Chapter 535: Bros Before Hos (2)
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Upon receiving the address Gu Nianzhi had sent over, Huo Shaoheng gave it a check and found that it was a j.a.panese restaurant nearby.
Realizing that it was Huo Shaoheng, Gu Yanran extended the invitation warmly, “Nianzhi, is that Mr. Huo? Ask him to come, too. We’ve ordered too many dishes, and we won’t be able to finish them, anyway.”
“Oh? You want to invite him, too?” Gu Nianzhi hesitated.
“Yes, of course! No matter what, he’s my future brother-in-law!” Gu Yanran winked knowingly at Gu Nianzhi, looking happy for her.
Gu Nianzhi was immediately won over by the mention of “brother-in-law.” Blus.h.i.+ng slightly, her usual fair complexion showed a tinge of pink, and she looked more beautiful than ever.
Gu Yanran held her hand, tightened her grip slightly, and smiled. “With my little sister’s looks, countless elite men would fall head over heels for you. Making you his at such a young age, Mr. Huo is really lucky and has such a great sense of judgment!”
“You’re exaggerating, sis.” Unknowingly, Gu Nianzhi had already stopped calling Gu Yanran “Miss Gu,” and had begun calling her “sis.”
Gu Yanran smiled and poured Gu Nianzhi another gla.s.s of sake.
Upon receiving Huo Shaoheng’s call, Gu Nianzhi answered, “Have you had dinner already, Huo Shao? Do you want to join us?”
Huo Shaoheng wasn’t interested in j.a.panese cuisine, but because both Gu Nianzhi and Gu Yanran were there, no matter if it was regarding work or personal matters, he should pop by to take a look. “Yes. I’ll be on my way. Wait for me.” Huo Shaoheng hung up after he was done talking and told Zhao Liangze, “Get Big Xiong back. We’re going to the j.a.panese club.”
…
Yin s.h.i.+xiong had already exited earlier to inform the dormitory in charge that he would like to see Gu Nianzhi, but Gu Nianzhi had not come down, even after a long while. The person who came down instead was Ma Qiqi. She asked the moment she saw him, “Who’s looking for Nianzhi?”
“I am.” Yin s.h.i.+xiong walked over, looked at Ma Qiqi, and asked, “You’re Nianzhi’s roommate?”
Nodding, Ma Qiqi said, “Nianzhi has gone out to dinner with a family member. Who are you? Would you like to leave a message?” Then she continued, “Do you have her number? Why don’t you call her instead?”
Of course Yin s.h.i.+xiong had her number. He just totally did not expect that she wouldn’t be around in her dormitory at this time. “Family member? Since when does she have a family member?” Yin s.h.i.+xiong realized something was wrong and became stern. “How long has she been out for? Who was it, exactly? Do you know?”
Immediately taken aback, Ma Qiqi wanted to tell him, but remembering that Gu Nianzhi had asked her to keep it a secret, she didn’t know if she should come clean with him. Due to the stress of being in a dilemma, her face flushed.
“Do you know or not?” Yin s.h.i.+xiong raised his voice, his expression looking darker than ever. This little girl looked rather bright, but why was she so wishy-washy when it came to getting things done?
“I’m not sure. She said that the family member appeared recently…” Nianzhi, I can only help you to this extent… Ma Qiqi exclaimed in her heart.
“Just appeared?” Yin s.h.i.+xiong’s brow furrowed. He was about to continue interrogating Ma Qiqi when Huo Shaoheng’s voice came through the Bluetooth earpiece. “Come back. Nianzhi isn’t here.”
Yin s.h.i.+xiong immediately understood that Huo Shaoheng had just spoken to Gu Nianzhi via a call. He waved a hand at Ma Qiqi, who was confused as ever. “Okay. I know now. Thank you.” Then, he turned and left. He was tall and muscular, and almost blocked all the light coming in from outside as he went out.
