“Zhou Bai?”
Zhou Lan stared in surprise at her sister and a strange man pulling at each other.
Zhou Bai was startled.
Gu Chengjin also seemed frightened, quickly releasing Zhou Bai and pretending to be a passerby with a slightly flustered expression.
Zhou Bai almost laughed at his reaction—who would have thought Gu Chengjin could ever look so panicked?
“Who is he…”
Zhou Lan walked over, looking at Gu Chengjin as she asked Zhou Bai.
But Zhou Bai immediately grabbed her and cut her off: “Sis, why did you come back so suddenly? Do you need something?”
“Sis, what’s wrong?”
“Yes, I need something. Is that Wang Dong still inside?” Zhou Lan asked.
Zhou Bai nodded, then quickly added, “Someone suddenly came and started hitting him. I got scared and ran out. You should call brother-in-law to help him!”
“Help my foot! That scumbag has a girlfriend but still went out on a blind date. He got someone pregnant and won’t take responsibility, so her brother came to teach him a lesson. Your brother-in-law just found out about this from a phone call and is furious. I rushed back to find you so you wouldn’t get dragged into that scumbag’s mess.”
Zhou Lan cursed angrily as she explained.
Zhou Bai felt awkward and stole a glance at Gu Chengjin—was it really unrelated to him after all?
Zhou Lan also looked at Gu Chengjin, suddenly remembering what she had just seen. She whispered to Zhou Bai, “Is he some celebrity? Why would he appear in our little town? What’s your relationship with him?”
In all her life, this was the first time she had seen such a handsome man in real life.
Even though she was married, Zhou Lan couldn’t help but swoon.
“What relationship could I possibly have with him? I don’t know this person. Sis, let’s just hurry up and leave!”
Embarrassed, Zhou Bai pulled Zhou Lan away.
Zhou Lan kept looking back over her shoulder several times at Gu Chengjin, but she didn’t doubt her sister’s words.
If her sister knew such a handsome man, why would she have agreed to a blind date?
Just then, Yan Wei approached and respectfully reported, “Boss, the meeting with President Qi is scheduled for one o’clock this afternoon.”
Gu Chengjin watched the sisters’ retreating figures, his eyes deepening.
He raised his wrist and glanced at the luxury watch on it—it was almost eleven. He could make it back in time, but it would be tight.
“Contact President Qi and postpone it by an hour.”
“Yes, Boss.”
The car pulled up, and Yan Wei jogged over to open the door.
Gu Chengjin got in, and the car drove out of the city center toward the highway.
As they passed through the city, Gu Chengjin specifically asked the driver to take a detour around Gucheng Road.
Next to it was a semi-new, semi-old residential complex, no different from others. But as they passed this complex, Gu Chengjin had the driver slow down, his gaze lingering on the neighborhood a little longer.
Yan Wei knew that Zhou Bai lived in this complex.
“Zheng Ke, what kind of trash did you introduce to my sister?”
Back home, Zhou Lan berated Zheng Ke.
Zheng Ke also looked wronged. “I’m not that close with this Wang Dong either. We’ve just had a few meals together, and he seemed like a decent guy. Who knew he was this kind of person?”
“Sis, don’t argue. It’s not brother-in-law’s fault,” Zhou Bai defended Zheng Ke.
What worried her now was how she should explain things to Gu Chengjin?
Who would have thought her luck could be so bad? Running into such a terrible blind date was misfortune enough, but to be caught red-handed by Gu Chengjin…
But how could it be such a coincidence?
Would Gu Chengjin also come to Ning City for business at this exact time?
Suddenly, a possibility occurred to her—could it be that Gu Chengjin had known all along that she was coming to this blind date, and had deliberately come to catch her in the act?
But soon, she shook her head, dismissing the thought.
Her marriage to Gu Chengjin had been impulsive; they weren’t close and had no feelings for each other.
Over the past two years, she had never questioned Gu Chengjin’s romantic rumors outside, and he had never pried into her private life. Why would he go out of his way to travel from Jiangcheng to Ningshi just because she was on a blind date?
Besides, even if he knew she had been going on blind dates all along, he probably wouldn’t care.
“Zhou Bai, don’t be upset. I’ll find you someone better,” Zhou Lan said softly, seeing the troubled look on Zhou Bai’s pretty face and thinking she was upset about the blind date.
