Chapter 45: What Is Your Relationship With Aci?

"Director Zhou, what are your instructions?"

"This evening, my fiancée and I will be attending a birthday banquet. Go make arrangements for her makeup and styling," Zhou Ci replied, his hands occupied, not even looking up.

Gu Shenshen was momentarily taken aback, unable to react for a moment.

Then, recalling the mountain of documents piled up on her own desk, she said, "Director Zhou, could you assign another assistant? I have a lot of work on my end and can't spare the time."

Zhou Ci paused his writing and looked up at her. "Busier than I am?"

Gu Shenshen twisted her fingers anxiously and lowered her eyes slowly.

She knew full well he was doing this on purpose, yet she, usually so composed, found her emotions hard to control.

Zhou Ci kept his gaze fixed on her, but with her eyes cast down, he couldn't read her expression in full.

After a silent standoff, Gu Shenshen glanced at her watch. "Please let me know the address, Director Zhou. I’ll go pick her up now."

When she raised her eyes again, her expression was calm as ever, betraying nothing out of the ordinary.

"I’ll send it to you shortly," Zhou Ci replied, eyes narrowed slightly.

She hadn’t expected Pei Wan to be living at the Zhou family’s ancestral home, and together with Qin Ying, no less.

In the grand hall downstairs, an ancestral tablet for the late Mrs. Zhou, the patriarch’s first wife, was enshrined.

At that moment, Zhou Yili was offering incense to the two women, while Qin Ying and Pei Wan descended the staircase slowly.

They seemed completely unrelated, yet here they were under the same roof.

The scene was laced with irony; one could only imagine how strong-minded Qin Ying must be to allow the memorial tablet of the first wife to be placed in the old house.

Qin Ying clearly hadn’t expected that Gu Shenshen would be the one sent to fetch Pei Wan—her eyes lingered on her for a long while.

"Miss Pei, Director Zhou asked me to come get you," Gu Shenshen greeted her politely.

Pei Wan smiled and nodded. "Thank you, I’ll just pack up and go with you."

"Take your time, Miss Pei, there’s no rush," Gu Shenshen replied.

The two exchanged few words, and Pei Wan soon departed the hall.

With Zhou Yili present, Qin Ying did not linger either, leaving Gu Shenshen waiting alone with Zhou Yili, who had just finished the incense offering.

"Miss Gu, you certainly know how to play to the crowd—two faces for two occasions," Zhou Yili approached her slowly, a trace of mockery in his tone.

Gu Shenshen looked at the refined Zhou Yili. "I didn’t expect to witness such an ironic scene today either."

"You’ll get used to it. They seem to take it all in stride," Zhou Yili responded, a faint, distant smile playing on his lips.

Gu Shenshen’s expression grew thoughtful at his words.

Likewise, Zhou Yili’s gaze towards her held a subtle hint of disdain.

"Tell me, what do you think would happen if Pei Wan ever found out about your relationship with Zhou Ci?" Zhou Yili’s eyes drifted beyond the hall, his tone casual, as if discussing something utterly commonplace.

"Last time, I was too abrupt. Mr. Zhou, I don’t wish to offend you, so I hope you’ll let me off," Gu Shenshen replied.

Men were, after all, concerned with their pride. The way she had cornered him last time was indeed shameless.

Zhou Yili shot her a sidelong glance. "I won’t hold it against you—if only for the genuine affection you seem to have for Shen Qiqi."

"Thank you for your magnanimity, Mr. Zhou," Gu Shenshen replied.

Zhou Yili scrutinized her face. "You don’t look well. Tell Zhou Ci to show some restraint."

Gu Shenshen was left speechless.

With that, Zhou Yili, having had his fun, departed.

Fifteen minutes later, Pei Wan finally emerged, and Gu Shenshen quietly fell in step beside her.

On the way to their destination, Pei Wan finally spoke.

"What exactly is your relationship with A’Ci?" she asked directly, without preamble or subtlety.