Chapter 19: What Nonsense Are You Spouting — She's the Other Woman!

When Meng Shutang came out after tidying up, she saw Gu Yunci and Zhou Songyan standing under the eaves smoking.

The wind beneath the eaves was rather strong, blowing the hems of both men's trench coats into a flutter.

Zhou Songyan was forcefully making some point; the man stood there with one hand in his pocket and a placid expression, hardly speaking the whole time, only furrowing his brow once at the very end.

Meng Shutang's heart sank. She silently turned and left, returning to her studio.

Evening.

Gu Yunci arrived home and was pleased to see that Auntie Zhang had returned.

"Is Pengpeng doing well in America? He hasn't been back in a year — he must have grown taller again, right?"

Auntie Zhang nodded. "He's grown taller, and put on some weight too. We mother and son are both very grateful to you, President Gu. If it weren't for you, as a woman on my own, I could never have afforded to send him abroad to study."

Gu Yunci waved his hand. "Auntie Zhang, there's no need to be so formal. You've been with the Gu family for so many years — I've long regarded you as family."

"Once Pengpeng makes something of himself in the future, you won't have to work so hard anymore."

As he spoke, he thought about how Meng Shutang had dismissed Sister Li. "Sister Li isn't here anymore. If you can't manage the kitchen on your own, just tell her, and she can hire someone else to come."

She was referring to Meng Shutang.

Auntie Zhang smiled. "The young madam is someone who knows how to live sensibly. I can handle the kitchen entirely on my own."

"I never said so before, but I also felt that having two people was rather a waste."

All these years, Auntie Zhang had been gentle, honest, and taciturn — knowing her place, understanding when to advance and when to retreat.

But for her to speak up for Meng Shutang this time still surprised him quite a bit.

His brow twitched slightly, and his gaze darkened.

But his hands were busy, so he had no time to think deeply about it.

He was making juice; his hands had gotten juice on them just now from spacing out.

The collar of the shirt he wore today was a bit tight, especially when he lowered his head — it pressed painfully against his neck.

He wanted to loosen the collar, but both hands were occupied, so he could only hold his stiff posture and call out to Auntie Zhang. "Auntie Zhang, come over and help me fix my collar."

With a beep, the door opened.

Meng Shutang came in carrying a stack of things. The light in the entryway fell on her, spreading a faint halo around her, setting off her beautiful eyes and her calm, composed bearing.

Auntie Zhang saw her. "Young madam, you're back."

Meng Shutang: "Auntie Zhang."

Auntie Zhang turned her eyes toward Gu Yunci. "President Gu, I just swept the floor. So your clothes don't get dirty, why not let the young madam help you unbutton your shirt?"

Gu Yunci, with his naturally cool disposition, didn't read into Auntie Zhang's intent. He gave a placid nod. "Fine."

Meng Shutang heard this and didn't dare dawdle. She walked over and set the documents on the table. "What does President Gu need me to do?"

Gu Yunci's tone was flat and unrippled, carrying a hint of habitual command. "The top two buttons. Help me undo them."

Meng Shutang nodded.

He was one meter ninety tall; Meng Shutang was only one meter seventy.

The two of them differed by a full head.

Facing him, she stood on tiptoe. Only when she went to undo the button did she realize the top one was pressing tightly against his Adam's apple.

His Adam's apple was truly prominent.

Chen Man had said that a man with a large Adam's apple meant he was strong in that regard.

That was indeed true.

In these three years, aside from her period, Gu Yunci had coaxed her into bed nearly every day, leaving her red here or swollen there.

She still remembered one time when things were at their most intense — she had cried and begged him, and he still hadn't stopped.

Perhaps lost in memory, Meng Shutang forgot to move.

The man assumed she was too short and struggling to reach, so he simply sat down beside her.

Meng Shutang saw this and, very naturally, stood between his legs, bending slightly to help him.

From Auntie Zhang's vantage point, that posture was extremely suggestive. She gave a faint smile and tiptoed quietly back to the kitchen.

Meng Shutang's slender fingertips carried a slightly cool touch as they brushed past his warm Adam's apple — an inexplicable comfort.

Perhaps because the button was too tight, in the motion of Meng Shutang leaning forward, her knee inadvertently pressed against his crotch — a slight touch, utterly unexpected.

The man's body went rigid. His Adam's apple rolled lightly, and his breathing grew heavier by a few degrees.

