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Proofread by Yu Bing

“You look very upset today.” Su Ni whispers. “If you need a listener, I am very happy to…” “I’m kind of tired.” Gu Zechen interrupts her. Su Ni looks up at him and finds that Gu Zechen, who has always been confident and arrogant, looks gaunt. Not believing what she sees, Su Ni blinks her eyes. Her eyes didn’t cheat her: Gu Zechen’s sagging eyes betray everything. (At Gu’s residence). Su Ni and Gu Zechen’s appearance attracts almost everyone present and soon the crowd begins to gather around them. Gu Zichen , with a glass of champagne in hand already, nods to everyone, and occasionally clinks glasses with somebody and takes a sip. Su Ni stands by his side, with her hand tucked underneath his arm, gracefully accepting everyone’s compliments and exchanging greetings. This kind of social interaction is not the first time for her. Su Ni is already familiar with this. However, when she looks up to Gu Zechen again, she finds this time the corner of his eye, or even the corner of the mouth also resumes the usual curve which is a big sign of his confidence and pride. At the sight of this, Su Ni begins to wonder whether what she sees in the car is a dream. “If you don’t feel well, take a rest in the resting area.” Gu Zechen whispers, without looking at her, his eyes still on the guests, as if he could penetrate Su Ni and know how tired and bored she is.

“Don’t worry about me.” Su Ni manages to pull herself together and lean closer to him. “I don’t feel tired when I am with you, on the contrary, I feel very happy.” Gu Zechen looks down at her, his eyes empty, with no trace of warmth. But looked from other people’s angle, it’s a very clear sign of love and affection, so their conversation begins to shift from business to Gu Zechen’s love life. After all, nobody sees any member of Yin’s family on the banquet, clearly they are not invited. It’s so bizarre that Yin family this time meets his waterloo, so wildest versions of rumor spread out quickly, which causes a stir and makes the headline in Nancheng City. It’s hard not to know that. Every sign points to one fact: Gu Zechen is behind all this. It seems that Gu Zechen is announcing a full scale retaliation for Su Ni. Su Ni overhears different versions of gossips. She just pretends not to hear them and smiles. But Gu Zechen already exhausts his impatience, and starts to leave for a quiet place to take a rest. Su Ni quickly follows close upon the heels and hands him a glass of champagne. Gu Zechen says no. Su Ni leans on the table and drinks it on her own. “Isn’t that what you want? I guess everyone’s impressed. What are you still worried about?” Gu Zechen’s face doesn’t reveal his emotions, but Su Ni reads melancholy all over his face. “How about a drink?” Su Ni proposes again. “It’s none of your business, Su Ni. Stay out. ”

Without looking at Su Ni, Gu Zechen turns sideways and lowers his voice. Realizing she brings contempt upon herself, Su Ni shrugs, “OK, You are the boss. I will go.” As soon as she goes out, she finds herself surrounded by a group of ladies. Everybody, old friends, new acquaintances, total strangers all plaster on a smile. Su Ni joins their conversation, carefully measuring her words with caution. Naturally, the topic inevitably shifts to the recent rumors of Yin’s family. “Mrs. Gu, how did you achieve that? You’ve been married for at least three years. It’s not that easy to make a husband who is married so long as devoted as that.” “Devoted?” Su Ni mechanically repeats the word, smiling. Gu Zechen is not happy. Her mood is naturally not so good too. Gu Zechen showered tremendous love to Xu Waner, but later he shifted his devotion to Guan Ning. Ironically she is the only woman to whom he doesn’t develop any sign of emotional attachment. Totally aware of Su Ni’s loneliness in her eyes, that woman continues: “well, I’ve heard about the Yin’s family. It’s a total mess. Mr Gu’s slightest movement of a finger will make them tumble down. Even if they change their directors, it won’t help.” “Mr. Gu has such a big crush on you, Mrs. Gu. So you don’t have to worry about money. Just leave it to Mr. Gu. He is your money bag. I suggest you participate in our projects, then we can spend more time together and have fun. ” Another lady, who is sitting beside Su Ni, pushes Su Ni gently and exclaims, “Oh isn’t this the latest design of Mo Yi, who I heard, just returned from France? We just know that from the news release. What a gift! Mr. Gu has already bought it.”

