He Yidu played a pair of eights before looking at Jiangsui. “Is the Sang Corporation’s research in your hands?”
Jiangsui had acted swiftly. The moment he annexed the Sang Corporation, he hired all of their company staff back and compensated each of them two weeks worth of salary to make up for the losses they incurred when the company was seized. This matter even trended on Weibo for a while with people singing praises of the new boss, even saying that he was an angel.
With the employees working hard, the halted projects got back on track in no time.
All of a sudden, He Yidu felt that Jiangsui had somewhat changed his initial impression of him—an ignorant and incompetent playboy. He sure acts pretty well. Just like that big boss playing games over there. The Sang Corporation’s most valuable research is probably in his hands.
Jiangsui nodded as he played a pair of nines during his turn. “You want to work with me, Brother Du?”
“Why do you think I asked you about it?” As He Yidu was not wearing glasses today, he exuded a wild vibe when he narrowed his brown eyes slightly. It was totally different from his usual friendly demeanor when he had his glasses on.
Actually, Jiangsui felt that Lu Chengzhou, He Yidu, and Qin Fang were all sly and cunning people. Afraid that he would not be able to deal with them, he cast a glance at Gu Mang, who showed no reactions as she concentrated on her game. Upon realizing that she seemingly planned to leave all the troublesome matters to him, he looked back at He Yidu. “Sure. Let’s talk about the contract tomorrow.”
“A seven.” Qin Fang tossed out a card. “Hey, it’s the first time Jiangsui is working with you. Don’t you bully him, He Yidu.”
As he spoke, he carefully lifted his chin in Gu Mang’s direction, silently hinting to him not to go dig his own grave. This left Jiangsui speechless. Why do they sound so awkward? Aren’t they just a few years older than me?
Without even batting her eyelids, Gu Mang’s fingers moved quickly and accurately across the screen. She was not paying attention to their conversation at all. From time to time, Lu Chengzhou would bow his head slightly to say something to her and she would whisper her replies to him lazily.
Nobody dared to disturb Gu Mang. After all, she was even more arrogant than Lu Chengzhou himself.
At around half-past nine, Lu Chengzhou stood up, ready to take Gu Mang back home. As he picked up Gu Mang’s bag, which contained her laptop and books, he told the rest of the party, “She still has classes tomorrow.”
Everyone thus headed downstairs with the couple to send them off. When the couple finally left, they returned to the private room and tossed the poker cards aside in favor of mahjong over drinks.
…
On the way back to Royal Garden in Lu Chengzhou’s car.
Having slept pretty late the night before, Gu Mang felt a little sleepy now. Thus, she closed her eyes and leaned on Lu Chengzhou, who placed a jacket over her.
As the streetlights were quite bright, Lu Chengzhou covered her eyes with his hand. “Just sleep.”
“Mm,” hummed Gu Mang tiredly as she pulled his other hand.
She did not manage to nap for long because her phone suddenly vibrated a few minutes later. Irritation flashed across her black eyes. Her phone was vibrating non-stop. With her lips pursed, she took out her phone and slowly sat straight up, the jacket slipping off her shoulders and onto her lap in the process.
A hint of hostility surfaced on her face when she took a look at the caller ID. She expressionlessly rejected the call before tossing her phone aside.
Sensing that something was amiss, Lu Chengzhou asked, “What’s wrong?”
As Gu Mang massaged the corners of her eyes, she answered, “Huo Zhi called, but I don’t want to answer it.”
“Are you annoyed?” Lu Chengzhou picked up the thermos flask, unscrew its cap, then passed it to Gu Mang.
Gu Mang took it from him and proceeded to take a sip of water from it. She tapped her fingers against the flask as she said coldly and sharply, “Yes, he’s rather annoying.” Or should I say things will get even more annoying from now onwards?
Lu Chengzhou held her other hand and lightly squeezed her fingers. “Give me a little more time.”
It was such an abrupt statement it left Gu Mang confused as she turned to give him a quizzical look.
Smiling, Lu Chengzhou asked her, “Are you still feeling sleepy?”
“Not anymore.” She then picked up her phone and clicked on a single-player game as she leaned against him.
…
Back at Royal Garden, Gu Mang had just taken a clean set of clothes from the closet and was about to head for the bathroom when her phone vibrated once more.
She walked over to the bed and picked up her phone only to realize that it was not a call, but a message from Huo Zhi.
[You acted rashly this time. Making the Sang Corporation go bust isn’t any big deal, but when you do it for Meng Jinyang’s sake, do you know who the Elders’ Association will target next?]
Another two messages came in just then.
[You didn’t have any friends in the past and always kept to yourself. You hid Meng Jinyang well all these years. Aren’t you afraid of implicating your friends now?
[Gu Mang, we don’t want to make things ugly. While I can indulge your behavior, the Elders’ Association won’t.]
Lu Chengzhou was in the kitchen warming up some milk when he heard a loud noise from the bedroom. It sounded like something being thrown.
A slight frown formed on his face as he turned off the stove and strode over to the bedroom. Upon opening the door, he asked somewhat tensely, “What’s wrong?”
Gu Mang was in a half-squat position and her cell phone was on the floor. As he had thought, she had indeed thrown something—her phone.
She turned to look at Lu Chengzhou who was standing at the doorway. The sharp hostility on her face disappeared and was replaced by her usual lazy look. She slowly said to him, “I accidentally dropped my phone on the floor.”
Lu Chengzhou stared fixedly at her as he played along and asked, “If it’s broken I’ll buy a new one for you tomorrow.”
As he spoke, he slowly made his way over to her.
“Let me see.” Gu Mang picked up her phone before standing up and pressing the screen a few times to see if it still worked. When Lu Chengzhou was right in front of her, she looked up with a smile and showed her phone’s home page to him. “It’s rather durable. It’s still working.”
Lu Chengzhou nodded.
Gu Mang then locked her phone screen and tossed the phone onto the bed. “I’ll go bathe now.”
“Okay.” An unpredictable look surfaced in Lu Chengzhou’s eyes as he watched her walk toward the bathroom.
But after taking a couple of steps, she suddenly stopped and turned around. There were no emotions on her face when she met his eyes. “I’m not in a good mood.”
Lu Chengzhou was used to Gu Mang not wearing her heart on her sleeve, so he was patient in letting her slowly change her habits. However, he did not expect her to suddenly tell him this out of nowhere. After a moment of thought, he asked, “Do you want a hug?”
“I feel much better seeing your face,” added Gu Mang.
Both of them spoke almost at the same time.
A genuine smile blossomed on her face. “I could do with a hug.”
She then wrapped her arms around his waist. When her nose bumped into his collarbones, she opened her mouth and bit him lightly.
Lu Chengzhou stiffened slightly at that, his voice becoming hoarse. “Are you trying to get me to bathe with you?”
Gu Mang ignored him.
