Chapter 41: Seeking a Relationship
“Iron fool,” Su Nian scolded without any courtesy.
She had absolutely no idea what kind of logic was running through Gu Yichen’s mind, how he had concluded that she was pregnant, and why he remained so utterly convinced of it.
Unable to restrain himself, Gu Yichen stepped forward, nearly trapping Su Nian against the wall. “You’re really not pregnant?”
The joy in his eyes was far too obvious, practically written all over his face.
“Move aside, I need to see my brother.” Su Nian pushed against him, but the natural disparity in strength between men and women made it impossible for her to budge him.
Gu Yichen steadied his racing heart, took a step back, and let a trace of tenderness soften his features. “I won’t force you,” he said gently, “but please give it some serious thought—consider taking me back.”
Su Nian glanced at him, her expression unreadable, and walked past without a word.
She found herself wondering whether she should hire a bodyguard; otherwise, she was simply too outmatched when it came to physical strength.
Undeterred, Gu Yichen followed Su Nian closely, matching her every step.
He must have misunderstood that Su Nian was pregnant, primarily due to the reports from his subordinates sent to investigate in the US, the doctor’s confirmation, and Bai Xiao’s affirmation. Were all these people helping Su Nian deceive him?
Gu Yichen felt a surge of irritation rise within him. He reached up to loosen his tie, his gaze darkening as it fell upon Su Nian. After a moment’s hesitation, he ultimately chose not to ask.
Never mind, let this matter rest. Whether Su Nian was involved in deceiving him or not, he had no desire to pursue it, lest he disrupt the current balance.
“Scum!” Tang Shi muttered from behind. “Nian-Nian finally managed to divorce you and break free, only for you to come crawling back.”
With that thought, she sent a text message to Shen Yuxi: “Gu Yichen has woken up and is harassing Nian-Nian.”
“Why hasn’t he woken up yet?” Su Nian asked, her heart heavy with worry.
Everyone who had taken the hallucinogenic drug had regained consciousness, even the frailest among them; yet Su Xingye remained unconscious.
“Don’t worry,” a female officer reassured her. “He’s in good health. The drug left no side effects.”
The substance caused only hallucinations; otherwise, it bore no lasting consequences.
Su Nian fetched a chair and sat obediently beside the bed, pondering the path that lay ahead.
The Su family business will soon collapse, and she needs to find another way to make a living. Once Su Xingye wakes up, the two of them should start preparing to establish their own company.
Gu Yichen stood at the doorway, gazing at Su Nian keeping vigil by the bedside, a momentary daze flickering in his eyes.
He remembered that two years ago, after working overtime for several days, Su Nian had brought him a thermal lunchbox containing a pot of homemade yam and black-bone chicken soup she had personally simmered. She had rushed to his office, where he had been resting on the sofa. When he woke up, he found her watching over him just like this.
It began so beautifully, yet ended in such awkwardness.
He fired several people, from security guards to assistants, because Su Nian, who was not an employee of the company, had been allowed into his office without authorization.
Since then, Su Nian never went to his company again.
Gu Yichen’s heart involuntarily trembled.
Back then, he had truly been cold to the extreme, showing not a shred of mercy. Su Nian, a young girl, had stood there awkwardly; witnessing him dismiss employees from two departments with such indifference, she must have felt both guilty and humiliated.
“Nian Nian…” Gu Yichen murmured softly.
Outside the window, the sunset had already faded, leaving behind a magnificent brocade of evening clouds. Su Nian, sitting obediently, gazed at him with an expression that was utterly cold.
That gaze was like a chasm splitting open, stretching between them, as boundless emptiness flooded his heart.
In an instant, agony pierced him to the core.
More than Su Nian’s hatred or resentment, he feared her indifference.
“Mr. Gu, please step aside.”
The sound of Tang Shi’s voice behind him startled Gu Yichen, who stepped back in slight disarray to make way at the doorway.
“Tang Tang.” Su Nian lifted her face with a smile, her voice softened to a whisper.
