The company was extremely busy. Gu Yan didn't understand business, but she heard from Xiao Mo that it was a battle between two large companies, and that they, as small fishermen, would profit from it.
Her apartment was three subway stops from her company, and she would get up early every day and walk to work. Translating documents, checking data, listening to gossip—the day would pass by in a blur. On weekends, she would sleep until the afternoon. Life went on like a slow-motion scene in a movie, detailed yet mundane.
She wasn't surprised at all when Fang Yicheng appeared; she had known all along that he would come looking for her.
Looking for me?
"Yes. Congratulations! The little bird has finally flown out of its cage." Fang Yicheng put his hands in his pockets. He had lost some weight in the past few days, but looked even more handsome.
"No need. It's not for you."
"Hehe," Fang Yicheng chuckled, "How come our Xiaoyan has turned into a little hedgehog again?"
It refers to when she first came to the Gu family, she was always on guard against everyone, and was as uneasy as a hedgehog preparing for battle.
Gu Yan felt her hair stand on end. "Fang Yicheng, don't try to play games with me by bringing up things from the past. It makes me feel disgusted."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Fang Yicheng paused for a moment, but did not pursue. He lit a cigarette with a sullen face, leaned against the car thoughtfully, and a cold glint flashed in his unfathomable eyes.
Is this because you're taking your anger out on me because of your falling out with Liang Feifan?
friend
Gu Yan stormed upstairs and bumped into Qin Sang, who was holding a water glass, at the door.
"Ah... I'm sorry." She helped Qin Sang wipe the water stains off her pants.
Qin Sang smiled indifferently, "It's okay."
After thinking for a moment, he looked up at Gu Yan and said, "I know you."
Gu Yan thought to herself, "We've worked together for so long, of course we know each other."
"An Xiaoli," Qin Sang reminded her with a smile, "I am—"
"—Qin Sang Di Lu Lv Zhi?" Gu Yan asked somewhat uncertainly.
Qin Sang smiled faintly, "Mm."
Gu Yan suddenly realized why this girl's aura seemed so familiar.
So this is the Qin Sang Di Lu Zhi that An Xiaoli keeps talking about.
She really is different. She seems like a quiet girl, with a very charming appearance and a smile that's like a gentle breeze. Occasionally, I'd run into her in the break room waiting for the water to boil, her focused and beautiful expression as she looked down. But a few days ago, when I saw her arguing with Sister Chen about a technical term, she was calm, sharp, and undeniably incisive.
It turns out that she is Qin Sang, who won over both Young Master Wei Ran and Qin Lao Liu in one fell swoop.
Seeing is believing.
Gu Yan really wanted to ask her how she recognized her, but then she remembered the fear in Xiao Li's eyes when she talked about her cunning, so she decided against it. Such a smart girl would have already told you if she wanted to.
After get off work that evening, Qian Yicheng called and casually invited her to dinner, as if nothing had happened. Gu Yan felt that her words that morning had been a bit harsh, but after thinking about it, she agreed.
He was already waiting there when I came downstairs. He stood there in front of the understated Mercedes, looking dashing. When Xiao Mo saw him, his eyes almost popped out of his head.
A simple and pleasant dinner. She was new to the workforce, while he was experienced and gave her pointers. The meal passed quickly.
"It's too late today, I'll definitely invite you up next time." Gu Yan unbuckled her seatbelt and said goodbye with a smile.
Fang Yicheng exaggeratedly raised his hand to look at his watch, then smiled wryly, "So, 8:20 is considered late."
Gu Yan smiled at him, then sat up straight and said seriously, "Fang Yicheng, I moved out because I wanted to have my own life, to work and strive like an ordinary girl, to experience life, and to clearly know what I want. I don't deny that you inspired this decision, but even without you, I think I would still have taken this step. Listen carefully, Fang Yicheng, there is absolutely no reason for me to do this. I have never thought about having anything to do with you again, absolutely not."
