Intriguing Guest

She let out a startled gasp, her eyes trembling as she turned in the direction of the sound. However, her surprise only intensified when she spotted a figure not too far away.

Si Zhenxuan remained more composed than Gu Antong. Upon hearing the faint cough, his eyes briefly registered surprise. But it was Gu Antong's reaction that furrowed his brows and left him slightly irritated.

Without second thoughts, Si Zhenxuan reached out and pulled Gu Antong close, embracing her in his protective arms.

"Zhenxuan, there are people," Gu Antong whispered, her face turning a shade of pink as she reminded him.

A subtle smile played on the corners of Si Zhenxuan's lips. He held Gu Antong close and turned to look at the figure in the distance, his tone carrying a rare trace of playfulness. "Is this your surprise gift?"

Gu Antong was taken aback. Not just by Si Zhenxuan's unusual tone, but also by his words. Did he know this person? She lifted her gaze once more, trying to make out the figure emerging from the shadows.

The man had a chiseled face with sharp features. His eagle-like eyes exuded a hint of mischief, his straight nose and inviting smile were equally captivating.

Sinister! A word flashed through Gu Antong's mind, summing up the man's demeanor, appearance, and overall aura. He seemed like a formidable character.

"Don't tell me you don't like it?" Shen Haosong approached Si Zhenxuan, casting an appraising look at Gu Antong. His eyes held a hint of dangerous allure.

But instead of blushing or giggling like other women might, Gu Antong felt an uneasy chill running down her spine. It made her uncomfortable to be scrutinized by this demon-like figure. Who wouldn't be startled by such an intense gaze?

This reaction surprised Shen Haosong and brought an even broader grin to his face. Si Zhenxuan also noticed the change in Shen Haosong's eyes. He lowered his head to Gu Antong's ear and introduced, "Antong, this is Shen Haosong."

With just a name and no mention of his background, Gu Antong was still astounded. In the past, she might not have known who Shen Haosong was, but her family's recent financial difficulties had prompted her to learn about the world of business. Shen Haosong's reputation was something she had naturally come across.

What startled her even more was the connection between Si Zhenxuan and Shen Haosong. Although Si Zhenxuan didn't explicitly state their relationship, Gu Antong could glean it from his expressions, his eyes, and his tone. They certainly weren't friends.

Who would have thought that Zhenxuan had such an unsavory acquaintance?

Gu Antong's eyes, filled with surprise, continued to inspect Shen Haosong. Their appearances alone revealed their discern

Gu An Tong noticed that Gu An Tong was quite different from other women.

"Haosong, this is..." Si Zhenxuan began to introduce Shen Haosong, but Shen Haosong interrupted him.

"I know, I know, Si Zhenxuan, right? Hello, brother and sister. I'm Shen Haosong. Nice to meet you. I've heard about all of you, but I didn't expect us to meet like this," Shen Haosong said with a friendly smile. His demeanor had changed from earlier, and though he still had an air of mystery, it was more approachable.

What he said was true. While the Gu family wasn't a business giant, it held a respectable position.

Today, there was an air of gloom within, but not many were aware of it. Before this, Shen Haosong had heard rumors about Gu An Tong being someone not to trifle with. Now, it seemed like it wasn't entirely accurate.

"Hello, I've heard about you as well. Nice to meet you," Gu An Tong nodded, offering a warm smile.

"Ha ha, Si Zhenxuan, you and the rumors are two different things," Shen Haosong added with a bright smile. He fixed his captivating gaze on Gu An Tong, playfully toying with her.

Si Zhenxuan noticed Shen Haosong's conspicuous smile and couldn't help but feel a hint of frustration. This time, he wouldn't just stand by as he used to.

He playfully patted Gu An Tong's shoulder and, with a hint of mock in his eyes, addressed Shen Haosong, "Haosong, are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?"

Shen Haosong's eyes revealed a glint of possessiveness. "Of course! I hopped on a plane straight to you."

Gu An Tong overheard that Shen Haosong had returned from a trip.

It made sense; given his close relationship with Si Zhenxuan, the fact that she hadn't heard of him or met him for so long indicated he must have been somewhere else.

"And you, Antong? Where do you want to dine?" Si Zhenxuan asked, his eyes on Gu An Tong, seeking her opinion.

Shen Haosong, dissatisfied, chimed in, "Zhenxuan, you're the man in charge. It's strange that you need my sister-in-law's opinion. Man..."

