Puzzled and annoyed, Gu Qingcheng turned and looked at her father.
He'd applied to Tang Shi's company for her to work as a secretarial assistant? Why hadn't he discussed anything with her about this arrangement?
Determined to ignore the exasperation in Gu Qingcheng's eyes, Gu Zhengnan faced Tang Shi resolutely and continued, "Shi, I hope that you will give her your support when necessary."
There was not a trace of discernible emotion on Tang Shi's face. And, at the same time, he exuded an air of arrogance and indifference as he looked at Gu Zhengnan and replied, "Uncle Gu, that goes without saying."
Having obtained Tang Shi's assurances, Gu Zhengnan finally smiled and said, "Shi, I have something to attend to, so I won't take up any more of your time."
That said, Gu Zhengnan stood up and glanced at Gu Qingcheng, who was also getting ready to stand up and leave with him. He said, "Oh, one more thing. Shi, didn't you just mention that you had to leave this event for another engagement? Since you've been drinking, you shouldn't drive. Qingqing drove here by herself, so let her take you where you need to go."
Pausing, Gu Zhengnan seemed uneasy as he looked at Gu Qingcheng and added, "Qingqing, take Shi where he needs to go, okay?"
Gu Qingcheng looked first at Tang Shi and, noting that he hadn't made any gesture of declining the offer, nodded.
At that, Gu Zhengnan walked away, looking pleased with himself.
Meanwhile, on the sofa in that far corner, Tang Shi and Gu Qingcheng remained seated. Around them, it seemed as if the area had suddenly gotten quieter. All they could hear were the faint strains of soothing violin music wafting from the main hall in the distance, gently surrounding them.
Tang Shi lolled lazily on the sofa, his fingers twirling the crystal glass on the table.
Gu Qingcheng sat opposite him, not saying a word.
They had absolutely nothing to say to each other.
Sheng Tang Company was a world-renowned conglomerate with interests in a variety of businesses and was considered a leader in the business world.
That is why Tang Shi, since birth, had been shrouded in a halo of divinity.
From a very young age, he'd been treated with reverence and respect.
Even when he was relaxed and pleasant, the mere awareness of his daunting background was enough to intimidate many people.
And Gu Qingcheng was no exception.
Like everyone else, she did feel intimidated by Tang Shi. However, in the past, because she and Tang Shi had been such good friends, that feeling hadn't really manifested.
But now, in the situation in which she found herself, it was different. She wasn't only intimidated by Tang Shi, she was almost fearful of him.
So, the pair of them just sat there, not saying a word, and Gu Qingcheng was getting increasingly nervous. In fact, she was so nervous that her palms started sweating profusely.
Just as Gu Qingcheng was fretting about how much longer she could hang on to her composure, Tang Shi stood up and, without a word, walked away.
Not sure about whether he wanted her to give him a ride, Gu Qingcheng was forced to follow him.
When they left the clubhouse, the night sky had darkened and the streets were now illuminated with neon lights.
Earlier on, when Gu Qingcheng had arrived at the clubhouse, the parking lot had already been full, so she'd had to find a spot on a side street, a short distance away from the clubhouse.
Gu Qingcheng and Tang Shi walked to her car, keeping a considerable distance between them. In fact, it was a gap wide enough for passers-by to walk between them. An observer could easily have assumed that they were strangers who just happened to be walking in the same direction.
As they got closer to Gu Qingcheng's car, Tang Shi's expression grew darker and darker.
Gu Qingcheng had sensed that Tang Shi was irritated, but she had no clue as to why he was so upset, so she just kept on walking steadily, looking straight ahead of her.
Taking out her car keys, Gu Qingcheng was just about to unlock her car when Tang Shi's phone rang suddenly.
Tang Shi took the call.
The caller had a loud voice and, through the phone, Gu Qingcheng could vaguely make out the words, "Bro, I'm here to pick you up. Where are you?"