Chapter 40: Cooperation

Gu Hansheng looked on with cold eyes, his countenance betraying no hint of emotion.

Casting her an enigmatic glance, he slowly made his way to the large armchair and seated himself, then turned his gaze to Liang Shu who had followed him in, raising an eyebrow. "Are you doing all this for money?"

Liang Shu remained calm. "I know Mr. Gu has always been generous with women, valuing a bottle cap at tens of thousands, let alone my association with you..." Her smile deepened. "Especially after sleeping with you."

With her words spoken, she could discern the prominent veins on his hand.

There was a cup of tea on his desk, now cold and devoid of warmth.

"And so?"

Liang Shu smiled faintly. "I want Mrs. Gu's position."

As her words fell, the room fell into a profound silence.

Even the previously radiant sunlight retreated, hiding behind the clouds.

After hearing her words, all expression vanished from Gu Hansheng's face, leaving only a pair of dark, deep-set eyes revealing his ominousness.

Liang Shu stared at him intently, her fingers clenched into fists at her side, her body tensed like a taut string.

After a long while,

a sudden knock at the door broke the silence. Gu Hansheng didn't even blink, let alone make a sound in response to the knock.

Perhaps the person outside grew impatient, unable to wait any longer for Gu Hansheng's response. They attempted to push the door open to take a look inside.

However, as soon as the heavy door was cracked open, a teacup accurately smashed against it. The porcelain didn't break against the door, but shattered when it hit the ground, scattering shards everywhere.

"Get out!"

Liang Shu didn't glance back, only realizing that the door behind her had been closed again. She didn't know which unfortunate person had encountered his wrath, but it did relieve some of the anger Gu Hansheng would have directed at her.

Liang Shu looked at the spilled tea leaves and water on the ground, some even splashing onto her face. She quietly wiped it off and took a step forward. "Mr. Gu, did you hear what I just said?"

At this moment, Gu Hansheng stood up abruptly, towering over her from behind his desk, staring down at her as if trying to bore holes into her.

"Liang Shu, after that night, I didn't come after you. Yet you've grown tired of living and come knocking on my door," Gu Hansheng's lips curled slightly, his emotions fluctuating greatly, a rare display of anger. "Very well."

Without looking at him, Liang Shu continued, "Otherwise, does Mr. Gu naively believe that I simply offered myself to satisfy your desires? Regardless of who I am or what situation I'm in, I have only you as a man, that's beyond doubt..."

Her voice neither loud nor low, Liang Shu continued her narrative. Between her words, there was some self-deprecation, but her tone remained unchanged.

She went on, "In that case, I'm staking my virginity. If it were just for money, why would I provoke you? You're the lofty, scheming businessman, and I'm just a desperate schemer, naturally taking a desperate gamble."

Finishing her string of words, Gu Hansheng had already circled back to stand before her. He was significantly taller than her, so when he looked down at her, Liang Shu could sense the pressure from above.

"Liang Shu, do you think you can manipulate me with such lowly tactics? You lurk in the darkest corners of Yucheng, buried in debt. Who cares if you're crushed under that debt one day?"

Gu Hansheng's words drilled into Liang Shu's ears, one by one.

She smiled. "Of course, you have countless ways to quietly finish me off, but what about yourself? Can you go to hell too?"

"Hell? Do you even have the ability for that?" Gu Hansheng's gaze turned icy.

Liang Shu glanced at him, then turned back to the sofa area, taking an envelope from the white leather paper bag. She then walked back to him and emptied its contents onto the desk.

She tossed the envelope aside and turned to look at Gu Hansheng. "Would you like to take a good look at these photos?"

The developed photos, though somewhat reduced in clarity, depicted a tangled couple. Anyone who looked closely would recognize Gu Hansheng.

Gu Hansheng, the CEO of Gu Corporation, with a fit physique, stood bare-skinned.

Liang Shu reached into her pocket and took out her phone, playing an audio clip. Amidst the intermittent sounds of male panting and female moans, Liang Shu blushed slightly, but maintained a serious demeanor. "If the photos aren't sufficient, perhaps you'd find this satisfying? I have photos, audio clips, and videos, all at your disposal. You name it, I have it."

"It doesn't matter to me personally, but if these things were to get out, the consequences could be unimaginable."

"Are you threatening me?" Upon seeing these, Gu Hansheng's indifference surprisingly diminished, replaced by an inscrutable emotion in his eyes.

Liang Shu silently stopped the recording, lowering her gaze. "It's not exactly a threat. If Mr. Gu were to marry me, it would be mutually beneficial."

