Not a Scummy Alpha, But a Sweet Puppy (Transmigration Into A Novel) - Chapter 22

On the way back, Gu Zhibai had already decided on her answer: rejection.

She admitted that Xue Yi’s proposal was tempting. For a moment, she had genuinely considered accepting. Sacrificing a bit of her reputation, which wouldn’t even be a truly negative sacrifice, could buy her at least six months of breathing room.

Her secret acquisition of shares was already halfway complete. If she could secure the support of the final two major shareholders, Gu Zhibai could effortlessly seize control of the Gu Corporation and oust Father Gu from the center of power.

Once that stage was over, they could dissolve their relationship, each having obtained what they wanted. It was such a profitable deal.

From every angle, she could find no logical reason to refuse, except for a lingering unease in her heart.

Getting involved between a couple was something Gu Zhibai fundamentally couldn’t accept. Whether the relationship was real or fake, voluntary or forced, she refused to intrude as a third party, becoming an obstacle between two people.

Love should be pure. Having tasted its bitter fruits, she yearned even more for the sweet ones.

Since that was the case, she needed to devise a way to prevent her father from removing her from the CEO position.

What if Gu Zhiyao got into trouble, leaving her no choice but to focus on resolving his mess and neglecting her own affairs?

Gu Zhiyao was far from being a well-behaved individual. Spoiled rotten by Mother Gu, he was arrogant, reckless, and utterly lawless. He had offended countless people, both openly and covertly, but they tolerated his behavior out of deference to the Gu family’s influence.

His group of degenerate friends were no better.

Gu Zhibai felt no familial affection for her younger brother. The blood connection between them only intensified her resentment. She wouldn’t hesitate to stir up minor trouble for Gu Zhiyao.

In fact, she relished the opportunity.

Gu Zhiyao’s three favorite haunts were:

1. Lingfeng Club, a racing club where he often met up with his buddies to race cars.

2. Shihui Bar, ostensibly a “clean bar” but secretly offering special services. This wasn’t obvious; they used fruit names as code words on a hidden menu, like “cherry” or “peach,” which was never shown to outsiders.

3. Hosting lavish parties. He owned a villa where he threw pool parties and sometimes chartered yachts for cruises.

Ever since Gu Zhiyao met Ye Wanwan, he stopped hosting parties altogether. As he put it, other women just seemed to be missing something, leaving him uninspired. His mind was constantly filled with thoughts of that pure and adorable young woman.

If Gu Zhibai wanted to cause trouble for him, she would have to target his first two vices.

This required careful consideration, but she clearly didn’t have the time tonight. Jiang Zhenmian was waiting for her, needing comfort.

Gu Zhibai felt a pang of guilt when facing Jiang Zhenmian. Regardless of her reasons, the harm she had caused Jiang Zhenmian was real. How could she not feel remorse, unease, and a sense of being in the wrong?

She checked the time and arrived early at the subway station entrance to wait.

Jiang Zhenmian emerged from the station, carrying a dark green crossbody bag, the same one she had worn to work earlier. The thin leather strap, cinched tightly over her loose down jacket, looked jarringly out of place. Her movements were slow and deliberate, like a malfunctioning robot struggling against its programming with each step.

Yet compared to the other woman’s expression and demeanor, this incongruity seemed almost normal.

When Jiang Zhenmian saw Gu Zhibai, she immediately took off her hat, revealing a tangled mess of hair. Some strands stuck up wildly, while others clung to her face due to static electricity. She casually brushed the hair away with her hand, looking utterly dejected, like a stray dog who had finally found a kind person to feed it two sausages, only to be kicked away.

Seeing her in this state, Gu Zhibai’s guilt intensified tenfold.

Given Jiang Zhenmian’s usual cheerful personality, she must have had a good relationship with her roommates. It was unimaginable that they would secretly gather to badmouth her behind her back. For someone who always approached life with goodwill, this betrayal must have been a devastating blow. And to make matters worse, Gu Zhibai had just…

Thinking of this, Gu Zhibai hurried forward. “Are you…”

She wanted to ask if Jiang Zhenmian was okay, but that was clearly a pointless question. The words swirled on her tongue before finally emerging as the most generic inquiry: “Have you had dinner yet?”

Jiang Zhenmian finally lifted her head, giving Gu Zhibai a slow, sorrowful look. There was something else in her eyes, something Gu Zhibai couldn’t quite decipher.

Her voice, like her movements, was listless. “No, I haven’t. I have no appetite.”

For someone who always loved to eat to have lost her appetite, things were indeed dire.

Gu Zhibai didn’t know how to comfort her, so she simply walked over and took Jiang Zhenmian’s hand. “I’ll take you home.”

Jiang Zhenmian mumbled in response, following Gu Zhibai like a little schoolchild being led home.

The image stirred a strange tenderness in Gu Zhibai’s heart. She began to question whether she had been too harsh on Jiang Zhenmian. After all, Jiang Zhenmian was still just a young girl, her mind and emotions not yet fully mature. Even if she had made some small mistakes, didn’t she deserve forgiveness?

Gu Zhibai’s home remained unchanged. She led Jiang Zhenmian to the sofa and then went to make a cup of hot cocoa. She remembered reading somewhere that a warm, sweet drink could lift someone’s spirits.

The steaming, dark liquid filled the white porcelain mug, its warmth seeping through the fuzzy cup sleeve, leaving only a gentle warmth against her palm.

Jiang Zhenmian cradled the mug, lowered her head, and took a sip. Perhaps the sweet, warm cocoa really did help, as her complexion seemed to improve slightly.

Gu Zhibai finally put the words she had been rehearsing all the way home into action. Lowering her voice, she spoke as gently as possible: “It’s normal to feel lost or sad. If your sincerity isn’t valued, it’s not your fault. It’s their mistake.”

“In life, not everyone you meet will be good, nor will everyone be bad. You just need to hold onto the best one. You don’t need many good friends; one is enough.”

“Will you be my best friend?” Jiang Zhenmian suddenly asked.

Her voice was soft, like a mountain chickadee cautiously peeking out from the leaves after a storm, ever wary of another thunderclap.

Anyone with a shred of emotional intelligence would know better than to add fuel to the fire at this moment. After a brief hesitation, Gu Zhibai nodded. “If you want that, I’d be honored.”

But Jiang Zhenmian didn’t look happy. Her dark eyes gazed steadily at Gu Zhibai for a moment before she said, “What if I don’t want to be friends?”

“What?” Gu Zhibai was taken aback.

“I don’t want to be your friend,” Jiang Zhenmian said, her gaze unwavering, each word deliberate.

“I want to kiss your lips, your fingers, in the bedroom, in the living room, on the balcony, on park benches, during red lights, at any time, in any place, showing an intimacy that goes far beyond friendship, without caring who sees us.”

“I like you.”

Jiang Zhenmian stepped onto the stage and launched a confession attack, hitting her target successfully.

Gu Zhibai was struck by the confession attack and collapsed!

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