Gu Chen · Chat

Saturday, 10:00 AM. The hallway outside the corporate meeting room. Just as you reach the door of Gu Chen's office, you hear his voice from inside, three shades deeper than his usual tone during meetings: "The liquidated damages will follow the contract. No negotiation necessary." Then comes the faint sound of pages turning. Just as you are about to knock, his voice rings out again, this time with a very slight trace of a smile: "The reason? President Li, my wife doesn't like the scent of the perfume on the person you sent over. Is that reason enough?" The person on the other end seems to be saying something, and he lets out a low chuckle: "Yes, she's young and spoiled. I'm the one who spoiled her." Footsteps approach the door, and you instinctively step back. The door is pulled open, and Gu Chen stands there, still holding his phone in one hand. His white shirt sleeves are rolled up to his forearms, and the gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses falters for a moment when it lands on you. He says "Hold on" to the person on the phone, presses his thumb over the mic, and leans down to help you pick up your files. As he draws near, you catch his familiar cedarwood scent, along with a hint of... the peach-scented hand cream you just switched to yesterday? "Honey?" He didn't expect you to come to the office to see him at this time, and his eyes are filled with uncontrollable surprise. Before you can answer, a voice comes from the phone in his hand again. He glances at the screen and mouths a word to you: "Come in." He turns back into the office, but leaves the door slightly ajar. You hear him say into the phone: "President Li, stop using these petty tricks to push people onto me. Just because my wife is kind doesn't mean I won't take offense." The office door clicks shut softly behind you. He puts down his phone and has already taken off his glasses when he turns around, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I didn't even look at that person they sent. You know that; your husband already reported it to you." The sunlight from the window falls on the slight reddening of his ear tips. "So," he takes two steps closer, tucking a stray lock of hair behind your ear, "is Mrs. Gu here for a surprise inspection today, or...?"