As the time drew closer, more and more guests started to appear in the front hall.
With the increasing number of guests, the collateral branches and relatives by marriage of the Yue family also joined in the reception. Xia Qingtian finally had a chance to catch her breath.
Seeking a quiet corner where she wouldn't be noticed, Xia Qingtian held a martini and gazed at the lively scene before her.
"Are you sure you want to finish that entire glass?" a familiar male voice inquired, tinged with a hint of uncertainty.
"Hmm? Mr. Gu?" Xia Qingtian turned her head at the sound of his voice and saw Mr. Gu dressed in a dark suit. She offered a slight smile. "Oh, right, I have something to return to you."
"Hold this for me," Xia Qingtian handed her glass to Mr. Gu, then reached into her small handbag. She first pulled out a handful of fruit candies and stuffed them into Mr. Gu's hand, followed by a handful of chocolates. Only then did she pull out a black card. "This card belongs to you, doesn't it?"
"Yes, you... you remember this card?" Mr. Gu returned the fruit candies and chocolates to Xia Qingtian. Then, he held the black card that Xia Qingtian was returning between his fingertips.
"I don't remember it very clearly, but my eldest uncle said it should be yours." Xia Qingtian looked at Mr. Gu, her eyes blinking innocently.
"Yes, that's right, it's mine." Seeing that Xia Qingtian didn't remember, Mr. Gu didn't press the matter further and simply slipped the card into his pocket.
"You should be more careful with something so important," Xia Qingtian remarked casually, without much thought.
Mr. Gu's movements faltered slightly, and he then revealed a somewhat subtle expression. "Thank you for the reminder. Next time... I'll be more careful."
"There's a petal on your tie," Xia Qingtian noticed a petal on Mr. Gu's tie clip and casually plucked it off.
As Xia Qingtian's fingertips touched Mr. Gu's tie, an electric jolt shot from her fingertips, causing a numb sensation to travel up to her brain. Immediately, a memory forcefully pushed its way in.
【You're so handsome... so handsome... you have great potential to live off a woman... How about it? Will you let me keep you? Hiccup?】
【Sister will keep you, alright? Sister has money!】
【See? Sister has money! This card... Hic! Take it and swipe it! Swipe it until it's maxed out!】
...
Xia Qingtian's eyes were tightly shut, her expression subtle and awkward.
"What's wrong?" Mr. Gu scrutinized Xia Qingtian's expression and tentatively asked, "Did you remember?"
"Tell me it was a dream," Xia Qingtian peeked open one eye stealthily.
"Yes, it was a dream," Mr. Gu said, the corners of his mouth turning upwards.
"Why are you smiling so brightly!" Xia Qingtian saw the amusement in Mr. Gu's eyes and said irritably, "Your smile just further confirms that it wasn't a dream at all!"
"Although many wealthy young ladies and socialites have tried various methods... to attract my attention over the years," Mr. Gu said, looking at Xia Qingtian. "But you're the first one to try and keep me with my own card. In a way, you've won, so be happy."
"Heh, do I look happy?" Xia Qingtian was speechless.
She knew she had a bad record when it came to drinking, and her mother had a similarly poor one back in the day.
She rarely drank normally, and even when she did, she wouldn't get so embarrassingly drunk. At least she would maintain some self-control.
But yesterday, to detoxify, everyone had gone all out, and she hadn't been able to worry about anything else. The effect of the strong liquor was no joke.
"So... do you still want this?" Mr. Gu shook the martini glass in his hand.
This was the glass Xia Qingtian had thrust into his hand earlier while she was rummaging through her belongings.
"No!" Xia Qingtian mumbled petulantly, "I'm never drinking again in this lifetime..."
"Pfft." Mr. Gu couldn't help but chuckle. In front of Xia Qingtian, he downed the martini.
"That glass..." Xia Qingtian was stunned. Just as she was about to remind him that she had drunk from it, she saw that Mr. Gu had already finished it. She pursed her lips and swallowed the rest of her words.
At this moment, it was better not to add to the awkwardness.
"Hm?" Mr. Gu looked at Xia Qingtian.
"It's nothing." Xia Qingtian gave a dry laugh, shook her head, and shifted her gaze elsewhere.
As Mr. Gu placed the empty glass on the tray of a passing waiter, he noticed a faint lipstick mark on the part he had just drunk from, not very obvious.
Mr. Gu was slightly taken aback and immediately understood what Xia Qingtian had wanted to tell him earlier.
Lowering his eyes, a faint smile played on Mr. Gu's lips; he didn't explicitly acknowledge it.
"How long will you be staying in Kyoto?" Xia Qingtian asked, trying to change the subject to something less awkward.
"Depends on how long you want to keep me," Mr. Gu looked at Xia Qingtian.
"Really! Stop teasing me!" Xia Qingtian's cheeks flushed, and she playfully punched Mr. Gu's arm, puffing out her cheeks.
She looked like a chipmunk with nuts stored in its cheeks.
"Heh, sorry." Mr. Gu seemed to be in a good mood today, having been smiling non-stop since he saw Xia Qingtian.
"I get angry too, you know!" Xia Qingtian wagged her not-so-intimidating fists as a warning. "Don't laugh at me anymore!"
"I'm still your boss, after all. It's not appropriate to throw punches at me," Mr. Gu said, reaching out to press down on Xia Qingtian's small fist.
"Even if you're my boss, you can't do this. Be careful, I'll report you for harassment!" Xia Qingtian warned, looking at the hand Mr. Gu had placed on her fist.
"Let's be reasonable. You were the one who proposed keeping me, and you tried to get it for free," Mr. Gu said speechlessly. "Times have changed; men need to protect themselves when they're out."
"Mr. Gu! You!" Xia Qingtian was stunned, rendered speechless by Mr. Gu's words and felt like stomping her feet.
"You can call me Gu Yaoyang too," Mr. Gu said, looking at Xia Qingtian. "I don't think you've ever called me by my name."
Really!
Earlier, he was the gentle and witty Mobius, then the stern and distant Mr. Gu, and now he had become the glib Gu Yaoyang.
This man was truly unpredictable!
"Yaoyang! What are you guys doing..." a girl's shocked voice rang out, causing both Xia Qingtian and Gu Yaoyang to frown.
"Director Yu, long time no see," Gu Yaoyang switched to Mr. Gu mode in 0.01 seconds, looking indifferently at Yu Linwan standing beside them. "I didn't expect you to return to Kyoto at this time. Have you finished with the matters in City Z?"
Yu Linwan's gaze fell on the hands of Gu Yaoyang and Xia Qingtian placed together. A sharp pain gripped her chest.
How could Gu Yaoyang treat her like this!
"Yaoyang, I admit that over the years, in order to advance my career, I might have done some... some things that weren't quite right, and took some detours. But Yaoyang..." Yu Linwan looked at Gu Yaoyang with teary eyes. "We've known each other for so many years. Please, I'm begging you. Wanqing Entertainment is my entire life's work. Please don't ruin it like this, okay?"
"This isn't the place to discuss such matters at the Yue family head's birthday banquet. If Director Yu has nothing else, we'll take our leave," Mr. Gu said, reaching out to put his arm around Xia Qingtian's waist, preparing to lead her away.
Xia Qingtian looked from Gu Yaoyang to Yu Linwan, feeling as though there was still some gossip she hadn't heard.
"Yaoyang!" Yu Linwan blocked their path, her gaze lingering on Xia Qingtian's waist. She felt a constriction in her throat and bit her lip in resentment. "Miss Xia, my boss and I have business matters to discuss. Could you please step aside?"