eat?”
“Yes.” A playful glint appeared in Gu Jianchu’s sparkling eyes. She leaned in and whispered in Qiao Qi’s ear, “I want to eat you. Will you let me?”
Qiao Qi immediately blushed, a hint of unease in her tone. “If we don’t go down soon, the Chairman will send someone to look for me.”
Gu Jianchu stopped her teasing, but not before placing one last kiss on her earlobe. She pulled back slightly and asked, “When are you going?”
“The 14th.” Three days from now.
A knock on the door interrupted the intimate atmosphere in the room. After three distinct raps, the knocking stopped, and a voice carried through the door. “Miss, are you in your room? The Old Master is looking for you.”
Qiao Qi answered, “I’ll be right down.”
Gu Jianchu took a lipstick from her handbag and touched up her makeup. After she finished, she made sure to reapply Qiao Qi’s as well. She looked at the woman before her with satisfaction. Qiao Qi looked at her and said, “I probably won’t have time to keep you company later. Let me know when you’re leaving.”
“Alright. Why haven’t I seen Jiayin?”
“She has the night shift. She came by this morning to give the Chairman his gift.”
Gu Jianchu left the room with Qiao Qi. After they went downstairs, Qiao Qi walked straight to Old Master Jin’s side, while Gu Jianchu was pulled away by Jin Zhilan, who peppered her with questions. Qi Simiao’s eyes immediately noticed Gu Jianchu’s freshly applied lipstick. Her gaze then shifted to Qiao Qi, who was wearing the exact same shade—a different color from the one she had been wearing earlier. Qi Simiao tilted her head back and drained her glass in one gulp.
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