Chapter 16: Gu Jinzhou Plays Basketball, Ruan Ruan Suffers

Xia Xin’s steak was perfectly seared—crispy on the outside, tender within.

Su Ruanruan sighed inwardly. Was this her official announcement?

After briskly leaving the greenhouse, Su Ruanruan dialed Mu Xin’er’s number, seeking counsel from her trusted strategist.

Mu Xin’er said, “Who doesn’t see that you and Gu Jinzhou are involved? Do you think we’re blind? Gu Jinzhou has spoiled you rotten. Ever since you were a child playing hide and seek, you’ve only looked out for your head, not your backside!”

Su Ruanruan gasped, “You all knew?!”

Mu Xin’er was silent.

“Gu Jinzhou’s possessiveness is so strong, there’s no way he’ll marry another woman. If you ever dared to wed someone else, he’d probably kill you—then chop up your husband!”

Su Ruanruan blushed, “Xin’er, could you please watch your language?”

Mu Xin’er replied coldly, “No way. I’m about to be tortured to death by my thesis! I’m being polite now; I curse way worse in bed. Oh, by the way, I haven’t told you—I got myself an older man to help relieve my thesis stress. I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before. If he’s not my lover from a past life, he must be some distant relative?”

“What?!” Su Ruanruan’s face burned with embarrassment. “Xin’er, you have to find out who he really is. Don’t mess around!”

Mu Xin’er said, “I already messed around, but I promise I won’t do it again.”

Su Ruanruan sighed, “Well, what’s done is done. Just promise me you’ll return home early. If you don’t, I’ll be heartbroken.”

Mu Xin’er, cigarette in one hand and coffee in the other, scratched her tousled hair and replied hoarsely, “Alright, alright. I’ll come back after I finish my thesis. I was even planning to catch a couple of concerts. Honestly, I’m impressed—you’re pushing me to return, but won’t tell me why.”

Reassured by Mu Xin’er’s promise, Su Ruanruan felt at ease.

She wished for Mu Xin’er’s early return because soon Su Lan’er would be entwined in bed with Rong Xiu!

In her past life, Rong Xiu had protected Su Lan’er well. Mu Xin’er only discovered the affair between him and Su Lan’er after she became pregnant with his child, leaving her in a precarious position.

Had Mu Xin’er learned earlier about Rong Xiu and Su Lan’er’s betrayal, she would have held the upper hand!

—

Noon.

Whenever Su Ruanruan thought about her past life, nightmares plagued her.

A thin sheen of sweat covered her body, the pink lace camisole clinging to her skin. She was just about to take a shower when her phone rang.

Behind his lenses, Gu Jinzhou’s phoenix-like eyes were calm and detached. His slender, jade-like fingers held a pen as he methodically reviewed documents.

When the video call connected, the man glanced up, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly.

Wrapped in a delicate slip that hugged her soft, alluring curves, the lace accentuating her ample cleavage, the little temptress had no idea how enticing she was. She made a funny face at the man on the screen, swaying her snowy-white, supple body back and forth, making Gu Jinzhou’s mouth go dry, his usually proud self-control nearly breaking down.

His voice was hoarse and low. “Baby, have you eaten?”

Su Ruanruan: “Already ate, already ate.”

Gu Jinzhou: “I’m playing basketball with Rong Xiu this afternoon, and I have a gathering tonight.”

Su Ruanruan frowned. “So you’re going to smoke and drink again?”

Gu Jinzhou said nothing.

Su Ruanruan pressed, “Is it absolutely necessary?”

Gu Jinzhou replied, “If it were for a serious reason, I might skip it, but they’ll wait at the company entrance to block me and persuade me to join.”

Unconsciously, Su Ruanruan rubbed the silk quilt. After hanging up, she quickly showered.

She had to save Gu Jinzhou!

“Uncle Meng, please arrange a driver for me. I’m going to pick up Gu Jinzhou after work!”

“All right, young miss.”

—

The Gu Corporation boasted various entertainment and fitness facilities.

The lively basketball court erupted with cheers.

