After posting to her social media, Gu Yining tossed her phone onto the table with a satisfied grin. She fully expected that Fu Hanye would soon be blowing up her phone in outrage. But after a few minutes, there was still no response.
Well, he's probably busy with work and doesn't have time to scroll through his feed, she thought, shrugging.
With little else to do, she reluctantly picked up her chopsticks and decided to make the best of the meal. She tried a green bean first, popping it into her mouth. Instantly, her taste buds were assaulted by an overwhelmingly salty, bitter flavor.
"Ugh!" She spat it out almost immediately, shivering as if she'd been physically hurt.
Across the room, a few of the household staff were watching her with amused, barely concealed smiles. They were evidently delighted by her discomfort and relished the sight of their new young mistress struggling. They had taken an instant dislike to her, considering her unworthy of her position.
Gu Yining glared at them briefly before turning her attention to the plate of cucumbers. She took a bite, only to find herself assaulted by an intensely sour taste that made her entire face scrunch up. She placed her chopsticks down, grimacing. Each dish was more dreadful than the last, clearly prepared to make her meal unbearable.
She let out a sigh, a hand on her temple. The chefs hired by the Fu family were reputed to be the best, rigorously selected from among top-class five-star hotels. There was no way they could cook this badly unless it was on purpose.
Gu Yining calmly wiped her mouth with a napkin, standing up with a new plan forming in her mind. She walked to the kitchen and found two large containers, into which she carefully packed up the entire meal. The staff looked on, puzzled but too wary to ask questions, as she secured the containers and, humming lightly, left the Fu estate.
The Fu Corporation's headquarters was located in the bustling city center, dominating the skyline with its iconic fifty-eight-story building. Just a few days prior, Gu Yining's unexpected visit had shut down the building's entire security system, which was still undergoing extensive repairs. As a result, she had since been placed at the top of their "Do Not Enter" list, effectively banned from the building.
Yet here she was again, standing at the building's entrance with her head held high. As soon as she entered, a piercing alarm sounded, and within seconds, a group of well-trained security guards had surrounded her, leaving no room for escape.
Such a response! They really weren't taking any chances this time.
"What do you want now?" The receptionist approached, her tone curt and her eyes wary. Despite her bluster, she was visibly nervous; Gu Yining's previous visit had left quite an impression. She remembered watching the young woman's deft moves from under the safety of her desk.
Gu Yining offered her a sweet smile, holding up the insulated containers. "I'm here to see your CEO. I brought him some lunch."
The receptionist's eyes widened, as did those of the surrounding guards. They exchanged uneasy glances, as if collectively thinking, *Oh no, not her again. Nothing good ever comes of this.*
"I'm sorry, but Mr. Fu isn't accepting visitors at the moment," the receptionist said stiffly, trying to maintain a professional demeanor.
"Oh, come on now," Gu Yining replied, still smiling. "You haven't even checked if he's free. Why not give him a quick call and see? If he doesn't want to see me, I'll leave quietly. I promise I won't waste your time."
Her soft voice and the innocent look in her eyes made them uneasy. Under different circumstances, she might have been considered charming—if it weren't for that conspicuous birthmark on her face that kept them from fully warming to her.
The receptionist hesitated but eventually nodded. "Fine. Please wait here." She shot Gu Yining a dubious look before reluctantly picking up the phone and dialing the executive floor. Her expression grew more serious as she spoke into the phone, occasionally glancing over at Gu Yining as if trying to gauge her intentions.
After a few tense moments, the receptionist hung up and returned, her face now an inscrutable mask.