Iceberg's Deep Love - Chapter 8

Gu Jihuan got into the car and immediately met Lu Shinian’s deep, piercing gaze. Feeling a little guilty, she pulled the clothes out of the bag.

“I’m sorry, I spilled coffee on it. Maybe we should just throw it away? I’ll transfer you the money.”

Gu Jihuan unfolded the neatly folded clothes, spreading out the coffee stain for Lu Shinian to see.

The soft, warm touch of her fingers brushed against the back of Lu Shinian’s hand. His eyelashes trembled slightly as he suppressed the emotions in his eyes.

Gu Jihuan’s fingertips grazed Lu Shinian’s hand as she leaned forward, strands of her hair falling onto his shirt.

Today, Gu Jihuan wore no perfume. Instead, she carried a faint, antiseptic scent.

Lu Shinian was extremely sensitive to smells and couldn’t tolerate any foreign odors. Yet, he found the antiseptic scent on Gu Jihuan strangely comforting, even reassuring.

Gu Jihuan seemed oblivious to Lu Shinian’s reaction, unaware of the allure she still possessed in the presence of someone of the same gender.

Under the car’s interior light, the coffee stain stood out starkly, and the light illuminated Gu Jihuan’s slender, pale fingers, making them glow like jade.

“It’s fine,” Lu Shinian said, taking the clothes and casually tossing them onto the seat. “I don’t even remember how much they cost. Let’s see if they can be cleaned when we get back.”

He added, “Who throws away clothes without even trying to wash them? That’s such a waste.”

“Don’t rich people’s clothes get thrown away instead of washed…?” Gu Jihuan muttered instinctively.

Lu Shinian paused, surprised by the comment. “Oh, maybe I’m not rich enough yet. My clothes still need washing.”

Maybe not rich enough yet, Gu Jihuan thought, blinking as she glanced around the car.

A Porsche Cayenne. Even though she didn’t know much about cars, Jiang Min had forcibly given her a crash course. This wasn’t a base model.

But… saying he didn’t remember the price was definitely a lie. After all, it was a six-figure garment…

At that moment, Gu Jihuan suddenly realized Lu Shinian was a good person. He must have said that to spare her the embarrassment of having to pay.

However, Gu Jihuan wasn’t the type to take advantage of others, and she could afford to cover the cost anyway.

So she insisted, “Alright, but if it can’t be cleaned, you have to tell me. I still want to pay you back.”

Lu Shinian blinked slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

The dress itself was unimportant to her, but through it, she sensed that Gu Jihuan was a stubborn person.

Just as she finished speaking, an incongruous rumbling sound suddenly echoed in the car.

Lu Shinian’s gaze settled on Gu Jihuan. “Are you… hungry?” she asked slowly.

“I haven’t had dinner yet…” Gu Jihuan admitted, feeling a little embarrassed.

She’d eaten breakfast that morning, and after the emergency surgery, she’d drunk a can of cola. But with so much going on today, she simply hadn’t had time to eat.

Cola was a lifesaver—hydrating and providing a sugar boost. Without that can, Gu Jihuan suspected she might have collapsed from low bl00d sugar.

Feeling guilty for staining Lu Shinian’s dress, Gu Jihuan proactively suggested, “Have you eaten? Want to grab dinner together?”

“Me?” Lu Shinian’s fingers, resting on her knee, paused slightly. Her knuckles tightened imperceptibly as she maintained her calm tone. “No, let’s go together.”

Buzz, buzz, buzz. Lu Shinian’s phone vibrated. It was a photo from Lu Yuqiong, followed by another image.

I’m planning to give Gu Jihuan flowers tomorrow. Which bouquet looks best?

Lu Shinian felt a pang of helplessness. Lu Yuqiong wasn’t acting like someone in love herself, but rather like she was trying to provoke him into finding romance.

The photo showed a bouquet of red roses wrapped in black baby’s breath paper. The vibrant crimson blooms stood out dramatically against the dark backdrop, exuding both boldness and elegance.

Lu Shinian hadn’t intended to reply, but his gaze was drawn to the red roses.

He quickly typed a message back: The red roses are nice. Get me a bouquet too.

After sending the message, Lu Shinian casually slipped his phone back into his bag and turned to Gu Jihuan. “You know this area well. Where should we eat?”

Just a few turns down a narrow alley off Happiness Community’s main street, a small wooden sign hung above a courtyard gate.

Pushing the gate open, a crisp bell chimed.

“Even though we’re right off a busy street, it’s so quiet here,” Gu Jihuan said, blinking. “It’s like finding peace in the middle of the chaos. Most people wouldn’t even know this place exists.”

Not only was it hidden, but it was also closed at this hour. This was a small shop run by one of Gu Jihuan’s former patients, granting her a bit of “special access.”

“Sister Chen, the usual—two steak sets,” Gu Jihuan called out, gesturing for Lu Shinian to sit down and pouring him a cup of tea.

Before long, Sister Chen arrived with the steaks and an extra plate.

