Chapter 76: Dream

Upon finishing his shower, Gu Hansheng emerged, feeling drowsy.

She intended to speak to him, but fatigue overcame her, and she suddenly forgot.

All the lights in the room had been extinguished.

Beside her, there was a heavy collapse, and soon, an arm reached out to pull her body over, securely trapping her in the embrace suffused with male presence.

In a daze, something icy, sharp, and thin was thrust into her hand, startling her awake.

Just as she raised her head, she inadvertently collided with the man's firm jaw. Sensing the card-like object in her hand, she asked him in a hoarse voice, "What have you given me?"

Gu Hansheng, embracing her shoulder, replied calmly, "My spare card."

In an instant, Liang Shu felt revitalized, admitting to herself that she had been lured by money.

She pinched the card in her hand and silently placed it under her pillow before saying, "Just a casual swipe, right?"

"Yes."

Liang Shu nestled closer to him, feeling a slight touch of emotion. "I'm deeply moved."

In the next moment, the man who had been peacefully embracing her suddenly rolled over. In the darkness, only the contours of their faces could be faintly discerned. He said, "Apart from being moved?"

Liang Shu blinked, wrapping her arms around his neck and planting a kiss near his lips, only to be caught off guard by the man's faint hiss.

She blinked again, this time not daring to move.

Why did his mouth hurt? Why didn't he cry out when she kissed him just now, yet now, he winced at her gentle touch?

"Thank you, Mr. Gu."

The pressure on her instantly dissipated as Gu Hansheng rolled back to sleep beside her, saying, "I didn't give you this to hear your thanks."

Perplexed, she asked, "Then what do you want to hear?"

Unnoticed, the person beside her suddenly turned over again. In the darkness, Gu Hansheng stared straight into her eyes, silent.

...

The next morning.

Gu Hansheng rose while Liang Shu was still asleep.

After tidying up, he sat at the edge of the bed, rousing the still-sleeping figure.

Liang Shu, with sleepy eyes, looked at him hoarsely and asked, "Are you leaving?"

He nodded. "Madame Gu, can you tidy up my clothes at home today? I have a business trip tomorrow."

A business trip?

Liang Shu casually asked, "Will it be for long?"

"One week. If things go smoothly, I'll be back in five days."

She clenched the fingers she had placed under the blanket, still pretending to be indifferent as she replied, "Alright."

Having said that, Liang Shu closed her eyes again.

Gu Hansheng got up, stood by the bed, and watched her for several minutes before finally leaving the room.

...

Liang Shu forgot to ask where he was going on his business trip.

At noon, after lunch, Liang Shu was packing his things in the cloakroom.

Not knowing where he was going, she called him.

After a while, she connected, and the secretary said, "Madame, Mr. Gu is in a meeting right now. Is there anything important you need?"

She thought for a moment, realizing it wasn't very important, so she decided to forget it and hung up.

In the evening, Gu Hansheng returned.

Liang Shu asked him at the dining table, "Where are you going? I wanted to tidy up your clothes at noon, but it seems I don't know where you're going on your business trip."

Whether it was domestic or international travel determined whether she needed to pack summer or winter clothes.

Sitting across from her, the man replied nonchalantly, "Wencheng."

She was surprised, her fingers gripping the chopsticks tightening silently, then she smiled, "Alright."

Gu Hansheng looked at her, "There's an urgent matter at the Qu family's house. She won't be back for a week either. You take care of yourself. If anything happens, call me or Jichen immediately."

Liang Shu obediently scooped rice into her bowl, "Alright."

After a while, Gu Hansheng added, "Your car, I had someone tow it back last time. It's practically scrap metal now. I'll arrange to have it dealt with when I have time."

Having rescued her from Lin Jingtai's clutches last time, he must have known her schedule for that day inside out, so it wasn't surprising that he knew where her car was.

Liang Shu poked at the food in her bowl with her chopsticks. "Although it can't compare to those in your garage, it has been with me for many years. I can still manage with it."

"..."

After eating a bit, she stood up. "I'm done. I'll go upstairs to tidy up your clothes."

There was a hint of excitement in her tone.

Gu Hansheng watched her go upstairs, his dark eyes slightly dim.

There wasn't anything particularly special to tidy up, really.

Regardless of the temperature wherever he went, what he needed for his business trip were suits. He needed to bring a couple of extra coats, and then his usual grooming products, toiletries, and so on.

This didn't take Liang Shu much time.

By the time Gu Hansheng went upstairs, she had already prepared everything for him.

