Seventh Year Of Separation chapter 46
Secret Lover
Is this yours?” The cashier picked up the pink box and asked Gu Jiahe.
Gu Jiahe glanced at Li Zhao standing behind him and nodded reluctantly, “Yes, yes, let’s pay for it together.”
Li Zhao remained composed, with a serious expression.
After settling the bill, Li Zhao picked up the bag and walked out. Gu Jiahe followed him quickly, causing the cashier to glance at them.
They sat back in the car together.
Li Zhao started the car smoothly, and there were no abnormalities throughout the journey. The Lingang urban area was quiet at night, with few cars on the road.
The shopping bag was placed on the back seat, and Gu Jiahe glanced at it through the rearview mirror. The box of condoms was placed right on top.
By the time they returned to the hotel room, it was almost eleven o’clock. The port area was quiet, with not even the sound of seagulls outside the window.
Li Zhao entered the room with the bag first.
As Gu Jiahe closed the door, he peeked outside for reassurance before gently closing it.
“Why are you acting like a thief?” Li Zhao stood in the room, watching his actions.
Gu Jiahe clicked his tongue. The hotel was mostly occupied by leaders attending the conference at the new factory, so he wouldn’t dare to attract any attention.
Li Zhao chuckled and crossed his arms. “What’s wrong? Am I your secret lover now?”
“Your choice of words…” Gu Jiahe tugged at his sleeve, urging him into the inner room.
Seeing Gu Jiahe’s nervous expression, Li Zhao didn’t tease further and took off his coat to take a shower.
Soon, the sound of rushing water filled the bathroom. About fifteen minutes later, Li Zhao finished and came out.
Gu Jiahe lifted his head from the chair upon hearing the sound. Li Zhao was only wearing a large towel around his waist, with water droplets still on his arms. The room’s light accentuated his skin’s texture.
Gu Jiahe thought to himself, even a peacock shouldn’t flaunt itself everywhere.
“Aren’t you going to shower?” Li Zhao found another towel to dry his hair, asking him.
Gu Jiahe had no choice but to enter the bathroom. It was warm inside, and the mirror was foggy. For some reason, Gu Jiahe felt Li Zhao’s presence throughout the entire space.
Secret lover—
Thinking of this term, Gu Jiahe suddenly felt a warmth spreading through his body.
He shook his head vigorously, packing these messy thoughts and flushing them down the drain.
When he came out of the bathroom, Li Zhao had already sprawled on the bed, holding an iPad and reviewing work materials, as if it were his own room.
And the box of peach-flavored condoms was placed prominently on the bedside table, as if afraid Gu Jiahe wouldn’t notice.
Gu Jiahe sat on the bed, nudging Li Zhao aside. “Make some room for me.”
“Isn’t this enough?” Li Zhao didn’t retract his thigh.
“I’m almost sitting on you.” Gu Jiahe stared back, annoyed.
Li Zhao extended two fingers toward the ceiling.
Gu Jiahe didn’t understand. “What does that mean?”
“After driving from the Northern City to Lingang for two hours, and with the Spring Festival travel rush these days, the expressway was congested. Is this how you treat me?” Li Zhao teased, not letting go of his thigh.
Gu Jiahe caught the flaw in his words. “Aren’t you here to visit a client?”
Li Zhao immediately countered, “Aren’t you my client? Are you going to go back on the contract, signed in black and white?”
Gu Jiahe gritted his teeth, realizing Li Zhao wasn’t entirely wrong. He was indeed quick-witted.
“Do you treat your clients like this? I’ll tell Qin Par later that you are harassing clients behind closed doors.”
“The agency contract doesn’t say that the party of the second part cannot have a relationship with the party of the first part,” Li Zhao continued scrolling on his iPad, bathed in the blue light.
Gu Jiahe was speechless, realizing he had been outmaneuvered. Arguing with a lawyer was really taxing on the brain.
Li Zhao seized the opportunity, “You’ve changed. Seems like once you catch someone, you stop cherishing them.”
“Me, changed?” Gu Jiahe tilted his head.
“You used to like wrapping your legs around me…”
“Enough, enough,” Gu Jiahe quickly covered his mouth.
“Tsk. When you need something, you call me ge. Now, you’re covering my mouth like this.”
Such a smooth talker! Gu Jiahe clenched his fists, determined to buy a basic debate guide and study hard to win the next argument.
As he was thinking, Li Zhao seemed unwilling to waste more time with him. He casually tossed the iPad onto the bedside table, lifted the blanket, and turned over.
The next moment, Li Zhao flipped over and pulled Gu Jiahe into his arms, looming over him from above with a predatory gaze.
“Gu Jiahe, I didn’t come here to argue with you.”
Gu Jiahe was forced to meet his gaze, feeling nervous, and softly reminded him, “The HR manager is staying next door.”
Li Zhao extended a finger to Gu Jiahe’s lips, shushing him. “Lower your voice then.”
He reached for the pink box on the bedside table, tore open the packaging with one hand, and took out a thin plastic wrap.
Then he handed it to Gu Jiahe. “Here, put it on.”
