Chapter 161: Su Jin × Gu Chen — Delusions Finally Fulfilled

Stepping into the Gu Group building once again, Su Jin had already suppressed all the girlish thoughts she should and shouldn't have deep into the bottom of her heart.

She checked her expression in the elevator mirror; calm, composed, with no signs of anything amiss.

Very good.

She smoothed the hair by her cheek and stepped out of the elevator. As luck would have it, she ran straight into the person she had stolen a kiss from.

Gu Chen was standing in the hallway talking to his assistant, and he turned his head when he heard footsteps. The moment their eyes met, Su Jin pulled out a polite smile and nodded slightly: "Good morning, President Gu."

"Morning." His voice was no different from usual.

Su Jin quickened her pace toward her office, but just two steps later, his voice came from behind her: "Miss Su."

She stopped, took a deep breath, and turned around: "Is there something, President Gu?"

"Saturday night, why did you leave first on your own?"

Su Jin's smile stiffened for a moment, but only for a moment. She blinked, her tone sounding unnaturally natural: "I had a bit to drink and felt a little dizzy, so I left early for fear of being rude. Please excuse me, President Gu."

Gu Chen didn't speak, just stared at her.

His gaze made Su Jin feel guilty, and the memory of her lips landing on the corner of his mouth that night suddenly surfaced in her mind...

She shifted her gaze away calmly: "If there's nothing else, I'll go get back to work."

Gu Chen's lips curled up: "Go ahead."

Su Jin returned to her office, closed the door, and leaned against the door panel, letting out a long breath. At least she hadn't shown any weakness in front of him.

As the saying goes, once you've obtained certain things, that's all there is to it.

He was the stunning highlight of her youth, and also the regret of her youth. Now, the regret had finally been made up for, even if it was in such a shameful way.

Su Jin shook her head to clear away these wild thoughts and put her mind back on her work.

Near lunchtime, her phone rang without warning.

Su Jin was stunned for a moment, then picked up the phone; it was Mother Su. Getting a call at this time gave her a bad premonition.

She frowned as she answered: "Mom."

Mother Su's excited voice came through the receiver: "A-Jin, those conditions you mentioned last time, Mom actually found someone!"

"What conditions?" Su Jin asked.

"The requirements you set for a blind date partner, those harsh conditions." Mother Su's voice carried unconcealable pride, "Once Teacher Zhang introduced him and I heard about him, I thought, isn't this exactly what you described!"

Su Jin almost dropped her phone.

Those tricky conditions were all based on Gu Chen's appearance; how could anyone possibly meet them?

She was truly at a loss.

Mother Su continued on the other end: "Anyway, I've found the person for you, found him exactly according to your requirements, so don't you dare refuse! Seven o'clock tonight, you go and meet him for me."

Su Jin opened her mouth, but the words died on her lips. It was indeed the set of conditions she had proposed, and it was indeed a promise she had made herself.

Now that someone had actually been found, what could she say? She couldn't very well say, "Mom, actually, the person I described has a real-life prototype."

"…I understand."

——

When it was time to get off work, Su Jin dawdled for a long time before getting up, sighing as she entered the elevator.

Just as the doors were about to close, a hand reached in, and the doors opened again. Su Jin looked up and saw Gu Chen walk in, standing right next to her.

There were seven or eight other people in the elevator, and the space suddenly became cramped. She was squeezed into a corner and was just about to move aside when her wrist was suddenly gripped.

She was startled and looked up abruptly. When she realized it was Gu Chen, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief. But the next second, her heart tightened again.

Why was he holding her?

"You..."

Before she could speak, he moved again. He gave a gentle tug, pulling her to his side, then turned around, shielding her in front of him with his back to the others.

Cutting her off from everyone else.

Gu Chen's hand was still gripping her wrist; beneath her delicate, soft skin, her pulse was beating faster and faster.

A hint of a smile flashed in his eyes, and he let go.

Su Jin seemed to suddenly react, rubbing her wrist as if to cover up her tracks, and whispered: "Thank you."

Gu Chen: "You're welcome."

As the elevator descended floor by floor, the scent of cedar on him seeped over bit by bit.

Su Jin felt like she was about to drown; the mental defenses she had built earlier seemed to be cracking, collapsing bit by bit.

Fortunately, before they collapsed completely, the elevator reached the ground floor.

The crowd surged out, and the space suddenly became spacious. Gu Chen took a step back and lifted his chin: "Let's go."

Su Jin whispered an "Mm" and followed behind him as they walked out.

"Where are you going? I'll drive you."

"No need." Su Jin waved her hands hurriedly, "I drove my own car. See you tomorrow, President Gu."

With that, she walked away quickly, her retreating figure looking somewhat flustered.

Gu Chen rubbed his fingers, as if her warmth still lingered on his fingertips. He let out a low laugh and turned toward the parking garage.

