Back Then, I Adored You

He actually asked her to drink on his behalf?

A chairman actually asked his secretary to drink on his behalf?

Holding onto her wine glass, Liang Doukou’s fingers began to tremble.

Gu Yusheng and Qin Zhi’ai walked past her toward the table on her right. In the sea of noise, she clearly heard Gu Yusheng ask in a low voice, “Tired?”

“No.”

“This is the last table. After this toast, I’ll get Xiaowang to escort you to the lounge upstairs for a rest.”

After that, they had walked far enough away that she couldn’t clearly hear Qin Zhi’ai’s reply. When she turned her head around, she spotted them standing close together, exchanging small talk with the guests at a nearby table.

This scene was one she had yearned for in her dreams. For many years, she had longed to be the one standing next to him and entertaining guests as a couple. He had never given her the chance, yet Qin Zhi’ai took on that role so effortlessly.

Liang Doukou’s fingers now trembled visibly, and the smile that she had tried so hard to maintain gradually disappeared from her face.

The table on the right of the main table was their last stop. After they toasted with the guests there, Gu Yusheng and Qin Zhi’ai returned to their seats.

Minutes after Gu Yusheng sat down, Xiaowang returned to the banquet hall.

Before Xiaowang could take his seat, Gu Yusheng called him over. “Is the card to the lounge with you? Pass it to Xiao’ai over there.”

To avoid arousing Xiaowang’s suspicion, Gu Yusheng intentionally included the words “over there.” He obeyed and walked over to Qin Zhi’ai with the card.

Gu Yusheng gave his orders to Xiaowang in a low voice but, being seated next to him, Liang Doukou could clearly hear him.

Liang Doukou wasn’t in the mood to pick apart all of his words. Her focus had narrowed in on the words “lounge” and “Xiao’ai.”

He actually gave his lounge card to that substitute? Back when she took the liberty to move into his room, he didn’t even want his luggage anymore.

Unable to control herself, Liang Doukou clenched her teeth.

Sometime later, Gu Yusheng’s tobacco craving kicked in and, after getting a lighter from Lu Bancheng, he rose and left the banquet hall.

As he disappeared through the door on the north end, Liang Doukou turned to sneak a glance at Qin Zhi’ai’s table.

With a radiant smile, she was talking to her friend while getting up from her seat. Holding her purse and the lounge card, she headed for the elevator.

Is she joining Gu Yusheng in the lounge?

Liang Doukou let her glass hit the table hard when she put it down. Chatting next to her, both Old Master Gu and Old Master Liang turned around.

“Xiaokou, what’s wrong?”

Realizing she’d called attention to herself, Liang Doukou hastily suppressed her rage and turned toward both men with a forced smile and said, “Nothing. I just misjudged.”

The old masters resumed their conversation and, with gritted teeth, Liang Doukou rose from her seat clutching her purse and stomped in the direction that Qin Zhi’ai had gone.

I’m going to find her.

I’m going to warn her to leave Gu Yusheng immediately.

And I will remind her not to forget our previous agreement and that I was the one to take care of her father’s gambling debt.

…

After Liang Doukou stepped into the elevator, Gu Yusheng, who had been standing outside and observing all the activity in the banquet hall, stubbed out his cigarette with his fingers and carelessly tossed it into the ash can. He straightened his posture and casually strolled back into the hall toward the elevator.