Chapter 64: Side Story Three

Late May, the weather growing hotter by the day.

Ji Su wore a simple white shirt and jeans, sitting by the window in the café, his soft fringe falling across his brow — he looked like a college student who hadn't graduated yet.

He had just wrapped up a major project, barely pulled himself out of round-the-clock work, and somehow ended up arranged on a blind date.

Since graduating from A University, Ji Su had thrown himself entirely into architecture — he had made a name for himself in the field by now, but at twenty-eight, he was still very much alone.

His friend Qiao Jin, unable to stand by any longer, had insisted on setting him up.

Supposedly his blind date was also an A University graduate — ran a law firm, stood one-ninety-three, handsome, well-off family, just a bit aloof, not the easiest person to get along with.

Ji Su found it strange. A man of that caliber shouldn't have fallen into blind dates the way he had.

While his thoughts wandered, a low, magnetic voice sounded at his ear: 'Hello.'

Ji Su lifted his face and collided, without warning, with a pair of eyes black as ink.

He froze for a few seconds, then came back to himself: 'Hello.'

Gu Zhao extended a hand, every word measured: 'Gu Zhao.'

Ji Su rose and gave his hand a light shake: 'Ji Su.'

They sat facing each other and ordered separately.

After ordering, Ji Su couldn't help lifting his lashes a fraction to glance at the man across from him.

The other seemed to have come straight from some formal occasion — a sharply tailored black suit set off broad shoulders and a narrow waist to fine effect.

His features were handsome and deep-cut, his nose high and straight, and the gold-rimmed glasses perched on it gave him an air of refinement — almost ascetic.

So Qiao Jin hadn't exaggerated this time. Attorney Gu was even more impressive in person than described.

'Let me introduce myself first.' Gu Zhao lifted his eyes, speaking with economy. 'I'm twenty-nine. I co-run a law firm with a friend — two apartments in the city and a Villa by the sea. Single for twenty-nine years, never dated, first blind date.'

Ji Su's expression flickered with surprise, but out of courtesy he offered no comment.

'What is it?' Gu Zhao raised an eyebrow. 'Something off?'

'No.' Ji Su replied softly. 'I just thought that with conditions as fine as yours, Attorney Gu, finding a suitable match shouldn't be difficult.'

'Finding a partner isn't hard.' Gu Zhao gave a short laugh. 'Finding one you like — that's hard.'

Ji Su nodded in agreement, then introduced himself: 'I'm twenty-eight. I work as an architect at a construction firm. I haven't bought a place yet — I live in a company apartment. I have some savings, but not much.'

In fact, over the past two years he'd been taking on larger projects one after another, but the money he earned went toward paying off the Ji Family's debts, so what remained in his own hands was never much.

He knew that by his own measure, whether in love or on the blind-date market, he wasn't exactly a catch — so he'd thrown himself into work, and only came today because he couldn't refuse Qiao Jin any longer.

Gu Zhao looked at him: 'Anything else you'd like to add?'

Ji Su blinked, then suddenly remembered: 'Right — I've never dated either. First blind date for me too.'

Gu Zhao's lips curved faintly: 'What a coincidence.'

Just then the coffee arrived, and they talked as they drank.

Calling it a conversation was generous — it was more the other man asking questions, and Ji Su answering them primly, obedient as a schoolboy.

When the cup was empty, Gu Zhao lifted his wrist to glance at his watch: 'It's getting late.'

Ji Su took the hint and offered: 'If you have things to do, Attorney Gu, you can go ahead.'

'I'm free.' Gu Zhao lowered his hand. 'Does Teacher Ji need to work late tonight?'

Ji Su shook his head honestly: 'Not tonight.'

'Then it's settled — dinner together.' Gu Zhao asked, 'What would you like to eat?'

Ji Su was a little bewildered: 'Dinner together?'

Gu Zhao's tone was even: 'Inconvenient?'

'No, it's fine.' Ji Su signaled the server. 'Excuse me — could we have the check, please?'

They left the café and went to a Chinese restaurant Gu Zhao had recommended.

The food was excellent. Ji Su ate with quiet focus, and Gu Zhao wasn't one for many words either — they exchanged the occasional remark, all on harmless topics.

Ji Su had braced himself coming in, but the man wasn't as cold as he'd imagined.

On the contrary, he came across as quite the gentleman.

