Chapter 53: Warmth

Gu Hansheng had been conspicuously absent, so Liang Shu decided to leave the hospital and return home to recuperate.

After all, it was just anemia and a common cold. Resting at home would be just as effective.

That day, Qu An arranged for a driver to come and pick her up. While Qu An was tidying up some odds and ends in the hospital room, Liang Shu sat on the sofa feeling a bit listless.

She still didn't have her phone with her.

On the way back to Zero Mansion, they passed by a shopping mall, and Liang Shu asked the driver to stop the car.

Qu An thought Liang Shu needed something, so she said, "Madam, if you need anything, you can let them get it for you later. It's windy outside, and now that you're feeling a bit better, you shouldn't expose yourself to the wind again."

As Liang Shu unbuckled her seatbelt, she adopted a tone of a spoiled wealthy wife, "Oh, your master is such a miser. It's been so long, and he still hasn't come to see me. I guess I'll have to buy him some gifts to appease him."

Qu An chuckled and handed her a shawl that had been prepared earlier, draping it over her shoulders. "So, it's for the master."

"Mm-hmm." She then asked, "What are some of his preferences?"

The driver opened the door, and Qu An assisted Liang Shu out of the car, thinking for a moment before replying, "The master doesn't have any particular hobbies, but he enjoys listening to operas in his spare time. Perhaps he's influenced by the old lady in the mansion. It's not something you often see among the children of wealthy families."

Liang Shu's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she sighed, "So, I can't just buy him an opera singer, can I?"

This amused Qu An, and she said, "Whatever you buy, the master will naturally like it, no matter what it is."

"Really?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Alright, Qu An, come with me to pick something out."

Qu An was right. Liang Shu had never seen Gu Hansheng have any particular preferences. He lacked nothing; he had everything. The thing she saw him most with was probably cigarettes.

But it was best to avoid cigarettes altogether.

Thinking it over, Liang Shu decided to pick out a shirt for Gu Hansheng from the men's section.

She chose a shirt in line with his usual style—a cool, ashy gray. She had seen this brand in his closet before, so she was sure it wouldn't be wrong.

However, when she checked the price tag, she hesitated.

Eighteen thousand yuan, almost twenty thousand.

Seeing them enter, the female shop assistant greeted them warmly. Although Liang Shu was dressed modestly, her outfit exuded elegance, and she carried herself with confidence, so the shop assistant was naturally attentive.

But now, seeing Liang Shu hesitate after checking the price, the shop assistant understood.

Liang Shu asked, "Can I get a discount?"

The female shop assistant took the shirt from her hand, with a somewhat unfriendly smile, "Our items are not discounted."

"Oh."

She could afford to buy it if she wanted to.

But buying it would leave her truly broke.

Liang Shu took another look around and found that the shirt she had seen earlier was the one that best suited her preferences. She went back and picked up the shirt, holding it in her hands and asking Qu An, "Qu An, do you think the master will look good in this?"

Gu Hansheng was the epitome of a clothes hanger. It was not an exaggeration to say that his physique was even better than those male models.

Qu An smiled and replied, "It looks great."

"I think so too."

The shop assistant approached them and looked at Liang Shu. "Madam, are you going to buy it or not?"

Qu An was about to get angry at the shop assistant's tone, but Liang Shu placed her finger on Qu An's arm, shaking her head at her. Then she smiled at the shop assistant and said, "I'll take it."

However, Liang Shu didn't immediately go to pay either.

The saying goes, "A kind person is easily taken advantage of," and this situation seemed to fit perfectly.

The shop assistant continued, "I've noticed you looking at our items several times. Thank you for your patronage. If you find it expensive, you can try the next store. We specialize in high-end brands here, and it's not appropriate for you to keep holding onto this shirt. This shirt is the only one we have, and there are other ladies who want to see it."

Qu An had never encountered such a situation before, but out of consideration for Liang Shu, she didn't say anything.

Liang Shu didn't mind either and just smiled, "I said I'll buy it. Let's go pay."

