Chapter 69: Side Story Three

The next day was Monday. Ji Su woke on time, his biological clock pulling him back to the surface of things.

His awareness had not yet fully gathered. He tried to push himself upright, but the moment he shifted his legs, a sharp sting shot up along the side of his thigh.

Ji Su looked down, his gaze falling on the inside of his thigh.

The flawless pale skin had been rubbed raw and red; a layer of ointment covered the abraded spot, easing the pain somewhat.

Remembering how that skin had been broken, Ji Su flushed again at the break of day.

In truth, last night's memories were a tangled mess. He could recall only the sweat pouring off him, slick and slippery to the point of being almost impossible to hold.

And Gu Zhao's breath at his ear — that almost-praising sigh.

Only then did he understand that the seemingly cold, ascetic Lawyer Gu was, in certain moments, an entirely different creature...

A creak broke off his thoughts.

Gu Zhao walked in. 'Awake?'

Ji Su quickly pressed his thighs together and looked up.

Lawyer Gu by daylight was a man in a tailored suit, his dark hair combed back without a single strand out of place, radiating an air of the intelligentsia.

If not for the still-vivid sting on the inside of his thigh, he would almost have suspected last night had been some absurd dream of his own making.

Gu Zhao walked toward the bed. 'It's half past seven. There's still time for breakfast.'

Ji Su avoided that gaze. 'Alright, I'll get up right away.'

He rose from the bed and headed toward the bathroom, his gait a little stiff.

Gu Zhao stood where he was, his gaze settling on Ji Su's legs without seeming to.

Those slender, straight legs were stronger than they looked — clamped tight, they could nearly pin a man in place. Thank goodness there had been sweat enough.

And that little crimson mole on the side of his thigh — impossibly sensitive, a single brush against it enough to send shivers through his whole body...

Lawyer Gu's Adam's apple moved. He reached up to loosen his tie and turned to leave the bedroom.

After breakfast together, Gu Zhao drove Ji Su to the office.

The law firm and the architecture company happened to lie in the same direction, though the latter was a little farther along.

'Lawyer Gu, you can drop me off here.' Ji Su gestured. 'It's not far from here on. I can grab a cab.'

Gu Zhao glanced at him sidelong. 'I've come this far — how could I give up halfway?'

'But you'll have to turn around and come back after dropping me off. Doesn't that feel like a bother?' Ji Su asked.

'Not at all.' Gu Zhao pressed the accelerator. 'How could driving you to work ever be a bother?'

Ji Su stopped insisting. 'Alright then.'

The car pulled up near the office building shortly after.

Ji Su reached for his seatbelt. 'Lawyer Gu, thank you for the ride.'

Gu Zhao turned to face him. 'Ji Su, we're married already.'

'Mm?' Ji Su's hand paused, bewildered. 'Yes, and?'

'We're married, so you don't need to be so polite with me.' Gu Zhao held his gaze. 'Because I won't be polite with you either.'

The meaning landed at last. Ji Su answered softly, 'Alright. I understand.'

The fact of being suddenly married was something he would indeed need to grow accustomed to, and quickly.

'Off to work.' Gu Zhao leaned over, undid his seatbelt for him, and — as naturally as breathing — pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth.

A dragonfly's touch of a kiss, yet the warmth of it lingered with startling clarity.

Ji Su froze, staring at him like a fool.

'Go on.' Gu Zhao smiled. 'See you tonight, Teacher Ji.'

Ji Su came back to himself, flushed, opened the car door, and walked straight toward the building entrance without looking left or right.

A few seconds later, that familiar voice came from behind him. 'Teacher Ji, you forgot your things.'

Ji Su turned, took his backpack, blurted out a swift 'thank you,' and plunged headlong into the building without looking back.

Only once he was inside the elevator did he calm down.

It was only a kiss on the corner of his mouth — how could he be so hopelessly spineless?

No. Next time he had to win one back. He couldn't keep letting Lawyer Gu have the upper hand...

Lost in thought, the elevator chimed softly as it reached his floor.

Ji Su walked through the company's front door, returned the greetings of colleagues who called out to him, and made straight for his office.

He had barely settled at his desk and hadn't even turned on the computer when his office door was pushed open.

Gao Zong walked in, smiling. 'Teacher Ji, how was your weekend?'

'Gao Zong.' Ji Su greeted him and replied politely, 'The weekend was fine. Is there something you need?'

'Nothing in particular — just came to check on my right-hand man.' Gao Zong sat down on the sofa opposite him and asked, seemingly offhand, 'Oh, by the way, I was standing at my office window just now and saw you getting out of Lawyer Gu's car?'

Ji Su changed the subject without a flicker. 'Gao Zong, what brings you in so early today?'

'It's Monday — to kick off a good week.' Gao Zong steered the conversation right back. 'I didn't see wrong, did I? You came in Lawyer Gu's car, didn't you?'

