PB - Chapter 41
Chapter 41
Most of life is busy and meaningless, so we should appreciate the beauty and love of the present moment even more. Under Gu Jianchu’s leadership, Rongfang was thriving, and its collaboration with U.E. was getting on track. At Ruifeng, Jin Zhiyu, with Xu Yangpu’s help, was slowly becoming capable of handling things on his own. But through these several months of calm, Qiao Qi still had not appeared.
That evening, Su Jiayin went to Gu Jianchu’s home to see her. Gu Jianchu had an entire decorative wall that served as a wine cabinet. She admired it as she walked along. “From the Helan Mountain region. When did you go to Xinjiang? I’ve never seen you so keen on collecting wine before. Don’t tell me this is all for A Qi. She can’t drink.”
Gu Jianchu couldn’t quite say what her initial motivation for buying wine was, but every time, she was thinking of Qiao Qi. “I went to a winery while I was there on a business trip. The owner recommended it, so I bought some.”
As they spoke, Doctor Su walked over and sat beside her. Gu Jianchu belatedly felt a pang of jealousy. “A Qi, A Qi… Back then, I asked her to call me Jianchu, just like you do. But look at her. You get to call her A Qi, but I can only call her Qiao Qi.”
Doctor Su raised her eyebrows smugly but said, “My family is hosting a banquet next month. I came today to invite you personally.”
“To announce your official return to the Su family business?” Gu Jianchu considered it. “I have to go out of town for a while, I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it.”
Doctor Su leaned in and said mysteriously, “There will be a big surprise.”
The hint was so obvious that Gu Jianchu changed her mind in the next second. “Then I’ll definitely be there.”
The banquet hosted by the Su family of the financial district was attended by a full roster of distinguished guests. Due to work, Gu Jianchu had to take a private jet over that afternoon. She arrived half an hour later than the time on the invitation, and the moment she entered, she was dazzling. Even those who didn’t know her could guess from her stunning beauty that she was Gu Jianchu, the President of Rongfang.
Su Jiayin and Qiao Qi came down from the second floor, talking and laughing. Gu Jianchu could clearly hear her own heartbeat, pounding like a drum. Qiao Qi’s hair was longer than before, her hair color changed, and it was simply adorned. Her black evening gown accentuated her slender waist and long figure. A soft, faint smile touched the corners of her eyes. Gu Jianchu walked toward that smile she had longed for day and night.
Qiao Qi had spotted Gu Jianchu in her peripheral vision long ago. It was hard to ignore such a person. Her eyes widened slightly, and Su Jiayin quickly pleaded for mercy. “I care about you both.” She added with exaggeration, “I just felt a little sorry for her, seeing her so lovesick and growing thinner by the day. Besides, she initially said she didn’t have time to come. If you’re going to blame someone, blame her for being so noncommittal.”
Qiao Qi frowned but didn’t speak. By then, Gu Jianchu had already walked over. She heard her say, “Qiao Qi, long time no see.”
Her gaze met Gu Jianchu’s. She saw that Gu Jianchu had deliberately worn the earrings she had given her, then she averted her eyes without a trace. She spoke, her voice soft and her tone ordinary. “President Gu, long time no see.” Then, she turned to Su Jiayin. “I won’t interrupt your reunion. If you’ll excuse me.”
Gu Jianchu’s smile could make one’s heart sway. She said nothing else, simply watching her leave. Su Jiayin could feel the coldness in the look Qiao Qi gave her before she left. She said to Gu Jianchu, who was standing beside her, “You’re certainly keeping your cool.”
“Keeping my cool?” She curved her lips, her tone light. “I’m more anxious than anyone. But with her, you can’t rush things.” She asked Su Jiayin, “Is she leaving for good?”
“I heard she’s reporting back to Ruifeng next month to end her leave.”
In Gu Jianchu’s eyes, Qiao Qi, who strictly followed company rules, was exceptionally cute. Her gaze followed Qiao Qi, unwilling to let her go for even a second. But others wouldn’t allow it. The Su family’s banquet was crowded with guests, leaving her no time alone. She finally managed to break away because of a work call from Liu Yanyan.
