Chapter 21: Drinking Together

At this moment, at Gu Corporation.

Pei Yi sat on the sofa in Gu Zehuai’s office, his face clouded with worry as he watched Gu Zehuai working intently at his desk.

Gu Zehuai didn’t spare Pei Yi so much as a glance.

After a while, perhaps irritated by the persistent gaze, Gu Zehuai finally looked up and spoke coolly, “What exactly do you want? If it’s still about that matter, don’t bother. There’s nothing to discuss.”

Pei Yi, who had opened his mouth halfway, quietly closed it upon hearing this.

He didn’t know how long he sat there, but eventually he could no longer sit still. He coaxed Gu Zehuai to go out drinking after work.

Worn down by Pei Yi’s persistence, Gu Zehuai nodded in agreement.

At eight thirty that evening, Gu Zehuai arrived at a private room on the second floor of the Blue Bar.

Pei Yi and Lin Youqi messaged that they were still on their way, so Gu Zehuai sat down and ordered a bottle of cocktail.

He had only taken two sips when the door was pushed open. Gu Zehuai looked up—it was Lin Youqi.

Lin Youqi took a seat beside Gu Zehuai and ordered the same cocktail.

Lin Youqi broke the silence first: “Pei Yi told you about that matter, didn’t he? What do you think?”

Gu Zehuai’s expression was impassive, giving nothing away. “What could I possibly think? What others want to do isn’t for me to control.”

It was clear Gu Zehuai didn’t want to elaborate, so Lin Youqi quickly changed the subject.

A few minutes later, the door opened again.

Both assumed it was Pei Yi, and indeed Pei Yi was at the door, but the first to step inside was Xu Xinying.

Seeing this, Lin Youqi glanced at Gu Zehuai; upon finding his expression unchanged, he felt reassured.

Lin Youqi shot Pei Yi a glare; Pei Yi caught it and responded with a helpless look, spreading his hands. He’d run into Xu Xinying by chance on the street and, knowing she was coming to meet them, she insisted on tagging along and wouldn’t let him warn them in advance. There was nothing he could do.

Xu Xinying entered and sat directly across from Gu Zehuai, but he didn’t spare her a single glance, continuing to drink.

The cocktail was strong, and seeing Gu Zehuai drink one glass after another, Xu Xinying spoke up to dissuade him, “Ah Huai, don’t drink so much. Take care of yourself.”

Hearing this, Gu Zehuai drained the last mouthful from his glass, his gaze icy as he looked at Xu Xinying, and with rare coldness, he demanded, “What, you want to control me? Maybe you should take a look at who you are.”

Lin Youqi and Pei Yi knew from those words that Gu Zehuai was angry; after all, he never spoke to them in such a tone.

After saying this, Gu Zehuai didn’t bother with Xu Xinying’s reaction. He said to Pei Yi and Lin Youqi, “I’m leaving,” and walked out.

Pei Yi and Lin Youqi were left to face Xu Xinying alone.

After Gu Zehuai left, Lin Youqi didn’t hold back, addressing Xu Xinying, whose face was pale as she sat on the sofa, “Xu Xinying, if not for the little bit of childhood sentiment, would you still be sitting here? Just because we didn’t say anything earlier doesn’t mean we have nothing to say. When you did what you did to Ah Huai back then, you should have anticipated today’s consequences. And I don’t know where you found the courage or confidence to stand before him now. If I were you, I’d be so ashamed I’d run as far as possible.”

Xu Xinying turned even paler at these words, and for a long time, she couldn’t say a word.

Pei Yi added, “Don’t think that just because years have passed, what happened is forgotten.”

Xu Xinying could no longer hold back; her face alternated between green and white, and without saying a single word, she hurried out of the private room.

Lin Youqi couldn’t resist scolding Pei Yi a bit, since it was his fault for bringing her in and making Gu Zehuai recall those unpleasant memories.

———

After calling a driver to take him home, Gu Zehuai retrieved a bottle of red wine from the cabinet and sat alone at the small table on the balcony.

At that moment, Wen Jiu was on the balcony, gathering the comforters that had been drying, and noticed Gu Zehuai.

Gu Zehuai clearly saw Wen Jiu as well, and before she could go inside, he asked, “Want to come over for a drink?”

Wen Jiu thought she hadn’t had a drink in quite a while, so she nodded in agreement.

Gu Zehuai, knowing Wen Jiu’s tolerance, felt safe inviting her to join him.

She placed the folded comforter on the sofa, draped a light jacket over her shoulders, and stepped out.

Before she could ring the bell, the door opened.

Gu Zehuai opened the door, turned to fetch a wine glass, and poured Wen Jiu half a glass at the balcony table.

Wen Jiu sat down and took a small sip.

Only then did she quietly ask, “Are you in a bad mood tonight?”

Gu Zehuai’s mood had already calmed, all trace of the coldness from the bar vanished. He looked at Wen Jiu and answered sincerely, “I was in a bad mood, but now I’m fine. It’s nothing.”

He’d been in a bad mood, but seeing her made everything better.