Volume One, Chapter 13: Great Sage, Spare My Life

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At Hoshino Restaurant, elegant piano melodies drifted softly through the air. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking panoramic view of the dazzling city lights of the capital at night.

Inside the Western-style restaurant, the only sounds were the low murmur of conversations and the clinking of cutlery.

Lu Chuan lowered his gaze, casually slicing the steak on his plate, a polite smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he looked up at the woman across from him.

“Miss Gu, I heard that President Gu has an adopted daughter?”

Gu Xinyue brushed her hair back, revealing her most charming smile. “Yes, our family mostly has nephews. My brother adopted a little girl.”

“She’s quite adorable, I hear. And because of her, one of the branch families was even kicked out.”

Lu Chuan offered the piece of steak he had cut to Gu Xinyue, a flicker of irritation passing through his lowered eyes.

Gu Xinyue shyly accepted it, recalling the child she had encountered at the company reception—a wild girl who had caused her a great embarrassment at work. She silently blamed that untamed child for the scandal.

Pouring a glass of red wine for Lu Chuan, she spoke softly, “She’s just an ordinary child, nothing special. She’s lucky to have met my brother; otherwise, who knows where she’d be begging on the streets.”

Lu Chuan raised an eyebrow. Realizing she had misspoken, Gu Xinyue hastened to clarify, “I mean, that child has been spoiled by my brother. It was just a misunderstanding, not worth making a fuss over.”

Lu Chuan said no more and didn’t touch the wine, casually taking a bite of foie gras.

“Your salad is ready,” a clear voice announced.

Lu Chuan was momentarily startled and looked up.

“Jin Shu? What are you doing here?” Gu Xinyue feigned surprise, covering her lips, revealing the rose bracelet on her wrist— a gift from Lu Chuan.

Bai Jinshu was also taken aback, a hint of embarrassment on her face. “President Lu, Miss Gu, I didn’t expect to see you here.”

A sly smile curved Gu Xinyue’s lips. Of course, she hadn’t expected this either; it was part of the original story. Bai Jinshu’s father had fallen seriously ill and was admitted to the ICU. She needed a large sum of money, and working as Lu Chuan’s assistant during the day wasn’t enough—so she took a part-time job at night.

Gu Xinyue had deliberately arranged to meet him during his shift, just to show him how a waitress could never compare to her, the eldest lady of the Gu family—the only one worthy to stand by his side.

With a concerned expression, Gu Xinyue took Bai Jinshu’s hand. “Jin Shu, why are you working as a waitress? Are you short on money? Why didn’t you tell me? I could help. Being a waitress is so hard, and you still have to help Brother Chuan organize files during the day. What if you don’t get enough rest?”

Bai Jinshu’s gaze lingered on the rose bracelet on Gu Xinyue’s wrist and the gift box beside her. She smiled bitterly at Lu Chuan. “Thank you, Miss Gu, but please rest assured, President Lu, I won’t let it affect my work.”

Lu Chuan did not look at her but smiled indifferently and said to Gu Xinyue, “I didn’t expect Miss Gu to be both beautiful and kind. You make me feel quite inferior.”

Gu Xinyue withdrew her hand from Bai Jinshu’s and playfully scolded Lu Chuan, “You’re so mean, Brother Chuan. You’re always teasing me.”

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Seeing the two ignore her, Bai Jinshu bit her lip, bowed slightly, and quietly retreated.

Lu Chuan watched her small but resilient figure without a trace of emotion, his fingers tightening involuntarily around the wine glass.

Gu Xinyue looked on with triumph as Bai Jinshu left. In the presence of a princess, how could a common girl become the prince’s bride?

Having achieved her goal, Gu Xinyue cast a flirtatious glance at Lu Chuan and purred, “Brother Chuan, I have no plans tonight.”

Lu Chuan said nothing, standing to drape his suit jacket over Gu Xinyue’s shoulders.

Her face lit up with delight. She quickly linked her arm with his, pressing her chest against him to flaunt her voluptuous figure, then turned to glance at Bai Jinshu with pride, as if she were the victor, and left.

Bai Jinshu stood holding a tray, her face pale, yet Lu Chuan never once looked back.

Gu Xinyue’s expression was hardly well concealed. Lu Chuan noticed but pretended not to see, his lowered eyes darkening slightly.

Downstairs, Lu Chuan answered a phone call, apologizing, “I’m sorry, I still have matters at the company. I’ll have the driver take you home.”

“Brother Chuan?” Gu Xinyue had hoped to spend more time with him, but given he cited company business, she could only be understanding, biting back her frustration at the ill-timed call. “It’s okay, the company comes first. You should go.”

Lu Chuan replied softly, “Wear the jacket. It’s cold—don’t catch a chill.”

He got into the car under Gu Xinyue’s admiring gaze.

Once inside, Lu Chuan looked disdainfully at his arm and said coldly, “Go back.”

In the dim light of the car, he opened the window. A flicker of crimson sparkled at his fingertip, and pale blue smoke blurred his dark, inscrutable expression.

…

Cha Cha had just arrived home when Gu Chiyi pulled her into a warm embrace.

“Oh my, Grandpa’s little treasure, you’re finally awake. I was so worried about you.”

Cha Cha hugged her grandfather shyly and guiltily. “I’m sorry, Grandpa, for making you worry.”

The moment Gu Xiaxun saw the old man, his eyes lit up. “Grandpa, has Huahua arrived?”

Gu Chiyi shot a glance at his grandson. “Huahua, Huahua? She’s still on the way. What happened with the car accident?”

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“Cha Cha, tell Grandpa if you’re feeling unwell anywhere?”

Cha Cha shook her head.

“Oh, Grandpa, don’t worry. We took Cha Cha to the hospital for a check-up. She’s perfectly healthy. I’ve handed the matter over to my dad.”

Gu Xiaxun waved his hand, sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, munching on an apple, and turned on the TV to watch Journey to the West.

“Grandpa, Cha Cha, come watch TV!”

The show was just at the “Three Battles with the White Bone Demon” episode. Cha Cha held the warm milk Aunt Wang had prepared, barely taking a sip.

She had never seen a character like the Monkey King, whose face was covered with hair. His fiery eyes were amazing—he immediately recognized the demon and with two swift moves defeated her.

Cha Cha watched Sun Wukong skillfully wield the golden staff with awe.

Suddenly, she wondered—if she stood before the Monkey King, would her identity as a demon be revealed?

Her eyes filled with terror as she watched Sun Wukong strike down the White Bone Demon again.

At that moment, Gu Xiaxun looked seriously at Cha Cha and said, “Cha Cha, when you first came to my house, you should have known—actually, I am the Monkey King.”

!

Third Brother is the Monkey King! So he must have seen right through her from the start.

Cha Cha panicked, slipping off the sofa, falling to her knees with a ‘chuah’ sound, clutching her head with both hands. “Great Sage, spare me! Don’t hit me! I’m not a demon!”

Just then, Gu Yan entered the door and saw Cha Cha kneeling on the floor, ducking her head like a quail while shouting at Gu Xiaxun.

His usually unchanging face suddenly darkened like the bottom of a pot, so gloomy it seemed to drip with darkness. He grabbed a stick by the door and strode toward Gu Xiaxun.

Gu Xiaxun scrambled to his feet, running and shouting, “It’s not what you think, Dad! Dad, please listen to me!”

Gu Chiyi’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he helped the bewildered Cha Cha up, laughing so hard he could barely stand straight.