Beauties in the Capital
Following the lavish spending spree at Longjing Capital, Zhiwei's reputation in Beijing reached new heights. Well-informed figures from all walks of life tried to cultivate relationships with this woman who possessed wealth, beauty, and a mysterious background. Among them, three of the "Four Young Masters of Beijing" were the most proactive.
These three wealthy young men each used their own methods to pursue her ardently. One sent rare tulips, still glistening with morning dew, air-freighted from the Netherlands every day; another presented her with antique jewelry newly acquired at auction, claiming that only a beautiful woman deserved such treasures; and yet another booked an entire Michelin three-star restaurant just to invite her to a candlelight dinner.
However, Zhiwei's handling of the situation surprised all onlookers. She instructed her assistant to return the lavish gifts from the two men intact, with a note attached containing only six elegant yet aloof words: "A gentleman does not take what others cherish." This seemingly casual statement both indicated that she was aware of the unsettling situation surrounding these two men and skillfully maintained her dignity, leaving no room for criticism.
The only one to "win" was Gu Fei, the young master of the Gu family. Strangely enough, Gu Fei's family background was not the most illustrious among the four, and his business was slightly smaller, but he unexpectedly won Zhi Wei's favor with his outstanding appearance and his recent "clean" romantic relationship. Even Gu Fei himself was somewhat flattered, not understanding why he was the only one among his three formidable rivals to receive the beauty's special attention.
He naturally dared not be negligent and used all his charm. Zhiwei did not reject his attentiveness, and soon the two appeared together at various social events in the capital. The combination of a handsome man and a beautiful woman is always pleasing to the eye, and for a time it became a hot topic of discussion in social circles. A certain secret underground casino even opened betting on when this young master Gu would truly "win the beauty's heart".
Gu Fei was indeed a competent companion. He was well-mannered, witty, and, more importantly, knew what to say in any situation, never making Zhiwei feel embarrassed. When they went to art exhibitions together, he could offer his insights on abstract paintings; when they attended business parties, he could chat with tech elites about cutting-edge trends; even during a simple afternoon tea, he could tell her interesting stories from the industry to make her happy.
To outsiders, they appeared to be a couple deeply in love. But Gu Fei knew in his heart that their relationship was always separated by an invisible glass wall—he had never been invited into Zhiwei's private space; her boudoir in the elegant garden remained a forbidden zone for him.
After a charity gala, Gu Fei escorted Zhi Wei back to the Ya Yuan building. The night was perfect, the moonlight like water, and the atmosphere was ambiguous. Slightly emboldened by the alcohol, Gu Fei leaned closer, wanting to ask for a goodnight kiss.
Zhiwei gently raised her hand, her slender fingertips touching his chest, stopping him just in time. The coolness of her fingertips seeped through the thin fabric of his shirt, instantly extinguishing the fire in Gu Fei's heart.
"Young Master Gu," her voice was exceptionally clear in the night, tinged with a lazy laugh, "it's much easier to be my companion, Chen Zhiwei."
Gu Fei was taken aback, not quite understanding, when she heard her continue, "A bed partner isn't necessary." Her gaze swept across his face, as if she could see right through him. "I think even you, Young Master Gu, couldn't possibly abstain from sex for six months, undergo a full range of tests to ensure your purity. Even if you could," she smiled slightly, her eyes distant, "you'd still have to remain chaste for the duration of the relationship. That would be far too unreasonable for you, Young Master Gu."
These words struck Gu Fei like a thunderbolt, and he immediately understood what distinguished him from his other suitors—not because he was anything special, but because he happened to be "clean" recently. Zhi Wei's conditions, rather than being criteria for choosing a partner, were more like a line drawn on the ground, clearly defining the nature of their relationship.
He watched Zhiwei turn and walk into the apartment lobby, her back elegant and composed, yet carrying an unapproachable distance. At that moment, Gu Fei finally realized that in this high-profile "pursuit," he had never been the hunter, but rather a chosen object, a display piece fulfilling a temporary need. Those bets in the casino were destined to be lost completely.
