Gu Susu blushed and lowered her head, "Old Madam, you're teasing me. I'll go to the gym after breakfast."
"I'm eagerly awaiting the birth of my great-grandchild," the old lady agreed. "Go, I'll have the driver take you. After your workout, also go to Mishang Company. Old Fan said there are still many company matters he needs to discuss with you."
"Tianyi is busy today. Let's reschedule, and I'll go to the company with him."
"It's fine, going to see Old Fan is the same. You can patiently explain the company matters to Tianyi later." The old lady insisted she go to the company.
She agreed. After breakfast, the old lady sent the driver to take her to the gym.
Upon arriving at the gym, she got out of the car and told the driver to pick her up in about two hours.
Not long after her release from prison, she had enrolled in a free combat program at this gym. She wanted to become stronger and learn some self-defense techniques to protect herself and her child.
However, due to her upcoming marriage to Qin Tianyi, she hadn't attended classes for over a month. But she intended to continue her studies whenever she had the time.
In reality, there were no free combat classes this morning. As soon as she entered the gym, she told the fitness coach she was there to retrieve something from the locker. Without changing her clothes, she walked past a row of lockers and left through another door.
Once on the street, she quickly hailed a taxi and went to her former rented apartment.
She had paid half a year's rent in advance. Although the apartment was currently vacant, she hadn't had the time to discuss terminating the lease with the landlord.
The rented apartment was on the third floor of an old residential complex. She took out her key, opened the door, and went directly to the room to retrieve her laptop, intending to leave.
But as soon as she opened the door from inside, she saw Chang Qingchuan standing at the entrance, his hand raised as if about to knock.
"Qingchuan, why are you here? Is there something you need?"
Seeing her, Chang Qingchuan's face lit up with surprise. "You're finally home. I've come a few times, and each time I knocked for a long time with no response. Have you been away recently?"
"I... I don't think I'll be living here anymore. I just came back today to get some things." Gu Susu didn't know how to explain everything that had happened recently.
Chang Qingchuan was her university alumnus, a year ahead of her.
During the freshman orientation, Chang Qingchuan had helped her carry her luggage all the way to the entrance of the girls' dormitory.
Later, they often encountered each other on campus and became acquainted.
At that time, she hadn't told anyone about her family situation at university, only saying she was from a remote small town.
Chang Qingchuan came from a less privileged background, from a small county in the north. His ability to attend university was entirely due to his own efforts, and he often worked part-time to support himself.
Gu Susu had also wanted to find some part-time work near the university. She had asked him for help twice, and they became good friends.
Later, after she was unjustly imprisoned and expelled from school, she never saw him again.
After her release, she looked for work everywhere. By chance, when applying for a job at an advertising design company, she met Chang Qingchuan.
He had already graduated and was an intern at that company, striving to establish himself in the big city through his own hard work.
Gu Susu didn't get hired by the company that time, but Chang Qingchuan still exchanged contact information with her and asked her out for a meeting.
She had honestly told him that she dropped out of school that year because she was implicated in a murder case. She had just been released from prison and had a child with her. However, she had been consistently taking on design work online, primarily fashion design.
Upon hearing about her experiences over the years, Chang Qingchuan was surprised. However, he didn't believe she was that kind of person and was convinced of her innocence.
He didn't mind her past and offered her and her child a lot of help.
She had refused his kindness because she had always seen him only as a senior and a friend, never having any other intentions.
He, too, insisted that he only saw her as his best friend and that she accepted some of his help out of concern for a friend.
During the period right after her release, she and her child had a very difficult time, struggling to find stable employment. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they often went hungry.
Thanks to Chang Qingchuan, she was introduced to many online jobs, designing animated icons for small businesses. This finally provided her with some income to support herself and her child, and she gained some regular clients online, making her life somewhat bearable.
Chang Qingchuan also often visited her rented apartment, bringing delicious food for her child and helping her fix things like plumbing and electrical meters, making her feel like she had a man in the house.
Moreover, Xiao Xingxing was always very happy when he visited. Once, Xiao Xingxing even secretly asked her if Uncle Chang was her father.
Although she immediately told Xiao Xingxing that Uncle Chang was just a good friend of Mommy's, not her father.
But from the child's eyes, she saw disappointment and realized that the child needed a father and a complete family.
When it was quiet late at night, she hadn't not thought about these things, but she still couldn't force herself to be with someone she didn't like.
Even though she no longer held any hope for romantic relationships, and knew she was no longer worthy of normal affection and marriage, she still couldn't settle for a relationship that didn't feel right.
Her current marriage to Qin Tianyi had nothing to do with love, nor with family; it was merely a transaction for mutual benefit.
Now, she couldn't accept Chang Qingchuan's normal affections.
Chang Qingchuan glanced inside and asked, "Where is Xingxing? You didn't bring him back? Where did he go?"
"He... he..." Gu Susu's throat tightened at the mention of Xingxing, and she couldn't help but feel tears welling up. "Someone is looking after him, and he's fine."
"Susu, what happened? Did something happen? Did the child get seriously ill?" Chang Qingchuan could sense that she was carrying a heavy burden and wasn't happy.
Gu Susu held back her tears and smiled, "No, nothing happened. Xiao Xingxing is very healthy, and we are all fine. You don't need to worry about us anymore, and please don't come looking for me here again. Forget about me, your junior alumna. You should focus on your career; I believe you will become a chief designer in the company one day."
"No, you're lying to me," Chang Qingchuan said, staring at her. "I can tell that you and the child are not living well. Don't hide it from me, tell me what happened. I can help you."
Gu Susu saw that time was running out. If she didn't rush back to the fitness center, the Qin family's driver might become suspicious of the old lady and Qin Tianyi if he didn't find her.
"Qingchuan, you can't help me with my affairs. Please, don't bother with me anymore. I told you long ago that I'm not a good woman. I've been to prison, I have a criminal record, and I'm not as simple as you think. My background and experiences are too complicated. It's best if you stay far away from me; I'll only bring you trouble."
Chang Qingchuan's heart ached. He still remembered the first time he saw Gu Susu from afar on the university campus.