He lifted his gaze slightly to rest on her lowered eyelashes. The surrounding air seemed to have taken on a few degrees of heat.

Meng Shutang hadn't noticed. After undoing the buttons, she gathered the documents and left.

Perhaps because she left too hastily, the top sheet fluttered down to the floor by Gu Yunci's feet.

He had meant to pick it up and return it to her, but when he saw it was a part-time shift schedule, his hand stiffened.

He glanced through it briefly and found they were all hourly jobs near the company — serving tea, delivering water, and the like.

He had heard Bai Cixian mention seeing Meng Shutang once at a Cantonese-Hong Kong style tea restaurant, and he had also heard Auntie Zhang report that recently she came home late at night and went out on weekends too — nobody knew what she was busy with.

After thinking it over, he quietly placed the paper on the cabinet.

In the evening, Auntie Zhang called everyone to dinner.

Meng Shutang arrived late. Auntie Zhang saw her sitting at the dining table applying eye drops. "Young madam, what have you been busy with lately? I see you fussing at the computer all day, and busy when you come home too."

Meng Shutang smiled. "The Palace Museum has a cultural creative product project. I want to give it a try."

Auntie Zhang smiled. "The young madam has great talent — it will surely work out."

Meng Shutang smiled. "I hope luck favors me."

Gu Yunci listened quietly, without making a sound.

After dinner, Meng Shutang helped Auntie Zhang for a while, then went upstairs.

Auntie Zhang was about to turn off the living room lights when she noticed Gu Yunci sitting in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the night view. "President Gu, should I turn off the living room lights?"

Gu Yunci said, "Turn it off!"

Auntie Zhang turned off the main light. "Shall I turn on the spotlights for you?"

Gu Yunci said, "No need, Auntie Zhang. Go and get some rest."

Auntie Zhang left.

A moment later, Gu Yunci heard the patter of footsteps coming downstairs. He turned his eyes and saw Meng Shutang using her phone as a flashlight, her gaze anxiously sweeping across the dining table.

She searched frantically, on and under the table, even checking every gap between the dining chairs.

Not finding it, she came over to the cabinet and finally spotted the part-time job notice on the counter. She breathed a sigh of relief, picked it up, and headed upstairs.

The next day.

Meng Shutang ran into Zhou Songyan at the entrance of the studio.

Zhou Songyan said, "Shutang, there's a celebration banquet tonight at six at Cloud Top Restaurant. Bring your little assistant along!"

"Also, President Gu said the quarterly bonus is twenty thousand more per person than in previous years, to reward everyone for their recent hard work."

Last night, seeing Gu Yunci standing in the corridor with a cold expression, Meng Shutang had assumed he hadn't agreed.

She had felt a heavy sense of guilt, thinking it was her own fault that everyone wouldn't get their quarterly bonus this year.

Hearing Zhou Songyan say this, she was actually quite happy.

"President Zhou, we appreciate the thought, but we won't be going."

After all, they were not Gu Clan employees.

Zhou Songyan was blunt and forthright. "Come along! I've already reserved seats for you. I'm treating you as my own people, so don't stand on ceremony with me."

"It's not just you — several other studios are going too."

With that, he walked straight off.

Meng Shutang returned to the studio and told Ruan An about it.

Ruan An was very excited. Having just graduated, it would be her first time attending such an event, and she clamored to go.

Unable to dissuade her, as soon as work ended, Meng Shutang drove her there.

Zhou Songyan had booked the entire Cloud Top Restaurant.

A gold-stamped celebration banner hung above the main stage, lights hung gently, a champagne tower rose in tiered layers, and desserts and drinks covered the ivory-white satin surface — the whole room was bathed in warm light and splendid brilliance.

Zhou Songyan gave the opening remarks, and everyone began clinking glasses and mingling, the atmosphere growing lively.

Suddenly, someone called out, "President Gu is here."

The room fell silent for a moment, and all eyes turned toward the entrance.

Gu Yunci and Bai Cixian walked in side by side.

The man had striking bone structure and an upright bearing.

Bai Cixian had a gentle smile and graceful poise.

Whispers suddenly rippled through the room.

"There's always been a rumor in the group that President Gu has a secret marriage. Could Bai Cixian be President Gu's woman?"

"I think so. Otherwise, why would President Gu take her everywhere he goes!"

"Say what you will, the two of them do look quite like a married couple."

……

Ruan An, who had been burying herself in a blueberry cake, suddenly shot to her feet. "What nonsense are you spouting? She's the other woman!"