Ma Qiqi looked at him curiously before returning to her dormitory.
…
Upon returning to the car, he heard Huo Shaoheng telling Fan Jian, “Drive.”
“Where to?” Yin s.h.i.+xiong turned around and asked Zhao Liangze, who was sitting beside Huo Shaoheng.
Holding onto an iPad, Zhao Liangze replied to Yin s.h.i.+xiong without looking at him, “j.a.panese club. Nianzhi is there with Gu Yanran.”
“So it was Gu Yanran?!” Yin s.h.i.+xiong slapped his head. “I was still wondering why her roommate was stuttering regarding her whereabouts, saying that Nianzhi went for dinner with her family. I was wondering, what other family does she have, other than us!?”
“Wow Big Xiong, you really dare to talk, huh? Since when was Nianzhi your family?” Zhao Liangze smiled as he shook his head. “Gu Yanran is Nianzhi’s legal family member.”
“Why can’t I be her family? I’m her older brother!” Yin s.h.i.+xiong announced proudly, glaring at Zhao Liangze.
“You wis.h.!.+” Zhao Liangze spat but did not continue bickering with Yin s.h.i.+xiong, because he saw Huo Shaoheng frowning from the corner of his eye, indicating that he was unhappy.
Yin s.h.i.+xiong turned around and saw Zhao Liangze hinting at him with his eyes and kept quiet. He turned back and began looking for the address on his phone.
Upon arriving at the restaurant where Gu Nianzhi and Gu Yanran were having dinner, Fan Jian stopped the car at the main entrance for Huo Shaoheng, Yin s.h.i.+xiong, and Zhao Liangze to exit before driving the car to the parking lot. Huo Shaoheng brought Zhao Liangze and Yin s.h.i.+xiong to the VIP room that Gu Nianzhi and Gu Yanran were in.
The waiter who was standing by at the entrance of the room opened the door and bowed. “Good evening, sirs. Please enter.” Gu Yanran had already informed them that she would be having guests over.
The guys entered the room. It was a beautifully decorated j.a.panese-style private room. The table she was sitting at with Gu Nianzhi was a square one. It was perfect for two or three up to a maximum of four, with one person on each side. It’d have been too cramped if there were five people.
She was about to alert the waiter to move them to a bigger room, but Yin s.h.i.+xiong had already walked up to the waiter and asked, “May I know if you have a bigger, slightly more normal-sized room, please?”
Gu Nianzhi laughed. She couldn’t control herself and went over to pat Yin s.h.i.+xiong on his arm. “Brother Xiong, I can understand why we’d need a bigger room, but what’s with ‘normal?’ How is this room abnormal?”
Yin s.h.i.+xiong laughed heartily and put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m not used to kneeling. If we kneel, Mr. Huo, Little Ze, and I won’t be able to eat.”
Honestly, Gu Nianzhi didn’t like it, either. However, she could put up with it, unlike the guys. Perhaps they didn’t have to put up with anything they didn’t like. Gu Nianzhi clapped and announced, “Sure, then. Let’s change rooms!”
Gu Yanran stood up slowly and nodded to Huo Shaoheng. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Huo.”
Huo Shaoheng returned the gesture. “When did Miss Gu arrive? Weren’t you confirming in Barbados?”
“It was just for a couple of days. Well, I checked and confirmed it. That was why I couldn’t wait to fly here immediately to look for her.” Gu Yanran walked to Gu Nianzhi, held her hand with one hand, and put her other hand around her shoulders, an action to show utmost protection.
The waiter at the door went to look for his manager to get his guests moved to a larger room. Yin s.h.i.+xiong and Zhao Liangze stood guard at the door happily, watching the three of them talk.
Huo Shaoheng stood on one side alone. Gu Nianzhi and Gu Yanran were in front of him. Gu Nianzhi did not really talk, but Gu Yanran had begun a friendly conversation with Huo Shaoheng.
