TNSFC – Chapter 24

When Gu Shanxue saw Que Yining sitting there, the surprise in her heart was no less than Que Yining’s.

She hadn’t imagined who else had taken a fancy to this place along with her; there must be many such people, but she never expected it to be Que Yining.

Every time she formed a new understanding and definition of Que Yining, Que Yining would always manage to refresh her opinion of her the next time.

Que Yining was the first to greet her: “Miss Gu, I didn’t expect it to be you.”

Gu Shanxue nodded: “What a coincidence.”

The middle-aged man looked surprised and said with a smile, “Isn’t this a coincidence? So you two know each other. In that case, it’ll be even easier to discuss the price.”

Que Yining looked at Gu Shanxue, gestured towards the door, and said, “Miss Gu, would it be convenient to speak privately for a moment?”

Although Que Yining wasn’t determined to secure this place at all costs, she also didn’t plan to generously give it up to her crush. She had to first find out the other party’s offer and her determination for this place.

Que Yining didn’t want to chat with Gu Shanxue in front of a third party; after all, with just the two of them, she would have more room to maneuver.

The middle-aged man poured Gu Shanxue a cup of hot tea. Hearing this, he put down the cup in his hand and said, “You two can talk here. I’ll wait for you outside.”

The office door was opened and then gently closed, leaving the room in silence.

Que Yining: “Miss Gu, are you planning to go solo? I remember you joined Gu Group after returning.”

Gu Shanxue didn’t hide the obvious fact and nodded: “I have my own team.”

She looked at Que Yining and said, “And Miss Que, are you here to look at a new office on behalf of your father?”

She was probing Que Yining, wanting to know if the capital behind this was Que Yining herself or the Que family. This would affect her judgment of the outcome.

Que Yining had a faint smile on her face: “No, it’s for myself. I intend to open a small company. I didn’t expect to run into you, Miss Gu, while choosing a location.”

Que Yining: “I added five to my offer. This amount should be slightly higher than yours, Miss Gu. Are you willing to increase your offer?”

Gu Shanxue: “My limit is to add seven. Any more wouldn’t be cost-effective.”

Gu Shanxue stated her limit very frankly, without making Que Yining guess.

This wasn’t something Gu Shanxue usually did, but with Que Yining in front of her, Gu Shanxue didn’t really want to use psychological tactics to make Que Yining unsure and give up.

After all, on some level, they could be considered friends.

This place wasn’t very important to Gu Shanxue. Without it, she could find a new one anytime; it wasn’t difficult for her. But it might not be the same for Que Yining.

Que Yining didn’t know Gu Shanxue’s considerations, but she was a little pleased by Gu Shanxue’s direct attitude.

The other party might have been afraid she wouldn’t understand, so she specifically said that exceeding a certain amount wasn’t worth it. Que Yining felt this small gesture of kindness.

Did this mean she already held a small place in the other person’s heart?

The smile on Que Yining’s face deepened, her eyes curving, brimming with a spring-like tenderness. Her emotions were so evident that Gu Shanxue could clearly feel her joy.

“My limit is to add another five; any more, and I also think it’s not worth it. If it were someone else, I would definitely want to try and compete for it, as this place is quite good. But if it’s Miss Gu, and if you want it, I won’t fight for it. There are so many office buildings in Lu Su City; I’m not worried about finding another one.”

Que Yining showed an intention to yield, which coincided with Gu Shanxue’s thoughts. They looked at each other, and the air fell silent for a moment.

Que Yining couldn’t help but smile first and moved a little closer to Gu Shanxue.

Her graceful and lingering feminine fragrance wafted around Gu Shanxue. Gu Shanxue’s gaze fell on her bright red lips, then politely shifted upwards.

“If we keep being polite like this, we won’t be able to decide. Since neither of us feels comfortable just taking it, how about we split it? Miss Gu, does your team have many people?”

This was a sublease for two floors of office space. Que Yining could take just one floor. This one floor was actually very large, and Que Yining wasn’t even sure if the studio she was temporarily forming could fill it.

If she could be on the floor above or below Gu Shanxue, wouldn’t that give her a prime opportunity?

Gu Shanxue definitely cared more about her personal team than Gu Group. This way, it would be much more convenient to meet in the future, without needing to make special appointments.

She looked at Gu Shanxue, waiting for her answer.

Gu Shanxue pondered. Her team had nine people, all elites who had worked hard with her abroad. One office floor could completely accommodate them.

Her purpose in renting two floors was to give them more space to move around and also because she thought the team might expand in the future.

But no matter how it expanded, it would be an expansion of core personnel, not hiring many people. Gu Shanxue was just looking for a temporary place for the team to work.

Until she took over Gu Group, at that time, the space of one or two floors would certainly not be enough; she would definitely need the entire building.

Thinking about it this way, Que Yining’s proposal seemed quite good.

Gu Shanxue: “Okay.”

Que Yining smiled: “Then it’s settled. We’ll use the amount you offered as the final result. If he doesn’t accept it, I’ll give this to you.”

The additional amount Que Yining had offered was slightly higher than Gu Shanxue’s bid. Que Yining didn’t want both of them to lose out, so she decided to revert to Gu Shanxue’s offer. If the other party didn’t accept, at worst, she wouldn’t take it. This way, the amount Gu Shanxue offered would remain unchanged, and she wouldn’t lose out in any way.

Gu Shanxue didn’t refuse and nodded in agreement: “Okay, thank you.”

Que Yining: “You’re welcome. Miss Gu, I still haven’t repaid you for taking me in last time. I wonder if it would be convenient to have a meal together later?”

Business matters were settled, and it was time for Que Yining to attend to personal matters.

Gu Shanxue: “Alright.”