When they were nearly done, Ji Su excused himself to the restroom intending to settle the bill — only to be told Attorney Gu was a VIP here and didn't need to pay separately.

He turned silently and walked back toward the private room.

Lawyers, as expected, had money.

Ji Su returned to the private room and found Gu Zhao on a call.

A long-jointed hand held the phone; the other rested on the table, the rolled-up shirt cuff exposing a stretch of firm forearm. His voice was quiet, yet carried a pressure that filled the room.

Seeing him return, Gu Zhao said into the phone: 'That's all for now.'

Ji Su walked over: 'Work?'

'Nothing important.' Gu Zhao pocketed the phone. 'Have you eaten enough?'

Ji Su answered: 'I'm full.'

Gu Zhao rose and took the suit jacket hanging nearby: 'Then let's go.'

Ji Su followed him out of the restaurant.

Gu Zhao had parked an understated Cayenne at the curb.

'Where do you live?' He turned. 'I'll take you back.'

'There's no need, Attorney Gu.' Ji Su declined politely. 'I live very close by.'

Gu Zhao's gaze dipped slightly: 'And if I insist?'

In the end, he got his way — drove the man to the entrance of his apartment complex.

Ji Su unbuckled his seatbelt: 'Attorney Gu, thank you for dinner tonight, and for driving me home.'

Gu Zhao glanced at him sidelong: 'Just a thank-you?'

Ji Su was unsure: 'Then what did Attorney Gu mean…'

Gu Zhao replied, as if it were the most natural thing: 'Next time it's your turn to treat.'

Ji Su was silent for a few seconds, then asked: 'So when are you free, Attorney Gu?'

Gu Zhao withdrew his gaze: 'When I'm free, I'll let you know the time.'

'All right.' Ji Su pressed his lips together. 'Then I'll head back first, Attorney Gu.'

Gu Zhao answered: 'Mm.'

Ji Su opened the door, stepped out, and walked toward the complex entrance.

Gu Zhao sat in the car, his gaze dark and deep, passing through the half-open window to settle on those long, straight legs wrapped in denim.

Only when the clean, upright figure had vanished entirely from view did he raise the window and start the car again.

*

Ji Su had barely gotten home and changed into slippers when the phone in his pocket began vibrating wildly.

He pulled it out and answered — before he could speak, Qiao Jin's voice came through: "Susu, are you home yet?"

Ji Su walked toward the sofa. "Just got home."

Qiao Jin pressed, unable to wait: "Well? Well? Is Lawyer Gu himself devastatingly handsome in person?"

"Mm…" Ji Su replied, "He really is handsome."

According to the materials Qiao Jin had given him, Gu Zhao had once been the campus heartthrob who swept all of A University — except that during those college years he had been deaf to everything outside his books, wholly absorbed in coursework and part-time work, so he knew nothing of any of it.

"See? See? Didn't I tell you I wouldn't lead you astray?" Qiao Jin shrieked on the other end of the line. "So how did it feel after you two met? Any chance?"

Ji Su thought for a moment. "Probably no chance."

Qiao Jin: "Why!"

"Because the gap between us is too wide." Ji Su sat down on the sofa. "And I get the feeling he's not interested in me."

The man had treated him to dinner, sure, but that might just be the polish of good breeding; he had said Ji Su should treat him back, yet hadn't even added his WeChat.

"When I'm free" — the two words that make up the biggest lie adults tell.

"No —" Qiao Jin grew anxious. "Tell me everything that happened on your date today, and I'll analyze it for you!"

Ji Su gave a brief summary, then concluded: "I think he's just fairly gracious."

"Huh?" Qiao Jin looked as though she had just heard some wild fantasy. "Susu, you said Lawyer Gu has grace?"

Ji Su was puzzled. "Is there a problem?"

"There's a problem — a big one!" Qiao Jin rattled on at full speed. "Lawyer Gu is famously cold and sharp-tongued. Whether you're his client or opposing counsel, he can reduce anyone to tears — and you're the first person ever to call him gracious!"

Ji Su: "Is that so…"

Qiao Jin drew her conclusion: "I bet my bottom dollar — his behavior absolutely cannot mean he has zero interest in you!"

Ji Su pressed his fingertips to his brow. "I don't know anymore."

Qiao Jin shifted tack: "What about you, then? Do you have any feelings for him?"

"I…" That handsome face surfaced before Ji Su's eyes. "If he's willing to keep seeing me, I wouldn't mind."