“The usual—I picked up some teppanyaki tofu from that night market stall for you,” Sister Chen said, placing the plate in front of Gu Jihuan. “I won’t disturb you any further.”

“This…” Gu Jihuan paused, then smiled warmly. “Thank you, Sister Chen.”

The teppanyaki tofu from the night market stall was exceptionally delicious, and Gu Jihuan always grabbed a portion when she came to the steakhouse.

Today, since she was with Lu Shinian, she hadn’t bought any.

She hadn’t expected Sister Chen to remember so clearly, not only preparing the steaks but also going out of her way to buy the tofu and even plate it nicely.

Gu Jihuan glanced at Lu Shinian across the table and pushed the plate closer to him. “Want to try some?”

As soon as she pushed it over, Gu Jihuan regretted it. It wasn’t that she was unwilling to share, but Lu Shinian’s refined aura seemed utterly out of place with street food.

The tender tofu was sprinkled with a layer of intensely flavored barbecue seasoning and a scattering of finely chopped green onions, its savory aroma mingling with the fragrant scent of pan-fried tofu.

Seeing Lu Shinian actually take a bite, Gu Jihuan’s desire to share exploded. “Let me tell you, this is absolutely delicious! Don’t underestimate this night market street—every stall here has been a golden brand for twenty or thirty years. I’ve been eating here since I was a kid. The street food definitely tastes different from what you’re used to…”

“Do you think I’ve never had street food before?”

“Well, you have…” Gu Jihuan rubbed the tip of her nose, a little embarrassed. “I just assumed rich people like you floated around in the air.”

Lu Shinian chuckled softly. “It’s been a while, though. I just got back from abroad, and the food there… it’s truly awful.”

Lu Shinian didn’t mind eating street food. She’d had plenty as a child with Lu Yuqiong. It was only when Chen Yuefang declared it unsanitary that she obediently ate less of it.

Lu Shinian disliked the feeling of being surrounded by people, so she hadn’t hired a chef while living abroad. Accustomed to living alone, she faced a significant problem: her own cooking was terrible, and eating out was equally unappetizing. Gradually, she lost all interest in food; simply surviving was enough.

Gu Jihuan couldn’t help but blink softly. “You look so beautiful when you smile. I knew my taste was impeccable. I told myself the woman I picked up at the bar that night had to be the most stunning one there.”

The steakhouse was dimly lit, the soft light draping over Lu Shinian.

She wore a black tweed coat trimmed with silver thread, and diamond earrings sparkled at her ears, exuding an air of dignified elegance that kept others at arm’s length.

But just now, when a faint smile touched her eyes, that aloofness seemed to soften for a fleeting moment.

The wealthy characters in TV dramas—draped in luxury brands, indulging in gourmet meals, and discarding clothes after a single wear.

The wealthy woman before her—insisting on washing her clothes properly, even enjoying street food.

Gu Jihuan chuckled softly. Such a down-to-earth rich person.

The steakhouse’s 99-yuan steak set came with mismatched cutlery. The knife was dull and difficult to use.

Lu Shinian lowered her gaze, meticulously cutting her steak. The delicate diamond watch on her wrist flashed, and a ring of tiny diamonds encircled the knuckle of her index finger, instantly elevating the humble cutlery to a new level of sophistication.

Gu Jihuan’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at the scene before her, her hands resembling world-class masterpieces.

“I’ve always felt you have some prejudice against me,” Lu Shinian said slowly. “Or perhaps, against what you perceive as ‘rich people.'”

“Hmm, maybe,” Gu Jihuan mused for a moment. “Let’s not dwell on that. Have you investigated what happened at the bar the other day?”

“Almost. Don’t worry, I’ll get to the bottom of it and give you an explanation.” Lu Shinian’s eyes darkened slightly at the mention of the incident.

Previously, she had only focused on Dai Meng herself, paying little attention to Dai Meng’s research team.

The young man beside Dai Meng was Zhao Chenming, the second son of the Zhao Family and reportedly Dai Meng’s obsessive admirer.

The Zhao Family was now controlled by Zhao Chenming’s elder brother, Zhao Chenguang, who had collaborated with Lu Shinian’s Second Granduncle, Lu Chuan, on numerous occasions.

No evidence was needed; the situation was practically laid bare before Lu Shinian.

Moreover, Lu Chuan made no attempt to conceal his involvement, having meticulously covered his tracks.

If the plan succeeded, rumors of Lu Shinian’s scandalous behavior upon returning from abroad would likely spread throughout Jiang City. If it failed, it would still serve as a warning shot across his bow.

Having cleared himself of any wrongdoing, Lu Shinian could only blame Zhao Chenming, the second-generation playboy, for his reckless behavior.

From the moment Lu Shinian returned to China, Lu Chuan had already begun his schemes.

“The wealthy are all the same,” Gu Jihuan muttered. “No wonder I’m prejudiced. This is even more disgusting than Lu Bei’s tactics.”

“Lu Bei?” Lu Shinian caught the sensitive name. A nephew of the Lu Family, Chen Yuefang had previously entrusted him with several important projects.