Eighteen thousand yuan, paid by credit card.

As they walked out of the store, Qu An sighed, "Madam, why do you have to endure this? I felt so sorry for you just watching it. We're not short of money. If the master finds out, he might blame himself."

Liang Shu opened the bag and looked at the contents, very satisfied. "Blame himself for what?"

"Madam had to endure the shop assistant's attitude just to buy a piece of clothing. What's that about? I almost wanted to argue with her just now on your behalf." Qu An shook her head. "You really have a good temper, Madam."

Liang Shu suddenly realized. Did she have a good temper?

She didn't think so.

But why didn't she get angry just now?

Qu An wasn't her, so naturally, she didn't understand her thoughts. It was better not to say anything.

Liang Shu had almost spent all her money.

She still didn't have a phone, and she needed to buy a new one for herself and get a SIM card.

She stood in front of the counter for a long time, then pointed to an old-style phone and asked, "How much is this?"

The salesperson glanced at her, not showing any other emotions, and said naturally, "Two hundred and fifty-five yuan. You can take it out and try it."

"Okay."

Two minutes later, Liang Shu felt it was better not to buy it.

Qu An was waiting outside for her. When she saw Liang Shu coming out empty-handed, she approached and asked, "Help me call the master, please?"

As she waited for Gu Hansheng to answer, Liang Shu felt a bit nervous.

Later, he did answer.

But he didn't say anything.

It was as if he had known it was her calling.

Liang Shu's gaze wandered casually as she spoke with a soft voice, "Gu Hansheng, I want to buy a phone, but I don't have any money on me right now."

On the other end, there was still silence.

She bit her lip. "Could you lend me some? Every time I need to make a call, I have to borrow Qu An's phone, which is quite inconvenient."

Gu Hansheng replied, "As the wife of Gu, you don't even have money to buy a phone. I find it embarrassing for you."

"Mrs. Gu doesn't, but Mr. Gu does."

The man on the other end coldly sneered, clearly still angry, "We've only been married for a short time, and you haven't fulfilled the duties of Mrs. Gu. Strictly speaking, we don't have any marital property yet."

It was just a different way of saying it, and Liang Shu understood.

His money was not hers.

Liang Shu pouted, "Well, I really don't have any money now. What should I do?"

"Since Mrs. Gu's phone is just a decoration and never used, you might as well not have one."

Then, Mr. Gu hung up the phone.

凉纾低头看着自己干干净净的雪地靴鞋面,叹了口气,觉得顾寒生这时候可能会扭曲事实说她不接他的电话.

后来,凉纾向曲桉借了两千块钱买了一个手机,承诺过几天就还给她.

曲桉忙不迭地摆手,"太太,您这可就让我太感激了."

凉纾装上了新的SIM卡,打开手机,说,"我会还的."

...

回到零号公馆已经是下午四点了,凉纾直接去了楼上的卧室.

发现卧室非常整洁,几乎看不出有人住过的痕迹.她将给顾寒生买的衬衣放进衣橱,然后下楼找曲桉.

"Has Gu Hansheng not come back to stay these past few days?" 

Although Qu An said she was taking care of her at the hospital every day, she still went back to Zero Mansion every day. She must be aware of Gu Hansheng's whereabouts.

She replied, "It seems that the master has been busy these days, so he hasn't had time to come back."

"Okay, I see."

Even if he's busy, can he go for days without sleep?

He's just avoiding her.

Liang Shu took a stroll in the courtyard, only to find that Ah Yun was not in her yard. She then asked the maid, who glanced at her and said, "Ah Yun misbehaved and injured you, so the master sent it away to be raised elsewhere."

"Where did you send it to?"

The maid shook her head. "I'm not sure, the master didn't say."

Liang Shu couldn't help but smile. Since she moved in, she had been causing trouble.

The three boxes she had packed were still piled up in the closet. Liang Shu tidied them up, hanging up what needed to be hung in the closet.

When she went downstairs, Qu An said it was time for dinner.

