Chapter 8 "You can try." Gu Zeming, who bullies others by taking advantage of his power...

How could it be Gu Zeming?

Her intelligence network was absolutely terrible; she introduced him to a bunch of part-time jobs, yet she had no idea he worked in a restaurant.

Fortunately, the stage was a bit far from their dining table, and she deliberately kept her voice down while chatting with Yang Xiuling, otherwise they would have really been in deep trouble today.

Jiang Chuyu's face turned pale, and after several seconds, she smiled and greeted him.

"Senior."

As soon as she spoke, the other guests looked curiously toward the performance stage.

Gu Zeming's face and physique were too authoritative. He didn't say a word, just stood there quietly, and the men around him would feel ashamed of themselves.

He looked down at Jiang Chuyu from across most of the restaurant.

She sat at the dining table, like a soft and fragrant summer sea salt cake, but the way she had just spent a fortune for him made her seem like the "rich and scumbag" woman others talked about.

Gu Zeming thought of a word, a very vile word, that would send his soul and body to hell.

He gave a faint smile, turned to the troublemaker, and said, "She's booked the whole place for me tonight. You're not good enough. Get lost."

Even when she swears, she maintains a cold and aloof demeanor, yet her aggression remains undiminished, suggesting a tendency to bully others by abusing her power.

Jiang Chuyu was inexplicably thrilled.

The man who had caused trouble earlier wanted to continue his tirade, but the woman, feeling ashamed, forcibly dragged him out of the restaurant.

The turmoil has subsided.

Yang Xiuling, standing to the side, looked puzzled.

"You know the handsome guy who plays the piano?"

Jiang Chuyu nodded in agreement: "As you can see, he is Gu Zeming. Now you know why I was worried, right?"

"Oh." Yang Xiuling looked Gu Zeming up and down and commented, "Top-notch."

Yes, sleeping with someone is a bonus.

Jiang Chuyu secretly agreed in her heart.

Yang Xiuling suddenly chuckled and whispered in her ear, "From what I've observed, these aloof and abstinent handsome men, once they break their vows, are unstoppable. Are you sure you really want to provoke him?"

"You're exaggerating too much." Jiang Chuyu's face turned bright red, and she secretly glanced at Gu Zeming.

He was talking to the store manager when he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

Jiang Chuyu's almond-shaped eyes suddenly widened, and she guiltily looked away, truly embodying the saying "having the desire but not the courage."

After finishing his business with the store manager, Gu Zeming returned to the performance stage.

The melody of "Spring Dream" plays once again.

A short while later, the store manager personally brought two plates of fruit shaved ice to Jiang Chuyu and her group's table.

Jiang Chuyu exclaimed in surprise, "We didn't order shaved ice, did you send us the wrong thing?"

The store manager laughed: "That's right, Zeming said that he'll pay for your meal today, and the money will be deducted from his salary."

"How can that be?"

Their meals cost several hundred yuan each. How long would Gu Zeming have to work to earn that much?

Feeling guilty, Jiang Chuyu quickly asked, "How much does he earn working part-time at the shop for one night?"

The store manager said, "Five hundred."

That's quite high; it's within the normal salary range that someone of Gu Zeming's level could get.

Jiang Chuyu continued, "Does he come every day?"

More than one customer has asked about Gu Zeming's appearance time. One of the reasons the store manager hired him at a high salary was because he had a good image, a high level of education, and an extraordinary demeanor and temperament. He was very popular with the opposite sex and could help the store attract customers.

"No, not really. I come twice a week, Friday and Saturday evenings," the store manager replied with practiced ease.

"I see." Jiang Chuyu stared at the shaved ice, thought for a moment, and said in a consultative tone, "I just said I'd book the whole place for ten times the price, and I meant it. Please don't deduct his salary, okay?"

The manager waved his hand and smiled, "Miss, we are a legitimate restaurant and we would never accept tips for our employees without authorization. Zeming never accepts tips either. We hope you understand."

