I Heard You Liked Me First - Chapter 23
When Gu Nan heard what her aunt said, her shoulders slumped in defeat. This wasn’t something she could simply refuse she’d already promised Gu Yue, and she’d discussed the plan with Mrs. Xiao. If she backed out now, it would only make things worse.
She bit her spoon and muttered, “Well, I’ll go handle the main thing, of course. But going to the office doesn’t count as ‘handling business,’ so I’m skipping that.”
Gu Nan had never realized how boring it could be to stay home alone.
She’d lived by herself before, but after spending a while working with Chi An, the solitude now felt heavier lonelier.
The quiet made her restless. She picked up her tablet to doodle, and before she knew it, she had drawn several pieces each one with the same familiar figure. Sometimes it was just a back view, sometimes a profile, but Gu Nan knew at a glance who it was: Chi An.
She posted the drawings on Weibo, and her followers flooded the comments, begging her to publish an artbook.
Lying on her stomach, scrolling through the replies, she couldn’t help murmuring with a faint, almost sulky tone, “An artbook? What would I even call it Chi An?”
That woman would probably wake up laughing if she ever saw it.
Gu Nan blamed everything on her. Of all the people in the world, why did Chi An have to steal her clothes?
It wasn’t like she’d ever heard of Chi An doing something like that before. Why start now—and why her, specifically? Couldn’t she just… control herself for once?
After a few days of tortured overthinking, when Chi An finally contacted her again, Gu Nan’s heart betrayed her it leapt with excitement.
Chi An’s voice was as calm as ever. “There’s a small gathering in a few days. Mrs. Xiao’s two close friends will be there. I’ve already got the invitation. I’ll pick you up then.”
That should have been the end of it, but Gu Nan suddenly blurted out, “Shouldn’t we rehearse or something? Coordinate our act? We have to make them see that their granddaughter-in-law isn’t any better than Gu Yue, right?”
Chi An was about to reply when another voice came through the phone—it sounded like one of her assistants.
“Assistant Chi, the situation at the art academy has gotten worse. The bullying problem is serious. We have to handle it soon before it blows up and hurts the school’s reputation.”
Gu Nan’s expression dimmed instantly. “You should go handle that. We can talk about the rest later.”
Chi An didn’t hang up right away. After a long silence, she finally said, “This issue is really important. I have to go.”
And somehow, Gu Nan just knew what she meant.
Chi An hadn’t explained what the “issue” was, but Gu Nan understood it was about the bullying case.
She wanted to fix it, to help that student being bullied. That was why she had to leave.
“Of course your work is more important. I get it,” Gu Nan said softly, hanging up first.
It was strange this feeling of quiet understanding between them.
She flopped down on the sofa, legs hooked over the armrest, gently swaying.
They hadn’t met. They hadn’t even spoken much. And yet, somehow, she felt like she completely understood her. How odd to have that kind of connection with someone you’d only just gotten to know.
When they met again, it was for the gathering.
On the way there, Gu Nan asked, “So, how did that bullying thing go?”
Chi An replied evenly, “It wasn’t too hard to resolve. I spoke with the teachers and the students involved. After that, things calmed down.”
“Then why are you still so busy lately?” Gu Nan asked, frowning.
Chi An’s brows drew together slightly. “The Gu family wants to start a real estate company and asked me to oversee the team setup.”
Gu Nan didn’t need the details to know how stressful that must be.
The car’s air conditioner hummed softly, filling the silence with a faint chill.
Feeling stuffy, Gu Nan cracked the window open a little. The cool air brushed her neck, making her shiver, and she quickly closed it again.
Noticing, Chi An quietly adjusted the temperature down a few degrees.
Gu Nan instinctively touched her neck and suddenly remembered. Her scarf. The one she’d left in Chi An’s car.
The thought nagged at her. Could Chi An really be the kind of person who’d steal someone’s clothes? It didn’t seem possible… yet she couldn’t shake the suspicion.
After hesitating for a long time, she finally spoke up before she lost her chance. “Hey, that scarf I left in your car do you still have it? My neck’s cold, so I thought I’d wear it again.”
Chi An clearly hadn’t expected the question. She froze for a moment, then said, “I was planning to bring it to you, but something came up. I took it back to my room and… forgot.”
Gu Nan brushed her cheek with her hand, turning to glance at her.
“Why do my things always end up with you?”
Chi An, usually quick with a reply, was suddenly at a loss for words.
Gu Nan lowered her gaze. She didn’t need to press further the silence was already an answer.
