Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Gu Zhiqian’s return was hush-hush, that time there was a huge issue with the product that he was an ambassador for, so big that he had to be there personally in order to settle the issue. Both the media and the public thought that Gu Zhiqian’s in Hong Kong, so they had put all their energy there. Who knew, that Gu Zhiqian would actually be back in the city?
In the private room, it was only until all the dishes were up before Gu Zhiqian took off his hat and mask.
“Little Yaya, eat.” Gu Zhiqian started first, as though he was in a rush to finish the meal.
“Please don’t call me that, it’s uncomfortable.”
“But it’s not for me.”
Ling Tianya was definitely speechless.
Ling Tianya merely sat in her seat and didn’t even touch her chopsticks. Gu Zhiqian had ordered an amazing array of dishes, but she didn’t have a lick of appetite.
“Not eating?” Gu Zhiqian put down his chopsticks then, his eyes traveling up to meet Ling Tianya’s. They were shining with the same glint as when he had forced Ling Tianya to drink.
A split second later, Ling Tianya laughed.
“What are you laughing at?”
“I’m curious, how did you become friends with Mr. Ruan?” Ling Tianya picked up her chopsticks, grabbing the West Lake Vinegared Fish that’s nearest to her.
Seeing Ling Tianya starting to eat, Gu Zhiqian then picked up his chopsticks again, casually answering Ling Tianya’s questions, “Rather than saying that we’re friends, it’s more accurate to say that we have no choice but to know each other.”
“Oh? Why is that so?”
Gu Zhiqian smiled, his eyes sharp with curiosity as he looked at Ling Tianya, “You seem to be very interested in Ruan Zeyan?”
Ling Tianya didn’t shy away from his gaze, allowing herself to be seen, “You think too much of it.”
Suddenly, a scene popped into Gu Zhiqian’s mind. It was of the last time they were in Liu Fei. He had asked Ruan Zeyan if he was about to drink on behalf of Ling Tianya, his answer was to say he saw wrong.
The words were different, but the tone was surprisingly similar.
Gu Zhiqian suddenly felt his appetite drain just like that. He placed his chopsticks down, wiping off his mouth with the napkin. “For people like me and Ruan Zeyan, many things are out of our control since our birth. Things like the kind of friends we make, or what kind of wife we marry.” Gu Zhiqian fished out a cigarette, looking over at Ling Tianya, the silent question for permission in his eyes.
Ling Tianya shook her head, she was used to second-hand smoke after all.
Gu Zhiqian lit up his cigarette, catching the stick between two fingers as he took a big inhale, the view was certainly sexy.
Many women found men the sexiest when they did two things. Things like when they pinched the cigarette between their fingers, or when they reversed a car with just one hand.
Gu Zhiqian continued, “So, me and Ruan Zeyan have this kind of relationship. The Gu and Ruan family have business collaborations, therefore me and Ruan Zeyan became friends.” Gu Zhiqian’s eyes became mocking. “As long as there’s a financial benefit to the relationship, it becomes impure. I have very little genuine relationships, but it’s worse for Ruan Zeyan, he barely has even one.”
A thought seemed to suddenly strike Gu Zhiqian, and he smiled as he tapped off his cigarette. “That’s not exactly it, Ruan Zeyan had a girlfriend six years ago, that woman must be the only woman he loved in his whole life. It’s just that to someone like Ruan Zeyan, love is a luxury.”
“Eat, hearing you say so much, I’m getting hungry too.” Ling Tianya didn’t want the line of conversation to go on, and she didn’t expect that the conversation would be turned onto her by Gu Zhiqian.
“Heh, the one that started the topic is you, but the one that stops it’s also you.” Even though Gu Zhiqian said that, he did not continue it.
Right then, there were three raps on the door. Before Gu Zhiqian could put on a mask, the door to the room was pushed wide open.
Ruan Zeyan had surprisingly shown up at the door, his eyes harsh with restraint, watching the man and woman in the room. His cold voice sliced through the thick air in the room. “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”