C33 Who's the Outsider?(part I)

"I'm certain!" Lee Qiang stiffened his neck and glared at her, "Miss Ruoshan is the designated fiancée of Mr. Bo by the old lady herself. If this dress isn't for her, then who is it for? You?"

Gu Ruoshan shot him a glance, a twisted sense of pleasure flickering in her eyes. She was aware that Lee Qiang had mistaken her for someone else, but she had no intention of correcting him. Everyone believed she was Bo Yandong's future bride; why would she refute being the rightful owner of the dress? The thought of Gu Zhiwei's frustration brought her immense satisfaction.

Lifting the lid of the gift box, she eyed the pure white dress nestled inside. Gu Ruoshan's eyes narrowed, a hint of envy shimmering through. A piece from Colin's haute couture collection! For a mere dinner, Bo Yandong had splurged on such an extravagant dress for Gu Zhiwei! Did she even deserve it?

Gu Ruoshan picked up the gown and smiled at Lee Qiang, "Thank you."

"Miss Gu, there's no need for thanks," Lee Qiang replied with deference, gesturing towards the lounge door, "This is President Bo's private lounge. Miss Gu, you're welcome to change inside."

Her smile deepened. "Thank you." Gaining access to Bo Yandong's personal space was a victory in itself over Gu Zhiwei.

Lee Qiang swiped the access card and respectfully opened the door, "Miss Gu, please enter."

"Hold on," interjected Gu Zhiwei, her gaze icy as she eyed Lee Qiang, "Are you certain you want to let an outsider into President Bo's private domain?"

"Miss Gu is hardly an outsider," Lee Qiang retorted with a sneer, "She's Mr. Bo's future fiancée, the future lady of this house. She's entitled to enter President Bo's private space."

With a subtly raised eyebrow and a sly smile, Gu Zhiwei responded, "Is that so?"

Ignoring her, Lee Qiang turned back to Gu Ruoshan with respect, "Miss Gu, after you."

With a triumphant curl of her lips, Gu Ruoshan stepped inside. The lounge was a private suite.

The open wardrobe, the double bed, the frosted glass bathroom, and the bathtub—everything was in place.

Gu Ruoshan stood before the full-length mirror, observing her reflection. Slowly, a smile crept onto her lips. "Gu Zhiwei, you can't beat me," she mused silently.

Slipping into the haute couture gown, Ruoshan narrowed her eyes and carelessly tossed her replaced dress onto the bed. She then took out her phone, sat down, and seductively pulled the neckline down to reveal her shoulders, snapping several photos.

Instead of sharing the pictures immediately, she discreetly saved them to a private album. Once she finished, she grabbed the dress, ready to leave, when something on the nightstand caught her eye.

It was a wooden dagger, seemingly ancient. The blade was stained with a dark red substance, resembling blood long since dried. Ruoshan paused, her brow furrowing. The dagger seemed familiar, yet she couldn't place where she'd seen it before.

"Miss Gu, are you ready?" Lee Qiang called from outside the door. "President Bo is wrapping up; it's time to head out."

Snapping out of her reverie, Ruoshan quickly moved toward the door. "Yes, I'm ready," she replied.

Opening the door, she offered an uneasy smile. "The dress was a bit of a tight fit; it took some time to adjust."

Upon hearing this, Gu Zhiwei glanced up with a cold, mocking look. The dress was tailored to her size; naturally, it wouldn't fit Ruoshan perfectly.

Zhiwei pocketed her phone and rose from the sofa just as Bo Yandong entered. He paused at the doorway, first casting a look at Zhiwei, then turning his attention to Ruoshan, his expression turning into a frown.

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