Chapter 50: Do I Look Gay to You?

Gu Yining jumped up from the sofa in shock. Wasn't this the man, Ji Yunchuan, who was involved with Fu Hanniann? 

"What are you doing here?" she asked, twisting her hands together in an anxious gesture. 

Standing across from her was a man she could consider a rival, making it hard for her to remain composed. 

"And why are you calling me 'sister-in-law'?" 

"Well, Hanniann tells me everything. You are, after all, his legally wedded wife. So how could I not call you 'sister-in-law'?" Ji Yunchuan smiled lightly, his phoenix-like eyes sparkling with mischief. "I heard from Fanxing that she wants to collaborate with a perfumer, and it turns out that perfumer is you."

Gu Yining nodded in acknowledgment, a faint blush creeping to her cheeks. The atmosphere hung thick with an awkward tension, a momentary silence falling between them. 

"By the way, since you know I'm Fu Hanniann's wife, don't you feel the slightest bit of hostility toward me?" Gu Yining finally asked, furrowing her brow after pondering for a while.

"Why would I feel hostile toward you?" Ji Yunchuan replied, a playful smile spreading across his face.

"Aren't you and him...?" Gu Yining trailed off, unsure how to phrase her question.

Ji Yunchuan laughed lightly, shaking his head. "Do I look gay to you, sister-in-law?" He exuded an alluring charm, his aura captivating. 

In contrast, Fu Hanniann's commanding presence was decidedly more domineering, fitting for someone who embodied a more aggressive personality type.

Gu Yining found herself nodding emphatically. "Yes, yes, you do."

"Hey now, don't get the wrong idea! I'm a straight man, and it's all Fu Hanniann's fault for tarnishing my reputation. I'm just his shield to fend off other romantic interests. Sister-in-law, you're too naïve," Ji Yunchuan explained, half-jokingly, but there was a hint of seriousness in his tone.

At that moment, a voice came from outside. "Sister Fanxing…" 

Standing at the door was Ye Fanxing, her stunning figure wrapped in a form-fitting red dress that accentuated her curves beautifully. 

"Shh..." Ye Fanxing gestured for her assistant to be quiet, her sharp gaze causing the assistant to retreat nervously.

Once the assistant was gone, Ye Fanxing pressed her ear to the door, eavesdropping on their conversation. 

"So, he isn't actually gay?" Gu Yining asked, still skeptical and unsure whether to trust Ji Yunchuan's words or her own observations. 

"The gay persona is just an image he's crafted over the years for the Fu family and the outside world. I think he married you because he sees something special in you. After all, he's been a stubborn tree for twenty-seven years; let's hope you can help him bloom," Ji Yunchuan said, a look of desperation on his face. "You really need to put in the effort to make him fall in love with you, so he stops tormenting me!"

Gu Yining couldn't help but laugh at his pained expression, as if Fu Hanniann's reputation had caused him endless suffering. 

"What did you go to his office for that day?" she pressed, still curious about the interaction.

"I went to talk about work," he replied casually.

"But you looked like you were begging on the floor…" Gu Yining was intrigued and needed clarity on that moment.

"When I heard that the 'ugly monster' was you, I nearly fell to my knees! You have no idea; I accidentally called you an ugly monster, and the murderous look Fu Hanniann shot me was terrifying!" Ji Yunchuan exclaimed, shivering at the memory. 

His earnestness made Gu Yining feel a sense of relief wash over her, dispelling the fog of confusion that had clouded her thoughts. 

In that moment, the mention of Fu Hanniann seemed to send ripples through her mind, stirring feelings she had kept buried.

"But sister-in-law, please don't tell him I revealed all this. I'm afraid he'll beat me up! Just pretend you know nothing. I need you to keep him in check and stop dragging me out as a shield. I just want to date normally!" 

"Is that why you're here? Because you like Ye Fanxing?" Gu Yining inquired, a teasing lilt in her voice, surprised by the revelation.