Gu Jiahe’s head buzzed.
Here we go again, no subject-predicate-object, just commands.
Gu Jiahe muttered, “You’re really bossy these days.”
“Fine. Then…” Li Zhao pondered for a moment, leaning close to his ear, “baby, help me put it on.”
The room’s temperature skyrocketed instantly.
…
The next morning, Gu Jiahe woke up groggily. There was only one thought in his mind: Li Zhao was the most audacious party of the second part he had ever met.
Li Zhao got out of bed, wearing only a pair of boxers, and cheerfully opened the curtains. The rising sun was just outside, bathing the room in its morning glow.
The room faced southeast, offering a perfect view of the sunrise. The sea seemed sprinkled with golden flakes, stunningly beautiful.
“Do you want to go downstairs to watch the sunrise?” Li Zhao checked the weather app. “We still have about fifteen minutes.”
Gu Jiahe stretched his limbs, feeling sore and numb, but he managed to get up with determination.
The winter morning in Lingang felt chilly, despite the sun appearing close to the ground.
Gu Jiahe put on a knitted hat and wrapped a scarf around his neck, then looked at Li Zhao by the door.
Li Zhao was only wearing a coat, without any other gear. It was like they were from two different dimensions.
Gu Jiahe decided to zip up his down jacket to cover his neck and took off his scarf.
“Bend down,” he told Li Zhao.
“What for?” Li Zhao was puzzled.
Gu Jiahe didn’t answer but reached out to tie the fluffy scarf around him, making a knot.
“This doesn’t match at all.” Li Zhao, clad in a black wool overcoat, had a cream-colored scarf wrapped around him, looking somewhat out of place.
“Forget it then,” Gu Jiahe said, about to untie the knot.
“Keep it on,” Li Zhao quickly grabbed his hand and tightened the knot.
“Don’t suffocate yourself.” Gu Jiahe reached out to loosen it slightly.
“I have accidental insurance.”
“Nonsense, don’t curse yourself.” Gu Jiahe couldn’t help but laugh.
The two of them jogged downstairs. Fortunately, the hotel was not far from the port, and they caught the tail end of the sunrise.
The brisk morning wind blew from the sea, tousling Gu Jiahe’s hair.
Squinting, Gu Jiahe watched the huge round sun on the horizon. The last trace of the sun’s silhouette rose from the sea.
The entire sea surface was dyed with a highly saturated golden hue.
Whoo—
In the distance, a cruise ship passed by, its whistle echoing across the sea.
“Have you ever been on a cruise?” Gu Jiahe suddenly turned to ask Li Zhao.
“I have. Why?” Li Zhao recalled, they had organized a year-end party on a cruise ship for their law firm, spending three days and two nights onboard.
“Nothing.” Gu Jiahe shook his head.
“There’s plenty of time ahead. There will be other opportunities,” Li Zhao quickly understood what Gu Jiahe was thinking.
As the sun gradually rose above the sea, the sky was already bright.
Turning around, Li Zhao asked, “Are you going to the factory area later?”
“No, I’m not.” At that moment, Gu Jiahe remembered something. “Shall we drive back later?”
“Sure. Why not?” Li Zhao replied.
“I was thinking of inviting the HR manager to come back with us. It doesn’t seem appropriate for her to take the train alone,” Gu Jiahe continued.
“I’m fine with that. Invite her, I’ll give her a ride too.”
Seeing that it was still early, Gu Jiahe sent her a message on WeChat.
After a while, the HR manager replied, “Sure, thank you so much.”
Around eight-thirty, Gu Jiahe packed his luggage and placed it in the trunk of Li Zhao’s car.
The two of them waited in the parking lot for the HR manager to come downstairs.
Before long, they saw her walking out of the hotel lobby, carrying two paper bags.
“I just packed some soy milk from the buffet for you both, one cup each.”
“Thank you so much.” Gu Jiahe took one of the cups, which was still warm.
“No problem, I’m hitching a ride anyway, it’s the least I can do.”
The three of them stood in front of the car, and soon Li Zhao opened the door and sat in the driver’s seat.
After some thought on how to get in, Gu Jiahe turned to see the HR manager opening the back door. “I’ll sit in the back. You need the space up front because you’re tall.”
“Okay.” Gu Jiahe nodded.
Li Zhao didn’t say much, he turned on the heating and then drove onto the main road toward the highway.
Seeing that no one was speaking, the HR manager broke the silence, “By the way, did you two go to the convenience store together yesterday?”
“Yes,” Gu Jiahe nodded.
“Are you university classmates?” she continued.
“No, high school classmates,” Gu Jiahe replied.
“That’s nice. I’ve lost contact with my high school classmates,” the HR manager said with envy.
The conversation then faded away, and Gu Jiahe didn’t know what else to say.
“Hey, what did you guys buy yesterday?” she asked casually.
Gu Jiahe’s mind went blank, filled only with the scent of peaches.
Three seconds passed without anyone speaking.
Suddenly, Li Zhao spoke up in a serious tone, “It was nothing, just some daily necessities.”