Chapter 270 - 222: Life is Like a Dream

Chapter 270: Chapter 222: Life is Like a Dream

「The next day, around noon.」

The frost patterns on the glass panes quietly melted in the midday sun. Down below, the camphor trees were wrapped in half-melted shells of snow. Glistening icicles hung from their branches, and when the wind blew, it shook loose specks of light that glittered like crushed diamonds.

"Tired?"

"Not at all..."

"My turn."

"But I’m really not tired..."

"Be good."

...

Positions were reversed. Fifteen minutes later...

Luo Xiwen leaned over and gently cleaned Gu Heng up. An alluring rosy flush was spread evenly across her stunning, elegant face, and her eyes shimmered with tenderness.

"Did it snow last night?"

Gu Heng pulled Luo Xiwen back into his arms. He gazed out the window at the snow-covered landscape, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

"Looks like it."

"After you’re done with the Ji Province Entrepreneurs’ Gala tonight, are you coming back?"

Luo Xiwen’s eyes were filled with a hint of anticipation.

Gu Heng fell silent for a moment. "Xi Wen, after the gala, I have other things to attend to. I probably won’t be able to be with you today or tomorrow."

Although Luo Xiwen had already expected it, she couldn’t help but look a little dejected hearing Gu Heng say it himself.

"It’s okay."

Luo Xiwen rested her head on Gu Heng’s chest again, her voice remaining soft and gentle.

"So what are you planning to do for the next two days?"

Gu Heng gently stroked Luo Xiwen’s long, smooth hair as he asked.

"Hmm..."

"I was originally planning to spend the time with you."

"Since you’re busy, I’ll go home for a visit."

Luo Xiwen replied, "It’s been a while since I’ve been back to see my parents, anyway."

"I’ll have a car take you."

Gu Heng said at once, "And I’ll have them bring some gifts for your parents."

"There’s no need to go to all that trouble."

"My home is in this city."

Luo Xiwen quickly waved her hand. "I can just grab a cab."

"You’re sure?"

Gu Heng raised an eyebrow slightly.

"I’m sure."

Luo Xiwen tilted her head up and gave Gu Heng a light peck on the cheek. "Let’s go take a shower. I can make you sweet and sour pork ribs afterward. There’s still enough time, right?"

"If we’re just getting clean, there’s plenty of time."

"But..."

"I don’t think that’s what Manager Luo has in mind."

Gu Heng’s eyes filled with amusement, and his voice held a subtle, teasing note.

"Then we’ll just have to be quick about it, won’t we?"

Luo Xiwen looked a little embarrassed.

"I can’t make any promises about that."

As Gu Heng spoke, he rolled over and swept Luo Xiwen up into his arms. "Come on, let’s go take that shower."

...

A long, long time later.

Gu Heng stood before the full-length mirror in the walk-in closet, adjusting his cuffs. Facing him was Luo Xiwen, tying his tie, the afterglow of their passion still lingering on her gorgeous face.

"Looks like those sweet and sour pork ribs are off the menu."

Gu Heng finished with his cuffs and looked at Luo Xiwen, whose dark hair was still a little damp and fluffy. He teased her with a smile.

"How was I supposed to know..."

"...that the shower would take so long."

Luo Xiwen’s face flushed, and she responded in a low voice.

"Maybe it’s because things got particularly wet in there," Gu Heng continued to tease.

"It’s done."

Too shy to look up, Luo Xiwen expertly finished with his tie. Then, she turned to the side, her eyes filled with adoration as she gazed at his reflection in the mirror.

The black, double-breasted suit was tailored to perfection, flawlessly outlining Gu Heng’s broad-shouldered, V-tapered frame. Paired with his sharp, textured haircut, he looked utterly dashing, his eyes gleaming. He exuded an air of spirited, youthful confidence.

"Well, I should get going."

"You should rest for a while. Get some sleep before you head home."

Gu Heng turned around and gently caressed Luo Xiwen’s cheek as he spoke.

"Okay..."

"When you get to the banquet later, remember to eat something first."

"Drinking on an empty stomach is bad for you."

Luo Xiwen accompanied Gu Heng out of the walk-in closet, walking toward the entryway as she voiced her concern.

"Don’t worry."

"I just had my driver go buy something."

Gu Heng smiled at Luo Xiwen. Reaching the entryway, Luo Xiwen took a pair of expensive leather shoes from the shoe cabinet, knelt down, and began to help him put them on, her care for him meticulous in every detail.

"That’s good."

After helping Gu Heng put on his shoes, Luo Xiwen stood up again.

Gu Heng reached out and opened the door, revealing his personal bodyguard, Xiang Lingshuang, who had been waiting outside for some time.

"Chairman Gu, the items you requested."

Seeing the door open, Xiang Lingshuang immediately handed the items in her hands to Gu Heng. In her left hand was a food container from Banquet Fusion, and in her right was a signature orange Hermes shopping bag.

"Here..."

"These are for you."

Gu Heng took the items from Xiang Lingshuang and immediately handed them over to Luo Xiwen.

"You haven’t eaten anything since this morning."

"Eat your fill before you sleep."

At this, Gu Heng’s gaze shifted to the orange Hermes bag. "This is my New Year’s gift to you."

"Xi Wen, Happy New Year."

Luo Xiwen felt the care and affection in Gu Heng’s eyes, and her heart felt as if it had been filled with countless sweets.

"Gu Heng, Happy New Year!"

"I’ll be thinking of you the whole time!"

Her beautiful eyes filled with love. After she spoke, she stood on her tiptoes and pressed a fleeting, gentle kiss to his lips.

"I’m leaving now."

Gu Heng reached up and caressed Luo Xiwen’s beautiful face one last time, then turned and walked out the door, pulling it gently shut behind him.

After Gu Heng left, Luo Xiwen walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window. Down below, in front of her building’s entrance, three cars were parked: two Hongqi Guoyao sedans flanking an all-white Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

Luo Xiwen gazed down below, then took the New Year’s gift Gu Heng had given her out of the orange shopping bag.

She opened the gift box. Inside lay a black crocodile leather Hermes Birkin bag. When the winter sun landed on it, its surface seemed to glow, the very picture of luxury.

In her former job in private banking, Luo Xiwen had become well-versed in major international luxury brands. She knew that the famous Hermes Birkin was the pinnacle of high fashion, and she had a good idea of just how much the bag in her hands was worth.

This bag alone was worth almost half the price of the apartment she was currently living in.

A bag she had once never even dared to dream of was now in her hands. Luo Xiwen pressed her lips together, her gaze drawn involuntarily back out the floor-to-ceiling window.

Amidst the snow-covered scenery, Gu Heng, dressed in his black suit, emerged from the building’s entrance. Surrounded by a throng of professional bodyguards, he got into the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. The convoy then started up slowly and soon departed from Lanjing Imperial Garden.

Such a scene gave Luo Xiwen the strange feeling that her life was like a fleeting dream.

’If this is really a dream, then please don’t ever let me wake up...’