PB - Chapter 50
Chapter 50
On the morning of the third day after Qiao Qi’s return, she had just arrived at her office when she received a call from Gu Jianchu. Gu Jianchu was calling to cash in on the promise Qiao Qi had made in the neighboring city to have dinner with her. Since Su Jiayin had left Beijing, Qiao Qi rarely had any social engagements besides working overtime, so she let Gu Jianchu pick the time. Gu Jianchu decided on that very evening.
At six in the evening, Gu Jianchu’s car pulled up punctually in front of the Ruifeng building. When Qiao Qi came downstairs, she realized Gu Jianchu was driving the car she had driven away from Qiao Qi’s house that night. The sensual memories came flooding back, making her heart tremble. She got in and fastened her seatbelt. Gu Jianchu started the car and drove off toward an unknown destination, while Qiao Qi’s mind remained entangled in those faint, lingering recollections.
The place Gu Jianchu had chosen this time was very close to Qiao Qi’s home. It was an ordinary little restaurant with an unremarkable exterior. Inside, one could tell it was a converted courtyard house, the layout of the former residence still visible. The proprietress was known for her exquisite cooking, which was why Gu Jianchu had picked this spot.
“You didn’t seem to be resting in the car just now. What were you thinking about?”
“Nothing.” Qiao Qi didn’t want to discuss it. She asked, “Why did you halt the acquisition of Hongyuan?”
“No reason.” This was a topic Gu Jianchu didn’t want to discuss, so she changed the subject to the food. “This silver cod is good. You should like it.”
Suddenly, a smile touched the corners of Qiao Qi’s lips. The two of them were remarkably similar in how they handled topics they wished to avoid. She said, “All the restaurants you’ve taken me to have been delicious.”
Gu Jianchu knew the reason for her smile; it was a tacit understanding between them. She smiled back and said, “I still have many great restaurants I haven’t taken you to. Want to try a different one next time?”
Qiao Qi smiled but didn’t answer. Gu Jianchu took the initiative to find a new topic. After chatting for a bit, she brought up an old subject. “If you think just having dinner is boring, we could go to a movie next time. Jiayin told me you used to love watching movies.”
“What else did she tell you?”
“She could tell me a lot in a year, but I hope that in the future, you’ll be the one to tell me more about yourself.” Gu Jianchu was always this direct, looking at you with those eyes that seemed to hold fallen stars. You could see her emotions rippling like water within them, even creating the illusion that you could see your own reflection.
Qiao Qi asked her, “Are you like this with everyone?”
It was a familiar question. The Gu Jianchu of the past had avoided answering it. But now, her expression grew serious as she looked at Qiao Qi. “No. Only you.”
Qiao Qi’s heart trembled. She lowered her gaze to hide her emotions. “This pine nut sticky rice cake is also good.”
Gu Jianchu’s eyes filled with a smile. She agreed, “Yes, it’s very good.”
After dinner, Qiao Qi stood under a streetlight waiting for Gu Jianchu to bring the car around. Gu Jianchu loved the sight of her waiting. Her slender, tall silhouette was elongated by the lamplight, and Gu Jianchu wished she could have someone paint the scene. A smile graced her lips as she pulled the car to a stop.
Qiao Qi stood still and asked, “How are you getting back later?” Was she going to return the car only to drive it away again?
Gu Jianchu had anticipated this question. “I called Yanyan and asked her to pick me up at your gate. Get in, I’ll take you home first.”
Qiao Qi got into the car, half-doubting. Her suspicion proved correct; when they arrived at her gate, there was no sign of Liu Yanyan. Hiding a smile, Gu Jianchu spoke, feigning puzzlement. “Maybe Yanyan doesn’t know the way well? Miss Qiao, won’t you invite me in for a cup of tea?” Fearing Qiao Qi would refuse, she added, “While we wait for Yanyan.”
Qiao Qi finally agreed, and Gu Jianchu quietly breathed a sigh of relief. The car passed through the iron gate and stopped in front of the villa. After getting out, Qiao Qi noticed the bottle of red wine that had appeared in Gu Jianchu’s hand. A crack appeared in her usual composure, which Gu Jianchu was quick to spot. Gu Jianchu’s heart softened, and a smile emerged. They both knew she had come prepared.