Que Yining curved her lips: “Then let me treat you this time. I’ll take you to my family’s most reputable restaurant.”

They went out together and told the person in charge outside about their decision.

When the person in charge heard they planned to sublet the two floors separately, he hesitated a little. He had initially decided to rent out both floors together because he was about to go abroad and didn’t have time to rent them out separately. However, looking at the current situation, this was also acceptable.

As for the price, a difference of twenty thousand yuan wasn’t a big issue for him. He immediately signed contracts with Que Yining and Gu Shanxue separately.

Just like that, Que Yining’s and Gu Shanxue’s companies ended up on adjacent floors.

Que Yining took the tenth floor. Gu Shanxue had no objection to this and took the ninth floor.

Que Yining wanted the tenth floor, of course, for her own selfish reasons. After all, being on the upper floor, it would be normal for her to pass by the ninth floor, casually check on someone, or drop off something.

Running from the ninth floor to the tenth floor specifically would be too deliberate.

Que Yining felt that it was okay to flirt, but she couldn’t appear too clingy or desperate, otherwise, the other person’s attitude towards her would change. Although she didn’t think Gu Shanxue was the type to lead someone on or deliberately slight them.

But those who eagerly pursue are never valued. The original owner had proven this principle very well with her own actions.

Before inviting Gu Shanxue for lunch, Que Yining had already called the restaurant to book a table. Of course, they went to that restaurant with an excellent reputation, the one Bian Ji’an had asked her to make a reservation for last time.

Lunch went very smoothly. As they were preparing to leave, Que Yining saw someone unexpected.

Upon seeing Fu Wenjing, a strong emotion uncontrollably rushed to her brain, causing Que Yining’s expression to change slightly.

Fu Wenjing was in a crisp suit, talking softly with someone beside him, being led by a waiter in their direction.

Fu Wenjing also saw Que Yining, but his gaze swept past her without lingering at all as he walked by.

Que Yining started to feel a little dizzy. Feelings of unwillingness, hatred, despair, and collapse abruptly emerged, occupying her mind. She uncontrollably turned her head to look in the direction Fu Wenjing had gone.

She wanted to look away, even commanded herself to look away, but her brain was overwhelmed by emotions, rendering her unable to move.

Her gaze was too intense. Fu Wenjing seemed to sense it, turned his head, saw the resentment in her eyes, his expression turned slightly cold, and he turned his head back again.

Gu Shanxue noticed something was wrong. She followed Que Yining’s gaze and saw Fu Wenjing.

She watched Que Yining keep looking in that direction, unconsciously frowning slightly, and asked, “Miss Que?”

Que Yining struggled to look away, finding it somewhat difficult to breathe.

Gu Shanxue: “Are you alright?”

Gu Shanxue looked at Que Yining’s uncomfortable appearance, stood up, and raised her hand to support her, then was startled by the coldness of Que Yining’s hand.

Que Yining’s hand was like a piece of ice, exuding an intense coldness.

Que Yining’s voice trembled slightly: “Miss Gu, can you help me to the restroom?”

Gu Shanxue: “Okay.”

Gu Shanxue helped her to the restroom. By the sink, Que Yining leaned against the counter, bent over, covered her mouth, and dry-heaved.

Que Yining remembered that the last time she saw Fu Wenjing, she also had this uncontrollable reaction.

It couldn’t be like this for no reason; there must be a cause. What happened between the original owner and Fu Wenjing to cause such deep unwillingness and resentment?

But from the current situation, nothing should have happened between them yet.

But since the original owner was the villainess, her end would definitely not be good. Could it be that Fu Wenjing killed her, which is why she hated him so much?

But this didn’t make sense. According to the current progress of the world, these things hadn’t happened at all. Why would the original owner have these reactions?

Could it be that the original owner had been reborn? Then where was she?

And how did her soul end up here?

And the back view that someone at the beauty salon saw that day, which looked very much like the original owner’s – was it a coincidence?

These fragmented pieces couldn’t be connected into a complete chain of clues. Que Yining couldn’t figure it out.

If the original owner had been reborn, then why didn’t this body have any abnormal reaction towards Gu Shanxue, the female lead who had taken what she loved and whom she envied and was jealous of?

“Miss Que, are you alright? Do you need me to take you to the hospital?”

Gu Shanxue handed over a tissue, looking at Que Yining’s pale face with some worry in her heart.

Just now on the way here, and even during the meal, Que Yining had seemed perfectly fine, completely normal. How could she suddenly become so abnormal and look unwell?

Gu Shanxue thought of Que Yining’s strange behavior just now, and a person’s face flashed in her mind. She wondered if it was true, as others said, that Que Yining was deeply in love with Fu Wenjing.

Gu Shanxue subconsciously denied this idea. She didn’t think so. If it were a deep infatuation, how could Que Yining have such a reaction?

She suddenly remembered Que Yining’s tears on the day she got drunk, and an idea slowly formed in her mind.

Could it be that Fu Wenjing had done something to hurt Que Yining?

Regardless of whether this idea was true or not, Gu Shanxue now felt a slight aversion when she thought of Fu Wenjing.

“No need to go to the hospital, I’m fine now.”

Que Yining wet the tissue and wiped her lips, then smiled at Gu Shanxue.

She touched her lips and said with some annoyance, “But I accidentally wiped off all my lipstick. I forgot to bring it when I went out today. Did you bring yours, Miss Gu? Could I borrow it to touch up my makeup?”

Without lipstick, Que Yining looked even paler. Gu Shanxue looked at her and agreed without a second thought.

“It’s in my bag. I’ll go get it for you.”

Que Yining: “Mm, I’ll wait for you.”

She watched Gu Shanxue’s retreating back, touched the lipstick in her own pocket, and the smile on her face deepened.