The Billionaire's Priceless Darling: 33 Days of the CEO's Pursuit - Chapter 33 - Knowing One's Place as a Mistress 2

After their passionate encounter, Li Juefeng got out of bed and began to dress. Gu Xiaoai lay on the bed like a discarded rag doll.

Watching him stand before the full-length mirror, impeccably dressed in his suit, a single phrase sprang to her mind: “A wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

The beep of her phone broke the silence. Summoning her remaining strength, Gu Xiaoai reached for it on the bedside table. It was a text message from her uncle, sent with palpable excitement: Guan Nana and Korean Star Ela have both dropped their lawsuits.

“Bang-”

A file tossed onto the bed broke her train of thought.

“With me backing you, release whatever news you want,” Li Juefeng said, casting her a cold, disdainful glance. “A mistress should know her place. From now on, be at my beck and call and stop testing my patience.”

With that, Li Juefeng walked out, leaving behind only the lingering atmosphere of their encounter.

Gu Xiaoai silently opened the file. Inside were compromising photos of another popular star caught in a hotel scandal-certain to create a media sensation. Yet, she felt no excitement over it.

She, herself, had already become the most scandalous story.

Chu Shixiu’s warm and gentle face drifted into her mind’s eye, hitting her heart like a sharp jab. Wiping away the tear streaking her face, Gu Xiaoai told herself over and over again to stop dwelling on it…

Stop thinking about anything beautiful. That way… she wouldn’t feel so humiliated and inferior in her own life.

…

Because of Li Juefeng, Gu Xiaoai was late for work again. Her uncle, however, assumed she’d been out chasing a story about a celebrity hotel tryst and, instead of scolding her, beamed with pride. He even sang her praises in front of her colleagues.

Her uncle had always treated her as his own child, and she couldn’t be more grateful.

When she lost her family in 7th grade, it was her uncle who took her in. Without his care, she didn’t know how much worse her life would have turned out. She owed him everything.

“Wow, with those looks… he could rival A-list stars.”

“I heard the Chu Group is relocating their headquarters to our C City. Who knows, we might even see him around!”

“In your dreams. Guys like that either marry actresses or go for business alliances. You really think you stand a chance?!”

…

The chatter of her female coworkers buzzed in the background. Glancing casually in their direction, Gu Xiaoai noticed the cover of the business magazine they were holding. It featured a young man in a tailored suit-a close-up portrait.

Chu Shixiu.

So, the Chu Group’s headquarters were moving to C City. That explained why he had been at Summer Night.

Nine years had passed. He must have forgotten her, right? It was better that way.

After all, the person she had become now… She was so tainted that even she couldn’t bear to face herself.