Gu Meisheng knew what most men liked, but Zeng Yu was different. He couldn’t be wooed with the usual tricks. After some thought, she opted for an outfit that flattered her figure without being too revealing.
“Tea or coffee? I’d suggest tea, since I only have instant coffee,” she said with a smile, feeling proud of her choice. This man must’ve had his heart broken before—his eyes are full of caution.
“Tea’s fine,” Zeng Yu replied, making his choice. He glanced around the apartment. It was a three-bedroom place, but it seemed that only Gu Meisheng lived there. Zeng Yu vaguely remembered that there used to be three women living next door.
“You’re probably wondering why I’m living alone in such a big place, right?” Gu Meisheng’s keen observation skills didn’t miss a beat.
Zeng Yu nodded. “A little. But I remember there were more people living here.”
“You’re not wrong. Last year, before Spring Festival, one of my roommates—the girl who ‘accidentally’ bumped into you in the hallway—moved out. And then earlier this year, the girl you bumped into downstairs also moved out. Since the lease wasn’t up, the landlord didn’t bother finding new tenants. So I’ve got the place to myself for now.” Gu Meisheng explained everything carefully.
“You’re saying… it was all intentional?” Zeng Yu wasn’t dumb. He quickly pieced it together.
“Completely! I mean, you get picked up every day in a Maybach. A man with your qualifications—of course women are going to try to get your number.” Gu Meisheng was candid in her explanation.
Zeng Yu scratched his head awkwardly. “I really didn’t think much of it. You know, I was always so busy before that I didn’t have time to pay attention to those things.”
As she placed the teacups on the coffee table, Gu Meisheng sat across from Zeng Yu, crossing her legs and locking eyes with him. “You’re a man with a story. If you ever need someone to listen, I can be a pretty good confidante.”
“Confidante?” Zeng Yu felt like he was losing the thread of the conversation.
Gu Meisheng laughed again. “Of course! Life’s tough, and if I have free time, I’d rather sleep in than play therapist.”
She was trying to leave a genuine impression on him. Her instincts told her that Zeng Yu was a perceptive man. Lying to him would be dangerous.
“Then I won’t burden you with that. Let’s just chat about something else. If your landlord decides to bring in new tenants, would you be okay with that?” Zeng Yu casually changed the subject. But to Gu Meisheng, this was a sign of concern for her, and it made her secretly thrilled.
“My lease specifies that the landlord needs my approval to bring in new tenants. That’s how my previous roommates moved in. But they found boyfriends quickly and moved out to live with them. The lease also says I don’t accept male tenants, and no boyfriends allowed either.”
“I see. What if you end up with a troublesome roommate? Do you argue?” Zeng Yu asked as he casually reached for a cigarette. Before he could light it, Gu Meisheng handed him an ashtray, catching him off guard. “Is this okay?”
“Go ahead. I used to smoke too, but I quit last year because I didn’t want my teeth to turn yellow.” Gu Meisheng was working hard to create a relaxed and easy-going atmosphere. She could tell that Zeng Yu was comfortable right now, which meant his guard was down. That made him easier to approach.
“Smoking’s really bad for you. I started because of stress, and now, even though the stress is gone, quitting is harder than I thought.” Zeng Yu smiled, poking fun at himself.
“Speaking of living arrangements, you’ve always lived alone, right? Do you own your place?” Gu Meisheng casually asked, keeping the conversation light while fishing for information.
Zeng Yu wasn’t on guard. He lit his cigarette and leaned back against the sofa to make himself more comfortable. “Me? The place belongs to a friend. I tried paying rent, but he wouldn’t take it. Then I offered to buy it, and he finally accepted half the down payment two years ago. Last year, the property value went up, and I offered to pay the increased market price, but he refused.”
Zeng Yu smiled as he thought of his friend Wang Zheng.
“Let’s not talk about real estate. It’s too depressing. Two years ago, I couldn’t even afford half a bathroom with my savings.” Gu Meisheng joked, poking fun at herself.
“Yeah, the economy hasn’t been great these past few years. Looking back, I must’ve been pretty gutsy to quit my job and start my own business. If I hadn’t been lucky and had people to support me, I would’ve crashed and burned. Success? Wouldn’t have even been on the table.” Zeng Yu paused for a moment, the image of Jiang Nan’s smiling face flashing through his mind.
What could happen between a man and a woman in a relatively private space? One had the intention to pursue, and the other had long been suppressing emotions. The likelihood of sparks flying was high.
But Gu Meisheng was patient, like a skilled hunter circling her prey.
“It’s getting late. I’ll start cooking. Make yourself comfortable.” Knowing when to stop, she excused herself to the kitchen. She had successfully made Zeng Yu lower his guard while bringing them closer. At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before she could move into the apartment across the hall.
When the relationship between a man and a woman isn’t close yet, there aren’t many topics they can discuss. Gu Meisheng understood this well and wisely headed to the kitchen, avoiding any awkward silence that might follow if the conversation continued.
Zeng Yu, on the other hand, felt relaxed. Since formally meeting Gu Meisheng, he hadn’t felt any sense of rejection. Watching her walk into the kitchen, Zeng Yu couldn’t help but admit that she had a great figure—definitely a “back-view killer.”
