Chapter 18: Playing Tricks on an Old Acquaintance

Anna froze, her whole body stiffening as she turned her head. She saw Qi Xuduan immediately rise to his feet and stride toward Gu Ci. The girl who had been by her side walked past, unhurried, and, accompanied by Qi Xuduan, entered the private room. At last, the door slammed shut with a bang, sealing off all sound from within.

Anna stood rigid, staring at the closed door, her eyes brimming with both humiliation and unwillingness. She bit her lip. For reasons she couldn’t quite name, she scrolled through her contacts, pulled up a number, and made a call. “Hello, is this Miss Meng? This is Anna, yes, President Qi’s secretary...”

Inside the private room, Qi Xuduan was showing Gu Ci the quarterly report for Star Constellation City. The Qi family’s business empire was vast, and Qi Xuduan’s grip on his position as heir depended, in no small part, on Gu Ci; more than half of Star Constellation City’s assets were, in fact, hers. Those who knew the truth believed they’d uncovered the real boss behind Star Constellation City—Qi Xuduan himself—unaware that standing behind him was Gu Xiaoci.

As Qi Xuduan pointed to a figure on the report, he asked, “Why did you buy so little? Was there nothing that caught your eye? If you like, I can have them bring things to your house for you to choose from.”

“No need, I have enough,” Gu Ci replied, flipping through the report. After raising a few points, she returned the tablet to Qi Xuduan.

She noticed the deep shadows beneath his eyes and arched an eyebrow. “Did you go out thieving at night?”

The mention brought Qi Xuduan back to those months when his judgment had deserted him. Unable to resist, he began to confide in Gu Ci. “Don’t even mention it. I don’t know what got into me. A few months ago, I got swept up with those guys from Polaris, chasing after the Calamity God for a challenge. I was so hyped for months, barely slept.”

“In the end, I got utterly crushed. The Calamity God installed a prank program on our computers, and the next day, during a meeting with the Songdu branch staff, it triggered. I’ve never been so mortified in my life!”

Recalling it, Qi Xuduan wanted to slap himself.

Gu Ci, sipping her tea, nearly choked. Coughing into her hand, she glanced at Qi Xuduan with a drifting gaze. “Isn’t making money satisfying enough? Why go out of your way to provoke someone?”

Qi Xuduan nodded vigorously in agreement. Yes! Isn’t making money enough?

He, after all, was the primary heir to a listed conglomerate and ranked seventh among the world’s top hackers. What madness had possessed him to challenge the Calamity God?

Now, he’d lost both dignity and face.

Regret gnawed at Qi Xuduan, but before he could say more, he noticed Gu Ci seemed absentminded, only half-listening. He quickly realized: Gu Xiaoci, after all, was just a young woman; hacking likely didn’t interest her much.

Just as he was about to change the subject, Gu Ci spoke thoughtfully, “I have a bottle of pills here that can help regulate your system and improve your sleep. Would you like to try them?”

After all, it was a little embarrassing that she’d inadvertently set a trap for someone she knew.

But at her words, Qi Xuduan clung to his chair and shrank away, as if facing a mortal enemy. “No! Gu Xiaoci, I’m really fine!”

He still vividly remembered the time, years ago, when a mild cold—after taking a few of Gu Ci’s murky green pills and enduring a few of her acupuncture needles—turned into something much worse. He’d ended up with severe diarrhea, finally landing in the emergency room.

Though it turned out to be nothing serious—just an overreaction—he hadn’t felt well for days. The phrase that came to mind: once bitten, twice shy.

Gu Ci rubbed her nose, took a small bottle from her bag, and tossed it to Qi Xuduan. She added, “My medical skills have improved a lot since then, you really don’t need to worry.”

Qi Xuduan nodded, his face full of sincerity. “Gu Xiaoci, I trust you. I’ll take them as soon as I get home.”

Gu Ci fell silent.

Was it her imagination, or did he seem to be humoring her?

“Anyway, just remember to take them—twice a day, one pill each time.”

Qi Xuduan nodded emphatically, then hurriedly changed the subject.

They chatted and ate together. As the meal was ending, Qi Xuduan received a call and excused himself before Gu Ci.

Gu Ci finished her meal at a leisurely pace, then took the elevator down to the first floor. As she walked through the atrium garden, her phone chimed with a message from Rong Ye: [Come to the greenhouse behind the garden. I’ve inquired about the house for you. /smile]

Gu Ci paused: [Alright, thank you.]

Rong Ye: [You’re welcome /smile]

Her gaze lingered on the two smiley faces: [/smile]

The reply was instantaneous: [/smile]

Her temples throbbed. She sent a message to Qi Xuduan, telling him to go ahead, and put away her phone.

Looking around, she soon spotted the greenhouse hidden among clusters of blossoms.

Elsewhere, Chu Shixian and Gu Zhiren were accompanying Master Shen and his group for a post-meal stroll in the garden.

But Gu Zhiren had left something in the private room, so Chu Shixian had gone back with her. Now, they were about to rejoin Master Shen and the others.

Chu Shixian couldn’t hide the smile on her face—she never would have imagined that, with a simple errand, Zhiren would end up saving Master Shen, the very one Chu Shixian hoped to apprentice under.

Master Shen was quite pleased with Zhiren and invited her to play a piece on the piano for him in his private concert hall. From the way he spoke, Chu Shixian could tell that Zhiren’s apprenticeship was all but assured—a certainty that meant not just an opportunity for Zhiren, but also a prestigious connection for the Gu family with the capital’s elite.

Indeed, good fortune comes to kind children like Zhiren.

Just then, out of the corner of her eye, Chu Shixian caught sight of Gu Ci approaching from the other direction.

Her smile froze. Doubt flickered in her mind—was she mistaken? She looked several more times, but no matter how she viewed it, that was her daughter from the countryside.

Hesitation crept into Chu Shixian’s eyes.

To be acquainted with someone of Master Shen’s stature—even just to be recognized by face—would be a valuable opportunity for Gu Ci. Though she disliked Gu Ci, the girl was her flesh and blood; if she gained some reputation, perhaps she could marry well and benefit the family.

If, by seizing this chance, she could repair their relationship and make Gu Ci more obedient, she wouldn’t mind letting her stay at home...

But how should she explain this to Zhiren?

Gu Zhiren, following Chu Shixian’s gaze, spotted Gu Ci and clenched her fists. Why hasn’t she left yet?

Glancing at Chu Shixian’s expression, a shadow crossed Zhiren’s eyes. She leaned in and whispered, “Mom, there’s my sister. Why don’t we call her over? I’ll introduce her to Master Shen.”

Chu Shixian snapped out of her thoughts, a pang of guilt seizing her. “Zhiren, you...”

Zhiren forced a weak smile, her voice soft and yielding. “It’s alright, Mom. Sister was right—these things should have been hers.”

“Nonsense! These are yours—what does she have to do with any of it?” Chu Shixian’s face darkened. “Did Gu Ci say something to you?”

Zhiren immediately covered her mouth, remorse flashing in her eyes at her slip of the tongue. She hurried to explain, “No, Mom, it’s not that. It’s just how I feel—it has nothing to do with Sister... I want to transfer schools, I... I don’t want to stay at No. 1 High anymore...”