Gu Xingmo’s timely delivery of clothes was like a much-needed lifeline.
Su Jiaobai immediately went to open the door.
Liu Ma stood at the door, holding the clothes, and relayed Gu Xingmo’s message: “Sir said that Teacher Su is visiting her family today, so it’s better to dress a bit nicer.”
Su Jiaobai understood Gu Xingmo’s intention; appearing poor and shabby when visiting her family would invite ridicule from the Lu family.
This was precisely what Su Jiaobai had been thinking, which was why she had considered going to the mall to buy something on the spot.
“Please thank Mr. Gu for me and tell him I really like this dress.” After taking the clothes, Su Jiaobai smiled brightly and asked Liu Ma to convey her gratitude.
Liu Ma had been working there for several years and knew a bit about Gu Xingmo and Su Jiaobai’s situation. She could sense the subtle changes in their relationship.
She was happy to see the growing affection between her employer and his wife, so she immediately said, “I’ll go now.”
“Thank you, Liu Ma.”
After Liu Ma left, Su Jiaobai closed the door and changed into the dress.
The dress Gu Xingmo had sent was an apricot-colored, belted, long-sleeved dress. Su Jiaobai couldn’t identify the brand, but judging by the cut and the feel of the fabric, she guessed it was from a high-end brand.
The puffiness from pregnancy and childbirth hadn’t completely disappeared.
Her arms and waist were soft and fleshy.
Although she wasn’t excessively overweight, her figure wasn’t ideal.
This dress, however, was designed to flatter her figure, concealing her flaws and highlighting her strengths.
For example, the belted waist concealed the flesh around her abdomen, creating a semblance of a waistline. The dress was sleeveless, exposing her fair skin and delicate collarbones. The sleeves extended to her elbows, perfectly covering her “bat wings.”
The midi-length skirt fell just below her knees, covering her slightly thicker thighs while revealing her slender calves.
It could be said that the rough-around-the-edges Gu Xingmo had good taste; the dress he chose was to her liking.
Wearing such a beautiful dress, with her long, straight black hair, and swapping her glasses for contact lenses, she could be considered a beauty.
The only drawback was the exquisite attire without makeup.
Su Jiaobai usually lived a rather unkempt life and didn’t wear makeup. She only kept a lip gloss handy for occasional touch-ups.
Lip gloss was suitable for a simple daily look, and it complemented Su Jiaobai’s bare face perfectly.
With the lip gloss on, her overall appearance improved significantly.
After admiring herself in the mirror, Su Jiaobai went downstairs with satisfaction.
Downstairs, Sister Zhou was changing Junzai’s diaper on the changing table.
Perhaps feeling comfortable after being put in a dry diaper, Junzai was in a good mood and was babbling happily.
After Su Jiaobai came downstairs, she played with Junzai for a while. Then, looking around and seeing that Gu Xingmo wasn’t there, she asked Liu Ma, “Where is Mr. Gu?”
Liu Ma, busy preparing Su Jiaobai’s breakfast in the open-plan kitchen, poked her head out and said, “I saw Mr. Gu call for the driver to pick him up, so he’s probably gone to the company.”
Su Jiaobai said “Oh” and didn’t pay further attention.
She had never paid attention to him or his company matters before.
Now, she might pay attention to him as a person, but she still had no interest in his company.
She only needed to go to the Lu family for lunch, so leaving at ten o’clock would be timely.
After breakfast and spending some more time with Junzai, Su Jiaobai went upstairs to her study to continue preparing her lessons.
Around 9:30 AM, her phone buzzed. She casually picked it up to check. Seeing a bank notification, she initially thought it was spam and put it back. Then, she suddenly realized something and tremblingly picked up her phone again, unlocked the screen, and opened the message.
And then—
A message from the bank showing a deposit of 200,000 yuan appeared before her eyes.
She was afraid she had misread it, so she carefully counted the zeros several times.
Indeed, there were five zeros.
At this point, Su Jiaobai lost all desire to continue preparing her lessons.
Although Gu Xingmo had promised to give her 200,000 yuan in pocket money each month, and as a big boss, he wouldn’t go back on his word, she hadn’t expected him to be so efficient. He had only agreed last night, and the money had arrived by this morning.
Her own workplace didn’t even process salary payments that quickly.
Who wouldn’t love a boss like this?
With this money, what else could she possibly want from her first love? Why would she cheat?
Other men, all of you, get lost!
If you’re going to have issues with anyone, it shouldn’t be with money.
Because of the 200,000 yuan, Su Jiaobai paced back and forth in her study for half an hour before her emotions finally calmed down.
After some hesitation, she decided she should thank Gu Xingmo.
She wanted to express her gratitude and encourage him to continue paying on time, not to dampen his enthusiasm for future payments.
She opened WeChat, found the chat from yesterday, and carefully typed out her message: “I really like the dress, thank you for your thoughtful preparation. Also, I received the money~ Thank you, boss~” She attached a “Thank you for the red envelope, boss” emoji.
After sending the message, she felt a nervous anticipation for his reply.
In the past, she was indifferent to Gu Xingmo; his life or death was of no concern to her. But now, he was willing to spend money on her, he was her sugar daddy, so his well-being, both physical and mental, was extremely important.
Her phone beeped, and Su Jiaobai immediately checked it.