Ji Su knew there was no dodging it now. He tossed off a casual excuse: 'Lawyer Gu came by this morning to discuss something and gave me a lift to the office on the way.'

Gao Zong's concern was immediate. 'What? Is there a problem with Lawyer Gu's project?'

'Nothing serious — a small issue.' Ji Su replied. 'Already resolved.'

'That's good, that's good...' Gao Zong probed. 'Ji Su, are you and Lawyer Gu on close terms privately?'

Ji Su brushed it off. 'Just so-so. We've had some contact on past projects, that's all.'

'Xiao Ji, I won't beat around the bush with you.' Gao Zong had cycled through three forms of address in the space of a minute. 'Lawyer Gu, on the surface, is just a partner at a law firm, but his family background runs deep.'

Ji Su lowered his lashes. 'Gao Zong, I'm afraid I don't know much about that.'

'Let me put it this way for you — half the industries in A City carry the Gu name, especially in construction and real estate.' Gao Zong's words carried weight. 'Keep on good terms with the Gu Family, and you'll never have to worry about projects again.'

Ji Su's expression stayed composed, neither servile nor overbearing. 'I'm sorry, Gao Zong, but my friendship with Lawyer Gu is too shallow. I'm afraid I can't be of much help.'

Quite apart from his unwillingness to muddle private matters with work, the idea of leveraging Gu Zhao's connections to benefit the company — and himself — was something he could never bring himself to do.

'That's fine, that's fine — friendships are made, not born.' Gao Zong pressed on. 'The more you keep company with Lawyer Gu, the easier things get, don't they?'

'As you know, Gao Zong, I've never been one for networking.' Ji Su turned on his computer. 'Perhaps you could entrust this matter to someone else.'

Seeing he wouldn't be persuaded, Gao Zong's expression flickered with frustrated anger, but with no outlet for it, he could only storm out and slam the door behind him.

After all, Ji Su was currently the company's face and signature. Until Gao Zong found a replacement designer, he wasn't ready to let him go.

Ji Su let out a quiet sigh and got down to work.

Near the end of the workday, Ji Su received a message from Lawyer Gu.

Gu Zhao: [I'm off work. Are you staying late tonight?]

Ji Su looked at the words in the chat window, considered for a moment, then typed back.

Ji Su: [I'll have to work a bit late. You go on ahead.]

Gu Zhao: [Until when? I'll come pick you up.]

Ji Su: [Not sure yet, might be pretty late. I can take a cab back myself.]

Ji Su: [Don't worry, Lawyer Gu. I know the way home.]

Gu Zhao: [Someone as clever as Teacher Ji certainly knows the way home.]

Ji Su turned off his phone screen and went back to drafting.

When the workday ended, the company's employees drifted out one after another.

The junior assistant knocked and pushed the office door open, peeking in: 'Teacher Ji, aren't you leaving?'

'I still have a few things to wrap up.' Ji Su lifted his eyes. 'You go ahead.'

The assistant replied cheerfully: 'Got it, then I'll head off first!'

Ji Su sat in his office killing time, and only after everyone else had left did he tidy his desk and rise to go.

The moment he stepped out of his office, a young face appeared right in front of him.

'Ji Su!' Lu Xinghua's eyes lit up, his tone thrilled. 'I knew you hadn't left yet — what luck!'

Ji Su's brows knit, and he stepped back. 'Is there something you need?'

'What could I possibly want other than to see you?' Lu Xinghua strode up to him in a few quick steps and thrust the roses he was carrying into Ji Su's arms. 'I had someone deliver flowers and you wouldn't take them, so I had to come in person.'

The scent of the roses was a little overpowering; Ji Su leaned back. 'Mr. Lu, I think I've already made myself perfectly clear.'

'I know you think I'm not mature enough, but I've changed now.' Lu Xinghua pressed the point. 'Ji Su, give me a chance.'

Ji Su wanted to set the roses down on his desk, but didn't want colleagues gossiping about it tomorrow, so he could only carry the flowers out the door.

Lu Xinghua hurried after him: 'Ji Su, why aren't you saying anything?'

Ji Su flipped off the last row of lights, locked the company door, and walked briskly toward the elevator.

Over the years he had encountered all manner of suitors, and Lu Xinghua was the most persistent of them all.

An idle rich second-generation, spoiled since childhood, who believed there was nothing in the world he couldn't have — so the more Ji Su refused, the more determined Lu Xinghua became.

Lu Xinghua followed him all the way out of the building, declaring his feelings in a one-sided monologue at Ji Su's side.

Watching him walk faster and faster, Lu Xinghua couldn't help reaching out to grab him: 'Ji Su, are you even listening to me?'

Ji Su dodged the hand and asked seriously: 'Lu Xinghua, what would it take for you to leave me alone?'

Lu Xinghua froze for a moment, his expression wounded: 'Is my affection really so hard for you to accept?'

'Because you say you like me, but you don't treat me like a person.' Ji Su offered an analogy. 'It's like you like a toy — you won't be satisfied until you've had it in your hands.'

