Chapter Five: Does It Not Matter?

“Enough with the noise!” The old man’s sudden voice rang out from the front. Seeing him emerge from the side room, Lin Mianyue and Xu Nannan quickly composed their expressions.

Lin Mianyue smiled, “Dad, what are you doing out here?”

“I won’t come out just to listen to you two quarrel here,” Old Master Gu said. He already regretted letting Lin Mianyue call Fu Luoning; those two women-in-law had clashed before in the mansion. Only out of courtesy had they maintained a facade of harmony.

“No, Dad,” Lin Mianyue replied awkwardly with a forced smile, “I didn’t argue with Luoning.”

Old Master Gu waved off further explanation, “You come with Luoning, Xu Nannan will return.”

Xu Nannan’s face stiffened, her eyes filled with grievance as she glanced at Lin Mianyue. The people Old Master Gu was about to introduce were all of extraordinary status. She had hoped to accompany Lin Mianyue and make an appearance, but the old man didn’t even give her that chance.

Fu Luoning looked at Lin Mianyue, speaking clearly, “Let’s go, Mom.”

Not daring to show Fu Luoning any displeasure in front of the old man, Lin Mianyue quietly comforted Xu Nannan to leave first, then turned and hurried to Old Master Gu’s side with Fu Luoning.

The side room was small, with a long sandalwood tea table where several elderly men sat—men roughly the same age as Old Master Gu.

Fu Luoning didn’t recognize them all, but among those she did recognize were figures of such political and commercial stature that even mentioning their names inspired awe.

Old Master Gu gestured for her to sit, then addressed the group, “This is Linzhou’s wife, Fu Luoning. I should have introduced her to you all last year on her birthday, but unfortunately, she had a car accident on her way back.”

“A meeting at last, truly something special,” said a kindly elderly lady with gentle eyes. Despite her warmth, Fu Luoning still felt the scrutinizing gaze.

She lifted the teacup before her and said, “I am Fu Luoning, a junior member of the family, greeting all the elders here and wishing you longevity and good health.”

At that moment, Lin Mianyue played the role of the perfect daughter-in-law, introducing and greeting each person in turn. Both women maintained perfect decorum, presenting a facade of a close and affectionate mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship in such a grand setting.

Fu Luoning didn’t stay long; Old Master Gu’s intention was just to have her make an appearance and get acquainted with these people.

Leaving the side room, Lin Mianyue suddenly said behind her, “Last year, you couldn’t make it back from Yunhai City, and this year, you’ve managed to come all the way from Ireland.”

Fu Luoning turned sharply to meet her gaze. “So you’re saying I should have been killed in that car accident in Yunhai City last year?”

Lin Mianyue was stunned, her eyes widening. She resented Fu Luoning’s bluntness but had never wished her dead.

Seeing her at a loss for words, Fu Luoning ignored her and walked away.

After landing, she had come straight here, exhausted, and went directly back to the hotel suite to rest.

After freshening up, she took out the custom-made watch from Ireland from her bag. Her thoughts drifted, and her eyes reflected a chilling sorrow, a faint glimmer of tears. She blinked, set the jewelry box aside, lay back on the bed, and gazed at the neon-lit skyscrapers outside the window, feeling utterly empty inside.

Two years... she still couldn’t forget.

She truly missed him.

And yet, she hated him!

——

Warm sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting patterns on the large bed. The sleeper gradually stirred, squinting against the harsh light and burying her face in the pillow. After a moment, she slowly lifted her head and sat up.

“What time is it?” came a sudden male voice beside her.

Fu Luoning turned her head to see a lazy, handsome face squinting, still adjusting to the sunlight. He asked with a languid tone.

She ignored him, got up, and went to wash up. Gu Linzhou noticed the movement, glanced at her back as she left the bed, then lay back down.

He reached out and touched the warm spot where she had just been sleeping.

Thinking carefully, this might be the fourth time the two had shared a bed.

The first three times were in the old mansion, when Old Master Gu deliberately had them stay. Fu Luoning usually didn’t speak to him, placing a pillow between them as a subtle boundary—each sleeping on their own side.

Last night, however, it was Gu Linzhou who came back on his own. When he returned, she was already asleep, her face still streaked with tears.

After lying still for a while, Gu Linzhou got up to wash. As he entered the bathroom, Fu Luoning had just finished washing her face.

Her bare face revealed fair, supple skin—still beautiful and charming. Standing beside her, Gu Linzhou squeezed toothpaste onto his brush and asked, “What’s the watch you were filming the other day for?”

Fu Luoning let down her tied-up hair and tidied it, “Is that any of your business?”

Gu Linzhou lowered his gaze to her, “I’m your husband. Doesn’t it concern me?”

Fu Luoning looked at him through the mirror, “That’s only a superficial relationship.”

“Are you seeing someone else?” Gu Linzhou asked. “It doesn’t matter. I’m very generous. We can each do our own thing. I won’t make a fuss.”

Fu Luoning gave him a sidelong glance and turned to leave.

Gu Linzhou clicked his tongue and got ready to leave. The bedroom was empty now; the jewelry box that had held the watch on the bedside table last night was gone.

Trying to guard something from him?

Gu Linzhou left the room. Fu Luoning was already eating breakfast, leisurely sipping porridge and talking on the phone about work.

He sat opposite her, eating while watching her. She was focused, her brow furrowing as she discussed some issue.

Fu Luoning hung up and met his gaze.

“Is your company going public?” Gu Linzhou asked.

“Yes.”

It seemed the business was doing well, but he found it odd.

“You’re not a designer, right?”

“No.”

“Then why run a design company?”

“Is that a problem?” Fu Luoning stared at him. “When I invested in the company, we weren’t married yet, and not a single cent of your family’s money was used.”

Gu Linzhou smiled with an ambiguous meaning, “Your family? Aren’t you part of the Gu family?”

Fu Luoning finished her last bite of porridge, “Soon, I won’t be.”

With that, she turned and went back to her room to change.

Gu Linzhou lost his appetite. He stared at the seat she had just vacated.

“Soon, you won’t be?”

Was she thinking of divorce?

Ha!

NQ Design Company.

When Fu Luoning arrived at the company, Qin Zhaoqing was idly waiting in her office.

Seeing her, she lazily stood up. “You came fast.”

“Came right after breakfast,” Fu Luoning said, handing over coffee and breakfast. “Why are you here so early?”

“Mr. Zhao’s wedding dress is finishing today and needs to be picked up. I didn’t feel comfortable not coming early to keep an eye on things.”

“Everything going smoothly?”

Fu Luoning handed her a sandwich.

“Of course,” Qin Zhaoqing replied. “Did you see how happy Mrs. Zhao was? Besides, our designers have really risen this year.”

Fu Luoning smiled at the computer. “Of course, I know. Our designers have won quite a few awards this year.”

Qin Zhaoqing smiled knowingly. “Everything’s going well now. After going public next year, we plan to expand into jewelry—it should go smoothly.”

Fu Luoning nodded.