Transmigrated as the Villain’s Cannon Fodder Ex-Husband - Chapter 5

Zhao Yisen fiddled with Gu Jia’s suit cufflink as he paced back and forth in front of the Gu Group’s headquarters. He paced so much that the security guards were tempted to walk over and help him find his way.

Under Zhao Yisen’s “coercion and bribery,” Wang Baobao had finally spilled every detail regarding the “original” owner’s romantic escapades, while repeatedly promising that President Gu knew nothing of these affairs and even if he did, he would surely forgive the Young Master.

Having never been in a relationship himself, Zhao Yisen felt a subtle wave of guilt wash over him after the impact of the original owner’s messy history. After agonizing for an entire night, and with a heavy push from Wang Baobao, he decided to come and “coax” his man.

He stared at the cufflink in his hand, peeking around the entrance like a meerkat, until he finally caught the attention of the security captain.

Moments later, Jiang Mingze knocked on Gu Jia’s office door. “President Gu, Master Yi seems to be waiting for you at the company entrance.”

Gu Jia was wearing a black suit today, though it was different from the one at the engagement party—this one was more business-oriented, projecting the aloof, untouchable stance of a man in power. Two middle-aged managers were standing by the desk giving reports; hearing this, they silenced themselves and looked at Gu Jia, their small eyes darting back and forth.

Gu Jia looked up. “Understood.”

“Continue your report.”

The two managers bowed in agreement, but as they spoke, they noticed Gu Jia doing something rare: he was twirling the fountain pen in his hand. Sensing the tiny flicker of irritability revealed by this movement, the two shrewdly cut their reports in half.

By the time the managers left, it was already noon. Gu Jia sat in his spacious leather office chair for a while before closing his laptop and walking to the floor-to-ceiling window.

The Gu Group was located in the heart of S City’s CBD, occupying a thirty-story building. Gu Jia’s office was on the top floor, offering a magnificent view where the entire CBD was under his gaze. From up here, his sight shifted downward.

A small black dot was moving back and forth on the first-floor plaza, as rhythmic as a protagonist in a pixel game.

He let out a cold sneer in his heart. News traveled fast indeed. He had only just cut off the materials for Lu Real Estate, and his “fiancé” couldn’t wait to come knocking on his door.

The Encounter

After an unknown amount of time, Zhao Yisen summoned his courage. Holding the cufflink that he had nearly polished smooth with his constant fidgeting, he stepped through the doors of the headquarters.

Then, he was stopped at the facial recognition gate.

By the eight-hundredth time the “Authentication Failed” voice rang out, the security guard’s expression had shifted from suspicious to pitying. Zhao Yisen gave a guilty smile, stood on his tiptoes, and tried to lean closer to the machine for one more attempt.

“Open the gate for him.”

“Pre… President Gu! Yes, sir.”

Seeing Gu Jia, the guard hurriedly swiped his badge to let Zhao Yisen through. Zhao Yisen turned to look at Gu Jia, noticing that the CEO had changed his tie today. It accentuated his broad shoulders and the perfect curve of his neck. He estimated his fiancé was at least 188cm tall truly an “Overbearing CEO,” even his height was strikingly standard.

On the other side, Gu Jia looked down at Zhao Yisen. The youth was dressed casually today in a wide white T-shirt with deep green stripes and blue jeans. He looked like an international student who had just started summer break the kind of face talent scouts would drag to a screen test if they saw him on the street.

In short, it was a completely different style from the old Yi Sen, who only wore solid-colored haute couture.

After wandering outside for half the day, Zhao Yisen’s forehead was slightly damp. Meeting Gu Jia’s gaze, he subconsciously swallowed hard.

The newcomer remained silent. Gu Jia was already weary of Yi Sen’s game of “never speaking first and making others guess his thoughts.” His gaze darkened as he turned on his heel and headed straight for the company exit.

Zhao Yisen: ?

He hurriedly reached out to stop Gu Jia, intending to use the returned cufflink as an excuse to coax his fiancé. But before he could open his mouth, a chilly sentence leaked out from the other man:

“I thought you weren’t here to see me.”

Zhao Yisen: “…”

Is it my imagination? he wondered. Why does everyone in this book except Wang Baobao talk to me with such sarcasm?

Zhao Yisen swallowed his pride and lifted his hand. “I came today to…”

He was only halfway through his sentence when he saw Gu Jia looking at him with eyes full of resentment. Zhao Yisen was stunned by the glare. Fine! Keep the cufflink! I’m not giving it back!

He clenched the cufflink back in his palm, deciding he needed to educate this man on the basic social etiquette of 21st-century humans. How can someone so handsome be so bad at listening to people?

Even in anger, Zhao Yisen was beautiful. He wrinkled his nose, and the indignation on his face added a sharp edge to his features. He looked up into Gu Jia’s face, only to find that the man’s eyes held a hint of “brokenness.” Even his hair seemed to radiate a weariness with the world. That calm expression only highlighted his inner turmoil.

Zhao Yisen, who felt he was in the right, suddenly wavered.

The two striking men remained in a deadlock, which quickly attracted the attention of passersby. Gu Jia disliked being stared at and quickly pulled himself away from the pointless staring contest. He suppressed his emotions and was about to leave when a deep, elderly voice rang out:

“Isn’t this President Gu? Master Yi is here too!”

