Back Then, I Adored You

It was Gu Yusheng’s car.

Qin Zhi’ai was scared and trembled instinctively. She even forgot to pull her hand out of Wu Hao’s.

Fortunately, Wu Hao’s attention was caught by the car driving into the garage. He hadn’t noticed the slight change in her. Wu Hao asked, “Did Brother Sheng come back?”

Qin Zhi’ai recovered from the shock and immediately pulled her hand out of Wu Hao’s. She watched Gu Yusheng open the car door and climb out of the car.

He held the car keys in his hand and asked in confusion, “Why didn’t you come in? What are you doing at the door?”

“I just arrived,” Lu Bancheng answered.

Gu Yusheng didn’t respond to Lu Bancheng further. He walked to the door and saw Qi Zhi’ai bending down to take pairs of slippers off of the shoe shelf. He was shocked and paused for a second before he asked in confusion, “Where is the housekeeper?”

Qin Zhi’ai slightly paused as she put the slippers out for the guest. She answered without looking up at Gu Yusheng, “Something came up and she called me to ask for a day off—”

“Huh? What should we do for lunch if the housekeeper isn’t here,” Wu Hao interrupted.

Gu Yusheng frowned. As he was about to suggest they go out to eat, Lu Banchen, who had just changed out of his shoes into slippers, rushed forward from the door. He took a long sniff and commented, “Something smells good!”

After he said this, Wu Hao sniffed the air, too. He turned to Qin Zhi’ai and asked, “Are you cooking?”

Qin Zhi’ai nodded slightly and pointed to the kitchen. “I have to check the stove.” She walked to the kitchen.

Lu Bancheng didn’t even waste his energy on showing any courtesy. He called out behind Qin Zhi’ai, “It’s about the right time for lunch. Xiaokou, can you cook for the three of us, too?”

Qin Zhi’ai unconsciously checked the look on Gu Yusheng’s face first, noticing he didn’t seem angry. Qin Zhi’ai said, “Sure,” then walked back to the kitchen.

Qin Zhi’ai had cooked a lot of food since there were three more men joining her for lunch. When she only had soup and one vegetarian dish left to cook, she walked to the living room to tell them lunch was almost ready.

Gu Yusheng was in the living room by himself. She had no idea where Wu Hao and Lu Bancheng were.

The TV was on, but the volume had been turned down low. Gu Yusheng was playing with his cell phone in one hand and had a cigarette between his fingers in the other. She didn’t know what he was reading on his phone.

Qin Zhi’ai didn’t dare to get too close to him. She stood a distance away from him and said in a low pitch, “Lunch is ready.”

Gu Yusheng glanced at her after he casually took a puff of the cigarette.

He didn’t look excited or give her any response. He simply put away his cell phone and stood up before he walked to the entertainment room on the first floor. He knocked on the door, yelling at Wu Hao and Lu Bancheng in the entertainment room, “Come, lunch is ready.”

Lu Bancheng and Wu Hao walked into the dining room before Gu Yusheng and took their seats at the table. They didn’t wait for Gu Yusheng to come before they started to eat.

They saw Qin Zhi’ai walking out of the kitchen with a vegetarian dish and gave her their comments on her food. “Xiaokou, I didn’t know you could really cook.”

“Yeah, it’s really good, better than the food in a five star restaurant.”

Qin Zhi’ai felt a little awkward hearing such high praise. She smiled and said gently, “Help yourself if you like it.”

Before she finished speaking, Gu Yusheng walked into the dining room with a bottle of wine in his hand.

The smile on Qin Zhi’ai’s face suddenly disappeared in a conditioned reflex. She quickly put the veggie dish on the table. Without looking at Gu Yusheng, she said in a low pitch, “I will check on the soup.” She hastily turned around and left them to go to the kitchen.