Chapter 8: He Said He Only Likes Her

Chen Antai turned around, and upon seeing who had arrived, his expression changed abruptly. “President Gu, you—”

Gu Pingsheng looked at him, his eyes icy though a smile lingered at his lips. “Who were you calling?”

How could Chen Antai dare to utter Wen Zhixia’s name? Everyone in the group knew that the first thing Gu Pingsheng did after Wen Zhixia stepped down was to strictly forbid anyone from bothering her with company matters.

He claimed it was because he didn’t want her to worry about company affairs any longer, but people had already begun to speculate—he was determined to sever all ties between Wen Zhixia and the group.

After all...

As one of the founders, Wen Zhixia wielded influence equal to Gu Pingsheng’s. And in a corporation, how could there be two people with the final say?

When news of Wen Zhixia’s resignation broke, there was an uproar among the staff. Wen Zhixia herself was the first to step forward and reassure them. As always, she appeared calm and graceful, her beauty undiminished. She smiled and said, “I’m just a little tired after all these years. I want to return home and enjoy a peaceful life. With President Gu supporting me, I intend to live comfortably. The future of the company rests with you all, and I trust you won’t let me down…”

Except at the negotiating table, she was always gentle, her understated demeanor soothing those around her.

Since he did not answer, Gu Pingsheng turned the still-lit phone in his hand, glancing at the call log. “Antai, you’ve been with the company a long time—do I need to remind you of the rules?”

Chen Antai bowed in apology. “Forgive me, President Gu.”

Gu Pingsheng’s gaze grew even deeper as he looked at him. After a moment, he spoke. “What did you say?”

Chen Antai dared not straighten his back or lift his head. “Just… just a greeting. President Wen once supported me early in my career. It’s been a long time since we spoke, so I simply called to say hello.”

He was suspicious by nature and clearly didn’t believe a word of it. Yet, “You should be grateful that she once thought highly of you.”

With that, he tossed the phone back to Chen Antai and turned to leave.

It was only after Gu Pingsheng had walked four or five steps away that Chen Antai dared straighten up and look at his retreating figure, his eyes filled with confusion. Was that all?

Because President Wen had once favored him, did Gu Pingsheng truly intend to let the matter drop? In the past two years, Gu Pingsheng’s thoughts had become ever harder to fathom.

Lanhu Estate.

After ending the call, Chen Antai sent Wen Zhixia a message, saying an urgent matter had come up and they’d talk another time.

Upon seeing the message, Wen Zhixia thought nothing of it.

She felt groggy after her nap and went to the bathroom to splash her face with cold water, hoping to clear her head. When she opened her eyes, she was startled to see bright red blood in the basin.

She looked up to find herself suffering a nosebleed.

She took some tissues and pinched her nose, keeping her head down until the bleeding stopped after two or three minutes.

She called Gu Pingsheng, asking if he could come home early that evening. He replied he would try his best.

Wen Zhixia listened quietly. After hesitating for several minutes, she called the bridal shop. “He doesn’t have time. Please cancel the appointment.”

The manager confirmed with her again, reminding her that last-minute cancellations meant the deposit was non-refundable.

Wen Zhixia just smiled. “Alright.”

Since she left her job, Gu Pingsheng seemed busier than ever. He came home later and later, and sometimes didn’t come home at all.

His promise to “come home as soon as possible” had, almost imperceptibly, become nothing more than a promise he would return that day. Wen Zhixia couldn’t help but wonder—could it be that he had fallen for someone else?

But every time she asked, he told her no. He said, “I only love you.”

He said it with such conviction, his gaze filled only with her. How could Wen Zhixia continue to doubt him?

“Hey, bookworm, pass the ball!”

That evening, Wen Zhixia prepared a table full of dishes and even lit candles. She watched the minutes tick by, and before she realized it, she had fallen asleep on the sofa.

In her dreams, she returned to those days beneath the campus trees, to that roguish boy who would deliberately kick a ball to where she sat reading. Facing the wind, his mischievous eyes sparkled as he called out to her, “Bookworm!”