As the numbers grew larger and larger, Gu Yan wished she could pry open the door and jump out. But that was just a thought. The elevator dinged, and as she expected, it stopped on the nineteenth floor.
As soon as the door opened, Liang Feifan stood there, his tall figure towering over the door.
Gu Yan secretly mocked him, calling him childish.
There is a private elevator—thinking of the private elevator, her face turned red.
Liang Feifan walked in as if he didn't see her, didn't speak to her, pressed the floor button and stood with his back to her.
The elevator was completely silent.
Gu Yan stared at the flashing red letters on the elevator screen, going down floor by floor. Okay, almost there.
Upon arriving at the parking lot, the door opened, and Liang Feifan was the first to walk out, without even saying hello.
Gu Yan angrily opened the car door, got in, started the car, and was about to leave. Just then, there was a loud bang in front of her.
She was terrified, unbuckled her seatbelt, got out of the car, and rushed over.
It really was Liang Feifan's car. It had crashed into a pillar, the hood flipped up, and white smoke was billowing out. Gu Yan practically lunged at it, panicked, and went around to the driver's side to check on him.
Liang Feifan sat in the driver's seat, seatbelt fastened, hands on the steering wheel; he appeared uninjured. Seeing Gu Yan, he maintained his cold demeanor, frowning, "Is something wrong?"
Gu Yan choked on her breath, her trachea aching. She opened the car door, straightened up, and looked even colder than him: "It's okay."
Liang Feifan didn't even look at her, and took out his phone. "Yunzhi, I had a small accident in the parking lot. Could you come down for a bit?"
Gu Yan crossed her arms, secretly pinching the crook of her right arm with her left hand, and coldly watched him call out another woman's name in a gentle tone.
"Is there anything else you want to say to me?" Liang Feifan got out of the car and stood in front of her.
Gu Yan shook her head.
"Then what are you still doing standing here?" Liang Feifan's tone became even more nasty.
Gu Yan had been waiting for him to say this for a long time. Now that she had succeeded, she looked up and sneered, her brows furrowing impatiently. "Mr. Liang, I don't want to stand here either. Your beat-up car is blocking the exit. How am I supposed to get out? Please be more efficient. I'm in a hurry." After saying that, she tossed her hair, turned around gracefully, and walked back to her car without looking back.
From afar, they could hear a dull thud coming from Liang Feifan's direction, like something hitting the car body.
Chen Yunzhi was quite efficient; he came down with two people in no time, pushed aside Liang Feifan's car, and cleared the exit.
Chen Yunzhi was talking to Liang Feifan, whose face was ashen, when he suddenly saw Gu Yan in the car not far away. He smiled slightly and walked towards her, as if he wanted to say hello.
Gu Yan pretended not to see it, stepped on the gas pedal hard, and shot off like an arrow.
Gu Mingzhu looked like she had just gotten off a plane, and was lying on the sofa looking very tired.
Gu Yan gently took the luggage she had left at the door back to her room and put it away.
When she came downstairs, Gu Mingzhu was already awake. She smiled at her and said approvingly, "I heard today went very smoothly."
Gu Yan nodded and sat down next to her. "Sister, why don't you go to your room and get some sleep? I'll call you when dinner is ready."
Gu Mingzhu rubbed her temples. "I ate on the plane. I'm waiting for you. I want to go to Dad's. Want to come together?"
Gu Yan felt very guilty. She had been busy with the bidding process these past few days and hadn't had a chance to visit him. Even knowing her father didn't have much time left, she still couldn't be with him. Thankfully, the doctor said her father's condition was stable.
Gu Boyun was in good spirits. When he saw his two daughters arrive, he excitedly said that he would cook the fish he had caught that afternoon himself.
Gu Mingzhu remained noncommittal, then lay back on the sofa and closed her eyes to rest. Gu Yan, however, was very excited and clamored to help out.
In this respect, the wonder of genetics must be acknowledged. Gu Yan inherited not only her mother's beauty but also the romantic spirit of the painter. As for Gu Mingzhu, cooking is a posture, something to be used only when necessary, aiming for a stunning debut.
