Volume One, Chapter 45: Delight!

Song Qingyu was thoroughly amused by Xie Liuzheng’s baseless suspicion.

“Their builds are somewhat similar, but they’re definitely not the same person.”

“You’re that certain?”

“Yes.”

First of all, leaving aside the odds of Gu Yuandong randomly going to work at a construction site and just happening to save her, their lifestyles are entirely different. Gu Yuandong wore bespoke suits, dined at upscale restaurants, and used custom-blended cologne.

On the other hand, Pei Jingmo only owned cheap T-shirts, smelled of laundry detergent, and wasn’t picky about food. Most importantly, with all the women a crown prince could have, why would he bother to play the role of her husband?

“Besides, Pei Jingmo doesn’t even know how to tie a tie. When he went out, I had to help him with it—”

The memory of tying his tie made Song Qingyu’s cheeks burn again.

Pei Jingmo was tall and broad, and she had to stand on tiptoe to reach his neck, struggling with the task. She’d wanted him to lower his head to make it easier, but instead, he suddenly lifted her up. If she hadn’t seen his righteous, matter-of-fact expression, she might have suspected he had ulterior motives.

Xie Liuzheng was almost convinced. “I’ve watched a lot of scripts lately—rich young masters go to work on construction sites to test the heroine’s sincerity.”

“Do you think the crown prince has that much free time? Besides, I don’t even know him; he has no reason to do such a thing.”

“That’s true.”

“Right, stop doubting. Yesterday was Pei Jingmo’s birthday. When I went to the construction site to celebrate with him, I saw how close he was with his coworkers. That kind of trust and camaraderie can’t possibly exist without time spent together.”

Xie Liuzheng was finally persuaded. She had only voiced her suspicion casually, with no factual basis.

After chatting for a while, Song Yanfeng called.

“Qingyu, what does the crown prince think of me?”

Song Qingyu replied irritably, “Just as you’d expect.”

“What does that mean? Didn’t you say anything good about me to him?”

Song Qingyu laughed, “What have you done that’s worth me speaking up for you?”

Song Yanfeng was furious, but he didn’t dare act superior as he used to. After all, the only person in his family who could connect with Gu Yuandong was Song Qingyu.

“Qingyu, I’ve already given you Heart Bridge. I hardly spoke with President Gu today. Could you help your father ask which project President Gu is most optimistic about lately?”

Song Qingyu refused without hesitation. “No.”

“What?”

“Let’s keep things separate. You gave me Heart Bridge, I let you meet President Gu. You know how busy he is—most people can’t even get an audience. If you didn’t make good use of the opportunity, that’s your problem, not mine.”

After hanging up, Song Qingyu clenched her fist and shouted, “That felt great!”

Song Yanfeng finally got a taste of his own medicine—serves him right!

The same night—

Some rejoiced, others despaired.

Chu Xingzhi’s mood was abysmal.

He hadn’t managed to secure Xie Qingya’s posthumous work for Song Qingyu, and now he was too ashamed to face her again.

Sheng Yurou kept pestering him, insisting that if he wanted to connect with Gu Yuandong, he needed to be with her.

It felt as though the entire world was against him.

Meng Yucheng called just then.

“Xingzhi, good news—the private detective finally found out who Gu Yuandong’s first love is.”

Chu Xingzhi had no interest in who Gu Yuandong’s first love was. He only wanted to know how to get that woman into Gu Yuandong’s bed.

Meng Yucheng said, “Saturday night, Fu Linhan will throw a birthday party for Gu Yuandong at Xiaotan Mountain. It’s far from the city, and after drinking, he’ll definitely stay there overnight. I’ll arrange for someone to send that woman to Gu Yuandong’s room.”

Chu Xingzhi’s eyes sharpened. “Good.”

—

With Pei Jingmo’s careful care and the boost of her good mood, Song Qingyu recovered quickly.

She went to work, cheerful as ever.

While waiting for the elevator, she noticed the crowd suddenly disperse. Turning around, she saw Gu Yuandong.

After having Pei Jingmo impersonate Gu Yuandong last night, Song Qingyu felt a pang of guilt upon seeing the real one.

“Good morning, President Gu.”

“Mm.”

Pei Jingmo glanced at his wife and replied coolly, “Morning.”

Seeing him stand at the staff elevator entrance, Song Qingyu was unsettled.

Wasn’t the direct elevator to the executive office better? Why squeeze in with the employees?

Could he be trying to foster rapport with the staff?

When the elevator arrived at the first floor, Pei Jingmo entered. Noticing that Song Qingyu hadn’t moved, his gaze lingered on her.

“Wait for me—”

Jie Changhe came running over. Song Qingyu grabbed him, “President Gu, please go ahead. Manager Jie and I still have something to discuss.”

Pei Jingmo’s sharp eyes fell on Song Qingyu’s hand clutching Jie Changhe’s arm.

Jie Changhe trembled. If President Gu’s gaze had substance, his arm would already be gone.

He quickly pulled free, about to speak, but the elevator doors had already closed.

Jie Changhe: ...

Why did he feel like he was doomed?

He gritted his teeth and looked at Song Qingyu. “Miss Song, why did you suddenly grab me?”

“It was for your own good.”

“Huh?”

“Riding the elevator with President Gu is so stressful—I saw you sweating last time. Too much pressure shortens your life.”

Song Qingyu added, “I don’t want to ride with him either, but couldn’t find a reason not to go up, so I had to pull you in.”

Jie Changhe was thoroughly exasperated.

The two of you are playing the ‘strangers at work’ game—why drag me into it?

Am I part of your play now?

All morning, Jie Changhe felt like he was sitting on needles, as if a sword hung over his head.

At noon, Song Qingyu received an internal call from the secretary in the executive office.

“Miss Song, President Gu is looking for you.”

Song Qingyu instantly broke into a cold sweat. “Did he mention what it’s about?”

“No.”

Song Qingyu: ...

This is bad. Has Gu Yuandong discovered she had Pei Jingmo impersonate him, and wants to settle accounts?

What should she do?

Wait.

Song Qingyu opened her bag and took out the gift she had planned to give Gu Yuandong.

He had helped her retrieve her mother’s painting, and she’d always wanted to thank him, but hadn’t found the opportunity.

Now was the perfect time.

A gift softens the recipient’s heart. If he accepted it, surely President Gu wouldn’t kill her?

Nervously, she walked to the executive office door, took a deep breath, and knocked.

“Come in.”

Hearing Gu Yuandong’s deep, pleasant voice, Song Qingyu pushed the door open.

The executive office was even more minimalist than she had imagined, but certainly spacious, with a giant floor-to-ceiling window.

The president was bent over his work. Perhaps because he had served in the military, even seated, his posture was impressively straight.

“President Gu ... you wanted to see me?”

Pei Jingmo set aside his work and looked up at her coolly. “Miss Song seems quite afraid of me?”

“Huh? No ... President Gu is so nice, how could I possibly be afraid of you?”

Though she said this, Song Qingyu thought privately, “Boss, don’t blame me—if you went out and asked, you’d see that everyone in the company is afraid of you.”

“Is that so? I thought Miss Song didn’t want to share an elevator with me because she had a guilty conscience for something she’d done to me!”