C29 Elegant(part I)

He actually lost his composure and nearly...

"Yandong." The woman's eyes fluttered open, clouded with confusion as she gazed at him. She lifted her head, seeking his lips.

Bo Yandong inhaled sharply and firmly pushed her away.

He rose and made his way to the bathroom. Shortly after, the sound of running water filled the space.

By the time Bo Yandong emerged from his cold shower, Gu Zhiwei's figure had vanished from the room.

His bathrobe lay discarded on the bed, and the wardrobe door stood ajar. A black shirt that had been hanging inside was now missing.

Bo Yandong exhaled a sigh of relief.

Only he knew the extent of his self-control that night.

He was aware that Gu Zhiwei had agreed to marry him as an act of vengeance against her family, not out of love.

Her forwardness likely stemmed from a lack of security, a rush to cement their marital status.

Yet, he didn't want to win her over so hastily.

Even though he had indeed developed feelings for Gu Zhiwei.

The following morning.

Bo Yandong was summoned by Old Mrs. Bo.

"I heard you brought a woman home last night and even took her to your room to stay the night?" she inquired, her expression sour as she sat at the dining table.

Old Mrs. Bo, Chung Shuang, was eighty this year. In her youth, she was a demure and elegant lady.

But with age, her temper had grown more capricious. A fit of anger could send her packing, and only careful coaxing would bring her back.

Bo Yandong took a seat across from her, a touch of resignation on his otherwise cool and aristocratic face.

"She didn't stay the night. She was injured, and I brought her back to tend to her wounds," he explained.

"Do you take me for a toddler?" Old Mrs. Bo retorted, her lips pursed. "Bringing a woman home in the dead of night just to dress a wound? I may be old, but I'm not senile!"

She had set her sights on the Gu family's second daughter as a bride for her grandson and had already initiated the marriage talks. All that was left was for the two to meet formally and set the engagement.

Yet here he was, for years avoiding any romantic entanglements, suddenly bringing a woman home overnight. If the Gu family got wind of this, where would that leave her dignity?

Bo Yandong's brow furrowed as the intimate scenes from the previous night replayed in his mind, causing his ears to redden slightly.

Bo Yandong was brought up by Chung Shuang, who could discern his thoughts with a mere glance. Upon realizing his hesitation, she slammed her hand down on the table and declared, "I don't care! I've already arranged for you to meet the Gu family's second daughter, and once you do, the marriage is to be settled. The news is all over my old friends' chat group. If you back out now, I'll never be able to face them again!"

A fleeting look of resignation crossed Bo Yandong's eyes as he spoke softly, "Grandma, you pushed for me to marry by the end of this year, and I've complied..."

"I don't care! You must marry the Gu family's daughter... Wait a minute!"

Old Mrs. Bo abruptly looked up. "What did you just say?"

In a soothing tone, Bo Yandong lowered his voice, "I've already registered for marriage with the Gu family's daughter. The woman I brought home last night, she's the one."

Old Mrs. Bo paused for a second, then her eyes sparkled with wild joy. "Is it the Gu family's second daughter, Gu Ruoshan?"

Bo Yandong slowly shook his head. "No, it's the Gu family's eldest daughter, Gu Zhiwei."

Gu Zhiwei?

Old Mrs. Bo froze once more, disbelief etched on her face.

"Who did you say you've married?"

As she spoke, Old Mrs. Bo cleared her ears and leaned in, hand cupped behind her ear, ready to hear Bo Yandong's clarification.

With an air of inevitability, he raised his voice, "You heard me correctly. It's Gu Zhiwei."

"Gu Zhiwei?"

The same Gu Zhiwei who was notorious for being uneducated, for bullying the weak, for her arrogance and unruliness, and for her scandalous personal life?