Host! I told you to do a task! I didn't tell you to bbb.

"sure."

Gu Shichen's smile deepened, and he turned the jade thumb ring with increasing ease.

"I'll give Miss Liu some space. I'll have my assistant contact you in three days."

As he stood up, his gaze inadvertently swept across the side of her neck.

His delicate skin shimmered with a lustrous glow under the warm light, causing his Adam's apple to bob almost imperceptibly.

Liu Yunshu nodded and took her leave. As she turned around, her skirt swayed gently, drawing a graceful arc behind her.

As she walked out of the lounge, she bumped into Shen Moci and Lu Hengyan, who were waiting in the corridor, standing on either side of the corridor lamp.

"Yun Shu, what does Mr. Gu want with you?"

Shen Moci quickly stepped forward and naturally took her hand.

"It's nothing. They wanted to invite me to collaborate on a cultural project, but I didn't agree immediately."

She shook her head slightly and gave a faint smile.

Lu Hengyan stood to the side and frowned slightly.

He had met Gu Shichen a few times; he was a deep and calculating man who never did anything without a profit.

Why would a cultural project warrant his personal involvement and a three-day grace period?

A hint of doubt flashed in his eyes, but he didn't say anything more, only saying calmly, "Don't believe everything Gu Shichen says."

Liu Yunshu naturally knew what kind of person Gu Shichen was, but her expression remained calm and indifferent.

Her fingertips gently brushed against the jade bracelet on her wrist, her voice soft yet tinged with a hint of aloofness: "Thank you, I know my limits."

Meanwhile, in the lounge...

Gu Shichen remained standing in the same spot, his fingertips stroking the cool jade thumb ring.

The image of Liu Yunshu's smooth, supple skin on the side of her neck was etched into his mind like a brand, causing his Adam's apple to bob uncontrollably once again.

The assistant knocked and came in, handing him a folder. "President, this is Miss Liu's information."

Gu Shichen reached out and took the folder, but did not open it immediately.

He walked slowly to the spot where Liu Yunshu had just sat and sat down leisurely.

A faint, cool fragrance lingered on it, as crisp and clear as snow, yet with a touch of gentle sweetness.

Just like her, seemingly aloof and indifferent, yet unintentionally capable of stirring up one's heart.

Gu Shichen was immersed in the lingering fragrance, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the edge of the chair, his eyes darkening further.

After a long while, he slowly opened the folder.

He carefully flipped through the pages, and after a long while, his gaze lingered on the last line: Three months ago, he fell in love with Shen Moci at first sight.

The pressure on his fingertips tightened suddenly, and the jade thumb ring collided with the hard casing of the folder, making a soft sound.

Gu Shichen's eyes darkened, and he murmured, "She has a boyfriend, what a pity."

The assistant discreetly observed his expression and asked in a low voice, "So, will the collaboration with Miss Liu... continue?"

Gu Shichen raised his eyes, his grip on the jade ring suddenly loosened, and the ring reflected a cold light under the lamp.

His thin lips curved slightly, his tone devoid of emotion: "The cooperation will proceed as scheduled."

The assistant withdrew, and the lounge returned to silence.

Gu Shichen casually placed the folder on the table, his gaze drifting back to the window.

The night was as dark as ink, and the distant neon lights flickered, but none of them could compare to the fleeting glimpse of that figure, whose skirt swayed gently, had left in his heart.

He picked up the celadon teacup on the table, his fingertips tracing the cool surface of the cup.

That faint, cool fragrance seemed to waft up again, its crispness tinged with a sweet softness, gripping one's heart and making one's heart clench.

His Adam's apple bobbed again as he tilted his head back and drank the cold tea in his cup. The coolness of the tea couldn't suppress the growing heat in his heart.

"Shen Moci..."

He murmured the name, a cryptic smile playing on his lips, as he twirled the jade thumb ring rapidly between his fingers.

"That's good luck."

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

After carefully reviewing the contract and having a professional lawyer repeatedly check the terms, Liu Yunshu set off for Tingxuexuan to keep the appointment.

Gu Shichen was already waiting in the private room, his well-tailored dark suit making him look even more upright.

Her fingertips were still twirling the jade thumb ring, the pale white of her fingertips contrasting with the dark green jade, exuding a touch of aloof nobility.

The crabapple blossoms outside the window are in full bloom, their pink and white petals bathed in the warm afternoon light.

The soft patter fell on the carved wooden window frame, adding a touch of elegance and tranquility.

Inside the private room, steam rose from a purple clay teapot, and the refreshing aroma of tea mingled with the fragrance of flowers outside the window, creating a subtle and elegant ambiance.

As Gu Shichen looked up, he happened to see Liu Yunshu push open the door and enter.

Today she wore a crescent-white modified round-neck top and mint green wide-leg pants.

A matching dark-patterned belt was tied around her waist, perfectly outlining her slender waist.

Her long hair was loosely tied into a low bun, secured with only a jade hairpin.

A few stray hairs fell beside her neck, swaying gently with her movements, adding a touch of elegance and liveliness compared to the glamour of the banquet that day.

Gu Shichen's gaze lingered on her for a moment, his Adam's apple bobbing almost imperceptibly.

The jade thumb ring paused for a moment, then resumed its steady rotation.

"Miss Liu, please have a seat." He gestured with his hand.

Liu Yunshu sat down as instructed.

