NOVEL NEXT Chapter 49 - I
There were a lot of people at this party. Initially, there were five models from the same group, including Mu Ci, three men, and two women. Additionally, there were eight makeup artists and photographers from the group, along with two directors from the entertainment industry.
They were likely a model Mu Ci knew and had invited him to join them.
However, when Gu Huai entered, it was truly shocking. The room fell silent momentarily, and the person closest to the door almost ate the microphone.
Gu Huai calmly surveyed the room. It was a spacious and upscale private room in a bar with drinks, meals, and singing. The lights were dim, and there was an ambiguous perfume lingering in the air.
Gu Huai gritted his teeth, displeased with Mu Ci, who was chatting with the makeup artist girl. He had never checked it out before; who knew that this little guy frequented a bar every night? In such a mixed environment, if someone got drunk, could he afford the consequences?
The atmosphere reached a stalemate for a while. Finally, the middle-aged director reacted first, approaching Gu Huai with a flattering look, “I didn’t expect Mr. Gu to be here too. You set a great example by getting close to your subordinates. This Zhao admires you. Come on, sit down quickly. What would you like to drink?”
The photographer closest to the door awkwardly removed the microphone from his mouth, stood up quickly, and said, “Mr. Gu, what brings you here?”
Gu Huai glanced at him; his face had returned to normal, and he even smiled like a boss, “It’s okay. I passed by and heard that you were having a party, so I came to have a look. Enjoy yourselves. We’re all off work. Don’t worry about anything. Just keep everything as usual.”
Gu Huai sneered inwardly, thinking, ‘Let me see how wild you usually play!’
In fact, their parties were usually serious; otherwise, Mu Ci wouldn’t participate. Typically, they drank, chatted, sang, and ate barbecue without violating any rules.
However, today was different. Mr. Gu was present. The few models who usually wanted to climb up quietly moved closer to Gu Huai, attempting to get his attention.
Gu Huai’s thoughts were solely on Mu Ci at the moment, and he paid no attention to these people.
.
Mu Ci was actually having a good time. Despite his cold appearance, he was used to being left out as a child, not good at expressing feelings. The real Mu Ci liked crowded places and talking to others. He feared being alone and hated it.
Perhaps that was why he accepted party invitations repeatedly. The Gu family’s vast and empty estate felt like a royal palace, and he didn’t like it.
Gu Huai stared at Mu Ci, slowly falling into a trance. Mu Ci seemed genuinely happy. He usually frowned casually but rarely looked so relaxed and happy. Gu Huai noticed and held the wine glass in his hand without drinking.
The little female model sitting next to him was still trying to seduce him, saying coquettishly, “Mr. Gu, have you seen the cover I did last time?”
Gu Huai nodded perfunctorily without answering. In fact, the magazine department was just a branch of Hanhai. The Gu family’s main industries were mining and real estate, making photos of young female models unfit for Gu Huai’s attention. However, he treasured Mu Ci’s set of photos, keeping them on his computer desktop.
“Then, do you think it looks good?” The little female model asked, noticing Gu Huai’s disregard. She followed his gaze with curiosity, but Gu Huai looked back, lowered his head, and took a sip of wine.
The little female model didn’t find anything interesting. Wasn’t it just the new male model playing truth or dare with others over there? What caught his eyes?
.
Mu Ci wasn’t very lucky; he drew the shortest lottery in the first round, and the one who drew the king was his makeup artist.
The quirky little girl blinked at Mu Ci, “Tell me, do you want truth or dare?”
Mu Ci opened his mouth, and just as he was about to speak, the little girl suddenly had a new idea out of nowhere. “Come on, let’s roll the dice! Small numbers are truth, big numbers are dare. How interesting!”
The little girl warmly invited him and Mu Ci couldn’t refuse, so he had to throw the dice once, and it landed on five.
The little girl suddenly became interested, “A big number, a dare. Let me think about it…”
She turned her eyes, glanced at Gu Huai on the other side of the sofa, and suddenly had an idea, becoming mischievous. “Well, you go and take a selfie with Mr. Gu.”
Laughter erupted. One of the boys chuckled, “You are so unreasonable. What if hr get fired?”
“No way.” The little girl glanced at Gu Huai quietly, “I see Mr. Gu is in a good mood today.”
Mu Ci pursed his lips. He didn’t want to act like he couldn’t handle it, so he smiled and said softly, “It doesn’t matter; it’s just a game. Taking a picture won’t hurt. I’ll give it a try.”
He grabbed the mobile phone on the table and walked towards Gu Huai.
The boy from behind gave a thumbs up and exaggeratedly shouted, “Mu Ci is mighty!”
Mu Ci came closer but hesitated a little, not knowing how to speak. He stood in front of Gu Huai for a long time, then greeted, “Mr. Gu.”
His attitude was very polite, which made Gu Huai inexplicably a little angry. He replied in a lukewarm manner, “Yes.”
Mu Ci rubbed his thumb joint and hesitated, “Um, can you… take a group photo?”
“Hm?”
Gu Huai looked over to the group playing and immediately realized that Mu Ci had probably lost in the game. He leaned back on the sofa with great grace, put his arms on the back of the chair, and crossed his long legs, deliberately embarrassing him, “Why should I take pictures with you? We have a serious superior-subordinate relationship.”
The word ‘serious’ was emphasized very strongly. Mu Ci knew he was teasing him deliberately.
Mu Ci was in a dilemma. The air conditioning in the box was very low, but his palms were slightly sweaty. He had already said to do it just now, it was too late to back down, and the rules of the game did not allow him to tell the truth. Mu Ci had no choice but to bite the bullet and said, “Because, well, since I joined the company, I admire you very much…”
After saying these words, Mu Ci wanted to slap himself twice. Gu Huai was so amused he asked the little female model next to him to make room for Mu Ci, “Okay, if you want to take pictures, come and take pictures. Sit.”