Long Time No See (GL) - Chapter 28

The quiet valley held only the soft sound of the wind. Yun Shu seemed to have exhausted all her strength, but her entire being felt much more relaxed. She looked into the distance, took a deep breath, and felt utterly refreshed.

Some things had been accumulating in her heart, twisted into a knot. She had tried to untie it but failed every time.

That single cry had released something buried deep in her heart for over a decade.

Gu Weiran also understood that Yun Xiwei’s sudden disappearance had always been the unresolved knot in Yun Shu’s heart.

“Are you still looking for the auntie?”

“No. Even if I wanted to, there’s no way to start, nowhere to look. Perhaps she has already passed away, or perhaps she’s living well in some corner of the world.” When mentioning her mother, Yun Shu’s face showed a hint of indifference.

It had been over a decade. Even if mother and daughter were to meet again, they might not recognize each other. She could barely remember what her mother looked like anymore.

It was just that occasionally, she would hear someone say that her own temperament and charm were becoming more and more like hers.

In truth, all she wanted to ask Yun Xiwei was: why could she be so heartless as to abandon her daughter, and if she didn’t care, why did she give birth to her in the first place?

“Perhaps the auntie will return someday? Even if she doesn’t, you’ve lived your own wonderful life. Every child grows up and develops a pair of wings, and will fly away from their parents. In fact, the moment we step into kindergarten, we begin to separate from them. There might be regrets, but there are always gains, aren’t there? Besides, don’t you have me now, and that chattering Ming Yan, and many people who care about you?”

Yun Shu sighed, giving a helpless smile: “I don’t need her that much, I just want an explanation, I don’t want to be constantly fixated on this matter.”

Gu Weiran didn’t know how to comfort her, but she was already happy that Yun Shu was willing to talk about it. Since it was an unsolvable problem in her heart, only time could fade it.

She opened the phone’s camera function, linked her arm with Yun Shu’s, and said, “Let’s take a photo here to remember the visit? When the houses are all built, you won’t see such a pristine view.”

“Then it will be a different kind of scene.”

“So we need to keep a memento.” Gu Weiran held her phone high, trying various angles, but after struggling for a long time, she couldn’t find a good-looking one.

“You take it, you take it. My arms are too short.” She shook her slightly sore arm and handed the phone to Yun Shu.

“Alright, alright, whatever you wish.” Yun Shu seriously looked for an angle. Gu Weiran took the opportunity to grab her hand and place it on her shoulder, leaning against her, “Let’s take it at this angle.”

She held Yun Shu’s left hand and smiled at the camera. Yun Shu flexed her fingers but did not hold her hand back.

With a few “clicks,” Yun Shu took several shots. Gu Weiran changed her pose, “One more.” She walked behind Yun Shu, reached out to hook her neck, and leaned together.

Yun Shu did not avoid it, but rather cooperated with her in the frame. The corners of her mouth curved up, capturing the beautiful moment of their close embrace.

“Take a look, are you satisfied?”

Gu Weiran opened the photo album to browse. They had taken over ten photos in two poses. Even though they were very similar, she couldn’t bear to delete any.

In the first picture, Yun Shu had a calm temperament and was very photogenic. In the second, with Gu Weiran leaning against her, a few strands of hair were blown by the wind, partially obscuring her face, and her gentle smile dispersed her previous melancholy.

Gu Weiran would forever remember the feeling of leaning against Yun Shu.

Yun Shu saw how much she loved the photos and smiled: “Send me a copy, for a souvenir.”

“No, if you want it for a souvenir, then forget it. You’re always thinking about leaving.” Gu Weiran felt a little sullen because of her words. She held her own little intentions, but Yun Shu perhaps knew nothing about them.

“Then… send it to me to cherish, how about that?”

“To cherish, huh? Alright then, I’ll reluctantly agree.” Gu Weiran pouted proudly, selecting the two best ones and sending them to her.

Yun Shu opened the chat window, and just as she was about to save the photos, a video call came through. It was Ming Yan.

