Long Time No See (GL) - Chapter 18

Gu Weiran reluctantly shuffled to Yun Shu’s desk. “What do you need?”

“Sit here.” Yun Shu pulled out a chair. Gu Weiran sat down awkwardly. She glanced at Bai Jie, wondering how to greet him, when Yun Shu calmly introduced, “This is Bai Jie, the project manager for Mingde Shangyuan. Just call her Jie Ge (Brother Jie).”

“Hello, Jie Ge.”

Bai Jie greeted her with grace. “Hello, Miss Gu. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“A lot about me? I believe this is our first meeting?”

“Miss Gu’s promotional plan for Project 03 and Block C5 was brilliant. I’m not unfamiliar with Fengqi, so naturally, I’ve heard a lot about you.” Bai Jie’s features were well-defined, exuding a subtle cold handsomeness, and a slight smile always hung on the corner of his lips.

His words were meticulous and loophole-free, but Gu Weiran only believed seventy percent of it.

“Jie Ge is too kind,” Gu Weiran felt very awkward, wondering why Yun Shu had called her over.

“How about we add each other on WeChat? Maybe we’ll have a chance to work together in the future?” Bai Jie took out his phone and brought up his QR code. “You can scan mine.”

“Okay. It’s an honor to be able to learn from Jie Ge.”

Gu Weiran was already numb to this kind of networking small talk. She didn’t like it, but she couldn’t avoid it.

“General Manager Yun, is there anything else?” Gu Weiran wanted to leave as soon as possible, like she had completed a task. She didn’t want to be caught between the two of them; the atmosphere made her completely uncomfortable.

Did Yun Shu call her over just to say hello and introduce her to this General Manager Bai?

Yun Shu handed her a small bowl of soup, smiling. “I saw they had pigeon soup stewed with Gastrodia elata (tianma) today. Drink it before you go back. It helps with migraines.”

Gu Weiran was stunned. Yun Shu actually remembered her migraines.

When she was in high school, her studies were heavy, and Gu Weiran would get headaches every night. She wished she could take a Saridon every day, but Yun Shu wouldn’t allow it. For a period, Yun Shu stewed soup with Gastrodia elata for her daily.

So, Yun Shu remembered every detail about her so clearly.

Gu Weiran silently finished the bowl of soup. Although it wasn’t made by Yun Shu herself, the warmth she offered always touched her heart.

Yun Shu said with a smile, “In the past, you always had a thousand excuses when I asked you to eat it, but today you actually didn’t resist.”

In the past, Gu Weiran would either not finish it or pick out the Gastrodia elata and throw it away, deliberately going against her. Now she was much more obedient.

“You mean well, how dare I disobey? Well, I’ll take my leave now.”

Gu Weiran was afraid. Yun Shu could always easily influence her mood and always stir up the deep-seated affection in her heart. She also strongly disliked the way Bai Jie stared intently at Yun Shu; that possessive gaze made her heart ache.

She disliked this feeling.

Bai Jie glanced at Gu Weiran and said to Yun Shu with a smile, “Your teacher’s daughter is very beautiful.”

“What? Interested? I advise you not to have that idea.”

“The way you say that—don’t you know who I’m interested in?” Bai Jie squinted and smiled.

“Then remember to take good care of her in the future and give Fengqi more opportunities for publicity,” Yun Shu changed the subject to prevent Bai Jie from taking the opportunity to express himself again.

“To use Miss Gu’s words, how dare I disobey your instructions.”

“Eat,” Yun Shu mildly declined. Bai Jie was already used to it. Although he had faced many setbacks over the years, he was still unwilling to give up.

He didn’t even know who he had lost to or where he had lost. He had never believed the rumors about Yun Shu and the Chairman.

How could he possibly get closer to Yun Shu’s heart?

Six important project leaders, including Wang Sen, attended the afternoon management meeting. Wang Sen’s position was higher than the others. Yun Shu intended to promote Bai Jie later to replace him.

Wang Sen knew Bai Jie was Yun Shu’s person and had been using his seniority to suppress him.

The meeting was fraught with hidden tension. Gu Weiran could see that some people were unconvinced by Yun Shu, but they didn’t dare to be blatant. Only Bai Jie consistently agreed with Yun Shu’s ideas.

This management meeting lasted for half a day, with almost no breaks except for trips to the restroom to pour tea or drink water. Someone couldn’t resist taking out a cigarette and lighting it. They had developed a bad habit of smoking during project meetings.

The smoke drifted over, making the closed conference room even more suffocating.

Gu Weiran began to frown and cover her nose. Yun Shu glanced at her, immediately her face darkened, and she said, “Are the four words ‘No Smoking in the Conference Room’ just for decoration?”

“No, General Manager Yun, we are just used to it. It makes it easier to get inspiration.”

Yun Shu knew the marketing team was under immense performance pressure and often did this. She was even a participant herself in her early years, but if Weiran disliked it, it couldn’t happen.

“Put out your cigarettes. If you need to smoke, go outside.” She commanded expressionlessly. No one dared to insist again; even Gu Weiran was stunned by her.

For the rest of the meeting, no one dared to light another cigarette.

