Deadly Trap.

Chapter 27. The Black Card
"Why do I feel like, Pear Blossom, you've changed?"

This is the fifth outfit that Su Li has tried on.

Two weeks have passed since the last all-night blizzard in Minzhou, and with Christmas just around the corner, Hengtai SP Plaza, Minzhou's most upscale shopping mall, is bustling with people. In a designer women's clothing store in the mall, Su Li is calmly walking out of a three-meter-high full-mirror fitting room.

Yu He's eyes lit up, but he finally pursed his lips.

Su Li wore a black silk top, the ribbon deliberately tied in an alluring knot around his beloved neck. A rose-grey tulle skirt paired with pure black lambskin boots, pearls subtly shimmering on the heels with each step.

She was elegant and beautiful, but she was indeed...expensive.

"How have you changed?" Su Li twirled gracefully and answered calmly.

"Are you here to shop, or to exhaust the sales assistants?"

Although Yu He said that, the sales assistant who was holding the four sets of clothes that Su Li had taken off had no complaints and was very attentive with a smile.

As he spoke, Yu He looked around again. Su Li was indeed beautiful; even Yu He admitted that he had been treated to a feast for the eyes.

“What do you mean?” Yu He said, racking his brains as he read, “‘Both chaste and lustful’? It’s like you’re trying to hook up with someone. You used to dress much more elegantly.”

Avoiding Yu He's gaze, Su Li pouted, "Oh, I've matured."

Yu He: "..."

Regardless, Su Li decided to buy the sets. She figured that person would probably notice, right?

While bickering with Yu He, Su Li took out a black card and placed it on the sales assistant's tray. She unconsciously bit her lower lip, her fingertips stiffening for a second. She had never used this card bearing his name before.

Yu He glanced at the card discreetly and muttered, "Are you really going to use this one? I've never seen it before. I hope it's not a fake."

Su Li paused. The black card was inconspicuous, with the Roman centurion standing coldly to the side in the center. The man's name was clearly engraved on the bottom of the card.

This card unexpectedly sank.

Su Li first got this card when he burned the note he wrote to her in the middle of the night and casually tossed it into her wallet.

Anyway, he was willing. Thinking this, Su Li naturally handed over the black card.

But then, the atmosphere changed.

The sales assistant's attitude changed instantly upon seeing the card. The store manager turned pale. He immediately ran outside to find someone.

"Pear blossoms? Are you sure?"

With a pounding heart, Su Li was unsure of what to do. She couldn't help but tiptoe around on her tiptoes. Soon, the store manager led in a woman in a Hengtai-limited-edition uniform. Her name tag proudly read: General Manager of Marketing Department, Hengtai SP Plaza.

The general manager was very polite. After asking "What is your surname?", he invited "Ms. Su" and "Ms. Yu" in...

Wow! Hengtai even has such a beautiful tea room!

Yu He couldn't help but exclaim, "Lihua, come and see these pastries! Wow!"

After a brief confirmation with the manager, Su Li accepted her clothes with peace of mind and then picked out a limited-edition handbag from the tray. She gracefully sat down at the tea table by the window.

The spacious VIP tea room was empty except for them. Despite the gentle atmosphere, Su Li's back was slightly stiff, as if she were beginning to represent someone.

She felt a subtle panic: Is this how easily Gu Mufeng is treated?
"Don't tell me this card really belongs to Senior Gu?"

In the tea room, Yuhe examined the inconspicuous black metal card, so surprised that she forgot to enjoy her favorite dessert.

Su Li coughed lightly, feigning composure: "Well, he said I have to contact him whenever I need something."

"He will most likely tell you to find him in person, not to max out his credit card."

"I didn't overload it."

"I am not sure."

Suppressing his anger, Yu He grumbled under his breath:
"My palms were sweating when the manager came over. I thought I was going to be kicked out for using a fake card. Do you know that store gave you a special fitting room?!"

"Isn't that convenient?" Su Li said calmly, taking a sip of tea.

“Pear Blossom,” Yu He said sternly, raising his dessert fork sharply, “I have reason to suspect you’re up to something big.”

"No," Su Li denied curtly.

Yu He stared intently at her: "Then why did you blush when you took out your card?"

Su Li: "I've never used a black card before. I'm nervous."

"Okay, okay, my dear sister. Aren't you going to tell me what your relationship is with Mr. Gu Mufeng on the card?"

The sterling silver tea stand on the tea break table had just been brought over by the waiter. Silently watching the various pastries available for selection, Su Li seemed lost in thought.

What kind of relationship? With Gu Mufeng, she was like a piece of pastry.

"It's... like it's none of our business." That's the truth.

"It's okay, as soon as you swipe your card, we'll go into the VIP room and even give you a limited edition bag?" Yu He said calmly but with a hint of sarcasm.

"……Correct."

