Zhou Bai bit her lip; she didn’t want to stay overnight at the old mansion.
She had stayed there once before, and to avoid arousing Old Master Gu’s suspicion, she had to share a room with Gu Chengjin.
But back then, she could still make an excuse to sleep on the floor. What should she do today?
She looked pleadingly at Gu Chengjin, hoping he would refuse.
Unexpectedly, Gu Chengjin clearly saw her expression but smiled and agreed, “Alright, we’ll stay tonight.”
Zhou Bai pressed her lips together angrily but didn’t dare say anything.
Gu Chengjin accompanied the old master to the study to play chess, while she returned to the room alone, fuming.
“Third Sister-in-law,” Gu Yunyun knocked and entered.
Zhou Bai quickly stood up. “Yunyun.”
“Third Sister-in-law, do you have time? Let’s go out and talk.”
“I have time,” Zhou Bai nodded.
The two went to the garden, where Gu Yunyun sat swinging on a swing.
She invited Zhou Bai to sit too, but Zhou Bai declined. She didn’t care for such girlish games.
“Yunyun, what did you want to talk to me about?”
“Third Sister-in-law, I like Lin Yuyang from your school. Do you know him?”
Gu Yunyun boldly confessed her feelings.
Zhou Bai looked at her in surprise, then nodded after a moment. “Yes, I know him. He’s quite popular at our school, two years below me. We once filmed a promotional video for the school together.”
“I’ve seen it. Everyone says you two are a perfect match, even more attractive than celebrities,” Gu Yunyun said.
Zhou Bai quickly explained, “There’s nothing between us. He’s younger than me, and I see him as a younger brother. Besides, I’m married to your third brother. I know my boundaries.”
“Third Sister-in-law, why are you so flustered? I was just joking,” Gu Yunyun said with a happy smile, then shyly took out a letter and handed it to her. “Third Sister-in-law, could you give this to Lin Yuyang tomorrow? You’re the only person I know at your school.”
“No, I’ve never done this kind of thing. I can’t.”
Zhou Bai refused.
But Gu Yunyun shoved the letter into her hand and ran off.
“Third Sister-in-law, please!”
“Yunyun?” Zhou Bai stomped her foot in frustration. “Zhou Zhou?”
Just as Zhou Bai was about to chase after her, she was unexpectedly stopped by Gu Chengyang, who suddenly appeared.
“Second Brother.”
Zhou Bai took two steps back, hiding the letter behind her.
“Zhou Zhou, how have you been these past two years?” Gu Chengyang asked.
Zhou Bai smiled lightly. “I’ve been doing well, thank you for your concern, Second Brother.”
“Doing well? But I heard from my mother that Third Brother has been constantly surrounded by scandals…”
“It’s getting late. I should go back.”
Zhou Bai interrupted him and tried to walk past him.
But unexpectedly, Gu Chengyang reached out and grabbed her arm.
Zhou Bai reacted immediately, pushing him away sharply and reprimanding him sternly with a stern face, “Professor Gu, at school I am your student, and at home I am your sister-in-law. Please mind your boundaries.”
“Third Brother was already a playboy before marrying you, and these past two years, he’s been constantly embroiled in scandals. Just the day before yesterday, he was seen entering a hotel with a female celebrity. Zhou Zhou, do you really not care at all?”
Gu Chengyang questioned.
“Those are just rumors. I believe him,” Zhou Bai said.
Gu Chengyang replied, “Whether they’re rumors or not, you know very well. And you also know very well that he doesn’t love you at all. Marrying you back then was just to spite me and my mother. I was too weak back then, Zhou Zhou. Now, all it takes is one word from you, and I’ll take you back.”
“Take me back? What do you take me for? An object? Professor Gu, there are things you simply don’t know, and you don’t understand me at all.”
Gu Chengyang showed a surprised expression.
Zhou Bai didn’t bother to explain further and turned to run away.
