Back in her bedroom, Gu Qingyue finished washing up, changed into her soft, plush pajamas, and sank into the cozy bed, falling into a deep sleep.
She slept soundly through the night until morning.
The next day, Gu Qingyue stepped out of the elevator in her cotton slippers. Shang Yuze was already at the breakfast table. Hearing her, he lifted his brow and looked her way.
The girl’s skin was as fair as snow, her features vivid and refined. Though bare-faced, her delicate brows and bright eyes made her look stunning.
A servant bowed slightly. “Good morning, Young Madam.”The title momentarily startled Gu Qingyue, but she nodded politely. “Good morning.”
Shang Yuze called out, “Come on, or you’ll be late for class.”Gu Qingyue pulled out the chair across from him and sat down.
“How did you sleep last night?” Shang Yuze asked, placing a bowl of hot porridge in front of her.
Her voice was slightly hoarse. “Very well.”
Shang Yuze’s gaze was steady. “If you need anything, make sure to tell the servants at home.”
“Mm,” she replied, taking small sips of the steaming porridge, feeling the warmth spread through her body.
Shang Yuze continued, “I have an apartment near school in Yulong Bay. It’s been cleaned, and there’s a cook arranged for you. You can rest there when you don’t have classes.”
Gu Qingyue tightened her fingers around her spoon, lowering her gaze. “You don’t need to go to such trouble.”
She could always return to her dorm during breaks or lunchtime.
Shang Yuze’s expression remained calm. “It’s no trouble. After all, it’s your house too.”
Her heart surged. Being with Shang Yuze made her feel so secure. He even thought of such small details for her.
They finished breakfast quietly.Seeing her set down her chopsticks, Shang Yuze asked, “Are you full?”
She wiped her mouth with a napkin and nodded lightly.Shang Yuze stood up and, passing by her, said, “Let’s go.”
Gu Qingyue looked up at him, her clear, beautiful eyes shining.
Shang Yuze lowered his gaze slightly. “The company is on the way to Jing University. I’ll take you to school.”
Her heart fluttered. She had never imagined Shang Yuze would escort her to school. As a child, she had envied other kids being dropped off by their parents but now, she no longer needed to envy anyone.
Fifteen minutes later, the car stopped at the entrance of Jing University.Before getting out, Shang Yuze handed her a black bag.
“I’ve arranged for Shang Ye to be your driver. When I’m busy, he’ll take you to and from school. Call me if anything comes up.”
“Oh,” Gu Qingyue obediently replied. Holding the bag, Shang Yuze suddenly remembered that tonight he had agreed to let Xu Youning and Song Ranran join her for dinner.
But would he really allow her to go out with friends?
Seeing her hesitant expression, Shang Yuze patiently asked, “Do you have something to say?”
Meeting his kind gaze, she asked carefully, “I want to go out for dinner with my friends tonight. Is that okay?”
She quickly added, “They’re all girls you met yesterday.”Her cautious manner made him smile. “Call me after dinner. I’ll come pick you up.”
“I can get home myself,” she protested, worried about troubling him.
“Riding in a stranger’s car at night isn’t safe,” he said firmly, repeating himself. “Call me when you’re done. Got it?”
Gu Qingyue blinked, completely convinced, and nodded. “Mm, got it.”
When Gu Qingyue arrived in class, it was almost time for the lesson to start. The back seats were full, but the first two rows in the middle were completely empty.
“Yueyue, Yueyue, over here!” Xu Youning waved.
Gu Qingyue had barely sat down when Xu Youning and Song Ranran flanked her, forming a mock “interrogation squad.”
Xu Youning grabbed her arm, feigning severity. “Spill it already!”
She had spent all night thinking about it. The man really looked familiar, but she couldn’t recall where she had seen him.
Song Ranran nudged her with her elbow, a gossiping smile on her face. “You’ve got such a handsome boyfriend and didn’t tell us? That’s seriously unfair.”
The class bell rang, and a few students rushed in with a swoosh.
Gu Qingyue pulled out her textbooks. “I’ll tell you all about it at dinner tonight.”The morning was calm, autumn mist like smoke, wind rustling the leaves peaceful and serene.
By the next class, Gu Qingyue finally opened the black bag Shang Yuze had given her.Inside were various imported snacks, a thermos, and even tissues, wet wipes, and hair ties.
Her eyes welled up, her nose tingling. In all her life, no one had ever cared for her so thoughtfully.She pulled out the thermos.
Xu Youning caught a glimpse of it and widened her eyes in disbelief, staring at it again to make sure she wasn’t imagining things. Then she asked,
“Yueyue, did you just hit the jackpot?”
“Huh?” Gu Qingyue, finishing a sip of water, tightened the lid. She didn’t understand what she meant.
Xu Youning pointed at the thermos. “Five thousand yuan for one.”
Gu Qingyue’s pupils contracted in shock. The thermos was plain white with a silver logo, unremarkable in appearance, but absurdly expensive.
Staring at it, she felt a strange, indescribable sensation.With five minutes left before class, Gu Qingyue went to the restroom.On her way out, she bumped into Gu Jiaxin.
Gu Jiaxin studied at Jing University’s Performing Arts Department. Vain and showy, she had already made her wealth and family status known on the first day.
In Beijing, the top financial families were led by the Shang family, followed by the Pei and Xu families.Although the Gu family was second-tier, it still had a respectable reputation in the city.
Gu Jiaxin’s face was made up flawlessly, with a diamond necklace around her neck and a diamond bracelet on her wrist she radiated wealth.But excessive luxury made her seem tacky, like a nouveau riche.Still, she was self-satisfied, thinking these symbols proved her status.
Seeing Gu Qingyue’s stunning beauty, jealousy flashed in her eyes, and she immediately snapped, revealing her true nature. “Gu Qingyue! You actually have the face to show up at school?
Since she had already torn her relationship with Gu Qingyue beyond repair, there was no need for her to pretend to be a devoted sister anymore.