As Zhao Meng began to speak, everyone in the private room turned their gaze to Fu Jingshen, waiting for him to take command.
Subconsciously, Gu Nian clenched her small hands under the dining table, her heart lifted in suspense. Having offended Fu Jingshen yesterday, and unexpectedly appearing before him today, she assumed Fu Jingshen did not want to see her.
"Place the order."
The magnetic words spilled from Fu Jingshen's thin lips, resounding with authority.
The man was cold by nature, and his words even more so, exuding an intimidating coldness that allowed no room for challenge. Accompanied by a strong sense of oppression, he was unapproachable by strangers.
With Fu Jingshen's instruction to order, Gu Nian knew she couldn't leave.
At that very moment, if she left, it would be a direct affront to Fu Jingshen's face.
...
Zhao Meng was secretly delighted, summoned the waiter, politely handed the menu to Fu Jingshen, and deliberately bent her waist in front of him, but Fu Jingshen did not even give the woman a glance.
"Mr. Fu, please order."
"Hmm."
Fu Jingshen subconsciously tried to pass the menu to Gu Nian, but realizing what he was doing, he discreetly pushed it to his assistant instead, his lips tightening.
"You order."
The assistant was somewhat flattered and surprised, his complexion changing slightly.
"Alright... alright, Mr. Fu."
Gu Nian: "..."
Gu Nian pursed her lips lightly, a trace of bitterness flashing in her beautiful eyes, realizing how truly terrifying habits could be.
In fact, when Fu Jingshen accepted the menu just now, she had instinctively reached out to take it.
When she was with Fu Jingshen, he would always push the menu to her every time they went to a restaurant.
Back then, to her and Fu Jingshen, the dishes on the table were divided only between what she liked and what she didn't like.
The dishes she didn't fancy, Gu Nian would set aside, which then became what Fu Jingshen ate.
And the leftovers of what Gu Nian liked ended up being eaten by Fu Jingshen as well.
Gu Cheng often couldn't bear to watch and would lecture Gu Nian to stop bullying Fu Jingshen.
Muttering with a pout, Gu Nian was full of indifference, while Fu Jingshen usually just laughed it off. There was no helping it; this woman's temperament was a result of his own indulgence.
Actually, Fu Jingshen was not a man of extreme patience in his doings, but towards Gu Nian, he lavished all his focus and patience.
...
The assistant felt as if facing a great enemy when he received the menu.
When Mr. Fu let him order, the assistant was not foolish—he naturally had to choose what Gu Nian liked.
Dependent on his memory, the assistant ordered several of Gu Nian's favorite dishes and added a few signature dishes before letting the waiter take the menu away.
Afterward, the assistant cautiously glanced at Fu Jingshen, trying to gauge his expression. Seeing no change on Fu Jingshen's face, he finally relaxed.
His job was safe for now.
Originally, Mr. Fu had not planned to attend today's meal, but hearing that Zheng Wenbo had cut off the Gu Family's essential oil supply, he anticipated that Miss Gu would inevitably come seeking help and thus he agreed to attend.
Indeed, Fu Jingshen's predictions were like divine foresight.
Gu Nian did indeed come seeking...
The assistant silently wondered why Mr. Fu had completed a month's worth of work in France in just one week, and after returning from the airport yesterday, he immediately rushed to the South City villa.
Consequently, when the assistant went to the company this morning, he discovered Mr. Fu standing alone in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, surrounded by a pile of cigarette butts in the ashtray.
The sourness within was all too apparent to the assistant, as was Mr. Fu's exhaustion, which needed no explanation.
...
The dishes were served.
Gu Nian had little appetite and, after simply fiddling with her chopsticks for a bit, wanted to leave.
Fu Jingshen narrowed his dark eyes as he glanced over the dishes, which Gu Nian had barely touched, and then his gaze reproachfully swept towards the assistant.
The meaning behind his look was clear, "What kind of food did you order?"
The assistant, receiving Fu Jingshen's reproachful gaze, felt his heart tremble with nervousness.
Gu Nian failed to notice the exchange between Fu Jingshen and the assistant, feeling extremely oppressed in the private room.
She had no interest in dealing with people like Zhao Wenbo and Zhao Meng, but... Fu Jingshen...
The fleeting memory in Gu Nian's mind was of the intimacy she shared with him the previous evening, and waking up this morning, she could still see the kiss marks Fu Jingshen had left on her neck the previous night.
...
Noticing the awkward atmosphere, Zhao Meng took the initiative to lift her wine glass with a forced smile and said, "Mr. Fu, this one's to you..."
"No need, I don't drink,"
Fu Jingshen waved his hand with a firm attitude, leaving Zhao Meng somewhat embarrassed, but she didn't get discouraged.
"It's fine, drinking is bad for the health."
"By the way, Niannian, I remember back in junior high, you were the most cheerful girl in the class."
Upon hearing this, Gu Nian's heart skipped a beat, sensing that trouble was brewing.
"Mr. Fu, you wouldn't know, but back then in the high school department, you were particularly charismatic. So many girls in the class fancied you. At that time, Niannian would see other girls clamoring about liking you and would boast about wanting to recruit you into her ranks and train you into a loyal boyfriend."
Gu Nian: "..."
It was over.
Gu Nian paled at these words and subconsciously looked in Fu Jingshen's direction. She had pursued Fu Jingshen on a dare initially, but as is often the case between men and women, one thing led to another... and she had found herself entranced by Fu Jingshen.
However, Fu Jingshen had always been proud; if he knew that she had chased him as a part of a dare motivated by spite...
Gu Nian dared not imagine whether Fu Jingshen would erupt in fury.
The entire room fell into an eerie silence due to Zhao Meng's words, so quiet that one could almost hear a pin drop.
Gu Nian looked at Fu Jingshen's inscrutable face and began slowly, "Zhao Meng, what you're talking about happened in junior high. We were young then, and many things shouldn't be taken seriously. Besides, I don't think you and I are close enough to be dredging up the past."
"I was just seeing Mr. Fu here, and as a person involved back in the day, I wanted to have a brief chat with him, that's all."
Zhao Meng feigned innocence and coquettishness, then covered her mouth as if in surprise, looking at Fu Jingshen and saying, "Oh my, Mr. Fu, you couldn't possibly be unaware of this, could you?"
A sharpness flashed in Fu Jingshen's eyes, his lips pursed, and he coldly uttered,
"Get out..."
Zhao Meng's face turned white, as she instinctively looked towards Gu Nian. Could it be that Fu Jingshen had found out the truth and was telling Gu Nian to get out?
Zhao Wenbo felt a secret joy, thinking that maybe Zhao Meng had a chance with Fu Jingshen.
If they could cling to the high branches of the Fu family, then the Zhao Family's future would be smooth sailing.