Chapter 90: A Friendship That Cannot Escape Schemes

Gu Zehuai led Wen Jiu into the alley.

Wen Jiu was surprised, for this narrow lane truly concealed a world of its own.

As they emerged from the long alleyway, their vision gradually opened up to a vast expanse of greenery. On the wide clearing stood a number of houses, none of them tall, each separated by a considerable distance from the next.

Hand in hand, Gu Zehuai and Wen Jiu walked forward and entered one of the houses directly.

Only after stepping inside did Wen Jiu realize it was a small eatery. From the outside, there had been no hint of it—there wasn’t even a name or a signboard.

Yet the business inside was unexpectedly brisk.

Wen Jiu began to look forward to the meal.

After choosing an empty table, they started to order. Wen Jiu selected several main dishes, and Gu Zehuai added a few desserts and some fruit.

The food arrived quickly, and halfway through the meal Gu Zehuai asked, “Jiujiu, do you want to go home after we finish?”

After a day out, Wen Jiu was indeed quite tired and found herself agreeing, nodding her head.

They ate at a leisurely pace, and by the time they finished, night had fallen completely.

They weren’t far from the city now, and soon the two of them were home.

As soon as they entered, Wen Jiu collapsed unceremoniously onto the sofa.

Gu Zehuai looked over, amused, and walked over to try pulling her up. “That tired?”

Unwilling to move, Wen Jiu secretly resisted so that Gu Zehuai couldn’t budge her. Sensing her intent, he simply let her be.

“Go take a shower first. Afterward, you can go to bed.”

“No, I still have to stay up for New Year's!” Wen Jiu insisted, still thinking of the celebration.

Gu Zehuai couldn’t help but laugh, indulging her. “Alright, alright, I’ll go first.”

Leaving Wen Jiu to sprawl on the sofa, he went into the bathroom.

When he came out, Wen Jiu was still in the same position, except now she was holding her phone.

Seeing him emerge, Wen Jiu finally shifted, stretching out her arms toward him with a pleading voice. “I’m so tired—carry me to the bathroom, please?”

Gu Zehuai could never refuse her, especially when she spoke so sweetly.

He fetched her clothes and ran her bath before leaving the living room.

Since Wen Jiu hadn’t finished her shower yet, Gu Zehuai took his laptop into the study to catch up on some work.

The phone rang. Gu Zehuai’s hand, resting on the keyboard, didn’t pause.

A few seconds later, his eyes still fixed on the screen, he answered the call almost absentmindedly.

No one spoke on the other end.

Since there was no caller ID, Gu Zehuai had no idea who was calling.

He said a brief hello, just as he was about to check the number, the person on the other end finally spoke.

“Ah Huai, let’s meet.”

Hearing that voice, Gu Zehuai felt his good mood evaporate in an instant.

His tone turned cold. “There’s no need.” With that, he hung up.

Afterward, he appeared to concentrate on his documents, but until Wen Jiu emerged, the page remained unchanged from before the call.

Wen Jiu keenly sensed something was off with his mood and asked with concern, “Ah Huai, what’s wrong? Are you alright?”

Gu Zehuai shook his head, pulled Wen Jiu into his arms, and rested his head on her shoulder, telling her what had just happened.

Wen Jiu patted his back comfortingly. “It’s alright. If you don’t want to go, don’t go. Don’t let him affect your peace of mind.”

Gu Zehuai nodded. He understood all these truths, but after so many years, he still couldn’t understand why even the deepest friendships never escaped calculation.