Chapter 10 Miss Gu, the gap between you and me is not just about money and status

After leaving the launch ceremony, Gu Manman stepped into the dim elevator and let out a breath.

The phone vibrated again.

Feng Mingzhou.

She swiped the answer button.

His voice was deep and gentle coming from the receiver, just like usual.

"Manman, did the ceremony go smoothly?"

"Um."

"Why don't you call back?" he asked, without any special emotion in his voice.

“It’s too noisy inside.”

"I'll wait for you downstairs."

Going down to the first floor, Gu Manman saw the familiar black Rolls-Royce parked in front of the hotel. Feng Mingzhou was leaning against the car door, wearing a well-ironed suit and with gentle eyes.

He opened the car door for her: "Are you tired? Let me take you to a place to relax."

Gu Manman didn't really want to go, but she would never refuse Feng Mingzhou, so she got into the car silently.

The Rolls-Royce gradually moved away from the city lights and headed towards the riverside.

The car drove into a mountain path with towering ancient trees on both sides.

At the end of the road, traditional Chinese buildings are hidden among the green bamboos, and the vermilion eaves are particularly eye-catching in the twilight.

Jiangjia Villa is built on the mountain, with a different view at every step.

The traditional wooden structure is perfectly integrated with modern luxury design, exuding sophistication in its simplicity.

Feng Mingzhou parked the car and the villa manager immediately came forward to greet him.

"Mr. Feng, Ms. Gu, welcome." The butler bowed and said, "Young Master Jiang has been waiting for you in Wangyue Pavilion for a long time."

The butler led the two through the bluestone path, along which they could see strange rocks and trees, as well as dragon-shaped fountains and vermilion pavilions.

At the end of the corridor is a wide open-air balcony, where several familiar faces are sitting around the coffee table chatting and laughing.

Zhao Yang, Jiang Shao and others brought their female companions, and also Lin Jinyun.

Lin Jinyun was wearing a light-colored cheongsam and had an elegant posture. She turned her head and smiled at them.

"Mingzhou, you are finally here."

Zhao Yang stood up and greeted enthusiastically: "Sister-in-law Manman is here too! Come and sit down, we just finished ordering the food."

Feng Mingzhou nodded to everyone and naturally led Gu Manman to her seat, which was just diagonally opposite Lin Jinyun.

Zhao Yang broke the awkwardness: "I heard that a new private hot spring has been opened here. It is said that your skin can be three years younger after soaking in it! I must try it tonight."

Jiang Shao joked, "Your rough skin will be useless even if you soak it for a year."

Everyone laughed.

Dinner was held in a semi-open bamboo pavilion.

A gentle breeze blew, and the flickering candlelight reflected everyone's expression.

Gu Manman had no appetite and was absent-minded the whole time.

After the meal, they went to the hot springs in the "Yingyue" area. The men's and women's hot springs were separated by a green bamboo screen.

Gu Manman chose the farthest corner, soaked in the water, closed her eyes and didn't want to talk.

Lin Jinyun was not far from her, the water level just reaching her collarbone.

"Today's investment plan was discussed very smoothly." Lin Jinyun spoke first.

"Thank you." Gu Manman didn't want to talk more.

Lin Jinyun slowly played with the petals in the water: "Ms. Gu's work really touched me."

"Especially the heroine, who sacrificed everything for love but was never really taken seriously." Lin Jinyun looked at her directly, "It's so realistic."

"Maybe you understand this feeling better than me." Gu Manman was not willing to be outdone.

Lin Jinyun smiled: "You misunderstood. I just think you are very brave - people like you are always full of hope, even if the road ahead is difficult."

"Mingzhou cherishes you very much, but he is a member of the Feng family after all. Some roads cannot be traversed by love alone."

Gu Manman sat in the water, the hot steam from the spring made it difficult for her to breathe.

The steaming mist around her made it impossible for her to see Lin Jinyun's expression.

She heard her own calm voice: "Miss Lin is warning me?"

Lin Jinyun shook his head: "Just telling the truth."

"Mingzhou is indeed very good." Lin Jinyun looked at the bamboo screen, his voice soft but clear, "It's a pity that it can never meet everyone's expectations."

Gu Manman pursed her lips and stopped talking.

The rising water vapor makes breathing heavy.

