The man stared at her, his Adam's apple bobbing hard.
After a beat, he spoke in a low, strained voice, barely holding his anger in check. "Did you tell Grandma about the art show I put on for Cixian?"
Meng Shutang smiled bitterly.
Would he believe her if she said no?
Last time, he'd blamed her for Cixian's car crash. What wouldn't he pin on her?
"Tomorrow's my birthday. Grandma wants a photo of us together."
She was done arguing with him.
"I'll buy a cake and cook dinner. Just remember to come home tonight."
With that, she twisted the attic door open, slipped inside, and slammed it shut behind her.
Gu Yunci stood at the door for a long moment, his eyes dark and unreadable. Only when Bai Cixian's call came through did he trudge downstairs, his body heavy with exhaustion.
"Yunci, Yingxia Group is still eager to work with us. I think—"
As Gu Yunci's footsteps faded away, Meng Shutang slid down the door until she sat on the floor. She buried her face in her hands, her nose stinging, hot tears slipping through her fingers.
She'd loved this man since she was a teenager. She'd thought she'd let him go, but just one look at him had sent her emotions spiraling out of control.
Meng Shutang didn't come downstairs again that night.
Even when Aunt Zhang called her for dinner, she said she wasn't hungry.
She worked on her proposal for a while, then checked the time, stretched, and got ready for bed. When she stepped out to wash up, she heard Gu Yunci on the phone downstairs.
The man sat slouched in the sofa, elegant even in his weariness, a contract between his fingers, his brows furrowed, cold rolling off him in waves.
"We'll leave it there. I'll ask her about it later."
He hung up, about to call her, when he heard the sound. He glanced up the stairs, and his eyes locked on her, standing in the dim warm light of the hallway, soft and ethereal.
His voice was sharp, all business. "Meng Shutang. Come here."
Meng Shutang had planned to look away and hurry past, but she walked over at his call. "Mr. Gu."
Gu Yunci set his phone aside and picked up the contract. The rustle of pages was loud in the silent house. He read with intense focus, his aura sharp and professional—this was a work review, not a chance to pick on her.
Meng Shutang stood beside him, watching his familiar stern expression, her fingers curling unconsciously, a flicker of nervousness in her chest. But when he spoke his question, her racing heart settled a little.
"Zhang Nan said you cut the restoration timeline by four days." He flipped to the fourth page, his voice cold. "The risk is too high."
Meng Shutang saw he was holding the old proposal. She pulled out her phone, sat down beside him, and said, "I coordinated the team and ran closed-loop tests. It's technically feasible."
She pulled up the latest draft and showed it to him.
"Hall D of the cultural town is hosting a chrysanthemum exhibition next month. The pearl exhibit has to wrap up early. That was your priority, remember?"
The man stared at the phone, his eyes still dark. "Controllable doesn't mean risk-free. If something goes wrong, the cultural town's reputation takes the hit."
"The proposal has contingency plans, and liability is clearly defined. If something goes wrong, Starlight Studio takes full responsibility." Meng Shutang leaned in, swiped to a page, and tapped it firmly. "If this still isn't good enough, I'll have Ruan An work with your legal team tomorrow to amend the terms."
"I get it. You just want this project over with, don't you?"
The man stood up. His tall frame blocked all the light from the living room, swallowing her small frame whole.
She looked up at him, speechless for a moment.
He didn't push her on whether it was for the divorce or the final payment. He lifted his phone. "I'll read it tonight and give you an answer."
Meng Shutang watched him head for the stairs, and shot to her feet. "Mr. Gu—"
Gu Yunci turned, standing tall on the stairs, his jaw set in a hard line, his dark eyes fixed on her as she walked over.
"You took my phone."
Under his cold, distant gaze, she took the phone from him. "Tomorrow. I'll print it out and have Ruan An bring it to you. If you have any issues, you can talk to her, even about the legal side."
A low, bitter laugh rumbled in his chest. "Fine."
He turned and went back to his room.
Meng Shutang stood in the empty living room for a moment longer, then headed back upstairs.
Before she vanished into the dark of the stairwell, Sister Li's hushed voice drifted down, each word a stab to her chest.
"Yes, Miss Bai. Mr. Gu came home tonight, but that homewrecker's in the attic on the third floor. She's not in the same room as him."
Meng Shutang froze mid-step, staring out the gray, overcast window.
Even the maid in this house was a spy for another woman.
She tugged a bitter, mocking smile onto her face, her expression otherwise blank, and kept walking up the stairs.
Master Bedroom.
Gu Yunci sat on the bed and called Zhang Nan.
"Zhang Nan."
"Mr. Gu, did you ask Miss Meng?"
The man pressed his lips together, saying nothing.
When he got no response, Zhang Nan spoke nervously, "Actually, the chrysanthemum exhibition was Miss Bai's idea. Miss Meng opposed it at first—they even argued in the group chat. Everyone sided with Miss Bai, so Miss Meng backed down. But she's incredible. She adjusted the proposal immediately and cut the timeline by four full days. It's a win for Gu Group, honestly."
"I know." The man hung up the phone and tossed it aside.
He got up to shower, and when he opened the closet, he saw the black silk dress with the tag still on. He tugged his bathrobe closed and slammed the closet door shut.
The next morning.
They sat at the dining table for breakfast, the air thick with awkward silence. The only sound was the clink of cutlery against plates.
Meng Shutang barely ate—she took a few bites of toast, drank her milk, and stood up. "I'm done."
She went to the door to change her shoes, and before she left, she turned to Gu Yunci and said, "Don't forget. Remember to come home tonight."
But could she really expect the man who'd already chosen his first love to keep his promise to her?