Su Jin drove her car out of the underground garage and merged into the evening rush hour traffic. When she passed the second intersection, she saw a familiar car in her rearview mirror.

She recognized the license plate; it was Gu Chen's car.

She frowned and continued driving forward. After making two turns, that car was still behind her.

By the time she reached the restaurant entrance, she had just parked when she saw that car pull in from the entrance and park right next to her.

Su Jin's hand paused, and she suspiciously unbuckled her seatbelt to get out.

Gu Chen also got out of the car next to her, smiled when he saw her: "What a coincidence."

Su Jin always felt something was not quite right: "You came here to eat too?"

"Mm." He walked over and came to a stop beside her.

A waiter came up to them: "Sir, Madam, do you have a reservation?"

Su Jin gave the private room number, and the waiter made a gesture of invitation. She walked forward, catching a glimpse of Gu Chen following behind her out of the corner of her eye.

The suspicion in her heart grew even stronger.

The waiter had already led her to the door of the private room, and Gu Chen was still behind her, so she had to turn around and say politely: "Then I'll go in first, goodbye, President Gu."

Gu Chen raised an eyebrow, watching her push open the door to the private room.

Sitting inside was one person, Su Jin's high school homeroom teacher, Teacher Zhang. Her hair was a bit gray, and she was wearing glasses, standing up with a smile.

"Su Jin is here? Sit, sit quickly."

Just as Su Jin was about to speak, Gu Chen, who should have left, also walked in behind her and closed the door behind him.

Teacher Zhang's eyes lit up when she saw him: "Gu Chen, you've arrived too? Come, come, come, sit down."

A "boom" went off in Su Jin's brain, and the doubts that had been lingering in her mind since just a moment ago were answered.

"Teacher Zhang, the blind date you mentioned..."

"It's him." Teacher Zhang pushed up her glasses, "Your mother told me your requirements, and after thinking it over, only Gu Chen fits. You both graduated from Jingda High School and both got into Jingda; although you weren't in the same class year, you must have common topics."

Su Jin stood where she was, her mind a complete blank.

No wonder her requirements were so tricky yet she could still find someone who fit; it turned out to be the person himself...

This matter was just too unbelievable.

Su Jin looked at the other party involved; he was smiling gently, not the least bit surprised, clearly having known all along.

Only she was like a fool.

"The dishes have already been ordered, see if they suit your taste." Gu Chen walked over, sat down opposite her, and raised his hand to signal for her to sit too.

Su Jin stood still, her heartbeat starting to accelerate uncontrollably.

Teacher Zhang looked at the two of them, a talented man and a beautiful woman, and was incredibly satisfied. She tactfully stood up: "Well, I just remembered I have something to do, you two chat slowly."

She picked up her bag, walked quickly to the door, turned back, and winked at Su Jin: "Chat well, now."

Su Jin: "..."

The door closed, and only two people were left in the private room.

Su Jin sat down slowly, her fingers gripping her bag strap, her knuckles turning white.

Gu Chen poured her a cup of tea, placed it in front of her, and said with a smile in his voice: "This time you didn't go to the wrong room."

Su Jin: "... Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Gu Chen: "I only just found out myself."

Su Jin didn't believe it: "Then why don't you look surprised at all?"

Gu Chen: "After all, it's not the first time, I have experience, so it doesn't count as too surprising."

Su Jin immediately remembered that previous bungled blind date, and her cheeks flushed with a faint red from embarrassment.

She hurriedly picked up the cup, wanting to take a drink to calm down. But she didn't expect that, as her movements were too fast, the hot water splashed onto her hand with a splash.

Su Jin subconsciously let go, and the cup fell onto the carpet and rolled to the wall.

A stinging pain arrived, and her eye sockets turned red in an instant, stained with a layer of moisture.

"Sor—" Before she could finish, her hand was already grabbed by the man.

Gu Chen pulled her up with a grim face and put her under the faucet to run cold water. Under the stimulation of the cold water, the pain intensified, and Su Jin took a small breath.

"Let's go to the hospital."

"There's no need... it's not serious..."

Gu Chen looked at the bright red skin on the back of her hand, frowned, took out his phone to dial his assistant's number, and instructed him to buy burn ointment.

After hanging up, he continued to hold Su Jin's hand under the water.

"That... it's all my fault for being careless..." Su Jin apologized in a low voice; she was almost crying at her own stupidity.

Gu Chen glanced at her; her eyes were misty, as if she would cry out in the next second.

His hand paused, and he looked away.

"Does your hand still hurt?" His tone remained calm.

But only he knew that when he saw those eyes of hers, a wicked thought suddenly flashed through his mind: he wanted to make her truly cry.

Su Jin said: "It's better now."

She wanted to pull her hand back, but didn't succeed. Gu Chen looked down at her burn and said in a low voice: "Don't move."