Even with his excellent composure, Fang Yicheng couldn't maintain his smile at this moment. His face turned pale, and he pressed his lips tightly together. After a long while, he took a deep breath and said, "Xiao Yan..."
Gu Yan could tell from his expression that he was clearly upset, but she knew she couldn't hesitate now. "You said you wanted to be friends, so please stop bringing up the past to bother me. Okay, Yicheng?"
Fang Yicheng suddenly looked up, his eyes clear and bright. He stared at Gu Yan, who had a serious expression on her face, for a long time before turning his face away to light a cigarette. A mischievous smile appeared on his lips. "Just now, I was going to ask—what's the name of the girl who came to say hello with you today?"
"Little Demon—" Gu Yan was a little confused, then hesitated for a moment, could it be?
Fang Yicheng leaned slightly to the side, smiling happily, "Yes—she's very cute."
Gu Yan smiled somewhat awkwardly, but felt relieved inside.
Fang Yicheng ruffled her hair. This time, Gu Yan didn't dodge. How embarrassing! She had rejected him for so long out of self-righteousness. He had only wanted to inquire about Xiao Mo.
"I was thinking of inviting you all to dinner, but then I felt it would be too abrupt," he said with a smile, exuding elegance.
"Uh... Yicheng, I'm sorry—"
Fang Yicheng stubbed out his cigarette. "Silly girl, what does it matter? We've known each other for so many years, don't I know your temper? It's my fault for making you worry."
Gu Yan was so ashamed that she wanted to disappear.
"We agreed last time to be friends—actually, I think we're more suited to be siblings. Okay, okay, don't be embarrassed, alright?"
Gu Yan looked up at him gratefully; his eyes were deep and complex through the smoke.
"kindness."
"Go upstairs, your face will turn as red as a tomato if you keep facing me. It's better to be frank, at least you won't feel uncomfortable around me anymore, okay?"
Gu Yan nodded, got out of the car quickly, and went back.
That night, Fang Yicheng's car remained parked downstairs until dawn, the cigarette butts inside glowing faintly. He didn't sleep a wink all night.
Socializing
That night, Fang Yicheng's car remained parked downstairs until dawn, the cigarette butts inside glowing faintly. He didn't sleep a wink all night.
Seven years ago, on a clear, cloudless night like this, he climbed over the high wall of the Gu family home, entered through the window to the third floor, and wanted to take her to America with him.
By then, his mission was complete, and he had escaped unscathed. Gu Boyun was placed under investigation, and although there was no direct evidence against him, the downfall of the Gu family was already inevitable.
Gu Yan had just learned his identity and hated him to the bone. She refused to go with him no matter what. When the two of them were struggling, Ruan Wushuang, whom they affectionately called Aunt Ruan, rushed in with a livid face. Without saying a word, she slapped Gu Yan and then pulled out a gun and pointed it at Fang Yicheng's head.
Ruan Wushuang wanted Fang Yicheng dead.
But in the end, it was she who died.
Gu Yan held her tightly, screaming desperately to drive Fang Yicheng away. When the Gu family members rushed in from the commotion, Fang Yicheng was already gone. However, Aunt Ruan, the gentle and kind woman who deeply loved her husband and two daughters who weren't her own, stood motionless, her face ashen, her body growing colder and colder...
She has a pre-existing heart condition.
She died in Gu Yan's arms.
Later, the Liang family intervened and, with great fanfare, saved Gu Boyun.
When Gu Boyun returned, Ruan Wushuang's smile was frozen in the cold photograph on the wall.
Enraged, Gu Boyun grabbed Ruan Wushuang's gun, pressed it against Gu Yan's head, and drove her out of the Gu family home.
After that, Fang Yicheng couldn't find Gu Yan anywhere.
Later, he was exiled to the south, where his family's influence was less than that of the south.
Later still, he lived alone, tormented by longing and endless scheming.
