Gu Shinan couldn’t accept Peng Kai’s coldness all of a sudden.
He used to be completely obedient to her—whatever she wanted, he gave it to her.
Even if she got hungry in the middle of the night, he would deliver food to the school gate, just to make sure she wasn’t hungry.
Now, she sat across from him at dinner, and he treated her like she was poison.
The stark contrast was too much for her to bear.
After returning to the Project Department, Peng Kai called Lan Hui. He liked to use his free moments to chat on the phone, just to hear her voice.
“Brother Kai, have you had lunch?” Lan Hui’s sweet voice came from the other end, and Peng Kai couldn’t help but smile.
“Yeah, I’ve eaten.”
He heard the sound of a car and asked, “Are you outside?”
Lan Hui responded with a hum, “A colleague’s client is stuck with breastfeeding issues. She took the day off, so I’m helping her.”
“Helping?”
Peng Kai immediately thought of that last troublesome Baoba and broke out in a cold sweat. “Fu Fu, I’ll take leave and come accompany you. Send me the address.”
Lan Hui laughed softly to reassure him, “Brother Kai, don’t worry, I’m fine. I brought a new apprentice today, so there are two of us, and it’s daytime, very safe.”
“That last incident was an accident. Now it’s a society ruled by law—few people dare to do such things.”
“I checked. The Baoma has been in postpartum confinement for almost twenty days, and the Baoba’s paternity leave is over, so he should be at work. It’s probably just the Baoma and her Gongpo at home.”
Peng Kai still felt uneasy. “When will you be done? I’ll pick you up then.”
Lan Hui refused, “Really, no trouble. I’ll just take the bus back with my apprentice. Didn’t you say there’s a department dinner tonight?”
She had another Baoma scheduled for around 4:30 p.m., so she took both orders since they were close by. She estimated she wouldn’t be done until seven or eight.
“We do have the dinner, but I can send a bodyguard to pick you up,” Peng Kai offered.
Lan Hui smiled, “That’s great. I’ll probably be done around eight. It’s hard to get a cab in those upscale neighborhoods, so having a ride is definitely better.”
Peng Kai frowned. “That’s really late.”
Lan Hui explained, “Just today. The two orders are close, so I took them both. It’s the New Year period, and the shop is short-staffed.”
“After everyone’s back from the holidays, it won’t be this busy. If it were like this every day, how would I go to school? I definitely wouldn’t want that.”
“Alright, be safe. Keep in touch—I have to get back to work.”
“Okay, Brother Kai. Bye!” Lan Hui smiled like a blooming flower. If she weren’t worried about interrupting her boyfriend’s work, she’d want to chat longer.
***
In the afternoon after work, Peng Kai was putting documents into his briefcase when Gu Shinan leaned over from her workstation.
“Peng Kai, can you give me a ride to the dinner later?”
Peng Kai looked at her in surprise, wondering why she thought he would give her a ride. Were they that close?
Gu Shinan smiled awkwardly, “I’ve been working here over a year and still can’t afford a car. It’s more convenient to catch a ride with a colleague and saves on taxi fees.”
After breaking up with Peng Kai, she’d dated twice more, but none lasted over three months.
She always felt something was off—the men weren’t attentive enough, or thought she was too delicate, and they eventually broke up.
After a while, Peng Kai said, “Why don’t you find someone else? We might be drinking tonight—I won’t be driving.”
Gu Shinan replied, “I don’t mind driving. I’ll just call a driver afterwards.”
Peng Kai shook his head, “I don’t like calling drivers. You better find someone else.”
His refusal hit Gu Shinan like hitting cotton with a fist.
“Then I’ll ask another colleague. We can take their car together?” she invited again.
“No need. I’m taking Manager Zhong’s car to get closer to the leadership,” Peng Kai said.
Gu Shinan had no choice but to agree.
Peng Kai finished packing and headed to the manager’s office to find Zhong Sheng.
Zhong Sheng knew Peng Kai’s true identity. The Taiziye was riding in his car—he was more than happy to agree immediately.
As they left the office, Zhong Sheng called out to Gu Shinan, “Xiao Gu, I remember you don’t have a car. Come with us.”
Gu Shinan smiled, “Okay, thanks, boss.” She quickly packed up and shut down her computer.
Peng Kai’s expression stiffened, but since it was someone else’s car, he didn’t argue.
Once inside, Peng Kai closed his eyes and pretended to nap, not wanting to say a word until they arrived at Jiangnan Hao restaurant, where he finally opened his eyes and got out with everyone.
Zhong Sheng had booked a large private room at Jiangnan Hao, with a big round table for thirty.
As the male lead of the evening, Peng Kai sat next to Zhong Sheng, and Gu Shinan sat beside him.
Peng Kai furrowed his brows tightly.
Gu Shinan awkwardly said, “All the other seats were taken; only this one next to you was free…”
Peng Kai said nothing but understood perfectly. Gu Shinan’s eagerness was probably because she had learned his true identity and now wanted to cling to him again.
That thought chilled Peng Kai’s heart.
He felt all the sincerity he’d shown over the years had been wasted.
When he was poor and struggling, dropping out to support her studies, betting his youth, giving everything—she didn’t care.
