Chapter 7 – Public display of affection
The next morning, Gu Qingyan’s anger grew worse. Unable to control her anger and frustration, she couldn’t help but entertain the thought of moving out.
That day, she got up early and started packing her clothes. But as time passed and her thoughts grew muddled, she started throwing her things around out of frustration, said frustration borne of uncertainty about what she actually wanted to do.
Shen Chubai was someone who always woke up early, and on this particular morning, he had deliberately passed by Gu Qingyan’s door to see her reaction when he heard the ruckus. He pushed open the closed door, just in time to catch sight of Gu Qingyan kicking some of her clothes into a suitcase.
Shen Chubai stood silently at the door, amusement flickering in his eyes as he watched for a while before he turned his gaze towards Gu Qingyan and spoke.
“What are you doing?”
Hearing his voice out of nowhere immediately startled Gu Qingyan. Caught off-guard, her hands stiffened and she subconsciously kicked at her suitcase, knocking it out of his view before hastily responding.
“I was just searching for something nice to wear.”
She knew that she had been acting impulsively and that she didn’t actually want to actually move out. And even if she was angry and did want to move out, did she even have anywhere she could go?
Shen Chubai frowned at her answer and then walked forward, completely ignoring her surprised cry as he lifted her and carried her to the bed. After placing her down on it, he pulled her feet closer, examining them only to see that they were swollen and red.
Gu Qingyan, on observing her feet for herself, realised that she had really lost control over her emotions when she kicked the suitcase with her bare feet.
“Is this a new way of pissing me off?” Shen Chubai’s question was accompanied by a biting chill.
“I didn’t mean to…” Gu Qingyan’s muffled voice as she responded gave off the impression that she was on the verge of tears. After getting constantly rejected without a proper reason, she felt like she was on the edge of a breakdown.
Looking at her sulky face and red eyes, Shen Chubai couldn’t help his sigh and subsequent response.
“I’ll ask the family doctor to come over to prescribe you some medication, and later tonight you can come with me to see some friends. ”
When Gu Qingyan heard him say that, her instantly eyes lit up.
‘He wants me to be his female companion?’
Didn’t that mean that she was making some progress?
While her thoughts shot in every direction, Gu Qingyan’s lips opened in a swift response.
“Yes, no problem.”
After nodding to her in acknowledgement, Shen Chubai returned to his room and called the doctor, informing him about Qingyan’s condition. Afterwards, he called up his friend, Lan Mo, to tell him that he would be there for the night’s gathering.
(EN: feel like there should be a break here)
While Gu Qingyan hadn’t put too much thought into her dress for the night, she still looked good. However, even though it wasn’t a formal occasion, she couldn’t help but feel nervous about it.
When Shen Chubai finally saw Gu Qingyan walk towards him, he was awestruck, and suddenly, he felt his urge to attend the gathering rapidly diminishing. If they hadn’t already been late for it, he would’ve taken her right there and then.
Whilst his thoughts were running wild, Gu Qingyan had already gotten in the car and was now waiting for him. She stuck her head out a bit, looked at him and asked.
“Aren’t you getting in the car?”
To Shen Chubai, it seemed that she was very excited about this gathering, so he decided to put his thoughts aside for the moment. But as he did so, he decided within himself that if a moment like this ever repeated itself, he would definitely park the car in a deserted area and take her.
After driving for a while, they reached their destination, and on entry, they found everyone already indulging in drinks.
Gu Qingyan trudged behind Shen Chubai, holding onto his clothes as they went. Although she saw a few familiar faces, most of them were unfamiliar. And as her nervousness rose to the surface, Gu Qingyan started to fear that she would not be able to survive the night.
Lan Mo had originally thought that Shen Chubai agreed to attend the gathering simply because he was free, he had never imagined that he would be bringing a beautiful girl with him.
“I thought you’d gone missing when we didn’t hear from you for so many days, but it turns out you’ve just been hooking up with girls.” Lan Mo said.
Then he turned to Gu Qingyan, “How much is Shen Chubai paying you? I’ll pay you three times the amount”
Shen Chubai instantly responded to that, his tone and gaze dripping pure ice, “Watch your words.”
Noticing the change in Shen Chubai’s expression, Lan Mo immediately realised that the woman with him was someone of importance to him.
“Ah… you two sit down first.”
Lan Mo led them towards their table, and only after they had taken their seats did he get a good look at Shen Chubai’s companion, and then he realised who she was.
“Are you perhaps the little miss from the Gu family?”
Qingyan said nothing, Shen Chubai instead nodding his head in response, and immediately, Lan Mo realised why he had been so furious at his comment.
“Oh my, Chubai, so this is the actual Gu Qingyan.” A beautiful woman seated beside them cut in at this juncture.
Gu Qingyan who lay in Shen Chubai’s arms, glanced at her and immediately recalled her identity.
‘Isn’t she Shen Chubai’s schoolmate from university, Xiao Lanruo?’
At the time, Shen Chubai and Xiao Lanruo had had a very close relationship. It was said that she was also a fashion designer, a profession she had in common with Gu Qingyan. And even now, she was still dying her hair claret-red.
“Where have you been lately? I rarely ever see you around.” Xiao Lanruo asked Shen Chubai, acting as though they were very close.
“Chubai, could you let go of me for a moment? You’re holding me too tightly. I’m feeling hot.” Out of nowhere, Gu Qingyan spoke, her voice a little high-pitched.
Shen Chubai immediately let go of her, listening to her call out his name for the first time had caught him off-guard for a bit, but he liked the sound of it. In the back of his mind, he thought he’d like to hear her call his name in bed as well, but he quickly shook away those thoughts.
Qingyan then picked up her glass and took a few sips from it, adjusted herself, then leaned in towards Shen Chubai and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“I’m feeling much better now.”
Shen Chubai pinched the tip of her nose and smiled. Meanwhile, Xiao Lanruo, a bit ashamed after being ignored, awkwardly picked up a glass of wine and downed it in one gulp.
Back when they were kids, Gu Qingyan used to be a very rebellious soul. One time, she had waited in her room for Shen Chubai to come to check on her homework, but when he didn’t come even after she had waited for a long time, she got anxious and ran to Shen Chubai’s house, only to find him chatting happily with another woman.
The woman had sported highlighted burgundy hair, and she had worn the most expensive and popular makeup of that time.
Gu Qingyan, annoyed at the sight of Shen Chubai chatting away with someone else, had gone straight to the nearest saloon.
So what if that girl had had pretty red hair, hers would be even redder.
That night, when Qingyan returned to her home from the saloon, her mother immediately questioned her, surprised by the sight before her.
“Why is your hair red?!”
And that surprise was immediately followed by anger.
“Dye it back to what it was!”
That night, the Gu family’s mansion was filled with the fuming screams of Mrs. Gu.
***