Shen Haosong let out a melodramatic sigh, affecting the demeanor of a wronged woman, making Gu An Tong chuckle. "Ha ha, Shen Er, Mr. Shen Haosong..."

Gu An Tong stuttered, unsure of what to call him.

"Shen Haosong," he corrected, and Si Zhenxuan frowned.

A mischievous glint appeared in Shen Haosong's eyes, catching Si Zhenxuan's lack of attention to women. It amused Shen Haosong that a man who paid little attention to women should be concerned about the title given to a woman.

"Let's cut to the chase; I have a purpose for coming back to China," Si Zhenxuan said, as they sat down at the western restaurant.

Shen Haosong chuckled, his eyes carefully watching Si Zhenxuan's behavior. He tossed a document onto the table. "Here you go. Take a look."

Gu An Tong observed curiously. She was beginning to find herself quite interested in the dynamic between Si Zhenxuan and Shen Haosong.

Si Zhenxuan examined the document, which turned out to be information about Jingchun. He hadn't expected Shen Haosong to be so interested in it.

"Take a look first. I'll explain later," Shen Haosong said, seemingly unbothered by Si Zhenxuan's curiosity, and signaled with his eyes to proceed.

Gu An Tong couldn't help but notice that Shen Haosong's eyes were truly captivating. They had a subtle hint of a charming allure, and it was evident he was naturally magnetic to women.

Sensing Gu An Tong's gaze, Shen Haosong shrugged, "What's the matter? Do you think Si Zhenxuan doesn't have any friends, can't have someone like me?"

Si Zhenxuan flipped through the document with a serious expression. Gu An Tong refrained from interrupting, choosing instead to engage in small talk with Shen Haosong.

"I may not be alone, but I've never had particularly close friends," Si Zhenxuan replied.

Si Zhenxuan had thorns covering his body, making it challenging to get close to him. Shen Haosong found it difficult to connect with him, even on a personal level.

Shen Haosong chuckled, "Our relationship has always been strained. I used to attend high school when Zhenxuan was just a child."

"Wait!" Gu Antong couldn't help but interrupt, her curiosity getting the better of her. She asked with a hint of regret, "Are you older than him? Significantly older?"

Si Zhenxuan opened his eyes slightly and replied calmly to Gu Antong, "Eight years older."

"..." Gu Antong quickly did the math in her head. She remembered Si Zhenxuan was nearly thirty, which meant he was twenty-nine, making him five years her senior. He was eight years younger than Shen Haosong. So, Shen Haosong was thirty-seven years old? She realized that Shen Haosong was even older than her – she could call him "uncle"!

Seeing Gu Antong's shocked expression, Shen Haosong couldn't help but laugh, "What's wrong? Do I look much younger?"

He did appear more youthful compared to Si Zhenxuan, who was around 35.

"Si Shen..." Gu Antong didn't know how to address Shen Haosong anymore. He was thirteen years her senior, so calling him by his first name felt disrespectful.

"Shen Haosong," Si Zhenxuan interjected, placing his hand gently on Gu Antong's head. He tried to comfort her, "Just call him that."

"Alright," Gu Antong agreed, looking at Shen Haosong with clear eyes. "How do you two know each other?"

Si Zhenxuan quickly changed the subject, raising his head, "I've reviewed Jing Chun's assessment materials. How does the one you provided differ from the original?"

"It's a significant improvement!" Shen Haosong clasped his hands together. "I had already underrated the Jing Chun brand. This truly captures Jing Chun's essence."

"Over the years, numerous nostalgic brands have emerged, but there are few like Jing Chun, with a history spanning centuries. Your company, Yue Yun, seems to have misunderstood Jing Chun, dismissing it as 'rotten wood.' As the saying goes, rotten wood can't be carved, and I believe Yue Yun is mistaken!" Shen Haosong began to criticize Yue Yun, which amused Gu Antong.

Si Zhenxuan frowned. Jing Chun was supposed to be his project, but Si Yueyun had interfered.

"Miss Gu, as an observer, what's your take on Jing Chun?" Shen Haosong turned the conversation toward Gu Antong.

She shared her opinion, "Jing Chun is an old brand that dates back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Even in modern times, old Shanghai was adorned with its products. The post-80s generation, who have now grown into a significant consumer group, holds deep nostalgia for this brand. In recent years, the concept of nostalgia has gained tremendous popularity, especially among the post-80s group. Jing Chun holds a special place in their hearts. I believe this brand has great potential."