Volume One, Chapter 96: Lured Away

Sheng Yurou caught sight of Lu Rongrong’s twisted, furious expression and allowed herself a smug smile. Song Qingyu, oh Song Qingyu, let’s see how arrogant you can be now!

Noticing Chu Xingzhi still staring at Song Qingyu, Sheng Yurou tugged him angrily. “I want a photo too—take one for me.”

Chu Xingzhi reluctantly tore his gaze away. “Alright.”

Fu Linhan had no desire to linger with Lu Rongrong and Sheng Yurou’s crowd. Knowing Pei Jingmo wanted to spend time with his wife, Fu Linhan dragged him along toward Xie Liuzheng and Song Qingyu.

“Liuzheng, could you take a few photos for us as well?” As the boss had spoken, Xie Liuzheng naturally agreed. “Of course.”

“Qingyu, let’s take one together,” she invited.

“Huh? Oh… sure…”

It was just a photo, after all. President Fu was Pei Jingmo’s friend and had helped her so much; Song Qingyu certainly wouldn’t refuse.

“You stand in the middle,” Fu Linhan said, pulling Song Qingyu to the center. Song Qingyu glanced at Gu Yuandong beside her. “President Gu—”

“Hmm? Are you cold?” Gu Yuandong asked, surprising Song Qingyu with his sudden concern.

“No, I’m not cold,” she replied.

It wasn’t warm with the snow falling, but after running around earlier, her body and face were flushed with heat. With her cheeks rosy, she looked even more beautiful.

Pei Jingmo’s dark eyes grew shadowy, the sight making him want to take a playful bite.

“President Gu, look over here—” Xie Liuzheng called.

Pei Jingmo finally shifted his gaze toward Xie Liuzheng.

“One, two, three—cheese!” she said.

Xie Liuzheng was using a Polaroid; the photo developed quickly.

“Wow, it looks amazing!” Song Qingyu ran over for a look—it truly was beautiful.

“President Gu, your mask is so handsome—mysterious and alluring.”

Pei Jingmo replied coolly, “If I could, I wouldn’t wear a mask at all.”

He said this looking right at Song Qingyu. There were many things he couldn’t confess to her yet, so he could only hint at them in this way.

Lu Rongrong, however, was convinced Gu Yuandong was interested in Xie Liuzheng. Hearing his words, she thought they were flirting.

A man only acts self-conscious before the woman he loves, she told herself. Gu Yuandong must be trying to win Xie Liuzheng’s sympathy.

Lu Rongrong gave a snort, then walked over and took Gu Yuandong’s arm, flashing Xie Liuzheng a dazzling smile. “Miss Xie, could you take a photo of Yuandong and me?”

Xie Liuzheng was full of questions. Was it her imagination, or was Lu Rongrong oddly hostile toward her? Could she still suspect she and Gu Yuandong were a couple?

With that thought, Xie Liuzheng smiled. “Of course.”

Pei Jingmo’s brow furrowed as he glanced at Song Qingyu, who had already tactfully stepped aside to give them space.

Pei Jingmo sighed inwardly.

To show Lu Rongrong that she and Gu Yuandong were perfectly innocent, Xie Liuzheng deliberately said, “Miss Lu, stand a little closer to President Gu—yes, snuggle up to him.”

Lu Rongrong sneered inwardly. Who was she pretending to be magnanimous for?

Pei Jingmo had no desire to hold Lu Rongrong, especially not in front of Song Qingyu. He pushed Lu Rongrong away and instead pulled Fu Linhan into his arms. “Let’s take one together.”

Fu Linhan was speechless.

He didn’t want his employees or his brother’s wife to get the wrong idea that he was gay, but in this situation, he couldn’t push Pei Jingmo away. Otherwise, the scene they’d staged that morning would have been for nothing.

Xie Liuzheng shot Song Qingyu a look, her expression saying, “Just as expected.”

Seeing her smile, Lu Rongrong was even more convinced there was something improper between her and Gu Yuandong. Just moments ago, she was putting on a brave front, but now that Gu Yuandong was holding Fu Linhan, she looked delighted.

Shameless!

The arrow was nocked; Fu Linhan had no choice but to play his part. Pei Jingmo’s chest was going to be leaned on by either him or Lu Rongrong today, and with Song Qingyu watching, he couldn’t let Pei Jingmo end up a lifelong bachelor.

Fu Linhan coquettishly leaned against Pei Jingmo’s chest, even giving him a gentle punch. “You scoundrel, I knew you wanted a photo with me.”

Everyone’s expressions, except for Lu Rongrong’s, were impossible to describe.

