Extra 2.4

Gu Zhanwang put down the documents, closed Jiang Xue’s office door, and locked it.

When Jiang Xue heard the door lock “click,” her heart and eyebrows jumped. As soon as she raised her eyes, a shadow descended and pressed down on her. Warmth touched her lips, and an intruding presence overran her defenses, breaking through them.

“Gu—Gu Zhanwang, you, you wait a moment…”

Gu Zhanwang kissed her intently and was quite displeased at being interrupted. He lightly bit her lip and, with a husky voice, said, “This mouth of yours really isn’t suited for talking.” With that, he silenced her with his kiss.

She was breathless and speechless.

Jiang Xue bit her lip and took out a mirror and lipstick to touch up her makeup. “This is an office. Could you be more mindful of the situation?”

Gu Zhanwang looked at her, smiled slightly, and said, “If I were to disregard the situation, I could do you right here.”

Jiang Xue: “………… Hooligan!” Why did a man with such a gentlemanly appearance always say and do such perverted things?

Gu Zhanwang was sitting on the table, pinching her face, looking down at her: “Is it my fault? Didn’t you provoke me first? Hmm?”

Jiang Xue raised her eyes and stared at the well-dressed man in front of her. His narrow, deep-set eyes always seemed affectionate when focused on one person.

She drank a little too much last night; today, she realized how crazy she has been. However, it seemed she had no regrets; marriage was just a fleeting impulse for her, and not regretting her actions was already quite good enough.

Jiang Xue held Gu Zhanwang’s head and bit his lip, half-closing her eyes with a lazy smile. “What delicious food did you bring me?” Regardless of who provoked whom, she was not concerned about the man’s feelings; she was the toughest.

Gu Zhanwang took a deep breath, stroked her smooth qipao while holding her waist, and rubbed his lips against her freshly applied red lipstick. “Sweet and sour ribs and salt and pepper shrimp. These are the dishes my godson loves most.”

Jiang Xue licked her lips, pushed him away, stood up, lit a cigarette, and, mimicking Gu Zhanwang, sat on the edge of the desk. “Who is your godson?”

Gu Zhanwang casually replied, “Xiao Roubao, Han Cheng’s youngest son.”

Jiang Xue’s smoking paused briefly. She tapped the ash into the ashtray and nodded. “I’ve met him a few times; he’s a very cute kid.”

She had seen the twins when they were very young and later met them once by chance near the old ancestral house. The four children of Han Cheng’s family were all very good-looking. The two older sons resembled Han Cheng, while the little girl resembled Su Xiaoxiao. She had a strong impression of the chubby Xiao Roubao, who resembled both Su Xiaoxiao and Han Cheng, exuding a particularly free-spirited air.

Jiang Xue took two deep puffs of her cigarette: “You heard about my past affection for Han Cheng, right?”

This matter was actually over for Gu Zhanwang, but he didn’t expect her to bring it up so candidly. He nodded. “Yes, you liked Han Cheng when you were in school.”

“Do you mind?” Jiang Xue asked him with half-closed eyes, blowing smoke rings.

Gu Zhanwang looked into her eyes seriously: “Do you still like him now?”

Jiang Xue shook her head honestly and smiled self-deprecatingly. “Not anymore. I’m not even sure if I liked him before. To be more precise, my father liked the Han family’s background and hoped to gain some benefits through marriage. Unfortunately, his plans fell through. Han Cheng wasn’t interested in me, and I don’t habitually pursue someone.”

Gu Zhanwang put one hand on her waist and pressed her towards him: “My family background is not bad, and your father should be satisfied with me.”

This woman was smarter than he had imagined. In just a few words, she had summarized the non-existent connection between her and Han Cheng over the past ten years. If he had any doubts about why Jiang Xue suddenly wanted to marry him, her explanation had erased even the last bit of his concern. It seemed that when she wanted to get married, he happened to be the one who appeared. His views on marriage were different from most men today; if he only wanted to marry a woman to warm his bed or continue his lineage, he wouldn’t have stayed single until now. What he wanted was her honesty and straightforwardness.

Jiang Xue was to his liking in every way, and he believed her thoughts aligned with his own.

Jiang Xue extinguished her cigarette and blew the last puff of smoke onto Gu Zhanwang’s face. She then kissed his lips, releasing him afterward. “I don’t want my family to know about our relationship, and I certainly don’t want them to leech off my man. Gu Zhanwang, you’re marrying me, not my entire family. You don’t need to interact with them; we’ll just live our lives as we are.”

After Jiang Xue finished speaking, she sucked hard on Gu Zhanwang’s lips again, then let go. She turned around, swayed her slender waist, and went to open the door. Turning back, she said, “Let me see what delicious food you brought me.”

Gu Zhanwang: “…………” I should have done it right there, but then it would have been really uncomfortable.

Jiang Xue hadn’t eaten so much for lunch in a long time. Gu Zhanwang needed time to calm down, so he sat down and ate a bit with her. Most of the food ended up in Jiang Xue’s stomach.

After finishing the last piece of sweet and sour ribs, Jiang Xue nodded. “‘Three Meals a Day’ truly lives up to its name. It’s delicious.”

Despite her slender frame, Gu Zhanwang hadn’t expected her to eat so much. “Is the food at your unit really that bad? You look like you haven’t eaten enough for several days.”

Gu Zhanwang peeled another salt and pepper shrimp and placed it in her bowl. He noticed that she didn’t mind eating shrimp but was too lazy to peel it herself. She ate everything he peeled for her. She truly had the demeanor of a lady accustomed to being served.

Jiang Xue didn’t bother with politeness. She picked up the shrimp, ate it, and said honestly, “I don’t usually eat lunch.”

