Chapter 23
That evening, the group gathered at Zhou Chen's restaurant, Huixi Restaurant.
After Wang Maoxiu arrived, he looked at Chen Ze and said, "Shameless! You invited us to dinner, but you came to Zhou Chen's restaurant. Will Zhou Chen charge us, or not?"
Chen Ze leaned back in his chair, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. "He can charge me if he wants, or not if he doesn't. If he does, I think I forgot my card. I'll have Zhou Chen put it on the tab."
Wang Maoxiu looked at Gu Shi and laughed angrily. "No wonder you're in the entertainment industry. Your skin was thick."
Gu Shi sat down and glanced at the group. "Serve the food. I'm hungry."
Wang Maoxiu sat down and asked Gu Shi, "What are your thoughts on my project?"
Chen Ze immediately sat up straight. "What project?"
There's no need to hide this matter. Wang Maoxiu said. "I plan to build a large amusement park, like Disneyland overseas..."
Before he could finish, Chen Ze scoffed and interrupted him: "What large amusement park? Disneyland, my foot! Disneyland was famous because it has Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Cinderella, and Snow White—all things children love. You want to imitate Disneyland overseas? What's the theme? You have nothing. How can you imitate it? The idea is good, but without a story, without world-famous fairytale characters, it's very difficult to imitate."
Wang Maoxiu's shoulders slumped: "Even you say so. It seems there's little hope." He then turned to Gu Shi.
Gu Shi poured himself a cup of tea and glanced at the two of them. "The other project looks pretty good."
Chen Ze asked him, "What project?"
Gu Shi said softly, "Logistics."
Wang Maoxiu perked up. "You also think logistics is a good business?"
Gu Shi thought of Luo Zhengzheng's words and couldn't help but smile. He simply said, "My family’s Ms. Luo, says online shopping will become the norm for people in the future."
Chen Ze wanted to roll his eyes again. Your wife was your wife, but 'Ms. Luo'? How sour.
Thinking this way, Chen Ze pondered it carefully, and considering the recent news he'd seen, Luo Zhengzheng's words might not be without merit. He slammed his hand on the table: "Don't underestimate Luo Zhengzheng just because she's a country girl. She's got some knowledge. No wonder she's a graduate of a prestigious university."
Gu Shi glanced at him: "Her education level is higher than yours."
Chen Ze: "..."
Wang Maoxiu glared at him: "Keep it down, you're going to break the table! Gu Shi's right, Luo Zhengzheng at least graduated from a prestigious university, and you? You only graduated from high school."
Chen Ze: " "..."
Who did he offend?
Chen Ze retorted, "I didn't go to university, because I joined the army."
Zhou Chen walked in, heard his words, and said, "Whether you join the army or not has nothing to do with going to university. Weren't you forced to join the army by Aunt and Uncle because you weren't good at studying?"
Wang Maoxiu said, "Exactly! You joined the army, but you didn't achieve anything. Look at Elder Brother Chen, he's a regimental commander now. And you? You're in the entertainment industry."
Besieged by the three of them, Chen Ze could only admit defeat. He said, "I just mentioned Luo Zhengzheng once, was it really that big of a deal? I'm a big shot in the entertainment industry, a well-known figure."
Wang Maoxiu, thinking of his fiancée's good relationship with Luo Zhengzheng, said in her defense, "Don't look down on Luo Zhengzheng, thinking she only married Gu Shi because of her looks. Actually, she's quite nice."
Zhou Chen added, "Even Aunt Ye likes Luo Zhengzheng, which shows she's a good person."
Chen Ze felt wronged and protested, "I didn't say anything about Luo Zhengzheng! She's learning to film TV dramas at my company, and I've always treated her like royalty, serving her tea and water. Even my mother wasn't treated like that. It's one thing for Gu Shi to disapprove of me talking about Luo Zhengzheng, but what do you mean by that?"
Gu Shi chuckled lightly, "That just means my family’s Ms. Luo is well-liked."
Chen Ze waved his hand, not wanting to say anything more, and looked at Zhou Chen: "Hurry up and serve the food. Hurry up and serve the food."
The waiters brought the dishes to the table one after another. Chen Ze looked at the three of them: "Want a drink?"
Gu Shi said, "You guys drink, I've had a cold these past few days."
He generally didn't like drinking outside unless it was a business dinner.
Zhou Chen shook his head, "My Xingyue smelled the alcohol and wouldn't let me hug her, so I'm not drinking either."
Wang Maoxiu laughed, "If neither of you was drinking, what's the point of us two drinking here?"
He mainly wanted to talk to Gu Shi about business. How could they talk if they were drunk?
Chen Ze frowned, "A group of grown men eating together, not drinking? Then let's eat."
While they were eating, the hotel manager came in and whispered a few words in Zhou Chen's ear.