If he could do it all over again, Fang Yicheng would rather have died under Aunt Ruan's gun back then.
Instead of saying to someone you love deeply, "That girl's name is so-and-so—she's very cute."
What makes you so adorable? In this world, who can be more beautiful and adorable than you in my heart?
If there was anything about this job that Gu Yan disliked, it was the socializing. While discussing business over drinks was standard practice in the business world, she really wasn't comfortable with the constant toasting and drinking.
The company's salesman was a man named Lao Ma, in his thirties, who was a master of social interaction.
In other words, they're too much of a troublemaker.
Gu Yan blushed and carefully chose her words to tell the old Japanese samurai translator, Lao Ma, who was kneeling on the chair. Tanaka-san listened and said in a serious and loud voice, "Hmm! Hmm! Hmm!"
The agent, Lao Wang, was a tall, thin man with a set of arrogant yellow teeth. Gu Yan spent the whole night watching which dishes his chopsticks dipped into, and then kept her distance.
"Why isn't this pretty translator drinking?" Old Wang raised his glass, adding what he thought was a cool wink.
Gu Yan felt a chill. Nevertheless, she raised her glass and took a sip.
"Hey, hey, Lao Ma, the translator isn't giving us any face!" The criticism turned to Lao Ma, who glanced at Gu Yan and gave an awkward laugh. "President Wang, our young saleswoman is still quite inexperienced, please bear with her!"
"Tender is great, I love tender!" Everyone at the table laughed knowingly.
Gu Yanqi felt dizzy and really wanted to go over and shove Old Wang's head into the bowl of turtle soup on the table.
Tanaka-san, who was beside him, was quite inquisitive, asking, "Was that joke really that funny?"
"That won't do, Miss Translator, hey, Miss! You have to be generous!" Old Wang emphasized the word "Miss," which drew another burst of laughter.
Old Ma stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "Gu Yan, why don't you have a drink with President Wang?"
Gu Yan simply put down her wine glass, her face cold as she uttered two words, "No."
Old Ma's face grew even more embarrassed. He abandoned his glass and picked up the half-full bottle of wine on the table. "Mr. Wang, Gu Yan really can't drink. How about this—I'll drink it for her!"
Old Wang gave a sarcastic snort, "Are you a prostitute?"
The room was filled with laughter when a sinister voice rang out, "Then I'll drink it for her, okay, Mr. Wang?"
Old Wang's smile stretched from ear to ear, but when he saw the person who arrived, his smile twisted into a grimace. "President Qin!" Old Wang's company belonged to the Liang family, so of course he had met Qin Song before.
Frustrated, Qin Song loosened his tie, strode to the table, grabbed a large bottle of liquor, and downed it all in the silence of the room. He then smashed the bottle with a bang and shouted, "Is this going to work?!"
Old Wang was so frightened that his legs went weak. When he heard Qin Song's question, he nodded hurriedly, but was startled by the fierce look in Qin Song's eyes and shook his head like a rattle.
Qin Song glanced coldly at Gu Yan, whose face was flushed, with his narrow, almond-shaped eyes, sneered, and strode out.
Everyone in the room turned their attention to Gu Yan's face. They were all shrewd people and knew that Qin Song had come for Gu Yan. Old Wang was so frightened he collapsed and had to be half-supported, half-carried away.
Old Ma looked dejected, his eyes darting around in awe. How could he have been so unlucky? He thought he had Qin Sang as a bodhisattva, but since he couldn't command her, he decided to recruit another one. Little did he know that this one was no ordinary person either.
Gu Yan noticed that the way Lao Ma looked at her was the same as how he looked at Qin Sang. The resentful look in Qin Song's eyes when she left, intertwined with his own, made her heart feel heavy.
She called out to Qin Song in the corridor.
"What advice do you have?" Qin Song asked coldly.
"What do you mean!" She was used to joking around with him and Li Weiran, so she didn't immediately realize that her tone was inappropriate.