Chapter 54: The Shirt

At half-past eight, Gu Hansheng took Liang Shu's hand as they left the office together.

Most people outside had already left work, so Liang Shu just allowed him to lead her.

Inside the elevator, Gu Hansheng leaned in to kiss her. Liang Shu couldn't dodge, but she wasn't willing either. She gripped his shirt and said, "Mr. Gu, could you refrain from forcibly kissing people every time? I never imagined you to be such a brute."

He chuckled softly, not letting her go but sounding displeased. "Aren't you Mrs. Gu?"

Liang Shu bit her lip, feeling a bit aggrieved but unable to find a retort.

The position of Mrs. Gu was something she had insisted upon. Naturally, whatever Mr. Gu wanted to do was understandable.

How long did it take to descend from the 88th floor?

Liang Shu hadn't counted.

But from the moment they entered the elevator until it reached its destination, Liang Shu felt utterly drained.

When Gu Hansheng kissed her, it wasn't gentle; it was even forceful.

Liang Shu felt like he was venting all his anger from these past few days through that kiss.

Afterward, she stared blankly at her reflection in the elevator's mirrored walls. Her lips were rosy, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks, reflecting the peachy hue.

So far, Gu Hansheng hadn't mentioned anything about that day.

Qu An had told her that Gu Hansheng was very angry that night. He even indiscriminately caught the ride-hailing driver. Later, Gu Hansheng left the Zero Mansion and only returned the next day when she was called to the hospital to take care of her.

Thinking about that blank night occasionally gave Liang Shu a headache.

As Gu Hansheng led her towards his car, Liang Shu suddenly remembered that they had been driven here by the chauffeur. "Xiao Chen is still waiting outside for us."

Xiao Chen was the chauffeur.

"Let him go back on his own."

The flush on Liang Shu's face hadn't faded yet, but her voice no longer trembled like before. In the chilly underground parking lot, her voice sounded particularly pleasant. "What I mean is, you've worked all day and must be tired. Why not let Xiao Chen drive back? You don't have to drive yourself."

"No need."

Ten minutes later, Liang Shu suddenly understood why Gu Hansheng had refused.

Gu Hansheng opened the passenger side door, watching as she got in. Then, he leaned down, pinching her chin with his fingers and kissed her again, but this time it was brief.

As he sat in the driver's seat, Liang Shu had just finished fastening her seatbelt.

Liang Shu looked up, and the masculine scent overwhelmed her. Her vision blurred momentarily as she leaned back, but with limited space in the car, she was trapped between the seat and his chest.

Immediately, he half embraced her and pressed her against the back of the seat.

Yes, what happened in the elevator just now was merely replayed in the car.

This position was rather inconvenient, so Gu Hansheng held onto Liang Shu's jaw, preventing her from moving. He forcibly guided her towards him. As Liang Shu panted, the man had already unfastened her seatbelt.

With a start, Liang Shu took advantage of his loosened grip to gasp, "There are cameras everywhere. What if someone sees? It won't look good."

His lips brushed against the cool, slightly stiff edge of her earlobe, his tone somewhat flirtatious. "You are the rightful Mrs. Gu. What's wrong with that?"

"..."

Here it comes again.

It seemed like she had outplayed him by taking someone else's position. Now he was constantly reminding her and, incidentally, enjoying all his rights to the fullest, maximizing his interests, just like the kisses that had started in the office and continued to the car.

Long enough, and... heart-pounding enough.

Liang Shu tugged at his shirt, feeling weakened by his actions. She leaned against him, and when he put her back in her seat, Liang Shu suddenly hugged his neck tightly.

"What's wrong?"

This seemed a bit like an invitation

Out of Gu Hansheng's sight, Liang Shu grimaced, waiting for the dull ache that suddenly surged from her waist to subside. "My back hurts."

Gu Hansheng bent down carefully to fasten her seatbelt, a smirk playing on his lips. "Your back hurts from a couple of kisses? Then you might as well not get out of bed after tonight."

"Mr. Gu isn't that formidable. Last time, you were so rough, but in the end, I was fine. Your words seem exaggerated," Liang Shu retorted.

The phrase "fine" was an exaggeration by Liang Shu herself.

In fact, she felt terrible after leaving the hotel that morning, uncomfortable all over, as if she had been run over by a truck and then reassembled.

It was extremely uncomfortable.

But saying so only pleased herself. In front of Gu Hansheng, she couldn't gain an ounce of favor.

Seeing his displeased expression, Liang Shu softened first. "It's getting late; let's go back early. I lost so much blood to save your little lover; I feel uncomfortable every day."

"Now you feel aggrieved?"

She looked at the man in the dim light and immediately shook her head with a smile. "It's the path I chose; of course, I can't feel aggrieved."

