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Her eyes reddened as she watched Gu Bai and Chu Zeshen walk away together.

Unable to bear it, Gu Ruilin told his older sister, "Sis, Chu Zeshen likes men. He isn't interested in women."

Gu Jiazi lowered her eyes and, thinking of something, said, "When have you ever seen anyone by Chu Zeshen's side all these years? The Gu Family and the Chu Family are only joining forces for greater profits."

Gu Bai got another free ride.

He walked up to the passenger door and asked politely, "Do you mind if I sit in the front?"

Chu Zeshen answered with action, stepping forward to open the passenger door for him.

Gu Bai said, "Thank you," and got in without standing on ceremony.

As for the time alone together Chu Zeshen had mentioned, apart from asking where Gu Bai lived when they first got in, he said nothing else.

Eventually, feeling a little bored, Gu Bai gazed absently at the interior. This seemed to be the car Chu Zeshen usually drove. A good-luck charm hung from an air vent, at odds with its owner's demeanor.

The design on it was rather unusual, so Gu Bai gave it a few extra looks.

Chu Zeshen noticed and said, "Grandpa got that good-luck charm during a trip. I've kept it hanging there for several years to give him some peace of mind."

Gu Bai leaned back against the seat without asking any more questions. "Mm, that's nice."

Then silence fell over the car again.

The car stopped at the entrance to Gu Bai's residential complex. A security guard came over for the usual check, and the driver's window rolled down. Seeing Gu Bai in the passenger seat, the guard greeted him, "Mr. Gu."

Gu Bai nodded. "This is my friend."

The guard had them let through and casually chatted with Gu Bai. "Mocha didn't come with you today?"

Over these past few days, Gu Bai's regular walks with Mocha around the complex had turned Mocha into a neighborhood celebrity. Every time they reached the entrance, Mocha would get a round of petting from the security guards.

Gu Bai smiled. "He's at home."

The barrier at the entrance had already been raised, but Chu Zeshen did not rush to drive in. He waited until Gu Bai finished speaking before proceeding.

Once inside the complex, Gu Bai pointed out the building he lived in to Chu Zeshen. When they arrived downstairs, Gu Bai unfastened his seat belt but did not hurry to get out.

Chu Zeshen also unfastened his seat belt, took a document envelope from the back seat, and handed it to Gu Bai.

Gu Bai raised an eyebrow at this. Only now did their marriage alliance formally begin.

Chu Zeshen said calmly, "I'm sorry, Mr. Gu. I have no intention of entering into marriage at present, but I agreed because of pressure from the elders in my family, as well as this so-called marriage alliance and unavoidable business interests. Your younger brother told me your ideal type is a sweet, cute girl, so I assume you also agreed to this marriage alliance for your own purposes."

Gu Bai was a little surprised that he had been so frank about his purpose in agreeing to this marriage alliance. Such alliances were all about the interests of both parties, but very few people discussed that openly.

Gu Bai took the documents from Chu Zeshen. "What a coincidence. I also agreed to this marriage alliance for my own interests."

Chu Zeshen looked at Gu Bai and said, "That means we have an opportunity to work together. This will require you to put on an act with me for one year, Mr. Gu, and to have your household registration joined with mine."

In other words, they would have to go to the civil affairs bureau to register their marriage.

Gu Bai asked, "Then why aren't you joining my household registration?"

Chu Zeshen paused. He had approached the issue from his own perspective when discussing it with Gu Bai, so he had naturally put himself first. He did not care about this particular point, so since the other party had requested it, he could simply agree.

"Of course that's fine. I have no objections. The envelope contains the contract for our cooperation. If there are any other conditions you'd like to add, you can contact me."

They added each other on WeChat.

Gu Bai opened the door and got out. "All right, goodbye, then."

"Mr. Gu." Chu Zeshen suddenly called him back.

Gu Bai bent down to look toward the driver's seat. "Is there something else?"

Chu Zeshen asked, "May I ask who Mocha is?"

Gu Bai chuckled. Seemingly realizing that his question was a little abrupt, Chu Zeshen explained, "Because this marriage alliance concerns both the Chu and Gu families, if you're seeing someone..."

Gu Bai cut him off. "Mocha is my pet. I'm not seeing anyone."

After saying that, Gu Bai closed the door and stood there for a few seconds. Chu Zeshen drove out of the complex.

Chapter 8

After returning home, Gu Bai casually set the documents aside and brought his tired body back to where he belonged. He lay down on the sofa and stayed there for ages.

Mocha kept pestering him to play tug-of-war.

That game left him covered in sweat, but Mocha still seemed to have energy to burn, flinging the rope around in the living room like a lion dancer.

Gu Bai went into his room to wash up. Not long after he came out, the housekeeper arrived to make dinner, and he asked her to cook the steak he had taken out earlier.

The housekeeper left after finishing the meal. Gu Bai carried the steak and the other side dishes to the living room table, then opened a bottle of wine for himself.

Mocha gnawed on his bone in his little bed while Gu Bai sat on the rug sipping wine. Neither disturbed the other, and there was something lovely and peaceful about it.

Most of the evening had passed when Gu Bai received an unfamiliar message on his phone between games.

[C: Good evening, Mr. Gu. If you have any questions about the contract, please feel free to raise them with me.]

When Gu Bai saw the message, his fingers paused on the controller. For a moment, he could not work out which contract the sender meant, and he had no recollection of this person on WeChat either.

He had signed countless contracts in his previous life. With a capable assistant by his side, he had hardly needed to worry about them. Now he had to handle everything himself, and he had yet to adjust.

[Bai: May I ask who this is?]

The other party is typing...

Those words remained on the screen for quite a while, but no message ever came through.

Gu Bai was a patient person too. Since the other party sent nothing, he did not ask again.

Just as he was about to start another game, the other party made a voice call.

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