Chapter 8, melodrama
How to make a woman unknowingly fall deeply in love with oneself, Xu Tong can see that Gu Chen is a top expert well-versed in this art
As the affair was proceeding in an orderly manner, a melodramatic incident suddenly fell from the sky, striking Xu Tong on the head
This vulgar scene made Xu Tong feel as if she were acting in a grand film set in the era of Shanghai Beach—opulent bosses sitting at the card table gambling, while their lovers obediently nestled beside them, available for their whims at any moment
Gu Chen appeared very happy. Xu Tong's impressive performance brought him considerable prestige
Someone finally could not contain their curiosity and skillfully congratulated Gu Chen, saying: "Young Master Gu, I heard that you are about to get engaged to Miss Zhang, congratulations in advance!"
She is already prepared, yet he refuses to touch her. She knows that he is doing this to wait, to wait until her entire being is completely submissive to him—by that time, it will no longer be about him wanting to possess her, but rather her body and soul are both clamoring to be claimed by him
That person shrugged his nose and replied: "It's not that it's impossible, but I've heard that Miss Zhang is notoriously spoiled and has a temper. Ordinary people might find it hard to handle her"
Gu Chen must be very pleased with her obedient and well-behaved performance—his hand quietly wrapped around her waist, this incredibly intimate gesture seemed to commend her understanding and propriety
It was as if he did not see her, as if he did not know her at all
Yang Yang suddenly changed the subject and asked with some concern, "But Tong Tong, Gu Chen has a cleanliness obsession. It’s not difficult for him to tease or touch you, but do you have the confidence to successfully seduce him into sharing the bed with you?"
Xu Tong, do you really wish for my demise? Truly, can your face be any thicker? I solemnly inform you that I have decided to never drink water while talking to you on the phone again! Ah, no, that's not right! I mean, I will never talk to you on the phone again!
After eight rounds, the chips and cash in front of Xu Tong had already piled up into a small mountain
Gu Chen was unconcerned, saying, "I will teach you, just go ahead and play, winning or losing doesn't matter!"
The hand he had wrapped around her waist unconsciously tightened a little more.
After a while, once his breathing returned to normal, he lifted his head, slowly adjusting her clothing while murmuring to her in a beguiling manner: "Although I am charming, I am not lewd. Unless you are willing, I will not force you. It is evident that you are not prepared today; your heart is racing in a flustered manner. When you are completely ready, we will continue with the matters at hand!"
Xu Tong quickly waved her hand, "No, no, I don't really know how to play, I would lose terribly..."
Many days later, Gu Chen finally contacted Xu Tong
With such a chaotic playing style, Xu Tong was ultimately able to continuously take the lead, which left the other three players lamenting and expressing their frustration.
The more she thought about it, the more she found the assumption somewhat amusing, and a hint of a smile involuntarily appeared at the corners of her lips. Suddenly feeling a warmth on one side of her cheek, she turned her head to take a look and discovered that Gu Chen was squinting at her, as if asking her: What is so amusing?
He is unlike the usual frivolous playboy; although he is lustful, he is not impatient. He can patiently wait for a woman to transition from accepting being picked to yearning to be picked.
In that fleeting smile, he could only feel her eyes shimmering, her cheeks flushed, rosy as the dawn breaking, illuminating the eyes and hearts of others, truly indescribably wonderful
Xu Tong turned her head and gave him a shy smile
Looking at her own eyes reflected in the glass curtain wall, Xu Tong smiled mischievously
Xu Tong had secretly prepared herself for sacrifice. Yet, Gu Chen did not make a move on her that day. He had clearly been so close to her that it seemed they were on the verge of igniting a spark, but in the end, he still let her go. His self-control truly left Xu Tong in awe. At this moment, Xu Tong felt that the rumor about him having a sexual cleanliness obsession might actually be true
This time he took her to a luxurious villa to attend a card game
Playing cards indeed follows certain rules and strategies, yet the chaotic and reckless play of this novice woman at the card table has disrupted countless clever combinations and partnerships, completely muddling the previously clear situation. The minds of several skilled players have been thrown into disarray; as the game progressed, due to repeated misjudgments, they even lost their confidence and no longer dared to assert what Xu Tong truly intended to eat, play, or win.
With nothing to do, Xu Tong wandered alone into the shopping mall, intending to buy herself a set of sexy lingerie. However, just as she entered the building and had not yet had the chance to browse deeply, she unexpectedly ran into Gu Chen next to the gold jewelry counter at the entrance.
The onlookers grew increasingly astonished and could not help but question, "Gu Shao, you wouldn't have brought a master to play the role of a pig eating a tiger, would you?"
