Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Seeing the two of them about to leave, Hua Tianshou tried his best to persuade them to stay. “Hua’er hasn’t even eaten her fill yet. You two should eat a bit more before you go. If you don’t want to drink, then don’t.”

Gu Beixian, however, did not sit back down.

Whether there was wine or not didn’t matter.

The main issue was that Gu Jinyao was sitting directly across from Su Hua.

His gaze drifted toward her from time to time.

It made Gu Beixian feel extremely uncomfortable.

Seeing him standing still, Hua Tianshou stood up as well.

He pressed a hand onto Gu Beixian’s shoulder, forcing him back into his seat.

Hua Tianshou chided, “Hua’er has been busy all day; you can’t let her leave on an empty stomach. If you don’t care about her, I still care about my disciple.”

Hearing this, Gu Beixian finally stopped mentioning leaving.

But for the rest of the meal, he felt as if a lump were stuck in his throat.

At the ladies’ table.

Di E quietly observed everything, catching every detail.

She tilted her head slightly and asked Chu Suosuo in a low voice, “What is the name of that young man sitting across from Su Hua?”

Chu Suosuo looked up and whispered, “His name is Gu Jinyao. He’s the Young Master of Zhengrong Auction House. His father is Gu Zhengrong. The whole family immigrated abroad years ago.”

“Is he close with your grandfather?”

“Yes, he’s one of Grandpa’s big clients. He often comes to see Grandpa to have ancient ceramics restored. Grandpa also sends some of his antiques to Zhengrong Auction House for auction.”

Di E studied Gu Jinyao. “I get the feeling his interest in Su Hua is quite unusual.”

Chu Suosuo glanced at Su Hua and Gu Jinyao a few times. “I noticed that a long time ago.”

Taking advantage of the moment she was serving her food, Di E leaned into her ear and whispered, “If you want to snatch Gu Beixian back, you can start with Gu Jinyao. It might give you twice the result with half the effort.”

Chu Suosuo’s eyes instantly lit up. “How do I start?”

Di E spoke with a languid tone, sounding like someone who had seen it all. “Between men and women, it’s always about those few things. Figure it out yourself.”

Chu Suosuo hugged her arm and acted spoiled. “Grandmother, please just tell me.”

“Wait until the banquet is over. Come to my room and we’ll talk in detail.”

“Okay, Grandmother,” Chu Suosuo said, beaming.

Afterward, the guests continued to toast and drink, the atmosphere lively and bustling. It wasn’t until after nine o’clock that the banquet finally ended.

Su Hua said her goodbyes to everyone and left the Hua Mansion with Gu Beixian.

After getting into the car.

Su Hua said to Gu Beixian, “The seating arrangement at the birthday banquet today was a bit strange.”

Gu Beixian rested his hand against the car window, his sleeve rolled up slightly to reveal his prominent wrist bone. He asked indifferently, “What was strange about it?”

“Why didn’t Master let his wife sit next to him?”

Gu Beixian said nonchalantly, “Di E was originally an actress in a theater troupe. Old Master Hua spent money to redeem her. In the eyes of the older generation, someone of that status isn’t fit for the main stage.”

Su Hua hadn’t expected such things to still exist in the twenty-first century.

However, Di E was indeed different from what she had imagined.

She admitted honestly, “I originally thought Master’s wife would be a dignified, generous, and elegant woman.”

“Old Master Hua’s first wife was a dignified and graceful lady from a prominent family. Aunt Qinwan’s temperament is very similar to hers.”

Su Hua said tactfully, “Master’s preferences certainly took a major turn.”

Looking closely, there was a hint of a seductive air in Di E’s features; she was quite glamorous.

When one is young, character might not show on the face.

But as one ages, the face becomes a reflection of the heart.

One’s temper and character eventually surface in their appearance.

Gu Beixian slowly rubbed his thin lips with his finger and said, “Perhaps Old Master Hua got tired of the grand feasts and wanted a change of pace.”

Su Hua burst out laughing and joked half-seriously, “So, when you brought up the divorce before, was it because you wanted a change of pace too?”

Gu Beixian pressed his lips into a thin line and remained silent.

His lowered eyelashes cast a shadow over his eyes, masking his true emotions.

He had brought up the divorce because she had her ‘Ay Yao’ in her heart.

That person was a thorn wedged between them.

Mentioning Chu Suosuo was merely a pretext.

He couldn’t tell his family that she had someone else in her heart; if he did, the Gu Family would turn on her and think she was ungrateful.

He would rather bear the infamy himself.

The next morning.

Instigated by Di E, Chu Suosuo dressed up glamorously and arrived at Zhengrong Auction House.

She was stopped on the first floor.

The receptionist asked her, “Excuse me, who are you looking for?”

