Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Gu Nianzhi was speechless. Was there a difference? Although she really wanted to go see how the renovations in her new home looked, she was somewhat unhappy with Huo Shaoheng’s tone. She had also suffered through great battles today, so even someone as healthy as she happened to be was feeling a bit tired. At that moment, she only wanted to take her beloved pink diamond crown to a place where she could carefully study it alone.
Looking up, she was about to fight back when she saw Yin Shixiong and Ma Qiqi nearly leaning over backwards with their ears perked! Haha! Why were they being so obvious with their eavesdropping?! Rubbing her earlobes, Gu Nianzhi looked straight ahead and said calmly, “I’m too tired today. I want to go back to the dorm.” If she was going back there, Huo Shaoheng couldn’t “follow her back,” right?
Pursing his lips, Huo Shaoheng’s gaze fell on the pink diamond crown she cradled. “That is a very expensive thing. Are you sure you want to bring it back to campus like that?”
Gu Nianzhi was again speechless. She looked down at the pink diamond crown in her hands and also noticed the furtive glances sweeping her way from the hall. She hugged the pink diamond crown even tighter.
“Come back to the official residence with me and lock it in your safe.” Huo Shaoheng’s voice was becoming deeper, like he was admonishing her yet also tempting her.
Gu Nianzhi pursed her lips and shook her head. “No.” Then she passed the pink diamond crown to Huo Shaoheng. “You can take it back and put it in the safe.”
“You trust me that much?” Huo Shaoheng looked at her for a while, then accepted the pink diamond crown from her. “Actually, you can put it in your new house, too. I also installed a built-in safe there. It has an alarm that’s directly connected to the police station.”
Gu Nianzhi struggled in her heart and wanted to continue saying no, but when she saw the pink diamond crown in Huo Shaoheng’s hand, she couldn’t stand the possibility of losing it again. Huo Shaoheng truly knew her too well and suggested an offer she couldn’t refuse. Closing her eyes, Gu Nianzhi could only say quietly, “Ok.” She then continued, “You can drop me off at the door.”
Huo Shaoheng smiled and balanced the pink diamond crown casually on his palm. “When are we leaving?”
Gu Nianzhi glanced at Ma Qiqi. “You go out first. I still need to talk to Qiqi about something.”
Huo Shaoheng nodded as he took the car keys from Yin Shixiong. “I already called Little Fan to pick you and Qiqi up.”
They had taken the same car there, and now Huo Shaoheng was driving himself and taking Gu Nianzhi to the house she had bought, so Yin Shixiong and Ma Qiqi had to find another ride. “It’s fine.” Yin Shixiong discreetly gave Huo Shaoheng a thumbs up. “Chief is so flexible. What a great man!”
Huo Shaoheng was speechless. Gu Nianzhi rolled her eyes at Yin Shixiong but didn’t say anything else. She didn’t have to ask whose side Yin Shixiong was on, so she didn’t blame him.
Ma Qiqi dragged Gu Nianzhi to the side to chat. “Nianzhi, are you still coming back tonight?”
Gu Nianzhi said calmly, “Of course I’m coming back. I’m only going to see the house and also drop this off.”
Ma Qiqi knew Gu Nianzhi was talking about the pink diamond crown. It was far too valuable. “Remember to hide it well. Maybe you can go to the bank tomorrow and put it in a safety deposit box?” Ma Qiqi suggested to Gu Nianzhi.
Gu Nianzhi nodded. “I will. I think my house has a safe installed.”
“That’s great!” Ma Qiqi was reassured and patted Gu Nianzhi’s shoulder. “You have to be careful.” Huo Shao’s combat abilities were so strong, and Ma Qiqi couldn’t help wanting to pray for Gu Nianzhi.
…
Inside the hall of the Prime Minister’s official residence, quiet music began playing again. The men and women in evening wear acted as if nothing had happened as they chatted in the hall, but many were talking about what had just happened. Gu Yanran, the richest person from Barbados, had fallen from grace just like that. They watched Gu Nianzhi now with a new perspective and approval. Someone with ability wouldn’t be buried away no matter where they went. Huo Shaoheng saw several people walk towards Gu Nianzhi and left first. He only said, “I’ll wait for you in the parking lot.” After he left, those people came over to greet Gu Nianzhi and even wanted to exchange business cards with her.
