TNSFC – Chapter 29

Que Yining wasn’t interested in developing this hobby. She shook her head and said, “I’m helping a friend with a favor. If you know how, Miss Gu, please help me.”

Gu Shanxue looked at the spaghetti cooking in the pot, then at Que Yining, and asked, “Is it very urgent?”

Que Yining: “Not urgent. It’s fine if you help me after you’ve finished making dinner, Miss Gu. Thanks in advance.”

Gu Shanxue: “Then send it to my phone.”

Que Yining: “Okay, I’ve sent it.”

Que Yining tapped her fingers on the screen, replying to Qiao Yuchu’s message.

【Que Yining】: I’ve already sent it to my Miss Gu. I’ll help you solve it after we finish dinner. Just wait a bit.

【Qiao Yuchu】: Alright, as soon as possible!

【Qiao Yuchu】: Wait… your Miss Gu? Did you succeed? Did you win her over?

【Que Yining】: Not quite yet.

【Qiao Yuchu】: Have you even tried? Is it possible she’s one of those die-hard straight girls?

【Que Yining】: I think… she’s not entirely straight.

Que Yining didn’t have a very good way to judge whether she was straight or not. After all, the attraction between people is truly a strange thing.

Que Yining was attracted to Gu Shanxue for reasons beyond just her gender. As for the attraction she might have sparked in Gu Shanxue, and what that might lead to, Que Yining wasn’t certain.

However, Que Yining subconsciously felt that there was a good chance of success.

While Que Yining was messaging Qiao Yuchu, Gu Shanxue had her back to her. She watched the noodles in the pot while taking out her phone, opening the picture, and looking at the physics problem on it.

After looking at it for a while, Gu Shanxue fell silent.

She had graduated from university many years ago, and her major was business administration. Faced with this physics problem, she fell into deep thought.

It seemed somewhat familiar, yet she couldn’t quite figure it out.

But Gu Shanxue couldn’t possibly tell Que Yining that she couldn’t solve it. She immediately thought of someone in her contact list and sent the picture to them.

【Chu Fengqiu】: ?

【Chu Fengqiu】: Why did you suddenly send me a physics problem? This looks like a high school question, doesn’t it?

【Gu Shanxue】: A friend asked. I don’t have time right now, so I’ll have to trouble you to help me solve it.

【Chu Fengqiu】: One moment.

Gu Shanxue dished out the spaghetti, glanced back furtively at Que Yining to make sure she wasn’t looking her way, then unhurriedly began to wash the vegetables.

The friend she had asked was a former business associate. They hadn’t had many dealings, but Gu Shanxue admired her character. Furthermore, their personalities were somewhat similar, and they had quite a few common interests. She knew this friend had graduated from a prestigious university and excelled in science.

That being the case, her friend would surely solve it quickly. Gu Shanxue hoped she would send the solution before she finished preparing the vegetables, allowing her to memorize it.

Completely unaware that she was being rushed, Chu Fengqiu looked at the very simple problem, searched for a pen and paper in her drawer, and prepared to take a picture of the solution to send over.

Song Man looked up. “Lao Chu, what are you writing?”

Chu Fengqiu: “A high school physics problem.”

Song Man: “Someone’s asking you to solve this? You look busy, let me do it.”

Song Man picked up a piece of scratch paper, quickly scribbled down the solution, then took Chu Fengqiu’s phone and sent the answer.

Gu Shanxue quickly scanned it, saw the three different solution methods, and paused for a moment.

She quickened her pace chopping vegetables and stir-frying the sauce, prepared a plate of tomato spaghetti, and placed it on the dining table.

Gu Shanxue: “Miss Que, please eat first. I’m going to the restroom, and then I’ll get a pen and paper to write down the solution for you.”

Que Yining: “Alright.”

After Gu Shanxue went to the restroom, Que Yining took out her phone, adjusted the angle and lighting, snapped a picture of the plate of spaghetti, and posted it on her Moments.

After closing the door, Gu Shanxue memorized all three solution methods, quickly reviewed the formulas, and once she had thoroughly grasped the answer, she walked out of the restroom with a relaxed expression and fetched a pen and paper from the study.

Gu Shanxue wrote down all three solution methods and even explained the relevant theorems to Que Yining.

Que Yining listened, feeling completely lost, but that didn’t stop her from applauding.

Que Yining rested her chin on her hand. “Miss Gu, you’re so amazing! You even remember these kinds of details?”

“I remember a little.”

Gu Shanxue felt a little sheepish at the praise. The faint blush that had faded as the effects of the alcohol wore off crept back onto her cheeks.

Que Yining smiled. “That’s already very impressive. And your cooking is delicious too. Your culinary skills really surprised me.”

This wasn’t Que Yining merely flattering Gu Shanxue; it was genuinely delicious.

Que Yining twirled some spaghetti with her fork and put it in her mouth.

Gu Shanxue: “I learned to cook to take care of my mother. Her health wasn’t good, and there were many things she couldn’t eat. So, for her sake, I specifically learned to cook. It’s just… I never got the chance to cook for her again.”

The overhead light shone on Gu Shanxue’s face, her eyelashes casting shadows like still, black butterflies.

Que Yining paused in her eating, the smile on her face fading. “I’m sorry, I brought up painful memories.”

Que Yining understood the pain of losing a loved one. At the same time, her affection for Gu Shanxue deepened a little more; she admired filial people.

Gu Shanxue: “It’s alright. It’s in the past.”

Was it really in the past? Que Yining doubted it.

Although she hadn’t read the novel, from a business perspective, Gu Shanxue’s goal in returning to the country this time was very clear: she was targeting the Gu Corporation.

