Deep Fog Kiss

So this is what a doomed unrequited love feels like.

She experienced the pain she had felt two years ago, and because of her unwillingness to accept it, she experienced it again.

She tilted her head back and wiped away the tears on her face.

After a long while, she picked up her phone and sent a text message.

Jingcheng, I'm free this weekend.

......

West Nine Yue.

"Zhishen, thank you."

Looking at the bandage that had been re-wrapped on her arm, Yu Wanqing smiled and said, "This way I won't have to change the dressing myself when I get back."

She raised her left hand, "Otherwise, this hand of mine is really inconvenient."

Ten minutes ago, she took the medicine bottle upstairs to the study to find Gu Zhishen and ask him to help change the dressing.

Gu Zhishen handed her the medicine, a faint smile playing in his narrow eyes. "The wound will leave a scar after it heals, so remember to use the scar removal medicine."

Yu Wanqing felt a warmth in her heart, thinking she had misheard.

"Zhishen, are you concerned about me?"

Gu Zhishen tapped his long, slender fingers on the table, not denying it, "Thank you for your hard work on the cooperation with Yuanhang Group at the beginning of next month."

Yuanhang Group is the largest logistics company in China. It had been in contact with Tianze Capital for the past two months, and before that, it had also discussed cooperation with Gu Sheng.

However, Yuanhang Group is more cautious and wavers between Tianze Capital and Hengsheng Financial, not wanting to offend either party.

But those in the industry know that the CEO of Far Eastern Group is a womanizer.

At this point, having a beautiful, charming, and capable person in charge would make the collaboration much simpler.

Gu Zhishen raised his hand and lightly touched the gauze on Yu Wanqing's arm with his fingertips, which was quite ambiguous.

He looked up. "Wanqing, take good care of your injuries."

Yu Wanqing's eyes lit up, and she couldn't stop smiling. "Don't worry, Zhishen, I'll help you get any cooperation you want."

Gu Zhishen smiled and glanced at the time. "It's getting late. I'll have the driver take you home."

......

It was already midnight when the black Maybach drove into Beishan Villa.

The streetlights in the courtyard and the small lights in the flowerbeds looked beautiful, but the lights inside the villa were already off.

Gu Zhishen walked into the villa and turned on a corridor lamp.

A faint fragrance still lingered in the living room.

It was the fresh, sweet orange scent emanating from her.

As soon as Gu Zhishen entered the living room, he noticed the gift box on the coffee table.

The gift box is dark blue, with diamonds on the outer box and tied with a silver knot.

Upon closer inspection, it's a men's luxury brand.

His lips curved slightly, and his eyes softened.

Upon opening the gift box, inside lay a dark charcoal gray silk tie. The fabric was crafted using top-notch hand-stitching techniques, and under the light, the tie gleamed with a noble yet understated and warm mother-of-pearl luster, exuding a low-key yet stylish charm.

Was it a gift for him?

Good taste.

Gu Zhishen looked at the tie in his hand, then looked up at the building, his eyes filled with tenderness.

......

The following day, the morning sun streamed into Beishan Villa, casting a warm glow.

Light footsteps came from the stairs. The man sitting on the sofa was scrolling through financial news on his tablet. Hearing the sound, he looked towards the stairs and suddenly his eyes widened in surprise.

The girl's seemingly simple everyday outfit was excessively eye-catching.

It's different from her usual work attire.

A simple white T-shirt paired with a pair of figure-hugging, thin-strapped denim overalls accentuates her excellent waist-to-hip ratio, showcasing her straight and long legs. Every movement reveals her captivating curves.

Her thick, long, curly hair was casually braided into a side braid, making her look playful and lively.

Her already fair and delicate face, enhanced by meticulous makeup, made her eyes crinkle into crescents when she smiled, her cherry-colored lips curving into a beautiful arc, with shallow dimples at the corners of her lips.

It felt like the air itself had turned sweeter.

Gu Zhishen's Adam's apple bobbed for a moment as he watched the girl walk towards him with a smile.

