Gu Nian insisted on treating me to a meal, he said that we would discuss our future cooperation over food. I thought about it. I had classes in the afternoon so to save time, I agreed. While he was ordering, I read through the files he brought over.
After he was done ordering, Gu Nian asked me with a smile. âYou done reading the files?â
I nodded and handed them back to him. The food was soon served. I glanced at the time, thanked him and started to dig him.
Gu Nian looked at me gently. âNanxing, youâre so alluring even youâre just eating.â
I laughed. âYouâre already treating me to a meal, thereâs no need to lay on the compliments. Youâre not going to get a discount for my companyâs services. Iâm sorry but this company doesnât run on favors.â
Gu Nian shook his head helplessly. âYou girls are doing such a good job, I wouldnât have the heart to demand for a discount.â
When he said âyou girlsâ, I couldnât help but sigh. âJing Ni has left so I am missing a good assistant. The speed might slower than promised but I will maintain a good quality.â
He nodded. âI believe you.â It was not easy eating with Gu Nian staring. I told him, âAre you not hungry? Then why order so much? Itâs quite awkward to eat alone.â
Gu Nian laughed and picked up his chopsticks. However, he ate very little, unlike me who wolfed down everything. I still had 2 more classes in the afternoon so I needed the energy.
âNanxing, I have something to ask you.â He began softly.
I nodded.
âIs what Jing Tian claimed true?â He said this very slowly like it was costing him to speak.
I tilted my head to look at him. âWhich part of what he said?â But in my mind, I already had the answer.?Everything that man says is true. That man never lies.?He wouldnât promise me anything that he couldnât fulfill.
Gu Nianâs chopsticks halted in mid-air. Then he placed them back on the table. âI mean the statement he made about you being his fiance.â There was anxiety in his tone.
I nodded. âOf course!â
Gu Nian appeared to sigh. âWhy him?â
I thought about it, âI guess you could say we were meant to be since our previous lives.â It was true. Jing Tian and I had to go through so much before we could get together in our previous lives but somehow we were separated again. Therefore in this life, I would never let him go again!
Gu Jian looked at me with complicated emotions. I pulled out a napkin paper and wiped down my mouth. âThank you for the meal, I have to get back to class now.â I packed up the files he gave me. âIâll get you the report of the results as soon as possible.â
Gu Nian uttered. âHow about I give you the Nan Family as your payment instead?â
I shook my head. âNo thanks. I donât mix business with private issues. Iâll depend on myself to get what I deserve. I donât need other peopleâs help.â
Gu Nian looked at me with a smile and nodded. âAlright, Nanxing. Happy collaboration!â
âHappy collaboration!âI left in a hurry. From the corner of my eyes, I noticed Gu Nian look quite strange. However, I didnât mind it too much since I was in a hurry to leave. I didnât understand why Jing Tian kept telling me to stay away from Gu Nian. Based on our interaction, he was a nice person, or at least a good business partner.
â¦
After my afternoon classes, I called a taxi and went to the Nan Familyâs old manor. Through the files Gu Nian had given me, I noticed there were a few antiques at the old manor that I needed to look into.
I had always had this feeling that there was something more about the old manor. It was the place where I spent my childhood with my father. There were many traces of his life there but I never noticed them in the past.
This was also the place where I met Brother Huâs unit and reunited with my little uncle. I loved this place a lot. No matter what happened to the Nan Family in the future, I would claim this place as mine.
When I arrived, I didnât use the front door but sneaked in through the secret door. I slithered my way to my previous room and connected my laptop to the alarm system that I had left behind. I took out the snacks that I had brought with me. However, as I connected my laptop, the alarm rang. I was shocked. Who would come to the old manor at a time like this? Was it the killers sent over by the 7 Brothers to come after me? But what kind of killer would be so clumsy and was discovered so easily?
The chicken drumstick in my hand fell when I pulled up the image. I was stunned. It was Jing Ning and Nanyang!?What are they doing here?
âHow long has this place been abandoned? This place feels so eerie.â Jing Ning looked at the yard with disgust. Under the setting sun, the old manor was very quiet and subdued.
As they say, how you view the world reflects on your heart.
When I arrived at this place, I felt warmed and welcomed.
However, Jing Ning saw this place as gloomy and dark!
Nanyang hugged him and clung to his neck. She uttered sweetly, âBrother Jing Ning, but coming here is safer than going to the hotel, no?â
My eyes almost popped out of my sockets.
They are here⦠for a clandestine tryst?