He gave up on the idea of helping her in the kitchen and instead took out his phone to read an e-book. The apartment was quiet. One person was busy in the kitchen, and the other was leisurely reading in the living room. Zeng Yu liked this atmosphere. He lazily lounged on the sofa, awaiting a dinner he didn’t have to prepare himself. If the meal turned out to be delicious, that would be even better.
The kitchen door opened, and Gu Meisheng stepped out to use the bathroom. Zeng Yu was so engrossed in his book that he didn’t even notice her.
When she returned, she casually sat down next to him, smiling. “What book’s got you so absorbed?” The distance between them was just wide enough to not feel too close or too far.
Zeng Yu looked up and smiled. “The Records of the Grand Historian.”
Gu Meisheng was speechless. Was there anyone left who still enjoyed that sort of thing?
“You like reading history books? That’s pretty uncommon,” she remarked, following his lead in the conversation.
“I’ve always liked it. The past few years were too busy, so I’ve been reading it on and off,” Zeng Yu explained as he put away his phone.
“People go through many phases of liking different things, but it’s rare to stick with something for a long time. Usually, once the novelty wears off, we lose interest and move on to something new,” she commented with a smile.
“Are you talking about romantic relationships?” Zeng Yu asked, picking up on her meaning.
She threw him a playful look, smiling with a hint of mischief. “Is there a difference?”
Her gaze was so alluring that Zeng Yu felt a jolt run through him. Her eyes seemed to have a hook in them. Quickly looking away, he said, “There’s a difference. Couples can argue and break up. But with books, if I don’t like a chapter, I can just flip the page.”
“Same thing. If a relationship breaks down, you just break up and find someone more suitable,” Gu Meisheng responded easily, leading the conversation in the direction she wanted without Zeng Yu even realizing it.
“Fair enough. But living in a fast-paced city like this, people get so caught up in the daily grind that they easily neglect their partner, turning love into a burden.” Zeng Yu thought for a moment before concluding.
“So, you and your ex broke up because you were too busy with work?” Gu Meisheng asked naturally, though internally she was tense. His answer was crucial—if Zeng Yu was a guy with unrealistic standards about relationships, that would be a major obstacle.
“Why would you ask something like that? Sure, some guys are picky, but I’ve always believed the difference between men and women is just biology. Having past relationships is natural. If a guy makes a big deal about whether a woman has had a boyfriend before, he either has psychological issues or is just looking for an excuse to break up,” Zeng Yu replied firmly.
“The soup should be ready by now. I’ll go stir-fry the rest of the dishes. Let’s get ready to eat.” With a long sigh of relief, Gu Meisheng held back her excitement as she returned to the kitchen to finish up. That conversation had given her all the answers she needed. As long as those didn’t become obstacles, she was confident in her own charm.
Dinner was simple: pork rib and lotus root soup, stir-fried pork, and garlic lettuce. After setting the table, she smiled and said, “It’s nothing fancy. I hope you don’t mind.”
Zeng Yu glanced at the dishes and smiled in satisfaction. “Meat, vegetables, and soup—it’s perfect. For just two people, anything more would’ve been wasteful.”
“Let’s dig in then!” Wisely, Gu Meisheng hadn’t mentioned alcohol, and Zeng Yu wasn’t in the mood for drinking either. They sat down, and she promptly placed a bowl of rice in front of him.
As they ate, she watched Zeng Yu enjoy the food, feeling secretly pleased. It looks like he’s satisfied.
In today’s world, if a man is focused on his career, fatigue is inevitable. And Gu Meisheng had skillfully capitalized on this. She believed that a tired man would naturally need a gentle, caring woman and a warm home. That was just human nature.
After finishing his first bowl of rice, Zeng Yu set down his chopsticks, ready to compliment her cooking, when his phone rang. Seeing the number, he answered the call and turned on the speakerphone. Meanwhile, Gu Meisheng poured him some soup, her ears perked up.
“Mr. Zeng, are you coming to France soon?” A soft, alluring female voice came through the phone, making Gu Meisheng tense up. The woman’s voice was so gentle it carried an inexplicable charm.
“Yeah, why? Is it inconvenient? Oh, right, I’m no longer the CEO of Jiang Yu Company. You probably already knew that,” Zeng Yu said casually, picking up his chopsticks, then setting them down again—it would be rude to eat while on the phone.
“I’m on vacation starting today. Did you forget? You sent me to France and left me here all alone for over two years with no time off. You’re the one who approved my three-month vacation! Do you think the new boss will honor that? What if they cut my pay?” The woman on the other end was Fan Jia, an employee Zeng Yu had sent to the Sophie Winery office in France.
“Don’t worry. If Jiang Yu Company cuts your salary, I’ll make up the difference. If they really fire you, I’ll find you a job just as good as this one,” Zeng Yu replied without hesitation.
Fan Jia giggled over the phone. “Alright then, I’m off to Spain. Just wanted to call and say thank you.”
With that, Fan Jia blew a kiss into the phone. Zeng Yu instinctively glanced at Gu Meisheng, who, still smiling, placed the bowl of soup in front of him. “Here’s your soup!” But as soon as she turned away, her expression darkened. Of all the things I could’ve planned for, I didn’t expect there to be another woman abroad!
Zeng Yu quickly got over the awkwardness. He felt he had a clear conscience—whether it was with Gu Meisheng or Fan Jia, they were just friends.