Liang Shu nodded and then asked Qu An, "Could you use the landline to ask if the master is coming home for dinner?"

"Sure."

Qu An returned soon after. "Madam, the master said he's busy tonight, so you can go ahead and eat first."

Liang Shu picked up her chopsticks, then asked, "Could you help me pack a meal? I'll take it to him later at the office."

...

At 6:15 PM, Liang Shu carried a thermos from Zero Mansion to Gu's Building.

The journey took half an hour without traffic.

This time, the front desk didn't stop her, and Liang Shu took Gu Hansheng's exclusive elevator up boldly.

But when she passed by the secretary's office, she was stopped by the secretary, not the same one as before, but still courteous. "Hello, Miss, have you made an appointment?"

At this moment, Liang Shu, apart from her exceptionally beautiful face, looked quite plain.

She pointed to the thermos in her hand and said, "I'm a servant from Zero Mansion, here to deliver dinner to Mr. Gu."

The secretary frowned and said, "But Mr. Gu has already had dinner tonight."

She had personally arranged the delivery.

"..."

Liang Shu remained unfazed. "I know, maybe Mr. Gu didn't eat enough or wasn't in the mood for the outside food, so he called home to have someone deliver it. There's nothing unusual about that."

"But Mr. Gu is currently meeting with clients..."

Liang Shu glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already past 7 PM, and the company should have closed by now. He was still meeting with clients...

She smiled and said, "I understand, but you can't just skip dinner. It won't taste as good when it gets cold later."

"Alright, please allow me to make a phone call to confirm."

"..."

...

Three minutes later.

The secretary knocked on the door symbolically and opened it to let Liang Shu in.

This time, it was a different feeling from the last visit.

Gu Hansheng was indeed meeting with clients, but the scene didn't look very formal.

He and Ruan Yunyun were on the other side of the office, not in the sofa area outside.

Gu Hansheng was leaning back in his chair, his eyes lowered. And on one side of his desk, leaning against it, was the famous actress Ruan Yunyun.

When Liang Shu walked in carrying the thermos, the first thing she saw was Ruan Yunyun's fair and soft fingers resting on Gu Hansheng's shoulder. Her overly fair fingers against his black shirt created a particularly pleasing sight.

She felt like an intruder, disturbing the tranquility.

But Liang Shu didn't retreat. She walked forward naturally and looked at the man she hadn't seen for several days.

Their eyes met, one with a mocking smile, the other with indifferent coldness.

The former was Liang Shu.

Clutching the food container tightly, Liang Shu's gaze swept over that hand and raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Gu seems remarkably calm. I thought you were really busy with work."

Ruan Yunyun had moved close to Gu Hansheng when he answered the internal call, and she probably overheard something about delivering food to him. But this person's tone was a bit strange. Ruan Yunyun removed her hand from his shoulder, crossed her arms, and walked to Liang Shu, asking, "Who are you?"

Liang Shu just stared at her, not saying anything.

Behind her, Gu Hansheng kept his eyes on Liang Shu but addressed Ruan Yunyun, "She's the one delivering food, a servant."

Ruan Yunyun glanced at the food container in Liang Shu's hand and said, "I see. Give it to me then. Mr. Gu and I still have work to discuss. You can leave."

As she spoke, she reached out to take the thermos from Liang Shu's hand, but Liang Shu didn't give it to her.

Ruan Yunyun hadn't been as audacious in her speech as today, but all of this depended on Gu Hansheng's attitude.

When Gu Hansheng tacitly allowed her to put her hand on his shoulder just now, she couldn't help herself due to a slight dizziness from anemia. But then Liang Shu came in, and he didn't react at all, which made Ruan Yunyun think that Gu Hansheng allowed her to do so.

So now, she wasn't as polite to this sudden intruding "servant."

Since Liang Shu didn't give it, Ruan Yunyun had no choice but to try to snatch it forcefully.

