Naughty Puppy Will Be Eaten by a Bad Woman - Chapter 34

Gu Xianyue’s words set off fireworks in Lu Zhao’s heart, her heartbeat pounding like thunder.

“Okay…”

She heard herself agree.

Gu Xianyue rarely showed a smile that could be described as warm, her eyes curving into crescents, softening her usually sharp features.

She was genuinely happy.

But at that moment, Gu Xianyue couldn’t have imagined that she, who almost never regretted her decisions, would soon bitterly regret this one.

Lingxi watched the two women’s intertwined gazes, thinking, Dear Connie, by the time you read this letter, I’ll already be the third wheel…

Meanwhile, Gu Yu was dining with Sheng Huaixing.

“President Gu, do you think Xianyue… will actually agree?” Sheng Huaixing asked, his brow furrowed with worry.

Gu Yu held a glass of red wine in one hand, gently swirling it. Her meticulously manicured hands were smooth and delicate, the crimson nails mirroring the ruby liquid within.

She spoke slowly, her tone carrying the arrogance and composure of someone accustomed to authority.

“She will agree.”

After finishing their meal, Lingxi tactfully excused herself first.

The Capital’s nightscape was vibrant. Gu Xianyue slowly pushed Lu Zhao’s wheelchair, their pace unhurried.

Occasionally, couples strolled by hand-in-hand, their gazes briefly lingering on them before quickly shifting back to their own companions.

Under the deep night sky, Lu Zhao seemed unusually relaxed, leaning back against the chair.

Gu Xianyue steadily pushed Lu Zhao, occasionally bending down to whisper a few words. They gradually made their way to the riverbank.

Despite the winter chill, the riverbank felt surprisingly warm.

Gu Xianyue lowered her gaze, her voice softening with the night breeze. “Have you decided where you want to go?”

Lu Zhao paused for a moment. “Anywhere is fine. I’ll leave it up to you.”

Gu Xianyue chuckled. How could anywhere be fine? She despised people who answered “anywhere” when asked about food or destinations. Such people rarely meant it; they were simply too lazy to make decisions themselves while secretly harboring a list of preferences.

She herself was nothing like that. Before making any decision, she carefully weighed the pros and cons, determined to maintain control over every aspect of her life, both big and small.

But Lu Zhao’s “anywhere” seemed genuine. Throughout their time together, Gu Xianyue had noticed Lu Zhao’s lack of sharp edges, her willingness to defer to Gu Xianyue’s preferences in almost everything.

The only thing Lu Zhao wouldn’t agree to was seeing a psychiatrist… but even that, she had already promised to do.

“Really, anything is fine? No particular place you’d like to go?” Gu Xianyue asked again, seeking confirmation.

Lu Zhao nodded, her peach-blossom eyes shining with sincerity. “Yes, really.”

For Lu Zhao, the destination didn’t matter; what mattered was being with Gu Xianyue. Even if it was a place inconvenient for her, she would still go with Gu Xianyue.

Gu Xianyue pondered for a moment, her fingers tracing the ring on her finger.

“How about L Country? It’s in Southeast Asia, so even in winter, the climate is mild—perfect for avoiding the cold snap. Plus… we can soak in hot springs there.”

Gu Xianyue had already planned everything: she would rent an entire villa, hire a local private chef, or arrange for private dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant. They could even reserve entire attractions for private tours, visiting early in the morning or after closing hours, so Lu Zhao wouldn’t have to be seen in public and could enjoy herself more comfortably.

Lu Zhao’s eyes lit up. “Sounds wonderful! I’ve heard the culture there is so rich and deep. It’ll be great to experience it firsthand!”

Gu Xianyue: “……”

Local customs and culture meant people. Her ideal trip with just the two of them was now ruined.

Gu Xianyue refused to give up. “Wouldn’t it be inconvenient with so many people?”

Lu Zhao took her hand, holding it in her own and playing with it, kneading Gu Xianyue’s slender fingers. “People are an essential part of the scenery. Besides, you’ll be there, right? It won’t be inconvenient at all…”

Gu Xianyue found the latter half of Lu Zhao’s words very pleasing.

