Chapter Six: A Lingering Resentment in Her Heart

On Monday, Chen Ping’an officially resigned from his current job and immediately took over the tasks of renovating the shop and handling the business license from Gu Yao.

Meanwhile, Gu Yao, feeling much relieved, focused on selecting products at home. Having previously managed a food-related account and dealt with numerous dessert brand advertisements, she had some insight into product selection for the company. Still, the overwhelming variety of raw material brands and categories left her with a headache.

Just then, Lu Zheng suddenly called her on WeChat. Gu Yao’s muddled mind was momentarily sluggish, and she didn’t even recognize who it was before answering the call. It was only after she said “Hello?” that she realized who was on the other end.

“Bring all the documents and paperwork I sent you tomorrow morning at nine. We’re going to handle the transfer,” Lu Zheng’s voice came through, calm and steady as it was the first day they met.

Gu Yao blanked for a moment, then remembered that Lu Zheng hadn’t compensated her for the car yet. It had been four or five days since the accident, and she had assumed a wealthy man like him wouldn’t shirk responsibility, so she hadn’t pressed him.

Hearing Lu Zheng’s words, she finally recalled the car and agreed, “Alright, I’ll go to the transfer office tomorrow morning. Should I coordinate with Assistant Ming?”

She figured Lu Zheng wouldn’t personally bother with such “small matters.” After all, as a company president, the money he earned in an hour could probably buy dozens, even hundreds of her cars.

However, after she spoke, there was a long silence on the other end. Puzzled, she glanced at her phone—it still showed the call was connected. Just as she brought the phone back to her ear, Lu Zheng’s voice suddenly turned colder, “Yes, coordinate with him.”

With that, the call was quickly ended.

Gu Yao stared at her phone in confusion, then reasoned that perhaps Lu Zheng found nothing to talk about with her and thought chatting was a waste of time. She smiled lightly and didn’t dwell on it, continuing her serious product selection.

In the afternoon, Chen Ping’an sent Gu Yao a design plan for the shop renovation that he had made himself, along with a detailed budget list. The two of them discussed the details for over an hour on WeChat before finalizing the plan. Next, Chen Ping’an would negotiate prices with the renovation company.

Normally, using the company’s services would have been more convenient, but to save money—and since Chen Ping’an had friends knowledgeable in this area—they naturally chose to economize.

As evening fell, the sun dipped westward and stars twinkled. Night descended, and the bustling city gradually quieted.

At the Xingxiu Club—a high-end leisure club owned by the young master Lou family of Ning City’s elite—celebrities mingled amid extreme luxury.

On the sixth floor, in the main hall, elegant and soothing piano music played softly, gently easing the tension of a long day.

Lou Yu entered the private room from outside, draping his coat over one arm. The room instantly fell silent. Looking up, he saw Lu Zheng sitting alone on the sofa, drinking.

The man’s expensive black trousers and shirt were slightly creased; the top two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing a seductive collarbone and a subtly strong chest. Tousled hair fell over his forehead, giving him a rare, disheveled look.

Lou Yu raised an eyebrow in surprise—he seldom saw Lu Zheng like this. Thinking quickly, he pulled out his phone and snapped a quick photo before Lu Zheng noticed, then sent it to their group chat.

Lou Yu: [photo.jpg] Troubled by love?

Han Guangzhou: More like troubled by “Yao”!

Lou Qi: Is there a difference?

Han Guangzhou: ...Maybe not!

Qin Feng: Looks like the “congratulations” came too soon!

Han Guangzhou: 6

Lou Yu put away his phone and leisurely approached Lu Zheng.

“What’s this? Drinking alone?”

Lu Zheng didn’t look up but stared into his glass of red wine, lost in thought.

Lou Yu sat down on the adjacent single sofa, poured himself a drink, and asked, “Because of Gu Yao?”

Hearing the name, Lu Zheng finally responded. He glanced at Lou Yu, remained silent for a moment, then said, “She harbors resentment.”

Lou Yu laughed immediately, “Well, she should. You hurt her pride back then! I say, women are soft-hearted—tell her why you lost your temper and said those things, play the victim a little, and once she feels sorry, everything will be fine!”

Lu Zheng said nothing. He knew Lou Yu was wrong. Gu Yao probably no longer minded the words he said, but what bothered her was the implication behind them—the definitions of their identities and the social circles they came from.

She had no interest in his world now; she disliked and even loathed it.

With pain, Lu Zheng closed his eyes.

Before, when Gu Yao left, he held onto the hope she’d return someday. Now that she had come back, all he felt was the fear she might reject him.

The next morning, Gu Yao woke up to find it was already eight-thirty. She was almost late for the nine o’clock appointment to transfer the car’s ownership.

Hurriedly washing up, changing clothes, tying her hair, and grabbing the documents she had prepared last night, she rushed out.

By the time she reached the community gate, she checked her phone—eight forty-five. Even by taxi, she’d be at least ten minutes late.

She regretted not getting Ming Liang’s contact information earlier and now had to ask Lu Zheng for it, though she really didn’t want to make that call.

Just then, a familiar black car slowly pulled up in front of her.

Instinctively, Gu Yao stepped back.

Looking closely, she recognized it as Lu Zheng’s Maybach.

At that moment, the driver’s side window rolled down, revealing Lu Zheng’s sharp profile.

“Get in,” he said.

Gu Yao stood frozen, hesitating before asking reluctantly, “Isn’t Assistant Ming supposed to go?”

Lu Zheng’s handsome face immediately darkened. Gu Yao instantly felt the commanding, oppressive aura of a decision-maker radiating from him.

“Assistant Ming has his own work and no time for such trivial matters!” Lu Zheng’s throat tightened as he spoke, then he felt a sharp constriction in his chest.

Assistant Ming! Assistant Ming! Assistant Ming!

His eyes clouded with gloom.

In the past two days, Gu Yao kept mentioning Ming Liang—did she have a thing for him?

Meanwhile, at his desk, Ming Liang, struggling with negotiations with a partner company, suddenly sneezed violently six times in a row.

The loud sneezes drew the attention of the entire secretarial department.

The young woman next to him peeked under the desk’s green plant, wide-eyed, and said, “No wonder you said your eyelid was twitching all day—bad luck’s here. Someone must be talking about you!”

Ming Liang paused, tissue in hand, then quickly shoved the plant’s leaves back into place.

“Enough already! I’m unlucky enough; shut up!”

Talking behind his back? What kind of talking?

President Lu went to see Miss Gu—could it be Miss Gu was the one talking behind his back?

If so, when President Lu returns, he’d probably be sent off to the Arctic for project research.

He only borrowed a suit—it’s not like it was for Miss Gu. Why all this suspicion?