Getting Outsmarted By The CEO - Chapter 109
Chapter 34.2 TL: Bara Chou
Over the next few hours, Ruan An’an visited departments involved in the Fan Lin project and reviewed key documents. She also went to University C to check on the construction progress of the building she had signed.
After the inspection, it was time to meet up with Gu Jue. She decided it was too much of a hassle for her to bring her luggage to the school and have Gu Jue pick her up. After all, Gu Jue owns a bike and nothing else. He would have to call a taxi, and that would at least cost him the base fare of 10 yuan…
Thus, Ruan An’an went home to grab her luggage and took a taxi directly to Gu Jue’s place.
It was already evening by the time she finally stepped into Gu Jue’s place.
Gu Jue put out a pair of slippers for her and was about to help carry her suitcase into the bedroom when it caught his eyes, “This suitcase…”
Ruan An’an raised her head, “Hm?”
“I think I’ve seen it somewhere…” Gu Jue tried to remember the name of the mall from yesterday, “You got it from the nearby Hongxun Mall, right?”
Ruan An’an was startled, “How did you know?”
“…”
Because he saw it yesterday.
Cream white in colour and a cutesy girly style.
Of course, what left a lasting impression on him was the massive sale sign — “?1198; Now Only?198!”
TL/N: CNY to USD is about 6 to 1, so this would be about $200 on sale for $30.
Gu Jue thought that, unless the original price was intentionally boosted, the discount couldn’t even be called a clearance sale anymore, it was a blowout sale.
“Nevermind. It suits you, very cute.”
Without another word, he carried it inside.
Ruan An’an was feeling very proud of her wits. Not only did she prepare clothes, skincare, and other essential products, but she also bought a suitcase that was on sale!
Her normal suitcase was pure-white, and the price was… somewhere in the 5 digits. She didn’t choose this milky white one just for its pricing, it was also the only model at the mall that somewhat resembled her suitcase.
Ruan An’an changed into slippers and ascended the small step that separated out the entryway.
The place was small, and she had already been here once before, so it was already starting to become familiar after having a quick look around.
She followed in Gu Jue’s direction and entered a room. She came to face Gu Jue as he was turning around, along with Dummy by his feet.
Ruan An’an was assaulted by the image of a wife being greeted by her husband and their child.
Gu Jue moved as she remained stunned, “Do you want to unpack the suitcase right now?”
Ruan An’an nodded, “Mm-hmm, I…”
Before she could complete her sentence, her stomach protested with a growl.
Ruan An’an: …
Gu Jue: …
Dummy: … =.=
She didn’t eat much at lunch, so she was hungry even though it wasn’t dinnertime yet. The growl wasn’t loud, but the lack of other sounds in this room made it especially noticeable.
Although somewhat embarrassing, a growling stomach wasn’t something she could control. Thankfully, Gu Jue didn’t tease her about it. He pointed behind him, “This is the wardrobe, I’ve left the left side open for you. That’s the bathroom…” He smiled understandingly, “I’ll make some food while you organize your stuff.”
Forgetting about her embarrassment, Ruan An’an’s eyes twinkled. “… You can cook?”
Gu Jue mentally searched for a suitable idiom, “A poor man’s child grows up early, don’t you know?”
“I’ve heard,” Ruan An’an nodded, “but, I mean, you don’t look like you can cook…”
To be exact, Gu Jue didn’t look poor. His temperament was too refined. No matter how plain his clothes were, how little he minded the food he ate, or how small his place was, something about him spoke of a pampered “young master”.
“I believe you have some misconceptions about me.” Gu Jue pinched her cheek, “Your boyfriend is quite the well-rounder. You know, New Western Culinary School even asked me to work as an instructor, but I declined.”
TL/N: A pun on New Eastern Culinary School, one of the 2 largest/most well-known vocational schools in China
Ruan An’an: “… Oh.”
…
Gu Jue headed into the kitchen after tooting his own horn.
He had gone out to buy groceries this morning, so the fridge was full. His phone vibrated on the counter just as he put on an apron and was ready to start.
He paused when he noticed the caller ID.
Gu Wenlan, his aunt.
The last time she contacted him was back when he just returned from abroad. Gu Jue took note of today’s date and realized it was almost her birthday. He knew what was up.
He picked up the phone, “Auntie.”
He could hear the smile in her voice, “Ah Jue, are you busy? Do you know why Auntie called you?”
Gu Jue smiled as well, “Tsk, I wouldn’t dare to forget your birthday.”