As things stood, Gu Shanxue’s father, Gu Chongheng, had only two daughters. Gu Shanxue was leagues ahead of Gu Qianqian, giving her a much greater advantage in inheriting the family assets.

But this wasn’t necessarily the final outcome. Who knew what Gu Chongheng would do?

After all, he was the kind of man who had sent his original wife abroad to “recuperate” while openly keeping a mistress and an illegitimate daughter at home. If that mistress was truly his “true love,” then the final outcome was hard to predict.

Que Yining: “Mm, it’s good that it’s in the past. Your mother would definitely want to see you happy.”

Que Yining stopped eating and looked into Gu Shanxue’s eyes. “I also want you to be happy. So, if there’s anything you need my help with in the future, please tell me directly. As long as I can help, I will do everything in my power.”

Gu Shanxue looked at her steadily and curved her lips. “Okay.”

It was a very earnest promise. Although Gu Shanxue didn’t think she had anything she needed Que Yining’s help with, she appreciated the sentiment.

Que Yining: “So, Miss Gu, when will you be free to accept my invitation to a hot spring?”

The sudden change of topic caught Gu Shanxue off guard for a moment.

Que Yining: “Look how busy you’ve been lately. People need a balance between work and rest, you know. But if you really can’t spare the time, just let me know when you’re not so busy, and I’ll ask you then.”

Que Yining didn’t want Gu Shanxue to feel pressured. She carefully managed her approach, aiming to proactively create opportunities without making the other person uncomfortable.

Gu Shanxue thought about her schedule. “The day after tomorrow should be fine.”

Que Yining: “Really? Are you sure?”

Gu Shanxue nodded. “Yes, I’m sure.”

Que Yining: “Then I’ll have someone book it. I’ll let you know the details.”

Gu Shanxue: “Okay.”

Que Yining continued eating her noodles. Only after she was full did she belatedly remember something.

“Miss Gu, where’s your cat?”

Que Yining remembered Gu Shanxue had a silver tabby American Shorthair. Gu Shanxue’s profile picture was of it too, so she couldn’t forget. But when she was with Gu Shanxue, she hadn’t had the mental space to think about the cat, so it only occurred to her now.

Gu Shanxue: “It’s cold now, so it’s probably curled up asleep in its bed.”

Gu Shanxue turned on the light in another room but didn’t see her cat in its bed.

Gu Shanxue came out of the room and looked around.

Que Yining: “Not in the room?”

Gu Shanxue: “Mm, it might be hiding in some corner.”

She softly called the cat’s name, “Ningning, where are you?”

Que Yining, not knowing the cat’s name, was momentarily stunned when she heard it, then she understood.

Que Yining chuckled. “I thought you were calling me, Miss Gu.”

Gu Shanxue hadn’t initially thought of it that way. When Que Yining spoke, the words she was about to use to call her cat again caught in her throat. Looking into Que Yining’s eyes, her face inexplicably grew warm.

“The cat’s name is Ningning—’Ning’ as in ‘tranquility.’ My mother named him. He’s a little male cat.”

Perhaps hearing its owner’s call, the little cat emerged from under a cabinet. It stretched lazily in front of Que Yining and Gu Shanxue, its rear end high in the air, tail swaying idly. It looked up at Gu Shanxue, then at Que Yining.

Que Yining finished the rest of her noodles in a couple of bites, wiped her lips, and then cleaned her fingers.

“Can I pet him? Hold him?”

Gu Shanxue nodded. “Yes, Ningning’s temperament… he has a very good temperament.”

Que Yining raised an eyebrow. “Mm, I believe it. All of us named ‘Ningning’ have good temperaments.”

Her words were suggestive, and her bright smile made Gu Shanxue unconsciously press her own palm.

Que Yining bent down and picked up the kitten.

Having just woken from a long nap, the kitten was warm. Que Yining held him and stroked his fur. Her skilled petting technique soon had the kitten purring contentedly in her arms.

Que Yining smiled and looked up at Gu Shanxue. “He’s so cute and well-behaved. How old is he?”

Gu Shanxue: “Six months.”

Que Yining: “Six months, huh… Has he been neutered?”

Que Yining watched him enjoying himself in her arms and gently touched his soft paw pads.

Gu Shanxue: “We’ll do it soon, before spring arrives.”

Que Yining: “Let me come with you. This is a turning point in our Ningning’s life. As a fellow ‘Ningning,’ I should naturally be there to offer comfort. Besides, if it’s inconvenient for you, I can take him.”

Gu Shanxue agreed without much hesitation. “Alright.”

Que Yining bent down and gently put the cat down.

The kitten shook its fur, blissfully unaware that its fate had just been sealed. It wandered around the room a few times, then leaped onto a cabinet and lay down, watching Gu Shanxue and Que Yining.

Que Yining absolutely adored the cat’s name, as it sounded just like her own nickname. She was sure that in the future, whenever Gu Shanxue saw her cat, she would be reminded of her.

She also had her potential future mother-in-law—Gu Shanxue’s late mother—to thank for this. Que Yining decided she would go burn two incense sticks for her later to show her “filial piety.”

Que Yining: “I’ll go wash the bowls and pot first. Thank you for your hospitality tonight, Miss Gu. I was just supposed to see you home, but I ended up making you cook. I feel quite bad about it.”

Gu Shanxue: “It’s alright. Consider it a small gesture to make up for my being busy. Just leave them; I’ll wash them.”

Que Yining placed both hands on the kitchen counter, leaning forward to look at her. “Miss Gu, there’s no need to be so polite with Ningning.”

The cat, still perched on the cabinet, thought it was being called and let out a “meow.”

Que Yining imitated it and also said, “Meow.”

Gu Shanxue thought to herself that Que Yining probably hadn’t sobered up yet.

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