Gu Weiran remained silent. She treated it as a learning experience. She listened attentively for the first two hours, but then she became increasingly uncomfortable due to neck discomfort.

Yun Shu noticed her twisting her neck and occasionally massaging her shoulders, knowing she was uncomfortable.

“Ten-minute break.” She stood up from her chair and said as she walked, “Weiran, come with me.”

Gu Weiran breathed a sigh of relief, wishing she could find a place to lie down. Years of working long hours at a computer had left her with many occupational ailments—migraines and cervical spondylosis—which plagued her from time to time.

Back in the office, there was an extra courier box on Yun Shu’s desk.

“How long will your meeting last?”

Yun Shu didn’t answer; she was focused on opening the package. Inside the box was a small device. She quickly sorted it out and walked toward the small office. “Come over here.”

“What for?”

Gu Weiran spoke more freely when no one else was around.

“Sit here.” Yun Shu pulled her over, clipped the device onto her shoulder and neck area, and plugged in the power. Gu Weiran leaned back in the chair. The device rhythmically tapped and massaged her shoulders, making her feel incredibly comfortable.

“Is this a massager?”

Yun Shu nodded. “Use this for ten minutes every day in the office, and a few more times will alleviate your neck problems, but it only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. When you go back, exercise for an hour every day.”

How did she notice these problems of hers? This massager arrived just in time. If it was delivered today, did that mean Yun Shu had bought this a few days ago?

Why was she so good to her?

Why did she pay attention to her in such meticulous detail?

“You don’t need to attend the rest of the management meeting. We might be meeting until off-hours. If you want to attend the Planning Department meeting, go ahead. If not, there are some professional books in my bookcase you can read.” Yun Shu finished speaking and glanced at her watch. There were five minutes left.

Gu Weiran looked up at Yun Shu and asked doubtfully, “Sometimes I really don’t understand you. My expertise is planning, not marketing. Even if I’m your assistant, shouldn’t I be doing things within my ability?”

“Since you asked, I’ll answer you.” Yun Shu leaned against the desk, tilting her head to look at Gu Weiran: “Fulfill the duties of your position. You need to change your self-positioning. Before, you didn’t deal with external parties or socialize much, and you had little contact with high-level executives from Party A. In the future, when you take on projects, you will inevitably have to deal with these people. Know yourself and your enemy, and you will win every battle. You need to first understand what kind of people they are to handle future situations.”

“I thought you wanted me to study professional marketing knowledge.”

“Studying is one aspect. The most important thing is understanding people. Bai Jie is the first industry resource I’m giving you, and he’s also a connection I can manage and trust. Future maintenance is up to you.”

Gu Weiran scoffed, “Manage? By what, beauty?” The thought of Bai Jie’s gaze toward Yun Shu made her uncomfortable. She couldn’t imagine the filth in his heart when he looked at Yun Shu.

“Don’t be hostile towards him. He can help you in the future, whether he’s at Mingde or not.”

“I’m not hostile towards him,” Gu Weiran vehemently denied.

Yun Shu smiled. “Your little thoughts can’t escape my eyes. Sometimes beauty is a woman’s capital, it just depends on how you use it. Of course, I hope you won’t need to use it.”

Gu Weiran moved her lips but didn’t speak. She hadn’t expected her first day at Mingde to be the most extensive conversation she’d had with Yun Shu.

In fact, she had always been the one avoiding Yun Shu. If she didn’t ask, Yun Shu wouldn’t explain.

So, in the future, would Yun Shu tell her everything she asked? Including those messy relationships with men and women?

But what right did she have to interfere in Yun Shu’s private life? After all, they only had three months together.

Three months, it was so short…

Gu Weiran felt a little reluctant. It was ending just as it began. Was the 90-day countdown already on?

“I’m going back to the meeting. I’ll tell you in advance that I have a dinner engagement with them tonight, and it might be very late. I’ll send the address to your phone later. Remember to eat well and rest early tonight.” Yun Shu was actually informing her of her itinerary.

“You don’t need to tell me about your social engagements,” Gu Weiran’s arrogant attitude flared up again. In fact, she was thrilled inside. She didn’t know why she was happy, but knowing where Yun Shu was made her feel strangely at peace.

Yun Shu looked at her with a beaming smile and said, “Informing each other is the most basic respect and obligation between cohabitants.”

“Who’s cohabiting with you?” Gu Weiran rolled her eyes. Yun Shu’s smile deepened. “Alright, co-residing. See you tonight.”

Gu Weiran watched her retreating back and sighed softly. Actually, the meeting was quite good. Sitting next to her, she could constantly observe her expressions and see her confident and effortlessly capable in the workplace. At those moments, Yun Shu, though seated beside her, seemed far away in the clouds, difficult to reach.

In reality, they were miles apart.

The massager gently pressed her shoulders, feeling like Yun Shu was massaging her, making Gu Weiran’s heart as beautiful as a blooming flower. Her world was beginning to brighten because of Yun Shu’s appearance.

It was rare to finish work early. Gu Weiran was a little unaccustomed to it. She went to see her colleagues at Fengqi, had dinner with them, and then returned to her old house, planning to take some books back to read.

