Deadly Trap.

Chapter 87. Longing is Like a Knife
"You don't need me to go with you to the municipal dinner?"

With practiced ease, her slender fingers deftly tied his black silk bow tie neatly. Gu Mufeng, meanwhile, was fastening diamond cufflinks.

His phoenix eyes were handsome yet aloof, yet he could never forget to linger on her in the corners of his eyes, secretly stealing glances at her.

At this moment, though his lips remained stern, Gu Mufeng smiled faintly.

“Those old men in the municipal government are different; they have no bottom line. If you go there, I'm afraid they'll eat you alive.”

He spoke as if it were a casual joke, making it sound utterly nonchalant as he lifted Su Li's chin. But his eyes didn't lie; he gazed intently into hers.

"You're so beautiful." His Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he spoke. "If I want to protect you, I'll have to 'risk everything for your sake,' which will cause a lot of trouble."

As he spoke, his calm and magnetic voice rang out, and Gu Mufeng's lips seemed to be both close and distant.

He does what he says.

Her gaze swept over those cold lips that seemed to speak sweet nothings, and Su Li hesitated gently: it wasn't that she didn't want to kiss him.

But then he would have to go through a lot of trouble to put on his entire suit for the banquet again, and he would naturally miss the party; tonight, she might not have much energy left to finish her student visa application.

Amidst an internal struggle, Su Li forced herself to turn her eyes away.

Behind her, the smooth, gleaming mirror in the walk-in closet reflected her relaxed and carefree demeanor under his gentle gaze. In contrast, the arrogant, thuggish face of Sheng Chunqiu that day only made Su Li dislike him more.

Clearly, in Sheng Chunqiu's eyes, women fall into only two categories:

One type is subservient to patriarchy, like Mrs. Sheng, who is virtuous but lacks her own opinions and treats her husband as her absolute authority.

As for the rest, as long as they are pretty, regardless of their individuality or intelligence, they are merely toys.

If this attitude were only directed at adult women and not at teenagers and children, Su Li might be grateful, even if she just sneered.

Moreover, Su Li discerned a hidden meaning in Gu Mufeng's seemingly joking words: he controlled the entire Minzhou intelligence network, like thousands of hands holding the privacy of thousands of people captive. He knew better than she how dirty and despicable the political, business, and academic circles were beneath their sanctimonious facades.

There was definitely more than one Sheng Chunqiu.

However, Su Li thought to herself: These so-called banquets are like battlefields, full of open and covert attacks.

"Among the four major conglomerates, are there any others who will go?" Although she was clearly concerned about Gu Mufei, Su Li spoke casually when she asked the question.

"Only the Sheng and Zhou families should be present, representing the business community as a formality. After all, collusion between politics and business is a major taboo in public."

After tidying up his shirt cuffs in front of the mirror, Gu Mufeng made sure that the switchblade in his right sleeve was completely concealed but could be drawn at any moment; while the starry sky dial on his left sleeve was clearly visible.

With a defiant smirk playing on his lips, Gu Mufeng chuckled softly, his eyes filled with an exceptionally haughty and arrogant gaze.
"Don't worry. Tang Quan can't afford the municipal banquet. Sheng Chunqiu won't dare to do anything to me; he's caught in the middle. The Zhou family is just hoping the Sheng family will be in trouble. The two of them won't get together."

He reached out and put on the formal jacket that Su Li had unfolded for him.

The deep burgundy satin fabric exudes a subtle elegance. A form-fitting, tuxedo perfectly accentuates Gu Mufeng's broad shoulders, narrow waist, and slender figure.

His spiky blonde hair casually brushed against his brow, his phoenix eyes and diamond-studded lapel sparkling deep and bright. A faint, sharp, cold smile played at the corners of his mouth.

Tonight, he seemed like a playboy, indulging in worldly pleasures.

That flawless face, and his manipulative skills... "Min Cai's God"?
Unable to resist, Su Li glanced at him a few more times.

