My Prince Charming Lives Next Door V

After driving around for an indeterminate period of time, Tang Shi gradually reduced his speed, only to realize that he had unwittingly driven into the villa district in the northern suburbs.

Pausing briefly at the main entrance to the gated community of villas, he drove through it slowly, snaking past villa after villa before arriving at villa number one at the end of the street: the Tang family home.

Since all the members of the Tang family were already fast asleep, he parked the car and alighted. Through the fence, he noticed that the lights were on in a bedroom on the second floor of villa number two, located not too far away.

Villa number two belonged to the Gu family.

And it was located right next door to the Tang family villa.

That illuminated bedroom on the second floor had been Gu Qingcheng's room ever since she was a kid.

So, she had really come home…

Leaning comfortably against the hood of his car, Tang Shi stared at the illuminated bedroom, his entire being motionless, as if bewitched.

...

A business evening event was being held at Beijing's biggest clubhouse.

As the pleasant, soothing strains of violin music permeated the air, the luxuriously decorated venue was filling up with the arrival of people from the upper echelons, all dressed to the nines, their outfits turning the event into a dazzling sea of splendor for as far as the eye could see.

Holding onto her father, Gu Zhengnan's, arm, Gu Qingcheng had been working the room all night and was feeling a bit tired. Just as she was about to use the excuse of needing the bathroom to get a much-needed rest, Gu Zhengnan turned to her and, pointing, said, "Qingqing, come over there with me."

Gu Zhengnan had pointed to a deserted spot in a far corner of the venue.

Assuming that her father was tired too and wanted a quiet place to rest, Gu Qingcheng didn't question him and, hand on his arm, walked with him to the far corner.

Although facing the event, the corner spot was a lot quieter, toning down its extravagance. The lighting was also not as dazzling here as it had been in the main hall. It was actually a little muted. As they got closer to the corner, Gu Qingcheng realized that there was a modern European-style sofa placed there facing away from the main venue and that there was a man sitting on it. Since the man's face was hidden in the dark shadows, Gu Qingcheng had no idea who it was, but, from his bearing, she could sense that he exuded a level of nobility and elegance that she recognized.

Gu Qingcheng could hazard a guess as to who that man might be. She paused immediately, trying to decide if she wanted to turn around and run away, but her father had already started talking, "Shi."

From where he was sitting, Tang Shi, upon hearing his name being called, moved slightly and turned around. He looked first, briefly, at Gu Qingcheng, before turning to Gu Zhengnan and, rising slowly, answered in a calm and controlled voice, "Uncle Gu."

"Why are you sitting here on your own?" Gu Zhengnan asked as he led Gu Qingcheng toward the sofa. Signaling his intentions to Tang Shi, all three of them sat on the sofa.

Even seated casually on the sofa, Tang Shi exuded an elegance and attractiveness that couldn't be ignored. Pointedly not looking at Gu Qingcheng, Tang Shi gave Gu Zhengnan a hint of a smile and replied, "I've had a few drinks and, feeling lightheaded, decided to take a rest."

Gu Zhengnan nodded and continued engaging in small talk with Tang Shi. During that time, Tang Shi did not, even once, guide the conversation toward Gu Qingcheng. In fact, he didn't even bother to look at her the entire time.

When she'd landed in Beijing from the UK two days ago, Gu Qingcheng had thought about having to come into contact with Tang Shi now that she had returned. She had also fantasized about her meeting with Tang Shi many times. She didn't know if he would give her the cold shoulder when he saw her or avoid her altogether. But she had never imagined that Tang Shi would totally disregard her, behaving as though she didn't even exist; as though that night that they'd spent together, three years ago, had never existed.