Sheng Tang accompanied him out for dinner.
During the New Year period, not many restaurants were open. Gu Jiahui drove around for quite some time before finding one.
Although she had starred in a popular film and gained recognition for her role, she herself wasn’t very famous because it was a period drama. Her appearance and makeup in the film were quite different from how she looked in real life.
At least, when they went out for dinner, Sheng Tang didn’t cover up. Nobody recognized her.
She didn’t make many public appearances besides in the film.
The waiter glanced at her a few times, probably because they thought she was pretty, just appreciating a beautiful woman.
"How was your New Year?" Sheng Tang asked Gu Jiahui.
In the Gu family, there was a cold, desolate despair.
No one knew what their family of three was like in private. Even a description would leave people shocked and dismayed.
Gu Jiahui had endured it for years. If he could get through those tough teenage years, what more of now?
He said lightly, "Isn’t it the same as always?"
During meals, his dad didn’t like any noise. Even the sound of chopsticks hitting the bowls had to be soft. If the sound was too loud, you would get a slap. Sometimes it was his mom who got hit, sometimes him; his mom would suddenly lose her temper and throw all the dishes on the table at him and his dad.
The family home was a suffocating place.
However, Sheng Tang wouldn’t pity him. She didn’t even have the desire to listen to his household troubles, and Gu Jiahui wouldn’t bring them up to serve no purpose.
He had dinner on New Year’s Eve and went to his aunt’s house.
His aunt’s house was very warm.
"Do you have any plans for the day after tomorrow?" Sheng Tang asked again.
Gu Jiahui looked at her suspiciously, "What do you want to do?"
"I have a friend who gave me some basketball game tickets..."
When Gu Jiahui heard this, a bit of warmth spread in his heart.
But before the warmth could spread, Sheng Tang continued, "If you don’t have any plans on the third day of the New Year, I’ll go hang out with my friends."
She didn’t intend to bring him along. She was worried he would disrupt her schedule.
Sheng Tang made it very clear: The relationship was to put on a show for Yang Mingming. In private, unless necessary, she didn’t want to introduce her father or her friends to Gu Jiahui.
"...You can’t take me?" Gu Jiahui looked up slightly, his eyes seemed to be chilled.
Sheng Tang hesitated, deciding to lie, "There’s only one ticket."
"What game is it?"
"It’s a game between Youlan and Green Mountain," Sheng Tang replied.
Youlan and Green Mountain are two star basketball clubs that are very popular. Tickets to their games are always hard to come by.
Zhou Yu played for Green Mountain Basketball Club.
"Who’s your friend?"
"Zhou Yu."
"Zhou Yu?" Gu Jiahui repeated the name, asking Sheng Tang, "I think I know him. He’s the rising star of recent years. Didn’t he join the national team?"
"He needed money," Sheng Tang explained. "The club offered better conditions."
Zhou Yu’s family conditions weren’t ideal. He earned his living and tuition fees for four years of university by playing basketball. He had no mother, and his father didn’t care about him.
"Everyone has their own ambitions," said Gu Jiahui.
After their brief conversation, they went their separate ways. Sheng Tang remained at her parents’ house.
On the third day of the New Year, the basketball game was at 8 p.m. Sheng Tang left home a bit late, entering the stadium just at 7:40 p.m.
Then, she was taken aback.
Zhou Yu had given her four tickets. She casually took one. Unexpectedly, sitting next to her were Gu Shiting and his current girlfriend, Su Luo.
Seeing her, Gu Shiting also showed a look of surprise.