She could hear other women talking and laughing, but the voices were vague and distant and had nothing to do with her.

She was like a joke in this circle of noble ladies, trying hard to be respectable, but she had already been seen through.

This water is fragrant and is said to contain precious herbs and flower petals that can nourish the skin.

But Gu Manman just felt that she was trapped in this pool of water, like a boiled frog.

There is no way out if I quit, but I feel uncomfortable staying.

There was a sound of water coming from the opposite side, probably because Lin Jinyun got up.

However, Gu Manman didn't dare open her eyes to confirm, for fear that the expression on her face would reveal too much weakness.

After soaking in the hot springs, everyone gathered in the back garden of the villa.

Under the candlelight, the table was filled with various exquisite desserts. The moonlight sprinkled on the lake, creating silver ripples.

Zhao Yang waved to the waiter, "Come on, serve all the best desserts!"

The waiter brought a three-tier cake stand filled with a variety of exquisite desserts.

Gu Manman sat in the corner, observing everyone silently.

Her hair was still wet and her cheeks were flushed after the hot spring.

Lin Jinyun asked the waiter to bring a piece of cake, ate it slowly, and wiped the corners of her mouth.

Ten minutes later, her expression suddenly changed.

Red spots appeared on the fair neck at a speed visible to the naked eye and quickly spread to the cheeks.

"Jinyun? What's wrong with you?" Mrs. Jiang exclaimed.

Lin Jinyun's breathing became rapid, and her hands unconsciously scratched the rash on her neck.

Feng Mingzhou stood up suddenly and grabbed her wrist: "Allergic?"

Lin Jinyun's voice was hoarse: "A little itchy..."

Feng Mingzhou yelled at Zhao Yang, "Call a doctor! Now!"

Feng Mingzhou put his arm around Lin Jinyun's shoulders, letting her lean on him, and picked up the water glass on the table with his other hand.

"Can I still drink water?"

Lin Jinyun nodded weakly, and Feng Mingzhou carefully held the back of her neck and let her drink a few sips slowly.

"What is the allergen?" Feng Mingzhou asked anxiously.

Zhao Yang grabbed the plate and sniffed it: "Damn, mango! She can't eat mango!"

Jiang Shao ran back and said, "Don't worry, there is a doctor in the village who will be here soon."

Feng Mingzhou's face was terribly gloomy: "Who ordered the mango cake?"

The whole audience was silent.

Lin Jinyun covered his throat and started coughing, his face turning red due to lack of oxygen.

The doctor came and opened the first aid kit as he walked: "Mr. Feng, let the patient lie down. I need to inject adrenaline."

Lin Jinyun was placed on a bench and the doctor injected the injection skillfully.

After a few minutes, her breathing gradually stabilized, but the rash on her face was still shocking.

Feng Mingzhou took out his handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Zhao Yang came over and patted Feng Mingzhou on the shoulder: "It's okay, don't be so scary. Jin Yun has had this problem for twenty years, and every time it was a false alarm, right?"

Gu Manman stood there, her feet feeling as heavy as if they were filled with lead.

Ten minutes later, Gu Manman walked into the restroom in the ladies' lounge. She washed her face with cold water and looked up at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were red and her face was still hot from the hot spring.

The bathroom door suddenly opened.

Lin Jinyun walked in, looking pale but calm.

The rash has subsided a lot, leaving only some marks on the neck.

Lin Jinyun walked to the mirror, took out her lipstick to touch up her makeup, and smiled at the mirror: "Mingzhou asked me to lie down, and I said I wanted to go to the bathroom."

"How do you think I didn't know there were mangoes in that cake?" Lin Jinyun approached her and said in a low voice, "I have had allergies for more than 20 years. Now I can tell the difference when I smell a little bit of mango."

Gu Manman took a step back: "Did you do this on purpose?"

"Of course." Lin Jinyun had a triumphant smile on his face. "Did you see that? How nervous Mingzhou is about me?"

She gently adjusted her collar to cover the remaining red spots on her neck: "Ms. Gu, the gap between you and me is not just about money and status."

"There's also the friendship of childhood sweethearts and the bond of twenty years. These are things you will never be able to catch up with."

Then he walked straight out of the bathroom, leaving Gu Manman standing there alone.