Su Jin pursed her lips, not daring to move anymore.

The burn ointment was delivered very quickly. Gu Chen reached out to take it, unscrewed the tube, and actually wanted to apply it for her.

Su Jin hurriedly said: "I can do it myself."

Gu Chen stopped his movements and looked up.

His eyes were pitch black, as if they could absorb all light, making it impossible for anyone to see the emotions beneath.

Su Jin was stunned for a moment, then heard him call her name: "Su Jin."

"Mm?"

"You don't want to go on a blind date with me?"

Su Jin was startled: "No..."

After saying that, she felt it was a bit strange, and just as she wanted to add something, she heard the other party say: "Then you dislike me?"

"I don't..."

Gu Chen chuckled and suddenly leaned in, the distance between them closing abruptly, so close that it seemed as if he could kiss her lips in the next second.

Kissing his lips...

Su Jin's body stiffened, and she leaned back, attempting to widen this illicit distance.

But how could Gu Chen allow her to retreat? He clasped her waist and pulled her back in front of him. His breath sprayed against her ear: "What are you hiding from?"

"President Gu..."

"Call me Gu Chen."

"Gu Chen, you..."

Gu Chen interrupted her: "When you kissed me while I was asleep, why didn't you think about hiding then?"

"Boom"—

The world seemed to go quiet.

Su Jin blinked, then blinked again, her face turning bright red in a flash.

"You weren't asleep?!" she said with a trembling voice.

Gu Chen didn't answer, only asking: "Why did you kiss me?"

Her heartbeat had completely lost its rhythm, thumping against her chest, thumping against her taut nerves.

Su Jin opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Gu Chen continued to ask: "Do you like me?"

Su Jin: "I—"

She only had time to panic and utter one word before the rest of her speech was drowned out between their lips and teeth.

Gu Chen kissed her.

It was completely different from her previous dragonfly-touch kiss; it was deep and heavy. Sensing her intent to retreat, he pulled her tighter against himself, yet still remembered to avoid her scalded hand.

"Mmph... Gu..." Su Jin gripped his shirt, her entire being completely dazed.

Gu Chen calmly seized the moment she opened her mouth, probing into her oral cavity and sucking on her lips and tongue.

How could Su Jin have ever experienced such things? Her body instantly went soft, and she even forgot to push him away. Her mind grew increasingly chaotic, and when his tongue retreated, she even followed it in her ignorance.

Gu Chen laughed lowly, and Su Jin instantly came to her senses, her whole body flushed red.

She panted, her eyes wet, glaring at him.

Gu Chen's gaze darkened; his thumb brushed over the corner of her mouth and moved up to cover her eyes: "Don't look at me like that."

Su Jin pushed him away abruptly: "How could you... how could you..."

Kiss me.

She couldn't say those two words.

Gu Chen held her hand and pulled her back, unscrewing the burn ointment while saying: "Courtesy demands reciprocity."

Su Jin suddenly felt guilty.

"You kissed me once, I kissed you once; it's very fair."

A cool sensation spread over her hand; he gently applied the burn ointment to the red, swollen skin, then lowered his head to blow on it.

Su Jin felt something was wrong, but couldn't say what was wrong.

Gu Chen put down the things in his hand, but didn't let go of hers, rubbing it.

"Besides," he paused, "yours was too light; it doesn't count."

Su Jin froze: "What do you mean it doesn't count?"

He leaned his face over, smiling brightly: "I can't let you be at a disadvantage; I permit you to kiss me back."

Su Jin: "..."

This man—how had she never realized before that he was this repressed? He was completely different from what she had imagined!

"That's really not necessary." She pulled her hand back nonchalantly and shifted backward again, "President Gu..."

"Gu Chen."

"Gu Chen, I think we need to talk."

Gu Chen nodded: "We do need to talk; you still haven't told me why you kissed me that night, and chose to do it while I was asleep."

Su Jin: "..."

This conversation couldn't go on.

"That day... it was indeed my fault; I was possessed, I was overcome by lust... I'm sorry."

"In other words, you like... my face?"

Su Jin couldn't deny it and braced herself to say: "You can't put it that way... I think there are very few people who wouldn't like your face."

Gu Chen laughed again: "So that means you like my face."

Su Jin bit her lip; the blush on her face had yet to fade.

"Putting it that way, I'm at a disadvantage again," he said slowly and leisurely, "because what I like is you as a person."

Su Jin wanted to refute him; she clearly liked him as a person too, but in the next second, she suddenly realized what he had said.

An emotion even more pleasant than the previous kiss surged from the tip of her heart, spreading to her limbs and bones. Every cell in her body seemed to be screaming and cheering; her body felt as if it were floating.

Su Jin: "You..."

Gu Chen: "I like you, Su Jin."

He chuckled, leaned down, and looked at her levelly: "Do you want to be my girlfriend?"