Chapter 22: Good in Every Way

The car stopped at the entrance of Jian Yao’s apartment complex.

Gu Zhiyan got out of the car, opened the trunk, and took out the dress she had changed into today and the gift box she had received.

Jian Yao felt a little embarrassed and reached out to take it, “I’ll do it myself.”

Gu Zhiyan avoided her outstretched hand, looked at her ankle, and said, “You have an injury on your leg. I’ll take you up.”

Jian Yao was swept by his gaze, and the image of him massaging her ankle flashed through her mind. She subconsciously hid her ankle back and compromised, “Thank you.”

The conversation in the car made Jian Yao feel that her resistance to Gu Zhiyan was really too weak.

Every time she was alone with him, her IQ and EQ plummeted, so she made up her mind to speak less.

She followed silently behind Gu Zhiyan, stepping on his shadow and walking slowly. She looked left and right, just not at Gu Zhiyan in front of her.

The apartment Jian Yao bought was not large, but it was a high-end complex in the city center. The landscaping was very good, a quiet oasis in the bustling city.

However, since she joined Lu’s company, she always worked late and had no time to appreciate the scenery around her.

Now, casually strolling through the woods with Gu Zhiyan, her restless emotions miraculously calmed down.

Jian Yao was immersed in the rare pleasant time and didn’t notice when Gu Zhiyan stood beside her until he spoke in a low voice.

“Do you like it here?”

Like it?

Jian Yao was stunned for a moment.

When she bought it, it was simply because it was close to Lu’s company. Lu Chengze lived here, and it would be convenient to live here after marriage.

As for whether she liked it or not, she hadn’t actually considered it.

Before, she liked Lu Chengze, so she loved everything he loved, including the place where he lived.

As for now…

Jian Yao pursed her lips, “Actually, I don’t really like it…”

Gu Zhiyan seemed to chuckle.

Jian Yao didn’t know what was so funny about her not liking it, and she looked up at him in confusion.

His extremely handsome looks always gave him an advantage.

Jian Yao lowered her eyes: Forget it, with a face like that, it’s understandable that his sense of humor is strange.

“Then what kind of place do you like?”

Just before entering the elevator, Gu Zhiyan asked another question.

Jian Yao looked at the rising elevator floor, pondered for a few seconds, and said, “I like small gardens in the style of Jiangnan gardens.”

Beams and pillars, pavilions and terraces, where you can plant flowers, raise fish, listen to the rain, and admire the plum blossoms.

Chinese courtyards, besides being expensive, have no drawbacks.

Jian Yao looked up in confusion, “Why are you suddenly asking this?”

Gu Zhiyan carried the bag, looked down at her when he heard this, and said, “Nothing, the Gu family recently acquired a piece of land. I haven’t decided what project to develop yet. I’m getting some inspiration from you.”

Jian Yao: …

Is this the difference in thinking between ordinary people and rich people?

You deserve to make money!

The elevator door “ding” opened, Jian Yao walked forward and unlocked the door with her iris scan.

Gu Zhiyan glanced at the closed door opposite, his eyes darkening.

He didn’t go in, placed the things in his hand on the shoe bench at the entrance, and said, “Remember to soak your feet in hot water. I’ll come pick you up tomorrow.”

Jian Yao knew he had other appointments, so she nodded obediently, “Then be careful on the road.”

After seeing Gu Zhiyan off.

Jian Yao took off her shoes and walked barefoot on the carpet. It has to be said that Gu Zhiyan’s massage was indeed effective. At least now, the soreness had eased a lot.

When she put on her slippers, Jian Yao looked down. It felt like Gu Zhiyan’s fingers were still lingering on her ankle, tingling and numb. She bent down and rubbed it randomly, trying to suppress the strangeness in her heart.

How could there be someone as contradictory as Gu Zhiyan in the world?

He was very considerate most of the time, but he would also occasionally make people speechless.

