It took Gu Yicing over three hours to finally expel all traces of the drug from her body. Once her mind cleared, she crawled out of the bathtub and wrapped herself in a robe. Her wrists and ankles, scraped and submerged in cold water for far too long, were swollen and red, almost grotesque.
Ignoring the pain, she hobbled out of the bathroom. The vast bedroom was eerily quiet, with no sign of Fu Hannen. Gu Yicing slapped her forehead in frustration.
"Oh no! I refused to let him help me dispel the effects of the drug. He must be furious. Gu Yicing, how could you pass up such a golden opportunity to finally sleep with Fu Hannen?" she lamented to herself.
Just then, a knock echoed from the door.
Slowly, Gu Yicing limped toward the door and turned the knob. Standing outside was Chen Ma, holding her phone. "Young Mistress, is this your phone? Miss Xiao personally brought it over this afternoon and asked me to remind you to call her back when you got home. Her number is already saved in your contacts."
"Oh, okay." Gu Yicing took the phone and nodded absently.
Chen Ma's eyes landed on the various bruises and cuts covering Gu Yicing's arms and legs, and she couldn't help but ask, "What happened to you, Young Mistress?"
"It's nothing, just a little accident. By the way, where's Fu Hannen?"
"The Young Master left in a huff. Young Mistress, the Young Master doesn't have much experience in these matters, you know? You really should be more patient with him. Don't mind me for saying this, but, as someone with experience, I can tell you that the first time isn't always the best."
"Ahem…" Gu Yicing's face turned crimson from the innuendo in Chen Ma's words. What on earth was she thinking? She and Fu Hannen hadn't even done anything! Explaining the situation would only make things more embarrassing, especially for Fu Hannen's dignity.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure to comfort him properly. Tonight was my fault. I really shouldn't have lost my temper and not been more understanding of him," Gu Yicing replied with a cheeky grin.
"Well then, Young Mistress, make sure to smooth things over. After all, there's no point holding grudges between husband and wife," Chen Ma said with a smile before turning and heading downstairs.
As soon as Chen Ma left, Gu Yicing dashed back to her own room, closed the door behind her, and flung herself onto the bed. She grabbed her phone and called Fu Hannen.
"Sorry, the number you are trying to reach is currently on another call."
Who could he be talking to so late at night? Could it be that he's complaining to Ji Yunchuan? Or, even worse, that he's already gone back to someone else's arms?
She quickly dialed again, but the line was still busy.
After waiting for about half an hour, she tried one more time. The same automated voice responded.
It hit her like a ton of bricks—Fu Hannen wasn't on the phone. He had blocked her.
Oh my god, the horror of it all!
Panic set in as Gu Yicing rushed to her computer. She quickly hacked into a tracking system, using his phone number to locate his current position.
To her surprise, his location was a high-end Michelin-starred restaurant.
What? He was out this late, grabbing a bite to eat because he was so mad he got hungry?
Shutting down the computer, she quickly changed into long-sleeved clothes to cover up her injuries, then left the Fu family mansion in a hurry.
---
When she arrived at the restaurant, it was quite late, so the rooftop garden area on the second floor was almost empty, except for one table.
And there, in the dimly lit corner, she spotted Fu Hannen. He was reclining lazily in a chair, holding a glass of red wine, his expression cold and distant.
Sitting across from him were Ji Yunchuan, dressed in a coffee-colored shirt, and the famous actress Ye Fanxing.
Tonight, Ye Fanxing was wearing a deep navy-blue cheongsam, her hair styled in retro waves like those from the Republic of China era. She had likely just finished filming on set.
The three of them were chatting and eating, the atmosphere light and congenial.
Ye Fanxing raised her wine glass and clinked it against Fu Hannen's. "President Fu, why so glum today? Weren't you the one who invited me for a late-night snack? With that attitude, I don't think I can enjoy the meal properly," she teased.