She hurried upstairs, forgetting about returning the love letter to Gu Yunyun.
However, as she reached the door and was about to push it open to enter her room, she overheard a conversation inside.
It was Chen Xiuzhu and Gu Chengjin.
Chen Xiuzhu spoke earnestly, “Chengjin, you and Zhou Bai have been in a secret marriage for the past two years. Everyone outside still thinks you’re unmarried. Just the other day, Pan Ruo’s aunt mentioned to me that her daughter has taken an interest in you and hopes our two families could become even closer. The He family is a perfect match for our Gu family. I’ve met Miss He and I like her very much…”
“Since she’s such a good person and you like her so much, why not introduce her to Second Brother? He’s still single.”
Gu Chengjin interrupted her, suggesting with a smile.
Chen Xiuzhu seemed angered by his words and said more sternly, “You don’t need to worry about your Second Brother’s affairs. You should focus on your own. That Zhou Bai has no background, no talent—why on earth are you insisting on settling for her? Just to spite me? Fine, I admit I was wrong. I apologize, okay? Stop holding a grudge against me and divorce her as soon as possible.”
“Mom,” Gu Chengjin chuckled, “you’re underestimating your son’s intelligence and overestimating your own importance.”
“What do you mean?” Chen Xiuzhu asked, puzzled.
Gu Chengjin replied lazily, “What I mean is, I genuinely like Zhou Bai. Do you really think I’d marry a woman I don’t like just to spite you, and stay married for two years? Does that sound plausible?”
“You genuinely like her? Impossible. Just the other day, you were caught up in a scandal with a female celebrity. Don’t tell me all of that was fake.”
Chen Xiuzhu didn’t believe him.
“If you don’t believe me, that’s fine. Wait a while, and when we have good news, you’ll believe it.”
“Gu Chengjin, I think you’re just trying to spite me.”
Chen Xiuzhu was convinced he was deliberately provoking her.
Gu Chengjin sighed helplessly, “I’m trying to talk to you properly, but you insist I’m trying to upset you. Believe it or not, there’s nothing I can do.”
Chen Xiuzhu angrily opened the door to leave, only to see Zhou Bai standing outside.
Zhou Bai felt awkward too.
She had actually intended to leave earlier, but she hadn’t expected Chen Xiuzhu to come out so quickly, so she hadn’t managed to slip away.
“Mom.”
“Don’t call me Mom. Since you overheard everything just now, you should know how much I dislike you.”
Chen Xiuzhu spoke sharply.
“She’s my wife, and as long as I like her, that’s enough. Zhou Bai, aren’t you coming in?”
Gu Chengjin stepped out to rescue Zhou Bai.
“You’re just deliberately opposing me.”
Gu Chengjin’s obvious support for Zhou Bai thoroughly enraged Chen Xiuzhu. As she stormed off, she shot Zhou Bai a fierce glare.
Zhou Bai felt utterly wronged!
It was clearly Gu Chengjin who had angered her, so why glare at her?
“Next time she yells at you like that, feel free to yell back. I’ve got your back,” Gu Chengjin said.
Zhou Bai whispered, “I wouldn’t dare.”
Nor was it necessary. After all, they wouldn’t see each other often, so why bother arguing with a stranger?
“Is it that you don’t dare, or that you don’t think it’s necessary?”
Gu Chengjin saw through her thoughts, his gaze deep and penetrating as he looked at her.
Zhou Bai felt uncomfortable under his stare and awkwardly changed the subject, “It’s getting late. I’ll go take a shower first. You should rest early too.”
After speaking, she quickly ran into the bathroom.
Gu Chengjin let out a scoff, sitting on the sofa and rubbing his temples.
Soon, the sound of rushing water came from the bathroom.
The man casually glanced at the bed again and noticed the pajamas left at the edge.
A slight smile curled at the corner of his mouth as he relaxed on the sofa and waited.