Que Yining didn’t plan to stay long. Her goal for the day had been achieved, and she had even gained more than expected. So, after washing the dishes, Que Yining decided to leave.
When Gu Shanxue heard Que Yining say she was leaving, the words “Are you going?” almost slipped out, but she swallowed them back.
This was to be expected, yet Gu Shanxue felt it wasn’t. She had subconsciously assumed that, given Que Yining’s personality, she might stay the night. But Que Yining had actually offered to leave.
If she asked her to stay, Que Yining would surely take the opportunity to do so, but…
Gu Shanxue pressed her lips together, holding the cat as she walked Que Yining to the door.
Gu Shanxue: “Do you need someone to take you home?”
Que Yining shook her head: “No need, I’ll have someone pick me up.”
Gu Shanxue nodded: “Alright then, be safe.”
“Mm,” Que Yining replied, smiling as she looked up. She petted the cat in Gu Shanxue’s arms, scratching its chin. “See you next time, Ningning.”
After waving goodbye to the cat, Que Yining’s gaze returned to Gu Shanxue’s face. “Miss Gu, remember what you promised me.”
Gu Shanxue: “I’ll remember.”
Que Yining: “That’s good. See you at the office tomorrow.”
Gu Shanxue nodded, watching Que Yining close the door.
The gap in the door steadily narrowed until Que Yining’s face was no longer visible.
The cat, seemingly hungry, jumped out of Gu Shanxue’s arms and circled her feet, meowing in a delicate and coquettish way.
“Ningning is hungry, huh?” She stroked its little head. “Wait, I’ll get you some food.”
Having fed Big Ningning, Gu Shanxue started feeding Little Ningning.
After pouring the food, Gu Shanxue walked to the balcony and looked at the scenery below, though she knew she wouldn’t see that figure.
The cold wind brushed her face, sobering her up a little.
Gu Shanxue pressed the spot between her eyebrows and went back inside.
Que Yining left Gu Shanxue’s apartment and called Zhang Shiyu.
Fortunately, Zhang Shiyu hadn’t been drinking and came to pick Que Yining up immediately after receiving the call.
The heating in the car was on full blast. Que Yining sat in the back seat, tapping her finger on the misted-up window.
“Shiyu, remember this place. This is where Miss Gu lives.”
Zhang Shiyu wasn’t very familiar with Miss Gu but still nodded. “Okay, Boss.”
Zhang Shiyu started the car and, turning her head slightly, asked Que Yining, “Boss, are you going home now?”
Que Yining: “Mm-hmm.”
Zhang Shiyu drove very steadily. After they arrived home, Que Yining didn’t have her get out of the car and went upstairs by herself.
She had messaged Qiao Yuchu while in the car, but Qiao Yuchu hadn’t replied. It wasn’t until evening, when Que Yining was about to fall asleep, that Qiao Yuchu finally called.
Qiao Yuchu: “Eldest Miss, why the sudden urge to go to a hot spring?”
Que Yining replied while applying her night cream, “Of course, it’s because I’ve invited someone.”
Qiao Yuchu made an understanding sound. “I get it. You invited Gu Shanxue, right?”
Que Yining: “Who else? Do you have any recommendations? If so, tell me quickly.”
Que Yining had initially thought of asking Zhang Shiyu to look up reputable hot springs in Lu Su City. But on second thought, she dismissed the idea. When it came to firsthand experience with leisure and entertainment, who could beat this group of rich second-generation kids? It was better to ask them.
Qiao Yuchu: “I can’t think of any offhand. I’ll ask around for you later. Perfect, I can also take my little girl to a hot spring.”
Que Yining chuckled. “That physics problem for your little girl, did you explain it to her?”
Qiao Yuchu coughed lightly twice. “I just gave her the answer you sent me. I don’t know it anyway. I wanted to pretend I did, but I couldn’t pull it off.”
Qiao Yuchu: “But I still have to thank you. Hmm, no, I should thank your Gu Shanxue.”
