Iceberg's Deep Love - Chapter 2

Before the other party could speak, Gu Jihuan abruptly hung up, her knuckles whitening as she gripped her phone.

“Jihuan, what’s wrong?” Jiang Min, who had been gossiping with a colleague about hospital rumors, noticed Gu Jihuan’s distress.

Gu Jihuan didn’t hesitate to show Jiang Min her phone, turning up the brightness.

The photos flashed across the screen, and Jiang Min’s expression darkened immediately. “Yan Yu… is she sick? You’ve been so good to her. What reason could she possibly have to treat you like this?”

Jiang Min was always straightforward, never mincing words.

In the year since Gu Jihuan had returned, despite her high salary, she hadn’t managed to save any money.

Every penny Gu Jihuan earned went to Yan Yu. Even during their time at the heart center in M Country, Gu Jihuan had given almost all her earnings to Yan Yu.

Yan Yu ran a small financial company in M Country that had struggled to stay afloat for years. Gu Jihuan had poured nearly all her savings into it.

They called it an investment, but both Gu Jihuan and Jiang Min knew the money was unlikely to be recovered.

Gu Jihuan was fiercely independent and strong-willed, yet she became completely submissive and obedient around Yan Yu.

Jiang Min had witnessed Gu Jihuan’s tender, attentive demeanor when calling Yan Yu—a stark contrast to the calm, decisive Doctor Gu she knew from the operating room.

“I’ll ask Lu Bei what he’s up to,” Jiang Min said, frantically rummaging through the trash can for his business card.

Before Gu Jihuan could respond, Jiang Min had already connected the call. “Lu Bei, what’s the meaning of those photos you sent? Don’t think you can fool us with this. Are you playing tricks?”

“Doctor Jiang, please put Miss Gu on the line,” Lu Bei replied. Sitting in his car in the bar’s underground garage, a faint smile played on his lips as he pressed play on an audio file on his laptop.

Gu Jihuan took the phone and immediately recognized the familiar voice on the other end.

“Yan Yu, I’ve spoken with my brother. We’ll invest five million US dollars in your project next week. That should tide you over. How will you thank me?”

“Of course I’ll thank you properly. Tell me, what do you want?”

“I heard you have a girlfriend back in China. You’re not being sincere at all. Are you just playing me?”

“No, you’ve misunderstood. We’re just good friends. I’ve never had romantic feelings for her.”

“Really?”

“Really. I used to be with her, but only because she was pretty and a doctor. It made me look good to be seen with her.”

“So I wouldn’t make you look good? Fine, Yan Yu, you’re insulting me behind my back.”

The rest of the recording was filled with playful banter and laughter, their argument lacking any real anger and brimming with the intimacy of lovers.

Lu Bei stopped the recording and said slowly, “It’s easy to verify whether I’m lying. After all, even Yan Yu knows to chase money. Why would Miss Gu cling to such a vast fortune and merely look at it?”

He added, “Or perhaps Miss Gu still has feelings for Yan Yu. After we marry, I can have my sister dump her, and you two can be together again.”

“I hate being manipulated by others, Mr. Lu. Your calculations are off,” Gu Jihuan said coldly. “And I never take back the trash.”

Gu Jihuan hung up, raised her glass, and drained the whiskey in one gulp. The sharp, burning taste spread instantly from her throat to the pit of her stomach.

“Don’t worry,” Jiang Min said, though her voice lacked conviction. “Let’s talk to Yan Yu again. Maybe she was just blinded by the money for a moment. Those photos might be fake, and the recording I heard earlier could be fabricated too…”

Despite her words, Jiang Min had little faith in her own reasoning. She knew Yan Yu well enough to recognize her voice, making the recording likely genuine.

Gu Jihuan removed her ring and tossed it casually into the wine glass on the table. “Don’t worry,” she said. “Surgeons have strong hearts. I’m not the type to wallow in sentimentality and cry over relationships.”

Her expression remained calm, but the shadows cast by her lowered lashes obscured her eyes. In the dim light, the emotions swirling within them were impossible to discern.

As she watched the ring sink to the bottom of the glass, she bit her tongue lightly, feeling a dull ache.

