Long Time No See (GL) - Chapter 21

“You don’t agree with my management style?”

The two were locked in confrontation, neither yielding to the other, with Lü Xin constantly mediating between them. Everyone else was whispering, all of them having thought that General Manager Yun and Gu Weiran had a very good relationship, but apparently, it wasn’t so.

More and more people gathered to watch, but they dared not get too close, maintaining a distance while listening intently. Wang Sen pretended to walk past. Seeing the two of them like this, he smiled smugly.

It seemed his method was indeed effective; the rift had already appeared.

Yun Shu’s dissatisfaction and prejudice towards Gu Weiran were revealed so quickly; women are indeed narrow-minded.

He had truly overestimated Yun Shu.

“I didn’t question you. I just don’t know how to handle this matter in a way that satisfies you.”

“Then your ability is lacking.”

“I…”

Gu Weiran was speechless. Yun Shu originally intended to put on a show for the person who sent the recording, but seeing Gu Weiran so agitated, she simply decided to play the role to the end.

She walked to the doorway and angrily scolded the other employees: “Are you all very idle today?”

“No, no.”

Liu Yun quickly ran out and waved her hand: “Hurry up and disperse!” She then turned to Yun Shu with a smile and said, “I’m sorry, General Manager Yun.”

Yun Shu did not speak. Instead, she turned and slammed the door shut with great force, a display akin to a volcanic eruption.

Life is as plain as water; when you’re down, it’s like a pool of stagnant water. How you live depends on yourself.

When there are things to look forward to, every day is fulfilling. After Yun Shu returned, Gu Weiran’s life regained some vitality. Having not cooked for a long time, she went on a shopping spree at the supermarket, preparing to show off her culinary skills.

In the five years they were apart, she learned many things, and even her habit of cooking stemmed from Yun Shu. Those years of subtle influence were deeply rooted in Gu Weiran’s heart.

The glow of dusk gradually faded, and Gu Weiran’s busy figure was framed by the kitchen window.

Night fell, and a cool wind arrived late. Gu Weiran stood on the balcony, embracing the chill of early winter, looking into the distance at the entrance.

She eagerly awaited that figure, hoping to see her walk in from afar.

A sumptuous dinner was already on the table, but the person she was looking forward to dining with had not yet returned.

Spicy diced chicken, double-cooked pork, Maoxuewang (a spicy dish with various ingredients), Di San Xian (stir-fried potato, green pepper, and eggplant), and hot and sour soup—these four dishes and one soup were Gu Weiran’s favorites and her signature dishes.

It was just that her cooking skills might be slightly inferior to Yun Shu’s.

“She’s still not back. What if the food gets cold later?” Gu Weiran paced back and forth in the room, considering whether to call and ask.

Just as she was thinking, the door opened.

The moment Yun Shu walked in, Gu Weiran felt a burst of joy.

She was still so fashionable and charming, in a coffee-colored overcoat and black wide-leg pants, paired with high-heeled ankle boots, combining fashion and elegance. There was a smile in her eyes, and the first thing she said upon entering was, “Weiran, I’m back.”

Her smile added a few degrees of warmth to the desolate night.

Gu Weiran went to the door and asked nervously, “Have you had dinner yet?”

She hadn’t told Yun Shu that she was cooking, afraid that she would return after having eaten.

Yun Shu shook her head. “What? Thinking of treating me to a meal?”

“Yes!”

“Good.” Yun Shu entered and changed into her loungewear. When she came out, she found a sumptuous dinner laid out on the dining table. A look of surprise flashed in her eyes. “Did you make this?”

“Mmm, do I not look like someone who cooks?”

“Not really.” She glanced over the dishes; they were all high-oil and heavily spicy, matching her tastes from years ago, but unfortunately… she suppressed her smile. She was not as surprised as Gu Weiran had imagined.

“What’s wrong? Aren’t these your favorite dishes?”

“They were, but you said it yourself—’were’ in the past.” Yun Shu’s tone was flat. She quietly looked at the dishes and chuckled wryly.

They were excellent in color, aroma, and taste, with care taken from the plating to the color arrangement. Yun Shu picked up her chopsticks, took a small piece from each plate, tasted a bite of each, and chewed slowly, a smile on her face: “They’re very delicious. I appreciate your effort. You should eat more. I’m going to cook some noodles.” With that, she got up and walked toward the kitchen.

Yun Shu’s life was simple. When she lived alone, she didn’t feel like cooking, and her diet was mainly light.

She had many social engagements over the years, often saying insincere things while toasting and drinking. She was tired, so she preferred to simplify her life as much as possible, not wanting to put in too much effort or care.

She had almost forgotten the things she liked to eat years ago.

Gu Weiran didn’t understand and couldn’t help but ask, “Didn’t you used to love eating these the most?”

Yun Shu’s back was to her, and she didn’t answer, so her expression was invisible. She put water in the pot, turned on the gas stove, and answered faintly, “If you don’t eat them often, you stop thinking about them. It’s not about liking or disliking them anymore. People change, let alone taste.”