“…Oh? Miss Gu believes that Nianzhi is your little sister now?” Huo Shaoheng asked calmly as his gaze went past Gu Yanran swiftly and landed on Gu Nianzhi. However, Gu Nianzhi turned her head sideways and avoided Huo Shaoheng’s gaze.
“With evidence that solid, I couldn’t deny anything anymore,” Gu Yanran joked. “I haven’t thanked Mr. Huo for taking care of my sister all these years. It’s my treat tonight. Mr. Huo, Mr. Zhao, and Mr. Yin, please order anything you like.”
“It was what we should do. Miss Gu is being polite,” Huo Shaoheng replied to Gu Yanran politically. He wasn’t paying attention to Gu Yanran at all but was still looking at Gu Nianzhi.
“Sis, you said that you’d treat me.” Gu Nianzhi still refused to look at Huo Shaoheng and pretended to be jealous, shaking Gu Yanran’s arm.”
“Of course, treating you was my main intention. They’re merely add-ons. My dear sister is the main star of tonight!” Gu Yanran pinched Gu Nianzhi’s exquisite little nose. They were sisters no matter what. They were naturally comfortable with each other and became close within a short time.
Gu Yanran looked at Gu Nianzhi who was whining and looked at Huo Shaoheng whose gaze was fixed on Gu Nianzhi. She burst out laughing and said, “Mr. Huo, you’re already in a relations.h.i.+p with Nianzhi, but you’re still calling me Miss Gu? Doesn’t it sound a little too distant like that?”
Huo Shaoheng smiled and remained quiet.
Yin s.h.i.+xiong quickly came over to avoid dampening everyone’s feelings. “There’s a bigger room there. Let’s go. They’ve already informed the manager.”
Nodding, Gu Yanran said, “Let’s go.”
Gu Nianzhi had been too proud just now by accident, so she didn’t know how to lower her pride now. She was embarra.s.sed to do it, especially in front of so many people, and especially when she had been whining while holding onto Gu Yanran’s arm. She didn’t even dare to look at Huo Shaoheng. She just lowered her head and followed Gu Yanran towards the door.
When she walked past Huo Shaoheng, he reached out and held her arm. He did not talk, but his hands were warm. The hand holding Gu Nianzhi was almost scalding. Gu Nianzhi’s heart skipped a beat and slowed down her steps.
Gu Yanran turned around and saw them. Smiling, she said, “We’ll go over first. You guys take your time.” Then, turning to Yin s.h.i.+xiong and Zhao Liangze, she said, “Please, after you, sirs. The room is bigger over there, and they have tables and chairs as well, so you won’t need to kneel to eat.”
Gu Yanran, Zhao Liangze, and Yin s.h.i.+xiong left, and only Huo Shaoheng and Gu Nianzhi remained. The door in front of them was half closed, but the corridor was empty. They could see the j.a.panese-style painting on the wall and a beautiful lamp with the painting of a j.a.panese lady hung along the corridor.
Huo Shaoheng remained quiet. He used more strength and pulled Gu Nianzhi into his embrace. He hugged Gu Nianzhi tightly and kissed her on the forehead. “Angry?” he asked Gu Nianzhi with his low and s.e.xy voice.
Gu Nianzhi had already decided not to be upset, but she felt even more wronged upon being asked, and tears welled up in her eyes. She struggled in Huo Shaoheng’s arms but didn’t manage to get away as he hugged her tighter.
“I’ve been busier recently…” Huo Shaoheng explained after being quiet for a while.
“Until you couldn’t even afford the time to send me a text or give me a short call?” Gu Nianzhi finally spoke, but her voice was so soft, it sounded like a newborn kitten. It was clear that she had said this after mustering all her courage.
They had just begun their relations.h.i.+p, but he already could control himself so well? Gu Nianzhi didn’t dare to wonder if they spent some more time together, would he not be attracted to her anymore?