She still remembered that day at the bus station in M Country. She had been waiting for her bus, head down, scrolling through her phone, when someone plucked the earbuds from her ears. Looking up, she saw a radiant, smiling face. “Chinese? Hey there, pretty girl. Want to get to know each other?”

Yan Yu had brazenly barged into her life, shining like a sun and dominating every aspect of it.

Gu Jihuan raised her hand to summon a waiter. “I remember you have 30-year-old Macallan. Bring two bottles.”

“Jihuan, don’t…” Jiang Min quickly tried to stop her.

“You know me,” Gu Jihuan said slowly. “The more someone tells me not to, the more I want to. It was like that when I was with her, and it’s still like that now that we’ve broken up. I’ve always been disobedient.”

“Wow, Professor Gu is really going all out!”

“Professor Gu, is there something to celebrate today?”

Gu Jihuan hadn’t lowered her voice, and the surrounding doctors exclaimed in surprise.

It wasn’t that they couldn’t afford 30-year-old Macallan, but as doctors with average incomes, none of them would casually spend tens of thousands of yuan on a bottle of liquor.

Pop! Confetti and streamers swirled down, landing on Gu Jihuan’s shoulder. Her bright eyes sparkled with laughter, as if nothing had happened moments before.

Jiang Min reached out and removed the ribbon from Gu Jihuan’s hair, hesitating for a moment before speaking.

Finally, she smiled softly and said in a low voice, “Jihuan, congratulations on embracing a new beginning.”

As the entire bar erupted in cheers for Gu Jihuan’s celebratory toast, a quiet corner booth stood out in stark contrast.

In the interplay of light and shadow, a woman’s silhouette emerged: mid-length black hair, a silver-gray blazer draped over her shoulders, and a black mermaid gown beneath.

Her slender fingers glided across the tablet screen as Lu Shinian gazed intently at the data, the shifting light casting faint shadows beneath her eyelids.

Across from her sat a group of young men and women, with the girl directly opposite her clearly the group’s leader.

The girl appeared to be in her early twenties, her long hair streaked with white highlights. A massive skull ring adorned her knuckle, her black manicured nails glinted, and multiple bracelets stacked her wrist. Her expression was youthful yet carried a stubborn pride.

Seeing that Lu Shinian had finished reviewing the materials, Dai Meng reached out and took the tablet. “President Lu, we’ve discussed it, and the previous offer isn’t enough. If you want to invest, you’ll need to show more sincerity.”

“What price are you asking for, then? What do you think your project is worth?” Lu Shinian’s tone remained calm.

Still lacking a consensus and unsure of her own position, Dai Meng was momentarily intimidated by Lu Shinian’s presence. She glanced uncertainly at her companions.

A faint smile played at the corners of Lu Shinian’s lips as his tone softened slightly. “Miss Dai, my presence here today, at your invitation, already demonstrates my sincerity.”

Dai Meng pressed her lips together, saying nothing. Meeting in a bar to discuss business had been partly intended to gauge Lu Shinian’s commitment.

Anyone witnessing this scene would find it hard to believe that Ludi Group was actively pursuing the investment while the other party hesitated.

Lu Shinian had been following Dai Meng’s open-world adventure game, Lost Path, since his time abroad.

Dai Meng was the second daughter of the Jiang City Dai Family, a traditional industrial conglomerate whose primary business was electronics.

Her parents had hoped she would inherit the family business and enrolled her in an MBA program.

After going abroad, Second Miss Dai quickly dropped out of her MBA program and switched to studying game design, infuriating her parents to the point where they threatened to disown her.

Lost Path was the result of Dai Meng’s determination against her family’s pressure, winning numerous awards at domestic and international game exhibitions.

Unfortunately, due to Dai Meng’s eccentric personality and refusal to accept any investment, Lost Path never achieved its full potential.

Recently, Lost Path became embroiled in a plagiarism lawsuit. Facing both internal and external crises, Dai Meng could no longer afford to be stubborn.

Recognizing her inexperience in business negotiations, Lu Shinian calculated his approach and slowly said, “Miss Dai, I can double the investment amount, and Lu Di will only oversee finances, without interfering in game development or operations.”

