Chapter 60: Ring

After the last incident, every time Liang Shu went out, Qu An would promptly relay her whereabouts to Gu Hansheng, coupled with the presence of Xiao Chen, who was clearly a spy.

Liang Shu let out a soft hum. Xiao Chen stuck to her like glue, and she doubted Gu Hansheng wouldn't know where she went.

However, she understood this man's temperament very well, so she took the initiative to say, "My watch was broken before, and I hadn't taken it to repair. Today, I took it to a luxury watch store to see if it could be fixed."

"We won't fix it, how about buying a new one?" Gu Hansheng glanced at her, making a suggestion.

Liang Shu shook her head. "No need, I'm used to wearing it."

Gu Hansheng skillfully maneuvered the steering wheel, too lazy to expose her. "Some bad habits can be reshaped."

"Such as?"

"Such as letting go of some old matters when it's time to forget. Holding onto them relentlessly serves no purpose."

As Liang Shu watched the changing seconds on the traffic light, she lightly pinched her palm with her fingers, her delicate face slightly cold. "Mr. Gu seems to have quite a repertoire of moral teachings. But what about yourself?"

Before pressing the clutch, he glanced at Liang Shu, his voice mild. "Me?"

"Yes, initially, you sent someone to knock me unconscious and brought me to the Yus' villa. You spent a million to buy my blood to save that person. Isn't that clinging and insisting?"

Regarding this, Gu Hansheng had his own explanation. He said, "Since spending money could save him, why not?"

Liang Shu lifted her chin defiantly at him, showing no signs of weakness. "Then I'm the same. Since there's still a chance, why wouldn't I fix it?"

"Who gave you that watch?"

He asked so bluntly that Liang Shu couldn't answer, so she chose to remain silent.

But Gu Hansheng suddenly became angry because of this, feeling a surge of frustration.

Ignoring whether he was parking illegally, he left the car by the roadside and turned off the engine.

Liang Shu couldn't ignore the overflow of anger. She glanced at him and unbuckled her seatbelt, about to open the car door.

But with a sudden click, the central locking mechanism abruptly engaged.

Liang Shu couldn't open the door. She turned to him, asking, "Gu Hansheng, what are you doing?"

Instead of responding to her, he calmly took out a cigarette from the pack, lit it, took a deep drag, then rolled down the window with his left hand holding the cigarette, gazing ahead indifferently.

"Why did you lock the door?"

He glanced at her sideways. "Did I say you could get out?"

"Then why did you suddenly stop by the roadside?"

The sudden lane change, even if it was Gu Hansheng's fault, scared several cars behind them, braking hard from a considerable distance away, unable to curse through the closed windows.

Thinking of this, Liang Shu's face revealed a hint of disdain. In the future, she would also try the feel of this car when she had the chance.

At the end of November, Mr. Gu was feeling frustrated and stopped the car by the roadside, saying to Liang Shu that he just stopped to smoke.

Sure enough, after one cigarette, Gu Hansheng calmed down and restarted the car.

It was about four o'clock.

Gu Hansheng took Liang Shu to a high-end jewelry store.

A salesperson warmly greeted them, inquiring about their needs.

Thinking back to the incident with the jade bracelet on her wrist in the greenhouse of Gu's old mansion that afternoon, Liang Shu thought Gu Hansheng wanted to buy her a bracelet. She quickly refused, "I'm still wearing the bracelet the old lady gave me. I don't need any other jewelry."

If it weren't for the fact that she couldn't remove the bracelet, Liang Shu wouldn't have worn it at all.

Gu Hansheng looked at the woman's pointed chin. "Who said we came to buy a bracelet?"

Then what were they here for?

When the salesperson displayed various items, Liang Shu finally understood.

Gu Hansheng brought her here to buy a ring.

The salesperson was very enthusiastic, pointing to a particular ring and recommending it to Liang Shu, "Madam, this one is absolutely exquisite, it's the latest design of the season. You won't find it in any other store in Yucheng; it's truly one of a kind."

Liang Shu just glanced at it and remained silent.