Hearing his footsteps, Liang Shu dashed out of the cloakroom. "Is there anything I missed?"

Raising an eyebrow, the man took a few steps and walked into the cloakroom.

In the 28-inch leather suitcase spread out on the floor, his clothes were neatly arranged, accompanied by a pile of men's products. Gu Hansheng nodded in satisfaction.

"It's alright..." isn't it?

Before she could finish, she was caught off guard as he kissed her.

It was another passionate kiss. Liang Shu, afraid that he would continue to trouble her, quickly seized the opportunity to speak, "In the morning, Qu An just had a doctor look at my waist. If you keep bothering me and I get injured again while neither Qu An nor you are here, who will take care of me?"

It was difficult for her to articulate this at such a moment.

Gu Hansheng released her, looking down at her face. "Consider it a reward for you."

Liang Shu smiled and immediately hugged his shoulder, kissing his cheek. "Then the wound here will be completely healed by tomorrow."

...

Before going to sleep, Gu Hansheng quietly held Liang Shu.

She was dozing off in his arms.

But he still had something to say, his low and husky voice slowly entering her ears, "If anything happens, call me. If you can't reach me, call Jichen. And..."

"You've already said that," Liang Shu faintly interrupted him.

Gu Hansheng chuckled, "Did I?"

"Yes." Liang Shu nodded in his arms.

He hugged her tighter. In the darkness of the room, beneath the covers, only faint outlines were visible. Otherwise, someone looking from a god's-eye view might think they were a deeply loving couple.

His throat emitted a long, deep laugh. "Then listen to it again. It'll be snowing these days, it's cold outside, so don't go out if you don't have to," he paused and then suddenly said, "Or I can have the driver take you to the Gu residence. How about that?"

Liang Shu hugged his chest tightly, smiling. "Mr. Gu, if you keep nagging, I'll feel like you love me."

"You're Madame Gu. Is there anything wrong with me loving you?"

She slowly closed her eyes, seeming a little tired. "Of course not," after a pause of two seconds, Liang Shu said, "You don't need to worry about me. I won't cause trouble for you this time."

Gu Hansheng patted her shoulder. "I'll listen to you."

He had an early morning flight the next day and didn't wake Liang Shu up when he left.

But Liang Shu opened her eyes when he left the house, waited for a while, then got up in the dark and walked to the terrace after putting on a coat.

In the yard, the black phantom had just driven out of the garage.

It was still dark in the early morning, with a bluish-black hue everywhere, and the snow reflected white light. She could barely see the car moving under the light of the street lamp.

In the morning, Liang Shu got up and went downstairs.

Qi Zhen was in the living room arranging fresh flower bouquets. Seeing Liang Shu coming down, she glanced back at her, not even bothering to greet her.

Liang Shu crossed her arms, her expression indifferent, watching Qi Zhen trim the flowers with scissors.

"Is there breakfast?"

It was already half past ten, well past breakfast time, but if Qu An were here, she would have already prepared it by now.

Qi Zhen paused in her movements, her hand with the scissors freezing momentarily. After inserting the Endless Summer into the flower vase in front of her, she glanced at the kitchen and said, "Breakfast time has passed. If you want to eat, go to the kitchen and ask the cook yourself."

Liang Shu looked down at her actions. The flowers in the well-arranged vase were very beautiful.

But beautiful flowers didn't necessarily mean beautiful people.

Liang Shu's gaze slowly shifted from the vase to Qi Zhen's face, as if assessing her.

After a while, she curved her lips. "You seem to have...hostility towards me."

As soon as the words fell, Qi Zhen laughed and turned to Liang Shu. "I wouldn't dare."

Liang Shu suppressed the emotions in her eyes, wearing a half-smile on her face. She bent down and reached out to take out the Endless Summer she had just inserted, examining it. Then she said, "Take a look at this flower..."

Presenting the blue-pink Endless Summer to Qi Zhen, Liang Shu cast a glance at it. "What do you think of this flower?"

Qi Zhen looked at it with a dismissive glance. "Madame, any advice?"

Liang Shu then threw the flower in her hand onto the table, her eyes suddenly turning cold, and her tone colder and sharper than before. "No advice. It's just that since I arrived, the way this flower has been trimmed seems a bit rough compared to those in this vase. The arrangement is messy, and the cuts are sharper—"

"It's just a coincidence. I didn't handle it properly." Qi Zhen remained unfazed, picking up a Damascus rose to continue trimming.

