Chapter 52 - 52: Gu Ci’s Unwanted Suitor
Chapter 52: Gu Ci’s Unwanted Suitor
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
She was tall and slender, clad in white, standing amidst a group of burly men, resembling a little white rabbit.
Ji Chi smiled warmly at Gu Ci, his smile revealing a small dimple on his right cheek. He possessed a face that was highly favored by countless young girls.
“My name is Chen Rushi. I wonder if I have the honor to meet you two ladies,” Chen Rushi asked.
After the incident at the bar, Zhou Jinjin had become more cautious. Gu Ci’s lips curved slightly. “I’m Gu Ci. Nice to meet you.”
Chen Rushi displayed impressive knowledge about music. He engaged in a delightful conversation with Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin, instantly hitting it off. Chen Rushi invited them to have dinner together in downtown Lavis.
Salmon and lobster seemed endless, and Zhou Jinjin relished the meal, bubbling with joy.
Gu Ci remarked, “Your Mandarin is quite good.”
“My ancestors also hail from City A. In the 1950s, they came to M Nation to make a living and gradually settled here. However, my family has always cherished Chinese culture,” Chen Rushi explained. “My grandmother often played the ‘Zhu Zhu’ song to soothe her homesickness.”
Zhou Jinjin chimed in, “Where in City A are you from? Do you speak the local dialect?”
“I never had the chance to learn the dialect.”
“This salmon is delicious, and the lobsters are exquisite. Much better than the places we dined at a few days ago,” Zhou Jinjin exclaimed. “Uncle Chen, how old are you?”
Ji Xiong nearly burst into laughter. Referring to Chen Rushi as “Uncle Chen” was quite a hit.
“I’m twenty-eight,” Chen Rushi replied with a composed expression.
“You look much younger,” Zhou Jinjin remarked, her words flowing freely. “You don’t qualify as an uncle. I’ll call you brother instead.”
“Of course!”
With Zhou Jinjin’s lively presence, there was never a dull moment. Ji Chi stood quietly in the background, never uttering a word. Zhou Jinjin and Chen Rushi engaged in an animated conversation. Zhou Jinjin was an enchanting individual—talkative, straightforward, yet not lacking in depth. They discussed music, relationships, and local customs.
Although Chen Rushi’s attention was drawn to Gu Ci, he didn’t expect her to remain aloof except for occasionally glancing at Ji Chi.
“Aren’t you afraid of encountering trouble when the two of you travel together in Lavis?” Chen Rushi chuckled. “Lavis is a city known for gambling, often referred to as the City of Despair. It’s safer to have your boyfriend accompany you while you’re here.”
“Gu Ci accompanied me to watch the Fl competition. I’m a fan of Lu Zhiyuan. Have you heard of him?”
“Absolutely!” Chen Rushi smiled like a gentleman. “The global racing champion.”
“Are you here to compete as well?” Zhou Jinjin asked excitedly. “Then we’re truly friends.”
Ji Chi’s eyes lowered as he cast a glance at Gu Ci. She calmly tore the lobster meat apart, seemingly indifferent to the mention of Lu Zhiyuan’s name. Ji Chi mused to himself, Why does the woman Third Master favor possess the same temperament as him?
When the topic turned to racing, Zhou Jinjin became even more talkative. Chen Rushi had a couple of glasses of wine in quick succession, indicating the generation gap between him and the two sisters. He didn’t particularly enjoy racing.
“Does Miss Gu have a boyfriend?” Chen Rushi inquired.
“No,” Gu Ci replied nonchalantly.
Chen Rushi gently shook his head. “That’s a pity. Miss Gu is so beautiful. Arc all men blind?”
Gu Ci took a bite of the lobster meat. “Perhaps.”
Zhou Jinjin returned from a brief absence and realized that this gentleman had taken an interest in Little Ci. Zhou Jinjin was her best friend. “Big brother, are you married?”
“I’m single.”
“You certainly have a discerning eye.” Zhou Jinjin grinned.
“May I pursue you?” Chen Rushi went straight to the point, his eyes gleaming with a smile. This kind of man held great allure for young girls—handsome, mature, gentlemanly, and wealthy.
