the richest person's mistress

In the middle of the night, Gu Dandan sat on her bed, staring at her midterm exam report card. The teacher had requested a parent's signature, but she hadn't handed it in yet. In the past, whenever she was at home, her mother would sign it without hesitation, regardless of how poor her grades were, considering them insignificant. But now, who could she turn to for this signature?

After much hesitation and wandering around, Gu Dandan finally walked up to the second floor and knocked on Gu Ao's door.

"Is something wrong?"

"Yes."

"Come in."

Gu Ao showed no expression, causing Gu Dandan to feel apprehensive. She hesitantly handed him the report card. Upon seeing the numbers, Gu Ao frowned, flipping through several pages with his frown deepening...

Ashamed, Gu Dandan lowered her head, "I... need a signature."

"Are you stupid?" Almost all the scores were red, making Gu Ao understand why her classmates called her "Gu Dummy." Indeed, she was quite foolish!

"You...!" Even Gu Ao calling her foolish made Gu Dandan extremely upset. If she had known earlier, she wouldn't have asked him, thus avoiding such embarrassment.

"Were you planning to skip school because of this?"

"Yes."

Gu Ao sighed, speaking as if disciplining a daughter, "What were you doing in class? Do you have no brains?"

"I r-really don't understand, and I couldn't do anything about it."

Taking a pen, Gu Dandan hurriedly said, "Lu Mei, my mom's... name."

After signing, Gu Ao handed the report card back to Gu Dandan. Initially, he wanted to say more but decided against it. This girl was changing him, making him less like his usual stern, cold self. It seemed that the serious and aloof Gu Ao was gradually disappearing.

...

As Gu Dandan grew closer to Luo Xinyang, other girls became increasingly jealous. Since Gu Ao's intervention, they dared not bully her openly but resorted to subtle tactics behind her back.

Children in seventh grade were still naive about matters of the heart. For instance, Gu Dandan was clueless, though some kids matured early.

One day, a note was slipped into Luo Xinyang's desk: "Gu Dandan is a little flirt."

Luo Xinyang casually threw the note away, but it did make him ponder. Every time he asked about Gu Dandan's family, she remained silent, as if hiding something.

After school, when everyone else had left, only Luo Xinyang and Gu Dandan remained in the classroom.

"Luo Xinyang, did you keep me here for something?"

"Gu Dandan, what do your parents do?"

"Well... I can't really explain."

"How about I come over to your place today? You've been to mine."

"No, no, that won't work! I need to go home," Gu Dandan grabbed her bag and rushed out.

"Gu Dandan, don't you consider me a friend? I've been so good to you, even letting you copy my homework. What's wrong with coming over?" Luo Xinyang followed her.

"Of course we're friends, and you're my only friend, but..." If Luo Xinyang knew about her troubled family, would he still be her friend?

"Gu Dandan, let's start dating. From now on, you'll be my girlfriend!"

"What?"

"It's settled then, you're my girlfriend!"

"But..."

...

Back home, Gu Dandan sat uneasily at her desk. Gu Ao called her several times, but she didn't respond.

"Gu Dandan!"

"Huh?"

"Dinner!"

The large dining table filled with abundant food was shared by just the two of them. Often, Gu Ao returned very late, leaving her alone. He frequently bought her clothes and even gave her a credit card. When she offered to help with housework, he refused. She wondered whether she deserved such a life, such treatment.

"What are you daydreaming about?"

"Huh? No..."

"What's going on again?"

Despite their short time together, Gu Ao began to understand her. Her innocent face couldn't hide anything. His concern for her exceeded his expectations, but he couldn't control himself.

"Mr. Gu, have you ever dated someone?" Gu Dandan asked, blinking her clear eyes.

Gu Ao didn't speak, merely looking at her with an almost penetrating gaze.

"Well... today, one of my classmates, he... is my good friend, said... wants to date me," Gu Dandan stuttered, lowering her head, blushing slightly.

"What did you say?"

"I... didn't get to say anything before he left." Luo Xinyang was kind to her, and she appreciated it, but she didn't like him, let alone date him. That much, she understood.