Liang Shu changed her posture, but her gaze didn't leave Qi Zhen. "You feed Ah Yun food that makes it aggressive, untie its leash, scatter thorns on the corridor leading to the flower room, and all sorts of subtle glances. Are all these just coincidences?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Qi Zhen pricked her finger on a thorn of the rose.

"As you wish, I've been injured by Ah Yun, pricked by a thorn, and now you've affected my mood. What do you want?" Liang Shu asked, sitting back on the sofa, her gaze coldly fixed on her.

Qi Zhen was a bit stunned, her fingers tightly gripping the scissors, her knuckles turning white. A scornful smile appeared on her face, taking advantage of the fact that there was no one else in the room, she turned around and stared directly at Liang Shu.

"You can go and complain to the master and have him punish me if you want."

Her tone was provocative enough.

Liang Shu pressed her lips tightly, her gaze sharp, her face devoid of makeup, but it didn't affect her current display of indifference.

She kept a smile on her lips. "I would have complained to him a long time ago. Why wait until now? I'm just curious, you're just a servant, and I sleep by the master's side day and night. What, are you feeling aggrieved?"

Qi Zhen clenched her fingers, silent.

Liang Shu stood up, walked to Qi Zhen, slightly taller than her, and looked down at her. "Do you think if it weren't for me, this position would be yours?" Pausing, she sneered, "You've been here for so long, if something was going to happen, it would have happened already."

"I never had such ambitions to become Madame Gu. But this position, why shouldn't it belong to you?" Qi Zhen stared back at her.

Liang Shu clicked her tongue twice. "Look at you, still talking nonsense."

Why shouldn't it belong to her? But now, she was the rightful Madame Gu, wasn't she?

Qi Zhen couldn't stand Liang Shu's attitude. She bit her lip and almost didn't think before saying, "But isn't it a woman's greatest sorrow when a man doesn't love her? Mr. Gu has someone in his heart. In time, if that person wakes up, at best, you'll just be an outsider!"

Qi Zhen thought this would hit Liang Shu hard, but she didn't expect her to show no expression on her face. Her beautiful eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of mist, both clear and hazy.

Next moment, Liang Shu smiled. "But what does that have to do with you? Whether I'm kicked out in the future or not, aren't you still going to address me respectfully as Madame Qi Zhen now?" 

With that, Liang Shu seemed tired.

When she turned around, she sternly instructed, "Prepare breakfast for me. If it's not done to my satisfaction, I can dismiss you directly since Mr. Gu is not here, and Qu An is not here to plead for you."

That morning, Liang Shu vented her anger in front of Qi Zhen, and the subsequent breakfast was eaten comfortably. However, Qi Zhen must hate her more now, and she appeared less frequently in front of Liang Shu, which made things even more convenient for her.

Mr. Gu left in the morning, while Liang Shu left in the afternoon. However, the snow in the afternoon was heavier, so Liang Shu lingered at the airport for a long time. By the time she arrived in Wencheng, it was already late at night. The snowflakes outside were falling gently, and Christmas was just over ten days away. Everywhere was decorated festively, and the city was adorned with Christmas lights.

Late at night, after attending a social event, Gu Hansheng just finished. The other party was the head of another cooperating company, and he had some acquaintance with Gu Hansheng. Su Qiping fell, and it was still uncertain who would eventually win the piece of land. If Gu's wanted to fight for it, the result was undoubtedly clear. In this case, Chen Yi's company would inevitably be in trouble. Without the land, it meant that a lot of capital would have to be withdrawn, and the company's financial circulation would be blocked. Bankruptcy was just a matter of time. However, the head of this cooperating company intended to invest in Chen Yi's company. After all, money was the lifeblood of a company. With fresh blood injected, there would be no problem continuing to operate.

Gu Hansheng's purpose of this trip was to prevent them from financing. To say that he was preventing it might sound a bit despicable, but there were too many intrigues in the business world. As long as one could achieve their goals without violating market mechanisms, it was called fair competition. The president of this cooperating company intended to finance Chen Yi's company, making him the company's largest investor. Gu Hansheng wanted to extend an olive branch to the president, but the other party did not budge. However, Gu Hansheng was not in a hurry. It was just a matter of extending his influence from Yucheng to Wencheng.

During the banquet, everyone drank a lot of alcohol. In the latter half, the group went to entertainment venues nearby. In the spacious and dimly lit private rooms, fine wine and women were indispensable. The organizers called a bunch of attractive girls over, and each wealthy man picked one to be with, surrounded by them, enjoying themselves. Gu Hansheng remained alone, drinking and smoking by himself. He was the most special presence in this place of revelry. Sitting in the main seat, surrounded by a lively atmosphere, there wasn't a single powdered woman by his side. His demeanor was resolute, and his hidden eyes in the darkness had a power to awe and a charm to captivate. Just like now, with someone holding a small cluster of flames to light his cigarette, he took a deep drag, squinting his eyes and exhaling a ring of smoke.