Zhou Chen put down his chopsticks, glanced at Gu Shi, and said to the manager, "Arrange another private room for them."
At this time, Su Zhilan walked in smiling. She glanced at Gu Shi first before saying to Zhou Chen, "Elder Brother Chen, there's no need to arrange another private room. Isn't this room quite big?"
Zhou Chen looked at Gu Shi, who sat there without moving.
At this time, a young man entered. He was Su Zhilan's older brother, Su Chenyang. He glanced around the private room and said with a smile, "Everyone's here. It's been a long time since we ate together. Since we've run into each other, let's eat together."
Since they had already said that, Zhou Chen could only instruct the waiter to bring them bowls and chopsticks.
Su Chenyang looked at the table: "Why isn't anyone drinking? Bring a bottle of wine."
Zhou Chen immediately instructed the waiter: "Bring us the best wine in our restaurant."
The waiter opened the wine and placed it on the table. As wine was poured for everyone and when it came to Gu Shi, he looked up and said calmly, "I have a cold, I can't drink."
Su Chenyang looked over: "Is Gu Shi not giving face to elder brother?"
Gu Shi leaned back in his chair, about to speak, when Zhou Chen quickly said, "He really does have a cold. Chen Ze just wanted to drink, but he refused. Otherwise, how could we, a group of grown men, just eat food?"
Since they all said so, Su Chenyang tactfully said, "Alright, then we'll drink."
Wang Maoxiu suddenly stood up and said, "You guys drink, I've finished eating, I'll take my leave."
Su Chenyang looked at him, his eyes slightly cold, and remained seated.
Su Zhilan stepped in to smooth things over: "Elder Brother Xiu, why don't you sit a little longer?"
Wang Maoxiu looked at her, scoffed, and said to Zhou Chen, "I'll take my leave."
He then strode away.
Gu Shi glanced at his watch, stood up, and said gently, "I have a phone appointment with Ms. Luo, so I'll be leaving now."
He then strode away.
Su Zhilan's face darkened as she watched Gu Shi leave.
Su Chenyang sat quietly in his chair. His eyes lowered, radiating a chilling aura. After a few seconds, he smiled and said, "Let's drink."
Chen Ze glanced at Zhou Chen, picked up his glass, and said, "Elder Brother Su, a toast to you." He then downed his drink.
Seeing him down it in one gulp, Su Chenyang also downed his glass in one go.
Zhou Chen also picked up his glass: "Elder Brother Su, I'll toast you too." He then downed his drink in one gulp.
Su Chenyang glanced at him and downed his glass in one go.
Chen Ze refilled his glass and looked at Su Chenyang: "Elder Brother Su, let's drink again."
Su Chenyang sneered inwardly and continued drinking.
Seeing them drinking like that, Su Zhilan looked at her brother worriedly, wanting to stop them, but remembering his competitive nature, she gave up.
Thinking of the photos she had just taken and then of Gu Shi's indifferent face, she bit her lip and sent the photos to Liu Hanyue.
In the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong, Liu Hanyue laid on the bed, applying a face mask and watching TV. Her phone beeped with a message. She picked it up, puzzled. Why was Su Zhilan texting her?
Opening the message, she saw a photo of a few men having dinner together. She recognized Gu Shi in it.
Looking at the others, they were all Gu Shi's childhood friends. Wasn't it normal for them to be eating together?
What was there that warranted Su Zhilan sending her a photo?
What was she trying to say?
Then Liu Hanyue received another photo. This time, Gu Shi and Wang Maoxiu were gone, replaced by Su Zhilan and her elder brother, Su Chenyang. Her eyes widened. What was Su Zhilan trying to say? It was obvious.
She had dinner with Gu Shi and the others that evening.
Dinner was fine, but the problem was she sent her a photo. Wasn't she just trying to get her to tell Luo Zhengzheng? To make Luo Zhengzheng angry and cause a scene with Gu Shi?
She now held extreme contempt for people who wanted to be a third party. Regardless of their past relationship, they broke up, didn't they? After a breakup, one should stay far away from their ex. Constantly causing trouble was disgusting.
Now the question was whether or not to tell Luo Zhengzheng. If she didn't, Gu Shi and Su Zhilan were having dinner together and what if Luo Zhengzheng found out from others? Wouldn't she be even more jealous? If she did tell, wouldn't she be playing into Su Zhilan's hands?
She simply tossed her phone on the bed and ignored it, continuing to do her face mask and watch TV.
After finishing her face mask, she thought for a moment and knocked on Luo Zhengzheng's door.
Luo Zhengzheng was also applying a face mask in her room when she heard a knock on the door. "Who is it?" she asked.
"It's me. Your second elder sister-in-law."
Luo Zhengzheng opened the door upon hearing her voice.