“Looks like your circles overlap. You know Lu Bei after all,” Gu Jihuan said, offering a friendly warning. “Stay away from him. He’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants. I suspect he was the one who followed me out of the bar that night…”

The bar was reputable; Gu Jihuan and her colleagues frequented it, and she had never experienced being followed before.

After much consideration, she could only conclude it was Lu Bei. The man was like a persistent leech, impossible to shake off once he latched on.

Strangely enough, he had backed down the moment she flirted with a beautiful woman. Given his usual tenacity, he shouldn’t have given up so easily.

Gu Jihuan stabbed her steak fiercely, muttering, “It’s best to stay far away from the Lu Family.”

Not all wealthy people were as down-to-earth as the man before her. Gu Jihuan’s initial impression of the Lu Family, especially Lu Bei, had been unfavorable.

Lu Shinian’s hand paused slightly. The question he was about to ask—”May I know your name?”—was abruptly swallowed back.

After asking, I’d have to introduce myself. How would I do that?

My name is Lu Shinian, the Lu Shinian from the Lu Family you despise most.

As a light drizzle fell over Jiang City, Gu Jihuan declined Lu Shinian’s offer to drive her home and instead hailed a taxi.

No sooner had she settled into the car than Tang Menghua called. “Professor Gu, about that emergency aortic dissection case today—the family has filed a request with the medical affairs office to seal the patient’s medical records. They claim to have concerns about our treatment process and demand a thorough investigation.”

Gu Jihuan frowned involuntarily. Feng Chun’s mother had expressed such profound gratitude, and she had hoped the ordeal at Anren Hospital wouldn’t repeat itself. Yet here it was again.

“What reasons did they give for requesting the records be sealed?” Gu Jihuan asked.

“The patient’s family believes there could have been better treatment options. Now that surgery requires long-term anticoagulation therapy, they claim our procedure has compromised the patient’s quality of life. They also argue that the elderly relative who signed the consent form is illiterate and signed under duress.”

“The treatment plan I proposed is the best,” Gu Jihuan said. “I’m willing to have it reviewed by the medical affairs office, provide a public case report, and give a full account of the surgical procedure. Xiao Tang, you don’t need to worry about this. I’ll speak with Liu Zhiping tomorrow and explain everything clearly.”

“Alright, Professor Gu. I’ll try to talk to the family again. Please prepare yourself mentally for what might come.” Tang Menghua felt guilty. As Feng Chun’s attending physician, she hadn’t resolved the issue and had instead brought trouble to Gu Jihuan.

“This isn’t your fault,” Gu Jihuan reassured her. “They’re very familiar with the hospital’s procedures.”

The family had directly requested the medical affairs office to seal Feng Chun’s records. Emergency surgeries typically have only a few pages of documentation, consisting mainly of the surgical notes from that day.

In emergency surgeries, time is of the essence. Many medication orders and treatment instructions are added after the procedure. If these entries hadn’t been completed before the records were sealed, the subsequent review would reveal procedural errors on the hospital’s part. The family had previously used this tactic to exploit Anren Hospital.

However, Gu Jihuan was confident that no loopholes would be found this time. She had been meticulous, and the entire conversation with Feng Chun’s mother had been video-recorded.

As the scenery blurred past the car window, Lu Shinian pulled out his phone. As expected, it was already flooded with messages from Lu Yuqiong.

Shinian, what do you need red roses for?

To give to someone?

Do you really have someone you like now?

Don’t worry, I’ll keep it a secret from Grandma.

Don’t overthink it. Grandma will definitely accept it. After all these years, she must have figured things out by now.

Aaaaaah! I can’t believe the Iceberg is actually in love!

Buy, buy, buy! I’ll make sure everything is perfect. 999 red roses, all the bells and whistles!

Reading these messages, Lu Shinian could practically hear Lu Yuqiong’s shrieking tone in his head. Lu Yuqiong was great, but she was a bit too nosy.

Iceberg? Lu Shinian didn’t quite understand the nickname.

Lu Yuqiong seemed to have been waiting for his reply, responding almost instantly. You finally replied! Were you on a date just now? Were you?

I’ve got the red roses ready. Give me an address, and I’ll have them delivered. Or do you want to give them yourself?

Don’t worry about it. It’s just a nickname. The younger members of the Lu Family all call you that behind your back because they think you’re cold and aloof to everyone. Well, now you’re not an iceberg anymore!

Lu Yuqiong’s message was brimming with excitement. Lu Shinian pursed his lips and slowly typed a reply:

I don’t need the red roses for now. I think… I might have just experienced a breakup.

Before anything had even started, he’d already been told to stay away from the Lu Family. Lu Shinian genuinely felt like he’d just gone through a breakup.

Lu Yuqiong stared at the words on the screen, leaping up from the sofa so abruptly that her face mask fell off.

A… breakup? The message sounded so dejected.

Could this be the same President Lu who had sparred with Lu Chuan for eight hundred rounds at Ludi Group earlier that day?