Inside, Ping An greeted her as usual. After circling twice, he noticed someone else was there and immediately became wary. Qiao Qi picked him up and put him back in his territory. She then returned, took the red wine from Gu Jianchu, and went to the kitchen. It had been a long time since Gu Jianchu had been here, so she was in a good mood, strolling slowly around the living room and taking it all in. Ping An followed silently behind her.
Gu Jianchu sat down on the sofa and patted the spot next to her, signaling for Ping An to come over. Ping An understood and jumped up, staring at her. Gu Jianchu found that after a year, the black cat had become even more interesting. Just as she had in the past, she reached out to pet his head, but before she could touch him, Ping An swiped at her with his paw.
Qiao Qi came out just in time to see this. Fortunately, Ping An’s claws were regularly trimmed; otherwise, given the force of that swipe, Gu Jianchu would have been in for a world of hurt.
Qiao Qi walked over, picked Ping An up again, and soothed him. “She means no harm, don’t be angry.”
Gu Jianchu wasn’t pleased. She was the one who got scratched, yet the cat was the one being comforted. But she didn’t dare complain. While Qiao Qi placated the cat, Gu Jianchu went to the kitchen and naturally continued the task of opening the wine. By the time Qiao Qi returned to the kitchen, everything was ready. For a fleeting moment, it felt as if they had always been like this. Gu Jianchu was familiar with everything here and moved with a natural ease.
Qiao Qi turned to leave, but Gu Jianchu, quick as a flash, wrapped her arms around her from behind, holding her tight. She lifted a loose strand of Qiao Qi’s hair, letting it rest in her hand. Qiao Qi tilted her head, and the strand escaped her grasp. Qiao Qi tried to pull away, but Gu Jianchu gave her no such opportunity.
Gu Jianchu’s arms were wrapped around Qiao Qi’s waist, her body pressed against Qiao Qi’s back. She rested her chin on Qiao Qi’s shoulder and breathed softly by her ear, her breath like an orchid’s fragrance. “You already let me in. What are you hiding from?”
Gu Jianchu’s breath tickled her ear as she spoke. Qiao Qi remained composed. “Miss Gu can also leave now.”
Gu Jianchu knew when to back off slightly, but she didn’t release her hold on Qiao Qi. “How can I leave before we’ve had the wine?”
Qiao Qi finally broke free from her embrace. “Liu Yanyan is lost, and you still have to drive back. You shouldn’t drink.”
Gu Jianchu savored the lingering feeling of the embrace. She cornered Qiao Qi against the kitchen counter. Lowering her gaze, she suppressed her emotions, her voice trembling with restraint. “A Qi, I want to take things slow with you too, but every time I see you, I can’t help myself.” She lifted her eyes to meet Qiao Qi’s and asked, “Do you understand?”
Qiao Qi’s heart pounded, especially at the moment Gu Jianchu’s lips met hers. The sensory impact overwhelmed her reason. Gu Jianchu’s kiss was a careful exploration, carrying her unique scent. The tentative touch was like a deliberate provocation. Qiao Qi opened her mouth and gently bit Gu Jianchu’s lower lip, igniting what should have been a peaceful night.
In the bedroom, Qiao Qi was enveloped in Gu Jianchu’s presence. Each kiss stirred the tides of her heart. Lucidity and greed wrestled on the brink of losing control. She was lost in instinctual desire. The warmth radiating from Gu Jianchu’s body was the starting point of her surrender, and she subconsciously pulled her closer.
And Gu Jianchu? She felt she was going mad, possessed by the fantasy of devouring Qiao Qi whole. She kissed her, but it wasn’t enough. She turned Qiao Qi over and kissed her way down her spine to the small of her back. She loved that spot.
After a night of passion, Gu Jianchu slowly awoke, momentarily disoriented. As her consciousness returned, she realized Qiao Qi was long gone from the pillow beside her. She reached out, her hand stroking the sheet, feeling the warmth that lingered. Recalling the previous night, a smile played on her lips. On the pillow and in the bathroom, Qiao Qi had left out a change of clothes for her. For a moment, she mistakenly believed everything had returned to how it once was.
Downstairs, Qiao Qi was once again staring out the window at the natural lake, lost in thought. Gu Jianchu had deliberately lightened her steps as she came down, wanting to approach her quietly. But just as she reached the center of the living room, Qiao Qi suddenly snapped back to reality. The eyes that turned to her were clear and cold. Gu Jianchu felt a pang of disappointment. In the past, she could always have hugged her from behind and asked what she was thinking.