When the fish soup was served, the aroma attracted Gu Mingzhu, who took a bowl and spoon and slowly drank it.
Gu Yan smiled sweetly, "Daddy, where did you catch the fish? In the stream over there?"
Gu Boyun picked up the fish head and put it in Gu Mingzhu's bowl, then put the fish back meat that Gu Yan liked to eat on her back. He was busy with his hands and smiled very contentedly. "There is a small river to the west with a lot of fish in it. The manager said they are wild and are caught and raised for people to fish."
Gu Mingzhu ate the fish head with relish, repeatedly saying how delicious it was.
Gu Boyun paused for a moment, as if he had thought about it, and then said, "Yesterday afternoon, I met someone while I was fishing."
Gu Yan's eyes twitched as she remembered Fang Yicheng saying that his father also lived here.
Gu Mingzhu asked casually, "Square?"
She had investigated everyone who lived here. Fang Zheng had suffered a minor stroke and lived not far from here.
Gu Boyun observed Gu Yan's expression and nodded.
Gu Yan was also carefully observing her father's expression.
For a moment, the three of them sat around a pot of fish soup, each lost in their own thoughts, and no one spoke.
After having dinner and resting for a while, Gu Yan and Gu Mingzhu were about to go back, as they both had to go to work the next day.
Gu Mingzhu saw that Gu Boyun was very reluctant to part with the two of them, and it was indeed getting late. As a patient, he should also get some rest.
She checked her PDA and asked Gu Yan, "What are your plans for this weekend?"
Gu Yan shook her head. Xiao Li was suddenly taken away on a business trip by Chen Yubai, and it was said that she wouldn't be back for a long time. Sang Sang was busy with work at the coffee shop and rarely went out with anyone. As for Ji Nan, he was always clinging to Li Yanmi.
“Let’s stay here then. There’s a room left. The air and environment here are great. I haven’t relaxed in a long time. Let’s treat it as a vacation.”
Gu Yan happily agreed, and Gu Boyun also smiled broadly.
I'm going to Liang's again on Thursday.
Gu Mingzhu looked at the list of companies that remained after the last screening, her brows furrowed.
"I hate Yaolin so much," she said bitterly. She runs into him everywhere she goes, yet she hasn't been able to defeat him all these years.
Gu Yan rarely saw her sister speak in such a girlish manner, and couldn't help but chuckle.
“Tell me the data and the main architecture, and I’ll explain it to you later,” Gu Mingzhu said to Jessica.
Jessica glanced at Gu Yan and tentatively said to Gu Mingzhu, "I think it would be better for Gu Yan to speak, since Rong Yan is the one presiding over the meeting."
When Rong Yan listened to Gu Yan speak, he sat in the posture of a typical elementary school student, nodding frequently as he listened. Seeing his expression, the other company personnel immediately lost some of their confidence. Moreover, Gu Mingzhu had always been somewhat wary of Rong Yan; given this disparity, Gu Yan had a much better chance of winning by reciting the speech.
After her initial agitation subsided, Gu Mingzhu regained her composure, nodded, and said nothing more.
Weber arrived very early today.
Gu Mingzhu was looking through documents in the lounge, while Gu Yan, Jessica, and Lin Yuan were discussing where to have lunch later. Rong Yan opened the door and walked in, seemingly surprised to see them there, and paused for a moment.
"Sister Yan." With no one else around, Rong Yan greeted her without any backbone.
Gu Yan responded indifferently.
Gu Mingzhu smiled gently as she looked at the awe-inspiring gaze of the renowned Second Young Master Rong.
Rong Yan was a little annoyed by her smile, but Gu Mingzhu was in high spirits. She closed the file and said, "Rong Yan, you call her 'sister,' but what about me?"
Rong Yan, hands in his pockets, leaned casually against the door of the lounge and said leisurely, "You—sister-in-law? I'm afraid I shouldn't call you that, right?"
Gu Mingzhu's face changed color instantly.