Su Qing hadn’t been around recently either. The house was empty. She walked into Gu Lin’s study, wanting to find some classics to read. While searching, she accidentally dropped her father’s favorite Pride and Prejudice.

Just as she reached to pick it up, she noticed a piece of paper sticking out from the book.

It was a letter. Gu Weiran carefully opened it. It was written to her.

Weiran:

When I wrote this letter, your father was already immobile. Every time I wanted to chat with you about something, you resisted. Actually, it’s fine if you misunderstand me, but you can’t vent all your resentment on Yun Shu. Your father and she have no romantic relationship, and certainly no official marriage. Yun Shu sacrificed her reputation simply to facilitate her becoming your guardian and to easily take care of our family.

Over the years, your mother and I did rural teaching and charity work, and we didn’t leave you with much. The money for my illness was borrowed by Yun Shu through a loan. She gave up her dream of dancing and bent her will for life, also because of the burden of our family. Yun Shu is your “stepmother” in name, but she is also the benefactor of our family.

I hope that when you read this letter, you have already grown up and have reconciled with Yun Shu. If you don’t understand what your father is saying, please read this book carefully. Prejudice is a great mountain that can crush a person, hurting both yourself and others.

—Father

Every word in the letter was like a knife, slicing through Gu Weiran’s heart, making it difficult for her to breathe from the pain. Her hands, holding the letter, were trembling. Her legs felt weak, and she sank down. Her eyes were heavy, unable to lift, and a few tears clung to her eyelashes, blurring her vision.

So that’s how it was. That’s how it was!

Why did Yun Shu never explain? Why didn’t she tell her?

Gu Weiran tightly closed her eyes, tears slowly tracing down her cheeks. In fact, it wasn’t that Yun Shu didn’t explain; it was that she had never given her a chance.

In the past, their conversations always clashed, and Gu Weiran simply wouldn’t listen to Yun Shu, so Yun Shu eventually fell silent.

She heavily patted her own head, full of remorse. What had she been doing all these years? She had been using what she thought was the truth to hurt Yun Shu.

She slumped on the floor, her gaze somewhat blank. She opened the book Pride and Prejudice and began to read it carefully.

The more she read, the sadder she became, especially when she reached the line, “You must know, you absolutely must know, that this was all done for you.”

Gu Weiran angrily threw the book onto the floor. She couldn’t read anymore! Every word in the book was mocking her, stabbing her heart. She had lived in resentment for so many years, only to realize in the end it was a joke!

She had to find Yun Shu, to ask her clearly. She wanted to hear it from Yun Shu’s own mouth.

With that thought, she rushed towards the restaurant where Yun Shu was socializing.

The cool breeze on her face made her exceptionally sober. She should have a good talk with Yun Shu about this. She should apologize to Yun Shu, shouldn’t she?

During the years they lived together, they mostly existed in silence. Gu Weiran was a day student during high school, and even when she came home, she was silent, avoiding Yun Shu whenever possible. Occasionally, during holidays at home, they were also relatively speechless.

She always hid in her room, rarely even eating meals with Yun Shu.

But no matter when she left her room, there was always hot, insulated food in the pot.

At that time, Yun Shu was just a sales agent at a property development, with no weekends or holidays, and was hardly ever seen.

Sometimes when Yun Shu wanted to say something to her, Gu Weiran would turn her back or just go straight back to her room.

What had blinded her heart?

Hateful. She hated herself!

She had never wanted to see Yun Shu more than at this moment, an almost insane need to see her.

After about twenty minutes, she finally arrived at the restaurant entrance. Gu Weiran took out her phone, hesitating whether to contact Yun Shu.

But considering it was an important dinner engagement, it was probably better not to disturb her.

Gu Weiran decided to wait by the door.

She had left in a hurry, forgetting to put on a coat, and was shivering from the cold, but her heart felt like a fire was burning inside, growing hotter and hotter.

It was wonderful. Yun Shu wasn’t who she thought she was.

In fact, Yun Shu was still the person she was at the beginning in her heart, wasn’t she?

Gu Weiran grew more and more excited the more she thought about it, wishing she could see her immediately. Suddenly, she felt the world was wonderful and had not betrayed her belief. Only at this moment did she realize that the resentment accumulated over the years was all because of how much she cared.

She cared about Yun Shu too much, was too dependent on her, and even too attached, which was why she couldn’t accept the identity of a stepmother.

The door of her heart, which had been closed in despair, seemed to be slowly opening, and the key was in Yun Shu’s hand.

Gu Weiran stood in an inconspicuous spot in the parking lot. The person she was eagerly awaiting finally appeared at the entrance twenty minutes later.

She happily walked towards her, just about to call out that name, when she saw Bai Jie appear beside Yun Shu. He draped his coat over Yun Shu.

Yun Shu did not refuse, but she seemed a little unsteady, looking as if she had been drinking too much.

From Gu Weiran’s perspective, Yun Shu appeared to be leaning into Bai Jie’s arms, the two looking very intimate.

Gu Weiran felt a bucket of cold water poured over her. Her initially burning heart slowly extinguished, and a sour ache spread through her heart.