"Gu Dandan."

"..."

"Gu Dan-dan!"

She didn't notice the intensity in Gu Ao's eyes, sharp and piercing...

Gu Dandan sighed softly, but to Gu Ao, she looked like a young girl newly discovering love, lost in her worries.

Calling her several times without response, Gu Ao frowned, "Do you like him?"

"He lets me copy his homework every day, never thinks I'm dumb, and has never bullied me. He's the only one in class willing to play with me. Luo Xinyang has been really nice to me, but..." Gu Dandan paused, sighing deeply.

No matter how nice Luo Xinyang was, she only saw him as a friend. Dating was absurd. Besides... Gu Dandan glanced at Gu Ao, her face flushing faintly.

Gu Ao was truly angry now.

When she talked endlessly about another man, her expression was enchanted. Most unforgivable was... she didn't stutter!

"But... I hope we can just stay friends. He's so smart, and his family is wealthy. Why does he see me? I have nothing, look ugly, and certainly don't match him..." Luo Xinyang was excellent, but so was Gu Ao. Gu Dandan realized that a girl like her wasn't worthy of anyone.

Gu Ao struggled to hold back his anger.

Gu Dandan picked up her bowl of rice weakly, suddenly raising her head, "Gu... Gu..."

"Go on, why stop? When did our little stutterer become so eloquent?" Gu Ao watched her with amusement, smiling, but inside, his temper simmered.

Before him, she was always nervous and hesitant, struggling to express herself. But talking about another boy, she spoke smoothly, calmly, even shyly...

Gu Dandan sensed Gu Ao mocking her. This was the first time he joked with her. She hated her stuttering in front of him; normally, she spoke fine, but somehow, she felt nervous around him.

"Eat... dinner." The blush on her face slowly faded.

Gu Ao stood up and left. Gu Dandan watched his retreating figure, confused about why he was angry again.

About twenty minutes later, a beautiful mixed-race woman entered the house, walking straight into Gu Ao's room. Driven by curiosity, Gu Dandan followed...

The woman eagerly embraced Gu Ao, kissing and undressing, then falling onto the bed... This scene repeated daily, causing Gu Dandan pain. Last time, she tried to kiss Gu Ao, but he got furious. He disliked being kissed by her, so she never dared again.

These women visiting had perfect figures and angelic faces. Compared to them, she was short, dull, and plain-looking... Gu Dandan closed the door quietly, feeling dejected...

...

The next morning in class, Luo Xinyang placed a small box on her desk, "For you."

"For me? Why?"

"You're my girlfriend. What's wrong with giving you a gift? Open it."

"I don't want it. Take it back. And I don't want to be your girlfriend... Let's just stay friends." Gu Dandan looked at him apologetically, putting the gift back.

"If you're not my girlfriend, I won't lend you my homework anymore!" Luo Xinyang threatened.

"What do you like about me? I'm not pretty, my grades are bad, and no one likes me. Why you..."

"Who says you're not pretty? I like you!"

"But... I already like someone else. Sorry, Luo Xinyang." Gu Ao was the one she liked.

Luo Xinyang fell silent, spending the entire day without speaking to Gu Dandan.

...

Returning home from school, she saw Gu Ao and another woman entangled on the sofa. Gu Dandan watched them... Such scenes happened almost daily...

"Who... are you?" The woman was startled by Gu Dandan's presence. "Ao, she..."

"Leave!" Gu Ao grabbed the woman's wrist, pushing her away.

"Ao..."

"Get out!"

The woman left in dismay, glaring at Gu Dandan.

"S-Sorry." Gu Dandan apologized, though clearly unhappy.

"Do you know why I bring women home?" Gu Ao looked down at her, noticing how tiny she was, barely reaching his shoulders...

Gu Dandan shook her head, realizing she had no right to question but feeling increasingly uncomfortable, as if a thorn pierced her chest, hurting with each breath.

"Because you're too young." Gu Ao bent down, whispering hoarsely into her ear, his lips brushing lightly against her earlobe, sending waves of heat through her body.