Now that he was wealthy and cold as ice, she still shamelessly clung to him.
Luckily!
Luckily she dumped him, or he wouldn’t have met the wonderful Fu Fu.
With that thought, Peng Kai immediately took out his phone and quickly sent messages to his girlfriend.
The messages went unanswered, probably because she was busy.
He sent another message to his bodyguard, asking one of them to drive to Yue Fu’s neighborhood to pick her up.
Lan Hui finished work at 7:50 and saw dozens of messages from Peng Kai.
“Fu Fu, the dinner is so boring, I regret going. Next time I’d rather stay home and cook with you.”
“Fu Fu, are you done? I’ve sent a bodyguard to your neighborhood.”
“Fu Fu, here’s the bodyguard’s number. Call him when you’re ready. He’s waiting downstairs.”
Lan Hui smiled happily and replied, “Okay, I’ll contact the bodyguard now.”
Peng Kai replied immediately, “Good, be safe on the way.”
Lan Hui: “I’m having the bodyguard drop off my colleague first, then I’ll come home.”
Peng Kai: “Okay, where does your colleague live?”
Lan Hui sent him an address.
Peng Kai checked, “It’s only twenty minutes from where I’m eating. After dropping off your colleague, come pick me up and we’ll go home together.”
Lan Hui was surprised, “You’re not driving?”
Peng Kai: “I’ll be drinking tonight, so I didn’t bring the car. Little Housekeeper, want to come?”
Lan Hui laughed, “Since my boyfriend asked, I have to go pick you up once. He works hard driving me to and from work every day—it’s only fair.”
Peng Kai was delighted. “I’m waiting for you.”
Lan Hui smiled and quickly called the bodyguard to confirm his location.
“Miss Yue, I’m downstairs. I’m driving a black G-Class with the hazard lights on. You’ll see me right away.”
“Thanks! We’re coming down now.”
Xiao Rui, who was nearby, overheard and was shocked.
“Fu Fu, your boyfriend’s so rich! Not only handsome, but he drives a black G-Class! I thought he drove a black Volkswagen this morning when he took you to work!”
Lan Hui laughed, “That was his friend picking us up this time.”
Xiao Rui was an intern who had just started before the New Year, two years older than Lan Hui, had dropped out early, and still didn’t have a boyfriend.
Xiao Rui excitedly asked, “Does he have a girlfriend?”
Lan Hui smiled, “I met him for the first time today, so I don’t know. Let’s go—we don’t want to keep him waiting.”
“Okay!” Xiao Rui quickly fixed her hair.
The two went downstairs. At the lobby, a large man in black stood beside the car. Seeing Lan Hui, he immediately opened the door for her.
“Miss Yue, please.”
“Thank you.” Lan Hui smiled.
Xiao Rui had mixed feelings but was intimidated by his aura. He seemed like a bodyguard—too much for her to handle.
Around 9 p.m., Peng Kai, anticipating his girlfriend’s arrival, told Zhong Sheng, “Manager Zhong, let’s call it a night. We have work tomorrow, and staying up late will leave us tired.”
The Taiziye himself spoke, and Zhong Sheng readily agreed.
“Alright, let’s stop for tonight. Next time, we’ll plan a Friday night, no work the next day. We can drink late and even hit karaoke after dinner.”
Everyone agreed happily.
Zhong Sheng then asked Peng Kai, “Where do you live? Send me your location—I’ll drive you home.”
Gu Shinan perked up, eyes shining. She could hitch a ride with Peng Kai again.
Peng Kai politely declined, “Thanks, but my girlfriend is coming to pick me up. She should be here soon.”
Gu Shinan’s expression changed instantly.
Zhong Sheng was momentarily surprised but quickly understood. As the Taiziye, handsome and single for over a year after breaking up with Gu Shinan, it was normal for Peng Kai to have a new girlfriend.
“Then Peng Kai should’ve told us sooner. You should have invited your girlfriend to dinner tonight.”
Peng Kai smiled, “She was working and couldn’t come. She just got off work and was coming to pick me up.”
Gu Shinan forced a smile that looked more like crying. She said, “Let’s go then. Maybe we’ll meet your girlfriend downstairs. I’m curious what she looks like.”
Everyone chimed in:
“Peng Kai’s so handsome; his girlfriend must be beautiful.”
“Yeah, definitely.”
“Today we’re lucky to see her.”
Peng Kai’s lips twitched into a smile, eyes full of tenderness. “Don’t tease me. Finding a girlfriend isn’t just about looks. I care more about what’s inside. My girlfriend is a wonderful girl.”
Gu Shinan’s heart ached seeing that smile. She knew exactly what it meant.
He must really like that girl.
It had only been a little over a year since they broke up. How could he!
She bit her lip until it almost bled.
He once told her he’d only ever love her.
She’d thought he’d move on eventually, but never this fast.
Back then, he dropped out to support her schooling, was with her for seven years, treated her with utmost care. She truly believed he loved her.
Now, looking back… it seemed like it was all just nothing.
The group went downstairs, but Lan Hui’s car hadn’t arrived yet.
Peng Kai stood at the door and told everyone, “My girlfriend might take a little longer. Why don’t you guys go ahead? Next time, if she’s free, I’ll bring her out to meet you.”