The salesperson continued, "Then how about this one? It's slightly cheaper than the one I just mentioned, but it's more understated and simple. This one is also a good choice."

Liang Shu still only looked at it and said nothing.

The man beside her noticed her reluctance. He didn't even look at the rings but bent down to ask Liang Shu, "None of these appeal to you?"

Liang Shu shook her head, reached out to tug at his garment, then whispered softly in his ear, "Gu Hansheng, can we not buy the ring? I don't need it."

"Why?" The woman's warm breath brushed against his ear, sending a pleasant sensation.

Liang Shu thought for a moment and said, "There's no need, and buying it just to keep it without wearing it seems like a waste of money, doesn't it?"

The man chuckled. "Do you think I'm short of a few bucks?"

"I know you're not short of money, but it's not good to buy a ring for collection either, don't you think?"

Gu Hansheng took her hand, finally shifting his gaze to the boxes and said to Liang Shu, "Since we're buying it, we'll definitely wear it. Besides, didn't we get married? Without a wedding, shouldn't we at least have rings?"

He remembered what the old lady said to him yesterday afternoon at the Gu mansion, "I can tell your relationship with Ah Shu is complicated, but she's a good girl. We can't mistreat her in the Gu family. We can delay the wedding for now, but there are still certain things that should be there."

Last time, he couldn't find a suitable ring.

Initially, he said he would choose it himself, but he hadn't had time to deal with it, so he eventually listened to Shi Qing's suggestion and personally took Liang Shu to the jewelry store.

Liang Shu gritted her teeth. "I always remember what happened in our marriage. How can we wear rings?"

That's one layer.

She also thought of another layer, "Plus, as someone at the top of the food chain, every move of yours is being watched. What would you make others think who are paying attention to you?"

"The esteemed chairman of the Gu Corporation, standing at the top of the food chain, why should he care about what others think?"

This statement left Liang Shu speechless.

The female salesperson smiled warmly at the two of them and complimented, "You two are really affectionate."

Liang Shu responded with a smile devoid of much expression.

Feeling the strength in her hand belonging to that person, she glanced lightly at the neatly arranged rings in front of her and asked, "I don't quite like these. Do you have others?"

The salesperson nodded eagerly, "Of course, we do."

After looking around, she reluctantly chose one and pointed to it inside the glass cabinet, "Could you please take out this one for me to have a look?"

"Sure."

Gu Hansheng put it on Liang Shu's finger. It fit perfectly and complemented her hand.

But... furrowing his brows, the man looked at the salesperson and asked, "Do you have other rings of the same style?"

It was a simple ring, made of platinum, without any diamonds.

But Liang Shu liked it very much. She extended her finger and said, "This one will do. It's simple and elegant, and I like it. Do you have one for men too?"

The men's version was similar, just slightly larger in size.

It also fit Gu Hansheng perfectly, so they decided on this ring in the end.

The process of selecting the ring was relatively smooth.

In the car, Liang Shu asked him, "Are you going back to the company?"

He grunted in response.

"Then just drop me off by the roadside. I'll go back."

As she spoke, before the car even slowed down, she was about to undo her seatbelt. Gu Hansheng's expression suddenly turned cold. "What are you doing? Sit properly."

Realizing her mistake, Liang Shu simply responded with an "oh" and obediently sat back.

"It's almost dinner time. We'll eat together later."

"Aren't we going home?"

"No."

So Liang Shu had no choice but to follow Gu Hansheng to the company again.

This time, the two of them came directly from the underground parking lot and went straight to Gu Hansheng's office, with only Shi Qing seeing them along the way.

When Gu Hansheng led her out of the elevator holding her hand, they coincidentally ran into Shi Qing holding documents. Upon seeing the two of them, Shi Qing nodded in greeting, "Mr. Gu, Madam."

Liang Shu smiled at Shi Qing, "Secretary Shi."

Without saying a word, Gu Hansheng led her to the office, leaving Shi Qing standing there dazed. It was only when they were almost out of sight that she looked at the intertwined fingers of the two.

Back in the office, Liang Shu was a bit tired from the afternoon's activities and sat on the sofa to rest.

