Chapter 9: Honey Water

Once she got into the car, Wen Jiu felt a bit more relaxed and leaned back against the seat, closing her eyes to rest. She had drunk quite a bit, and although she wasn’t drunk, her head still felt dizzy. Gu Zehuai watched Wen Jiu closely the whole way, worried that she might feel unwell after drinking.

When they arrived home, Wen Jiu’s car was already parked in its spot. The designated driver had left. Gu Zehuai, after confirming Wen Jiu could walk steadily on her own, walked beside her. Inside the elevator, Wen Jiu turned to glance at Gu Zehuai. Their eyes met, and Wen Jiu was the first to look away.

It must have been the alcohol—she felt herself losing control, wanting to throw herself at Gu Zehuai. The thought startled her, and she dared not look at him again. She silently vowed never to drink so much again, blaming the strange ideas that had crept into her mind.

When the elevator doors opened, the two stepped out and went their separate ways. Gu Zehuai watched Wen Jiu unlock her door with her fingerprint and enter before turning to go into his own apartment.

Wen Jiu sat on the sofa, poured herself a glass of water, and tried to ease the effects of the alcohol. Just then, Shen Mengxia called. Though her words were a little slurred, she confirmed she was home. Wen Jiu replied and hung up.

Feeling a bit more sober, Wen Jiu got up, planning to quickly shower, remove her makeup, and go to bed. At that moment, the doorbell rang. Looking through the peephole, she saw Gu Zehuai and opened the door.

Gu Zehuai was holding a glass of water. “Drink some honey water to help with the alcohol,” he said. “Otherwise, you’ll have a headache tomorrow.” Wen Jiu thanked him, took the glass, and drank it standing at the door. She was about to take it into the kitchen to wash and return it, but Gu Zehuai stopped her. “It’s fine, I’ll wash it when I get back,” he said casually. Then he added, “Rest early. Good night.”

Wen Jiu softly replied, “Good night.” Gu Zehuai turned and went back to his apartment, glass in hand.

The sweet honey water brought a smile to Wen Jiu’s lips. She returned to her room, showered, removed her makeup, applied her skincare, and went to bed. For some reason, despite the alcohol, her mind felt clearer than ever. She recalled everything that had happened that evening, especially the moment their eyes met, and burrowed under the covers, forcing herself to sleep.

Unknowingly, Wen Jiu drifted off.

The next morning, Wen Jiu woke naturally. Glancing at the clock, it was already eight. After washing up, she heated a sandwich in the microwave.

After breakfast, Wen Jiu threw herself back into her work. She had already sketched several gown designs. Since the dresses were created for specific scenes, she had gone over those parts of the script countless times. As a Republican-era drama, the heroine needed many gowns for the various banquets, and since the main investor was the Gu Group’s entertainment company, funding was generous. Wen Jiu could design freely.

Based on the plot and the interplay with other characters, Wen Jiu sent several designs to the costume team leader. The leader quickly replied, praising the creativity and how well the dresses fit the story.

Only then did Wen Jiu breathe a sigh of relief. She always strove for perfection in her work, pushing herself to do her best.

After all issues were discussed and a few details handled, Wen Jiu headed out.

The Gu Group’s business spanned many fields, with its entertainment and fashion design companies especially outstanding. When Wen Jiu first returned to the country, she received an invitation from Mirror Glamour, the Gu Group’s fashion design subsidiary, offering her the position of chief designer.

At the time, Wen Jiu had already accepted the drama’s gown design work and politely declined, explaining her reasons. Mirror Glamour was sincere about working with her and said they could wait until she finished this project before discussing collaboration.

Wen Jiu took time to analyze Mirror Glamour’s design philosophy and primary style over the years, believing the company had great prospects. The previous chief designer had left after her contract expired to start her own brand and did not renew with the company.