Ling Yan, who was initially reluctant, began eating the roadside stall she looked down upon at twice the speed she usually did.
"Is it tasty?"
Seeing her acting like this, Gu Zhong even asked her a teasing question.
Before he could even respond, Lingyan took a moment to give a thumbs-up with her left hand to show her approval. Gu Zhong smiled and slowly picked up his chopsticks this time.
"I never expected that Miss Gu could find such a delicious little shop hidden in the city."
After finishing the bowl of noodles, President Ling, regaining her elegant demeanor, took out her own tissue and carefully wiped the butter off her lips before speaking.
"Most people would find this strange."
With a soft chuckle, Gu Zhong looked up at the surrounding vendors, his eyes filled with nostalgia.
"After all, the Gu family wouldn't let you come to a place like this."
Lingyan knew the habits of these wealthy families well. Even if the dishes were cooked by a Michelin-starred chef at home, they still had to worry about food safety, let alone street stalls, which they considered very unclean.
"That's true, but life is full of surprises. I ate beef brisket noodles here once when I was a child, and I've remembered it ever since."
Gu Zhong glossed over that past event, suggesting it was something insignificant.
"After I came back, no one bothered me anymore, so I would occasionally sneak out for a meal. Fortunately, the owner hasn't changed over the years, and the taste is still the same. Otherwise, I don't know where I would find this heavenly flavor again—"
"Miss Gu is not really like a pampered young lady from a wealthy family. Compared to those I have met recently, she has a lot more down-to-earth qualities—or rather, she is more humane."
Unlike those self-proclaimed superior celebrities, Gu Zhong can genuinely blend into the ordinary without seeming out of place. It's as if no situation can affect her state of mind or self, and she can face everything with equanimity.
Each incarnation of Gu Zhong has a different charm and her own lovable qualities, while also carrying the shadow of the original body in every way.
Although Lingyan knew that this was not the original Gu Zhong, it did not stop her from sincerely appreciating these qualities.
"Miss Ling, do you feel that this doesn't meet your expectations?"
Suddenly stopping his hand from wiping his mouth, Gu Zhong looked directly at her and asked a question that could be fatal in a serious relationship.
How many love-at-first-sight encounters fail because of the genuine emotions expressed in everyday life?
However, the relationship between the two was not so simple. Fortunately, Lingyan did not have any preconceived expectations of Gu Zhong, so she was able to give a negative answer without any guilt.
"Miss Gu attracted me for no reason, and I never set any boundaries. It's just that the more time I spent with her, the more charming she became."
The headache was that once you told a lie, you had to cover it up with countless lies. Lingyan always had to bring up her absurd love at first sight again, but what she said afterward was also sincere.
"Speaking of which, I wonder if Miss Ling has been keeping up with any developments within the company lately?"
Changing the subject, Gu Zhong jumped to another topic.
"Hmm? A rumor?"
After thinking for a moment, Lingyan thought of the rumors that had been circulating recently and had even reached her ears.
"Yes—Miss Ling, your girlfriend is embroiled in a sex scandal, and you're completely indifferent?"
He looked at Lingyan with feigned resentment and said in a very hurt tone.
"I apologize, Ms. Gu, it was my oversight. However, Mr. Li's matter is indeed tricky—I have two friends in the same industry coming from the inland recently. Perhaps we can discuss cooperation?"
Lingyan was also very uncomfortable about letting Gu Zhong get embroiled in the scandal of being kept by a sugar daddy. However, prejudice is a powerful force, and the more you try to suppress someone, the more they will resist. Only strength can speak for itself.
"Actually, Miss Ling, there's another emerging rumor—"
While casually fiddling with the chopsticks in his hand, Gu Zhong casually mentioned it, pretending to be nonchalant.
Author's Note:
Life is bitter enough, give me some sweetness!
Chapter 105 The Fallen Heiress and the Newly Rich CEO (Part 11)
====================================
"Um?"
Ling Yan was taken aback; her information seemed to be a little behind.
Seeing her puzzled expression, Gu Zhong recounted the rumors he had heard that day.
"Although I think Miss Ling has the qualities of King Zhou of Shang, she doesn't seem like the kind of scheming and treacherous person I'm looking for."
After saying that, seeing that Lingyan was slightly indignant, he thoughtfully added a sentence.
"So, Miss Gu trusts me?"
Seeing that Gu Zhong still had a teasing smile on his face, Ling Yan breathed a sigh of relief. She still didn't want Gu Zhong to misunderstand her.
"Miss Ling wouldn't lie to me, would she?"
Gu Zhong's light smile carried an unconscious tension and seriousness, perhaps without her even realizing it.
"Of course not."
Lingyan solemnly assured Gu Zhong that she had never lied to him and would never lie to him.
