After leaving the Civil Affairs Bureau, Gu Jing Shen still felt guilty about arriving late.
Although he had eventually shown up and the two of them had successfully completed their marriage registration, he knew that the thirty minutes Su Jin Yue had spent sitting there alone waiting for him was not something that could simply be brushed aside, especially for someone who had never liked waiting for others in the first place.
So Gu Jing Shen suggested taking Su Jin Yue out for dinner as an apology for making her wait so long.
Su Jin Yue had initially intended to refuse.
As far as she was concerned, the matter was already over, and Gu Jing Shen had a legitimate reason for being late.
But seeing how serious he was, she changed her mind.
Besides, she had only had a bowl of soup for lunch, and by then her stomach was beginning to protest.
So she agreed to have dinner with him.
Gu Jing Shen took Su Jin Yue to a restaurant not far from the Civil Affairs Bureau.
The restaurant occupied the second floor of a commercial building.
It was not particularly luxurious, but the interior was tastefully decorated.
Large glass windows let in the warm light of the late afternoon, while the tables were spaced just far enough apart to offer a sense of privacy without making the place feel cold or distant.
The staff led them to a table by the window.
Su Jin Yue sat down and casually placed her handbag beside her.
She looked at the menu in front of her, a strange feeling lingering in her heart.
Just one day ago, the man sitting across from her had been a complete stranger.
Yet today, they had appeared together at the Civil Affairs Bureau, received their marriage certificates, exchanged phone numbers and added each other on WeChat.
They were even sitting together now, having a meal as husband and wife.
Gu Jing Shen sat across from Su Jin Yue, looking as composed as ever.
When the waiter brought over the menu, he did not take it immediately.
Instead, he gently pushed it toward her.
“You order first.” Su Jin Yue took the menu and slowly flipped through it.
After considering her options for a while, she ordered several dishes she liked before handing the menu back to Gu Jing Shen.
He added a few light dishes and a dessert.
While they were waiting for the food, Su Jin Yue’s gaze happened to drift toward the entrance of the restaurant.
At that very moment, the sight of a man walking in made her pause.
It was Xia Mingzhe, the man she had gone on a blind date with the previous day.
He spotted her almost immediately as well.
At first, Xia Ming Zhe was merely surprised.
But the moment his gaze shifted to the man sitting across from Su Jin Yue, the surprise on his face quickly turned into a mocking smile.
Xia Ming Zhe had not expected to run into Su Jin Yue again so soon.
Even less had he expected the woman who had bluntly told him yesterday that she had no interest in marrying a man who only knew how to show off his wealth to be sitting in a restaurant with another man today.
Xia Ming Zhe slowly walked over.
His scrutinizing gaze traveled from head to toe over Gu Jing Shen.
The black suit he wore fit him perfectly, but there was no conspicuous brand to be seen anywhere.
Even the watch on his wrist was plain and understated.
From his clothes to his demeanor, Gu Jing Shen looked nothing like the wealthy young heirs who usually appeared beside a socialite like Su Jin Yue.
Xia Ming Zhe curled his lips into a mocking smile.
“So soon, Miss Su has already found herself a new man?” Su Jin Yue looked up at Xia Mingzhe, her expression immediately turning cold.
Xia Ming Zhe had no intention of leaving.
Instead, he looked Gu Jing Shen over for a few more seconds before letting out a laugh.
“But I really didn’t expect you to choose someone like him.” Gu Jing Shen did not respond.
He simply lifted his teacup calmly, not even bothering to spare Xia Ming Zhe a glance.
Gu Jing Shen’s arrogant, indifferent attitude irritated Xia Mingzhe.
He had assumed that anyone who could sit across from Su Jin Yue had to have some kind of status.
Yet judging from the man’s clothes and demeanor, there was nothing about him that suggested he was the heir of a wealthy family.
Xia Ming Zhe curled his lips and deliberately asked in a half-joking, half-probing tone, “May I ask which prestigious family this friend of Miss Su belongs to?” Gu Jing Shen finally put down his teacup and raised his eyes to look at him.
“Sorry to disappoint you.
