TNSFC – Chapter 37

After Que Yining sent that message, she received a reply a while later.

Gu Shanxue indicated it wasn’t troublesome and that she was handling it.

Que Yining sent her a cute cat emoji and said goodnight.

After sending the message, Que Yining put on her slippers and went to the bathroom. She had suddenly felt unwell earlier and had broken out in a sweat from the pain. After a quick shower, she lay down on the large bed.

Que Yining closed her eyes, intending to sleep, but after lying there for a while, she didn’t feel sleepy at all, so she opened her eyes again.

She didn’t know if she was looking in the right direction. Fu Wenjing had encountered trouble twice; she wasn’t sure if someone was targeting him as the ‘male lead,’ or if someone was pulling strings behind the scenes regarding the original owner’s affairs.

Que Yining reviewed the known information in her mind, sat up in bed, unlocked her phone, and started searching for information.

The night passed in a flash. Que Yining received a phone call at ten in the morning, while she was still dreaming in the hotel’s couple’s double bed.

Hearing the phone ring, Que Yining picked it up, quite displeased. When she saw the caller ID was Butler Chen, Que Yining turned off the phone and tossed it to the other side of the bed.

The other party didn’t call back. Que Yining’s brow gradually smoothed, and she drifted back to sleep.

She had only gone to bed at six in the morning after finishing her research. Anyone would be annoyed if they were woken up after only four hours of sleep.

She slept straight through until one in the afternoon before yawning and getting up.

Seeing her somewhat haggard face in the mirror, Que Yining silently vowed never to stay up late again unless it was a special circumstance. Staying up late would make her ugly and gain weight, and she absolutely wouldn’t accept that.

After freshening up and getting dressed, Que Yining picked up her bag and asked Zhang Shiyu to come pick her up.

Once in the car, Zhang Shiyu began to report on some work-related matters.

Que Yining listened while applying lipstick, pursed her lips to check if the color was even, and seeing it looked good, she curved her lips at the mirror before responding to Zhang Shiyu.

After reporting on work matters, Zhang Shiyu started talking about trivial company affairs.

Zhang Shiyu mentioned, as if joking, “Xie Yanhuai praised that Little Round Glasses to me today, saying his work ability is quite strong.”

Although giving people nicknames wasn’t good, it was indeed easy to remember. Que Yining instantly recalled the man from the interview day who had been overly nervous and sweating profusely in the middle of winter; he had looked a bit comical.

Que Yining: “That’s good then.”

Zhang Shiyu: “By the way, there’s one more thing. The boss of the company downstairs bought coffee for all of us today. Boss, is that your friend?”

“Not just a friend, but someone I plan to pursue.”

Que Yining looked down at her phone, speaking very directly.

Zhang Shiyu was her personal assistant, and it would be inevitable for her to help arrange such matters in the future. It was better to give her a heads-up early so she could be best prepared.

Zhang Shiyu was stunned and almost slammed on the brakes. Fortunately, she didn’t lose her composure. She continued to drive steadily, her mind racing, thinking about how to answer in a way that would best please her boss.

Zhang Shiyu: “Boss, you have excellent taste. That young lady is a great match for you.”

Que Yining raised an eyebrow; her words were quite sweet.

“Your probation period is over. Go print a new contract when you get back to the company. I’ll give you a raise.”

Zhang Shiyu couldn’t help but smile: “Thank you, Boss!”

She didn’t care about her beautiful boss’s sexual orientation. Anyway, she was working for someone, not looking for a relationship. Who her boss liked was none of her business. If her boss said she liked her, she felt she could even give it a try.

“Book a restaurant for me tonight, and also help me pick out a birthday gift for someone I’m not close to.”

Butler Chen had called about this earlier today. Since she hadn’t answered his call, he had sent a text message saying that Miss Zhou had sent an invitation.

Zhou Yueyi was having a birthday party, so a gift was definitely required. Of course, Que Yining wouldn’t pick this gift herself.

Zhang Shiyu nodded: “Okay, Boss. Noted.”

After arranging what needed to be arranged, Que Yining went to the company and continued with development meetings.

The company’s scale had grown from a small workshop at the beginning to something more established. The company didn’t have many concept artists, but Que Yining wasn’t worried about this; there were many concept art studios on the market, so outsourcing wouldn’t be a problem.