Su Li stared intently at the tea shelf: that was Gu Mufei's skill, what did it have to do with her? "Besides, I've observed, Pear Blossom, from the moment you paid the bill, every shop we passed treated us with utmost respect. It was as if someone was deliberately directing us. I wouldn't be surprised if they gave us a private car to go home later."

They'd better not. Su Li couldn't help but feel annoyed.

"besides,"

Leisurely, Yu He picked up a gold leaf almond macaron:

"When you were trying on clothes just now, I saw a hickey on your collarbone. Someone kissed you quite earnestly, didn't they?"

"Pfft!" Su Li almost spat out her tea.

Yu He finally sneered and leaned closer to her: "You really are 'nothing'."

Seeing that she couldn't hide it any longer, Su Li immediately pretended to pinch Yu He's mouth: "Shut up! Or I'll tell your husband!"

She couldn't deny it. Especially when she thought of Gu Mufeng's handsome yet aloof face. She thought of how, when night fell, he always demanded she be at his beck and call. But wasn't his unpredictable moods and his passionate possessiveness a form of torture?
Suddenly, Su Li felt a little tired.

"Anyway, he didn't say anything." Su Li replied in a low voice, looking sullen.

"Please. You've only known him for a little over half a month?" Yu He's eyes were wary. "Su Li, you're not going to fall for him—"

"No."

Immediately, Su Li decisively interrupted, vehemently denying it. She wouldn't let anyone fall for it. Then, she gave a cold, dry laugh and quickly shoved the hot tea into her parched mouth.

With a meaningful look, Yu He looked at Su Li and said, "Do you remember how you convinced me to come shopping at Hengtai today?"

Su Li felt guilty: "...Christmas sale."

“I’ve been sold out.” Yu He leaned back in his chair, his tone cold. “I just realized that you actually brought me here to help your senior, Gu, gain some influence.”

"I didn't use facial recognition!" Su Li quickly retorted.

"You seem to know that everyone at Hengtai knows you once this card is used; not to mention that you walked in today with such poise, it's as if you were specifically there to mark out his territory."

"No," Su Li denied earnestly: she really didn't know.

However, once she realized it, she immediately began to act seriously for him.

Gu Mufei.

"I never expected that he could... get direct access to the VIP room."

She had only intended to conceal it casually, but remembering Gu Mufeng's ambiguous relationship with her, Su Li fiddled with her teacup, feeling troubled.

"Fine, I'll get to eat fancy tea and snacks thanks to you anyway." With that, Yu He flipped his phone over, pretending to take a picture of the two of them. "Come on, look at this picture. Yu He is clinging to your coattails, living like a mere ornament."

Su Li was both amused and exasperated: "Don't post this on your WeChat Moments!"

"Don't worry. I was just kidding."

In the blink of an eye, Yu He gritted his teeth in anger: "I will definitely make Lao Zhou give your 'Min Cai male god' a good beating."

>>>>>
“Boss.” Welsh knocked softly on the door.

"Enter."

The office was bathed in the cold light of the rain. Gu Mufeng didn't even look up. At this moment, his fingertips were calmly drawing zigzags on the paper: the financial reports of the four major families for the last quarter had just been released, and they were closely related to the amount he had lent out.

"Boss, there's news from Hengtai."

Gu Mufeng didn't listen carefully. He already knew Su Li would swipe those two cards, and he knew she would cooperate. He didn't care about this amusing "tip".

The Zhou family's overtures hit the bullseye for him.

Rare indeed. Gu Mufeng paused for a moment. He wanted to see Su Li's expression, and beneath his slicked-back bangs, his usually indifferent eyes smiled with amusement.

But it was only for that one moment.

Immediately afterwards, he scribbled a note and put it in the envelope. The envelope was inscribed with the words "To Hengtai" in lapis lazuli and blue-gold calligraphy.

"Have Dai Ze take it to the Zhou family. They know what to do." With a wave of his hand, Gu Mufeng seemed to brush away the dust that didn't matter.

"Yes, Boss."

"Also," Gu Mufeng called Welsh back this time.

"Boss?"

As if recalling some more perfect vision, Gu Mufeng revealed a smile that was impossible to fathom:

"Book your hotel and flights to Granada. The sooner the better. The more high-profile the better."

Seeing that Gu Mufeng was determined to succeed, Welsh immediately understood: "Yes, Boss. As you wish."

>>>>>
Next Chapter: On the Other Side of the World (Honeymoon)
[Author's Note | Chapter Twenty-Seven]

When President Gu swiped his black card, the entire Hengtai Group tensed up, and Su Li's confidence wavered!
Being pampered, yet also used, Su Li is acutely aware of her situation. What are your thoughts on the complex relationship between Su Li and Gu Mufeng?
In the comments section, guess why Gu Mufeng booked a flight to Granada this time?

Next chapter: Honeymoon, Granada!
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(End of this chapter)