“We want a photo too!” Sheng Yurou dragged Chu Xingzhi over. “Miss Xie, let Qingyu take one for us. You come join us in the photo.”

Xie Liuzheng was about to decline when Pei Jingmo approached her. “Give me the camera. I’ll take it for you.”

“Ah, but—” Lu Rongrong’s expression was beyond words.

Seeing the young master insist, Xie Liuzheng dropped her reluctance. “Alright then, thank you, President Gu. Qingyu, let’s go take a photo.”

Xie Liuzheng pulled Song Qingyu to stand beside Fu Linhan.

Pei Jingmo raised the camera, peering through the lens at Song Qingyu—openly admiring her. Seeing his wife, his mood instantly brightened, and the corners of his mouth lifted involuntarily.

“All done.”

Xie Liuzheng was surprised. “So fast? I didn’t even have time to fix my expression. Let me see how it turned out.”

She took the phone from Pei Jingmo and shook out the photo.

Sheng Yurou leaned in as well.

Xie Liuzheng couldn’t help but laugh. “President Gu, you’re so biased—only focused on snapping beautiful shots of your own employee, ignoring everyone else!”

Aside from Song Qingyu, who looked perfect, everyone else had their eyes closed, mouths askew, or were caught flipping their hair.

Sheng Yurou, in particular, was caught mid-turn, saying something to Chu Xingzhi, her whole face twisted oddly.

Lu Rongrong looked murderous, glaring straight into the camera.

All in all—not a flattering shot.

Pei Jingmo replied calmly, “This is your most authentic look.”

Sheng Yurou compared herself to Song Qingyu and felt utterly defeated. “Hmph—Qingyu really is something else, always managing her expressions.”

Xie Liuzheng bristled at this. “President Gu took that candidly! My Qingyu is naturally beautiful—she’d look better than some people even while making funny faces.”

“You—hmph! Whatever, I came out to have fun, not to argue with you.”

“Bleh—”

Lu Rongrong saw how brash Sheng Yurou was, yet didn’t dare say a harsh word to Xie Liuzheng. It only confirmed her suspicions further.

Winter darkness fell quickly.

Chu Xingzhi had restrained himself for ages, but at last walked over to Song Qingyu. “Qingyu, the temperature difference on the mountain is big—you could catch a cold. You should wear more.”

Song Qingyu replied politely, “Thank you for your concern, but to avoid Miss Sheng’s misunderstandings, perhaps you’d better not speak to me.”

Sure enough, the next moment Sheng Yurou rushed over, latching onto Chu Xingzhi’s arm as if claiming her territory. She shot Song Qingyu a glare. “Xingzhi, let’s go to the hot spring.”

Song Qingyu couldn’t be bothered to watch their little show and turned away.

That evening—

Song Qingyu and Xie Liuzheng donned swimsuits and went to soak in the medicinal pool. As soon as she submerged herself, her fatigue melted away.

“Qingyu, want to go for a drink at the bar later?” Xie Liuzheng asked.

Song Qingyu smiled at her. “Are you looking to drink, or to find your destined one?”

“Oh, I haven’t met him yet—I just want to see if the fortune-teller’s prediction is true.”

“Then I’d better not go. If your luck in love arrives, I might block it.”

“Haha—you’re so full of yourself.”

They splashed around in the pool for a while. Since Xie Liuzheng had only just recovered from illness and Song Qingyu wasn’t in the best health, they didn’t soak for long.

When they returned to their room, it was already half-past nine.

For Xie Liuzheng, that was still early. She freshened up and asked Song Qingyu, “Will you be alright in the room by yourself?”

“No problem, go ahead… cough, cough—”

Whether it was running in the snow or getting chilled in the hot spring, Song Qingyu’s nose was stuffy and she had a slight cough.

She took her medicine and climbed into bed.

Suddenly her phone rang. Seeing it was Pei Jingmo, she answered right away. “Hello?”

“Did you have fun?” he asked.

“Yes, it was wonderful. It snowed on the mountain—so beautiful.”

“I saw it.”

Song Qingyu sat up in surprise. “You’re here? Or did it snow in Beijing too?”

“I’m downstairs at your hotel.”

“What?”

Song Qingyu’s heart pounded wildly.

Seeing her blush, Xie Liuzheng teased from the side, “What do you mean, ‘what’? He’s so busy yet came all the way to see you—go down and meet him!”

Song Qingyu was at a loss.

“It’s freezing out there—you’d better not let your precious cinnamon bun freeze to death,” Xie Liuzheng continued with a laugh. “That wouldn’t be the worst of it, though—your cinnamon bun is so good-looking, so fit… what if someone else snatched him away?”