When Gu Jianchu finished her call on the terrace, she saw Su Jiayin leaning against the windowsill, waiting for her with two glasses of champagne. She had a playful, knowing smile on her face. She walked over and took the glass Su Jiayin offered, raising an eyebrow.
Su Jiayin took a small sip of champagne and said languidly, “You’d better keep your cool when you go back in.”
Gu Jianchu frowned and stepped back into the banquet hall. She had been so focused on her call that she hadn’t noticed the elegant music coming from inside. She saw Gu Fanchu in the center of the crowd, gallantly inviting Qiao Qi to dance. Qiao Qi hesitated, but at Gu Fanchu’s insistence, she finally placed her hand in his. Gu Jianchu found the sight of their clasped hands exceptionally jarring.
Su Jiayin added fuel to the fire from behind her. “Your brother hasn’t left A Qi’s side since he arrived. You two are truly siblings, having the exact same taste.”
Gu Jianchu’s cool gaze swept over Su Jiayin. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“Now you’re being ungrateful. You were on the phone outside for over half an hour, and I was in here keeping an eye on them for you the whole time.” Su Jiayin looked toward the couple dancing in the center of the floor. “I never knew A Qi was such a beautiful dancer. This is the first time I’ve seen it.”
Gu Jianchu’s full attention was also drawn to the dancing Qiao Qi. She watched her, desperate to get closer, yet also wanting to hide her away so no one else could covet her. Qiao Qi’s beauty was like the night breeze she felt on the terrace, like the moonlight’s reflection in the fountain pool, like all things gentle and understated—something you grow accustomed to without noticing, that quietly takes root.
As the center of attention, Qiao Qi evoked different feelings in the others in the hall. Qi Sitian was happy about her return, Shen Shoucheng was captivated by her beauty, and Jin Zhilan detested her presence while envying her radiance. But at that moment, the most satisfied person was undoubtedly Gu Fanchu, who had her in his arms. When the dance ended, he was still not ready for it to be over and began talking with Qiao Qi.
“Qiao Qi.”
Gu Fanchu was startled to hear his sister’s voice. He turned to see Gu Jianchu walking over with a grim expression. He asked, “Who’s made our little princess angry now?”
Gu Jianchu ignored him, looking only at Qiao Qi. She softened her tone and asked, “You two know each other?”
There was a look of confusion on Qiao Qi’s face, as if she were also surprised by this. She recalled the introduction a friend had made when she first met Gu Fanchu abroad: Mr. Gu also has a large company in your country. How had she not realized then that this company was Rongfang?
Because Gu Fanchu had heard about the U.E. bidding, he had used his English name when approaching Qiao Qi. Worried that she would overthink things, he quickly tried to remedy the situation. “I never had the chance to formally introduce myself, Miss Qiao. My name is Gu Fanchu.” He turned to Gu Jianchu and added, “This is my sister, Gu Jianchu. I believe you two already know each other.”
Qiao Qi smiled faintly and said with composure, “Your sister is very outstanding. I won’t disturb you two then.”
Gu Fanchu said anxiously, “Miss Qiao, please wait.” Qiao Qi stopped and looked at him questioningly. He asked her, “May I call you Qiao Qi?”
Gu Jianchu knew that with Qiao Qi’s personality, she wouldn’t refuse. She heard her say in a soft, gentle voice, “You may, Mr. Gu. Please, you two talk. Excuse me.”
Gu Jianchu’s face was cold, leading Gu Fanchu to mistakenly believe she was bothered by her past conflicts with Qiao Qi. So he proactively changed the subject. “Are we leaving together later?”
“Yes.” Gu Jianchu dropped the single syllable and walked toward Su Jiayin.
Shen Shoucheng, holding a wine glass, had finally found a moment when Qiao Qi was free. She went up to greet her. “Long time no see, Sister Qiqi.”
