Chapter 112: A Welcome Gift
The banquet was held at a private estate, which had a more vintage, medieval-style charm compared to Gu Hanling’s modern villa.
As Shen Xi stepped out of the car, she noticed that most of the women around her were elegantly linking arms with their male partners.
She hesitated for a moment, then convinced herself that this was just part of her role. Using that as an excuse, she tentatively reached out and hooked her small hand around Gu Hanling’s arm.
Even through the fabric of his suit, she could feel the firm strength of his arm.
Sensing her movement, Gu Hanling instinctively bent his arm slightly, making it easier for her to hold on. He glanced at her conflicted little expression and let out a faint smile.
Feeling inexplicably shy, Shen Xi couldn't bring herself to meet Gu Hanling's eyes.
She pretended to be looking around, and realized this was the first time she had ever linked arms with a man in such a feminine way.
Inside the estate, the number of guests wasn’t particularly large. It seemed that only those with invitations were allowed to attend this private banquet.
Though the gathering was small, it was clear that every guest had an extraordinary status.
Most were scholars and intellectuals, well-dressed and exuding refined manners, while only a handful were wealthy business elites who had arrived in luxurious cars, like the man beside her.
However, compared to the rest of the attendees, Gu Hanling stood out as exceptionally young.
With his cold yet dignified presence and Shen Xi in a sleek black gown beside him, her fair skin appearing even more luminous under the contrast, they instantly drew the attention of the crowd.
Several guests seemed to recognize Gu Hanling and eagerly approached, greeting him in various foreign languages, none of which Shen Xi understood.
Maintaining a polite smile, she quietly stood by his side.
She had always known that Gu Hanling was fluent in multiple languages, but seeing him seamlessly switch between them with such ease was still astonishing.
She couldn’t help but think—
Even if the Gu Corporation ever went bankrupt, at least he could make a living as a top-tier translator and still support their household...
Wait. Pfft! What was she even thinking?
Shen Xi initially assumed that these people were just Gu Hanling’s international business partners.
That was until he led her to the host of the estate. A white-haired elderly man seated in a wheelchair.
She felt like he looked somewhat familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before.
Despite being in a wheelchair, the old man had a strong presence, sharp eyes, and a lively spirit.
Gu Hanling bowed slightly and began conversing with him in German.
Shen Xi was surprised, who in this world could make him bow?
Since she couldn’t understand a word of their conversation, she quickly lost interest. Her gaze wandered across the room until it landed on an exquisite display of desserts nearby. Without realizing it, she swallowed slightly.
The old man seemed to notice her distraction. He chuckled warmly and turned to say something to Gu Hanling.
Gu Hanling responded by wrapping an arm around Shen Xi’s waist and gently guiding her forward. Then, in English, he introduced her.
“This is Shen Xi, my wife.”
Switching to Chinese, he explained to her,
“This is Professor Robin, my mentor from when I studied abroad.”
“He said your eyes are beautiful. They remind him of an old friend, your father.”
Shen Xi was momentarily taken aback but quickly composed herself. She gave a small polite bow before extending her hand for a handshake.
The professor smiled and nodded, seemingly pleased. Then, from a bag beside his wheelchair, he retrieved a small, beautifully crafted wooden box and handed it to her.
Shen Xi was surprised but accepted the box politely. Carefully opening it, she found a pair of exquisite heart-shaped ruby brooches inside.
“This is...?”
She glanced at Gu Hanling in confusion. This gift looked incredibly valuable.
“A meeting gift. Keep it.”
Shen Xi gently closed the wooden box. Since the man had put it that way, she obediently accepted it and thanked Professor Robin once more.
After the banquet ended, Shen Xi sat in the car, holding the open wooden box in her hands, admiring the brooches. She turned to Gu Hanling and couldn't help but ask,
“Why did the professor give me such an expensive gift?”
“Because I’m his most outstanding student.”
Once a teacher, always a mentor. Gu Hanling gave a faint smile, tilting his head slightly as he looked at Shen Xi with a meaningful expression.
Shen Xi pouted, his smug expression practically said, ‘You’re only getting this because of me.’
When they returned to Gu Hanling’s estate, Shen Xi did a quick search on her phone and was stunned to find out that the professor's status was even more prestigious than she had imagined.
“Oh my god, if I had known, I would've taken more pictures with him, or at least asked for an autograph!”
The old man wasn’t just some wealthy investor. He was an internationally renowned economist and sociologist, with achievements and titles that put even Warren Buffett to shame.
…………………………………………
The Next Day.
With most of Gu Hanling’s business here wrapped up, they were planning to return home the day after tomorrow. Shen Xi thought about going to a shopping mall in the city to buy some souvenirs. Maybe some luxury bags and watches to bring back for Keke and the others.
But after waking up, she realized she had been dragged overseas so suddenly that she didn’t have any of her bank cards with her. The only thing she had was her phone, which wasn’t even linked to any international payment options.
So now, she found herself standing in front of Gu Hanling’s desk as he flipped through documents, feeling a little embarrassed. Her voice was so soft it was almost a whisper,
“Uh… big brother… I… I want to go to the mall…”
She was already preparing herself. If she borrowed some foreign currency from him, would she have to pay a price for it later? After all, getting money from a ruthless capitalist was no easy task.
But before she could even finish speaking, Gu Hanling, without even lifting his head, casually tossed a card at her like it was nothing.
He didn’t say anything about paying him back or anything like that.
Completely stunned, Shen Xi walked out of the villa, still processing what had just happened.
Outside, Alice was already waiting at the entrance.
“Madam, Sir has already arranged a car. I will accompany you to the city.”
Shen Xi nodded blankly. For some reason, the whole situation felt like one of those cliché rich husband scenes from a drama, where the wealthy husband smirks, tosses a credit card worth billions onto the table, and says in an icy tone, "Take it. Spend as much as you want."
Hmm… was she actually starting to feel like a rich wife now?
By the time her legs were sore from all the shopping, Shen Xi finally got back into the car. She looked at the back seat, which was piled high with shopping bags, and felt oddly satisfied.
Today she truly experienced the thrill of a woman's indulgence in shopping.
She couldn’t help but wonder, why was Gu Hanling acting so differently lately? Could it be… was there a chance… that he actually liked her?
No way… right?
Just as she was getting carried away in her wild imagination, a sudden realization hit her. Wait a minute! That man already owed her money! He still hadn’t paid her the fee for Susie’s project!
Damn it! She had been happy for nothing. In the end, it was still her own money she was spending!
Tsk. Classic ruthless capitalist move.
…………………………………………
The Next Day.
On their private jet back home, Gu Hanling narrowed his eyes slightly, glancing at the woman beside him. For some reason, she looked annoyed, her cheeks puffed out like she was sulking, as she scrolled through her phone, completely ignoring him.
Since the drama hadn’t wrapped filming yet, Shen Xi didn’t have any official acting projects under her name. The only public recognition she had was from a few songs.
However, thanks to her recent high-profile moments, she had gained some traction online. Especially after confirming her marriage in the production’s official livestream.
On Weibo, some true fans sent their blessings.
But, as expected, there were way more haters who spread rumors, saying that she only got a role in “Landscape is Like a Painting” because she married some rich, fat, balding old man.
Even funnier, some people started comparing Gu Hanling to Shi Jingyan, claiming that he must be too ugly to show his face in public.
Shen Xi didn’t even need to think about it. This kind of aggressive trash talk had to be the work of Lin Yueyue’s obsessed fans.
As soon as she landed back home, she was invited to the prestigious XX Night event, which attracts numerous celebrities.