Three years later.
Capital, the Gu Family.
Auntie pushed open the door to the study to put down a cup of coffee. It was very dark in the study, giving off a rather gloomy atmosphere. The man inside was smoking, and there was a heavy smell of smoke within the room.
Three years had calmed everything down.
But it didn’t make everything better.
Auntie snuck a peek at the floor-to-ceiling window. A man stood there, tall, regal and handsome. He was wearing a black shirt and black pants. The past three years had given his handsome face a sense of profoundness. With the passage of time, he now bore a ruthless aura and a heavy oppressive feel. Gu Mohan now controlled the economic lifeline of Asia and was one of the wealthiest men in the entire world. No one dared to look him in the eye.
He reached one hand into his pocket and took out his mobile phone. His secretary, Yan Dong, was reporting about work. “President, there have been some challenges regarding the development works on the Paradise Island holiday villa. There’s a tenant who refuses to accept the land requisition and compensation terms, and so has yet to move out.”
Gu Mohan remained expressionless, but his voice was low and malevolent. “Haven’t we already communicated this properly with the government over there? We have already invested all this money. Now you’re saying there’s a tenant who refuses to leave?”
“President.” Yan Dong’s scalp had already gone numb. “That tenant is extremely stubborn and refuses to accept any form of negotiations or compensation. She said… she said…”
Gu Mohan sounded very impatient. “Have you gone dumb?”
“President, that tenant said she wants to meet you personally to negotiate.” Yan Dong quickly finished her sentence.
Gu Mohan immediately pursed his lips into a straight line.
“President…”
Gu Mohan lifted his eyes to gaze at the night scene outside. “Prepare the jet tomorrow morning. I will fly over.”
“Yes.” Yan Dong hung up.
Gu Mohan tossed his mobile phone onto the table. Auntie passed him the cup of coffee and he took a sip.
“Sir, you should drink less coffee at night. It’s not good for sleep. For the past three years, you have been working non-stop day and night. You should rest more,” Auntie nagged with concern.
Gu Mohan finished his cup of coffee in one go. “Auntie, I know. You may leave.”
With that said, Auntie could only leave with a sigh.
The expansive Gu Family residence was now devoid of any warmth and cheer. It was cold all year round now.
Sir had been working like a maniac since Madam passed away. It had been three years and Sir was 38 years old now. He would be middle-aged in another two years. Even his robust body would not be able to take it any longer if he continued tormenting himself in this manner.
…
11pm at night.
Gu Mohan finished work and left his study to enter the bedroom.
After taking a cold shower, he came out wearing some black silk pajamas. He casually combed back his hair with his hands and went to bed.
It was completely quiet in the night. He shut his eyes before gradually opening them again.
His deep, almond-shaped eyes were completely blank. There was nothing inside them.
He wasn’t thinking about that woman.
He blamed her and hated her.
He had used work to fill up all his time these past three years, and so he had no time to think about her.
The days went by in that way.
Wasn’t there a saying? The one who was left behind wouldn’t be able to live on?
But he had continued to live on.
It was just that he couldn’t sleep.
A knife had been lodged inside his heart. Now and then, that knife would twist a couple of times, shredding his flesh and causing him immeasurable pain.
Gu Mohan sat up and pulled open the drawer of his dresser to retrieve some sleeping pills. He popped three pills into his mouth and swallowed them with practiced ease.
Every time Gu Yelin returned, he would secretly throw away his father’s sleeping pills. He didn’t say anything then, but after sending him away, he would order his men to buy more.
A few days ago, Fu Qinglun had come to visit and inadvertently found out that he had to take three sleeping pills every night to sleep. Fu Qinglun fixed him with a steady look and said, “Sooner or later, you will consume so many sleeping pills that you will never wake up.”
That day, Gu Mohan had only curled up his lips in a nonchalant smile.
…
The next morning on Paradise Island.
This little island had very lovely scenery. It was now the height of spring and flowers bloomed everywhere, making one feel especially relaxed.
But this little island had not undergone development yet. C.T Corporation had bought this island from the government and the holiday villa project had already been initiated. Now, there was suddenly a tenant who refused to move, the entire project had come to a grinding halt.
Early in the morning, the village head led a few of his committee members to await the arrival of the president of C.T Corporation. A gaggle of excited girls tagged on behind them.
The girls chattered non-stop.
“Will we be able to see C.T President Gu Mohan later? He’s the richest man in the world, but over the past three years, none of the economic publications were able to catch sight of him. I heard he keeps an extremely low profile.”
“I also heard that this President has been single all along and has a very clean and proper private life.”
“But I think he is already 38 years old.”
“So what if he is already 38? Men at 38 years of age are at their true prime. Mature and charming. In addition, older men tend to be more experienced.”
Those girls continued to whisper and gossip amongst themselves. Just the phrase ‘older men tend to be more experienced’ was already making them blush deeply.
At this moment, the village head announced, “Stop your chatter. The plane has arrived.”
Everyone looked up as a luxurious private jet slowly landed on the island. A large ‘G’ was imprinted on the side of the jet glittered as the sun shone on it.
“Wah, what a big airplane.” One of the girls was spellbound.
The doors to the aircraft were pulled open and secretary Yan Dong led a few upper management personnel off the plane first. They all stood respectfully by the side.
Soon after, Gu Mohan came out.
The girls all lifted their eyes to gaze at him. Today, Gu Mohan was wearing a gray shirt and black western-style pants. His tailor-made clothes were impeccably ironed and he strode confidently off the platform. His imperious aura was akin to an emperor’s, at the same time giving one a sense of aloofness.
The girls were all holding their breaths. Wah, the C.T President was so handsome.
They once again thought of that ‘older men tend to be more experienced’ topic, and one of the more daring girls stole a quick glance at the front of his pants. The sight made her blush furiously.
“President Gu, welcome.” The village head received him warmly.
Gu Mohan glanced blandly at the village head and nodded in acknowledgment. Leading his staff, he then headed straight for the village head’s home.
“President Gu, this way please.” The village head stood waiting for Gu Mohan at a turn.
Gu Mohan was just about to step toward that direction when the clear tinkling sound of a bell resonated in the air.
He looked toward the sound and noticed a pretty, pink cottage situated right by the expansive ocean. The cottage had all sorts of seashells fixed upon it, and a wind chime was dangling right over the doorway. A pleasant tinkling sound rang out whenever the breeze blew by.
Gu Mohan’s profound, slanted eyes remained emotionless. But he started to walk over toward the sound.
It was as if his body was running on autopilot. He had no idea why he had an urge to go over there.
It felt as if the sound was calling him, guiding him.
Just as he reached the side of the cottage, the door opened and a small figure, pink and soft, dashed out.