Zhou Bai shook her head. “Sis, please don’t introduce anyone to me for now. Let’s talk about it after I graduate.”
“How can that be? You don’t even try to find someone yourself. If we don’t introduce anyone to you, won’t you end up an old maid?”
“Your sister is right. Your personality might be a bit lacking, but you’re good-looking. You’ll definitely find someone good,” Zheng Ke comforted her.
Zhou Bai’s face darkened, thinking to herself, I really have to thank you two.
Soon, Zhou Fumin and Zhao Jianfang returned.
When they heard that Zhou Bai had failed yet another blind date, they both sighed in disappointment.
Especially Zhou Fumin, who said regretfully, “I was planning to do business with the Wang family, but now it’s not going to happen.”
Zhao Jianfang, however, said, “If it doesn’t work out, then forget it. Even if it did, Zhou Bai would just marry into their family. If it doesn’t, we’ll find someone willing to marry into our family next time.”
At her words, Zhou Fumin and Zheng Ke’s expressions shifted subtly, and neither of them responded.
Zhou Bai said, “I have things to do this afternoon. Mom, Dad, Sis, Brother-in-law, I need to head back to school.”
Zhao Jianfang complained, “You just got back. You’re leaving without even having a meal at home?”
“I’ll come back during the holidays,” Zhou Bai promised.
Zhao Jianfang reluctantly nodded but then took her to the bedroom. Closing the door, she pulled a stack of money from her pocket and pressed it into Zhou Bai’s hand.
“Your dad only gives you a thousand yuan a month for living expenses. What can you do with a thousand yuan these days? Take this money. Your dad doesn’t know about it. Buy yourself some nice clothes and dress up a bit more.”
“Mom, I don’t need it. I have money—scholarships—and it’s enough,” Zhou Bai declined.
Their family wasn’t poor, but Zhou Fumin was extremely stingy, even with his daughters.
Zhao Jianfang insisted, “Don’t be polite with me. Take the money and come back next time dressed nicely. Don’t worry about finding someone either. I’ll keep an eye out for you. We’ll find someone willing to marry into our family.”
“Mom, why are you suddenly thinking about finding someone to marry into our family?” Zhou Bai asked curiously.
A shadow passed over Zhao Jianfang’s face as she calmly explained, “I just feel like we’re getting older, and I’d feel more at ease if the factory were managed by someone from our own family. You don’t have any brothers, and your sister is already married. I can only rely on you.”
“Mom, you and Dad are still young. Don’t think about these things too much. I’ll take the money. Please take good care of yourselves. I have to go now.” Zhou Bai accepted the money, said goodbye to her father, sister, and brother-in-law, and took a taxi to the bus station.
On the bus ride back, Zhou Bai leaned against the window and thought about many things.
In truth, her childhood had been quite difficult. Her mother had given birth to two daughters in a row and was looked down upon by her father’s relatives. Especially her paternal grandparents, who had strongly insisted that her mother send her away to live with her maternal grandmother for a few years so they could try for a son.
Later, she did conceive twice, but neither pregnancy was carried to term.
After the last miscarriage, her mother was left completely unable to bear children.
It was around that time that she fell into the water, fell seriously ill, and was finally brought back from her maternal grandmother’s house by her parents.
Her mother had a strong-willed nature. Provoked by her grandparents and other relatives in the family, she flew into a rage, separated from the household, and moved out with her two daughters.
At first, she worked in a factory. Later, after saving up some money, she took over a factory and became her own boss. By the time she was in high school, their family already owned two factories.
The relatives on her father’s side no longer dared to look down on them.
Especially her grandparents, who moved into the large house her parents bought for them, finally acknowledged her mother and these two granddaughters.
Although her mother never gave birth to a son, she could finally hold her head high.
Especially when Zhou Bai was admitted to Jiang University, it brought her even greater pride in front of the entire family.
So, in her sophomore year, when the factory faced a crisis and seemed on the verge of collapse, she couldn’t resist Gu Chengjin’s temptation. She allowed him to secretly help her parents overcome the difficulties and agreed to his condition—marrying him.
Now, thinking back carefully, she still couldn’t understand why, among all the charming women and close confidantes around Gu Chengjin, he chose her alone.
Was it only because of Gu Chengyang?