Gu Weiran spotted the name and annoyedly sat down to the side. Yun Shu pressed the decline button and beckoned to Gu Weiran, “Come on, let’s go home.”

“Why didn’t you answer?”

“The signal is bad in the mountains.”

“Oh—so you mean if the signal was good, you would have happily answered.” Gu Weiran remained seated, her tone sour and astringent, full of displeasure.

This Ming Yan was truly haunting.

Yun Shu walked over with a smile, “Even if the signal was good, I wouldn’t want to answer.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to be disturbed.” Yun Shu said, extending her hand again, “Can we go now?”

“That’s more like it…”

Just as Gu Weiran was about to take her hand, Yun Shu suddenly withdrew it and turned to walk towards the car.

“Hey? Wait for me!”

Gu Weiran skipped over, stepping through the tree shadows. Yun Shu looked back and smiled, full of tenderness.

The mountain wind rustled the leaves. The sky in the distance was like an uncut crystal, clear and transparent. Gu Weiran looked at the sky, the mountains, and the forest, then looked back at Yun Shu beside her, and felt happiness for the first time.

However, she rejoiced too soon.

Although Yun Shu had declined the video call, Ming Yan, that clingy person, called again in the evening.

Yun Shu avoided Gu Weiran and sat on the balcony to answer.

The call lasted for a long time, not ending even after half an hour.

Gu Weiran couldn’t hear their conversation, but she felt that the fact Yun Shu could have a long phone chat with someone showed how important the person was.

She might not be more special than Ming Yan; instead, Ming Yan might be more important than herself.

She had originally wanted to say goodnight after Yun Shu finished the call, but after waiting and waiting, the call still didn’t end. Coupled with her irritable mood, she went back to her room to sleep first.

“Do you know, the old man almost hit me? He’s never yelled at me loudly since I was little, but he actually raised his hand to slap me. It makes me so angry. Do you think he’s discriminating against homosexuals? Same-s3x marriage is legal in many countries now, but he’s still so conservative, trash!”

Yun Shu had always been Ming Yan’s listener, rarely speaking, occasionally offering one or two thoughts.

“What’s more outrageous is that he said I could like anyone, even other women, but just not you. Is there something wrong with him? Does he want to take you for himself? Holy moly, could that old pervert actually have feelings for you, Sister Yun? Anyway, I don’t care what others say. I know you couldn’t possibly like that old guy. You too, you should explain it sometimes. Those rumors are so unpleasant.”

Ming Yan rambled on a lot, the gist being that her coming out had been strongly opposed by Ming Shangdong. Her crying, making a scene, and threats were all useless, so she came to complain to Yun Shu.

“Old Ming is right, just listen to him. Don’t mention this matter again in the future,” Yun Shu said indifferently. Ming Yan on the other end of the phone became more agitated, “Why? I said that liking you is my business. I only came out to my dad unilaterally. Am I putting a burden on you?”

“No. Stop causing trouble, get some rest early.”

“Sister Yun…”

“I’m tired, good night.” Yun Shu decisively hung up the phone and looked up to find that Gu Weiran was no longer in the living room.

Ming Yan had repeatedly “confessed” to her. Yun Shu had always treated it as a joke and a child’s prank, but she didn’t expect her to actually come out.

How could Ming Shangdong possibly accept such a thing?

Could it be that she was thinking too shallowly, and Ming Yan had developed real feelings for her?

Impossible. She was always carefree and liked handsome men and beautiful women. Maybe it was just excessive dependence.

She cannot like herself, absolutely not!

Yun Shu couldn’t offer an explanation, and even less could she respond. She even regretted spoiling Ming Yan so much.

She rubbed her head in distress, and her eyes fell on her phone.

Flipping through the photos from the daytime, the feeling of Gu Weiran leaning in her arms was fresh in her memory. It was the first time she had felt the mutual support and close reliance with someone.

Yun Shu gently stroked the picture of Gu Weiran, her face filled with a smile.