“The way you say that…”

Hearing the disappointment in Gu Weiran’s voice, Yun Shu sighed helplessly, then turned around with a smile. “Weiran, it’s not because your cooking isn’t good, nor is it that I hate eating them now. It’s that I have to control my diet.”

“Huh? Why?”

Yun Shu lowered her head and lifted her clothes, revealing a shallow incision under her right rib. “I had surgery to remove my gallbladder a couple of years ago. Aside from necessary social obligations, I drink much less, and my diet is quite light, so I rarely eat these kinds of dishes. It’s really not a big problem, but as one gets older, one fears getting sick. Once you fall down, you’re afraid you won’t be able to get back up.”

“What nonsense are you talking about…” Gu Weiran’s heart felt like it had been whipped, hurting so much that she nearly couldn’t catch her breath.

Yun Shu gently stroked Gu Weiran’s shoulders, smiling broadly: “I said I’m afraid of dying. If I die, won’t I not see you anymore?”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Gu Weiran felt an invisible knife pass over her heart, and the pain was bone-deep. The emotions wrapped around her heart swelled like a rolling snowball, making Gu Weiran increasingly confused.

What kind of strange feeling was this? A pain without a visible wound, yet her heart was twisted like a knife had cut it.

“Alright, look at your expression, like you’re attending a funeral.” Yun Shu smiled and poked Gu Weiran between the eyebrows.

“Pfft, don’t talk rubbish! Did anyone accompany you during your surgery?”

Gu Weiran’s strangely focused question made Yun Shu pause before answering: “It was just a small surgery. I didn’t need anyone to accompany me, and no one knew about it.”

“So you signed the consent form yourself, went to the operating table yourself, and were hospitalized alone?”

“What silly thing are you saying? Could someone else go to the operating table for me?”

“That’s not what I mean. I…”

Seeing Gu Weiran anxious to express herself, Yun Shu interrupted her. “The water is boiling. You go ahead and eat. I’ll bring the noodles over in a bit to join you…”

Just as she turned away, Gu Weiran hugged her from behind.

This wasn’t the first time Gu Weiran had been physically close to Yun Shu, but it was the first time she had lost control.

Flowery rhetoric and emotional words were pale at this moment; she couldn’t express her feelings, only wanting to hold her.

This desolate heart was finally starting to come alive.

Gu Weiran began to understand what it meant to feel heartache.

The boiling water in the pot hissed. Yun Shu looked down at the arms tightly wrapped around her, gently turned off the heat, and remained silent.

She seemed to be waiting for Gu Weiran to say something.

“In the future, let me be with you if anything happens. Don’t bear everything alone.” As Gu Weiran spoke, her nose started to sting, and a heavy feeling pressed in her throat. She had to use all her strength to swallow the urge to cry.

It was harder than swallowing bitterness or swallowing her grievances.

Yun Shu’s eyes were unfathomably deep. She gently raised a slender hand and patted the back of Gu Weiran’s hand: “You should let go of me first.”

Gu Weiran then realized her “impoliteness.” She quickly released her hands and took two steps back. “I didn’t mean to!”

“Are you saying someone forced you to hug me?” Yun Shu turned around, a relaxed smile on her face.

“No, I just saw you having surgery alone before and felt sorry for you. I was swayed by emotion.”

Yun Shu raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? What you say makes sense. People often perform irrational actions under the influence of atmosphere and emotion, and they may even misunderstand themselves or others. It’s human nature.”

“Are you implying something?”

“You figure it out slowly. However, since you delivered yourself to my doorstep, there’s no reason for me not to accept it, is there?” Yun Shu raised a playful smile, looking her up and down.

Gu Weiran felt something was wrong. She had a bad feeling, instinctively covering her chest and shouting, “What are you doing??”

Yun Shu looked at her gesture and laughed helplessly. “You’re covering your ‘airstrip.’ Do you think I’m interested in it? Or are you questioning my sexual orientation?”

“You!” Gu Weiran looked down at her chest. She actually called her an “airstrip,” and her tone was full of disdain!

Then she thought about the words “sexual orientation,” which sent a chill down her spine.

She was just speaking casually; it meant nothing. Gu Weiran rubbed her forehead and guiltily returned to the dining room, starting to eat her rice with her head down.

“Eat more. There might still be hope since you’re young.” Yun Shu smiled as she cooked the noodles. The emotions that flashed through the moment before finally slowly dissipated.

The feeling of being hugged was truly addictive.

That despicable temptress! Gu Weiran ate furiously, starting to binge eat out of anger.

Is it really an “airstrip”? She couldn’t help but feel herself up. The feel was indeed not ideal…

In the evening, she quietly researched many noodle recipes and consulted many recipes for post-cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal). At the same time, she also received an invitation from Wang Sen, asking her to meet and talk in detail at a hot spring resort tomorrow. That place was a bit far from the city, a resort complex integrating dining, sauna, hot springs, and a hotel.

