C41 Don't like It? Then I'll Get Someone to Replace It

Huo Niannian could hear the whispers crystal clear, kicking herself for not having dressed up before coming out. She was well aware of her good looks, but she also knew that for some, the value was all in the clothes, the bags, and other external trappings. Lacking them meant facing their disdain.

In the past, she wouldn't have cared. But now, as Gu Tingshen's wife, she was an extension of his public persona. It seemed it was high time she paid attention. The problem was, makeup was foreign to her, and she had never paid much attention to fashion.

Upon reaching Gu Tingshen's office floor, Huo Niannian stepped out of the elevator and headed straight for the Executive Office, knocking and entering.

Gu Tingshen looked up with an impassive expression. "Wait for me over there," he said.

With a food box in hand, Huo Niannian took a seat in the sofa area, the sting of the earlier remarks still fresh in her mind. She poked at the sofa cushion, lost in thought.

Finishing his work, Gu Tingshen noticed the petite Huo Niannian on the sofa, seemingly upset. She continued to prod at the cushion as he walked over.

"Do you have a problem with the pillow?" Gu Tingshen teased.

"Yeah," Huo Niannian responded.

With a raised eyebrow, he suggested, "I could have it changed."

That brought Huo Niannian back to reality. "Gu Tingshen, it's not the pillow. Do you know any really good makeup artists or stylists?"

"You want to learn about makeup?" he asked, his guess catching her by surprise. She decided to just admit it.

"That's right. I'm your wife now. If I don't know how to dress up, it'll be embarrassing for you, won't it?" Huo Niannian said frankly.

Gu Tingshen paused before asking, "Has someone been speaking ill of you?"

He posed the question because this normally unconcerned woman was clearly troubled. Her sudden fixation on the pillow and her newfound interest in makeup suggested she'd overheard something.

Huo Niannian bit her lip, "It's nothing important. So, can you recommend someone?"

She really didn't like to gossip. Moreover, those women who had been talking about her were likely just jealous. Her decision to delve into fashion wasn't out of spite; she was looking to the future.

Gu Tingshen paused briefly before replying, "You don't need makeup—you're already looking good. Let's have dinner."

"Hmm?" It sounded like he was paying her a compliment. Huo Niannian bit her lip, choosing to overlook the slight, considering his otherwise sound judgment.

A subtle smile played on Huo Niannian's face. Gu Tingshen had seated himself with elegance and began to unpack the lunchbox. His appetite seemed especially hearty today, perhaps lifted by the day's minor drama.

The refined lunchbox contained four dishes and a soup. Gu Tingshen's slender fingers carefully placed each item on the table, finally picking up a pair of ivory chopsticks.

Confronted with the array of exquisite dishes, Huo Niannian's earlier irritation melted away, and she settled in to eat with gusto.

Halfway through the meal, a thought appeared to dawn on her. "Did you anticipate this happening?"

"What?" Gu Tingshen asked.

"That they would look down on me," Huo Niannian said.

A playful sparkle lit up Gu Tingshen's deep, star-like eyes. His lips parted, and his voice was as smooth as the richest cello, "You are my wife. Those who disparage you are either jealous or simply idle."

"But we only signed a contract," Huo Niannian couldn't help but point out.

"Whether it's in the eyes of the law or the public, that's the reality," Gu Tingshen stated firmly.

At his words, Huo Niannian fell silent; he did have a point.

She pushed her concerns aside and continued her meal with increased enthusiasm and focus. Unseen to her, outside the window of the executive office, Ding Xuelan's gaze lingered on them with a contemplative look.

Why, indeed?

To her, this petite and slender Huo Niannian seemed hardly a match for the President.