Chapter 18: Celebrating My Willingness to Fall into Your Trap

Only now did Gu Shenshen truly look at her, her face showing an expression of slight incredulity. Compared to others who hid their feelings shyly, Gu Yanran was clearly much more straightforward.

“Are you out of your mind? You like him?” Gu Shenshen found it hard to comprehend.

As far as she knew, in the past two years, Zhou Ci had changed women in Haicheng as often as he changed clothes—enough to fill a train. Any family that cared even a little for their daughter would never consider such a philanderer.

“That seems to be my own business, doesn’t it?” Gu Yanran was visibly displeased by Gu Shenshen’s reaction.

Gu Shenshen shrugged lightly. “Of course it’s your business. But, not that I want to offend you, the fact is he only wants me. It was hard enough for him to let the Gu family off the hook. There’s no need to drag the family back into trouble on your account.”

Her tone was unhurried, gentle yet cold, utterly devoid of emotion.

For a moment, Gu Yanran’s face showed a trace of annoyance, but it vanished quickly.

“What exactly is your relationship with him?” she asked next. Back in Rongcheng, she hadn’t found it odd.

“That’s none of your concern. If you like him, go after him. Who knows, maybe he’ll take a liking to you,” Gu Shenshen replied, then turned and walked towards the stairs, ascending them slowly, step by step.

Only Gu Yanran remained, watching her leave, her feelings tangled and complicated.

Before officially starting her new job, Gu Shenshen received a call from Su Yan. From her barely contained excitement, it was clear that Feng Shiyao was out of danger. Zhou Ci had indeed kept his word—something Gu Shenshen hadn’t expected. She had underestimated him, she admitted to herself.

As dinnertime approached, Gu Shenshen received a friend request on WeChat from Zhou Ci. He immediately sent her an address.

Given his proven reliability, Gu Shenshen hurried over.

The place, called “The Tile House,” was a private kitchen restaurant perched on a hill beside the park. Coming here so late at night made her uneasy.

Aside from the lights in the courtyard, she saw no sign of any staff. She had no choice but to let herself in, walk through the courtyard, and enter the dining area.

Zhou Ci sat there in casual clothes. The moment she entered, his gaze swept toward her.

They looked at each other across the distance for a few moments. Gu Shenshen steadied her breath, then walked over to him.

“Sit,” he said, gesturing to the seat beside him with his eyes.

Gu Shenshen approached slowly and sat down, feeling distinctly uncomfortable under his brazen stare.

She glanced at the dishes on the table. Haicheng cuisine was known for its savory, health-conscious flavors, but she didn’t care for it.

“You booked out this whole place just to treat me to dinner?”

“Tomorrow you start officially. Consider this an early celebration.”

Gu Shenshen gave him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, gazed at him for a moment, then looked away. Reluctant and unhappy as she was, she couldn’t show it openly in front of Zhou Ci.

“Celebrating that I’ve finally walked willingly into your trap?”

A faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered across Zhou Ci’s usually cold face. “If you’re unwilling, I won’t force you.”

“Then what kind of outcome would satisfy you? What will finally appease your resentment?” Gu Shenshen gripped her teacup, her tone low.

The man’s hand covered hers. “It was a stroke of luck I survived back then. I just wonder how long your luck will hold.”

His words struck at her trembling heart, each syllable slicing away at her bit by bit.

It was this kind of madman’s revenge that frightened her most. After all, she never knew when her life would be forfeit at his hands.