Misty Nights in Hong Kong - Chapter 10

That Performance of Yours Was Really Not Up to Par!

Shen Zhisi was the company’s project director. Gu Xiangsi remembered that she didn’t interact with him much on a daily basis.

The man knelt on one knee on the tiled floor of the open-air terrace, pulling an exquisite velvet box from his suit pocket.

He looked up at Gu Xiangsi. “Manager Gu, with our annual salaries, buying a seaside apartment in Hong Kong would be more than enough. We’re the most suitable match.”

Whispers spread among the surrounding colleagues.

Gu Xiangsi’s mind went blank, and she quickly shook her head. “It’s not about suitability.”

But Shen Zhisi insisted, “Last time at the office, you told Xiao Li that I’m good-looking and kind, wasn’t that a sign of interest?”

Gu Xiangsi froze, turning in disbelief to look at Li Lin beside her.

Li Lin’s face flushed red. “Manager Gu, I… I was just casually mentioning that you said Director Shen was a good person. Maybe he misunderstood…”

Shen Zhisi stared intently at Gu Xiangsi’s delicate features. The way her lashes fluttered slightly when she lowered her gaze only further matched his ideal standards for a perfect wife.

He pushed the box toward her again. “Manager Gu, we could at least try dating first.”

“I really can’t…” Before Gu Xiangsi could finish, vendors in the distance, holding champagne glasses, began murmuring among themselves, their steps gradually drifting closer.

Just as a thin layer of sweat formed on her palms, a lazy scoff cut through the air.

Fu Sinian stood not far away, one hand in his pocket, his black suit draped casually over his shoulder, looking utterly indifferent. “Well, well, what’s this? A proposal?”

All eyes turned toward him. Someone gasped. “Isn’t that the heir of the Sinian Group?”

What was he doing here?

Chen Hui suddenly spotted Fu Sinian in the crowd, his heart skipping a beat as he hurriedly squeezed to the front with a forced smile.

“President Fu! What brings you here today?”

Fu Sinian glanced at him sidelong, then jerked his chin toward the scene ahead. “Your employee’s proposing.”

Meaning he was just here for the show.

Chen Hui followed his gaze and saw Shen Zhisi on one knee, holding a ring out to Gu Xiangsi.

His heart sank, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead, but he forced a laugh. “Ah, this… must just be some game they’re playing around with!”

After all, he remembered all too clearly, Young Master Fu’s attitude toward Manager Gu was clearly different from how he treated others.

Fu Sinian let out a soft scoff. “What a shame.”

No one could tell what he meant by that.

Chen Hui’s scalp prickled.

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, he quickly seized an idea and pointed to the drinks table. “President Fu, we were just about to play some drinking games. Care to join the fun?”

It was meant as a polite gesture, but to everyone’s surprise, Fu Sinian nodded outright and plopped himself into the seat of honor.

Chen Hui hastily yanked Shen Zhisi up from his kneeling position, hissing under his breath, “The living ancestor is here, and you’re still making a scene? We’ll talk about your business later!”

Then he pulled the dazed Gu Xiangsi aside, whispering urgently, “President Fu is finally here. He keeps rejecting that contract, quick, take this chance to ask him what’s wrong with it!”

Chen Hui shoved Gu Xiangsi into the seat to Fu Sinian’s left, while Duan Jingwen smoothly took the seat to his right. Executives and vendors quickly crowded around, egging them on to start the game.

Still eager to curry favor, Shen Zhisi seized the moment when the staff brought out desserts, grabbing a mango cake and sliding it toward Gu Xiangsi.

She frowned slightly, but before she could speak, Fu Sinian abruptly cut in. “Manager Gu is allergic to mangoes.”

The server distributing the cakes froze, quickly snatching the mango cake away from Gu Xiangsi and replacing it with another.

Fu Sinian glanced at the cake again and added, “She doesn’t like peanut flavor.”

All eyes turned curiously toward Gu Xiangsi. So, was there something going on between the young master of Hong Kong’s elite circles and Gu Xiangsi?

Shen Zhisi’s expression darkened.

He could practically hear the sound of his heart breaking. “Are you and Manager Gu… close?” he asked.