She loved Lu Zhao’s unintentional reliance on her.

Of course, she’d prefer if Lu Zhao only relied on her.

However, Lu Zhao’s kneading of her finger bones stirred Gu Xianyue’s imagination.

Did Lu Zhao truly not understand the special meaning behind this gesture?

Gu Xianyue studied Lu Zhao’s profile, noticing she seemed to be merely examining her hand, as if admiring a delicate trinket, her eyes filled with pure appreciation.

Gu Xianyue couldn’t tell.

Was Lu Zhao genuinely unaware, or was she pretending?

Feeling slightly flustered, Gu Xianyue felt a sudden warmth.

She was wearing too many layers.

Gu Xianyue withdrew her hand and gently scratched Lu Zhao’s chin with her fingertip. “You always know just what to say.”

Lu Zhao tilted her head back, obediently letting Gu Xianyue scratch her chin. “Of course I can talk,” she said.

Gu Xianyue pinched Lu Zhao’s cheek. Lu Zhao’s recent efforts to eat well had clearly paid off; her cheeks had filled out slightly, making them feel wonderfully soft. Gu Xianyue couldn’t resist pinching them a few more times. “Alright, alright,” she said. “Our Reporter Lu is quite the silver-tongued one.”

After a moment of playful banter, Lu Zhao suddenly sneezed.

“It’s getting chilly,” Gu Xianyue said. “Let’s head back soon.”

Lu Zhao pulled out her phone to call a taxi, her eyes still lingering with reluctance. She mumbled a soft “Mm-hmm.”

Why does time always fly by so quickly when I’m with Gu Xianyue?

Gu Xianyue didn’t leave immediately. She stayed to wait for the taxi with Lu Zhao, intending to help her into the car.

Seeing that Lu Zhao was disabled, the driver got out to assist. To his surprise, Lu Zhao grabbed the car’s roof handle and effortlessly hoisted herself into the vehicle. She then bent down and skillfully disassembled her wheelchair, making it clear she needed no help at all.

Gu Xianyue joined in dismantling the wheelchair. Working together, they quickly had it folded up. The driver stood awkwardly by, scratching his head, unable to assist. He eventually returned to the driver’s seat.

The next day, they returned to Qingcheng together. After the flight landed, Lu Zhao and her team immediately went to the Provincial Television Station to report on their work.

This time, they had reaped a rich harvest, returning laden with success. Not only had they completed their assigned tasks, but they had also uncovered unexpected findings, exceeding the KPI set by Wei Ning.

Now, all that remained was to release the collected evidence in stages, delivering a series of investigative reports that would ride the momentum of the Spring Festival to thrust Shengye into the eye of the storm. Public opinion management was Lu Zhao’s comfort zone; she handled these arrangements with ease, quickly formulating a comprehensive strategy.

The year-end workload was relentless. Everyone was racing against the clock to meet their annual targets, especially Lu Zhao. She was effectively managing three departments simultaneously: the People’s Livelihood Channel, the E-commerce Department, and the Special Project Team. Even with her exceptional efficiency, she was beginning to feel overwhelmed.

But the thought of traveling with Gu Xianyue after this busy period kept her motivated, even making overtime feel more bearable.

Gu Xianyue had just as many matters to handle, if not more. Recently, Gu Yu had been acting uncharacteristically lenient, letting Gu Xianyue manage things without interference or disagreement. This allowed Gu Xianyue to smoothly finalize a partnership with Lingkang, who formally acquired a stake in Yunqing, securing a portion of its equity.

Because of Gu Yu’s laissez-faire approach, Gu Xianyue found herself personally overseeing numerous critical tasks, leaving her so swamped that she even missed her weekly family dinners with Gu Yu. When Gu Yu heard about Gu Xianyue’s travel plans with Lu Zhao, she surprisingly didn’t pry, merely asking her to visit a Yunqing-sponsored orphanage in L Country as a company representative to offer condolences.