"Miss Liu, how have you decided in three days?"

Gu Shichen spoke first, his tone devoid of emotion.

His fingertips tapped lightly on the table, the rhythm slow and carrying an invisible sense of pressure.

The tea in the purple clay teapot had already been brewed, and the rising steam blurred the expression in his eyes.

Liu Yunshu picked up the teacup beside her and took a small sip.

"President Gu is very sincere and offers generous terms."

She looked up, her gaze clear and bright like a spring, meeting his deep eyes directly.

"To be honest, I had a professional lawyer review my application before coming to the appointment."

Upon hearing this, Gu Shichen chuckled softly, turning his jade thumb ring even more casually.

"It's a good thing that Miss Liu is cautious in her actions."

He reached out and poured her a cup of hot tea, the boiling tea filling the white porcelain cup.

The rising steam brushed past his eyes, adding a touch of hazy smile.

"The contract terms are all made in good faith. If Ms. Liu still has any concerns, she may raise them."

"There are some doubts I don't want to ask further."

Liu Yunshu gently placed the teacup on the table, the bottom of the cup striking the mahogany surface with a soft, crisp sound. "But I have a condition."

Gu Shichen raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.

"I hope that the choreography for this project will be entirely handled by myself and the troupe's team, and the Gu family should not interfere with the artistic creation."

She looked up, a hint of determination in her eyes.

"The charm of classical dance requires pure expression, and I don't want too many commercial elements mixed in."

"nature."

Gu Shichen nodded, turned the jade thumb ring again, and looked at her fingertips.

Her fingertips were slender and fair, her nails were neatly trimmed and rounded, with a healthy pink hue.

"However, I have a request that I will not ask."

"Please go ahead, Mr. Gu."

Liu Yunshu picked up her teacup and took another sip.

"There's a private cocktail party tonight, and I only found out about it at the last minute. I haven't been able to find a suitable person yet. If it's convenient for you, Miss Liu, would you do me the honor of being my date?"

He turned the jade thumb ring more slowly, the dark green jade reflecting his unfathomable eyes, his tone seemingly tinged with helplessness.

"This... I'm afraid it's not appropriate. I'm worried my boyfriend might misunderstand." Liu Yunshu's fingertips curled slightly, her tone hesitant.

Gu Shichen chuckled softly upon hearing this, his voice deep and pleasant.

"Miss Liu, you're overthinking it. It's just a regular business cocktail party. I just need a female companion to make things easier for you."

He tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, making a crisp sound.

"Besides, if Mr. Shen knew that this was to facilitate the cultural project you've been longing for, he would surely understand."

"...Alright then, I'll explain it to him." Liu Yunshu loosened her grip slightly and closed the plan.

A faint smile flickered across Gu Shichen's eyes, vanishing in an instant, before the jade thumb ring began to turn calmly once more.

"Thank you for your trouble, Miss Liu."

He raised his hand to pour her tea, the sound of the water clear and melodious. "The party starts at seven o'clock. How about I treat Miss Liu to a simple meal as a token of my gratitude?"

Seeing Liu Yunshu hesitate, he paused for a moment, then chuckled softly.

"It's just a simple meal, I don't think Mr. Shen will mind."

His tone was firm, carrying an aura that left no room for argument.

"Consider this a warm-up for our future cooperation. Miss Liu wouldn't refuse such a small favor, would she?"

Liu Yunshu unconsciously stroked the rim of the cup with her fingertips, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded slightly.

"Alright, then I'll leave it to you, Mr. Gu."

Gu Shichen's smile deepened, and he twirled the jade thumb ring with effortless grace.

"It is my honor."

Suddenly, the phone vibrated, and the words "Shen Moci" appeared on the screen.

Liu Yunshu twitched her fingertips, picked up her phone, and stood up: "Excuse me, I'm going to take this call."

She walked to the window, pressed the answer button, and unconsciously softened her voice: "Mo Ci."

"Yunshu, are you done on your end? Let's go eat at your favorite Huaiyang cuisine restaurant tonight."

Shen Moci's voice came through the receiver, as gentle as the afternoon sun, soothing the heart.

Liu Yunshu gazed at the falling crabapple petals outside the window, her fingertips tightening slightly, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible guilt:

"Mo Ci, I'm sorry, it might not be possible tonight."

She paused, carefully choosing her words.

"Mr. Gu has a last-minute business reception that I need to help with. It might be quite late when it ends."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the receiver, followed by Shen Moci's voice, still gentle but unable to hide his sadness:

"It's okay, work is important. Call me when you're done, and I'll come pick you up."

"Okay, sure."

Liu Yunshu hung up the phone and turned around, only to meet Gu Shichen's gaze.

His gaze was deep and unfathomable, carrying a meaning that was hard to define.

"Mr. Shen?"

Gu Shichen broke the silence first, turning the jade thumb ring slowly and calmly, his tone revealing no emotion.

"Yes, he said he'd pick me up tonight."

Liu Yunshu returned to her seat and sat down.

Gu Shichen chuckled softly, tapping his fingertip lightly on the table. "Mr. Shen is quite considerate."

His tone was flat, yet it inexplicably carried a chill.

He raised his hand to signal the waiter to bring the dishes, his gaze sweeping over Liu Yunshu's slightly furrowed brows, and added.

"Don't worry, the wine won't take too long, and Mr. Shen won't have to wait any longer."