Chapter 3: President Gu—Dominating and Overbearingly Paternalistic

Jiang Yihan came from an ordinary background. If it weren’t for her keen ability to read people, she wouldn’t even qualify to be Su Ruanruan’s bag-carrying little sister, let alone her friend.

But after two years of interacting, Jiang Yihan found Su Ruanruan to be generous and easy to get along with, which made her somewhat complacent.

Noticing Su Ruanruan was unhappy, Jiang Yihan hurriedly forced a smile. “Ruanruan, don’t blame me for speaking bluntly, but parents do everything for their children’s sake. Maybe your uncle and aunt accidentally lost you, but you were adopted by the Gu family. Hermes and diamonds are at your fingertips—you’re not losing out at all!”

Had she lost her mind to say something like that?

To think she could utter such words!

Knowing Su Ruanruan was already awakened, she decided to try and save Jiang Yihan from herself.

“Yihan, did you know last month when I was dancing, the stage collapsed and I got hit? But my parents and big brother only cared about Su Lan’er. She only had a minor scrape.”

Jiang Yihan asked, “What about you?”

Su Ruanruan replied, “My leg got a cut.”

Jiang Yihan clarified, “No, I meant, did anyone take you to the hospital?”

Su Ruanruan said, “A kind stranger took me there.”

“That’s not so bad then,” Jiang Yihan gave her a look that said, ‘Don’t be so dramatic.’ “You’ve only lived with them for half a year, while they’ve had more than twenty years with Su Lan’er. Of course you can’t compare. But over time, I believe you’ll become just as important as Su Lan’er!”

Su Ruanruan immediately dialed her best friend far away in England.

“Ruanruan, darling?” Mu Xin’er answered.

Su Ruanruan repeated what she had just said.

Mu Xin’er exploded in curses: “What kind of rotten parents are those? Why don’t they just rot in their coffins! Stay with Gu Jinzhou, where you have wealth and glory without worry. Why drag yourself through the shabby Su family? You must be bored out of your mind!”

Su Ruanruan said, “Mm-hmm, I get it, you’re busy.”

After hanging up, she smiled gently at Jiang Yihan.

Jiang Yihan’s face stiffened into an awkward smile, quickly changing the subject. “Ruanruan, let’s go see your jewelry cabinet! Has Gu Jinzhou bought you a bunch of haute couture jewels again? I’m so jealous—you must have a boyfriend worth eight lifetimes of good fortune!”

Su Ruanruan looked puzzled.

Perhaps her taste was off, choosing a friend so full of pretentious airs among many suitable playmates.

“I don’t want to see the jewelry. I’m not interested in haute couture jewels right now,” Su Ruanruan said.

Jiang Yihan clenched her purse tightly, afraid her jealousy might make her scratch Su Ruanruan’s flawless face.

That pale, delicate face must have cost Gu Jinzhou a fortune to maintain.

If she were Gu Jinzhou’s girlfriend, she’d surely be even better cared for than Su Ruanruan.

“Ruanruan, didn’t you used to love showing off your haute couture jewelry?”

“I never did.”

“Maybe I remembered wrong. Has Gu Jinzhou not bought you any haute couture jewelry recently?”

Su Ruanruan’s gaze grew strange. Jiang Yihan seemed like a game NPC triggered into a storyline, relentless until her goal was reached.

“You’re right. Gu Jinzhou hasn’t bought me any haute couture jewelry lately.”

The air turned deathly silent.

“Ah?” Jiang Yihan finally uttered.

Su Ruanruan smiled and nodded.

Jiang Yihan was speechless.

At that moment, the housekeeper Liu approached. “Miss, are you done chatting? Mr. Gu requests that you rest before three o’clock. It’s time for your nap. Miss Jiang, shall I escort you out?”

“Thank you, Liu Ma.”

Jiang Yihan, drowsy, clutching her purse, walked out, her jealousy barely concealed.