Gu Xiangsi: “…?”

“Manager Gu and I…” Fu Sinian deliberately drew out his words, a cryptic smile playing on his lips. “Close? Of course we’re close…”

The color drained from Gu Xiangsi’s face.

Ever since she had unilaterally decided that he had extorted hundreds of thousands from her in compensation, she had been unable to let it go.

He was deliberately retaliating, sabotaging her savings plan yet again.

She knew that as long as she was labeled as Fu Sinian’s ex-girlfriend, all those unwelcome advances would disappear.

But at what cost?

Hong Kong society had always been one to fawn over the powerful and trample on the weak. If Fu Sinian showed even the slightest hint of disapproval, she would be plunged into an abyss from which there was no return.

Noticing Shen Zhisi’s scrutinizing gaze, Fu Sinian’s eyes darkened, though the corners of his lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.

His fingers tapped idly on the table, his voice low and laced with dangerous amusement.

“Manager Gu, I remember very clearly the way you threw yourself at me that day.”

As he spoke, he tilted his head slightly, his gaze drifting lazily over Shen Zhisi before adding in a leisurely tone,

“Director Shen is quite the catch, but…”

He paused, his voice slightly hoarse, “Manager Gu’s standards have always been… financially motivated.”

The words were like a lit fuse, instantly igniting Gu Xiangsi’s fury.

Yes, she needed money but she had her principles. The money she earned was clean.

She abruptly stood up, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. Her fingers pressed hard against the edge of the table, her knuckles turning white.

Looking down at him, her eyes burned with anger.

“Mr. Fu, all we had was a fling.”

“And it ended a long time ago.”

The air froze. Everyone held their breath, their eyes darting between the two, afraid to miss a single detail.

Fu Sinian leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed, but his gaze was that of a predator, locked onto her.

“Ended?” He chuckled darkly, his eyes slowly trailing down, lingering on her lips before sliding to her tense fingers.

“But the way you reacted back then… seemed more like you wanted more.”

Gu Xiangsi’s breath hitched, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Furious, she let out a cold laugh. “So confident, Mr. Fu? Should I tell everyone here about your performance back then?”

She leaned in slightly, her red lips nearly brushing his ear, her breath warm but her voice icy.

“Three minutes, Mr. Fu. That’s all it took.”

Fu Sinian’s eyes darkened instantly, his fingers tightening until his knuckles turned white yet the smile on his lips only deepened.

Suddenly, he raised a hand, his long fingers encircling her wrist, his thumb brushing teasingly over her pulse.

“Is that so?”

His voice was husky, laced with a provocative challenge. “Then why don’t we try again? Let’s see how long you last this time.”

The air grew scorching.

The onlookers gasped. Shen Zhisi’s face turned ashen, while the tips of Gu Xiangsi’s ears burned red against her will.

Gu Xiangsi thought it must be the lack of sleep lately that had provoked her into saying what came next.

“Your skills… really aren’t anything to write home about.”

With that, she shoved the chair aside, grabbed her phone, and stormed out.

The man’s hand clamped around her wrist, his eyes smoldering with dark fire as he gritted his teeth. “What did you just say?”

“I said, President Fu, your hardware is impressive, but the user experience leaves much to be desired.”

With that, she pulled her hand free and turned to leave.

Duan Jingwen had just taken his seat, not even having the chance to greet Gu Xiangsi, when he witnessed this dramatic scene unfold.

Without hesitation, he shot a meaningful glance at his assistant, Li. The latter immediately understood and whispered to Manager Chen, “What happened today stays here. Anyone who leaks a word will face the consequences.”

Chen Hui trembled so hard his legs nearly gave out, nodding repeatedly.

The others present wished they could cover their ears, Manager Gu was going to be the death of them! Was this something they were supposed to hear?

Fu Sinian lowered his head, fingers tracing the rim of his glass, the muscles in his jaw clenched tight. His lips twisted into a strained, unnatural smirk, a clear sign he was suppressing his fury.

Duan Jingwen’s heart sank, this was bad.

The big boss was about to unleash his wrath.

Sure enough, Fu Sinian’s expression darkened, his voice icy as if speaking to himself.

“Gu Xiangsi, well done.”