Chapter 6: These Eyes, Seven-Tenths Like Hers

Zhao Fuhe was led away by Gu Pingsheng under the envious gazes of her circle of friends.

"Come in and take a seat," Gu Pingsheng said, bringing her to one of his apartments. The decor was exquisite—understated yet undeniably luxurious.

Zhao Fuhe stepped inside, hesitated, and tentatively asked, "Is Senior Wen... not at home?"

Gu Pingsheng took a glass of red wine from the cabinet and cast her a sidelong glance, half-smiling, "She doesn't live in places like this."

Just an apartment—it was beneath her.

Hearing this, Zhao Fuhe blushed, and carefully stammered, "I—I didn't mean that. I was just afraid... if Senior Wen saw you bring me here, she wouldn't be happy."

Gu Pingsheng leaned against the sofa, his long, well-defined fingers swirling the wine. He brought the glass to his nose, his narrow eyes half-closed as he inhaled the faint aroma. "Just this morning, another woman was living here. I sent her off to the red-light district abroad. Do you know why?"

Another woman?

Zhao Fuhe was startled. "Why?"

His thin lips sipped the wine, the sweetness spreading across his palate. "She disturbed your Senior Wen's peace."

In that instant, Zhao Fuhe felt a chill run down her spine, her smile forced.

Gu Pingsheng raised his hand slightly, gesturing for her to sit. "Tell me about yourself."

Zhao Fuhe lowered her head. "The year I graduated, my father suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage while working. Though he survived, it cost all our family's savings. My mother is frail and has no income. All these years, my father alone has supported us. Now, he can't work anymore and needs expensive treatment every month. I... I had no choice, which is why I joined Junyue."

She gazed at the man before her with hopeful, anxious eyes, as if he were her salvation.

Gu Pingsheng said nothing. Zhao Fuhe cautiously moved closer, resting her head on his shoulder. "Senior Gu, help me."

Gu Pingsheng lifted his hand, absentmindedly stroking her hair, and said something enigmatic. "You have very beautiful eyes."

Those features—the brows, the gaze—reminded him seven parts of her.

Zhao Fuhe couldn't grasp the meaning of his words, when Gu Pingsheng's phone rang.

It was Wen Zhixia calling.

Gu Pingsheng paused, pressed his finger to Zhao Fuhe's lips, and answered.

Zhao Fuhe was sensible enough not to make a sound. She knew she had no right to demand attention.

"Xiaxia~~"

No matter how many years passed, whenever he called her name, his voice overflowed with tenderness, just as Zhao Fuhe remembered watching them together from the audience so long ago.

Her expression betrayed nothing, but inwardly, she envied Wen Zhixia's fortune bitterly.

Both women—yet Zhao Fuhe had almost sold her body to survive, while Wen Zhixia had always been cherished by Gu Pingsheng.

"Ping Sheng, are you still busy? Tonight..."

"I have a meeting tonight. If it's too late, I won't come home," Gu Pingsheng replied.

In the supermarket, Wen Zhixia paused as she listened, but she had never been the type to throw a tantrum over her partner's work. If he said he had to work, the words she wanted to say turned into, "Don't work too late. Take care of yourself... I’ll bring you dinner."

She had nothing else to do at home, and it had been ages since she last stepped into the company.

Gu Pingsheng withdrew his finger from Zhao Fuhe's lips. "No need. If you come, I'll be distracted."

He was always adept at sweet words, especially with her; otherwise, how could he have won her over all those years ago?

After the call ended, Wen Zhixia looked at the groceries in her cart, no longer in the mood to continue shopping. Rounding a corner, she accidentally knocked some things off a shelf. As she bent down to pick them up, darkness swept over her vision.

She assumed her low blood sugar was acting up again and paid it no mind, but as she straightened, the world spun.

Items slipped from her hands, and she collapsed.

"Miss, are you alright?"

"Someone, please! There's a person who fainted here!"