Chapter 40: One Against Three, Gu Jinzhou Overpowers the Crowd and Wins the Beauty’s Heart

The three elderly ladies were getting ready to head home, and Su Ruanyuan accompanied Old Madam Gu to see them off.

Unexpectedly, she found three tall, striking, and wealthy young men standing in the main hall. Su Ruanyuan’s gentle, serene face froze in surprise, and for a fleeting moment, she felt quite awkward. She truly marveled at the lengths the three grandmothers went to—were they really so terrified that she would never get married?

"Sister Ruanyuan."
"Ruanyuan!"
"Ruanyuan."

A flicker of awe crossed their eyes. Su Ruanyuan was wearing a green cheongsam that accentuated her fair, delicate skin; her long black hair was adorned with an ethereal pearl headband, making her look like a pure, otherworldly lily-of-the-valley that had come to life.

"Ruanyuan, I made these preserved roses myself. I hope you like them!"
"I personally designed a lily-of-the-valley brooch. It would suit you perfectly."
"This is a small lily-of-the-valley I raised myself. It just happened to bloom today."

Lu Huaiyu held a potted lily-of-the-valley in his palm, its fresh, pure white blossoms complementing his crisp, expensive brown suit. Su Ruanyuan’s gaze lingered on the plant for a few seconds before she offered a polite, faint smile. She made no move to accept the gifts.

Lu Jinghuai’s expression darkened. He knew the little princess would not accept the preserved roses or the brooch, for she only loved flowers that were alive. Just as he was about to try again, a tall, cold-featured man stepped up beside Su Ruanyuan. His sharp, handsome features were peerless, and while he possessed the elegance of a nobleman, his brow carried a hint of ruthless arrogance and indifference.

Gu Jinzhou reached out and gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his long, warm fingertips lingering on her earlobe in a motion both intimate and practiced.

"Baby, why are you standing here looking so dazed? Why not invite them in for a cup of tea?"

*Baby...*

Lu Huaiyu’s eyes turned sour; he looked as though he were about to melt into a puddle of envy. The three grandmothers looked at their own grandsons and then at Gu Jinzhou. Well, they were outmatched in both height and presence. As for tea? They were already too choked with frustration to drink anything!

Once the courtyard was quiet again, Su Ruanyuan tilted her head up. Realizing belatedly that Gu Jinzhou was jealous, she quickly kissed his chin twice. "I think I’ve caught a case of lovesickness. I feel uneasy if I don't see you for half a day. Do you want to feel my heart? It's beating so fast."

Gu Jinzhou pulled her slim, delicate waist closer, his eyes darkening and his voice growing hoarsely deep. "Be good. I’ll feel it properly tonight."

Su Ruanyuan: "..." She felt as if she had dug a hole for herself.

***

After dinner, Gu Changxiao asked Gu Jinzhou to stay the night. He specifically used the word "ask." Gu Jinzhou looked at his father with cold, detached eyes. Was there another troublesome matter he was expected to handle?

Gu Changxiao touched his nose. Though he was over fifty, he remained as charming as ever, with a mindset even more youthful than his son’s. "There is something I really need your help with. Gu Xiyuan and Gu Tiaoxi do nothing but play all day. You need to rein them in."

Gu Jinzhou began to walk away on his long legs.

"Your mother’s blood pressure spiked this afternoon because of them," Gu Changxiao urged anxiously. "She even had to take medication."

Gu Jinzhou stopped in his tracks, his thin, pressed lips sighing almost imperceptibly. "Where are they?"

"Follow me!"

In the piano room, the twins were playing a four-handed piece, creating a chaotic racket. Madam Gu was clutching her chest, feeling as though she couldn't take much more. Gu Jinzhou placed a hand on his mother’s shoulder, his long, elegant fingers adjusting her silk scarf. "You should rest for a while."

Madam Gu looked at her dignified, cold, yet reliable eldest son, wiping tears of emotion from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. Because Gu Jinzhou was usually so calm and self-contained, this unintentional display of gentleness and consideration was especially touching.

Gu Jinzhou did nothing more than sit in a chair, his cold, steady voice drawling, "Keep playing."

Gu Xiyuan and Gu Tiaoxi felt as if they were being pricked by needles; like two husky puppies lost in a pack of wolves, they were too terrified to move. Their chubby little hands pressed against the keys with earnest focus, and while the music wasn't exactly smooth or melodic, it was, at the very least, no longer noise.

***

On the cold, gray, ascetic-style bed sat a fair-skinned, pretty little fairy applying body lotion. Beside her was a tablet playing a loop of the debut stage performance of *Pretty Girls*. The video had already surpassed five million views on Bilibili! The comments were filled with praise for the catchy song, the stunning choreography, and the incredible performance of the group. Although no one knew who the choreographer was, Su Ruanyuan felt a sense of reflected glory. She proudly puffed out her small chest.

Just then, Gu Jinzhou walked in, his calm, deep gaze falling upon that patch of snowy, soft skin. He pulled off his tie and carried the fragrant, soft little woman toward the bathroom.

"Gu Jinzhou? I’ve already taken a bath."
"Take another one."
"Don't take off my clothes! I have good news to tell you!"

"Hmm?" Gu Jinzhou’s palm brushed her lower abdomen. "Are there cubs in there?"

"You're the one with cubs!" Su Ruanyuan’s face flushed red, and she glared at him with her pretty, watery eyes. "You’re the one carrying twins!"

Gu Jinzhou pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't want to hear the words 'twins' right now."

While she chattered on incessantly about the girl group's fans, Gu Jinzhou took off his white shirt. His voice, hoarse and deep, murmured magnetically, "Good baby, stop chanting. Wait until I’m inside, then we can talk."

After he was satisfied, the underlying ferocity in the man’s eyes faded significantly, replaced by a faint, warm smile on his handsome, refined face. "And then? Do you want to become a professional choreographer?"

The corners of Su Ruanyuan’s clean, fair eyes were damp and red. She bit her lip gently, afraid to speak for fear of making an indescribable sound. She bit his broad, sturdy shoulder in retaliation.

Damn it. Gu Jinzhou’s stamina was terrifyingly boundless; she truly couldn't understand how he had died in his previous life.

***

At three in the afternoon, a high-spirited Su Ruanyuan drove her pink Cullinan to pick up Mu Xin'er. It was the anniversary of a luxury brand, and there was no reason for them not to go shopping.

In the basement parking lot of HC Mall, a man stood quietly beside a black Maybach. His side profile was handsome and languid, his long legs encased in cold black trousers, and his refined, elegant noble demeanor was enough to leave anyone spellbound.

Yu Feifei gazed at him with affection in her eyes. "If you hadn't helped me escape that situation the other day, I would have become their plaything and my life would have been ruined. I don't know how to repay you, but I am willing to do anything for you!"

Gu Jinzhou responded coldly, "Stay away from me."

Yu Feifei stepped back two paces, watching him with full devotion.

Secretary Jin stepped forward. "Miss Yu, what our President Gu means is that it would be best if you did not appear before him again."

Once, when President Gu had attended a dinner and had a bit too much to drink, he had mistaken Yu Feifei, a young starlet working as a hostess in the opposite private room, for Miss Ruanyuan. Gu Jinzhou had left the moment he realized his mistake, but after he departed, no one dared to tease Yu Feifei again. Secretary Jin felt it wasn't fair to blame the President for his poor eyesight; Yu Feifei did look somewhat similar to Miss Ruanyuan, especially when she cried, but she certainly couldn't compare to the way Miss Ruanyuan looked when she shed fairy-like tears.