'It's not like that.' Lu Xinghua shook his head hard. 'I genuinely like you. Why won't you give me a chance?'

Ji Su decided that reasoning with him was a waste of breath, and looked around for a trash bin to throw the flowers into.

But before he found a bin, he spotted a familiar car.

Ji Su's heart gave a lurch, and he thought, Damn.

Taking advantage of his distraction, Lu Xinghua reached for his wrist again: 'No matter what you say, I'm going to keep liking you.'

Ji Su instinctively shook him off and, thinking fast, shoved the flowers back into Lu Xinghua's arms.

Before Lu Xinghua could react, Ji Su broke into a run.

The black car parked at the curb pulled out smoothly and silently, following him.

Lu Xinghua stood clutching the enormous bouquet, watching helplessly as Ji Su got into the car, and could only shout uselessly after him: 'Ji Su! I won't give up!'

The glass windows were well soundproofed; Ji Su steadied his heartbeat and asked: 'Lawyer Gu, when did you get here?'

Gu Zhao replied, neither warm nor cold: 'I came over after work.'

Ji Su pressed his lips together: 'You could have told me you were coming. You didn't have to wait downstairs the whole time.'

Gu Zhao gave a cold laugh: 'So I'm the one who showed up uninvited and disturbed Teacher Ji.'

'No...' Ji Su looked at him and explained gently, 'That person just now is the client I mentioned before. I ran into him at the door when I was leaving — I had no idea he was coming.'

Gu Zhao said nothing, pulled the car over to the curb, and was clearly waiting for the rest of the explanation.

'I was about to throw those flowers away — I just couldn't find a bin.' Ji Su's tone was helpless. 'I've really turned him down many times. I was turning him down just now.'

The ice on Gu Zhao's face finally thawed a fraction, and he answered: 'Mm.'

Ji Su tried to coax him: 'Lucky for me Lawyer Gu had the foresight to come pick me up.'

Gu Zhao turned to look at him: 'Didn't Teacher Ji not want me coming to the office to pick you up?'

Ji Su smiled: 'But Lawyer Gu came anyway.'

Gu Zhao's eyes were dark, and he wasn't so easily fobbed off: 'You really don't want anyone to know about us like this?'

'Yes, but not the way you think.' Ji Su answered frankly. 'Gao Zong came to see me today. He wants me to leverage my connection with you.'

Gu Zhao's eyes narrowed slightly: 'What kind of connection?'

Ji Su summarized briefly: 'Gao Zong seems to know about your background.'

'It's no surprise he does.' Gu Zhao's fingertips tapped the steering wheel. 'If he wants to take on more projects, that's fine — but they all have to be routed through you.'

Ji Su declined tactfully: 'That wouldn't be right.'

'These are small things.' Gu Zhao frowned slightly. 'I've told you before — you don't need to be so distant with me.'

'It's not about being distant or not.' Ji Su patiently laid it out for him. 'This architecture firm isn't mine — I'm just an employee, and my energy is limited. Why would I use your connections to bring more projects to the company?'

Lawyer Gu caught on at once: 'I understand what you mean.'

Ji Su's eyes curved into a smile: 'Once I open my own firm someday, I can count on Lawyer Gu for some perks.'

'Perks?' A glint of amusement surfaced in Gu Zhao's eyes. 'Then Teacher Ji will have to give something in return.'

Ji Su blinked: 'Given my relationship with Lawyer Gu, do I need to give anything else?'

Gu Zhao asked, unhurried: 'Then tell me, Teacher Ji — what is our relationship?'

Ji Su stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Gu Zhao looked stunned, for a moment unable to react at all.

Ji Su's ears flushed faintly; a sweetness rose in his chest, and with it a hint of pride — even Lawyer Gu could be kissed into a daze.

A few seconds later, a faint, cool fragrance came drifting in.

Gu Zhao cupped his chin with one hand, and pressed his burning lips down, firm and close.

Ji Su's mind went blank; he held perfectly still.

Gu Zhao brushed his lips against Ji Su's, then slid out the tip of his tongue, trying to pry open the sealed seam of his mouth.

A current crackled to life between their pressed lips; Ji Su shivered and raised a hand to push him away.

But Gu Zhao did not yield, still pressing against him like a small mountain.

Ji Su's heart hammered; his fingers unconsciously clutched the crisp fabric of Gu Zhao's suit jacket.

Gu Zhao's eyes were dark as ink; his large hand moved to grip the back of Ji Su's neck, and he bit down — not too lightly, not too hard — on the soft, damp flesh of his lip.

'Mmph...' Ji Su winced at the pain, and the moment his lips parted, a hot tongue slipped in.

Gu Zhao kissed him fiercely from the start, charging through his mouth, kissing and biting, until Ji Su went soft all over.

The wet sounds echoed in the cramped space of the car, enough to make one's face burn and heart race.