Stepping over the mess on the floor, the man returned to the large armchair, turning to face her. "How so?"

"That night, Mr. Gu saw for himself. I believe you were quite satisfied with my body. Furthermore, there are no feelings between us. Give me a marriage certificate, and afterward, you're free to favor whoever you please. Lastly, I'm your secret weapon. In due time, if the person at the Yushan Villa wakes up, I'll swiftly make room for you..."

Liang Shu smiled slowly, releasing her clenched fingers. "I just hope that when the time comes, Mr. Gu won't be too ruthless and will be generous to me."

Gu Hansheng had three points to counter Liang Shu's argument:

"Firstly, you're too confident; secondly, why would I marry you when I have a respectable wife from a good family? Why would I need that piece of paper for you? As for the last point..."

Gu Hansheng sneered, "Do you really think I can't live without you?"

"I've been spending my days in the library, not for anything else but to cultivate myself, striving to meet the standards of Mrs. Gu. This is my sincerity." Liang Shu pursed her lips, slowly adding, "Setting aside these matters, do you really think our little videos have no impact on Mr. Gu and the great Gu Corporation?"

"So, you insist on being Mrs. Gu?"

...

That morning, a war erupted on the 88th floor of the Zenith Group. The senior executives and secretaries only knew that their boss and a mysterious woman had spent a long time in the office.

Later, Gu Hansheng personally called for Shi Qing to escort the woman out and take her to the guest room.

Those who saw remembered only a stunningly beautiful woman with a smile on her lips.

There were pressing matters in the company that couldn't be delayed. Gu Hansheng directly instructed Ji Chen to bring in the documents that needed signing. When the senior executives emerged from the office, some leaked that Mr. Gu's office had been vandalized.

Various items were scattered across the floor, including his favorite porcelain, shattered into pieces.

The scene was nothing short of tragic.

But Gu Hansheng, on the other hand, showed no signs of anger or any other emotion. As usual, he remained calm and indifferent, carrying the demeanor of a high-ranking figure.

Later, after Gu Hansheng had dealt with everything, he personally went to the guest room to escort the woman out, and the two of them left the company side by side.

Those who recall say that it was imperceptible. Both the boss and the woman were exceedingly adept at concealing restraint, leaving outsiders clueless.

On that day, Liang Shu parted ways with Gu Hansheng in the underground parking lot of the Gu Corporation Tower. As she stored Gu Hansheng's number in her phone, she said, "I'll give you a week to consider. I'll call you again in a week."

The man, leaning against the car door, asked, "Consider what?"

"Consider marrying me." Liang Shu pocketed her phone, looking at him.

"Do you know that no woman has ever threatened me."

Liang Shu stood tall and composed, very calm. "I know you have means. You know what I am, and you could easily manipulate me. Anything I pick up around me is a fatal weakness to me."

Pausing for a moment, she stepped closer, her toe barely touching the man's toe, and said slowly, "If you want to threaten me in return, I don't mind mutually assured destruction."

After Liang Shu left, cigarette butts littered the ground outside the Land Rover.

As she left the Gu Corporation, she casually bought an entertainment newspaper at a street newsstand. On it, the rumors about Gu Hansheng and Ruan Yunyun were prominently displayed.

She smirked, tore the newspaper to shreds, and tossed it into the trash can. Glancing back at the towering building behind her, she lifted her lips indifferently. "What's the use of spreading rumors?"

The day after, all news about Gu Hansheng and Ruan Yunyun disappeared.

...

On the third day, Gu Hansheng visited Wen Mingting's residence.

Wen Mingting came out with a newspaper again, but this time Gu Hansheng didn't even glance at it. He simply took the newspaper and tore it to shreds before throwing it into the wastebasket.

Perplexed, Wen Mingting asked, "What are you doing?"

Gu Hansheng smiled and held Wen Mingting's hand. "Mom, she's not suitable."

"Are those media reports all baseless rumors? Are the rumors you spread false?" Wen Mingting's face turned stern. "Gu Hansheng, tell me honestly, what are you thinking?"

A smile played on the man's handsome face, and an emotion unseen by Wen Mingting before shimmered in his eyes. "I know my boundaries."

Previously, Gu Hansheng had never thought that after using Aunt Mei's nude photos to threaten Liang Shu, the tables would turn so swiftly, and she would use similar photos to threaten him within a short period.

Is this fate at work?

...

A week later.

In a private room at the Imperial Club.

Jing Yu returned to the country a week ago but was tied up with family matters until today, when he finally had the chance to catch up with Gu Hansheng.