Monday at Mingde was busy. Everyone was in work mode, except for Wang Sen.

Was it because of the incident on Saturday, or had Yun Shu secretly dealt with him?

Gu Weiran attended the Planning Department meeting. The project launch ceremony was highly anticipated. It was the first high-profile event after Mingde’s troubles, and also Yun Shu’s first major marketing event since returning to Xuan’an. If it went well, Yun Shu would be credited and Mingde’s reputation would be restored. If it went poorly, Yun Shu would take the blame and be responsible, and Mingde would continue to decline, facing sustained poor performance.

Gu Weiran couldn’t get involved with the Mingde upper management, so she could only do her best on the basic tasks.

Yun Shu was not at the meeting, so Gu Weiran couldn’t help but zone out. Every time someone walked past the glass door, she hoped it was the person she wanted to see.

But hope always fell short. After the meeting, she hurried back to the office, eager to see Yun Shu.

There was no movement in the General Manager’s office. Was Yun Shu not there?

Gu Weiran quietly opened the door a crack and peeked in. Sure enough, it was empty.

Where had she gone this time?

Just as she was thinking, a familiar voice came from next door, “The seven o’clock screening tonight, I paid ten times the price for someone to transfer the ticket to me.”

Was it Ming Yan??

She just left yesterday, and she’s back today?

Gu Weiran stood by the door, straining her ears to eavesdrop.

“What movie must you watch today?”

It was the voice she longed for. Yun Shu’s tone was flat, even a little cold, with no discernible emotion.

“Shangguan Jinghong’s first movie after returning to the country. Just accompany me to see it, it’s at Century City, very close. I booked the IMAX theater.”

Booking a movie right after returning? She hadn’t even been to the movies with Yun Shu! Gu Weiran frowned deeply. The feeling of being preempted was awful.

Would Yun Shu agree?

Gu Weiran’s ear was practically glued to the door, anticipating the answer just like Ming Yan.

“Alright, after the movie, let’s talk.”

“Yay! You haven’t talked to me in ages.” Ming Yan was overjoyed, “I’m going to buy some snacks.”

Gu Weiran lowered her eyes and sank onto the chair powerlessly, her mood plummeting.

Yun Shu agreed to the date so easily. Could she not know Ming Yan’s intention?

Gu Weiran felt like she had already lost by a large margin. It should have been an equal match, but with this movie date, she immediately fell behind.

They were even going to have a heart-to-heart talk? What was there to talk about? Yun Shu rarely talked intimately with her!

The more Gu Weiran thought about it, the angrier she became. Ming Yan, popping up out of nowhere, was truly an eyesore and a nuisance.

Just as she was thinking, a message came from Yang Ou.

“Shangguan Jinghong’s starring movie, The Third Pole, premieres today. I booked tickets a month ago. Want to go see it?”

Gu Weiran instinctively wanted to refuse, but she saw the title was the same one Ming Yan had just mentioned.

“Where and what time?”

“The seven o’clock screening at Century City, you’ll make it in time.”

Gu Weiran quickly replied: “Is it the IMAX theater?”

“Yes, there’s only one IMAX showing at this time, I snagged the tickets by staking out the moment they went on sale. Please don’t refuse me again (Pleading.jpg)”

Gu Weiran smiled sideways. Since fate had created such a coincidence, why should she refuse?

“Alright then, see you tonight.”

“Yes, yes, yes! Thank you!”

You have a date, and so do I. I want to see how intimate you two are, Gu Weiran thought resentfully, smiling foolishly at her phone until she heard Yun Shu’s voice.

“Weiran, Weiran?”

She was focused on her phone and didn’t notice Yun Shu had entered.

“Who are you chatting with so happily?” Yun Shu’s gaze fell on her screen. Gu Weiran flipped her phone face down on the desk, “Nothing. Is something the matter?”

Yun Shu put away her smile and said with a stern face, “I won’t be back for dinner tonight. Make your own arrangements.”

Without waiting for Gu Weiran’s reply, she turned and left.