Chapter Nineteen: Mistaken Identity

“Damn!” Cheng Mingyi exclaimed.

“Take it easy, take it easy…” Gu Linzhou’s voice was restrained as he held down Fu Luoning’s hand. “It’s not appropriate to be pulling and tugging with so many people around.”

But Fu Luoning didn’t ease her grip.

Gu Linzhou’s expression twisted fiercely for a moment as he clenched his teeth silently.

“Hmph!” Fu Luoning released him and sneered coldly.

By the time they reached the private room, Fu Luoning sat down on her own accord. She could naturally sense the different looks from the others, but she didn’t care.

Taking a sip of tea to quell the fire burning inside her, she was thoroughly annoyed with Gu Linzhou.

His arm was still hurting, and he noticed the woman next to him glaring at him as she sipped her tea. Irritated, he tugged at Fu Luoning’s chair, startling her, and she glared at him through gritted teeth.

Song Yuzhou saw Fu Luoning clutching her teacup tightly and felt that if there weren’t so many people around, she might have thrown the tea in Gu Linzhou’s face.

Gu Linzhou nearly stumbled, and although he instinctively shielded her, the guilty look in Fu Luoning’s eyes made him immediately straighten up.

“Let’s eat, let’s eat,” Ren Hengyu signaled the waiter to hand the menu to Fu Luoning. “Sister-in-law, have a look!”

When he said “sister-in-law,” he was watching Gu Linzhou’s reaction!

There was none.

Fu Luoning took the menu and glanced around at the people seated. Then she passed the menu to Gu Linzhou with a gentle voice: “You order.”

Gu Linzhou took it, seeing her smile brightly and her eyes softening. He cleared his throat awkwardly. “Is there anything you want to eat?”

Fu Luoning smiled. “Anything you order is fine.”

A faint smile tugged at Gu Linzhou’s lips. Familiar with the process, he ordered several dishes and handed the menu to a friend.

The dishes arrived one after another. They ate and chatted, though whether because Fu Luoning was there or due to some restraint, the atmosphere felt somewhat subdued.

Fu Luoning didn’t join their conversation, quietly eating.

Unless someone asked her something, she would respond softly.

Throughout, she gave the impression of being gentle and beautiful, quiet but not affected.

“You sure can eat,” Gu Linzhou remarked, watching her finish two bowls of rice and now eating dessert, seemingly without any dietary restraint. Yet she remained so slender.

Fu Luoning ignored him, quietly eating the half-eaten ice cream cake on her plate when suddenly her phone rang.

The crisp ringtone silenced the chatter at the table as everyone looked around for the phone’s owner.

Gu Linzhou calmly pulled out his phone, glanced at the caller ID, and handed it to Fu Luoning.

Fu Luoning took the phone and stood up with an apologetic smile. “I need to take a call.”

She stepped out of the private room, all eyes falling on Gu Linzhou.

Meeting his friends’ gazes, Gu Linzhou raised an eyebrow. “What are you looking at? Am I the entertainment?”

“Bro,” Xu Guiyan asked, puzzled, “what’s going on? You and your wife usually don’t even know each other, yet you bring her here to dinner?”

“The old man wants us to build a relationship and have a child,” Gu Linzhou replied.

Ren Hengyu clicked his tongue. “Time to settle down, huh?”

“The old man’s health isn’t good lately. Gotta be considerate,” Gu Linzhou said with a raised brow. “Besides, if I want to live it up, who’s going to stop me?”

Outside in the corridor.

The call was from Shen Qi, discussing the plans for DN Dawn and a desire to adjust the management team.

Fu Luoning had no objections. When someone passed by, she glanced over, responded with a “Okay,” then suddenly froze.

Without much thought, she immediately hurried after the person, grabbed his arm. The man turned around, looking puzzled.

“Sorry,” Fu Luoning said, staring intently at his face, “I mistook you for someone else.”

She released him.

The man looked at her, nodded silently, and continued walking.

Fu Luoning watched his retreating figure. His face bore some resemblance, but his posture wasn’t as upright as in her memories.

“Ms. Fu? Ms. Fu?” someone called repeatedly.

Fu Luoning snapped out of it. “I have no objections. Proceed with your plan.”

“Understood. Regarding Guo Feiyi’s situation, I’ve informed her that we won’t renew her contract, but she seems unwilling and has approached Chairman Li and Director Zhao.”

“I know. Don’t bother with her.”

“Alright.”

After hanging up, Fu Luoning stood outside for a while before returning. She felt the dinner was nearly over. Entering, she gave a polite smile. “Sorry everyone, I have something very urgent and need to leave.”

Gu Linzhou had already guessed the situation and smiled without saying anything.

“You all carry on. I won’t keep you. Enjoy your meal.” She grabbed her bag and left without exchanging a word with Gu Linzhou.

Gu Linzhou looked at the empty seat she had just vacated, then at the half-melted ice cream cake on her plate. He stared a moment before scooping a spoonful.

The taste was sweet and smooth, almost cloying.

After tasting it, he brought the half plate closer and slowly began eating it.

Cheng Mingyi teased, “Is it good?”

“You never eat the desserts here before.”

Xu Guiyan chimed in and looked at the waiter. “Could I get the same dessert as his?”

The waiter quickly served it. Xu Guiyan took a small bite and frowned. “Not very good, huh?”

“Surely not as good as Linzhou’s.”

The playful banter among friends went on, but Gu Linzhou paid no heed and finished the remaining ice cream cake. Only afterward did he realize what he’d done.

He drank two cups of tea in quick succession to wash away the overly sweet taste.

—

The next day.

Fu Luoning had been busy all day at the company. Recently, NQ had recruited several well-known designers who brought in high-end orders, and the company was improving. NQ was about to make a significant leap, and business became busier.

Exiting the elevator, the large screen in the lobby was playing the news. Without looking up, Fu Luoning walked past, but the voice from the television stopped her in her tracks.

“Welcome to Dawn Hotline News. I’m your host, Guo Feiyi. Today, I will be…”

She looked up. The face on the screen was smiling brightly as it reported. Fu Luoning immediately called. Shen Qi anticipated this.

“Ms. Fu.”

“Your so-called plan is just a facade? She’s still doing the hotline reports?”

“The notice has been issued, but... she refuses to comply. The hotline host hasn’t been her these past two days, but for some reason, the scheduled host hasn’t shown up to work, and no one else dares to take over, so…”

“Hmph!” Fu Luoning walked away. “Does she think DN Dawn belongs to her?”

“I’m sorry. Please give me another chance. I will do my best to fix this.”

“Mr. Shen, I’ve invested a fortune, not for you all to squander it recklessly. If this can’t be fixed, everyone’s out!”