Liu Hanyue glanced at her and looked around the room. She saw little Chengjia sitting in Nanny Wang's lap, video chatting with Mother-in-law on a laptop. She went over and greeted her. She quietly pulled Luo Zhengzheng aside and showed her Su Zhilan's text message.
Luo Zhengzheng opened it, read it, and then returned the phone to Liu Hanyue.
Liu Hanyue stared at her, noticing her expressionless face, devoid of any emotion. She cautiously asked, "Are you alright?"
Luo Zhengzheng looked at her and chuckled, "What could possibly be wrong? It's just a meal with so many people, not like they were on a bed."
Liu Hanyue patted her shoulder blankly, "Younger Sister-in-law, you're the one who's clear-headed."
At this time, Luo Zhengzheng's phone rang. She picked it up and saw it was Gu Shi calling. She looked at Liu Hanyue and whispered, "It's Gu Shi."
Liu Hanyue uttered "Oh" twice and quickly pulled her into her room. A burning curiosity ignited within her. She wanted to know what had happened.
Seeing her actions, Luo Zhengzheng shook her head. Just as she was about to answer the phone, Liu Hanyue hurriedly said, "Put it on speakerphone, put it on speakerphone."
Unsure of her intentions, Luo Zhengzheng answered the call and put it on speakerphone.
Liu Hanyue quickly picked up her phone and started recording a video of Luo Zhengzheng.
Gu Shi asked on the other end of the phone, "Have you eaten?"
Luo Zhengzheng replied, "Yes."
Luo Zhengzheng asked him, "What about you? Have you eaten?"
Gu Shi said, "We ate too. Zhou Chen, Chen Ze, and Wang Maoxiu had dinner together."
Luo Zhengzheng, thinking of the photo from earlier, asked, "Wasn't anyone else there?"
Oblivious to the deeper meaning in her words, Gu Shi smiled and replied, "Checking on your husband? When I ate, it was just the few of us. As for whether anyone else was there after we left, I don't know."
Liu Hanyue gave Luo Zhengzheng a meaningful look. Gu Shi usually seemed calm, composed, and sparing with words, but unexpectedly, he was talkative and flirtatious around Luo Zhengzheng. Appearances could be deceiving. Su Zhilan was clearly no match for Luo Zhengzheng.
With Liu Hanyue present, Luo Zhengzheng didn't say much to him, exchanging a few words before hanging up.
Luo Zhengzheng looked at her: "Why were you recording?"
Liu Hanyue raised an eyebrow and dialed Chen Ze's number.
Chen Ze was still drinking when he received Liu Hanyue's call. Slightly tipsy, he answered, "Second Sister-in-law, what's up?"
Liu Hanyue smiled and said, "I’ll send you a video file. Receive it later, open it, and let everyone in the room hear it. By the way, is Su Zhilan next to you?"
Chen Ze glanced at Su Zhilan, puzzled, and smiled, "Yes, she is!"
That was good.
After hanging up, Liu Hanyue sent the video to Chen Ze.
Chen Ze received the video and opened it immediately. Then, the sounds of Gu Shi and Luo Zhengzheng talking on the phone filled the room.
Everyone fell silent, exchanging bewildered glances.
Su Zhilan's face flushed red. She gritted her teeth. Liu Hanyue was ruthless. She would remember this.
Luo Zhengzheng looked at Liu Hanyue: "Why did you send that video to Chen Ze?"
Liu Hanyue explained softly, "Of course I couldn't send that video to Su Zhilan. What if she did something bad? Gu Shi is familiar with Chen Ze. We can get him to delete the video."
Luo Zhengzheng nudged her: "You're really something."
Liu Hanyue snorted: "Who am I doing this for? Gu Shi obviously didn't eat with Su Zhilan. She's already provoked us. How can I let her off the hook?"
Appreciative, Luo Zhengzheng smiled and said, "I'll give you a bag tomorrow."
Liu Hanyue didn't mince words: "Anyway, it’ll be on Gu Shi's card."
The two women exchanged a knowing smile.
After hanging up with Luo Zhengzheng, Gu Shi went to the bathroom to wash up. When he came out, he saw the video Chen Ze had sent him. He frowned and replied, "What does this mean?"
Chen Ze, naturally unaware of Liu Hanyue's intention in sending him the video and thought for a moment, "Could it be that elder sister-in-law wants to confess to you, but she's too shy, so she sent it to me through your second sister-in-law, who then forwarded it to you?"
Gu Shi said, "You're overthinking it."
Chen Ze felt his suspicions were correct.
Seeing that he couldn't figure it out, Gu Shi said, "Rest now, you're busy. Take it easy with your drinking."
Clearly, he knew that given Chen Ze's personality, he was still drinking.
Chen Ze looked at the message, smiled, and replied, "I know."
He closed his phone and continued drinking with Su Chenyang.