Qiao Qi saw the fleeting sadness on her face. She spoke. “Go have breakfast. I’ll drive you to work.”
Everything last night had been meticulously planned—the bottle of wine that was opened but never drunk, and Liu Yanyan, who was never coming. Qiao Qi disliked the feeling of falling into a trap. Even though Gu Jianchu’s approach had brought tremors and palpitations, her own inability to resist was just another part of this elaborate design. It was an affront to her pride.
She drove Gu Jianchu to the Rongfang building. After unbuckling her seatbelt, Gu Jianchu hesitated, wanting to say something. Qiao Qi waited in silence. Finally, Gu Jianchu just said, “A Qi, be safe.”
Qiao Qi tacitly accepted Gu Jianchu’s unauthorized change in address. She lowered her eyes and murmured a soft, “Mm.”
Gu Jianchu’s eyebrow quirked up. It seemed their relationship hadn’t frozen over. She boldly took Qiao Qi’s hand. Qiao Qi made a token effort to pull away twice but failed. Gu Jianchu said, “I admit I didn’t call Yanyan last night, but I just wanted to spend more time with you. What happened after that… was actually beyond my expectations.” She paused, squeezing Qiao Qi’s fingertips, her tone lifting. “But I liked it. A lot.”
At the mention of last night, Qiao Qi blushed. She pulled her hand away without looking at Gu Jianchu and said, “Hurry and get out. I’m going to be late for work.”
Gu Jianchu complied readily. She even stood by the roadside, watching Qiao Qi drive away. Through the rearview mirror, Qiao Qi could see Gu Jianchu’s delighted expression, and a smile gradually formed on her own lips.
Liu Yanyan noticed that her President Gu was in a particularly good mood today, smiling more than usual. Moreover, she had never seen President Gu in this outfit before. There were also rumors from downstairs that President Gu had been dropped off by someone else this morning, though unfortunately, no one got a clear look at the driver. Putting these clues together with her own bold speculation, she deduced that President Gu’s good mood must be related to President Qiao.
The internal line rang. It was a call from the president’s office. She picked it up. “President Gu.”
“Come in.”
After hanging up, Liu Yanyan knocked and entered the president’s office, stopping before the desk. She heard Gu Jianchu say succinctly, “These two. Buy them.” Gu Jianchu was referring to the custom models the watchmaker had sent over last month. They hadn’t been officially released yet; only sample pictures were available. Buying two of them at once further confirmed Liu Yanyan’s suspicion that there had been a new development in President Gu’s relationship with President Qiao.
“Yes, President Gu.”
After Liu Yanyan left, Gu Jianchu began her busy day. Near the end of the afternoon, her mother called and asked her to come home for dinner. She had been so busy lately that her visits home had become noticeably less frequent. Since it was her mother calling personally, she canceled her evening reception and promised to be home for dinner.
But when she got home, she discovered her mother had called her back because Gu Fanchu had returned. He had gone back to the United States after the Su family’s banquet, and now, not even two months later, he had come back without a word. Upon seeing Gu Fanchu, Gu Jianchu was instantly on guard. She had never seen him return so frequently before.
Gu Jianchu’s brow furrowed. She asked him, “Why are you back?”
“I missed Mom. Can’t I come back to see her?” Gu Fanchu didn’t dare say he was back to pursue Qiao Qi. He remembered very clearly how Gu Jianchu had left him stranded on the road last time.
Gu Jianchu didn’t believe his excuse for a second, but her mother was delighted to hear it. She turned to Gu Jianchu and said, “That’s right, America is so far away. Jianchu, aren’t you the president now? Why don’t you transfer your brother back to the country?”
Gu Jianchu gave Gu Fanchu a lukewarm glance and said in a formal tone, “Submit an application first. We’ll discuss it at the year-end company meeting and make arrangements then.”
Gu Fanchu was thrilled. It didn’t matter when he came back, as long as he could. He used to enjoy the freedom of being abroad, but now that he had other important matters to attend to, his only thought was to return to the country as soon as possible. Gu Jianchu saw his happy expression and thought to herself, So he really does have ulterior motives for coming back so suddenly.
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