After a powerful dunk by Gu Jinzhou, the crowd erupted in applause and flattery.

“Ahhh, President Gu is so handsome!”

“In a suit, he’s a refined gentleman; in sportswear, a dashing college hunk—utter perfection!”

“Did you see his eight-pack abs during that dunk?”

“Absolutely! The woman in President Gu’s bed must be so lucky.”

Wearing a high-waisted pleated skirt and clutching a red mini Kelly bag, Su Ruanruan watched the game from above.

She had planned to wait until Gu Jinzhou finished playing before ‘reuniting’ with him, but within minutes, their eyes met.

Gu Jinzhou played fiercely and relentlessly, not only overwhelming the opponents but also exhausting his own teammates.

After the game, Rong Xiu drained a bottle of water.

“Gu Jinzhou, did you take some kind of medicine? You’re unstoppable!”

“Something like that.”

Gu Jinzhou hadn’t drunk any water; his heavy breathing and footsteps blocked Su Ruanruan’s path.

“Baby, aren’t you going to hand me some water?”

Su Ruanruan was stunned—she hadn’t expected to bring water for Gu Jinzhou.

He said, “It’s okay.”

He cupped her face and kissed her fiercely and deeply.

After a long moment, Su Ruanruan, breathless and fainting, collapsed into Gu Jinzhou’s arms, utterly helpless.

Rong Xiu tapped Gu Jinzhou’s arm with the water bottle, teasing, “Better hydrate quickly, stop showing off your affection.”

—

Su Ruanruan lifted her eyelids and stared blankly at Rong Xiu.

The Gu and Rong families were old friends; she was familiar with Rong Xiu. Sometimes, when Gu Jinzhou was busy, Rong Xiu would take her and Mu Xin’er out to play.

Rong Xiu falling for Su Lan’er and sending Mu Xin’er to a mental institution—was this some kind of plot-driven stupidity?

If it wasn’t just bad writing, why had Rong Xiu become so cruel?

Gu Jinzhou’s gravelly voice, laced with danger, asked, “Is Rong Xiu handsome?”

Rong Xiu shot back, “Hey, don’t treat me like a pawn in your little games!”

Su Ruanruan withdrew her gaze and curled tightly in Gu Jinzhou’s arms. Though Rong Xiu hadn’t struck her, he certainly hadn’t stopped what was happening.

If Rong Xiu were a mere outsider, she wouldn’t resent his cold indifference. But the four of them had grown up together and shared deep bonds.

Rong Xiu was so ruthless to her and Mu Xin’er—how much genuine feeling could he have for Gu Jinzhou, his close friend?

Could it be that in her past life, Rong Xiu was the one who harmed Gu Jinzhou?

Su Ruanruan’s body stiffened, her eyelids twitching violently.

Gu Jinzhou, expression unreadable, stroked her back with calm precision.

Rong Xiu said, “Seeing how clingy you two are, you’re skipping tonight’s gathering, right?”

Gu Jinzhou answered, “Not going.”

Rong Xiu: “Perfect, I don’t want to go either.”

Su Ruanruan parted her lips, wanting to ask where he was going—if he was going to see Su Lan’er—but what right did she have to question his whereabouts? How she wished Xin’er were here.

Rong Xiu left, and Su Ruanruan remained dazed.

Gu Jinzhou frowned sharply, took her hand, and led her into the penthouse office, locking the door behind them.

“Did Rong Xiu steal your soul?”

Su Ruanruan rolled her eyes and pouted, “As if he’s worthy.”

Gu Jinzhou’s clean, slender fingers traced under her skirt before burying themselves in the soft, fragrant curve of her neck, kissing and sniffing hungrily.

The man, flushed with post-basketball fervor, needed to release the surging passion within him.

“Ruanruan… Hurry, baby, I’m impatient.”

Su Ruanruan saw sweat trickling down his forehead, dampening his long dark lashes. His fierce gaze resembled a ravenous little wolf longing for meat.

She obeyed.

“Gu Jinzhou, you’re such a—” The words shattered between her lips before they could form.