Gu Jue had always been close with his aunt growing up. Mrs. Gu and Gu Wenlan bonded like real sisters, and Gu Qizhong was good buddies with his uncle-in-law. There was a reason the two families stayed neighbours for so long.
No matter what happened, Gu Jue would never unleash his anger on other people, especially those close to him.
Gu Wenlan was the youngest girl in her generation and thus, the most beloved. Since her youth, her birthday parties have always been grand occasions. They were no longer mere birthday celebrations—those in attendance were all prominent figures in Qing Cheng.
Gu Wenlan had called Gu Jue to bring up that exact topic.
“… It’s in about a week. It’s up to you if you decide, but I won’t blame you if you don’t want to come…” At this point, Gu Wenlan began to trail off, but she quickly regained herself, “but don’t you skip out on the present.”
“Rest assured, I already have your present prepared. I promise you’ll be pleasantly surprised. As for the dinner party…” Gu Jue paused, “I haven’t attended any in the past few years. For one, I’m not interested in these social events. You know my other reason as well.”
The other one was Qin Li.
The incident from all those years ago remained a headache for Gu Wenlan.
“Right… How can I not know.” She sighed, “But despite knowing your reply, Auntie still wants to extend the invitation…”
Qin Li was at fault back then, no matter how you looked at it.
Gu Wenlan knew what Gu Jue was like well. Since childhood, both girls and boys flocked to him. The boys looked up to him as a leader, and the girls liked him for his looks.
Gu Jue got along with the boys extremely well but never looked twice at any girl. The only girl he had paid any mind to, and could hold a conversation with, was the cousin who basically lived under the same roof as him.
Gu Wenlan blamed herself as well. She felt largely responsible for what had happened.
Qin Li had always been a reasonable and obedient child. All her teachers only had praises for her. And even if she wasn’t exactly shy with strangers, she always left a good albeit docile impression. Overall, there wasn’t much to worry about with her.
Qin Li wasn’t very close with her brother, Qin An. It was Gu Wenlan who was the closest to her. With a child this obedient, Gu Wenlan subconsciously trusted her, feeling unnecessary to be too strict or too observant of her behaviours.
Her husband and son were both inattentive, and she was too trusting.
Gu Wenlan had wondered, what if she hadn’t dismissed the abnormal glow on Qin Li’s cheeks when the cousins met as being shy… If she had paid more attention, she would’ve noticed the homework questions Qin Li brought to Gu Jue were all well within her abilities… If she had been more watchful at the dinner tables, she would’ve noticed Qin Li was slowly imitating even Gu Jue’s food preferences and eating habits…
If she had noticed earlier, they probably wouldn’t have reached the point they were at today.
Gu Wenlan sighed in defeat, “Auntie just miss you. You were already so tall and good-looking even in your teenage years, I wonder how handsome you’ve become after so many years.”
“It goes without saying,” Gu Jue chuckled, leaning on the kitchen counter while he lazily replied, “I take on my handsomeness from your great beauty.”
There was no face Gu Jue couldn’t bring a smile upon.
At the other end of the line, Gu Wenlan laughed aloud. The gloom on her mind had largely dissipated. “Ok, ok. Enough with the small talk. It’s decided then. Since you won’t be coming to the party, we should have a meal together sometime — And no, you can’t refuse for any reason other than getting a girlfriend. You got that?”
Gu Jue couldn’t hold himself back. Curling the corners of his mouth, “Actually, Auntie, I do have a girlfriend.”
“…” Gu Wenlan went silent for a few seconds then inhaled sharply, a rare display of her shock. She was filled with joy, “Really? You weren’t lying to your dad? How come he told me you got a fake girlfriend again when I called him a few days ago?”
Gu Jue walked out of the kitchen and peered at Ruan An’an in the bedroom. She was humming along to the music playing on her phone while organizing her stuff. It was an indescribably harmonious scene that made Gu Jue’s heart swell.
Gu Jue wanted to unload his many praises for Ruan An’an, but he knew it wasn’t fitting to boast to his elders too much. Holding himself back as much as possible, “She’s a university student, a very cute person… Yes, I was the one who pursued her… I went for it because I like her. Now is not the right time, but I’ll introduce her sometime…”
“We moved in together, just recently… Hm? Is it too fast? I’m thinking of getting married in a few months…”
“… Auntie, I really, seriously, don’t like being called desperate…”
“…”
The call ended after a couple more minutes of banter.
