Chapter 66: Side Story

Ji Su instinctively braced against the sheet and shifted inward, his gaze finding nowhere to rest.

Gu Zhao stopped at the bedside, smiling as he asked: "Teacher Ji, what are you hiding from?"

"I'm not hiding..." Ji Su's cheeks reddened too, "I-I'm sleepy, I want to sleep."

"Mm." Gu Zhao answered, turning to get onto the other bed, "Then sleep."

Ji Su set his phone on the nightstand, lay on his side, and tried to summon sleep.

He had assumed that with Gu Zhao beside him, he wouldn't be able to sleep, but whether it was because today had been too exhausting, or some other reason, in any case he drifted off not long after.

Gu Zhao sat propped against the headboard reading documents; hearing the sound of a body turning, he tilted his eyes sideways.

His dark gaze traveled slowly down from the pale, fine-grained chest, slid past the narrow, slender waist, and came to rest on the casually drawn-up leg.

The loose hem of the bathrobe fell open with each shift of posture, revealing one long, straight leg, smooth as jade and flawless; the thighs pressed together to cup a handful of snowy, luminous flesh.

Gu Zhao rose from the bed without a sound and stood at the bedside.

Daring to sleep in such a state right in front of him — his guard was truly terrible.

Gu Zhao's throat moved slightly; he extended a large hand with distinct knuckles, his fingertips hovering along the graceful lines of the leg, pausing for several seconds, and finally only restrainedly drew up the thin blanket nearby and laid it over him.

Ji Su slept deeply that night; when he woke the next morning, only he remained in the room.

He shook the sleep from his head and went into the bathroom to wash up.

He had just finished washing his face when a knock came at the door.

Ji Su opened the door; a Hotel staff member stood outside with a small cart: "Good morning, the room service Mr. Gu reserved."

Ji Su paused briefly, then stepped back to let them in.

The server pushed the cart into the room, lifted the cover, arranged the lavish breakfast on the coffee table, then carried a set of new clothes over and set them on the sofa.

Ji Su thanked them politely: "Thank you."

"You're welcome." The server wore a professional smile. "Sorry to disturb you."

Ji Su quietly closed the door, walked to the sofa, glanced at the crisply pressed shirt and trousers with not a single crease, then picked up his phone and opened WeChat.

Ji Su: [Lawyer Gu, the room service you reserved has arrived.]

Gu Zhao: [Mm, I didn't disturb your rest, did I?]

Ji Su: [No, the timing was just right.]

Gu Zhao: [That's good.]

Ji Su: [When did you leave?]

Gu Zhao: [Six-thirty. There's a meeting this morning.]

Ji Su: [So early — no wonder I didn't hear you.]

Ji Su: [Sorry, if it weren't for keeping me company last night, you wouldn't have had to rush back so early this morning.]

Gu Zhao: [No need to apologize.]

Gu Zhao: [I was very happy to.]

Ji Su looked at the words in the chat window, and his heartbeat suddenly quickened.

Lawyer Gu was, on the whole, quite a gentleman, but sometimes he broke small rules — like wrapping himself in a barely-there towel and walking over last night, or, right now, deliberately saying something deliberately ambiguous.

But somehow...

He didn't find it the least bit annoying.

Gu Zhao: [I have a meeting now, talk later.]

Ji Su: [Okay, talk later.]

*

The Villa was so large that from summer to autumn, the full renovation was only just completed.

With the Villa officially finished, Ji Su invited his client to come inspect the results.

Lawyer Gu had just returned from a business trip and, taking the opportunity, drove over to pick him up; the moment he stepped into the company, he headed straight for Ji Su's office.

After he knocked, a clean, pleasant voice came from inside: "Come in."

Gu Zhao pushed the door open, a faint smile on his lips, which vanished the instant he saw the large bouquet of dewy roses on the desk.

Ji Su noticed his gaze and explained: "That... was sent by a former client. I hadn't figured out what to do with it yet, so I left it here for now."

"A client?" Gu Zhao's dark eyes narrowed slightly. "Male or female?"

Ji Su felt inexplicably guilty: "Male."

Gu Zhao shifted his gaze away from the flowers and did not press further: "Let's go."

Ji Su took his coat from where it hung: "Wait a moment, I need to use the restroom."

Gu Zhao stood in the corridor waiting for him; the company's female employees couldn't help stealing glances again and again.

Lawyer Gu wore a crisp black coat, travel-worn from head to toe, yet not a trace of fatigue showed on his face — handsome to a criminal degree.

At that moment, Ji Su's little assistant came over carrying a stack of files and greeted him: "Lawyer Gu."

Gu Zhao gave a slight nod, then suddenly spoke and called out to him: "Hold on."

The little assistant immediately stopped: "Do you have instructions, Lawyer Gu?"

Gu Zhao said calmly: "There's a bouquet on Teacher Ji's desk. He wants you to help take care of it."

The little assistant hesitated: "Teacher Ji... really wants me to just deal with it however I like?"

Gu Zhao asked: "Do you know who sent the flowers?"

"A pretty handsome rich second-generation kid, though not very old." The little assistant lowered his voice. "Teacher Ji designed a house for him, and the guy fell for Teacher Ji at first sight. To pursue Teacher Ji he kept delaying the project, which made Teacher Ji really unhappy."

Gu Zhao's brow creased almost imperceptibly: "And then?"

"Then Teacher Ji contacted his parents directly, and under their pressure the rich kid kept a low profile for a while." The little assistant scratched the back of his head, puzzled. "No idea what's going on, but lately he's been back at it again."

Gu Zhao's tone cooled: "Are there many people pursuing Teacher Ji?"

"Lots! Especially lots!" The little assistant counted on his fingers. "Our Teacher Ji is so good-looking, and so capable, and his personality is so great — the people who like him are too many to count..."