On hearing this, Su Ni is slightly surprised and says, “I know it’s from a famous designer, but I have no idea about who she is.” “It’s natural that Mrs. Gu doesn’t know of her. The designer was brought up in a foreign country. She is said to have lived in China for several years, but after that, she vanished from public sight and recently I heard she reappears in the public vision again.” Su Ni listens, nodding occasionally. She still remembers the odd atmosphere when Gu Zechen mentions her, saying the designer is his old friend. Su Ni’s interest towards her mounts. “This ESHINE designer’s work is hard to get. Mrs. Gu is so lucky. I can only wait until her design goes into mass production.” This lady mocks at herself. Su Ni smiles, taking a sip of champagne and listening to them exchanging gossips in silence. However, Su Ni reminds herself to be particularly on the alert, after all, everything seems to be abnormal: Gu Zechen suddenly makes so much efforts to send her the dress, and the designer is an old friend of his, and she mysteriously disappears for so many years and reappears again out of nowhere. Everything seems strange and bizarre. Maybe there is a very interesting story behind.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

At that time, however, Su Ni does not make a sound, occasionally echoing the lady, but also feels intrigued by her own thoughts. “Mrs. Gu is really in the limelight recently. It is no surprise she has many snobs around her.” Hearing this, Su Ni looks back to locate the voice and then she catches sight of Xu Qian in the corner of the hall walking slowly towards her. Dressed in a black cheongsam, with curly hair, and heavy makeup on the corner of her eyes, Xu Qian catches everyone’s attention. Her words offend everyone in the room. Su Ni chooses to ignore her. She doesn’t look at Xu Qian.

As is predicted, soon, a young lady who sits nearest to Su Ni pulls her shawl closer to her body gently and says with a sneer, “Isn’t this Mrs. Mo? Why do you attend Mr. Gu’s dinner party?” “It depends on my mood. I want to come. So I come.” Xu Qian touches her newly made curly hair. She sits down charmingly, and at the same time, she raises her eyebrows and casts a quick glance at Su Ni, who is calmly sitting there, silent. “Last time I met you in the elevator, what a small world! I almost forget that. It never occurs to me that that person who enjoys meddling is the wife of President Gu. Mrs Gu, YOU have such a busy schedule, how can you manage to spare time to mind other people’s business? ” Xu Qian’s queer and deliberately ambiguous speech successfully arouses everyone’s attention. Many pairs of eyes cast upon Su Ni, someone lowers her voice to remind Su Ni, “Mrs. Gu, do you know Xu Qian? I hear that when she is young, she has a hot temper. No one dares to provoke her. You should be extremely careful. “Su Ni nods slightly to express her thanks. Then she gently puts down the champagne, casting a quick glance at Xu Qian with the corner of her eyes, and says without revealing emotions: “Mrs. Mo is joking. I’m used to staying low-key. It’s normal that you didn’t recognize me the other day.” “But why do I feel that you are trying to help her that day?” Xu Qian doesn’t intend to make things easier for her. “What I explained last time is very clear. How can I know that woman is Mr. Mo’s mistress? I hate to be involved in this, that day everything is a coincidence, just it happened to block my way.” Su Ni is calm, apparently not affected by what Xu Qian said, and remains in a good temper. Frustrated and irritated, Xu Qian feels like exploding at any moment, but she can’t find the vent to release her anger, and her face turns blue. She sneers, “I don’t think Mrs. Gu wants to keep a low profile. I hear that the relationship between you and your husband is not very good. Today is just a public show, a mere formality.”