"Good then," the man's eyes and eyebrows flashed with a faint chill as his voice deepened. "I not only want to draw blood but also strip the skin and pull tendons, eat flesh and gnaw bones."

"... "

That didn't sound like something Gu Hansheng would say. Liang Shu wisely kept quiet.

On the way back.

Liang Shu asked him, "I heard from the servants that you sent away A Yun. Was it because of me?"

Gu Hansheng replied, "No."

"Then why?"

The man kept his gaze ahead, showing no reaction. His three-dimensional features appeared particularly deep and inscrutable under the passing streetlights. "A dog that bites, there's no point in keeping it."

"They said it had been with you for a long time."

He glanced at her sideways. "So, should I bring it back?"

Liang Shu shrugged, knowing she had brought it upon herself. "Let's forget about it then."

...

Liang Shu came out after taking a shower but didn't see Gu Hansheng in the bedroom, so she climbed into bed first.

After checking her phone for a while, she felt drowsy.

Glancing at the time, it was half-past ten, the perfect time for sleep.

So, she left a bedside lamp on for Gu Hansheng.

She also wisely only occupied one-third of the large bed.

In the living room of Zero Mansion.

Qu An felt the weight of the two thousand yuan in her hand. She hurriedly handed the money to Gu Hansheng. "Sir, how can I accept this money? You've never treated us unfairly. I can't possibly accept this money."

Gu Hansheng glanced at the cash on the coffee table, a rare smile appearing on his face. "The lady said she borrowed this money from you. Do you want it back?"

Qu An was taken aback by his words, lowering her head after a moment. "The lady said it should be returned."

"Alright, that settles it."

Gu Hansheng didn't lack this two thousand yuan, but Liang Shu had no reason to owe money to anyone.

Only, he hadn't realized that his wife, Liang Shu, was truly in such dire straits that she couldn't even afford a phone.

Seeing the man's complexion return to normal, Qu An spoke up, "Madam bought you a gift this afternoon. I bet she didn't mention it to you."

At her words, a slight furrow appeared on the man's brow. "A gift?"

"Yes, Madam put a lot of thought into it. She was worried you wouldn't like it and asked me about your preferences."

"What did she buy?"

Approaching eleven o'clock.

Gu Hansheng finished his evening routine and stood by the bed, gazing down at the person sleeping soundly. Her face half-buried in the soft pillow, she seemed less ostentatious.

Right, Qu An mentioned she bought a gift.

Walking towards the closet, he easily spotted the conspicuous packaging, noting her efforts to buy something to please him.

...

Later on, Liang Shu was awakened by someone.

In the dim light, she couldn't continue sleeping in that state; the sensation of something moving over her body was too uncomfortable.

But as she slightly opened her eyes, all she saw was Gu Hansheng's face.

His thin lips curved into an attractive arc as he stared at her. "Awake, Mrs. Gu?"

The environment was still dim, Liang Shu blinked. "Is it morning?"

"Not yet."

"Then—"

It was at this moment that Liang Shu realized the situation she was in.

She was naked.

Just as she felt a strange sensation, Liang Shu raised her gaze to his lips, instantly understanding what was going on.

But Gu Hansheng didn't give her a chance to speak.

...

The second round of intimacy occurred under these circumstances.

Feeling that Gu Hansheng was taking advantage of her vulnerability, Liang Shu was somewhat displeased. "Mr. Gu, this is taking advantage of someone's weakness. I was asleep."

He lowered his head to bite her earlobe, a deep chuckle emanating from his chest. "But you woke up later, didn't you?"

"Awakened by you," she murmured with her eyes closed, enjoying the sensation but also letting out a few soft moans. "My waist hurts."

However, Gu Hansheng seemed even more indifferent to her feelings, taking her softness as acquiescence. But what use was acquiescence in this situation?

It only allowed the man to become even more ruthless.

After one round, Gu Hansheng looked at her sweaty face, his tone softening slightly. "You were bullied while shopping in the afternoon. Why did you endure it?"

Liang Shu, feeling drowsy and lethargic, her body limp as if boneless, replied, "I didn't."

"Qu An said otherwise," he pinched her chin gently. "Regardless of whether the customer has enough financial ability, as a salesperson, you can't look down on others. That's basic human decency."

She let out a soft hum with her eyes closed. "You wouldn't think that, standing at the top of the pyramid."

"So why didn't you fight back when you were being bullied?"

Although both of them were a bit disheveled, Liang Shu was already feeling exhausted in this situation, yet she kept hearing Gu Hansheng's repeated questions. Lacking the energy to argue, she replied softly, "How could I get angry with you for buying me a gift? That would defeat the purpose of the gift."

Gu Hansheng brushed aside her damp hair from her face, scoffing lightly at her words. "You're quite adept at handling people's emotions."