Although Liang Shu was physically weak, she was not weak-willed. Ruan Yunyun was wearing high heels, and the strength on both sides was evenly matched. But in the next moment, Liang Shu suddenly loosened her grip.

The tall and slender woman on the opposite side seemed to fall backwards visibly. Her high heels weren't stable on the floor, and she stumbled backward.

In such a situation, if Gu Hansheng didn't play the hero to save the beauty, it wouldn't be right.

Moreover, there was a desk behind Ruan Yunyun. If she fell on it, it wouldn't be a joke.

So Liang Shu reached out and pulled Ruan Yunyun back with great compassion.

As an adult woman, even though she was a celebrity, she weighed around a hundred pounds. Liang Shu managed to pull her back, but in doing so, she herself lost her balance and stumbled backward.

She didn't regain her balance, and she leaned back. This time, Gu Hansheng moved quickly, and she was safe, not falling to the ground.

Ruan Yunyun looked at Liang Shu somewhat angrily. Liang Shu took advantage of the situation and grabbed Gu Hansheng's shirt, wrinkling it, and raised an eyebrow at Ruan Yunyun.

"Mr. Gu, it's already late. Your dinner was taken by me, and now someone else is bringing you food. You should eat now."

This remark was quite meaningful.

Liang Shu stood up from Gu Hansheng's arms, stepped aside, and didn't speak.

Then the man beside her, tall and imposing, gave Ruan Yunyun a lukewarm smile and said, "Let's talk about the advertisement another time, Miss Ruan. Your career is thriving right now, and spreading more rumors wouldn't be good for your future."

Ruan Yunyun's face instantly lost its color, and her lips tightened.

The next moment, Gu Hansheng picked up the thermos with one hand and naturally took Liang Shu's hand to walk out to the sofa area.

His figure, tall and towering, made the person beside him seem petite and dependent.

This scene was too dazzling for Ruan Yunyun.

Ruan Yunyun left.

Liang Shu covered the thermos with the lid, spread her fingers over it, and looked at Gu Hansheng.

With a smirk on his lips, Gu Hansheng relaxed after a whole day of tension. At this moment, even his gaze softened considerably.

"Isn't it giving me food and then not letting me eat it now?"

Liang Shu didn't look at him. She lowered her head and covered the thermos, saying, "Your secretary said you already had dinner."

There was a hint of jealousy and dissatisfaction in her tone, but Gu Hansheng enjoyed it.

He wasn't angry.

He bent down and looked at her feet. She rarely wore snow boots for warmth. He wasn't sure if she had injured herself when she fell just now.

So he leaned over to check her legs, holding them gently.

The masculine presence drew near, imbued with a fresh aroma carrying hints of tobacco and woody essence, which wafted into the cool, relieved nostrils. She hesitated slightly, taking a step back, yet the man's large hand ascended, grasping her waist firmly.

"Stay still," he murmured, lowering his gaze to inspect her feet. Liang Shu, feeling somewhat uneasy, uttered, "I'm fine, you need not trouble yourself."

Gu Hansheng raised his head, gazing upon her plain countenance. After days of absence, her originally pallid complexion now bore a faint rosiness. Though an improvement compared to her previous state, Liang Shu's visage still retained a sickly pallor when juxtaposed with others.

A bit unusual.

Gu Hansheng recognized the aftermath of excessive blood loss, necessitating proper replenishment. Now was not the time for hasty resolutions.

His firm grip squeezed her waist, causing Liang Shu to wince, attempting to evade. However, Gu Hansheng extracted a rigid object directly from her coat pocket.

It was a budget domestic mobile phone.

Liang Shu also noticed and immediately recollected the afternoon call, feeling a pang of discomfort. She thought to grab her thermos and depart.

Yet, as she reached for the thermos, Gu Hansheng's hand seized hers, pulling her into his embrace.

The man's breath cascaded over her crown, exuding warmth. "How did you acquire this phone?" he inquired tersely.

She replied sullenly, "Borrowed money from Qu An."

