Chapter 45: Calling Gu Shiyan, Only to Be Hung Up On

That day was truly unexpected. It came so suddenly, without any warning, leaving no time to prepare. Luo Xing didn’t even have a chance to react. Her fingertip pressed against her lips—what did it feel like? She had no idea. Her mind was completely blank at the time; who could have foreseen that, after breaking up with Gu Shiyan, she would still realize the wish she’d made four years ago when she first met him?

It wasn’t until her phone chimed again that Luo Xing hurriedly snapped back to reality, annoyed with herself for letting her thoughts drift for so long because of Gu Shiyan. She quickly opened Yun Cai’s message.

“Sigh, I hope Qi Zhi will hold a birthday party next year. He’s never celebrated his birthday with fans.”

A surge of heat rose in Luo Xing’s eyes. Qi Zhi... Why did he allow that person to humiliate him like that? At first, Luo Xing suspected the worst—was that woman his sponsor, and he... But after spending a little time with Qi Zhi, and seeing his gentle side in various videos and materials, Luo Xing dismissed those thoughts. Qi Zhi could not be that kind of person.

She still hadn’t told Yun Cai what she’d seen at the bar. Watching message after message pile up on her phone, Luo Xing knew Yun Cai was truly fond of Qi Zhi. She pondered for a long time, but in the end kept the secret to herself, responding with a string of exclamations to match Yun Cai’s excitement.

Luo Xing turned off her phone. Lying in bed, she stared at the white ceiling above. Gu Shiyan must know something. He seemed to be friends with that woman, and was also her brother’s friend. He surely knew something.

Luo Xing picked up her phone again; she had already deleted all of Gu Shiyan’s contact information. Yet that number seemed etched into her heart, impossible to forget.

Should she ask him? No, he would definitely take advantage and lord it over her. Besides, she’d already lost that bet, and was bound to work for Gu Shiyan like a beast of burden for two months. If he knew she was desperate to learn about Qi Zhi, wouldn’t he be even more insufferable?

Luo Xing didn’t want to see him smiling at her with that half-mocking, arrogant expression.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through Luo Xing’s mind and she sat up abruptly. Since she had already lost to Gu Shiyan, there was no way to avoid him these two months. Gu Shiyan had been away from the capital for so long; surely he would often meet up with his friends now. If she followed him, she would surely see Qi Zhi again, and gradually learn why Qi Zhi was bullied and never retaliated.

She refused to believe he was the kind of person who would sacrifice his dignity for resources.

Luo Xing got out of bed with her phone, and randomly grabbed someone to ask where Gu Shiyan had gone. She asked two or three people in succession, but none of them knew.

After some hesitation, Luo Xing dialed that number. She didn’t know if Gu Shiyan would answer; he had never saved her number, so it would show up as unknown. The phone rang several times, then was clearly rejected.

Oddly enough, Luo Xing felt relieved. She stared at the screen, not calling again. Just as she was about to turn off her phone, it vibrated and rang suddenly, startling her. She thought for a moment it might be Gu Shiyan, but the name “Shen Que” appeared, dispelling her nervousness.

“Hello?” Luo Xing answered.

“I’ve been so busy these days, haven’t really checked in. How are things over there? Are you settling in well?”

Luo Xing nodded instinctively, then remembered Shen Que wasn’t nearby, “It’s good. Everyone here is very nice. Grandpa Gu’s house even has an opera house. I just finished watching a performance, and played cards with two people... Heh, lost ten games in a row...”

She poured out the recent little events to Shen Que, who responded while seemingly preoccupied.

“What are you doing now?” Luo Xing asked.

“Talking to you, of course.”

Luo Xing didn’t believe his vague reply, but everyone has their privacy; friends need some distance and boundaries, so she didn’t press.

Still on the call, Luo Xing wandered over to the side and absentmindedly stroked the leaves of a potted plant. She didn’t notice Gu Yunzhi pushing Grandpa Gu inside from outside. The servant stepped forward to speak.

Gu Yunzhi frowned, handed Gu Taihua to Assistant Song, and walked over to Luo Xing.

“Why are you looking for Gu Shiyan?” she asked.

Luo Xing was startled, turning to see her grandmother. Shen Que’s voice, reminding her to keep an eye on her grandmother’s diet, suddenly stopped.

Luo Xing was certain Shen Que had heard her grandmother’s words and now knew Gu Shiyan was back in the capital.

Gu Yunzhi waited until Luo Xing turned around before realizing she was on the phone; she had been too impatient just now. She nodded, signaling Luo Xing to continue, and stepped back a few paces.

Luo Xing stood nearby with her phone.

“Is Gu Shiyan with you?”

Luo Xing didn’t know how to answer. If she said yes, Shen Que might think she was still hung up on Gu Shiyan and had followed him to the capital. If she said no...

“Mm, he’s in the capital too. I only found out later,” Luo Xing replied vaguely.

“The Grandpa Gu you mentioned—is he Gu Shiyan’s grandfather?”

Luo Xing gritted her teeth. Was this what having a genius mind meant? He reacted so quickly!

She was still weighing how to explain the coincidence to Shen Que when he asked, “So Gu Shiyan is your relative?”

Luo Xing: ...

She glanced at the two elders chatting behind her and headed upstairs. Only after returning to her room did she reply, “How do you always guess right, Mr. Shen?”

There was a long silence on the other end.

Luo Xing didn’t know what to talk about.

“Are you and Gu Shiyan living together?”

The voice came through.

“Technically yes, but I haven’t seen him in days. Don’t worry about me.”

“Xingxing, do you want to move out...” He seemed to think of something else and sighed.

Luo Xing knew what he meant—he probably wanted her to stay at a hotel but worried it wasn’t safe for a girl alone.

“Alright, alright, don’t worry about me. How are things with your parents?”

Luo Xing had asked about this in messages before, but Shen Que always replied that everything was fine. She couldn’t tell if he meant it or was just saying so.

“It’s fine. They just have their occasional fits, happens a few times every year, usually about money.”

Luo Xing wanted to say, if it came to it, she could support him. But she knew that would be humiliating for Shen Que. Her parents had suggested it before, but Shen Que refused. Luo Xing didn’t bring it up again.

...

Private Club—C10

In the VIP lounge.

Someone in the center was holding a model and singing karaoke. A waiter pushed in a cart, clearing empty bottles and replacing them with fresh drinks.

Su Mo stood in front of Gu Shiyan, while a man in a dark green shirt sat beside him.

“Drink up. Why are you staring at Young Master Gu? What, you two know each other now?” Liang Yang taunted Gu Shiyan.

Earlier, Su Mo had claimed not to know Gu Shiyan, and he’d made things difficult for her, yet she kept glancing at Gu Shiyan.

What did that mean?