Chapter Ten: I Do Not Agree

She took the menu and glanced at it. A shadow fell over her, and as she looked up, she met a pair of peach-blossom eyes. The man raised an eyebrow and said, "What a coincidence, Mrs. Gu."

Fu Luoning withdrew her gaze and continued studying the menu. She had barely managed to suggest a dish when the menu was snatched from her hands. Gu Linzhou held it, looking down at the flight attendant who was crouching beside her. "I know what my wife likes to eat. I’ll order for her."

The flight attendant stiffened, a flicker of awkwardness crossing his face.

Fu Luoning didn't want to engage with him. She looked at the attendant and said, "You go ahead and tend to your duties. I’ll call you if I need anything."

The attendant hurried away.

"You're going to France, too?" Gu Linzhou leaned against the back of her chair. "Quite a coincidence, wouldn't you say?"

"Hmph," Fu Luoning looked at him. "It is quite a coincidence, indeed—catching my own husband leaving the country with another woman, and on the same flight, no less."

A crack appeared in Gu Linzhou's composed expression. Meanwhile, Fu Luoning’s gaze had shifted to the opposite side of the aisle, locking eyes with the woman who had been staring at her from the diagonal seat.

Hearing her words, the woman’s face also stiffened, and she looked quickly toward Gu Linzhou.

"This is... work," Gu Linzhou said, appearing somewhat uncomfortable. "The Gu Corporation is expanding its fashion brand lately, and I’m going to attend a fashion show."

"Then enjoy the show. Please go back to your seat and don't disturb me."

Gu Linzhou looked down at her. Fu Luoning had already opened her bag, pulled out her makeup removal supplies and personal items, and completely ignored him.

An inexplicable sense of guilt and awkwardness began to wash over Gu Linzhou. He was reminded of a past news report. The day he and Fu Luoning held their wedding, he had left the reception immediately after exchanging rings. Not long after, the media had snapped photos of him leaving the country with another woman, still wearing his wedding suit.

"Mr. Gu, our plane is about to prepare for taxiing. Could you please return to your seat?" the stewardess asked.

Gu Linzhou looked at the empty seat beside Fu Luoning. "Is this seat taken?"

"There are currently only three passengers in first class."

"Then I'll sit here."

After sitting down, Gu Linzhou cast side-long glances at Fu Luoning. "What are you going to France for?"

Fu Luoning remained focused on removing her makeup, offering no response.

"How long are you staying?"

"..."

"Where are you staying?"

"..."

"Are you going to see the shows, too?"

"..."

After asking several questions without receiving a reply, Gu Linzhou felt that something was off. He wasn't even sure what he was saying anymore. "Since we're both going to Paris, let’s go together. I’ll keep you company."

Fu Luoning looked at him coolly. "What? A threesome?"

Gu Linzhou’s face turned black instantly. He wondered if it was because he hadn't been caught red-handed by Fu Luoning before, but for some reason, he felt a sting of guilt this time. *No, I don't feel guilty,* he told himself.

He glanced at Fu Luoning, sneered, stood up, and returned to his original seat.

The plane began its smooth flight. Once Fu Luoning finished washing up in the restroom, her seat had already been turned into a bed. She put on an eye mask, ready to sleep, but intermittent sounds drifted over.

Gu Linzhou's voice seemed intentionally loud. "So, how is this steak? Is it good?"

The woman's voice was muffled and unclear.

Then came Gu Linzhou’s voice again: "Feed it to me."

Out of the corner of her eye, he noticed movement at Fu Luoning’s seat. He assumed she was getting up to tell him to be quiet, but instead, she simply fished out her headphones, put them on, and lay back down.

Gu Linzhou sneered to himself.

Fu Luoning was awakened by the stewardess. After getting up, she quickly washed up and applied her makeup. When she returned, Gu Linzhou saw that she had changed her clothes.

She wore no coat; a black, high-necked, tight-fitting top accentuated her slender, delicate curves, while straight-leg jeans were paired with white, diamond-encrusted high heels. Her long, wavy hair fell behind her shoulders. As she tidied her things, she exuded an air of intellectual elegance. It was a sharp contrast to her usual, rather aggressive demeanor.

The plane suddenly hit turbulence, and Fu Luoning’s balance wavered. She quickly grabbed the back of the seat to steady herself, but a sharp pain shot through her foot. It seemed she had twisted her ankle.

Before Gu Linzhou could reach out to help, she regained her footing on her own. However, once she sat down, her expression turned painful, and she silently slipped off her high heels.

"Did you twist it?"

Fu Luoning moved her ankle, and a piercing pain radiated through it. She couldn't help but hiss.

The flight attendant hurried over. "I'm so sorry, the plane hit a sudden patch of turbulence." Seeing the pained look on Fu Luoning’s face, she thought, *This is a disaster.*

"Ms. Fu, are you alright?"

"Do you have a medical kit?" Gu Linzhou asked.

"Yes, I'll get it right away."

"Wait," Fu Luoning stopped her. "We're almost there. I'll go straight to the hospital. I need someone to help me off the plane; I have people waiting for me outside the airport."

"I..." Gu Linzhou had barely uttered a sound before Fu Luoning pointed to the male flight attendant standing nearby. "He’ll do."

The stewardess hesitated. "We need to discuss this. Please wait a moment."

Once the stewardess left, Gu Linzhou said coldly, "Do I look dead to you?"

Fu Luoning looked at her foot. "Go watch the show with your companion. I don't need you here." She had never needed him, not once.

Gu Linzhou stared at her intensely. "You’re certainly generous, letting your husband leave with another woman."

"Of course!" she replied without hesitation, her bright, beautiful face showing complete indifference.

The stewardess returned. "Ms. Fu, we’ve arranged for staff to bring a wheelchair to take you through the airport. Once the plane lands, we’ll have that attendant carry you into the chair."

"I don't agree!" Gu Linzhou said coldly. "Mrs. Gu, you are a married woman. Is it appropriate to have another man carry you in front of your husband?"

"Then is it appropriate for you to leave the country with a woman for a vacation, only to end up on the same flight as your wife?"

The stewardess maintained a dignified expression, though she was internally shocked by this massive piece of gossip.

Gu Linzhou knew this woman had a sharp tongue, but her words had hit the mark. He opened his mouth to retort, but found no way to argue; after all, they were on a plane, and making a scene would only make him look worse.

"Mrs. Gu, you’ve misunderstood. Mr. Gu and I really are just in France for the fashion show." The woman stood up, her soft, beautiful face filled with grievance.

"Is that so?" Fu Luoning raised an eyebrow and looked at Gu Linzhou. "The lipstick mark on your neck tells me otherwise."

Gu Linzhou’s handsome face darkened. He raised a hand to wipe his neck, and a faint smear of red touched his fingers. Meeting Fu Luoning’s cold, indifferent gaze, he felt a sense of shame he had never experienced in his life.

"Heh!" Gu Linzhou ground the red mark on his fingertip. "And so what? You were the one who insisted on marrying into this family. It’s not like you just found out I fool around. Fine, you’re right—I’m not here for a show. I’m here on vacation with my mistress. What of it?"

He wanted to shatter her mask of indifference, to provoke her anger. But he forgot one thing: Fu Luoning simply did not care about him at all.