Qiao Qi smiled. “Shoucheng, long time no see.”
Gu Jianchu’s peripheral vision was constantly tracking them. Shen Shoucheng’s overly brilliant smile was particularly grating. The vinegar jar in her heart had been knocked over, and the sourness was almost too much for her to bear. And beside her, Su Jiayin was gloating.
“Our A Qi is certainly not lacking in suitors. She’s a hit with both men and women. She’s the biggest winner tonight. Jianchu, you’d better step up your game, or A Qi is going to run off with someone else.”
“You keep an eye on her for me. I’m leaving first.”
“You can bear to?”
“The call just now was about something urgent I have to go back and handle.” She turned, her gaze turning cool. “If she runs off, I’ll hold you accountable.” After saying this, she went to grab Gu Fanchu, who was still hovering around Qiao Qi, to leave with her.
She said apologetically, “Miss Shen, we’ll see each other again.” Then she turned to Qiao Qi, her gaze instantly softening. Even her voice was gentle, like a feather floating into Qiao Qi’s heart. She said, “Thank you for the birthday gift. I love it.”
Qiao Qi was momentarily stunned before she said, “You’re welcome, Miss Gu.”
After Gu Jianchu left, Su Jiayin and Qiao Qi chatted in a corner. She asked, “Still angry?”
Qiao Qi looked at the fountain outside the window, shook her head, and then said softly, as if sighing, “You said that if she ever dared to bully me, you’d be the first to knock her dead.”
Su Jiayin couldn’t remember saying such a thing. She could only say, “Let’s not talk about that annoying person. What are your arrangements after you return to Ruifeng? Have you made plans for the future?”
Qiao Qi smiled faintly and said, “I’ll take it one step at a time.”
As summer approached, the evening temperature was pleasant. No one could dislike such weather. Walking in the night, Gu Jianchu felt wronged—the kind of wrong that comes from being deliberately pushed away. The more she wanted to get close to her, the more she feared she couldn’t hold on to her. It was the first time in her life she had been so cautious, and yet, it was also somewhat sweet.
Gu Fanchu was driving, not even daring to breathe too heavily. After leaving the banquet hall, Gu Jianchu’s face had become as cold as ice, a storm brewing. He had a million things he wanted to say but didn’t dare to speak first. During a red light, he finally heard Gu Jianchu ask him, “You didn’t tell Qiao Qi your identity in America?”
So it was about Qiao Qi. He said eagerly, “I heard all about your business conflicts with her while I was in America. She was even suspended by Ruifeng because of you. How could I dare tell her I was your brother?”
His calculated approach made his intentions obvious. Ice formed in Gu Jianchu’s eyes. She said, “Stay away from her.”
Her tone displeased Gu Fanchu. He tried to persuade her. “Jianchu, competing with her for business is part of your respective jobs. But that doesn’t affect my relationship with her. You can’t interfere with my relationship with her just because of your conflicts. Besides, I genuinely like her, and we get along very well. If she becomes your sister-in-law in the future, this attitude of yours won’t do.”
Gu Jianchu remembered Gu Fanchu asking her about Qiao Qi on the phone once. His intentions had been revealed even then. She finally understood what it meant to reap what you sow. She said sharply, “Pull over.” Gu Fanchu was stunned but quickly pulled the car over to the side of the road. Then he heard her say, “Get out.”
Gu Fanchu got out of the car without suspicion. Gu Jianchu also got out of the passenger seat, walked around to the driver’s side, and got back in. Before Gu Fanchu could figure out what she was doing, she started the car and sped off. Gu Fanchu ran after the car for a few steps, then stopped, panting, and took out his phone. Gu Jianchu answered and said, “Get a taxi,” then hung up.
Gu Fanchu felt that Gu Jianchu’s actions regarding Qiao Qi were a bit extreme, even unseemly. But he had no intention of backing down. He just thought that in the future, he would have to be a little more secretive about pursuing Qiao Qi.
Get instant access to all the chapters now.
Comments
Post a Comment