The little assistant was still chattering away when he suddenly met Lawyer Gu's death-glare and slammed on the brakes: 'Of course except me — I only have pure admiration and reverence for Teacher Ji!'

Gu Zhao gestured toward the door: 'Go deal with that bouquet first.'

'Got it, on my way!' The little assistant hurried toward the office without slowing down.

'I'm ready.' A moment later, Ji Su walked out of the bathroom. 'Let's go.'

By the time the two of them reached the Villa, the sky had already darkened.

Ji Su pushed open the Villa's outer door, an unnameable nervousness stirring somewhere in his chest.

He was, after all, an experienced architectural designer — yet he had never felt this uneasy before.

He couldn't trace where the feeling came from; he could only draw a deep breath. 'Lawyer Gu, are you ready?'

Gu Zhao answered: 'Mm.'

Ji Su led the way inside, introducing the space as they walked.

The Villa had been designed entirely to his own tastes, so the introduction came easily to him.

Gu Zhao followed him on a full tour, never once interrupting.

'That's the whole of it.' Ji Su stood before the floor-to-ceiling window. 'Lawyer Gu, are you satisfied?'

'I'm very satisfied.' Gu Zhao smiled. 'But what matters most is that you like it.'

Ji Su visibly exhaled, choosing to ignore the deeper meaning tucked into that second half: 'As long as you're satisfied, that's enough.'

Gu Zhao extended a hand: 'You've worked hard, Teacher Ji.'

Ji Su raised his hand and gave it a light shake: 'It's not hard — this is my job.'

To date, this was the easiest and most generously compensated project he had ever taken on.

'My part of the work ends here.' Ji Su released his hand. 'If anything comes up later, feel free to come find me at the company anytime.'

Gu Zhao stared at him: 'If it's not business, I can't come find you anymore?'

Ji Su shook his head: 'Of course that's not what I meant.'

Gu Zhao lowered his hand: 'Then what do you mean?'

'I...' Ji Su pressed his lips together; he himself didn't know what he meant.

Gu Zhao turned away: 'It's getting late — let's go have dinner first.'

Ji Su followed behind him as they walked out, a vague, unnameable emotion rising in his chest.

As if...

Gu Zhao had booked a Western restaurant nearby in advance; the décor was lovely, and from the window-side seats one could take in the beautiful night view.

The two chatted as they ate, and Ji Su suddenly thought of a question: 'Lawyer Gu, weren't we in the same year?'

'Yes.' Gu Zhao lifted his eyes. 'What about it?'

'A University really is big.' Ji Su smiled. 'All those years, and we never ran into each other at School.'

Gu Zhao smiled too: 'Maybe we did.'

'Hm?' Ji Su blinked, startled. 'When?'

'School has so many events — we must have crossed paths.' Gu Zhao lowered his gaze. 'But we probably never greeted each other face-to-face, so you don't remember.'

'That makes sense.' Ji Su tried to recall. 'Back then Xiao Qiao dragged me to watch a basketball game — it's quite possible I saw you there.'

Gu Zhao gave a noncommittal 'mm' and slid the steak he'd cut up on his plate over to Ji Su.

After a while, Ji Su had eaten his fill and paused to take a few sips of his drink.

Gu Zhao set down his utensils as well and asked: 'Have you eaten enough?'

'Mm, I'm full.' Ji Su's lips curved slightly. 'It was delicious.'

Gu Zhao spoke unhurriedly: 'Teacher Ji, may I ask you something?'

Ji Su nodded: 'Go ahead.'

Gu Zhao asked: 'Why did you agree to the blind date with me back then?'

Ji Su thought for a moment and answered honestly: 'Because by the time I found out, Xiao Qiao had already arranged everything — it would've been rude not to go.'

Gu Zhao's tone was mild: 'I see.'

'What about you, Lawyer Gu?' Ji Su countered. 'Why were you willing to go on a blind date with me?'

The color in Gu Zhao's eyes deepened; the words he wanted to say rolled around in his mouth before he swallowed them back, and in the end he only replied lightly: 'Because I'm getting older, and I want a home of my own.'

Something stirred at the tip of Ji Su's heart; he picked up his drink again and took a sip, as if to cover it.

Having a home — that had always been his own dearest wish, yet for various reasons it still hadn't come true.

'Ji Su.' Gu Zhao asked suddenly, 'After spending this time together, do you dislike being with me?'

He rarely called Ji Su by his full name; those two simply pronounced syllables, brushing lightly against each other between lips and teeth, somehow carried a lingering tenderness.

Ji Su's ears warmed slightly; with lowered lashes he replied: 'I don't dislike it.'

Gu Zhao's voice was deep: 'Then what do you think about marrying me?'

Ji Su lifted his brush-like lashes, his expression blank: 'What?'

'I mean—' Gu Zhao stared unblinkingly into those beautiful eyes, 'would you be willing to marry me, to build a home with me?'

Every word, perfectly clear.

For an instant Ji Su forgot how to breathe; light-headed from the lack of air, he felt only the wild, uncontrollable pounding of his heart in his chest.

'If you feel it's too fast, we can take our time developing feelings after the wedding.' Gu Zhao's hand at his side unconsciously curled into a fist, though his face remained calm. 'I will respect every one of your wishes.'

Ji Su barely managed to gather himself: 'Lawyer Gu, are you... are you serious?'

Gu Zhao's tone was steady and certain: 'I couldn't possibly be more serious.'

'It's so sudden...' Ji Su felt as though the scene before him were a dream. 'Why so suddenly—'

'Because I don't want the project to end and for us to become strangers again.' Gu Zhao paused briefly. 'You can think it over — you don't have to give me an answer right now.'