Gu Zhanwang pauses in peeling his shrimp: “Why not?”

Jiang Xue shrugged: “I find it troublesome to go to the cafeteria.”

Gu Zhanwang reflected on her colleagues’ reactions earlier and considered her temperament and approach to things. He could probably guess what was going on. It was natural for a woman like her to evoke jealousy. If he hadn’t confirmed it himself, he wouldn’t have believed that she had actually saved her first time until now.

Thinking of this, Gu Zhanwang’s heart softened. “I’m a VIP at ‘Three Meals a Day,’ and the meal standard is the same as for Xiao Roubao. If you like it, I can send it to you every day.”

Jiang Xue, now full, reached out to stop the shrimp he was offering and shook her head. “It’s fine to have to eat it occasionally. Having it delivered every day would be too much trouble.”

Gu Zhanwang smiled slightly. “Even if you ask me to send it every day, I don’t have the time, but my assistant does. Guo Wang is also not far away.”

Gu Zhanwang looked her up and down, lowering his voice. “It’s harder to hold you if you don’t have some flesh on you. Eat more.”

Jiang Xue knew that everyone outside had gone to eat, so she tossed a handkerchief at him. “What about the fruit you brought? I want to eat a banana.”

Gu Zhanwang stared at her directly, stretching out the last syllable in a meaningful tone. “Here, banana~~”

Jiang Xue thought, “……”

I’ve lost. I’ve never even competed with others on paper, and my first real battle was with Gu Zhanwang. How could I compare with a seasoned man who has experienced hundreds of battles?

“So, tell me, how many relationships have you had?” Jiang Xue didn’t actually want to know and didn’t mind; she just wanted to turn the tables.

Gu Zhanwang raised an eyebrow and countered, “Do you really want to know?”

Jiang Xue snorted, “Say whatever you want.”

Gu Zhanwang shook his head. “None. I don’t like ‘Western cuisine.’ I’d rather spend that time and energy earning more money.”

In modern terms, Gu Zhanwang understood delayed gratification very well. His self-control was particularly strong. He believed the biggest difference between successful and ordinary men was who could better control their basic desires. He could do that, so he was more successful than the average man, and this was his greatest pride.

Jiang Xue knew that a man like Gu Zhanwang wouldn’t lie or deceive her. She hadn’t considered that he might never have been in a relationship. It seemed inappropriate for someone of his status and reputation not to have several women around him.

Just as Jiang Xue was about to say something, Gu Zhanwang spoke again, “A man like me, with wealth, status, and good looks, who’s involved with anyone, would end up benefiting the other party. I’m a businessman and wouldn’t make a losing deal.”

Jiang Xue: “…………Are you saying that I made a profit?”

The old man certainly had thick skin.

Gu Zhanwang shook his head, then cleaned his hands and gently moved Jiang Xue’s chin from side to side. He smiled and said: “To marry Miss Jiang is an honor for me.”

Gu Zhanwang stood up and pointed his finger at the documents on the table: “Remember to submit these as soon as possible. The day after tomorrow, we’ll get our marriage certificate.” As he reached the door, he turned back and said, “Have the banana tonight. I’ll send someone to pick you up after work.”

Jiang Xue: “…………” Old pervert!

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

After Jiang Xue cleaned up the table, washed the lunchbox, and tidied herself up, she went to the HR department to submit Gu Zhanwang’s documents as soon as work started.

When she got off work, a domineering off-road vehicle was parked at the entrance of the army base. Xiao Du was waiting outside early. He had never seen Jiang Xue, but the boss had mentioned that she was the most beautiful woman in a qipao.

Although Xiao Du didn’t know Jiang Xue, he recognized the qipao she was wearing. He had personally delivered it to the boss’s house early that morning.

“Miss Jiang, over here,” Xiao Du called, waving to her.

Jiang Xue didn’t recognize Xiao Du either but guessed who he was. Her unit had provided her with a car, but since someone had come to pick her up, she decided not to drive herself.

Xiao Du opened the rear seat door and said, “Hello, Miss Jiang. I’m Xiao Du, Mr. Gu’s assistant. From now on, I’ll be responsible for picking you up and dropping you off.”

Jiang Xue paused. “From now on?”

Xiao Du nodded, “Yes, I will be Miss Jiang’s exclusive driver in the future.”

Jiang Xue didn’t respond immediately.

After Xiao Du got into the car and started it, she asked, “How long have you been with Gu Zhanwang?”

Xiao Du thought for a moment and then shook his head. “I can’t remember exactly, but I’ve been with Mr. Gu for over ten years since I was a child.”

Xiao Du seemed to sense her confusion and added, “I’m an orphan. When I was seven, I was found unconscious next to a trash bin abroad. Mr. Gu saw I was a fellow countryman, took pity on me, and took me in. He even supported my education, but I’m quite slow-witted and didn’t make it to university. After graduating high school, I’ve been working with Mr. Gu.”

Jiang Xue understood and nodded. In that case, Xiao Du could indeed be considered one of Gu Zhanwang’s trusted aides.

Xiao Du continued, “Miss Jiang, may I start calling you ‘Madam’?”

Xiao Du glanced at Jiang Xue in the rearview mirror cautiously, “Don’t misunderstand. It’s not that I call every woman ‘Madam’. Mr. Gu has never had me pick up any female comrades before. He was very happy when he told me he would be getting married soon, so I thought I’d start addressing you this way a few days in advance.”

Jiang Xue laughed, “Don’t be nervous. Call me whatever you like.”

Xiao Du nodded happily, “Yeah, yes, Madam!”

Madam….

Jiang Xue looked out at the passing cityscape.

Marrying Gu Zhanwang didn’t seem like a bad deal.