"As a talented designer, it's a shame to bury your surname," Shu Zhongze said calmly.
Su Su had made her position clear, but Shu Zhongze didn't seem to care if she had a husband, making her feel that his reputation for being a womanizer was well-deserved.
"The flowers you sent can decorate my office, but the vase is too valuable. I can't accept rewards without merit, so I'll pack it up and return it to you. I appreciate the gesture."
Shu Zhongze replied, "Does your studio design menswear? Consider the vase a down payment for design services. Design a suit for me."
"We have male designers who specialize in menswear..."
"I have faith in your designs. As long as you design a suit for me, will Ms. Gu accept this business?"
Su Su wanted to refuse immediately, but she had no reason to. He hadn't said he liked her or that he intended to pursue her, and the two sentences on the card didn't explicitly suggest that.
"Of course, I'll accept Mr. Shu's business. When would you be free to come to the studio..."
"I'm free this afternoon. Come and let me take your measurements personally. I'll send you the address on your phone. I'll be waiting for you here." Shu Zhongze hung up, leaving her no room to refuse.
Su Su noted down the address he mentioned, called one of her male designers, and after eating their ordered takeout, they headed to the golf course Shu Zhongze had specified.
On a vast expanse of green lawn, Shu Zhongze, dressed in simple sportswear, was playing golf, with his assistant standing nearby holding a glass of red wine.
Su Su, accompanied by the male designer, walked towards Shu Zhongze across the lush green grass.
"Mr. Shu, if it's convenient now, we can start taking your measurements."
Shu Zhongze completed his swing in one fluid motion, hitting the ball. His assistant immediately cheered, "Mr. Shu, great shot."
Su Su didn't understand golf and watched the small ball roll across the distant grass.
Shu Zhongze leaned on his club and asked with good cheer, "Does Ms. Gu play golf?"
Su Su shook her head and said, "No, Mr. Shu. This is also a designer from our studio..."
"Didn't Qin Tianyi teach you? Or has he never brought you to such occasions?" Shu Zhongze interrupted her, not even looking at the designer she brought.
Su Su was taken aback. She and Tianyi indeed had never been to a golf course.
Normally, they were busy with their respective work, and on weekends, they focused on their children.
"I don't particularly like this sport."
Shu Zhongze picked up a club and handed it to her, smiling. "What's not to like about this sport? The air on the course is fresh, the view is expansive, and you can completely stretch and relax your body and mind. If you don't mind, I can teach you."
Su Su didn't take the club and said professionally, "Mr. Shu, I'm sorry, but I think it's better to reschedule. We agreed on the phone that you wanted me to come and take measurements, right?"
Shu Zhongze handed the two clubs in his hand to his assistant and spread his arms, saying, "Measure me."
Su Su signaled the male designer accompanying her to take the measurements. Shu Zhongze said nothing more and was quite cooperative.
Su Su took out her notebook and began to record. Shu Zhongze asked casually, "Was it you who created the opportunity for Shu Yan and the young master of the Han family to be alone at the banquet?"
Su Su's hand holding the pen trembled slightly. Was Shu Zhongze going to question her on behalf of Shu Yan, using a pretense of civility?
"I believe it was your daughter who first wanted to create an opportunity for the young master of the Han family to get close to me. Unfortunately, she and the young master of the Han family are more destined for each other." She calmed herself, her expression composed.
"My daughter is not as capable as Ms. Gu. I now understand the reason she is defeated every time." Shu Zhongze showed no sign of blaming her. "It's rare to find a woman who possesses both beauty and intelligence these days."
Su Su didn't know how to respond and lowered her head to record the data her subordinate designer was measuring.
She thought Shu Zhongze was very strange. Why wasn't he protecting his daughter? Why wasn't he taking this opportunity to help Shu Yan get revenge on her, which had made her so nervous earlier?
Shu Zhongze then asked abruptly, "Is Ms. Gu the biological daughter of Ai Shunan and his wife?"
Su Su was startled again by his question and mechanically nodded.
Shu Zhongze said, "That's strange. Why don't you have the surname Ai, but Gu? As far as I know, Ai Shunan's wife's surname is not Gu either."
"They thought I was unlucky, so they just gave me a name." Su Su replied perfunctorily, feeling a lump in her throat.
She had almost forgotten to think about her own background during this time. She even felt that not knowing who her father was, or how she came into this world, wasn't so bad, as she now had a happy family.
But Shu Zhongze's sudden inquiries about these matters made her feel sad about her origins again.
"Ai Shunan and his wife are indeed strange parents." Shu Zhongze observed her changing expression and said, "From what I know, Ms. Gu grew up in an orphanage, not abroad. Were you really swapped at birth? Are you sure there were no errors in your DNA test with them?"
Su Su took a silent breath and recorded the last set of his measurements. She smiled politely and said, "Mr. Shu, this is my private matter. There's no need to tell you, is there? We're done. Once the design drafts are ready, I'll have this designer contact you again."
"Ms. Gu is truly efficient. Then I'll look forward to your unique design." Shu Zhongze said with a faint smile.
Su Su closed her notebook and said, "Xiao Ye, let's go." She turned and left.
Shu Zhongze silently watched Su Su's retreating figure, his heart filled with uncertainties. However, after observing her more closely, she looked so much like him.
On the way back to the studio, Su Su let Xiao Ye drive while she sat on the side, thinking about Shu Zhongze's questions and his attitude towards her.
She felt something was not quite right. She couldn't figure out Shu Zhongze's true intentions at all.
Could he have more sophisticated means to help Shu Yan deal with her and Tianyi? But why was he inquiring about her background?
The fact that he could ask those questions earlier indicated that he had likely investigated beforehand.
Thinking about this gave Su Su a headache. No wonder Shu Yan dared to do anything reckless; having parents like that backing her up was terrifying.
As soon as she returned to the office, she immediately called a delivery person and had the vase and flowers Shu Zhongze had sent returned, completely untouched.
However, when she left work that evening, she realized she had forgotten to return the card that was tucked inside the flowers. She ended up tossing it into a drawer under her desk.
During dinner, Su Su sensed that Tianyi was in a bad mood. Even though he would pick up food for her and Xiao Xingxing and smile at them occasionally, his brow was subtly furrowed.
Late at night, after everyone had gone to bed, Su Su lay alone on the bedroom bed, unable to sleep, thinking about Shu Zhongze's deliberate request to see her that day.
Meanwhile, Qin Tianyi was still busy in the study and hadn't returned to the bedroom.
Su Su decided to go to the kitchen, reheated a bowl of snow frog soup that Chen Ma had stewed for dinner, and took it to the study.