Chapter 23: I Fear You Cannot Do It

The sudden surge of hostility from Zhou Ci was deeply unsettling. Wang Guang, who had been beaten, crawled away from Zhou Ci’s feet, barely managing to escape. Gu Shen Shen took two steps back and remained silent, uncertain of Zhou Ci’s mood at this moment; she had no desire to provoke him any further.

The man turned and fixed her with a cold stare. He had simply been too busy lately, and forgotten about the hotel incident. Since that night she took him home, she hadn’t brought it up again—she really did know how to keep her distance.

“Loan sharks?” he asked quietly.

Gu Shen Shen replied, “Yes.”

Zhou Ci was well aware that she had borrowed from loan sharks. Even before the fire, Hua Mulan’s profits weren’t enough to repay those debts. The disaster only made matters worse, and her being able to return to Haicheng alive seemed almost miraculous.

“Come home with me tonight.”

Gu Shen Shen paused, instinctively refusing, “Mr. Zhou…”

“To discuss your hotel.”

This time, she didn’t argue or protest. After two close calls with Zhou Ci—where he nearly acted but then pulled back—she found him more baffling than ever. And the more unpredictable he became, the more terrifying she found him.

“What’s wrong? Afraid I’ll devour you?”

“You’ve been drinking tonight. I don’t think it’s the best time for business discussions.” He watched her standing two steps away, his handsome brow slightly furrowed, unable to discern what she was afraid of. She had always been fearless, after all.

“Whether we talk is up to you. I’m tired; take me home,” Zhou Ci said, possibly genuinely exhausted, and turned away after speaking.

Gu Shen Shen was still shaken from what had just happened, so she didn’t hesitate to follow him. Perhaps Zhou Ci had drunk quite a bit, or maybe he was still lost in the uncontrollable rage he’d just experienced. He said nothing on the way.

She drove steadily all the way to his private residence. After entering, Gu Shen Shen waited in the living room while Zhou Ci went to his study. About ten minutes later, he emerged, holding a document that resembled a contract.

Gu Shen Shen paused; perhaps Zhou Ci had prepared this contract long ago.

“Take a look,” Zhou Ci handed it to her, his voice calm.

She took the contract and opened it, finding no unusual clauses—only the transaction price caught her attention.

“This isn’t the Zhou Group’s acquisition contract,” she said, startled, looking up at him.

“Your hotel doesn’t pass Zhou Group’s assessment, so naturally, it can’t follow their contract. This one is between you and me.” Zhou Ci sat on the sofa, rubbing his brow as he spoke.

As she held the contract, Gu Shen Shen felt a chill down her spine.

This wasn’t an acquisition contract—it was a contract for her own sale.

“So should I be grateful you let me fall into danger just to rescue me?” Her tone carried a sharp edge of sarcasm.

Zhou Ci met her gaze, his eyes filled with a complexity she couldn’t fathom.

“Don’t you think this is your retribution? If you weren’t so wicked, you wouldn’t have ended up like this.” His voice was languid and steady, contempt slipping out in an offhand manner.

Gu Shen Shen said nothing, and took the pen he handed over, signing her name.

“You’re truly calculating. The amount is just enough to pay off the debt.” Inside, she was furious, cursing him and his ancestors silently.

Zhou Ci said, “If you try to play games with me, next time you’ll know what true ruin feels like.”

Gu Shen Shen’s scalp tingled; he really was something else—a bit deranged.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving now.”

“Make me some hangover soup,” he said, clearly not intending to let her go so easily.

She clenched her fists, her tone growing sharper, “Should I also sleep with you?”

Zhou Ci looked at her, “If that’s what you want, I can oblige.”

“I doubt you could manage it,” she blurted out without thinking.