Gu Hansheng dealt with his work without any trouble.

Later, when he saw someone dozing off on the sofa, he put down his work and came over, standing beside her. "There's a resting room inside. Want to go in and sleep?"

Liang Shu was only a little drowsy but hadn't fallen asleep yet. She woke up when she heard him speak, looking up at him with wide eyes.

Then she suddenly raised her finger. "Mr. Gu, can I wear the ring around my neck?"

"Why?"

Liang Shu clicked her tongue. "I'm still not used to it."

She stretched lazily, and then the man suddenly picked her up horizontally. Then he said, "How come you didn't have so many quirks before becoming Mrs. Gu? You don't want this, you don't want that. You're really a little trickster, not easy to handle at all."

Not easy to handle?

Liang Shu hugged his neck, leaning quietly in his arms. "I'm so obedient and well-behaved. How could I not be easy to handle? After becoming Mrs. Gu, I don't need anything else, just Mr. Gu."

"Smooth talker."

Liang Shu blinked as he put her down on the bed. Liang Shu opened her eyes in surprise and looked around, making a sound of admiration, "No wonder you didn't come home for a few days. Your office is so comfortable."

In Gu Hansheng's office, Liang Shu knew there would be a private lounge. As the chairman of Zhenxin Group, it was normal for him to have his own resting area. However, the living space located on the 88th floor took Liang Shu by surprise. This place alone was larger than the house she rented.

She rolled around on the bed, and when she rolled back, she was caught off guard by the man leaning down and firmly kissing her, almost leading to a point of no return.

Liang Shu didn't forget where they were, and the door of his office wasn't locked. Anyone could walk in at any time.

The slender woman wrapped herself in the blanket and moved to the other side, revealing a mischievous yet subtly amused face. "Mr. Gu, the door of your office isn't locked."

He stood by the bed, a hint of a faint smile at the corner of his eyes. "Are you suggesting that if the door is locked, it would be fine?"

This time, Liang Shu directly covered her head, and her muffled voice came from underneath, "You should go back to work, I'm going to sleep for a while."

After waiting for about a minute, the blanket covering Liang Shu's head was pulled away.

Gu Hansheng met her puzzled eyes. "Who taught you the bad habit of sleeping with your head covered?"

The woman pouted discontentedly, but her expression was vividly animated. "It's just to prevent you from doing anything inappropriate."

"I'm leaving."

Liang Shu watched his back until the door closed behind him, and then she slowly withdrew her fingers from the blanket.

A simple ring adorned her slender ring finger, complementing the jade bracelet and making her fingers look exceptionally beautiful.

---

Shi Qing knocked on Gu Hansheng's office door and entered, seeing the man working with his head lowered. "Mr. Gu, did you need me for something?"

At the sound of her voice, Gu Hansheng raised his head from a pile of documents and looked at Shi Qing. "I need something. Wait a moment and help me purchase it."

"What exactly does Mr. Gu need to buy?"

Gu Hansheng beckoned her forward, and Shi Qing approached. Gu Hansheng showed her a picture of a necklace on his phone—simple and elegant, without any additional embellishments or pendants.

He tapped his finger on the desk. "Any questions?"

After looking at it, Shi Qing stepped back with a smile. "No questions."

"Mm, you can go now."

As she walked to the door, just before closing it, Shi Qing turned back to Gu Hansheng and earnestly suggested, "Mr. Gu, you can actually download a messaging app called WeChat. You can send me a message on that, and I'll understand what you mean."

WeChat?

Gu Hansheng furrowed his brow at this suggestion. Shi Qing nodded before closing the door and leaving.

---

It was 6:30 in the evening.

Outside, the city lights were beginning to illuminate the streets.

Liang Shu was deeply asleep, showing no signs of waking up. Gu Hansheng sat by the bedside, not turning on the lights but instead relying on the ambient glow from outside.

Eventually, he reached out and gently tapped Liang Shu's cheek. "Mrs. Gu... Mrs. Gu, you can't sleep anymore."

She had been asleep since before five o'clock, and now it was already past six thirty.