Inwardly, she sighed. After they helped Gu Yue with this event, it was probably best to put some distance between them. She and Chi An just weren’t meant to be close.
The air in the car grew awkwardly heavy. Fortunately, they arrived soon after.
The doormen at the hotel took their invitations, greeting them politely. One led them inside while another went to park the car.
They handed off their coats at the entrance and stepped into the banquet hall.
Though neither was dressed as elaborately as some of the other guests, their presence drew attention the moment they entered.
Chi An carried an effortless coolness; Gu Nan exuded quiet pride. Those two auras alone set them apart from every other woman in the room.
They each accepted a glass of wine from a passing waiter. A brief glance, a silent nod—and they split up to mingle.
Gu Nan hadn’t walked far before running into someone familiar: the wife of one of her grandfather’s students, who had once visited him and even bought a painting from her.
The woman’s face lit up in surprise. “Nan Nan! I heard you’d moved here, but I couldn’t reach you. What a coincidence, seeing you here today!”
Gu Nan smiled, pleasantly surprised. “Hello, Aunt Lin. I didn’t expect to run into you either.”
Aunt Lin immediately introduced her to a few other ladies, proudly saying, “This young woman is my husband’s teacher’s granddaughter. Remember the painting my husband gave to Mr. Guo? That was her work.”
Not everyone recognized the name, but the moment that painting was mentioned, a few faces lit up in realization.
“So you’re the one who painted that? Mr. Guo adored it! My husband went to see it too—he said it was extraordinary. It’s such a shame your works aren’t for sale anymore. Have you stopped painting?”
“I haven’t stopped,” Gu Nan said, smiling faintly. “I just haven’t had much inspiration lately.”
“Well, that’s how art is it all depends on inspiration. But if you ever start creating again, please let us know. We’d love to buy one.”
“Does that mean we’ll have to line up behind Sister Lin?” another woman teased.
Aunt Lin laughed. “You all probably don’t know this, but Nan Nan’s incredible. She doesn’t just paint the gown that actress wore on the red carpet when she won her award overseas? The one that went viral? Nan Nan co-designed it with the brand’s lead designer.”
“Oh, that dress! I remember it was stunning! I tried to buy it, but they said it was haute couture and unavailable. I can’t believe you designed it!”
“And did you know those two award-winning films from this year? The posters were her work too.”
“Really? I saw one of those movies because the poster caught my eye it was beautiful.”
The more they talked, the more they realized this girl standing before them wasn’t ordinary at all.
She was already standing at the peak of her field, among those who looked down from the top of the pyramid.
Even internationally, her art was well known.
Gu Nan handled the crowd with effortless poise gracious but never obsequious, perfectly balanced between warmth and distance.
Since her art had first gained fame, she’d become accustomed to scenes like this.
The more composed she was, the more eyes were drawn to her.
Originally, she’d planned to approach Mrs. Xiao’s friend herself, but by chance, that very woman Madam Zhang ended up approaching her.
Chi An followed with the small group.
Many of those who came over were older or from powerful families, but Gu Nan simply greeted them with a polite nod, neither humble nor ingratiating.
Then her gaze fell on the young woman beside Madam Zhang. “You’re Zhou Qiya, right?”
The woman blinked in surprise. “You know me?”
*************
She had just overheard the people around her saying that the young woman before them, despite her youth, was already a renowned prodigy her paintings were worth a fortune, impossible to buy even with money.
Now, faced with such a girl whose art alone could open doors to countless connections, how could she not be astonished that someone like that would know her name?
Gu Nan smiled and said, “I’ve read some of your poems before. I heard you graduated from B University?”
Zhou Qiya’s confidence flared immediately. “Yes, from the Chinese Literature Department.”
“As expected,” Gu Nan replied with an easy grace, “anyone who graduates from that school tends to be remarkable.”
Then she asked, “So what are you working on now? Still writing poetry? Planning to publish a collection?”
In truth, Zhou Qiya was already married and had a one-year-old child. She spent most of her time taking care of her family. But when she felt her mother-in-law nudge her lightly from the side, she quickly smiled and said, “I’ve married into the Zhang family now, but I haven’t given up on poetry. I’m actually preparing a poetry collection. Of course, it takes time creativity can’t be rushed, you know.”
Gu Nan’s tone was calm but carried a certain sharpness. “As long as a person has dreams and works toward their own accomplishments, it doesn’t matter when success comes. No one can take away that brilliance.”
