Chapter 12 We Are Simply Partners in Mutual Benefit
Chen Menglu got into Gu Yiqiao's car. The vehicle stopped in front of a cafe at Blue Harbor. After parking, they walked into the cafe one after another, with Zhang Guoguo following along, watching them converse from the car.
Throughout, Gu Yiqiao’s face was filled with sorrow, while Chen Menglu spoke confidently, occasionally reaching out to comfort him. Although Zhang Guoguo couldn’t decipher exactly what Chen Menglu was saying, she understood the significance of her presence.
Public opinion may have targeted An Ruier for framing Shen Linyue, but in reality, it didn’t touch her in the slightest. Moreover, Xu Mengdie’s release of the recording had already alerted her, making An Ruier even more guarded. Still, no matter how cautious she became, Gu Yiqiao remained her Achilles’ heel.
Two hours later, Gu Yiqiao dropped Chen Menglu off at Huaxia Road and drove away. Zhang Guoguo seized the opportunity to enter the Fish & Tao Japanese restaurant on the sixteenth floor of the building with Chen Menglu.
Chen Menglu had just changed into her work uniform and arrived at the front desk when she saw Zhang Guoguo, dressed in a black bodycon dress and bare-faced.
On the terrace outside the restaurant, Zhang Guoguo went straight to the point.
“I understand why you don’t want to reclaim the title of Mrs. Luo, and I also understand why you threatened me to stop the wedding.”
Chen Menglu looked as if she had no idea what Zhang Guoguo was talking about, so Zhang Guoguo took out the photo, torn into pieces, from her pink Hermes bag.
As expected, Chen Menglu became furious at the sight of the shredded photo. “What gives you the right to tear up my picture?”
“Heh.” Zhang Guoguo let out a cold laugh, leaning back in her chair. “Because right now, I am Mrs. Luo. I did this to protect the relationship between me and my husband. Since you don’t love him, let me love him instead.”
“Love?” Chen Menglu found it laughable. “It’s only been a few days, and you claim you love him? What you love is his wealth and power, isn’t it?”
“Say whatever you like.”
“I’m telling you, even if I don’t love Minglang, I won’t let you hurt him, nor will I allow you to use him. Minglang is so kind, so loving—”
“If he’s so wonderful, why can’t you love him? Why are you obsessed with someone as cold and heartless as Gu Yiqiao?” Zhang Guoguo grew more agitated. “Do you know how humbly Luo Minglang loves you? And how do you treat him? If you’re so fixated on Gu Yiqiao, why did you marry Minglang, give him hope, only to disappoint him again? Don’t you think it’s immoral to hurt others in the name of love?”
Clearly, Chen Menglu was enraged. She slammed her hand on the table and glared at Zhang Guoguo. “Who I love is my business. You have no right to question me. And do you even know Gu Yiqiao? On what grounds do you call him cold and heartless?”
“Am I wrong?” Zhang Guoguo rose to her feet, matching Chen Menglu’s height. “Everyone knows how he treated his ex-wife!”
“Public opinion is full of lies. Even if his ex-wife didn’t betray Locke by leaking business secrets, the fact remains that she killed someone.”
“Why did his ex-wife kill? She was a lady from a prestigious family—would she kill for a paltry few million? If Gu Yiqiao had shown a bit more care, a bit more trust in her, maybe things wouldn’t have turned out this way.”
“Heh, it sounds like you know Gu Yiqiao—and his ex-wife—better than I do.”
To avoid revealing herself, Zhang Guoguo maintained her composure. “I’m just analyzing the situation rationally. The past doesn’t matter. What matters is you and me.”
“What is there to discuss between us?”
Zhang Guoguo sat down again. “There’s plenty for us to talk about.”
“Let me tell you, don’t think that being the wife of the richest man gives you power over me. Even as an ordinary person now, no one can threaten me.”
“Don’t be so absolute, Miss Chen. I came to talk with you today about you and Gu Yiqiao.” She looked at Chen Menglu, who indeed seemed a bit flustered. “I know you love Gu Yiqiao, but he’s never shown any interest in you when you were Zhang Guoguo. But it doesn’t matter; now that you’re Chen Menglu, you have endless opportunities to build a relationship with him.”
“Are you really that generous?” Chen Menglu asked, doubtful, as she took a seat.
“Of course not. I just want to cooperate. Mutual benefit!”
“How do we cooperate?”
Seeing how excited Chen Menglu was, Zhang Guoguo realized that this woman was indeed a simple heiress, just as pure as she once was when she loved Gu Yiqiao—willing to do anything to be with him.
Now, what Zhang Guoguo needed was exactly this kind of Chen Menglu. “You’re just a commoner now, with no way to get close to Gu Yiqiao. But I can give you the status to match him—not only to appear in his world but also to win his affection. In return, I want you to tell me everything about your past with Gu Yiqiao and Luo Minglang.”