Chapter 145: Are you blind?

Jiang Lai withdrew her gaze.

"Two years ago, when I went back, there was a thirteen‑year‑old kid in the courtyard. A relative suddenly showed up and arranged his early discharge. His situation was a bit special, so I left him this number. If it gets cancelled or blocked, I'm afraid he'll need me one day and won't be able to find me."

Ke Zhongying nodded and snapped, "Shen Xun is really annoying. It's freezing outside; let's go inside."

"Mm." Jiang Lai nodded. As they turned, Lin Shutong happened to look up and see them.

Her eyes flickered.

"Jiang Lai?"

"What?" Gu Zhiyan followed her gaze upward; the deck above was empty.

"I just thought I saw Jiang Lai, and the person with her must be the Ke family's eldest miss." Lin Shutong, having heard the whole third floor of the cruise ship was booked, asked Gu Zhiyan, "Do you know who booked the third floor?"

Gu Zhiyan hadn't looked into it.

But surely someone knows.

"Li Dan and his crew should have arrived; let's go over."

The two entered the private room; Gu Zhiyan's good friend Li Dan was already there, accompanied by two friends—a man and a woman.

The woman, Lin Shutong, was unknown to her.

The man, she knew, and he knew her too.

Chi Ce.

Lin Shutong's smile twitched slightly.

How did it have to be this person?

"Attorney Gu, long time no see."

"Only a few months, Li Shao."

Li Dan and Gu Zhiyan briefly hugged, then introduced the friends beside them.

"Chi Ce, my friend since childhood—a quack doctor."

Chi Ce laughed and kicked him, saying, "Screw you."

"Fu Youqing, the Fu family's eldest miss, is also my friend."

Li Dan then introduced Gu Zhiyan: "The renowned Attorney Gu Zhiyan—our parents know each other, so we're distantly related, but elders are elders and we're just us."

"Who's this?" Li Dan winked, "Attorney Gu, aren't you going to introduce them?"

Gu Zhiyan stood beside Lin Shutong and introduced her openly: "Lin Shutong, a friend I met while on a business trip abroad."

Their overcoats were on them, making them look less like ordinary friends.

Li Dan gave a meaningful smile, then noticed the other two's looks were off.

He asked Fu Youqing, "Do you know her?"

Fu Youqing's gaze swept over her up and down: "Not exactly acquainted, but I've heard of her."

Chi Ce propped his head on one hand, looking languid: "Of course I know Miss Lin too."

Li Dan hissed, "Everyone knows her? I'm the only one who doesn't—must be because I've been away too long and missed something."

Fu Youqing gave a teasing glance: "At Shen Xun's place."

"Miss Fu is so reserved." Chi Ce sat up straight, of course being even more reserved, and said nothing.

It was Li Shao's gathering; we ought to give him face.

Li Dan sensed the tension, still smiling: "Whether we know each other or not, let's just treat today as a fresh introduction."

Fu Youqing and Chi Ce exchanged a glance, then smiled and nodded at Lin Shutong.

Lin Shutong knew they weren't welcoming her.

Gu Zhiyan also sensed the awkward atmosphere; he hated to make Lin Shutong uncomfortable, but he couldn't refuse Li Dan's face.

Everyone sat down together.

Lin Shutong felt like she was sitting on pins and needles; she wanted to leave, but feared upsetting Gu Zhiyan.

Damn it, I wish I hadn't come.

Who knew the six‑person rule would play out on her?

Hopefully Shen Xi will show up soon.

Let Shen Xi make a fool of herself; then I can slip away unnoticed.

Gu Zhiyan hadn't forgotten about Lin Shutong; he asked Li Dan, "What's the situation on the third floor?"

Li Dan indeed knew: "It's a Ke clan team‑building event."

Fu Youqing said, "It's a victory banquet. Speaking of which, our Fu family's subsidiary Star Universe Technology is out of luck—we couldn't beat the Ke clan, and the Ke clan aren't even the top players in this field."