Tang Shi crouched before her, waving his phone excitedly. “Nian Nian, my father agreed! He’s handing Tian Yue Entertainment over to me. There’s no need for you to start a new company—it’s too much trouble. Why not invest your shares in ours instead? Let’s work together and aim to make it the number one powerhouse in the entertainment industry.”
Tian Yue Entertainment had once ranked among the top players in the showbiz world, but its stubborn adherence to old ways had sent it into decline. Yet, if seized at the right moment, this opportunity could breathe new life into the company once more.
“No, thank you.” After careful consideration, Su Nian declined with a gentle smile. “I intend to establish my own company, but we can certainly collaborate—our two firms can support and assist each other.”
It wasn’t that she distrusted the Tang family; rather, her original purpose in founding the company was to counterbalance the Gu family and several other powerful clans. Dragging the Tangs into this conflict would be inappropriate.
Tang Shi looked disappointed. “Alright then. Whenever you need anything, remember to tell me. Tian Yue Entertainment has rising young stars as well as faded award-winning actors and actresses. If you ever lack cast members for your film or television projects, don’t hesitate to come to me.”
“I won’t hold back.” Su Nian chuckled lightly, shaking Tang Shi’s hand. “Right now, the most important thing is to help me gather some information. My brother and I know nothing about the entertainment industry or how to establish a company, but your family has experience.”
Since we’re going to war, we must naturally ensure every detail is perfectly prepared.
Su Nian’s eyes were bright, radiating vibrant life from within and without; she was dazzlingly brilliant, impossible not to notice.
Gu Yichen interjected, “Nian Nian, I can help.”
But Su Nian paid no heed.
Gu Yichen, unwilling to give up, sought another way to assert his presence: “If you establish a company, I can also invest. You probably have around one billion in your account, which is enough to start a business, but if you intend to produce films and television shows, the funds will certainly be insufficient.”
Su Nian’s gaze finally shifted toward him.
Ripples spread through Gu Yichen’s heart, and a flicker of hope ignited in his eyes, but Su Nian merely glanced at him before turning away with cold indifference.
“Nian Nian!” Gu Yichen couldn’t help but call out, his heart tightening painfully.
The situation was spiraling in a direction he could not bear; Su Nian was ignoring him. In her eyes, the spark that once shone when she looked at him was gone, replaced only by icy detachment.
Su Nian raised a single finger and gently hushed him. “Keep your voice down. Don’t disturb my brother while he’s sleeping.”
The sunset outside the window painted the sky in brilliant hues; she wore a faint smile, her features as exquisite as a masterpiece.
Gu Yichen clenched his fists tightly, a flicker of pain surfacing in his eyes.
Su Nian truly no longer loved him! Never before had he realized so clearly that the girl who had loved him for so long, who had chased after him for so many years, had completely erased all her feelings for him!
Just as he finally understood his own heart and discovered that he loved her, she had already stopped loving him!
How could this happen?
How could it be like this?!
Gu Yichen clenched his fists, wanting to rush in and confront Su Nian, but seeing her frosty profile made him hesitate.
He feared humiliating himself and didn’t wish to argue with Su Nian, lest he hurt their feelings once again.
Don’t rush, don’t panic!
Didn’t Su Nian spend eight years winning his heart? It’s only been a few days now; he must have patience and perseverance if he hopes to win Su Nian back again.
Su Nian regarded him with suspicion. She had expected Gu Yichen to storm off in anger, but instead, he dragged over a chair and, enduring the cold glares of the two girls, stationed himself faithfully by her side.
After some time passed, she could no longer hold back and finally addressed Gu Yichen. “Mr. Gu, seeing you puts me in a foul mood. Please leave my sight.”
Gu Yichen’s pupils contracted slightly, a surge of anger rising within him, yet he ultimately restrained it.
“Are you certain you won’t keep your word?” he asked, his voice heavy.
He knelt to earn a chance, setting aside past grievances so they could begin anew.
“Sixteen years ago, was it you who gave me the lollipop?” Su Nian’s expression grew cold, fire surging in her heart.
Gu Yichen’s imposing demeanor instantly crumbled, replaced by sudden panic and urgency.
