Back Then, I Adored You

Gu Yusheng and Lu Bancheng had just finished their meal upstairs in the dim sum restaurant. As they walked out of the elevator, they were conversing with a few other men.

All were dressed in formal suits but, based on how they talked, they were more like friends than business partners. Qin Zhi’ai assumed they must be taking part in some important gathering.

Qin Zhi’ai didn’t recognize the two men being led by a waitress to the front desk to pay the check.

Two other men were drunk and stumbled their way to the bathroom.

Gu Yusheng, Lu Bancheng, and another man stood by the elevator and talked.

She couldn’t hear what they were discussing, but Gu Yusheng was quiet the entire time. He took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, opened it, and put one cigarette between his lips before passed the pack to Lu Bancheng and the other man. It wasn’t long before they were enveloped in a cloud of smoke.

The two men who had just paid the check walked over by the door and waited for them.

Gu Yusheng, Lu Bancheng, and the other smoker didn’t walk to the door until their two drunk friends had come out of the bathroom.

As they walked to the door, they passed the table where Qin Zhi’ai was sitting. When they were about 20 feet away from her, Gu Yusheng smiled with the cigarette in his mouth after Lu Bancheng said something to him. But when he hadn’t said anything back to Lu Bancheng, he shrugged, looked away from Gu Yusheng, and looked ahead. His eyes passed by Qin Zhi’ai.

Lu Bancheng acted like he hadn’t seen her at first, but he had just been surprised. He waved at Qin Zhi’ai and finally said, “Xiao’ai.”

After hearing Lu Bancheng call out her name, Gu Yusheng, who had been talking to the man next to him with his head tilted, turned his head to look at where Qin Zhi’ai was sitting.

Unlike Lu Bancheng’s shocked look, Gu Yusheng had a blank expression on his face, making it impossible to read what he was thinking.

He scanned her briefly before looking away to listen to the conversation.

Because Lu Bancheng had greeted her first, out of courtesy Qin Zhi’ai stood up as he walked over to her. She gave him a smile and said, “Lu Bancheng.”

Lu Bancheng stopped and asked, “What are you doing here?”

“I’m having dinner with a friend,” Qin Zhi’ai said.

Gu Yusheng slightly turned his head and looked at Qin Zhi’ai again. He whispered something to the man next to him, and then the other three walked out of the restaurant first. Gu Yusheng stubbed his cigarette and walked to Qin Zhi’ai and Lu Bancheng.

Qin Zhi’ai had been Gu Yusheng’s secretary for several months. Even though she was not Hui Shi’s employee anymore, she still called Gu Yusheng “Master Gu.”

Gu Yusheng quietly responded with a “hi” and then rested his eyes on the table number in front of Qin Zhi’ai. After seeing the number, his brows furrowed, but he soon looked very calm.

“What friend? Guy or gal?” After Lu Bancheng asked, he added, “Xiao’ai, are you here for a blind date?”