For several days, Zhou Beiming was away. Su Nian cherished the peace and quiet. Aunt Zhang was a wonderful woman, always smiling and cheerful her cooking was excellent, save for her unfortunately sweet ginger syrup. Su Nian helped with light chores; Aunt Zhang tried to stop her at first, but after a day, let her be. They got along comfortably and easily. Sometimes, Su Nian caught herself seeing echoes of Granny Qu in Aunt Zhang warm, chatty, and always with a ready smile.
Zhou Beiming called occasionally, asking her to water the plants or telling her to visit the Zhou estate for dinner with the Old Master on weekends. Small, quiet things. The days flowed like still water plain, yet gentle, far easier than she had feared.
One morning, Su Nian stood in the elevator summoning a ride; her own car was in for maintenance. Suddenly a voice called out: “Niannian! It is you! What are you doing here?”
Su Nian looked up. It was her cousin Su Jin. Su Jin was dating Gu Yinchen’s cousin Gu Zeyuan and never missed a chance to flaunt it. “Just some business,” Su Nian replied simply. Her expression remained calm, revealing nothing.
Su Jin eyed her darkly. The Su Fu Group, built from scratch by Su Haiping and Zhang Mengyue, had nothing to do with her side of the family. Her father had heard the company had pulled through its latest crisis only because Su Haiping had “sold” Su Nian to a senior executive at the prestigious Bo Yao Technology. It must be true all those executives were old men. Su Nian had no shame.
“What business?” Su Jin sneered. “Here so early… and did you even come home last night?”
Su Nian braced herself. The truth about Zhou Beiming was known only to her father and Qin Xiu. “I came to see a friend,” she said evenly.
Su Jin’s gaze dropped to the pink container in her hand. “Bringing food to your ‘friend’?”
“Yes,” Su Nian said.
Su Jin’s smirk hardened. So she really was playing mistress to some old executive. Looked like an innocent little lamb… yet nothing but cheap trash. She had always outshone Su Jin, and it galled her. Back at Gu Yinchen’s birthday, Su Jin had deliberately opened the gift and letter Su Nian had sent him, just to humiliate her. Now Su Nian served old men, while she Su Jin would marry into wealth. From now on, they were worlds apart.
“Seems you have quite the appetite,” Su Jin said sharply. “You’ll eat anything. But girls really ought to keep themselves decent… before they rot and no one wants them.”
Su Nian tuned her out completely and said nothing.
The elevator chimed. The doors slid open to the lobby. Standing there was Gu Zeyuan Su Jin’s fiancé, and Su Nian’s former classmate. He had once quietly admired her, but Su Nian had cared for nothing but her studies. Seeing her now, he looked surprised. “Su Nian? What brings you here?”
Su Jin looped her arm through his and spoke first. “She’s here for whoever’s keeping her, obviously.” She leaned up and whispered in his ear.
Gu Zeyuan’s gaze traveled slowly over her fresh-faced, pure, untouched. He curled his lip. “Hard to believe to look at her.”
Su Nian had a fair idea of what had been said. She did not care. She waved dismissively. “Cousin… I’ll be going.”
“Wait,” Gu Zeyuan called out. “You’re heading to A University, aren’t you? I’m going that way myself. Ride with me.” His eyes lingered on her, and the disdain shifted into something darker and hungrier.
Su Jin’s expression soured instantly. “Zeyuan? I thought you were heading to the golf course? Why suddenly A University?”
“President Zhou is away on business,” Gu Zeyuan replied. “He won’t be back until next week. Nothing to see here today anyway.”
Su Jin felt insecure. They had met through matchmaking; he felt she was suitable, not that he loved her. “Then let me come along too. I’ve nothing to do.”
Gu Zeyuan handed her a credit card. “Go shopping instead, dear. I’m heading there for work Brother Yinchen’s project. Not playing. Can’t spare time.”
Defeated, Su Jin nodded. But she distrusted Su Nian hadn’t she once chased Gu Yinchen? Rejected by him, she’d then spread her legs for an old man at Bo Yao. She’d probably set her sights on Gu Zeyuan too. Before leaving, Su Jin called her mother and recounted the encounter.
“People in Wan’an Apartments are powerful,” her mother warned. “Don’t provoke her openly. If she complains to the wrong man about you, we’ll suffer. We can’t afford to offend her connections.”
“Some kept woman living off a sugar daddy deserves no respect!” Su Jin scoffed. Her mother despised Su Nian especially since Su Nian’s grandparents had left their property solely to her. Demolition compensation of several million had been seized by Su Nian’s parents to found the Su Fu Group, which had since grown vast. Their relatives burned with envy.
“That little slut is worth less than nothing,” her mother said venomously. “Just used goods. Qin Xiu wants to marry her off to the second son of the Liu Garden family an autistic boy, barely brighter than an idiot. Once the Bo Yao men tire of her, she’ll be married off to a fool. If she dares make eyes at Zeyuan… you have my leave to cut her down.”
Su Jin smiled coldly. “That used-up trash? She’s been passed around enough. The poor idiot husband will wear a crown of green.” Mother and daughter laughed together.
Outside, Gu Zeyuan gestured for Su Nian to follow him to his car.
“I’ve summoned a ride,” Su Nian said. “I’ll make my own way.”
Gu Zeyuan sneered. “Still playing virtuous? You turned me down once and chased Gu Yinchen. Now you’re everyone’s so drop the act.”
Su Nian frowned. He had once seemed so refined. “Excuse me,” she said, walking past.
Gu Zeyuan blocked her path. “Tell me how much for one night? I can afford it.”
Su Nian stepped around him. “My ride is here. Kindly get out of my way.” She was not one for quarreling.
Gu Zeyuan reached for her then his phone rang. It was Gu Yinchen. He answered it, glaring as Su Nian walked away.
Su Nian hurried to the curb and climbed into her ride. Her phone chimed. A message from Zhou Beiming:
Why didn’t Aunt Zhang arrange a car for you?
So Gu Zeyuan lived here too. If she kept staying here, these two would plague her endlessly. She typed:
I don’t feel comfortable here. May I move back to my own apartment?
She waited. No reply. Was he angry? She was about to retract it when his reply came:
Fine. Then I’ll move in with you.