The Gu family's business, "Changlong Group," appears glamorous on the surface, but beneath lies a turbulent undercurrent. Gu Zhongchang built this empire from scratch, working hand in hand with his first wife. Their two sons, Gu Chen and Gu Wei, have firmly established themselves in key positions within the group: one helms the real estate sector, and the other controls financial investments. Gu Fei, the youngest son of Gu Zhongchang and his secretary who later rose to prominence, occupies a rather delicate position within the family. Although favored by his father and seen as a source of comfort in his old age, he remains, in the true power structure, an outsider.
In recent years, the real estate industry has been volatile, and Changlong Group's cash flow has become increasingly tight. A key project in cooperation with a large state-owned enterprise, although promising, has left Gujia in a predicament of "seeing the profit but not being able to open its mouth" due to the long repayment cycle and the huge amount of upfront deposit.
Therefore, when news of Gu Fei's relationship with Shen Zhiwei reached the Gu family, Gu Zhongchang, far from the usual father's worry that his son was "bewitched by an older woman," was overjoyed. In his eyes, Zhiwei's well-known marital history and her nearly forty years of age were utterly insignificant compared to the resources Longjing Capital might bring. He repeatedly hinted to his son, "Feifei, invite Miss Shen over sometime, let her feel your sincerity."
Gu Fei could only manage a bitter smile whenever he heard this. He knew better than anyone what kind of schemes lay behind his father and brothers' "enthusiasm." Bringing such intentions to Zhiwei would only make him an instant laughingstock in their circle.
That day, Gu Zhongchang summoned Gu Fei to his study again, his brows furrowed: "Fei, that contract with the state-owned enterprise is almost finalized. But the security deposit... is proving a bit difficult. Do you think... you could mention it to Miss Shen?" His tone carried the air of a businessman who took it for granted, regarding interpersonal relationships as tradable resources.
A bitter feeling welled up in Gu Fei's heart, but he could only vaguely reply, "Dad, I'll find an opportunity... to see how things go." After talking with his father, Gu Fei was somewhat distracted for several days. He was unwilling and dared not ask Zhiwei for help, as that would be tantamount to putting a price tag on a relationship that still had warmth; but the predicament facing his family was so real that it made him feel suffocated.
His unusual behavior did not escape Zhiwei's keen eyes. She did not ask directly, but after an afternoon tea, she casually mentioned to Liang Tian, "Godfather, has the Gu family encountered any difficulties recently? If it's just a normal cash flow problem, you can lend a hand if you can, but business is business, and we can't let Godfather lose money."
Liang Tian was no ordinary man. After a little investigation, he quickly ascertained Changlong's true intentions—the project itself was a stable collaboration with a state-owned enterprise, but the repayment cycle was several years long, requiring extremely high liquidity, and the amount involved was indeed substantial. After assessing the situation, he deemed the risks manageable and, through his subordinate investment company, quietly facilitated the transaction by connecting with Changlong on market-based terms, thus relieving the Gu family's immediate financial crisis.
The matter was handled discreetly, without any personal strings attached, appearing as if it were merely a routine business decision by Longjing Capital. Gu Fei only learned of the successful resolution from her father's ecstatic phone call. Gu Zhongchang repeatedly exclaimed on the other end of the line, "Longjing Capital truly came to our rescue! Fei, you must thank Miss Shen properly!"
Gu Fei held his phone, speechless for a moment. He had never spoken to Zhiwei, yet she had already seen through everything and, without his knowledge, had offered help in the most dignified and undignified way. This effortless protection transformed the embarrassment he had felt earlier due to his father's hints into an overwhelming sense of shame.
He recalled that when he first approached Zhiwei, he might have had the intention of using her connections. But when she actually "helped" him, he felt no joy at all, only an indescribable sense of embarrassment at being seen through, and a deep self-loathing—in her eyes, he always seemed to be nothing more than a "problem" that needed to be taken care of and solved.
That evening, he stood downstairs at Yayuan, gazing up at the window illuminated by a warm light, and for the first time, he lacked the courage to ring the doorbell. The moonlight cast a long shadow of him, and standing in that soft glow, he clearly realized that what separated him from the woman inside the window was not only a gap in age and experience, but also a tenderness and strength that he could hardly attain—a strength that remained even after gaining a deep understanding of the world.
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