He was both a gentleman and a bit of a prankster.

She carried the gift bag from the shoe bench back to her room, tidied up, and prepared to open the wardrobe to choose a nightgown to take a hot bath.

Seeing the closet full of clothes in black, white, and gray, Jian Yao’s fingers holding the doorknob tightened slightly.

Actually, her face was more suitable for bright, vibrant colors, she could handle it, and it would complement her skin tone.

In her memory, even in the orphanage, the headmistress would buy her red princess dresses, saying she looked beautiful in red.

After returning to the Jian family, Jian’s mother, to make up for it, let her pick out all kinds of princess dresses, the closet could be described as colorful.

When did her clothes become only black, white, and gray?

Jian Yao thought back carefully, it seemed to be after Liu Yiyi appeared.

Liu Yiyi was weak, pitiful, and needed protection.

Therefore, whether it was Lu Chengze or Wu Yue, who grew up together, gradually leaned towards her after her repeated displays of weakness.

To get more attention from Lu Chengze, she could only suppress her temper, change her style, and try to become the kind of person Lu Chengze liked.

As a result, she lost herself.

Jian Yao pulled her thoughts back, silently took a white silk nightgown and a neatly folded small garment, closed the wardrobe, and went to the bathroom.

•  

When Gu Zhiyan arrived at the private room, a group of people were playing “Three Gardens.”

They were all flushed and drunk, and when they saw Gu Zhiyan come in, they staggered to their feet and greeted him to sit down.

“Brother Gu, come and play with us, we saved you a seat.”

They swayed and pushed each other, like sardines, making a seat for him.

Gu Zhiyan glanced at the drunken red-haired man, avoiding his outstretched hand, “I’m not interested in this game, you guys play by yourselves.”

Gu Zhiyan bypassed the group of drunks and sat down beside Pei Yi.

Pei Yi was in a suit, his collar buttoned neatly to his collar, and his gemstone cufflinks reflected a cold white light under the flickering lights.

Compared to the lively atmosphere over there, Pei Yi’s side was as quiet as a lovelorn domineering CEO in an idol drama.

Gu Zhiyan picked up the red wine on the table, poured himself a glass, and mercilessly broke through Pei Yi’s disguise, “We’re friends, don’t pretend.”

Pei Yi broke his composure in a second, his narrow phoenix eyes glanced at Gu Zhiyan.

“Everyone outside says we’re a pair, ‘lovers’ engaged, it’s normal for me to be sad, right?”

Gu Zhiyan silently moved to the side, distancing himself from Pei Yi, “I’m a married man, be respectful.”

Pei Yi was almost amused, “You have no sense of humor at all, how did you actually chase Jian Yao?”

He looked Gu Zhiyan up and down, finished the red wine he was holding for posing, “Tell me, how did you get lucky?”

For so many years, he didn’t even believe that this guy was really not interested in women, he thought he was just pretending.

As a result, he hit the jackpot right away.

Jian Yao! The flower of the Foreign Language Department!

Back then, the people who chased her could line up from the Foreign Language Department to the school gate!

Speaking of Jian Yao, Gu Zhiyan’s expression became serious, and he spoke frankly, “What do you mean by getting lucky? This is called fate.”

Pei Yi “hmph”ed.

“Fate?”

Fate is running to a bar ten thousand miles away from where he lives, and out of thousands of people, he accurately passes by Jian Yao ten times?

That’s really f*cking fate!

Pei Yi sneered, “You’re really something!”

If he hadn’t absolutely refused to believe that Gu Zhiyan would compromise himself for the sake of his family, and had used the answer to find evidence by looking at the bar surveillance, he would still be in the dark.

However, this decisive and efficient style is indeed Gu Zhiyan’s style.

Seize the opportunity and strike decisively.

Gu Zhiyan seemed not to understand Pei Yi’s sarcasm, and nodded naturally, “I’m always good.”

Good at everything.