Running into someone like Lawyer Gu — excellent in every way, flawless — on the matchmaking market was indeed rare.

Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that Gu Zhao probably wouldn't look twice at him.

"There's a chance! There's a chance!" Qiao Jin leaped up in excitement. "A huge chance!"

Ji Su laughed. "Xiao Qiao, when did you go study Japanese?"

Qiao Jin giggled and bantered with him a while longer, then suddenly remembered something: "Right — you haven't told me yet, who was it that introduced Gu Zhao to you for the matchmaking?"

"Zhou Yang — remember I mentioned him to you?" Qiao Jin offered a name. "He and Gu Zhao were college roommates, the two of them are really close."

Ji Su asked: "You and Zhou Yang aren't even together yet — how come you're already trying to set me up with someone else?"

"Oh, that's two completely different things!" Qiao Jin hurried to explain. "Zhou Yang came to me himself, said to find his brother a partner — and the moment I heard it, I thought of you!"

Ji Su laughed. "Then thank you in advance."

*

Over the next few days, Ji Su worked at the company's main office.

As expected, Gu Zhao had not contacted him again, and he had made no move to do anything either.

If the other party had wanted to continue, he would naturally have gone to the matchmaker for his contact details; the present state of affairs presumably meant there would be no follow-up.

That afternoon, Ji Su sat at his desk drawing blueprints when a knock came at the door.

"Teacher Ji." His little assistant called out respectfully. "Gao Zong wants you in his office."

Ji Su closed his laptop. "All right, I'll be right there."

He stepped out of his office, walked down the long corridor, and arrived at Gao Zong's office door, where he raised a hand to knock.

"Come in." A familiar voice answered from inside.

Ji Su pushed the door open — and the first thing his eyes found was a tall, upright figure standing before the floor-to-ceiling window.

The man turned at the sound, saw it was him, and seemed faintly surprised. "Teacher Ji?"

Ji Su's heart gave a jolt. "Lawyer Gu."

Gao Zong sat in the executive chair. "What — Lawyer Gu knows our chief designer?"

Gu Zhao took two steps toward Ji Su. "We've had dinner together."

"Hahaha!" Gao Zong clapped his hands and laughed. "Since everyone's already acquainted, won't that make things all the easier?"

Gu Zhao laughed too. "Indeed it will."

Ji Su steadied himself. "Gao Zong called me in for…?"

"Lawyer Gu has an unrenovated Villa and wants an architect to design it for him." Gao Zong spoke, half in jest and half in flattery. "Lawyer Gu's aesthetic standards are extremely exacting — the ordinary sort of designer can't catch his eye, so I had no choice but to bring you out."

Ji Su smiled, but for the moment said nothing.

"It's not quite as exaggerated as Gao Zong makes it sound." Gu Zhao glanced at him, unhurried. "I believe Teacher Ji can satisfy me."

Ji Su suggested: "Lawyer Gu could first take a look at my past work, see whether it's the style you want."

Gu Zhao agreed. "Good — let's talk in your office."

Before they left, Gao Zong said with meaning: "Ji Su, you must see to it that Lawyer Gu is well satisfied."

Ji Su gave a small nod. "I'll do my best."

Soon the two of them walked, one behind the other, into Ji Su's office.

Ji Su closed the door, was about to speak — and was beaten to it again.

Gu Zhao turned around. "I had no idea beforehand that you were at this architecture firm."

"It's fine — I really didn't tell you either." Ji Su didn't read anything into it. "How about this: I'll recommend Lawyer Gu a designer with deeper credentials."

"You don't want to take the project?" Gu Zhao's gaze fixed on his eyes. "Because the client is me?"

"No." Ji Su felt a little awkward. "I thought Lawyer Gu wouldn't much want to see me."

After all, he was the man from a failed matchmaking; if he became his employer, they would inevitably run into each other often during the work, and he was afraid the other would find it disagreeable.

Gu Zhao frowned. "Why would you think that?"

"Since Lawyer Gu doesn't mind, then I have no objection either." Ji Su decided to summon up his professional bearing. "Lawyer Gu can first tell me your general ideas, and I'll put together a preliminary design."

"It's nearly dinner time." Gu Zhao glanced at his watch. "Let's talk over a meal."

Ji Su hesitated. "But…"

Gu Zhao reminded him: "Teacher Ji, you still owe me a meal."