Misty Nights in Hong Kong - Chapter 17

Even Throwing You on the Street Would Be an Eyesore!

Fu Sinian lifted his gaze, glancing at her with a sidelong look. “Gu Xiangsi, how many times have you made me angry already?”

As his words fell, the air grew thick with tension.

Gu Xiangsi bit her lower lip, knowing she wouldn’t get an answer, and turned her attention to the plate in front of her.

A bowl of pumpkin porridge had been pushed toward her, a few goji berries floating on the surface.

“Auntie was kind enough to say pumpkin porridge is best for drunks.”

Fu Sinian withdrew his hand and continued eating at a leisurely pace.

Gu Xiangsi cradled the bowl in her hands. As the wooden spoon scooped up the porridge, the familiar, delicate sweetness wafted toward her.

Memories surged, and she blurted out, “Did you make this?”

Fu Sinian paused, the fork in his hand halting mid-air. “Do I look that bored?”

Gu Xiangsi choked back her words, silenced by his retort.

She lowered her head and took a small sip of the porridge. The warmth spread from her tongue to her chest.

The slightly charred aroma and the deliberately reduced sweetness, it was unmistakably his work.

“Thank you,” Gu Xiangsi murmured softly.

She had thought she would never taste this flavor again in her lifetime.

Fu Sinian propped his elbow on the table, his intense gaze fixed on Gu Xiangsi as she took small, deliberate sips of the pumpkin porridge.

Only when she set the empty bowl down did he finally look away. “Gu Xiangsi, your gratitude is cheaper than plain water. But it doesn’t matter, you’ve just added another debt to your tab.”

“What?”

Her head snapped up.

His slender finger pointed casually toward the bamboo basket by the laundry room, where a crumpled shirt stood out starkly. “Last night, you vomited all over me. That custom-made shirt costs 100,000.”

Gu Xiangsi’s face paled instantly, her fingers instinctively pressing against her temple.

Fragments of memory flashed through her mind, and she stammered, “I really didn’t mean to-”

“Which is why, starting today, I’m your biggest creditor.” Fu Sinian tapped the table with his knuckles. “And the shirt, I want a custom order.”

She opened her mouth skeptically but ultimately didn’t voice the question: Would you really wear clothes I buy for you?

Before she could speak, Fu Sinian’s expression darkened abruptly. “Do you remember who drugged you?”

“It was… Sun Shangxiang.”

At least her brain was still functioning.

“And if it weren’t for me, what would’ve happened to you?” Fu Sinian leaned in slightly, the cold, woody scent of him carrying an oppressive weight. “I’m not just your creditor, I’m also your savior.”

“Who knows if you took advantage…” Gu Xiangsi muttered under her breath, the last word barely formed.

“What did you say?”

Fu Sinian let out a cold laugh. “So, in your eyes, I, Fu Sinian, am the kind of man who preys on vulnerable women? The state you were in last night even throwing you on the street would be an eyesore-”

“You!” Gu Xiangsi’s face flushed red.

The fury swirling in Fu Sinian’s eyes sent a tremor through her heart.

Shouldn’t he hate her? Why was he angry? Shouldn’t he be gloating instead?

Lost in her thoughts, her phone suddenly rang.

“Hello?”

“Is this Miss Gu Xiangsi? This is Zhao Corporation. You’ve passed the preliminary interview. Would it be possible for you to bring your design drafts for a discussion with our director? If all goes well, you could be hired directly.”

“Really? Thank you so much! I’ll bring my designs this afternoon!”

Only after hanging up did she realize the atmosphere in the dining room had plummeted.

Fu Sinian’s lips curled into a faint, icy smile, his gaze sharp as a blade. “As your former…”

He deliberately paused, the corner of his eye catching the way the person across from him clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white.

“…schoolmate,” he finished leisurely, dragging out the last syllable with a lightness that carried undeniable pressure.

“Also, as your current creditor, I can offer you a decent job.”

Gu Xiangsi nearly blurted out a retort, going to his company would be like a lamb walking into a wolf’s den.

“No need to trouble yourself, President Fu,” Gu Xiangsi refused.

“Gu Xiangsi.” Fu Sinian leaned in closer, the cold aura around him almost tangible. “You’ll agree.”