Gu Jinzhou managed a massive company but still fussed over whether Su Ruanruan took her afternoon nap—such trivial matters. Su Ruanruan’s life was too blessed!

This world was truly unfair!

—

When Gu Jinzhou returned home, he washed his hands and went to embrace the person asleep in bed.

“Baby, wake up. It’s time for dinner.”

“Annoying!” Su Ruanruan swatted him softly and kicked his thigh a few times with her snow-white little feet.

Gu Jinzhou’s deep eyes tightened as he gripped her ankle.

Su Ruanruan instantly opened her eyes. “I’m awake! I want to eat!”

As a dancer, her body was extremely flexible, able to hold any pose. So a little playful tussle in bed was nothing—Gu Jinzhou often took advantage of such moments.

Sometimes when she practiced in the dance studio, rough men would seize the chance to take liberties. The huge mirrors and barre made the scenes absurd, so she never dared to look.

Gu Jinzhou bit her earlobe, nibbled and kissed her passionately, his tantalizing breaths whispering into her ear, striking straight at her heart.

Her heart raced wildly; her nightgown had been pushed up to her chest. She screamed and swiftly scrambled under the covers. Gu Jinzhou was too quick and pinned her slender, supple waist. Foolish girl—where could she possibly hide?

“Do you like the warmth of the covers?” His voice was hoarse and raw. “Then let’s stay under the covers, shall we?”

“No! You bastard, let go! I—I want to eat!”

“Alright, bastard gets to eat Ruanruan first.”

He hadn’t been intimate for six months and was starving, his eyes bloodshot with hunger.

An hour later, the bathroom echoed with the sound of running water.

After drying her hair, Gu Jinzhou carried his treasure downstairs for dinner.

“Add a cushion to the soft chair,” he instructed, his voice lazy yet dripping with a sensuous knowing.

No one dared ask why, but Ruanruan blushed like a monkey’s bottom. Dog of a man, could you be any more direct?

The two dining chairs were placed side by side, making it easy for Gu Jinzhou to hold Ruanruan’s hand and feed her.

If losing weight meant being picky, Gu Jinzhou would rather she stay plump forever.

…

When she was little, Su Ruanruan was fed until plump and fair; everyone liked to hold her.

Until she started school, learned about beauty, and perhaps heard insults calling her fat behind her back. Then she decided to lose weight.

Fortunately, young Ruanruan lacked strong willpower. With Gu Jinzhou’s relentless feeding efforts and various culinary temptations, her weight loss attempts repeatedly failed.

Gu Jinzhou thought a bit of chubbiness was adorable. He wished only he liked Su Xiaopang—no one else could compete!

Yet fate had other plans. That summer before entering high school, her body began to change. In just one month, she transformed from little chubby Ruanruan into a graceful young beauty. Her round face became heart-shaped; her legs were straight and fair without a trace of fat; her little belly shrank into a slender waist.

At that time, Gu Jinzhou was studying abroad. Ruanruan would take private jets to visit him during summer and winter breaks. Even on National Day, Dragon Boat Festival, and Qingming Festival, Gu Jinzhou insisted she come see him.

That summer, despite losing a month, she still went to the U.S. after Gu Jinzhou’s relentless calls. Ruanruan didn’t understand why. He was busy as a dog abroad—spending days eating and playing with her, yet staying up late drinking coffee to cram for schoolwork and business. Why put himself through such hardship?

Seeing how hard he worked, Ruanruan couldn’t help but feel sympathy, though she was helpless to assist. She tried to be good—better and better. Sometimes she thought she was already very good, yet Gu Jinzhou remained unhappy. She had finally succeeded in slimming down; what was wrong with adding a trendy, handsome guy’s contact? Why was he so upset?

…

Gu Jinzhou said, “Baby, tonight I have a gathering organized by Rong Xiu. If you get bored, you can go for a walk, dance a bit, or play some games. Don’t want to hang out with Jiang Yihan anymore? I can find you a more obedient playmate. Stay home nice and good. I’ll call you in an hour.”