They clinked glasses, and Jing Yu downed his drink in one gulp, noticing that Gu Hansheng's glass remained almost untouched. He nudged Gu Hansheng's arm with his own. "I heard from Ji Chen that your grandmother is pushing you to settle down. Judging by your demeanor, are you planning to pick someone from the entertainment industry?"

"Where did you get that idea?"

Jing Yu raised an eyebrow, then changed the subject abruptly. "Not from the entertainment industry, then. What about the one who visited your office a week ago?"

At his words, Gu Hansheng narrowed his eyes, turning his head to look at Jing Yu, his gaze landing on him not too deeply, then shifting away again, unusually silent.

"I heard that there were shirt fragments all over your office. Of course, you might not care much about these costly items, but I'm curious how this person, who cut up your shirts, can still come and go from the Gu Corporation with you without a scratch."

Gu Hansheng looked at Jing Yu, his fingers tapping lightly, a cold smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "What do you want to say?"

"Just thought that this person is quite capable, able to challenge Mr. Gu's patience."

"Ah!"

In the relatively quiet space, Jing Yu suddenly jumped up, glaring angrily at the person sitting calmly on the sofa, while rubbing his shinbone. "Is that necessary?"

The man shot him a glance. "Stop being so cryptic."

With that, Gu Hansheng took out his phone from his pocket, glancing at the long list of missed calls, all from ten minutes ago.

He glanced at Jing Yu, then walked toward the terrace, dialing back one of the numbers.

As Gu Hansheng walked away, Jing Yu sighed, sitting on the sofa, looking somewhat dispirited. He poured himself a drink, and the amber liquid went down his throat.

It burned from his throat all the way to his stomach.

At least it temporarily eased the pain in his heart.

At this moment, there was a knock on the private room door.

Jing Yu's mood suddenly sank. After several knocks, he shouted towards the door, "Come in."

The door was pushed open, and the head manager walked in respectfully, addressing Jing Yu on the sofa, "Master Jing, there's trouble downstairs. It seems we'll need you to intervene."

Jing Yu lowered his head, staring at the tattoo exposed on his ankle, then poured himself another drink and downed it, before leaning back on the sofa, not responding to the head manager.

Afraid of causing further delays, the manager approached again. "Master Jing."

Jing Yu's brows furrowed tightly as he closed his eyes, pointing towards the terrace in the private room, his voice hoarse, "The major shareholder is over there. Can't you see?"

"Well..." The head manager glanced at the tall figure over there, then lowered his body further. "Master Jing, perhaps it's still better for you to go."

As Gu Hansheng frowned and put his phone back into his pocket, he happened to see Jing Yu leaving.

In the club's hall, a crowd was gathered excitedly, forming a circle in the middle.

As Jing Yu approached, he heard a familiar voice entering his ears: "If you dare to bully her again, do you believe I'll break your legs today and make you crawl out of the Imperial City?"

He pushed through the crowd and saw several people surrounded in the center.

Behind Jing Yu stood a woman, her head slightly bowed as if lost in thought, her long hair cascading, covering much of her face.

Opposite her was a slightly intoxicated second-generation rich kid, judging from his attire and the entourage around him, he seemed to come from a wealthy background.

At this moment, the other party wielded a beer bottle and seemed about to strike Jing Yu, but Jing Yu kicked him first. The man couldn't withstand the blow and was caught by the person behind him before falling.

"Surname Jing, dare to hit our young master, I see you're tired of living! Brothers, this is the Jing family's territory. Smash them hard for me!"

Jing Yu rolled up his sleeves, standing tall and carefree. There was not a hint of fear on his face, even appearing somewhat indifferent. "Since you know this is the Jing family's territory, why are you still causing trouble here?"

The second-generation rich kid clutched his abdomen, his gaze fierce as he looked directly past Jing Yu at the woman beside him.

Jing Yu narrowed his eyes, his brows bearing a resemblance to Jing Yu's, suddenly exuding a hint of coldness. He shielded the people behind him. "Keep staring, and I'll gouge your eyes out. Even your official father can't save you!"

Jing Yu had already stood in a conspicuous position by now. Jing Xing turned his head to see him, still a bit slow to react, and called out to him weakly after several seconds.

Upon being informed of the situation, as anticipated by Jing Xing, they naturally harbored no fear towards this individual. However, it is unwise to escalate the matter, as it would benefit no one.

"Are you attending university? Or merely indulging in the opulent surroundings?" Jing Yu's voice dripped with disdain as he stared at his younger brother, hands clasped behind his back.

