Chapter 78: So Awkward I Want to Curl My Toes

Long Cong’an closed the car door, got back into the driver’s seat, and started the engine again.

An Nan gazed out the window at the scenery flashing by, unable to help but sigh inwardly:

Four wheels really are faster—just a tap on the gas, and she’d have to walk for ages to cover the same distance on her own two legs.

In a good mood, she glanced around the car she’d already touched and admired several times.

The interior was just as rugged and impressive as she’d imagined, and the leather seats were really comfortable.

Sitting there, she couldn’t help but notice a faint, pleasant scent lingering at the tip of her nose.

It probably came from the man sitting beside her.

It smelled natural, not like cologne, more like some kind of body wash.

An Nan couldn’t resist sneaking a look at Gu Zhiyu, only to meet his dark, deep eyes.

Startled, she quickly turned her head away.

Caught peeking at him—again!

But she soon regained her composure.

What’s there to panic about?

If he wasn’t looking at me, how would he know I’m looking at him?

If anyone’s staring, it’s him first.

What, just because he’s good-looking, I’m not allowed to look a couple more times?

Thinking this, she sneaked another glance.

This time, he didn’t look back, just kept his eyes calmly on the road ahead, his long lashes casting a shadow beneath his eyes.

An Nan couldn’t help but study him closely.

His jawline was sharp with not a trace of excess flesh, his nose was straight and high—his whole face looked like it was modeled in a video game, both refined and perfectly proportioned.

Long Cong’an grew vegetables at the hillside villa, so this Gu Zhiyu probably lived there too.

How had she never noticed before that there was such a ridiculously attractive man living up on the mountain?

Was it because everyone always drove everywhere?

Gu Zhiyu could feel her staring and swallowed a little uncomfortably, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

An Nan immediately realized—

He definitely knows I’m looking at him.

He probably thinks I’m some kind of pervy fangirl…

But honestly, it’s not her fault—he’s just too eye-catching. You’d think he’d be used to people staring by now, so why is he still shy?

With a clear conscience, An Nan gave him another couple of glances before finally turning her gaze forward.

Looking at Long Cong’an, who was driving, she casually asked,

“I saw this car in Kangwang Community just now. What were you guys doing there?”

At the mention of his car, Gu Zhiyu immediately recalled how she’d been checking it out and touching it earlier, and couldn’t help but curve his lips in a slight smile.

Long Cong’an, who hadn’t witnessed that scene, answered seriously, “I live there. Just went back to pick something up.”

“Oh.” An Nan nodded, not pressing further.

Long Cong’an glanced at his boss in the rearview mirror, then at An Nan, and couldn’t help but ask,

“Savior, have you ever heard of the Gu Group?”

An Nan, still looking out the window, replied offhandedly, “Yeah, I’ve heard of it.”

The number one conglomerate in Linbei City—who hasn’t heard of it? She’d just used it to bluff Qian Ying’er earlier.

Long Cong’an kept an eye on her expression in the rearview mirror as he drove:

“Do you know the name of the group’s president?”

“No idea.”

What does it matter to her? It’s probably someone surnamed Gu, Gu-something-or-other.

But as soon as she said it, something clicked in her mind.

A rich guy living in the hillside villa…

Surname Gu…

She suddenly looked at Gu Zhiyu beside her.

And then she remembered—the Hummer had just been parked in front of Bai Wenbin’s building.

Long Cong’an had just brought up the Gu Group…

Even an idiot could put two and two together at this point.

Those two must have been in that building earlier and just happened to overhear her conversation with Qian Ying’er.

And this Gu Zhiyu… he must be the president of the Gu Group…

An Nan’s expression turned a little awkward.

Getting caught killing someone wasn’t a big deal—after all, it wasn’t the first time they’d seen her in action, and with the world in chaos, there was nothing to be afraid of.

But all the nonsense she’d spouted earlier… that was a bit much.

An Nan looked at Long Cong’an. “Did you guys overhear my conversation with that woman just now?”

Seeing him nod, she awkwardly fiddled with her fingers.

After a moment’s thought, she turned to Gu Zhiyu and apologized,

“Sorry about that, I was disrespectful to your esteemed father’s good name.”

Esteemed father?

Gu Zhiyu raised an eyebrow and glanced at her. “My father passed away a long time ago.”

An Nan was so embarrassed she wanted to curl her toes into the floor.

“Ah! Sorry, that was insensitive of me…”

So the president of the Gu Group isn’t his dad—maybe his grandpa? Or an uncle or something?

An Nan: “So, you’re the president’s…”

Long Cong’an, afraid she’d dig herself in deeper, quickly explained, “Savior, this is our Gu Group’s president.”

…

So the very person she’d been making up stories about was sitting right next to her?

An Nan felt like her toes were about to drill a hole through the car floor from sheer embarrassment.

She’d thought “President Gu” just meant general manager Gu, not the actual president of the Gu Group.

How was this reasonable?

A president this young?

The Gu Group was a massive ship, and its captain was a guy in his twenties?

No way…

An Nan couldn’t help but wonder—maybe he just looked young, but was actually pushing forty?

“Sorry if this is rude, President Gu, but may I ask how old you are?”

Gu Zhiyu shot her a sidelong glance. “Fifty-eight.”

An Nan: …

This man holds a grudge!

Long Cong’an burst out laughing and explained, “My boss is twenty-eight.”

An Nan’s eyes widened in shock.

She herself was twenty-two, a recent college grad with no job.

If she counted the four years from her previous life, she was actually twenty-six—a twenty-six-year-old unemployed drifter.

But Gu Zhiyu was only twenty-eight and already the head of the number one conglomerate in Linbei City.

Comparisons really are odious!

And she’d actually spread rumors that such an outstanding man liked Qian Ying’er?

Pfft! Qian Ying’er wasn’t worthy.

An Nan glanced at Gu Zhiyu’s handsome, unreadable face.

After a moment’s thought, she decided to apologize sincerely:

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said you were infatuated with that woman, or that you were fifty-eight.

And I definitely shouldn’t have talked about inheritances and stuff… President Gu, you’re young, handsome, healthy, and I’m sure you’ll live a long and happy life.”

As she apologized earnestly, she tried to recall if she’d said anything else.

Probably not…

So she wrapped up: “Anyway, I was just talking nonsense today. I shouldn’t have dragged you into my personal grudges. I apologize.”

After she finished, the car fell silent for a moment. She looked up to see Gu Zhiyu’s reaction.

He parted his lips and asked, “You really like cars?”

Huh?

Why the sudden change of topic?

Still, she answered politely, “They’re okay, depends on the car.”

“What about this off-roader?”

For some reason, Gu Zhiyu kept picturing her acting like a little rascal, running her hands all over his car earlier.

It was… kind of a funny contrast.

Not at all like the cold, ruthless little demon king she usually was."