Gu Hansheng tossed the phone aside, enfolding her tightly before scoffing, "You can't afford an item worth a mere one or two thousand?"

Although well aware of Liang Shu's financial status, she should have been able to afford a phone priced between one or two thousand.

Liang Shu caught his scent, attempting to struggle but finding herself unable to break free, thus resigned to his hold.

After a moment, she confessed, "I have the means to purchase it."

Gu Hansheng caressed her visage, his handsome features looming suddenly in her sight. She recoiled slightly, halting against his sturdy chest.

In the next instant, Gu Hansheng captured her lips.

Liang Shu winced in pain, hearing him remark, "If you can afford it, why borrow from Qu An?"

She gingerly touched her lips, thoughts lingering on Ruan Yunyun's presence moments ago, feeling a tad uneasy as she candidly admitted, "Using a basic phone is inconvenient. Thus, I resorted to borrowing from Qu An to purchase a better one."

Upon her completion of the sentence, Gu Hansheng remained silent, proceeding to unbutton her coat.

Liang Shu, apprehensive of the situation, stared at him. "What are you doing?" she queried.

The last part of her sentence lingered, drawn out, carrying a coy tone, almost as if inviting submission.

Endearing.

As he continued to strip away her coat, Gu Hansheng remarked, "It's warm in the office, no need for outerwear."

Liang Shu, unable to resist, watched as her coat was discarded. What would follow?

Gu Hansheng then pressed her onto the sofa, his large hands restraining both her wrists while the other encircled her waist. "Let me kiss you," he demanded.

"I'm a servant, merely here to deliver your meal," she protested.

Between their connected lips, a masculine voice resonated, "I'm merely echoing your sentiments. When you arrived, you didn't inform the secretary that you are Mrs. Gu."

Liang Shu struggled futilely against his grasp on her wrists, each attempt met with a tighter grip. "Even if I did, she would have believed me."

The man suddenly withdrew from her lips, gazing at her from a distance of more than ten centimeters, his tone tinged with mockery. "Last time, simply wearing my shirt was enough for someone to let you in. This time, it's simple. Just keep your marriage certificate with you at all times."

Liang Shu swiftly slipped out from under him, standing at a safe distance and observing him. "That's unnecessary."

She lowered her head to retrieve the thermos, only to have Gu Hansheng preemptively take it. With a slight curve to his lips, he remarked, "Whatever accounts you have, we'll discuss them later. Let's not cause a scene now."

"You've already eaten," Liang Shu observed, her expression somewhere between a smile and a smirk.

The next moment, she added, "Only it seems you've saved your appetite for that renowned celebrity. Mr. Gu is truly considerate."

Though the tone was less than friendly, Gu Hansheng found a strange comfort in her words.

He began to unpack all the dishes inside. Despite having lost some of their initial allure after some time, they still looked appetizing.

Liang Shu seated herself opposite him, noticing how he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, revealing his toned forearms, slightly tanned rather than fair.

He remarked, "The female celebrity we're collaborating with was feeling anemic. For Gu Corporation's sake, I offered her a meal and some support. It's no big deal."

After his statement, he simply held the chopsticks and observed her.

Liang Shu pursed her lips, saying nothing.

After a while, Gu Hansheng inquired, "May I begin my meal now?"

Midway through his meal, Liang Shu suddenly asked, "I recall, she used to be Mr. Gu's rumored partner, didn't she?"

Liang Shu hadn't initially been so eager to visit.

However, during that period, rumors about Ruanyun and Gu Hansheng had escalated in the streets, even suggesting an impending engagement. Liang Shu couldn't bear it any longer. After all the hard work she had put in, to be preempted by Ruanyun was a bitter pill to swallow.

Gu Hansheng's expression remained stoic upon hearing her words. "I've had quite a few rumored partners. Would you like to learn about each one?" he replied emotionlessly.

Liang Shu shrugged, rising to her feet and heading towards the immense floor-to-ceiling window.

Beneath the vast expanse of the night sky lay the myriad lights of Yucheng.