Chi Ce glanced at her: "Losing to the Ke chief isn't embarrassing."

Fu Youqing was speechless: "If he weren't cheating, the outcome really wouldn't be certain."

Chi Ce: "You'd also need a little tail, otherwise how could the Ke chief catch you?"

Fu Youqing had nothing to say; her gaze fell once more on Lin Shutong.

Lin Shutong gave a faint smile, pretending not to hear, while her molars were practically grinding to pieces.

Gu Zhiyan glanced at Lin Shutong, regretting bringing her here.

"Li Shao just got back; shouldn't we be talking about something else?"

His gaze carried a hint of threat.

Fu Youqing and Chi Ce weren't really afraid of Gu Zhiyan, but they knew that continuing would really be denying Li Shao face.

Everyone raised their glasses briefly.

They hadn't planned to bring up Lin Shutong's little matter again, but Li Dan himself asked, "Looking at Miss Lin's demeanor, is she a dancer?"

Chi Ce nearly burst out laughing.

Fu Youqing glared at him: "Can you calm down?"

Chi Ce restrained his smile: "Miss Lin is a researcher."

Li Dan was shocked.

Fu Youqing: "Before."

Li Dan: "?"

"Li Shao, Shutong and I still have some things to take care of, we need to leave first." Gu Zhiyan felt sorry for Lin Shutong and decided to take her away.

Lin Shutong looked up, shook her head while smiling, meaning there was nothing wrong.

Her eyes also held a hint of grievance.

Fu Youqing laughed at the sight.

Li Dan's face also turned cold; he glared at Chi Ce and Fu Youqing: "Can't you two give me some face?"

"Have I not given it?" Fu Daxiaojie isn't someone who looks at people's faces; her smile also turned cold.

"Li Dan, we've known each other for years—I won't beat around the bush. Our Fu Family's subsidiary Star Universe Technology's failed bid is related to this Miss Lin Shutong, and of course also to Shen Xun; she is Shen Xun's secret lover, and Shen Xun is married."

Chi Ce pressed his lips together.

This sort of thing really ought to be said by Fu Daxiaojie.

Li Dan stared, stunned again and again; he knew Fu Youqing had once liked Shen Xun, but then she suddenly gave up.

I've also heard of the great name of Young Master Gu, but I can't understand: you clearly know Lin Shutong and Shen Xun are involved, yet you rush to show concern? If the Gu family people are this stupid, how could they have their status today?

Fu Youqing looked utterly bewildered.

"Lin Shutong, you're pretty good at pretending too—just now you said you were fine, but your eyes showed resentment? We, the Fu Family, are the ones who are wronged; to cover up this bit of dirt for you, my dad personally got involved."

"Li Shao, you haven't seen Young Master Gu in a while—you two chat, I'm leaving."

Fu Youqing said she'd leave and then left.

Li Dan opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Chi Ce: "Should I go check?"

Li Dan knew he was just looking for an excuse to leave, and nodded: "Go, go, go."

"Let's make plans another day." Chi Ce also left.

Lin Shutong immediately said to Gu Zhiyan and Li Dan: "Sorry, because of my matter I've made things unpleasant for you."

Gu Zhiyan: "It's not your fault; they don't know the exact situation."

Li Dan: "."

You've said all that—what am I supposed to say?

"It's fine, it's fine, let's keep eating—I originally just wanted to invite Gu Zhiyan to meet up, thinking more people would be livelier, I never expected..." Things turned out like this.

Gu Zhiyan explained to Li Dan: "Shutong was deceived by Shen Xun; it's not what others think."

Li Dan: "........."

Brother, I think you're the one who was deceived.

Chi Ce and Fu Daxiaojie have never gotten along; this is the first time they've formed a united front.

Everyone with the surname Lin has provoked public outrage.

You're blind.