Chapter 76: CEO Gu Wants to Invest in Me?
Shen Xi’s chin hurt from the man’s grip, and she was a little annoyed, but she held it in and mumbled softly,
"It’s not that exciting..."
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears from the pain, making her look unexpectedly delicate. The kind of look that made people want to protect her.
"Hanling... you’re hurting me."
There was no one else around, yet she called him Hanling in that soft and sweet voice. Gu Hanling’s eyes widened slightly, and after a brief pause, he let go of her chin.
Shen Xi kept her expression calm and composed, but inside, she was grinning widely.
See? It doesn’t matter if he’s a cold CEO or an aloof one, men all fall for this trick.
‘Ugh, that hurts a bit. What’s up with him today?’
She rubbed her sore chin. If it hadn’t hurt so much, she definitely wouldn’t have backed down.
Well… okay, maybe she was a little scared of the strong and bullied the weak, but come on, this was CEO Gu we’re talking about!
He was temperamental, ruthless, and domineering, giving in to him once in a while wasn’t a big deal, right?
Gu Hanling picked up the thick script from the table, flipped through a few pages, then tossed it back down.
"Big Brother, with your sharp market insight, what do you think of this drama?"
Shen Xi tilted her head slightly as she looked at him. She was actually curious about his opinion, so she even buttered him up a little.
Gu Hanling turned slightly, his gaze landing on her reddened chin. Her skin was too delicate. Even a slight amount of pressure left behind a faint red mark.
He stared at her for a moment, then suddenly reached out, his fingers gently lifting her chin.
This time, his touch was much softer. There was even a hint of unspoken tenderness.
Shen Xi froze, her heart skipping a beat. A strange, indescribable feeling spread through her.
"Does it hurt?"
He spoke with a voice that remained cold, yet carried an uncharacteristic tenderness.
"It’s… not too bad..."
Shen Xi was caught off guard, subconsciously responding with a soft and sweet tone.
"Want a role in the film industry?"
"It’s simple. Just beg me, and you won’t need to ask anyone else."
The man lazily cupped her chin, tilting it slightly from side to side. It seemed like he was checking the red mark on her skin, but at the same time, it felt like he was simply admiring her delicate features.
Shen Xi felt a little weird about it, but her attention was completely drawn to his words. Her eyes lit up.
"Mr. Gu wants to invest in me!?"
"Hehe, to be honest, I have a few movie scripts that are guaranteed to be hits. All I need is startup funding."
The man’s well-defined lips curved slightly, forming a smirk that wasn’t quite a smile.
"Do you remember what it means to be a capitalist, dear wife?"
"If you want something, you have to pay an equal price for it."
At the mention of the word “price”, Shen Xi’s hair stood on end. She still vividly remembered that night, when she had nearly lost her dignity to this man.
She had no idea if he meant the same kind of price today, but either way, she’d be the one at a disadvantage. There was no way she could outplay this cunning devil in front of her.
His words sounded just like those villains in TV dramas who try to take advantage of young actresses.
Even though she knew Gu Hanling wasn’t that kind of person, she still felt annoyed.
In that fleeting moment, the pride of her former male self surged from her core, flowing into her delicate hand, like lightning coursing through her fingertips, and then she gently pushed his hand away.
"Never mind. I’ll walk my own path."
With that, Shen Xi immediately got up and left, as if escaping.
Gu Hanling watched her slender figure disappear, an undetectable amusement flickering in his eyes.
He glanced at the script on the table, then absentmindedly took out a cigarette.
But before he could even take a single puff, he seemed to have thought of something, and without hesitation, he threw it in the trash can.
…………………………………………
9:00 PM.
After a shower, Shen Xi slipped into a silky nightgown, feeling pleased with herself.
Tonight is the last night she has to share a bed with him. Just the thought of it made her incredibly happy.
Finally, freedom.
Shen Xi couldn’t hide the smile on her lips.
Uh… though her smart little brain had completely lost track of how many days she had actually been doing this.
But so what? There was no way a man like him would keep count either. She’d just declare that tonight was the last night, and what could he do about it?
Shen Xi walked over to the bed, lifted the covers, and slipped in, leaning against the headboard as she scrolled through her phone.
Just then, Gu Hanling pushed open her bedroom door with ease.
For someone who usually had insomnia, he was rarely this punctual about going to bed. But then again, when there was a “cuddle pillow” waiting for him in bed, that was a different story.
The moment Shen Xi saw him enter, she quickly wiped the smile off her face.
Gu Hanling’s calm gaze swept over her, but there was still a trace of amusement lingering on her lips.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
A woman staring at her phone and smiling like an idiot? There could only be one reason. She must be chatting with Shi Jingyan again.
He let out a slight scoff, then headed straight for the bathroom. After he finished showering and lay down on the bed, Shen Xi hesitated, then cautiously said,
"Uh… so, tonight’s the last night I have to sleep here, right?"
The moment the words left her mouth, her face started to heat up.
Saying it out loud felt a little suggestive, but in reality, they had been doing nothing but sleeping together.
"The last night?"
Gu Hanling raised an eyebrow and repeated her words, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.
Shen Xi was slightly hesitant, because she didn't remember, but she nodded, trying to appear confident.
To be honest, Gu Hanling hadn’t kept count either. But that didn’t matter, because…
"Do you remember the prototype of the AI music analyzer?"
At those words, Shen Xi’s smile stiffened.
Right… he had said before that he hadn’t decided what price she had to pay yet.
Reluctantly, she mumbled a barely audible response, like a mosquito buzzing.
"R-remember..."
A chill ran down Shen Xi’s spine. See? You can never take advantage of a capitalist.
Gu Hanling chuckled and held up one finger.
Shen Xi’s eyes lit up. One day? No way he’d let her off that easily.
"One week?"
The man shook his head slowly, his smile deepening. To be honest, he had originally planned to say one week. But she had annoyed him before.
"One month."
The moment she heard his response, Shen Xi rolled her eyes.
One month? Wow, he really dares to ask! But what did capitalists not dare to ask for?
Shen Xi couldn’t be bothered to argue over a few days. She pouted in frustration, turned her back to him, and closed her eyes, pretending to sleep.
Gu Hanling watched her, finding her unknowingly adorable.
His gaze landed on her soft, black hair, strands spilling across the pillow, carrying a light, pleasant scent. Before he knew it, he reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
Shen Xi had been faking sleep, but the sudden warmth on her head sent shivers down her spine.
Her eyes snapped open in shock. She instinctively shrank back, grumbling inside,
She just finished smoothing out her hair!!
Long hair was so much trouble, especially for someone like her, who was still new to it.
Luckily, the man didn’t do anything else, as if he had simply been unable to resist petting his "cuddle pillow."
The night passed without further incident.
And just like that, Shen Xi’s "cuddle service" was locked in for a monthly subscription.
But the customer himself?
Gone.
According to Butler Wang, Gu Hanling had flown abroad again.
Busy?
Good! The busier, the better! Hehehe...
But just a few days later. Shen Xi wasn’t laughing anymore.