Then her lips curved into a faint, mocking smile. “Unlike some people went to a third-rate university, keeps taking leave from school, basically hasn’t attended in ages. With just a high-school level of knowledge, she still wants to marry into a prestigious family. Don’t you think that’s ridiculous?”
Some people in the crowd immediately guessed who she was referring to, while others looked utterly confused.
And really, what’s gossip without a name? Leaving it hanging like that was almost cruel everyone wanted to know who she meant.
At last, a “kind soul” stepped in to clear up the mystery.
That person was Chi An. She took a step forward, frowning slightly. “Gu Nan, Gu Yue is still your cousin. How can you say that about her in front of everyone?”
The onlookers who had been watching eagerly finally understood. So the girl she was mocking was her cousin, Gu Hongyun’s daughter, who was supposed to marry into the Xiao family?
And Gu Hongyun’s daughter had only gone to a third-tier university, dropped out to stay home, and basically had a high school education? The murmurs started almost immediately.
Even though no one dared gossip aloud, the glances exchanged across the room spoke volumes.
It seemed that no matter the social class, everyone had an equal passion for drama and scandal.
Gu Nan let out a soft, disdainful laugh. “I just don’t think Gu Yue’s education is worth admiring. But she’s not marrying me, is she? As long as the Xiao family doesn’t mind, what’s it to me?”
With that, she rolled her eyes and turned to leave.
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy and awkward until Aunt Lin suddenly chuckled. “Ah, artists they really are something else, aren’t they? Always so blunt, they’ll say whatever’s on their mind.”
“You don’t know,” she added, “back when my husband and I visited her grandfather, she even argued with him right in front of us! But the old man didn’t get angry at all he said that’s just her true temperament.”
At that, everyone seemed to relax.
“It’s true, artists are impossible to predict.”
“But with her talent and reputation, she’s earned the right to be proud.”
“Exactly with her standing, who could blame her for questioning her cousin’s education?”
Chi An glanced toward Mrs. Lin, surprised. She hadn’t expected to find an ally in this crowd.
By the time the gathering ended, Gu Nan had long since disappeared.
Chi An didn’t leave right away she stayed behind, deliberately stirring the story, letting whispers spread and details twist.
And as for Mrs. Zhang, she’d never been more pleased.
She hadn’t realized before how impressive her granddaughter-in-law could be. She used to think the girl was simply polite and obedient, but now, seeing the attention she’d drawn, she felt a rare sense of pride.
Zhou Qiya, meanwhile, made sure to make the most of the moment. Over the years that followed, she gradually shed her image as a mere “wealthy housewife,” eventually publishing her poetry collection and gaining modest fame for it.
But for now, Mrs. Zhang could only think about sharing the delightful news with her good friend, Mrs. Zhao both of whom happened to be Mrs. Xiao’s so-called “best friends.”
“At the New Year’s banquet Xiao-sister is hosting,” Mrs. Zhang said with a smirk, “we’ll have to ask her directly. Is it true her future granddaughter-in-law only has a high-school education? That her college diploma was just handed to her because of her family’s influence?”
The two old women exchanged knowing smiles, already savoring the victory they imagined ahead.
When Chi An heard about this later from her own quiet network of sources she immediately told Gu Nan.
And Gu Nan, after listening, couldn’t help but mutter with a sigh, “Women really shouldn’t make things so hard for each other.”
Still, she couldn’t deny it the news had lifted her mood considerably.
That evening, the first snow of early winter began to fall.
Outside Gu Nan’s room was a small balcony. She drew open the curtains and stepped out. Under the pale moonlight, snowflakes drifted through the air delicate and silent, painting the world in silver.
She stood watching for a while, until the cold crept into her bones. Just as she was about to go back inside, movement caught her eye a figure slipping quietly through the garden below.
Even under the dim glow of the moon, she recognized that figure instantly.
But she refused to believe it. She didn’t believe Chi An would sneak into her villa on a snowy night, coming through the back gate like a thief.
Her body trembled from anger, from cold, she couldn’t even tell. Her breath came sharp and uneven.
And sure enough, moments later, Chi An appeared again this time with something in her hand.
In the silence of the night, Gu Nan’s voice cut through the air, cold and clear.
“Chi An! Stop right there!”
Chi An froze and turned slowly toward the balcony.
When she saw Gu Nan standing there in the moonlight, she could only think one thing I’m doomed.
She looked up at the falling snow, suddenly realizing how careless she’d been.
Of course Gu Nan wouldn’t miss the first snow of winter. And of all the times to appear here.
she had walked right into her own trap.