I’m just an ordinary lawyer.” Xia Ming Zhe burst out laughing, his eyes sweeping over Gu Jing Shen from head to toe with even greater contempt.
“Su Jin Yue, I didn’t realize your standards were this low.” Su Jin Yue frowned.
Xia Ming Zhe seemed to find himself enjoying the conversation more and more.
“I thought the man who could make Miss Su change her mind in a single day would have to be someone extraordinary.
I never imagined he’d be nothing more than a lowly lawyer.” He sneered.
“How much can a lawyer even make?
A few million a year, if he’s lucky?
Compared to the Su family’s fortune, that’s nothing more than a drop in the ocean.” Gu Jing Shen still showed no reaction.
He picked up the teapot and calmly poured more tea into the cup in front of Su Jin Yue before filling his own.
Seeing that, Xia Mingzhe’s smile deepened.
“So a toad really thinks it can marry a swan?” This time, Gu Jing Shen remained silent for a few seconds.
He did not answer immediately.
Instead, he turned to look at Su Jin Yue.
Their eyes met.
Su Jin Yue was looking at him too, seemingly curious to know how he would respond.
After a moment, Gu Jing Shen finally looked away and said calmly, “It’s not your place, as an outsider, to judge this.
If Jinyue thinks I’m suitable for her, that’s enough.” His voice remained perfectly calm.
There was no trace of anger or desire to prove himself.
Somehow, that composure made Xia Ming Zhe feel as though he were punching a cushion.
Xia Ming Zhe pulled out the chair beside them, but instead of sitting down, he stood there and looked at Su Jin Yue, deliberately raising his voice.
“Where did you even find this nobody?” Su Jin Yue did not answer.
Xia Ming Zhe looked at Gu Jing Shen’s calm expression and curled his lips.
“The Su family is so wealthy, and you must have countless men pursuing you.
Yet in the end, you chose some dirt-poor nobody.” Su Jin Yue placed her teacup back on the table.
She had disliked Xia Ming Zhe from the very first time they met.
Before, she had simply considered him arrogant and conceited.
But now, hearing him speak about Gu Jing Shen with such contempt, she suddenly felt irritated in a way she could not quite explain.
Xia Ming Zhe failed to notice it.
He continued with a mocking smile.
“Su Jin Yue, I really don’t understand what you’re thinking.
A man without money or a family background—what exactly does he have that makes him worth choosing?” Su Jin Yue looked at Xia Mingzhe, her gaze gradually turning colder.
But before she could say anything, the man sitting across from her slowly placed his teacup down.
Gu Jing Shen finally raised his eyes to look at Xia Mingzhe.
His gaze was so calm that it was almost devoid of emotion.
“Are you finished?
If you are, please step aside.
The food is about to be served.” Xia Ming Zhe froze.
He had not expected the man he had been mocking from beginning to end to remain this calm.
Even less had he expected Gu Jing Shen to have no intention of arguing with him.
All the sarcastic remarks he had prepared in his mind suddenly seemed pointless.
Su Jin Yue looked at Gu Jing Shen, the corners of her lips lifting despite herself.
The man she had chosen really was different.
He did not need to flaunt his abilities or prove himself through harsh words.
Yet the calmer he remained, the more it felt as though he were the one firmly in control of the situation.
Xia Ming Zhe looked at the two people in front of him, his expression growing increasingly unpleasant.
He snorted coldly.
“Su Jin Yue, I hope you won’t regret this someday.” Su Jin Yue looked at him and replied calmly, “My affairs are none of your concern.” Xia Ming Zhe was left speechless.
He stared at her for a few seconds before finally saying nothing more and turning away angrily.
Only after Xia Mingzhe’s figure disappeared behind the door did Su Jin Yue withdraw her gaze.
She looked at the man sitting across from her.
“Aren’t you angry?” Gu Jing Shen raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Why should I be?” “He just called you ordinary and dirt-poor.” Gu Jing Shen paused for a moment.
“Was he wrong?” Su Jin Yue was stunned.
Gu Jing Shen smiled as he said, “Compared to you, I really am poor.” Su Jin Yue burst out laughing.
For the first time, she realized that this man was not only rational—he also had a remarkable talent for leaving people speechless while wearing an utterly serious expression.