I Heard You Liked Me First - Chapter 29.2

The administrator replied evenly, “She’s the painter you just mentioned the one whose works sell for millions. She’s also the school’s largest shareholder.”

The man’s face went blank, his mouth opening and closing soundlessly.

Gu Nan had barely taken a few steps when a girl called out behind her.

“Gu Nan, do you also know that Song Jiaxuan doesn’t like her father?”

Gu Nan stopped and turned to look at the girl. “I just guessed it. How do you know?”

“I’m her classmate,” the girl explained. “At the beginning of the semester, we got along pretty well. I found out then that she doesn’t get along with her dad. She really doesn’t like him her tuition’s paid by her mom.”

Gu Nan nodded. “I see. Thank you. That’s really useful information. If you can, could you also let the vice dean or the academic director know?”

The girl hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Alright. I will.”

Gu Nan thanked her again and went straight to Chi An’s office.

When she arrived, Chi An and the vice dean had just finished discussing the matter of compensation. After the dean left, Gu Nan mentioned that one of the students knew about Song Jiaxuan’s family situation. Then she slumped into the chair opposite Chi An’s desk, resting her chin on her arms.

“So… what are we having for lunch?” she asked lazily.

Chi An looked up from her papers. “What do you want to eat?”

Gu Nan thought for a moment. “Let’s go get some junk food by the school gate.”

Chi An smiled, checked the time, and began tidying her files. “If Auntie finds out I took you to eat that stuff, she’s going to scold me.”

“Well, she doesn’t know now, does she? Come on if we go now, we’ll be back just when classes end.”

Gu Nan hopped up. “My treat. I’m the major shareholder, after all.”

Chi An laughed softly. “Alright.”

They ended up sharing a bowl of malatang by the school gate.

As they ate, Chi An said, “I won’t be able to go with you this afternoon to look for Little Orange. I asked Su Wan and Gu Yue to go with you.”

Gu Nan hadn’t eaten this kind of street food in ages. The spicy, nostalgic flavor made her eyes curve into a smile. “That’s fine. Will you be home for dinner, though?”

Since her meal card wasn’t usable anymore, she had no choice but to cling to Chi An for food.

“I’ll have Su Wan take you and Gu Yue to meet me for dinner,” Chi An said. “Everything’s arranged.”

That was good news Gu Nan couldn’t help thinking again how capable and effortlessly charming Chi An was.

Unfortunately, Su Wan and Gu Yue didn’t share that sentiment.

Especially Su Wan. She had dressed up to maintain her image wearing a cashmere coat, her hair in elegant curls, her neck long and pale. Now she was shivering miserably in the wind.

She couldn’t even crouch down like Gu Nan and Gu Yue, too undignified.
And the orange cat in its carrier had a hot pack inside for warmth.

Truly, a day when humans were worse off than cats.

Her teeth chattered as she asked, “Are we really going to find it here?”

Chi An replied calmly, “Mm. The housekeeper said she saw it here yesterday it even ate the canned food we left out.”

Su Wan frowned. “Have you considered that it might just be a stray? You might never be able to tame it.”

Gu Yue shot her a look. “Mrs. Xiao, don’t say that.”

Chi An’s tone grew quieter. “Honestly, I think so too. The day it ran off, I already had a bad feeling. I’m just not lucky with cats. It was Gu Nan who believed it would come back.”

Gu Nan sighed. “Maybe I’m just trying to distract myself. I’ve been in a bad mood lately. Waiting here makes me feel like I’m doing something.”

Then she gave a wry smile. “Sorry for dragging you all into my misery.”

“Don’t say that, Cousin!” Gu Yue protested, her voice full of concern. “I believe in Chi An too! I really think we’ll find Little Orange.”

“She’s so cute, of course we’ll keep looking.”

Chi An looked at Gu Yue and smiled faintly. “You’re a good girl, Yueyue. Nothing like the rest of your family.”

Gu Yue’s eyes narrowed playfully. “That’s only because of you, Cousin. Without you, things wouldn’t be easy for me either.”

Gu Nan nudged closer to her, grinning. “Then come keep me warm, will you? It’s freezing.”

Gu Yue scooted closer. “Okay, come nearer. The wind won’t hit you if you stay by me.”

Chi An rolled her eyes. These two silly kids…

She took a few steps forward, standing in front of them, and widened her coat to shield them from the wind though she herself was trembling.

They waited until dusk, but there was still no sign of Little Orange.

Chi An left the cat food and snacks in a sheltered spot, then headed back with Gu Yue to Su Wan’s car.

Inside, Su Wan cranked the heater to full, but she was still shaking. As she drove, she muttered to herself, I’m definitely drinking tonight and I’m getting Gu Yue drunk too, so I can drop the pretense for once.

The three of them went to a restaurant downtown and sat in a private room. Once they were warm, Su Wan poured herself some hot tea, glaring at Chi An.

Her look said it all: You owe me big time.

Chi An met her eyes and silently mouthed, I’ll remember this favor.

When they ordered, Su Wan asked for red wine, filled her own glass, then poured one for Gu Yue. “Here, have a little. You were out in the cold this will help warm you up.”

Gu Yue smiled. “Thank you, Mrs. Xiao.”

Gu Nan blinked in confusion. “???”

Chi An slid a bowl of soup toward her. “Here, drink some soup first. Warm yourself up.”

Gu Nan nodded and took slow sips.

Su Wan looked over. “Want some wine too?”

“Sure, a bit.”

Su Wan smiled faintly and poured for her but her hand “slipped,” filling half the glass. Then she began coaxing them to drink, her soft, lilting voice full of gentle persuasion.

Before long, Gu Yue was tipsy, her cheeks flushed. Gu Nan wasn’t much better leaning back against her chair, eyes hazy and unfocused.

Finally, Su Wan relaxed, downed half her glass, and sighed. “Never give me this job again. I nearly froze to death out there.”

Chi An chuckled. “I told you to wear more. But no you had to care about appearances. Look at your hair now, all windblown.”

Su Wan groaned. “Well, everyone goes through it, don’t they? Why do you spoil her so much?”

Chi An was silent for a long moment. Then softly said, “Maybe because my own path was so hard. I just want them to have it a little easier… to be happy.”

Su Wan put down her glass, conceding the point.

She glanced at Gu Yue and Gu Nan, both drowsy and slumped between them. “So what about Gu Yue tonight? Is she going home?”

Chi An shook her head. “You’ll take her. Gu Nan and I have already fallen out with Su Mingfang. If her mother finds out she got drunk with us, she’ll raise hell.”

Su Wan frowned. “Alright. I’ll handle it. I’ll call her mom later.”

The two women gathered their things and left each with their own charge.

Chi An took Gu Nan home. She gently wiped her face, hesitated over whether to change her clothes, but in the end, didn’t. Her heart was too restless.

Just as she turned to leave, Gu Nan stirred, sitting up slightly, eyes half open. She looked around the room and murmured, “Little Orange?”

Chi An said softly, “Little Orange hasn’t come back yet.”

Gu Nan’s lips trembled, and she suddenly threw herself into Chi An’s arms.

“Mmm… my Little Orange… I want my Little Orange…”