Gu Xingmo had only replied with two words: “Downstairs.”
He must have returned from the company.
Because of the 200,000 yuan, Su Jiaobai’s mood was so elated that she practically flew downstairs.
In the living room downstairs, Sister Zhou had already packed Junzai’s belongings. Gu Xingmo had also returned, showered, and changed his clothes. They were just waiting for Su Jiaobai to come down before they could leave.
Because there were more people and a car seat for the baby was needed, they had switched to a seven-seater car to go to the Lu family’s house.
Driver Zhou Yue had also come over from the company with Gu Xingmo. Gu Xingmo had some work to handle in the car, so Zhou Yue was driving.
Su Jiaobai had met Zhou Yue two or three times but wasn’t familiar with him. Upon meeting him, she smiled at Zhou Yue, acknowledging him.
Zhou Yue seemed flattered and immediately and solicitously opened the car door for Su Jiaobai, the daughter of the Lu family and the president’s wife.
Su Jiaobai politely said, “Thank you.”
Zhou Yue drove, and Gu Xingmo sat in one of the middle seats. In the back row, after placing the car seat, there was only enough space for Sister Zhou.
Therefore, Su Jiaobai had to choose between the other middle seat and the front passenger seat.
Seeing Gu Xingmo holding a notebook with dense curves she couldn’t understand, she thought it might be business confidential information. She proactively said, “If you’re busy, I won’t sit next to you and disturb you. I’ll sit in the front passenger seat.”
Zhou Yue: “…”
Gu Xingmo glanced at her but said nothing, continuing to focus on his work.
Su Jiaobai was merely informing him, not asking for his permission. So, after informing him and seeing that he didn’t object, she closed the door and sat in the front.
Zhou Yue: “…”
Shortly after the car started, Gu Xingmo finished his work. He closed his notebook, and his dark eyes stared ahead.
Zhou Yue, seeing this in the rearview mirror, felt as if the boss was staring at him.
Zhou Yue: “…”
The forty-minute car ride felt like four hours.
The car was air-conditioned, yet he was sweating profusely.
To make matters worse, the president’s wife beside him was overly concerned, asking why he was sweating and if he was hot, offering him a tissue to wipe his face.
Zhou Yue: “…”
“Thank you, Madam, I’m fine.” He said gratefully, but inwardly he pleaded, “Please don’t worry about me anymore, I can’t handle it. Besides, I’m married. And I have a happy family with a virtuous wife and loving children.”
As Zhou Yue spoke, Gu Xingmo glanced at Su Jiaobai beside him.
Zhou Yue, who was overly focused on his boss’s reaction in the back seat, naturally noticed this gesture and felt a sense of dread.
His mind was buzzing, and a million thoughts were racing through his head, giving him a headache.
However, Gu Xingmo wasn’t thinking much of it. He simply noticed that Su Jiaobai didn’t seem to mind or reject being called “Madam.” He found it somewhat novel.
Previously, in front of Liu Ma and Sister Zhou, she had sternly emphasized that they didn’t need to call her “Madam” or “Mrs.,” but just “Teacher Su.”
Therefore, including himself, everyone had always called her “Teacher Su.”
Zhou Yue hadn’t interacted with her much and didn’t know these details, so he had addressed her as “Madam.”
If it were before, she would have corrected him sternly. But now, she didn’t seem to care much.
Thinking about her changes over the past two days, Gu Xingmo increasingly felt that something must have happened to her.
However, if she didn’t mention it, he wouldn’t ask.
Soon, the car arrived at the Lu family’s villa. To show her friendliness towards her stepdaughter, Wu Yichun immediately came out to greet them upon hearing the car.
As she went out to greet them, she called out, “Ating, it’s Jiaobai and the others. Come out quickly.”
Lu Ting was also eager to hug his grandson, but due to his pride and status, he wasn’t very proactive.
It was only after his wife’s repeated urging that he reluctantly got up from the sofa.
Seeing her husband finally leave the sofa, Wu Yichun fully stepped out to greet them.
“Jiaobai, Xingmo, we’ve finally been waiting for you.” Wu Yichun was extremely enthusiastic and greeted them warmly.
Gu Xingmo nodded at her and, as before, addressed her as “Madam Lu.”
Then, seeing his father-in-law, Lu Ting, slowly approaching, Gu Xingmo greeted him, “Chairman Lu.”
Lu Ting valued Gu Xingmo and naturally engaged in pleasantries with him.
After Su Jiaobai got out of the car, she naturally greeted Lu Ting and Wu Yichun, “Dad, Aunt Wu.”
Before, she had sensed a change in her attitude through the phone call, and it hadn’t felt entirely real. Now, seeing her adopt the same attitude in person as she had on the phone, Wu Yichun became even more enthusiastic.
“Jiaobai, your father and I are overjoyed that you’ve come home.” Wu Yichun said, affectionately taking Su Jiaobai’s hand.
Su Jiaobai, however, looked at her stepmother.
Knowing that she was a cannon fodder supporting character in a novel, Su Jiaobai couldn’t help but view the novel’s protagonist with a biased perspective. She felt that although her stepmother was older, she indeed had the aura of a “white lotus” character.
Kind, gentle, tolerant…
While her appearance wasn’t as stunning as Lu Leyao’s, she was pure and approachable. If Lu Leyao was a vibrant rose, she was a pure white jasmine.