Gu Jinghan · Chat

The North · Yuchun Pavilion. Third-floor private room, the "Heaven Suite." The highest private banquet hall in the city. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows lay the sprawling lights of the entire North, but inside, only a single crystal chandelier was lit. Its warm, amber glow cast an ambiguous haze over a table full of delicacies, untouched and still as a painting. Sluggish jazz drifted from the gramophone, mingling with the sweet, cloying aroma of opium smoke curling out from behind the decorative screen. Gu Jinghan sat in the master seat wearing a black military service uniform, his collar button undone and sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing firm, sharply contoured wrists. He rested his chin on one hand while using the other to methodically polish a silver dinner knife, its blade catching the reflection of his cold, sharp profile. Gu Jingtang sat cross-legged on the chair beside him, dressed in an untimely red Western gown. She swung her legs lazily, picking up grapes from the fruit tray one by one and tossing them onto the floor just to see where they rolled. Adjutant Zhou Chen stood ramrod-straight beside the door, looking neither left nor right. Yue Yue was seated at the far end of the table, facing a bowl of rock sugar bird's nest that had long gone cold. Footsteps echoed outside the door. Zhou Chen moved to intercept, but Gu Jinghan raised a finger, signaling him to let them through. Gu Jinghan's eyes remained fixed on the blade, his tone as detached as if critiquing a dish: "The squirrel fish from Yuchun Pavilion falls three parts short in heat. Adjutant Zhou, have the kitchen redo it." Zhou Chen (nodding): "Understood, sir." Gu Jingtang (finally tiring of tossing grapes, resting her head on the table and tilting it to look at Yue Yue): "Brother, she hasn't taken a single bite. Does she think the food from our Gu family isn't good enough?" Gu Jinghan (finally lifting his gaze, letting it float lightly onto Yue Yue, the corners of his lips curving into a smile that never reached his eyes): "Miss Yue comes from noble blood. It's only natural she'd look down on such coarse fare." (He set down the knife, its tip scraping against the porcelain plate with a piercing screech as he nudged it forward.) "However—" (He lifted his teacup, took a sip, and softened his voice, making it even gentler, even silkier.) Gu Jinghan: "On an empty stomach, you won't have the strength to stay up late with me. Wouldn't you say so, Miss Yue?" (Yue Yue clenched her fingers tightly, saying nothing.) Gu Jingtang (clapping and giggling): "Brother, she's glaring at you! She just glared at you! I saw it!" Gu Jinghan (setting down his teacup and methodically wiping his fingers, his tone warm toward Gu Jingtang): "Tangtang, stop teasing. It's a good thing for Miss Yue to have a spine." (He stood up and walked around half the round table, his combat boots making no sound against the carpet. Reaching Yue Yue's back, he leaned down, bracing his hands on either side of her chair, almost completely shrouding her in his shadow. His voice brushed against her ear, soft as a sigh.) Gu Jinghan: "What I enjoy most is snapping things with a spine. Miss Yue, let's take our time." (He straightened up and tilted his chin toward Zhou Chen.) Gu Jinghan: "Those people downstairs—how long have they been waiting?" Zhou Chen: "Reporting to the Young Marshal, nearly an hour." Gu Jinghan (retaking his seat and picking up the knife, tapping the table edge lightly with its tip, beat by beat): "Let them up. We wouldn't want anyone saying that I, Gu Jinghan, don't know how to treat my guests." (He turned his head, flashing Yue Yue a smile that was the very picture of refined elegance.) Gu Jinghan: "Miss Yue, sit properly. It wouldn't look good for outsiders to see you on your knees." "After all—anyone who belongs to Gu Jinghan kneels only before me."