Waking her up, Liang Shu still seemed half-asleep.

Helpless, Gu Hansheng found her clothes and helped her put them on before carrying her outside.

What happened next?

The office door was hastily pushed open, accompanied by Shi Qing's anxious and embarrassed voice, "I'm sorry, Miss Ruan, but you really can't go in. Mr. Gu has already finished work!"

The sound of high heels clacking against the floor was crisp and clear, making the otherwise quiet space even more silent.

However, both Ruan Yunyun and Shi Qing saw Gu Hansheng at the same time, along with the woman he was holding.

To be precise, the woman he was carrying.

Shi Qing immediately looked away, not expecting Mr. Gu to be like this in private. What was he doing in the office?

In his office, how was he holding Liang Shu?

It wasn't a glamorous princess carry but rather the kind of carry one would do with a little girl. His large palm was lightly supporting her buttocks, while her long, slender legs dangled on either side of his stride. Liang Shu was nestled against his shoulder, her back to Ruan Yunyun and Shi Qing.

Ruan Yunyun was dumbfounded at the scene.

As for Shi Qing, she almost fainted on the spot.

She quickly lowered her head. "Mr. Gu, it's my fault."

Gu Hansheng's gaze was cold as ice, even while holding Liang Shu. He didn't spare a glance for Ruan Yunyun and didn't leave even the slightest hint of warmth for her. He looked at Shi Qing briefly and spoke in a chilling tone, "Go to the meeting room."

"Yes."

It wasn't until Shi Qing dragged Ruan Yunyun out of the office that she snapped out of her daze. She trembled, pointing at the closed office door. "Secretary Shi, what's going on? Mr. Gu... Mr. Gu was holding someone...?"

Still in shock, Ruan Yunyun hadn't even gotten a clear look at the figure in Gu Hansheng's arms.

Vaguely, she remembered that the person had long hair cascading over their slim shoulders.

The aloof Gu Hansheng, holding a woman in his office, emerging from his private lounge—this was simply scandalous news.

Ruan Yunyun couldn't accept this reality for a moment, and she didn't even hear what Shi Qing was saying.

She leaned against the wall, her expression dull, and looked at Shi Qing. "Mr. Gu was holding a woman just now?"

Shi Qing stood straight, looking at her. "Yes."

"Who was...?" Ruan Yunyun pointed at the closed office door. "Who was that woman?"

Shi Qing furrowed her brow.

Ruan Yunyun seemed as if her soul had been sucked away. She staggered along the corridor, her footsteps unsteady, her high heels making crisp sounds against the floor.

"Miss Ruan, Mr. Gu asked you to wait in the meeting room." Shi Qing caught up to her.

"Is that woman his new lover? A new rising star he's supporting? Or is she here to replace me as the spokesperson for the Gu Corporation's products?"

Shi Qing didn't reply immediately. "Miss Ruan, you're overthinking. Please come with me to the meeting room."

---

In the office.

Gu Hansheng tried to place Liang Shu on the sofa, but she tightened her legs around his waist and clung to his neck, refusing to let go, her eyes still closed, showing no intention of coming down.

"Liang Shu." The man's voice deepened.

She nestled deeper into his neck, her cheek brushing against his short, firm hair, a bit groggy. "What are you yelling for?"

Gu Hansheng sighed inwardly. "Aren't you hungry?"

At his words, Liang Shu reached out to touch her stomach and replied, "Not hungry, just dieting."

Women always seem to think they're fat no matter how thin they get.

Take Secretary Shi for example. Despite being the boss, Gu Hansheng had seen Shi Qing eat barely anything all day more than once.

His large palm landed firmly on Liang Shu's buttocks with a smack. "Are you awake now?"

She slipped out of his embrace and sat upright on the soft sofa, looking somewhat bleary-eyed.

Gu Hansheng left her to retrieve a box from a nearby drawer in the office area, then returned.

Squatting in front of Liang Shu, he looked into her absent-minded expression, then took her left hand, preparing to remove the ring from her ring finger.

Liang Shu snapped back to reality, pulling her hand away and looking at him. "What are you doing?"

