Chapter 36: Jealous?

Gu Shenshen felt completely ill at ease under Zhou Ci’s disdainful and scrutinizing gaze. She hugged a cushion to her chest, lowered her eyes, and never once looked him directly in the face.

“What now? Want to negotiate terms with me?” Zhou Ci, seemingly dissatisfied with Gu Shenshen’s silent resistance, questioned her again.

“I have no money.”

Zhou Ci raised his brows slightly, an indifferent, mocking smile curling at his lips.

“You hold so many shares in Gu Corporation—a hundred million shouldn’t be that difficult for you.”

Only then did Gu Shenshen seem to realize Zhou Ci’s real intention.

She slowly raised her eyes to meet his. Zhou Corporation specialized in investments and acquisitions, and in just over a decade, Gu Corporation had established and expanded its roots in Haicheng.

“I told you, you can do whatever you want to me, but apart from myself, I won’t give you anything else.” Her stance was firm, even though she was clearly at a disadvantage.

Zhou Ci seemed to find her stubbornness in her current predicament laughable.

“Oh? So confident.”

“Zhou Ci, we can always try mutual destruction.” Gu Shenshen was not one to threaten, but this was the first time.

Zhou Ci narrowed his eyes, coldly watching her, his piercing gaze as if trying to see through her entirely.

“I have an important client to meet in half an hour. You have at most fifteen minutes.” After a brief pause, Zhou Ci withdrew his gaze and spoke in a low voice.

Before his words had faded, the woman who had just been slumped weakly on the sofa was already making her way to the bathroom at top speed.

In the end, they still inevitably arrived at this point. Gu Shenshen keenly sensed Zhou Ci’s increasing audacity with her after that night.

Because of the wellness city project, Zhou Ci’s visits to the upper city grew more frequent. Naturally, their time alone together increased as well.

It was already late at night when they returned from the Fu family to the hotel. Gu Shenshen, exhausted, dragged herself toward her room.

The door was half-open. She paused at the threshold to steady herself before entering, but then she heard Zhou Ci’s voice from within.

“I’ll come back once I’m finished here. Whatever you like, I’ll bring it back for you.” The man’s voice was unusually gentle and magnetic.

Gu Shenshen’s hand froze on the doorknob.

Though she had known him for so many years, she had never heard him speak to anyone in such a tender tone.

Something churned uneasily inside her, making her uncomfortable.

She heard him say something else, but her distracted mind caught none of it. Unknowingly eavesdropping, she turned to leave in a daze.

She hadn’t even managed a step when a hand shot out from inside, pulling her in.

She was pressed back against the wall by the door, which closed firmly behind her.

The light above the entryway cast a glow over the man before her, making him impossibly handsome.

“Eavesdropping on my call?” His voice was low and slightly hoarse.

Gu Shenshen was all too familiar with this reaction. She lifted her gaze to meet his.

“Sorry. I just got back, and the door was open…”

Zhou Ci lowered his head, his lips grazing her ear as he asked, “Were you jealous?”

She froze. “No.”

She had witnessed his mercurial moods countless times—gentle with her one moment, ruthless the next.

His large hands roamed her waist, and at some point, her coat had slipped to the floor.

His thigh pressed between her legs. “A little wider, hmm?”

No amount of makeup could mask Gu Shenshen’s exhaustion. She was too tired to resist, looking up at him with pleading eyes.

“I’m really tired today. Can we rest first?”