The alluring smoke slowly flowed, enveloping him like a god from the heavens. His stern and exquisitely beautiful face appeared elusive.

This man was too enticing. One brave girl sat next to him and, seeing that the bottom of his glass was empty, picked up the wine from the side to refill it for him. However, her fingers slowly reached towards his shirt collar— Gu Hansheng's eyes slid over the coldest arc, and he reached up to pinch the cigarette butt. With a gentle tap of his index finger, a large chunk of ash that hadn't fallen off was instantly dropped, landing perfectly on the back of the woman's hand, still warm from the ember. The ash burned her hand, causing her to retract it immediately. "Ah..." she exclaimed, covering her hand, biting her lip, and looking at the man beside her with complex eyes.

But Gu Hansheng showed no abnormal behavior, as if this incident just now was merely a coincidence.

So the woman didn't give up.

She quietly pulled down the neckline of her dress and leaned towards Gu Hansheng, pressing against him with her voluptuous body, her voice trembling, "Sir, it's boring just smoking and drinking. Let me accompany you."

Gu Hansheng quietly avoided her touch, turning his head to stare at her with his pitch-black eyes.

As their eyes met, the woman quickly looked away, lowered her head, and smiled faintly. "Don't look at me like that. I...I'm scared."

Perhaps, it was more excitement than fear. Seeing this scene, he sat on the side, smiling brightly.

Only Shi Qing silently understood everything from the side.

When the woman's hand reached for a more forbidden place, the next moment, the private room echoed with her scream:

"Ah—"

She recoiled as if avoiding a snake or scorpion, her face turning deathly pale with fear. In her blurred vision, Gu Hansheng lit another cigarette.

Just as the woman was about to erupt, she was restrained by the orchestrator, the man's hand covering her mouth, his eyes warning her as he shook his head.

The music in the room was loud, but this scream still attracted many people's attention. Some scattered glances were thrown their way, and the orchestrator smiled apologetically, "I'm really sorry, everyone, enjoy your food, drinks, and fun!"

The woman trembled all over, clutching her hand, shaking like a sieve, cold sweat rolling down her forehead incessantly.

Shi Qing's gaze fell on the woman, shaking her head.

Others might not know, but she saw it all very clearly.

Gu Hansheng didn't continue to bring the cigarette to his mouth after only taking a half drag. Instead, he pinched it and pressed the cigarette butt directly onto the back of the woman's hand, his expression indifferent, his movements swift and decisive.

Just looking at it, one could feel the pain.

Shi Qing sighed silently. That's why they said, why provoke anyone, especially Gu Hansheng?

When she arrived in Nanchuan, it was around eleven in the morning. At twelve o'clock, she went to the hotel to check-in, then casually ate something and went out with a bag on her back.

She felt a bit absent-minded when she left. When she crossed the street, she seemed to hear someone calling her from behind. Liang Shu turned around and saw Jiang Pingsheng standing on the other side of the road. The young man still had the same appearance as before, standing under the grayish-blue sky, looking out of place in the mundane world.

There was a smile on his lips as he softly called her name, "Ah Shu."

Ah Shu.

Liang Shu's heart ached, and she silently reached out to cover it.

The next scene was like a long-focus shot in a movie, with the surrounding background blurred. The slender figure of the woman stood still, surrounded by people hurrying across the street. Only she remained motionless, her determined gaze fixed on a certain spot behind her.

She was particularly focused, and tears slowly gathered in her exquisite eyes.

Yet, the place she was looking at was actually empty, with nothing there.

The countdown on the green light was about to reach zero. Liang Shu stared at the "Jiang Pingsheng" in her line of sight, quickly turned back, but didn't notice the turning car. The next moment, a chorus of horns sounded.

A car stopped just three or four centimeters from her knees, and she was startled by the sound, looking down at the stopped car.

But in the next instant.

When she looked up again, Jiang Pingsheng was gone.

Liang Shu's heart skipped a beat, and she hurried over, but there was nothing there.

The young man who had smiled at her so gently had disappeared.

It was as if her heart had been ripped out, and the cold wind rushed in, enveloping her in coldness and pain. Liang Shu crouched down, feeling miserable.

She had dreamed of Jiang Pingsheng last night.