She was busy like this until the afternoon, right up to six o’clock, which was the time Que Yining and Gu Shanxue had arranged to meet.

As soon as they met, Que Yining’s face turned cold.

“What happened to you?”

Que Yining raised her hand and hesitantly, gently touched Gu Shanxue’s cheek.

On the side of Gu Shanxue’s left cheek was a dried line of blood, not very noticeable as it was covered by her hair. There was something covering it, but Que Yining had sharp eyes, especially since the person in front of her was Gu Shanxue. She noticed it immediately.

Gu Shanxue hadn’t expected it to be visible even with concealer. She subconsciously touched it and said, “It’s nothing.”

“Did someone bully you?”

Que Yining was angry. The person was fine yesterday, how did she get scratched today, and on her face too.

The face is like a second life!

Gu Shanxue chuckled when she saw Que Yining’s glaring expression. She shook her head and let Que Yining take her arm and lead her forward.

Que Yining urged her: “Quick, tell me, was it Gu Qianqian?”

Although Que Yining felt Gu Qianqian probably wasn’t capable of it, she couldn’t immediately think of any other enemies Gu Shanxue might have.

Logically, as the female lead, Gu Shanxue should have many adversaries.

Hmm, in that case, her biggest adversary in the original book should have been her, but she would absolutely not do those things from before.

It seemed a butterfly could indeed bring about a storm.

Gu Shanxue nodded, a shadow flickering in her eyes as she recalled the events of the day.

Que Yining: “It really was her?”

She cursed inwardly that Gu Qianqian deserved a lesson, already planning how to get back at her.

Que Yining wasn’t usually petty, but if someone provoked her, her pettiness was as sharp as a needle. Having been bullied often, she had developed a personality that sought revenge for every grievance.

If anyone touched her people, she would definitely make them pay. Even if she couldn’t win, she would tear off a piece of flesh, ensuring the other person wouldn’t get off easy.

Que Yining: “I’ll go find trouble with her later.”

Seeing her angry look, Gu Shanxue couldn’t resist doing what she had always wanted to do: she reached out and ruffled Que Yining’s hair.

She was slightly taller than Que Yining, making the gesture exceptionally easy.

Gu Shanxue: “No need. She’s already paying the price for her actions.”

She didn’t take Gu Qianqian’s little tricks seriously, but she hadn’t expected the ring on the other person’s hand to be so problematic. Even though she had sensed something was wrong and dodged, she still got a scratch.

Que Yining: “Did you hit her back?”

Gu Shanxue paused slightly, then shook her head.

She never resorted to direct violence. She had only indirectly restricted the other person’s personal freedom and financial freedom, which undoubtedly choked them. However, a direct retaliation would have made Gu Qianqian suffer much more.

Que Yining chuckled, but her smile held no warmth: “Then she hasn’t paid enough of a price.”

Her arrogant and domineering demeanor truly had a hint of the rumored Que Yining.

But Gu Shanxue only found it amusingly cute, and her appetite even improved a bit while eating.

As they were about to finish eating, Gu Shanxue casually brought up a topic.

“I heard Miss Zhou’s birthday party is at seven o’clock the day after tomorrow.”

Que Yining nodded: “Yes, that’s right. Did you receive an invitation too?”

That shouldn’t be. Zhou Yueyi and Gu Shanxue shouldn’t have any connection.

Gu Shanxue shook her head: “Just heard about it. Will you go?”

Que Yining was about to nod again, but then she felt something was off, sensing that Gu Shanxue had another meaning.

Que Yining’s voice lilted: “You don’t want me to go?”

Gu Shanxue put down her knife and fork, her expression natural: “I had originally planned to invite you to a concert that day. If the times conflict, then we’ll have to reschedule.”

Que Yining immediately said firmly: “No need to reschedule. Let’s do it that day.”

She could find another time to see Fu Wenjing; she didn’t necessarily have to go to Zhou Yueyi’s birthday party. But Gu Shanxue’s invitation was different; there was absolutely no need to reschedule.

A smile rippled in Gu Shanxue’s eyes. She nodded at Que Yining: “See you then.”

She concealed her thoughts, her expression soft and relaxed.

She had just heard that Fu Wenjing would also be there.

Out of a selfish desire to look out for her friend, she didn’t want Que Yining to go.

---

If you’d like to read ahead and support me, you can request extra chapters or get the full novel as an EPUB.