Gu Wenlan was sporting a smile and mocked him internally. What’s wrong with calling him desperate… They’re living together only after so long and even plan to get married. What’s wrong with calling it for what it is, this boy…
Gu Wenlan turned around and was surprised by the presence of a person standing in the doorway.
“… Lili?” Gu Wenlan relaxed when she recognized who it was, “Why haven’t you made a sound, you scared me.”
She was patting her chest when it hit her, “How long… have you been standing there?”
She chose to call Gu Jue today because Qin Li had been out all day.
Qin Li was supposed to be having dinner outside as well, but apparently, she was back early.
Qin Li was in a tasteful white dress. Her hair was long and black, sitting loose across her shoulders. Her makeup was subtle yet exquisite, innocent yet elegant.
She slowly stepped forward, wearing a sweet smile, “Mommy, who were you calling just now?”
Qin Li had grown up in an orphanage. Being born with a lighter hair colour plus the malnutrition as a child, meant that her hair was naturally brown and had a bit of a curl. For some unknown reason, she suddenly dyed her hair black and had it permanently straightened when she started university.
Gu Wenlan didn’t even want to guess the reason. Noticing various details on Qin Li, waves of fatigue pounded her.
“I was calling your cousin, Gu Ming, just now.” Gu Wenlan replied calmly.
Qin Li’s steps paused. “Oh…”
Then, her smile deepened, seeming even sweeter, “Cousin Ming… is in a relationship?”
—
Gu Jue’s comment about New Western was obviously a joke, but Ruan An’an wasn’t expecting… their dinner to be so “extravagant”.
She had noticed the delicious smell after she finished unpacking. The food indeed smelled delectable, but as she approached the dining table, there were only two bowls of tomato-and-egg noodles.
True to its name, it was made with only 3 ingredients: tomato, egg, and noodles.
Of course, Gu Jue was quick to come clean with a sincere attitude:
— That he was indeed exaggerating his skills before.
Rather than being able to cook, it was more appropriate to say that he could only make rice, boil noodles, and stir-fry tomatoes with eggs.
Even the single main dish was learned under Mrs. Gu’s coercions.
Mrs. Gu believed that every man must know how to cook, with at least one signature dish, or else he’d have a hard time finding a wife. Thus, to please his wife, the renowned President Gu, Gu Qizhong, taught his two sons his specialty tomato-and-egg.
… Perhaps the talent ran thin in the men of the Gu family, but that experience was drenched in blood and tears.
From his little act before, Ruan An’an had thought he was capable of a range of dishes, but it wasn’t like she was opposed to tomato-and-egg noodles. She sat down, took a bite, and immediately praised him, “So good!”
Gu Jue smiled, “Mm-hm.”
He was fully aware of how hard it was to mess up such a rudimentary dish.
“Have this as a quick bite.” Gu Jue poured a cup of water for her and sat down, “I’ll take you out for food later. There’s a night market nearby that’s open during the weekend, they have a lot of different street foods.”
“…!”
He saw the eyes across from him light up at his words. Her cheeks were stuffed with food, so she could only vigorously nod her head… OMG, just how much cuter can she be!
Halfway through her bowl of noodles, she suddenly recalled vaguely hearing Gu Jue talking on the phone while she was unpacking. She casually brought it up.
Gu Jue answered vaguely, “It was a call from my family, I told them I’m dating someone.”
This was probably the first time Gu Jue had mentioned his family… other than the time with the internet-addicted brother.
Ruan An’an felt nervous for some reason. After swallowing the food in her mouth, she carefully asked, “… What did they say?”
“What is there for them to say?” Gu Jue raised an eyebrow, amused, “It’s not like we’re underage. I was simply informing them, not asking for their permission.”
“…” He’s not wrong.
The couple ate at the table while Dummy ate by their feet. Ruan An’an took a couple of glances at his food bowl and realized something was wrong. “He hasn’t eaten much of his food… does he have no appetite today?”
With no more premium cat food or expensive dried fish, it was only natural he’d lost his appetite. It was hard to live a humble life after living luxuriously.
Gu Jue didn’t even bat an eye, “Don’t worry, he’s like that. Just means he’s not hungry.”
Ruan An’an and her child looked at each other. Other than confirming once again how cute he was, she couldn’t read anything from the cat’s expression. So, she left it with an “oh”, and continued eating her noodles.
Dummy: … qwq
Back to sniffing the cheap and flavourless cat food he went.
The couple rested on the couch after finishing their noodles. Ruan An’an got antsy after only 20 minutes and shook Gu Jue’s arm. “Why don’t we go somewhere now? Doesn’t have to be the night market, we can just take a stroll around.”