Jessica nudged Gu Yan, who quickly changed the subject: "Rong Yan, have they all arrived?"
Rong Yan nodded and went to the lounge to get something.
Gu Mingzhu stood up and walked out expressionlessly, with Gu Yan and Jessica quickly following behind.
After the last screening, there are six companies left.
Gu Mingzhu considers Yaolin and two other companies to be worthy of competing with Wei Bo.
When Huang Yi saw her arrive, he smiled insincerely: "President Gu, you've finally appeared. I thought this kind of small order wouldn't catch your eye, and you'd just send a kid to play around with."
"A child?" Gu Yan glanced at him coldly.
Gu Mingzhu smiled warmly, "How could that be! No matter how busy I am, I can't be as busy as President Huang. But I'm lucky to have a younger sister who's willing to work hard with me. If you ask me, there's no end to the money we can make. It's rare for her to have the time and energy to help me, so I trust her with even the biggest business deals. After all—she's not an outsider!"
Huang Yi's son is a typical spoiled brat who is unwilling to share the burden with him. Huang Yi can only keep a close eye on him while relying on several distrustful nephews to manage the company.
Annoyed by her sarcastic remark, Huang Yi let out a cold laugh and said, "Then, President Gu, let's see who has the real strength!"
Gu Mingzhu gave a defiant sneer.
In fact, Gu Mingzhu had already anticipated the outcome; Wei Bo and Yao Lin made it to the final list.
The two companies are of similar strength, and Huang Yi has a good relationship with Rong Yan's branch of the Rong family, as well as a good cooperative relationship with the Liang family.
"Well then, see you next week." Rong Yan concluded the meeting, shaking hands with the representatives from both sides to say goodbye.
Gu Yan followed Gu Mingzhu out, when suddenly Gu Mingzhu stopped, and she almost bumped into her.
"Sister?" Gu Yan asked in surprise.
Gu Mingzhu remained silent. Huang Yi did not come out; he was still in the conference room talking to Rong Yan. Gu Mingzhu stared at the half-closed door, her expression complex.
Better a chance encounter than a planned meeting
On Friday, Gu Mingzhu and Gu Yan finished work early and drove to the hospital with a change of clothes.
Gu Boyun was very happy and even wanted to drink some wine at dinner.
Gu Yan disagreed and grabbed Gu Boyun, complaining and acting coquettishly. Gu Mingzhu quietly went out to find a doctor.
Five top doctors from Europe held a small meeting specifically for this matter. ROAL came out last and said to Gu Mingzhu, "Should we inform Mr. Liang about this?" They were highly paid doctors hired by Liang Feifan from all over the world and were well aware of the impact of Gu Boyun's illness on their future careers, so they were extremely careful with the treatment.
Gu Mingzhu rolled her eyes inwardly, but her tone remained gentle. "Just tell me if my father can drink a little red wine? I think it shouldn't have much of an impact on his condition. Besides, a good mood can also help with treatment."
ROAL scratched his head and touched his big nose. He simply couldn't resist the beautiful and charming Eastern woman in front of him, so he could only nod and say, "Just a little bit, really just a little bit!"
Gu Mingzhu thanked her and left, then made a phone call to have a bottle of red wine delivered.
She knew it wasn't good for her condition, but seeing her father's overjoyed expression, she couldn't bear to refuse.
Gu Boyun sipped his wine with great satisfaction. "If you ask me, since there are only a few days left anyway, wouldn't it be better to enjoy a good feast?"
Gu Yan sipped her milk slowly, and hearing her father's words made her already sad mood even more depressed.
Gu Mingzhu tapped the table, "Dad!"
She and her father had a tacit understanding about the illness from the very beginning: things that are beyond human control are beyond human control, and being sad and upset won't help.
But Gu Yan was different.
She gestured to her father, indicating Gu Yan's expression. Gu Boyun, realizing his mistake, chuckled, "Little Yan, why don't you have a drink?"
Gu Yan forced a smile, "I'm perfectly fine drinking milk."