Gu Ci finished her lobster, her spirits high. Her icy gaze was immersed in the night. “That’s your business.”
Zhou Jinjin thought to herself, as expected of you, so cool!
“It would be my honor.”
After dinner, the host and guests had a wonderful time. Chen Rushi, Gu Ci, and Zhou Jinjin exchanged contact details, and Chen Rushi personally accompanied them back to the hotel.
“He’s interested in pursuing you. It’s love at first sight,” Zhou Jinjin teased, wrapping her arm around Gu Ci’s shoulders. “Beauty is indeed a weapon.”
“Love at first sight is when a woman is involved,” Gu Ci softly remarked. “His watch alone is worth more than ten million yuan. What kind of beauty hasn’t a man like him seen before? What kind of love at first sight could he have?” “Why, then, did he pursue you?”
“Perhaps… I’m pretty.”
“Sorry for interrupting.” Zhou Jinjin was momentarily speechless before saying, “He does seem quite appealing. He’s humorous, knowledgeable, and although slightly older, still good-looking.”
“You just broke up, and now you want to fall in love again?”
“I’m not interested in that kind of gentleman. On the contrary, the young man in white behind him is intriguing.”
Gu Ci hesitated, wanting to say something. In the end, she couldn’t hold it in. “Then give up.”
“Why?”
Gu Ci took her pajamas and headed for a shower, not giving a response.
Ji Chi accompanied Chen Rushi back to the villa. Throughout the journey, Chen Rushi twirled the black ring on his thumb while Ji Chi focused on his tablet. The atmosphere in the car was quiet and somber.
Chen Rushi spoke up, “Gu Ci seems to be more interested in you.”
Ji Tao curled his lips, his smile mischievous. “In terms of looks, Mr. Chen falls short compared to me. It’s not surprising for a young girl to be drawn to my face.”
The security guards remained silent, intimidated by the conversation.
Chen Rushi remained unruffled. In fact, he chuckled. “So shallow?”
“The affections of young ladies often revolve around appearances,” Ji Chi’s long, narrow phoenix eyes carried a hint of a smile. “Don’t you appreciate beautiful girls? Who isn’t shallow?”
Chen Rushi nodded. “Indeed.”
Ji Chi closed the tablet. “Mr. Chen has an interest in Gu Ci?”
“She seems worthy,” Chen Rushi stated.
Ji Chi nodded. Chen Rushi had a predilection for icy beauties, and he liked them very much. “Whatever I desire, I obtain. If I can’t, I seize it.”
“In just a few days, she won five million dollars at the casino. With her abilities, she’s not lacking in money.”
“Then let’s seize it,” Ji Chi said, spreading his hands, his tone indolent and cruel.
Chen Rushi arched an eyebrow. “The easier it is to obtain something, the less valuable it becomes. You’ll understand when you grow up.”
Ji Chi thought to himself, “I don’t need to worry about growing up. But I do know that if you continue to covet Gu Ci, you won’t live to see your next birthday.”
Gu Ci finished her shower and dried her hair. As she emerged, she noticed Lu Zhiyuan’s message inviting her to the rooftop. Gu Ci pretended not to see it and joined Zhou Jinjin in playing games.
The two of them fought valiantly in the game, dominating the canyon. Gu Ci, being the jungler in the national server, had an excellent rhythm. Zhou Jinjin, as the support, clung to her throughout the game. They roamed the canyon, racking up kills. Out of the top ten kills, Gu Ci secured six of them. Her gold count surpassed that of the mid-lane player.
When Lu Zhiyuan called, Gu Ci ended the call and continued playing. Lu Zhiyuan persisted with his calls. Zhou Jinjin quipped, “You’re pursuing Lu Zhiyuan, yet you’re hanging up on him. Playing hard to get, huh?”
“Yes,” Gu Ci replied.
Zhou Jinjin gave her a thumbs up, lifting her head. “Awesome!”
The next day.
After breakfast, as Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin were enjoying their meal, a man dressed in black arrived with two gifts—one for Gu Ci and the other for Zhou Jinjin. “Miss Gu, these are gifts from Mr. Chen. Please sign for them..”