"Good morning, Uncle."

Her voice is sweet, and her smile is sweet too.

Just as Gu Zhishen was about to speak, the girl suddenly leaned over, her hair brushing against his chin. He paused, surrounded by the sweet orange scent emanating from her.

"Huh? Where are my things?" The girl frowned slightly.

Upon hearing this, Gu Zhishen's brow twitched slightly.

He thought she was coming over to kiss him again.

He coughed twice. "What are you looking for?"

Jiang Li searched around the sofa, then stood by the coffee table. "Uncle, what time did you get back yesterday? Did you see anything I put here?"

She pointed to the coffee table, her eyes bright and clear.

Gu Zhishen's eyes darkened slightly, feigning ignorance, "What is it?"

"A gift box containing a tie." Jiang Li frowned slightly. "I clearly put it here yesterday, how come I can't find it? Did Butler Zhong take it away for me?"

"A tie?" Gu Zhishen looked at her intently. "Did you buy it?"

Jiang Li nodded. "I gave it to someone, and I just left it here last night."

Gu Zhishen put down his tablet, looked up, and asked, "Who is it for?"

When asked about it, Jiang Li replied, "A friend."

Gu Zhishen's cold gaze suddenly darkened.

A tie, a friend, a man?

It wasn't meant for him after all.

Jiang Li looked at the man's face, which had suddenly turned dark and cold, and said, "If you can't find it, forget it. I'll just buy another one."

Goodbye, Uncle.

She finished speaking and was about to change her shoes and go out.

"Not eating breakfast?" Gu Zhishen's voice was cold.

"No, I have breakfast plans with a friend."

Jiang Li smiled and waved at him, "I have plans tonight, so I won't be back for dinner."

Gu Zhishen's eyes were deep and unfathomable. He watched her leave without responding.

After a long pause, he let out a soft laugh.

It seems he was just being delusional.

He just didn't expect that from that day on, for several days in a row, Jiang Li would leave early and return late, eating breakfast and dinner outside with the friends she mentioned.

When I got home and saw him, I greeted him with a smile and went back to my room.

Her smile was sweet, yet she was very distant.

For three consecutive days, they didn't exchange more than ten words.

This was very unlike her, but Gu Zhishen couldn't think of a reason for her to be annoyed and distant.

Ultimately, it all comes down to those two kisses.

Those two kisses she initiated actually made her so disgusted with him?

......

On the weekend, Jiang Li dressed up beautifully as always, putting a lot of thought into her makeup and outfit.

When I went downstairs, Gu Zhishen was on the phone.

She went downstairs and was just about to say hello and leave when she suddenly noticed the gift box on the coffee table.

It's that tie.

"Huh?" She picked up the gift box. "Did you find it?"

Gu Zhishen stood by the window, hung up the phone, and looked at her casually. "The maid put it in the wrong place. We found it."

"Oh—" Jiang Li nodded, smelling a faint, cool woody scent floating on the gift box, crisp, familiar, and pleasant.

It was his scent.

She looked at the man, smiled, and thanked him, "Thank you, Uncle. I'll be going now."

"No work today, it's the weekend." Gu Zhishen's voice was cool, his eyes as calm as ever. "Where to?"

Jiang Li smiled and said, "I made an appointment with a friend to go to the art exhibition on Lin'an Road."

Gu Zhishen's eyes darkened slightly. "Huang Huaixu's art exhibition?"

"Uncle, you know?" Jiang Li smiled.

"Your friend likes it too?" Gu Zhishen glanced at her.

Jiang Li met his scrutinizing gaze. "He likes it very much."

"Who's your friend?" Gu Zhishen asked. "That Xiang something-or-other?"

Jiang Li looked at his displeased expression and nodded in acknowledgment, "Xiang Jingcheng."

Gu Zhishen glanced indifferently at the gift box in her hand. "Is the tie also for him?"

Jiang Li smiled sweetly at him for two seconds, "Yeah, I wonder if he'll like it."

As he finished speaking, the man's aura turned icy, as if covered with a layer of frost.