As soon as he finished speaking, Liang Shu, still lazily lying there, casually added, "Also, I'm really poor. Buying you that shirt almost emptied my pockets. If I really argued with her, and said I'm Mrs. Gu, do you think they would have believed me?"

She lazily opened her eyes and glanced at him. "If Mr. Gu himself didn't come to back me up, wouldn't I become a complete joke?"

That explanation did make sense.

Halftime was over.

Gu Hansheng wanted to continue, but Liang Shu was already feeling tired.

However, knowing that he had only just warmed up, she gritted her teeth and braced herself.

Midway through, he flipped her over, and Liang Shu buried her face in the pillow, turning away from Gu Hansheng. Unaware that his action had hurt her, she furrowed her brows and complained softly, "Be gentle, my waist hurts."

A smile tugged at the corners of his lips, thinking it was just part of her playful demeanor, but little did he know, beneath that beautiful back was a bruise.

In the dimly lit environment, the bruise looked rather alarming.

Liang Shu's waist was beautiful. If she wore a backless dress, she would look stunning. But now, with the bruise there, all the beauty seemed to have disappeared.

Gu Hansheng remained motionless for a long time. Liang Shu felt a bit cold being left hanging like that and turned to look at him. "Are we done?"

Only then did she notice the dangerous look in his eyes, and the atmosphere instantly turned cold.

Following his gaze downward, Liang Shu could just about make out the condition of her waist, which was quite frightening.

She had actually noticed it while showering earlier.

But over the past few days, the pain in the bruised area had subsided. It was just the appearance that was scary.

Quietly, she reached for the nearby blanket to cover herself, but her hand was caught by Gu Hansheng's large palm. He looked at her. "When did this happen?"

Liang Shu remained silent.

So Gu Hansheng asked again.

She replied, "It was on the 15th."

The 15th, a day Gu Hansheng would never forget—the day they got their marriage certificate.

He pulled the blanket over Liang Shu's body. "How did it happen?"

Liang Shu thought back to that day and replied indifferently, "I accidentally bumped into something while going up the stairs. It hurt a bit at the time, but it's been a while now. It just looks scary."

However, Gu Hansheng put on his bathrobe and got out of bed. It was a gesture of anger.

Liang Shu lay on the pillow, thinking to herself, "This man is really difficult to handle."

He got out of bed, grabbed a cigarette, and returned. By then, Liang Shu had already fallen asleep.

The smell of smoke lingered in the air, the bed was messy, and so was he. Gu Hansheng scooped up Liang Shu and carried her to the bathroom.

Liang Shu woke up at that moment.

She smelled the smoke on him, rubbed her sleepy eyes, and said, "Mr. Gu, are you graciously taking me to shower now? Could you change the sheets later?"

But the man didn't respond.

It wasn't until Liang Shu was standing on the cold floor, warm water cascading down on her, that she looked up at him and said, "Stop looking. The bruise will heal. I know it too well. It'll be fine in a while."

She hadn't showered for long before Gu Hansheng wrapped her in a towel and carried her out. He put her on the sofa, and Liang Shu instinctively grabbed his hand. "Aren't you going back to bed?"

He sneered, "Didn't Mrs. Gu ask me to change the sheets?"

Liang Shu let go. "Oh, then go ahead."

It was unclear what time it was. Liang Shu couldn't hold on any longer, but she only fell into a deep sleep after he put her back in bed.

She wasn't used to this bed, but Gu Hansheng's bed was comfortable enough for a good night's sleep.

As for the half-night she went missing, Gu Hansheng didn't mention a word about it.

The next morning, when Liang Shu woke up, Gu Hansheng had already gone to the office.

Seeing that the two had made up, Qu An was also happy. She approached Liang Shu as she came down from upstairs. "Madam, you're up. Breakfast is ready for you. What would you like to eat?"

Liang Shu didn't have any particular preferences, so she replied, "Anything is fine."

"Okay, then the same as Mr. Gu's."

The same as Mr. Gu's?

Liang Shu thought it would be some Western-style breakfast, but it turned out to be just simple rice porridge and soy milk.

Shortly after, Qu An brought a box and placed it in front of Liang Shu. "Madam, this was just delivered by someone sent by Mr. Gu. It's for you."

Liang Shu took it and asked Qu An, "Is this what Mr. Gu usually eats for breakfast?"

.

The housekeeper glanced at the food in front of the lady of the mansion and nodded, "Yes, sir doesn't like Western food, so you won't find any of those on the table. If you like, you can ask the chef to make it for you."

Liang Shu waved her hand, "It's okay, I was just asking. This suits my taste quite well."

After leisurely finishing breakfast, she opened the box. Inside was the latest model of a relatively expensive smartphone available on the market, specifically chosen for her in silver.

Liang Shu had never used such an expensive gadget. To her, a phone was just a communication tool, and she looked down on anything priced higher than its value. But since it was a gift from Gu Hansheng, she reluctantly accepted it.