"Brother, I..." He scratched his head. "He was harassing a young lady, and I felt compelled to intervene. It wouldn't do to tarnish your and eldest brother's reputations..."

As he spoke, he glanced back, only to find no one behind him, save for a slender figure at the corner where the elevator turned.

Without hesitation or regard for Jing Yu's expression, he swiftly pursued.

Liang Shu displayed no reaction to the recent events; she had more pressing matters tonight.

The elevator was slow in its descent. She patiently glanced at the string of missed calls on her phone, with no intention of returning them; she would meet the caller soon enough.

As soon as she stepped into the carriage, a hand intercepted the closing doors.

Liang Shu raised her head, immediately noticing the individual before her, her brow furrowing slightly.

She attempted to close the doors again, but he intervened, pulling her out.

Liang Shu glared at him, but to her surprise, he chuckled. "I saved you, and you cannot even muster gratitude. Why harbor resentment?"

Dim light cast upon Liang Shu, accentuating her figure distinctively different from the other women here. Combined with her expressionless yet ethereal face, even the most spoiled individuals blushed.

Jing Xing regarded her. "Are you truly not going to thank me?"

In truth, Jing Xing wanted to ask, "Do you remember me?"

To his surprise, Liang Shu met his gaze, then lightly tugged at her lips. "You caused me a loss of two hundred thousand; I could strangle you."

Upon hearing her words, Jing Xing suddenly recollected. As Liang Shu began to leave, he hastily blocked her path.

"Listen to me. If you had stayed a little longer, until my eldest brother arrived, we could have resolved this peacefully. I never intended..." He rarely lowered his head. "I never intended for you to spend any money."

Liang Shu disbelieved his words, not even bothering to meet his gaze.

Unexpectedly, he grasped her arm and quickly stated, "We didn't touch the money used for bail; it was all donated. Trust me."

At his words, Liang Shu froze, her complexion turning even more sour.

She glanced down at the hand gripping her wrist, belonging to a young man, with well-defined bones and a pampered appearance.

"Donated," Liang Shu repeated softly.

In the next moment, she shook off his hand, meeting his gaze icily. "Do not block my path. You should know that nine out of ten women in places like this are trouble, and I certainly won't thank you," she sneered. "See, having money is wonderful; you can donate and do good deeds, while some nearly lost their lives over it."

Jing Xing found himself at a loss for words at her unexpected remark, merely staring at his own hand, feeling utterly helpless for the first time.

Rarely defeated, Jing's young master, Jing Xing, found himself humbled tonight in the presence of a woman, willingly so, which was quite unusual.

Faced with his own brother's ridicule, Jing Xing surprisingly did not retort, but instead looked at Jing Yu. "Brother, I genuinely like her."

"Love at first sight is nothing more than a shallow infatuation based on appearance. You don't even know her name or have any means of contact. How can you claim to like her?"

...

When Liang Shu arrived at Gu Han Sheng's private room, she was twenty minutes late from the agreed-upon time.

In the spacious room, only a few lights were lit. She stood at the doorway for a moment before discerning his location.

The smell of smoke was heavy. As Liang Shu approached, she noticed a table piled with alcohol and a half-full ashtray before him.

He didn't invite her to sit, so Liang Shu remained standing and got straight to the point. "Mr. Gu, have you made your decision? Will you marry me, or shall we wait for the exposure of our intimate videos to go public?"

Half of the man's visage was shrouded in darkness, rendering his expression inscrutable to onlookers.

Liang Shu observed him extinguishing the crimson glow at his fingertips in the ashtray, his voice deep and hoarse as he addressed her, "Your video still retains some reservation; many aspects lack audacity, do you comprehend?"

The day Liang Shu left the Gu household, she promptly forwarded a compressed version of the video to Gu Hansheng. His current inquiry suggested he had already viewed it.

Liang Shu clasped her fingers calmly. "Indeed? I find it adequate."

He lit another cigarette, holding it between his fingers, remaining silent.

Approaching him, Liang Shu seized the cigarette from his fingertips, just as she had at the hospital entrance, and tossed it directly into the glass brimming with liquid. The ember extinguished abruptly, emitting a fleeting wisp of smoke from the surface of the alcohol.

"Marry me?"

Gu Hansheng leaned back, fixing his gaze upon her with a raised chin. "Speak. How do you plan to expose me? How will you ruin my reputation and bankrupt the Gu family?"

Liang Shu pressed her lips together, offering no response.

Without delay, Gu Hansheng rose, his lips curling coldly, as he took her wrist and led her towards the terrace.