Gu Jue had fed her a breath mint after their meal. It was lemon-mint flavoured. Ruan An’an heard him bite into the candy with a crunch and followed suit.
Gu Jue got up and agreed. “Okay, but make sure to grab a thick jacket, it’s cold out.”
Ruan An’an was very excited about going to a night market and dashed to the bedroom. By the time she emerged again in a fluffy winter jacket, Gu Jue already waiting by the door with his shoes on… He had only added a black jacket.
Inside that jacket was just a thin sweater.
Ruan An’an was at a loss for words. It’s almost December and here he is opting for looks over warmth!
She walked over and grabbed his hand. It was warm in her hands now, but having held hands many times, she knew it would grow cold quickly after going outside.
Ruan An’an narrowed her eyes at him, “You told me to wear a thick jacket, and here I am looking like a bear… Yet, this is how much you’re wearing?”
“Mm-hmm.” Gu Jue squeezed her fingers, “I’m not afraid of the cold, you are.”
“This isn’t about whether you’re afraid of the cold. No one is immune to the cold.” Ruan An’an felt he wouldn’t take her seriously unless she made it clear. Putting on a serious expression, she said, “Many illnesses take their root at a young age when you freeze yourself for fashion. You may say you’re not cold, but don’t you know how quickly your hands lose their warmth?”
Growing angry with each word, Ruan An’an was only a step away from the classic hands-on-hips pose, “Student Gu, I didn’t have a say before, but now that we’re living together, I’m telling you, you’re not leaving the house until you put more on!”
The last sentence landed with a thud.
Student Gu was shocked by the scolding.
Being still indoors and having just eaten, Ruan An’an’s cheeks were rosy and her lips dewy. She looked especially animated while scolding him.
But… It wasn’t for fashion reasons that Gu Jue didn’t wear too much even during the winter.
Back when he was the School Boss during high school, he had led his buddies into fights diligently and undefeated even during the winter. Wearing too much would get in the way. And so, it became a habit.
But now, inexplicably, Gu Jue felt that he had always been waiting for this—to see her scold him angrily on how little he was wearing before they went out.
It all began with their reunion.
At first, he was satisfied just to see the affection in her eyes.
Then, when someone tried to pass a note to her, he experienced anger. It was out of left field how angry he felt… It made him long for a label — for her to be his girlfriend.
His growing greed was what led her to move in with him, to this very scene.
Thinking of living together, thinking of leaving that door together and coming back still holding her hand —
The beat of his heart hastened and the heat of his blood rose.
Gu Jue was standing still, only to scoop her into an embrace abruptly moments later, nearly pressing her into the wall.
It had caught Ruan An’an off guard.
In a low voice, Gu Jue spoke beside her ear.
“Student Ruan,” He mimicked her, but not in tone. His tone was soft and intimate. “I want to kiss you…”
Ruan An’an saw her own dumbfound face in his eyes.
It was bad for her heart to stare at Gu Jue’s earnest face for too long. Ruan An’an turned her head aside. It was then that she noticed Dummy who had nimbly jumped onto the shoe cabinet. He was watching the embracing pair with wide unblinking eyes and a dumb look on his face.
Ruan An’an grew self-conscious under the innocent gaze of their child, “Um, Dummy is watching…”
Gu Jue turned to look at his dumb-looking son as well.
“… Him?” He turned to smile at her, his black jacket contrasting his alabaster skin. His smile seductive as a devil’s. “He’s been single for too long, so of course he’s gonna gawk. You should get used to it.”
Without further ado, he deepened their embrace and kissed her.
Ruan An’an’s hands struggled for support and found the cabinet behind her.
Gu Jue’s lips were sweet and soft, almost like a jelly. Their minty breaths intertwined in the dark space between them. The kiss was like a battle and Ruan An’an’s senses were felled one by one.
A/N: (Side theatre)
Gu Dog: The rest of you should get used to it too.
Dummy: %?@*$……& (Give me back my expensive fish snacks! Or I’ll fart on you!!!)
TL/N:
They’ve finally moved in together! Time to do naughty stuff!!!! XD
Also, a note about prices. In China, normal food, modes of transport, rent, and other common items have similar prices as in the US without considering currency conversion. However, imported items/brands, brand names, and “luxury” items are often only comparable once the prices have been converted. E.g. you can get a decent cheap meal for $10 and ?10 respectively, but a good lipstick would be around ?200 compared to $30.