Chapter 17: Was It You Who Saved Me?

“Was that Gu Zhiran getting into the car?” Wen Zixin followed Gu Ci’s gaze curiously, unable to resist voicing her thoughts. “You were about to win the school beauty vote—they were almost all for you. But then, I don’t know if it was a virus or something else, all your photos disappeared from the website and her votes caught up again.”

As she spoke, the car started and quickly drove away.

Gu Ci smiled, her eyes carrying a hint of cool detachment. “Is that so,” she said lightly.

Wen Zixin kept complaining, “I took a few photos to upload, but they just wouldn’t go through. Any other photo is fine, but yours won’t upload. Some people even say you’re undeserving, that the system couldn’t stand it and blocked your photos. It’s infuriating!”

“Ci-jie, do you think they did something shady?”

Gu Ci couldn’t help but laugh. “I never wanted to be the school beauty. This is fine, Xinbao, you don’t need to worry about them.”

Wen Zixin sighed regretfully. “Alright then.”

Yet she couldn’t help but think about grabbing her phone to argue with the trolls on the forum. As soon as she opened it, her expression changed abruptly.

#Everyone come look! The transfer student you almost voted as school beauty is just this kind of person!#

After reading the post that dragged Gu Ci through the mud, Wen Zixin rolled up her sleeves and cursed out the poster from start to finish.

Empire Banquet.

The most prestigious restaurant in Songdu, always booked solid.

Gu Zhiran stepped out of private room 106 to get some air, easing her nerves. Even so, her face retained its graceful smile and her posture remained impeccable.

The Gu family had gone to great lengths for her apprenticeship, even reserving a private room on the first floor of Empire Banquet.

Just then, she caught a glimpse of a familiar profile out of the corner of her eye.

It was Gu Ci.

Her smile faded slightly, and she quietly followed.

Afraid of being discovered, she kept her distance—not too close, not too far.

Gu Ci lowered her gaze to her phone, walking alone at a steady pace toward the direction of room 501.

She moved through Empire Banquet with ease, needing no guidance from the staff.

Around the corner, a man in his forties or fifties was slumped against the wall, gasping for air, his face deathly pale.

Gu Ci frowned and paused, then finally took a pill from her bag and helped him take it.

Afterward, she didn’t linger, heading straight to the elevator at the end of the corridor.

Earlier, Gu Ci had slipped out of Gu Zhiran’s line of sight, and by the time Gu Zhiran caught up, Gu Ci was already gone.

She stared at the elevator at the end of the hall, the digital display showing it had stopped on the fifth floor, and dismissed the possibility.

Impossible—her parents had called in plenty of favors just to get a private room on the first floor. How could Gu Ci have a room on the fifth floor?

At Empire Banquet, guests needed special keycards for each floor to use the elevator.

She bit her lip, and glanced at the ordinary-looking man lying on the ground, a flicker of irritation in her eyes.

Just as she was about to leave, the man suddenly opened his eyes.

Gu Zhiran suppressed her impatience and asked gently, “Uncle, are you alright now?”

Just then, Lady Bai, who had run to find a doctor, hurried back, calling anxiously, “Master Shen, are you alright?”

Master Shen fixed Gu Zhiran with a sharp gaze, his voice still weak. “Was it you who saved me?”

——————————————————————————————

Inside room 501.

A man in his early twenties, dressed in a tailored suit, sat facing the door, his eyes narrowed at the video playing on his tablet. The more he watched, the darker his expression grew.

He tapped the table, his tone cold and heavy. “I don’t care what you do; no one is allowed to leak what happened that day.”

His female assistant glanced at his profile, her cheeks flushed.

He noticed her distraction and frowned in displeasure. “Anna? I’m talking to you. What are you thinking about?”

Anna snapped back to attention. “Oh, yes, Mr. Qi. I understand.”

Their Mr. Qi was here on a tour of the Songdu branch.

His chief assistant was tied up, and Anna had been called in at the last minute, giving her the chance to accompany him on this business trip.

The moment she first met him, she was deeply captivated.

Unfortunately, though he seemed easygoing, he was strictly professional; she hadn’t found any opportunity before.

This time, the whole trip was just the two of them.

Especially tonight’s dinner—it wasn’t on Mr. Qi’s official agenda.

Qi Xuduan grunted in acknowledgment and began ordering dishes.

Anna listened as Qi Xuduan picked each dish, her heart pounding.

The first dish was her favorite.

The second dish—still her favorite.

Watching Qi Xuduan’s handsome profile, she leaned in slightly, showing off her figure, her voice soft and shy. “Mr. Qi, you don’t need to be so formal with me.”

Qi Xuduan continued to order, not even glancing at her. “It’s necessary.”

Hearing this, Anna’s blush deepened, her tone turning coy. “Mr. Qi, you’re really…”

Her words were cut short.

Qi Xuduan glanced at her, a hint of suspicion in his expression. “Why are you still here?”

Anna’s words caught in her throat, her face flushing red and pale by turns.

If she didn’t realize she’d been overthinking, then her brain was wasted.

Qi Xuduan wasn’t here to dine with her at all, but to treat someone else!

Previously, she always ordered for the table, but this time Qi Xuduan was choosing dishes himself, which had led her to this misunderstanding.

It took her a while to find her voice again, forcing a smile. “Is Mr. Qi waiting for a client? Should I stay and join you?”

“Not a client…” Qi Xuduan finished ordering a few more dishes and handed the menu to the waiter.

Seeing the notification that Gu Ci had picked up the keycard at Empire Banquet, he frowned and dismissed Anna again. “Alright, she’ll be here soon. You can really go now.”

If he hadn’t spent several nights without sleep and been in poor spirits, he wouldn’t have needed his assistant to drive him over.

After being told to leave twice, Anna, no matter how thick-skinned, couldn’t bring herself to stay.

“Then, Mr. Qi, I’ll head out first,” she said, grabbing her bag from the back of her chair, forcing a smile as she got up and headed to the door.

Just outside, she ran into Gu Ci, who was approaching.

Seeing Gu Ci’s flawless face, a flash of jealousy crossed Anna’s eyes.

As Gu Ci walked toward Qi Xuduan’s private room, Anna frowned, grabbed Gu Ci’s hand, and pulled her aside, venting the anger she’d built up in the room. “Are you blind? This is Mr. Qi’s private room. Where do you think you’re going?”

Gu Ci glanced at the door again, coolly pulled her hand free. “I’m not lost. Please move aside.”

Anna’s disdain grew.

She sneered, her tone mocking. “Girls these days… relying on a pretty face, always neglecting proper pursuits.”

But the next moment, Qi Xuduan’s voice rang out from the private room, brimming with warmth and surprise. “Gu Xiaoci, you’re here?”