“It wasn’t me.” He steadied himself. “I went abroad when I was very young and only returned at seventeen. When we first met, you asked about my childhood, and I denied it. It wasn’t until a few nights ago that I realized you had likely mistaken me for someone else.”
Su Nian let out a soft laugh. “But you didn’t clear up the misunderstanding. Instead, you exploited my mistake, hoping I would agree to forgive you.”
That scoundrel truly had no shame.
“Yet you never agreed,” Gu Yichen’s voice deepened. “It was only after I knelt that I earned this chance. Nian Nian, a promise is a promise. If you deceive me, don’t blame me for resorting to tactics of my own.”
Su Nian glanced at him sideways, then suddenly tilted her head with a faint smile. “I keep my word.”
She took out her phone, scrolled to Shen Yuhuan’s contact, and deliberately pitched her voice high, speaking in a coquettish tone, “Yuhuan, it’s already five-thirty. When are you coming to pick me up? Tonight, I want a candlelight dinner.”
Gu Yichen’s expression immediately darkened.
He had never heard her speak in such a charmingly playful tone before.
“You want me to pick you up?” Shen Yuhuan’s smile was languid, tinged with amusement. “Xi and I argued for a few moments before he won the chance to come get you. Judging by the time, he should have arrived by now, shouldn’t he?”
Su Nian froze in confusion just as the light at the doorway dimmed, and Shen Yuxi stepped into the room.
The corners of her lips twitched slightly, a hint of awkwardness creeping in. “Yuxi, you’re here?”
“Miss Su, I’m here to take you to dinner.” Shen Yuxi glanced at Gu Yichen. “Is Mr. Su still unconscious?”
Tang Shi had messaged him; noticing it was already past five, he decided it was the perfect time to pick up Su Nian.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with my brother,” Su Nian said, her voice laced with worry. “Could that medication have side effects?”
Yet it made no sense. Both she and Gu Yichen were fine; only Su Xingye remained unresponsive.
“It shouldn’t be necessary; let’s get Mr. Su to the hospital first.” Shen Yuxi stepped forward to support Su Xingye, but Gu Yichen blocked his path. “Mr. Gu, please step aside. This is a police station; whether by public duty or private interest, you hold no advantage here.”
Gu Yichen’s gaze was sharp and piercing. After a cold standoff with Shen Yuxi, he glanced at Su Nian, whose expression radiated impatience, and felt as though a needle had pierced his heart.
Suppressing his agitation, he withdrew his hand and stepped back.
Watching Su Nian’s retreating figure, Gu Yichen’s expression grew profound and dark. He followed behind the group until they boarded their vehicle and sped away, leaving only a trail of dust in their wake.
“A-Fei, handle something for me,” he instructed calmly. “Go abroad and recruit some mercenaries—reliable ones who can keep their mouths shut. Do it as soon as possible; I have a use for them.”
Su Nian didn’t trust him; instead, she placed her faith in the Shen brothers. All he needed was evidence proving they were part of “The Judgment.” Once he had that, he wouldn’t need to lift a finger—the law itself would eliminate them.
He had patience and could wait for Su Nian, but on one condition: she must not be involved with any other man.
It wasn’t until they reached the hospital and conducted further examinations that it was confirmed all of Su Xingye’s physical indicators were normal, yet he still remained unconscious.
Su Nian kept vigil by the hospital bed, too worried to have any appetite. “Yuxi, you should go home first. Tangtang and I will stay here. Once my brother wakes up, we’ll head straight to the Tang family estate.”
“That’s right; I’ve brought two bodyguards with me,” Tang Shi said, her eyes curving into crescents as she glanced at Shen Yuxi with feigned regret, clicking her tongue in disappointment. “We’re hungry anyway; we can just order takeout.”
“How can takeout compare to a home-cooked meal?” Shen Yuhuan pushed open the door, wearing his signature warm smile as he carried several thermal containers. “Come, taste my cooking.”
Tang Shi stared in astonishment. “You made this?”
The lid lifted, releasing the enticing aroma of the meal, instantly whetting the appetite.
“For a while, I took an interest in cooking, and Xi’s culinary skills are quite impressive,” Shen Yuhuan chuckled softly, handing over another pink thermal container. “Nian Nian, this one’s for you.”