Que Yining: “Xiao Qiao, you’re getting quite the sweet talker.”
Qiao Yuchu: “Not at all, I’m just speaking the truth. I think things are looking great for you two.”
She said with a laugh, then brought up another topic: “By the way, I heard you started a company recently?”
Hearing this, Que Yining continued applying her cream unhurriedly and replied with a smile, “Yes, I did. Where did you hear that? Your sources are quite good.”
“My sources aren’t that good; I found out rather late! You’re not being a good friend, not telling me about something like this. Aren’t we best friends? I had to hear this gossip from someone else.”
Qiao Yuchu grumbled, a little displeased.
Que Yining: “It’s just something I’m doing for fun, making mobile games. You don’t play them, so I didn’t specifically inform you.”
Qiao Yuchu: “Who says I don’t play mobile games? Am I that out of touch with the times?”
Que Yining: “Link-Link?”
Qiao Yuchu added indignantly, “And Fight the Landlord!”
After saying this, both of them laughed. Que Yining finished applying her cream, put her phone on speaker mode, tossed it onto the bed, and pulled back the covers.
Qiao Yuchu’s voice turned serious. “No more joking around. I wanted to remind you to be careful.”
Que Yining: “How so?”
Qiao Yuchu: “Do you know where I heard this news?”
Que Yining: “Where?”
Qiao Yuchu: “From Cheng Yijia, Gu Qianqian’s little lackey.”
Que Yining: “So, you’re saying Wang Ruiyuan is watching?”
Que Yining pulled the covers up, picked up her phone, and while on the call with Qiao Yuchu via Wi-Fi, she opened her chat with Gu Shanxue.
Qiao Yuchu: “Who knows? Maybe it’s Gu Qianqian. Anyway, Wang Ruiyuan definitely knows too. Just be more careful. Watch out for him trying to mess with you. Wang Ruiyuan’s personality, he and Gu Qianqian are two of a kind—and not in a good way. If he could just let it go, I’d write my name, Qiao Yuchu, backward.”
Several days had passed since the night Wang Ruiyuan was photographed. Wang Ruiyuan hadn’t made any moves, and the Wang family hadn’t come demanding an explanation like last time. After all, the incident was embarrassing for them, and Que Yining hadn’t pushed things too far.
Que Yining: “Okay, I’ve noted it down.”
Qiao Yuchu: “Alright, that’s settled then. If you need anything, just ask me. I’ll go ask about the hot springs for you now. I’ll take my little girl along then. By the way, does Gu Shanxue know you like her?”
Que Yining: “Probably not.”
Que Yining felt Gu Shanxue didn’t know. She hadn’t been too obvious, afraid of scaring her off, and planned to gently coax her along.
Qiao Yuchu: “She still doesn’t know? What are you planning? Boiling a frog in slowly warming water?”
Que Yining: “Something like that. I’m currently turning up the heat.”
For the hot spring trip, Que Yining definitely wouldn’t let Gu Shanxue get away easily. She was determined to melt this iceberg.
Qiao Yuchu: “Okay, I wish you success in advance.”
Que Yining, however, wasn’t as fired up as Qiao Yuchu imagined. She curved her lips. “There’s plenty of time.”
Que Yining hung up the phone and looked at the message she had just sent in the chat window.
【Que Yining】: Miss Gu, good night. Please say good night to Ningning for me too.
The other party hadn’t replied yet, possibly busy.
She looked at the Moments post she had made during dinner. Gu Shanxue had neither liked nor commented. She didn’t know if Gu Shanxue hadn’t seen it, or had seen it but hadn’t reacted.
Que Yining didn’t insist on seeing Gu Shanxue’s response. After waiting a few minutes, she put her phone aside to charge and closed her eyes in bed.
Qiao Yuchu was right; Wang Ruiyuan probably wouldn’t let it go so easily.
However, Que Yining didn’t pay him too much mind. He wasn’t important enough to warrant it.
