Chapter 223: Admirer
Translator: _Min_
Zhou Ci raised his glass with a flourish, tilting his head slightly back to drain it in one go. With flushed cheeks, he sprawled lazily on the couch and expressed his surprise, “At this time in the past, you were always buried in work, almost like a shadow that’s never seen. Even when 1 tried to invite you out, you wouldn’t come. And here you are today, out of the blue, asking me to meet you at a bar.”
Song Ling’s brows were tightly knit with a look of irritation, as he methodically sipped his drinks, one after another.
Song Ling remained silent, and Zhou Ci did not press him further, plunging the space between them into a tranquil silence.
Eventually, Song Ling couldn’t contain himself and broke the silence, “Gu Dai had lost her memory.”
Zhou Ci was stunned. Shock compelled him to stand abruptly, grabbing his coat, ready to rush out.
“What are you doing?” Song Ling asked, seeing this.
Zhou Ci’s expression was fraught with urgency, as he blurted out, “Didn’t you say Gu Dai has lost her memory? 1 have to see her—perhaps, 1 can make her fall in love with me while she’s forgotten everything!”
Song Ling’s face darkened, and he placed his glass heavily on the table, his voice cold, “Sit down, Gu Dai hasn’t lost her memory now!”
After Zhou Ci resumed his seat, still unable to grasp the meaning of Song Ling’s earlier words, he inquired, “What did you mean when you said Gu Dai had lost her memory?”
Song Ling was silent for a moment before he slowly revealed, “Three years ago, on that exploding cruise ship, though Gu Dai narrowly escaped death, she lost her memories.”
The cruise ship incident had been monumental, and Zhou Ci, connecting the dots, was wide-eyed with disbelief for quite some time before he could compose himself.
Pain filled Zhou Ci’s eyes as he murmured, “1 had no idea Gu Dai went through so much.”
It slowly dawned on Zhou Ci, and he turned to Song Ling, voicing his realization, “So, Gu Dai has changed so much because she lost her memories. No wonder she fell for you.”
Song Ling’s gaze was dark and piercing as he stared at Zhou Ci.
Zhou Ci cleared his throat, halting his train of thought, yet internally he was affirming his own conclusions.
Filled with regret, Song Ling hung his head and said lowly, “Ever since 1 found out that Gu Dai hasn’t deceived me, hasn’t betrayed me, or been lying to me, her image has been haunting my mind, even in my dreams.”
Zhou Ci had half a mind to scorn Song Ling, thinking he deserved it for his past wrongdoings, and now it was too late for regrets.
Observing Song Ling continue to drown his sorrows in alcohol, Zhou Ci remarked dispassionately, “Now that you know, you shouldn’t keep bothering Gu Dai and making her unhappy.”
Song Ling paused with his glass in hand, looked up at Zhou Ci but said nothing, then finally spoke, “That’s my business.”
Zhou Ci stood up, looking angrily at Song Ling.
Unmoved by this, Song Ling locked eyes with Zhou Ci and asked pointedly, “Do you like Gu Dai?”
Zhou Ci nodded firmly, “You and Gu Dai are already over, and I’ve told you long ago that 1 liked her. So this is not about overstepping among friends!”
Pressing down the irritation in his heart, Song Ling regarded Zhou Ci and said, “But you should know, Gu Dai doesn’t only have you as an admirer. As far as 1 know, there’s also that model Su Ting.”
Song Ling continued, “Su Ting spoke up for Gu Dai during the recent controversy. I’ve taken over Zhou Corporation, and yet Gu Dai won’t even glance at me, so clearly, she has a liking for this model. Do you think your chances are high?”
Zhou Ci smiled and said, “1 don’t know how good my chances are, but I know I don’t need her to reciprocate because liking her is my own business. All that matters is that I’m good to her.”
Grinding his teeth, Song Ling nodded. He hadn’t expected Zhou Ci to be so open-minded, and Gu Dai was capable indeed, to turn a frivolous playboy so earnest.
Zhou Ci continued, “Isn’t it normal for a remarkable woman like Gu Dai to have more than one person pursuing her? Besides, 1, the admirer, am calm about it, what’s there for you, the ex-husband, to be agitated about?”
At the word “ex-husband,” Song Ling’s frown deepened, and his voice turned icy, “But it’s not just you and Su Ting!”
Zhou Ci looked at him, puzzled.
Song Ling revealed, “One night, 1 saw a man come out of Gu Dai’s villa.”
Zhou Ci gazed at Song Ling with a grave expression, his voice laden with a serious tone. “1 need to tell you something important — secretly observing others is a perverse behavior!”
Song Ling’s face grew even grimmer, his eyes casting a frosty look towards Zhou Ci.
Zhou Ci continued, “That man might simply be Gu Dai’s friend. Don’t jump to conclusions.. And even if he truly is an admirer, what issue does that pose?”