At that time, a beautiful woman was still hanging on his arm. The woman was sweetly talking to him, flirting and charming him all the way.
She played her cards in a chaotic and disorganized manner. The other three players, all seasoned veterans of the card table, were usually adept at calculating the strategies of card play. However, today they encountered an unusual situation; not only could no one discern the patterns in Xu Tong's play, but her haphazard approach also caused them to lose their own rhythm in the game. What was typically a highly skilled competition at the card table turned into a disarray that was utterly frustrating.
Xu Tong pushed back, saying no; Gu Chen smiled and slipped the card into her pocket, "Did we not agree earlier that if you win, it counts as yours, and if you lose, it counts as mine"
Xu Tong smiled with pure sweetness and softly said to him, "I believe you will definitely win!" She wanted him to think that she was smiling for him.
On the other end of the phone, a violent coughing sound was heard. Yang Yang was drinking water and, caught off guard, was severely choked by Xu Tong's astonishing words.
Gu Chen handed Xu Tong another card and said to her: "The money you just won is all in here."
He walked past the beautiful woman, who had turned her back, with an air of elegance and composure.
Hearing his words, Xu Tong finally realized how urgent and chaotic her heartbeat was at that moment
When Xu Tong mentioned the last point, Yang Yang finally nodded in approval, acknowledging that her method was superior. "If it can really take advantage of Young Master Gu's flesh, then I choose to agree with your approach"
Xu Tong couldn't help but chuckle to herself, thinking that this person must be a nouveau riche. No matter how much money one makes, it still reflects a lack of intelligence. To speak so openly and recklessly about Zhang is truly unwise. It would be one thing if Gu Chen didn't marry Zhang, but if they were to actually get married in the future, one could only imagine what kind of retaliation this person would face for the words spoken today.
Xu Tong nodded hesitantly and said, "Alright..." as she began to draw and arrange the tiles with the other three players
Listening to Bi, Yang Yang said with great indignation: "Xu Tong, you really don't know what trouble is! What is all that white rice for, raising Tang Zhuang to this size? Isn't it just for when someone comes to challenge us, to close the door and use it? Why take such a roundabout way to save the country—while also taking away her fiancé? I think you must be really full and have nothing better to do! Why not just let Tang Zhuang bring people to deal with those two troublesome women directly? Beat them until their faces are covered in lumps, and see if they dare to act so arrogantly in the future!"
Everyone was so astonished by her winning game after game that they eventually became numb, to the point where they no longer found it strange.
Xu Tong could not help but sincerely exclaim that Yang Yang and Tang Zhuang are indeed a match made in heaven
Upon returning home, every nerve in Xu Tong's body remained in a state of excitement. This was not only due to the prolonged, stimulating kiss but also because she realized that she had encountered a truly formidable opponent this time.
A crowd of onlookers gathered around the table, and upon seeing Gu Chen give his seat to Xu Tong and patiently teach her how to play, allowing her to let loose without worrying about winning or losing, it was quite rare to witness such indulgence towards a female companion. This naturally sparked a bit of curiosity about Xu Tong, leading to speculation that perhaps the young master Gu would indeed settle for this seemingly delicate and pitifully charming young girl.
Taking advantage of the shuffle, he leaned close to Xu Tong's ear and whispered, "My Yaoyao is indeed a lucky star"
She has a feeling that he views romantic relationships as a competitive game, advancing cautiously and strategizing meticulously, knowing precisely when to seek her out, when to leave her in the lurch, when to kiss, and when to act. He has mastered the timing of all matters to perfection
Look how considerate she is; her thoughtfulness is likely to evoke pity from others
Xu Tong paid no attention to Yang Yang's hysteria and calmly reminded her to refrain from mentioning this matter to Tang Zhuang for the time being
She was eager to know whether it was he who could not help but come to pick her first, or if she had been the one to take the initiative to entice him to pick her earlier
Gu Chen indeed became happy, smiling as he said, "If you guess correctly, then I will have won this round, and I will let you play the next ones!"
Upon seeing Gu Chen, the four individuals at the card table hurriedly stood up in unison to greet him warmly. One of them approached Gu Chen and said, "Young Master Gu, please sit with me!" Gu Chen politely declined, but the man quickly insisted, "Young Master Gu, just consider it a favor for me. If this continues, I might end up losing even the car parked outside!"
She said earnestly: "Yang Yang, everyone has their own aspirations. Your honey may be my poison. What you consider a good method might seem somewhat foolish to me. What I want to play with now is a mix of cunning and excitement! And don't forget, if I continue down this path, there will be plenty of opportunities to indulge in male charm later on!"
