Back Then, I Adored You
chapter-19

Qin Zhi’ai’s minivan and Gu Yusheng’s car maintained the same distance, as the road was too congested to move forward.

Gu Yusheng seemed to sense Qin Zhi’ai’s prolonged stare. He took a glance towards her side of the road as he lit up a cigarette.

His eyes didn’t reveal too much detail, so she was unsure if he had seen her or was pretending not to have noticed her. To summarize, he merely swept a glance over her, drew the lit cigarette to his lips, lifted his arm, and touched a button on the car door. The car window gradually closed.

The privacy protector he had on his car shielded his refined look behind a black-gray screen, shutting down the stare from Qin Zhi’ai.

Soon after they passed the airport toll gate, the traffic was clear and unobstructed. Gu Yusheng seemed to be afraid that she would tailgate him, as he picked up his speed, made a few turns, overtaking lanes before he finally merged into the traffic flow and disappeared far ahead.

No matter who she was, the girl whom he had forgotten two years ago, or the girl who was staying with him under another person’s identity two years later, nothing was different. Gu Yusheng and Qin Zhi’ai were like two worlds apart.

Qin Zhi’ai resumed her staring at the window before she blinked her eyes as if she had never seen Gu Yusheng. She rolled up the car window, resting on the synthetic leather chair with her eyes closed.

As the car approached the city, Liang Doukou’s manager, Zhou Jing, picked up the phone and said, “Yes, okay.” She hung up and told the driver, “Head to the Majestic Clubhouse.”

Qin Zhi’ai opened her eyes, full of questions, and looked up at Zhou Jing.

Zhou Jing knew what her question was even before she asked, explaining, “Invitation from Lu Bancheng.”

She paused for a moment. Realizing that Liang Doukou wasn’t the real Liang Doukou, she added on, “One of Liang Doukou’s affluent friends.”

Qin Zhi’ai understood that she has been paid to work and therefore, even if it was a function that she was reluctant to attend, she adhered to Zhou Jing’s request without any objections.

The lunch function at the Majestic Clubhouse was about to begin when Zhou Qing received the call. Thus, the party in the club room was in full swing when they got there.

In a close to 150 square-foot room, the room was so packed with people that there were no spare chairs around the two two-yard round tables.

The host, Lu Bancheng, quickly instructed a waiter to bring along two more chairs.

Given that a table would be too crowded with another two chairs, the waiter placed one chair at each table instead.

Zhou Jing went for the empty seat closest to her, while Qin Zhi’ai went for the other one.

After she sat down, she realized something was amiss. She looked to her right side and realized Gu Yusheng was sitting close to her, holding a cigarette, listening attentively to the person talking beside him.