But even though a fly is small, it’s annoying when it buzzes around. She hoped he wouldn’t do anything stupid, or she’d have to find a way to deal with him once and for all.
She organized her thoughts and drifted off to sleep.
Outside the window, the cold moon cast its light on the frost, accompanying a peaceful sleep.
Gu Shanxue only saw the message late at night. She stroked the little cat sleeping in the study and replied.
“Good night, Ningning.”
She said it to the little cat, but in her heart, she was thinking the name of the person on the other end of the phone. Squatting on the floor, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.
Ningning flicked its tail and continued to sleep curled up on the rug in the study.
Que Yining woke up the next day, saw the message on her phone, and sent a “good morning” to the other person.
【Gu Shanxue】: Good morning.
【Que Yining】: Miss Gu, you went to bed very late last night.
Gu Shanxue had sent her “good night” at three o’clock last night. It was now eight in the morning.
【Gu Shanxue】: I was a bit busy last night. Has Miss Que woken up?
Actually, Gu Shanxue had been busy clearing her other work to make time for Que Yining’s invitation.
【Que Yining】: Mm-hmm, I’m planning to go to the company. When will your team arrive?
【Gu Shanxue】: They’ve already arrived.
Que Yining abruptly sat up in bed, got out, and put on her shoes.
【Que Yining】: So you’re at your company?
【Gu Shanxue】: Mm-hmm.
【Que Yining】: Then I’ll be right there! I’ll treat you to coffee!
【Gu Shanxue】: Okay.
Que Yining first called Zhang Shiyu, then hurried to the bathroom.
“Shiyu, are you at the company?”
Zhang Shiyu: “Yes, I’m here.”
Que Yining: “Go buy twenty cups of coffee and send them to the people downstairs from us, on the ninth floor. Say I’m treating them to coffee. Give any extras to our own people.”
Zhang Shiyu: “Okay Boss, I’ll do it right away.”
Que Yining: “Mm-hmm, tell me how much it costs later, and I’ll reimburse you.”
Zhang Shiyu: “Boss, no need. There’s still money left from what you transferred me for meals yesterday.”
Que Yining: “Consider it a bonus for your hard work. Go on.”
Zhang Shiyu: “Thank you, Boss!”
Que Yining had always been generous to competent subordinates. After giving the order, she went to the bathroom to wash up.
After washing up as quickly as possible, Que Yining did her basic moisturizing while picking out clothes from her walk-in closet.
She didn’t know when Gu Shanxue might leave her company, so she had to hurry.
After choosing her clothes, Que Yining put on light makeup, booked a car, and went out.
Only when she was in the car did Que Yining carefully apply her lipstick.
Meanwhile, Zhang Shiyu picked up the coffee from downstairs, carried the large box, and went up to the ninth floor.
When she knocked and entered, the people inside looked at her with confusion.
Zhang Shiyu felt a bit self-conscious under their gazes and said politely, “Um, excuse me. My boss is treating you to coffee. I’m here to deliver it.”
Her gaze instinctively fell on the tall, beautiful woman standing in the middle who looked as cold as ice. Her intuition told her this was likely the leader.
Gu Shanxue: “Your boss is?”
Zhang Shiyu: “Our boss’s surname is Que, Que Yining. Our company is just upstairs from you. Here’s the coffee. May I hand them out?”
Gu Shanxue: “Of course, thank you. They can just take one themselves.”
The team members went over to get coffee themselves, thanking Zhang Shiyu.
Gu Shanxue was also handed a cup by her assistant. Touching the warm paper cup, Gu Shanxue’s mind wandered a bit.
She had thought that when Que Yining said she’d treat her to coffee, it meant they would go get coffee together.
Shoutout and huge thanks to Mikash for picking up the complete EPUB book on the Ko-fi shop! Really appreciate the support!
If you’d like to read ahead and support me, you can request extra chapters or get the full novel as an EPUB.
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oh~~