After carefully observing several rounds, the spectators collectively shifted their tone and confidently declared: "Impossible, impossible! She cannot possibly be a skilled player! How could a skilled player play so chaotically? It is simply without any rules! However, that being said, to be able to continuously take the dealer position while playing cards so whimsically, Gu Shao, it must be said that Miss Yao Yao's luck is truly exceptional!"
Yang Yang immediately exclaimed in annoyance: "Come on, we broke up a long time ago, okay? What more is there to say!"
She asked nervously, "What should I do if I lose?"
After the game concluded, Gu Chen was indeed the winner. He stood up and offered his seat to Xu Tong. Xu Tong hurriedly declined, but ultimately could not resist him and had no choice but to obediently sit down
Then someone immediately followed up with the question: "Gu Shao, you are not really going to get engaged to Miss Zhang, are you?"
Gu Chen smiled and retorted, "What is there to be concerned about?"
Gu Chen sat quietly to the side, still smiling without speaking. This rare and amusing scene was also the first time he had encountered such a situation
Gu Chen only smiled without answering. However, a glimmer of surprise flickered in his eyes, quickly concealed by him. He quietly observed Xu Tong.
She knows exactly how to be the charming woman beside wealthy and flirtatious individuals. With self-awareness, she remains true to her role and never harbors unrealistic fantasies. She does not covet anything related to marriage. When hearing discussions about his marriage or partner, she should act as if she has not heard and continue with her own business, never allowing herself to be distracted
Immediately beside him, familiar friends were joking and scolding to smooth things over: "Fool! Do you really need to worry about this? Gu Shao is not an ordinary person. Don't mention the spoiled and willful young ladies; even if a queen who looks down on the world were to arrive, our Gu Shao could still make her behave like a little bird relying on him"
Xu Tong could only put on a difficult and helpless expression, thanking him shyly and timidly
However, he still had no intention of touching her
Gu Chen no longer made excuses and sat down accordingly. Xu Tong obediently nestled beside him.
Everyone around burst into laughter. Gu Chen also joined in the laughter, and the atmosphere became quite lively.
Gu Chen could not resist her charming and adorable demeanor, feeling a stir in his heart. He reached out his arm and pulled her into his embrace, leaning down to capture her lips in an intense and passionate kiss. By the end of their kiss, both of them were disheveled and breathless, their foreheads pressed together as they gasped softly.
In that fleeting moment, she had already transitioned from a carefree demeanor with her hands in her pockets to one of sincere trepidation, gentle restraint, and inner turmoil. She subverted the classic image of a heartbroken woman, consumed by jealousy and quarrels after discovering her lover's infidelity—her gaze swiftly darted away from Gu Chen's face, as if encountering him here was a sin she had committed. She immediately stepped aside, pretending as if she had not seen him at all, as if she had never known him in the past. She subverted the classic image of a heartbroken woman, consumed by jealousy and quarrels after discovering her lover's infidelity—her gaze swiftly darted away from Gu Chen's face, as if encountering him here was a sin she had committed. She immediately stepped aside, pretending as if she had not seen him at all, as if she had never known him in the past.
In the villa, shadows of people flicker, with the fragrance of clothing and the elegance of hair, as if at this moment, all the wealthy and leisurely individuals in the world have gathered here.
Xu Tong truly admires her own quick wit
That evening, Yang Yang called, sternly questioning Xu Tong about the reason for her and Gu Chen appearing at the same time and place.
Gu Chen chuckled softly, "If we lose, we lose. What is there to be afraid of? Just play with peace of mind. If you win, it is yours; if you lose, it is mine"
For a wealthy young man like Gu Chen, the greatest source of pleasure must be to gradually cultivate a woman who initially harbors no love for him into someone who becomes deeply infatuated and obsessed. This process would provide an endless sense of satisfaction to his masculine vanity.
Xu Tong, however, behaved as if she had heard nothing, completely focused on arranging the cards and playing, not uttering a word, not moving a thought, and not changing her expression
Xu Tong couldn't help but burst into laughter
Xu Tong straightforwardly recounted everything to her from beginning to end, laying bare the entire story, from Zhang Zhen Tong to Gu Chen, from her own background to the current situation, from enduring tolerance to a counterattack in a desperate situation
In the next moment, Gu Chen brushed past her
She thought she was already prepared, but he saw at a glance that it was not the case
Xu Tong snorted in response, "Of course! You should know that my other name is 'OCD', so he Gu Chen is destined to come and test my patience!"
Gu Chen did not deny it and smiled back at him, saying: "Thank you!"
He is so well aware of both himself and his opponent, in this round, she has already fallen behind.
After leaving the villa, they went to the café for a short rest
Gu Chen meticulously explained the rules and gameplay, while Xu Tong listened with a look of vague understanding, as if shrouded in mist.