Gu Nianzhi spread her hands with a smile. “I’m still a grad student. I don’t have a card.”
“Miss Gu is already so impressive as a masters student at the B University Faculty of Law, your future must have unlimited potential.” This kind of compliment wasn’t worth any money, but it was enough to express someone’s attitude. Someone who didn’t have regard for you wouldn’t bother with you, let alone give compliments. Gu Nianzhi understood this principle and tried her best to talk to those people as seriously as possible. After nearly 20 minutes, Gu Nianzhi finally said goodbye before leaving with Yin Shixiong and Ma Qiqi.
Tan Guiren saw Gu Nianzhi wasn’t leaving with Huo Shaoheng, so she really wanted to believe that they had truly broken up. But she also saw Gu Nianzhi give the pink diamond crown to Huo Shaoheng to take away… Why would someone give such an expensive thing to a normal acquaintance? With this thought, Tan Guiren was confused again. She looked at Gu Nianzhi with a conflicted expression and asked, “Why did Miss Gu have Huo Shao take the pink diamond crown?”
Gu Nianzhi thought to herself that it wasn’t any of her business, but that was too rude and disrespectful towards the Prime Minister’s daughter. Also, with what she was about to do, she was afraid this Prime Minister wouldn’t remain in office for many more days. As a result, Gu Nianzhi was more tolerant towards Tan Guiren, so she said seriously, “Oh, the thing is I was worried that the crown wasn’t real, so I asked Mr. Huo to help me examine it for authenticity.”
Tan Guiren was completely shocked. “Huo Shao knows how to examine jewelry and artifacts?!”
“Yes, Mr. Huo has all sorts of skills and knows everything.” Gu Nianzhi smiled faintly before turning to leave.
Yin Shixiong and Ma Qiqi had a hard time holding back their laughter. When they stepped out of the Prime Minister’s official residence, they finally burst out laughing.
Gu Nianzhi didn’t laugh with them because she saw He Zhichu standing at the door to the Prime Minister’s official residence. She remembered how Huo Shaoheng and He Zhichu had come in together earlier, and for some reason, He Zhichu had suddenly felt the pink diamond crown in Gu Nianzhi’s hand was an eyesore. He hadn’t followed her inside but turned around to the hallway outside. He stood alone there quietly to smoke, his long and handsome figure appearing especially lonely under the streetlamps.
Gu Nianzhi thought about it and went over to whisper, “Professor He?”
He Zhichu turned around to look at her and see her beautiful face that was as refreshing as a spring bud. Her large eyes were now filled with more things than before and were no longer as clear as a little creek one could see right through to the bottom of. They had became a pool of autumn water, mysterious and alluring. “Nianzhi, you did well today.” He Zhichu began to praise her. “I saw your debate with Gu Yanran.”
Gu Nianzhi immediately flushed. “You saw it? Didn’t you go outside?” She remembered He Zhichu had been called outside by personnel earlier. They said something had happened to his car.
He Zhichu looked up at the moonlight at the edge of sky and said dryly, “Big Xiong sent a livestream to Huo Shao on his phone, so I also saw it from outside.”
Gu Nianzhi was a bit embarrassed but could only ask, “Is your car ok?”
He Zhichu held a cigarette between his fingers and sighed. “It suddenly ignited and is completely gone now.”
Gu Nianzhi asked, “Then how are you getting home?” She was worried since she had gotten a ride there from He Zhichu, and now he no longer had a car. Could she just leave him behind like that?
He Zhichu threw away the cigarette in his hand. “How are you leaving?”
“I’m taking Huo Shao’s car back.”
“Ok, let’s go together then,” He Zhichu replied coolly, his shimmery sultry eyes glittering as he followed Gu Nianzhi to Huo Shaoheng’s car.