Liang Shu struggled, but to no avail.

Outside, the wind was fierce; Liang Shu's long hair was tousled the moment she stepped out. Gu Hansheng pulled her to the railing, his voice husky beside her, "See that?"

This balcony faced directly toward a prominent electronic screen in a square in Yu City.

Gu Hansheng stood beside her, tilting his head to watch her, his posture overly dominant.

He smirked at the billboard across from them. "For exposure, it's best to purchase a large downtown screen like that one; high foot traffic, high visibility. If you lack funds, I can contribute..."

He then turned his gaze back to Liang Shu's face. Her cool demeanor hardly seemed like someone wielding a small video as a threat.

At this moment, he was eager to shatter that pride.

Thus, Gu Hansheng pulled her into his embrace, his fingers pinching her delicate chin. It seemed like ages since they last met; her oval face appeared slightly smaller.

Liang Shu, refusing to back down, gripped his hand, squeezing it fiercely, hoping to inflict some pain.

She still wore her coat today, but underneath, there was no longer a high-necked sweater to conceal her neck. Another week had passed; her wounds had healed well, but the scars remained.

With one hand holding the woman's slender waist, Gu Hansheng's other hand traced her smooth neck. His handsome face carried a mixture of mockery and chilliness. "The video's angles were not ideal. We could try again, any position you desire."

Any position.

Those words reverberated in Liang Shu's ears. She looked up at the face so close to hers, momentarily bewitched, and kissed his lips.

Memories flooded into their minds; she grabbed his shirt, biting his lip until she tasted blood, releasing only when the metallic tang filled her mouth. As she raised her gaze, she collided with his amused eyes.

Stepping back a few paces, she smiled faintly, her lips still stained with his blood. "I know you're naturally fearless, but Gu Hansheng of the Gu family is a devoted son. Imagine if our video were to be seen by the reclusive Gu matriarch?"

As soon as her words fell, a chill crept over Gu Hansheng's features, shrouding his eyes in layers of darkness.

"You dare say such things."

He wasn't afraid; she likely hadn't the capability to expose what shouldn't be seen by Wen Mingting. However, her audacity astounded him.

"Since you've provoked even me, what else do I have to fear?" she replied, her smile gentle.

Outside, the temperature was low, and after standing for a while, Liang Shu's body had lost much of its warmth.

She wasn't as robust as Gu Hansheng. Standing outside for so long took its toll, and she rubbed her hands together before retreating inside.

He followed suit, bringing in a gust of cold wind from outside.

Liang Shu furrowed her brow, tightening her clothes around her, and observed the man seated across from her.

Gu Hansheng lit another cigarette, smoking for a while before speaking, "If I adamantly refuse to marry you, what will you do?"

"What else can I do? Find another man to sell myself to, clear my debts first. After that, whether I live like a human, a ghost, or a beast, depends on my fate. However—"

Her smile remained warm, but beneath that warmth, Gu Hansheng detected a hint of ruthless determination and concealed allure.

"Just occasionally, I might mention our affairs to others, entertain some patrons, or, failing that, deceive some older men for money, sending these things to the media every now and then. It's quite amusing to think about."

The private room was too quiet.

Liang Shu believed she could provoke Gu Hansheng, but the reality proved otherwise.

In the ten minutes following her speech, Gu Hansheng smoked one cigarette after another, showing neither signs of anger nor interest in engaging with her.

Restlessness overtook Liang Shu, prompting her to rise. However, before she could speak, Gu Hansheng's indifferent yet stern voice cut through the air, "Sit."

Through the swirling haze of smoke, Gu Hansheng gazed at her with inscrutable eyes. "Do you feel you've gained anything tonight? Do you have any certainty regarding Madam Gu's position?"

His words were blunt and tinged with mockery.

Unfazed, Liang Shu lifted her gaze, serene and unwavering, devoid of fear or regret. "It is inevitable."

"Indeed, courage is commendable."

"Thank you for your praise."

Gu Hansheng let her leave, or rather, he went to answer a phone call, and Liang Shu took the opportunity to slip away.

When Gu Hansheng asked her about her certainty regarding Madam Gu's position, she claimed it was inevitable.

Why was it inevitable?

Since leaving the hospital until now, she had nearly depleted all her funds, even borrowing a considerable sum from Aunt Mei, all of which she used to gather information.

She paid a high price to learn Gu Hansheng's whereabouts, discovering that the entire blood bank in Yu City was severely depleted, with only she being a fully qualified walking blood bank.

This was the last ace she held in her hand.