Chapter 14 You Are Indeed Very Likeable
Gustav chose a seaside hotel and asked Li Wenjing to order. Unable to understand the menu, she simply told Gustav to order and that she would order the same. Before the food arrived, Li Wenjing turned to look out the window, her thoughts lingering on the day she and Gu Weiyi had walked on the beach, when he had made her barbecue and they had chatted by the sea. He looked as pure as his white coat, his tone as gentle as the sea breeze, stirring emotions she hadn't felt in years. She was truly moved.
Li Wenjing sat across from him, her mind wandering. Gustav spoke, as if addressing a superior, and she nodded reflexively to show she was still paying attention. After Gustav finished ordering, he asked her, "Are you thinking about Charles?"
"No."
"You lied to me, don't comfort me, just tell me the truth."
Li Wenjing was stunned. Gustav smiled and said, "I wasn't sure at first, but Charles has grown up. It's normal that young people are more attractive than old men."
"I was thinking about him," Li Wenjing tucked her feet under the chair. "I was supposed to have dinner with him today, and I wanted to take the opportunity to talk him down. I actually said something yesterday, but he got very angry and didn't continue."
"Why didn't you tell me you had an appointment?"
"It's okay. You're busy with work, and it's not easy for you to come here. I can meet him often."
"That's good. He has a very strange temper. Once he decides whether you are good or bad, he won't change."
She sent him a message to explain, but he didn't reply until dinner time. Li Wenjing felt a little guilty and said, "Maybe he'll think I'm a bad person in the future."
"Do you care what other people think?"
"On the contrary, I rarely care what others think. When I was in high school, college, and graduate school, and came to Africa, there were always a lot of people who opposed me. I always persevered and wanted to go further, but..." Li Wenjing smiled bitterly. "Doctor Gu is my best friend here. He saved my life. I really want your project and want to make more money, but I don't want to cheat him too much. I was struggling with how to tell him all night. I'm sorry, I don't know what to do. Now that you're here today, it's just one more day to think of a solution."
He poured her some white wine. "You're so thoughtful. I haven't met a young lady like you in a long time. You've thought of everything so carefully. You're really likable..."
Before the wine was finished, the waiter pulled open the coconut leaf curtain of the private room. Gu Weiyi's face was pale as he walked to the table, his forehead covered with sweat.
Gustav smiled and said, "Miss, please add another chair, get a menu, and add more dishes."
"No need, I'll just say a few words and leave."
The waiter still took a menu and placed it on the table, lowered the curtain and left. He sat in the middle of the table, glanced at Li Wenjing, and then stared at Gustav. He smiled with his eyes half closed, as if nothing had happened.
"Wenjing, you are curious about why he is here."
Gustav put his phone on the table and pushed it in front of Li Wenjing. He had just posted a photo of the beach hotel on Instagram. "Charles was so desperate to find you that he almost checked all of his dad's social media accounts."
"Doctor Gu, I explained everything to you on WeChat. Didn't you see it? I was just chatting about business with your father. I'm sorry for standing you up. I'm really sorry."
Li Wenjing's explanation didn't appease Gu Weiyi. He sneered at Gustav, "You don't know his personality. If I don't come, he'll take you to the hotel. No... he's already brought you here. He just said he likes you, but he's trying to get you into bed. He has a lot of information on his phone for young girls like you. Don't believe him!"
Li Wenjing was stunned and didn't say anything. Her throat seemed to be blocked and she couldn't breathe.
"Wenjing, I thought a lot on the way here. What you said to me yesterday was very strange..." He looked at her, his eyes full of pain, as if tears were about to fall, "Are you so short of money, and also, short of your father's love?"
"Look at what you're saying? You! You—"
Her fingers on the table couldn't help but tremble slightly, and her legs were shaking violently under the table. Li Wenjing wanted to stand up and walk away, kicking Gu Weiyi before leaving. She didn't know what to say anymore, so she turned her head away. The floor-to-ceiling window clearly reflected a pair of tearful eyes. The muscles on her face were hardened into lumps, and tears flowed through the cracks in her foundation like rivers on a dry land.
The waiter came in to serve the dishes and just asked if they wanted more. The three of them were silent. Gustav waved his hand, and she put down the dishes and hurried out.
Gustav handed the towel to her. "Wipe your tears. I apologize to you on behalf of Charles."
Li Wenjing wiped her tears, leaving two black circles on the towel. She forced a smile and said, "Thank you, but your work is really too difficult."
"I just hope you don't get too sad and ruin your beautiful makeup with tears." Then he patted Gu Weiyi's shoulder and said, "If you're unhappy with me being here, I'll go eat with the driver. You stay and comfort Wen Jing. That's so rude."
Gu Weiyi didn't even glance at him, her gaze fixed on Li Wenjing. He didn't dare confront her tears, instead staring at her hand. The two needle marks on the back of her hand, the bruises from yesterday's slap, hadn't yet healed. Gu Weiyi was about to apologize, but Gustav kept chattering in her ear. Pushing his hand away, Gu Weiyi said, "Isn't that rude? You can't lie to her anymore. Give yourself an excuse."
"Wen Jing is very smart. She's not what you think. I didn't deceive her feelings or ask her to be my lover. Do you understand?"
"How can I trust you, a scumbag who is interested in the nanny..."
Gustav suddenly became angry and interrupted him loudly, "God! I say again, I did not do anything to your friend!"
Then, he also pushed open the curtain and left. Aside from the sound of the wind mixed with the crashing of the waves, there was no sound in the box. Li Wenjing picked up her knife and fork and silently began to eat the steak. It tasted like nothing. She put down her knife and fork and drank glass after glass. Finally, she began to taste something. Gu Weiyi held her hand.
"You've had too much to drink."
Li Wenjing poured him some wine and said, "Eat, there's so much meat, it would be a waste if you don't eat it."
"I don't drink, and I'm driving later," he said. "I'm sorry, I went too far. I was too impatient, and I don't know what happened. I just didn't want you to be deceived by him. What did he say to you? Why do you like him so much?"
"I don't have anything to say. Whatever you think is true, that's it. I like money, and I don't hate your father. It's all the truth, and I don't have anything to explain."
"Gustav said you're very smart, and of course I understand that. But I've been thinking about what you said yesterday about your father. Your father wasn't good to you, but Gustav seemed to treat you well. I'm really worried that you've become confused because of your illness. He speaks a lot of beautiful words and is very romantic and thoughtful. This kind of rich old man dates young women and treats them well, but it's just for fun and to entertain them. The woman doesn't know that she is the prey, and he is destroying you."
Li Wenjing curled her lips, unsure what to make of her expression. She was a little dizzy from drinking. She rubbed her solar plexus twice and smiled at him, but her tone was cold. "I think you can worry about the day you call me Mom. The rest of the time, I'm just your patient. Outside of my body, you're meddling too much in my work, my life, who I eat with. Doctor Gu, come, let's eat."
Gu Weiyi ate with her, remaining silent. He ate very little, leaving his portion of the two grilled seafood dishes untouched. Li Wenjing simply pushed the plate away and stuffed the whole thing into her mouth. She liked to eat when she was feeling down. For many people, as long as swallowing is involved, drinking, eating, and even negative emotions can be digested.
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