"I'm not waiting for you." She turned abruptly and left the dressing room. "Try to forget about me and come back in the morning."

"Oh, right." Gu Mufeng smiled.

He took a few steps and chased after her. From behind, he steadily embraced Su Li's back. His warm hands naturally encircled her lower abdomen, and Gu Mufeng pulled her completely into his arms.

He greedily savored the scent behind her ear, their necks entwined, and he parted her hair, leaving behind a tender, loving kiss.

"Jealous? That's rare. Eat some more so I can see..."

His rapid breathing made Su Li's breathing quicken as well. Unable to resist, she turned and hugged his long, slender neck, visible through his black shirt.
"Hmm. Mu Mu, tonight..." Hearing Su Li whisper something on her red lips, Gu Mufei was mesmerized, even his brows relaxed; Su Li then gently shook his shoulder as if to shake him away.

In the past, he would have stayed with her until dawn.

But today is different: he has to get the demolition issue sorted out for her.

Annoying municipality.

"Don't wait for me..."

As if he were struggling to suppress it, Gu Mufeng finally heard a low, hoarse voice in his throat, straining to create distance between himself and her breathing: "If you don't leave now, you really won't be able to go anywhere tonight..."

In the end, he could only gently pinch Su Li's soft earlobe one more time.

As if afraid that if he hesitated even a second longer, he would be completely captivated and unable to leave her, Gu Mufeng urged himself to walk quickly to the door:
"Go to sleep early. Sweet dreams. Tomorrow when you open your eyes, Su Li, I'll be by your side."

He dared not look at her again, for fear that if he lingered for even a second longer, he would not be able to bear to leave.

With a wave of his hand and a broad smile, Gu Mufeng closed the door.

>>>>>
Su Li couldn't sleep.

After finishing her visa application, Su Li went to bed early. Since she had repeatedly said she wouldn't wait for him, she naturally wouldn't.

But things didn't seem to go as planned.

Su Li felt it was all because the bed was too big and the room was too quiet. Usually, she was used to snuggling in his arms and listening to his heartbeat and breathing before she could fall asleep.

Su Li tossed and turned, feeling increasingly hot all over. She suddenly sat up in bed. Her phone showed it was already past 3:30. But still, Gu Mufeng hadn't sent a single word.

Not surprising.

Embarrassed, Su Li put down her phone. She understood that Gu Mufeng always kept his personal and professional life separate. Away from her, he was merely the head of a gray world, the helmsman breaking the ice and navigating the ocean.

Moreover, when he received the invitation from the municipal government, he had already made it clear to her that for the development of the entire FN group next year, he had to spend the whole night talking official stuff with those old hands at the city hall and get all the intelligence and investment opportunities.

Just hearing that sounds like enough hardship. She wouldn't bother him.

But perhaps. She should have been more worried about whether Gu Mufeng would collude with the municipal government and act recklessly without any moral compass; but for some reason, her heart was always clearly worried about something else.

Su Li hoped that, no matter what, he wouldn't be poisoned again like he was at the last banquet.

Unconsciously, Su Li's thoughts returned to that New Year's Eve.

She clearly remembered that when she drove Gu Mufeng back, he was pale, had a high fever, and was in excruciating pain, yet he still tried to appear strong and handle everything perfectly.

Su Li bit her lip, a bitter taste rising in her throat. Tang Quan clearly only wanted to kill her. What if Mu Fei got injured again…

This made Su Li's heart feel like it was being squeezed repeatedly.

Sitting on the bed, Su Li was filled with anxiety for who knows how long. Suddenly, she heard a rustling sound downstairs, a suspicious noise.

someone.

Ignoring her pounding heart, she quickly donned her morning robe and reached into the hidden compartment by her bedside. She drew Gu Mufeng's Tang sword, blade facing outwards, and held it to her chest.

>>>>>
Next chapter: Making a wish
[Author's Note | Chapter 87]

Tonight's longing is like the Tang sword that Su Li holds tightly in her hand.

—Have you been losing sleep over anyone lately?

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(End of this chapter)