"I'm not blaming you; it's just that I might be coming down with a cold. I can't treat your nose tonight until I recover myself. I'd hate to infect you. Otherwise, you'll only say I'm trying to elicit sympathy with my antics," Gu Yining retorted, her tone sharp and dismissive.
She wasn't about to fall for Fu Hanniann's tactics. Who did he think he was, throwing cold barbs at her? With a few quick words, she managed to send him right back to where he came from. After that, she strode up the stairs, headed to her room to take a hot shower.
Frustrated, Fu Hanniann slammed the magazine down onto the coffee table, losing all interest in it. Why was it that this woman always managed to throw his emotions into disarray?
It was infuriating.
With a loud bang, he closed the door to his study, wanting nothing more than to escape her presence.
After her shower, Gu Yining emerged from her room dressed in cozy cotton pajamas adorned with cartoon characters. In her hand was a packet of cold medication, and she poured a cup of hot water to dissolve the powder.
Just then, Li Feng was preparing to leave for the day. He approached Gu Yining cautiously, trying to offer some friendly advice. "Young Madam, don't you think Young Master's temper seemed a bit more volatile today?"
"When is he not in a foul mood? He's like the weather—sunny one moment, stormy the next. I'm not a weather forecast; how am I supposed to predict when he'll blow up?" Gu Yining replied, her pride refusing to let her grovel before him.
"Young Master has his quirks, but there are reasons behind them. His parents passed away when he was young, and he's faced immense pressure from the family. Don't forget why you married him in the first place. If you still remember that, you should take the initiative more often," Li Feng urged.
"He's gay; what do you expect me to do?" Gu Yining snapped, frustration bubbling over. She gulped down the dissolved medication and slammed the glass onto the table, letting out an exasperated huff.
It wasn't that she didn't want to make an effort; it was just that she had picked the wrong person—a husband who preferred men. What could she do about it? She couldn't exactly undergo gender reassignment surgery. And who would even bear the children?
"Well, have you ever considered trying to turn him straight?" Li Feng suggested hesitantly.
"I thought about it but quickly gave up. I have a psychological aversion to using anything that has been used by a man," she declared, rising from her chair with her glass in hand and heading back upstairs.
Li Feng stood there, utterly defeated. His attempt to play matchmaker had failed miserably.
Once back in her room, Gu Yining settled at her desk, tying her hair back with a scrunchie and putting on a facial mask. She lazily opened her laptop and chatted with her friends in the gossip group for a while.
Ding-dong.
A new email notification popped up on her screen.
Curious, she quickly clicked on it.
"Dear Miss Leon, I am the agent for Miss Ye Fanxing. She is very interested in your award-winning fragrance 'Encounter.' Would you be open to selling it? We can discuss the price."
Ye Fanxing.
Oh my gosh.
Gu Yining was so shocked that she nearly dropped her mask onto her laptop.
Ye Fanxing was a top supermodel who had burst into the entertainment industry with her stunning physique and beautiful face, quickly rising to fame. She was now one of the biggest stars in the industry, shining brightly and widely recognized.
Having such a high-profile celebrity interested in her fragrance could be a lucrative opportunity.
Leaning back in her chair, Gu Yining's mind raced with visions of soaring profits.
She promptly replied to the email, agreeing to meet with Fanxing at her studio the next day to discuss details.
The meeting was scheduled for around eleven in the morning, right after her two classes.
Ye Fanxing's studio was an independent agency focused entirely on supporting her entertainment career.
After being led by a secretary, Gu Yining entered a waiting room to sit for a moment.
As she waited, a man whistling a tune strolled down the corridor. He happened to glance into the waiting room and spotted Gu Yining sitting there. Instantly, he stopped in his tracks, pushed open the door, and walked in. "Sister-in-law, what are you doing here?"