This old pervert didn’t even bother to conceal his intentions. The fact that he invited her to such a place made it obvious what he wanted.

Since he was so eager to fall into a trap, Gu Weiran decided to play along. She had already discussed this with Yang Ou, and the two planned to cooperate and tear off his mask.

She had discreetly inquired around the company and found that at least three women had been sexually harassed by Wang Sen, and some female colleagues who had resigned left because of this.

It was absolutely disgusting. Gu Weiran was very repulsed by this kind of old man seeking out younger women. There were always moments when she thought of Ming Shangdong and Yun Shu, which made her feel as awful as having swallowed a cockroach.

So, this time, to deal with Wang Sen, she would use herself as bait and bring him down with one move, leaving him no chance to recover.

Only when Wang Sen was gone could Bai Jie be promoted, and the disorganized team could gain cohesion. It wouldn’t be in vain for Yun Shu to sign the performance agreement and come to Xuan’an to reorganize the company and improve performance.

It was late. Yun Shu was not sleepy and sat on the balcony, pondering the company’s organizational structure.

Gu Weiran came over with two sheets of A4 paper. “Here’s something for you. I don’t know if it’s useful.”

“You’re not asleep yet?”

“The old ones aren’t asleep, so the young ones don’t care even more.” Gu Weiran retorted, taking revenge for the “airstrip” comment.

Yun Shu chuckled: “You really have a sharp tongue.”

“You too.”

Yun Shu looked at the content on the paper and asked in surprise: “Is this accurate?”

“At least 80%.” Gu Weiran was full of confidence.

“Good.” Yun Shu really needed this.

The team had problems that needed to be addressed, like an illness that needed treatment. She knew she needed to treat the symptoms, but she didn’t know where to start. With the biggest tumor not removed, Yun Shu was always somewhat constrained.

She truly underestimated Gu Weiran. She figured all this out in such a short amount of time.

“Thank you. This makes me owe you a favor. I will repay you in the future. Go to sleep.”

“Fine. Since you like to exchange favors so much, then keep a clear record of every single one!” Gu Weiran returned to her room angrily. She didn’t do this to get Yun Shu’s thanks or to be repaid a favor.

Such distant words were truly hurtful.

It was truly the turn of the tables. She used to give cold shoulder words, and now she felt upset even when Yun Shu was just being polite to her.

Why be angry? Be angry at herself!

Yun Shu didn’t say anything, only feeling that Gu Weiran’s emotional reactions had become increasingly strange lately.

She had planned to take her out to relax the next day, but when Yun Shu got up, Gu Weiran was already gone.

She had already arranged to meet Yang Ou. The two discussed their strategy and anticipated all possible scenarios.

Yang Ou was a little worried and insisted on disguising himself as another customer and following her to the restaurant. Gu Weiran had to wear her hair down and keep a Bluetooth headset on to stay connected. As soon as she saw Wang Sen, she was to start recording.

Gu Weiran found the location and arrived at the agreed place.

Hua Ying SPA Hot Spring Resort??

Is this a restaurant? The word “resort” (hui suo) doesn’t suggest a good place.

When Gu Weiran entered, she realized that this place did not independently offer dining services to the public but provided value-added services such as hot springs and other activities. The quality of the dining was on par with a star-rated hotel.

She was dressed gently and elegantly today, with a milk tea-colored coat paired with an oatmeal-colored long skirt. Her black, ink-like hair flowed down, exuding a soft and serene femininity.

She had deliberately put on makeup today, giving Wang Sen the same hint, hoping to force him to reveal his vile thoughts.

“I’m sorry, General Manager Wang, I’m late.”

Wang Sen was stunned by Gu Weiran’s pure and lovely appearance. He stared at her intently, swallowing hard. “Not late, not late. You look exceptionally beautiful today.” He solicitously pulled out a dining chair for Gu Weiran and said with a leering smile, “This place is owned by that star named Lan Ying. The SPA, hot springs, and all aspects of the service are very good. After we eat, we can go and experience them.”

“Wow, so it’s opened by a big star. No wonder it’s so magnificent.” Gu Weiran played along with a performative smile.

The two were chatting desultorily in the private room. Yang Ou couldn’t follow them, so he had to wait in the adjacent public dining area. With the delicious food in front of him, he had no appetite, only concentrating on the voice through the phone.

To prevent Wang Sen from recognizing him, he had deliberately grown his beard for a few days, pulled his hat brim low, and sat discreetly. He listened carefully to their conversation, and Wang Sen’s shameless and lustful true colors gradually emerged.

Yang Ou listened with clenched fists, wishing he could go over and punch him hard.

He was like a statue, absorbed in the world of listening, completely unaware that someone had recognized him.

“Yang Ou?”

Yang Ou subconsciously looked up when he heard his name and was shocked to see the newcomer, stammering, “General, General, General Manager Yun! What are you doing here?!”