chapter 08
Since that day in the garage, Gu Qingning hadn’t seen Fu Juncheng again.
It wasn’t until she was about to leave that he strolled lazily back inside.
A teasing smile curved his lips, and his alluring voice brushed against her heart like a hook.
“Leaving already?”
Gu Qingning nodded. After a day of rest, her complexion had regained its color, though faint traces of red still lingered in her eyes.
She spoke bluntly, without any trace of embarrassment about borrowing money.
“Can you lend me two hundred yuan? I can write an IOU — I’ll pay you back soon.”
Fu Juncheng gave a low laugh and cleared his throat. “Yun Zheng.”
As soon as he spoke, the man standing at the door quickly came in, bowing respectfully toward him. “Master.”
Fu Juncheng lazily swept his gaze over him. “Do you have any money on you?”
Yun Zheng froze for a moment and answered woodenly, “Yes.”
“Give it here,” Fu Juncheng said, extending his hand.
“…”
Yun Zheng fumbled in his pocket and reluctantly pulled out two red bills.
He handed them over with both hands. “Master.”
Fu Juncheng took them without hesitation. “Next time, bring more.”
Yun Zheng: “…”
The next second, he watched in disbelief as his master handed his money to Gu Qingning.
That was his money.
He could almost feel his heart bleeding.
Fu Juncheng then asked — sounding uncannily like a worried father —
“Two hundred yuan, is that enough?”
Gu Qingning made a small sound of agreement, slipping the cash into her pocket. Lifting her head, her ink-dark eyes reflected his handsome features.
“I’ll pay you back,” she said seriously, almost like making a vow.
Fu Juncheng’s lips curved slightly. His tone was casual.
“Let’s go. I’m heading out anyway, I’ll drop you off on the way.”
A free ride — of course Gu Qingning wouldn’t refuse.
As she passed by him, a faint, mischievous smile appeared on her lips, her eyes gleaming slyly.
“Thanks, old man.”
Fu Juncheng froze for a beat, then chuckled softly as he watched her walk away.
The little lion really held a grudge.
Picking up his car keys, he followed her out unhurriedly.
Behind them, Yun Zheng stood there, full of gloomy resentment.
His two hundred yuan was just… gone?
That was two hundred yuan, for heaven’s sake!
The mountain villa was far from the city center — even by the fastest route, it took more than an hour.
Not to mention, they’d taken a detour.
Inside the car, Fu Juncheng rested one hand on the steering wheel, his eyes tilted slightly upward in lazy amusement.
From the corner of his eye, he glanced again at the girl beside him — dozing off adorably, soft and innocent like a sleepy kitten.
A cool breeze slipped through the window, startling her awake.
Gu Qingning sat up straight, her drowsy eyes turning toward the window.
The street outside bustled with noise and traffic, an endless display of city lights.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, clarity flashing in them.
“Stop at the corner up ahead. I’ll get off there.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the traffic light turned red, and the car came to a halt.
Fu Juncheng turned toward her and handed over his phone.
“Your phone number.”
Gu Qingning froze for a moment before replying, “I don’t have one.”
Her phone had long been lost somewhere.
Meeting her clear, candid gaze, Fu Juncheng could tell she wasn’t lying. With a sigh of defeat, he said,
“Then let’s go buy you a new one?”
Tracking her down wouldn’t have been difficult for him — but he didn’t want to rely on that kind of method to contact her.
Gu Qingning shook her head, her calm tone carrying a hint of quiet firmness.
“I’ll buy one myself.”
A trace of helplessness flickered in Fu Juncheng’s eyes. In front of her, he quickly tapped out a number on his phone.
“This is my number. Got it memorized?”
Gu Qingning glanced at the screen and nodded lightly.
Just then—
Beep, beep, beep—!
The car behind them honked impatiently. The light had already turned green.
Fu Juncheng started the car again, driving neither fast nor slow.
Soon, they reached the street corner.
The car pulled over, and Gu Qingning unfastened her seatbelt, pulling her hood over her head.
She nodded slightly at him. “I’m going now.”
After stepping out of the car, she tugged the brim of her hat lower.
She was about to walk off when Fu Juncheng called out,
“Wait a second.”
Gu Qingning paused and looked back questioningly.
Fu Juncheng unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned toward the passenger-side window—
