Misty Nights in Hong Kong - Chapter 7

The Hedgehog Raises Its Spines!

Before she could speak, he curled his lips with a hint of mockery, asking, “Has the quality caught up yet?”

The words froze Gu Xiangsi’s expression, and even Lu Wang beside her was momentarily stunned, at a loss for words.

Gu Xiangsi quickly pulled Lu Wang aside a few steps and whispered, “Dr. Lu, don’t listen to his nonsense. He just has a sharp tongue.”

Lu Wang responded with a calm “Hmm,” his expression unreadable.

Gu Xiangsi tugged awkwardly at the corner of her mouth. “Aren’t you surprised at all?”

“I think I’ve guessed who he is.”

Lu Wang’s tone was gentle as he picked up his phone. “Let’s exchange contact info. I know about your grandmother’s condition. I have a classmate who specializes in this field maybe he can help.”

“Really?”

Gu Xiangsi’s eyes lit up, her smile instantly brightening as she eagerly took out her phone to add him as a friend.

Not far away, Fu Sinian watched the scene, finding it irritating. He called out abruptly, “Gu Xiangsi.”

She turned, only to hear him add, “It’s time for my checkup.”

Rolling her eyes internally, she sighed and said to Lu Wang, “Dr. Lu, let’s talk another time.”

As she turned, she saw Fu Sinian already striding toward his suite, his steps slightly faster than usual.

Standing at the door, her gaze landed on Duan Jingjia, who was practically glued to Fu Sinian’s arm. Her fingers unconsciously dug into her palm.

Men like him were born with a need for control, always expecting others to cater to them, never lacking admirers.

She didn’t catch what the woman said, but her laughter pierced Gu Xiangsi’s eardrums like a needle.

She heard Fu Sinian respond with a low, indifferent “Hmm.”

“Didn’t you say you needed a dressing change?” Gu Xiangsi suppressed her emotions and walked in.

“Manager Gu, since you injured me, your time naturally belongs to me.”

Gu Xiangsi frowned, skeptical. Since when are you this domineering?

She glanced at the woman beside him, her eyes turning cool again. “I think someone else here is better suited to take care of you. I’ve already paid, so I’ll be leaving.”

She turned to grab her bag from the sofa, only to find the strap pinned under Fu Sinian.

With a sharp tug, the momentum sent her stumbling forward right onto his lap, her face pressing squarely against his most awkward spot.

Fu Sinian sucked in a sharp breath, his jawline tensing into a razor-sharp edge.

The veins on his hand, resting on the sofa arm, bulged.

Her entire face was now pressed against the most embarrassing part of him…

“Uh…”

His Adam’s apple bobbed violently as the scent of gardenias drifted from her hair.

Gu Xiangsi: “…”

She was just as stunned. Twice now.

Mortified and flustered!

Suddenly, his hand clamped around the back of her neck, his fingers scorching hot, though his voice was icy.

Fu Sinian gritted his teeth. “Was the last injury not enough? Want to try again?”

Duan Jingjia gasped, eyes wide. “Miss, you, what are you doing? Deliberately taking advantage of Sinian, aren’t you?”

Snapping back to reality, Gu Xiangsi quickly pushed herself up using his knees, her cheeks burning.

“I was just getting my bag. President Fu, my apologies. If I’ve hurt you again, I’ll cover whatever medical costs you need.”

She grabbed her bag and turned to leave, only to hear Fu Sinian scoff behind her.

“The hedgehog’s really raised its spines now.”

Gu Xiangsi fled in embarrassment once more, it was just too awkward.

At 8:30 in the evening, when she arrived at the apartment, she didn’t expect Xiaoli and that man to both be there.

The two were curled up on the sofa in an intimate, ambiguous posture, watching TV.

As Gu Xiangsi opened the door and stepped inside, she glanced at the TV screen, and her expression darkened instantly.

Playing on the screen was a Japanese film with a title that carried an unmistakably vulgar and suggestive connotation.

“Xiaoli!” she snapped sharply. “This is a shared apartment. How can you just bring people in like this?”

Xiaoli shrugged nonchalantly.

“Why can’t I? He’s my boyfriend. You should loosen up, get yourself a man too.”

Gu Xiangsi didn’t respond further, only feeling a pair of eyes shamelessly glued to her, making her skin crawl.

She quickly kicked off her shoes and strode toward her room, slamming the door shut behind her with a loud bang.

Staring at the wooden door for a long moment, she still didn’t feel at ease. She got up, dragged a chair over, and wedged it firmly against the door. Then, fumbling in the dark, she fastened the latch lock before finally retreating to the bed and letting out a long sigh.

Only then did she pick up her phone, open Qin Shiwei’s chat, and tapped the video call button on WeChat.

“Hey, gorgeous, why do you look so exhausted?”

Gu Xiangsi hesitated, then said, “I saw him.”

Qin Shiwei froze. “You mean… Fu Sinian?”

Gu Xiangsi nodded and recounted everything about running into Fu Sinian.

The two of them had secretly dated in college, and Qin Shiwei knew about it back then, hardly anyone at the university was aware of their relationship.

Qin Shiwei was stunned. “Is this the same Fu Sinian I know?”

“One and the same.”

“No wonder. It must be revenge driving him. You don’t think he’s turned love into hate, do you?”

Qin Shiwei sounded worried.

“And how do you feel about him now…?”

Gu Xiangsi gave a bitter laugh and cut her off. “Whatever I feel doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Sweetie, forget about him!” Qin Shiwei tossed an apple into the fruit bowl. “Look at that face, that figure, you could have guys lining up from Tsim Sha Tsui to the Central Ferris Wheel. Just pick one!”

“I’ll consider it when you land yourself a hottie first,” Gu Xiangsi teased, raising an eyebrow.

Qin Shiwei pouted at the camera. “My standards are sky-high now! Writing CEO romance novels all day even my dreams are about domineering CEOs spoiling me.”

After hanging up, an email notification popped up.

[ALK: A wealthy overseas client fell in love with one of your previous design styles, she found it warm and full of love. She wants to buy your design drafts.]

Gu Xiangsi blinked in surprise, then immediately scrolled through her contacts and video-called the sender.

“Hey, Xiangsi! Your design style is a huge hit among the wealthy ladies in this area. You should praise me for my marketing skills!”

The voice belonged to Li Ye, a close friend Gu Xiangsi had made abroad.

She had married a foreigner who adored her.

“Thanks, darling.”

“She’s offering 15% of the renovation budget. Her villa is worth a million dollars, so the design fee would be around $150K!”

Li Ye laid out the budget, and Gu Xiangsi had no objections, sending over a few of her design drafts.

Due to the time difference, they reluctantly ended the call.

Gu Xiangsi finally relaxed. This was truly a godsend if she could sell a few more designs, she’d have the means to visit her uncle soon. Her grandmother’s matter needed to be addressed.

In the dead of night, whether intentionally or not, those blush-inducing sounds started coming from the next room again.

The bed creaked rhythmically, mingled with a woman’s wanton moans and the sharp cracks of something being whipped by the man.

Gu Xiangsi sat up in irritation, raking a hand through her hair before grabbing a stick from the corner and banging it hard against the wall.

“Can you keep it down? It’s the middle of the night! some of us are trying to sleep!”

The noises paused briefly, only for the man to let out an even more excited laugh, shouting in Cantonese:

“Wanna join? 1V2, yeah?”