Jiang Chuyu couldn't understand why he wouldn't take money even if it were free.

Yang Xiuling raised her eyebrows and joked, "With his popularity, just think about it, if he started accepting tips, how many rich women would give him money in the future?"

Just imagining that scene made Jiang Chuyu feel like she was suffocating.

Gu Zeming should have a clean and pure smile, and even when picking up trash, he should have an unyielding spirit. Once too many people touch his things, he loses his charm.

Jiang Chuyu suddenly understood, and her smile brightened considerably. "I understand now."

The store manager still had work to do, so she went to attend to her tasks after answering their questions.

Jiang Chuyu listened to a little tune, scooped up a spoonful of shaved ice and put it in her mouth, breathing out hot air from the cold.

Gu Zeming ordered the strawberry and cherry flavor for them; it was sweet and sour, refreshing, and thirst-quenching.

As Yang Xiuling ate, she said, "You have good taste; you spotted the most difficult one right away. What are you planning to do? Wait for him to get off work?"

Jiang Chuyu glanced at the time and shook her head: "I promised my roommates I'd bring them some jujube cake from Wudaokou. If I get back too late, I'm afraid I won't be able to buy any."

"I'll help you." Yang Xiuling put down her spoon and said without consulting her, "Give me your roommate's contact information. You stay here and wait for him to go back to school together. Try to get his contact information, understand?"

"But……"

“No buts.” Yang Xiuling stood up and picked up her bag. “Remember my words, take action first, learn to satisfy yourself, and then talk about other things.”

Yang Xiuling is always efficient and decisive; she leaves without hesitation, giving Jiang Chuyu no chance to react or regret her decision.

Soon, Yang Xiuling's figure disappeared through the doorway.

Jiang Chuyu shifted her gaze and focused her attention on the performance stage.

A black grand piano stood in the center, a beam of overhead light illuminating the dimly lit hall. Gu Zeming sat in the light, his slender fingers tracing the black and white keys.

Sure enough, those hands were very dexterous whether they were holding a knife or playing the piano.

Jiang Chuyu listened intently.

Time slowly passed amidst the music.

At 10:30 p.m., the restaurant began to close. Gu Zeming finished playing the last piano piece, ended his performance, and got up to walk into the staff locker room.

Jiang Chuyu tidied herself up a bit, went to the front desk to pay the bill, and waited for him at the door.

On a clear night, the streetlights shone brightly.

She stood at the restaurant entrance, watching the passing cars and pedestrians.

The neon signs flashed overhead, casting flickering light on one side of her face.

After waiting patiently for two minutes, a breeze swept by, and a strand of hair fell to her lips. Jiang Chuyu raised her hand to brush it away and pursed her lips slightly. At this moment, the glass door was pushed open, and a sliver of warm yellow light shone through.

Gu Zeming loosened his collar, his gaze brushing past her moist, red lips, his eyes dark and deep, as if he didn't recognize her, and he walked past her.

The skirt swayed slightly as the glass door closed.

Jiang Chuyu bit her lip and followed his steps.

It only takes a few minutes by taxi from the Western restaurant to University A, but it takes more than 20 minutes to walk.

Gu Zeming didn't seem to have any intention of taking a taxi, so he walked slowly along the road back to school.

Jiang Chuyu gazed at his somewhat lonely figure and thought to herself, "He's so generous when he pays for them, but he's so stingy with money when it comes to taking a taxi. He's incredibly handsome."

Jiang Chuyu followed closely behind him, stepping on his long shadow cast by the streetlights. Just as she was about to look for an opportunity to ask for his contact information, his phone screen suddenly lit up.

Jiang Chuyu paused, withdrawing her eager action.

The caller ID showed a familiar number.

Gu Zeming answered the call and walked forward while listening to it.

The night view of Wudaokou is like a slow-motion video.

