Chapter 46: Gu Shiyan Saw Through Su Mo's Schemes

Under the dim lights, glasses were raised and passed around in the private room. Su Mo’s gaze remained fixed on Gu Shiyan, yet he never once looked up to meet her eyes.

Whether it was when she told the others at the start that she had nothing to do with Gu Shiyan, or just now when Liang Yang questioned her, Gu Shiyan reclined against the sofa, his elbow propped on his knee. In his hand was a piece of candy, his head bowed so no one could see his expression.

Su Mo’s attention lingered on that candy. Gu Shiyan hadn’t touched a single drink since he arrived, only taking a strawberry-flavored sweet from the candy box on the table. He didn’t eat it, just twirled it between his fingers.

Lu Xingjian, seated nearby, naturally noticed the apparent acquaintance between Su Mo and Gu Shiyan. He couldn’t quite grasp the nature of their relationship—should he step in to help? But seeing Liang Yang bully her so blatantly, and Gu Shiyan remain indifferent, he decided to stay out of it.

Ji Rutang stood in the center, earnestly singing a love song with a spicy girl at his side, oblivious to the tension nearby.

Su Mo walked up to Liang Yang, took the brimming glass from his hand, and downed it in one go. Her face flushed red from the burn, but she didn’t utter a word, her gaze unwaveringly trained on Gu Shiyan.

Liang Yang was now uncertain—was there something between this woman and Gu Shiyan? The two seemed like a couple embroiled in a cold quarrel. He couldn’t figure it out, but dared not truly provoke someone connected to Gu Shiyan.

“I say, what exactly is going on between you and Brother Yan?” Ji Rutang tossed aside the microphone and strode toward Su Mo. He hadn’t missed the drama; he simply didn’t want to interrupt the song mid-way.

Su Mo ignored him, still focused solely on Gu Shiyan.

Gu Shiyan’s phone screen lit up again, but he paid it no mind.

Ji Rutang shooed away those seated beside Gu Shiyan, sat down next to him, and whispered in his ear, “Brother Yan, you’re not seeing two girls at once, are you?”

Gu Shiyan’s gaze paused on the pink candy wrapper, then he glanced at Ji Rutang.

Ji Rutang continued, “Sister Xing’s temper isn’t the type to tolerate things.”

Lu Xingjian tossed a lighter at him, shutting Ji Rutang up.

Watching Ji Rutang refrain from saying anything to Su Mo, Liang Yang now assumed she truly belonged to Gu Shiyan. Realizing he might have offended her earlier, he couldn’t quite read Gu Shiyan’s intentions. In any case, an apology couldn’t hurt.

He filled his glass, stood before Gu Shiyan, drank it all at once, and explained, “I was out of line earlier. Consider this drink my self-punishment.”

Su Mo stood to the side, noting that Gu Shiyan had seen Liang Yang’s gesture. She wondered what Gu Shiyan really thought of her.

Unexpectedly, Gu Shiyan only glanced at him, then lowered his head without a word. His slender fingers played with the candy, tossing and catching it, his face calm and detached.

The phone screen flashed again. His palm tightened, pressing the candy firmly in his hand.

The message was from Gu Liang: “Try to persuade the old man to loosen his stance. Su Mo’s gone to the capital—she’s a girl, look after her.”

Gu Shiyan understood the real emphasis was the first sentence, but he was surprised Gu Liang had added the second. He couldn’t tell if Su Wan was simply shrewd, or if Gu Liang was getting soft in his old age.

Suddenly, Gu Shiyan’s expression shifted, as if amused by something. He beckoned Su Mo over with a casual wave. He didn’t even glance at her, yet she obediently walked up.

Liang Yang, witnessing this, was relieved he hadn’t made things too difficult for Su Mo and had already apologized to Gu Shiyan.

“Did you follow me here?” Gu Shiyan spoke, his phone screen openly displaying Gu Liang’s message. No one but Su Mo dared look.

She merely shot him a glance, and Gu Shiyan turned off the phone. She couldn’t quite fathom what he was thinking.

She pondered, then said, “Is everyone who comes here just following you?”

Gu Shiyan fixed his gaze on her. “What do you want?”

He disliked pointless chatter. If Su Mo appeared once or twice, it was fine—but this frequent presence was suspicious. He couldn’t understand what she was up to, especially since her attempts to feign coincidence were so obvious he could see right through them.

So he wondered what her true purpose was.

Su Mo looked at the candy in his hand. “I want the one you’re holding.”

Her voice was soft, barely audible amidst the noise, but Gu Shiyan caught it. As if she’d guessed his thoughts, his dark eyes lifted.

He squinted, light reflecting off his pupils.

Ji Rutang snorted from beside them. “Hey, isn’t there a whole box on the table? Miss, just take one yourself.”

Lu Xingjian couldn’t figure out what sort of silent exchange was unfolding between them.

Su Mo smiled. “I just want the one in your hand.”

Suddenly, the room fell quiet. Others noticed the tension, even the singing stopped. People began to speculate about Su Mo—who was she, to dare ask Gu Shiyan for the candy he held in his palm?

Ji Rutang and Lu Xingjian exchanged glances, making a wager. Ji Rutang pointed at Gu Shiyan, betting he wouldn’t give it. Lu Xingjian looked at Su Mo and bet he would.

It was only a piece of candy, after all—Gu Shiyan could toss it to her on a whim.

“Did Su Wan send you?” Gu Shiyan’s voice was calm, but in the silent room, it sounded loud.

In truth, he spoke even softer than Su Mo had.

Su Mo smiled. “Do you think I’d obey her?”

Gu Shiyan stood, glanced at Su Mo before leaving the room, and she followed him out.

As they departed, a few people who hadn’t overheard their conversation assumed Su Mo had caught Gu Shiyan’s eye, murmuring in awe.

Ji Rutang and Lu Xingjian huddled together, unsure who had won their bet.

Ji Rutang started gossiping with Lu Xingjian, “That Su Wan Brother Yan mentioned is his stepmother. This Su Mo shares the same surname—do you think they’re related?”

Lu Xingjian shot him a look as if he were an idiot. “He just asked if Su Wan sent her—obviously they’re connected.”

Ji Rutang was wounded by the look. “I meant, what kind of relationship?”

...

Outside in the corridor, Gu Shiyan leaned against the wall after leaving, shaking a cigarette from his pack. He lit it, flame flickering, his hand still clutching the untouched candy.

Scarlet glowed at his fingertips, smoke swirling upward.

Through the haze, Su Mo watched him.

At first, she’d thought he was just another idle playboy. But things had taken a turn for the interesting—he seemed to see right through the tricks women tried on him, yet pretended not to notice, as if deliberately playing blind.