Chu Suosuo replied, “I want to see your Young Master.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

Chu Suosuo shrugged. “Just tell him I’m Elder Hua’s granddaughter, surname Chu. He’ll see me.”
The receptionist picked up the desk phone and dialed Gu Jinyao’s secretary’s extension.

Two minutes later.

She smiled at Chu Suosuo and said, “Miss Chu, our Young Master will see you now.”

Chu Suosuo took the elevator to Gu Jinyao’s office.

She pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Her eyes lit up when she saw the room’s antique-style decor. Looking around, she could tell the office was incredibly expensive. For instance, the Galloping Horse Painting by Xu Beihong on the wall was worth tens of millions.

She gave a charming smile and clicked her tongue. “I didn’t expect Young Master Gu to have such classical taste at your age.”

Gu Jinyao sat in his office chair, unmoving. With his right hand propped on the desk, his expression remained indifferent. He spared her a glance and asked coolly, “Is there something you need?”

Chu Suosuo swayed her slender hips as she strolled elegantly toward the large desk. Resting her hands on the edge, she gave him a sweet, delicate smile. “I do have something to discuss with you.”

“Get straight to the point. Don’t beat around the bush,” Gu Jinyao said, his tone sounding quite blunt.

Chu Suosuo had originally planned to use her grandfather as leverage to play the emotional card with him. Hearing him speak so sharply, she couldn’t stall any longer. She asked directly, “Young Master Gu, are you in love with Su Hua?”

Gu Jinyao paused, a faint, cold sneer curling his lips. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Chu Suosuo giggled. “You’re a grown man. What’s there to be afraid of admitting? If you like her, you like her. Why hide it?”

An impatient glint flashed in Gu Jinyao’s eyes. “If Miss Chu doesn’t have any real business, please leave. I’m busy.”

Chu Suosuo lifted a leg and sat on his desk. She was wearing a thigh-length dress today, Dior’s latest spring/summer haute couture. As she sat, her two slender, pale legs were exposed. Her skin was as smooth as jade, dazzlingly beautiful.

Having learned from her mother’s influence since childhood, she knew exactly how to use her charms to seduce men. Usually, with most young heirs, she only had to sacrifice a little bit of her beauty-showing some leg or a bit of cleavage-to give them an eyeful, and they would lose their minds. They would do whatever she wanted and follow her every word.

Chu Suosuo thought Gu Jinyao was that kind of man.

Sitting on his desk, she swung her pale legs and laughed gaily. “Don’t be like that. What I’m about to talk to you about is very, very important. You’ll regret it if you don’t listen.”

Gu Jinyao frowned. “Get down.”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it sounded terrifying. For some reason, Chu Suosuo felt a prickle of fear. She hurriedly jumped off the desk.

Dropping her flirtatious act, she stood up straight and proper. Even her tone became much more serious.

She said softly, “Young Master Gu, look, you like Su Hua, and I like Beixian. If we join forces to break them up, you can be with Su Hua, and I can be with my Beixian. As long as we cooperate well, it’s a guaranteed win-win for both of us.”

A hint of mockery surfaced in the depths of Gu Jinyao’s eyes. “You came to see me today just for this?”

Chu Suosuo tucked her chin slightly. “Yes.”

“You and Gu Beixian already broke up three years ago. Why come back for him now?”

Chu Suosuo’s eyes sparkled as she blurted out, “Because I still love him. Very much.”

Gu Jinyao snorted with contempt. “You love him so much, yet you still broke up with him?”

Chu Suosuo felt that since they were going to cooperate, she should show some sincerity. She spoke truthfully, “Three years ago, Beixian was in a car accident and ended up paralyzed. I was young back then and couldn’t handle such a massive blow. My mother was also dead set against it, so we broke up.”

Gu Jinyao quipped, “And now that you see his legs are healed, you’re back to snatch the finished product?”

Chu Suosuo shot him a flirtatious look and said coquettishly, “Young Master Gu, we agreed to a win-win cooperation. Why are you nitpicking these details with me?”

Gu Jinyao said coldly, “You’re someone who can only share in prosperity but not in hardship-someone who runs the moment trouble hits. I have no interest in cooperating with someone of such low character, Miss Chu. Please leave.”

The cooperation had failed, and she had even been insulted. Chu Suosuo’s face turned ugly.

She pouted in dissatisfaction. “Young Master Gu, why are you being so ungrateful? Yesterday in Grandpa’s lotus pond, you kicked me. My leg has a huge bruise and it hurts like hell, yet I’ve already let bygones be bygones. Why are you, a grown man, still holding a grudge? I really want to work with you, in all sincerity.”

Seeing that she was intentionally playing dumb despite his clear words, Gu Jinyao lost all patience.

He picked up the desk phone, dialed the security extension, and ordered, “Bring some men to my office and throw Miss Chu out!”