Upon hearing this answer, Gu Zhong nodded thoughtfully, then smiled broadly.
"I believe you, Miss Ling."
Amidst the warm evening breeze and the scent of burning coal on Hong Kong Island, the two women exchanged a smile, as if they had truly erased the seeds deliberately sown by someone with ulterior motives from their hearts, and decided to give them their complete trust and reliance, so as to make a name for themselves in this golden age.
Leaving the bustling, smoky stalls, we strolled hand in hand through the lively alleyway night market, passing rows of dresses made of rough fabric, past dazzling shop windows, and music stores playing this year's hit songs.
They chatted and laughed without a care in the world, just like any ordinary best friends or couples, praising the city's vitality and prosperity.
The destination of this romantic getaway was the mountaintop in the city center, offering a panoramic view of the entire city.
Because of its convenient location, a tourist route has been developed. Even when it's late at night and the mountains are high, they can always see a few people climbing the mountain along the way, and most of them are couples.
By the time we reached the summit, it was already midnight.
Gu Zhong opened his arms to welcome the mountain breeze. Looking down from the mountaintop, light and darkness intertwined, and the power grid surrounding the entire city drew an irregular pattern of light and shadow on the ground.
Looking up at the night sky, the weather is fine tonight, with no clouds to obstruct the view. I can clearly see the bright moon hanging proudly, and the stars accompanying it.
The sky is filled with countless stars, some bright and some faint, arranged in a staggered pattern, together creating a captivating and enchanting starry sky.
"Miss Gu, you really know how to pick a place."
Immersed in the beauty of the night, Lingyan finally spoke up after a while.
"This is my favorite place to come. Every time I stand here, it feels like I can throw away all my troubles and stop thinking about them."
His thoughts seemed to sink entirely into the night. Gu Zhong looked up at the deep starry sky, his eyes unfocused, and murmured to himself.
"Miss Gu, have you been troubled by anything lately?"
Lingyan turned to look at Gu Zhong and asked cautiously.
"My troubles are resolved, Miss Ling. Now I just want to share this with you. Isn't this what lovers should do?"
Blinking, Gu Zhong also turned his head and looked directly at Ling Yan.
Those deep, dark eyes, as dark as the starry sky, seemed to hold endless tenderness, captivating anyone who looked into them.
She looked away, not daring to look any longer, and coughed lightly.
"Miss Gu always knows how to talk."
"I always feel that Miss Ling has a lot of worries."
After a moment of silence, Gu Zhong suddenly said something that stirred Ling Yan's emotions.
"If I were to say that I could be Miss Ling's support, it would be very unrealistic right now, but I think I can make you happier in this way."
At this moment, Gu Zhong was like a naive girl who had just fallen in love, using all her remaining strength to try to win the heart of her beloved.
It was clearly said that Lingyan was pursuing Gu Zhong, but now the situation seems to be reversed.
Gu Zhong didn't know exactly when it started, but what he initially found amusing and grateful had now become increasingly important to him.
However, she didn't worry too much and just did what she wanted to do, which was what her life had taught her over the past twenty years.
No one and nothing will wait for you to stay put; you can only strive for it yourself. Even though the two are not actually on equal footing now, it hasn't affected Gu Zhong's mindset.
"Thanks···"
Gu Zhong's declaration struck Ling Yan's heart like a hammer, almost making her go against the decision she had made in this lifetime. In the end, she could only sigh and offer a simple thank you.
The night sky remained bright, but something clouded my heart, and something had quietly changed.
——
In the spacious general manager's office, Li Lin stood nervously in front of his desk, offering a fawning smile as he served tea and water to the person in front of him.
Ling Yan sat in the seat that belonged to the middle-aged man next to her, carefully looking through the reports on the table, her fingers occasionally tapping the tabletop, making a very clear rhythm.
"President Li—"
After closing the last page, she looked up at Li Lin and slowly called out to him.
"Hey! Chairman Ling."
Li Lin's thin face creased with wrinkles as he forced a fawning smile.
"I had no idea you had done these things."
Ling Yan tapped a few sheets of paper with her fingers, her slow and deliberate tone making people feel extremely pressured.
"This...this is all for the good of the company."
Trembling, Li Lin pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead, stammering as he explained.
“I’m delegating authority, but that doesn’t mean I’m not paying attention. Mr. Li, you’ve overstepped your bounds.”
Ling Yan scoffed at Li Lin's explanation, her voice growing increasingly cold.
"Chairman Ling, please give me another chance! I still have a wife and children to support!"
Seemingly understanding Ling Yan's unspoken meaning, Li Lin disregarded the notion that a man's knees are worth gold and knelt down on the ground with a thud.
"And you dare to resort to such despicable tactics, even for something as trivial as this?"