On the left are bright and shiny high-rise buildings, and on the right are migrant workers squatting in front of a hardware store eating sesame seed cakes. Workers who have just finished overtime work are pouring from the science park into the urban village. A food delivery driver drives his electric bike across the road amidst the screeching of a Maybach's brakes.

This world is both real and illusory.

He knew that Jiang Chuyu had been following behind him.

He didn't need to turn around to clearly picture what she looked like at that moment.

In the hazy, pure white moonlight, she wore a misty blue dress, the lace and camellias outlining the curves of her waist. Her long, curly black hair cascaded over her shoulders, her almond-shaped eyes were clear, and her lips were as moist and sweet as if they were coated with honey.

She should be sitting in a glasshouse filled with roses, enjoying afternoon tea with her friends, not here.

After nightfall, this filthy city will devour people.

He can too.

On the other end of the phone, the person he was helping was still expressing their gratitude to him, but Gu Zeming listened absentmindedly, his mind filled with the fleeting glimpse he had just caught.

Finally, the recipient choked up and vowed to him, "Brother Zeming, I will study hard and strive to get into A University. I will never let you down!"

Gu Zeming regained his composure, gave a curt "hmm," offered a few words of simple encouragement, and then hung up the phone.

This student was a poor student whom his mother had sponsored before her death. After his mother passed away, he took over and continued to provide financial assistance to the student until he reached adulthood.

Gu Zeming exited the call and prepared to put his phone away. Jiang Chuyu remembered Yang Xiuling's instructions and immediately showed her personal QR code.

"Senior, can we add each other on WeChat? We agreed to book the whole place for ten times the price tonight, I'll transfer the money to you."

Her excuses were so lame that they were easy to refuse.

Gu Zeming's gaze lingered on her phone screen for a few seconds, his eyes narrowing slightly as he casually asked, "Want to keep me as a sugar daddy?"

? ? ?

Jiang Chuyu paused for a few seconds to confirm that what she heard and understood was correct.

She admitted that her behavior was indeed a bit rash and quickly explained, "Senior, I didn't mean to humiliate you, please don't misunderstand."

"oh."

He was indifferent; he neither added her on WeChat nor paid any more attention to her, and continued walking forward.

Jiang Chuyu was disheartened.

The proud and aloof senior student would rather scavenge for trash than accept any help. He walked with his back ramrod straight, cold and distant, looking at everyone as if they were garbage. How could someone like that possibly be willing to be kept by someone?

He was definitely joking with her.

As Jiang Chuyu watched Gu Zeming's retreating figure, she asked, almost as if possessed, "If someone were willing to keep you as a sugar daddy, would you agree?"

Gu Zeming stopped and raised an eyebrow slightly.

"No one has that guts, but you can give it a try."

His tone was completely calm, but Jiang Chuyu sensed a feeling that he was about to tear her to pieces.

She really is a coward.

I only wanted to introduce him to a good job, but it ended up like this.

Jiang Chuyu felt down for a moment, then mustered her courage and asked him earnestly, "Senior, are you really that short of money?"

Gu Zeming was silent for a moment, then turned to face her, his thin lips moving slightly as he squeezed out a single word. "Lacking."

The more frank and open he was, the less Jiang Chuyu knew how to respond.

Sending him money directly would seem like an insult to his character, so after thinking it over, it's safer to recommend him for a good job.

Before Jiang Chuyu could finish her thought, Gu Zeming had already hailed a taxi.

He opened the car door and said directly to her, "Get in."

Jiang Chuyu was a little confused: "Aren't we supposed to walk back to school?"

Gu Zeming looked at the Mary Jane shoes on her feet. "So, you want to walk with me for twenty minutes wearing these shoes?"

The shoes are exquisite and beautiful, but the heels are a bit high, making them unsuitable for long journeys.

Jiang Chuyu hesitated for a second before obediently getting into the car.

Gu Zeming closed the car door, gave the driver the address of University A, paid the fare in advance, but did not get in the car himself.

Jiang Chuyu looked puzzled and rolled down the car window to ask him, "It's very late, aren't you going back to school?"