Normal activities of the Fine Art Association were held at a historic bungalow situated on a path that was lined with golden leaves on both sides in the fall.
Huo Sishen was unsettled letting Gu Shishi out today so he sat with Aunty Lin and Siyi in a coffee shop across from the bungalow the entire time, waiting for Gu Shishi to be done and return home together.
He told her a million times to give them a call if something happened. They would be there in 3 minutes.
Nevertheless, when Gu Shishi saw the side profile of Gu Jiangxin appearing from the stairs, she had forgotten all about what the boss had told her earlier.
Oh, shoot! Her dawg of a father followed her all the way here?
Oh, shoot! Her dawg of a father had learned of her identity?
Oh, shoot! Her dawg of a father was here to ambush her?
Her mind was filled with “WTH” and, when she recollected herself, she had already dashed into a backroom like a little deer while holding her stomach with her hands.
This was the first time Gu Jiangxin stepped foot in the association’s building.
As such, after he climbed the stairs, he immediately looked at President Huang Chuan, who was chatting with someone by the stairs. He walked out and greeted him.
He did not notice that someone had run into the back room nor did he notice that Gu Shishi was there as well.
The few seniors who were sitting around chatting with Gu Shishi, on the other hand, were startled by her abrupt escape.
“Eh?”
“What’s up with that little one?”
Gao Xiu-e, standing the closest to Gu Shishi, quickly followed her into the backroom when she saw how Gu Shishi was holding her stomach. She shouted to the grandpas outside, “No man shall come in here!”
On the other end, Gu Jiangxin had already expressed to Huang Chuan the purpose of his visit. “I am here to purchase a painting, President Huang.”
Huang Chuan did not look happy.
He had already declined Gu Jiangxin nicely when he had looked for him at the exhibition previously.
He had already made it abundantly clear that it was not going to happen. Why was this person so cluelessly persistent?
Huang Chuan took a gander and felt relieved when he noticed that Gu Shishi was not sitting there anymore. “Mr. Gu, I have told you before that…”
He paused midway through his sentence. Both of their last names were Gu.
And Gu Shishi had took off early. Was it because she had spotted the arrival of this Mr. Gu?
Did they know each other? Were they not on good terms? Why was this guy here asking for her painting then? Did he not know that she was the painter?
Huang Chuan, who had been around the block a few times, thought of a lot of possibilities.
Gu Jiangxin smiled and said he was there for President Huang Chuan’s work.
Huang Chuan’s face dropped right away and said, “I don’t have any master piece!”
He thought Gu Jiangxin was sincere about wanting a painting in the past. Judging from what he was seeing right now, that was not the case at all.
This anyone-will-do attitude displeased him greatly.
Gu Jiangxin’s look froze on him.
Being a businessman his entire life, he had always been a very smooth one who could handle any situation, but this time he run into a wall everywhere he turned.
“President Huang, that’s not how I mean. Please let me explain…”
While they were still dragging on outside, Gu Shishi finally recollected herself after she had run into the backroom, holding onto her stomach, closed the door and stood against the way.
Why did she run?
She had done nothing wrong nor did she have a guilty conscience.
“Shishi, is it that time of the month? Did you soil your pants? I have a jacket. Let me get it and put it over you?”
Gao Xiu-e, who had followed her in, was a kind grandma in her 60s or 70s.
“No, Grandma Gao, that’s not it.”
Gu Shishi blushed.
Gao Xiu-e was taken aback a little. “Then why are you holding onto your stomach?”
Gu Shishi paused a little before she looked down and noticed that she had been covering up her stomach firmly without realizing it.
And she had her answer immediately.