Dai Meng’s eyes lit up at this, and she nearly agreed on the spot.

Her refusal to accept investment stemmed from fear of being controlled by investors, which would distort the game’s vision. Lu Shinian’s offer showed genuine sincerity.

Just as Lu Shinian thought the deal was secured, he noticed the young man beside Dai Meng nudge her arm.

Dai Meng pursed her lips and changed her tone. “President Lu, could you give us some time to discuss this…?”

Buzz, buzz, buzz Lu Shinian’s phone vibrated. The caller ID displayed: Grandma.

Lu Shinian stood up. “You guys discuss it. I need to take this call.”

“Grandma, why are you still awake so late?” Her voice softened considerably compared to her earlier conversation with Dai Meng.

“I think Dai Meng’s project is worth pursuing. Lu Di established Huasheng Technology specifically to enter the gaming industry, but we still need a breakthrough…”

After a pause, Lu Shinian murmured softly, “Why are you bringing up company matters again? We agreed you wouldn’t worry about them anymore.”

“I’ll be prepared for the board meeting in three days. I know they’ll try to make things difficult for me.”

“Mm-hmm, I know. Get some rest. Don’t worry about Ludi Group anymore. Leave it to me.”

Neon light slanted across Lu Shinian’s shoulder, causing the subtle shimmer on her black fishtail dress to flicker faintly. Her lashes lowered slightly, casting a cool, colorful silhouette. Beneath her eyelid, a faint brown beauty mark peeked out from the shadows.

Lu Shinian had only returned to China three days ago, summoned home by her grandmother Chen Yuefang’s sudden illness.

For years, Chen Yuefang had been the cornerstone of the Ludi Group. Now, with many eyeing her position, she needed all her strength to maintain her foothold.

Almost the moment he decided to return to China, Lu Shinian had begun plotting his strategy in his mind. Lost Path was merely a small step in his grand scheme.

Gu Jihuan, having drunk a bit too much, let the water cascade down. Under the mirror’s light, her reflection appeared exceptionally clear.

She exhaled deeply, finally feeling the wine-tinged, stagnant air trapped in her chest dissipate.

Though not particularly sentimental, the feeling of being deceived and abandoned still left an uncomfortable ache.

The click-clack of high heels paused briefly, and Gu Jihuan instinctively turned to look, then quickened her pace.

The restroom connected to the long, winding corridor. Beyond the walls, deafening music pulsed, yet the corridor remained eerily silent.

Rounding another bend, the scene ahead abruptly came into view.

A figure stood in the dim light, slender and composed. Though indistinct, there was an unmistakable air of cold aloofness and noble bearing.

Lu Shinian hung up the phone and lifted his gaze, meeting Gu Jihuan’s pitch-black eyes.

The owner of those eyes seemed to be drunk, the corners of her eyes flushed with a faint crimson, a layer of moisture glistening on her lashes that fluttered like butterfly wings with each gentle blink.

A few bright ribbons had fallen onto her curly brown hair, her red dress flared boldly, and a strong scent of alcohol wafted from her.

Gu Jihuan stepped forward, standing directly in front of Lu Shinian. The intense smell of alcohol clung to Lu Shinian’s clothes. “Pretty lady, want to have a drink with me? My treat.”

Lu Shinian’s cold gaze swept over her. “No need,” she said flatly.

But as Lu Shinian turned to leave, she suddenly felt a warmth on her wrist, a soft yet firm grip closing around it.

Gu Jihuan stumbled, nearly falling directly onto Lu Shinian. She only managed to steady herself by tightly gripping Lu Shinian’s arm.

She had indeed drunk a bit too much today; the scene before her was beginning to blur.

Lu Shinian’s brow furrowed slightly, but she instinctively steadied Gu Jihuan.

The tips of Gu Jihuan’s curly brown hair brushed across the back of Lu Shinian’s hand, a soft, warm sensation mingling with the hazy scent of alcohol and the intense fragrance of rose perfume.

For some reason, Lu Shinian found the scent perfectly suited to the woman before her—a fiery, passionate red rose, treading through floral fragrance and alcoholic haze, her beauty almost decadent.