After Time Traveling, I was Forced to Marry a Wealthy Family

Mu Ci pushed open the study door, and Gu Huai casually tossed the ring box into a drawer, offering a smile as he said, “Here you go, have a seat.”

Mu Ci settled into the chair across from him hesitantly and mentioned, “I just ran into Bai Ling.”

“Oh?” Gu Huai raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “What did he say?”

Mu Ci shook his head. Gu Huai smiled again and slid a white box in front of Mu Ci. “Don’t worry about him. This is for you. Open it and take a look.”

As he opened the box, Mu Ci was slightly surprised, recalling the name of this item. “Is it… a cellphone?”

“Yes, it will make it easier for us to stay in touch,” Gu Huai said, taking the new phone and offering a gentle smile.

“I’ll teach you how to use it.” He opened the address book and entered his work number with ease. Hesitating for a moment, he then deleted everything and replaced it with his private number. “See, you can call me by pressing this.”

Gu Huai patiently explained the phone’s basic functions and was surprised to find that Mu Ci was quite intelligent, grasping things easily once he was given an explanation. His situation was different from what was portrayed on TV, where time travelers from the past to the present could adapt quickly, but those from the past adapting to the modern age faced confusion and helplessness.

During the few weeks they’d spent together, Mu Ci, despite occasional curiosity and confusion, didn’t express any significant fear or helplessness. It was as if the external environment held little importance for him.

Gu Huai often felt that this man was veiled by a thin layer of smoke, effectively isolating him. This realization made Gu Huai a little irritable. He had the impulse to push Mu Ci down, tear off his clothing and the mask of detachment and politeness, ravish him, dominate him, and shatter that barrier to pieces.

Gu Huai was unaware that his eyes had taken on a sinister edge. Just before Mu Ci saw him, his cellphone rang unexpectedly. Startled, Gu Huai glanced at the screen, which displayed Mu Ci’s name.

Mu Ci offered an apologetic smile. “I just wanted to test it, but I didn’t expect the call to go through.”

“It’s fine,” Gu Huai pretended to be nonchalant and ended the call. Then, he reached for Mu Ci’s phone. “Here, I’ll show you how to use the internet.”

What a close call!

Cold sweat broke out on Gu Huai’s back. He knew he had come dangerously close to losing control and revealing his true nature. He cautioned himself that it was still too early, that he had to restrain himself, like a hunter waiting for the right moment.

In truth, Mu Ci had an instinctual fear of Gu Huai.

Although Gu Huai had been as warm and dependable as a gentle stream from the moment Mu Ci arrived in this world, teaching him simplified Chinese characters, instructing him on how to use modern appliances and navigate the internet, and providing insight into society, that fear continued to linger. It felt like an instinct imprinted in the bones of animals.

Perhaps it was because Gu Huai’s aura of natural authority, which he unconsciously projected, bore a striking resemblance to the presence of Mu Ci’s father and brothers.

Or maybe it was because everyone in the household held him in high regard. Or perhaps it was simply because Gu Huai was a young and vigorous man with an innate air of power. Mu Ci, also a man, couldn’t help but feel wary.

Regardless, Mu Ci’s ultimate goal remained unchanged. At the moment, he was seated in the bedroom, typing on his laptop with some difficulty.

The pinyin he had learned again was like a sacred text to Mu Ci, so he had to input text manually, stroke by stroke on the touchpad, which was a slow process.

Thankfully, the browser was kind to Mu Ci. He simply had to enter keywords and click “search.”

There was only one dim light on in the room, and the blue glow from the screen reflected on Mu Ci’s face, giving his light-colored eyes a deep shade of blue.

Mu Ci stared at the screen, scrolling down line by line. He was browsing job listings, attempting to find a job that suited him.

Work… Mu Ci’s brows slowly furrowed. He realized that it was incredibly challenging for someone without an education, experience, or even an ID card to secure a legal job.

Unless he were to work on a construction site… But one look at his long, slender fingers made him reluctantly abandon that idea.