After switching her SIM card, she immediately received a call from Gu Hansheng. "Hello."

"Is the phone set up?"

Liang Shu ran her fingers over the smooth texture of the device, quite satisfied, and replied, "Yes, it's set up."

There was a brief pause before Gu Hansheng's deep voice, mixed with a faint electric current, came through. "Go to the bedroom upstairs. I have something to tell you."

Liang Shu didn't hesitate and got up to head to the stairs.

Just as she was about to step on the stairs, he warned, "Be careful going up the stairs. Don't rush."

"Okay."

Pushing open the bedroom door, Liang Shu gripped the phone tightly. "I'm here."

"Open the drawer of your bedside table."

Without suspecting anything, Liang Shu casually pulled open the bedside table drawer, only to find it neatly stacked with cash, all in bright red.

"Do you see it? I instructed Qu An to keep cash in this drawer. If you ever need to buy anything small when you're out, you can take it from here."

Seeing the drawer full of money, Liang Shu felt a small sense of warmth in her heart. She looked out of the French window at the gloomy weather and said, somewhat melancholy, "Aren't you curious where I went on the day we got married?"

"Then tell me, where did you go?"

She thought for a moment and replied, "I went to pay respects to someone I used to know."

"Okay, I see. I have something to attend to here, so I'll hang up now."

"Alright."

Liang Shu hung up the phone and suddenly remembered that she hadn't given him the shirt she bought for him.

Gu Hansheng never bought shirts from outside; they were always custom-made, with the iris on the cuff hand-embroidered. Liang Shu wasn't sure if the shirt she bought would meet his standards.

However, when Gu Hansheng returned home that night, Liang Shu was stunned.

He was wearing the shirt she had bought for him at the mall yesterday. She had opened the door for him and he handed her his coat, and when she turned around, she saw the shirt on him.

Surprised, she asked, "How did you..."

Gu Hansheng just smiled indifferently, "Wearing Mrs. Gu's intentions on my body feels pretty good."

As he raised his cuff, it was spotless, without a single trace.

Gu Hansheng took care of Liang Shu's injured waist by instructing someone to buy medicine for her. Liang Shu believed it would heal with time and didn't want to bother with applying the ointment.

That night when Gu Hansheng discovered it, Liang Shu was still trying to defend herself, "The smell of the ointment is quite unpleasant. It made me dizzy, so after using it once, I didn't dare to use it again. Anyway, these bruises will eventually heal."

Gu Hansheng's lips tightened, and he applied the ointment on a cotton swab to her lower back. His movements were not gentle, occasionally causing her pain.

Liang Shu gripped the sofa backrest, unable to bear it, and let out a slight cry, "Mr. Gu, you're taking such good care of me that I feel like we're in a romantic relationship," she said, then furrowed her brows and deliberately touched his sore spot, "You're making me feel uncomfortable like this. I already snatched that position using underhanded means, and yet you still..."

Hearing her words, he retorted sarcastically, "Surprisingly, you have some self-awareness."

Liang Shu hummed twice, mimicking his usual tone, "Naturally."

The shirt Liang Shu gave Gu Hansheng had been worn once by him. Now it was washed and dried. Liang Shu remembered something and asked Qu An during her free time, "Qu An, do you know how to embroider?"

Qu An smiled, "I'm not skilled at delicate work like that."

Liang Shu nodded thoughtfully, propping her chin up with her hand, "I see. Then could you buy me a set of tools? I'm getting bored staying here all day."

"Sure."

She planned to search for tutorials online and consider what to embroider on Gu Hansheng's shirt.

Three days later, it was Liang Shu's day to receive the third dose of the rabies vaccine.

This time, Gu Hansheng didn't accompany her, so she went to the vaccination station alone.

She had been following the doctor's instructions, applying ointment to the scar on her leg every day. After all this time, the scar had faded considerably.

Liang Shu had something else to do, so she asked the driver, Xiao Chen, to go back first. However, Xiao Chen was hesitant, "Madam, last time you almost had an accident, and sir was quite angry. He asked me to accompany you. I promise to keep my distance."

She didn't have the habit of bothering others if they didn't bother her.

In the café, Qian Hui put down her cup and withdrew her gaze from the relatively low-profile car outside. She smiled and looked at the person sitting opposite her. "Ah Rui, it seems you have a good eye."

She raised the coffee in front of her and took a sip. "Is that person outside your sugar daddy or your driver?"

Xiao Chen was relatively young and good-looking, so Qian Hui couldn't help but misunderstand when she saw him.

Liang Shu blinked at her, "Actually, I don't know him."

Qian Hui smiled, "You're still hiding things from your sister. I just want to ask you, all those debt collectors who used to come to me have disappeared recently. Have you paid off those debts?"