This was part of Gu Xianyue’s responsibilities, and she readily agreed. After all, she and Lu Zhao would be spending plenty of time together, enjoying a blissful, uninterrupted period in a foreign land. The thought filled her with anticipation.

Time flew by, and the spring break was just around the corner.

One evening, as Gu Xianyue finished work and prepared to leave the office, she received a message from Lu Zhao.

Little Dog: Are you done yet?

In recent days, they had been texting each other frequently. Beyond work matters, their conversations often drifted to trivial topics, including but not limited to complaining about work, sharing what they had eaten, or mentioning stray cats and dogs they had encountered on the street. Gu Xianyue had previously been someone who rarely engaged in casual chatter, but since becoming closer to Lu Zhao, she found meaning in sharing these mundane details.

Of course, it was only meaningful when shared with Lu Zhao.

What she particularly appreciated was that no matter how busy Lu Zhao was, whenever she replied to Gu Xianyue’s messages after a delay, she would dutifully explain what had kept her waiting, which warmed Gu Xianyue’s heart.

 Just finished up.  Gu Xianyue saw Lu Zhao’s message, a smile unconsciously spreading across her face.

I’m off work and waiting at the entrance to your floor.

Gu Xianyue’s heart fluttered with delight as she quickly typed back:  Come into the lobby and we’ll go down to the underground garage together.

Come out here~

Gu Xianyue stared at the tilde for two seconds, as if she could hear Lu Zhao’s slightly coquettish tone.

Okay, wait for me.

When Gu Xianyue arrived outside the company, she found Lu Zhao leaning against a black Audi.

“President Gu, may I have the honor of being your driver?” Lu Zhao asked with a slight bow, gracefully opening the passenger door with practiced ease.

Gu Xianyue smiled and walked over to the passenger seat. “Of course.”

As she settled into the car, Gu Xianyue noticed a handle on the steering wheel and a control lever near the accelerator and brake pedals.

“It just passed inspection today, so I drove it straight here,” Lu Zhao said, her eyes crinkling with delight.

“So, I’m the first passenger in this modified car?”

Lu Zhao nodded, her smile unwavering. “That’s right.”

Not only was Gu Xianyue the first passenger in the modified car, but she was also the first passenger since Lu Zhao’s amputation. Lu Zhao had once resigned herself to a quiet, uneventful life, but Gu Xianyue’s arrival had rekindled her spirit, allowing her to gradually regain control over her body.

This realization had shown her that she could still accomplish many things like able-bodied people, even if it required more effort.

With her left hand on the steering wheel and her right hand operating the accelerator lever, Lu Zhao smoothly drove the car away.

Since returning to Qingcheng, the two had been busy with their own affairs, and nearly a month had passed since they last saw each other. Gu Xianyue glanced sideways at Lu Zhao. Though faint signs of fatigue were visible, Lu Zhao’s complexion had improved significantly, her cheeks filling out from the gaunt, pale appearance of their first meeting.

A narrow gap in the car window allowed the night breeze to lift strands of Lu Zhao’s hair, giving her an air of vitality and spirited energy.

“Are you scared?” Lu Zhao asked, noticing Gu Xianyue’s gaze.

“No, you’re driving very well,” Gu Xianyue replied sincerely.

It was true. Though she usually traveled in chauffeur-driven cars, she occasionally had to take taxis. Lu Zhao’s driving was smooth and steady, with gentle starts and stops and consistent speed—a world apart from the jerky, erratic driving of some ride-hailing drivers.

Despite this being her first time riding in Lu Zhao’s car, Gu Xianyue felt completely at ease.

Lu Zhao drove Gu Xianyue all the way home, bringing the car to a smooth stop in front of the detached residence.

Lu Zhao was about to get out and walk Gu Xianyue to the door, but Gu Xianyue stopped her.

“It’s late. You should go home and rest,” Gu Xianyue urged through the car window.

Lu Zhao nodded and was about to wave goodbye when a voice interrupted.

“…Reporter Lu?”

Gu Yu appeared beside Gu Xianyue, bag in hand, and looked down at Lu Zhao in the driver’s seat.