During breakfast the following day, while slicing bacon, Gu Huai casually asked, “Are you thinking about finding a job?”

Mu Ci choked a little and looked up in surprise. “Why do you bring this up all of a sudden?”

Gu Huai smiled and replied, “I noticed you staring at the job listings in the newspaper yesterday, so I guessed you might be interested in finding work.”

Although Mu Ci had indeed read newspapers earlier, he couldn’t recall ever perusing the job listings. Of course, Gu Huai couldn’t reveal the truth—he had been remotely monitoring Mu Ci’s phone and could see his browsing history.

“So, do you want to look for a job?”

Mu Ci examined Gu Huai carefully and suddenly remembered an incident when he was nineteen. During a family dinner, his father had asked him whether he wanted to join the cabinet and learn to become a director.

Mu Ci, always cautious, had understood that his father was testing his ambition for the throne. He had humbly responded that he felt insufficiently talented to take on such a weighty responsibility and had thus avoided the impending danger.

Now, Gu Huai’s casual yet slightly probing gaze resembled that of his father’s during that time.

Mu Ci felt his throat constrict, and after a long silence, he whispered, “No, I was just browsing.”

“Ah,” Gu Huai’s eyes remained the same. “If you want to work, you don’t have an ID card, and without educational background, it’s a bit challenging. However, I can arrange a position for you within Hanhai.”

“Hanhai?” Mu Ci tilted his head, vaguely recalling hearing that term in a jewelry store.

“Yes, it’s the Gu family’s business,” Gu Huai explained with a smile. “But it’s quite chilly now. I’ll consider hiring you as an assistant when spring arrives.”

Mu Ci wasn’t sure how seriously Gu Huai meant it, so he simply nodded in response.

After their conversation about job hunting, they finished breakfast while engaging in casual conversation. However, Mu Ci remained unaware that his desire to distance himself from the Gu family had expedited Gu Huai’s plans by several days.

In truth, Shi Ci had not been oblivious to the situation during those days. The maids and male servants in the Gu family’s mansion had been casting ambiguous glances at him. Bai Ling, preoccupied with his own matters, had often disappeared, but Mu Ci had been too focused on learning Pinyin to pay much attention to these occurrences.

That evening, when Mu Ci entered the dining room, he was greeted by a subtle, pleasant fragrance in the air. Warm yellow star-shaped lights adorned the tall windows, and the long table was covered with an elegant tablecloth. A vintage lamp, fashioned like a traditional candle lantern, stood in the center.

Perplexed by the dim lighting, Mu Ci reached out to turn on the light, but Gu Huai gently restrained his hand. “Don’t turn on the lights; it would spoil the atmosphere.”

“What atmosphere?” Mu Ci asked.

Gu Huai donned a mysterious smile and replied, “You’ll find out soon.”

Feeling a bit uneasy, Mu Ci pulled his hand back and surveyed the dining table. “Isn’t Bai Ling coming?”

“He has some business to attend to tonight, so he won’t be joining us,” Gu Huai explained as he courteously held out the chair for Mu Ci and extended his hand gracefully. “Please take a seat, Mr. Mu.”

Mu Ci hesitated for a moment before taking his seat, noticing that Gu Huai was dressed particularly elegant and formal today. His hair had been meticulously styled.

Gu Huai was already an extremely handsome man with sharp features, captivating eyes, and an air of authority that perfectly complemented his good looks.

Conversely, Mu Ci had dressed rather casually. He rarely had the opportunity to go out, so most of the time he wore comfortable home attire—sweaters and jeans. His long hair was loosely tied behind his head.

In the past, during his time in the palace, he had been required to dress modestly even when staying indoors. The intricate palace attire had been a source of temporary loathing for Mu Ci, which had led him to prefer simple and comfortable modern clothing.

Mu Ci eyed Gu Huai with a hint of suspicion. Under the soft candlelight, Gu Huai’s face seemed even more chiseled and three-dimensional, with every shadow cast perfectly.

What was Gu Huai planning to do?

As Mu Ci sat down, he couldn’t help but wonder.