Caught again

I froze completely.

Gu Hansheng? What was he doing here?

What was with this man? Was I going to run into him wherever I went?

I didn't dare look him in the eye.

He was clearly smiling, but there wasn't a trace of warmth in that smile.

His eyes were too cold, as though coated in a thin layer of frost, chilling even the air.

Gu Mingze stood up too, blocking me from view, his voice low but angry.

"Gu Hansheng, don't push it. You took advantage of Hanhan's predicament to blackmail her, and now you're stopping other people from helping her. Are you even human?"

Gu Hansheng sneered, his voice low and indifferent. "You certainly sound righteous now. Where were you when she needed help most?"

Gu Mingze stiffened, but quickly retorted, "If I'd been here, Hanhan would have come to me first, not you!"

Gu Hansheng's eyes grew colder, the corners of his lips lifting slightly with a hint of disdain. "And? What's your point? That you came too late?"

The pressure between them sank lower and lower, almost suffocating.

I stood to one side, watching them cross swords, my thoughts a tangled mess.

If I'd known Gu Mingze had already returned to the country back then...

Would I have gone to him?

I didn't know.

There was no answer, either. There were no ifs in this world to begin with. Reality was already what it was, and thinking about it any further was pointless.

After a stretch of silence, I took a deep breath, stepped forward, and took Gu Hansheng's hand, forcing a smile.

"It's late. Let's go home."

Gu Hansheng looked down at me, his eyes unfathomable, but his smile turned even colder.

"The moment I leave, you take advantage of my absence to meet another man. Now you're willing to go home with me? Yu Han, you really have no sense of how you should behave."

I took a deep breath. No matter how coldly he spoke to me, I kept smiling.

"Don't get the wrong idea," I said, trying to keep my voice calm. "I only just got here too. There's nothing between us."

At those words, Gu Hansheng's expression finally softened a little.

Although he still wore that sour expression, I knew him too well. Deep down, my explanation had actually pleased him.

He just still seemed to be nursing some anger.

"Looks like I interrupted you two," he said coolly, his voice low. "I'll leave first. Do as you please."

With that, he really did turn and walk out.

I didn't follow him right away. Instead, I turned to Gu Mingze.

I knew I had to make things completely clear.

Otherwise, Gu Mingze would keep pestering me, and things between Gu Hansheng and me would only become more tangled.

A flicker of hope crossed Gu Mingze's face when he saw Gu Hansheng leave.

He probably thought I had finally come to my senses and wanted to return to his side.

But I gave him no room for illusions.

"Gu Mingze," I said bluntly, "don't contact me again. I belong to Gu Hansheng now. No matter how he treats me, I won't stand with a foot in two boats."

Gu Mingze froze, the light in his eyes slowly dimming.

Without giving him another glance, I turned to my younger brother.

"Yu Hui," I said with a measure of helplessness, "you don't have any experience starting a business right now. Don't rashly accept other people's help. Our family can't withstand any more upheaval. You'd better conduct yourself properly."

Yu Hui lowered his head, his gaze shifting as he stole a glance outside. Gu Hansheng had indeed left.

Only then did he muster a little courage and say, "I know you look down on me, but I'll prove to you that I'm no worse than anyone else. Now that Brother Mingze is back, you don't need to swallow your anger and put up with Gu Hansheng anymore, either."

I cut him off coldly. "My business is none of yours. And if you ever ask me out with an ulterior motive again, I absolutely won't let you off lightly."

With that, I picked up my bag and walked straight out of the bar without looking back.

I'd thought Gu Hansheng had long since left, but to my surprise, his car was still parked at the entrance.

The headlights were on, their white beams cutting through the night, cold and dazzling.

My heart gave a jump. Then I walked over with a deliberately easy smile, opened the passenger door, and got in.

"Hey, handsome," I said, turning to him with a faint smile. "Waiting for me?"

Gu Hansheng glanced at me, his expression still far from pleasant. He merely frowned slightly and uttered two flat words.

"Get out."

His tone was as cold as ice.

He was my sugar daddy now, so of course I wasn't going to shamelessly invite a snub.

Fine, I'd get out. At worst, I'd take a taxi myself.

Just as I was about to push the door open and get out, he suddenly caught my wrist.

I stumbled, and the next second, he had pulled me back.

Gu Hansheng gripped my chin with one hand, not hard, but firmly enough to keep me from moving.

He leaned in, an aggressive curve at the corner of his mouth, and pressed his thin lips to mine.

For that instant, I almost forgot to breathe.

The familiar scent of tobacco mingled with his distinctive cool fragrance, suffocating me and drawing me under.

Gu Hansheng's kisses were always urgent and scorching, as though carrying a ruthless urge to plunder that left nowhere to escape.

He kissed me until I could barely breathe, and I pounded hard on his chest.

Only when I was almost starved of oxygen did he finally release me.

He lifted his head, breathing hard, his gaze so searing it could almost set someone alight.

A faint trace of crimson showed in those deep eyes.