“President Fu.” Gu Xiangsi clenched her phone, her fingertips turning white. “Thank you for stepping in yesterday, and… thank you for breakfast too.”

She lowered her gaze to the pale purple skirt she was wearing. “How much does this dress cost? I’ll transfer the money to you.”

A playful smirk curled at the corner of Fu Sinian’s lips. “Want to pay me back?”

“Let’s round it up, 10 million in total.”

Gu Xiangsi twitched her lips. If she took it off now, would it still count?

Spotting a leather-bound notebook on the table, she pulled out a sheet of paper, grabbed a pen, and swiftly wrote out an IOU.

She pushed the paper toward him. Fu Sinian stared at the elegant handwriting, his fingers unconsciously tracing the words.

“Gu Xiangsi!” he suddenly called out as she was about to reach the staircase.

She turned around.

Fu Sinian’s gaze burned into her. “Do you remember what yesterday was?”

Gu Xiangsi froze.

Of course she remembered, it was the anniversary of when they got together.

But what Fu Sinian got in response was, “I don’t remember.”

With that, she turned and walked toward the staircase.

The paper was crumpled into a ball and hurled violently into the trash bin.

Yet, staring at that flash of white in the bin, he suddenly bent down, fished it out, and smoothed it over and over.

He let out a cold laugh.

This woman’s mouth was always so stubborn.

“Gu Xiangsi, throwing it away would be letting you off too easy.”

He folded the paper neatly and tucked it into his wallet.

Debts were only interesting when settled one by one.

Only when Gu Xiangsi went downstairs did she realize this was an estate in Deep Water Bay.

It was enormous, there was no way she could hail a cab here.

The sound of steady footsteps echoed behind her.

Turning, she saw Fu Sinian wrapped in a black overcoat, standing on the steps.

“What? Want to stay the night again?”

His tone had reverted to its usual detached indifference.

Gu Xiangsi steadied herself and quickly walked toward the Maybach.

“Thank you,” she said.

Fu Sinian strode over, effortlessly sliding into the car.

The estate’s iron gates slowly swung open as the car passed by vast stretches of meticulously trimmed greenery.

Sunlight spilled over the vine-covered swing set, and the distant pool shimmered with rippling reflections. The walls were high, ensuring absolute privacy.

Gu Xiangsi stared blankly at the passing scenery until her phone rang.

“Hello?” She deliberately lowered her voice.

“Xiangsi, are you okay?” Qin Shiwei’s voice was clearly anxious. “You disappeared suddenly last night, you scared me to death!”

“Sorry… I drank too much, and my phone died, so I left early.”

Gu Xiangsi tightened her grip on the seatbelt, glancing sideways at the man beside her, who had reclined slightly, his eyes half-closed.

“As long as you’re okay! By the way, have you seen the HK headlines?” Qin Shiwei suddenly dropped her voice. “Sun Shangxiang was live-streaming in a private room with two men last night, it was wild!”

Her fingers clenched around the phone.

Gu Xiangsi’s mind reeled, her throat tightening. So, Fu Sinian had avenged her. Had she just repaid his kindness with ingratitude?

The call ended, and the car fell into silence.

Almost unconsciously, Gu Xiangsi opened WeChat and scrolled to the contact she had labeled “Creditor.”

It was the first time since adding him that she clicked on his profile picture, a dark red red bean icon that stung her eyes.

If it weren’t for him yesterday, she would have been the headline news in HK today.

She pursed her lips and sincerely said, “Thank you.”

Fu Sinian’s temples throbbed violently.

Last night, Gu Xiangsi had taken over his bed. He was particular about his sleeping place, and what was worse, he had seen all of her yesterday, it made him unbearably restless. He had taken two cold showers in the middle of the night.

Hearing her say thank you in that soft voice reminded him of how she used to be at school, lying on the library desk with her eyes closed, murmuring, “A-Nian, I’m so sleepy.”

Or during their elective classes, when she would secretly slack off, covering her face with a book and whispering, “A-Nian, keep an eye out for me so the teacher doesn’t notice.”

She used to rely on him so much, but now, all she could say was thank you and there were other men’s names on her lips.

She used to love purple so much…

He scoffed disdainfully. “Your gratitude is really cheap.”