A white-bearded but energetic elderly man leaning on a cane walked into the building with a chuckle. Zhao Yisen was quick to read the room; seeing the man’s extraordinary aura, his bristling fur instantly smoothed down, and he transformed into a “Smiling Fortune Cat.”

But then… Who is this?

The “Fortune Cat” bared his teeth, slightly unwilling to ask. Wang Baobao was busy with hospital discharge paperwork and hadn’t come along; without that somewhat unreliable encyclopedia, he really was finding it hard to navigate.

Gu Jia’s expression also instantly returned to normal. “Old Mr. Huang.”

Old Mr. Huang was in the steel business. He was nearly seventy but still had great energy and was a well-known senior in the industry. He was warm and easy-going and had a decent relationship with Gu Jia.

Gu Jia stepped forward and shook hands. Old Mr. Huang looked at Zhao Yisen with a chuckle. “This must be Master Yi. It was a shame I couldn’t make it to the engagement party. Let me wish you both a harmonious marriage for a hundred years!”

Gu Jia offered a limited smile. “Mr. Huang is too kind.”

The two exchanged pleasantries. It turned out Mr. Huang was there for business and happened to be passing by, so he stopped in to say hello. Mr. Huang, a Cantonese man with a passion for fine dining, extended a warm invitation: “I heard a new restaurant opened on Tsinghua Road. You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Let’s go try it together!”

The “Cozy” Lunch

Wang Baobao had just finished moving the hospital gear back to the small villa where the Young Master was staying when he received a call from Zhao Yisen. The Young Master claimed he was moved by the butler’s hard work and wanted to treat him to lunch at a new restaurant.

Wang Baobao was moved to tears. He suddenly felt that the Young Master’s amnesia might be a blessing!

However, the moment he excitedly pushed open the private dining room door, he froze.

At the large rosewood table, Gu Jia sat in the seat of honor. To his left was Old Mr. Huang; to his right was the Young Master. Assistant Jiang sat directly across from Gu Jia, currently shrinking into his seat like an ostrich.

Gu Jia was chatting with Mr. Huang with a gentle smile, and the Young Master was nodding along. The atmosphere seemed peaceful, yet Wang Baobao sensed an underlying eerie tension. He shivered and decided to make a run for it, but a pleasant and familiar “death sentence” of a voice rang out:

“Oh? Old Wang is here? Sit, sit!”

Zhao Yisen had a “finally, you’re here” smile as he patted the seat next to him like a happy seal, looking at the butler expectantly.

“…” Wang Baobao walked to his seat with heavy steps.

Mr. Huang was kind and didn’t care about social status. He waved to the waiter: “Everyone is here. Start serving.”

As the dishes were laid out, Mr. Huang spun the Lazy Susan, telling everyone not to be formal. Reaching a high point of the meal, he sighed: “President Gu is young and promising, successful in both career and love. It’s truly enviable!”

“Not at all,” Gu Jia’s response was flawless. “The relationship between Mr. Huang and your wife is what is truly enviable companions from youth to old age, truly one life, one soulmate.”

Hearing this, Mr. Huang chuckled and stroked his beard. “It hasn’t been easy! The more money people like us have, the more temptations we face. We’re surrounded by wolves…”

Mr. Huang began to impart his life wisdom, but Gu Jia stopped listening carefully.

Surrounded by wolves.

Gu Jia’s finger wavered slightly against his wine glass. “…Indeed.” He turned his face slightly to look at Zhao Yisen.

Zhao Yisen had his left hand in his pocket, absentmindedly playing with the cufflink. He wasn’t the type to hold a grudge; after a few bites of Sweet and Sour Pork, his anger had mostly dissipated.

After using his eyes to stop Wang Baobao from putting food on his plate for the eight-hundredth time, he suddenly remembered he was here to coax Gu Jia. Recalling Gu Jia’s “hurt” look from earlier, he felt a bit guilty. Having your engagement party ruined by your fiancé’s ex-boyfriend it was only natural for the current fiancé to be upset, right?

Zhao Yisen peeked up and saw that Gu Jia and Mr. Huang were still talking. He noticed a small detail: Gu Jia’s plate was still empty.

Gu Jia was discussing recent projects with Mr. Huang. As they touched on the cooperation with Lu Real Estate, he suddenly felt something fly under his arm.

He looked down. A bright, fresh strip of sweet and sour pork had landed on his pristine white plate. Zhao Yisen sat next to him, chopsticks still in the air, unnaturally avoiding Gu Jia’s gaze.

Gu Jia: “…”

He turned back to continue his conversation with Mr. Huang. But then

One strip, two strips, three, four. Five strips, six strips, seven, eight.

Zhao Yisen didn’t produce sweet and sour pork; he was merely a delivery man for it.

By the time Mr. Huang laughed and pointed at Gu Jia’s plate, Zhao Yisen had successfully transferred every piece of pork Wang Baobao had given him onto Gu Jia’s plate each one carrying his silent apology.

Mr. Huang raised his glass and laughed: “With Master Yi serving you like this, let’s stop talking about business. President Gu is truly a lucky man! Hahaha!”

Gu Jia: “…”