AD Chapter 3
After Gu Lingfeng said those words, Fan Xin couldn't speak for a long time.
She had mentally prepared herself, but when the moment truly arrived, her heart still felt bitter.
Fan Xin looked up at the man across from her. She tried to smile sweetly as she always did, but it felt forced. She knew she couldn’t keep this man, and even during the time they were together, she was never his only lover. Compared to others who harbored unrealistic dreams, Fan Xin was already considered unusually clear-headed.
But still, she couldn’t help having a few delusions.
Perhaps she stayed silent for too long, because the man lifted his eyes to look at her. Though his gaze was devoid of any emotion, Fan Xin could sense his impatience.
She lowered her head with a bitter smile. It was always like this. Gu Lingfeng was a man whose word was law. He seemed gentlemanly with his lovers, but only if they were obedient and didn’t cause trouble. The moment someone crossed the line he had drawn, he would no longer be so agreeable.
After a few thoughts flashed through her mind, Fan Xin forced herself to face reality. When she looked up again, her expression had returned to a polished professional smile.
“President Gu, you really are generous…”
She didn’t get emotional and straightforwardly made her request. Of course, she was careful to stay within what she believed were Gu Lingfeng’s boundaries.
Gu Lingfeng listened quietly. His expression remained unreadable, and he casually adjusted the gem cufflinks on his suit jacket. “My assistant will get in touch with you about this.”
He stood up to leave, but after taking a step, he suddenly paused and turned to look at Fan Xin.
“What’s the name of that assistant who’s always around you?”
Fan Xin was stunned, not understanding why he was asking that, and instinctively answered, “Su Ning.”
Gu Lingfeng nodded, still wearing that inscrutable expression. “I want that assistant. The compensation will include him.”
With that, he walked out of the restaurant without another word, leaving Fan Xin completely dumbfounded, not understanding what had just happened.
In the hotel, Su Ning, who was sleeping soundly, was jolted awake by a series of frantic knocks at the door. The knocking was loud and urgent, making him think something serious had happened. He ran to the door barefoot without even putting on shoes.
When he opened the door, he saw Fan Xin standing outside with a strange expression, staring at him intently.
“Xin-jie, what’s wrong?” Su Ning felt uneasy under her intense gaze and couldn’t help asking.
Fan Xin didn’t speak, just kept staring. Su Ning let her into the room and poured her a glass of water. “Xin-jie, what’s going on? You’re staring at me like that—it’s kinda scary, you know?”
As he spoke, he rubbed his forehead. He hadn’t been asleep long, and his body hadn’t fully recovered. The soreness lingered, and his head felt a little heavy—probably from oversleeping. He massaged his head while trying to guess what had happened.
Su Ning was wearing pajamas. Because he rushed to open the door, the neckline was loose, revealing the marks on his neck and collarbone.
“I knew it!” Fan Xin suddenly slapped her thigh, startling Su Ning.
“Xin-jie?”
Fan Xin stepped forward and grabbed his arms, staring at him with burning eyes. “Su Ning, did you sleep with Gu Lingfeng?”
Su Ning stared blankly at her bold question, opening his mouth wordlessly.
—Even if it’s true, don’t put it so bluntly, okay?
“Xin-jie, I didn’t mean for it to happen. It’s just that—” After a moment of shock, he suddenly remembered that Fan Xin was Gu Lingfeng’s lover and quickly began to explain.
Fan Xin raised her hand to stop him and sighed with a tone full of worldly fatigue. “It’s already over between Gu Lingfeng and me, so even if you slept with him, it has nothing to do with me.”
“….” Su Ning didn’t know what to say, so he just looked at her in silence.
Fan Xin patted him on the shoulder, as if she were the one comforting him. “It’s alright. This day was bound to come. I was prepared from the start. But you and Gu Lingfeng—did it happen yesterday? Did he force you?”
By the end, Fan Xin’s eyebrows had furrowed in anger, clearly ready to confront Gu Lingfeng if Su Ning so much as nodded. “You’re my assistant after all. So what if Gu Lingfeng’s some big boss? He can’t just bully people—”
Su Ning quickly grabbed her and explained what happened that day in a few brief sentences. Fan Xin’s visible anger slowly faded, and she asked with less conviction, “So… he mistook you for me and that’s why he slept with you?”
Su Ning glanced at her. Even though he had worked with her for quite some time, he still wasn’t used to the way she sometimes said things.
Seeing his silence and the look in his eyes, Fan Xin looked a bit guilty. And remembering the deal she made with Gu Lingfeng earlier, she looked even more sheepish.
“So, Su Ning… if I asked you to be Gu Lingfeng’s personal assistant, would you agree?” she asked cautiously, watching his expression.
Su Ning frowned. “Be Gu Lingfeng’s personal assistant? Xin-jie, are you firing me?”
Fan Xin waved her hands quickly. “Of course not! If I could, I’d have you as my personal assistant for life. I’ve had so many, but no one manages my life as well as you do. It’s just—”
She showed a conflicted look and explained the meeting she had with Gu Lingfeng, including the man’s request before leaving.
In the end, she looked at Su Ning apologetically. “Even if I want you to stay, it’s not up to me.”
It’s not up to me.
Su Ning added the phrase silently in his heart.
He didn’t know why Gu Lingfeng wanted him to be his personal assistant, but clearly, it wasn’t a request he could refuse. He didn’t believe Gu Lingfeng would ask for this just because they slept together once.
Even if it wasn’t his fault, from an outsider’s point of view, they’d probably think he took advantage. After all, many celebrities—even movie kings and queens—couldn’t climb into Gu Lingfeng’s bed, and yet a nobody assistant like him did it without even trying.
Even if it wasn’t voluntary.
Su Ning was a little irritated by the sudden switch to becoming Gu Lingfeng’s assistant, but not exactly resistant. Later, Gu Lingfeng’s assistant contacted him by phone and told him when to report for duty and the general compensation. Su Ning’s irritation basically vanished.
Gu Lingfeng wasn’t in a rush and gave Su Ning two days to prepare.
When Su Ning arrived at Gu Lingfeng’s villa, driven there by the assistant, the man happened to be at home. Su Ning didn’t know if it was just a coincidence—or if Gu Lingfeng was waiting for him on purpose.
—Waiting for me? That seems unlikely, right?
With an uneasy heart, Su Ning stepped into Gu Lingfeng’s villa.
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