"What do you think?"

She brought her hand behind her back, her expression unchanged. "Though I may have complained about not wanting a ring, since you bought it for me, it's mine now, and you can't take it back."

Liang Shu's mindset was simple; it's best to hold onto valuable things tightly.

Given time, when she and Gu Hansheng parted ways, she could still exchange these valuable items for some money.

I almost forgot to mention, Liang Shu saw when Gu Hansheng swiped his card in the afternoon; this pair of rings cost more than seven figures.

Gu Hansheng squinted at her and spoke with a steady voice, "Bring out your hand."

A minute later, Liang Shu reluctantly extended her hand and slowly removed the ring, handing it to him.

Then Liang Shu watched as he took out a necklace from the nearby box, threaded the ring onto it, and finally hung the ring around her neck.

She looked down at the ring hanging around her neck and smiled. "Mr. Gu, you could have told me earlier."

The man stood up. "Wait here for me. We'll go out for dinner in ten minutes."

Although Liang Shu hadn't seen it just now, she wouldn't forget the clacking sound of high heels.

She nodded. "Okay."

In the reception room, Shi Qing had just brewed tea and set it in front of Ruan Yunyun.

Holding the tea cup, Ruan Yunyun looked up at Shi Qing. "Secretary Shi, who was that just now with Mr. Gu?"

"I'm sorry, I cannot divulge that information." Shi Qing turned and left.

Seeing Shi Qing leave, Ruan Yunyun's agent, Yu Nong, came over and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Yunyun, what just happened? You look pale. Did you see Mr. Gu?"

Ruan Yunyun stared blankly into the brown tea in her cup, biting her cheek. "There was a woman in Mr. Gu's office."

"What's wrong with a woman? Look, in the entire entertainment industry, I've never seen anyone as beautiful as you. Listen to me, don't wallow in self-pity. Women need to assert their presence in front of men from time to time."

Yu Nong patted Ruan Yunyun's shoulder. "We just need to find the right balance. How many men can resist a beautiful and charming woman like you?"

But Ruan Yunyun didn't pay much attention to her agent's words. She closed her eyes, and the scene just now replayed in her mind.

Gu Hansheng had had his fair share of scandals before, but this felt different from anything in the past.

The usually aloof man, how could he...

Ruan Yunyun opened her eyes and turned to Yu Nong. "Yu Nong, what should I do?"

"You should fight for what you want."

"But my greatest enemy has never been the other women around him, but himself. He made it very clear in the neighboring province. I'm afraid..."

As she spoke, the door to the reception room suddenly swung open.

Both women turned to look.

Standing at the door was a man dressed in classic shirt and trousers, tall and upright, with an indifferent gaze fixed on Ruan Yunyun.

Ruan Yunyun immediately stood up, her fingers by her side gradually clenching into fists as she looked at him.

Before seeing Gu Hansheng, Yu Nong was quite good at talking, but now, besides being stunning and panicked, there was nothing left in her eyes.

She nodded slightly, her voice trembling as she greeted, "Mr. Gu."

Gu Hansheng didn't even look at her. With a slight lift of his lips, he uttered three words, "You, get out."

Yu Nong tugged at Ruan Yunyun's clothes, gave her a look, then bowed to Gu Hansheng and left.

The spacious reception room suddenly became quiet, the clock on the wall ticking away like a guillotine.

Feeling overwhelmed by the atmosphere, she looked at him. "Mr. Gu."

Gu Hansheng stared at her, his lips curling slightly. "It's quite a coincidence for you to come at this time."

Ruan Yunyun didn't say anything, feeling a bit sour inside.

He walked up to her, glanced at the tea that hadn't been touched, "Have you had dinner yet?"

"N-No, not yet. Are you done with your work? We could eat together," Ruan Yunyun added quickly, as if afraid of rejection. "Regarding the ad shoot, I still have some things to discuss."

Gu Hansheng's face, already somewhat cold, became expressionless, and his tone was not friendly. "Is it that I didn't explain clearly to Miss Ruan, or is the aftermath of the previous scandal still affecting you too much?"