Drawn by the fragrant scent, Su Nian’s cravings were awakened. She opened her own food box but paused abruptly, casting a peculiar glance at Shen Yuhuan.
“You’re playing favorites!” Tang Shi exclaimed upon seeing it, immediately puckering her lips in protest.
Compared to hers, Su Nian’s meal included an extra serving of pork rib soup, and the dishes were far more exquisite.
“Nian Nian is too thin. From now on, I’ll cook for you every day to help you gain some weight,” Shen Yuhuan raised an eyebrow, a faint, ambiguous smile playing on his lips. “A little plumper would feel much nicer to hold.”
Tang Shi suddenly realized the implication, cutting straight to the point. “So you’ve both already held her?”
“Just eat,” Su Nian whispered, instinctively glancing at Shen Yuxi. Noticing the heaviness in his expression, she asked softly, “Yuxi, are you alright?”
Could it be… was he jealous?
Shen Yuxi met her gaze, words hovering on his lips yet unspoken. “Miss Su…”
When they were eight years old, after he and Shen Yuhuan had left “home,” they encountered a stray puppy. The little dog was just as filthy, approaching timidly to nuzzle against Shen Yuhuan’s leg.
Back then, they often went hungry themselves, yet whenever the little dog showed affection, Shen Yuhuan would ration his own meager food. He would rather starve himself until he was skin and bones than let the puppy go unfed, nurturing it until it became plump and cheerful.
Due to their hardships in childhood, having enough to eat remained their greatest wish.
Feeding those they cared about until they were round and healthy was also their finest way of showing love.
He finally understood: only because Shen Yuhuan truly regarded Su Nian as his own did he devote himself so wholeheartedly, even willing to cook for her day after day.
“Yuxi, what’s wrong?” Su Nian asked, puzzled. But seeing the expression on Shen Yuxi’s face, her heart suddenly grew heavy.
The atmosphere in the hospital room froze.
Shen Yuxi seemed hesitant. His hand, resting on his knee, clenched into a fist. His gaze lingered on Shen Yuhuan for a few seconds before finally settling on Su Nian’s face.
“Miss Su,” he asked solemnly, “will you be my girlfriend?”
Su Nian’s eyes widened in shock.
That was far too direct! Although the thought had crossed her mind after learning that Shen Yuxi was her first love, it was something for the future; she had no intention of starting a relationship just yet.
After all, she had only recently divorced Gu Yichen and finally let go of her past feelings; she didn’t want to rush into another romance so soon.
“Nian Nian?” Tang Shi gently nudged Su Nian, winking and gesturing for her to look at Shen Yuhuan.
A battlefield of romantic tension, a true and utter battlefield!
Startled, Su Nian’s mind went blank for a moment. Following Tang Shi’s hint, she looked over.
The smile vanished from Shen Yuhuan’s face as he took out the soup from the thermal container. Sensing Su Nian’s gaze, he suddenly turned to her with a smile. “What are you looking at me for? Xi is asking you.”
“Yuxi, why did you suddenly…” Su Nian faltered, at a loss for words.
She always felt something was off; given Shen Yuxi’s character, he was not the frivolous type. Without a deep emotional foundation, he surely wouldn’t have asked to be in a relationship with her.
Moreover, he hadn’t even confessed his feelings; he had charged straight in.
Shen Yuxi paused, a hint of embarrassment and helplessness crossing his features as a blush crept up his cheeks. “I will do my utmost to treat you well, to protect you, to feed you until you’re plump and happy. I won’t let you feel sadness or suffer any injustice.”
Soon, he regained his composure, his tone solemn and nearly commanding. “Miss Su, please be my girlfriend!”
Tang Shi pressed her lips together, stifling a giggle.
That last sentence wasn’t a request for a relationship at all; it was outright coercion.
Su Nian was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
“Then Yuxi, do you like me?” she asked with a smile, her gaze flickering past Shen Yuxi’s crimson-tipped ears.
Author: Big Waves Are Starting~ Leave a comment to receive a red envelope, mwah~