Taking you would only disgrace the Gu Family

After an unknown stretch of time, Gu Jinman's phone rang.

She came back to her senses and answered immediately when she saw the caller ID. Song Zixuan's gentle voice came through the phone. "Baby, I was just on the phone with my boss. What did you need?"

"Your boss? Is Xu Peiya your boss?" Gu Jinman's voice turned shrill, and she unconsciously raised her volume.

A trace of panic slipped into Song Zixuan's voice. "Baby, what are you talking about?"

"You're still refusing to tell me the truth!" Gu Jinman said through gritted teeth. "I just called both you and Xu Peiya, and both your lines were busy. You were obviously talking to her, but you lied and said you were talking to your boss!"

"Let me explain. It's not what you think."

"Then what is it?" Gu Jinman demanded bitterly. "You're my boyfriend, and she's my best friend. How could you hook up behind my back?"

"We really haven't. There's nothing going on between us." As though he had made up his mind, Song Zixuan said with difficulty, "I... I admit I was talking to Xu Peiya just now."

Before Gu Jinman could speak, Song Zixuan added, "But I called Xu Peiya because of you."

Gu Jinman's expression wavered, but she still stubbornly insisted, "Then tell me what it was about."

Song Zixuan sighed. "Our first anniversary is coming up, isn't it? I called Xu Peiya to ask what kind of gift I should get you. I never thought you'd suspect we were having an affair."

At those words, Gu Jinman's anger immediately gave way to guilt. "R-really?"

"Of course. If you don't believe me, ask Xu Peiya and see if she tells you the same thing."

Hearing the anger and disappointment in Song Zixuan's voice, Gu Jinman panicked a little and hurriedly said, "Zixuan, don't be angry. Someone put ideas in my head, and you both happened to be on the phone. That's why I got suspicious."

Song Zixuan said seriously, "Baby, you're the only one I love. Don't you trust me?"

Gu Jinman's heart felt steeped in honey. "Of course I trust you."

"Then stop imagining things," Song Zixuan soothed her. "We'll have a proper celebration for our first anniversary in a few days, okay?"

"Okay."

Gu Jinman hung up shyly, and the smile on her face slowly faded.

It was all Qiao Hua's fault. She had claimed that Gu Jinman's boyfriend and best friend were hooking up, making her call them to demand answers.

Hmph. I knew my boyfriend and best friend would never betray me!

Unaware of what had happened outside, Qiao Hua entered the company and happened to run into Yan Yu.

"President Yan."

Yan Yu smiled faintly and glanced toward the entrance. "Was the person talking to you outside just now a friend of yours?"

Realizing he meant Gu Jinman, Qiao Hua said flatly, "She's my sister-in-law."

Seeing that Qiao Hua did not seem eager to discuss her, Yan Yu raised his eyebrows slightly. "Sounds like your conversation wasn't particularly pleasant?"

Qiao Hua shrugged. "That's normal. Everyone in the Gu Family looks down on me. They remind me to know my place every other day."

Anyone watching would have thought she was putting on a brave face. A pang of sympathy stirred in Yan Yu's heart, and he changed the subject. "Qiao Hua, there's something I'd like your help with."

Distracted, Qiao Hua blinked in confusion. "What is it?"

"I've been invited to a business banquet tomorrow evening, but I still need a date. Could I invite you to come with me?"

Qiao Hua pointed at herself. "You mean you want me to be your date?"

Yan Yu smiled. "Yes, though I don't know if you'd do me the honor."

Qiao Hua looked troubled. "I've never attended a banquet like that. I'd better pass, so I don't embarrass you."

She was telling the truth. In the three years since the original owner of her body had married into the Gu Family, Gu Wenze had never taken her to any important occasion. As a result, she had barely seen anything of high society.

Yan Yu did not seem to mind at all. "It's fine," he reassured her. "With me there, you won't embarrass yourself."

Seeing her hesitation, Yan Yu said earnestly, "Just consider it a favor to me, all right? Otherwise, everyone else will have a date, and I'll be the only one without one. People will laugh at me for having no charm."

Qiao Hua laughed. "Who would dare say you have no charm, President Yan?"

Yan Yu watched her intently, looking nothing like he was joking. Remembering the times he had helped her and the favors she still owed him, Qiao Hua sighed helplessly. "All right, then. But you can't blame me if anything goes wrong."

The smile in Yan Yu's eyes deepened. "Then it's settled."

Meanwhile, an invitation was delivered to Gu Wenze's desk.

When Gu Wenze returned to his office after the meeting, he noticed the invitation on his desk and casually opened it. It invited him to attend a business gala and suggested that he bring a female companion.

A face with a radiant smile involuntarily surfaced in Gu Wenze's mind.

"Oh, what's that?" Jiang Nan, who had come in to deliver some documents, noticed the elegant invitation in his hand and asked curiously.

"Nothing." Gu Wenze tossed the invitation into a drawer. "Did you need something?"

Hearing the distance in his voice, Jiang Nan's expression stiffened. She quickly composed herself and handed over the documents. "These are the notes from the meeting just now. I'll leave them here."

"President Gu, I'll get back to work, then."

Without looking at her, Gu Wenze gave a flat grunt of acknowledgment.

Jiang Nan clenched her fingers tightly. Recalling the invitation she had briefly glimpsed, she left the office reluctantly.

That evening, Gu Wenze drove home and happened to meet Qiao Hua at the entrance as she returned from work.

Qiao Hua could not even be bothered to glance at him. She entered the passcode and was about to go inside.

Gu Wenze called out behind her, "Wait."

Qiao Hua stopped, rolled her eyes impatiently, and turned to look at him. "What?"

Gu Wenze's voice was low. "Come to a banquet with me tomorrow evening."

Qiao Hua raised an eyebrow and leaned against the door, looking intrigued. "What's the occasion? President Gu is actually taking me out with him."

As though he had not heard her sarcasm, Gu Wenze said, "Eight tomorrow evening. The driver will pick you up here."

When he offered no further explanation, Qiao Hua did not ask. She was not particularly interested in his sudden change of behavior anyway, and refused him bluntly. "I have something to do tomorrow. You should find someone else to go with you, President Gu."

Apparently not expecting her refusal, Gu Wenze's expression immediately darkened, and his voice dropped. "Something to do? What?"

"That's none of your business, is it, President Gu?" Every word Qiao Hua spoke carried a sense of distance. "That's my private affair."

Gu Wenze's dark eyes burned like fire as inexplicable anger surged into his chest. He said coldly, "Do you think I'm that desperate for you to come?"

"A woman like you isn't fit to be seen in public. Taking you would only disgrace our Gu Family."